Building Statewide Ecosystems From The Ground Up With Erik Pedersen
September 18, 2025
Entrepreneurship is not always about building and earning the biggest – sometimes, it is simply about getting started and doing consistent work. Gary Schoeniger sits down with Erik Pedersen, president and COO of Network Kansas, who shares how he builds statewide ecosystems centered on fostering an entrepreneurial mindset. Together, they discuss what it takes to build these grassroots communities from the ground up and help people see themselves as capable of creating change as…
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Entrepreneurial Leadership In One Of America’s Fastest Growing Community Colleges With Dr. Dan Walden
September 4, 2025
Today’s episode is a little different—and honestly, it’s one I’ve been looking forward to for a while. I’m joined by someone who really gets it. Not just the mechanics of leadership or the theory behind entrepreneurship—but the deeper stuff. The mindset. The attitude. The way of seeing the world that changes how we show up every day. Dr. Dan Walden is the superintendent and president of Victor Valley College. But what makes Dan stand out—what…
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The Entrepreneurial Imperative With John Dearie
August 21, 2025
Today I’m joined by John Dearie — founder and president of the Center for American Entrepreneurship, a nonpartisan policy and advocacy organization in Washington, D.C. As the policy director at the Financial Services Forum, a CEO-led industry association, John had a front-row seat to the 2008 financial crisis. In the wake of that upheaval, he began to realize something critical: Washington’s traditional stimulus playbook was no longer working. Policymakers were out of fresh ideas…
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The Rise, Fall, And Rebirth Of A Serial Entrepreneur With Doug Hardman
August 7, 2025
Serial entrepreneur Doug Hardman went through a lot to achieve his current success. His story is all about ambition, resilience, and hard-earned humility, shaped by his determination to jump back from many failures. In this enlightening conversation, he looks back on the ups and downs of his career and life that taught him patience, commitment, and perseverance. Doug also talks about the importance of financial literacy and a proper support system in entrepreneurship, how to…
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The Question That Changed Everything With Kelsey Carter
July 22, 2025
“Did you make this yourself?” was the question that inspired Kelsey Carter to turn her small hustles into an actual entrepreneurial venture. In this inspiring conversation with Gary Schoeniger, she shares her journey from selling candy, comics, and jewelry to building her soul food venture, Karter’s Kitchen, in her college dorm room. She talks about her mission to teach her community to eat healthier and create deeper connections with their food. Kelsey also opens…
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