The Happily Different Podcast

Welcome back to another episode of The Happily Different Podcast. Today, we have the inspiring story of Lin Jiang, the founder and CEO of Yishi Foods. Lin's unique journey takes us from the world of finance and consulting to her passion for creating healthy, Asian-inspired food. Growing up in China, Lin developed a special connection with food, particularly with a beloved black sesame cereal. However, after moving to the US and embarking on a career in finance and consulting, she noticed the lack of functional, nutritious food products. Inspired by her childhood favorite and driven by her newfound insight, she took a leap of faith and founded Yishi Foods​. In this episode, Lin shares: Her unique transition from finance to food, and how this drastic career shift has influenced her mission to provide healthier food options. The story behind Yishi Foods, from the initial inspiration of a traditional Asian cereal to its current success in the US market. Her perspective as an Asian female founder and first-generation immigrant, and how this has shaped her approach to entrepreneurship. Her vision for the future of the food and beverage industry, emphasizing the increasing importance of health and wellness in our food choices. Valuable lessons she learned from her time at Boston Consulting Group that have shaped her approach to building a diverse and dynamic team at Yishi Foods​. This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in entrepreneurship, career transitions, and the journey of bringing a unique product to market. For more about Lin and Yishi Foods, visit the Yishi Foods website here. Stay tuned for more unique and inspiring stories on The Happily Different Podcast.

On this episode, we dive deep into an inspiring conversation with Rob Meyers, Chief Commercial Officer of Republic Business Credit. Rob opens up about a significant challenge in his business and how his close circle of family and partners became his pillar of strength. We'll explore the daily tools and strategies that were critical to his resilience during these challenging times, offering insights that could be key to your own success journey. Don't miss out on this powerful discussion about overcoming adversity and the immense value of a strong support network in business. Make sure to subscribe to our podcast to stay updated on future episodes!

In this episode of The Happily Different Podcast, join Ryan Jaskiewicz as he shares his top picks for the best books he read in the first quarter of 2023. From the magical realism of 100 Years of Solitude to the practical advice of Tools by Phil Stutz, discover what made each of these books a must-read. Find out how these books have impacted Ryan and how they might inspire you. Plus, get links to purchase each book for your own reading pleasure.  Books mentioned in the episode: - 100 Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez - Talking to Strangers by Malcolm Gladwell:  - I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy - Tools by Phil Stutz -  Discipline is Destiny by Ryan Holiday - The Daily Stoic by Ryan Holiday and Stephen Hanselman Tune in now to find out why these books made it to Ryan's Q1 2023 reading list and get inspired to add them to your own.

Dive into the mind of the prolific author, Kostya Kennedy, in this captivating episode of The Happily Different podcast. Join us as we unravel his journey from childhood to becoming a renowned writer, delving into his unique writing process, philosophical musings, and the art of uncovering the stories that captivate us all. Get ready to be inspired and enlightened by Kostya's insights, and discover the secrets behind his best-selling books. Don't miss this exceptional conversation! 📚✨ Explore Kostya's work: 🔗 "Pete Rose: An American Dilemma": https://amzn.to/3JxEpZt 🔗 "56: Joe DiMaggio and the Last Magic Number in Sports": https://amzn.to/3Jz5mPH 🔗 Kostya's Official Website: http://www.kostyakennedy.com/

Unleash the power of no-code app development in this captivating Thursday Thirteen episode! Join us as Jesus Vargas, founder of LowCode Agency and a renowned no-code app builder, shares his tactical insights on building your company's first app without writing a single line of code. Discover how to streamline the process, select the right no-code platform, and bring your app idea to life in just 13 minutes. Don't miss this opportunity to transform your business with the magic of no-code app development, brought to you by the expertise of LowCode Agency! ____ In this Thursday Thirteen episode, Jesus Vargas from LowCode Agency shares his expert advice on building your company's first no-code app in just 13 minutes. Don't forget to check out the resources and connect with Jesus using the links below: LowCode Agency: https://www.lowcodeagency.com/ Connect with Jesus Vargas on LinkedIn Follow Jesus on Twitter No-Code App Building Platforms & Tools: Glide: Create powerful mobile apps without coding: https://www.glideapps.com/ Zapier: Automate your workflows with easy integrations: https://zapier.com/ Bubble: Build, design, and launch web apps without code: https://bubble.io/ Be sure to subscribe to our podcast for more insightful episodes, and connect with us on social media for updates on future episodes and exclusive content.

Today we are joined by Steven Katz, Managing Director, Texas Capital Securities.  Steve has a great story of starting as a teenage entrepreneur and growing where he is today as a lender to specialty finance companies.  There are some great nuggets in this episode, everything from setting boundaries between work and family, how to guide your business in economic turmoil and much more.  Join us for a wide ranging episode!  

Welcome to the first edition of the Thursday Thirteen, where we tackle one topic in 13 minutes or less.  Today's topic? Accepting Change With Grace. Hopefully you are finding value in this podcast and if you are, please consider sharing with a friend. Thanks!

Sales expert, Harris Kenny, joins us today to discuss sales in a digital world, where salespeople misread their funnel, why he thinks there are plenty of opportunities in your funnel already and how to maximize them. He also discusses strategies for maximizing LinkedIn, how AI and automation will impact the sales process and much more!

We are so grateful that you all made this podcast a success.  We have a lot to come in 2023, including new, short form episodes.  We'd also love to hear about any ideas or guests that you think would be great for the pod.  Email us at podcast@12five.com and we'll add them to our list!

Liam O'Brien is Co-Founder and Chief Marketing Officer of Fernway, an elevated, recreational cannabis product.  We cover a wide range of topics from how the founders met to launching a cannabis product in the middle of a pandemic.  There is so many great nuggets to glean from this episode, especially if you've ever been curious about starting a business in the cannabis space.

We are joined by David Simnick, Co-Founder & CEO of Impact Driven Brands. We had a fun, wide-ranging conversation with David. We cover everything from his time growing up in Naperville to spending time with Richard Branson in Necker Island.  David is a thoughtful leader, with a ton of insight in growing a brand. His thoughts on managing a new company through tough times and how to to carry power and success with grace. This is a must listen for any entrepreneur. -------------------------------- Learn more about their brands here: Impact Driven Brands Soapbox Soaps Bushwick Kitchen

Today we are joined by Kimberly Moore, CEO of KDM Engineering.  In addition to KDM, she is founder of Calculated Genius, which is a non-profit dedicated to helping underrepresented youth discover engineering. Join us for a great discussion as we learn about growing up on the South Side of Chicago, how she discovered the world of engineering, and her meteoric rise, not only as a company, but as a force in the engineering community. Kim is an amazing entrepreneur with a ton of grit and determination that has allowed her to thrive, when others in her position wouldn't have made it out of the starting gates.  So many lessons in this episode for anyone wanting to go their own way. Learn more about all of her companies and endeavors below!  KDM Engineering Calculated Genius    1308 Chicago 

This was a well rounded conversation with Cassandra Erato, CEO of Spaulding Clinical.  Her company does clinical testing at the human phase for various different pharmaceutical companies across the country.  They are on the front lines of new drugs being brought to market that will hopefully change peoples lives.  We cover a ton of ground as usual, discussing how she grew up in a huge family, raising a family of her own as a CEO and what it's like being a woman in c-suite role in an industry typically dominated by men.

On today's episode, we are joined by Leah Caplanis, founder and CEO of Social Sparkling Wine, a rising star in the adult beverage industry.  We had a fascinating discussion about her journey being diagnosed with cancer at 26 years old and the decisions she had to make at such a young age to fight the disease. Like most challenges in our lives, the diagnoses ended up being a catalyst to find a product to enjoy socially, while doing her best not to sacrifice her health and wellness.  We cover a wide range of topics, from growing up in a family of entrepreneurs, being a female CEO in a male dominated industry, and the challenges of growing a consumer product good in a heavily competitive industry.

The Korean Vegan - Join us as we learn the story of the YouTube and TikTok sensation, Joanne Molinaro, also known as the Korean Vegan.  We learn all about her family's crazy stories of how they made their way to America and how that shaped who she is today.  We touch on what cooking means to her, how body image issues impact a relationship with food and how to find power out of that. Then we dig into her wild story of starting a small blog as a corporate attorney, to creating an incredible community within the Korean Vegan through life lessons and stories, all while showing you how to cook.   This one is not to be missed, so many great nuggets of inspiration in here! 

This was a fascinating interview with Eva Sadej, CEO of Flossbar/Medbar.  We tackle a number of different topics, from growing up an immigrant, to running, to family and much, much more.  Pre-pandemic, her business provided on-site dental care to large companies at office buildings. We really dive into the story of what it was like to wake up the day after the shutdown to have your revenue completely vanish, since no one was at these offices any longer.  More importantly, we discuss how they quickly shifted their target to testing, while utilizing the systems and processes that made Flossbar great to begin with.

This is the Mentorship Episode.  Everyone talks about mentorship being important, but no one talks about the actual actions that lead to a mentor/mentee relationship and what makes one a strong relationship.  Join me as I ask all these questions and more from my actual mentor, Cole Harmonson.  We talk about life, business, relationships and how growing up in West Texas shaped who is today.  Find out what makes a good mentor and good mentee, depending on where you fall on that spectrum.

Jesus Vargas is the CEO of LowCode Agency, which is a lowcode/no-code developer.  Jesus has a fascinating story about growing up in a family business, realizing it wasn't his path and striking out on his own.  We delve into family dynamics, starting a business in Latin America and much more.

We are so excited to bring you the Happily Different Podcast, brought to you by 12five Capital.