The Makewell Podcast

Brielle Renz is the owner and dentist of All Smiles Dental, an award winning dental office in Bismarck, ND. Listen in to hear how Brielle's experiences growing up lead her to the art of dentistry, and how she continues to use innovation in a stereotypically not creative industry.

Kenny Howard is the owner of Fireflour and Anima Cucina, two local restaurants in Bismarck, ND. Listen in to hear how his career in design lead him to California, and how his time there gave him the spark to open up his very own restaurants! 

Chappy Windsor is the owner of Dakota Chappy, a women's clothing store in Minot and Bismarck, ND. Listen in to hear how her start at her dad's gift shop eventually lead to her very own store, and how her fashion product has sold hundreds of units!

Maartje Murphy is the owner of Duchessa Gelato, delicious handcrafted gelato from the family dairy farm based in Carrington, ND. Listen in to hear how her family came to the United States with a passion for dairy farming, and how Maartje's career did a surprising 180 after a class she took in Chicago.

Amanda Rydell is the owner of Handpicked Goods, a vintage + modern retail shop focused on all things good in Fargo, ND. Listen in to hear how Amanda's passion for making with her hands continues to guide her career, and how her love for people is always at the center.

Tanner Reidman is the co-owner of Plain View, a design driven drafting and consulting company in Bismarck, ND. Listen in to hear how Tanner's time as a professional motorcross racer eventually lead to starting his very own business, and how his bike continues to play a key role.

Brian Jackson is the owner of Mighty Missouri Coffee Company., a specialty coffee roasters and cafe in Bismarck, ND. Listen in to hear how Brian followed his curiosities, took a huge leap of faith, and how he's continued to grow his award winning coffee team ever since.

Ashton Hauff is the founder of Makewell, a community for Midwest Makers. Listen in to hear how Ashton's search for like-minded people lead her to creating a community of over 1,000 makers, and how her entrepreneurial journey continues to grown ever since.

Christy Tehven is the owner of Love Always Floral, a floral business in Fargo committed to spreading love and joy. Listen in to hear how Christy's 9 to 5 introduced her to a new hobby, and how she took radical action to make that hobby her own business.

Megan Gonzalez is the creative director of MaeMae & Co., a creative agency in Minneapolis. Listen in to hear how not finding a job after college lead to her nationally recognized stationary company, only to find out that wasn't her long-term passion.

Michael Kashey is the co-owner of Thomas & Moriarty's, a craft cocktail bar in downtown Mandan. Listen in to hear how his passion for history fuels his love of cocktails, and how he quickly went from student to co-owner in just a few years!

Evan and Ganya Anderson are the husband and wife duo behind Gizmonics where they help inventors bring their ideas to reality. Listen in to hear how their meeting in college lead to wild experiences in both Seattle and Denver, and how to create am original product from start to finish.

Stephanie Miller is the executive chef of Butterhorn in downtown Bismarck. Listen in to hear how she did a total career pivot during college, and how she quickly went from student to chef in just a few years time.

Zach Wentz is a filmmaker at Threefold, a video production company passionately chasing the real stories, resilient people and tenacious work of the Midwest and beyond. Listen in to hear how his passion for magic lead to his film career, and how his time in California shaped his decision to move back home.

John Meyer is the CEO of Lemonly in Sioux Falls, SD where they help you tell your story with sweet visual content. Listen in to hear how every job, no matter how small, can equip you for the future, and how you can build an amazing creative team from the ground up.

What a season of amazing stories! It's been an honor to hear makers from around the Midwest share their journey with us. To close the season, listen as the Makewell team recaps some of their favorite moments and key takeaways.

Season one is ending with a bang! Introducing Dorothy 'Dot' Henke, the owner behind everyone's favorite snack, Dot's Pretzels. After retiring from the financial industry, Dot experimented with some snacks for her family, and stumbled behind a recipe that would grow into a nationally recognized business. Listen to hear the full story.

Born into a family of musicians, its no surprise that Joel started playing violin at a very early age. Listen in as Joel Porter, ambient-folk writer and musician, was given the chance to pursue music anywhere he wanted for one month and how that lead him to where he is today.

Erica Hager's childhood was filled with crafting with her mom and attending Steve Job's talks with her dad so its no surprise she gravitated towards design throughout her career. Today, Erica is the founder and mastermind behind Bison Booties, and she continues to combine business strategy with creativity. 

From his first business mowing lawns in high school, to being Vice President of his class at NDSU, to his current role as the co-founder and director of Threefold, Keenan Hauff's story is one of entrepreneurship, hard work, and the power of building an amazing team.