BizNinja Entrepreneur Radio

• The Playbook for Winning in Business and Life

  Get ready for a powerhouse episode of BizNinja Entrepreneur Radio as Tyler Jorgenson sits down with none other than Fran Tarkenton—NFL Hall of Famer, serial entrepreneur, and timeless innovator. From wheeling groceries at age five to building over 20 companies, Fran proves that a relentless spirit and hustle can take you far beyond the football field. You’ll hear how his childhood side hustles and early leadership instincts shaped a lifetime of business wins.Fran dives deep into lessons on leadership, authenticity, and the underrated magic of partnering with bigger players (spoiler: his $100k company scaled to $120M with one smart partnership!). He also shares candid advice on why you can't — and shouldn't — try to do everything alone if you want to truly scale. Plus, Fran’s take on adapting to today’s wild pace of AI-driven innovation is both hilarious and wildly motivating—especially coming from someone who still outworks most 20-somethings.If you've ever wondered what it really takes to win at both business and life — even after major setbacks — this conversation is packed with gold. Fran also drops some gems about Sam Walton’s influence, why "selling" is outdated, and how he stays future-proof while still enjoying life’s bucket list (hello, Pebble Beach hole-in-one!). This is one of those episodes you’ll want to play twice and take notes!TakeawaysStart Early and Stay Curious: Fran’s entrepreneurial journey began at age 5—and he never stopped learning or evolving.You Can't Scale Alone: True growth happens through strong partnerships and learning from others, not solo heroics.Adapt or Get Left Behind: Even at 85, Fran embraces AI and new marketing strategies, proving that innovation is a lifelong game.

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• Creating a Brand That Stands for Something Bigger

  From scaling an eight-figure tech company to brewing a better future—Joe Chura's entrepreneurial journey is anything but ordinary. In this episode, Joe shares how a personal health transformation led him to launch Go Brewing, a non-alcoholic beer brand built on innovation, resilience, and a deep passion for wellness. We dive into his path from "pixels to pints," why brewing their own beer (literally from scratch) was non-negotiable, and how digital marketing superpowers fueled Go Brewing’s explosive DTC growth.Joe also unpacks the wild ride of building a physical product brand versus scaling software, from managing cost of goods to wrestling brewing machines that just won't cooperate. We hear the inside story of Go Brewing’s creative expansion into functional beverages, partnerships with legends like Rich Roll, and a surprising look at why California remains the brand’s "white whale" market.Plus, Joe drops some seriously gold entrepreneurial wisdom—why empowering your team matters, how brands should be built around feelings, and why the best way to create luck is to just GO. If you're ready for a crash course in gutsy decision-making, brand building, and beer that won’t give you a hangover, you’ll love this one TakeawaysCreate Your Own Luck: Entrepreneurship favors those who start moving even when the path isn't clear. Mood follows action.Brand from the Heart: Build your business around the feeling you want your customers to have—not just the product you sell.Resilience is the Real Superpower: From brewing setbacks to distribution hurdles, scaling a physical product demands a whole new level of patience, grit, and problem-solving.Direct-to-Consumer Wins Big: Strong online marketing and loyal audiences can fast-track even a niche product into massive growth.Team Empowerment is Key: Great leaders don’t micromanage—they give the destination and let the team build the directions.

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• Burgers, Brands & the Business of Bold Moves

  What happens when two middle school friends go from slinging burgers in a knock-off Greek restaurant to running one of Arizona’s most dynamic food empires? You get the wild, flavor-packed story of Kyle Hollenbeck, co-founder of AZ Lemonade Stand, Aioli Burger, BLT Kitchens, and a whole fleet of fast-growing brands. In this episode, Kyle sits down with Tyler Jorgenson to unpack how a food truck side hustle exploded into a multi-brand, multi-location culinary business—with a few chaotic pivots and pandemic plot twists along the way.Kyle shares the scrappy beginnings of door-to-door flyer businesses, outsmarting corporate non-competes, and tricking his Food Network-winning chef friend into launching a burger truck. From ghost kitchens and prepaid catering to moving top tenants into horse tracks (yes, seriously), Kyle has turned adaptability into a superpower—and shares what every founder needs to survive in the food game.We also get the inside scoop on Kyle’s proudest brand success, AZ Lemonade Stand, now stocked in over 1,000 locations and prepping for national takeover. He breaks down why short meetings beat long ones, how to scale smarter with the right team, and the personal dream he’s chasing next (hint: it involves giant balloons and a cold New York hotel room). This episode is packed with hustle, heart, and plenty of inspiration.Key Takeaways:Think Beyond the Truck: Starting as a burger truck, Kyle’s team expanded by listening to customer needs and launching new food brands to meet them.Pandemic Pivot Power: BLT Kitchens was born during lockdown and turned into an incubator helping nearly 400 foodpreneurs scale.Partnerships Need Boundaries: Clear roles, regular check-ins, and honest conversations are essential when co-founding with friends.Prepaid Catering = Low Risk, High Reward: Avoiding festivals and betting on guaranteed catering gigs helped reduce risk and scale fast.Big Dreams, Smart Moves: From Walmart ambitions to family traditions at the Thanksgiving Day Parade, Kyle blends hustle with heart.

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• Being Green in Hollywood with Ed Begley Jr

  In this powerhouse episode of BizNinja Entrepreneur Radio, host Tyler Jorgenson welcomes legendary actor, environmental advocate, and accidental entrepreneur Ed Begley Jr. to the show. While many know him from films and television, Ed's decades-long commitment to clean living and sustainability might surprise you. From riding his bike to the Oscars to bottling eco-friendly cleaning products in his garage, Ed proves that walking the green talk can be both impactful and entertaining.Ed takes us on a time-traveling journey through his early adoption of electric cars, his adventures with faulty toner cartridges and primitive solar systems, and the birth of his eco-business, Begley’s Earth Responsible Products. His stories are equal parts hilarious and humbling—from delivering products himself in his electric car to learning the hard way about doing too much, too fast. He shares how he learned to value not just environmental resources, but his own time and energy as a resource, too.With wisdom drawn from smoggy childhoods, big-screen sets, and homegrown sustainability hacks, Ed dishes out heartfelt advice for aspiring entrepreneurs. His approach to advocacy is refreshingly relatable: lead by example, stay authentic, and do what you can—without burning out. Whether you’re launching a brand or just trying to live cleaner, Ed’s message is clear: live simply so that others can simply live.TakeawaysStart Small, Stay Consistent: Ed’s clean-living journey began in 1970 with vinegar and baking soda. Sometimes the simplest steps lead to lifelong impact.You Can’t Make Gasoline on Your Roof: But you can make solar power—and Ed’s been powering his life and car this way for decades.Walk the Talk, Quietly: Ed didn’t shout about his values—he just biked to the Oscars and let the media catch on. Authenticity speaks louder than megaphones.From Garage to Costco: His product line started in his garage (with help from his daughters!) and is now sold nationwide. Proof that green businesses can scale.You’re a Resource Too: Entrepreneurs must protect their own time and energy like any precious environmental resource.Lead with Common Ground: Don’t want to debate climate change? Focus on clean air, energy savings, and local impact. Change doesn’t always need a label.

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  32:40
• Creating Aspirational Adventure with Escapod Trailers

  When you combine X Games gold medals, restaurant dreams, and a DIY teardrop trailer built in a garage with hand tools from Home Depot—you get Escapod. In this episode, Tyler Jorgenson sits down with Jen and Chris Hudak, the powerhouse couple behind Escapod Trailers, to unpack their rugged road to success. From competitive ski slopes to the rocky startup terrain of entrepreneurship, Jen and Chris share how their unique talents (and willingness to sleep in tight quarters with two kids and a dog) helped them build a cult-followed adventure brand.But don’t be fooled—this isn’t your average glamping origin story. We dive into their startup days launching in a mother-in-law’s garage, the art of risk-taking, and what it's like to find product-market fit by accident while racing mountain bikes. They share the real behind-the-scenes of growing a business as a married couple, evolving past founder mode, and how they’re scaling Escapod into a high-performance brand while keeping their marriage, sanity, and camping gear intact.As they gear up to launch their new mountain bike-specific trailer at the Sea Otter Classic, Jen and Chris reflect on the highs, the whack-a-mole challenges of founder life, and why sometimes your customers know better than you do. Plus, find out who their dream brand ambassador is (hint: think cliffs, cameras, and killer calves). Whether you're an adrenaline junkie, gearhead, or weekend warrior dreaming of a side hustle—this one’s a wild ride.Key TakeawaysFrom X Games to Escapod: Jen’s competitive drive and Chris’s resourcefulness collided to create more than a company—it sparked an aspirational lifestyle brand for adventure seekers.Build it and They Will Ask Questions: Their original trailer wasn’t built to sell—but became a business idea after it attracted attention on mountain biking trips. Early validation came not from pitches, but from pure curiosity.Grow Together or Bust: As co-founders and spouses, balancing roles (and diapers) while scaling a company meant scheduling intentional family time, leaning into their opposite skillsets, and letting go of ego to evolve the brand.Chapters00:00 Introduction to Escapod Trailers01:44 The Entrepreneurial Journey Begins03:20 From Garage to Business05:01 Identifying Market Gaps07:20 Defining Roles in the Partnership08:40 Realizing Business Potential11:00 Overcoming Challenges as Founders13:44 Unique Adventures with Escapod Trailers16:30 Dream Collaborations and Future Plans17:33 Innovations in Trailer Design19:22 Listening to Customer Feedback21:59 Balancing Business and Personal Life26:31 Future Aspirations and Bucket Lists

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