The Grit to Growth Podcast

In this episode of The Grit to Growth Podcast, host Levi Te Slaa talks with Jon Sanders—a pastor, coach, firefighter, and serial entrepreneur—about what it means to serve people through business while staying true to your calling. Jon shares his powerful journey from a full-time firefighter to a multi-business owner, including the founding of Entree Pastors, an initiative that helps pastors build financial freedom by becoming entrepreneurs. He opens up about wrestling with his calling, embracing a multi-passionate identity, and building businesses that meet real community needs. You’ll hear how Jon went from financial insecurity in ministry to building successful ventures like Dakota Small Jobs and 605 Blinds. He explains why pastors often struggle with money, and how shifting mindset, understanding personal strengths, and building a business with purpose can help them thrive—both in ministry and in life. Jon also unpacks his MAPS framework, walks through the mindset shifts necessary for pastors to build sustainable income, and casts a compelling vision for future growth through business acquisitions.   -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Be A Guest Are you a successful business owner or professional with insights to share? Apply to be a guest on https://grittogrowthpodcast.com/guest and share your expertise with a wide audience eager to learn about you.

When Jennifer Johnson’s health forced her to rethink food, she didn’t just adapt — she transformed her entire lifestyle and eventually built a thriving business from it. In this episode, Levi Te Slaa chats with Jennifer about how a personal dietary shift turned into Gluten Free Please, a beloved gluten-free baking mix company that’s making waves in kitchens everywhere. Jennifer shares her journey from 25 years in banking to becoming a full-time entrepreneur. She talks about the challenges of navigating food allergies, the real story behind starting her business, and the products people can’t get enough of — like her double chocolate brownie mix and nostalgic Pizza Hut-style pizza crust. They also discuss the growing awareness around gluten-free living, how Jennifer is building a community around her brand, and what’s ahead in 2026 — including a new website, YouTube tutorials, and the surprising success of her new gluten-free sourdough bread.   -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Be A Guest Are you a successful business owner or professional with insights to share? Apply to be a guest on https://grittogrowthpodcast.com/guest and share your expertise with a wide audience eager to learn about you.

In this inspiring conversation, Jill Janecke shares how her roots on a Minnesota hog farm laid the foundation for a lifelong mission to serve rural communities through mental health care. Jill opens up about the grit it took to launch Rising Hope Counseling in Pierre, South Dakota, with just one client—and how it’s now grown to 30 locations across four states. We dive deep into how understanding the brain and building awareness can be transformational not just in therapy, but in leadership, work culture, and daily life. Jill shares the power of EMDR therapy, why “hope” became the heart of her practice, and how therapy in rural America is evolving through hybrid and telehealth models. Whether you’re a therapist, a leader, or someone who believes in second chances and strong communities, this episode will move you.     -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Be A Guest Are you a successful business owner or professional with insights to share? Apply to be a guest on https://grittogrowthpodcast.com/guest and share your expertise with a wide audience eager to learn about you.

What does it take to lead a medical team through a child’s emergency and be a calm, confident presence for families during their worst moments? In this episode of The Grit to Growth Podcast, host Levi Te Slaa sits down with Dr. Donald “Don” Ellis, a pediatric emergency medicine physician now based in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Don shares his journey from Delaware to building a pediatric emergency program in the Dakotas—something he describes as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to serve an underserved region. Don unpacks what makes pediatric emergency care so unique, how it differs from general emergency medicine, and why he insists on a first-name basis with his team to eliminate barriers to communication when seconds matter. From the launch of a new pediatric ER wing to the role of "Child Life" specialists and an upcoming emergency medicine residency, Don’s work is reshaping healthcare access for children in the Upper Midwest.   --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Be A Guest Are you a successful business owner or professional with insights to share? Apply to be a guest on https://grittogrowthpodcast.com/guest and share your expertise with a wide audience eager to learn about you.

What do NFL players, firefighters, and everyday adults all have in common? They want to move better, feel better, and live pain-free. In this episode, Levi Te Slaa sits down with Mark “Coach Rozy” Roozen, a veteran strength and conditioning coach with a remarkable journey spanning NFL sidelines, hospital wellness centers, and high school gyms. Coach Rozy shares how his upbringing in small-town South Dakota shaped his passion for movement and health. You'll hear how he brought American football to Europe, built strength programs in Texas and South Dakota, and developed Live Pain Free—a program helping professionals overcome repetitive use injuries. Whether you're an elite athlete or just want to pick up your grandkids without pain, Coach Rozy has insights for you. He breaks down how patterns, progression, and practical programming can transform performance and wellbeing across all ages and professions.   --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Be A Guest Are you a successful business owner or professional with insights to share? Apply to be a guest on https://grittogrowthpodcast.com/guest and share your expertise with a wide audience eager to learn about you.

In this heartfelt episode, Levi sits down with Abby Lawrence, founder of Two Pines Therapy and Connection Center, to explore what it really means to heal, connect, and show up for others—and ourselves—when life gets hard. Abby opens up about her deeply personal journey from corporate America to starting a private practice after the sudden loss of her father. She shares how personal pain shaped her mission and how connection—not just therapy—is at the core of true healing. Listeners will hear about: The story behind the name "Two Pines" Abby’s experience navigating grief, sudden change, and starting a business The powerful therapies used at Two Pines, including EMDR, EFT, CBT, DBT, and ACT How Abby helps clients reconnect with themselves and others in a disconnected world The lessons she's learning as a mental health provider and business owner --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Be A Guest Are you a successful business owner or professional with insights to share? Apply to be a guest on https://grittogrowthpodcast.com/guest and share your expertise with a wide audience eager to learn about you.

In this episode of The Grit to Growth Podcast, Levi welcomes two powerhouse women in the field of functional medicine: Dr. Cheryl Bones and Dr. Jessica Pearson, co-founders of Prairie Roots Health. From their unexpected connection in South Dakota to launching a thriving clinic together, their journey is anything but ordinary. Dr. Pearson shares her shift from a high-intensity military career as an OBGYN to embracing holistic health after COVID sparked a personal transformation. Dr. Bones reflects on her path from chiropractor to functional medicine advocate and business owner, driven by her passion to uncover the root causes behind health challenges. Together, they explain how their clinic focuses on individualized, root-cause care—helping patients optimize health through nutrition, stress management, gut health, lifestyle changes, and personalized plans, not just prescriptions. They also share insights on balancing science and lifestyle, the power of collaboration, and why they don’t want clients to need them forever.   --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Be A Guest Are you a successful business owner or professional with insights to share? Apply to be a guest on https://grittogrowthpodcast.com/guest and share your expertise with a wide audience eager to learn about you.

In this heartfelt and insightful episode, Levi Te Slaa sits down with Hope Norland, Operating Director at Cornerstone Caregiving, to talk about the power of support, dignity, and proactive care in the lives of seniors and their families. Hope shares her personal journey—from being an English major to becoming a leader in home-based senior care. She opens up about her experience in hospice care, the emotional rewards of helping families reclaim time with their loved ones, and the importance of shifting from reactive caregiving to intentional care planning. They explore: The emotional and practical toll caregiving can have on families What “activities of daily living” really mean in a home care context The qualities that define a great caregiver Why families should start care conversations early How Cornerstone Caregiving supports clients in staying home safely and with dignity --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Be A Guest Are you a successful business owner or professional with insights to share? Apply to be a guest on https://grittogrowthpodcast.com/guest and share your expertise with a wide audience eager to learn about you.

From a garage sale Stephen King novel to publishing alongside Stephen King himself, Doug Murano’s creative journey is a masterclass in perseverance, passion, and pivoting when life deals you a “bad hand.” Doug opens up about his South Dakota roots, how a pandemic-era closet became his first home office, and the early sparks that led him to editing, writing, and eventually founding Bad Hand Books. He shares what it’s really like behind the scenes in indie publishing, how a moment of personal crisis sparked his company’s powerful name, and why horror has always been his home genre. Key Takeaways: Why Doug abandoned law school just 9 days before it began How he pivoted during a layoff with four young kids to create a business The story behind “Bad Hand Books” and what it stands for His dream-come-true project collaborating with Stephen King --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Be A Guest Are you a successful business owner or professional with insights to share? Apply to be a guest on https://grittogrowthpodcast.com/guest and share your expertise with a wide audience eager to learn about you.

Levi Te Slaa sits down with Dr. Abigail Polzin—ER doc, former AirMed Medical Director, and current program director for the newly launched emergency medicine residency at USD Sanford. They talk about her journey from Utah to Wisconsin to South Dakota, her time in the air as a flight medicine leader, and what it takes to build an innovative training program in a part of the country that has long needed it. You'll hear about: Why Abigail fell in love with emergency medicine How her team handled 14,000+ flight patients over a decade What makes South Dakota’s new residency program so impactful How rural healthcare differs from big-city medicine The emotional toll—and reward—of ER work What aspiring ER docs need to succeed --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Be A Guest Are you a successful business owner or professional with insights to share? Apply to be a guest on https://grittogrowthpodcast.com/guest and share your expertise with a wide audience eager to learn about you.

What happens when a renowned atmospheric scientist turns his attention to cattle ranching? In this episode, Dr. Patrick Zimmerman—founder and CEO of C-Lock Inc.—shares how his journey from environmental research to agricultural innovation is helping reshape animal agriculture around the globe. From pioneering emissions monitoring systems to revolutionizing how ranchers measure efficiency, Dr. Zimmerman opens up about the power of data, science, and respect for ruminant animals. He discusses how early work at the National Center for Atmospheric Research led him to develop technology that bridges biosphere-atmosphere science with real-world applications for farmers and ranchers. Listeners will hear the fascinating story of how his company, C-Lock, evolved from a carbon accounting concept into a global leader in precision livestock monitoring—with clients across 50 countries and counting. Whether you’re a rancher, a scientist, or someone curious about sustainable agriculture, this episode unpacks big ideas in an approachable and practical way.   --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Be A Guest Are you a successful business owner or professional with insights to share? Apply to be a guest on https://grittogrowthpodcast.com/guest and share your expertise with a wide audience eager to learn about you.  

In this episode, host Levi Te Slaa welcomes Carrie Gerlach, founder and owner of Black Hills Adventure Tours. Carrie shares her inspiring story of starting the business with a modest loan, a few kayaks, and a big dream. Now celebrating 20 successful seasons, she’s grown the company into a thriving adventure and tourism service offering customized experiences across the Black Hills and beyond. Carrie opens up about her early years, how she transitioned from hospitality into entrepreneurship, and what it took to build a seasonal business from the ground up. She also talks about balancing motherhood, creative problem-solving, expanding her offerings with women's travel experiences around the world, and the importance of partnerships in delivering world-class guest experiences. Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur, a lover of the outdoors, or someone curious about sustainable business growth, this episode is packed with grit, vision, and wisdom.   --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Be A Guest Are you a successful business owner or professional with insights to share? Apply to be a guest on https://grittogrowthpodcast.com/guest and share your expertise with a wide audience eager to learn about you.

From dreaming of designing Corvettes to leading a cutting-edge 3D printing company, Shon Anderson’s path is anything but traditional. In this episode, Shon unpacks his journey from small-town South Dakota to CEO of B9Creations and shares what really makes technology stick in today’s business world. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: Why understanding your gifts might take a great boss—not just time How technical skills and people skills can collide to create innovation The three pillars every company needs to consider for successful tech implementation Why B9Creations’ approach to additive manufacturing is changing how businesses adopt technology The surprising role of mentorship, mindset, and soft skills in tech success Whether you're a startup founder, a leader at a growing company, or early in your career, this conversation will give you tools to better align your talents with your goals—and to think differently about how people and tech can grow together.   --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Be A Guest Are you a successful business owner or professional with insights to share? Apply to be a guest on https://grittogrowthpodcast.com/guest and share your expertise with a wide audience eager to learn about you.

What happens when an 83-year-old mathematician, entrepreneur, and lifelong problem-solver builds an AI platform to separate fact from fiction online? In this episode, Levi Te Slaa welcomes Brian Dempsey—a seasoned consultant, company founder, and the mind behind hallucinations.cloud—to talk about truth, tech, and the art of knowing what (and who) to trust in the digital age. Brian shares his fascinating journey from a successful actuarial career to building and selling his own firm, and now to coding and innovating in the AI space. You’ll hear how he’s applying the "wisdom of the crowd" through technology to combat misinformation and why he believes AI is a tool anyone—even those who fear math—can use to solve real-world problems.   ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Be A Guest Are you a successful business owner or professional with insights to share? Apply to be a guest on https://grittogrowthpodcast.com/guest and share your expertise with a wide audience eager to learn about you.

From the bleachers to the boardroom — Travis Morgan’s journey is a story of grit, growth, and Midwest charm. In this episode, Levi Te Slaa sits down with Travis to unpack his path from small-town Nebraska to CEO of the Sioux City Musketeers. Along the way, Travis shares lessons learned in TV sports, marketing, the symphony, and minor league hockey — including why betting on yourself and taking a leap can change your life. Travis opens up about: How a summer internship launched his career in broadcasting Moving from the newsroom to marketing a casino — and what business lessons he learned Reinventing how the community saw the Sioux City Symphony Leading the Musketeers through one of the most successful runs in team history What it means to lead with heart, build strong relationships, and “reverse the curse” (seriously!) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Be A Guest Are you a successful business owner or professional with insights to share? Apply to be a guest on https://grittogrowthpodcast.com/guest and share your expertise with a wide audience eager to learn about you.

What happens when you mix neuroscience, law, and a dinner table conversation? You get Aaron Emerson’s journey from medical research to revolutionizing hospital care. In this episode of The Grit to Growth Podcast, host Levi Te Slaa sits down with Aaron, CEO of SEGA Innovations, to uncover how he's turning pain points in hospitals into life-saving innovations. From discussing his pivot from academia to entrepreneurship, to explaining how SEGA’s groundbreaking air-lateral transfer devices are reducing patient and staff injuries, Aaron shares a behind-the-scenes look at medical product innovation. You’ll hear how SEGA balances accessibility, affordability, and cutting-edge tech to meet real hospital needs — all while staying rooted in Sioux Falls. Whether you’re a healthcare professional, aspiring entrepreneur, or someone interested in innovation, this episode delivers insights on turning practical problems into powerful business opportunities.   ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Be A Guest Are you a successful business owner or professional with insights to share? Apply to be a guest on https://grittogrowthpodcast.com/guest and share your expertise with a wide audience eager to learn about you.

In this episode, Levi Te Slaa sits down with Vishnu Nellore, a civil engineer for the City of Sioux Falls, to talk about his journey from coastal India to the snowy plains of South Dakota—and how he’s now influencing the growth and infrastructure of one of America’s fastest-growing cities. Vishnu shares how he came to study at South Dakota State University, adjusted to life in the U.S., and discovered a passion for engineering that’s all about people as much as it is about projects. You’ll hear about: The cultural and climate shock of moving from India to South Dakota What drew Vishnu to SDSU and civil engineering His experience adapting to a new language, new customs, and the Imperial system How public input shapes large-scale infrastructure projects in Sioux Falls An exciting new interchange project that will connect growing parts of the city The importance of leadership and public trust in civic engineering Why Vishnu believes Sioux Falls is a great place to live and work ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Be A Guest Are you a successful business owner or professional with insights to share? Apply to be a guest on https://grittogrowthpodcast.com/guest and share your expertise with a wide audience eager to learn about you.

Levi Te Slaa sits down with Joanna Prewitt, a licensed therapist and the founder of Enso Mental Health in Spearfish, South Dakota. Joanna opens up about her path from working in social services to launching her own mental health practice. Inspired by personal experience and a desire to “help the helpers,” JoAnna built Enso with a vision to create a supportive, sustainable environment for therapists and clients alike. In this heartfelt conversation, Joanna reflects on how her parents’ divorce sparked a lifelong dedication to therapy, why she left nonprofit work, and how she scaled Enso Mental Health from a solo practice into a 9-clinician team in just a few years. She also shares how the COVID-19 pandemic reshaped mental healthcare delivery and her future plans to expand into Rapid City.   ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Be A Guest Are you a successful business owner or professional with insights to share? Apply to be a guest on https://grittogrowthpodcast.com/guest and share your expertise with a wide audience eager to learn about you.

In this episode of The Grit to Growth Podcast, Levi Te Slaa welcomes Dr. Jeremy Cauwels, a small-town Iowa native whose early experiences with congenital heart disease inspired a lifelong pursuit of care and leadership. Now the Chief Medical Officer of Sanford Health, Dr. Cauwels discusses how he went from hospital medicine to helping oversee quality, safety, and graduate medical education across a vast healthcare system. He shares insights on leading through growth, the importance of communication in large organizations, and the lasting lessons from navigating the COVID-19 pandemic. Listeners will also hear his advice for emerging leaders, the value of “just showing up,” and how Sanford continues to support healthcare careers from the ground up. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Be A Guest Are you a successful business owner or professional with insights to share? Apply to be a guest on https://grittogrowthpodcast.com/guest and share your expertise with a wide audience eager to learn about you.

In this episode of The Grit to Growth Podcast, host Levi Te Slaa sits down with Ryan Junek, a fourth-generation business owner and the force behind Junek's Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram in Spearfish, South Dakota. From his family's migration during the Great Depression to running one of the oldest car dealerships in the region, Ryan shares a story rooted in resilience, adaptation, and legacy. Tune in to hear how a small gas station evolved into a thriving car dealership, how Ryan transitioned from running a car rental business at the Rapid City Airport to taking the reins of the family enterprise, and why staying at the forefront of technology and community involvement has been crucial to his success. This episode dives deep into the challenges and benefits of multi-generational businesses, Ryan’s advocacy work through the South Dakota Auto Dealers Association, and how he’s keeping the Junek legacy alive—brick by cinder block, one generation at a time.   ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Be A Guest Are you a successful business owner or professional with insights to share? Apply to be a guest on https://grittogrowthpodcast.com/guest and share your expertise with a wide audience eager to learn about you.