The Unshakeables

Imani Ellis has always believed community is a superpower. What began as a small gathering in her Harlem apartment grew into The Creative Collective NYC and CultureCon — one of the largest conferences celebrating creators of color. But behind the highlight reels and celebrity speakers, Imani’s journey has been defined by burnout, bold leaps and learning when to pause.  In this episode, Ben and Kathleen sit down with Imani and explore what it takes to transform a passion project into a cultural movement. From balancing a demanding career at NBCUniversal with late-night CultureCon planning, to walking away from work at the height of burnout for a self-designed “creative residency” in Paris, Imani shares the realities of leadership, rest and why joy and community must stay at the center of her work.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Samantha Snabes never set out to build a typical company. As co-founder of re:3D and a member of the Air Force National Guard, she launched an open-source 3D printing company that prioritizes access over exclusivity. But when back-to-back hurricanes hit both her team in Houston and her customers in Puerto Rico, it nearly brought the business to a halt. Then came COVID, and a vendor vanished without a trace.   In this episode, Ben Walter is joined by returning guest Ryan Pavel, CEO of the Warrior-Scholar Project, to talk with Samantha about building something bigger than profit, the messy realities of mission-driven entrepreneurship and the moment she hired an Uber driver to help her track down a missing supplier. Together, they unpack what it means to lead an open-source company through crisis, and why leadership sometimes requires breaking the rules. These are The Unshakeables.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When Hurricane Katrina hit, Gary LeBlanc did what he knew best—he showed up to cook. But what he found on the ground was far from comforting. The food being served to survivors wasn't physically or spiritually nourishing. That moment sparked the idea for Mercy Chefs, a faith-based disaster relief organization committed to serving high-quality, home-cooked meals to people in crisis.   In this episode, Ben Walter and Kathleen Griffith sit down with Gary to hear how he built Mercy Chefs from the ground up, often with no money in the bank and no backup plan. They'll also discuss the true price of answering a calling, and what it takes to serve others when the storms just keep coming. These are The Unshakeables.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After a sudden health crisis rocked his family, Patrick Hall made an unexpected move: he bought a flower shop. Elan Flowers wasn’t just a creative venture—it was a lifeline. For Patrick, becoming a small business owner was the only way he could guarantee healthcare, financial stability, and a sense of control in a moment that felt anything but secure.    In this episode, Ben Walter is joined by Dr. Laurie Santos, Yale professor and host of “The Happiness Lab,” to talk about how stability, risk, and security shape our sense of wellbeing. They’re also joined by Dan Mendelson, CEO of Morgan Health, and Stacy Edgar, CEO and Co-Founder of Venteur, to explore the real-world challenges of accessing health insurance as a small business owner—and what it takes to navigate a system that often leaves entrepreneurs behind.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Aadeel Akhtar always knew he wanted to help people, but instead of following the traditional path through medicine, he took a detour that led to something a little more electric: building a bionic hand. He started his company Psyonic to merge engineering with compassion and transform the prosthetics industry, but it didn’t come easily. Dead batteries, buggy code, and even a missing patient nearly cost him his shot.    Join Ben Walter and Kathleen Griffith as they sit down with Aadeel to talk about walking away from med school, betting on a vision, and building a business that could change life for millions. These are The Unshakeables.    To see the Ability Hand in action, check it out here. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When Benjamin Haugh was 19, he opened his business, All Nation Restoration—not because he wanted to, but because it was the only option he had. Born into challenging circumstances and overcoming adversity at a young age, Benjamin and All Nation Restoration have become a pillar of the Austin, TX community, helping people rebuild and pick up the pieces when disaster strikes. A terrible flood personally affected Benjamin, proving that even those in the restoration business aren’t immune to tragedy. However, when you spend your life helping others, they are there to support you when it’s needed most. Join Ben Walter and special guest Dr. Laurie Santos, a Yale professor and host of the podcast The Happiness Lab, as they chat with Benjamin about his unlikely journey from Texas teen to CEO, how he put everything he had into the business, and the incredible resilience that fueled his remarkable path to success. These are The Unshakeables.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Transitioning your business isn’t something that happens overnight — it takes thoughtful planning to make sure everything goes smoothly. In this special episode of The Unshakeables, Ben sits with Adam Frank, Head of Wealth Planning and Advice, at JPMorgan Chase as they break down the steps every business owner should take to prepare for the future, whether passing a business on to a family member, a partner, or selling to a third party. Ben and Adam discuss the importance of setting up a solid succession plan while also managing the financial, legal, and emotional side of transition.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Growing up in New York City's Chinatown, Cory Ng and his friends were entrepreneurial from an early age, selling items like T-shirts, ice cream, and bikes. For their next chapter, Cory’s group decided to open a restaurant called the Potluck Club. The paperwork, construction and approvals were overwhelming, even before a contractor ran off with $50,000 of Cory's money. Fortunately, his entrepreneurial drive, along with a little bit of luck, became his recipe for success.    Join Ben and Jessica Young, Head of Product for Chase Payment Solutions, as they chat with Cory about running a company with his best friends, his own legacy of family-run small businesses, and his hopes for the future of Chinatown. Jessica even has her own special connection to Chinatown. These are The Unshakeables.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You may know Sloane Stephens from her prowess on the tennis court. You should also know her for her business savvy. She launched the Sloane Stephens Foundation in 2013 to get rackets into the hands of the Compton Unified School District. Ten years later she was set to launch Doc & Glo, her self-funded skincare company, when a web designer noticed all of the product packaging she’d approved had been ripped off from another company. But Sloane never backs down from a challenge.    Join Ben Walter and Kathleen Griffith as they chat with Sloane about a champion’s mindset toward business. Discover how to align a new company with an existing brand image and hear how Sloane moves through bad news with ease. These are The Unshakeables.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When Don Hejny toured with big country artists, he had a sweaty problem: his glasses would not stay put on his nose. Annoyed at constantly having to adjust them, he took matters into his own hands. He found inspiration from a childhood tool - surf wax - and after three years of tinkering, NerdWax was born. He took his idea to Kickstarter, then to Shark Tank, then finally to Instagram, when he nearly lost all of his sales to an iOS Update.   Join Ben and Kathleen Griffith as they chat with Don about finding inspiration everywhere, how he was his own best product tester, and how he leveraged his appearance on Shark Tank even though he didn’t take the deal. These are The Unshakeables.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kilee Nickels never set out to be a CEO, but when her first pair of custom-made earrings became a huge hit, she knew she had to turn her passion into a business. From that moment, Nickel & Suede was born. But the journey hasn’t been without challenges — early on, Kilee faced everything from growing pains to a near $20K scam that could’ve ended everything. On today’s episode, Ben is joined in the co-host seat by Eunique Jones Gibson, founder of Because Of Them We Can and Culture Brands. Together, they sit down with Kilee to dive into the realities of scaling Nickel and Suede, exploring the power of vision, authentic leadership and staying true to your brand’s core values while growing.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In a previous episode of The Unshakeables, Ben spoke with Kilee Nickels of Nickel & Suede about a near $20,000 scam. In this bonus episode, Ben continues his conversation with Darius Kingsley, head of banking practices at JP Morgan Chase, to discuss the growing threats of fraud targeting businesses. Darius shares insights on evolving scam tactics and offers practical advice on how businesses can stay vigilant and protected.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A few years ago, Zahra Hargens-Illiff discovered batteries light her up. She built her own battery prototype in her garage and hit the VC circuit. But after a series of disappointing rejections, she took matters into her own hands and bootstrapped her first few products. A decision that took a lot of courage but one that is paying off. Join Ben Walter and Kathleen Griffith as they chat with Zahra about a clean energy future. Discover what it takes to actually build a battery prototype and hear about the grant that almost launched her company (but ended up costing her $17,000). Zahra also has one of the best entrepreneurial coping mechanisms Ben has ever heard. These are The Unshakeables. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

George Esquivel started making shoes for himself and some friends, up-and-coming musicians in Southern California. Soon, Hollywood came calling. And it wasn’t just celebrities who took notice. A film financier did, too. He said he wanted to invest in the company,  but George soon realized his intentions weren’t what they seemed.   Join Ben and special guest host Kathleen Griffith as they speak to George about the rise of Esquivel Designs. Hear what a meeting with Anna Wintour is really like, and what happens when you’re betrayed by someone inside your company. These are The Unshakeables.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Unshakeables is back for Season 2 — and it’s kicking off with an episode you absolutely won’t want to miss. Listen in as Ben Walter sits with a very special guest: chairman and CEO of JPMorganChase, Jamie Dimon. One of the world’s most respected financial thought leaders, Jamie will connect the dots between the current challenges facing small business owners and the broader financial landscape. And, of course, it wouldn’t be an episode of The Unshakeables if Jamie didn’t share some of the pivotal moments that he overcame to forge ahead in his own career.    This season Ben will also be joined by some new co-hosts, all of whom are making waves in business and culture in their own right. In this first episode, you'll hear from Kathleen Griffith, founder of Grayce & Co. and author of Build Like a Woman.    The Unshakeables is brought to you by Chase for Business and Ruby Studio by iHeartMedia. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome to The Unshakeables, Season 2, featuring new interviews with small business owners who share their make-or-break moments and the resilience it took to persevere. Join CEO of Chase for Business and host Ben Walter, along with a special lineup of co-hosts, as they pull back the curtain with entrepreneurs who tell their unfiltered and inspiring stories. The Unshakeables is brought to you by Chase for Business and Ruby Studio by iHeartMediaSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The idea for Fresh Bloom Bins struck Tia Johnson like lightning on a hot summer day. After struggling with a dirty trash can and a teenager reluctant to clean it, Tia was inspired to start her own trash can cleaning business. She hit the ground running, quickly landing a government pilot program.   In this episode, as we continue to celebrate business across the country, Ben heads to Ohio to talk with Tia Johnson of Fresh Bloom Bins and Desmond Bryant from the Columbus Chamber of Commerce. They discuss how to navigate government contracts, clean up sticky situations, and keep your business growing through it all. The Unshakeables is brought to you by Chase for Business and Ruby Studio by iHeartMediaSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Quanetta “Q” McNeal loves two things: people and logistics. When she had the chance to combine these interests and launch her own company with her employer's support, she jumped in feet first. But starting her logistics business came with surprises no one could anticipate, like packages mysteriously disappearing, traffic jams stretching for miles and delivery trucks veering off course and crashing into trees.  Join Ben as he chats with Quanetta, founder of Haus of Logistics, about her journey from small business coach to entrepreneur. With 35 trucks on the road, she knows firsthand that each vehicle presents a unique opportunity for things to go awry. Ben is also joined by Dr. Gia Wiggins, founder of Auditocity, to explore human resource issues that small business owners must face to ensure their success. These are The Unshakeables. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When Craig Rupp left Iowa in the 80s, he never wanted to step foot on a farm again. A whirlwind career as an engineer took him to some of the biggest companies - Motorola, Apple, Samsung - but he always felt a strong connection to his roots. He had an idea he couldn’t shake - an opportunity to change farming forever. Introducing Sabanto and its best-in-class Autonomous Operator, Steward. On the day of their first big test, the tractor froze, stuck in a field in a blizzard - no planting, no company, no future. If Craig wanted this to work, he had to find a solution - and fast.  Ben is back with a series of episodes celebrating businesses from across America, starting with the great state of Iowa and Sabanto Agriculture. Joining Ben is Sachin Seghal Founder of Elevate Digital Marketing in Des Moines and Brian Lamb, Northeast segment head for Middle Market at JPMorgan Chase. Together they discuss the developments in Artificial Intelligence and its importance for small businesses while sharing insights on how small businesses can effectively transition to mid-sized enterprises and beyond.    The Unshakeables is brought to you by Chase for Business and Ruby Studio by iHeartMediaSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Transitioning to civilian life after years of military service can be daunting. Some veterans pursue higher education, while others explore business and entrepreneurship, each journey uniquely personal. What remains constant is the importance of ensuring service members are well-prepared for this transition.    In this special episode of The Unshakeables, Ben sits down with Ryan Pavel, a veteran and CEO of the national nonprofit Warrior-Scholar Project, to discuss his transition from the military. Ryan shares how the discipline and determination he developed during his service helped him achieve his dream job: guiding and preparing other veterans for a fulfilling life after service.    Additionally, Ben is joined by Mark Elliott, Managing Director and Global Head of Military and Veterans Affairs at JPMorgan Chase, who offers his insights on why veterans often become exceptional leaders and passionate entrepreneurs   The Unshakeables is brought to you by Chase for Business and Ruby Studio by iHeartMediaSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.