How They're Here

This week you'll hear a conversation I had with former Bite Squad COO, Kyle Hale. Bite Squad is a restaurant delivery service that was founded here in Minneapolis, and is prominent for providing excellent service whether delivery or take-out. They are partnered with local restaurants, maintain a robust customer service, and utilize a fleet of environmentally friendly vehicles to get fresh food from the restaurant straight to the customer, quickly and hassle free! They are widely regarded as one of the city’s most successful tech start-ups. Kyle Hale is an entrepreneur and technology executive who built the foundation of his career in sales and operations with both B2B and B2C high growth technology companies. His roles span the fitness industry, multi-unit operations in QSR, e-commerce, selling software to the enterprise and most recently as partner and COO of Bite Squad, the restaurant delivery service which was acquired for $321M in January of 2019. As COO Kyle led customer support, dispatch, field operations, and cross matrix managed sales, marketing, and product with the CEOs. A unique generalist with expansive domain knowledge in sales, marketing automation, product/software development, full-cycle recruiting, leadership, and strategy execution. More creative than an executive, he has a non-egotistical approach with a focus on developing the psychology and performance of his team through 1-1 mentoring. After building two companies to acquisition in the last 7 years, he is now consulting with startups in the midwest, serves as a dad to his son, Sky, and is working to start a children’s clothing line. Get a FREE $5 -> https://cash.app/app/CSDFRPD Check out my gear -> https://kit.com/howtheyrehere/podcast-setup Earn a free stock -> https://act.webull.com/promotion/invitation/share.html?inviteCode=VRufndUhOqUU

This week I have one of the more unique conversations I’ve had in a while with Minnesota’s resident “dot connector and glue piece,” Nick McLaughlin aka the Stationary Astronaut. On the surface, Stationary Astronaut is a philanthropic media and event company, but deeper than that it’s the culmination of all Nick’s entire life… the good, the bad and the ugly. In this episode we dig into all of it, we talk about what makes up the fabric of an entrepreneur and what someone in my position can be doing to cut their teeth and shape themselves for the next 10 years. Enjoy! Get a FREE $5 -> https://cash.app/app/CSDFRPD Check out my gear -> https://kit.com/howtheyrehere/podcast-setup Earn a free stock -> https://act.webull.com/promotion/invitation/share.html?inviteCode=VRufndUhOqUU

**NOTE** Upon going back to edit this episode, the first 33ish minutes of this podcast’s audio file vanished. Poof, gone, nada, nothing. So you’ll have to bear with some below average camera audio until about minute 33 when the microphones kick back in. Sorry for my seeming incompetencies. I won’t be sorry, I’ll be better. This week I sat down with Jackson LeFebvre, the co-founder and CEO of ParkPoolr. ParkPoolr is a web-based app that crowd-sources parking spots for large events, such as sports, concerts or even the Minnesota State Fair. While this is his first official business venture, Jackson has always been a man of ideas and an admirer of entrepreneurs like Elon Musk. But it took a trip to Hong Kong (where he met his co-founder Landon Butterworth), for Jackson to realize that the trajectory he was on at the University of Minnesota of studying finance and entrepreneurship was much like that of most of his other classmates. Aspiring for more, Jackson took his semester abroad as a leap of faith, which catalyzed the start of ParkPoolr and the rest of his professional career. Since, Jackson and ParkPoolr have won the MN Cup (an entrepreneurship competition in which the winner pockets $40,000), been featured on numerous media outlets, and on boarded thousands of potential parkers thanks to the Minnesota United season and Minnesota State Fair. Get a FREE $5 -> https://cash.app/app/CSDFRPD Check out my gear -> https://kit.com/howtheyrehere/podcast-setup Earn a free stock -> https://act.webull.com/promotion/invitation/share.html?inviteCode=VRufndUhOqUU

This week you'll hear the second part of a two part series chronicling the start of Minnesota-based tech start-up, Float. COO and Co-Founder of Float, Ross Larson, describe the web-based service as the "Airbnb of boats," which simply allows boat owners to rent out their boats when they're not using them. Ross’s story is one that looks a lot like anyone else's. He went to school at Iowa State, studied engineering and had a good paying sales job in Chicago after graduation. However, for Ross, there was still something that felt unfinished. The conversations he and his life-long friend Jake McHenry had about starting a business never fully came to fruition. That all changed when Jake called Ross with a recent relocation he had in an MBA class: Airbnb for boats. Ross loved the idea but was skeptical about leaving his young career in Chicago. That was until he had a life-altering tipping point. His mom died unexpectedly, which caused Ross to face the music. He realized he wanted to be doing something more with his life, so he quit, packed his bags and moved into Jake’s mom’s basement in Minnesota. Hear the whole story, and the mindset that got him here in this week's episode! Get a FREE $5 -> https://cash.app/app/CSDFRPD Check out my gear -> https://kit.com/howtheyrehere/podcast-setup Earn a free stock -> https://act.webull.com/promotion/invitation/share.html?inviteCode=VRufndUhOqUU

This week you'll hear the first part of a two part series chronicling the start of Minnesota-based tech start-up, Float. CEO and Co-Founder of Float, Jake McHenry, describe the web-based service as the "Airbnb of boats," which simply allows boat owners to rent out their boats when they're not using them. Jake's story is one grounded in entrepreneurship, work and constant progress and it started younger than most as he began working for his parent's ballroom dance studio around the age of 5. From there, his entrepreneurial ambitions grew, although briefly side-tracked during his time in school and working at Target. But even as he was pursuing a more "traditional" career, the wheels never stoped turning and him and his co-founder / life-long friend, Ross Larson (next week's episode), and an epiphany struck while in an MBA class here at Carlson for peer-to-peer rentals for boats. Hear the whole story, and the mindset that got him here in this week's episode!  Get a FREE $5 -> https://cash.app/app/CSDFRPD Check out my gear -> https://kit.com/howtheyrehere/podcast-setup Earn a free stock -> https://act.webull.com/promotion/invitation/share.html?inviteCode=VRufndUhOqUU

Peter Schultze started Plyo out of the Carlson School of Management here at the University of Minnesota, and while the app hasn't always looked the same, Peter and his co-founder have been consistently driven by their mission of helping students build healthier behaviors in one of the most formidable times of their life. Plyo helps students do this by tracking how much time they spend at their university's fitness center and allowing them to earn points that they can use for discounts at area restaurants, stores and even online. Peter and I discuss his journey into entrepreneurship, starting all the way back in elementary school and continuing through a variety of other ventures including a music label and a digital agency.  Peter now works full time on Plyo, recently stepping away from his degree program at Carlson, and aims to take the platform to more Big 10 schools, students and businesses in 2020 with his growing team of now 4 employees.  Get a FREE $5 -> https://cash.app/app/CSDFRPD Check out my gear -> https://kit.com/howtheyrehere/podcast-setup Earn a free stock -> https://act.webull.com/promotion/invitation/share.html?inviteCode=VRufndUhOqUU

This week I sat down with Josh Englert, videographer for SLAM. SLAM is a print and online basketball publication with millions of followers aggregated across multiple platforms. Josh has been working with them for over a year as a freelance videographer and editor, and is responsible for shooting some of Minnesota’s top high school recruits including Jalen Suggs, Page Bueckers and Chet Holmgren. I organically stumbled across Josh’s fast-paced and hard-hitting edits about a month ago, and was immediately intrigued by the infrastructure that SLAM has built with independent creators. Josh sheds a light into how this world of scalable content works, and shares what it’s like to work for these world-wide brands from the perspective of a creator. Get a FREE $5 -> https://cash.app/app/CSDFRPD Check out my gear -> https://kit.com/howtheyrehere/podcast-setup Earn a free stock -> https://act.webull.com/promotion/invitation/share.html?inviteCode=VRufndUhOqUU

Listen to Taran Johal, co-founder and CEO of app Tavolo, discuss how he’s working to reimagine the restaurant industry while still in school. Taran and his two co-founders started Tavolo in early 2018 and have already partnered with 16 Minneapolis restaurants, placed as a semi-finalist in the MN Cup and have begun attracting a local base of users. Taran sheds some light into his daily schedule and how he manages to balance a full class load with a young company. His perspective into the life of an entrepreneur just goes to show the amount of work it takes to find success with your own venture, and how it’s possible to remain fulfilled and motivated through a process that is all too often draining and destructive. Get a FREE $5 -> https://cash.app/app/CSDFRPD Check out my gear -> https://kit.com/howtheyrehere/podcast-setup Earn a free stock -> https://act.webull.com/promotion/invitation/share.html?inviteCode=VRufndUhOqUU

Myles Biggs is How They’re Here’s first EVER recurring guest, and this conversation might top the last (S1 E005). Myles gives his perspective on being a creator as a busy professional, husband, MBA student and dad and also gives me (and the rest of the young creators out there) some sage advice for our 20’s. Myles also tells stories like how he used his podcast to get a job as a Director of Marketing, quitting his job running a $50 million business and so much more. Get a FREE $5 -> https://cash.app/app/CSDFRPD Check out my gear -> https://kit.com/howtheyrehere/podcast-setup Earn a free stock -> https://act.webull.com/promotion/invitation/share.html?inviteCode=VRufndUhOqUU

This week I had a conversation with one of my very best friends, Will Stone. While I had never actually met Will before, we have known each other for over a year all the way back from our Athlete Nation days. Will now spends his days doing incredible graphic design work for the University of Nebraska (like seriously, insane). We talk about all things life and career, reflecting and projecting. I can’t wait to listen back on this episode years from now and hear how far we’ve come. Enjoy! Get a FREE $5 -> https://cash.app/app/CSDFRPD Check out my gear -> https://kit.com/howtheyrehere/podcast-setup Earn a free stock -> shorturl.at/jov49

This week I sit down with the founder of Fingrprint, Jackson Jones. Fingrprint is a corporate gifting company that makes custom wooden pieces for companies and brands to the likes of Gary Vee, Young and Reckless and countless more. Jackson has an unmatched determination to succeed, and it shows in how he talks about Fingrprint and his journey to become a full time entrepreneur. Get a FREE $5 -> https://cash.app/app/CSDFRPD Check out my gear -> https://kit.com/howtheyrehere/podcast-setup Earn a free stock -> shorturl.at/jov49

I'm taking to the mic alone for a solo episode where I describe where I've been, what I've been up to and where me and this podcast are going. If you're here to listen to an interview with someone more accomplished than I, tune in next week. But if you want to learn a little more about what's going through my mind these days, then you might want to stay tuned (or not, honestly I could care less).  Get a FREE $5 -> https://cash.app/app/CSDFRPD Check out my gear -> https://kit.com/howtheyrehere/podcast-setup Earn a free stock -> shorturl.at/jov49

Hunter Radenslaben, founder of Athlete Nation and partner at Creative Olsen, discusses his journey from losing his mother to cancer, gaining 10k followers on Twitter at the age of 12, to taking a break from school to pursue video production full-time. Get a FREE $5 -> https://cash.app/app/CSDFRPD Check out my gear -> https://kit.com/howtheyrehere/podcast-setup

We’re back! Our first episode releases 9/8/19 with Hunter Radenslaben, Founder of Athlete Nation. New episodes will now release EVERY week. I’ll also be pushing content hard on IG and LinkedIn (my new favorite platforms) with my new, niche down message to better reach creatives & entrepreneurs in the Midwest. I also got a proper DSLR camera (not to brag), so be on the lookout for some good (maybe great) content. Instagram | https://instagram.com/howtheyrehere LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/company/howtheyrehere/ My Gear | https://kit.com/howtheyrehere

What is going on everyone, welcome to the final episode of How They’re Here. As always I’m Tyler Webb, and this week I’m doing things a little differently.   When I say this is the final episode, you’ll have to allow me to explain a little bit more. I hope you can bear me talking alone for 52 minutes, and please note: if you’re here for the typical interview content that’s not this (but be sure to check out the backlog of 13 episodes). I’ll let the episode say the rest, but thank you so much for your support and encouragement up to this point.   Enjoy!

Here are just a few of the best parts from an invaluable conversation I had  with career coach, teacher, author, speaker and the inspiration for this podcast, Chad Ellsworth.  Listen to the full episode for exclusive insights that you're not to going to find anywhere else.  I know I’ve told this story before, but for those of you who don’t know; Chad taught a class that I was in called “Career Skills” where we learned everything from job interview skills to LinkedIn formatting. This class got me thinking about the unformalized nature of our careers and education, and how there was a gap in our ability to learn about specific professions because they just aren’t taught in school.  I started the podcast by telling Chad this story, and then we got into what I believe to be the most valuable content about college, jobs and life that I’ve had the privilege of sharing.  We touch on everything from how to pick the right career (or if there even is such a thing), the value going and not going to college, how to deal with a dissonance of interests and career, his new book on heroic leadership and so much more. I hope you all enjoy this episode, and learn a thing or two about how to navigate your own professional lives and gain some valuable insight into how they’re here. 

What is going on everyone, welcome to the 13th episode of How They’re Here. As always I’m Tyler Webb, and last week I was fortunate enough to talk with career coach, teacher, author, speaker and the inspiration for this podcast, Chad Ellsworth.  I know I’ve told this story before, but for those of you who don’t know; Chad taught a class that I was in called “Career Skills” where we learned everything from job interview skills to LinkedIn formatting. This class got me thinking about the unformalized nature of our careers and education, and how there was a gap in our ability to learn about specific professions because they just aren’t taught in school.  I started the podcast by telling Chad this story, and then we got into what I believe to be the most valuable content about college, jobs and life that I’ve had the privilege of sharing.  We touch on everything from how to pick the right career (or if there even is such a thing), the value going and not going to college, how to deal with a dissonance of interests and career, his new book on heroic leadership and so much more. I hope you all enjoy this episode, and learn a thing or two about how to navigate your own professional lives and gain some valuable insight into how they’re here. 

Here are just a few of the best parts from a highly valuable chat I had with social media guru, coach, consultant, influencer and founder of Twin Cities Collective, Jenna Redfield.  Listen to the full episode for exclusive insights that you're not to going to find anywhere else.  Jenna was very gracious with her time and allowed me to pick her brain on anything and everything social, free of charge! This episode is jam packed with value from beginning to end, and acts almost as a mini consultation session.  We cover everything from how Jenna grew a hyper-engaged following of over 14,000 creators and entrepreneurs in the Twin Cities area, her favorite free tools to create content in 2019, the platforms you should (and shouldn't) be using, her biggest social media pet peeves, and even how she games the dreaded Instagram algorithm.  I hope you all enjoy this episode, and learn a thing or two about how to grow your social media following and gain some valuable insight into how they’re here. 

What is going on everyone, welcome to the 12th episode of How They’re Here. As always I’m Tyler Webb, and the other week I was able to sit down with a social media guru, coach, consultant, influencer and founder of Twin Cities Collective, Jenna Redfield.   Jenna was very gracious with her time and allowed me to pick her brain on anything and everything social, free of charge! This episode is jam packed with value from beginning to end, and acts almost as a mini consultation session.  We cover everything from how Jenna grew a hyper-engaged following of over 14,000 creators and entrepreneurs in the Twin Cities area, her favorite free tools to create content in 2019, the platforms you should (and shouldn't) be using, her biggest social media pet peeves, and even how she games the dreaded Instagram algorithm.  I hope you all enjoy this episode, and learn a thing or two about how to grow your social media following and gain some valuable insight into how they’re here. 

Here are just a few of the best points from one of my favorite conversations to date with the CEO and Founder of the digital media agency the Social Butterfly, Brandon Poliszuk.  Listen to the full episode for exclusive insights that you're not to going to find anywhere else.  Coincidentally, Brandon’s interview was the first one I recorded on video which I find fitting given his and his teams videography and photography abilities, and while this production will be no where near the quality of a Social Butterfly video, it gives you an additional insight into who Brandon is and how he’s growing his agency. What started out of a college bedroom, turned office is now a growing agency that is already working with top brands, athletes and personalities nationwide, and behind this crazy growth is a 23 year old CEO and self-proclaimed grinder.  Brandon’s story is insane when you consider the fact that he had never even picked up a camera much before launching the Butterfly, and now he and his team of talented creators are shooting with pro athletes, multimillion dollar brands and even Gary Vee. Brandon and I talk about this evolution in his career, how he picked up these skills so quickly, how the Butterfly is gaining business at such a rapid pace, the outline to collaboration and providing value, the problem with “Hustle Culture,” and the crazy set of circumstances that led him to working directly with Gary Vee. I hope you all enjoy this episode, and learn a thing or two about how being a leader, networker and an entrepreneur and gain some valuable insight into how they’re here.