Latest Episodes

  • Episode 127 – Interview with Jaee Blue

    And we’re back from our break with a great interview!

    In today’s episode, we are talking to Jaee Blue, CEO and Founder of VBA!

    About Jaee: Jaee is the Founder and CEO of Venture Beyond Aspirations (VBA), a company dedicated to helping entrepreneurs turn ideas into structured, scalable businesses. Through VBA’s platform, Jaee has built an ecosystem that bridges the gap between education and execution, guiding founders through clear stages of growth from clarity to expansion. With a background in technology and business operations, Jaee specializes in aligning the right systems, tools, and strategy to help early-stage and growing entrepreneurs avoid common pitfalls and build with intention. Under her leadership, VBA has expanded into multiple offerings, including its Core membership platform, creative services, and school-based solutions through Core Scholar. Jaee is passionate about empowering founders to take ownership of their time, ideas, and future. Her work focuses on creating practical, results-driven solutions that simplify the entrepreneurial journey and drive long-term success.

    Jaee’s plugs: https://www.vbaspire.com/

    Contact Jaee: https://www.instagram.com/iamjaeeblue/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaeeblue/

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  • Episode 126 – Pet Marketing – Rabbits, Rodents, Reptiles, And Birds!

    You should be watching this episode as we squeak!

    These animals may be better companians than you think!

    May is mental health awareness month. If you need assistance in finding help, or you would like to donate to help others get the help they need, visit https://mhanational.org/

    SOURCES

    9 Most Popular Pet Birds In The U.S. (And 5 That Deserve More Love)

    https://www.avma.org/resources-tools/reports-statistics/us-pet-ownership-statistics

    https://thevetdesk.com/pet-health-wellness/ferrets/ferret-lifespan-how-long-do-they-live/

    https://www.thesprucepets.com/rabbit-lifespan-4582447

    https://www.petmojo.com/small-pets-that-live-longer-than-expected/

    https://www.hermitcrabassociation.com/pages/BasicHermitCrabCare.pdf

    https://www.thesprucepets.com/caring-for-pet-rats-1236746

    What’s some of your Petsmart horror stories? (TW: Animal Death / Gore)
    by inpetsmart

    https://www.petmd.com/bird/parakeet-care-sheet

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  • Episode 125 – Pet Marketing – This Sounds A Little Fishy!

    Glub glub!

    This episode won’t have you sleepin with the fishes!

    May is mental health awareness month. If you need assistance in finding help, or you would like to donate to help others get the help they need, visit https://mhanational.org/

    SOURCES

    https://www.thesprucepets.com/why-you-should-never-keep-your-pet-fish-in-a-bowl-5215454

    How Often Should I Clean Aquarium: A Complete Guide to Maintaining a Healthy Tank

    Aquarium and Fish Industry Statistics

    https://fishtankadvisor.com/dory-finding-nemo-finding-dory/

    Can Turtles Live in Aquarium with Fish: Tips for a Healthy and Harmonious Setup

    Houseplant Statistics 2026: Market Size & Industry Trends

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  • Episode 123 – Pet Marketing – Today’s Episode Is For The Dogs!

    Woof Woof

    Dog folks, this one is for you!

    May is mental health awareness month. If you need assistance in finding help, or you would like to donate to help others get the help they need, visit https://mhanational.org/

    SOURCES

    Raining Cats and Dogs – Meaning, Origin & Usage

    https://www.avma.org/resources-tools/reports-statistics/us-pet-ownership-statistics

    https://americanpetproducts.org/industry-trends-and-stats?.com

    https://murrowcourses.com/graphics/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/FINAL_AVMA_PetDemographics102218-compressed.pdf

    Industry Data

    https://www.statista.com/forecasts/1081150/top-online-stores-pet-supplies-united-states-ecommercedb/

    https://www.mintel.com/insights/household/pets/

    https://www.petfoodprocessing.net/articles/19810-state-of-us-pet-food-treat-industry-in-2025

    https://www.forbes.com/advisor/pet-insurance/pet-ownership-statistics/#sources_section

    https://www.farmkeep.com/farm-guides/livestock/how-much-does-a-goat-cost

    (more…)
  • Episode 122 – Interview with Adam Collins Part 2

    And we’re back with Adam!

    And here we go with part 2 of our interview with Adam!

    About Adam:

    Adam Collins earned his MBA from the University of Missouri–St. Louis (UMSL) in December 2019 and continues to fuel his passion for lifelong learning. He recently began a Graduate Certificate program in Social Media and Digital Marketing at UMSL, further expanding his expertise. Professionally, Adam serves as a Project Manager in UMSL’s Planning, Design, & Construction division, a role that perfectly aligns with his 20+ years of experience in the construction industry. He takes pride in contributing to his alma mater, overseeing campus improvements ranging from renovations to equipment upgrades. His work connects him with a diverse range of colleagues, enhancing the university’s infrastructure in meaningful ways. Beyond his job, he remains actively involved in the UMSL Alumni Association and the student-led Board Game Club. Adam is also an entrepreneur and board game enthusiast. He has launched a podcast, a YouTube channel, and an independent publishing company—all centered around board gaming. Passionate about bringing people into the hobby, he collaborates with local libraries and community colleges to introduce modern board games to new audiences. He has even helped organize game days for children at the library. His podcast, Eat Lunch & Board Game, explores games that fit into a typical lunch break, whether 30 or 60 minutes. Inspired by his own experiences starting a lunchtime gaming group at work, Adam has interviewed a wide range of guests from the board game industry, gathering their insights and recommendations. His son occasionally joins in for special review episodes, and together, they’ve also launched a YouTube channel, Reviews from the Attic, where they share their thoughts on board games. When he’s not gaming or working, Adam enjoys reading (often about board gaming), biking with his kids, “running” with his son, and hiking with his family

    Adam’s plugs: https://beardedboardgames.com/

    (A list of STL farmers markets: https://www.stlmag.com/dining/st-louis-farmers-markets-guide/)

    Contact Adam: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adam-f-collins/ https://www.youtube.com/@eatlunchboardgamepodcast146

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  • Episode 121 – Interview with Adam Collins

    Cards game, now board games!

    Have you ever thought about getting a board game from a farmer’s market? Well now you have! Today we are posting part 1 of our interview with Adam Collins where we talk about that, and so much more!

    About Adam:

    Adam Collins earned his MBA from the University of Missouri–St. Louis (UMSL) in December 2019 and continues to fuel his passion for lifelong learning. He recently began a Graduate Certificate program in Social Media and Digital Marketing at UMSL, further expanding his expertise. Professionally, Adam serves as a Project Manager in UMSL’s Planning, Design, & Construction division, a role that perfectly aligns with his 20+ years of experience in the construction industry. He takes pride in contributing to his alma mater, overseeing campus improvements ranging from renovations to equipment upgrades. His work connects him with a diverse range of colleagues, enhancing the university’s infrastructure in meaningful ways. Beyond his job, he remains actively involved in the UMSL Alumni Association and the student-led Board Game Club. Adam is also an entrepreneur and board game enthusiast. He has launched a podcast, a YouTube channel, and an independent publishing company—all centered around board gaming. Passionate about bringing people into the hobby, he collaborates with local libraries and community colleges to introduce modern board games to new audiences. He has even helped organize game days for children at the library. His podcast, Eat Lunch & Board Game, explores games that fit into a typical lunch break, whether 30 or 60 minutes. Inspired by his own experiences starting a lunchtime gaming group at work, Adam has interviewed a wide range of guests from the board game industry, gathering their insights and recommendations. His son occasionally joins in for special review episodes, and together, they’ve also launched a YouTube channel, Reviews from the Attic, where they share their thoughts on board games. When he’s not gaming or working, Adam enjoys reading (often about board gaming), biking with his kids, “running” with his son, and hiking with his family

    Contact Adam: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adam-f-collins/ https://www.youtube.com/@eatlunchboardgamepodcast146

    (more…)
  • Episode 120 – Would You Pay $16.5 Million for a Trading Card?

    Yeah, we won’t be catching them all actually…

    It may be time to check your attic for all your old trading cards! You could make a killing!

    May is mental health awareness month. If you need assistance in finding help, or you would like to donate to help others get the help they need, visit https://mhanational.org/

    SOURCES  

    https://www.sportscardspro.com/game/baseball-cards-1989-donruss/ken-griffey-jr-33  

    https://allvintagecards.com/honus-wagner-t206/  

    https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/companies/over-26-million-cards-graded-in-2025-how-the-market-exploded/ar-AA1TwBmj  

    https://www.si.com/collectibles/million-dollar-cards-are-exploding-again-could-2026-shatter-the-hobby-record  

    https://www.tcgplayer.com/content/article/A-Short-History-of-Pikachu-Illustrator-the-Most-Expensive-Pok%C3%A9mon-Card/d26cffe2-6e5f-4720-8519-a6317c11c060/  

    https://www.cllct.com/sports-collectibles/sports-cards/why-a-12-year-old-was-once-sued-over-a-12-nolan-ryan-rookie-card  

    Pokemon Card Market Update: What’s Hot and What’s Cooling in Spring 2026

    https://www.thepricedex.com/guides/most-expensive-pikachu-cards

    Logan Paul’s video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pmkpzIi0udY

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  • Episode 119 – The Strange, Sad Tale of GameStop

    Their X feed is kind of wild, I can’t lie.

    I’m sure we are all well aware of GameStop’s many misguided desicions, but this most recent choice is a very interesting one! Let’s talk about it!

    May is mental health awareness month. If you need assistance in finding help, or you would like to donate to help others get the help they need, visit https://mhanational.org/  

    SOURCES  

    https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1326380/000119312526202468/d138475dex99.htm  

    https://finance.yahoo.com/markets/stocks/articles/ebay-says-half-cash-half-162705157.html   https://kotaku.com/new-gamestop-program-leads-employees-to-lie-to-customer-1791874332

    https://www.coindesk.com/business/2026/01/24/gamestop-s-usd420-million-bitcoin-move-sparks-speculation-of-selling  

    https://investor.gamestop.com/news-releases/news-details/2026/GameStop-Announces-Long-Term-Performance-Award-for-Ryan-Cohen/default.aspx

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  • Episode 118 – Why Bob’s Not So Great At Selling Burgers

    He’s no Jimmy Pesto.

    It’s in the name of the show, you’d think he’d be good at it!

    May is mental health awareness month. If you need assistance in finding help, or you would like to donate to help others get the help they need, visit https://mhanational.org/

    SOURCES

    Why Do So Many Restaurants Fail? (Episode 89) – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MVfBCqtje2A

    Menu at Bob’s Burgers: https://www.zippia.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/bobs-burger-menu.jpg

    Menu at Alamo Drafthouse: https://drafthouse.com/news/get-a-taste-of-the-bobs-burgers-movie

    Complete Guide to Restaurant Profit Margins (With Industry Averages)

    https://20somethingfinance.com/what-is-the-united-states-poverty-line/

    (more…)
  • Episode 117 – How To Make Email Marketing Actually Work

    Report as spam.

    We’ve talked about email marketing a little bit before, but is there a way that it could actually work in the age of spam filters and limited attention? Let’s talk about it!

    May is mental health awareness month. If you need assistance in finding help, or you would like to donate to help others get the help they need, visit https://mhanational.org/

    SOURCES  

    https://www.benchmarkone.com/  

    https://dripify.com/why-email-campaigns-fail/  

    Why Email Marketing Doesn’t Work: Addressing Common Pitfalls and Strategies for Success

    (more…)