Jeff Bednar, founder of Profound Foods, returns to the podcast to discuss the evolution of his farming business, from starting with $2.6$ acres in North Texas to pivoting his model. Initially driven by a personal health journey, Profound Foods grew into a collaborative food hub to help small local farmers and ranchers overcome the high costs of distribution and marketing. Bednar details the transition from aquaponics to hydroponics for greater consistency and viability, and the strategic decision to close the expensive greenhouse operation to focus on the profitable food hub, commercial kitchens, and event space. He shares valuable business lessons, emphasizing the importance of partnerships, cutting losses early, and seeking guidance from business mentors, including his mother, who is a business coach. Bednar also provides practical advice for aspiring farmers, highlighting the crucial need to establish a market and sales channel before growing a product.For a summary and to connect with the guest, please visit https://www.linkedin.com/company/business-decoded-podcastProduced by www.andycostafilms.com

In this third interview, host Ronnie Spellman and chef John Coletta, founding chef and partner at Cortina restaurant, delve deeply into the philosophy of quality eating, nutrition, and its connection to overall well-being. Coletta champions the use of superior, natural ingredients, arguing that prioritizing product integrity over immediate profitability leads to business success. The discussion covers how eating high-quality food can help manage issues like obesity, the importance of sourcing fundamental ingredients like olive oil and rice with integrity, and the universal appeal of approachable Italian cuisine. The conversation concludes with Coletta's leadership philosophy, emphasizing hiring "A-players," making oneself replaceable, and treating both staff and customers with care to create a loyal, positive business culture.For a summary and to connect with the guest, please visit https://www.linkedin.com/company/business-decoded-podcastProduced by www.andycostafilms.com

In this interview, Ronnie Spellman speaks with Anisha Holla, founder and CEO of Foodify, an automated matchmaking platform connecting small, local restaurants with food influencers. Holla explains that her business was founded on the principle of determining who she wanted to become, leading her away from pre-med and politics. Foodify addresses a crucial marketing need for small businesses by facilitating consistent, paid opportunities for local influencers at discounted rates, leveraging volume to benefit both parties. The platform vets influencers based on follower size, geographic fit, and engagement rate, ensuring local traffic for restaurants. Holla emphasizes that her success is rooted in finding the intersection of passion and income, and she shares business decoded tips for entrepreneurs, stressing consistency, listening to dissatisfied customers, and the need to be highly adaptive, as every day in entrepreneurship brings a new challenge.For a summary and to connect with the guest, please visit https://www.linkedin.com/company/business-decoded-podcastProduced by www.andycostafilms.com

In this interview, Ronnie Spellman and Ken Malcolmson, President and CEO of the North Dallas Chamber of Commerce, discuss the chamber's strategy for driving regional prosperity and effective leadership. Malcolmson details how the chamber, which prefers to call its members "stakeholders," focuses on the entire Dallas region, working to address economic imbalances like the funding disparity between North and South Dallas. He highlights major, high-engagement events, such as the annual bus tour of the southern sector and the Transportation Crossroads conference. A central theme is collaboration among regional chambers and business organizations to amplify advocacy efforts on critical issues like infrastructure and quality of life. Malcolmson also shares leadership wisdom, emphasizing the power of showing up, building relationships, and the distinction between a mentor and a sponsor. He concludes by celebrating the richness of life derived from community engagement, not just financial wealth.For a summary and to connect with the guest, please visit https://www.linkedin.com/company/business-decoded-podcastProduced by www.andycostafilms.com

In this second interview with Monica Paul, Executive Director of the Dallas Sports Commission, the conversation focuses on the monumental effort to host the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North Texas. Paul details the successful bid, which leveraged the region's strong infrastructure, corporate base, and central location. The discussion highlights the massive economic impact, now projected between $1.5 to $2.1 billion, and the intricate planning across numerous working groups, addressing everything from security and logistics to cultural awareness and local business engagement. Paul emphasizes the event's importance in elevating Dallas's global profile beyond traditional Western stereotypes and creating a lasting legacy, including the potential for a future Women's World Cup bid.For a summary and to connect with the guest, please visit https://www.linkedin.com/company/business-decoded-podcastProduced by www.andycostafilms.com

In this Business Decoded episode, host Ronnie Spellman interviews Brittany Huber, Director of Collaboratives at Philanthropy Southwest, to explore the vital intersection of business, government, and the nonprofit sector. Drawing on her extensive experience in university development and her recent Master's in Philanthropic Studies from Indiana University, Huber discusses the evolution of philanthropy, reframing it as universal "generosity" that transcends monetary donations to include time and talent. She shares insights into global philanthropic trends, the critical role of organizations like Philanthropy Southwest in shaping policy and fostering collaboration, and the importance of passion in fundraising. The conversation also delves into practical advice for entrepreneurs, highlighting the universal principle that "people give to people," a concept as true for startups seeking investment as it is for nonprofits seeking donations.For a summary and to connect with the guest, please visit https://www.linkedin.com/company/business-decoded-podcastProduced by www.andycostafilms.com

In this episode of the Business Decoded podcast, host Ronnie Spellman sits down with Steve Reed, founder of Steve Reed Solutions, a life and executive coach with over 30 years of experience. Steve delves into the practical applications of the DISC personality assessment for business leaders, explaining how understanding the four temperaments—Dominant, Inspirational, Supportive, and Compliant—can revolutionize team management, sales strategies, and communication. The conversation extends beyond the boardroom, exploring how these same principles, along with concepts like the "Five Love Languages," can improve personal relationships and foster a healthy work-life balance. Steve shares powerful anecdotes and practical tips, from strengthening your core abilities to effectively separating work stress from home life, providing a holistic guide for leaders aiming to grow both professionally and personally.For a summary and to connect with the guest, please visit https://www.linkedin.com/company/business-decoded-podcastProduced by www.andycostafilms.com

The interview with Dave Copps, co-founder and CEO of Worlds and an internationally renowned futurist, explores his decades-long journey pioneering the use of machine learning and artificial intelligence, including his past companies, Ingenium Corporation and Brain Space. Copps, who embraces risk and curiosity as guiding forces, emphasizes that entrepreneurs should "fall in love with the problem," not the solution, and strive to create a "market of one". His current venture, Worlds, is an end-to-end platform for "physical AI" that creates machines which can "see and sense the world like people do, but at a scale that's not humanly possible". Copps details Worlds' innovation in AI training, which automates a process that previously took months into minutes or hours, with real-world applications in safety (like steel manufacturing) and leak detection (in energy). He concludes by discussing the coming cognitive revolution accelerated by AI, stressing the importance of developing "meta skills" and fostering a company culture built on the Swahili concept of "Ubuntu"—where failure is recast as "iteration" and impossible goals are used to summon the "greatness of people".For a summary and to connect with the guest, please visit https://www.linkedin.com/company/business-decoded-podcastProduced by www.andycostafilms.com