Musician, activist and founder of nonprofit Taking Ownership PDX, Randal Wyatt discusses his journey to creating Taking Ownership and the work they do in the community. As well as why he thinks the model works so well in Portland and how creating the organization has made him a better leader.

Other topics discussed….

- Why he’s so optimistic

- How he got into the music scene in Portland

- The inspiration behind starting taking ownership PDX

- Challenges of organizing volunteers

- Leadership through team management

- Challenges in becoming a registered non profit

- Dealing with anxiety / what self care looks like to him

- Why other cities haven’t adopted the Taking Ownership model

- Types of work Taking Ownership does

- The unique story of Randal becoming a homeowner

- PDX Housing Solidarity Project & Back Home ADU

- What it’s like having his kids see him do this work

- What song has defined his year

- How you can get involved with Taking Ownership

Find Randal here.

Find Taking Ownership PDX here.

Little Big Burger, Boxer Ramen & Blue Star Doughnuts cofounder, Katie Poppe, joins Jenelle to chat about the journey of founding multiple business, why she decided to sell Little Big Burger, and how she uses her science background to help her run Blue Star Doughnuts.

Other topics of conversation....

- How Blue Star began and what’s behind the name

- Hardships of owning a business during covid

- Providing moments of joy for customers

- Pressure of being positive all the time, not letting your team see you struggle

- How she refuels herself

- Why she decided to sell Little Big Burger after five years

- How having a BS in science has helped her Blue Star

- Building out a new Blue Star at PDX airpot

- Dealing with hiring pandemic “kids” & employee turn over rates

- The importence of inviting HR to the table

- The people she choses to surround herself with as an introvert

- What she would go back and tell herself that was just starting out

- Advice for other female entrepreneurs


Find Blue Star here!

James Beard Award winning Author, Mark Bitterman chats about his love of food and place, and the connection between the two. He shares his journey to becaming known as the “salt” guy and the what he’s learned from taking something he’s passionate about and turning it into a business.

Other topics of conversation...

- Welcoming people In & hospitality - what he look for in employees

- History of salt is such a unique story, there’s such a wealth inside this simple ingredient

- How he feels about the story of food today

- How starting a brick & mortar store became a path of personal growth & helped him learn about himself & money

- Learning what you’re not good at to help your business

- The irony of table salt being the standard since it’s so bad

- Having a storefront during covid

- What is the taste of Portland and how do his shops differ from one another

- What he sees as the future for Portland & his involvement

Find the Medeow here.

Marks book can be found here.