Shows
The Unscripted ClimbShermin Lakha on Branding, Business Law & Bold PivotsSend us a textShermin Lakha isn’t your average attorney—and she doesn’t run average businesses.In this episode of The Unscripted Climb, she shares how she grew Level Up Legal and Tiger Tiger Creative Agency without a single paid ad. Instead, she relied on creativity, community, and content.From building an all-female law firm focused on IP and startup law, to helping brands and creators close deals through shoppable content, Shamim’s journey is packed with tactical takeaways for entrepreneurs ready to pivot, lead, and grow....
2025-11-1324 min
The Unscripted ClimbBonnie Blackman on Reinventing Yourself After FailureSend us a textIn this episode, Bonnie Blackman opens up about what happens after the world knocks you down—and how you build something even better. After losing her teaching job, Bonnie transitioned from educator to entrepreneur, creating a publishing business grounded in empathy, passion, and purpose.She talks candidly about what it means to fail, how to find your voice again, and why joy isn’t optional—it’s your job to create it.Takeaways:Failure is part of the path—use it.Relationships matter more than résumés.
2025-10-3039 min
The Unscripted ClimbDaine Patton: From Pest Control to Building a Wildlife BusinessSend us a textIn this episode of The Unscripted Climb, Christopher Beecham and Natalie Micale sit down with Daine Patton, the founder of Bats to Rats, to talk about his wild ride from pest control rookie to wildlife management CEO—and the 100-pound transformation that changed his life.Daine opens up about becoming a dad at 19, navigating marriage and business, and how COVID ironically became one of his biggest growth opportunities. From hiring challenges to personal health battles, this episode is full of straight-up entrepreneurial truth and transformation.Wh...
2025-10-1654 min
The Unscripted ClimbGreg Harris on Building Quantum WorkplaceSend us a textIn this episode of The Unscripted Climb, hosts Christopher Beecham and Natalie Micale sit down with Greg Harris, the founder and CEO of Quantum Workplace, to unpack the 23-year journey from startup struggles to building one of the most respected names in employee engagement.Greg gets real about the early days of selling raw data, the emotional decision to pivot the business model, and how resilience kept him going through the chaos. He also shares his thoughts on how AI is reshaping the future of work
2025-10-1246 min
The Unscripted ClimbNathan Karaway- The Unfiltered Rise of Premier BrickSend us a textIn this episode of The Unscripted Climb, Chris Beecham and Natalie Micale sit down with Nate Karaway, founder of Premier Brick, to talk about how a career built in corporate turned into a mission to build with literal grit.Nate shares his unfiltered entrepreneurial journey—from sports to the brick industry, from desk job to design consultancy. He breaks down how Premier Brick is more than just a materials supplier—it's a purpose-driven business focused on education, community impact, and passionate leadership.Expect stories about:Ju...
2025-10-0943 min
The Unscripted ClimbSustainable Furniture & Female Grit: Susan Pilato’s Bold Climb with MantraSend us a textSusan Pilato didn’t just build a furniture brand — she’s reshaping what sustainability and leadership look like in a traditionally male-dominated industry.In this episode of The Unscripted Climb, Christopher Beecham and Natalie Micale sit down with the founder and CEO of Mantra to unpack her journey from interior designer to furniture entrepreneur. Fresh off Neocon (the Super Bowl of the furniture world), Susan shares what it really takes to build a sustainable brand, lead with purpose, and stand tall as a woman in business.🎯 Yo...
2025-10-0233 min
The Unscripted ClimbEp 9 Surf Shops, Apparel, and Entrepreneur Grit with Steven VitaleSend us a textSteven Vitale doesn’t just run a surf boutique and an apparel brand—he’s building two movements. In this episode of The Unscripted Climb, hosts Christopher Beecham and Natalie Micale sit down with the founder of Cape Maid and Lifting Culture Apparel to unpack the reality of running multiple businesses, staying creative, and managing debt while still finding joy in the grind.Whether you're scaling a retail brand or just trying to pay off startup credit cards, this episode will hit home.Steven dives into:
2025-09-2546 min
The Unscripted ClimbEp 8 Jess Loseke- From Bourbon Barrels to Business Boss – The Midwest Barrel StorySend us a textWhat happens when your husband's hobby turns into a full-blown business empire? Meet Jess Loseke, CEO of Midwest Barrel Company, who took a leap into the bourbon barrel industry and never looked back.In this episode, Jess gets real about the gritty side of entrepreneurship—from navigating cash flow chaos in an inventory-heavy business to working shoulder-to-shoulder with her spouse (and staying married through it). We talk leadership, scaling, e-commerce, and why relocating to Ke...
2025-09-1854 min
The Unscripted ClimbEp 7 Eric Prellwitz- PrellWitz ExteriorsSend us a textIn this raw and real episode of The Unscripted Climb, we interview Eric Prellwitz, owner of Prellwitz Exteriors, on what it really takes to grow a business in today’s world. From battling seasonal slowdowns to building trust with skeptical customers, Eric opens up about the grind behind the growth.This episode covers:The difference between sounding authentic and being authentic in salesWhy most marketing is BS (and what still works)How AI is changing the game for small businessesThe uphill battle of finding and keeping mo...
2025-09-1138 min
The Unscripted ClimbEp 6.5 – How to Update Your Social Media (and Why It Matters) – Mini Marketing SeriesSend us a textIf your LinkedIn still looks like it did when you graduated college—or worse, when you first signed up—it’s killing your credibility.In this quick-hit mini episode of The Unscripted Climb, Natalie Micale shares why keeping your personal and business social profiles up to date matters more than you think, and exactly what to update to boost your brand’s digital presence.From deleting those ancient party pics to writing bios that actually sound like a human, Natalie gives you a high-level checklist for refreshing your pro...
2025-09-0906 min
The Unscripted ClimbEp 6- Steven Stark- How Thriftworld Built 8 Stores Without Selling OutSend us a textWhat does it take to grow a thrift store empire in a world obsessed with fast fashion? In this episode of The Unscripted Climb, we sit down with Steve Stark, founder of Thriftworld—an Omaha-based thrift chain now spanning eight locations—to uncover the real journey behind building a sustainable business that actually scales.Steve doesn’t hold back. He dives into the 12-year grind of growth, the myths surrounding thrift stores, and how his team reinvented the thrift...
2025-09-0448 min
The Unscripted ClimbEp 5.5 – Why Your Messaging Matters (Mini Marketing Series)Send us a textYour brand isn’t just what you sell—it’s the stories you tell and the words you choose to tell them.In this mini episode of The Unscripted Climb, Natalie Micale breaks down why brand messaging is more than just a tagline or mission statement. It’s your voice, your tone, your values, and the way you make people feel every time they interact with your business.We cover how to move beyond bland, forgettable phrases like “reliable” and “trustworthy,” how a strong brand voice can literally get yo...
2025-09-0204 min
The Unscripted ClimbEp 5 – Nicole Biscuiti: Inventing a Patented Sports Bra and Knowing When to Walk AwaySend us a textNicole Biscuiti built Chesty from a DIY idea at a weightlifting competition into the first-ever patented sports bra with built-in collarbone protection — sold in 72 countries over a decade. Then, at the height of her brand’s success, she made the toughest call of her career: closing the business.In this candid conversation, Nicole shares the real highs and lows of building a niche product, navigating manufacturing challenges, fundraising, and learning when protecting your mental health has to come first.Whether you’re dreaming of bringing a product to market or fig...
2025-08-2847 min
The Unscripted ClimbEp 4.5 – Why You Actually Need a Marketing Strategy (Mini Marketing Series)Send us a textThink a marketing strategy is just an expensive fluff document? Natalie Micale is here to tell you why it’s the opposite — and why skipping it could be costing you money, time, and clarity.In this 6-minute mini episode, we break down what a marketing strategy really is, how it forces you to prioritize where you spend your resources, and why it’s the anchor for every decision you make about your brand.We cover how different industries prioritize different marketing channels (and why golf tournaments might be worth $50K for...
2025-08-2606 min
The Unscripted ClimbEp 4 – Sarah Cano: From Hailstorm Hustle to Roofing PowerhouseSend us a textSarah Cano didn’t plan to start a roofing company—but when a hailstorm hit, she built Rooforia from the ground up.In this episode of The Unscripted Climb, Sarah shares how she grew a multimillion-dollar business in one of the most male-dominated industries out there. From defining core values to building a team that actually believes in them, she walks through the wins, losses, and lessons that shaped Rooforia’s success.We talk marketing, leadership, simplification, and why vulnerability might be your best business asset.💡 Takeaways...
2025-07-1034 min
The Unscripted ClimbEp 3.5 – What Makes a Brand Look Like a Brand? (Mini Episode)Send us a textIn this mini episode of The Unscripted Climb, Natalie Micale breaks down what visual identity actually means—and why it's way more than just slapping a logo on a coffee mug and calling it a day.She shares practical steps for solopreneurs building a brand on a budget, from building Pinterest boards to finding your freelance dream designer—and explains how fonts, colors, and layout actually influence customer perception (yes, even on that Instagram post you slapped together at midnight).If your “brand” still looks like a default Canva template...
2025-07-0808 min
The Unscripted ClimbEp 3 – Mike Ware: Serial Entrepreneur, Snow Removal King & Sales StrategistSend us a textFrom selling newspapers as a kid to building snow removal empires and launching fireworks companies, Mike Ware has done the thing—many times over.In this episode, Mike joins The Unscripted Climb to share the real lessons learned across a lifetime of business. We talk about sales that don’t feel slimy, marketing that actually works, and what happens when you refuse to retire (or slow down).Whether you're on business #1 or #15, Mike’s story is a masterclass in grit, reinvention, and building relationships that last.💡 Takeaways...
2025-07-0435 min
The Unscripted ClimbEp 2.5 – The Essence of Branding (Mini Marketing Series)Send us a textYour logo isn’t your brand. Your beliefs are.In this mini episode of The Unscripted Climb, Chris and Natalie break down what branding actually is—and why most people are doing it wrong. From values to visuals, boldness to positioning, this is the gut-punch guide to building a brand that’s real, relatable, and actually memorable.Whether you’re a solopreneur or leading a team, this is 10 minutes that will make you rethink your brand from the inside out.💡 Takeaways:Everyone is a brand (whet...
2025-07-0308 min
The Unscripted ClimbEp 2 – Natalie Micale: How She Built a 6-Figure Marketing Agency from ScratchSend us a textBefore she built one of the most recognizable marketing agencies in the Midwest, Natalie Micale was flipping garage sale finds and negotiating like a tiny CEO-in-training. In this episode, Natalie shares her journey from journalism student to the founder of Oh Hello Agency—and all the missteps, mindset shifts, and marketing mayhem along the way.From unpaid internships to investor fallout, she opens up about what it really takes to grow a business that isn’t just profitable—but personal.This is a no-fluff look at brand-building, relationship-driven sales, and wh...
2025-07-0249 min
The Unscripted Climb🎧 Ep 1.5 – What Is a Brand? (Mini Marketing Series)Send us a textMini Episode = Big Truths. In this first mini episode of The Unscripted Climb, cohost Natalie Micale unpacks the real meaning of branding—and spoiler alert: it’s not just your logo.Your brand is your belief system with a visual identity. It’s what you stand for, how you show up, and why people connect (or don’t). This bite-sized episode hits the heart of what makes branding work—and why most brands miss the mark by playing it safe.Whether you're building a personal b...
2025-07-0106 min
The Unscripted ClimbEp 1 – Chris Beecham: From Selling Plasma to Selling MerchSend us a text🎙️ Episode 1: How Losing Everything Became the Start of EverythingWelcome to the relaunch of The Unscripted Climb, where business isn’t always pretty—but it’s always real. Host Chris Beecham kicks things off by sharing his own story of screwing things up, starting over, and building again (and again).From riding high in real estate to bottoming out in bankruptcy court, Chris talks through what it actually takes to rebuild a life and a business—without the LinkedIn fluff.This is for the entrepreneurs who’ve cried...
2025-06-3049 min
Brand LincolnEp 13 Natalie Micale- Oh Hello AgencySend us a textNatalie Micale, owner of Oh Hello Marketing Agency, joins the Brand Lincoln Podcast to discuss her journey in the industry and the services her agency offers. She shares advice on building a strong brand, validating business ideas, and utilizing interns through grant programs. Natalie also talks about successful and unsuccessful campaigns, emphasizing the importance of having a well-established sales process alongside marketing efforts. In this conversation, Natalie discusses her journey as a creator and the direction she wants to take her content. She expresses her passion for topics such as sustainability, wellness, and holistic...
2024-08-1440 min