Shows
Pouur DecisionsLeaving Corporate to Build a Winery From Scratch and Survive What Came NextIn this episode of Pouur Decisions, we sit down with Destiny Burns, founder of CLE Urban Winery, to talk about the real decisions behind leaving corporate life, coming back to Cleveland, and building a business from the ground up with no roadmap.Destiny shares how a 20 year Navy career and years in defense contracting led her to walk away from stability, design a purpose driven business, and navigate everything from SBA loans and alcohol regulations to COVID shutdowns and near breaking points.This is an honest conversation about entrepreneurship, risk, legal realities, survival mode, and...
2026-03-1332 minPouur DecisionsFrom $35K to “Crash and Burn” to a Subscription Business That WorkedIn this episode of Pouur Decisions, we sit down with SA Frell, founder of Olivia Rose Confections, to talk through the real story behind building a food business. It starts with culinary school, a moment that made her realize she could sell what she was making, and the surprising reality that sales do not equal profit.We get into the hard part most people skip: being undercapitalized, cutting marketing first, opening in the wrong place, and closing a bakery in six months. Then we follow the comeback through teaching, learning from customers, launching a subscription model the...
2026-03-0739 minPouur DecisionsFrom Bike Tours to Golf Carts: Building Leisure Tours Cleveland the Hard WayBob Polk of Leisure Tours Cleveland joins Pouur Decisions to talk through what it actually takes to build a local experience business from scratch. What starts as bicycle tours turns into golf cart tours, but the real story is persistence: figuring it out when the city has no playbook for what you are trying to do.We get into the unglamorous parts most people skip, licensing, insurance questions when you have passengers, and how long legislation can take when something is new. Bob shares how he kept momentum by doing something for the business every day, even...
2026-02-2758 minPouur DecisionsQuitting the Safe Job to Build Something That Felt RightWhat happens when a creative side project slowly becomes the thing you care about most? In this episode of Pouur Decisions, we sit down with Erin Rudy of Milestone Home Design to talk about the real decisions behind leaving a stable corporate career to build a business that started almost by accident.We dig into what it looks like to grow a company without a perfect plan, how trial and error shapes confidence, and why many entrepreneurs underestimate the importance of contracts, boundaries, and protecting their time. Erin shares honest lessons about undervaluing yourself early on, learning...
2026-02-2038 minPouur DecisionsLeaving the Paycheck for Commission and Betting on YourselfIn this episode of Pouur Decisions, we sit down with Venessa Motaabbed, a Cleveland based realtor with Cali Home Pro powered by eXp Realty, to talk honestly about what it really means to leave a steady paycheck and go all in on yourself.Vanessa shares her journey from retail to real estate, the fear of commission based income, and the personal moment that pushed her to finally take the leap. We talk through the mistakes she made early on by joining the wrong teams, why culture matters more than brand recognition, and how finding the right people...
2026-01-0926 minPouur DecisionsBuilding Blossom Flower Bar Through Community, Culture, and CareMegan Robinson, founder of Blossom Flower Bar, joins Pouur Decisions to share how she walked away from a corporate career and built a thriving, multi-location business rooted in joy, community, and genuine human connection.Starting with flowers stored in a garage cooler, Megan talks about using influencer marketing before it was common, opening her first storefront with fear and faith, and learning tough lessons around systems, legal mistakes, and scaling. She also shares how building the right team, creating unforgettable customer experiences, and leading with care became the foundation of her success.This episode is...
2026-01-0240 minPouur DecisionsBuilding a Community Legacy with Aicha Kaba of Kaba’s African & Caribbean MarketKaba’s African and Caribbean Market is more than a grocery store. It’s a reflection of the people it serves.In this episode, Aicha Kaba shares the story of how her family’s business grew alongside Cleveland’s Lee Harvard neighborhood. From its early days focusing on African products to becoming a multicultural destination for food, wellness, and skincare, Kaba’s Market expanded by paying attention to what the community needed most.Aicha also discusses working with Cleveland Neighborhood Progress and how projects like the White Box initiative are helping bring new energy to the neighb...
2025-12-2614 minPouur DecisionsPouur Decisions with Haditha “Butter” Khan of Ink Therapy StudioHaditha “Butter” Khan, the creative force behind Ink Therapy Studio, shares her remarkable journey from artist to business owner. We talk about opening her studio in Bedford Heights during the pandemic, her experience as a Black female entrepreneur in the tattoo world, and why her art is more than ink on skin — it’s a form of healing and expression. Butter also offers advice to artists and entrepreneurs who are building their own path. Tune in for an inspiring conversation that blends creativity and business insight.
2025-12-1920 minPouur DecisionsCreating Comfort + Community with Michi Lifestyle (featuring Tracy Burnett)In this episode of Pouur Decisions, Sharece sits down with Tracy Burnett, Founder & Owner of Michi Lifestyle, a comfort-first home and lifestyle shop based in Lakewood, Ohio. Tracy opens up about transitioning from corporate travel to entrepreneurship, why designing for comfort matters, sourcing ethical small-batch products, and how a supportive community shaped her retail vision. She also reveals one financial decision she wishes she made sooner — so you don’t repeat it.We raise a glass to thriving through trial and error. Cheers! 🍷Visit Michi Lifestyle in Lakewood – Support Local!👉 Ne...
2025-12-1235 minPouur DecisionsFrom Chauffeur to CEO: The Turf Pride Growth Story with Dave PettiFrom driving limos and passing out flyers to building a thriving lawn care company, Dave Petti shares how he turned Turf Pride into a service-driven success story. In this interview, Dave explains how focusing on customer experience, developing a strong employee training program, and hiring for character helped him scale sustainably without sacrificing quality.He also opens up about early challenges — including a legal dispute that taught him the importance of proper documentation and business structure. If you’re growing a service-based business or just getting started, you’ll walk away with real-world lessons and practical strategies you ca...
2025-12-0523 minPouur DecisionsSlow Fashion. Big Mission. With Valerie MayenFashion designer and Project Runway alum Valerie Mayen shares her journey from juggling multiple jobs to building Yellowcake Shop, a slow-fashion brand rooted in empowerment and ethical craftsmanship. Valerie opens up about what slow fashion truly means, why she refuses to be part of fast fashion’s harmful cycle, and the mission to help women look strong, feel strong, and step confidently into any room.She also gets candid about the pressures of success after national exposure, the business mistakes she wishes she hadn’t made (hello, brick-and-mortar too soon), and how continuing education programs like Jump...
2025-12-0523 min