Winning Through Joy | Nicole Van Valen

In this raw and inspiring episode of Business Story of the Week, we sit down with Dustin Largusa, the powerful voice behind The Low Life Show, a podcast created for prisoners and those reentering society. After facing a devastating period of loss, prison time, and personal collapse, Dustin found peace, humility, and purpose through faith and storytelling. Today, his podcast is streaming in over 500 correctional facilities, with a mission to combat recidivism and help incarcerated individuals build meaningful lives after release. Dustin shares how failure taught him humility, how he's turning his darkest moments into messages of hope, and the marketing strategies that helped amplify his voice to thousands. This is a story of redemption, spiritual awakening, and the power of starting over — with nothing but faith, purpose, and a message that matters.

In this inspiring episode of Business Story of the Week, we sit down with Akilah Mendez-Valdez, the dynamic founder of Haute in Texas, a powerhouse PR and marketing agency that's dedicated to helping female founders craft compelling narratives and elevate their brands. Akilah shares her bold journey of entrepreneurship — from launching her agency a decade ago to embracing failures like the in-person Content Clinic flop, and quickly pivoting into a successful virtual version. She dives into the reality of being a marketer struggling with self-promotion, and the essential power of consistent, value-driven content. With heartfelt honesty, she reflects on how fear once held her back from scaling and why saying yes to intimidating opportunities changed everything. Whether you're an entrepreneur, brand builder, or just need a confidence boost to go big, this episode is a must-listen.

In this inspiring episode of Business Story of the Week, host Shaahin Cheyene sits down with Nicole Van Valen, Founder and CEO of Keen Insights, to explore how joy can be the secret fuel behind true resilience and high performance. Nicole shares her three‑step model for “resilience through joy,” drawn from her background as a professional cheerleader and dancer, and explains why embracing failure—and learning from it—is key to personal and professional growth. From organic referrals to proactive marketing tactics and the power of surrounding yourself with experts, Nicole offers actionable advice for leaders and teams ready to elevate their impact. Stick around to learn about her new book, The Joyful Leader, and snag a complimentary Spear of Resilience Assessment to kickstart your journey.

In this powerful rapid-fire edition of Business Story of the Week, we sit down with Nick Allard — legal visionary, Rhodes Scholar, and founding Dean of Jacksonville University College of Law. With a career rooted in public policy, higher education, and innovation, Nick shares how he helped create one of the most dynamic new law schools in America. From launching an institution that doubled in size year after year, to pioneering legal education methods that go beyond the textbook, Nick reveals his biggest lessons in leadership, growth, and communication. He discusses what real success looks like, how failure isn't always a crash but a course correction, and the importance of using law as the most powerful tool humans have ever created. Whether you're a budding entrepreneur, aspiring lawyer, or someone chasing purpose through impact, this episode is your roadmap for building something meaningful—brick by brick.

In this thought-provoking episode of Business Story of the Week, we sit down with Josh Wilkerson, one of the founding members of Restoring Mathematics, an educational consulting organization redefining how we engage with math in the classroom. Josh shares his mission to empower teachers as storytellers of mathematics—shifting the focus from standardized curriculum to human connection and the “living curriculum” of teachers themselves. Discover how his team is building a movement through the Restoring Mathematics Roundtable, creating nationwide dialogue among educators who believe that math is more than numbers—it's a narrative worth telling. Josh dives into relationship-driven business growth, the power of community over marketing, and lessons he’d give to his younger entrepreneurial self. If you've ever believed you’re “just not a math person,” this episode might change your mind—and how you teach, lead, or learn.

In this episode of Business Story of the Week, we sit down with the dynamic and multi-talented Lori Karpman, founder of Lori Karpman & Company and The CopyLab. From her beginnings as a tax lawyer to launching a successful chain of restaurants, to pioneering her way into franchise consulting and content marketing, Lori shares her remarkable journey of reinvention and resilience. Discover how Lori turned failures into long-term success, how she applies legal precision to persuasive business content, and why "selling your strengths and buying your weaknesses" is the smartest strategy in business. This episode is packed with actionable advice, entrepreneurial inspiration, and insight into the power of content that converts.

When life throws a curveball, some people crumble — and others build an empire. Meet Lorraine Lane, a corporate executive-turned-small business coach who transformed an unexpected layoff into a thriving business spanning 25 years. In this episode of Business Story of the Week, Lorraine shares how her journey began with shock but evolved into a powerful mission to guide small business owners to find their authentic voice, build meaningful networks, and avoid common startup mistakes. From almost signing a disastrous partnership to learning the magic of asking for help, Lorraine offers hard-earned wisdom on the power of marketing with intention, networking with purpose, and embracing hybrid business models in a post-COVID world. If you're a small business owner trying to stand out, or someone navigating change, this is the insight-packed episode you need.

In this empowering episode of Business Story of the Week, we sit down with Andrea Hunt, EFT tapping and empowerment coach and founder of Living Deliberately Today. From Minnesota to Munich and beyond, Andrea shares her powerful journey of helping ambitious women break through fear, self-doubt, and imposter syndrome to build unshakable confidence — one bold step at a time. Discover how emotional resilience, mindset work, and transformational coaching can drive true business growth. Andrea dives deep into the power of community, how to embrace discomfort, and why failure is simply part of the path to success. Whether you're a new entrepreneur or seasoned businesswoman, this episode will help you take that leap and start living deliberately.

In this inspiring episode of Business Story of the Week, we sit down with Dr. Theresa DiLorenzo — founder of Nutrition for Optimal Performance — to explore how she's revolutionizing health and entrepreneurship by merging nutrition counseling with yoga therapy. From helping athletes optimize their bodies to empowering individuals with body image dysmorphia, Dr. Theresa shares how listening to your body can lead to personal and professional breakthroughs. She opens up about business missteps, the importance of staying true to your mission, and how consistent self-promotion helped her grow a successful private practice. Whether you're in the wellness space or navigating your own entrepreneurial path, this episode offers heartfelt insights, tactical growth tips, and a bold reminder: don’t give up.

In this week’s #BusinessStoryOfTheWeek, we sit down with Doug Dvorak, founder and managing principal of the Sales Coaching Institute, as he unpacks 35+ years of sales experience in an ever-evolving tech world. From the dawn of email to the AI revolution, Doug has seen it all—and leveraged it to build a powerhouse consulting business that helps sales leaders and professionals sharpen their edge. He shares why every business today is also a tech business, how to build a winning sales tech stack, and why “being on a rec team” mindset could be holding you back. Whether you're a startup founder, corporate sales executive, or aspiring entrepreneur, this episode delivers practical steps, inspiring stories, and sharp insights into what it really takes to build a sustainable, scalable, and professional business. Is this a hobby or a business? Doug’s got a reality check you need to hear.