Risky Business

Ryan Richardson: From Real Estate to Scaling a 9-State Business

Sponsor Highlight: River City Mortgage LLC NMLS 142954 https://rchomeloans.com/ [https://rchomeloans.com/]Call or Text: Nick Hunter 513-490-4235 What does it actually look like to bet on yourself and build something real? In this episode, Sam Stone sits down with Ryan Richardson to break down his journey from working at American Express to building multiple businesses, including scaling a mobile IV company across multiple states. Ryan shares how he took his first big risk leaving a stable job, why most people never make that jump, and what actually happens after you do. They dive into building systems, hiring your first employee, and why focusing on helping people always beats chasing money. They also talk about scaling, business mistakes, real estate, and how to identify opportunities most people overlook. If you’ve ever thought about starting something but haven’t taken the leap, this one will hit. Timestamps 0:00 Why taking risks matters 0:33 Introduction to Ryan Richardson 4:43 How the IV business started 6:16 The moment everything clicked 8:38 Moving states to build the business 10:10 Scaling and hiring the first team 11:46 Growing to hundreds of nurses 16:03 Selling part of the business and stepping back 17:07 Moving to Kentucky and starting over 19:07 Leaving a stable job at American Express 22:22 Fear and worst case scenario thinking 24:48 Why helping people matters more than money 27:07 Lessons from building multiple businesses 28:11 Finding opportunities others miss 29:04 Starting the sign company 31:03 Scaling vs doing everything yourself 33:50 Why presentation matters in business 36:25 Marketing lessons from real estate signs 39:30 The Cybertruck marketing strategy 42:57 Why most people never take the leap 45:24 Doubt, stress, and pushing through 46:30 Scalability and building systems 49:04 Hiring your first employee 49:59 Final advice on risk and business

Jason Black: He took the Risk... Now He Builds Some of he Most Luxurious Homes in Louisville

Sponsor Highlight: River City Mortgage LLC NMLS 142954 https://rchomeloans.com/ Call or Text: Nick Hunter 513-490-4235What does it actually take to walk away from a stable corporate job and build a luxury business from scratch?In this episode of Risky Business, we sit down with Jason Black — Louisville’s premier luxury home builder and co-owner of Artisan Signature Homes.Jason shares how he went from working in corporate finance at companies like Humana to taking a massive leap of faith into home building… with ZERO experience.From building his first homes while still working full-time… to winning Homearama… to creating multi-million dollar custom estates — this episode breaks down what it really takes to bet on yourself and win.If you're thinking about starting something… this is the episode you need.⏱️ Timestamps00:00 – Why Jason Black’s name is everywhere in Louisville real estate01:04 – His corporate background (Humana, finance career)02:26 – The early interest in home building03:22 – Getting forced into a career decision04:42 – Building his first homes with zero experience06:17 – The moment he quit his corporate job07:54 – Building a Homearama house (and winning BEST OF SHOW)10:53 – Scaling a luxury home building business12:48 – Transitioning to Artisan Signature Homes15:45 – Building ultra-luxury homes and legacy properties17:16 – Advice for people stuck in a job they don’t love18:57 – Why you can’t wait for the “perfect moment”20:03 – Real estate investing and diversification22:03 – The importance of mentors and relationships24:45 – Expanding into luxury home renovations26:14 – Why execution beats overthinking28:57 – Final advice: Just take the leap👤 Guest InfoJason BlackLuxury Home Builder | Co-Owner of Artisan Signature Homes📍 Louisville, Kentucky🏡 Builds high-end custom homes in areas like Norton Commons, Prospect, and Anchorage

Kyle Hume: How I Went Viral, Turned Down Labels, and Bet on Myself

Sponsor Highlight: River City Mortgage LLC NMLS 142954 https://rchomeloans.com/ Call or Text: Nick Hunter 513-490-4235 SUBSCRIBE FOR MORE In this episode of the Risky Business Podcast, we sit down with Kyle Hume — singer, songwriter, and producer — to break down the real story from COVID era to now: how he used TikTok as a feedback loop, wrote songs from comments, went viral, and built a career without taking a traditional label path.Kyle talks through his background (Louisville → UK), his early days in computer science and internships at GE, the exact content experiments that worked, the moment a song blew up through other creators, and the business side of music — including why he turned down label deals and how he thinks about marketing music today.We also talk touring, album rollout, staying consistent, and what he’d tell a younger creator trying to make it right now.Kyle HumeSinger • Songwriter • Producer • Independent ArtistSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2XhX0GQkGHT8B4B5u8E5zZNew Album Release: March 27Louisville native now based in Nashville.Known for: “If I Would Have Known,” “Fine,” and viral songwriting from TikTok prompts.Timestamps0:00 Intro + meet Kyle Hume1:40 Louisville/UK background + early path3:00 Engineering → computer science + GE internships4:50 Getting into music (remixes, producing, learning fast)6:30 First song attempt + early momentum8:15 Turning down the “safe job” route10:00 Starting TikTok + testing content ideas12:00 The “write songs about people’s Instagrams” idea14:20 Turning it into an engagement machine16:00 Viral relationship/IG match videos + first big spikes18:00 Writing songs from comments (daily reps)21:00 First big “risk” move + grinding while still in school23:40 Flying to LA during dead week + learning the industry25:30 The comment that changed everything (“never getting to say goodbye”)26:50 Another creator blows it up + finishing the song fast28:20 Labels start calling + getting a manager29:45 Why Kyle turned down label deals (numbers, ownership, leverage)32:20 Content strategy shift: don’t chase followers, sell the song33:10 “Fine” blows up + going Gold36:00 Output cadence (5 videos/week) + tour promo37:30 Tour dates + Louisville show details + album release show41:10 Advice for young creators: start now, take shots, choose voices wisely45:10 Rapid fire: favorite song/video/restaurant48:00 “Holy cow this is working” moment + numbers mindset50:10 Perfect day in Nashville + wrap up

AUSTIN SAUER: Scaling Louisville Real Estate Media to $1M

Sponsor Highlight: River City Mortgage LLC NMLS 142954 https://rchomeloans.com/ Call or Text: Nick Hunter 513-490-4235 Welcome back to the Risky Business Podcast. Today I’m sitting down with my friend Austin Sauer — Louisville real estate media pro and a guy I genuinely believe is building one of the best service businesses in this city. Austin’s story hits hard because it’s not some overnight, highlight-reel success. He left medical sales in 2019, had zero book of business, built a studio, went months without shooting… and he’ll tell you straight up: the “if you build it, they will come” mentality is a lie. We talk about what actually grows a service business: why what you deliver isn’t the problem you solve how to scale something that isn’t scalable at the outset the “bucket method” for figuring out what’s working (and doubling down) building authority with content instead of posting the same stuff everyone else posts patience, infrastructure, and why most people quit right before it turns Austin also shares the reality of being years into business with $5 in the bank account, and why he still never considered going back. If you’re a service-based entrepreneur, a creative trying to build a real business, or you’re sitting on a risk you know you need to take… this episode is for you. Guest: Austin Sauer (Louisville Real Estate Media) 👇 Question for you: What are your 6 “buckets” — where did your best clients come from last year? Like, comment, subscribe, and share this with someone who needs a push. Chapters (timestamps) 0:00 Intro + why Austin’s story matters 0:45 Meet Austin Sauer (Louisville real estate media) 2:05 Snowmageddon + learning from every guest 3:10 Sponsor: River City Mortgage 4:35 Scaling a service business that “isn’t scalable” 6:10 Austin’s start: photo-first, adapting to video world 8:15 “Delivering media isn’t the problem we solve” 10:05 Going full-time in 2019 + the studio mistake 12:10 Creative world misconception: “pay me because I value my work” 14:30 Taking care of people = repeat business 17:15 The “5 D’s” (why sellers are stressed) 19:40 Long game mentality + patience 21:10 $5 in the bank with first kid — why he didn’t quit 23:45 1,200 homes shot (team total) + what success actually looks like 25:10 Sharing numbers + why transparency matters 27:40 Cameron’s “bucket method” (lead sources + doubling down) 31:00 Social media authority + standing out in a crowded market 34:10 “Most people don’t choose you because they don’t know you” 36:40 Best real estate media = adaptability, not perfection 39:30 Advice for 20–40 year olds taking risks 42:20 Give value first, don’t expect return

PAT RIGSBY - Everything Is a Trade: What I Learned Building 40 Businesses

Most people think success is about hitting milestones.Revenue numbers. Titles. Rankings. Wins. But what happens when you hit those milestones… and they feel empty? In this episode of Risky Business Podcast, I sit down with Pat Riggsby — former college baseball coach, multi-time founder, six-time bestselling author, and someone who’s owned or co-owned nearly 40 businesses, including scaling fitness and sports performance franchises to 275+ locations worldwide.What makes this conversation different isn’t the résumé — it’s the honesty. Pat started entrepreneurship around age 30, after spending a decade in college baseball. Like many people listening, he felt the pressure of “playing catch-up,” especially watching others online who seemed further ahead.This episode breaks down:Why everything in life is a trade Why social media makes entrepreneurs feel behind The danger of comparing your full movie to someone else’s trailerWhy your first business doesn’t need to succeedHow being bad is the price of eventually being goodWhy consistency beats talent, capital, and hypeThe real reason follow-up is a superpowerHow Pat differentiated by doing what others wouldn’tWhy he walked away from a growing empire to be present with his familyHow to define “enough” before success defines it for youThis episode is especially for:People in their 20s and 30s who feel lateEntrepreneurs stuck consuming instead of executingHigh performers questioning the cost of “more”Anyone afraid that one failure means they’re not cut out for businessIf you’ve ever thought:“Maybe I missed my window.”“Everyone else is ahead of me.”“What if my first business fails?”— this conversation will hit home.TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k-Kt1dyX01Q] – “Everything is a trade” (the mindset that changes everything) 02:15 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k-Kt1dyX01Q&t=135s] – From college baseball coach to entrepreneur at 30 04:48 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k-Kt1dyX01Q&t=288s] – Why success milestones can feel hollow 07:02 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k-Kt1dyX01Q&t=422s] – Feeling behind in your 30s (and why it’s a myth) 10:45 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k-Kt1dyX01Q&t=645s] – Consumption vs production (why most people stay stuck) 13:30 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k-Kt1dyX01Q&t=810s] – You have to be bad before you can be good 17:00 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k-Kt1dyX01Q&t=1020s] – Social media is a highlight reel, not the real movie 21:50 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k-Kt1dyX01Q&t=1310s] – Why my first businesses weren’t all successful 24:04 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k-Kt1dyX01Q&t=1444s] – Doing what others won’t do (the real differentiator) 32:40 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k-Kt1dyX01Q&t=1960s] – Walking away from success to prioritize family. Sponsor Highlight: River City Mortgage LLCNMLS 142954 https://rchomeloans.com/ [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbHB2YU43V0M5U2RPWnJ4Y2I3WGZ6cHo5LUpFQXxBQ3Jtc0trWWpfOUhERVliRFdyVTlqeGVlSmVxWmNlQmpsSERpdmpUX1A4WmlNalZvUTJBMzlXaDBYZUowY3RYb0RhOEgycUdIRnRJRFdrS0o5ZXdmd1hTR1Z2NkpHYzVaajdjc0NmR2FseWh6bDVJMVBwV3ZZVQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Frchomeloans.com%2F&v=k-Kt1dyX01Q] Call or Text: Nick Hunter 513-490-4235