Small Business Therapy

Tanner Thomason on Betting on Yourself, Surviving Public Failure, and Building a Career Without a Safety Net

Tanner Thomason joins the show to share a deeply honest look at what it means to chase a creative career with no guarantees—and keep going when the stakes are public, personal, and unforgiving. From leaving a four-stoplight town in Oklahoma to building a two-decade career in television and entertainment, Tanner reflects on the fear, humility, and resilience required to stay in the game. He opens up about one of the most terrifying moments of his career: a live broadcast mishap during the Nipsey Hussle funeral coverage that sparked online backlash and tested his ability to take responsibility, apologize in real time, and move forward under intense scrutiny. Tanner explains why learning to “forget the pitch once it leaves your hand” became essential to surviving live TV—and life. The conversation also explores financial uncertainty, career impermanence, and the reality that shows end, platforms disappear, and reinvention is inevitable. Tanner shares how humble pie, side hustles, real estate, and an abundance mindset helped him stay grounded through industry volatility—and why trusting your own wings matters more than trusting the branch beneath you. At its core, this episode is about courage without certainty: choosing optimism over fear, creation over comfort, and believing you’ll find another branch—even if the one you’re standing on breaks.

Nicole Davis: Rebuilding Confidence, Leading with Abundance, and Trusting Yourself All the Way Up

Entrepreneur, speaker, and mentor Nicole shares the unfiltered story behind her rise—from early corporate success and a devastating mental health collapse, to rebuilding her life, career, and confidence from the ground up. After navigating depression, financial strain, motherhood, and starting her firm with little more than savings and self-belief, Nicole built a thriving ecosystem of businesses spanning accounting, construction, payroll, coaching, and speaking. Along the way, she learned to trust her instincts, invest in herself before it felt safe, and lead without scarcity in an industry often defined by competition. Nicole opens up about why collaboration beats comparison, how childhood lessons shaped her abundance mindset, and what it really takes to balance ambition, family, and personal growth over a 20-year entrepreneurial journey. From hiring before she felt ready to stepping onto the keynote stage, this conversation is a powerful reminder that success isn’t about having a blueprint—it’s about believing you’ll figure it out and moving forward anyway.

Callie and Jeff Dauler: When Marriage and Entrepreneurship Collide

When Jeff was fired from radio in 2019, married couple Callie and Jeff launched "The Upside" podcast, which hit #6 on Apple's charts within a week and sold out ad inventory 15 months in advance. The success was lightning in a bottle, but when COVID hit and they were together constantly, creating content became exhausting. Callie negotiated her departure from CNN to join full-time, and they've since pivoted to helping entrepreneurs tell their stories through podcasting. They candidly discuss the fear of both partners relying on the same income stream, the importance of defining roles, and why Jeff's philosophy of dealing with minor annoyances immediately has saved their marriage and business partnership.

Adrian Williams: Building a Construction Business on Intuition

Contractor Adrian Williams rebuilt his construction business from scratch after relocating from California to Atlanta with nothing but a beat-up truck, a trailer of tools, and a family of five to support. Having burned through his savings attempting to settle in Chattanooga first, Adrian landed in Atlanta financially desperate but determined. Now leading a team of 18, he shares his unique sales philosophy: looking for red flags to turn jobs down rather than desperately chasing every lead. Adrian discusses the anxiety of being sole breadwinner, his wife's unwavering belief in him, why he invested $700 monthly in construction software when they could barely pay rent, and how self-trust became his compass through the scariest rebuilding phase of his career.

Lace Larrabee: The Business of Laughter and Confidence

Lace Larrabee, comedian and founder of Laugh Lab comedy school, shares her journey from bartender to Atlanta's leading comedy educator. After a regular customer literally put her on a show poster with three months to prepare, Lace's first stand-up performance at 28 changed everything. Now, 14 years later, she tours as a headlining comedian (including America's Got Talent) while running Laugh Lab, which has taught hundreds of women to find their voice on stage. Lace opens up about her biggest fear: fully committing to scaling her business online and potentially failing. She discusses how divorce became a "new lease on life," navigating a new relationship while building her empire, and why rising tides raise all ships in comedy and business.