The Things Winter Forgets: The Mission Behind Warm Kids Wisconsin (feat. Dustin Rucker)

Two Perspectives, One Pour (The Kishwaukee Brewing Experience)

Business Over Beer is FINALLY back in a brewery… and this episode was apparently so nice, I had to film it twice. 🍻 After falling behind on editing, life chaos, schedules, and me apparently forgetting how calendars work, I’m excited to finally share this special episode featuring Kishwaukee Brewing in Woodstock, Illinois. This episode ended up becoming something unique. I sat down with Cara on one day and Dan on another, giving this conversation two completely different perspectives on the brewery, the beer, the creativity, and the business behind it all. Honestly, it made the episode even better. We talk about: 🍺 Brewing philosophy 🍺 Building community through craft beer 🍺 The story behind Kishwaukee Brewing 🍺 Award-winning beers 🍺 Running a brewery as a team 🍺 Midwest beer culture and why local breweries matter Huge thanks to Dan and Cara for being patient while I crawled out from underneath my editing cave to finally release this one. 🎧 Follow Business Over Beer: Instagram: @bizoverbeerpodcast TikTok: @bizoverbeer X: @bizoverbeer Follow Ben: Instagram: @ben_surratt Follow Passages to Success: Instagram: @passagestosuccess 🔗 Linktree: https://linktr.ee/Bizoverbeerpodcast [https://linktr.ee/Bizoverbeerpodcast] 🌐 Website: www.bizoverbeer.com [http://www.bizoverbeer.com] 📧 Contact: bizoverbeer@gmail.com [bizoverbeer@gmail.com] Follow Kishwaukee Brewing: Instagram: @kishwaukeebrewing Facebook: Kishwaukee Brewing Company 🌐 https://www.kishwaukeebrewing.com [https://www.kishwaukeebrewing.com] #BusinessOverBeer #KishwaukeeBrewing #CraftBeer #WisconsinBeer #IllinoisBeer #MidwestBreweries #Podcast #BeerPodcast #SmallBusiness #CraftBeerCulture

German Beer Tour at Yard 65 Brewing

In this special edition of Business Over Beer, Ben heads to Yard 65 Brewing Co. for a deep dive into classic German beer styles with head brewer Corey Petzold. From Kölsch and Helles to Schwarzbier and Bock, this episode is more than just a beer review — it’s a journey through German culture, history, tradition, and the way beer brings people together. Corey shares stories from his many trips to Germany, how German beer culture inspired his brewing journey, and why camaraderie, conversation, and community are at the center of everything happening at Yard 65. They also talk: 🍺 German beer styles & brewing traditions 🇩🇪 Regional culture differences across Germany 🏰 Castles, monasteries & Oktoberfest ✈️ Corey’s upcoming Germany beer & culture tour 🍖 German food pairings ⚽ Bundesliga, beer halls & Christmas markets 🍻 Why German beer culture feels different If you love craft beer, travel, storytelling, or just hearing passionate people talk about what they love — this episode is for you. 📍 Yard 65 Brewing Co. – Kiel, Wisconsin 📲 Follow Yard 65: Instagram: @yard65brewery Facebook: Yard 65 Brewing Co. 🍺 Follow Business Over Beer: X: @bizoverbeer Instagram: @bizoverbeerpodcast TikTok: @bizoverbeer Follow Ben: @ben_surratt Passages to Success: @passagestosuccess 🔗 https://linktr.ee/Bizoverbeerpodcast [https://linktr.ee/Bizoverbeerpodcast] 🌐 www.bizoverbeer.com [http://www.bizoverbeer.com] 📧 bizoverbeer@gmail.com [bizoverbeer@gmail.com] #BusinessOverBeer #Yard65 #CraftBeer #GermanBeer #WisconsinBeer #BeerPodcast #CraftBrewery #MidwestBeer #BeerCulture #KielWI

Preserving Stories That Matter (feat. Mary Voell of Legacies LLC)

What if the most important story ever told… is yours? In this episode of Business Over Beer, I sit down with Mary Voell, founder of Legacies, a business dedicated to helping families capture, preserve, and pass down their stories for generations. What started as a moment of reflection after losing her mother turned into a 20+ year journey of helping people document their lives—not just names and dates, but the real stories that shape who we are. We dive into: * Why storytelling matters more than ever * The emotional impact of capturing family history * How legacy builds identity and connection * The 4-step process Mary uses to turn memories into books * The business behind helping people tell their stories This episode is a reminder that your story matters—and it’s worth telling. Connect with Mary Voell (Legacies): 📧 info@legaciesstories.com 🌐 www.legaciesstories.com [http://www.legaciesstories.com] Connect with Business Over Beer: 🍻 Website: www.bizoverbeer.com 🔗 Linktree: https://linktr.ee/Bizoverbeerpodcast [https://linktr.ee/Bizoverbeerpodcast] 📧 Email: bizoverbeer@gmail.com 📱 Follow us: * X: @bizoverbeer * Instagram: @bizoverbeerpodcast * TikTok: @bizoverbeer * Follow Ben: @ben_surratt * Passages to Success: @passagestosuccess Produced by WAWI Productions Helping you tell your story the right way 🎙️ 📩 Reach out to learn more about podcast production & consulting

The Things Winter Forgets: The Mission Behind Warm Kids Wisconsin (feat. Dustin Rucker)

This episode of Business Over Beer is different—and it needed to be. No beer. Just coffee, conversation, and a mission that hits straight in the chest. Host Ben Surratt sits down with Dustin Rucker, founder of Warm Kids Wisconsin, a nonprofit working directly with elementary schools to make sure kids across the state have what they need to survive Wisconsin winters: boots and snow pants. It all started with one giving tree request: “I just want snow pants so I can play with my friends.” That moment changed everything. In this episode, Dustin shares: 1. Why coats aren’t the biggest need—boots and snow pants are 2. How one small idea turned into helping hundreds of kids across Wisconsin 3. Why teachers and counselors are often quietly filling the gap 4. What people misunderstand about nonprofits and donations 5. His own childhood experience growing up without winter gear 6. How community, connection, and saying “yes” keeps this mission moving forward Warm Kids Wisconsin now works with schools from Chippewa Falls to Sheboygan, helping 30–40 kids per school, with 100% of donations going directly to kids—no salaries, no overhead, no nonsense. This episode is a reminder that: 1. Small donations matter 2. Community still shows up 3. And sometimes the biggest impact starts with the simplest question: “What do you need?” 🎧 Listen. Share it. Then do something with it. ❤️ HOW YOU CAN HELP Follow and connect with Warm Kids Wisconsin on social media 📲 @warmkidswisconsin Donations accepted via PayPal & Venmo (Search Warm Kids Wisconsin) Current needs: 1. Boots & snow pants (neutral colors preferred) 2. Storage totes & vacuum storage bags 3. Volunteers with time, skills, or ideas to help 🎧 BUSINESS OVER BEER 🌐 www.bizoverbeer.com 🔗 https://linktr.ee/Bizoverbeerpodcast [https://linktr.ee/Bizoverbeerpodcast] 📩 bizoverbeer@gmail.com 🎬 Produced by WAWI Productions 📩 wawiproductions@gmail.com 📸 Instagram: @wawiproductions

⭐️ Breaking the Stigma: A Real Conversation About the Hemp Industry (feat. Waldo Hemp Works)

In this episode of Business Over Beer, Ben sits down with Tami, co-owner of Waldo Hemp Works, for a conversation that breaks down the stigma, confusion, and curiosity surrounding the hemp industry. This is a first for the podcast—diving into a business many people have questions about but don’t always understand. Tami shares how Waldo Hemp Works got started, what hemp-derived products actually are, and why education and transparency matter so much in this space. We talk laws, misconceptions, customer hesitation, and what it’s really like owning a hemp business in today’s climate. No sales pitch. No hype. Just an honest, educational conversation about entrepreneurship, community, and an industry that’s still widely misunderstood. Whether you’re hemp-curious, a small business owner, or just here for a good conversation—you’ll learn something from this one. Connect with Waldo Hemp Works: 📸 Instagram: @waldohempworks 🌐 waldohempworks.com Connect with Business Over Beer: 🎧 Listen & subscribe wherever you get your podcasts 📸 Instagram / TikTok / X: @bizoverbeer 🌐 www.bizoverbeer.com Produced by WAWI Productions: 📸 Instagram: @wawiproductions 📧 Email: wawiproductions@gmail.com