#37: Kate and Brandon Couden: The Real Business Behind a Great Gym

#37: Kate and Brandon Couden: The Real Business Behind a Great Gym

Kate and Brandon Couden are the husband-and-wife team behind CrossFit Grandview in Columbus, Ohio. Brandon started the gym in 2009 after taking over the old Rogue Fitness gym with almost no resources, a small private loan, and only 14 members. Kate brought 13 years of experience at Lifetime Fitness, where she built a foundation in personal training, nutrition, and understanding what strong fitness culture can look like. In this conversation, we talk about building a gym from the ground up, growing from survival mode into a real business, and creating a community that can evolve with people through different seasons of life. We also get into the economics of gym ownership, payroll and equipment costs, buying a building, working together as a couple, making decisions when you disagree, and avoiding burnout in a people-based business. Subscribe for more conversations like this. Join the newsletter: https://substack.com/@steveseger [https://substack.com/@steveseger] Watch on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@Steve_Seger2 [https://youtube.com/@Steve_Seger2] Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pieces-of-impact/id1851467002 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pieces-of-impact/id1851467002] Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2IGYfTSYNvsD96UjUqqCJt?si=f5abdaf2294c4a35 [https://open.spotify.com/show/2IGYfTSYNvsD96UjUqqCJt?si=f5abdaf2294c4a35] Connect with Steve on LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/steveseger [http://www.linkedin.com/in/steveseger] CrossFit Grandview: https://crossfitgrandview.com/ [https://crossfitgrandview.com/] CrossFit Grandview Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crossfitgrandview/ [https://www.instagram.com/crossfitgrandview/] 00:00 Building Something That Compounds 02:08 Kate’s Path From Lifetime Fitness to CrossFit Grandview 03:17 Brandon’s Path 05:58 Starting With Almost Nothing and 14 Members 08:38 Early Traction and Getting People Into It 09:55 Moving to Grandview and Building a Bigger Vision 11:48 Nutrition, Childcare, and Keeping Members in the Community 13:41 Barbell, Power Hour, HYROX, and Training for Longevity 18:00 Day-to-Day Ownership and Avoiding Burnout 23:08 Working Together as a Couple 28:34 The Economics of Running a Gym That Lasts 36:23 What They Would Do Differently

#36: Dr. Paul Sereno - The Real-Life Indiana Jones and the Age of Discovery

In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Paul Sereno, a paleontologist, professor, explorer, artist, author, teacher, and one of the closest things you will find to a real-life Indiana Jones. Dr. Sereno has led expeditions across the world, from the Sahara to South America and now toward the Amazon. We get into AI, de-extinction, lost fossils, the asteroid that changed Earth’s history, whether humans would exist if that asteroid had missed, his course on intelligence in the universe, and why he believes the world is still a playground for the next generation. Subscribe for more conversations like this on Pieces of Impact. Join the newsletter: https://substack.com/@steveseger [https://substack.com/@steveseger] Watch on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@steve_seger2?si=2E2mUXAfOLL9ztyQ [https://youtube.com/@steve_seger2?si=2E2mUXAfOLL9ztyQ] Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast]... Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2IGYfTS [https://open.spotify.com/show/2IGYfTS]... Connect with Steve on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/steveseger [http://www.linkedin.com/in/steveseger] Guest Links Paul Sereno Website: https://paulsereno.uchicago.edu/ [https://paulsereno.uchicago.edu/] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paulserenoofficial/?hl=en [https://www.instagram.com/paulserenoofficial/?hl=en] Chapter Markers 00:00 Intro and why I wanted to have Dr. Paul Sereno on 02:02 Dr. Sereno joins the show 06:44 Dr. Safety, black bones, and leading expeditions 11:21 The real-life Indiana Jones comparison 16:15 Why discovery is far from over 24:00 AI, de-extinction, and what people misunderstand 31:59 The Amazon expedition and the next big discovery 37:10 Teaching, science, and the evolution of intelligence 49:19 Lost fossils, repatriation, and preserving history 54:25 Would humans exist if the asteroid missed? 57:49 Naming discoveries, future expeditions, and final wisdom 1:06:54 Where to find Dr. Sereno

#35: Aaron Foss - How to Turn Everyday Problems Into Businesses That Scale

Aaron Foss is a serial entrepreneur who has built five companies, including Nomorobo, the service that has stopped billions of unwanted robocalls and spam texts. Nomorobo was acquired by Applause Group in August 2023. Before that, Aaron participated in Techstars NYC with SideTour, which Groupon acquired in 2013. He has testified before Congress three times and has been featured by outlets including The New York Times, Wired, CNN, CNBC, and Fox News. In this conversation, Aaron explains how to identify problems worth solving, distinguish progress from real traction, and know when to narrow your focus from a wide flashlight into a laser. We also discuss why entrepreneurs should fall in love with the problem instead of chasing trends, how constraints can improve creativity, what he looks for in founders, and why his work with Defy Ventures has become such an important part of his life. Aaron also shares lessons from building and selling companies, along with the books and negotiation tools that helped him along the way. Subscribe for more conversations like this on Pieces of Impact. Join the newsletter: https://substack.com/@steveseger [https://substack.com/@steveseger] Watch on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@Steve_Seger2 [https://youtube.com/@Steve_Seger2] Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pieces-of-impact/id1851467002 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pieces-of-impact/id1851467002] Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2IGYfTSYNvsD96UjUqqCJt?si=f5abdaf2294c4a35 [https://open.spotify.com/show/2IGYfTSYNvsD96UjUqqCJt?si=f5abdaf2294c4a35] Connect with Steve on LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/steveseger [http://www.linkedin.com/in/steveseger] Connect with Aaron and explore his work: https://go.aaronfoss.com/linktree [https://go.aaronfoss.com/linktree] Learn more about Defy Ventures: https://www.defyventures.org/ [https://www.defyventures.org/] Never Split the Difference Negotiation Cheat Sheet: https://medium.com/yanda/negotiation-cheat-sheet-31c73031956a [https://medium.com/yanda/negotiation-cheat-sheet-31c73031956a] 00:00 From Tech Kid to Serial Problem Solver 03:41 The Wing Dipper and Learning Through Real Feedback 07:48 Techstars, Focus, and the Road to Nomorobo 14:53 Retiring at 45 to Coach Entrepreneurs 16:19 Start With the Problem, Then Narrow the Beam 21:23 Constraints, Forcing Functions, and Learning by Doing 29:24 Fall in Love With the Problem, Not Your Passion 35:19 Every Interview Is a Pitch, and Experience Beats a Resume 41:30 Defy Ventures and Entrepreneurship After Incarceration 48:18 Progress vs. Traction: The Proof Investors Need 54:43 Mistakes, Book Recommendations, and Founder Green/Flags 01:05:27 Final Wisdom: Keep It Simple

#34: A Sith Lord, a $90K Dog, a Redfish, and a Duck Stamp

In this solo episode of Pieces of Impact, I walk through four unrelated rabbit holes I went down recently: Darth Bane and the Rule of Two in Star Wars, trained protection dogs that can cost around $90,000 or more, a quick oral report on redfish, and the federal duck stamp. The goal here is simple: learn a little, have some fun, and share a few topics I found interesting enough to dig into. Subscribe for more solo episodes and long-form conversations on Pieces of Impact. 00:00 Introduction to the Solo Episode 01:54 Darth Bane and the Rule of Two 07:03 The World of Trained Protection Dogs 10:23 Exploring Redfish: A Deep Dive 15:13 The Federal Duck Stamp: Conservation in Action

#33: Carter Huff: The Story Behind Bogey’s Barn

In this episode, I sit down with Carter Huff, an Army veteran and the man behind Bogey’s Barn. Carter invited me up to his place to record this conversation inside the pole barn he is turning into a home gym, training space, and brand named after his basset hound, Bogey. Bogey of course was a big contributor to this candid discussion. Check out the video version to see him. Subscribe for more conversations like this on Pieces of Impact. Join the newsletter: https://substack.com/@steveseger [https://substack.com/@steveseger] Watch on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@Steve_Seger2 [https://youtube.com/@Steve_Seger2] Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pieces-of-impact/id1851467002 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pieces-of-impact/id1851467002] Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2IGYfTSYNvsD96UjUqqCJt?si=f5abdaf2294c4a35 [https://open.spotify.com/show/2IGYfTSYNvsD96UjUqqCJt?si=f5abdaf2294c4a35] Connect with Steve on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/steveseger [http://www.linkedin.com/in/steveseger] Guest Links Bogey’s Barn Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bogeys_barn/ [https://www.instagram.com/bogeys_barn/] Bogey’s Barn TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@bogeys.barn [https://www.tiktok.com/@bogeys.barn] Bogey’s Barn Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61568794403157# [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61568794403157#] Chapter Markers 00:00 Intro and why I drove up to Bogey’s Barn 02:03 Carter joins the show inside the barn 02:39 Carter’s background, military path, and return to Ohio 03:36 Bogey, basset hounds, and the story behind the name 04:43 Buying the property and building the barn piece by piece 08:41 Finding the farmhouse and why people connect with the space 14:26 Posting every day and growing Bogey’s Barn authentically 22:08 Marathon prep, hybrid training, and removing excuses 32:00 Bogey’s role, diet, basset hounds, and life at the barn 41:55 Carter’s long-term vision, rapid fire, and final wisdom