Did you know we started a podcast? If not, you can check it out HERE. Or HERE for Android users. We just put up our 7th episode and we wanted to give you an update! We’ve had some amazing guests and it’s been a blast to hear their stories, get feedback, and most of all share these stories with you. This post is going to give you a quick breakdown of who we’ve had on the show!

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Episode 1 – Matt Surette Productions

Matt Surette is a good friend of ours and someone who we work with fairly often. He’s a very talented photographer from the Boston area who, until recently, was working a full time job and doing photography on the side. He would work 80-100 hour weeks more often than not and he did that for 3-4 years before he got to the point that he was ready to leave his full time job and pursue photography full time. His story is incredible and for any creatives out there, definitely worth a listen!

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Episode 2 – Cody DaLuz

Cody is another friend of ours and someone who truly works extremely hard to live the life he has. His career in the Marines and Military Contracting is not an easy one, but one that he loves and one that gives him the opportunity to travel the world and experience places he’s never been. He may work for weeks straight with no breaks but he gets to experience cultures and see parts of the world that he may never see otherwise. Cody shares his story of how he realized this was the path for him and how these experiences have changed his view on the world throughout time.

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Episode 3 – Matt Celeste | Blueflash Photography

Matt Celeste is a real hustler and has, as he calls it, “Career ADD.” Matt runs a wedding photo/video business called Blueflash photography but he also Founded and owned Waffle in downtown Providence. You may think Matt got a degree in photography or video or maybe culinary, but nope! His background was very different. At one point Matt was running 2 businesses while also trying to be a good father to his 3 kids. You can imagine how busy he was. Matt’s story is that of a true entrepreneur and more than worth your time to listen!

Photo below by Matt

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Episode 4 – Haus PVD

There are several other companies that do what we do in RI and we’re fortunate to know some of them; Haus PVD is one of those companies. Austin and Henry are two talented guys who both did their own thing for a few years before meeting each other and combining their talents to create Haus. Their work is focused on lifestyle branding and they have some excellent work. We hear their story of how they got started, what they both do to keep the company going and the ways they try to stand out. If you’re a fan of video, you will love this episode!

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Episode 5 – Whisk Me Away RI

If you’re someone who enjoys desserts, you won’t want to miss this episode. Morgan Gray (WhiskMeAwayRI) is a pastry chef based in RI who hasn’t stopped hustling since college and we had the chance to talk with her. Her story is incredible; from Rhode Island to Boston and back, she’s had several ventures that got her to start her own business and it was amazing to hear. Morgan has a real passion for what she does, not to mention an amazing talent, and she has put that passion into every treat she makes.

Photo credit: Lauren Fletcher Photography

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Episode 6 – Buns & Bites

@Bunsandbites is a local celeb here in Rhode Island. Laura is the creator of this body positive food blog that she started herself a few years back. Whether you’re looking for advice, positivity, or recommendations on where to eat, this episode will help you out! Laura shares her story of starting this blog, how she stayed true to her message and she shares speed bumps and successes along the way. It was very interesting to hear the behind the scenes work that goes on and how she has stayed positive from day 1.

Photo credit: Marissa Isiamone

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Episode 7 – Benway Entertainment

Being a wedding DJ isn’t an easy job and there’s a lot that goes on that you may not know about. Frank Benway came into the studio and shared his journey from high school parties to weddings and everything in between. we hear about the day to day work, the long-term work, and the challenges of running a business while working full time and having a family. Frank certainly loves what he does and has learned a lot in his 19 years of being in business. If you’re in the wedding industry, you will definitely enjoy this one!

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Episode 8 will be out Monday March 25th, but you have plenty of episodes to listen to in the meantime! If you’re enjoying the podcast so far, we would love to hear from you; you can DM us on Instagram at @upinyourbizpod or you can email us – hi@focusforwardmedia.com. You can also ask us any questions there, and if you’re interested in being on the show, send us a message and tell us a little bit about yourself! Be sure to subscribe to the podcast, leave a review, and share it with friends and family. Thank you to everyone who’s reached out so far, we appreciate the support.

One last time – HERE is the link to the podcast. You can also listen on Soundcloud if you don’t have an iPhone.

Best,
Mike & Mike