In this powerful episode, Jamie Seeker sits down with Jim Parrish, founder of Parrish Law Firm, PLLC, based in Northern Virginia. Jim shares how he built a multi-million-dollar personal injury practice rooted in values and client trust—all on a contingency-fee model where the firm only gets paid if clients win.

Drawing from his early days inside the insurance industry, Jim now uses that knowledge to fight for accident victims in car and commercial trucking crashes. But what really sets him apart is his commitment to process, strategy, and community—from internal AI-powered systems to giving away bikes and coats through his community programs.

He talks about hiring ahead of the curve, managing high-stakes deadlines, and staying true to the mission—even when no one’s watching. This episode is packed with takeaways for entrepreneurs navigating risk, growth, and purpose.

• Jim started his firm just two weeks before the birth of his first child—leaning on faith, grit, and strategy to make it work.
• His contingency-fee model means his firm doesn’t get paid unless the client wins—so case selection, risk management, and internal process are critical.
• Selective intake is a must in Virginia due to the harsh “contributory negligence” law, which bars recovery even if the victim is just 1% at fault.

• The firm has developed a detailed procedural manual and leverages AI and KPIs to monitor internal performance.
• Jim meets regularly with case managers to proactively stay ahead of deadlines—citing “be early” as a business and life principle.
• Delegation and trust are essential for scale—especially in high-risk businesses where mistakes are costly.

• Jim hires and trains based on shared values first, skills second.
• He leads internal scenario-based training sessions to prepare staff for insurance company tactics.

• Community service began with time (volunteering and coaching) and evolved into financial giving as the firm grew.
• Signature initiatives:
• Wild Summer: Kids at Play – Gifting bikes and outdoor gear
• 500 Coat Drive – Providing warm clothing for local families
• Scholarships – Funding students entering college

• Hard work is non-negotiable.
• Delegation, trust, and building a values-aligned team are keys to sustainable leadership.
• Giving back isn’t a phase—it’s a mindset from day one.

Tammy Lisi, affectionately known as The Unicorn Chemist, joins Jamie Seeker to share her unconventional journey from chemistry intern to neurophysiology researcher to co-founding Formulate Robotics, a tech-powered contract manufacturing company operating out of rural Iowa. In this deeply authentic episode, Tammy opens up about breaking into male-dominated STEM fields, the emotional weight of fundraising, lessons learned from hiring missteps, and the quiet tenacity it takes to lead in science, business, and innovation.

Tammy’s story is a reminder that innovation doesn't only happen in big cities or corporate labs — and it’s proof that your background doesn’t box you in; it equips you to lead.

🔬 From Molecules to Machines

• Tammy started her career in veterinary chemistry and moved into neurophysiology research at the University of Iowa, where she worked for over a decade and published peer-reviewed articles.
• After leaving academia, she renovated a horse property, reassessed her path, and eventually launched a consulting lab, Unicorn Chemist.

🤝 The Power of Partnership

• Co-founded Formulate and later Formulate Robotics with Osmaan Shah, combining her science background with his expertise in robotics and coding.
• The company developed an automated manufacturing platform to solve pain points for brands in personal care and pharma.

💼 Business & Financial Lessons

• Tammy shares a candid story about hiring too early and hiring the wrong fit — a quality chemist rather than a creative R&D thinker — which hurt the business for years.
• Eventually pivoted to working with experienced freelance chemists instead of a traditional in-house team.

👩‍🔬 Women in STEM

• Often the only woman in a room full of men — even early in her career on a 14-person science team.
• Faced moments of exclusion and being underestimated, like being told to “call the real chemist.”
• Tammy emphasizes that becoming the recognized expert in your space shifts the power dynamic.

🧠 Inner Doubt and Resilience

• Admits to still second-guessing herself, even decades into her career.
• Encourages young women to work hard, stay humble, and trust their ability to grow into confidence.

📍Rural Innovation

• Operates her robotics lab from rural Iowa, proving that cutting-edge science and scalable solutions can be built anywhere.

Tammy’s journey proves that scientific innovation, financial wisdom,...

Pete Bernard’s journey spans from launching firmware startups in high school to leading major innovations at Microsoft and now reshaping the global conversation around Edge AI. In this conversation, Pete breaks down the mindset behind product innovation, why timing and customer clarity matter more than features, and how conviction, collaboration, and education play critical roles in staying ahead in fast-evolving tech landscapes.

From financial planning in billion-dollar product teams to bootstrapping startups, Pete offers a transparent, practical look at decision-making across business models. And at the heart of it all? A commitment to empowering people—with knowledge, with access, and with the courage to lead.

• Started building software in high school in New Jersey
• Moved from Boston to Silicon Valley for early tech roles and startups
• Joined Microsoft, where he spent nearly 20 years building products like Zune, Windows Phone, and Azure IoT
• Now leads the EDGE AI Foundation, formerly tinyML, based in Seattle, WA

• Great products aren’t just cool—they solve real, specific problems for real people.
• Timing in the market is often more critical than the tech itself.
• Microsoft taught him to think at scale: “If it’s not a billion-dollar business, it’s not worth doing here.”

• Conviction in the vision is essential: “That conviction permeates the whole organization.”
• Leadership means making the hard financial and strategic decisions early—and not waiting for someone else to do it.

• Pete’s vision for the EDGE AI Foundation: “Not just about accelerating business, but empowering people through knowledge.”
• The Foundation supports scholarships, education programs, and global tech community-building.

• Startup mode: Focused on smart capital allocation, high growth expectations.
• Corporate innovation: Every project had to justify billion-dollar ROI and high margins.
• Nonprofit mode: Still solving problems and creating value, just for a different kind of “customer.”

In this episode of Business Owners Tell All: What It Takes, Brett Swarts, founder of Capital Gains Tax Solutions, shares how financial loss, faith, and family values shaped his mission to help others exit wisely. After watching a client (and his own family) lose everything due to poor financial planning, Brett made it his life’s work to educate high-net-worth individuals on the power of the Deferred Sales Trust (DST). He opens up about building his business from zero during the 2008 crash, living with family, and working nights at the Cheesecake Factory — all while refusing to quit.

The episode explores faith-based entrepreneurship, redefining ROI as Return on Time and Return on Impact, and creating a business that enables life on your terms.

• 2008 crash wiped out momentum early in his career.
• Took side jobs to survive, including Cheesecake Factory and AAU basketball gigs.
• Moved in with family; borrowed $5,000 to stay afloat.
• This experience grounded his long-term mission to build something lasting.

“We were flat on our back financially… but that season gave us clarity and grit that shaped everything.”

• Client Steve lost $50M, his marriage, and time with his kids.
• Inspired Brett to find a better exit strategy for families to preserve wealth and unity.
• Sparked the mission to serve “the Steves of the world.”

“I want to dedicate the rest of my working career to helping those kinds of families.”

• A legal installment sale using a trust to defer capital gains taxes.
• Works for real estate, business sales, Bitcoin, and more.
• Creates flexible, passive income streams without 1031 constraints.

“It’s about freedom — liquidity, diversification, and peace of mind.”

• Helped client trade the “3 T’s — toilets, trash, termites” for time with his twin daughters.
• Reframed value beyond just ROI — it’s about lifestyle alignment and values.

“He realized he was trading time with his daughters for trash and termites.”

“Our job is to help people unlock time and freedom, not just wealth.”

• Brett and his wife created a goal: 1,000 extraordinary days in 100 unique places before their kids turn 18.
• Built a business around flexibility and purpose.
• Encourages families to define mission, vision, and values just like they do in business.

“We have it for our companies—why don’t we have it for our families?”

• Once passive income is achieved, the focus shifts to contribution and legacy.
• Helps clients reinvest into what matters most — family, causes, community.

“Return on Impact is where true fulfillment lives.”

• A blend of faith, clarity, identity, and urgency.
• Anchors in the idea that God has pre-designed a good work for each of us.
• Encourages entrepreneurs to get clear on their gifts and walk faithfully toward their calling.

“With just a mustard seed of faith, you can move mountains.”

“We’ve all been given a certain gift. It’s not ours—it’s meant to bless...

In this candid and deeply relatable conversation, Gregory Vetter, co-founder of Tessemae’s and current CEO of Alta Fresh Foods, joins What It Takes to talk about the real cost of entrepreneurship—with a focus on financials. Drawing from his honest and hilarious book Undressed, Greg shares his multi-phase “Money Quest” journey, including investor pitfalls, oil spills, media hype, board takeovers, and ultimately, how bankruptcy led to personal freedom and a renewed vision.

Now with Alta Fresh Foods, Greg has taken those hard-earned lessons and created a profitable, purpose-driven business that prioritizes transparency, efficiency, and solving real problems in food manufacturing. He’s also paying it forward through HomeGrown Brands, helping other founders build smarter.

• Fundraising felt like validation early on—but came with major consequences.
• “Move fast and break things” doesn’t work when you’re shoveling up oil with kitty litter.
• The emotional desire to be seen and validated by investors led to avoidable decisions.
• The Money Quests in his book represent different stages of growth, failure, and learning—essential financial storytelling for entrepreneurs.

• Designed to reduce food waste and labor inefficiencies in retail food assembly.
• Won Sam’s Club Supplier of the Year through radical transparency and over-communication.
• Differentiated by eliminating co-packers and controlling the process in-house.
• No outside investors—complete ownership and freedom in decision-making.

• Despite having the evidence, the board’s control and court battles forced Greg into bankruptcy.
• He describes it as his “freedom moment,” where every fear was exposed, and faith was found.
• The hardest moments led him to his personal transformation—and a deeper connection to God, family, and purpose.

• “What the Inc. Magazine cover didn’t do for us…”
• “The buyer revolving door is real—and it can break your business.”
• “Why I built Alta Fresh without a single investor.”
• “From Chapter 11 to Sam’s Club Supplier of the Year.”

• Storage unit oil spill scene (funny + visual)
• Emotional take on investor love and validation
• Signature question and four things money can’t buy
• The board coup + faith transformation moment

In this episode, Jamie Seeker talks with Matthew Neill Davis, founder of Davis Business Law—a firm that has scaled to nine locations across the Midwest and South, making the rare leap onto the Inc. 5000 list. Matthew shares how he built a multi-office law firm from Enid, Oklahoma, his philosophy behind the "Strong Protected Business System," and real-world lessons in preventing disaster before it strikes.

A heavy metal guitarist and author of The Art of Preventing Stupid, Matt opens up about how he's helping entrepreneurs think ahead, avoid legal pitfalls, and scale with confidence. From emotional client stories to candid advice on financial planning, this episode is packed with insights for business owners who want to protect what they're building.

• Expansion started with opening an office in Oklahoma City and continued organically to 9 offices including Denver.
• Growth was often opportunistic—“We were just too dumb to know we couldn’t do it.”

• Developed in response to seeing clients make preventable mistakes.
• Encourages businesses to identify vulnerabilities before they become liabilities.
• Focuses on three key areas:

1. Catastrophes
2. Ignorance (what you don’t know)
3. Ineptitude (what you know but don’t do)

• Client with a major oil field company upgraded insurance after Matthew intervened.
• A tragic accident involving one of their trucks could have bankrupted the company—but didn’t, because of that decision.

“He asked, ‘What about the company?’ and I said, ‘We’re fine—because we had that conversation.’”

• Many businesses lack adequate insurance coverage.
• Legal risk often underestimated, especially in high-liability sectors like trucking or healthcare.

“Your capabilities are your lid. If you're not constantly improving, you're holding your company back.”

• Middle stages of business (e.g., $5M in revenue) are the toughest: you need leadership infrastructure but haven’t hit high-revenue efficiency.
• Growing too fast without planning can squeeze margins and overwhelm systems.

• Legal and financial planning should scale with the business’s growth stage.
• Davis Business Law offers a free resource outlining legal best practices by revenue/employee count on their website.

• Leading a professional services firm is like running a wolf pack—you must be involved and set the tone.

“If you’re going to abdicate your leadership role, your firm will fall apart.”

• “We're just too dumb to know we can’t do it.” — on fearless scaling
• “It’s heartbreaking to see dreams smashed by preventable mistakes.”
• “Your leadership is your lid. Your firm won’t grow beyond you.”
• “What about the company? — We’re fine, because we had that conversation.”
• “Revenue does not equal profit. The middle stages of growth are the hardest.”

In this mind-expanding episode, Jamie Seeker sits down with Ajay Malik—CEO of StudioX-AI, futurist, inventor, and former tech exec at Google, Cisco, HP, and Motorola. Now based in San Jose, California, Ajay shares how his obsession with innovation led to 100+ patents and the founding of StudioX, an AI platform built to democratize predictive insights for businesses.

Ajay discusses the ethics of AI, financial planning with machine learning, and how to make AI not just a tool—but a co-founder. This episode is a masterclass in what it takes to lead with vision and values in an increasingly AI-driven world.

• Ajay’s Origin Story: Left cushy tech jobs for 120-hour weeks—by choice. “I have to have that freedom to build and create.”
• Patents as Motivation: He calls the recognition of unique innovation “addictive.”
• Why StudioX Exists: To give businesses AI tools once only available at places like Google.
• On AI & Ethics: Warns of “intellectual property pollution” in large language models—like using stolen code unknowingly.
• Financial Planning with AI: “Skill is no longer a differentiator. Everyone has an employee now—it's called AI.”
• Business Advice: Make AI usage mandatory in your company. “Every founder should be prompting together with their team.”

In this episode, she unpacks how authenticity, strategic financial planning, leadership evolution, and bold branding helped her business not just survive—but scale. From creating “Stoplight Reports” to empowering global teams, Arielle offers practical advice with raw honesty and high energy.

• Arielle didn’t start with Marketing 411—she had several businesses that didn’t make it.
• The breakthrough came from a chance meeting with her future business partner in the roofing space.
• They combined forces to meet a pressing market demand for marketing services in contracting.

• Realized no business—even those making hundreds of millions—has it all figured out.
• Shifted from feeling “I must be doing it wrong” to “everyone’s figuring it out.”

• Initially didn’t understand financial metrics beyond basic awareness.
• Introduced weekly financial reviews (instead of monthly) using Stoplight Reports.

• Key advice: “There’s no financial problem in your business that more sales can’t fix.”

• Know your numbers: P&L ≠ bank balance.
• Start with financial awareness, then make strategic changes.
• Reverse engineer growth: start with the vision, then identify the systems, tools, and people needed.

• Being female in a male-dominated space is an advantage, not a limitation.

• Biggest hurdle: herself.
• Used techniques like the “Bring a Solution, Not Just a Problem” model and the 10/80/10 rule.

• “If you’ve never hit multi-7 figures, you won’t know how to act like one. You learn as you go.”
• “Marketing systems should not just bring in leads—they should bring in the right ones.”
• “Being a business owner means you never arrive. You’re always on the move.”
• “You are in a lifelong video game. It's you versus you.”
• “Don’t cage your people—let them fly. That’s when the magic happens.”