Meet Tristan Watkins, founder of Triflix, a creative media studio that merges the worlds of engineering precision and artistic storytelling. In this conversation with John Jennings,

Tristan opens up about his journey from a Purdue engineering graduate to founding a company that helps others communicate complex ideas through compelling visuals.

He discusses how early internships revealed an unexpected demand for his side hustle video and media work and how this led to the founding of Triflix .

Tristan shares the power of asking clients for honest feedback, embracing both strengths and weaknesses, and optimizing processes without sacrificing creativity.

Key themes in this episode include:

The intersection of technical skill and creative expression

The evolution from insecurity to confidence through client dialogue Why “just ask” might be the most valuable advice for creators

How process mapping and Lean Six Sigma principles can apply to storytelling

What it means to make complex ideas simpleand beautiful

🎧 Whether you're a creative professional, a founder, or someone caught between two worlds, this episode offers inspiration and practical wisdom.

👉 Don’t forget to listen, subscribe, and share!

In the 76th episode of Simply Business, host John Jennings welcomes Sheila Kalas, founder of Fitness Plus, a personal training studio that’s been thriving in Lexington, KY for 30 years a remarkable milestone in the fitness industry.

Sheila shares her journey from Chicago to Miami to Kentucky, how a degree in exercise physiology became the foundation for her entrepreneurial journey, and why consistency and community matter more than trends. This conversation is a masterclass in longevity, adaptability, and knowing your customer — especially in an industry known for quick turnovers.

💬 What you’ll learn:

• How Sheila turned a niche idea into a 30-year legacy
• The strategic reasons she chose Lexington over Miami
• What’s changed (and what hasn’t) in fitness and small business
• Why success often means sticking to the basics and showing up

🎧 This is for the long-haul builders and values-driven leaders.

👉 Subscribe, review, and share the wisdom.

In the 75th episode of Simply Business, John Jennings speaks with Tytus Wilson, the COO and CTO of IQ Pack, a Louisville-based logistics company driving transformation in the supply chain space. With their flagship software platform, PackChain, IQ Pack is helping mid-market companies gain control over complex shipping operations — from order entry to invoice audits.

Titus shares his unconventional path into entrepreneurship, how a podcast inspired a major career move, and why he believes innovation thrives when operations and technology work hand in hand.

💬 Highlights include:

• The origin story behind PackChain
• How Titus blends operations and tech leadership
• Lessons from working at Bulletproof and chasing aligned work
• How to modernize logistics without breaking what works

👉 If you're curious about building from the inside, this one's for you.

🎧 Subscribe, rate, and share to keep the Simply Business community growing.

In this episode of Simply Business, host John Jennings reconnects with Alli Truttmann, the founder and CEO of Wicked Technologies — formerly Wicked Sheets. A well-known figure in the Louisville startup scene, Alli opens up about the evolution of her company from physical products to innovative health tech solutions.

Alli shares the real story behind the pivot, how her personal journey informed her product development, and what it takes to transition not just a business model — but a mindset. It's a raw, practical, and energizing look into scaling impact through empathy and innovation.

💬 In this episode:

Why and how Alli shifted from product to tech

The human side of entrepreneurship and reinvention

What founders need to know before a major pivot

The power of building for yourself — and others

🎧 This one’s for every builder navigating growth with purpose.

👉 Don’t forget to subscribe, share, and leave a review to support independent business storytelling.

In this inspiring 73rd episode of Simply Business, host John Jennings sits down with Tom Hootman, the founder of Mixtape Digital, a newly launched marketing agency with a name that sparks nostalgia and a mission rooted in authenticity.

Tom opens up about his journey from managing restaurants and retail to becoming a leader in digital marketing, growing a company through acquisition, and eventually stepping out on his own to build something fresh. He reflects on the intersection of AI, creativity, and the human touch, emphasizing that marketing should feel like a mixtape curated, personal, and memorable.

Listeners will learn:

• Why Tom left a successful corporate career to start from scratch
• How Mixtape Digital blends art and science in its approach to marketing
• The role AI plays (and shouldn’t play) in modern agency work
• The importance of timing, team, and staying true to your voice

🎧 Tune in for real talk about risk, reinvention, and keeping it human in a tech-driven world.

👉 Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and share this episode with fellow entrepreneurs and marketers.

In this powerful and thoughtful 71st episode, John sits down with long-time friend Bill Johnson, the North American CEO of Welser Profile a company with over 360 years of family-owned history.

Bill shares what it means to lead a business with deep European roots and a centuries-old legacy, and how that unique perspective shapes leadership, culture, and long-term decision-making. This episode touches on:

• Why legacy is more important than job titles
• The power of values-driven leadership
• How Welser approaches growth while honoring heritage
• Building relationships with schools and communities to prepare future talent
• Lessons from leading in a culture that thinks in generations, not quarters

If you’ve ever wondered how a modern CEO balances innovation with centuries of tradition or how legacy can become a leadership asset — this episode is for you.

🎧 Don’t forget to listen, subscribe, and share with someone who values purpose-led business.

In the 70th episode of Simply Business, meet Shawn King, known in the industry as Mr. Fence. He didn’t just inherit a family business; he was thrust into leadership before he was ready. At just 21, Shawn found himself at the helm of a company in serious trouble: struggling operations, no clear systems, and a legacy in danger of collapse.

But Shawn didn’t quit. Instead, he committed to learning, building, and thinking long-term. Over the years, he reinvented the business from the inside out—creating scalable systems, prioritizing education, and ultimately becoming one of the most respected voices in the fencing industry.

🎧 In this episode, Shawn opens up about the mindset shift that changed everything and the systems that now support not only his business but others across the country.

💬 Themes include:

• The mindset of a young leader under pressure
• Turning a struggling business into an industry benchmark
• Why personal brand and professional systems matter
• How Shawn trains and empowers others in the fence industry

👉 Tune in for raw truths, practical wisdom, and a dose of entrepreneurial grit from someone who built a legacy by refusing to give up.

In the 68th episode of Simply Business, John Jennings sits down with Taylor Sears, Chief Operating Officer of Silent Guard Security and Davis HVAC Experts. Taylor shares a compelling journey that winds through college athletics, working for the Cincinnati Bengals, a stint in Kentucky state politics, and ultimately returning to help lead his family’s dual-division business.

This conversation touches on what it means to lead with purpose, how real-world experience can be the best education, and why service industries like HVAC and security play a critical role in community well-being.

With warmth and humility, Taylor reflects on learning from mentors, adapting through generational transitions in a family business, and the importance of showing up whether for customers or colleagues.

🎧 Tune in for an inspiring take on leadership, business growth, and the impact of doing good work with a good heart.

👉 Listen now and don’t forget to subscribe, share, or connect with us!