All Episodes

John Palke and I were introduced at a Realities for Children event some months back, and when we finally enjoyed a coffee together, I knew he had a story that I had to dig into and share! In real estate since 2019, John had previously been a commercial fisherman in Alaska (where he once fell in the water and nearly froze to death), was a partner in one of my favorite band bars, Hodi’s Half Note, and worked in operations at Vestas - until he realized giant windmills were a mostly a heavily subsid...

Rachael Ardanuy is a purpose-driven attorney, as passionate about business and community as anyone I’ve come to know lately, and also an adjunct professor, Certified Jazzersize Instructor, and co-founder with her husband of Grow Your Own Fort Collins - a design and install firm focused on home gardening. We traded some home grown gifts before the show, and enjoyed a lovely conversation. Rachael came to Colorado as a marijuana industry attorney - helping with formations and contracts and navigat...

In this episode of the Loco Experience Podcast, we welcome Ben Holtz and Ava Munos to discuss their journeys and roles within the Loco Experience team. Ava, the outgoing podcast producer, reflects on her time at Loco and her future plans in sales, while Ben shares insights into his varied career and his growth in the Director of Growth and Operations role. We recap the season, highlighting key podcast episodes, memorable moments, and impactful guests. The LoCo Experience Podcast is sponsored by...

In this episode of The Loco Experience podcast, I sat down with Kevin Pallaoro, the CEO of Grass Fed Foods. Kevin shares his journey from growing up on a ranch in Salida, Colorado to becoming a leader in the natural beef industry. Did you know that Salida was heavily settled by Italian immigrants? - well you do now. We delve into the history and operations of Grass Fed Foods and its brands Teton Waters Ranch and Sun Fed Ranch. Kevin's passion for healthy, sustainable food is evident as he discu...

In today's episode of the Loco Experience Podcast, I sat down with Stu Crair, the founder and executive director of the Digital Workshop Center, a musician as well as an adjunct professor at CSU. Stu shares his history, balancing professional commitments and musical pursuits, offering insights to his roles, kind of creating a job at CSU and Elsewise, and the evolution of the Digital Workshop Center from his garage to now a nice office in downtown Fort Collins. We also discussed his jou...

Brett Kemp is the President of Flood & Peterson, a family and employee-owned insurance brokerage since 1939, and the strongest market share among property & casualty insurance brokerages in the region. With career chapters in the Air Force, pharmaceutical sales, and manufacturing, Brett was a darkhorse candidate for ascendance to leadership. Aaron Eide visited Fort Collins almost exactly 25 years (to the day!) before we recorded this podcast. He’s a UND graduate and came through the same Credit...

In today’s episode, I sat down with Marshall Spring, Founder of Combat Recovery Foundation. Marshall is a combat-disabled Marine Corps Explosives Detection Dog Handler, former police officer, private-security entrepreneur, and suicide prevention expert. This is an intense conversation with an insightful guy, and I know you’ll enjoy my conversation with Marshall Spring. The LoCo Experience Podcast is sponsored by: Purpose Driven Wealth Thrivent: Learn more 💡Learn about LoCo Think Tank...

In this episode of the LoCo Experience podcast, I had a lively conversation with Teri Karjala, a business success therapist and entrepreneur. Teri shared her journey from a small town in Kansas to becoming a counsellor to becoming the owner of a sizable therapy practice. She highlighted her unique methods using energy psychology and quantum physics to help business owners overcome limiting beliefs and self-sabotage. We discussed her evolution from counselor to business owner to media personalit...

We discussed the concept of a vertically integrated distillery, where they oversee the process from growing their own grains to producing the final spirits. We talked through the economics of distilling, and the creation of their product lineup, including unique offerings like 'Whizcal,' a whiskey-mezcal hybrid, the Forged in Fire line honoring military service members, and future aged spirits to come. We also discussed their future plans for an expanded tasting room and oyster lounge in the for...

My good friend Aaron Everitt dropped by for a post-election recap episode this week, and I wore my blue Hawaiian shirt to symbolize the big blue wave that swept across much of America. Aaron and I dig into what’s going on in the economy, and especially in the minds of young people and the working class, and where we might go as a nation from there. Aaron shared some updates from his creative work, including his podcast and substack - Besides the Revolution - and his collaboration with House Inha...

My guest on today’s podcast was Rebecca Archuletta, Rapid Transformational Therapist and Founder of Because You Matter - Healing By Rebecca. Rebecca’s journey is informed by grief, with multiple suicides in her sibling group and extended family, a career rise and fall and rejuvenation - and powered by intentional education. Her methodology combines hypnosis with other modalities to rewire and break through long standing barriers to healing, and she shares abundantly how to identify, process, an...

I reconnected with Evan Worsley this spring, when I dropped him a note on LinkedIn, in congratulations of 9 years in business and what I’d seen as steady growth in the numbers of Conduct All Electric trucks around the region. Turns out, I had helped him register his LLC and obtain his EIN at the Small Business Development Center those 9 years before, and though the name was familiar, it was easy to remember Evan once we sat down over whiskey in the podcast studio. From humble beginnings, out of...

In this episode of the Loco Experience Podcast, I welcome Steven South, Founder and President of LSE Builders. Steven and I connected on LinkedIn, and found a lot of common causes in a zoom, and I hope to add him to the ranks of LoCo Think Tank members in coming months! Steven shares anecdotes about his early experiences in the construction industry, including the impact of the 2008 financial crisis on his fledgling contracting business, and the pivots he made to navigate, and the eventual evol...

Adam Hirschhorn is a candidate for Fort Collins Mayor, and joined me for the last of our Hot Nugs Conversations - a collaboration between LoCo Think Tank, Matador Mexican Grill, Old Town Spice Shop, and The LoCo Experience Podcast. Please visit Adam’s page at @electadammayor.bsky.social to learn more about his platform, and make sure to vote by or before November 4, 2025! The LoCo Experience Podcast is sponsored by: Purpose Driven Wealth Thrivent: Learn more 💡Learn about LoCo Think Tank Follow...

Emily Francis is a candidate for Fort Collins Mayor, and joined me for the fifth episode of our Hot Nugs Conversations - a collaboration between LoCo Think Tank, Matador Mexican Grill, Old Town Spice Shop, and The LoCo Experience Podcast. Please visit www.emilyforfc.com to learn more about her platform, and make sure to vote by or before November 4, 2025! The LoCo Experience Podcast is sponsored by: Purpose Driven Wealth Thrivent: Learn more 💡Learn about LoCo Think Tank Follow us to see what w...

Scott VanTatenhove is a candidate for Fort Collins Mayor, and joined me for the fourth of our Hot Nugs Conversations - a collaboration between LoCo Think Tank, Matador Mexican Grill, Old Town Spice Shop, and The LoCo Experience Podcast. Please visit Scott’s Facebook Page to learn more about his platform, and make sure to vote by or before November 4, 2025! The LoCo Experience Podcast is sponsored by: Purpose Driven Wealth Thrivent: Learn more 💡Learn about LoCo Think Tank Follow us to see what ...

Tricia Canonico is a candidate for Fort Collins Mayor, and joined me for the third of our Hot Nugs Conversations - a collaboration between LoCo Think Tank, Matador Mexican Grill, Old Town Spice Shop, and The LoCo Experience Podcast. Please visit triciaforfoco.com to learn more about her platform, and make sure to vote by or before November 4, 2025! The LoCo Experience Podcast is sponsored by: Purpose Driven Wealth Thrivent: Learn more 💡Learn about LoCo Think Tank Follow us to see what we'r...

Adam Eggleston is a candidate for Fort Collins Mayor, and joined me for the second of our Hot Nugs Conversations - a collaboration between LoCo Think Tank, Matador Mexican Grill, Old Town Spice Shop, and The LoCo Experience Podcast. Please visit www.adamegglestonformayor.com to learn more about his platform, and make sure to vote by or before November 4, 2025! The LoCo Experience Podcast is sponsored by: Purpose Driven Wealth Thrivent: Learn more 💡Learn about LoCo Think Tank Follow us to s...

Paul Michaelson left an early stage financial planning career track soon after graduating from CSU to launch a 2-location Taco Del Mar franchise in Fort Collins, in partnership with his brother-in-law. When the franchisor proved to be more of a hindrance than a help, they split off to become Matador Mexican Grill off Harmony and Timberline, and Toro - a quick-serve restaurant in Campus West, reliant upon the Matador’s kitchen - and about 10 trips across town each day for Paul! Toro soon disap...

Shirley Peel is a candidate for Fort Collins Mayor, and joined me for the first of our Hot Nugs Conversations - a collaboration between LoCo Think Tank, Matador Mexican Grill, Old Town Spice Shop, and The LoCo Experience Podcast. Please visit https://shirleyforfoco.com/ to learn more about her platform, and make sure to vote by or before November 4, 2025! The LoCo Experience Podcast is sponsored by: Purpose Driven Wealth Thrivent: Learn more 💡Learn about LoCo Think Tank Follow us to see wh...

In this episode of The Loco Experience podcast, I reconnected with Clint Jasperson, the Founder of Purpose Driven Wealth with Thrivent Financial. Clint was my guest on Episode 67 of The LoCo Experience - way back in June of 2022 - and it was great to have him back in the studio! When I left the financial planning industry back in 2017, it was Clint and his team to whom I trusted my small book of business, he’s a natural at the craft and has worked through some very complex cases. We started by ...

Kyle Speller has been the voice of the Denver Nuggets, Team Chaplain, and Community Ambassador for over 2 decades. He’s the Founder of KSG Voice, a Middle School Counsellor and Athletic Director at Global Village Academy in Aurora, also an Associate Pastor, Husband, Father, Grandfather, and Servant of Christ. We met up only a few hours after the assassination of Charlie Kirk - but he'd been working all day, and I broke the news to him. Kyle has an inspiring journey, and was a very insightf...

I met Roxy Tines-Brewton back in 2021, when I emcee’d the “Ordinary Extraordinary Awards” organized by the amazing Ann Baron and her Northern Colorado Community organization for several years, recognizing the behind-the-scenes do-ers that make Northern Colorado such a special place. At the time, Roxy was less than a year into her journey with Safe Families for Children, NoCo Chapter. Still flying solo, and working full-time at her day job and “part-time” activating churches and community groups ...

Welcome to another episode of the Loco Experience Podcast. On today's show, I sat down with Jordan Bonifas, founder of Bonifas Coaching. We kicked things off with some bourbon tasting, comparing Fort Collins’ own Mobb Mountain Distillers and Kentucky’s Basil Hayden, before diving into Jordan's journey. (PS - Mobb Mountain is the clear choice - tastier and better price) - unpaid endorsement Jordan launched Bonifas Coaching in early 2023, bringing together his experience as a ...