Podcast Summary: "Next Up on The Unshakeables"

Podcast: The Unshakeables
Host: Ben Walter (CEO of Chase for Business)
Co-Host: Kathleen Griffith (Founder, Grace and Company)
Episode Date: October 21, 2025

Episode Overview

This short, energetic episode serves as a preview and rallying cry for the upcoming season of The Unshakeables. Host Ben Walter and returning co-host Kathleen Griffith spotlight the series’ core focus: the real, gritty “What are we gonna do now?” moments that small business owners face. The episode teases powerful stories of resilience, innovation, and vulnerability from entrepreneurs across America, emphasizing that true business “unshakeability” comes not from headline-grabbing tech unicorns, but from everyday people powering their local communities.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Reflection on Past Seasons

• Diverse Stories: Walter recollects standout guests from previous episodes—such as Don Haney of Nashville, who spent years developing a glasses accessory out of personal need, and Samantha Snaibes, the engineer-CEO who leverages 3D printing for sustainability.
• Grit and Creativity: The stories highlighted the blend of determination and creative problem-solving that defines small business success.

2. Entrepreneurial Struggle and Motivation

• Relentless Drive:
  • Don Haney’s Perspective:

    “I wanted to make it for myself. Like, I wanted to use it. And because I wanted to use it, I was, like, willing to just do whatever it took to make it.”
    — Don Haney [00:17]

  • The focus is on the deeply personal reasons that keep entrepreneurs moving forward, even when solutions don’t exist yet.
• Turning Setbacks into Lessons:
  • Kathleen Griffith’s Vulnerability:

    “I finally went back and read the contract and it’s like, yeah, no, there is no refund. I sat on the steps in Union Square and I cried because I really kind of thought, oh, this is where your ambition has met your delusion.”
    — Kathleen Griffith [00:57]

  • This honest admission reflects the emotional lows that can come from ambitious ventures, and the growth that comes from facing hard truths.

3. Upcoming Themes: Building Beyond Themselves

• Expanding Impact:
  • Walter teases future episodes focusing on founders who are changing more than just their own lives—they are impacting entire communities, shaking up systems, and influencing culture at large.
  • Ben Walter:

    “We’re looking at founders who are building communities, changing systems, and even shaping culture.”
    — [00:43]

• Real Small Business Heroes:
  • The show is set apart from typical business podcasts by spotlighting “real stories from real people,” rather than industry titans.

4. Value of Experience and Learning

• Getting Stronger Through Adversity: Both hosts emphasize the repeated theme: every make-or-break moment—no matter how tough—becomes a stepping stone to greater resilience.

• Ben Walter on Healthcare Entrepreneurship:

  “Geriatric patients left sitting in the emergency rooms will decline further just by waiting. We’re fixing that.”
  — Ben Walter [01:10]
  This signals upcoming episodes exploring entrepreneurs tackling critical issues in sectors like healthcare.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Ben Walter [00:02]:
  “Over the last two seasons of the Unshakeables, we’ve shared some amazing small business stories from all over the country.”

• Don Haney [00:17]:
  “I wanted to make it for myself... I was, like, willing to just do whatever it took to make it.”

• Kathleen Griffith [00:34]:
  “If you’re going to print from shredded up garbage, you should do it on an island. It’s an extreme use case of people that sometimes have to pay to get rid of their waste. Win, win. Right?”

• Kathleen Griffith [00:57]:
  “I finally went back and read the contract and it’s like, yeah, no, there is no refund. I sat on the steps in Union Square and I cried because I really kind of thought, oh, this is where your ambition has met your delusion.”

• Ben Walter [01:10]:
  “Geriatric patients left sitting in the emergency rooms will decline further just by waiting. We’re fixing that.”

• Kathleen Griffith [01:26]:
  “So glad to be back. Just when I think we’ve covered the best possible entrepreneurial story with that ‘oh, wow’ breakdown moment, it just gets better and better.”

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:02 – Opening reflections on past stories (Don Haney’s perseverance)
• 00:17 – Don Haney’s personal motivation
• 00:26 – Transition to Samantha Snaibes and 3D printing for sustainability
• 00:34 – Kathleen Griffith’s take on innovation and waste
• 00:43 – Focus on future themes: changing systems and culture
• 00:57 – Kathleen Griffith’s honest low-point and lessons learned
• 01:10 – Ben Walter references entrepreneurs solving real-world problems (e.g., healthcare)
• 01:26 – Kathleen expresses enthusiasm for the new season’s stories

Tone and Style

• The episode is conversational, honest, and supportive—emphasizing empathy, resilience, and the power of community in the world of small business.

Final Thoughts

This teaser episode sets the stage for inspiring, real-world entrepreneurial stories coming up in the new season. It promises continued authenticity, diversity, and insight for anyone interested in the true, unvarnished journey of small business ownership—one “unshakeable” moment at a time.