Beyond the Product is a podcast by Chiasson Smoke that goes beyond just selling products—it's about the journey, the lessons, and the people behind the business. Hosted by Jason and Miranda, the series explores what it takes to build a thriving fabrication business from the ground up, the difference between creating a business versus creating a job, and the realities of running a husband-and-wife team.
Through candid conversations and guest interviews with welders, entrepreneurs, business coaches, and small business owners, Beyond the Product aims to provide valuable insights, inspiration, and practical advice for anyone looking to start or grow their own business. Our goal is to share real experiences, the hard lessons we've learned, and the strategies that helped us succeed—so others can do the same.
Host Jason interviews business coach Josh Kasinskas about the crucial mindset shifts and practical strategies for small business owners to build a company that thrives independently.
23 May 2026TRANSCRIPT
We're Back | Beyond the Product Ep. 11
Host Jason and Miranda of Chiasson Smoke interview Ryan Miller of PWI about scaling a fabrication business through leadership, sales, and culture.
7 May 2025
From Job to Business | Beyond the Product Podcast Ep. 10
In this powerful episode, we sit down with our business coach, Josh Kasinskas from Buji ActionCOACH, to dive into a journey that many entrepreneurs face but few talk about — the transition from owning a job to owning a business.
We open up about:
The early grind and mindset traps of being your own boss
How we accidentally built a job instead of a scalable business
What a business coach really does (and why we didn’t know we needed one)
The growing pains, breakthroughs, and real strategies we’ve learned along the way
If you’re a builder, a dreamer, or stuck between hustle and burnout, this episode is for you.
RECOMMENDED BOOKS: “The E-Myth” by Michael Michalowicz, “Buy Back Your Time” by Dan Martell, “Leaders Eat Last” by Simon Sinek, “Start With Why” by Simon Simek, “Let Them Theory” by Mel Robbins, and “Profit First” by Mike Michalowicz
23 Apr 2025
Visiting River Valley Networking Group | Beyond The Product Ep. 9
Taking Social Media to the Streets
In this special episode of Beyond the Product, we step outside the studio and head straight into the heart of the local business scene.
Hosts Jason and Miranda join the River Valley Networking Group in Prairie du Chien, where they deliver a powerful, real-world talk on leveraging social media for small business growth. Surrounded by local entrepreneurs, this episode is packed with raw, relatable insight, practical advice, and some behind-the-scenes community vibes.
Real businesses.
Real social strategies.
Real impact.
Whether you're a startup, side hustle, or seasoned business, this one's got gems you don’t want to miss.
17 Apr 2025
Our First Hire - Abbey | Beyond the Product Podcast Ep. 8
In this special episode, Jason and Miranda sit down with a very important guest — Abbey, the very first welder ever hired by Chiasson Smoke back in 2020 (or was it 2019? Time flies!).
Abbey shares her story of how she found her way into welding — a path driven by creativity, resilience, and the desire to provide for her family. From her early days in a male-dominated industry to becoming an essential part of the Chiasson Smoke journey, this episode is full of real talk, laughs, and a lot of heart.
🔍 In this episode, we talk about:
• How Abbey got into welding and why it wasn’t your typical career path
• What it was like being the first ever hire at Chiasson Smoke
• Navigating a male-dominated trade as a woman
• The intersection of art, grit, and craftsmanship
• Reflections on growth — both personal and professional
Pull up a seat and get to know the people beyond the product.
New episodes every Wednesday
9 Apr 2025
Q & A Time | Beyond the Product Podcast Ep. 7
In this special Q&A episode, Jason and Miranda sit down to answer some of the most frequently asked questions from listeners and fans of Chiasson Smoke. From the very beginning of their journey to running a growing business today, they get real about the highs, lows, and lessons learned.
🔹 What You’ll Hear in This Episode:
✅ Why they started the business — and how team roping inspired it
✅ The turning point that pushed them to make the leap
✅ The struggles of going from paycheck to paycheck to building a brand
✅ How owning their own business gave them the freedom they were craving
✅ Honest answers to listener-submitted questions — from lifestyle to logistics
Whether you're curious about their story or looking for inspiration to start your own venture, this episode is packed with heart, humor, and behind-the-scenes insight.
2 Apr 2025
Work-Life Balance | Beyond the Product Podcast Ep. 6
Starting a business with dreams of more freedom? Think again! In this episode, we talk about how the idea of “work-life balance” clashed with the brutal reality of entrepreneurship. From missed family time to the mental toll of being always on-call, this one gets real.
What We Cover in This Episode:
The myth of flexible schedules – Why starting your own business doesn’t always mean more free time
Sacrifices behind the scenes – What we gave up to make the business work
Managing guilt and burnout – How to cope when work takes over life
Prioritizing family – What we’re still trying to figure out
Tips to set boundaries – Small steps toward creating balance when it feels impossible
26 Mar 2025
The Social Media Game | Beyond the Product Podcast Ep. 5
In this episode, hosts Jason and Miranda dive into their journey of using social media to grow their small business. They start by reflecting on initial skepticism, especially toward TikTok, which Miranda initially saw as just a platform for dancing teens. However, facing financial challenges, they decided to give it a try—thinking, “What do we have to lose?”
They discuss how they:
✅ Repurposed personal experiences to inform their marketing strategies
✅ Experimented with different content styles
✅ Learned what worked and what didn’t through trial and error
The episode highlights both the power and unpredictability of social media, offering honest insights into how it shaped their brand’s visibility and engagement.
19 Mar 2025
The Future | Beyond the Product Podcast Ep. 4
In this episode, Jason and Miranda discuss the future of their business and the podcast, reflecting on past challenges and outlining their growth strategies.
What We Cover in This Episode:
Recap of Previous Episodes - How It Started, We're In Business, and Lessons Learned
Expansion of their shop and the addition of new tools to improve efficiency
Exploring opportunities to connect with local businesses and expand collaborations
Improvements in their shop organization and workflow optimization
Bring guests into the studio and conduct remote interviews to share knowledge with other entrepreneurs, especially husband-and-wife teams running small businesses
Would you like to be a guest on the podcast? Let us know!
Follow us on social media:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/@chiassonsmoke
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/@chiassonsmoke
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@chiassonsmoke
Website: https://www.chiassonsmoke.com/
#beyondtheproduct #ChiassonSmoke #SmallBusiness #Entrepreneurship #WeldingLife #TheFuture #WeAreGrowing
12 Mar 2025
Lessons Learned | Beyond the Product Podcast Ep. 3
Starting a business isn’t as simple as "build it, and they will buy it." In this episode, we dive into the unexpected challenges we faced early on and the hard lessons we learned along the way. If you're an entrepreneur or thinking about starting a business, this is for you!
What We Cover in This Episode:
The harsh reality of "just shipping it" – Why logistics can make or break your business
Customer expectations vs. reality – How to handle surprises (and complaints!)
Scaling struggles – The unexpected growing pains that caught us off guard
Mistakes we made (so you don’t have to!) – Real stories & lessons from our journey
How to turn setbacks into success – Practical tips to overcome common challenges
Have you faced any of these struggles in your business? Drop a comment below!
If you found this helpful, don’t forget to LIKE & SUBSCRIBE for more real-world business insights!
Follow us on social media:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/@chiassonsmoke (https://www.instagram.com/@chiassonsmoke) Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/@chiassonsmoke (https://www.facebook.com/@chiassonsmoke)
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@chiassonsmoke (https://www.tiktok.com/@chiassonsmoke)
Website: https://www.chiassonsmoke.com/
#BeyondTheProduct #ChiassonSmoke #SmallBusiness #Entrepreneurship #WeldingLife
5 Mar 2025
We're In Business | Beyond the Product Podcast Ep. 2
We took the leap, and Chiasson Smoke was officially in business!
In Episode 2 of Beyond the Product, we dive into the early days of turning our passion into a full-time business. From the challenges of getting started to the lessons we learned along the way; we share what it really takes to build something from the ground up.
We’ll talk about:
The moment we knew we were ALL IN
The struggles of starting with limited resources
How we found our first customers and got our name out there
The role of social media in growing our brand
If you’re thinking about starting a business—or just want to hear the real, unfiltered side of entrepreneurship—this episode is for you! Make sure to like, comment, and subscribe to follow our journey beyond the products we make.
🔔 Subscribe to catch future episodes featuring welders, entrepreneurs, and small business owners sharing their experiences.
👉 Follow us on social media:
📸 Instagram: / @chiassonsmoke
📘 Facebook: / @chiassonsmoke
🎵 TikTok: / @chiassonsmoke
Website: https://www.chiassonsmoke.com/
#BeyondTheProduct #ChiassonSmoke #SmallBusiness #Entrepreneurship #WeldingLife
1 Mar 2025
How It Started | Beyond the Product Podcast Ep. 1
Welcome to the very first episode of Beyond the Product! 🎙️ In this episode, we’re taking you back to the beginning—before Chiasson Smoke was even an idea. We’ll share how we met, our journey from Wisconsin and Louisiana, and how a simple passion for welding and fabrication turned into a thriving business. Starting Chiasson Smoke wasn’t easy. We faced challenges, made tough decisions, and learned a lot along the way. From working out of a small shop to growing into a company that builds rocket stoves, smokers, and more, this is our story. If you’ve ever wondered what it takes to turn an idea into a full-time business (or just enjoy hearing the behind-the-scenes of small business life), this episode is for you. 🔔 Subscribe to catch future episodes featuring welders, entrepreneurs, and small business owners sharing their experiences. 👉 Follow us on social media:
📸 Instagram: / @chiassonsmoke
📘 Facebook: / @chiassonsmoke
🎵 TikTok: / chiassonsmoke
Website: https://www.chiassonsmoke.com/
#BeyondTheProduct #ChiassonSmoke (https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/chiassonsmoke) #SmallBusiness (https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/smallbusiness) #Entrepreneurship #WeldingLife (https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/weldinglife)
Inside a recent episode
The Mindset Shift | Beyond the Product Ep. 12
Published 8 Jun 2026 · Transcript excerpt
[…] But anything in business that we are spending our money on has to be looked at as an investment. So if I spend this on coaching, I need to get this return. Or if I spend this on the school community, like what's it going to save you? That's the question. And that's a mindset that's so hard to break in people that have never owned a business. They've not been raised in that. And they have that employee mindset. They look at it as just cost. Yep. And that is one of the reasons I started the school community. That's one of the reasons I went to you first about it. It's like, hey, this is what I would like to do. […]
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