Hosted by Topeka Capital-Journal reporter India Yarborough, It's Your Business aims to explore the business side of community growth through conversations with those in the Topeka area who are advocating for various improvements at the neighborhood, city-wide and regional levels. Whether it’s programs to help local entrepreneurs, relocation initiatives that aim to bring young talent to the area, small business owners trying to promote community pride or nonprofit leaders pushing for digital equity — Yarborough engages in conversation with movers and shakers in northeast Kansas who are invested in seeing their communities thrive.
Ep. 18 - Topeka entrepreneur shares the story behind her family's popcorn business and talks about their growth to come
In this co-hosted episode, reporter India Yarborough and Katrin Bridges, of the Greater Topeka Partnership, sit down with Angie Anderson, co-owner of Cashmere Popcorn (https://www.buycashmerepopcorn.com/Default.asp). She shares the story behind her family's business, explains why she didn't have entrepreneurship in mind when they got started, and talks about their future growth, which includes expanding to a new production facility.
6 Oct 2021
Ep. 17 - Think public libraries are antiquated resources in today's society? Think again.
This week on the show, Capital-Journal (https://www.cjonline.com) reporter India Yarborough is joined by Meredith Snepp, business and careers librarian for the Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library (https://tscpl.org). Snepp shares what exactly a business and careers librarian does, points listeners to a variety of resources offered by the library (https://www.cjonline.com/story/business/2021/06/27/topeka-shawnee-county-public-library-opens-new-business-and-legal-center/5310677001/), and challenges the idea that such institutions are a thing of the past.
22 Sept 2021
Ep. 16 - How one Topeka entrepreneur found herself opening a non-traditional coffee shop
This week on the show, Capital-Journal (https://www.cjonline.com) reporter India Yarborough and the Greater Topeka Partnership (https://www.topekapartnership.com)'s Katrin Bridges sit down with Caitlyn Halsey, owner of Dialogue Coffee House (https://www.dialoguecoffeehouse.com) in Topeka. Halsey shares what first got her interested in entrepreneurship and why she decided to start a business that puts people with disabilities first.
1 Sept 2021
Ep. 15 - How a mobile shower trailer is improving job prospects for homeless Topekans
On this week's show, Capital-Journal (https://www.cjonline.com) reporter India Yarborough sits down with Kristin Stock, of Valeo Behavioral Health Care (https://www.valeotopeka.org), and Mark DeGroff, with the Topeka Rescue Mission (https://www.trmonline.org), to talk about a mobile shower trailer in Topeka that is helping the city's unhoused population. The shower trailer, which also offers laundry services, is the result of local partnerships and has broader implications for employment, as it helps the unhoused get back on their feet.
11 Aug 2021
Ep. 14 - Entrepreneur Manny Herron shares lessons from his business journey
In this co-hosted episode of "It's Your Business," India Yarborough, of The Capital-Journal (https://www.cjonline.com), and Katrin Bridges, of The Greater Topeka Partnership (https://www.topekapartnership.com), sit down with Manny Herron, CEO of Infinite Properties Group (https://www.infinitepropertiesgroup.com) in Topeka. Herron, who is involved in multiple local business ventures in the real-estate realm, shares lessons from his entrepreneurship journey and explains how he got to where he is today.
28 Jul 2021
Ep. 13 - "Topcityflavorista" talks small business, supporting local
This week on the show, Capital-Journal reporter India Yarborough sits down with Alison Beebe, manager of the "Topcityflavorista Local Eats & Events!" Facebook group. Though she is a full-time psychiatric nurse, Beebe has spent many hours promoting small businesses in the Topeka area — and now she has a side business of her own. Hear about her journey to entrepreneurship and more on the latest episode of "It's Your Business."
15 Jul 2021
Ep. 12 - This startup founder has taken part in 7 Plug and Play programs. Here's what he's learned.
In this co-hosted episode of "It's Your Business," India Yarborough, of The Capital-Journal (https://www.cjonline.com), and Katrin Bridges, of The Greater Topeka Partnership (https://www.topekapartnership.com), talk with John Brown, founder of the startup StenCo. (https://www.stencollc.com) Brown tells of his entrepreneurship journey — which began in his basement — and shares what he has learned from the seven different Plug and Play accelerator programs he has participated in, the latest being Topeka's.
30 Jun 2021
Ep. 11 - How important is social media for today's small business?
Topeka Capital-Journal (https://www.cjonline.com) reporter India Yarborough talks with Sheila Ellis-Glasper, founder and CEO of Manhattan-based SEG Media Collective (https://www.seg.media). As an expert in social-media management and entrepreneurship, Ellis-Glasper talks about the power of connecting with customers through social media and why it's an important tool for small-business owners to keep in their toolkits.
16 Jun 2021
Ep. 10 - Topeka architect talks entrepreneurship, building his firm
This week on the show, co-hosts India Yarborough, of The Capital-Journal (https://www.cjonline.com), and Katrin Bridges, of the Greater Topeka Partnership (https://www.topekapartnership.com), sit down with Bryan Falk, founder and CEO of Falk Architects (https://www.falk-architects.com). Falk talks about his journey to becoming a small-business owner, discusses obstacles he faced along the way and offers some advice to people who may be considering branching out on their own.
2 Jun 2021
Ep. 9 - Topekans talk digital equity and how to achieve it
In this episode, Capital-Journal (https://www.cjonline.com) reporter India Yarborough sits down with Lazone Grays (https://www.cjonline.com/story/news/local/2020/10/03/nonprofit-ceo-lays-out-potential-digital-inclusion-strategy-for-topeka-calls-on-joint-economic-devel/43132837/), CEO of local nonprofit IBSA Inc. (https://ibsa-inc.org), and Scott Gowan, chief information officer for Topeka Public Schools, to discuss digital equity — what it is, what it means and what it might take to achieve it.
19 May 2021
Ep. 8 - From Iowa to Kansas, this startup is changing the food-safety game
In this co-hosted episode, the Greater Topeka Partnership's Katrin Bridges and The Capital-Journal's India Yarborough talk with Darin Heisterkamp, president of NanoSpy. The Iowa-based startup was chosen earlier this year to participate in Topeka's Plug and Play accelerator program, and its innovative technology could change the way food-processing companies operate.
5 May 2021
Ep. 7 - Todd Konkel talks Topeka development
This week on the show, Capital-Journal reporter India Yarborough sits down with Todd Konkel, someone who is fairly new to the Topeka-development scene. Konkel made a couple big investments recently near downtown with the goal of creating an entertainment district. In this episode, he talks about those investments and his future plans.
21 Apr 2021
Ep. 6 - Leslie Fleuranges' journey to entrepreneurship
In this co-hosted episode of "It's Your Business," Capital-Journal reporter India Yarborough and the Greater Topeka Partnership's Katrin Bridges sit down with Leslie Fleuranges, owner of Tender Loving Care Pet Nursing Hotel (https://www.cjonline.com/story/news/local/2020/06/27/meeting-need-topekan-opens-pet-nursing-hotel-to-care-for-aging-pets-those-with-special-needs/43068137/) in Topeka. Fleuranges started her pet-care business because she saw a need that wasn't being met and wanted to fill the gap. Bridges and Yarborough talk with Fleuranges about her journey to becoming a small-business owner and how the idea of entrepreneurship has evolved for her over the years.
7 Apr 2021
Ep. 5 - Michael Odupitan talks Omni Circle Group, diversity & inclusion in Topeka
In this "It's Your Business" episode, Capital-Journal reporter India Yarborough talks with Michael Odupitan, founder and CEO of Omni Circle Group (https://www.omnicirclegroup.org). Omni Circle, which has both a nonprofit and LLC presence, was founded in 2019 and aims to address disparities in Topeka by uniting and strengthening communities and meeting basic and professional needs of area residents. To read more about Omni Circle's recent activity before diving into the episode, check out the following story: https://www.cjonline.com/story/business/2021/02/13/topeka-nonprofit-llc-omni-circle-group-looks-open-co-working-space/4435798001/ (https://www.cjonline.com/story/business/2021/02/13/topeka-nonprofit-llc-omni-circle-group-looks-open-co-working-space/4435798001/).
24 Mar 2021
Ep. 4 - Bobby Sloan talks startups, entrepreneurship
Get ready for the first co-hosted episode of "It's Your Business"! In this episode of the show, Capital-Journal reporter India Yarborough and Katrin Bridges, the Greater Topeka Partnership's SVP of innovation, sit down with Kansas entrepreneur Bobby Sloan. In 2020, Sloan stood up the online marketplace StayHomeKansas.com (https://stayhomekansas.com) to give local artists and creators a virtual platform through which to sell their work. He talks with Bridges and Yarborough about his inspiration for the site, explains how it has evolved and offers some advice for budding entrepreneurs who have great ideas but may not know where to start. Yarborough and Bridges plan to co-host episodes of "It's Your Business" regularly to shine a light on startups and entrepreneurs in the Topeka area. Check it out!
10 Mar 2021
Ep. 03 - SJ Hazim and Thad Lockard talk community pride
In this episode, reporter India Yarborough sits down with Topeka business owners SJ Hazim and Thad Lockard, who own local apparel company Clad Astra. Clad Astra specializes in clothing and accessories meant to help individuals display their community pride. Yarborough talks with Hazim and Lockard about their efforts to increase Topekans love for their city and how such work intersects with local growth and development. That is all part of the latest installment of "It's Your Business," a new Capital-Journal podcast.
24 Feb 2021
Ep. 02 - Barbara Stapleton talks Choose Topeka
In this episode, reporter India Yarborough sits down with Barbara Stapleton, vice president of business retention and talent initiatives for the Greater Topeka Partnership, to talk about the capital city's Choose Topeka incentive program. How has the program evolved? Is there room for improvement? What about the other work Stapleton's doing to help businesses expand in the Topeka area? She answers those questions and more in this installment of "It's Your Business," a new Capital-Journal podcast.
10 Feb 2021
Ep. 01 - Katrin Bridges Talks Topeka Plug & Play
In this first episode one, India Yarborough sits down with Katrin Bridges, vice president of innovation for the Greater Topeka Partnership, to talk about her efforts to enhance Topeka's emphasis on innovation.
Bridges was a key player in helping Topeka land its Plug and Play accelerator program — a partnership announced in August 2019 (https://www.cjonline.com/news/20190808/capfed-best-news-silicon-valley-based-plug-and-play-announces-partnership-with-topeka-shawnee-county) and which officially launched late last year (https://www.cjonline.com/story/news/local/2020/10/21/plug-and-play-founding-partners-hear-startup-pitches-during-first-topeka-selection-day/114880942/).
10 Feb 2021
It's Your Business Podcast Trailer
Hosted by Topeka Capital-Journal reporter India Yarborough, It's Your Business aims to explore the business side of community growth through conversations with those in the Topeka area who are advocating for various improvements at the neighborhood, city-wide and regional levels. Whether it’s programs to help local entrepreneurs, relocation initiatives that aim to bring young talent to the area, small business owners trying to promote community pride or nonprofit leaders pushing for digital equity — Yarborough engages in conversation with movers and shakers in northeast Kansas who are invested in seeing their communities thrive.
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