A business interview Podcast made by business owners for business owners called ‘**Simply Business**'.
We share real stories about real people in business making big things happen. Our goal is to inspire and educate current and future leaders through sharing success stories and key learnings from successful business leaders who have already navigated some of the challenges of business ownership.
I believe that most business owners are working way too hard for much too little, and one of our issues is that we over-complexify things. I also believe the answers are almost always within us or within our reach. I like to say I’m a “simple man with simple ideas”. So that's why it's called “Simply Business”.
And if you enjoy the show, maybe you'll enjoy my book. Check out "Your Baby is Ugly" on Amazon - https://www.amazon.com/Your-Baby-Ugly-truths-business/dp/1955342768/ (https://www.amazon.com/Your-Baby-Ugly-truths-business/dp/1955342768/)
Build a Business Around Your Life, Not the Other Way Around
Darren Tompkins on Smart Growth, AI, Hiring and Knowing When Enough Is Enough
Are you building a business that supports the life you want, or creating another job that consumes it?
In this episode of Simply Business, John Jennings sits down with Darren Tompkins, founder and CEO of Vader Ray Companies, to discuss what it really takes to build a business that grows without sacrificing your freedom.
After serving in the U.S. Army and spending years in the oil and gas industry, Darren made the leap into entrepreneurship. Today, his company provides recruiting, engineering and virtual professional services to businesses across multiple industries.
But Darren isn't interested in growing simply for the sake of getting bigger.
He's focused on building a company that operates efficiently, embraces new technology, develops strong teams and allows him to enjoy life outside the office.
In this conversation, John and Darren explore:
Smart growth: Why bigger isn't always better and how to avoid unnecessary overhead.
AI and efficiency: How Darren uses artificial intelligence to streamline recruiting, identify opportunities and improve productivity.
Hiring and leadership: Why putting the right people in the right roles is essential to building a sustainable business.
Entrepreneurial challenges: What happens when you leave the corporate world and suddenly find yourself without its support systems.
Work-life balance: How to design a business around your personal priorities instead of sacrificing everything for growth.
Taking the leap: Why waiting for the perfect moment to start your business might mean never starting at all.
Darren also shares lessons from his military experience, the challenges of bootstrapping a company and his approach to building a team that can grow without creating unnecessary complexity.
Whether you're considering entrepreneurship, building your first company or leading an established business, this conversation offers practical insights into growing smarter while maintaining control over what matters most.
Because building a successful business should help you create a better life.
Listen to this episode of Simply Business, subscribe for more conversations with business owners and leaders, and share your biggest takeaway.
6 Oct 2026
It's Not What It Makes You. It's What It Costs You. w/Kris Dehnert
How Kris Dehnert Built a $60 Million Business Without Losing Sight of What Matters
What good is building a multimillion-dollar business if it costs you your health, happiness and time with the people who matter most?
In this episode of Simply Business, John Jennings sits down with Kris Dehnert, CEO and co-founder of Dugout Mugs, to explore what it really means to build a successful business.
Kris helped transform a simple idea—turning baseball bats into drinking mugs—into a company that has generated more than $60 million in sales. But his journey hasn't been without challenges, and his definition of success has changed dramatically along the way.
After surviving a life-threatening medical emergency, Kris made a decision: his business would support the life he wanted to live, not the other way around.
In this candid conversation, Kris shares the lessons behind his entrepreneurial journey, including:
Why building for future growth is essential to maintaining momentum.
How rapid expansion can undermine profitability and personal freedom.
The importance of protecting equity and choosing the right business partners.
Why fewer, deeper relationships often create greater opportunities.
How clarity about your values makes difficult business decisions easier.
Above all, Kris challenges entrepreneurs to reconsider the true cost of success.
Whether you're launching your first company, scaling an established business or questioning whether your current path is worth the sacrifice, this conversation offers practical business lessons and a refreshing perspective on entrepreneurship.
Because the goal isn't simply to build a bigger business. It's to build a better life.
Listen to this episode of Simply Business, subscribe for more conversations with entrepreneurs and business leaders, and share your biggest takeaway.
28 Sept 2026
There Is No Finish Line - with Jeff Swartz
What happens when you finally reach the goal you've been chasing—and immediately start chasing the next one?
In this episode of Simply Business, John Jennings sits down with Jeff Swartz, CEO and Founder of Qujam, a hyper-local advertising platform helping businesses access geofencing and location-based marketing.
Jeff has spent more than 20 years in marketing and advertising and more than a decade as an entrepreneur. He built and sold his own advertising agency before making the leap from a service business into technology. He's also an adjunct professor at Duquesne University and the author of The Intentional Leap: Lessons and Learnings for Newer Entrepreneurs.
Jeff and John talk about preparing financially for entrepreneurship, building with intention, solving real customer problems, and learning to lead a business when you're no longer the expert at everything.
But one of the biggest lessons is more personal: there is no finish line.
Entrepreneurs are constantly setting new goals, reaching new milestones, and moving the target. Jeff shares why he's learned to focus more on the journey—and to stop long enough to “pop little champagne bottles” and recognize how far the business has already come.
They also explore why owners need to get out of the weeds, how to build a long-term vision without becoming trapped by it, and why your best mentor may actually be many different people rather than one person whose playbook you try to copy.
If you're building something and constantly asking, “What's next?”, this conversation is a reminder that growth matters—but so does appreciating what you've already built.
Listen to the full episode, subscribe to Simply Business, and share it with another entrepreneur who needs to hear it.
Who has been a guest on Simply Business Podcast
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
Landon Wade
Kevin Baer
Ray Robertson
Mark Helms
Stephanie Gilezan
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
5 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 42 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
61
Social presence
0
YouTube
0
Engagement
60
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Guest appearances
Does not typically book guests
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Questions about Simply Business Podcast
Who hosts Simply Business Podcast?
John Jennings host the show. Published by John K Jennings.
How often do new episodes come out?
The show publishes weekly, based on its RSS feed.
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The show does not typically feature guests, based on episode analyses.
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