In the 50th episode of Simply Business, host John Jennings sits down with Larry Baker, a real estate broker, investor, and entrepreneur who has built a thriving business across Kentucky, Indiana, and Florida. Larry shares his journey from sales—starting in the car industry—to becoming a top real estate agent, broker, and investor. He now leads a brokerage with over 40 agents and has built long-term wealth through smart real estate investing. In this episode, Larry breaks down:

The truth about being a real estate agent (vs. common myths) How he scaled his brokerage and built a multi-state real estate business The best strategies for investing in real estate—without making rookie mistakes The challenges of getting financing as a self-employed investor & how he worked around it His top advice for real estate agents looking to grow their business

Whether you’re considering a career in real estate or looking for smart ways to invest, Larry’s insights are packed with practical advice you can use today.

In this inspiring episode 49 of Simply

Business, host John Jennings welcomes Reverend Dr. Julie Hager

Love, the President & CEO of the Kentucky United Methodist

Children's Home.

With a background in theology, Christian education, and leadership

development, Dr. Love has dedicated her career to serving children and families

in need.

She shares insights on building trust in leadership, fostering

a strong workplace culture, and navigating the complexities of child

welfare.

Under her leadership, the Children’s Home has expanded its

services, providing residential care, support for foster youth aging out of the

system, and community-based programs to serve nearly 2,000 children and

families annually.

Key topics covered:

✅ Transitioning from clergy to CEO

✅ Creating a preferred workplace culture in a nonprofit setting

✅ The power of trust in leadership and team building

✅ Addressing child welfare challenges and shaping Kentucky’s future for

children

Dr. Love also shares a powerful personal story about making every

child feel like a “favorite” and ensuring they know they are loved, prayed for,

and valued.

Tune in for an inspiring conversation about servant leadership,

sustainable excellence, and making a difference in the lives of children.

In Episode 48 of Simply Business, host John Jennings sits down with Kyle Bush, Founder & CEO of Cumberland Creative, a 50+ award-winning video production and digital marketing agency.

Kyle shares his entrepreneurial journey, how he built a scalable storytelling business, and what it takes to create high-impact visual content that drives real revenue growth.

💡 Key Themes Discussed:

✅ The power of storytelling in branding & marketing

✅ Scaling a video production agency from the ground up

✅ The balance between creativity and business strategy

✅ How to make content that converts into business results

✅ Lessons on team leadership & entrepreneurship

From working with major brands to navigating the evolving digital landscape, Kyle breaks down what businesses need to know about effective video marketing and why great storytelling is at the heart of audience engagement.

In this episode of Simply Business, host John Jennings sits down with Clay Smith, a real estate investor and serial entrepreneur who has scaled multiple businesses from the ground up. Starting as a young entrepreneur selling candy bars and running a paper route, Clay evolved into a powerhouse in real estate, property management, and contracting.

He shares insights on:

✅ The key challenges of scaling multiple businesses while maintaining profitability

✅ Letting go of operations and empowering the right people to run the day-to-day

✅ The importance of KPIs in making business decisions and avoiding financial pitfalls

✅ How having an accountability partner (or business partner) can drive success

✅ Lessons learned from corporate IT to real estate – and how data-driven decision-making changed everything

Clay also dives into the myth of instant profitability—how explosive growth doesn’t always mean financial success and why business owners must keep a close eye on cash flow.

One of the biggest takeaways? “Keep your company as underfunded as you can. If there’s money sitting there, it will get used.”

Whether you're a real estate investor, a business owner, or an entrepreneur struggling to scale, this episode is packed with practical wisdom and hard-earned lessons that can help you grow smarter, not harder.

In this episode of Simply Business, host John Jennings sits down with Doug Lacy, Founder and President of Pivotal, a global IT field services company operating in 150+ countries. Doug shares the remarkable journey of scaling an IT services business, transitioning from a handful of clients to working with Fortune 500 companies worldwide.

Doug reveals key insights about:

• Overcoming the "founder’s trap" and navigating business plateaus
• The power of partnerships in scaling internationally
• Making the tough leap from low-margin to high-value clients
• Learning to ask for help and build a strong leadership team
• The relentless drive of entrepreneurship—why you’re never truly “done”

Doug’s story is a testament to the balance between strategy, patience, and execution. Whether you're a business owner, a startup leader, or scaling your operations, this episode is packed with wisdom on growth, resilience, and leadership.

🎧 Listen now! And don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and share with fellow entrepreneurs.

🔗 Visit pivital.com to learn more about Pivotal’s IT solutions.

In this episode of Simply Business, host John Jennings sits down with Geoff Marietta, an entrepreneur, small business owner, and community advocate based in Eastern Kentucky. Geoff shares his inspiring journey from Harvard MBA graduate to a transformative force in Appalachian revitalization. As the co-founder of businesses like the Harlan County Beer Company and Moonbow Tipple, Geoff is proving that Main Streets in small towns hold untapped potential.

Learn how Geoff's investments in vacant buildings, his passion for community-driven growth, and his diverse ventures—including a business accelerator and work in healthcare—are reshaping Eastern Kentucky. With a commitment to solving real problems and embracing local culture, Geoff’s work highlights the power of entrepreneurship in driving meaningful change.

Tune in to hear Geoff’s advice for aspiring entrepreneurs, insights on overcoming challenges in rural economies, and why he believes Eastern Kentucky is a hidden gem for investors and dreamers alike.

🌟 Key Themes:

• The power of community in rural America
• Main Street revitalization through creative investments
• Challenges and opportunities in Appalachia
• Following your passion to drive sustainable change

👉 Don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode to inspire others!

In this episode of Simply Business, host John Jennings sits down with Ashley Chamberlain, MBA, founder and CEO of Chamberlain & Good Company Bookkeeping and Accounting Services. Ashley shares her inspiring journey from a high-level corporate CFO to building her own thriving business. Hear how her leap of faith, coupled with resilience, prayer, and a supportive network, led to a business that now serves small to medium-sized businesses with expert bookkeeping, accounting, and tax services.

Ashley opens up about the challenges of managing rapid growth, balancing motherhood, and developing her leadership skills while scaling her team. She shares practical advice for aspiring entrepreneurs, the importance of setting boundaries, and how aligning her business values became a game-changer.

This episode is packed with wisdom for anyone thinking of taking the entrepreneurial leap, especially moms balancing the demands of work and family. Don’t miss her valuable insights and actionable takeaways.

Key Themes and Highlights:

• The Spark: How Ashley’s desire to fund her kids’ private school education turned into an unexpected entrepreneurial journey.
• Challenges of Growth: Hiring before you’re ready, learning to delegate, and scaling a business while staying true to its mission.
• Work-Life Harmony: Ashley’s unique perspective on boundaries, involving her kids in her journey, and thriving as a business owner and mom.
• Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs: Surrounding yourself with smarter people and listening to the “divine download” that fuels your dreams.
• Breaking Myths: The realities of being a business owner—hard work, sacrifice, and the less glamorous side of entrepreneurship.

Listen now and be inspired to take the next step in your business journey! 👉 Don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review!

Are you ready for a masterclass in leadership and values-driven business? In this episode, you'll learn some of the best practices for building a business that will be both sustainable and successful. John Jennings sits down with Thomas Haun, President and Co-Founder of Turner Staffing Group, to explore the journey from building Turner Mining Group to creating a people-first staffing powerhouse. Thomas shares how the company’s core values—Heart for People, Eye for Safety, Mind for Innovation, and Attitude for Excellence—serve as the foundation for their success and impact.

Listeners will learn:

• The importance of aligning leadership with clear values and intentional roles.
• How Turner Staffing Group meets the unique challenges of the mining industry while empowering their workforce.
• Insights into fostering a mindset of abundance and accountability in leadership and team development.

Thomas also shares inspiring lessons on leadership, resilience, and finding your "why" before starting a business.

Join us for this masterclass in leadership and values-driven business!

🔗 Visit TurnerMining.com and TurnerStaffing.com for more.

👉 Don't forget to subscribe, share, and leave a review!