The Unscripted Climb
The Unscripted Climb
Podcast Description
About Us:"Welcome to Unscripted Climb, where we ditch the polished success tales and dive headfirst into the real stuff. Hosted by Chris Beecham and Michele Mower, this is the podcast where founders, CEOs, and even a celebrity or two come to spill the stories they usually don’t tell HR. Forget the sugar-coating—we’re here for the messy, raw, sometimes awkward truth of what it really takes to make it.Why Listen?Because we’re not about ‘living your best life’ fluff. We’re here to ask, 'What was your most epic screw-up?' and, 'Ever considered running off to a remote island mid-project?' From marketing disasters to those 'oh sh*t' moments that keep entrepreneurs up at night, our guests reveal the side of business that motivational posters just don’t cover.Our Vibe?Clever, candid, and with humor as dry as a three-day-old bagel. The Unscripted Climb is all about straight talk, sharp wit, and stories that make you laugh, cringe, and think, ‘Thank God that wasn’t me…or wait, maybe it was.’Hit Follow for Real TalkIf you’re ready for business insights that come with a side of reality check (and a chuckle), welcome to the climb. Follow us, listen in, and let’s tackle the climb together—one unscripted step at a time."
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
The podcast explores themes surrounding entrepreneurship, including brand development, mental health in business, effective marketing strategies, and the complexities of building successful teams. Episodes feature discussions on topics such as the significance of community support for new business owners, overcoming personal mindset challenges, and the realities of branding strategies backed by market research.
Welcome to The Unscripted Climb. This is the podcast where business gets real and the filters get left at the door.
Hosted by Chris Beecham, a no-fluff entrepreneur who’s sold plasma to keep the lights on, and Natalie Micale, a branding expert who’s built more than her fair share of empires from scratch. We’re here to talk about what actually happens behind the highlight reels.
This isn’t your manifest your best life show. This is for the founders, leaders, and business owners who’ve white-knuckled their way through growth, failure, reinvention, and maybe a public meltdown or two.
Why Listen?
Because behind every shiny brand is a messy middle.
We ask the questions most podcasts won’t
- What was your biggest screw-up
- How close were you to quitting
- And what kept you from walking away
What You’ll Hear:
• Wild origin stories
• Marketing disasters and comebacks
• Real-talk sales advice
• Team dynamics that don’t make it into LinkedIn posts
• And the kind of lessons you only learn after failing hard
Our Vibe?
Dry humor. Sharp insights. Candid convos with zero corporate gloss.
If you’re tired of recycled advice and ready for the honest version of entrepreneurship, you’re in the right place.
Subscribe and join the climb. Awkward stumbles and all.
What does it take to grow a thrift store empire in a world obsessed with fast fashion? In this episode of The Unscripted Climb, we sit down with Steve Stark, founder of Thriftworld—an Omaha-based thrift chain now spanning eight locations—to uncover the real journey behind building a sustainable business that actually scales.
Steve doesn’t hold back. He dives into the 12-year grind of growth, the myths surrounding thrift stores, and how his team reinvented the thrifting experience to feel more like a treasure hunt than a discount bin. You'll hear how e-commerce reshaped their strategy, why culture and leadership became his secret weapon, and how COVID nearly wrecked everything—but didn’t.
Whether you’re a fan of entrepreneurship, marketing strategy, sustainability, or you just love a good business underdog story—this episode delivers. Unfiltered, real, and packed with hard-earned insight.
What You'll Learn:
- How Steve transitioned from a family biz into the thrift economy
- The operational differences between Thriftworld and Goodwill
- Why branding and experience matter—even in secondhand retail
- How to lead with empathy, define clear roles, and grow a resilient team
- The marketing strategies that turned Thriftworld into a regional brand
- What COVID taught him about business (hint: adapt or die)
💥 Want a free merch or brand audit? Just ask. No pressure, just people helping people.
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Disclaimer
This podcast’s information is provided for general reference and was obtained from publicly accessible sources. The Podcast Collaborative neither produces nor verifies the content, accuracy, or suitability of this podcast. Views and opinions belong solely to the podcast creators and guests.
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