Samantha Snabes never set out to build a typical company. As co-founder of re:3D and a member of the Air Force National Guard, she launched an open-source 3D printing company that prioritizes access over exclusivity. But when back-to-back hurricanes hit both her team in Houston and her customers in Puerto Rico, it nearly brought the business to a halt. Then came COVID, and a vendor vanished without a trace. In this episode, Ben Walter is joined by returning guest Ryan Pavel, CEO of the Warrior-Scholar Project, to talk with Samantha about building something bigger than profit, the messy realities of mission-driven entrepreneurship and the moment she hired an Uber driver to help her track down a missing supplier. Together, they unpack what it means to lead an open-source company through crisis, and why leadership sometimes requires breaking the rules. These are The Unshakeables.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Called to Serve: Mercy Chefs
When Hurricane Katrina hit, Gary LeBlanc did what he knew best—he showed up to cook. But what he found on the ground was far from comforting. The food being served to survivors wasn't physically or spiritually nourishing. That moment sparked the idea for Mercy Chefs, a faith-based disaster relief organization committed to serving high-quality, home-cooked meals to people in crisis. In this episode, Ben Walter and Kathleen Griffith sit down with Gary to hear how he built Mercy Chefs from the ground up, often with no money in the bank and no backup plan. They'll also discuss the true price of answering a calling, and what it takes to serve others when the storms just keep coming. These are The Unshakeables.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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BONUS: Boost Your Resilience At Work
What can we do to cultivate more resilience at work? Ben Walter, CEO of Chase for Business and host of The Unshakeables podcast, thinks about this question a lot. In today’s mini episode, Ben joins Maya to talk about the unique challenges faced by America’s small business owners—and the insights he shares can help anyone who wants to improve their well-being at work. This episode was made in partnership with Chase for Business. Listen to Ben’s podcast, The Unshakeables, here. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Insuring a Family's Future: Elan Flowers
After a sudden health crisis rocked his family, Patrick Hall made an unexpected move: he bought a flower shop. Elan Flowers wasn’t just a creative venture—it was a lifeline. For Patrick, becoming a small business owner was the only way he could guarantee healthcare, financial stability, and a sense of control in a moment that felt anything but secure. In this episode, Ben Walter is joined by Dr. Laurie Santos, Yale professor and host of “The Happiness Lab,” to talk about how stability, risk, and security shape our sense of wellbeing. They’re also joined by Dan Mendelson, CEO of Morgan Health, and Stacy Edgar, CEO and Co-Founder of Venteur, to explore the real-world challenges of accessing health insurance as a small business owner—and what it takes to navigate a system that often leaves entrepreneurs behind.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Bionic Breakthrough: Psyonic
Aadeel Akhtar always knew he wanted to help people, but instead of following the traditional path through medicine, he took a detour that led to something a little more electric: building a bionic hand. He started his company Psyonic to merge engineering with compassion and transform the prosthetics industry, but it didn’t come easily. Dead batteries, buggy code, and even a missing patient nearly cost him his shot. Join Ben Walter and Kathleen Griffith as they sit down with Aadeel to talk about walking away from med school, betting on a vision, and building a business that could change life for millions. These are The Unshakeables. To see the Ability Hand in action, check it out here. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Unshakeables podcast from Chase for Business and iHeartMedia's Ruby Studio dives into the unbelievable “What are we gonna do now?” moments that changed everything for small business owners. From mom-and-pop coffee shops to auto-detailing garages, every small business owner knows that the journey is full of the unexpected. A single make-or-break experience can change the course of your business forever. Those who stand firm in their resolve have a special name. We call them The Unshakeables. These are their stories. Join Ben Walter, CEO of Chase for Business, and a lineup of special co-hosts as they speak with small business owners across America who’ve gone through some of the most unexpected situations anyone can face and walked away stronger for it. These aren’t stories about the darlings of Silicon Valley or titans of Wall Street. These are real stories from real people behind the small companies powering their communities every day.
The speakers’ opinions belong to them and may differ from opinions of J.P. Morgan Chase & Co and its affiliates. Views presented on this podcast are those of the speakers; they are as of the podcast release date and they may not materialize.
Brasil