Made Here: Small business stories and conversations with entrepreneurs

In spite of the recognition she’s received from her industry, one would say that Lachelle Cunningham’s journey as a chef is unconventional, especially compared to her peers. She began her culinary career by launching Chelles’ Kitchen in 2012 and soon became known for her work as the founding Executive Chef of Breaking Bread Cafe in North Minneapolis, where she received many accolades for her food creativity and social justice work.  

In this episode, she talks to us about becoming a mom in her early 20s and how her sense of smell changed her relationship with food. Lachelle shares her transition from a home chef catering small dinner parties, to an entrepreneur who had a larger vision of creating positive change through food.
Finally, we’ll also learn about her work at the Healthy Roots Institute, whose mission focuses on healing and social justice through food education, culinary arts, and entrepreneurship.

Michea Rahman, a native Houstonian, is a speech-language pathologist who owns and runs Children’s Language Center, a clinic that provides pediatric speech therapy services to children in a positive and nurturing environment.

In this episode, Michea shares the difficulties she experienced growing up and how her single mom inspired her to be consistently hardworking and tenacious. We also talk about how Michea's life shifted from being a stage actress and secondary theater arts teacher to becoming a well-respected speech pathology practitioner in Houston, Texas. On the show, Michea also discusses how, in spite of the pandemic, Children’s Language Center continues to make an impact on the lives of children and their families.

Shelley Green's path as a small business owner took a while to shape. Transitioning from a career in consulting, Shelley now proudly owns The Green Corner Store located in Little Rock, Arkansas. The Green Corner Store is a market that supports local makers, artisans, and micro-businesses that sell quality products that make our lives greener, safer and healthier. The Green Corner Store is a certified business of The Green Business Network, a program of Green America — the nation’s leading nonprofit in growing the green economy.

In this episode, Shelley talks to us about her journey and why the concept of an entrepreneur seemed elusive, or at least something she couldn’t relate to in the beginning. We also talk about the serendipitous moments in her life that gave her the idea for The Green Corner Store, as well as the setbacks she faced having started her business all the way back in 2009.

This week's guest is a go-getter mom who runs Honey Hush Boutique, a store selling stylish clothes and vintage home items and gifts in Bogota, Texas. Shelly Evans decided to remodel an old bank building and turn it into a store that she now runs with her daughter Lacey.  

In this episode, Shelly talks about the ugly side of starting and growing a small business. She shares with me the lessons she learned, and her advice for other entrepreneurs who might be going through similar challenges. On the show, we talk about the importance of community over competition, the power of positive thinking, and why Shelly has made it her mission to encourage other aspiring business owners.

Tyson Toussant and Tim Coombs are the co-founders of BIONIC, a mission-driven material engineering company that addresses ocean plastic pollution in marine and coastal environments. BIONIC engineers fully traceable high-grade textiles made with coastal and marine plastic.

On the show, Tyson and Tim talk about their roots and how growing up in New York City sparked their interest in social and environmental issues. They share everything from their first entrepreneurial endeavor to building and attracting key partnerships. Tyson and Tim also talk about balancing purpose and profit and their broader mission of shifting people’s behavior and thinking through BIONIC.

When we think about our favorite subject in school or why we loved going to class, we sometimes associate our fondness for learning with teachers we love, much like this week's guest, Maria Ure. Moving from Argentina to the United States in the mid-80s, Maria saw a huge need in language learning — a program that would captivate students at a young age. From teaching Spanish to a small group of students, Maria has now taught over 6,000 students. Today, she continues to make an impact as the Founder and Director of Spanish in Action, a language school located in Manhattan Beach, California.

In this episode, Maria shares the challenges and triumphs she experienced throughout her career that has spanned over three decades. On the show, Maria also talks about how Spanish in Action is able to create a fun, learning environment for kids and how she was able to scale her business, in spite of the setbacks she faced.

This week’s episode features husband and wife and owners of Buenos Dias Café, Ken and Jeanette Katz. In 2012, Ken and Jeanette opened the doors to their restaurant in Atlanta, a place that eventually became a second home for students and faculty in that area. Buenos Dias Café is a quick-service restaurant that serves fresh, authentic cuisine inspired by Jeannette’s childhood in El Salvador and the distinct Latin communities in which they have both lived. Growing up, Jeannette observed women having a harder time receiving help and being taken seriously when launching a business. This understanding motivates Jeannette and Ken to actively welcome entrepreneurs who are single moms, as well as partner with nonprofits to employ individuals transitioning from homelessness.

In this episode, Ken and Jeanette share the many challenges of working in the restaurant industry, what keeps them motivated to grow with their community, and what lies ahead for Buenos Dias Café.

For years, Kristel Valencia worked as an event planner for Coca-Cola. She is a proud daughter of Mexican parents who immigrated to Georgia when Kristel was just 10 months old. After a death in her family made Kristel realize the importance of time, she quit her job to finally chase after her entrepreneurial dream. Today, Kristel is the founder of Cafecito, a coffee shop that serves beverages and snacks influenced by her Mexican heritage.

In this episode, Kristel talks to us about the importance of having a network of supporters and mentors. Kristel, a single mom, also shares with us the lessons in running a business that she’s now able to impart to her own son.

Have you ever gone on a great adventure to pursue a passion project? Well, that’s what our first ever guest, Scott Shigeoka, an American entrepreneur, storyteller, designer, and artist does. Born in Hawaii and now based in San Francisco, Scott founded an independent creative agency that bridges social and political divides through the power of stories. He is the host of various shows/series including "Made in America," which highlights everyday entrepreneurs and the racist/systemic barriers they've overcome. In this episode, Scott will share how a hitchhiking journey led him to founding his own business, what starkly different cultures taught him about entrepreneurship, and why he encourages all of us to celebrate ourselves and our work, even in moments of pause.