Jake Koehler — Scuba Jake — turned lost iPhones and forgotten treasures in the Chattahoochee River into a global audience of 14 million. In this episode, he shares how “document, don’t create” became his mantra, why purpose often shows up in unexpected places, and what it takes to reinvent yourself (and your content) year after year.

It’s a conversation about risk, resilience, and finding meaning beneath the surface — in business, in life, and in the river.

From sweeping flower shop floors to designing luxury weddings, Lexiee Campbell has grown Campbell Creative Floral Co. and Flowers on 10th into two thriving floral businesses. In this episode, she shares how she turned a side hustle into a storefront, built her brand through social media, and reinvented her business to reach the luxury wedding market. It’s a story of grit, creativity, and resilience every entrepreneur can learn from.

Most people don’t launch a company with a sketch in Microsoft Paint. But that’s exactly how Lindsay deOliveira started Soothe Beginnings—a baby brand built around safety, sustainability, and solving a real problem for new parents.

In this episode, Lindsay shares how postpartum struggles, sleepless nights, and frustration with existing pacifiers led her to design a better one from scratch. We talk about her experience with Startup Columbus, raising money through Kickstarter, pitching her idea on a business reality show, and finding a factory that could bring her vision to life.

If you've ever wondered how a parent becomes a product founder, or what it really takes to build something from the ground up, this episode is for you.

John Anker didn’t set out to start a business — he needed a way forward. With no income and no backup plan, he started Ankerpak from his garage, driven by grit, faith, and a desire to solve real problems. In this episode, he shares what it takes to build through uncertainty and lead with purpose.

What starts in a warehouse doesn’t always stay there.

In this episode of Fountain City Founders, Steve Smithwick shares how he built Master Wall from a small local operation into a national brand. We talk about early risks, outgrowing your beginnings, navigating partnerships, and the quiet discipline it takes to grow something that lasts.

This is a story about more than success—it’s about building with intention.

After building a successful tech company, Reggie Luther took an unexpected turn — opening a running store and a coffee shop in downtown Columbus. In this episode, he shares why he made the leap, what it means to build community through business, and how purpose became his new bottom line.

A new voice is coming to Columbus. Fountain City Founders is a podcast about the people building the businesses you know—and the ones you haven’t heard of yet. This is a quick preview of what’s ahead: honest conversations with local entrepreneurs about risk, resilience, and what it really takes to grow something from the ground up. First episode drops July 2.