Jesse sits down with Derek Rodriguez, President of KC Financial, LLC, for an in‑depth look at the transportation industry in 2026—a sector navigating rapid change, shifting demand, and new financial pressures. Derek shares frontline insights from his work financing transportation companies across the country, breaking down how operators are adapting to market volatility, equipment costs, interest rate environments, and tightening credit conditions.

The conversation explores the real challenges facing trucking and logistics companies today, including driver shortages, regulatory shifts, fuel and maintenance costs, and the impact of technology and automation on fleet operations. Derek also discusses what lenders are looking for in 2026, how companies can strengthen their financial position, and where he sees opportunities for growth despite industry headwinds.

This episode is packed with practical perspective for anyone connected to transportation finance, trucking operations, logistics, asset‑based lending, or the broader supply chain economy.

In this episode of Making Cents of It All, Jesse sits down with Phoebe Tan, CEO and co‑founder of Taelor, the men’s clothing rental subscription service recognized by GQ as one of the best in the industry. Phoebe shares how Taelor is transforming men’s fashion, using AI‑powered styling, data‑driven personalization, and sustainable rental models to help men dress better with less effort.

Jesse and Phoebe explore the rise of fashion‑tech startups, the growing demand for men’s clothing rental services, and how Taelor’s subscription model is changing the way consumers think about convenience, confidence, and wardrobe management. Phoebe also discusses the challenges of scaling a tech‑enabled fashion brand, what she’s learned as a founder, and why sustainability and smart design are shaping the future of the apparel industry.

If you’re interested in entrepreneurship, fashion innovation, AI in retail, or the evolution of subscription‑based clothing services, this episode offers valuable insights into how technology is redefining everyday style.

In this episode of Making Cents of It All, host Jesse Stakes sits down with Marci LaRouech, CEO of Seay HR, one of the Southeast’s leading HR consulting firms. Together, they break down the real drivers behind effective human resources strategy, employee relations, and workforce planning—and why HR is a critical part of long‑term business success.

Marci brings decades of experience helping companies navigate compliance, build stronger teams, and create healthier workplace cultures. Her practical, straightforward approach makes complex HR issues easy to understand and even easier to apply.

Whether you’re a business owner, executive, HR leader, or anyone responsible for managing people, this episode delivers actionable insights you can use to strengthen your organization immediately.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why HR is a strategic advantage—not just an administrative function
• The most common HR mistakes growing companies make
• How to build a strong company culture that attracts and retains talent
• What leaders need to know about compliance, risk, and employee relations
• How Seay HR supports businesses with fractional HR and consulting services
• The future of HR in a rapidly changing workforce

If you want to understand how great companies build great teams, this conversation with Seay HR’s CEO is a must‑listen.

Starwind Equipment offers reliable solutions for Property Damage Insurance (PDI) and Extended Service Contracts (ESC) that maintain cash flow and protects your equipment. When purchased together, these products ensure minimal out-of-pocket costs and maximum peace of mind.

They offer products that provide stability of cash flow for your equipment: Property Damage Insurance (PDI) Our PDI features multi-year policies up to 60 months, comprehensive coverage — Including protection against terrorism* — Without rate increases or cancellations.

Extended Service Contract (ESC) Our ESC provides a master parts schedule, no deductible for covered repairs, and a streamlined claims process that reduces downtime.

Why purchase our Physical Damage Insurance?

• Multi-year policies for the life of the lease or the loan up to 60 months — For the life of the multi-year policy your rates will never increase, and we won’t cancel your policy.
• Most robust coverage on the market — Comprehensive coverage including terrorism*
• No coinsurance — We will not penalize you if your values were adequate at policy issuance.

Why purchase our Extended Service Plan (extended warranty)?

• Comprehensive master parts schedule — For damage due to mechanical breakdown.
• No deductible — This means ANY covered equipment and labor won’t incur a deductible.
• Streamlined claims process — Quicker payment to the dealer for repair of the equipment.

In this episode of Making Cents of It All, host Jesse Stakes welcomes seasoned business coach Scott Coble for a deep dive into the business life cycle—from startup to renewal—and how intentional coaching can help business owners navigate each phase with clarity and purpose.

Together, Jesse and Scott unpack the sigmoid curve of growth, explore common inflection points, and share actionable insights on how coaching can unlock strategic breakthroughs. Whether you're scaling, plateauing, or reinventing your business, this conversation offers a roadmap to help you achieve the success you truly want—not just the success you’ve settled for.

Tune in for:

• 🔄 Real-world examples of business transformation
• 🧭 Coaching frameworks that drive results
• 💡 Leadership lessons for every stage of growth

If you're a business owner, executive, or aspiring leader, this episode will challenge your thinking and inspire your next move.

The Tin Cup Club joins the show to talk about the 2025 edition of the Ryder Cup.

The 2025 Ryder Cup: A Clash of Titans at Bethpage Black

The 45th edition of the Ryder Cup is set to electrify the golf world from September 26–28, 2025, at the legendary Bethpage Black Course in Farmingdale, New York. Known for its brutal layout and passionate crowds, Bethpage promises a fiery atmosphere as Team USA and Team Europe battle for supremacy in this biennial match-play showdown.

Ryder Cup history

🏆 Ryder Cup History: A Legacy of Passion, Pride, and Pressure

The Ryder Cup is one of golf’s most storied and emotionally charged events—a biennial team competition between the United States and Europe that transcends individual achievement and celebrates national pride, camaraderie, and match-play drama.

📜 Origins & Evolution

• Founded: 1927, first played at Worcester Country Club in Massachusetts
• Named After: English businessman Samuel Ryder, who donated the trophy
• Original Format: USA vs. Great Britain
• Expanded: In 1979, the European team began including players from continental Europe to increase competitiveness

💰 Ryder Cup Revenue: A Record-Breaking 2025 Edition

The 2025 Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black is expected to generate record-breaking revenue, driven by unprecedented demand, premium pricing, and global fan engagement.

📈 Estimated Revenue Highlights

• Ticket Revenue Alone: Expected to exceed $100 million, with general admission tickets priced at $750 and practice-round tickets starting at $250—both sold out.
• Corporate Hospitality: Limited inventory remains, with premium packages contributing significantly to overall earnings.
• Volunteer Program: Over 4,000 volunteers, each paying $350 for uniforms and meals, adding another layer of revenue.
• TV Rights: The PGA of America has a 15-year, $440 million broadcast deal through 2030. The Ryder Cup contributes roughly $88 million to the PGA Tour over that span.

🏦 Where the Money Goes

• PGA of America: Uses Ryder Cup revenue to fund operations, including annual payments to its 41 regional chapters (increased from $90K to $180K each).
• Players: Do not receive direct compensation, but each gets a $200,000 charitable gift to donate at their discretion.

This year’s event is not just a golf tournament—it’s a financial juggernaut. Want help turning this into a podcast segment or a LinkedIn post that blends sport and business strategy? I’d be glad to help.

Staffing for your company as an employer and finding a job as an employee have changed quite about in the last several years. You're competing with people, bots, AI, and so many other things that you don't even know about - yet.

Terace Johnson was kind enough to join the show this week and lend her expertise to our audience. Terace with the founder and CEO of Spotlight Staffing.

Spotlight Staffing is a national employment agency and executive search firm that offers tailored hiring solutions across multiple industries. Though headquartered in Minneapolis, they serve clients nationwide.

🔹 Services Offered:

• Direct Hire Recruitment
• Executive Search
• HR Consulting for Startups & Small Businesses
• Hiring Events & Campaigns
• Profile-Driven Sourcing (beyond job boards)

So, if you're looking to solve this modern job market, you might just find some answers with us this episode.

In our season opener, I am pleased to bring back Scott Coble to dive a little deeper into more detailed topics that he works with and coaches his clients on each and every day to help make them more successful in their businesses and chosen professions.

Scott joins the show to discuss the powerful framework often referred to as the “Three Eyes of the Business Owner”. These “eyes” represent the three distinct roles or perspectives every business owner must balance to build a scalable, sustainable company:

👁️ 1. The Technician’s Eye

• Focus: Doing the work.
• Mindset: “If you want it done right, do it yourself.”
• Strengths: Deep expertise, hands-on execution, attention to detail.
• Risks: Gets stuck in the business, overwhelmed by daily tasks, struggles to delegate.

This is where most entrepreneurs start—doing what they’re good at. But staying here too long creates bottlenecks and burnout.

👁️ 2. The Manager’s Eye

• Focus: Organizing the work.
• Mindset: “Let’s create systems and processes.”
• Strengths: Planning, structure, consistency, team coordination.
• Risks: Can become overly focused on control, resistant to change, slow to innovate.

The Manager builds the scaffolding that keeps the business running smoothly. Without this eye, chaos reigns.

👁️ 3. The Entrepreneur’s Eye

• Focus: Vision and growth.
• Mindset: “What’s next? How do we scale?”
• Strengths: Innovation, strategy, market awareness, risk-taking.
• Risks: May neglect operations, chase too many ideas, lose focus.

This is the eye that sees the future and drives transformation. It’s essential for breaking out of survival mode and building something enduring.

The central message is that most small business owners over-rely on the Technician, which traps them in reactive cycles. To truly grow, you must consciously shift between these three roles, building systems that allow you to work on the business—not just in it