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Happy Hour Hustle #104: The Economic Argument for Inclusivity

Release Date: 11/05/2024

Happy Hour Hustle

This is the first episode of our series of Cohort Spotlights, where we are talking to the incredible women who make up the 2025-26 cohort for the . is the 3rd-generation owner of , one of the nation's largest full-line pet stores. She's a fierce advocate for animals, she's on the board for one of the most prestigious groups in her industry, and she's been featured by Stephen Colbert...twice. Maddie talks to her about what it's like running a family business, what she's learned over the years, and what's coming next.

Happy Hour Hustle #122: Making Yourself Memorable

Happy Hour Hustle

spent more than 20 years building a career before deciding to go solo. In this episode, Kim and Fiona talk about what those first few months of working for yourself actually look like and how she's learned to say no. They dig into the moment she realized it was actually working, how LinkedIn became a key business tool, and what she'd tell someone thinking about going out on their own. If you've ever wondered what it takes, this conversation is for you.

Happy Hour Hustle #121: AI Mode and Local Media

Happy Hour Hustle

AI Mode is rewriting how people find information, and marketers and newsrooms are feeling it in real time. Maddie is joined by , Digital Director at , to break down what AI summaries mean for visibility, clicks, and keeping local journalism accurate in an AI-first world. They also get into how WOOD TV8 is using AI behind the scenes and what the shift to streaming tells us about where local news is headed.

Happy Hour Hustle #120: Come Along Ladies, It's Time to Ruin the Workplace

Happy Hour Hustle

You may have seen the New York Times asking whether women “ruined” the workplace. We’re not treating that like a real question, because it isn’t one. The workplace wasn’t ruined by women; it was built with competition, ego, and protection of the incompetent, and it’s finally . In our latest episode, Kim talks about the systems that were designed to keep women out, the men who broke them, and the ones who stay quiet because comfort matters more than courage.

Happy Hour Hustle #119: A 'Home Away from Home' for Veterans and their Families

Happy Hour Hustle

Fisher House is one of the best-kept secrets in the Veteran space. They are comfort homes where military and Veterans' families can stay at no cost while a loved one is receiving treatment - saving them thousands of dollars and allowing them to be close. Maddie visited Kate Melcher, Executive Director of , and a veteran herself, to talk about the importance and impact of these homes, which have saved military and veterans’ families an estimated $650 million in out-of-pocket costs for lodging and transportation.

Happy Hour Hustle #118: The Pickleball Gold Rush

Happy Hour Hustle

For , building a business and building a community go hand-in-hand. She co-founded when the sport was just starting to be on the rise, and through grit, persistence, and a lot of hustle, she’s built it into a world-class facility and a true place people want to be. In this episode, Maddie and Christy talk about what it took to get here, the roadblocks along the way, and why community has always been at the heart of what she’s building.

Happy Hour Hustle #117: Planning for the Worst

Happy Hour Hustle

You have to fight to protect your business. That includes planning for the worst-case scenario. been prepping for almost 20 years, and her track record speaks for itself. She's outlasted chaos, recessions, algorithm changes, toxic clients, and whatever else got thrown at her. How? By staying authentic. Listen to hear exactly how she navigated this mess—and how you can stay ahead when things go south.

Happy Hour Hustle #116: Does That Social Trend Fit Your Brand?

Happy Hour Hustle

Not every viral trend is good for your brand. Maddie sits down with from to talk about his approach to having fun with social media, when NOT to post, and books... because we love books.

Happy Hour Hustle #115: The Program for What Comes After

Happy Hour Hustle

Find out why (and what) we're drinking on this episode as we delve into gender bias, the challenges facing second-stage women-owned small businesses, and why the is expanding the .

Happy Hour Hustle #114: Pet Care is Expensive. This Founder Created A Solution

Happy Hour Hustle

Taking care of your pets can sometimes be a full-time job, and if they need vet care, it could wipe out your entire paycheck. In this episode, , cofounder of , joins Maddie to talk about how her and her team are transforming the pet healthcare industry, providing at-home care, and keeping it affordable.

More Episodes

We are back this week with part two of our conversation with Jen VanSkiver of Special Olympics Michigan - this time, making the economic case for inclusion in the workforce and beyond.

Jen, Kim and Maddie talk about some of the startling statistics behind the issue, how people with disabilities are currently treated as they look to enter the work force, and how Special Olympics Michigan is hoping to change things with its new Unified Sports & Inclusion Center.

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