Accounting Strategies for Small Business Growth
The Liquid Lunch Project
Ever wondered how a move to Alaska could ignite a passion for accounting? Tanya Akimenko's unexpected journey from the icy terrains of Alaska to founding Golden Apple Agency is a testament to resilience and entrepreneurial spirit. In this episode, Matthew R. Meehan and Luigi Rosabianca sit down with Tanya Akimenko, founder of Golden Apple Agency. Tanya shares her unique path into the world of accounting, the challenges small businesses face (especially in the construction industry) and the importance of empathy in financial management. Her insights shed light on effective cash flow strategies,...
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The Porta-Potty Panic That Launched a Franchise
The Liquid Lunch Project
What do Shakespeare in the Park, a toddler in potty training, and a luxury trailer have in common? One of the weirdest (and most genius) origin stories in business. In this episode of The Liquid Lunch Project, Matt and Luigi sit down with David Sauers, the founder and CEO of Royal Restrooms, a business that turned porta-potty nightmares into a multimillion-dollar, franchise-worthy empire. From a wild incident involving a very bad public restroom to building one of the most recognizable brands in the events industry, David shares how he created a product people didn’t even know they...
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Why Every Founder Needs a CFO (Even a Part-Time One)
The Liquid Lunch Project
Are you confusing bookkeeping with business strategy? In this episode, Matt and Luigi sit down with Salvatore Tirabassi, Managing Director of CFO Pro Analytics, to break down why most business owners are stuck in the past when it comes to CFO support. They unpack the real job of a CFO (spoiler: it’s not just balancing the books) and how fractional CFO services can radically improve financial modeling, raise capital, and get your business ready for whatever’s next. From equity vs. debt to AI tools that save you hours, Sal drops real-world knowledge from decades in the trenches as a VC and...
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He Built the World’s Most Popular Weighted Blanket—Then Sold It for $50M
The Liquid Lunch Project
Ever sold your dog for a fat check and got a standing ovation for it? That’s how Aaron Spivak describes selling the company he built from scratch into a $50M powerhouse. In this episode of The Liquid Lunch Project, Matt and Luigi sit down with Aaron, the DJ-turned-juice-slinger-turned-weighted-blanket-mogul, to unpack how grit, delusion, and one viral Kickstarter helped him build Hush, one of the top DTC brands in Canada. He dives into the real emotional cost of selling a business, why customer conversations are his secret weapon, and how Founders Club is helping entrepreneurs get real...
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Blood, Sweat & Stem Cells: Scaling a Longevity Empire After the NFL
The Liquid Lunch Project
What if your health routine mattered more than your hustle? Jimmy St. Louis traded shoulder pads for stem cells…and he’s building a business that could outlive us all. In this episode, Matt and Luigi sit down with Jimmy St. Louis (former NFL player, serial entrepreneur, and CEO of Agentis Longevity) to talk about the future of healthcare that doesn’t start in a waiting room. From biohacking to business strategy, Jimmy breaks down how he’s turning the longevity space into a movement; accessible, affordable, and built for people who actually live in the real world (no ice baths...
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How This CPA Turned Storage Sheds Into Tax-Free Wealth
The Liquid Lunch Project
What if your biggest tax burden could be flipped into your greatest asset? In this episode, Matt and Luigi sit down with Sean Graham, a CPA turned real estate entrepreneur who’s turning self-storage and depreciation into a business superpower. Sean walks us through his journey from cubicle life to building a real estate empire…one shed at a time…and breaks down how cost segregation isn’t just tax strategy; it’s tax sorcery. You’ll learn how he used FHA and SBA loans to scale his real estate portfolio, why self-storage remains hot (even when interest rates don’t), and how small...
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CPA vs CFO: Are You Trusting the Wrong Financial Expert?
The Liquid Lunch Project
Think you're making money just because the bank account isn’t empty? Hate to break it to you…but that’s not how business works. In this episode of The Liquid Lunch Project, Matt and Luigi sit down with Teresa Wagonseller, founder of HigherUp CFO Services, to rip the lid off a big misconception: small businesses don’t need a CFO. Spoiler alert—they do. Teresa explains the difference between CPAs and CFOs (hint: one is stuck in the past, the other helps you build a future), breaks down what cash flow actually is (and why you probably suck at managing it), and gives real-world...
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Bourbon, Branding & The Business of Food with Alex Sadowsky
The Liquid Lunch Project
Ever wonder how a restaurant brand with over 120 locations keeps every burger, every plate, every pour consistently badass? Meet the man who makes it happen. In this episode of The Liquid Lunch Project, Matthew R. Meehan and Luigi Rosabianca sit down with Chef Alex Sadowsky, the culinary engine behind Twin Peaks. From preserving brand soul across hundreds of locations to balancing artistry and business, Chef Alex gets real about what it takes to succeed in the restaurant game. The guys dive into food trends, pandemic pivots, whiskey preferences, and what keeps Twin Peaks from turning into just...
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Plan Like a Navy Commander, Win Like an Entrepreneur with Commander Mary Kelly
The Liquid Lunch Project
Feel like your business has you in a chokehold? Buried under relentless tasks and daily mayhem? Strategic planning isn’t just for corporate titans—it’s the hidden edge small business owners need to break free and take charge. In this episode of The Liquid Lunch Project, we’re joined by Dr. Commander Mary Kelly—U.S. Naval Academy grad, retired Navy commander, and author of 15 books—to reveal how you can stop firefighting and start leading with purpose. Mary shares battle-tested strategies to take back control, boost profitability, and build a business that works for...
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Crowdsourcing Genius: How to Ditch Bad Ideas and Win Big
The Liquid Lunch Project
What if the best idea for your business isn’t coming from your C-suite, but from the intern who barely speaks in meetings? In this episode of The Liquid Lunch Project, hosts Matthew R. Meehan and Luigi “The Professor” Rosabianca sit down with Nick Jain, CEO of IdeaScale, to talk about shaking up the way businesses innovate. Nick drops no-BS insights on how small businesses can harness the power of crowdsourcing ideas, why financial fluency is non-negotiable, and how poker skills can make you a better entrepreneur. Oh, and he’s got a free tool for you small business owners...
info_outlineWhat if the solution to your pest problem didn’t involve poison?
Most people see pests and reach for the nearest can of Raid. Kari Warberg Block saw pests and built a multi-million dollar company.
In this episode, we sit down with the founder of EarthKind, the trailblazing brand that disrupted the pest control industry with all-natural botanical solutions.
Kari shares her wild journey from a mouse running up her leg (literally) to going toe-to-toe with Procter & Gamble. We cover everything from her struggles getting retailers on board to dealing with industry pushback, lawsuits, and regulatory nightmares. And, of course, we talk about what it takes to scale a business while staying true to your mission.
Episode Highlights:
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The disgusting moment that launched EarthKind (00:57)
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Why 98% of pest control products were toxic before EarthKind (02:00)
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How Kari’s background in farming helped her discover a groundbreaking solution (06:53)
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The brutal early days—why no one believed in her idea (07:48)
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Taking on Procter & Gamble and other industry giants (32:11)
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How Gary Vaynerchuk’s business strategies helped her scale (27:46)
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Why transitioning from CEO to Chairman is way harder than it looks (36:55)
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The insane licensing and regulatory hoops she had to jump through (12:16)
Who is Kari Warberg Block?
Kari is the founder and CEO of EarthKind, a company that revolutionized pest control with plant-based, non-toxic solutions. She’s an award-winning entrepreneur, an inventor, and a straight-up force of nature when it comes to challenging industry norms.
Why Listen?
This episode is a masterclass in entrepreneurial resilience, industry disruption, and scaling a business against all odds. If you’ve ever felt like the underdog in your industry, Kari’s story will make you believe in the power of persistence, creativity, and a little bit of rebellion.
Listen now and find out why Procter & Gamble should be locking their side doors.
Favorite Quote:
“When you're a disrupter, you have to walk in the side door, you have to walk in the back door, and it has to happen before they know they've even lost the house.”
Connect with Kari:
Stay Connected:
Connect with Matt and Luigi on Instagram:
➡️@matthew.r.meehan
➡️ @luigi_rosabianca,
➡️@theLiquidLunchProject
➡️@ShieldAdvisoryGroup.
Visit The Liquid Lunch Project website and subscribe to The Weekly, our Friday morning newsletter, for all the latest in the world of finance, tech, small business, and more.
https://theliquidlunchproject.com
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