Epic Entrepreneurs
Welcome to Epic Entrepreneurs! What does it take to build a real and thriving business in today’s world? As entrepreneurs and business owners, we went into business to have more freedom of time and money. Yet, the path of growing a business isn’t always filled with sunshine and rainbows. In this chart-topping show, host Bill Gilliland; author of the best-selling book “The Coach Approach” leverages his decades of experience coaching proven entrepreneurs to make more money, grow the right teams, and find the freedom of EPIC Entrepreneurship.
Episodes
239 episodes
How Word Of Mouth Turned A Tough Trade Into A Thriving Company with Zeke Seaton
What if the strongest growth lever in home services isn’t ads, but trust? We sit down with Zeke Seaton of Solid ARM Solutions and Carolina Radon to explore how a healthy-home mission—mold remediation, crawl space encapsulation, moisture control...
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16:33
How Boundaries, Delegation, And Transparency Fuel a Thriving Interior Design Firm with Kateri Babb
Want a behind‑the‑scenes blueprint for growing a creative business without burning out? We sit down with Kateri, founder of Kateri Jane Designs, to unpack the practical playbook that powers her interior design studio: flexible systems, honest c...
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27:47
Music Is Fun Until You Forget To Invoice with Mari Hashimoto
Want a candid look at how a working musician turns raw talent into a real business without losing the joy? We bring on violinist and violist Mari Hashimoto to share the unglamorous truth behind dreamy ceremonies and flawless gala sets—boundarie...
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19:38
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Be Present in Your Purpose, How A Contractor Rebuilt, Scaled, And Gave Back with Nathan and Jen Dockery
Start with one truck. Add a bankruptcy, a marriage, a few core subs, and a vision for building big. Nathan and Jen Dockery share how Dockery Group went from reset to rapid growth by anchoring every decision in values, stewardship, and service—a...
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34:07
Networking That Actually Works; Lessons From A Home Inspector with Michael Van Hall
If growth feels random and networking feels like wasted donuts, this conversation will reset your playbook. We sit down with home inspector Michael Van Hall of Blue Mountain Home Inspections, a builder-turned-inspector who shows how stacked han...
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16:58
We Put Graffiti On Trucks And The Phone Wouldn’t Stop Ringing with Brendan Hogan Asheville Area Movers
What does it take to come back from losing every single truck overnight? We sit down with Brendan Hogan of Asheville Area Movers to unpack a hard-won playbook for rebuilding stronger: bold branding that makes phones ring, smart technology that ...
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22:43
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Leading Through Chaos With Futurist Thinking with Wendy White
What if you could spot disruption weeks before it hits and turn it into momentum? That question drives our conversation with Wendy White, co-founder and CEO of Continuum Consulting Services, whose 30-year path runs from ropes courses and catama...
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33:52
Stress Relief On Moving Day; How College H.U.N.K.S. Delivers Peace Of Mind with Anne Smith
Moving day can feel like a storm. We sat down with Anne Smith of College Hunks Hauling Junk and Moving in Asheville to unpack how her team turns chaos into calm through mindset, leadership development, and community-rooted service. From the mom...
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24:15
How Carolina Outdoor Lighting Built A People-First Business with Maja Potocki
What does it really take to turn a two-person hustle into a durable, people-first business? We sit down with Maja, co-founder of Carolina Outdoor Lighting, to trace the arc from answering irrigation clients’ lighting requests to building a desi...
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21:29
From Chaos To Calm with Jess Reed Green Mountain Space
Imagine walking into a home that felt chaotic yesterday and feels peaceful today. That’s the promise behind luxury organizing done right, and we brought back Jess Reed of Green Mountain Space to unpack exactly how her team delivers one‑day tran...
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28:12
Own Your Energy: Coaching For Hospitality Growth with Christine Smith
What if the biggest block to your team’s performance isn’t strategy, but unspoken tension? We sit down with hospitality business coach Christine Smith to unpack how emotional intelligence, honest conversation, and patient self-trust can transfo...
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25:04
From Small Excavator to Booked Solid: How Craft, Focus, and Integrity Built a Local Powerhouse with Ryan Wooten
What does it look like to grow a local contracting business without billboards, gimmicks, or chaos? We sit down with owner-operator Ryan Wooten, who went from a single excavator to a respected residential grading and retaining wall company by d...
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19:36
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How a 26-Year-Old Turned Painting Into Premium Hospitality with Cedric Merrills of WOW Painting
What if your contractor experience felt more like a five-star hotel stay than a gamble with your calendar and patience? That’s the challenge Cedric Merrills took on when he left wedding photography to build WOW 1 Day Painting in Asheville—a com...
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31:06
Building Trust: Home Inspections, Growth, and the Power of Planning with Will King
Buying or selling a home shouldn’t feel like a blindfolded leap. We sit down with Will King—former teacher, now owner of Highside Home Inspections—to unpack how steady maintenance, clear education, and intentional planning reduce anxiety and cr...
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19:23
From Second-Generation Electrician to Strategic Partner: How Thomas Fleming Builds Trust, Talent, and Cash Flow Resilience
Ever wonder why a $150/hour service call doesn’t mean the owner makes $150? We pull back the panel with Thomas Fleming, president of Strategic Electrical Solutions, to explore the real economics of the trades—7,000 hours of experience, a daunti...
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31:42
Ten Years, Two Markets: How Big Frog Turned Branded Apparel into a Community Growth Engine With David Riddell
What if your logo could sell for you every day—quietly, consistently, and everywhere your customers go? We sit down with David Riddell of Big Frog Custom T‑Shirts to unpack a decade of growth powered by flexible production, community presence, ...
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25:31
When entrepreneurship gets hard, sell something—and keep customers, team, and mission first with Brad Currin WNC Built
What if a remodeling company could also be a recovery engine for families and a launchpad for veterans? That’s the story Brad from WNC Built brings to the table—a ground-up look at how service, sales, and culture can scale a local business whil...
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16:18
How a Banker and Nurse Became Cedar Experts with Dale and Stephanie Hatfield
What happens when a banking executive and a registered nurse decide to completely reinvent their lives at age 55? Dale and Stephanie's journey from comfortable careers to launching Cedar Direct, a specialty lumberyard in Western North Carolina,...
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18:48
From Crawlspaces to Classrooms: How Justin Berger Revolutionized Home Inspection
Justin Berger takes us behind the curtain of home inspection entrepreneurship, revealing how his business evolved from a simple scheduling concept to the comprehensive team-based approach that's driven 20% year-over-year growth for Home Inspect...
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39:31
From Louisville to Western NC: How Lyn Mabry Built a Pure Design Business
What happens when you take a leap of faith, leave behind a successful business, and start over in a new community? Lyn Mabry, founder of Designing Spaces by Lyn, did exactly that when she followed her dream of living in the mountains of Western...
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30:58
From Recession to Success: How BCA Architecture Grew Through Community with Brent Campbell and Erin Foy
What happens when you launch an architecture firm on the very day a recession begins? For Brent Campbell, founder of BCA Architecture and Design, that seemingly terrible timing in 2007 became the foundation for a thriving Asheville-based practi...
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29:36
Building Legacy: From Family Trade to Luxury Construction with Doug Peterson
What does it take to build multi-million dollar luxury homes in today's challenging market? Doug Peterson of Peterson Builders TX pulls back the curtain on his third-generation construction business that's thriving in the competitive Texas Hill...
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18:47
The Balanced Business: Building Coastland Tree Works with Spencer Unger
What does it take to transform specialized skills into a thriving business while maintaining your sanity and creating a workplace people actually want to join? Spencer from Coastland Tree Works reveals exactly that in this candid conversation a...
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23:52
From Decks to Airbnbs: Creating Multiple Revenue Streams with Derek Prince
Derek Prince takes us behind the scenes of his entrepreneurial journey as founder of Pro Property Services, Asheville's premier exterior contracting company specializing in deck construction, siding, roofing, and log cabin restoration. But this...
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23:09
Paver Perfection: Building a Niche Business Empire with Garfield Jones
Carving out a specialized niche might seem limiting, but for Garfield Jones of Paver Perfection, it's been the foundation of his entrepreneurial success. Broadcasting from Palm Beach - what Garfield calls "the paver capital of the world" - this...
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18:42