Mixing Family and Business Podcast

Ep: 70 - What we Learned from our Employees

What can YOU learn from your team? Join me, as I sit down with Joe Moy, Kim, and Shirley to explore the real-life wisdom that employees of all ages bring to the workplace. We’re sharing stories of energy boosts, from morning routines to heavy metal, sunshine to quality time and talking about those surprising “aha” moments when younger team members introduced us to game-changing ideas like using cell phones and YouTube to solve problems in seconds.
Ready to unlock the power of listening and tap into the innovations happening right inside your own team? Discover how simple conversations can spark trust, culture, fun, and fresh ideas that make your business better. 
Got a story to share or a question you'd like answered in a future episode? Email Brian at brian@mixingfamilyandbusiness.com. 
Make sure to check out our website to learn more!

Ep: 69 - What Surprised Us Most About Running a Family Business

Ever wondered what truly happens behind the scenes when you mix family and business? In this episode, I sit down with Shirley and Tom to share the real-life moments that have shaped our journey across multiple businesses. From heartwarming stories about customer kindness, like someone snapping a pre-internet photo of a decorated cake so special it had to be displayed in the store, to the surprising ways people stepped up with trust and support during tough transitions, we get honest about the unpredictable rewards that keep us going. There's something powerful about those unexpected gestures, and they remind me why I love what we do.
But it's not all butterflies and grocery store celebrations, running a family business means tackling challenges head-on, from learning to manage stubborn personalities to bouncing back after failed ventures. In this episode, I open up about the lessons I've learned: why taking breaks is non-negotiable, how a little stubborn positivity goes a long way, and what it really means to lead (hint: it’s not just telling people what to do). 
Got a story to share or a question you'd like answered in a future episode? Email Brian at brian@mixingfamilyandbusiness.com. 
Make sure to check out our website to learn more!

Ep: 68 - Teaching Kids Responsibility Through Business

In this episode of Mixing Family and Business, I sit down with Tom, Shirley, and Kim to dig into the real heart of what it takes to run multiple businesses as a family. We share the lessons we learned watching our parents work, whether it was growing up on the farm, keeping the grocery store afloat, or pitching in at Dairy Queen. Along the way, we talk about how those early days instilled a powerful work ethic and shaped our approach to raising the next generation. You’ll hear honest stories about chores, responsibilities, and the everyday realities that built our values from the ground up.
I also get practical with advice for families who want to involve their kids in the business, including how to set clear expectations, pay fairly, and lay the groundwork for lifelong financial habits. We even discuss a strategy I wish I’d known sooner: paying your kids through the business in ways that truly benefit them for years to come! If you’re an entrepreneur or a parent looking to mix business with family, this episode offers stories, actionable tips, and ways to create lasting success, for both your business and your children. Tune in now and let’s keep building together!
Got a story to share or a question you'd like answered in a future episode? Email Brian at brian@mixingfamilyandbusiness.com. 
Make sure to check out our website to learn more!

Ep: 67 - The Best and Worst Advice We Ever Got

Ever wonder if I really did walk uphill both ways to school? Or how my family managed to squeeze a dozen kids into a single car before anyone even thought about seatbelts? Join me, Brian Hahn, on this week’s episode of Mixing Family and Business, as we unwrap stories from our childhoods and the real-world advice that’s shaped our journey running multiple businesses together.
Tune in as I swap memories with Shirley and Kim about getting to school in the 1940s and ’50s—bicycles, jam-packed school buses, and those legendary farm-country carpools. Spoiler alert: Iowa really is that flat!
Then, we turn from nostalgia to the power of advice, what’s worth acting on, what you can leave behind, and the honest truth about the lessons that stuck (including the ones I ignored at my own risk). I’ll share the best business wisdom I ever got, the worst, and how I’ve learned to filter advice from trusted friends, family, and experts alike.
Hit play and take the ride with us! Whether you’re running a family business, starting a new venture, or just curious about how life lessons shape leadership, you’ll find something here for you.
Got a story to share or a question you'd like answered in a future episode? Email Brian at brian@mixingfamilyandbusiness.com. 
Make sure to check out our website to learn more!

Ep: 66 - First Big Purchases

Ever wish you could go back and give your younger self some straight-shooting business advice? We get brutally honest about what we’d do differently, from investing smarter to making sure we actually love the businesses we’re in.
Hear firsthand why doing your research, working in the industry before going all-in, and writing a no-nonsense business plan changes everything. No more jumping in blind, learn how careful groundwork sets you up for long-term success.
Thinking about investing in a franchise, expanding, or just figuring out what equipment is worth every penny? I walk you through our very real decisions, share the wins, the “uh-ohs,” and the times when we just had to trust our gut.
We talk through the rewards and the headaches. How sometimes even after all your prep, sleepless nights happen, and surprises (like parking lot sinkholes!) can shake things up. Spoiler: you CAN make it through.
Whether you’re running a side gig or wrangling seven locations, my goal is to help you make confident decisions with your business, your money, and your family.
Got a story to share or a question you'd like answered in a future episode? Email Brian at brian@mixingfamilyandbusiness.com. 
Make sure to check out our website to learn more!

Ep: 65 - What we Learned from Competitors

Mixing family and business isn’t for the faint of heart but you don’t have to do it alone!
Join us on this week’s episode of the Mixing Family and Business Podcast where you'll hear firsthand stories about the toughest business conversations we’ve ever had, from the heartbreak of closing stores to the breakthrough moments that unlocked new growth and why honest, proactive communication is at the center of it all.
Learn the art of “borrowing” (and sometimes avoiding) ideas from competitors! We share our favorite examples of learning from others in the industry — and even how a single clever trick (like cutting through a brick counter for table service!) can change your business forever.
Discover why you should welcome competition, constantly keep your eyes open for inspiration outside your field, and never stop tweaking and improving — even if that means letting go of old habits or clearing out inventory that just won’t move.
Got a story to share or a question you'd like answered in a future episode? Email Brian at brian@mixingfamilyandbusiness.com. 
Make sure to check out our website to learn more!

Ep: 64 - Cash vs Card-How Money Handling Has Changed in Business

Ever wondered how your business could reshape your family forever?
Join me on this episode of the Mixing Family and Business Podcast, as I sit down with Kim, Shirley, and Tom to unpack the real impact of building and running multiple businesses with your family alongside you.
You’ll hear our honest stories—when the “ownership moment” really hit, how a cabin, boat, or even a move changed our perspective, and why sometimes the biggest changes take years to feel.
From cash drawers and personal checks to modern credit cards and digital payments, we share how money handling in business evolved across the decades—and why today, we’re all #TeamCreditCard.
Whether you’ve already gone digital or are thinking about ditching cash, this episode is packed with candid insights, lessons learned (sometimes the hard way), and tips to streamline and safeguard your family business.
Got a story to share or a question you'd like answered in a future episode? Email Brian at brian@mixingfamilyandbusiness.com. 
Make sure to check out our website to learn more!

Ep: 63 - Taking the Leap

Are you thinking about taking your business from one location to many? You won’t want to miss this episode! This week on the Making Family and Business Podcast, I sit down with Kim, Shirley, and Tom to unpack the real ups and downs of what it’s like to scale a family business. We dive deep into the moments that seemed “crazy” at the time—from buying our first car wash to jumping into Dairy Queens just two weeks apart—and why those risks paid off better than we ever expected.
I share what it was really like to start my first video rental business back in the VHS days, while Kim, Shirley, and Tom open up about the joys and growing pains of managing more locations, letting go of hands-on control, and why building the right systems and accountability made all the difference. Along the way, we laugh about things like switching soda brands every four years and remember the lessons learned from a few ventures that didn’t go so well.
If you’ve ever wondered when it’s right to expand, how to make sure you don’t lose track of what matters, or just want real talk about family, teamwork, mistakes, and what it takes to succeed, this episode has it all. Tune in for advice I wish I had when we started, and stay for the stories that made us who we are.
Got a story to share or a question you'd like answered in a future episode? Email Brian at brian@mixingfamilyandbusiness.com. 
Make sure to check out our website to learn more!

Ep: 62 - Resilience and Teamwork in Family Business

In this I dive deep into what it’s really like to run multiple businesses alongside family—and not just any family, but one that’s weathered the storms together for over 62 years!
I sit down with Tom, Shirley, and Kim to uncover the biggest challenges they’ve ever faced as a couple in business, including stories of setbacks that almost cost them everything and how sticking together (and staying honest) got them through. We also explore how listening to customer feedback—both the tough critiques and the glowing celebration alerts—has helped us grow, improve our service, and keep our team motivated.
If you’ve ever wondered how to turn adversity into lasting success or what simple practices create an unbeatable family business culture, you’ll find real-world wisdom packed into every story. I also share why embracing both positive and negative reviews has changed the course of our operations, and how celebrating every win keeps us inspired day to day. Tune in for honest insights, practical advice, and plenty of inspiration from a family that’s still thriving—and don’t forget, I’d love to hear your business journey! 
Got a story to share or a question you'd like answered in a future episode? Email Brian at brian@mixingfamilyandbusiness.com. 
Make sure to check out our website to learn more!

Ep: 61 - Trusting Your Gut Versus Data

Ever wondered how to balance gut instinct with hard data in business—and still sleep at night? In this episode, I sit down with Shirley, Kim, and Tom to share stories of our very first cars and what those memories taught us about risk, reward, and decision-making in both life and business.
We open up about the moments when trusting our gut paid off, and the times we had to learn the hard way. You’ll hear how decades of experience—plus a bit of trial and error—helped us build the confidence to make choices that the numbers couldn’t always justify, and why sometimes the best research is trusting the people who know their community inside and out. I talk candidly about the pressures of starting new ventures, knowing when to make the leap, and why being able to sleep at night is the truest test of a good business decision.
Whether you’re launching your first business, growing an existing one, or just trying to keep family and work in harmony, there’s wisdom, laughter, and plenty of lessons in this episode. 
Got a story to share or a question you'd like answered in a future episode? Email Brian at brian@mixingfamilyandbusiness.com. 
Make sure to check out our website to learn more!