Today I’m joined by Zhach Pham, co-founder of RIGStrips, a sports and outdoor company that specializes in manufacturing car accessories for active and outdoor lifestyles. Their flagship product The SnoStrip has helped more than 50,000 happy customers enjoy the great outdoors in every season doing the activities they love. Growing up skiing in Vermont the now as a Denver native Zhach is all too familiar with the problems all winter athletes face when lacing up at the car. Zhach and RIG-strips are a perfect example of solving the problems around you. I’m a user myself and excited to chat. On todays episode we chat about what’s in the works for Zhach, what the early days were like, why they decided to hire Amazon for their distribution, how they got their first prototype and why they are thinking about selling the company. If you’re interested in learning about ECommerce this is a great episode to check out!

This week I sat down with DJ and Music producer Deerock. Deerock got his start at JMU DJing in dorm rooms and fraternity basements. Now he travels internationally to play his shows. He just wrapped up the first leg of his 2023-2024 college tour and is in the midst of studio sessions and shows stateside. He has an upcoming gig in Denver this Saturday, January 6th at Temple Denver You can check out his new song with Porsche Love “Far Between” out Now on Spotify and Apple Music.

I finally had a chance to talk about what happened to my 30-day content challenge back in July. I answer the question of why I started a podcast in the first place, and I talk about what I wish I did in college to set myself up better for success as far as creative endeavors go… it’s never too late to start your portfolio. But the earlier the better.Hope you enjoyFollow MeWebsite: ⁠josephstrain.com⁠Newsletter: ⁠⁠The JoyRide ⁠⁠Youtube: ⁠⁠@joyrushpod⁠⁠Instagram: ⁠⁠@joyrushpod⁠⁠Twitter: ⁠⁠@notjoestrain⁠

After spending 8+ years in the New York Restaurant industry and making it through New York’s Covid difficulties Gabby quit her job and went for it. With the help of a small team of friends, family, and staff, Gab’s has gone from a dream to a way of life for Gabby.During the episode we chat about the start of Gab’s Journey, how to start a restaurant of your own, the ways Gabby and her staff go above and beyond to make customers feel valued (hint, she Googles you before hand), how to spice up your dinner party, and much much more.If you want to check out Gab’s for yourself you can head to their website to make a reservation and check out the current menu!Follow Gab's NYCBook a Table: ⁠Gab's NYC⁠Gab's Menu: ⁠Full Menu⁠Gab's NYC Instagram: ⁠@gabs.nyc⁠Follow JoeWebsite: ⁠josephstrain.com⁠Newsletter: ⁠⁠The JoyRide ⁠⁠Youtube: ⁠⁠@joyrushpod⁠⁠Instagram: ⁠⁠@joyrushpod⁠⁠Twitter: ⁠⁠@notjoestrain⁠

Lucas takes us on a journey from his early fascination with sneakers to the entrepreneurial spirit that fueled his passion. Growing up in the vibrant suburbs of New York City, he was immersed in a rich tapestry of fashion styles, igniting his desire to collect and curate vintage clothing while staying attuned to contemporary trends. His dedication led him to clean, repaint, and eventually trade sneakers, setting the stage for the birth of The Connect Clothing Store. Join us as Lucas shares the challenges and triumphs of delegating responsibilities within the store, offering valuable insights into the world of streetwear and vintage fashion. Discover how he leveraged the power of social media platforms and engaging video content to expand his presence, both online and in-person, effectively growing his sales and customer base. If you're seeking to tap into your entrepreneurial spirit and witness the incredible journey of someone who turned their passion into a thriving business, this episode is a must-listen. Join us as we explore how Lucas Maher found his joy, purpose, and success in the world of fashion, proving that with determination, it's possible to turn your dreams into a reality.

Today we’re joined by Entrepreneur and Co-Founder of LA’s Ggiata Delicatessen, Max Bahramipour. Before starting the deli with his best friends, Max attended NYU and worked in residential and commercial real estate in NYC. When the move of a lifetime finally made it out of the group chat, he found himself moving to LA with his best friends. Crazy conversations around the dinner table led to an idea so crazy that it worked. With no taste of home for 2,780.7 mi, the boys decided to take matters into their own hands. In March 2020, Ggiata was born. A New Jersey Italian-inspired deli serving primarily chicken cutlet sandwiches. If you’ve never had one, you’ll just need to make one at home this weekend. Join Max and me as we chat about his Ggiata journey. From humble beginnings in a Covid era up to the creation of their now 4th location. Max covers the pressures of being a business owner, the Joy of his perfect day, and the secret to connecting with your community as a new business.

Today we’re joined by Retired Professional Skier and (Now) Professional Carpenter Ian Compton. Ian’s fun loving energy, entertaining personality, insane skiing abilities, and niche internet stardom as in the freestyle skiing community amassed him Millions of views on Youtube and afford him a life of fulfilling his dream of being a full time skier. When injury closed that chapter on his life, he began the transition of forming a new identity disconnected from skiing. As life would have it, a fallen tree in the woods and some great mentors led Ian to carpentry and wood working. Ian and his wife Jenna are now the proud owners and operators of Vermont Sauna. Ian and I chat about his journey through professional skiing. His highs and lows with the Traveling Circus (mostly highs). The injury that birthed his new found passion and career. We talk about the influence social media had on the growth of his business, and how following the signs of the universe will lead you to happiness. Oh and also that you should get a sauna! If you haven’t heard enough about the benefits of hot and cold exposures, we’ve got a little snippet for you. Sit back, relax, and hear how Ian has turned one door closing into the best door he’s ever opened. Behind door number one… it’s The JoyRush Pod Ep 4 with Ian freakin Compton. **Key Talking Points:** (00:00) Episode Start (01:20) Our History (01:54) Meeting and Joining the Line Traveling Circus (04:50) Life with the Traveling Circus (06:24) Traveling Circus: Rose + Thorne(s) (10:38) Filming "The Weak" a Weekly Series (11:55) Transitioning from Pro Skier to Carpentry (13:24) Discovering Woodworking (18:52) Life lessons learned from Professional Skiing (21:10) The Biggest Difference Between Careers... (23:13) The Role of Social Media in Business (26:43) Screen Time and Mental Health (28:36) Grinding Early Days: Being the artist and the content creator (30:27) Content Production for The JoyRush Pod (31:24) Why I decided to start the Podcast (32:51) Navigating the Growth of Friendships Through the Years (36:34) Vermont: What is Stick Season? (38:22) My Super Horrible Terrible No Good Day Wakeboarding in Vermont (39:27) A message to the people. (40:15) Wisdom for the closing of one door and the opening of another (41:52) You're in the driver's seat... but also get a Sauna! (42:52) Health Benefits of Heat + Cold Exposures (43:58) Can't afford a sauna right now? A hot bath works too! (44:55) Hot bath and a cold shower: "I live by it" **Follow Ian** Website: [Ian Compton Design](https://www.iancomptondesign.com/) Get a Custom Built Sauna [Vermont Sauna](https://www.vermontsauna.com/) Instagram: [⁠](https://www.instagram.com/thefoodfreakk/?hl=en)[@iancomptondesign](https://www.instagram.com/iancomptondesign/?hl=en) **Follow Joe** Newsletter: [⁠The JoyRide ⁠](https://www.joyrush.media/joyride) Youtube: [⁠@joyrushpod⁠](https://www.youtube.com/@JoyRushPod) Instagram: [⁠@joyrushpod⁠](https://www.instagram.com/joyrushpod/) Twitter: [⁠@notjoestrain⁠](https://twitter.com/notjoestrain)

Today we’re joined by Chef and YouTuber Stephen Cusato. who’s How-To cooking videos have amassed him over 100 million views and a Million Subscribers. With a cooking style, he describes as “modern Grandma”, Stephen covers everything from caring for your cast Iron to perfecting your vodka sauce. With hundreds of delicious recipes in between. His hit show⁠ Not Another Cooking Show⁠ is available on YouTube with new episodes every Tuesday and Thursday, Key Talking Points: Hard Times: His decision to pursue a career in cooking and the initial conversation with his parents about the career shift A Big Goal: Starting a YouTube cooking show with the goal of creating the "greatest cooking show ever." Growing Pains: The challenge of finding an editor or collaborator who understands his style and vision. Strong Support System: Gradually gaining support and appreciation from his parents as his YouTube channel grew. Bootstrap Funding: Cooking background, including a food truck venture that received financial support from family. Authentic Marketing: Stephen's marketing strategy relies on authenticity and valuable skills like communication and storytelling. Unique Communication Style: Stephen believes what sets him apart is not just his cooking but how he communicates his culinary knowledge, making it accessible to a broader audience. Dyslexia-Inspired Approach: Stephen's experience with dyslexia has led him to simplify cooking instructions, making them more understandable to a wider audience. Storytelling and Cooking Fusion: He has evolved to combine storytelling with cooking, creating content reminiscent of a documentary and a cooking show. Differentiation: Stephen's focus in marketing is on differentiating himself from other content creators in the crowded field of cooking shows. Being Yourself: He emphasizes the importance of being yourself and not trying to imitate others to stand out. Unique Video Style: Stephen's unique video style, including the use of a GoPro mouthpiece, sets him apart from other YouTubers. Avoiding Trends: Stephen avoids jumping on trends and gimmicks, preferring to focus on creating genuine content. Understanding Audience: He emphasizes the need to understand your audience and tailor content accordingly, as not all followers translate into paying customers. Documenting Restaurant Process: Stephen suggests that restaurants can create successful social media content by documenting their unique processes, emphasizing storytelling and character development. Follow Stephen Website: ⁠NotAnotherCookingShow⁠ Youtube: ⁠My Favorite Recipe⁠ Instagram: ⁠@thefoodfreakk⁠ Follow Joe Newsletter: ⁠The JoyRide ⁠ Youtube: ⁠@joyrushpod⁠ Instagram: ⁠@joyrushpod⁠ Twitter: ⁠@notjoestrain⁠

Alden Basmajian is my former high school advisor and friend. On this episode we explore his past, present, and future, as he continues on his journey in the teaching, coaching, and running world.

Very excited and honored to have my dear friend Ben on the Podcast as our first guest. Ben is a fitness coach and influencer who has grown his social media following to over 120k through his instructional and witty commentary on fitness best practices. Ben sits down with me to talk about how he started this adventure, where he found success and growth, and his plans for the future of The Modern Meathead Community. You can find his content on his Instagram and YouTube.