In this episode, Metaphorically Speaking hosts Joe Dudeck and Shannon Jirik reminisce on the podcast's inception and evolution over nearly three years, including the show's inaugural seasons on sharing your small business story and experiencing fear in life and work and the interim "COS in COVID" series. Mostly, they wind down the year by sharing memories, notable moments, and laughs from a collection of their favorite interviews with local Colorado Springs small business owners or entrepreneurs. Listen to the best of COS recap and visit the episode library to enjoy the whole collection of inspiring stories.

Alicia Klausmeier is the founder and president of Dream Accounting Solutions, a full service bookkeeping firm in Colorado Springs. With a passion for serving small business owners, the Dream team also provides process and payroll management, one-on-one support, and training. In this episode, Alicia shares how her entrepreneurial spirit and problem-solving mentality led her to address a major stressor for small business owners: money management and cash flow. Listen to our conversation to hear how one woman’s dream allows so many others to realize theirs. For more inspiring entrepreneurial stories, visit our full library.

Daniel Byrd is the executive director of Kids on Bikes, a non-profit organization bringing joy and freedom to kids and families in the Colorado Springs community “one bike, one ride, and one mile at a time.” With a mission to inspire and empower all kids to lead healthy, active, and happy lives, Kids on Bikes sets out to combat childhood obesity, encourage friendships and wellness, and foster a love for the outdoors by providing access to bikes, education, and cycling opportunities. In this episode, Daniel talks all things kids, including growing up in Colorado Springs, working with homeless youth, and applying his background as a coach, counselor, and social worker to his current role. Listen to our conversation for a fresh perspective on the power of pedaling. For more inspiring stories, visit our full library.

Lauren McKenzie is the owner of REN Creativ, a Colorado Springs creative studio that offers branding, web design, and photography services. Armed with "contagious creativity and boundless originality," Lauren's stamp can be found in bars, breweries, and other small businesses across the local landscape.      In this episode, hear how Lauren's journey of self-discovery led her to become a brand champion for the little guys. Listen to our conversation for talks on following your gut, being a female business owner, and finding your own definition of success. For more local entrepreneurial stories, visit our full library.

Nikki McComsey is the founder of Gather Mountain Blooms, an urban flower farm on the historic Venetucci Farm in Colorado Springs. Together with her sisters, Leah Remacle and Abby Remacle, a mission to "promote community, creativity and healing in a field of beautiful flowers" is cultivated. Nature lovers can flock to the farm to pick fresh blooms, purchase bouquets and vintage goods, or enjoy a private event. In this episode, hear how a life-changing concussion and COVID quarantine sparked the start of this sister-owned business. Listen to our conversation for a reminder to stop and smell the sunflowers. For more inspiring entrepreneurial stories, visit our full library.

Lisa Tsarowitz is the founder and owner of Epicentral Coworking, a shared space for working nomads, including freelancers, small business owners, entrepreneurs, and commuters. With two locations in Colorado Springs, members can access meeting rooms, private offices, and a range of amenities. At Epicentral, "Work Hard, Do Good" means more than sitting at a desk for the day; it's a challenge for do'ers and thinkers to become change makers.  In this episode, hear why Lisa felt Colorado Springs was lacking energy around entrepreneurship and what inspired her to meet a need for community through coworking.  Listen to our conversation for a reminder that collaboration is a powerful conduit to creation. For more encouraging stories, visit our full library of interviews.

Timothy (T.H.) Gillis is a managing partner at KPMG accounting firm in Washington D.C. and a two-time self-published poet. Despite a successful professional career in accounting and tax law, Tim sought an outlet for self-discovery, mindfulness, and contemplation, eventually trying his hand at poetry as a way to process life and preserve experiences. In this episode, Tim discusses his latest book, Eyesight: What I Saw, and shares how poetry has become central to his personal and professional well-being — encouraging listeners to step into a space of vulnerability and transparency and attempt the discipline for themselves. Listen to our conversation for a meaningful reminder to seize big and small moments, inhale your surroundings, and find joy in everything. For more inspiring stories, visit our full library of interviews.

Architect Scott Schuster and Interior Designer Courtney Wilson are partners at Echo Architecture + Interiors, a design studio based in Colorado Springs. Echo is in the art of telling stories through design — creating timeless, yet unexpected, spaces that enrich the community, embody local culture, and emphasize sustainability. That mission comes to life through new constructions, renovations, and custom design projects for life, work, and play.    In this episode, hear how the designers at Echo have played a hands-on role in cultivating the Colorado Springs community and shaping the local landscape through intentional and inspirational design.    Listen to our conversation for an intimate look at architecture that goes beyond the brick and mortar. For more impactful stories, visit our full library of interviews.

Bobby and Brooke Mikulas are the founders and owners of Kinship Landing, a boutique hotel, cafe/bar, and event space in downtown Colorado Springs. "Built with exploring in mind," Kinship Landing is more than just a place to spend the night. Acting as a personalized resource hub for both tourists and townies, the Kinship Landing team provides recommendations for how to experience the Springs like a local through craft dining, culture, recreational activities, and more. In this episode, discover the journey that led this husband/wife team toward a livelihood of hospitality, from family values instilled at birth to a life-changing trip around the world. Listen to our conversation for a meaningful perspective on belonging and being a good neighbor. For more local entrepreneurial interviews, visit our full library.

Gayla Bustos and Brittany Winn are the real estate agents behind Property Mommies, a team serving homebuyers and military families in the Colorado Springs area. Together, they strive to create a positive, transparent, and stress-free experience for clients as they settle them into their dream homes. In this episode, get a glimpse into what makes this best-friend team unique, including juggling roles as professionals, mothers, and military wives and seeing how their personal stories allow them to serve their clients well.  Listen to our conversation to enjoy a dose of personality and vulnerability from the Property Mommies. For more inspiring stories, visit our full library of interviews.

Aubrey Day and Stacy Poore are the owners and curators of Bread & Butter Neighborhood Market in downtown Colorado Springs. This bodega-inspired space boasts walkability, a welcoming environment, and a wide selection of purposeful foods and spirits — many of which are sourced from local vendors. In this episode, enjoy the origin story of Bread & Butter, seeing how these women's passions for food and people crossed paths to provide both a convenient, personalized grocery shopping experience and a place for neighbors to find community. Listen to our conversation to discover how Aubrey and Stacy work to turn grocery shopping from intimidating to inviting. For more local entrepreneurial interviews, visit our full library.

Rachel Richards is a professional speaker, finance guru, and bestselling author of Money Honey: A Simple 7-Step Guide for Getting Your Financial $hit Together. At the age of 27, she retired from corporate life and now spends her life in Colorado Springs empowering others to take control of their financial future and achieve their dreams. In this episode, discover how personal finance was written in the stars for Rachel from the start, setting her on a path to coach countless people toward financial freedom and create a money-mindful community. Listen to our conversation for a front row seat to how Rachel turns a dull and intimidating topic like finance into something sassy, fun, and simple. For more inspiring entrepreneurship stories, visit our full library of interviews.

Dirk Draper is the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Colorado Springs Chamber and Economic Development Council. The Chamber's mission is to serve and support the Colorado Springs business climate and military community by providing education, events, resources, and funding. In addition, they represent COS as a key voice in public policy. In this episode, Dirk details the very real disruption that COVID-19 had on the Colorado Springs area and in turn, the Chamber's operations, including a major focus on response efforts and the formation of a new partnership with public health. Listen to our conversation for a glimpse into the before and after-pandemic days in Colorado Springs, along with Dirk's vision for what the road ahead looks like for his beloved community. To enjoy the full miniseries of COS in COVID interviews, visit our podcast library.

Pete Heiniger is an executive pastor at Discovery Church Colorado in Colorado Springs. With an open-door, "come-as-you-are" philosophy, Discovery Church is committed to a mission of rescue, where any person who walks in the doors knows that their story is safe — no matter their past or previous experience in the church.    Like many other churches impacted by COVID-19, Discovery Church had to close its doors and make the transition to online services. In this episode, Pete takes our conversation down a different path, focusing less on the pandemic's effects on business operations and more on the implications it had on their ministry efforts and the community's spiritual health.  Listen to our conversation to learn how the church discovered new ways to build community and reach their neighbors in a time of need. Browse our full COS in COVID miniseries for more pandemic stories and interviews.

Erik Van Horn is the owner of Outside the Breadbox — a family-owned, gluten-free bakery in Colorado Springs — committed to quality cooking and clean ingredients. The bakery is open for locals to purchase fresh bread, cookies, pies, and more, but their nut, soy, allergy, and dairy-free products can also be found in grocery stores across Colorado and the southwest (AK, CO, LA, NM, OK, TX, and WY). In this episode, Erik provides a unique perspective on COVID-19's impacts on the kitchen, including the implementation of strict standards of care and the addition of new customer-centric services, like online shopping and curbside pickup. Get a look inside an essential food manufacturing business in this conversation and learn why Erik expects a pandemic to lead to healthier food choices. For more COS in COVID stories, visit our full library of interviews.

Erin Poovey is the owner of Camino Massage Therapy in Colorado Springs. With a unique variety of techniques at their disposal, she and her team of massage therapists provide personalized, therapeutic care to subdue or eliminate longstanding pain. In this episode, Erin discusses how being deemed a "non-essential" business during the COVID-19 quarantine meant some major shifts in how they met clients' needs, including a new focus on education and at-home self care. Listen to our conversation for Erin's perspective on the power of physical touch amidst an isolating pandemic. For more COS in COVID stories, visit our full library of interviews.

Linda Weise is Founding CEO of the Colorado Springs Conservatory. Since 1994, the Conservatory has provided world-class, performing arts training to students of all ages and abilities across the Pikes Peak region. In addition to arts immersion studies, the Conservatory places a high value on community arts advocacy. In this episode, Linda recounts her team's race against the clock to transition all programming online, while maintaining high-quality instruction and prioritizing personal connection. In addition, she celebrates the surprising success the Conservatory has seen this year, including serving a record number of students and families. Listen to our conversation to see how the arts are shining light in a dark time. Browse our full COS in COVID miniseries for more pandemic stories and interviews.

Max Ziegenhagen is a marriage and family therapist and the owner of North Family Counseling in Colorado Springs. After identifying a critical need for teen therapy in the Springs, Max moved from California to open a trauma-specialized practice. Today, Max and his team of therapists serve individuals wrestling with a range of mental and relational challenges. In this episode, Max discusses the positive and negative implications that COVID-19 and the stay-at-home order had on the mental and emotional health of his community, sharing how his practice had to pivot in response to new challenges and crises. Listen to our conversation to hear why Max remains hopeful and encouraged despite counseling through a pandemic. For more COS in COVID stories, visit our full library of interviews.

Bruce McGrew is the owner of ProCycling bike shop in Colorado Springs. With East and West locations, Bruce and his team of cycling experts serve and supply individuals of all biking ability — from entry-level to enthusiast. In this first episode of our COS in COVID miniseries, Bruce shares the somewhat surprising impact that the pandemic had on the bike business, when — as outdoor activities increased in popularity — ProCycling saw more new faces and higher sales than ever before. Ride along with us to hear Bruce's predictions for how the biking world and outdoor activities will evolve post-virus. And as always, best sure to check out all of our Metaphorically Speaking episodes.

Suzanne Palazzo is the founder and CEO of Upper Deck Fitness in Stamford, Connecticut. Having set out on a mission to redefine the fitness culture, Suzanne is passionate about creating a space that prioritizes people over the bottom line and challenges individuals to determine the “why” behind wellness. In this episode, Suzanne shares how she found her voice and unlocked confidence, empowerment, and emotional release through movement, detailing how a unique marriage between dancing and writing led to an unconventional approach to fitness and a fulfilling purpose. Listen to the conversation to discover how Suzanne’s uncomplicated, unsexy view of fitness has led to long-term life change, both for herself and the clients she serves. For more inspiration, check out the full library of entrepreneur stories.