Knoxville is thriving — and that story keeps showing up in recent conversations with local business owners and community leaders.

In this special compilation episode of the Big Orange Business Podcast, we share standout moments from recent interviews across healthcare, hospitality, retail, nonprofits, and service-based businesses.

These conversations offer a snapshot of what’s working, what’s changing, and why Knoxville continues to be a place where small businesses grow and communities thrive.

If you’re a business owner, creative, or someone who cares about local impact and community, this episode brings together voices and stories shaping Knoxville right now.

What do you do when your first attempt at cooking turns into a total disaster?

In this episode of the Big Orange Business Podcast, host Haley Jones sits down with Heidi Davidson, founder of Heidi’s Bakery & Home Cooking, to talk about how a failed home-cooked meal as a newlywed eventually led to building a thriving bakery business in Knoxville.

Heidi shares her journey from taking her first cooking lessons, to starting a food blog, to opening a brick-and-mortar bakery offering pastries, custom cakes, take-and-bake meals, macro-friendly options, and a community gathering space.

This conversation covers:
• Turning early failures into confidence
• Why baking is more science than creativity
• Building a business while raising a family
• Lessons learned from opening a physical storefront
• Advice for aspiring food and small business owners

An honest, encouraging episode for anyone navigating entrepreneurship, career changes, or creative growth.

What happens when parents realize there’s nowhere to go where their kids can play safely and they can actually relax?

In this episode of the Big Orange Business Podcast, Haley Jones sits down with Hannah and Cody, the founders of Wild Child Cafe in Knoxville, Tennessee. They share how a simple parenting frustration turned into a thriving, family-focused business built around community, screen-free play, and great coffee.

We talk about why Wild Child Cafe was created, what makes it different from traditional play spaces, and how launching a local business has been received by the Knoxville community. This episode is perfect for parents, entrepreneurs, and anyone interested in how thoughtful local ideas turn into successful businesses.