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In this episode of The Un-Traditional Entrepreneur, host Juming Delmas uses the legacy of Michael Jackson as a case study in branding, business, fame, and the personal cost of becoming one of the most recognizable people on earth.

This CEO Confessions episode looks at Michael Jackson not only as an entertainer, but as a global brand — a marketing machine whose name, image, music, controversy, nostalgia, and cultural influence created an economic ecosystem far larger than one performer. Juming explores how an individual can become a “face brand,” generating money and attention for record labels, media companies, estate managers, documentaries, merchandise, streaming platforms, and entire industries built around legacy and public fascination.

The episode also expands into the idea of infinite scaling, a concept connected to a previous conversation with David Shands. Juming reflects on the idea that certain people — from Michael Jackson to Martin Luther King Jr. to Elon Musk — become so culturally embedded that their names continue to carry influence, value, debate, and business power long after a single moment, product, or career phase has passed.

But this conversation is not only about success. It is also about the price of celebrity. Juming talks honestly about why extreme fame can be dangerous, isolating, and almost impossible to live inside. Through Michael Jackson’s public life, media scrutiny, appearance changes, interviews, allegations, and constant public interpretation, the episode raises a larger question for entrepreneurs: how visible do you really want to be?

Juming also discusses the complexity of access, trust, celebrity proximity, and betrayal, especially when powerful public figures become surrounded by people who may be motivated by loyalty, opportunity, money, or a mix of all three. The conversation touches on the allegations that followed Jackson throughout his life while examining how fame can turn every relationship, every accusation, every defense, and every public mistake into part of the business machine.

At its core, this episode is a warning and a challenge for entrepreneurs, creators, and public-facing business owners. Building a brand can create opportunity, money, influence, and legacy — but it can also attract scrutiny, pressure, distortion, and people who want access to what you have built. Before chasing notoriety, Juming asks listeners to think carefully about the full cost of being known.

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In this episode of The Un-Traditional Entrepreneur, Juming Delmas sits down with Dr. Matthew Zaideman for a candid conversation about business ownership, masculinity, grit, and what it really takes to lead when pressure hits.

Dr. Zaideman shares that his path into ownership was never random or rushed. Rather than starting from scratch, he spent five years working inside the practice he would eventually buy, intentionally studying both the clinical side and the operational side so he could learn what worked, what did not, and what mistakes he wanted to avoid when the business became his. That long-term mindset set the stage for a transition into ownership that was strategic, patient, and deeply intentional.

The episode goes beyond business mechanics. Shortly before buying the practice in 2017, Dr. Zaideman’s son was diagnosed with autism, and that moment transformed his motivation. What had once been a goal of ownership became something much bigger — a mission. He talks about how that diagnosis reshaped the way he saw his work, his future, and the type of foundation he wanted to build, not just for his business, but for his family and the people he hoped to help.

Juming and Dr. Zaideman also dig into what separates true entrepreneurs from people who panic when circumstances shift. They talk about the “automatic” instinct that business owners need — the ability to adapt, survive, and problem-solve without freezing when something goes wrong. Dr. Zaideman reflects on how that mindset helped him navigate the uncertainty of 2020, when he quickly pivoted during the COVID-19 pandemic by offering antibody testing after his normal chiropractic schedule dropped off. It becomes one of the clearest examples in the episode of what entrepreneurial grit looks like in real time.

A major focus of the conversation is the evolution from being the business to actually building a business. Dr. Zaideman explains how he worked to stop being “the product” by expanding services beyond himself, bringing in massage therapy and health coaching so the company could continue operating and serving clients even when he was not physically present. That leads into a broader discussion about the role of a CEO — not as the star player doing everything alone, but as the strategist who builds the team, sees the whole field, and empowers the right people to do their jobs well.

The episode also offers strong insight into hiring, accountability, and leadership. Dr. Zaideman speaks honestly about the cost of holding on to underperforming employe

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Oprah signed a nine-figure deal with Amazon. Joe Rogan crossed $250 million. Alex Cooper closed $125 million. And you're still calling your podcast a hobby.

Juming Delmas gets on the mic and says what most business coaches won't. Your podcast isn't failing because of your gear, your budget, or your schedule. It's failing because you're using all three as reasons not to start. Perfectionism isn't a standard. It's fear with a better PR team.

Here's what nobody wants to admit: podcasting is the new website, the new email list, the new cold call except it scales, builds trust while you sleep, and the biggest names in media are already cashing in. They didn't wait until it felt right. They built something and let the results do the talking.

Stop recording content. Start building a show. Get a team. Have a plan. Treat your podcast like the business asset it actually is, or keep watching other people cash the checks you could have had.

The perfect time was last year. The second best time is now.

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In this episode of The Untraditional Entrepreneur, the conversation gets unusually candid as Juming Delmas sits down with entrepreneur Calvin Beauford, founder of Freakypreneur Cigars, for a discussion that blends business strategy, personal controversy, branding, and lifestyle choices. Calvin shares the story behind building his cigar company, which has been operating for about a year, and explains his focus on small-batch, boutique, hand-rolled, Black-owned branded cigars as he works toward launching the brand’s online store.

A major part of the episode centers on the tension between personal identity and business image. Calvin defends the name Freakypreneur as a bold, memorable hybrid brand that sparks curiosity and stands out, while the host questions whether the name could limit the company’s reach or turn off potential customers who do not connect with that image. That back-and-forth turns into a broader conversation about what founders should build around: mass-market appeal, or a brand voice that feels true to who they really are.

The episode also gets deeply personal as Calvin talks about his marijuana use and the role it has played in his life after stepping away from heavy alcohol consumption. He explains that after being diagnosed with severe fatty liver and possible cirrhosis, he increased his marijuana use as part of moving away from drinking. That makes this episode less of a standard founder interview and more of a raw discussion about coping, health decisions, entrepreneurship, and the messy ways personal habits can shape business identity.

Taken together, the conversation becomes an honest look at how entrepreneurs make sense of controversial choices while still trying to grow something meaningful. It is about risk, reinvention, public perception, and whether a founder’s personal reality should be separated from the brand or fully woven into it. For listeners interested in startup culture, niche products, founder branding, and unfiltered entrepreneurship conversations, this episode definitely gives plenty to think about.

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Four businesses. Two still active. One award-winning restaurant closed at its peak. And a debate about whether competition is even real that ends with 300 million sperm cells.

In this episode of the Untraditional Entrepreneur Podcast, host Juming Delmas sits down with Kenneth Alexander — author, speaker, serial entrepreneur, and retired corporate executive — for one of the most honest and contentious business conversations the show has ever had.

Kenneth has run a salon, a food truck, an award-winning barbecue restaurant, and a national hair care brand. He closed his restaurant when it was winning awards. He walked away from a hair care brand he tried to turn around for five years. He says success is personal. Juming pushes back on every single definition.

Topics covered:
- Why Kenneth closed an award-winning restaurant at its peak — and whether that was the right call
- The scarcity mindset vs. abundance mindset debate in entrepreneurship
- Whether competition is taught or wired into our DNA (featuring the most unexpected argument in podcast history)
- Why redefining success can be growth — or an excuse to quit
- The real reason hair care brands fail to scale against larger competitors
- Why posting on social media is not the same as marketing
- What Kenneth would do differently if he started over
- The importance of owning full control of your business
- His new book: The Successful Man — A New Vision of Masculinity

Raw. Funny. Genuinely unresolved. That's the un-traditional way.

The Un-Traditional Entrepreneur Podcast with Juming Delmas. Real talk. No filter.

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What does it really cost to run a childcare business — and is the freedom worth it? In this episode of the Untraditional Entrepreneur Podcast, host Juming Delmas sits down with Janna Johnson, CEO of Just Like Angels in Tallahassee, FL — a childcare entrepreneur who has built a nearly million-dollar business from the ground up over 15 years. Jana breaks down the real numbers: bringing in $65K–$85K a month with 75% of revenue going straight to payroll. She gets raw about burnout, crying in her car, applying for jobs mid-business, and how COVID gave her the mental reset she desperately needed. They discuss the biggest mistakes first-generation business owners make — from failing to delegate, to running a business on emotions — and why nearly 600,000 businesses close every year in the US. If you're a solopreneur, childcare business owner, or self-made entrepreneur trying to figure out how to scale without losing yourself, this episode is for you. Topics covered: - How to grow a childcare business and manage payroll costs - Why delegation is the #1 struggle for first-gen entrepreneurs - Surviving entrepreneurship burnout and knowing when to reset - Building a million-dollar small business without owning the building - The true cost of running a business vs. working for someone else Subscribe to the Un-Traditional Entrepreneur Podcast for real, unfiltered conversations about the side hustle grind, building a business from nothing, and what it actually takes to make it on your own terms.

Timestamps:
00:00 - Highlights / Teaser
01:22 - Introduction
02:03 - Catching Up
03:08 - Business Financials and Scale
05:52 - The Importance of Delegation
09:22 - Entrepreneurial Mindset vs. Reality
11:57 - Overcoming Business Stagnation
13:56 - Black Business Ownership and Heritage
16:31 - Business Failure Statistics
18:03 - Personal History: Being Fired
22:43 - Why Businesses Close
25:51 - Persevering Through the "Drought"
29:11 - COVID-19 Impact and Reset
32:05 - Valuing the Business
33:52 - Location and Digital Presence
37:16 - Education and the "Basics"
45:34 - Early Intervention and Relationships
49:37 - Marketing and Partnerships
52:20 - Conclusion

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Is obsession the secret weapon of every great entrepreneur — or a ticking time bomb? In this episode of the Untraditional Entrepreneur Podcast, host Juming Delmas goes head-to-head with tech entrepreneur and mentor Sylvester Thompson in one of the most unfiltered, no-BS conversations about what it really takes to build a business from nothing.

They dig deep into the difference between healthy obsession and addiction, why most startup founders fail before year five, and what authentic representation really means for Black entrepreneurs in the tech space. Sylvester challenges Juming on tunnel vision, people skills, and whether obsession can coexist with healthy relationships — and Juming fires back with case studies from Kobe Bryant to Michael Jordan.

If you've ever been told you work too hard, care too much, or don't know how to switch off — this episode is for you.

Topics covered:
- Healthy obsession vs. addiction: what's the real difference?
- Why Black entrepreneurs are underrepresented in tech startups
- Authentic representation vs. performative representation in business
- The #1 people skill most entrepreneurs lack
- Consistency as the silent killer of small business growth
- Building a business legacy that outlives you
- How to integrate entrepreneurship with relationships and personal life

Whether you're a first-gen entrepreneur, a creative building a brand, or someone who's been told your obsession is a problem — tune in. This is the conversation nobody else is having.

The Un-Traditional Entrepreneur Podcast. Real talk. No filter.

#Entrepreneurship #FounderMindset #BusinessLeadership #StartupLife #BlackFounders #TechEntrepreneurship #FounderBurnout #WorkLifeIntegration #Leadership #Legacy

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What happens when a self-made entrepreneur who built a club empire from the streets goes head-to-head with a $36 billion corporate giant — and refuses to back down?

In this episode of the Untraditional Entrepreneur Podcast, host Juming Delmas sits down with Tommy D, a New Jersey entrepreneur who started throwing house parties at 12 years old to survive, built one of the most iconic EDM and house music empires on the East Coast, and then spent 15 years fighting Live Nation in a legal battle that cost him everything — and still won't quit.

This conversation is raw, unfiltered, and hits on everything real entrepreneurship actually looks like: survival mode, street loyalty, corporate monopolies, and the difference between being a boss and being a leader.

Topics covered:
- How Tommy D went from homeless teenager to building a nightclub empire
- The Live Nation lawsuit: what really happened and why he refused to settle
- Survival mode as the ultimate entrepreneurial switch
- Why loyalty can be your biggest strength and your biggest weakness in business
- Boss vs. leader: why the best entrepreneurs are coaches, not bosses
- Why entrepreneurship is for people who know how to struggle — not people chasing money
- Building teams, trusting people, and knowing when to fight corporate America

If you've ever felt like the system was rigged against you, been told you couldn't build something, or fought for your independence against all odds — Tommy D's story is the blueprint.

The Un-Traditional Entrepreneur Podcast with Juming Delmas. Real talk. No filter.

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