Attracting Top Talent to Des Moines: Insights from Courtney Shaw on Regional Marketing Building a business in the Midwest comes with a unique set of challenges and opportunities. For business owners and marketers in the Greater Des Moines (DSM) area, the primary hurdle isn’t just selling a product—it’s selling a community. In a recent episode of the Rhymes with Odd podcast, host Ryan Snaadt sat down with Courtney Shaw , the Chief Communications Officer (CCO) at the Greater

Building a Diversified Career Portfolio: Lessons from Serial Entrepreneur Ben McDougal In the heart of the Midwest, the Des Moines, Iowa business scene is undergoing a radical transformation. Gone are the days when entrepreneurship was a "fringe" activity or a lonely grind in a basement. Today, it is a vibrant, community-driven lifestyle. In a recent episode of the Rhymes with Odd podcast , host Ryan Snaadt sat down with Ben McDougal —a serial entrepreneur, community builder

Mastering the Stage: Local Lessons in Branding and Crowd Control with Jordan Beem In Des Moines the business landscape is more competitive than ever. Whether you’re a tech startup in the East Village or a long-standing retail staple in Ankeny, the challenge remains the same: How do you capture an audience’s attention and keep them coming back? In the latest episode of the Rhymes with Odd podcast, host Ryan Snaadt sits down with Altuna-based singer-songwriter Jordan Beem . W

The Future of SEO and AI: Key Takeaways for Des Moines Business Owners In the heart of Silicon Prairie, Des Moines business owners are no strangers to innovation. However, as the digital landscape shifts toward artificial intelligence and automated search, many local entrepreneurs feel like they are playing catch-up. In a recent episode of the Rhymes with Odd podcast, host Ryan Snaadt sat down with Ryan Doser , owner of Thrive 15 Media , to demystify the world of search eng

Building Unbreakable Grit: What Des Moines Business Owners Can Learn from a 240-Mile Ultra Runner In the world of Des Moines business and marketing, we often talk about "the grind." We discuss the long hours, the persistence required to scale a startup, and the mental fortitude needed to navigate a shifting economy. But what does "grit" actually look like when pushed to its absolute physical limit? On a recent episode of the Rhymes With Odd podcast , host Ryan Snaadt sat dow

From Bankruptcy to Real Estate Tycoon: Shane Torres’ Journey on the Rhymes With Odd Podcast Entrepreneurship rarely follows a straight line. In fact, for many successful business leaders, the path includes setbacks, financial struggles, and moments where quitting might feel easier than pushing forward. That’s exactly what makes the latest episode of the Rhymes With Odd Podcast , hosted by Ryan Snaadt , so compelling for Des Moines, Iowa entrepreneurs, marketers, and business

From Wrestling Mats to Business Ownership: The 90-Hour Hustle of Aaron Anderson In the world of Des Moines entrepreneurship, success isn’t just about having a great idea—it’s about the grit to see it through when the lights go out and the 14-hour workday ends. In a recent episode of the Rhymes with Odd podcast , host Ryan Snaadt sat down with Aaron Anderson , the co-owner and business manager of Fresh Fit Meals , to discuss what it actually takes to scale a local brand in t

How to Master LinkedIn Marketing: Lessons from Ryan Snaadt and Kyle Steele In the world of digital marketing, everyone is fighting for attention. But for business owners in the Des Moines metro and across Iowa, the most valuable attention isn’t found on TikTok dances or Facebook memes—it’s hidden in plain sight on LinkedIn. In a recent episode of Rhymes with Odd , Ryan sat down with Kyle Steele , the "Most Interesting Man in Marketing" and owner of SEO Expert , to discuss how

From ISU Kicker to Freelance Videographer: How Cole Netten Built a Video Business in Des Moines, Iowa In this episode of the Rhymes With Odd Podcast , host Ryan Snaadt sits down with Des Moines–area filmmaker and drone pilot Cole Netten to discuss his unconventional path into the world of video production. Cole’s story is one that many Des Moines, Iowa business owners, marketers, and creatives can relate to—leaving a traditional job behind to pursue meaningful work in the

Behind the Scenes of the Rhymes with Odd Podcast: Why Authenticity is the Secret Sauce for Des Moines Business Owners In the world of Des Moines marketing, we often get bogged down in the "corporate polish." We worry about the perfect lighting, the most professional script, and whether our LinkedIn presence looks "buttoned-up" enough. But if you look at the most successful content creators in the Midwest today, they are leaning into something much more raw. In a recent episod

Meaning Over Money: Lessons on Career Pivots and Financial Freedom with Travis Shelton In the world of Des Moines business and high-stakes real estate, the "hustle" is often worn as a badge of honor. We are told that more is better, that leverage is the key to growth, and that a high-status title is the ultimate finish line. But what happens when that finish line keeps moving, and the cost of the race is your family, your health, and your peace of mind? On a recent episode o

From Small-Town Iowa to the NBA: Lessons in Business, Mentorship, and the "Mono Mission" For many entrepreneurs in the Des Moines, Iowa metro, the dream is often to "scale up" or "get out" to a bigger market. But what happens when you take the Iowa work ethic to a city like Atlanta, dominate the professional sports scene, and then bring that elite expertise back home to Silicon Prairie? In the latest episode of the Rhymes with Odd podcast, host Ryan Snaadt sits down with h

Creating a strong brand identity is one of the most important investments a business can make. On this episode of the Rhymes With Odd Podcast , host Ryan Snaadt sits down with Des Moines-based graphic designer Dylan Menke to discuss logo design, branding strategy, and the realities of building a creative career in Iowa. For Des Moines business owners, entrepreneurs, and marketers , the conversation offers valuable insight into how effective branding works, common mistakes c

From Steel to Style: How Rachel Steffensmeier is Redefining the Iowa Manufacturing Landscape In the heart of the Midwest, the word "manufacturing" usually conjures images of sparks, heavy machinery, and grit. While that remains the foundation of the Steffensmeier family legacy, Rachel Steffensmeier is proving that industrial roots can blossom into high-end lifestyle brands. In a recent episode of the Rhymes with Odd podcast, Rachel sat down to discuss her journey from the fa

In this episode of the Rhymes with Odd podcast, Ryan Snaadt sits down with Jeramey Lowry to dissect a topic that's often overlooked in the high-stakes world of Des Moines, Iowa business: true masculinity and its intersection with faith and mindfulness. Lowry, a former powerlifter turned spiritual leader, shares a raw and vulnerable account of his journey, challenging conventional notions of what it means to be a man and offering a fresh perspective on cultivating resilience,

Scaling, Selling, and Survival: Lessons from Trent Murphy on the Rhymes With Odd Podcast For many entrepreneurs in the Des Moines metro, the dream is simple: build something of value, provide for your family, and eventually exit on your own terms. But as any seasoned business owner in Ankeny or West Des Moines will tell you, the path from a basement startup to a multi-million dollar sale is rarely a straight line. In a recent episode of the Rhymes With Odd podcast, host Ryan

Building a Brand from the Ground Up: The Mojo’s Gym Story In the latest episode of the Rhymes with Odd podcast, host Ryan Snaadt sits down with the power couple behind one of West Des Moines’ fastest-growing fitness communities: Justin Shepard and Taylor Frederickson . For local entrepreneurs and marketers in the Des Moines metro, this episode is a masterclass in "niche-carving." It’s a raw look at what happens when you stop working for the franchise "umbrella" and start b

From Navy Physical Therapist to Des Moines Entrepreneur: Bryan Ladd's Story The path to entrepreneurship is rarely linear. For Bryan Ladd, owner of Kaizen Health & Wellness in Des Moines, Iowa, that path wound through Nebraska, Rhode Island, Washington state, and Okinawa, Japan. On a recent episode of the Rhymes with Odd Podcast , host and marketing expert Ryan Snaadt sat down with Bryan to discuss his unique journey from a high school athlete to a Navy physical therapist,

Building a Business in the Face of Adversity: Lessons from Dr. Chris Reil and Ryan Snaadt In the world of entrepreneurship, timing is often cited as a key ingredient for success. But what happens when your timing coincides with a once-in-a-century global shutdown? On the latest episode of the Rhymes with Odd Podcast , host Ryan Snaadt sits down with Dr. Chris Reil , owner of Elite Health and Performance in Bondurant, Iowa, to discuss the grit, strategy, and "middle finger"

Real Estate, Resilience, and Relationships: Key Takeaways from the Rhymes with Odd Podcast In the heart of the Midwest, the Des Moines business landscape is built on more than just transactions; it’s built on community, trust, and long-term vision. In the latest episode of the Rhymes with Odd podcast , host Ryan Snaadt sits down with Kelsey Russell , the powerhouse behind the Cornerstone Collective , to pull back the curtain on what it really takes to scale a real estate bra