Hustle & Brews

The Common Beer Co. is located in beautiful historic downtown Mason, OH & is owned & operated by two of the nicest people you'll ever meet, Mark & Amy Lortz.

Besides serving up delicious locally crafted brews to their patrons & friends, this amazing Mason power couple lives in & loves the community they set up shop in. They created the business as a way to, personally, better their hometown & they did that by investing in, renovating, remodeling, & reviving a building in their historic Main Street corridor & turning it into a brewery with hopes of creating a center point & hub where their neighbors could gather.

The Common Beer Co. is a beautiful venue with warm & welcoming decor that makes you feel comfortable as soon as you step through the doors. There's plenty of space, a long L-shaped bar, & a relaxing outdoor patio area with a firepit & extra seating out back. It's one of my favorite local breweries to visit. The staff, along w/ Mark & Amy, are always super friendly & make you feel right at home as you sit down to sample their beer.

They are a true local small business & are passionate about their craft & city. I encourage everyone listening to make it a priority to pay this place a visit once this quarantine ends. In the meantime, stop by for a carry-out growler & tell them you heard about them here!

Podcast Production: John Bl@ze
Theme Music: "Farmers Name" by Highly Likely
Sponsor Music: "Drip Drill" by Cory Christopher Beats
Episode Sponsors: Midwest Best BBQ & Cincy Brew Bus

Rob Radford's Boxing 4 Fitness is located in Madisonville, OH & has been dedicated to whipping Cincinnatians into shape for over 25 years.

My wife & I sat down with Rob at Bad Tom Smith Brewing on the corner of Madison & Whetsel Aves (just a few blocks away from his gym) & listened in amazement as he told us some of the most entertaining stories ever. We also (mainly) talked about how he built his dream from the ground up. His stories were as incredible as his grind!

Boxing for fitness is located on Eriee Ave right on the curve by Whetsel Ave. & is one of the most unique workout programs in the city! The motto is "Train Like The Pros Without The Blows" & Rob is pretty sure he was the first boxing-only fitness gym in the country. The 60 minute classes offer a total body workout through intense & fun interval training for all ages & levels of fitness. Rob also offers personal training w/ customized workouts designed specifically for you that are supplemented w/ a healthy nutritional plan. On top of that, Rob works w/ professional boxers, MMA athletes, & has even trained celebrities like Dave Bautista!

Rob is a skilled teacher & an excellent motivator. His style of training & methods of encouragement to help build self esteem is a perfect fit for his business. Recognizing what you're good at & knowing how to utilize it is crucial for any entrepreneur starting their own hustle. Rob has humbly nailed that down & capitalized on his natural ability to push people w/ his zen-like demeanor & high level of likeability. As always, I encourage anyone reading this to look up Rob & Boxing 4 Fitness & stop in for an amazing workout.

Podcast Production: John Bl@ze
Theme Music: "Farmers Name" by Highly Likely
Sponsor Music: "Horizon" by Cory Christopher Beats
Episode Sponsors: 5 Pillars Health & Wellness & Emmett Ridge Farm (ERF)

Emmett Ridge Farm (ERF) is located in Amelia, OH (just outside of Cincinnati) & their mission is to instigate a mind shift, & help lead the charge to a vibrant & sustainable food system. They do this by showing people how they create food for their community & it...is...delicious! If you are concerned with & want to feel confident about the food you feed your family, & are looking for a local source that you can trust is treating their animals & the process w/ integrity...look no further. Go online to find out more or go visit Emmett Ridge Farm in person & check out what they are doing. Seeing is believing!

Jeremy is as intense as he is driven. In order to step into the role of an entrepreneur or business owner, you need to be focused & willing to go all-in. He knew what he needed to do in order to make this dream happen & he went for it. Plain & "simple". You'll hear him talk about "tenacity" & it'll be evident that the level of tenacity that he's running on is through the roof! The drive, the passion, the focus, & the integrity are all additional qualities that make this guy's hustle so successful & interesting. I urge anyone reading these words to look ERF up & give them a try.

I sat down with Jeremy at BC's Bottle Lodge in Montgomery & we shared a few brews (& laughs) while we discussed his journey to becoming a first-generation farmer & the owner of Emmett Ridge Farm.

Podcast Production: John Bl@ze
Theme Music: "Farmers Name" by Highly Likely
Sponsor Music: "Drip Drill" by Cory Christopher Beats
Episode Sponsors: Sinclair Lawn & Landscaping Services & Cincy Brew Bus

Crooked Can Brewing company is located just outside of Orlando, FL. The wispy oak trees & brick streets of historic Winter Garden create the perfect backdrop for a truly unique brewery that takes an obvious & tremendous amount of pride in the community in which it lives. If you ever visit Orlando, I highly recommend making Crooked Can part of your vacation plans. Its worth the short drive to experience this one-of-a-kind place &...to spend some money at a great local establishment!

Almost all small businesses depend on the support of their local communities. Crooked Can Brewing Company is no different in that regard, especially since they're serving up delicious craft brews to all of their neighbors. They are different in that they have incorporated the community support into their whole vision & business plan. They created a beautiful gathering place for their town that epitomizes the concept of "Support Local" & I think the impact they've had will be felt & respected for years to come!

I sat down with Jared at the Plant St Market in Winter Garden, FL & we enjoyed a few brews while discussing his journey as one of the three founders of Crooked Can Brewing Company.

Podcast Production: John Bl@ze
Music: "Farmers Name" by Highly Likely
Episode Sponsors: Brewing Heritage Trail & Cincy Brew Bus

The Queen City Brewery of Cincinnati (QCB) closed its doors & locked up for the last time in September 2019. I sit down, separately, with Jason Surniak (Head Brewer) & Justen Cheers (CFO) to talk about why.

Not all hustles have happy endings. In fact, many small businesses end up having to shut down for some reason or another. Its not an uncommon ending. These two entrepreneurs openly & honestly talk to me about what they feel, ultimately, lead to QCB closing their doors for good. We talk about how it started, what went down, & what's next for these two hustlers.

I sat down with Justen at my house in Cincinnati, OH & we enjoyed a few brews while discussing his journey as QCB's CFO.

Podcast Production: John Bl@ze
Music: "Farmers Name" by Highly Likely
Episode Sponsor: Cincy Brew Bus

The Queen City Brewery of Cincinnati (QCB) closed its doors & locked up for the last time in September 2019. I sit down, separately, with Jason Surniak (Head Brewer) & Justen Cheers (CFO) to talk about why.

Not all hustles have happy endings. In fact, many small businesses end up having to shut down for some reason or another. Its not an uncommon ending. These two entrepreneurs openly & honestly talk to me about what they feel, ultimately, lead to QCB closing their doors for good. We talk about how it started, what went down, & what's next for these two hustlers.

I sat down with Jason at 50 West Brewing Company in Mariemont, OH & we enjoyed a few brews while discussing his journey as QCB's Head Brewer.

Podcast Production: John Bl@ze
Music: "Farmers Name" by Highly Likely
Episode Sponsor: Cincy Brew Bus