Colorado Business Podcast

The Colorado Business Podcast is a community-driven podcast focused on the business scene in Colorado. Hosted by business owners Andrew Hazzlee & Marcus Alvarado, each episode features a different guest sharing insights and advice on topics such as marketing, finance, leadership, and innovation. The podcast is highly regarded for its engaging content, skilled interviewing, and emphasis on building a strong community of business leaders and entrepreneurs.

Colorado Business Podcast is a business podcast hosted by Unknown Host, with 345 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80.

Unknown Host hosts Colorado Business Podcast, a business show with 345 episodes published.

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  Episode #347

  Why Mike Kinner Created Air O Sport for Every Generation

  Oct 1, 20261h 7m

  Mike Kinner created Air O Sport around a simple challenge: how could he play a sport he loved with his daughter, his aging father, and friends who did not see themselves as athletic? In this conversation, he explains how a family-business upbringing and a difficult stretch as a founder shaped a game intended to bring different generations together. The Colorado Springs founder and inventor also shares how play has informed his work with families and business teams, why he values screen-free creativity, and what he hopes to build through the Air O Sport Foundation. In the episode, Mike talks about growing up around the Donut Mill, learning from his parents, the value he found in reading, and the product-design challenge that helped shape Air O Sport. He describes using play in corporate team experiences, the lonely stretch when the business felt difficult to sustain, parenting and screen-free play, and his hope to create more opportunities for people to play together. GUEST LINKS: Air O Sport: https://playairosport.com/ | Air O Sport Foundation: https://airosportfoundation.org/ | Peak Play Performance: https://peakplaypro.com/ GUEST Mike Kinner Founder and Inventor Air O Sport CHAPTERS 00:00 Cold open: play across generations 00:50 Colorado Business Podcast intro 01:00 Meet Mike Kinner and Air O Sport 02:44 The Donut Mill and family business 08:00 From basketball to self-development 15:55 Reading, focus, and flow 19:49 Diamond sponsor read 23:51 Why Mike created a multigenerational sport 26:52 Product design and the patent challenge 28:59 Play, confidence, and corporate teams 35:19 The setback that nearly stopped the dream 37:15 Relationships, trust, and team building 44:03 What pushed Mike past the setback? 45:06 Parenting and screen-free play 49:59 Creativity and the gift of boredom 51:29 LINE-X sponsor read 54:33 A sport that makes room for more people 56:52 Breaking loneliness through play 59:47 Where Air O Sport is going 1:02:27 Family, community, and the mission 1:05:09 The next million play moments 1:07:59 Outro SPONSORS Diamond sponsor read: EXCO Advisors: https://excoadvisors.com/ Bellwether Homes: https://bellwetherhomes.com/ Pioneer Rodeo: https://pioneerrodeo.com/tickets/ Lightning Glassworks and Screens: https://fastglassrepair.com/ Bright Leaf Energy: https://brightleafenergy.co/ Junk-N-Haul: https://junknhaul.com/ Be Our Guest Getaways: https://beourguestgetaways.com/ Planet Duct: https://planetduct.com/ FASTSIGNS: https://fastsigns.com/ Pinnacle Advanced Primary Care: https://pinnacleapc.com/ LINE-X sponsor read: LINE-X of Colorado Springs: https://linexcoloradosprings.com/ RAIN: https://rain.tech/ Savion HQ: https://savionhq.com/ Data Hubz: https://datahubz.com/ Reveal Med Spas: https://revealmedspas.com/ Awesome Home Services: https://awesomeservice.com/ Dream Accounting Solutions: https://dreamaccountingsolutions.com/ Exponential Impact: https://exponentialimpact.com/ Review note: The recorded Diamond read includes Pioneer Rodeo event copy for dates that have passed. Confirm an updated read or approved use before episode lock. ABOUT THE COLORADO BUSINESS PODCAST The Colorado Business Podcast features entrepreneurs, founders, builders, and leaders shaping Colorado’s business community. Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@coloradobusinesspodcast Explore more episodes: https://coloradobusinesspodcast.com/ What should Colorado protect as it grows, and what should it be willing to build? Share your perspective in the comments. #ColoradoBusinessPodcast #AirOSport #ColoradoSprings #Play

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  Episode #346

  Your Employer Picks Your Health Plan. Mike Markland Wants to Change That

  Sep 24, 20261h 24m

  Most employees never choose the health plan their employer buys for them. Mike Markland believes that model is ready for a rethink. In this episode of the Colorado Business Podcast, Mike shares the personal healthcare experience that pushed him into employee benefits, the numbers that convinced him to leave a traditional brokerage, and why employer-funded individual coverage may give workers more control over how they use their benefits. Mike and the hosts unpack ICHRA, now discussed in the episode as CHOICE Arrangements, the incentives built into group health insurance, direct primary care, the role of consumer choice, and the pressure rising costs place on employers and employees. The conversation also moves into building ATMA PMF, hiring people who default to action, systems over goals, personal responsibility, and the standards Mike learned through sports and family. Specific savings figures and healthcare-system claims discussed in the episode reflect the guest's experience and perspective. Results and plan suitability vary by employer, employee, market, and coverage design. FEATURED GUEST Mike Markland Founder, ATMA PMF Website: https://atmapmf.com/ CHAPTERS 00:00 The health plan choice most employees never get 00:52 Colorado Business Podcast intro 01:01 Meet Mike Markland of ATMA PMF 07:19 Climbing Kilimanjaro and pushing through the summit 12:16 The health experience that changed Mike's direction 16:18 How employer-funded individual coverage works 19:02 Diamond sponsor read 22:56 Why Mike left to build ATMA PMF 25:44 Who carries the rising cost of health insurance 32:20 What healthcare can learn from unbundling cable 36:20 Direct primary care and access beyond insurance 40:38 What changes for employers and employees 43:15 Opting out of the traditional group model 45:19 The pressure building across American healthcare 48:14 Why the policy has bipartisan momentum 49:17 Bellwether sponsor read 52:29 Industry pushback and employee responsibility 57:29 Using AI to help employees choose coverage 58:10 Building the company and hiring for action 64:30 Books, mentors, and systems over goals 73:20 Responsibility, agency, and changing yourself first 79:45 What football taught Mike about standards 83:24 Where to find Mike and ATMA PMF 83:54 Outro SPONSORS Diamond sponsor read: EXCO Advisors: https://excoadvisors.com/ LINE-X of Colorado Springs: https://linexcoloradosprings.com/ RAIN: https://rain.tech/ Savion HQ: https://savionhq.com/ Data Hubz: https://datahubz.com/ Reveal Med Spas: https://revealmedspas.com/ Awesome Home Services: https://awesomeservice.com/ Dream Accounting Solutions: https://dreamaccountingsolutions.com/ Exponential Impact: https://exponentialimpact.com/ Standard sponsor read: Bellwether Homes: https://bellwetherhomes.com/ Pioneer Rodeo: https://pioneerrodeo.com/tickets/ Lightning Glassworks and Screens: https://fastglassrepair.com/ Bright Leaf Energy: https://brightleafenergy.co/ Junk-N-Haul: https://junknhaul.com/ Be Our Guest Getaways: https://beourguestgetaways.com/ Planet Duct: https://planetduct.com/ FASTSIGNS: https://fastsigns.com/ Pinnacle Advanced Primary Care: https://pinnacleapc.com/ ABOUT THE COLORADO BUSINESS PODCAST The Colorado Business Podcast features entrepreneurs, founders, builders, and leaders shaping Colorado's business community. Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@coloradobusinesspodcast Explore more episodes: https://coloradobusinesspodcast.com/ If your employer gave you a benefits budget instead of one group plan, what would matter most in your choice? Share your answer in the comments. #ColoradoBusinessPodcast #MikeMarkland #EmployeeBenefits

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  Episode #344

  Lauri Armstrong on Building a Business That Does Not Depend on You

  Sep 10, 20261h 24m

  What does it take to build a business that can thrive beyond its owner? Lauri Armstrong, Founder & Owner of Little Fins Swim School, joins the Colorado Business Podcast to share the water-safety mission, one-on-one teaching model, and team culture behind the Colorado Springs business.Lauri explains how Little Fins grew from a small swim-lesson idea into a larger operation, why water safety matters for Colorado families, and how a difficult family season forced the business to develop stronger leadership systems. The conversation also covers community involvement, training young team members, and the communication skills that help a service-driven organization grow.Lauri Armstrong is the Founder & Owner of Little Fins Swim School in Colorado Springs. Little Fins provides one-on-one swimming lessons and water-safety programs for children, adults, and families.TOPICS IN THIS EPISODEWater safety and survival-swim foundationsWhy one-on-one lessons are central to the Little Fins modelScaling a service business without losing cultureBuilding a team that can operate beyond the ownerCommunity involvement and Hope on the RocksTraining young employees to communicate, serve, and leadLINKSLittle Fins Swim School: https://littlefinsswimschool.com/Hope on the Rocks tickets and donations: https://givebutter.com/hopeontherocks2026GUESTLauri ArmstrongFounder & OwnerLittle Fins Swim SchoolCHAPTERS00:00 Water safety, growth, and building the team00:44 Colorado Business Podcast intro00:54 From lifeguard to Little Fins03:50 Why one-on-one swim lessons matter05:50 Water safety for Colorado families11:55 Scaling Little Fins without losing the mission15:25 Sponsor: Diamond19:18 Building a team beyond the owner35:15 Hope on the Rocks and community impact50:38 Sponsor: Bellwether53:50 Culture, service, and developing young leaders1:07:45 The call-a-thon and teaching communication skills1:24:34 OutroABOUT THE COLORADO BUSINESS PODCASTThe Colorado Business Podcast features entrepreneurs, founders, builders, and leaders shaping Colorado’s business community.Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@coloradobusinesspodcastExplore more episodes: https://coloradobusinesspodcast.com/What would change in your business if the team could run it without you? Share your perspective in the comments.#ColoradoBusinessPodcast #LauriArmstrong #LittleFins #ColoradoSpringsBusiness

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  Episode #343

  Colorado’s Growth Fight: AI, Housing, Buc-ee’s and the Future of Business

  Sep 3, 20261h 33m

  Colorado is growing, but the bigger question is whether its communities are prepared to handle the projects, infrastructure, housing pressures, and business consequences that come with it.In Episode 343 of the Colorado Business Podcast, Andrew, Marcus, and Chris sit down for a candid roundtable on several of Colorado’s biggest business and development debates. They examine Project Taurus and the proposed AI data center near Colorado Springs, the One Vela high-rise, the planned Buc-ee’s north of Monument, Denver’s housing slowdown, crime, politics, and the growing friction between development and resistance to change.The conversation also moves beyond individual projects. The team discusses regulation, water and energy infrastructure, public-private collaboration, what healthy businesses owe their communities, and why owners must move from survival mode into a position where they can serve, invest, and create opportunity.ROUNDTABLE PARTICIPANTSAndrew HazzleeMarcus AlvaradoChris SeegersCHAPTERS00:00 Cold open: growth, business and Colorado’s future00:58 Colorado Business Podcast intro01:08 The roundtable and the stakes03:19 Project Taurus and the AI data center fight16:22 Diamond sponsor read20:24 AI infrastructure, water and regulation35:06 One Vela and downtown Colorado Springs51:51 LINE-X sponsor read54:55 The cost of blocking growth57:24 Buc-ee’s and economic opportunity1:10:29 Denver housing, crime and the business climate1:21:34 Colorado politics and the governor’s race1:24:44 Business owners, government and opportunity1:26:11 Why successful businesses serve more1:29:56 Survive to thrive1:31:29 Big projects and Colorado Springs’ future1:32:57 If you’re not growing, you’re dying1:33:42 OutroSPONSORSDiamond sponsor read:EXCO Advisors: https://excoadvisors.com/Bellwether Homes: https://bellwetherhomes.com/Pioneer Rodeo: https://pioneerrodeo.com/tickets/Lightning Glassworks and Screens: https://fastglassrepair.com/Bright Leaf Energy: https://brightleafenergy.co/Junk-N-Haul: https://junknhaul.com/Be Our Guest Getaways: https://beourguestgetaways.com/Planet Duct: https://planetduct.com/FASTSIGNS: https://fastsigns.com/Pinnacle Advanced Primary Care: https://pinnacleapc.com/LINE-X sponsor read:LINE-X of Colorado Springs: https://linexcoloradosprings.com/RAIN: https://rain.tech/Savion HQ: https://savionhq.com/Data Hubz: https://datahubz.com/Reveal Med Spas: https://revealmedspas.com/Awesome Home Services: https://awesomeservice.com/Dream Accounting Solutions: https://dreamaccountingsolutions.com/Exponential Impact: https://exponentialimpact.com/ABOUT THE COLORADO BUSINESS PODCASTThe Colorado Business Podcast features entrepreneurs, founders, builders, and leaders shaping Colorado’s business community.Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@coloradobusinesspodcastExplore more episodes: https://coloradobusinesspodcast.com/What should Colorado protect as it grows, and what should it be willing to build? Share your perspective in the comments.#ColoradoBusinessPodcast #ColoradoBusiness #ColoradoSprings #EconomicDevelopment

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  Episode #342

  From Wiping Counters to CEO of Luisa Graff Jewelers | Andrew Graff

  Aug 28, 20261h 4m

  Andrew Graff did not step into his family’s jewelry business at the top. After serving in the Navy and building a corporate retail career, he joined Luisa Graff Jewelers by applying through HR, interviewing with his mother, and starting at the bottom wiping counters. In this episode of the Colorado Business Podcast, Andrew explains how he earned his way into ownership, built role-specific training systems, helped his mother retire, and became CEO of the Colorado Springs jewelry store his family built. He also shares the leadership rule he returns to under pressure: when you want to react, don’t. The conversation covers family-business succession, military discipline, people management, customer feedback, authentic advertising, custom jewelry, parenting, faith, work-life balance, and Andrew’s plan to train the next generation of bench jewelers. FEATURED GUEST Andrew Graff CEO, Luisa Graff Jewelers Website: https://www.luisagraffjewelers.com/ Team: https://www.luisagraffjewelers.com/about/luisa-graff-team/ CHAPTERS 00:00 The rule, the legacy, and the system 01:03 Colorado Business Podcast intro 01:13 Andrew Graff and Luisa Graff Jewelers 03:52 A Colorado family legacy in gold 07:12 Learning jewelry at six and joining the Navy 13:47 Starting from the bottom in the family business 14:46 Diamond sponsor and sponsor read 18:39 From corporate retail to a family business 22:10 Becoming a partner and building training systems 27:21 Helping his mother retire and taking ownership 31:26 Customer feedback and a service-first team 33:19 Building custom jewelry in-house 37:21 Authenticity and fun in advertising 43:58 Family legacy, faith, and parenting 46:47 Balancing business and family 52:47 Bellwether sponsor read 55:59 Leadership lessons from business and family 58:19 Presence, execution, and Navy values 60:32 The next generation of bench jewelers 63:42 Outro SPONSORS Diamond sponsor read: EXCO Advisors: https://excoadvisors.com/ LINE-X of Colorado Springs: https://linexcoloradosprings.com/ RAIN: https://rain.tech/ Savion HQ: https://savionhq.com/ Data Hubz: https://datahubz.com/ Reveal Med Spas: https://revealmedspas.com/ Awesome Home Services: https://awesomeservice.com/ Dream Accounting Solutions: https://dreamaccountingsolutions.com/ Exponential Impact: https://exponentialimpact.com/ Standard sponsor read: Bellwether Homes: https://bellwetherhomes.com/ Pioneer Rodeo: https://pioneerrodeo.com/tickets/ Lightning Glassworks and Screens: https://fastglassrepair.com/ Bright Leaf Energy: https://brightleafenergy.co/ Junk-N-Haul: https://junknhaul.com/ Be Our Guest Getaways: https://beourguestgetaways.com/ Planet Duct: https://planetduct.com/ FASTSIGNS: https://fastsigns.com/ Pinnacle Advanced Primary Care: https://pinnacleapc.com/ ABOUT THE COLORADO BUSINESS PODCAST The Colorado Business Podcast features entrepreneurs, founders, builders, and leaders shaping Colorado’s business community. Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@coloradobusinesspodcast Explore more episodes: https://coloradobusinesspodcast.com/ What is one responsibility you had to earn before you were ready to lead? Share it in the comments. #ColoradoBusinessPodcast #AndrewGraff #FamilyBusiness

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