Episode 80 (March 22, 2022): Founders and Friends Live Show Part 2 and Behind The Brewery Bockfest Interview Series

Two Part Interview: We continue our coverage of the Founders and Friends live show, plus we kickoff our interview series from Bockfest. 

Beers (10:53):  Everybody knows the conglomerate called The Boston Beer Company.  For the common beer drinker, Boston Beer (and Sam Adams) isn’t a name you’d associate with Cincinnati. But for the local community, it’s one-in-the-same.  Jim Koch, the founder and craft beer pioneer, grew up in the Queen City, where his father and grandfather were both employed at local breweries. In 1997, Koch purchased a brewery; and years later, the Sam Adams Tap Room opened in the heart of the Over-The-Rhine district in Cincinnati. General Manager Keith McEly sat down with us as our first interview of the Bockfest weekend to discuss the origins of Sam Adams and the Boston Beer Company, which run straight through the Queen City.  Keith also shared the rich history of “Utopias,” a special beer collection, the importance of getting involved in the local Cincinnati community, and what’s next for the Sam Adams brand.

Business (35:26): Every founder has a story, and Mike Neilan's story comes from an accident. After a skateboarding injury that took him out, Mike picked up a camera in 2009 and hasn't turned back since. With a new passion, Mike went to college, gained experience, built his portfolio, and years later met his Co-Founder (ironically named Mike). The two met at a job and instantly hit it off. They knew their talents meshed well, and were ready to make a brand for themselves. It wasn't until 2018 where their dreams became a reality. Now a few years later, over 50 clients worth of work, a new office space, and a team being built, Focus Forward Media has taken the Ocean State by storm. We sit down with Mike to talk about starting a company in Rhode Island, how to take a leap of faith, and what the future looks like for Focus Forward Media.

Balls: It’s bracket busting season! One thing is for sure…even after the season that we cover the most basketball, we’re just silly little bloggers with our silly little opinions in the end. We break down our brackets so far, discuss some of the big upsets (shoutout St. Peter’s), and gaze into the crystal ball for the future. We also dive into NFL and MLB free agency, and drop our favorite signings and biggest surprises. 

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