Episodes

In this episode of the Entrepreneurship@DU Podcast, host Joshua Ross sits down with DU alums Owen Locke and Rick Talley, co-founders of Lock & Co. Distilling. What started as a garage experiment between two lifelong friends has grown into a gold-medal-winning whiskey brand rooted in Colorado tradition.

In this episode of the Entrepreneurship@DU Podcast, host Joshua Ross sits down with University of Denver students Gina Parker and Charlie Peterson to talk about building community through entrepreneurship on campus. Gina and Charlie share their experiences leading and growing Pop-Up Palooza, a signature event that brings students, alumni, and the Denver community together to showcase student ventures. They discuss how the event has evolved and how it fosters creativity, connection, and an inclus...

In this episode of the Entrepreneurship@DU Podcast, host Joshua Ross sits down with Dr. Julia Roncoroni — psychologist, University of Denver professor, and co-founder of Cocina Libre Collective. What started as a cookbook highlighting immigrant chefs has blossomed into a movement: dinners, workshops, a documentary, and now a podcast — all rooted in storytelling, culture, and the universal language of food. Julia shares powerful stories of resilience, discusses the barriers immigrants face in the...

In this episode of the Entrepreneurship@DU Podcast, host Joshua Ross interviews Noah Hampton, a first-year student at the University of Denver, Marine Corps veteran, and co-founder of Pentilla Vodka. Noah shares his journey from growing up in Missouri to serving in the Marines, including his firsthand experience during the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. He discusses how these life-changing experiences shaped both his perspective and the mission behind Pentilla. The episode dives into how Noah...

In this episode, our host sits down with Sean Kearns and Neil Pollard, to discuss Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition (ETA)—a growing approach to business ownership. Together, we explore why ETA has gained momentum, how it lowers risks compared to startups, and what makes it a compelling choice for aspiring entrepreneurs. Listeners will learn about key steps to identifying, financing, and scaling an acquired business, as well as the critical role universities like the University of Denver play ...

In this episode of the Entrepreneurship@DU Podcast, host Joshua Ross interviews Chris Jerard, serial entrepreneur and current VP of Marketing at Outside. They discuss Chris’ journey from an English and poetry major at the University of Colorado to becoming an influential entrepreneur in the outdoor industry. Chris shares how his early entrepreneurial experiences, from running a painting business in college to co-founding Free Skier Magazine, shaped his career. The episode concludes with insights...

In this episode of the Entrepreneurship@DU Podcast, host Joshua Ross interviews DU alumni Will Palmquist and University of Denver faculty member Ryan Elmore. Together, they discuss their journey as co-founders of First Team Analytics, a sports analytics company focused on collegiate soccer. The authors discuss their passion for helping entrepreneurs succeed through their framework of five essential pillars: strategy, structure, people, processes, and cash. Through their real-world experiences he...

In this episode of the Entrepreneurship at DU podcast, host Joshua Ross interviews DU alumni and entrepreneurs Stephen Adele and Zach Lewis about their book "Ready, Set Scale: Scaling Your Business Without Losing Your Soul." The authors discuss their passion for helping entrepreneurs succeed through their framework of five essential pillars: strategy, structure, people, processes, and cash. Through their real-world experiences helping businesses scale from $1M to $50M in revenue, they emphasize ...

This Entrepreneurship@DU episode features an insightful conversation with two recent graduates of the E@DU Basecamp Accelerator program: Leah Nieboer, a PhD candidate and podcast creator, and Sam Fordyce, an undergraduate student and dumpling entrepreneur. They discuss their experiences in the intense six-week program, highlighting the challenges they faced, the valuable mentorship they received, and the crucial skills they developed, such as market validation and rapid adaptation to feedback. T...