Marc Pendergraft and John Modi have been in business together for almost as long as they've been friends ― and they met in middle school. As college students, they made women's shoes, but their real breakthrough came with MakerFlo, a wholesale business offering tumblers, cutting boards and other products that makers can customize and sell. A pandemic-era boom helped them grow, but a $2 million loss and excess inventory nearly ended it all. What kept them going was simple: they remembered why they started.

Join Stevie Baron, CEO of Chase for Business, and Kathleen Griffith as they talk with Marc and John about the cost of pivoting, protecting employee benefits through financial losses and building an unshakeable partnership. These are The Unshakeables.

Learn more at chase.com/business

Marc Pendergraft and John Modi have been in business together for almost as long as they've been friends ― and they met in middle school. As college students, they made women's shoes, but their real breakthrough came with MakerFlo, a wholesale business offering tumblers, cutting boards and other products that makers can customize and sell. A pandemic-era boom helped them grow, but a $2 million loss and excess inventory nearly ended it all. What kept them going was simple: they remembered why they started.
Join Stevie Baron, CEO of Chase for Business, and Kathleen Griffith as they talk with Marc and John about the cost of pivoting, protecting employee benefits through financial losses and building an unshakeable partnership. These are The Unshakeables.
Learn more at <a href="https://www.chase.com/business">chase.com/business</a>

Making With Purpose: MakerFlo

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On this special episode, The Unshakeables heads to Washington, D.C. Stevie Baron, CEO of Chase for Business, was joined by five small business owners who spent the day on Capitol Hill to talk about issues that matter most.

 

Join Stevie, as he sits down with Arielle Elliott, CEO of the Washington Sun, at the Washington Sun’s American Small Business Summit to discuss what he heard on the Hill—and the simplest way anyone can show up for small business right now. These are The Unshakeables.

On this special episode, The Unshakeables heads to Washington, D.C. Stevie Baron, CEO of Chase for Business, was joined by five small business owners who spent the day on Capitol Hill to talk about issues that matter most.
&nbsp;
Join Stevie, as he sits down with Arielle Elliott, CEO of the Washington Sun, at the Washington Sun&rsquo;s American Small Business Summit to discuss what he heard on the Hill&mdash;and the simplest way anyone can show up for small business right now. These are The Unshakeables.

Showing Up for Small Business: Live from Washington, D.C.

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Barry Brennan and Steven Katz built Flying Lion around a simple but ambitious idea — put drones in the sky to protect people on the ground. They pioneered a “drone as first responder” business for private security and commercial operations. It was a niche few were willing to bet on, but Barry went all in. Then one contract tripled their workload overnight. For a year, they ran nonstop to keep up — until five employees quit at once, leaving Barry and Steven to hold it all together.

In this episode, Stevie Baron, CEO of Chase for Business, joins Kathleen Griffith for the first time to talk with Barry about scaling before you’re ready, what a mass resignation teaches you about building a team and what it really means to be first on the scene. These are The Unshakeables.

Learn more at chase.com/business.

Barry Brennan and Steven Katz built Flying Lion around a simple but ambitious idea &mdash; put drones in the sky to protect people on the ground. They pioneered a &ldquo;drone as first responder&rdquo; business for private security and commercial operations. It was a niche few were willing to bet on, but Barry went all in. Then one contract tripled their workload overnight. For a year, they ran nonstop to keep up &mdash; until five employees quit at once, leaving Barry and Steven to hold it all together.
In this episode, Stevie Baron, CEO of Chase for Business, joins Kathleen Griffith for the first time to talk with Barry about scaling before you&rsquo;re ready, what a mass resignation teaches you about building a team and what it really means to be first on the scene. These are The Unshakeables.
Learn more at <a href="https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.chase.com%2Fbusiness&amp;data=05%7C02%7CSiaraSpreen%40iheartmedia.com%7C28b7990edf5148fd453208def6be1d3d%7C122a527e5b714eba878d9810b495b9e3%7C0%7C0%7C639219493864225896%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=1fkrJzAF6KuUY8yi2Box4A%2BZKL6gPzgRIHW2mQaQ91U%3D&amp;reserved=0" data-outlook-id="4595f1a6-a7b5-4baf-9bd4-7249b61eda90">chase.com/business</a>.

Eyes in the Sky: Flying Lion

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Daisy Kelly and Jay Simpson met working at Blue Origin, the aerospace company founded by Jeff Bezos. When they decided to start Multi-Axis Technologies — a machine shop in Kent, Washington — they used personal savings to purchase secondhand machines and sign a five-year lease before they had a single customer. They set out to solve a problem they kept seeing firsthand, shops that could not reliably deliver the speed and precision teams like theirs needed.

From the start, their partnership was the foundation of the business, but when one of their busiest machines broke down mid-schedule, Daisy and Jay found out just how far a partnership could be stretched. In this episode, Ben and Kathleen talk about finding — and keeping — the right business partner. Ben also has some news of his own. These are The Unshakeables.

Daisy Kelly and Jay Simpson met working at Blue Origin, the aerospace company founded by Jeff Bezos. When they decided to start Multi-Axis Technologies &mdash; a machine shop in Kent, Washington &mdash; they used personal savings to purchase secondhand machines and sign a five-year lease before they had a single customer. They set out to solve a problem they kept seeing firsthand, shops that could not reliably deliver the speed and precision teams like theirs needed.
From the start, their partnership was the foundation of the business, but when one of their busiest machines broke down mid-schedule, Daisy and Jay found out just how far a partnership could be stretched. In this episode, Ben and Kathleen talk about finding &mdash; and keeping &mdash; the right business partner. Ben also has some news of his own. These are The Unshakeables.

Who You Work With: Multi-Axis Technologies

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Elon Elezra moved to Alabama for college and never left. A gig fixing iPhones in his dorm room turned into running storefronts for the largest reselling platform in the world, doing roofing repair, and buying real estate. He spent years treating every venture as a classroom, seeing a lesson in every hardship. But ambition has a price. When Elon tackled one of his first major commercial renovations, the project became a crash course in everything that can go wrong — and how much it costs to find out.

In this episode, Ben and Kathleen talk with Elon about what he has learned and how he has defined his own American dream. After successfully selling his garage door company, Elon continues to dream for more. These are The Unshakeables.

Elon Elezra moved to Alabama for college and never left. A gig fixing iPhones in his dorm room turned into running storefronts for the largest reselling platform in the world, doing roofing repair, and buying real estate. He spent years treating every venture as a classroom, seeing a lesson in every hardship. But ambition has a price. When Elon tackled one of his first major commercial renovations, the project became a crash course in everything that can go wrong &mdash; and how much it costs to find out.
In this episode, Ben and Kathleen talk with Elon about what he has learned and how he has defined his own American dream. After successfully selling his garage door company, Elon continues to dream for more. These are The Unshakeables.

Built to Keep Going: Elon Elezra

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Max Siegelman had a logo before he had a brand — borrowed from his father's harness racing stable, Siegelman Stable. The logo felt like it was meant to be on a hat, so when the pandemic hit, Max put $600 down and started making them. No outside money, no rapid scaling. He funded each production run with returns from the last, built buzz with rappers and shipped hats to the NBA Bubble in 2020. Then in 2022, one of his hats ended up on Kendall Jenner during Paris Fashion Week. Max had 15 minutes to get his website ready and he made the moment count. 

Join Ben and Kathleen as they talk to Max about building a luxury brand on legacy and scarcity, why limited drops beat mass production, and how travel fuels the aspirational mystique that makes Siegelman Stable impossible to ignore. These are The Unshakeables.

Max Siegelman had a logo before he had a brand &mdash; borrowed from his father's harness racing stable, Siegelman Stable. The logo felt like it was meant to be on a hat, so when the pandemic hit, Max put $600 down and started making them. No outside money, no rapid scaling. He funded each production run with returns from the last, built buzz with rappers and shipped hats to the NBA Bubble in 2020. Then in 2022, one of his hats ended up on Kendall Jenner during Paris Fashion Week. Max had 15 minutes to get his website ready and he made the moment count.&nbsp;
Join Ben and Kathleen as they talk to Max about building a luxury brand on legacy and scarcity, why limited drops beat mass production, and how travel fuels the aspirational mystique that makes Siegelman Stable impossible to ignore. These are The Unshakeables.

The Hat That Changed Everything: Siegelman Stable 

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How do some small businesses stand the test of time? In today’s mini episode, Maya talks with Ben Walter, CEO of Chase for Business and host of “The Unshakeables” podcast, about what helps businesses endure across generations – from adaptability and grit to a deep connection with their communities.

This episode was made in partnership with Chase for Business. Listen to “The Unshakeables” here. Listen to our previous conversation with Ben, “Boost Your Resilience At Work.”

How do some small businesses stand the test of time? In today&rsquo;s mini episode, Maya talks with Ben Walter, CEO of Chase for Business and host of &ldquo;The Unshakeables&rdquo; podcast, about what helps businesses endure across generations &ndash; from adaptability and grit to a deep connection with their communities.
This episode was made in partnership with Chase for Business. Listen to &ldquo;The Unshakeables&rdquo;<a href="https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1119-the-unshakeables-143335977/"> here</a>. Listen to our previous conversation with Ben, <a href="https://www.pushkin.fm/podcasts/a-slight-change-of-plans/bonus-boost-your-resilience-at-work">&ldquo;Boost Your Resilience At Work.&rdquo;</a>

BONUS: How Small Businesses Endure for Generations

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Christopher Borgatti learned the business from his father. His son, Christopher, learned it from him. Since 1935, four generations of Borgattis have been rolling pasta in the same Bronx shop through the Depression, through WWII, through changing neighborhoods, through the internet age and through a pandemic. The name on the door has never changed. Neither has the commitment to quality. 

But legacy does not mean easy. When bird flu sent egg prices through the roof, the Borgattis absorbed the cost rather than pass it on to their customers. When the ravioli machine broke in the middle of Christmas week, their most critical week of the year, they did not close up shop. They fixed it. 

Join Ben and Kathleen as they talk with Christopher and Christopher about what it really means to be a neighborhood institution, why putting customers over profits is both a values decision and a business strategy and how a family pasta shop has outlasted nearly a century of American upheaval. These are The Unshakeables.

Christopher Borgatti learned the business from his father. His son, Christopher, learned it from him. Since 1935, four generations of Borgattis have been rolling pasta in the same Bronx shop through the Depression, through WWII, through changing neighborhoods, through the internet age and through a pandemic. The name on the door has never changed. Neither has the commitment to quality.&nbsp;
But legacy does not mean easy. When bird flu sent egg prices through the roof, the Borgattis absorbed the cost rather than pass it on to their customers. When the ravioli machine broke in the middle of Christmas week, their most critical week of the year, they did not close up shop. They fixed it.&nbsp;
Join Ben and Kathleen as they talk with Christopher and Christopher about what it really means to be a neighborhood institution, why putting customers over profits is both a values decision and a business strategy and how a family pasta shop has outlasted nearly a century of American upheaval. These are The Unshakeables.

Ninety Years of Noodles: Borgatti's Ravioli & Egg Noodles

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Patricia Ermecheo always knew she would build something. She just didn’t know what — until she saw mountains of discarded clothing headed for landfills. When she couldn’t find a way to break textiles back down into usable fiber, she built one. That company became OSOMTEX. But building a solution no one else has figured out comes at a cost. The same drive that powered Patricia forward pushed her toward burnout, putting both her health and her company at risk. 

 

In this episode, Ben and Kathleen talk with Patricia about the isolation of entrepreneurship, navigating partnerships with major brands as a small player and why sometimes going backward through the supply chain is the only way forward. These are The Unshakeables.

Patricia Ermecheo always knew she would build something. She just didn&rsquo;t know what &mdash; until she saw mountains of discarded clothing headed for landfills. When she couldn&rsquo;t find a way to break textiles back down into usable fiber, she built one. That company became OSOMTEX. But building a solution no one else has figured out comes at a cost. The same drive that powered Patricia forward pushed her toward burnout, putting both her health and her company at risk.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
In this episode, Ben and Kathleen talk with Patricia about the isolation of entrepreneurship, navigating partnerships with major brands as a small player and why sometimes going backward through the supply chain is the only way forward. These are The Unshakeables.

Unravel, Rebuild, Repeat: OSOMTEX

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Millionaire-making tech start-ups are most often associated with Silicon Valley. But this software revolution begins on a woman’s kitchen table in rural Britain in the 1960s. Steve Shirley faced extraordinary odds. After escaping Nazi Germany as a child, she later encountered workplace discrimination and endured deep personal tragedy. But she persevered to build a business decades ahead of its time, creating opportunities for hundreds of women.

Tim Harford is joined by Ben Walter, CEO of Chase for Business and host of The Unshakeables podcast, to explore the life, legacy and lessons of an overlooked titan of tech.

Millionaire-making tech start-ups are most often associated with Silicon Valley. But this software revolution begins on a woman&rsquo;s kitchen table in rural Britain in the 1960s. Steve Shirley faced extraordinary odds. After escaping Nazi Germany as a child, she later encountered workplace discrimination and endured deep personal tragedy. But she persevered to build a business decades ahead of its time, creating opportunities for hundreds of women.
Tim Harford is joined by Ben Walter, CEO of Chase for Business and host of <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-unshakeables/id1725983618">The Unshakeables</a> podcast, to explore the life, legacy and lessons of an overlooked titan of tech.

The Refugee Who Led a Software Revolution - with Ben Walter

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/aeec0362-f477-41cc-94c2-b42401023255/transcript

The Unshakeables podcast dives into inspiring stories from real small business owners across America who power their communities every day. Join Stevie Baron, CEO of Chase for Business, and co-host Kathleen Griffith as they hear from guests who share their make-or-break moments that changed everything. Produced in collaboration with iHeartMedia's Ruby Studio, The Unshakeables has won multiple awards, including Gold at the 2025 Signal Awards. The speakers’ opinions belong to them and may differ from opinions of J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. and its affiliates. Views presented on this podcast are those of the speakers; they are as of the podcast release date and they may not materialize. JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. Member FDIC. ©2026 JPMorgan Chase & Co.

The Unshakeables podcast dives into inspiring stories from real small business owners across America who power their communities every day. Join Stevie Baron, CEO of Chase for Business, and co-host Kathleen Griffith as they hear from guests who share their make-or-break moments that changed everything. Produced in collaboration with iHeartMedia's Ruby Studio, The Unshakeables has won multiple awards, including Gold at the 2025 Signal Awards. The speakers&rsquo; opinions belong to them and may differ from opinions of J.P. Morgan Chase &amp; Co. and its affiliates. Views presented on this podcast are those of the speakers; they are as of the podcast release date and they may not materialize. JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. Member FDIC. &copy;2026 JPMorgan Chase &amp; Co.

The Unshakeables

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