Happy Hour Hustle
Business & Finance
About
You're listening to 8THIRTYFOUR's award-winning* podcast, The Happy Hour Hustle. We offer listeners the chance to experience the musings (or ramblings depending on how many glasses of wine she's had) of the one and only, Kimberly J. Bode as she interviews notable clients, upstanding community members, and random passersby. Publishing a new episode the first and third Tuesday of every month.*nominations and awards pending
Episodes
- Happy Hour Hustle #131: Honesty and Communication in the Workplace
In this episode of Happy Hour Hustle, Maddie sits down with Grace Gavin , co-founder of Know Honesty , three-time founder, and co-author of the book Know Honesty: Eliminate the Divide, Become a Masterful Communicator, and Connect with Anyo…
- Happy Hour Hustle #130: Rebecca Dutcher
We're back with another cohort spotlight from the Women's Entrepreneurial Fellowship. Maddie sat down with Rebecca Dutcher , founder and CEO of RED66 Marketing , a Michigan-based marketing agency helping clients build strategies that conne…
- Happy Hour Hustle #129: Monica Gauthier's Groovy Donuts Journey
In this episode of Happy Hour Hustle, Kim sits down with Monica Gauthier , who has spent the past 11 years co-owning Groovy Donuts , and is now finally catching up on sleep. She started out studying fish disease and turned that into a succ…
- Happy Hour Hustle #128: Jody Hayden
We're back with another cohort spotlight from the Women's Entrepreneurial Fellowship. Maddie sat down with Jody Hayden , co-owner of Grocer's Daughter Chocolate , a Michigan-based chocolate company with roots in the specialty coffee and ch…
- Happy Hour Hustle #127: Caitlin McMahan
We're back with another cohort spotlight from the Women's Entrepreneurial Fellowship . Maddie sat down with Caitlin McMahan, co-owner of Marcellus Metalcasters, a Michigan-based manufacturing company doing really impressive work. They talk…
- Happy Hour Hustle #126: Jenny Lashuay
We're back with another Cohort Spotlight, shining a light on the incredible women who make up the 2025-26 cohort for the Women's Entrepreneurial Fellowship. Jenny Lashuay is the founder of BattleGR and BGR Event Center. She saw a need for…
- Happy Hour Hustle #125: How HealthBar is Changing the Game in Healthcare
Healthcare costs killing your small business budget? You're not alone, and there might finally be a solution. In this episode, Kim talks with Nathan Baar, founder of HealthBar , licensed nurse, and entrepreneur who's reimagining how small…
- Happy Hour Hustle #124: Mary Barton
We're back with another Cohort Spotlight, continuing our series with the incredible women who make up the 2025-26 cohort for the Women's Entrepreneurial Fellowship . Mary Barton is the founder of Equitable Accounting Solutions , a Detroit-…
- Happy Hour Hustle #123: Kirbay Preuss
This is the first episode of our series of Cohort Spotlights, where we are talking to the incredible women who make up the 2025-26 cohort for the Women's Entrepreneurial Fellowship . Kirbay Preuss is the 3rd-generation owner of Preuss Pets…
- Happy Hour Hustle #122: Making Yourself Memorable
Fiona McPherson Grant spent more than 20 years building a career before deciding to go solo. In this episode, Kim and Fiona talk about what those first few months of working for yourself actually look like and how she's learned to say no.…
- Happy Hour Hustle #121: AI Mode and Local Media
AI Mode is rewriting how people find information, and marketers and newsrooms are feeling it in real time. Maddie is joined by Charlsie Dewey , Digital Director at WOOD TV8 , to break down what AI summaries mean for visibility, clicks, and…
- Happy Hour Hustle #120: Come Along Ladies, It's Time to Ruin the Workplace
You may have seen the New York Times asking whether women "ruined" the workplace. We're not treating that like a real question, because it isn't one. The workplace wasn't ruined by women; it was built with competition, ego, and protection…
- Happy Hour Hustle #119: A 'Home Away from Home' for Veterans and their Families
Fisher House is one of the best-kept secrets in the Veteran space. They are comfort homes where military and Veterans' families can stay at no cost while a loved one is receiving treatment - saving them thousands of dollars and allowing th…
- Happy Hour Hustle #118: The Pickleball Gold Rush
For Christy Howden , building a business and building a community go hand-in-hand. She co-founded Wolverine Pickleball when the sport was just starting to be on the rise, and through grit, persistence, and a lot of hustle, she's built it i…
- Happy Hour Hustle #117: Planning for the Worst
You have to fight to protect your business. That includes planning for the worst-case scenario. Kim Bode's been prepping for almost 20 years, and her track record speaks for itself. She's outlasted chaos, recessions, algorithm changes, tox…
- Happy Hour Hustle #116: Does That Social Trend Fit Your Brand?
Not every viral trend is good for your brand. Maddie sits down with Josh Mosey from Kent District Library to talk about his approach to having fun with social media, when NOT to post, and books... because we love books.
- Happy Hour Hustle #115: The Program for What Comes After
Find out why (and what) we're drinking on this episode as we delve into gender bias, the challenges facing second-stage women-owned small businesses, and why the Small Business Association of Michigan is expanding the Women's Entrepreneuri…
- Happy Hour Hustle #114: Pet Care is Expensive. This Founder Created A Solution
Taking care of your pets can sometimes be a full-time job, and if they need vet care, it could wipe out your entire paycheck. In this episode, Rachel Berkal , cofounder of Vetr Health , joins Maddie to talk about how her and her team are t…
- Happy Hour Hustle #113: Small Business Impact of New Ballot Proposals
Some ballot measures never make it to Election Day - and that's exactly the point. Many of the most consequential political battles happen before you ever enter a voting booth. In this episode, Kelli Saunders from the Small Business Associ…
- Happy Hour Hustle #112: The Robots are Coming for Me
To AI or not to AI. Are we using it, just to say we're using it? Is it actually helping or hurting? We tackle these hard hitting questions and dig into why Kim threatened ChatGPT with bodily harm.
- Happy Hour Hustle #111: How to Get the Internship
We get asked this question a lot: What does it take to land the internship? We know it's competitive and overwhelming. But if you're willing to put the work in, businesses will reward you for that. And your dream job probably already told…
- Happy Hour Hustle #110: Mark Peters and The SOURCE
When lawmakers become disconnected from real community needs, it often falls to visionary business leaders to create practical solutions. That's exactly what Mark Peters , CEO of Butterball Farms, did when he established The SOURCE 20 year…
- Happy Hour Hustle #109: What You Need to Know About ESTA
The Earned Sick Time Act (ESTA) has been a huge focus (and problem) for Michigan business owners as they work to ensure they are compliant with the new law by February 21. But with uncertainty and changes still happening with ESTA by the m…
- Happy Hour Hustle #108: Staying on Track in the New Year
How is it already mid-way through January?! Maddie and Ashley sit down to talk about planning for 2025 (hopefully you already got started). They discuss the dos and don'ts of keeping everyone on track and why project management systems can…
- Happy Hour Hustle #107: Managing Across Generations
From Gen X to Gen Z, there has been a lot of conversation in recent years about how to best manage multigenerational workplaces. We brought in Jennifer Maxson , of Jennifer Maxson & Associates , to talk about strategies to approach differe…
- Happy Hour Hustle #106: A Closer Look at the Caregiver Crisis
Rosalynn Carter famously said: "There are only four kinds of people in the world: those who have been caregivers, those who are currently caregivers, those who will be caregivers, and those who will need caregivers." That's what this episo…
- Happy Hour Hustle #105: Let's Talk Graphic Design
We are excited to introduce you to our incredible graphic designer Hannah Cline - who makes all of our shit look good. Hannah and Maddie talk about agency life, how she comes up with designs, and the next big thing in the industry.
- Happy Hour Hustle #104: The Economic Argument for Inclusivity
We are back this week with part two of our conversation with Jen VanSkiver of Special Olympics Michigan - this time, making the economic case for inclusion in the workforce and beyond. Jen, Kim and Maddie talk about some of the startling s…
- Happy Hour Hustle #103: Inclusivity in Hiring
When it comes to inclusivity, it's so important we do more than just talking. That's why Kim and Maddie sat down with Jen VanSkiver of Special Olympics Michigan . The nonprofit is changing the game in inclusivity and empowering athletes fa…
- Happy Hour Hustle #102: Why Showing Up Matters
We are deep in the heart of event season right now, which is both a fun and crazy time for 8THIRTYFOUR. As we head out on yet another flight, Kim and Maddie sit down to talk about the importance of showing up - and why it's one of the most…
- Happy Hour Hustle #101: How to Work with Freelancers
At 8THIRTYFOUR, we are lucky to have an incredible network of freelancers and contractors we work with to get the job done. But how do you best work with someone who isn't on your staff full-time? Maddie sat down with Jenna Brooks , a free…
- Episode #100: Women in the Workforce
As a woman-owned business, we put a lot of stake in supporting other women as they work to grow their careers. This week on Happy Hour Hustle, we sit down with Shannon Burkel and Kaitlyn Olson of Axios HR to talk about women in leadership,…
- Happy Hour Hustle #99: Why the Corporate Transparency Act is Bad Business
Small businesses already deal with enough, and now this . The Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) forces small businesses to provide their personal information to the federal government or face fines and even imprisonment if they don't. We've…
- Happy Hour Hustle #98: The Changing World of Local Media
It's no secret that the local news world has been changing, from how journalists connect with the community to how they combat misinformation online (which is no easy task). Maddie and Alayna are once again joined by Lauren Kummer , a repo…
- Happy Hour Hustle #97: Ask An Olympic Athlete
Happy Olympics, Hustlers! This week we got the chance to talk to real-life Olympian, Ben Jefferies , and his coach, Scott Barnes. We asked them about what it takes to get to that level, what they are looking forward to the most, and advice…
- Happy Hour Hustle #96: Pitching to the Media
Maddie and Alayna sit down with Lauren Kummer , a reporter and anchor at FOX 17 in West Michigan, to talk about all the do's, don'ts and the definitely don'ts of pitching. Lauren gives advice to PR pros on how they can best grab the attent…
- Happy Hour Hustle #95: Renee Bauer
Kim and Maddie sit down with Renee Bauer, author of She Who Wins and owner of Happy Even After Family Law . They talk about leadership, strength and what it takes to ditch your inner 'good girl.'
- Happy Hour Hustle #94: What's New in Digital Marketing
Are you up to date with Google's latest rollout? How is your business using AI? Did you hear what LinkedIn is doing now ? The digital team at 8THIRTYFOUR walks through the latest in the Digital Marketing space.
- Happy Hour Hustle #93: Let's Talk Crisis Management
Big or small, every company faces a crisis at some point. How you handle it could mean the difference between irreparable reputation damage and moving forward. Kim and Maddie talk about what it takes to manage a crisis, who's done it well…
- Happy Hour Hustle #92: Inside Influencer Marketing (Part 2)
We just could not get enough of our conversation Aly Zuiderveen and Chelsea Sinke, known by their usernames @helloalymay and @mygrandrapidslife. Hear what these Grand Rapids influencers had to say about their red and green flags, and where…
- Happy Hour Hustle #91: Inside Influencer Marketing (Part 1)
Is anything moving faster than the influencer world? Probably not. We sat down with Aly Zuiderveen and Chelsea Sinke, known by their usernames @helloalymay and @mygrandrapidslife, for a look behind the curtains. Hear what they had to say a…
- Happy Hour Hustle #90: Small Business Spotlight
Here at 8THIRTYFOUR, we are all about supporting other small businesses. Because let's face it, we're badass. Ahead of Small Business Saturday, we talked to two small business owners here in Michigan (who happen to also be our incredible c…
- Happy Hour Hustle #89: How to Overcome Burnout
Burnout has become a bit of a buzzword since the pandemic, but what is it really ? Why do more women experience it? What can we do to overcome it? Dr. Dominique Pritchett , a nationally recognized mental wellness strategist and keynote spe…
- Happy Hour Hustle #88: How a Government Shutdown Impacts Small Businesses
Federal employees are not the only ones hurt by a government shutdown. Small businesses and government contractors are also forced to reevaluate when our lawmakers can't agree on a budget. Kim talks with Sue Tellier, the CEO of JetCo Feder…
- Happy Hour Hustle #87: Power of Female Rage
It's a core belief here at 8THIRTYFOUR... the future is female. And women are definitely having a moment. From our changing representation in the media to female stars taking over the world (looking at you Taylor), we're talking about the…
- Happy Hour Hustle #86: A Guide to Summer in GR
If you didn't already know, the 8THIRTYFOUR team loves a good drink... and patio... and rooftop... aaand the list goes on. In this episode, Derek, Emma, and Savannah sit down to chat about their favorite places to crack open a cold one and…
- Happy Hour Hustle #85: SEO for Dummies
When people mention SEO do you find your brain empty? We can help with that. Emma sits down with Rowan, one of 8THIRTYFOUR's Account Managers and Knower of All Things, to discuss the basics of SEO... and a little bit more. From site rankin…
- Happy Hour Hustle #84: Keeping Up with Social Media Trends
Remember when we had to remind people not to eat Tide Pods? What about Chris Pine's iconic stare during the Don't Worry Darling press tour? Well, lucky for you, the 8THIRTYFOUR team sat down to chat about all things social media trends, ou…
- Happy Hour Hustle #83: Bringing Communications to a Crisis
You shouldn't wait for a crisis to happen before you have a crisis communications plan. That's why we're here to chat through every step. Simplified, it's all about OAF. Own it, apologize, fix it. Obviously, there are other details, but we…
- Happy Hour Hustle #82: How to Make the Media Love You
We're talking about one of our favorite things — PR. The relationship between a journalist and a PR pro is an important one, so the team is breaking down what it means to be authentic, why pitching is hard work, and some of our favorite jo…