The First Million Is Always the Hardest Podcast Featured on WGN Radio
The Southland Development Authority’s podcast, The First Million Is Always the Hardest, continues to reach new audiences through its ongoing partnership with WGN Radio. Several recent episodes are now hosted directly on WGN’s platform, expanding access to conversations focused on entrepreneurship, wealth building, and real-world business strategy.
Across these episodes, host Bo Kemp, the CEO of the SDA, explores the practical challenges that hold people back from achieving their goals, and what it actually takes to move past them. One episode focuses on five common barriers that derail progress for most entrepreneurs: time, money, fear, doubt, and partner resistance. No excuses here. The conversation reframes those four things as structural issues that can be directly addressed. And how. More details in the episode.
Another featured episode goes into the rapidly changing world of digital currencies. In a conversation with Bitcoin and digital-asset attorney Joe Carlasare, Bo breaks down how Bitcoin, stablecoins, and emerging financial tools are already being used by entrepreneurs and developers today. The discussion focuses on real applications including faster transactions and broader access to capital. As well as what business owners should understand as the financial landscape continues to evolve.
The podcast also highlights veteran entrepreneurship, including a powerful conversation with U.S. Marine veteran and Valor Jiu-Jitsu co-founder Marcos Estrada Sr. That episode explores how the discipline and leadership developed through military service can translate into successful business ownership, and how veterans may be uniquely positioned to acquire and grow existing small businesses as generational ownership transitions take place.
The First Million Is Always the Hardest shares honest, practical insights from people who have built, struggled, adapted, and succeeded all without glossing over the hard parts. Hosting the podcast on WGN’s platform helps bring these conversations to a wider regional audience while continuing to spotlight the voices and ideas shaping economic growth across the Southland and beyond.
Listeners can find these episodes and more on WGN Radio’s First Million Mondays website, linked here, as well as on major podcast platforms.
