In this episode, I sat down with Sharnie Grewal, Functional Wellness Coach focused on helping women over 30 optimize their health through a root-cause, functional approach. Sharnie shares her journey from growing up in London to becoming a physical therapist and eventually transitioning into entrepreneurship after experiencing her own health struggles. What stood out to me is how her personal frustration with low energy and being told “this is normal” pushed her to challenge conventional thinking and build something that actually helps people feel better.

We dive deep into functional medicine, the importance of addressing root causes instead of symptoms, and the biggest health mistakes people make—especially around sleep, movement, and food habits. Sharnie also breaks down how identity, mindset, and daily choices shape long-term health outcomes. Beyond health, we talk about the realities of starting a business, overcoming money beliefs, and building a life that aligns with both family and purpose. This episode is a powerful reminder that your health—and your life—can change dramatically when you take ownership of it.

Connect with the Host

Twitter: ⁠twitter.com/ItsRajTut⁠⁠

LinkedIn: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/rajtut/

⁠⁠Instagram: ⁠instagram.com/ItsRajTut⁠

TikTok: ⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@itsrajtut

Timestamps for Key Segments

00:00 Overcoming exhaustion and “normal” burnout

01:17 Introduction to Sharnie’s business and niche

02:05 What her health coaching business does

02:52 Growing up in London and early interests

03:53 Path into physical therapy

06:44 Personal health struggles as turning point

08:00 Discovering functional medicine

10:30 What functional medicine actually is

13:07 Leaving traditional healthcare limitations

15:20 Starting a business with no experience

17:20 Building a wellness community online

20:27 How her coaching process works

23:15 Biggest health mistakes (sleep, food, movement)

30:47 Gut health and nutrition fundamentals

34:28 Money mindset challenges in entrepreneurship

39:30 Rapid fire health insights and habits

42:04 Daily routines and non-negotiables

46:14 Final message: your body can heal

This podcast is brought to you by Storyboard Living.If you're looking to sell us a 40+ unit multifamily property in the St. Louis region, or another part of MO/IL, please email deals@storyboardliving.com

Connect with us at our Website: https://storyboardliving.com/

LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/company/storyboard-living/

In this episode, I sit down with Steve Smith, co-founder of Lawrence Group and founder of New + Found. Steve started Lawrence Group in 1983 in the attic of his home with just a few hundred dollars and a vision of building what he once called the “super firm” — a company that designs, builds, develops, and owns real estate. Over four decades, that vision has grown into a vertically integrated organization operating across architecture, development, construction, and hospitality.

We talk about the mindset behind transformative real estate, including how Steve nearly went bankrupt on his first development, why he believes developers should lead change instead of chasing trends, and how the idea for City Foundry STL was born during a visit to Krog Street Market. We also break down the financing behind one of the most complex real estate deals in the country, how historic tax credits helped unlock massive redevelopment, and why investing in downtown St. Louis remains a mission larger than profit.

Connect with our guest:

Twitter: ⁠twitter.com/ItsRajTut

⁠⁠LinkedIn: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/rajtut/

⁠⁠Instagram: ⁠instagram.com/ItsRajTut⁠

TikTok: ⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@itsrajtut

Connect with our guest

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/steve-smith-faia

Lawrence Group: https://thelawrencegroup.com

New + Found: https://newandfound.com

Timestamps for Key Segments

00:00 The moment City Foundry was conceived

02:15 Introducing Steve Smith and Lawrence Group

04:19 Growing up in an entrepreneurial household

05:07 Deciding to become an architect at age 10

06:07 Starting Lawrence Group with $7,500

09:01 The failed development that nearly ended everything

13:00 Rebuilding the architecture firm and delaying development

16:06 The motorcycle museum that sparked new development

21:00 Learning historic tax credits and adaptive reuse

24:34 Creating markets instead of following comps

27:54 Studying other cities to inspire developments

29:27 The origin story of City Foundry STL

35:04 Environmental cleanup and the brownfield strategy

44:05 Financing one of the most complex deals in the country

48:54 Measuring success beyond financial return

52:16 Why Steve keeps investing in downtown St. Louis

55:02 Staying calm during crises and downturns

This podcast is brought to you by Storyboard Living.If you're looking to sell us a 40+ unit multifamily property in the St. Louis region, or another part of MO/IL, please email deals@storyboardliving.comConnect with us at our Website: https://storyboardliving.com/

LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/company/storyboard-living/

In this episode, I sat down with Sonia Cajigal, an Allergy/Immunologist at St. Louis Family Allergy, to talk about her path from an accelerated medical program into allergy and immunology, and eventually into building her own private practice in St. Peters, Missouri. She has a strong clinical background, but what stood out to me was how intentionally she has built a more modern, flexible, patient-centered model of care. We talked about the difference between training to become a physician and learning, in real time, how to become a business owner. Sonia also shared how her own experience with allergies helped shape the way she thinks about patient care and innovation.

We also went deep on what is changing inside allergy treatment today. Sonia explained oral and sublingual immunotherapy for food allergies, the difference between food allergies and intolerances, and why newer options like Quick-LI are creating a much faster path to relief for environmental allergy sufferers. Beyond the medicine, we discussed the business realities of private practice: choosing location strategy, managing overhead, handling insurance headaches, delegating operations, and deciding whether growth should mean getting bigger or becoming more specialized. One of the biggest themes from this conversation was that meaningful innovation often starts before the broader market fully accepts it.

Connect with the Host

Twitter: ⁠twitter.com/ItsRajTut⁠⁠

LinkedIn: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/rajtut/⁠⁠

Instagram: ⁠instagram.com/ItsRajTut⁠

TikTok: ⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@itsrajtut

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sonia-cajigal-a3476616b

Website: https://saintlouisfamilyallergy.com/

Practice Profile: https://www.mercy.net/doctor/sonia-rani-cajigal-md/

St. Louis Family Allergy — private allergy, asthma, and immunology practice in St. Peters — https://saintlouisfamilyallergy.com/

Timestamps

00:00 Food allergies, myths, and why treatment has changed

01:26 Sonia Cajigal’s medical background and accelerated training path

05:53 The moment allergy and immunology clicked

06:59 Why she chose to build her own private practice

08:11 The first steps to launching a medical business

10:12 Location strategy and why she opened in St. Peters

13:33 New allergy therapies: oral and sublingual immunotherapy

17:21 Success rates, patient comfort, and treatment goals

19:28 Environmental allergies, allergy shots, and Quick-LI

23:18 Equipment, technology, and evaluating new tools

26:31 Private practice vs. hospital systems

27:39 Why food allergies are rising

34:09 Food allergy vs. intolerance: what parents get wrong

38:15 What frustrates her most about the healthcare system

43:49 The biggest surprises of business ownership and her advice for founders

This podcast is brought to you by Storyboard Living.If you're looking to sell us a 40+ unit multifamily property in the St. Louis region, or another part of MO/IL, please email deals@storyboardliving.comConnect with us at our Website: https://storyboardliving.com/

LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/company/storyboard-living/

#Podcast#Business#Healthcare#AllergyTreatment#PrivatePractice#FoodAllergies#Immunotherapy#MedicalEntrepreneurship

Connect with the HostConnect with the GuestAssets Mentioned During The EpisodeTimestamps for Key Segments

Mark Turnbull, founder of Module Building Systems, shares the journey of building an offsite construction company in Saint Louis with a mission to deliver high-quality, attainable housing at scale. Originally from Hamilton, Ontario, Mark traces his entrepreneurial roots from early real estate investments to a pivotal realization inspired by IKEA’s flat-pack model and Henry Ford’s manufacturing systems. After facing financial setbacks, including being nearly broke while pursuing the vision, he ultimately relocated to Saint Louis, leveraging relationships, grants, and creative capital structures to launch the company locally. The episode explores how winning a major startup competition and securing public-private support positioned the business for long-term impact.

The conversation breaks down what Module Building Systems actually produces today—fully finished panelized wall systems that reduce construction costs and timelines while maintaining design flexibility. Mark explains why unreliable trades and process inefficiencies, not just materials, are the true bottlenecks in traditional construction. The discussion also examines a pilot housing initiative in North Saint Louis, the distinction between “affordable” and “attainable” housing, and the long-term vision for neighborhood-level revitalization without displacement. The episode concludes with insights on founder resilience, capital strategy, immigration pathways for talent, and leadership principles centered on mission, culture, and building trust.

Connect with the Host:

Twitter: ⁠twitter.com/ItsRajTut⁠⁠LinkedIn: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/rajtut/⁠⁠Instagram: ⁠instagram.com/ItsRajTut⁠TikTok: ⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@itsrajtut

Connect with our Guest:

Website: https://www.modulebuildingsystems.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markwturnbull

Timestamps:

00:00 Founder risk, grants, and being tested

01:30 Mark’s background and why Saint Louis

02:55 Early entrepreneurship and real estate snowball

04:06 The “IKEA + Henry Ford” construction insight

05:16 Going broke, rebuilding, and choosing the U.S.

06:25 First Saint Louis trip, North City, and mission clarity 08:37 How Arch Grants works and how he positioned to win 10:02 New Markets Tax Credits and relationship-driven capital

12:09 Bridge loan, state appropriation timing, and survival mode

13:27 ADHD, hyperfocus, and the entrepreneur’s mindset 16:39 What Module Building Systems builds (panelized “secret sauce”)

18:32 30% cost savings, 50% faster timelines, and who it’s for 20:37 City pilot: minimum 10 homes, factory opening, execution plan

26:55 Dropping out, recruiting experts, and building the team 30:08 Why modular startups fail: leverage, overbuild, wrong market

36:50 Defining “attainable” and quality standards for longevity

41:14 North Saint Louis realities, brick maintenance, and design tradeoffs

43:38 Community input, block-by-block progress, and equity (not displacement)

45:06 Canada vs U.S. entrepreneurship and the Saint Louis opportunity

48:08 Can housing innovate like autos—and what must change

51:22 Founder advice: perseverance, networking, and leading with “why”

01:03:42 E-2 visa strategy, hiring Canadians, and NIW pathway

01:06:55 The books and principles shaping Mark’s leadership

This podcast is brought to you by Storyboard Living.If you're looking to sell us a 40+ unit multifamily property in the St. Louis region, or another part of MO/IL, please email deals@storyboardliving.comConnect with us at our Website: https://storyboardliving.com/

LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/company/storyboard-living/

#Leadership

#Entrepreneurship

#RealEstate

#ModularConstruction

#AttainableHousing

#StLouisStartups

#ConstructionInnovation

Rachel Wallis is a second-generation business leader, former CEO of Wallis Companies, and founder of The Sixth Level, a leadership and culture consultancy. During her tenure, Wallis Companies grew into a multibillion-dollar enterprise with fuel distribution, convenience retail, and car wash operations across the Midwest. Rachel is also the first woman to serve as President of the Missouri Convenience Store Association and is the co-author of The Sixth Level, a book focused on building thriving, human-centered organizational cultures. Her career spans hands-on operational leadership, large-scale acquisitions, board governance, and now executive coaching and consulting.

In this episode, Rachel and Raj explore leadership through the lens of culture, people, and long-term sustainability. Rachel shares insights on mental health and leadership, emphasizing the importance of seeking coaching and support just as one would medical care. The conversation dives deep into the convenience store industry, including data-driven decision-making, branding strategies, and the evolution of gas stations into experiential destinations—highlighted by the growth of Wally’s. Rachel also walks through the strategy and relationship-driven execution behind Wallis Companies’ most successful acquisition, her decision to step away as CEO, and the personal clarity that followed. The latter half of the episode focuses on The Sixth Level framework, its four core principles, and why modern organizations must adapt to what Rachel calls the “human potential era.” The episode closes with reflections on intentional leadership, presence, and integrating work and life with purpose.

Twitter: ⁠twitter.com/ItsRajTut⁠LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/rajtut/Instagram: ⁠instagram.com/ItsRajTut⁠TikTok: ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@itsrajtut

Website: https://www.sixthlevel.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachel-wallis-andreasson

Book: The Sixth Level

00:00 Introduction and Rachel’s background

01:51 Childhood and the origin story of Wallis Companies

06:31 Growing up in the business and early lessons at home

09:23 How the business scaled and the industry shifted over time

12:28 Leadership principles: humility, people, and relationships

15:06 Organic growth vs acquisitions and pivotal early deals

20:01 Real estate strategy and fuel distribution explained

23:54 Rachel’s path inside the company and becoming a leader

29:48 How Rachel learned: MBA, peer groups, coaches, consultants

32:56 Mental health, coaching, and why leaders should seek support

34:11 Data, promotions, and “secret sauce” in convenience retail

36:36 Convenience stores as destinations and the evolution of the experience

37:12 Wally’s: concept, differentiation, and expansion plans

42:02 The 2016 acquisition: strategy, relationships, and execution

49:03 Stepping away as CEO and transitioning to a new chapter

53:12 The Sixth Level: the book, culture flywheel, and core principles

01:03:24 Generational engagement, hybrid work, and the future of leadership

01:07:18 Closing lesson: intentional leadership and being present

01:10:11 Where to find Rachel and learn more about The Sixth Level

This podcast is brought to you by Storyboard Living.

If you're looking to sell us a 40+ unit multifamily property in the St. Louis region, or another part of MO/IL, please email deals@storyboardliving.com

Connect with us at our Website: https://storyboardliving.com/

LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/company/storyboard-living/

#Leadership

#Entrepreneurship

#FamilyBusiness

#BusinessGrowth

#CompanyCulture

#ExecutiveLeadership

#WomenInBusiness

Shaun Hayes returns for his second appearance to share hard-earned lessons from a career that spans entrepreneurship, banking, and executive leadership. He’s an author and speaker who has built and scaled businesses, evaluated thousands of business plans, and brings a pragmatic operator’s lens to what actually makes companies succeed or fail. This conversation frames his newest book, The Green Choice, as a “gut-check roadmap” for newly minted and aspiring entrepreneurs who want real-world perspective rather than motivational slogans.

Across the episode, Shaun and Raj unpack the realities founders face when leaving “the mothership” of corporate structure: execution over planning, the infrastructure “step function” that forces constant reinvestment, and why cash flow (not just profitability) is the true survival metric in years 1–3. Shaun highlights common failure points—especially leases, poor financing structure, misunderstanding cash cycles, and underestimating the psychology of managing people. He also emphasizes the importance of mentorship, disciplined frugality early on, realistic expectations of team motivation, and the need to build a results-oriented culture. The conversation closes with actionable personal rules: do the tasks you avoid before 9 a.m., and do one uncomfortable thing every day.

Connect with the Host

Twitter: ⁠twitter.com/ItsRajTut⁠⁠

LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/rajtut/⁠

Instagram: ⁠instagram.com/ItsRajTut⁠

TikTok: ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@itsrajtut

Connect with the Guest

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shaun-hayes-7a613813/

Timestamps

00;00;12 Why founders misjudge how badly others want to win

05;27;52 Why most businesses fail because of leases

09;07;13 How Shaun can read a business by its margins and rent ratios

14;12;56 Why business plans collapse the moment reality hits

18;10;05 The infrastructure “step” problem when scaling

24;31;44 The hard truth: not everyone wants success like you do

28;13;14 Why cash flow matters more than profit

34;14;44 The mindset shift from hourly pay to long-term payoff

43;09;49 Location traps and how bad real estate decisions kill growth

59;17;55 Two rules for success: before 9 a.m. and daily discomfort

#Entrepreneurship #SmallBusiness #BusinessStrategy #CashFlow #Leadership #Management #Scaling #Startups #Mentorship #Sales #PricingStrategy #RealEstateInvesting #Multifamily #PropertyManagement #Operations #FounderMindset #BusinessSystems #RiskManagement #BusinessFinance #Leasing

This podcast is brought to you by Storyboard Living.

If you're looking to sell us a 40+ unit multifamily property in the St. Louis region, or another part of MO/IL, please email deals@storyboardliving.com

Connect with us at our Website: https://storyboardliving.com/

LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/company/storyboard-living/

Han Ko (Sacco Group) joins Raj Tut to share his journey from being born in South Korea, immigrating to Southern California, and ultimately building his career in the St. Louis region after studying engineering at Washington University. With a background in computer science, electrical engineering, and signal processing, Han climbed the corporate ladder in the telecom industry before taking the entrepreneurial leap to build and own software products himself. Over the years, he has become an active venture capitalist and advisor, involved in 80+ companies with collective valuations exceeding $1B, while also serving in regional economic development roles and supporting entrepreneurship through mentoring and speaking engagements. The conversation centers on Han’s core investing and leadership philosophy: taking other people’s capital creates a real moral responsibility, which is why he favors full transparency, clear risk disclosure, and investors who do proper diligence upfront. Han breaks down how he identified market needs early, made a high-risk decision to resign to protect IP ownership, and learned that building a product is only half the battle—distribution, validation, and relationships are critical to closing enterprise deals. He also explains how he “accidentally” became a venture capitalist by helping friends through funding gaps, then intentionally built his finance skillset to operate professionally. The episode closes with a practical operating principle that shows up in every chapter of his story: learn aggressively from mistakes, put in your best effort with the information you have, and build a life you can look back on without regret.

Connect with the Host

Twitter: ⁠twitter.com/ItsRajTut⁠

⁠LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/rajtut/⁠

Instagram: ⁠instagram.com/ItsRajTut⁠
TikTok: ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@itsrajtut

Connect with Han Ko

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/han-ko-3b8814185/

Timestamps for Key Segments

00:00 Investor philosophy: responsibility, transparency, and disclosure
01:04 Storyboard Living sponsor message

01:35 Guest introduction and credentials overview

02:41 Han’s background: Korea to California to St. Louis via WashU

05:05 Early career: telecom engineering and moving up the corporate ladder

10:46 Selling enterprise software: production validation and due diligence lessons

11:55 Networking as the unlock for landing the first license deal

13:26 Choosing signal processing and “following the money” in grad school

14:29 After the exit: travel, restlessness, and returning to build again

15:57 Becoming an “accidental” VC by helping friends through funding gaps

17:32 Dot-com bubble context: overheated investing and lack of diligence

20:44 Building finance competence: learning valuation concepts like EBITDA

21:14 Professional growth: learning from mistakes and doing your best

29:13 Getting buyer attention: the “non-sexy” product problem

30:34 Making buyers come to you: the billboard strategy story

33:12 Helping portfolio companies: sharing mistakes and guiding decision-making

34:52 Why he’s an active investor: founder fit, communication, and empathy

39:02 Regional mission: bringing global companies to St. Louis for jobs and growth

46:42 Project phasing: historic building redevelopment and innovation ecosystem

47:34 Workforce gap: training center and trade pipeline focus

51:20 Illinois-side coordination and regional partnership efforts

53:06 Commercial real estate legacy: multi-generation background

57:02 Hole-in-one advice: do your best and live without regret

This podcast is brought to you by Storyboard Living.

If you're looking to sell us a 40+ unit multifamily property in the St. Louis region, or another part of MO/IL, please email deals@storyboardliving.com

Connect with us at our Website: https://storyboardliving.com/

LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/company/storyboard-living/

Ricky Shah is the Director of Kumon Chesterfield, a high-performing education franchise known for its strong enrollment and operational discipline. A former Kumon student who completed both the math and reading programs, Ricky’s story comes full circle as he eventually acquired and now leads the same center where he once studied and taught. His background spans teaching, nonprofit work, statewide political campaigns as a field organizer, and entrepreneurship through operating UPS Store franchises with his family before transitioning fully into the Kumon business.

In this conversation with Raj Tut, Ricky breaks down what it takes to scale a people-driven business: redefining delegation as a strategic growth tool, identifying the “1–3 tasks only I can do,” and systematizing everything else through hiring, training, and clear accountability. The episode also explores family business dynamics, the challenge of separating work from home life, and lessons learned from leading through disruption—especially during the COVID transition and operational crises like severe weather. Key themes include building trust through consistent communication, training for real-world scenarios, maintaining standards through culture, and leading calmly when the team looks to you for direction.

Connect with the Host

Twitter: ⁠twitter.com/ItsRajTut⁠ ⁠

LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/rajtut/

⁠Instagram: ⁠instagram.com/ItsRajTut⁠

TikTok: ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@itsrajtut

Kumon (National Website): https://www.kumon.com/

Email: chesterfield_mo@ikumon.com

Phone: (636) 537-5522

Timestamp:

00:00 Delegation philosophy and focusing on tasks only the owner can do

01:35 Introduction to Ricky Shah and Kumon Chesterfield

02:19 Early journey as a Kumon student and love for math and learning

04:17 Post-college path through nonprofits and burnout from red tape

05:42 Transition into statewide political campaigns

07:50 What campaign work actually looks like and the role of a field organizer

09:32 Extreme work hours, pressure, and leadership lessons from politics

12:42 Shift into entrepreneurship and family business roots

15:06 Operating UPS Store franchises as a family-run business

18:29 Pros and cons of working with family and taking work home

20:46 How a Kumon center operates day-to-day

22:37 Individualized learning, fluency metrics, and student progression

25:32 Director influence vs standardized curriculum across Kumon centers

27:44 Full-circle story of acquiring the same Kumon center he grew up in

30:22 Taking over during COVID and adapting operations

32:40 Leading through disruption and maintaining calm in crises

34:22 Diagnosing learning gaps and adapting to post-COVID students

36:13 Leadership presence and why the team looks to the leader in emergencies

38:44 Hiring, training, and building accountability through systems

40:38 Transitioning from instructor mindset to director mindset

42:36 Working on the business instead of in the business

45:56 Passion, trust, and long-term student success

50:08 Deciding what to delegate and what to keep

54:20 Why Ricky personally handles parent meetings and sales conversations

55:56 “Hole in one” advice on delegation and scaling a business

This podcast is brought to you by Storyboard Living.

If you're looking to sell us a 40+ unit multifamily property in the St. Louis region, or another part of MO/IL, please email deals@storyboardliving.com

Connect with us at our Website: https://storyboardliving.com/ LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/company/storyboard-living/

Connect with the Guest