What if the secret to breakthrough innovation lies in embracing failure as your greatest teacher?

In this episode from Startup Grind Conference 2025, host Julie Holton Smith sits down with Pastor Tom Arthur of Sycamore Creek Church, a leader who’s revolutionizing how we think about community building, risk-taking, and sustainable growth.

From launching church campuses to running food business incubators, Tom shares unconventional wisdom that will transform how you approach your next venture.

What You’ll Discover:
✅ Why “failing fast” isn’t just for tech startups, it’s essential for any growing organization
✅ The power of cross-industry networking
✅ How to apply billion-dollar acquisition strategies to potential partnerships
✅ Why global networking matters even in your local community initiatives

Tom’s journey from divinity school to becoming a startup ecosystem co-founder proves that innovation knows no industry boundaries. His insights on building platforms for others to succeed will give you fresh perspectives on leadership, community engagement, and sustainable business growth.

About Our Host:
Julie Holton Smith is a 3x Emmy Award winner, marketing strategist, and an entrepreneur. As the founder of mConnexions and host of Expert Connexions, she brings insightful conversations with purpose-driven leaders to help you grow and lead with intention.

About Our Guest:
Tom Arthur is a Pastor at Sycamore Creek Church. He specializes in church adoptions, community incubation, and bridging the gap between faith-based initiatives and startup innovation. His work includes launching multiple church campuses and operating food business incubators.
📢 Don’t miss our special mini-series featuring leaders from the Startup Grind Conference 2025!

Special thanks to Foster Swift, LEAP & the Lansing Regional SmartZone for supporting this series.

From redefining access in sports to battling social isolation with AI and revolutionizing how we carry gear in extreme environments — fresh from The Startup Grind Conference 2025 — this episode of Expert Connexions brings you three powerful stories of innovation born from purpose.

Meet the Founders:
🏀 Christine Schwarz — Co-Founder of Virtual Round Ballers
Christine is breaking barriers in sports and gaming as the creator of Virtual Round Ballers, the first VR experience designed to bring realistic, one-on-one basketball to players of all abilities. Her mission? Make athletics more inclusive, immersive, and empowering. As a tech-driven entrepreneur and accessibility advocate, Christine is carving out space for players who’ve long been left out of the game.
www.virtualroundballers.com

💙 Dan Hungerford — Founder of EverFriends.ai
Dan is the visionary behind EverFriends.ai, an app that uses digital companions to help those who combat loneliness and early cognitive decline. With a background in tech and a passion for social connection, Dan is reimagining how AI can offer empathy, comfort, and companionship — especially when real people aren’t available. His work is deeply human at its core.
www.everfriends.ai

🗺️ Kevin Burnett — Founder of Trail Eagle Packs
Kevin is the founder of Trail Eagle Packs, an outdoor gear startup building next-generation backpacks for serious hikers and professionals. Focused on real-world use, rapid access, and rugged durability, Kevin’s innovation is born from experience and built for people who need their gear to work, no matter the conditions. He’s blending engineering, design, and purpose to elevate the outdoor experience.
www.traileaglepacks.com

About Our Host:
Julie Holton Smith is the founder of mConnexions marketing agency and hosts Expert Connexions, a show that features industry leaders, entrepreneurs, and changemakers who are redefining success. Julie uses her platform to share real stories and insights for business leaders, creatives, and dreamers alike. She’s also a strategist, speaker, and advocate for women in leadership and business innovation.

As AI transforms industries, the law is racing to keep up. In this episode of Expert Connexions, we’re joined by Attorney Lindsey Mead of Foster Swift to explore the U.S. Copyright Office’s latest report on AI and copyright.
In this conversation, you’ll learn:
✅ What “authorship” really means in the age of AI
How to protect your content if you use AI to brainstorm or create
✅ Where the legal gray areas begin (and how to avoid risk)
✅ What businesses should include in contracts & policies today
Don’t let legal gray areas become business risks, you need to know where the law stands and where it’s going.

From Digital Nomad to Global Change-Maker 🌍

Meet Victoria Levinsohn, a passionate entrepreneur who is turning the world into her workspace, one volunteer project at a time.

In today’s episode, Victoria shares how she blends her marketing expertise with a love for adventure and volunteering in communities around the globe.

She’s answering the question: “How do visionary entrepreneurs build businesses that go beyond profit and create long-lasting impact?” through the stories she’d lived.

What can entrepreneurs learn from Victoria’s unique journey?
✅ Social Media for Social Good: Using your skills to amplify voices and causes you care about
✅ Building Community Across Continents: The power of volunteering and real-world connections in today’s business landscape
✅ Creativity Beyond Borders: How to incorporate adventure and giving back into your business model

Tune in to hear how Victoria’s travels, nonprofit work, and creative initiatives are shaping a better world — and how you can incorporate some of her values into your own entrepreneurial journey.

What happens when universities, business leaders, and local organizations come together to fuel innovation? A thriving startup ecosystem that’s reshaping the future of the entrepreneurial movement!

517 Entrepreneurship & Innovation Week is in full swing, bringing together some of the brightest minds in Michigan’s business and startup community.
But what’s really driving this transformation, and why does it matter beyond this week?

🎙️ In today’s episode, host Julie Holton Smith sits down with Harrison R. Leffel-Jones to explore the real impact of 517EI Week and what it means for the future of business in the Lansing region.

✔️ How organizations like Michigan State University, Lansing Economic Area Partnership (LEAP), Lansing Regional SmartZone, and local partners are unlocking funding, mentorship, and networking opportunities
✔️ The resources available to startups — from funding to mentorship to strategic partnerships
✔️ The long-term impact of 517EI Week on businesses, startups, and the regional economy

Learn more about 517EI: https://www.517ei.com/

Think AI can’t pick up on tone, sarcasm, or frustration? Think again!

Craig Tucker is redefining emotional intelligence in tech. He’s answering the big question: Can artificial intelligence act more human and understand emotion?

He believes it can, and he’s proving it with VERN AI — a patented Emotion Recognition System.

In this episode, host Julie Holton Smith talks with Craig about how emotion-sensing AI is used in real time to decode tone, detect bias, and improve how we connect at work, in business, and beyond. As a founder, Craig opens up about his entrepreneurial journey, building VERN AI, leading with purpose, and why empathy belongs in every conversation, human or machine.

✔️ The tech behind VERN AI’s patented speech emotion recognition
✔️ Real-world use cases that show the power of emotional context
✔️ How AI tools like VERN AI can be used for crisis response, education, and DEI
✔️ Why human-centered design and emotional intelligence in tech is the future of customer service
✔️ Craig’s mission to make technology more accessible and inclusive

From chatbots to corporate training, the possibilities are endless when AI learns to listen on a deeper level.

📢 Subscribe now and stay ahead of the curve in tech, leadership, and purpose-driven innovation!

About Our Host, Julie Holton Smith
Julie is a marketing strategist, entrepreneur, and communications expert who helps businesses and nonprofits amplify their impact. As the Founder and Principal Strategist of mConnexions and host of Expert Connexions, she brings insightful conversations with purpose-driven leaders to help you grow and lead with intention. Learn more: www.mconnexions.com

About Craig Tucker & VERN AI
Craig Tucker is an entrepreneur and innovator committed to using AI for social good. As the founder of VERN AI, he’s created a platform that uses speech analysis to detect emotional cues, helping industries better understand, support, and serve their communities. Learn more: www.vernai.com

Ready to see how AI-Powered Smart Sites are revolutionizing business?

In this episode, host Julie Holton Smith sits down with Jesse Flores and Scott Remington of SuperWebPros to explore how AI is reshaping websites as we know them. Forget static pages, Smart Sites are here to transform customer interactions, making websites more intelligent, efficient, and conversion-driven!

What You’ll Learn:
✔️ How Smart Sites streamline lead generation and customer conversion
✔️ The key differences between AI-powered sites and traditional chatbots
✔️ Why AI-driven interactions create a frictionless buyer’s journey
✔️ How businesses can future-proof their websites with AI technology
✔️ The role of conversational AI in enhancing brand engagement and loyalty

With tech giants like Google and Meta investing billions into AI, businesses must rethink their digital strategy to stay ahead. This conversation unpacks the game-changing impact of AI-powered web experiences and why investing in this technology now will pay off for years to come.

About Our Host, Julie Holton Smith:
Julie is a marketing strategist, entrepreneur, and communications expert who helps businesses and nonprofits amplify their impact. As the founder of mConnexions and host of Expert Connexions, she brings insightful conversations with industry leaders to help you grow and lead with intention.

About Our Guests:
Jesse Flores and Scott Remington are the visionaries behind Super Web Pros, a company dedicated to transforming websites into high-performing, AI-driven platforms. Their expertise in Smart Sites is helping businesses elevate digital experiences, streamline conversions, and stay ahead in an AI-first world. Learn more at superwebpros.com

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