The Enlightened Family Business Podcast

The Enlightened Family Business Podcast
Ep. 154 - How a Family Turned a Passion Project into a Resilient Brand
With Jodi Scott
 
In this episode of the Enlightened Family Business Podcast, host Chris Yonker welcomes Jodi Scott, co-founder of Green Goo. Together, they discuss the unexpected path her family took into the family business, which led to their product being distributed in over 150,000 retail locations. Jodi shares insights into their family dynamics, the influence of her parents, and the valuable lessons learned from their upbringing in a military household. The conversation dives into the challenges they faced, including a major setback that led them to buy back their company. Jodi emphasizes the importance of communication, proactive support, and mentoring in maintaining a healthy family business environment. The episode concludes with Jodi offering advice for other family-run businesses and recommending Green Go products, notably the versatile first aid ointment and skin repair cream.
 
·       00:54 Jodi Scott's Journey into Family Business
·       02:28 Early Life and Influences
·       07:31 The Birth of Green Go
·       12:52 Sisterly Bond and Business Dynamics
·       19:32 From Farmer's Market to Full-Fledged Business
·       22:27 Challenges and Seeking Guidance
·       24:42 Establishing Trust and Roles in Family Business
·       27:34 Implementing Family Employment Policies
·       29:05 Expanding to Retail and Online Markets
·       30:07 Navigating Military Market and Retail Challenges
·       34:09 Facing and Overcoming Business Crises
·       39:16 Rebuilding and Future Plans
·       42:57 Advice for Family Businesses
Websites:
·       fambizforum.com.
·       www.chrisyonker.com
·       Greengoo.com
·       Instagram: @greengoohelps
 
Jodi's Bio:
Jodi Scott is the Founder of Green Goo and CEO of Spry Life, a family-owned portfolio of plant-based wellness brands. She co-founded Green Goo with her mother and sister in a small farmhouse kitchen, hand-crafting herbal salves that grew into a nationally distributed plant-based first aid brand carried in over 120,000 stores.
With a background in biology, pre-med studies, and a Master's in Health Psychology, Jodi bridges traditional herbal medicine with modern science, focusing on clean healing, nervous system resilience, and reducing everyday endocrine disruptors. Her work emphasizes how small, thoughtful inputs compound over time, in health, leadership, and family systems.
Jodi has lived every role inside a family business: product formulator, order packer, marketer, executive, and daughter. After selling Green Goo and later navigating a complex buyback to reclaim the company, she brings rare firsthand insight into continuity, conflict, trust, and alignment across generations.
Today, Jodi works alongside her family running operations from their Colorado farm while mentoring other founders on building values-driven businesses that prioritize people, purpose, and long-term resilience. Her work sits at the intersection of wellness, entrepreneurship, and conscious family leadership.

The Enlightened Family Business Podcast
Ep. 153 - A Family Built Startup Story From The Kitchen Table
with Mehmet Tascioglu
 
In this episode of the Enlightened Family Business Podcast, host Chris Yonker interviews Mehmet Tascioglu, the Gen Z founder of Mosaic Cakes, a unique family business based in the Detroit area. Mehmet shares his entrepreneurial journey, starting from his family's experience during the Great Recession, through his initial ventures like Connect Me Tutoring, to the establishment of Mosaic Cakes. The discussion delves into the values instilled by Mehmet's father, the significance of family collaboration, navigating decision-making, and the challenges of introducing a new product to the market. Mehmet offers insights on the importance of mentorship, the influence of cultural heritage, and his vision for Mosaic Cakes as a symbol of the American melting pot. The conversation also explores generational differences, the role of tradition and innovation in family businesses, and the aspiration to build an ethical and impactful brand.
 
·       00:54 Meet the Gen Z Founder: Mehmet Tascioglu
·       03:14 The Origin Story of Mosaic Cakes
·       05:38 Building a Business During the Pandemic
·       09:10 The Unique Appeal of Mosaic Cakes
·       13:24 Family Dynamics in Business
·       18:24 Leadership and Decision Making
·       19:08 Defining Family Business Values
·       20:21 Family Influence on Business
·       25:23 Generational Perspectives and Challenges
·       32:12 The Importance of Mentorship
·       34:24 Future Plans for Mosaic Cakes
 
Websites:
·       fambizforum.com.
·       www.chrisyonker.com
·       Linkedin: @mehmet-tascioglu
·       Instagram: @mosaic_cakes
·       Tiktok @mosaiccakes
 
Mehmet's Bio:
Mehmet is Co-Founder & Managing Partner at Mosaic Cakes. Prior to starting Mosaic Cakes, Mehmet founded the nonprofit Connect Me Tutoring in 2020, which has since grown into the nation's largest youth-run free tutoring service, providing over 40,000 sessions. Mosaic Cakes is a Michigan-based gourmet dessert company pioneering an entirely new category in the American market. Founded by Mehmet (Stanford MS&E), his mother Senay, and his brother Emir, the company transforms a cherished family recipe into handcrafted premium triangular cakes featuring crushed butter cookies folded into signature chocolate sauce with fresh fruits, crunchy nuts, or other premium ingredients, creating a stunning mosaic pattern in every slice. What began as a beloved family tradition—a dessert the founders grew up enjoying at birthday parties, family gatherings, and celebrations—has become a thriving direct-to-consumer and wholesale business. Throughout their lives, the family witnessed how even the pickiest eaters absolutely loved these cakes, validating that this exceptional flavor experience deserved to be shared with communities across America. At its core, the company's mission centers on positivity, inclusivity, and courage, helping Americans discover a dessert experience unavailable anywhere else in grocery stores, bakeries, or restaurants while building a values-driven business that celebrates family heritage and entrepreneurial spirit.

The Enlightened Family Business Podcast
Ep. 152 - Preparing Next Gen Family Leaders for 2030 and Beyond
with Amit Egan Datwani
 
In this episode of the Enlightened Family Business Podcast, host Chris Yonker introduces Amit Egan Datwani, an advisor and consultant in the ultra high net worth space. They discuss the transformative changes affecting the commercial real estate industry, particularly influenced by the pandemic. Datwani shares insights on the importance of deep personal work, spiritual and emotional development for the next generation, and how these factors contribute to innovation and family business continuity. They also touch on the roles of creative intelligence and adaptability in navigating the evolving real estate market. The conversation emphasizes the necessity for families to address inner dysfunction to ensure sustainable business success.
·       00:54 The Changing Landscape of Commercial Real Estate
·       01:25 Meet Amit Egan Datwani: A Journey in Family Business and Real Estate
·       04:22 Amit's Personal and Professional Evolution
·       09:47 The Direction Amit's Work is Evolving
·       12:38 Helping Families Find Alignment
·       16:37 The Importance of Inner Work and Innovation in Family Businesses
·       19:04 How to Know if Your Business Needs to Make a Change
·       27:03 The Importance of Personal Development for Next-Gen Leaders
·       44:22 The Future of Real Estate and Family Business
Websites:
·       fambizforum.com.
·       www.chrisyonker.com
·       globalconsultingorganization.com
·       linkedin: @aedgco
 
Amit's Bio:
Amit is the Founder and Chief Consultant of Global Consulting Organization (GCO). GCO is an internationally positioned Project-Starting Firm that's Visioning, Branding, and Marketing the Neighborhoods, Communities, and Cities of the Future—with particular expertise in Office Building TRANSFORMATION to SUPERCHARGE today's unsustainable Central Business Districts into Profitable and Purposeful Places of the Future.
GCO is leading the movement for Real Estate's first TRULY-INTEGRATED Project Development Model: DESIGN|BRAND|BUILD. Amit showcases this innovation and keen mindset for Transformational Development as the engaging host of GCO FutureCast Episodes and as a headlining speaker or guest collaborator at Premier Experiences nationwide. With these credits, he is an influential C-Suite Advisor on the Future of Office Buildings, offering evolutionary perspectives about the vital power of Branding & Marketing in Commercial Real Estate, as well as how the concept of "Central Living Districts" will RE-imagine the Industry for 2030 and Beyond.
As the leader of the GCO Collective, Amit ACTIVATES Best-in-Class creative talent from inside and outside the Real Estate Industry to LAUNCH Development Projects with a Unified Creative Vision. Using this VISION as a Project's lead facilitator, he's the driving force behind the movement to ELEVATE "The Human Experience" through the Built Environment, an essential commitment of the DESIGN|BRAND|BUILD Model.
With two decades of experience working in & with Family Businesses in Real Estate (and previously the Apparel Industry), Amit also advises Multigenerational and Family Office Clients on how to integrate diverse perspectives into a cohesive, purposeful VISION that delivers superior outcomes.
Amit is trilingual, proficient in English, Spanish, and Hindi. Leading with his Visionary Spirit, he mentors NEXT-GENERATION talent, including work with students at George Washington University's Center for Real Estate & Urban Analysis and at the Dwight-Englewood School. Amit enjoys spending time with his wife (a Writer and longtime Yoga Teacher), 27-year-old stepson (a New Jersey State Trooper and Personal Trainer), and 15-year-old son (who dreams of playing in the NBA). They love playing pickleball, boating, and exploring everything that South Florida has to offer.
For inspiration, Amit LOVES reading, practicing yoga, and taking long walks around cities, ALWAYS thinking about TURNING IDEAS INTO REALITY.

The Enlightened Family Business Podcast
Ep. 151 - From Daughter to CEO - Navigating Family Business Transitions with Amanda Osmer
 
In this episode of the Enlightened Family Business Podcast, host Chris Yonker talks with Amanda Osmer of Grappone Automotive, a New Hampshire-based family business rooted back to 1924. Amanda shares her journey growing up in a family business, how she eventually decided to be part of it, and the challenges she faced during the transition phase. The conversation touches on the significance of clear communication, inner awareness, and flexible governance. Amanda also discusses the importance of building a strong leadership team, handling multiple successions, and maintaining business integrity. Listeners gain insights into Amanda's dedication to community, the values driving her leadership, and her thoughts on keeping the family business resilient amid industry changes.
·       01:29 Amanda Osmer's Journey in the Family Business
·       03:14 Growing Up in a Family Business
·       07:17 Sibling Dynamics and Family Business Covenant
·       10:10 Amanda's Commitment and Vision for the Future
·       16:22 Navigating Family Business Transitions
·       23:02 Navigating Personal and Professional Boundaries
·       26:07 Implementing the EOS System
·       29:56 Family Employment Policies
·       35:21 Commitment to Community and Integrity
·       39:34 Documenting Family Business History
Websites:
·       fambizforum.com.
·       www.chrisyonker.com
·       "Grappone Automotive: The Founding" Book at Gibson's Bookstore
·       Grappone Audiobook on YouTube
 
Amanda's Bio:
Amanda Grappone Osmer is the fourth generation of her family to own and help operate Grappone Automotive, established by her great-grandparents as a single gas station in 1924.  Today Grappone represents four new car manufacturers with sales, service, and retail and wholesale parts departments. They employ about 350 Team Members and are located in Bow, NH.
Team Grappone operates in an environment in which the whole person is asked to show up and participate at work with the company's mission in mind: to build lifelong relationships with team members, guests, and the community by serving with integrity, kindness, and respect.  In 2017 Amanda launched Leadership Grappone, a program that seeks out the company's emerging leaders and challenges them mentally, emotionally, and physically over a nine-month period with the goal of uncovering their true leadership potential.
Faith and volunteer work are central to Amanda's life purpose, and she has served on many nonprofit and advisory boards in her career.  One project near to her heart is the co-founding of The Dewey School, a nature-based preschool located at Canterbury Shaker Village.  She lives in Sanbornton, NH with her husband, a high school coach and all-around amazing human being, their three children, dog and other critters, and fruit and veggie gardens.

The Enlightened Family Business Podcast
Ep. 150 - Fragile Power: Wealth, Identity, and Mental Health
with Dr. Paul Hokemeyer
 
In this episode of the Enlightened Family Business Podcast, host Chris Yonker talks with Dr. Paul Hokemeyer, an expert in family business governance and mental health, about the complexities of wealth and psychological well-being. They delve into how societal perceptions of wealth impact individuals and families, leading to feelings of isolation, mistrust, and hyper-agency. Dr. Hokemeyer shares his journey from law to clinical psychology and discusses the importance of cultural competency in behavioral healthcare for high-net-worth individuals. Key topics include the challenges of managing narcissistic personalities within family systems, the necessity of setting enforceable boundaries, and the role of external support in fostering healthier family dynamics.
·       01:54 Introducing Dr. Paul Hokemeyer
·       04:50 Dr. Paul's Journey and Career Path
·       07:14 Challenges Faced by Wealthy Individuals
·       13:41 The Intersection of Wealth and Identity
·       22:48 Therapeutic Approaches and Observations
·       30:32 Hierarchies and Tribes in Human Society
·       31:13 Isolation and Wealth
·       35:31 Understanding and Treating Wealthy Patients
·       39:20 Narcissism in Family Systems
·       44:31 Dealing with Narcissistic Family Members
·       49:58 The Role of External Support Systems
Websites:
·       fambizforum.com.
·       www.chrisyonker.com
·       draysonmews.com
·       Instagram @dr_paul_hokemeyer
 
 
Dr. Paul Bio:
Dr. Paul Hokemeyer (J.D., Ph.D.) believes mental health matters for everyone, everywhere.
He is the founding principal of Drayson Mews and author of Fragile Power: Why Having Everything is Never Enough (Hazelden, 2019) and Fragile Power 2.0: Wealth, Narcissism & Mental Health (2024), the leading resources for individuals, couples, and families of wealth seeking culturally respectful and clinically effective mental health services. In addition, Dr. Paul serves as the Senior Wellness Expert to Ispahani Advisory, a London-based consulting firm specializing in multijurisdictional, ultra-high-net-worth families. He is an Associate Member of the American Association for Addiction Medicine and holds a Clinical Fellow designation with the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy where he received the 2025 award for Media Excellence.
 
Prior to graduating from the Harvard Medical School's Global Leaders in Healthcare program, Dr. Paul studied the use of digital technologies at the Yale School of Management.
In addition to his academic and clinical work, Dr. Paul has extensive experience in the realm of philanthropy. He has stewarded over three million U.S. dollars to enhance the delivery of direct mental health services to disenfranchised communities across America, as well as through the Yale School of Public Health. Additionally, he serves as a trustee of the Palm Springs Art Museum, one of the world's premier centers for mid-century art, architecture, and design.
Dr. Paul's research in the realm of wealth and mental health has been peer-reviewed and published in the Journal of Wealth Management, the International Family Offices Journal, Globe Law and Business, and Lambert Academic Press. His work has been featured in a wide variety of international media outlets including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The World Economic Forum, the Johns Hopkins Newsletter, Harvard Business Review Arabia, CNN, Men's Health, The Guardian, Tatler (where he was selected as one of the world's top 'problem solvers'), the Campden Club, the Institute of Private Investors, WebMD, Psych Central and others. He is on the editorial board of Middle East Business News and Magazine, a leading resource for family businesses and entrepreneurs in the MENA region.