Chicago, Ill.—”How’s business?” is the simple question that kicks off each episode of a new podcast series from the Institute for Justice Clinic on Entrepreneurship at the University of Chicago (IJ Clinic). The answers from business owners are different each time, yet similar challenges of operating in the Windy City come up time and time again. Chicagoans looking to improve the city’s climate for entrepreneurs, or simply interested in discovering the many unique businesses that call the city home, can access new episodes each Tuesday morning at major podcast subscription services and online at HowsBusinessCHI.com.
Each 10 to 15 minute episode of “How’s Business?” interviews a founder of a Chicago business to find out what’s going well–and what could be going better–for small businesses in the city. Recently released episodes feature an immigrant-owned moving company, innovative vegan food producers, a growing Logan Square brewery and a yoga salon bringing healing to the South Side.
“The more entrepreneurs I meet, the more floored I am by the lengths they’ll go to bring us the goods and services we love and need,” said podcast host Stacy Massey. “They navigate so much red tape and often forgo profit for a very long time just to turn their business dreams into reality. I hope that through this podcast, Chicagoans can gain a new appreciation for small business owners.”
The IJ Clinic, which recently celebrated 20 years in Chicago, provides free legal assistance and advocacy for low income entrepreneurs. The podcast is a result of a listening tour to both learn more about the troublesome laws that the IJ Clinic can work to research and reform and also simply to hear what motivates individuals to become their own boss.
Members of the media interested in speaking with the business owners interviewed in the podcast or interested in speaking with IJ Clinic about its work with businesses can reach out to Andrew Wimer, Institute for Justice Assistant Communications Director, at (703) 682-9320 x229 or [email protected].