What happens when a social worker takes the leap into the logistics tech world?

Deme Yuan, co-founder and COO of Freight Relay, shares her unlikely path from nonprofit leadership to revolutionizing long-haul trucking. In this episode of the TrustBuilt Podcast, host Alan Bennett explores how Deme's passion for social equity fuels innovation in an industry ripe for disruption.

This is a story of mission-driven entrepreneurship, family partnership, and grit.

⏱️ Chapters:

00:00 – Why Not All Feedback Is Equal

01:00 – Meet Deme Yuan & the Freight Relay Mission

03:00 – From Social Work to Startups: Deme’s Unexpected Journey

05:45 – A Book That Sparked a Business Idea

08:00 – Angel Funding, India, and Building a Dev Team from Scratch

10:00 – Startup Accelerator Life & First Traction

12:00 – Bentonville, AR: A Logistics Hub in Disguise

13:00 – Pivoting During the Pandemic

14:00 – Winning Federal Grants (SBIR, DOE, USDA, NSF)

16:00 – How a Nonprofit Background Prepared Her for Startup Life

17:00 – Starting a Business with Your Spouse: The Real Talk

20:00 – Changing Her Mindset Around Business & Impact

21:00 – The Role of Mentorship & Discernment

25:00 – Serving Truckers, Communities & a Bigger Mission

31:00 – Work-Life Balance for Drivers: What Equity Looks Like

34:00 – Busting the Myths of Small Business Ownership

37:00 – The Cost of “Letting Off the Gas” as a Founder

39:00 – Sustainability vs. Hustle: Building for the Long Game

40:30 – A Letter to Her Younger Self (Wise Words!)

42:40 – Where to Find Deme & Freight Relay Online

-----

🔗 Connect with Deme Yuan

🌐 https://freightrelay.com

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

-----

Are you a business owner who is ready to break free from the day-to-day grind & build a self-sustaining company?

👉 Set up a time to talk to Alan

🔗 https://www.trustbuiltsolutions.com/contact

Whether you're leading a team, building a brand, or trying to step out of daily operations, this episode is a masterclass in values-based growth!

In this episode of The TrustBuilt Podcast, Alan sits down with Sam Russell, co-founder of the thriving breakfast spot The Buttered Biscuit. What started as his wife’s idea has grown into a purpose-driven business with 200+ employees and 10,000 guests served weekly. Sam shares how culture, consistency, and care have powered their growth—not just in biscuits, but in impact.

From training future doctors in the kitchen to creating second chances for the underestimated, Sam opens up about the kind of leadership that builds trust and changes lives.

⏱️Chapters:

01:16 – From Corporate to Biscuits: How It All Started

02:00 – The Real Founder Behind Buttered Biscuit

04:01 – Building Through Community Connection

05:03 – Food, Trust & the Power of the Table

07:10 – Consistency in Business and Biscuits

08:25 – The Five Core Values Driving the Company

11:00 – Culture as a Living, Breathing System

13:04 – Hiring for Flourishing, Not Just Filling Roles

15:04 – Recognizing Employees & Building Confidence

19:03 – Systems That Support Human-Centered Leadership

22:28 – Avoiding the “Dish Pit Trap” as a Business Owner

25:51 – Why Every Entrepreneur Needs a Refill Point

26:18 – Project Biscuit: Serving the Underestimated

30:30 – Confidence, Second Chances & Accountability

34:32 – A Real Story of Redemption and Career Growth

36:09 – Accountability as Empowerment

37:41 – Why Mastery Builds Confidence (and Opportunity)

42:02 – Final Thoughts on Leadership & Listening

44:00 – Book Recommendations for Leaders & Families

46:52 – Locations, Catering, and What’s Next

-----

🔗 Connect with Sam Russell & The Buttered Biscuit

🌐 https://thebutteredbiscuit.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebutteredbiscuit/

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

-----

Are you a business owner who is ready to break free from the day-to-day grind & build a self-sustaining company?

👉 Set up a time to talk to Alan

🔗 https://www.trustbuiltsolutions.com/contact

In this conversation, Ben Cashion—CEO coach, startup veteran, and former licensed counselor—dives deep into what it really takes to build trust as a leader in today’s skeptical world.

We explore the emotional weight of leadership, why trust is so hard to come by (and so valuable when you earn it), and how founders can create lasting impact through clarity, compassion, and confidence.

Whether you're a startup founder, scaling CEO, or just feeling the pressure of leading people and making payroll, this episode offers real-world insights for building a business that works—and a leadership style that earns trust.

⏱️ Chapters

00:00 – Trust is Broken… So Now What?

01:15 – Ben’s Unusual Path: Counselor Turned CEO Coach

03:10 – How Therapy Training Enhances Coaching

05:00 – Coaching vs. Consulting: What’s the Difference?

07:00 – Finding Your Voice and Style as a Leader

09:15 – Trust Starts with Competence and Confidence

12:00 – Startup Scars and Founder Wisdom

15:00 – The Hidden Weight Founders Carry

17:30 – How to Build Trust Through Shared Perspective

20:00 – Teaching Your Kids (and Team) Compassion

22:30 – Clarity: The Antidote to Ambiguity

25:00 – When Emotion Shows Up in the Boardroom

28:00 – Knowing When to Lead with Space vs. Direction

30:00 – Self-Awareness and Emotional Intelligence

33:00 – Coaching Leaders Through Conflict

36:00 – The Power of Preparing for Hard Conversations

39:00 – Layering EQ into Business Strategy

41:15 – Why Every Leader Needs to Script Hope

42:30 – Ben’s Top Book Picks for Leaders

44:00 – Why Building Trust Is Your Business Advantage

-----

🔗 Connect with Ben Cashion

🌐 https://www.cornerstoneco.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-cashion-5703a5b8/

-----

Are you a business owner who is ready to break free from the day-to-day grind & build a self-sustaining company?

👉 Set up a time to talk to Alan

🔗 https://www.trustbuiltsolutions.com/contact