Renegade Ventures

Brave Transitions: Kristina Pohl’s Journey from Nurse to Entrepreneur

What do you do when the system you trained in no longer aligns with how you want to serve people? In this episode of Renegade Ventures, we sit down with Kristina Pohl, founder of Eternity Wellness in Louisville. After years as a NICU nurse and nurse practitioner, Kristina saw the gaps in traditional healthcare — and decided to build something different. With $5,000, a single treatment room, and a newborn at home, she launched her own integrative wellness practice just months before the pandemic. What followed was a crash course in entrepreneurship: learning business from scratch, hiring intentionally, investing in financial literacy, and scaling without losing the mission. Today, Eternity Wellness offers IV therapy, aesthetics, hormone care, gender-affirming care, medical weight loss, movement classes, and more — all rooted in prevention and whole-person health. We cover: -The moment getting laid off became her catalyst -Moving from provider to CEO -The hardest part of hiring and building culture -Bridging gaps in menopause and affirming care -What aspiring entrepreneurs really need to know before starting -If you’ve ever felt called to build something better — this conversation is for you. Learn more at eternitywellnesscenter.com and tune in to hear how courage, clarity, and community built a thriving wellness practice from the ground up.

The Splendid Journey of Pamela and Lauren Broadus: Crafting Unforgettable Events

In this episode of the Renegade Ventures podcast, the hosts discuss the shift from hands-on operator to leader and coach—highlighting the importance of clear “don’t do” goals.They’re joined by Lauren and Pamela of Splendid Events, a mother–daughter event planning team who share how they built their business over 16 years and successfully pivoted during COVID to virtual events through studio partnerships and digital event strategist certification. Pamela’s corporate background in healthcare insurance and project management shaped their operational systems, while Lauren brings strengths in tech, registration platforms, and event execution. Together, they divide responsibilities across strategy, client management, and on-site operations.They explore what it takes to run large-scale events—detailed systems, trusted vendors, adaptability, and calm problem-solving—along with the realities of family business, industry shifts like AI-assisted tools, and their move toward corporate and nonprofit clients. They also discuss certifications (WEBC/WBE), challenges including racial bias and vendor risk, and why they avoid bringing services in-house to stay flexible.Looking ahead to strong demand through 2026, they share plans to expand into speaking and education, including their upcoming anthology chapter in She Knows Best (January 2026). The episode closes with insights on how hiring an event planner can elevate both the experience and the bottom line.

From Academia to a $28M Exit — and Why Diane Prince Is Building Again (Differently)

What happens when you intentionally build a business to sell — and actually do it?In this episode of Renegade Ventures, Ellie sits down with serial entrepreneur Diane Prince, who went from failing out of a PhD program to building and selling a staffing agency for $28 million in just six years — and then doing it all over again.Diane walks us through how she and her co-founder engineered their exit from day one, scaled to $35M in revenue, survived payroll weeks north of $700K, navigated a failed acquisition post-9/11, and ultimately structured a deal that paid out the entire earnout — without staying in the business.Now, she’s building again — this time with offshore talent, a radically different vision, and a focus on leverage, lifestyle, and fun.If you’re an acquisition entrepreneur, operator, or founder thinking about scale, exit, or doing it smarter the second time around, this episode is packed with real-world insight.

The Death of a Deal: An International Misadventure

In this raw and unfiltered conversation, Maggie sits down with Ellie to unpack the deal that didn’t close-one she flew across the world for, fought for, and genuinely believed would reshape her business. The wound is fresh, the emotions are real, and nothing is sugar-coated.Together, they walk through the highs of early hope, the red flags they tried to ignore, and the moment everything unraveled. Ellie shares what it’s like to pour your heart, time, and money into an international acquisition that ultimately slips away-and how she’s navigating the disappointment, self-doubt, and unexpected clarity that followed.This isn’t a victory-lap episode. It’s a candid look at the deals that don’t make the highlight reel-and why the stories we wish we could hide often teach us the most. Whether you’re a founder, leader, or deal junkie, this is a conversation you won’t forget.

Building Blak Koffee: Culture, Community & Courage with Ronyale Smith

In this episode of Renegade Ventures, we sit down with Ronyale Smith, owner of Blak Koffee in Louisville, Kentucky, to talk about what it really takes to build a values-driven business from the ground up. Ronyale shares her journey into entrepreneurship, the vision behind Blak Koffee, and how she’s created more than just a coffee shop—it’s a space rooted in culture, community, and intentional impact. We explore the challenges of ownership, the importance of representation, and what it means to lead with purpose while growing a brand in today’s world. This conversation is honest, inspiring, and a must-listen for anyone dreaming of building something that truly matters.