The Unscripted Climb
Welcome to The Unscripted Climb. This is the podcast where business gets real and the filters get left at the door.
Hosted by Chris Beecham, a no-fluff entrepreneur who’s sold plasma to keep the lights on, and Natalie Micale, a branding expert who’s built more than her fair share of empires from scratch. We’re here to talk about what actually happens behind the highlight reels.
This isn’t your manifest your best life show. This is for the founders, leaders, and business owners who’ve white-knuckled their way through growth, failure, reinvention, and maybe a public meltdown or two.
Why Listen?
Because behind every shiny brand is a messy middle.
We ask the questions most podcasts won’t
- What was your biggest screw-up
- How close were you to quitting
- And what kept you from walking away
What You’ll Hear:
• Wild origin stories
• Marketing disasters and comebacks
• Real-talk sales advice
• Team dynamics that don’t make it into LinkedIn posts
• And the kind of lessons you only learn after failing hard
Our Vibe?
Dry humor. Sharp insights. Candid convos with zero corporate gloss.
If you're tired of recycled advice and ready for the honest version of entrepreneurship, you're in the right place.
Subscribe and join the climb. Awkward stumbles and all.
The Unscripted Climb
Mike Smith: From Skateparks to Global Impact
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Mike Smith joins The Unscripted Climb to share how he went from sleeping under bridges and building skateparks in malls… to becoming a nationally recognized youth speaker, nonprofit founder, and full-time dad.
In this episode, Mike talks about his three “lives” — launching youth centers, becoming a top-tier speaker, and chasing his wildest dream of being an international adventure guide. He also breaks down his “compensation model” from Stanford, what AI is doing to creativity, and why Gen Z is struggling to build real memories.
Whether you're raising capital, raising kids, or raising your standards — this conversation will hit you in the soul.
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Follow the show and leave a review if you’re climbing your own mountain.
📍 Topics:
entrepreneurship, youth development, nonprofit leadership, impact investing, public speaking, AI and creativity, parenting, social innovation, lifestyle design, life after burnout, community building, adventure
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