Aisle Be Damned

We’re Shana and Jason Wallenstein. We’re married, and we own a hardware store together.Which, as it turns out, is a really good way to learn a lot about business and maybe a little too much about each other.Because owning a business never goes exactly the way you think it will.The wins are bigger, the mistakes are more expensive, and some days you find yourself asking, “How the hell did we get here?”So we started talking to other entrepreneurs, founders, retailers, and business owners about what it really takes to build something.The good decisions. The bad decisions. The things nobody tells you until you’re already in it.For better.For worse.For business.This is Aisle Be Damned.

Episodes

Ep. 5 - From Hot Sauce to Freeze-Dried Snacks: Building a Business With a Purpose

What do you do when life keeps throwing you curveballs? If you’re Sonya Patel, you pivot, get creative, and build something delicious. Sonya joins Jason and Shana to share how her journey took her from management consulting and education to fou...

October 13, 2026 • Season 1 • Episode 5 • 1:14:38

Ep. 4 - They’re Building a Bookstore From Scratch: Books, Beer & Community

Rebecca had a simple thought over coffee: “You know what this town needs? A bookstore.” Then she told Ethan, and suddenly they were actually doing it. Now they’re building an independent bookstore from the ground up, complete with used books, l...

September 29, 2026 • 56:34

Ep. 3 - From Events to The Curated Cottage: Building a Creative Community

What happens when a longtime event planner finally decides to build the shop she’s been dreaming about? You get The Curated Cottage, a charming little spot in Aurora filled with plants, vintage finds, paper goods, crafts, and plenty of personal...

September 22, 2026 • 55:09

Ep. 2 - From Construction to Energy Drinks: Building a Brand from Scratch

Brad and Kelsey are already running a construction company—but that didn’t stop them from launching a new energy drink brand designed for blue-collar workers. In this episode of Aisle Be Damned, they share the challenges of developing ...

September 15, 2026 • 56:31

Ep. 1 - He’s 16 and Already Built a Business: Jam, Entrepreneurship & Breaking the Rules with Josh Friedlander

Welcome to the very first episode of Aisle Be Damned, hosted by Jason and Shana Wallenstein!For our debut episode, Jason and Shana sit down with Josh Friedlander, a 16-year-old entrepreneur from Solon, O...

September 08, 2026 • 41:36

Welcome to Aisle Be Damned!

September 01, 2026 • 0:48