From the creator of How I Built This, host Guy Raz invites you to listen in as he talks to leadership experts and the visionary leaders of some of the world's biggest brands. Along the way, you'll hear accounts of crisis, failure, turnaround, and triumph, as the leaders reveal their secrets on their way to the top. These are stories that didn't make it into their company bios, and valuable lessons for anyone trying to make it in business.

They fed neighbors during a storm — and ended up winning a James Beard Award.
In this episode of The Way Up, Guy Raz meets Edgar Rico and Sara Mardanbigi, the couple behind Nixta Taqueria in Austin, Texas. What started with resilience in the face of disaster became a nationally acclaimed restaurant with a mission rooted in community, creativity, and cultural pride.
From navigating natural disasters to rethinking the taco, Edgar and Sara share hard-earned lessons in business, leadership, and love.
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Watch all episodes of The Way Up, including the bonus panel episode 'Behind the Business: How 5 Entrepreneurs Beat the Odds'.
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The Way Up is a new video series from Square highlighting the real stories of grit, vision, growth, and heart behind some of America’s most innovative local businesses. 
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Wisdom From The Top

The Way Up, Episode 6 - Nixta Taqueria

Pop-up shops, clever T-shirts, and made-up holidays — all in the name of keeping indie books alive.
In this episode of The Way Up, Guy Raz sits down with Pete Mulvihill, co-owner of San Francisco’s iconic Green Apple Books. While big-box retailers dominate the market, Pete and his team have kept their independent bookstore thriving for decades by thinking way outside the box. From airports to bakeries, Pete shares the creativity, strategy, and community focus that keeps the shelves stocked and the doors open.
Video Links:
Watch the full series here
Check out the episode page here
Watch this episode on YouTube
Watch all episodes of The Way Up, including the bonus panel episode 'Behind the Business: How 5 Entrepreneurs Beat the Odds'.
Connect with Square:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/square
Twitter: https://x.com/square
Facebook: https://facebook.com/square
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@square
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/joinsquare/
Web: https://squareup.com/
Contact Sales: https://squ.re/yt_contactsales
Sign up for Square's The Bottom Line Weekly newsletter: https://squ.re/3tnvac4

The Way Up is a new video series from Square highlighting the real stories of grit, vision, growth, and heart behind some of America’s most innovative local businesses. 
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Way Up, Episode 5 - Green Apple Books

Can a family farm turn into a full-blown theme park? The Valas made it happen.
In this episode of The Way Up, Guy Raz visits Vala’s Pumpkin Patch in Nebraska to meet Tim and Kelsey Vala — the father-daughter duo behind one of the country’s most beloved fall destinations. From a single patch of farmland to 50+ attractions, 25 restaurants, and 1,400 seasonal employees, Vala’s is redefining what a family business can be.
Video Links:
Watch the full series here
Check out the episode page here
Watch this episode on YouTube
Watch all episodes of The Way Up, including the bonus panel episode 'Behind the Business: How 5 Entrepreneurs Beat the Odds'.
Connect with Square:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/square
Twitter: https://x.com/square
Facebook: https://facebook.com/square
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@square
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/joinsquare/
Web: https://squareup.com/
Contact Sales: https://squ.re/yt_contactsales
Sign up for Square's The Bottom Line Weekly newsletter: https://squ.re/3tnvac4

The Way Up is a new video series from Square highlighting the real stories of grit, vision, growth, and heart behind some of America’s most innovative local businesses. 
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Way Up, Episode 4 - Vala’s Pumpkin Patch

What happens when a soul food legend meets a business-savvy chef? A lot of diners go home happy.
In this episode of The Way Up, Guy Raz sits down with Chef Charles Gabriel and Chef Quie Slobert of Charles Pan-Fried Chicken to explore how they transformed a Harlem institution into a growing restaurant group with national buzz — all while keeping the heart of home cooking at the center of it all.
Video Links:
Watch the full series here
Check out the episode page here
Watch this episode on YouTube
Watch all episodes of The Way Up, including the bonus panel episode 'Behind the Business: How 5 Entrepreneurs Beat the Odds'.
Connect with Square:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/square
Twitter: https://x.com/square
Facebook: https://facebook.com/square
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@square
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/joinsquare/
Web: https://squareup.com/
Contact Sales: https://squ.re/yt_contactsales
Sign up for Square's The Bottom Line Weekly newsletter: https://squ.re/3tnvac4

The Way Up is a new video series from Square highlighting the real stories of grit, vision, growth, and heart behind some of America’s most innovative local businesses. 
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Way Up, Episode 3 - Charles Pan-Fried Chicken

Note: This is the second in a series of episodes of The Way Up, a new video series from Square highlighting the real stories of grit, vision, growth, and heart behind some of America’s most innovative local businesses. 
She opened a custom hat shop in Nashville… while eight months pregnant.
In this episode of The Way Up, Guy Raz sits down with Alex Samuels, founder of Rustler Hat Co., to talk about how a disappointing shopping experience turned into a thriving business rooted in storytelling, craft, and community.
Alex shares how she went from real estate deals to designing custom hats, balancing motherhood, managing explosive growth, and creating unforgettable experiences, one hat at a time.
Video Links:
Watch the full series here
Check out the episode page here
Watch this episode on Youtube
Watch all episodes of The Way Up, including the bonus panel episode 'Behind the Business: How 5 Entrepreneurs Beat the Odds'.

Connect with Square:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/square
Twitter: https://x.com/square
Facebook: https://facebook.com/square
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@square
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/joinsquare/
Web: https://squareup.com/
Contact Sales: https://squ.re/yt_contactsales
Sign up for Square's The Bottom Line Weekly newsletter: https://squ.re/3tnvac4
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Way Up, Episode 2 - Rustler Hat Co. with Alex Samuels

Note: This is the first in a series of episodes of The Way Up, a new video series from Square highlighting the real stories of grit, vision, growth, and heart behind some of America’s most innovative local businesses.
What happens when you can’t find a place to watch women’s sports? You build one. Jenny Nguyen is the founder of The Sports Bra, a first-of-its-kind sports bar in Portland, Oregon, that only plays women’s sports.
In Episode 1 of The Way Up, Guy sits down with Jenny to talk about turning frustration into a business, building community, and why leading with purpose can change everything.
Video Links:
Watch the full series here
Check out the episode page here
Watch this episode on Youtube
Watch all episodes of The Way Up, including the bonus panel episode 'Behind the Business: How 5 Entrepreneurs Beat the Odds'.

Connect with Square:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/square
Twitter: https://x.com/square
Facebook: https://facebook.com/square
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@square
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/joinsquare/
Web: https://squareup.com/
Contact Sales: https://squ.re/yt_contactsales
Sign up for Square's The Bottom Line Weekly newsletter: https://squ.re/3tnvac4
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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You might also like

Aspire with Emma Grede

The Curiosity Shop with Brené Brown and Adam Grant

The Prof G Pod with Scott Galloway

Discover new favourites

Business

NPR