My first foray into creating digital content was via a blog. The name of the blog was Cuptivating. The goal was to post something captivating to read while enjoying a morning cup of coffee. The header image was a tasty shot of coffee beans. (At the time, we were also doing work for the Detroit Red Wings that involved Lord Stanley’s Cup.) I enjoyed learning from those earliest posts: how to manage comments, what generated engagement and the basic skills needed to have posts appear properly on the Blogger platform.

A decade plus later, I’ve shifted to capturing stories on the GENeration EXcellence podcast. Again, I’m uncovering what’s engaging and learning the skills needed to properly appear on the multiple podcast platforms.

Some tendencies remain: namely the connection to coffee. In episode #20, Elliot and Noah Lewkow serve up the fascinating story of Cappuccino Man mobile coffee catering business that spans both from California to Michigan and generations.

The newest GENeration EXcellence episode, #27, spins the 107-year-old tale about the Becharas Brothers Coffee Co. family being in the business of roasting beans. Nick and Dean represent the third generation running the operation and tell us their story of hard work and determination.

So, grab a steaming cup and take a listen. Hopefully your coffee is smooth. But as we celebrate #NationalStorytellingDay, it’s worth remembering the reality: the journey isn’t always smooth for long-running businesses. Although that’s what makes their stories cuptivating.