In this episode of The Business Gay Podcast, host Calan Breckon speaks with Brian Thompson.

Brian is the Founder and Financial Planner of Brian Thompson Financial LLC, where he helps LGBTQ+ and mission-driven entrepreneurs build profitable businesses that reflect who they are and support the impact they want to make.

As a financial advisor, business strategist, and host of the Mission Driven Business podcast, Brian works with service-based founders who are building more than just a business. They’re building movements, communities, and legacies. He helps them bring clarity and structure to their finances so they can grow with confidence and stay rooted in their purpose.

Before launching his firm, Brian spent nearly a decade as a tax attorney. That background, paired with his own entrepreneurial experience, informs a planning approach that’s inclusive, strategic, and grounded in real life.

As a Black, queer financial advisor, Brian is especially passionate about creating space for diverse voices in business and finance—and showing that profit and purpose don’t have to be mutually exclusive.

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Links mentioned in this episode:

• btfinancial.com
• Brian on LinkedIn
• Mission Driven Business Podcast
• Brian on IG

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Key Takeaways for quick navigation:

• [03:04] Brian explains why entrepreneurs often think they must choose between purpose and profit, and how both can exist together.
• [04:28] Discussion on creating different tiers of services to balance accessibility with sustainability while maintaining impact.
• [06:47] Brian’s advice on pricing: charge what you think you’re worth and then increase it by 25% to counter undervaluing yourself.
• [09:47] Introduction of the Profit First method to manage cash flow by allocating income into profit, owner’s pay, taxes, and expenses.
• [12:08] Key lessons from Brian’s tax attorney background: understanding how taxes differ for entrepreneurs is crucial to avoid costly mistakes.
• [13:32] How entrepreneurs can prevent burnout by designing a business model that supports personal well-being and sustainability.
• [14:47] The importance of long-term financial planning, balancing immediate needs with future goals, and ensuring the “ladder is against the right wall.”

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In this episode of The Business Gay Podcast, host Calan Breckon speaks with the founder and CEO of BetterTable™, Ben Liegey.

BetterTable™ is a Vancouver-based benefit company empowering kitchens to boost profits, cut food waste in half, and achieve Net Zero emissions. Ben has over 10 years’ experience in food sustainability and in 2024 he was named one of Business in Vancouver’s 40 Under 40. At this years CGLCC Summit, Ben also won the 2025 Emerging Exporter of the Year award as well as the EY Pitch Competition in partnership with Canada’s 2SLGBTQI+ Chamber of Commerce.

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Links mentioned in this episode:

• BetterTable.com
• FoodSynergyMovie.ca
• Ben Liegey on LinkedIn
• Join the CGLCC Mentorship Program (Applications close Aug 18, 2025)

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Key Takeaways for quick navigation:

• [2:51] Shocking stat: About half of all food in Canada is wasted, totaling over $50 billion annually and significantly contributing to climate change.
• [4:09] Why food waste is a rare triple-win issue: it can reduce costs, lower environmental impact, and improve social outcomes all at once.
• [5:35] Key impact metrics BetterTable™ tracks: cost savings, carbon emission reduction, and meals saved, with a focus on UN Sustainable Development Goals.
• [6:55] Launch of the BetterTable™ app to automate food audits and track sustainability metrics remotely for kitchens.
• [10:50] Success stories: some clients, including hotels, have cut food waste by 30% and saved $20,000 annually.
• [16:11] Three sustainability tips for restaurants: train staff, track data, and get creative with ingredients to reduce waste.

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In this episode of The Business Gay Podcast, host Calan Breckon speaks with the Founder and CEO of Coconut Breeze Media, Juliana Olarte.

Coconut Breeze Media is a new media solutions agency that brings innovative content marketing and AI automation for the travel and hospitality industries. With a background in public relations, creative storytelling, and technical strategy, she brings a unique blend of creativity and technical expertise to every project. Juliana also serves as Media Director for Space Coast Pride, championing inclusive communication and digital outreach. Her prior roles include leading AI initiatives at Dicapta and managing national travel PR campaigns at MMGY NJF. Based in Cocoa Beach, she’s passionate about building meaningful connections through media, technology, and purpose-driven storytelling.

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► Today’s Sponsor is Make.com - easy AI automation and development

Join the email list for news and updates

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Links mentioned in this episode:

• CoconutBreezemedia.com
• Juliana Olarte on LinkedIn
• Make.com
• Softr.io
• N8N.io
• Lovable.dev

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Key Takeaways for quick navigation:

• [2:46] What Vibe coding is? AI that builds websites and assets from text prompts.
• [5:52] Who is vibe coding for? It’s great for simple projects but not reliable for complex builds.
• [9:48] Big advantages of Vibe Coding: fast, easy, and no coding needed for prototypes.
• [12:20] Risks: no version control, easy to break projects without backups.
• [16:29] Start with safer tools like Softr, Airtable, and Make.com.
• [18:26] How Make.com automates tasks like lead generation and data management.
• [22:38] Future of Vibe coding. AI will get smarter but security risks remain.

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