A promotional image for the "Against the Grain" podcast featuring a glass of whiskey, an open notebook with handwritten notes and a pen, and a black baseball cap with a patch that says "Life's About Choices". The background has the podcast's title and tagline, "Business, Lessons, Life, and Liquor."

Business lessons, life, and liquor. Each episode, Jon Umstead and co-host Nic Hess go against the grain to talk straight about entrepreneurship, intrapreneurship, leadership, and building something fun from nothing.

Pull up a glass.

Against the Grain Podcast

Against the Grain Available at Amazon September 15, 2026 - Paperback and Kindle - Pre-Order For Kindle Now

~~

Against the Grain Available at Amazon September 15, 2026 - Paperback and Kindle - Pre-Order For Kindle Now ~~

Jon Umstead Jon Umstead

AG Podcast Ep 4: Reputation Travels Faster Than Advertising

Jon and Nic explore the critical importance of reputation in business versus traditional advertising. They discuss how reputation influences customer trust, brand perception, and long-term success, emphasizing that reputation can make or break your enterprise faster than any marketing campaign.

Read More
Jon Umstead Jon Umstead

AG Podcast Ep 2: Just Go For It

Jon and Nic explore the power of taking risks, the importance of paying attention to detail, and challenging the status quo to foster innovation. They share personal stories, including Jon’s journey with Buffalo Trace, and practical advice on asking for what you want.

Read More

Get a free sample from Chapter 1