The Grit to Growth Podcast

What happens when you mix neuroscience, law, and a dinner table conversation? You get Aaron Emerson’s journey from medical research to revolutionizing hospital care. In this episode of The Grit to Growth Podcast, host Levi Te Slaa sits down with Aaron, CEO of SEGA Innovations, to uncover how he's turning pain points in hospitals into life-saving innovations.
From discussing his pivot from academia to entrepreneurship, to explaining how SEGA’s groundbreaking air-lateral transfer devices are reducing patient and staff injuries, Aaron shares a behind-the-scenes look at medical product innovation. You’ll hear how SEGA balances accessibility, affordability, and cutting-edge tech to meet real hospital needs — all while staying rooted in Sioux Falls.
Whether you’re a healthcare professional, aspiring entrepreneur, or someone interested in innovation, this episode delivers insights on turning practical problems into powerful business opportunities.
 
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In this episode, Levi Te Slaa sits down with Vishnu Nellore, a civil engineer for the City of Sioux Falls, to talk about his journey from coastal India to the snowy plains of South Dakota—and how he’s now influencing the growth and infrastructure of one of America’s fastest-growing cities. Vishnu shares how he came to study at South Dakota State University, adjusted to life in the U.S., and discovered a passion for engineering that’s all about people as much as it is about projects.
You’ll hear about:
The cultural and climate shock of moving from India to South Dakota
What drew Vishnu to SDSU and civil engineering
His experience adapting to a new language, new customs, and the Imperial system
How public input shapes large-scale infrastructure projects in Sioux Falls
An exciting new interchange project that will connect growing parts of the city
The importance of leadership and public trust in civic engineering
Why Vishnu believes Sioux Falls is a great place to live and work
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Levi Te Slaa sits down with Joanna Prewitt, a licensed therapist and the founder of Enso Mental Health in Spearfish, South Dakota. Joanna opens up about her path from working in social services to launching her own mental health practice. Inspired by personal experience and a desire to “help the helpers,” JoAnna built Enso with a vision to create a supportive, sustainable environment for therapists and clients alike.
In this heartfelt conversation, Joanna reflects on how her parents’ divorce sparked a lifelong dedication to therapy, why she left nonprofit work, and how she scaled Enso Mental Health from a solo practice into a 9-clinician team in just a few years. She also shares how the COVID-19 pandemic reshaped mental healthcare delivery and her future plans to expand into Rapid City.
 
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In this episode of The Grit to Growth Podcast, Levi Te Slaa welcomes Dr. Jeremy Cauwels, a small-town Iowa native whose early experiences with congenital heart disease inspired a lifelong pursuit of care and leadership. Now the Chief Medical Officer of Sanford Health, Dr. Cauwels discusses how he went from hospital medicine to helping oversee quality, safety, and graduate medical education across a vast healthcare system.
He shares insights on leading through growth, the importance of communication in large organizations, and the lasting lessons from navigating the COVID-19 pandemic. Listeners will also hear his advice for emerging leaders, the value of “just showing up,” and how Sanford continues to support healthcare careers from the ground up.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Be A Guest Are you a successful business owner or professional with insights to share? Apply to be a guest on https://grittogrowthpodcast.com/guest and share your expertise with a wide audience eager to learn about you.

In this episode of The Grit to Growth Podcast, host Levi Te Slaa sits down with Ryan Junek, a fourth-generation business owner and the force behind Junek's Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram in Spearfish, South Dakota. From his family's migration during the Great Depression to running one of the oldest car dealerships in the region, Ryan shares a story rooted in resilience, adaptation, and legacy.
Tune in to hear how a small gas station evolved into a thriving car dealership, how Ryan transitioned from running a car rental business at the Rapid City Airport to taking the reins of the family enterprise, and why staying at the forefront of technology and community involvement has been crucial to his success.
This episode dives deep into the challenges and benefits of multi-generational businesses, Ryan’s advocacy work through the South Dakota Auto Dealers Association, and how he’s keeping the Junek legacy alive—brick by cinder block, one generation at a time.
 
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In this episode, Levi Te Slaa sits down with Connor Hallstrom, founder of SoDak Industries, a CNC machining business in Clark, South Dakota. Conner shares the story behind starting his company while still working full-time and raising twin boys with his wife—all driven by a vision of generational legacy and hands-on craftsmanship.
Conner breaks down the nuts and bolts of what a modern machine shop does, why machinists are in demand, and how robotics and software are shaping the future of manufacturing. He opens up about what it takes to build a family-integrated business, how he’s mentoring the next generation of machinists, and the lessons his young boys have taught him about patience and purpose.
Whether you're an entrepreneur, a parent, or just curious about the world of precision machining, this episode will give you insight, inspiration, and a dose of reality from someone living the grit-to-growth journey.
 
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In this episode, Levi Te Slaa sits down with Dr. Bhaskar Purushottam, founder of Midwest Heart and Vascular Associates and a leading cardiologist based in Rapid City, South Dakota. Dr. Purushottam shares his inspiring journey from Bangalore, India to becoming a specialist with training at some of the world’s top medical institutions, including Mount Sinai and William Beaumont.
They dive deep into the critical topic of vascular care access in underserved regions. Dr. Purushottam explains why he chose to launch a private clinic focused on timely, life-saving treatment for heart and vascular diseases—especially peripheral arterial disease (PAD), a leading cause of limb amputation in the U.S.
 
 
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In this insightful episode of The Grit to Growth Podcast, Levi sits down with John Clapper, a former pastor turned tech leader, who now serves as the VP of Technology at Verdia and co-founder of Sendachi. John shares his winding journey from ministry to mastering data and analytics, offering real-world wisdom on solving business chaos with the power of code and leadership.
John dives into how he transitioned from Excel spreadsheets to enterprise-level data systems, the pivotal role of AI in modernizing credit union technology, and the value of rural innovation. You’ll hear how he applies a unique "reverse engineering your life" mindset to both his career and leadership path.
If you've ever wondered how someone can go from a call center to speaking at SAP conferences—or how tech can transform rural economies—this conversation is packed with insights you won't want to miss.
 
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In this episode, Levi sits down with Sarah Vicunia, founder of Top Talent Connections, a new recruiting agency based in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Sarah shares her journey from a successful career in corporate HR to an unexpected job loss that led her to launch her own business. She opens up about the emotional rollercoaster of losing a job, the courage it takes to pivot, and the drive to create meaningful connections between companies and candidates.
Sarah dives deep into how small businesses struggle with hiring, and how her firm is uniquely positioned to bring "big company" recruiting experience to smaller teams that need it most. Her story is honest, inspiring, and a great listen for anyone considering entrepreneurship or navigating a career transition.
What You'll Learn:
The inspiration and story behind Top Talent Connections
How Sarah turned job loss into a business opportunity
Why smaller companies benefit from outsourced recruiting
The emotional highs and lows of starting a business
Sarah’s “triple win” recruiting philosophy
The power of staying connected and building community
 
 
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In this episode, Levi Te Slaa sits down with Shaine Anderson, a dynamic entrepreneur from Aberdeen, South Dakota, who’s thriving in not one—but two—distinct industries. As the founder of Anderson Electric and Wired Coffee Company, Shaine shares how he transitioned from managing a retail floor to wiring homes and troubleshooting industrial systems, all while brewing up some of the region's best coffee.
Shaine talks candidly about his journey into the trades, discovering his family's multi-generational legacy in electrical work, and how mentorship and apprenticeships shaped his path. He dives into the challenges of running two businesses, balancing leadership and hands-on work, and why community service and communication are at the heart of everything he does.
 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Be A Guest Are you a successful business owner or professional with insights to share? Apply to be a guest on https://grittogrowthpodcast.com/guest and share your expertise with a wide audience eager to learn about you.