<![CDATA[135ºF Podcast]]>135° is a raw, unfiltered podcast about survival in food and small business. Named after the safe holding temperature for hot food, this show lives in the danger zone—where entrepreneurs, cooks, and creators fight to stay alive with limited resources, hard lessons, and zero shortcuts. Real stories. Real struggle. Still standing.

]]>Flatbellyveg.com/135Riverside.fm (https://riverside.com)Thu, 28 May 2026 10:44:42 GMTFri, 26 Dec 2025 00:20:04 GMT60JOSHUA BLACK<p><b>135°</b> is a raw, unfiltered podcast about survival in food and small business. Named after the safe holding temperature for hot food, this show lives in the danger zone—where entrepreneurs, cooks, and creators fight to stay alive with limited resources, hard lessons, and zero shortcuts. Real stories. Real struggle. Still standing.</p>episodicJOSHUA BLACKurbanblackvegan@gmail.comno<![CDATA[The Discipline of Continuing]]>A short reflection on pressure, interruptions and why entrepreneurs...especially those building with limited resources... must learn not to let challenges redefine momentum. Sometimes the real discipline is simply continuing.

]]>2cfa11f5-6fc8-46dc-a395-4c908ece506eTue, 24 Mar 2026 02:49:03 GMT<p>A short reflection on pressure, interruptions and why entrepreneurs...especially those building with limited resources... must learn not to let challenges redefine momentum. Sometimes the real discipline is simply continuing.</p>no00:08:339The Discipline of Continuingfull<![CDATA[Opportunity, Emotions & Discipline]]>Part 2: Opportunity, Emotion & Discipline

In bootstrap entrepreneurship, not every opportunity is aligned — and not every feeling deserves funding.

In Part 2 of The Journeys Within the Journey series, we unpack the hidden cost of distraction, emotional decision-making, and undisciplined growth. When money is tight and pressure is high, everything feels urgent. But urgency isn’t strategy.

This episode explores how to recognize true opportunity, separate ego from execution, and build the restraint required to protect your margins, your team, and your long-term vision.

Because in bootstrap, distraction often looks like opportunity — but discipline builds legacy.

]]>ac5d4bbd-bac7-4d47-ada0-0f9f5b17ed6dTue, 24 Feb 2026 04:14:38 GMT<p><b>Part 2: Opportunity, Emotion &amp; Discipline</b></p><p>In bootstrap entrepreneurship, not every opportunity is aligned — and not every feeling deserves funding.</p><p>In Part 2 of <i>The Journeys Within the Journey</i> series, we unpack the hidden cost of distraction, emotional decision-making, and undisciplined growth. When money is tight and pressure is high, everything feels urgent. But urgency isn’t strategy.</p><p>This episode explores how to recognize true opportunity, separate ego from execution, and build the restraint required to protect your margins, your team, and your long-term vision.</p><p>Because in bootstrap, distraction often looks like opportunity — but discipline builds legacy.</p>no00:31:039Opportunity, Emotions & Disciplinefull<![CDATA[The Journeys within the Journey]]>The Journeys Within the Journey | A 3-Part Founder Series

Most people think bootstrap entrepreneurship is one journey — start the business, get customers, make money, survive.

But that’s not the real story.

Inside every bootstrap journey are smaller, invisible journeys happening at the same time. The journey of hiring the right people. The journey of learning to train. The journey of recognizing real opportunity. The journey of managing emotion under pressure. The journey of mastering your time when you are the entire infrastructure.

In this 3-part series, I break down the internal curriculum no one warns you about — the growth that has to happen inside the founder before it shows up in the business.

This isn’t theory.
This is lived experience — from food truck to brick-and-mortar.

Bootstrap doesn’t just build revenue.
It builds range.

And sometimes the business grows only after you do

]]>40ac6a07-baeb-4579-b60e-a938181f9823Tue, 17 Feb 2026 03:14:47 GMT<p><b>The Journeys Within the Journey | A 3-Part Founder Series</b></p><p>Most people think bootstrap entrepreneurship is one journey — start the business, get customers, make money, survive.</p><p>But that’s not the real story.</p><p>Inside every bootstrap journey are smaller, invisible journeys happening at the same time. The journey of hiring the right people. The journey of learning to train. The journey of recognizing real opportunity. The journey of managing emotion under pressure. The journey of mastering your time when you are the entire infrastructure.</p><p>In this 3-part series, I break down the internal curriculum no one warns you about — the growth that has to happen inside the founder before it shows up in the business.</p><p>This isn’t theory.<br />This is lived experience — from food truck to brick-and-mortar.</p><p>Bootstrap doesn’t just build revenue.<br />It builds range.</p><p>And sometimes the business grows only after you do</p>no00:17:368The Journeys within the Journeyfull<![CDATA[The Daily Internal Board Meeting]]>Before the emails. Before the kitchen. Before the meetings.

Every bootstrap entrepreneur starts the day the same way — negotiating with themselves.

In this episode of 135°F, Joshua breaks down the invisible work of building without investors, without a large team, and without a safety net. When you don’t have capital, your time becomes your currency. Your attention becomes your leverage. And your energy becomes your survival strategy.

This is an honest conversation about the daily internal board meeting every founder faces: revenue vs. vision, urgent vs. important, survival vs. scale.

If you're building from the ground up, this one is for you.

]]>2361ba34-e298-4862-af15-5799d0d1dd35Wed, 11 Feb 2026 02:47:03 GMT<p>Before the emails. Before the kitchen. Before the meetings.</p><p>Every bootstrap entrepreneur starts the day the same way — negotiating with themselves.</p><p>In this episode of <i>135°F</i>, Joshua breaks down the invisible work of building without investors, without a large team, and without a safety net. When you don’t have capital, your time becomes your currency. Your attention becomes your leverage. And your energy becomes your survival strategy.</p><p>This is an honest conversation about the daily internal board meeting every founder faces: revenue vs. vision, urgent vs. important, survival vs. scale.</p><p>If you're building from the ground up, this one is for you.</p>no00:23:018The Daily Internal Board Meetingfull<![CDATA[Balance is a Privilege]]>In this episode, Joshua Black discusses the myth of work-life balance and the unique challenges faced by bootstrap entrepreneurs, particularly African American founders. He highlights the structural barriers and funding gaps that affect black entrepreneurs, and redefines balance as a negotiation and rhythm. The conversation provides insight into the struggle, resilience, and intentional balance of entrepreneurs in the face of systemic challenges.

Takeaways

  • Work-life balance is a privilege
  • Bootstrap entrepreneurs face unique challenges

Chapters

  • 00:00 Introduction and Episode Overview
  • 07:19 Adding Race to the Conversation
  • 13:19 Burnout and Structural Outcome
]]>a6d7bb7c-0c6b-436e-8e4c-b9830bc4373aTue, 27 Jan 2026 02:08:50 GMT<p>In this episode, Joshua Black discusses the myth of work-life balance and the unique challenges faced by bootstrap entrepreneurs, particularly African American founders. He highlights the structural barriers and funding gaps that affect black entrepreneurs, and redefines balance as a negotiation and rhythm. The conversation provides insight into the struggle, resilience, and intentional balance of entrepreneurs in the face of systemic challenges.</p><p></p><p>Takeaways</p><ul><li>Work-life balance is a privilege</li><li>Bootstrap entrepreneurs face unique challenges</li></ul><p></p><p>Chapters</p><ul><li>00:00 Introduction and Episode Overview</li><li>07:19 Adding Race to the Conversation</li><li>13:19 Burnout and Structural Outcome</li></ul>no00:16:526Balance is a Privilegefull<![CDATA[Wheels to Walls: My Food Truck to Brick Mortar Journey]]>Joshua Black shares his journey of starting a food business from scratch, beginning with a trailer and building the business from the ground up through financial struggles and resourcefulness. He discusses the challenges of transitioning to a brick and mortar, the impact of visibility and competition, and the complementary nature of a food truck and a brick and mortar, along with strategic growth strategies.

Takeaways

  • Starting with limited resources
  • Building a business from the ground up
  • Challenges of a brick and mortar
  • Impact of visibility and competition
  • Strategic use of food truck and brick and mortar
  • Expansion and growth strategy

Chapters

  • 00:00 Starting from Scratch: The Food Truck Journey
  • 08:22 Transition to Brick and Mortar
  • 31:41 The Complementary Nature of Food Truck and Brick and Mortar
]]>c47898ce-a9c8-43f8-ba0e-7efe19bd4d4aTue, 20 Jan 2026 02:41:07 GMT<p>Joshua Black shares his journey of starting a food business from scratch, beginning with a trailer and building the business from the ground up through financial struggles and resourcefulness. He discusses the challenges of transitioning to a brick and mortar, the impact of visibility and competition, and the complementary nature of a food truck and a brick and mortar, along with strategic growth strategies.</p><p></p><p>Takeaways</p><ul><li>Starting with limited resources</li><li>Building a business from the ground up</li><li>Challenges of a brick and mortar</li><li>Impact of visibility and competition</li><li>Strategic use of food truck and brick and mortar</li><li>Expansion and growth strategy</li></ul><p></p><p>Chapters</p><ul><li>00:00 Starting from Scratch: The Food Truck Journey</li><li>08:22 Transition to Brick and Mortar</li><li>31:41 The Complementary Nature of Food Truck and Brick and Mortar</li></ul>no00:37:235Wheels to Walls: My Food Truck to Brick Mortar Journeyfull<![CDATA[Bags, Cards and The Psychology of Fees]]>In this episode, Joshua Black discusses the topics of bags, cards, and the psychology of fees. He explores the pros and cons of credit card fees and bag fees, shedding light on the impact of these fees on businesses and customers.

Takeaways

  • Credit Card Fees
  • Bag Fees

Chapters

  • 00:00 Introduction to Bags, Cards, and a Psychology of Fees
]]>7e046733-f64a-47de-b250-422c5c2bcd48Tue, 13 Jan 2026 03:48:06 GMT<p>In this episode, Joshua Black discusses the topics of bags, cards, and the psychology of fees. He explores the pros and cons of credit card fees and bag fees, shedding light on the impact of these fees on businesses and customers.</p><p></p><p>Takeaways</p><ul><li>Credit Card Fees</li><li>Bag Fees</li></ul><p></p><p>Chapters</p><ul><li>00:00 Introduction to Bags, Cards, and a Psychology of Fees</li></ul>no00:14:204Bags, Cards and The Psychology of Feesfull<![CDATA[Your Weakness is the Strength]]>In this episode, Joshua Black discusses the strategy for small businesses to win by reframing their limits. He emphasizes the importance of highlighting what big businesses try to hide and how perceived weaknesses, when framed correctly, become behavioral advantages. The episode is divided into four segments, each exploring different aspects of reframing limitations and leveraging them as strengths.

Takeaways

  • Small businesses should highlight what big businesses try to hide
  • Perceived weaknesses, when framed correctly, become behavioral advantages

Chapters

  • 00:00 Introduction and Episode Overview
  • 12:56 Weaknesses Create Trust
  • 29:51 Framing Constraints as Values
]]>663fce2a-2a02-427f-919d-4789cccfb65fTue, 06 Jan 2026 03:08:27 GMT<p>In this episode, Joshua Black discusses the strategy for small businesses to win by reframing their limits. He emphasizes the importance of highlighting what big businesses try to hide and how perceived weaknesses, when framed correctly, become behavioral advantages. The episode is divided into four segments, each exploring different aspects of reframing limitations and leveraging them as strengths.</p><p></p><p>Takeaways</p><ul><li>Small businesses should highlight what big businesses try to hide</li><li>Perceived weaknesses, when framed correctly, become behavioral advantages</li></ul><p></p><p>Chapters</p><ul><li>00:00 Introduction and Episode Overview</li><li>12:56 Weaknesses Create Trust</li><li>29:51 Framing Constraints as Values</li></ul>no00:38:353Your Weakness is the Strengthfull<![CDATA[Burnout, Pressure and still Showing up]]>The second episode of the 135 degree podcast focuses on the themes of burnout, pressure, and showing up in the context of mental and emotional survival in business. The host, Joshua Black, shares personal experiences and insights into the toll of entrepreneurship, the breaking point, and what helps him press through and survive. The episode provides valuable perspectives on the challenges and rewards of entrepreneurship, offering inspiration and motivation to listeners.

Takeaways

  • Mental and emotional survival in business
  • The toll of entrepreneurship

Chapters

  • 00:00 Burnout, Pressure, and Showing Up
  • 06:18 The Toll of Entrepreneurship
  • 15:24 Pressing Through and Survival
]]>a5845d74-d1af-496c-8178-69a35bfe9d43Mon, 29 Dec 2025 22:09:02 GMT<p>The second episode of the 135 degree podcast focuses on the themes of burnout, pressure, and showing up in the context of mental and emotional survival in business. The host, Joshua Black, shares personal experiences and insights into the toll of entrepreneurship, the breaking point, and what helps him press through and survive. The episode provides valuable perspectives on the challenges and rewards of entrepreneurship, offering inspiration and motivation to listeners.</p><p></p><p>Takeaways</p><ul><li>Mental and emotional survival in business</li><li>The toll of entrepreneurship</li></ul><p></p><p>Chapters</p><ul><li>00:00 Burnout, Pressure, and Showing Up</li><li>06:18 The Toll of Entrepreneurship</li><li>15:24 Pressing Through and Survival</li></ul>no00:18:242Burnout, Pressure and still Showing upfull<![CDATA[Things don't go right? Make a left.]]>The inaugural episode of the 135 degrees Podcast features Joshua Black sharing his entrepreneurial journey, from the challenges of starting a business to the rebranding process and the introduction of his podcast, 135 Degrees. The conversation highlights the struggles of being a 'poorpreneur' and the goal of supporting entrepreneurs in their journey.

Takeaways

  • Starting a business from scratch
  • Overcoming challenges in business

Chapters

  • 00:00 The Struggle of Starting a Business
  • 06:18 Introduction to 135 Degrees
  • 11:53 Supporting Entrepreneurs in Their Journey
]]>8b4019bb-0a9b-41cb-a716-8bf484766dcbSun, 28 Dec 2025 17:44:08 GMT<p>The inaugural episode of the 135 degrees Podcast features Joshua Black sharing his entrepreneurial journey, from the challenges of starting a business to the rebranding process and the introduction of his podcast, 135 Degrees. The conversation highlights the struggles of being a 'poorpreneur' and the goal of supporting entrepreneurs in their journey.</p><p></p><p>Takeaways</p><ul><li>Starting a business from scratch</li><li>Overcoming challenges in business</li></ul><p></p><p>Chapters</p><ul><li>00:00 The Struggle of Starting a Business</li><li>06:18 Introduction to 135 Degrees</li><li>11:53 Supporting Entrepreneurs in Their Journey</li></ul>no00:11:50Things don't go right? Make a left.full