E015 - A Mother–Son Business Legacy - Kari's Cold Treats & Believing Early

Podcast Title: Tha Motiv8tors Table Podcast Host: Dr. JayR McIntyre (Tha Hood Motiv8tor) Episode Title: E015 - A Mother–Son Business Legacy - Kari’s Cold Treats & Believing Early Summary: In this powerful and heartwarming episode of Tha Motiv8tor’s Table, Dr. JayR McIntyre sits down with Jai Harris and her son Kari, the inspiring mother and son duo behind Kari’s Cold Treats, a youth-led ice cream business built on creativity, discipline, and belief. At just 12 years old, Kari is already stepping into entrepreneurship with confidence, showcasing his artistic talent, work ethic, and business mindset. Alongside his mother Jai, they share the real-life journey of what it looks like to build a business together, balance parenting with leadership, and pour into the next generation early. Jai opens up about her own path before Kari, an all-star basketball career cut short by a heart condition, time in the military, a stint as a police officer, family programming at the YMCA, and seven years running a group home for teenage girls that produced a whole army of bonus kids. From that location came Kari’s Cold Treats, born when Jai bought a 40 foot school bus from the Hillsboro County auction, gutted it, and had the state license it as a kitchen so they could run their own mobile ice cream shop side by side. This episode is for parents, entrepreneurs, educators, and anyone who believes in empowering youth. It is more than a business story. It is about legacy, supportive parenting, teaching ownership and confidence early, and why believing in yourself young can change the trajectory of an entire family tree. Main Topics: The power of supportive parenting and pouring into the next generation early Teaching ownership, responsibility, and confidence at a young age Building a family business side by side as mother and son How childhood experiences and identity shape entrepreneurial drive Pivoting through life setbacks, basketball, military, policing, nonprofit, into purpose From idea to reality, turning a shoe box model into a 40 foot mobile ice cream kitchen Faith, mentorship, and trusting that everything you need is already in you Why believing in yourself early can change the trajectory of your life Intriguing Quotes: “You got to give them the full effort because you got to give them all the energy. You can’t just put in one half and then put in another. You got to put it all in.” “If you put first things first, everything else going to fall in its place.” “Just because I retired from my profession, that doesn’t negate my purpose.” “If you can dream it, you can achieve it. Like, who can stop you? If you really put in the work, do it.” “Obviously there are steps to make before you get there, but your goal is already in front of you. All you got to do is find the right path to take.” “Go hard with no regrets. You don’t have to look to your left, don’t look to your right. You look up at the Lord and you look in the mirror because everything that you need is already in you.” “You need God to be your light to show you your path. And once he does, it just gets easier from there.” Key Moments: [00:02:01] - Welcoming Jai Harris and her 12 year old son Kari, the mother and son duo behind Kari’s Cold Treats [00:06:24] - Kari writing his first book at four years old and doing a book signing at his preschool [00:08:52] - Mom pushing Kari to put full effort into his Spanish project instead of stick figures, and what discipline looks like at 12 [00:10:33] - Kari on his AVID class and learning how to ask better questions to think ahead in life [00:15:09] - Jai’s basketball career, heart condition, and finding the military as the discipline she didn’t know she needed [00:24:08] - Opening a group home for teenage girls and raising an army of bonus kids over seven years [00:35:36] - Building Kari’s Cold Treats from a 40 foot school bus into a state-licensed mobile ice cream kitchen [00:42:42] - Words for the younger self - go hard, trust the Lord, and remember everything you need is already in you Notable Guests/Resources: Jai Harris, Tampa-born entrepreneur, US Army veteran, former police officer, former YMCA family programming leader, and founder of a teenage girls’ group home that she ran for nearly a decade. Mother of Kari and many bonus children. Now full time on Kari’s Cold Treats. Kari, 12 years old, co-founder of Kari’s Cold Treats. Actor, singer, runner, and artist. Wrote and signed his first book at four years old. Currently in his school’s AVID program. Kari’s Cold Treats, mother and son handcrafted ice cream business started in 2019. Operated out of a fully gutted and licensed 40 foot former Hillsboro County school bus turned mobile ice cream kitchen. Best sellers include the Kicking Key Lime. Find them on Instagram and online as referenced in the episode. Collard Green Festival, Valentine’s Day event where Kari’s Cold Treats is rolling out a sweet potato pie ice cream. Sponsors mentioned: Los Angeles Tribune, Riverside, ProImmune, Focus Pills. 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