Mind Yo’ Business S8:E8: The Business of Routes and Reasons: Navigating Travel, Government, and Growth

August 27, 2025

In this August episode of Mind Yo’ Business, recorded inside the Ruoff Mortgage Podcast Studio in partnership with Karan Rastall (NMLS#763395), Andrew sits down with entrepreneur and travel industry disruptor Justin Tait, the founder of CruiseAlly.

Born and raised between Arkansas and Indiana, Justin reflects on how his Midwestern upbringing shaped his work ethic and curiosity. From his early academic start at Ivy Tech Community College to his time at Indiana University, he shares how education helped him find his voice, sharpen his skills, and eventually build a brand that’s redefining how people book travel.

Justin’s academic path included studying at the School of Public and Environmental Affairs (SPEA) at IU, where he explored not only how government and policy are created, but why they exist in the first place. During the episode, he and Andrew veer off into a spirited sidebar about America’s seemingly eternal road construction zones—highlighting the complexity of funding, planning, and execution across federal and local levels. He also opens up about the highs and lows of entrepreneurship, what it takes to launch a niche business in a competitive space, and why empathy, clarity, and customer trust are core to the Cruise Ally mission. Whether you’re a small business owner, a side-hustler, or someone just dreaming of smoother sailing, this episode offers a candid look at building a business that blends tech, travel, and tenacity.

Cruise Ally