When I ask small business owners what was one of the keys to their success they always say- not money, not connects but having the right mentor- this is why my guest today is particularly important.

Brad Feld has been an early-stage investor and entrepreneur since 1987. He co-founded two venture capital firms, Foundry Group and Mobius Venture Capital, and multiple companies, including Techstars. Brad has written multiple books on entrepreneurship and venture capital, and started blogging in 2004 before VC Twitter existed. He is also an art collector and long-distance runner.

His new book is called "Give First: The Power of Mentorship".

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-small-business-radio-show--3306444/support.

One of the things I am most proud of is the way in business I have had to reinvent my self over the past 45 years of my career. I think this is a skill that serves entrepreneurs well.

Carmen Van Kerckhove is an author and keynote speaker whose work explores how technology, social class, and cultural change are reshaping the way we live and work. Her upcoming book, "The Slingshot Effect", makes the case that pulling back—professionally, financially, creatively—isn’t failure, but often the smartest way to move forward. Carmen’s career is built on bold reinvention and small business roots.

After starting at Goldman Sachs, she took a surprising step back—becoming an office manager—to create space for her first major pivot into writing. Her blog on race and pop culture, Racialicious, gained national attention and made her a sought-after speaker. From there, she co-founded a karate school in Brooklyn, then launched a family travel brand that grew into a multiple six-figure content business with over a million followers and major brand partnerships.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-small-business-radio-show--3306444/support.

Segment 1 with former Phoenix Mayor Paul Johnson starts at 0:00.

Let me be honest; as a result of the current presidents on again off again policies and head turning daily flip flops, I am not quite sure what the future of the economy is in the US. Where are we headed as a democratic and capitalist society? 

My guest is Paul Johnson is a civic entrepreneur, investor, and former Mayor of Phoenix whose career spans public service, private enterprise, and global policy engagement. He is President of Redirect Health, and he has led multiple successful acquisitions and investment ventures, particularly in the healthcare and real estate sectors.  His book, "What’s Right with America"—explores the fusion of free markets, free trade, property rights, and the American civil rights tradition.
    
Segment 2 with Tom Hogan starts at 22:40.

I remember in one of my favorite movie, "Starship Troopers", before going to war, the sargeant says to his new recruits before going to war- “You want to live forever”. My answer was yes, I do

With the average US lifespan of men at 76 and women at 82, is there a way for people to routinely live to 100 or more? Tom Hogan, former Oracle executive,  is the author of four novels and his latest is "The Forever Factor", a suspense novel about the quest to extend human life to 150. He believes babies born this year will live to that age.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-small-business-radio-show--3306444/support.

Segment 1 with Johnathan Walton starts at 0:00.

Con artists are everywhere—your new boyfriend or girlfriend, your new neighbor or coworker, your new friend—and they don’t outsmart you; they out-feel you to get their hands on your money. Johnathan Walton is an Emmy-winning former TV reporter and current reality TV producer who has written and produced shows like Shark Tank. He is also the host, writer, and executive producer of the hit podcast Queen of the Con. 

After he was scammed out of $100K, he wrote" Anatomy of a Con Artist: The 14 Red Flags to Spot Scammers, Grifters, and Thieves".

Segment 2 with Jamie Van Cuyk starts at 23:49.

Lets face it, Most small biz owners just suck at hiring. Typically we pick people that give good interview and we are in such a rush that we are quick to hire and slow to fire, this a big problem since turn over is so costly to every small business owner.

Jamie Van Cuyk is the owner and lead consultant of Growing Your Team®. She is expert in hiring and onboarding teams within small businesses. 

Drawing from over 15 years of leadership experience, Jamie empowers women business owners and leaders to expand their unique businesses by teaching them to master the hiring process. 


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The average American spends the equivalent of 60 days a year on their phone.

A few years ago, author Richard Simon made a transformative decision—he turned off his smartphone for a year, and in no time enriched virtually every facet of his life, from his relationships with his family and friends to how he slept, ate, and exercised. Now he shares every detail of a detox we could all benefit from in his new book- "UnPlug: How to Break Up with Your Phone and Reclaim Your Life".

Our conversation included:

Why Hacks Don’t Work: Putting a rubber band around your phone, deleting social media apps, or going grey scale is not going to cut it.

Break-Up Styles to Explore: Simplify Your Phone Off-by-Default Getting Rid of It Altogether Quitting with Someone Else Managing Withdrawal (because it won’t be painless at first)
The logistics: i.e., learning to live without GPS
What to do with all of that newfound time?
Tales of deepened relationships, improved focus, creativity, and peace of mind
Reintegration after a screen cleanse: pros, cons, and pitfalls

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With so many technology hacks around, we don’t pause to focus on the soft skills aka the "simple stuff" (or maybe not so simple) so we are prepared for the challenge of running a business.

My guest is Amber Mac who is President of AmberMac Media, Inc., an award-winning content development agency, an award-winning podcaster and a bestselling author. She is also the host of The AmberMac Show podcast on SiriusXM with co-host Jeff MacArthur. Amber has keynoted more than 700 events around the world and has moderated sessions.

As a parent, she working hard every day to teach the simple stuff to her son so that he’s prepared for the world of work and the challenge of running a business.

Here is her list of "the simple stuff":

• Show up on time. Actually, show up early.
• Respond to people promptly.
• Be polite and communicate clearly.
• Take the time to learn how to spell and pronounce people’s names correctly.
• Send thank-you emails or texts when you finish a job.
• Pay people promptly.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-small-business-radio-show--3306444/support.

Segment 1 with Dave Whorton starts at 0:00. 

The “Get Big Fast” startup era is crumbling. Sky-high valuations, zero profits, and a fixation on rapid scaling have left businesses fragile and the economy unstable. It’s time for entrepreneurs to skip the funding rounds and rethink how they approach growth.

In his new book "Another Way - Building Companies That Last…and Last…and Last",  former Kleiner Perkins Venture Capitalist Dave Whorton lays out a path forward. After seeing firsthand the risks of speculative growth, he rejected the Silicon Valley unicorn obsession he helped fuel, and now helps entrepreneurs thrive better in our volatile times.

Segment 2 with Marcelo Barros starts at 20:28.

Phishing attacks are forever changing and getting more creative. What do we need to know as small business owners and how should be educate our team?

Marcelo Barros is the Global Director of Hacker Rangers. He is an IT professional with over 30 years of experience and a strong interest in cybersecurity. As the Global Markets Leader at Hacker Rangers, a gamification company, he spearheads the company's expansion into markets outside of Brazil. Before this position, Marcelo dedicated 17 years to IBM, where he worked in cybersecurity, sales, and management, delivering solutions and achieving outcomes

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-small-business-radio-show--3306444/support.

Segment 1 with Richard Hagberg starts at 0:00.

Most start ups fail within 5 years. Many more are the walking dead- why do most founders build their company’s to fail and what can they change about it.

Rich Hagberg, Ph.D., often referred to as “Silicon Valley’s CEO Whisperer,” is a trained psychologist who has spent the last 40 years of his career as an executive management coach for over 6,000 executives. Since 2009 he has worked with companies like Tinder, Twitter, Dropbox, MixPanel, Zendesk, Quora, Asana, Pinterest, Salesforce, Munchery, Reddit, Gusto, Cruise, Tinder, Optimizely, Instacart, Patreon, Nerdwallet, and Super Evil Megacorp (it’s a gaming company).

His new book is called "Founders, Keepers: Why Founders Are Built to Fail, and What it Takes to Succeed".

Segment 2 with Lee Glickstein starts at 22:50.

There is the old adage that we fear speaking in front of people more than death- the joke goes that we would rather be dead that speak in front of an audience.

Lee Glickstein is a trailblazer in the field of public speaking and the creator of the globally recognized Speaking Circles method and founder of Speaking Circles International. He is an authority on leadership presence and magnetism in public speaking.  Having overcome his own crippling fear of public speaking, Glickstein has spent decades helping others transform their relationship with audiences. His first book is called "Be Heard Now! End Your Fear of Public Speaking Forever".

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-small-business-radio-show--3306444/support.

I have been thinking a lot about my Dad lately and what he taught me in business and life. This is because I just had a new grandson about a month ago and he was named for my dad! 

This week, I talk with Robert J. Finlay who is a Wall Street Journal bestselling author, seasoned entrepreneur, renowned speaker, and father of four. He is a successful entrepreneur and commercial real estate investor.  He has built and sold four companies. He brings strategic insights and inspires the next generation of leaders with his commitment to mentorship, education, and the integration of technology. Rob has a new book called "Hey Dad…Everything You Should’ve Learned About Life (But Didn’t)".

We talked about:

• Should You Really Start a Business?
• Is It Smarter to Learn on Someone Else’s Dime First?
• Do You Have a Great Idea—or a Great Execution Plan?
• Who’s Your Mentor?
• Getting your first job (and keeping it)!
• Budgeting like a pro—even if you hate spreadsheets.
• Finding your first place without getting ripped off.
• Navigating credit, cars, and career moves.
• Building independence with confidence (and maybe fewer 2 a.m. Google searches).

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-small-business-radio-show--3306444/support.

We all love great comeback stories. This is one …but not in the way you think.

Matt Antonelli was the 17th pick in the first round of the 2006 MLB draft by the San Diego . By the  2008 season, he was a top-50 prospect in baseball. But he only played 21 games in the MLB and by 2013 his professional baseball career was over. Matt says “ I’ve been called a bust so many times, I stopped caring a long time ago.” He is now a coach and business owner.

His hardest moment was the year he made my big league debut. He was a top prospect in the Padres’ organization going into the 2008 season. Matt began the season in Triple A and, for the first time in his life, he was horrible. He forgot how to hit and had no idea how to fix it.

We discussed:

1. His first big league hit against Greg Maddux.
2. The hard moments teach you what the easy ones never could.
3. Your identity must be bigger than your achievements. Why so many business owners think they are their business.
4. Sometimes the greatest growth comes after letting go.
5. What feels like a loss can actually be relief in disguise.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-small-business-radio-show--3306444/support.

Segment 1 starts at 0:00 with Julia Austin.

When I was an angel investor, people always used to say to me that "I have a great idea for a business, what do you think?" I would reply- "I have no idea" Successful businesses are not about ideas- they are about the execution of that idea. 

Julia Austin  is a seasoned operator who has served in leadership roles at several technology startups. She is on the faculty at Harvard Business School and is faculty cochair of the Arthur Rock Center for Entrepreneurship. As a certified executive coach, Austin works exclusively with startup founders. She is an angel investor, serves on startup boards, and advises many founders through her work with several accelerators. Her new book is "After the IDEA: What It Really Takes to Create and Scale a Startup".

Segment 2 starts at 18:19 with Chris Berdik.

I have always been very sensitive to loud noise in my work and personal environment- what effect does noise have on a person’s ability to be productive or just relax?

Chris Berdik is a journalist who writes about science, health, technology, and education, including two books, - the latest is "Clamor: How Noise Took Over the World--And How We Can Take It Back". Previously, he was a staff editor at the Atlantic Monthly, a research editor at the investigative-journalism magazine, Mother Jones, and a senior writer covering science and medicine for Boston University's daily news website and alumni magazine, Bostonia


Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-small-business-radio-show--3306444/support.

Segment 1 with Jerry Jamison starts at 0:00.

In business, I have always been a sucker for a good grifter story- how people do it, why they do it and why people believe them in a game that relies on winning someone's confidence.

Over a span of 39 years, 23 aliases, 28 arrests in 20 cities, and nearly a dozen imprisonments, Robert Spears had lived a con artists' life of unparalleled adventure and intrigue.. Shortly before Thanksgiving Day in 1959, a plane exploded in mid-air, killing all 42 passengers and crew and leaving scattered debris and bodies across the otherwise tranquil Gulf waters. Listed on the manifest was Dr. Robert Spears—once the highly regarded president of the Texas Naturopathic Association. Father of two small children with a lovely, society-minded wife and an elegant home in an exclusive neighborhood, it was a monumental tragedy for them as it was for all the souls lost that day.

Less than two months later, Robert Spears miraculously “rose from the dead” in Phoenix where he was promptly arrested.

Jerry Jamison is an award-winning advertising copywriter with more than thirty national writing commendations during his career. Following his years as a copywriter, Jamison turned to a career as a novelist, generating more than 30 books in a wide range of genres. Jamison has been the recipient of numerous national awards during his career including a national commendation, alongside Senator Edward Kennedy, for his service to underserved communities. He has a new book out called "Vanishing Act: A Crashed Airliner, Faked Death, and Backroom Abortions".

Segment 2 with Dr. Rebecca Homkes starts at 17:06.

How do you need to change your leadership style during uncertain times like we are living in now?

Dr. Rebecca Homkes is a high-growth strategy specialist and CEO and executive advisor. She is a Lecturer at the London Business School, Faculty at Duke Corporate Executive Education, Advisor and Core Faculty for BCGU (Boston Consulting Group), and a former fellow at the London School of Economics Centre for Economic Performance-the author of "Survive, Reset, Thrive: Leading Breakthrough Growth Strategy in Volatile Times".






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Segment 1 with Chuck Wisner starts at 0.00.

Have we lost the art of conversation in work and life- seems like we communicate more often through text and emails and other asynchronous methods. What are we losing and how can we become more effective?

Chuck Wisner is the author of "The Art of Conscious Conversations, Transforming How We Talk, Listen, and Interact"". He is a coach and speaker focusing on the lost art of conversations. His theories of the why, how, and what of conversations deeply dive into their DNA and introduce new tools and practices that transform how we can think about and be in them more successfully. He has spent thirty years as a trusted advisor to leaders, their teams, and their families in highprofile companies, including Google, Rivian, Apple, Tesla, Harvard Business School, Ford, and Chrysler.

Segment 2 with Debra Andrews starts at 19:06.

How can your company use AI in your marketing to attract more customers?

Debra Andrews is the President and Founder of Marketri, a strategic marketing consulting firm that specializes in serving middle market, growth-oriented B2B companies. With 25 years of marketing experience and an MBA in Marketing from the University of Maryland.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-small-business-radio-show--3306444/support.

What role should the government play in small business owners economic life? It seems that with the Trump tariffs are at tax that the government is putting on all our lives, but should it just stay out of it?

My next guests argue that that the evidence points to that  government interference and failed policies pose the most significant threat to economic freedom.

Senator Phil Gramm served six years in the U.S. House of Representatives and eighteen years in the U.S. Senate where he was Chairman of the Banking Committee. Senator Gramm is a Visiting Scholar at the American Enterprise Institute.

I also talk with Donald J. Boudreaux who is an American economist, author, professor, and co-director of the Program on the American  Economy and Globalization at the Mercatus Center at George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia.

They have a new book called “The Triumph of Economic Freedom: Debunking the Seven Great Myths of American Capitalism”.

Here is what we discussed:

The genesis myth: the industrial revolution impoverished workers
The progressive era regulation: the myth and the history 
The myth that the great depression was a failure of capitalism 
The myth of trade hollowing out American manufacturing 
The financial crisis myth: deregulation caused the financial crisis 
The myth and reality of income inequality in America 
The myth that poverty is a failure of American capitalism

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-small-business-radio-show--3306444/support.

Segment 1 with Chris Shank starts at 0:00.

What are the key issues facing small businesses this year?

Chris Shank is the Vice President of Retail-to-Business (R2B) Sales for Verizon Business, overseeing operations across 28 states with a team of over 450 employees that generates $1,042M in annual revenue.  He is responsible for driving sales and financial performance, enhancing the customer experience, fostering a strong organizational culture, and leading strategic planning efforts.

We talk about AI adoption, cybersecurity, and SaaS application consolidation.

Segment 2 with Rich Carr starts at 16:14.

How can we reduce training time while improving retention in small businesses?

Rich Carr is a pioneering expert in cognitive learning neuroscience and founder of Brain-centric Design (BcD). With decades of experience spanning media, marketing, and education, Rich has revolutionized how information is presented and retained by developing methodologies aligned with how the brain naturally processes information.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-small-business-radio-show--3306444/support.

Segment 1 with Dominick Miserandino starts at 0:00.

While the current President implements his "on again off again" tariffs, small businesses will still have to deal with the highest tariffs on imported goods in the last 80 years. 

My first guest this week is Dominick Miserandino, CEO of Retail Tech Media Nexus who breaks down what the tariffs are, how they will affect consumers and what actions small businesses need to take.

Segment 2 with Neil Rogers starts at 20:50.

Can being a bartender really teach you to be better at sales and marketing?

Neil Rogers is an author, speaker, and business leader with over 37 years of experience in
marketing & sales, generating revenue and guiding clients through highly effective and result-
oriented marketing campaigns.  He built his career & business leveraging both old-school and
new- school marketing & sales techniques. Neil shares the skills and tools learned during his
early working years as a bartender that led to his success as an entrepreneur and industry
leader in his book, "Bar Tips: Everything I Needed to Know in Sales I Learned Behind the Bar."

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-small-business-radio-show--3306444/support.

Segment 1 with Michael E. Gerber starts at 0.00

Inc. Magazine calls him “the World’s #1 Small Business Guru” — the entrepreneurial and small business thought leader who has impacted the lives of millions of small business owners and hundreds of thousands of companies worldwide for over 40 years.

Michael E. Gerber is a celebrated entrepreneur, author, and business coach renowned for his groundbreaking book, "The E Myth: Why Most Businesses Don't Work and What to Do About It." With a career spanning several decades, he has transformed the way small businesses operate by emphasizing the importance of effective systems and strategic planning. Gerber’s philosophy encourages entrepreneurs to work on their business rather than merely in it, fostering sustainable growth and innovation.  

Segment 2 with Allen Batteau starts at 18:49.

Why are we tie our self worth and identity to tech devices? Why do advances in tech many times disappoint us? 

Allen Batteau is a cultural anthropologist, professor at Wayne State University's Department of Anthropology, and former director of the University's Institute for Information Technology and Culture. He is the author of "Tools, Totems, and Totalities"

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-small-business-radio-show--3306444/support.

Segment 1 with Dr. Abbie Maroño starts at 0.00.

A lot of small business owners feel shame when their company fails because they link who they are so much with their business. This is compounded when they lose money from people they know. What do we do with this shame?

Dr. Abbie Maroño has a new book called "Work in Progress: The Road to Empowerment, The Journey Through Shame" which offers a fresh perspective on the often-overlooked role of shame in personal growth.  

Segment 2 with Charles Heckler starts at 15:50.

It seems that the current President wants to change the US policy and open up trade again with Russia. One of his goals is to encourage American businesses to begin again in Russia. Would they be interested or are they ready?

Charles Hecker has spent forty years working in the Soviet Union and Russia. He has worked as a journalist at The Miami Herald and The Moscow Times, and as a geopolitical risk consultant at Control Risks, where he was a partner in the firm. He is also the author of "Zero Sum": The Arc of International Business in Russia", which is out now from Oxford University Press.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-small-business-radio-show--3306444/support.

Segment 1 with Karin Hurt starts at 0:00.

To say there is increased conflict inside of small business and workplaces is an understatement; it takes now more than ever a courageous leader to deal with this.

Karin Hurt is the CEO and Founder of Let’s Grow Leaders, a global leadership company known for practical tools and leadership development that sticks. She’s the author of five books including, "Powerful Phrases for Dealing with Workplace Conflict and Courageous Cultures". She’s known best for building courageous cultures and high-performing teams.

Segment 2 with Dr. Michael Aziz starts at 24:03.

What about making America Health Again? How will Robert Kennedy as the head of the health secretary change this?

Dr. Michael Aziz is a renowned internist anti-aging, regenerative physician specialist practicing at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City Dr. Aziz regularly provides medical commentary on many health networks, including NPR, Fox and Friends, ABC, WGN Chicago, NBC, and Telemundo. Dr. Aziz is the author of the national bestseller, The Ageless Revolution.  Dr. Aziz's columns, articles, and opinions have been published in the Los Angeles Times, CNN, WebMD, the New York Post, the Daily News, the Washington Post, as well as in many magazines internationally, such as Paris Match.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-small-business-radio-show--3306444/support.

Segment 1 with Lisa Greene-Lewis at 0.00.

It’s the scariest time of year for small business owners- no not Halloween, its tax time- March 15th for businesses and April 15th for everyone personally. Why is it so scary for so many small businesses owners and what we all need to know.

Lisa Greene-Lewis is a CPA and tax expert for TurboTax. Lisa has over 20 years of experience in tax preparation and breaking down tax laws. She has contributed tax articles to local, national, and online publications, including US News & World Report and Huffington Post.  Lisa has also appeared on news broadcast, the Steve Harvey Show, and the Ellen Show.

Segment 2 with Ashwin Gulati at 14:49.

if you have every started a business, it's like a life and death experience; not only for the company but also for the founder.

Ashwin Gulati is the author of: "Soul Venture: A True Life and Death Journey into the Startup Culture". He and wrote a tell-all that dismantles the myths, ambitions, and harsh realities of the riskiest culture in business. He has launched international ventures, helped start-ups take off or land, and copiloted complex transitions for over 100 companies in various industries in the UK, US, Spain, and France. With 30 years in the trenches, he has identified the hidden pitfalls, unspoken truths, and personal twists that ultimately determine a venture’s success or failure.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-small-business-radio-show--3306444/support.