This is the final show. It is the last show after 17 years of the Small Business Radio Show. Over this period of time, I've done over 2500 interviews across so many different radio stations and podcast platforms. I know that after all this time, people are going to ask me, who was your favorite interview? And I have to be honest, there really wasn't one. I listed every single year what some of my favorite interviews were for that year, but my favorite ones always were the small business owners. ...
Sep 28, 2025•30 min
Segment 1 with Avi Pinksy With the economy uncertainty, now is the time diagnose profit leaks before they spread Avi Pinsky Known as the Business Finance Doctor, provides small business owners with a practical framework they can utilize month after month, without needing to become accountants. After more than a decade in public accounting, Avi realized that most owners don’t need another CFO-style lecture. What they need is a simple diagnostic, a visual scoreboard that highlights only the three ...
Sep 21, 2025•40 min
Segment 1 with Amy Peterson and Rebel Nell. To help close the gap in funding and support for women-owned small businesses, Block Advisors by H&R Block created the Fund Her Future small business grant program. The program will award five women-owned small businesses a combined total of $100,000 in funding and access to a year of small business services from Block Advisors. Today we talk with the grand prize winner Amy Peterson, founder of Rebel Nell, launched the company in 2013 to fuse her p...
Sep 14, 2025•41 min
I will never forget reading Ken Blanchard's "One Minute Manager". It was at that point I started to catch my team doing something right instead of always finding what they were doing wrong. Segment 1 with Martha Lawrence Martha Lawrence is a veteran book editor and the executive editor at Blanchard, where she worked side-by-side with Ken Blanchard for over two decades. She has edited hundreds of books. Her new book is “Catch People Doing Things Right: How Ken Blanchard Changed the Way the World ...
Sep 06, 2025•33 min
What make men tick? Many people would tell you it's not that complicated and that is exactly what my guest believes. Tom Sturges is a veteran music executive, author, mentor, educator, inventor, and public speaker. Over his more than thirty-five years in the music industry, he served as president of Chrysalis Music, EVP and Head of Creative for Universal Music Publishing Group, and VP/GM of Shaquille O’Neal’s TWIsM Records. Tom’s signings include Smashing Pumpkins, Foo Fighters, Outkast, Jack Jo...
Aug 31, 2025•32 min
If you have listened to me for any period of time, you know I like to laugh- because if you don’t laugh in this world- you will only end up crying. In my mind, laughter is really the best medicine for almost anything. But can laughter help you be a better leader? My guest is Adam Christing is an American comedian, author, and motivational speaker from La Mirada, California. He is the founder and president of Clean Comedians, an organization composed of comedians, speakers, and entertainers who r...
Aug 23, 2025•28 min
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...
Aug 18, 2025•19 min
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 smartes...
Aug 09, 2025•25 min
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...
Aug 01, 2025•37 min
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, ...
Jul 26, 2025•42 min
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 inc...
Jul 21, 2025•20 min
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 a...
Jul 13, 2025•17 min
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 ...
Jul 07, 2025•31 min
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, Q...
Jun 30, 2025•37 min
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 o...
Jun 21, 2025•26 min
We all love great comeback stories. This is one but not like you think …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 ye...
Jun 14, 2025•30 min
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 Entrepren...
Jun 08, 2025•32 min
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 passen...
May 31, 2025•29 min
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 di...
May 25, 2025•32 min
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 o...
May 19, 2025•24 min
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 abou...
Apr 25, 2025•30 min
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 reall...
Apr 13, 2025•42 min
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 spanni...
Apr 07, 2025•35 min
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...
Mar 31, 2025•35 min
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 ...
Mar 21, 2025•40 min
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,...
Mar 14, 2025•34 min
Segment 1 with Mark Hickman starts at 0:00. What does the future look like for small business in 2025 with the economy still relatively solid, but the "on again off again" tariffs looming? Mark Hickman serves as Managing Director for Sage in North America. Sage serves small and midsized businesses, providing them with finance, HR, and payroll software to make work and money flow. With more than 20 years of experience at the executive management and leadership-levels where he consistently grew re...
Mar 08, 2025•33 min
Segment 1 with Mike Colias starts at 0:00. We are moving to electric vehicles no matter what the current president thinks. My first guest is Mike Colias who is a Wall Street Journal reporter and veteran of the US automotive beat. He is based in Detroit, where he has covered General Motors for fourteen years and, five years ago, added Ford to his duties. With access to all the key players in the automotive industry, he has tracked the transition to electric vehicles from its earliest days. Segmen...
Mar 01, 2025•35 min
Segment 1 with Josh Drean starts at 0:00. Since COVID 19, we have seen a drastic redefinition of how people define work and employment - and a redefinition of how they want to make a living. As my first guest says in the title of his book – Is employment dead? Josh Drean is cofounder of the Work3 Institute. He is also a Web3 and Workforce Advisor at the Harvard Innovation Labs and cofounder of DreanMedia. Josh is an HR transformation expert who connects emerging technologies with workplace strat...
Feb 09, 2025•34 min
This episode's guest is James Sweeney. Most entrepreneurs see insecurity as a bad thing. They tell themselves that they have to be overly confident in everything they do. But what if insecurity actually feeds success? I love the title of the book from this guest- “Creative Insecurity: Lean into the Unknown and Unleash Your Inner Misfit.” James M. Sweeney is a serial entrepreneur who started 14 healthcare companies with original ideas, none of which have failed. He has raised $2 billion in capita...
Jan 16, 2025•16 min
