Business Insanity Talk Radio

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

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 inmarketing & sales, generating revenue and guiding clients through highly effective and result-oriented marketing campaigns.  He built his career & business leveraging both old-school andnew- school marketing & sales techniques. Neil shares the skills and tools learned during hisearly working years as a bartender that led to his success as an entrepreneur and industryleader i

Segment 1 with Michael E. Gerber starts at 0.00Inc. 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

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 A

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 n

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 busi

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 revenues at leading organizations, such as Apollo, Calligo, Tyler Technologies and WinMagic, Mark brings a wealth of knowledge essential to successfully navigate the channel, partner, and SMB landscapes in North America.Segment  2 with Elizabeth Zelinka Parsons starts at 14:36.Are you ready to retire? When will you know an what will you do? These are tough questions every small biz owner faces Elizabeth Zelinka Parsons is a Retirement Transition Expert, lawyer, and author of "Encore: A High Achiever’s Guide to Thriving in

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.Segment 2 with Devin DeCiantis at 21:25.We all know that family businesses are the most common form of a business in the world. But how do they thrive during turbulent times either caused by the economy or by something going on in the family? Devin DeCiantis is the Managing Partner at Lansberg Gersick Advisors (LGA), a trusted advisory and educational partner to the world’s leading family enterprises. He is the author of " The Enduring Enterprise: How Family Businesses Thrive in Turbulent Conditions" with LGA co-founder Ivan La

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 strategies. His work has been featured in Harvard Business Review, Forbes, Fast Company, and MIT Technology Review, and his YouTube channel has garnered millions of views. His new book declares "Employment is Dead". Segment 2 with Mijntje Luckerath starts at 20:22.What is the role of a board of directors and do most of them lack a moral compass?Mijntje Lückerath-Rovers is a full Professor in Corporate Governance at TIAS Business School, Tilburg University, the Netherlands. She holds a PhD in financial economics and is also a

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 capital and generated more than $30 billion in exit value. His companies have saved or extended the lives of millions of people. Today, he mentors other entrepreneurs for success.We discussed:Most people think of insecurity as negative. What is your view?Are there some good ways to fail and also bad ways?How do you scan for and mitigate risk? What are your favorite ways to take in more data? One of your more controversial views is that it's more important to be first than to be right. There are clearly many examples of first e

Segment 1 with Karla Trotman starts at 0:00.As Baby Boomers prepare to retire, family-owned businesses across the nation are at a pivotal crossroads. Transitioning leadership and ownership is a complex process, often more challenging in family-run businesses, especially for Black-owned enterprises that face unique obstacles in succession planning and recognition.Karla Trotman, who CEO of Electro Soft, Inc.,a Black-owned electronics manufacturing company, has first-hand experience with all these challenges.With her own story of leading Electro Soft, Inc. through COVID-19 and a long transition process, Karla brings a wealth of personal experience and practical advice. She is also the author of "Dark, Dirty, Dangerous: The Vibrant Future of Manufacturing", where she explores how diversity and inclusion can redefine American manufacturing.Segment 2 with Kate Gladdin starts at 22:01.I have talked about the importance of resiliency every since I wrote my second book called "Bounce!: Failure, Resiliency, and Confide

As I grow older, I have realized one thing for my business and professional life- Friends matter. For men, making and keeping friends at the later part of your career and life is more difficult for us than women.My guest is esteemed professor and research psychologist, Dr. Kimberly Horn has worked with top-tier academic institutions, including West Virginia University, The George Washington University, and Virginia Tech. Devoting her career to helping others lead healthier, happier, and more connected lives, she has conducted nearly three decades of health behavior research with an extensive publication record.Dr. Horn’s background sets the stage for her literary debut, "Friends Matter, for Life". A natural extension of her work, the book addresses how integral friendships are to our emotional and physical well-being.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-small-business-radio-show--3306444/support.

One of the most successful companies that helps small business is Zen Business.Ross Buhrdorf is the CEO & Founder of ZenBusiness®, a company that provides an easy, all-in-one platform and trusted guidance for small business owners. In his current role at ZenBusiness, Buhrdorf empowers the new generation of entrepreneurs through the delivery of innovative tools, fintech, and educational resources to support millions of small businesses on their journey to success. Seven hundred thousand people have turned to ZenBusiness for their entrepreneurial journey. Ross is an active mentor with Capital Factory. He previously was the founding CTO for HomeAway (NASDAQ:AWAY). His technology built the company from a startup, through the IPO to its recent acquisition by Expedia (NASDAQ: EXPE) for $3.9B.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-small-business-radio-show--3306444/support.

The idea of masculinity has come into focus with this past election of Donald Trump – it was one of the biggest gender divides with Trump emphasizing his brand of masculinity and the idea that men had to take care of women. When the votes were counted, men overwhelming voted for Trump and woman for Harris. So what's going on here? Is this something new or a throwback to the past?My guest is Dr. Ronald Levant who is Professor Emeritus of Psychology at the University of Akron and past President of the American Psychological Association. Ranked among the top 2 percent of scientists in the world by the Elsevier-Stanford University database, he is one of the key professionals responsible for creating a whole new field of psychology—the psychology of men and masculinity. He earned his doctorate in Clinical Psychology and Public Practice from Harvard University.He has a new book called "The Problem with Men".Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-small-business-radio-show--3306444/s

Can we improve our business brain by participating in art? My guest did the research to confirm this;  it's called neuroaesthetics.Ivy Ross is the Vice President, Design for Hardware at Google.She was trained at Harvard Business School for general management with outstanding record of achievement with Fortune 500 companies in retail, direct mail, and manufacturing environments. One of nine executives selected by Fast Company Magazine to represent the new face of leadership . Selected by Business Week magazine as one of the 25 most innovative global business leaders working within a corporation. Business Insider recently named her one of the 15 Most Powerful Women at Google.She is the coauthor of "Your Brain on Art: How the Arts Transform Us".Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-small-business-radio-show--3306444/support.

Segment 1 are 2 are with Brian Solis. Brian Solis is Head of Global Innovation at ServiceNow. He designs and delivers strategic engagements with important customers to advise on digital and business innovation strategies. Brian has been called “one of the greatest digital analysts of our time.”He is an award-winning author of 9 best-selling books including In his latest book called "Mindshift: Transform Leadership, Drive Innovation, and Reshape the Future".On this show you will learn:Adapt for a post-industrial, AI-first world. Find direction in uncertainty. Spot and prioritize emerging trends. Develop, spark, and embrace innovative ideas that create new value.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-small-business-radio-show--3306444/support.

Segment 1 with Kenneth Davis starts at 0:00.What are the greatest non fiction books of all time? Kenneth C. Davis called "The World in Books: 52 Works of Great Short Non Fiction" –the best and most important short nonfiction works of all time, chosen by This historian. Kenneth’s work has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, and Smithsonian magazine, among other publications. He has appeared on national television and radio shows, including CBS This Morning, Today, and NPR.Segment 2 with Steven Schneider starts at 19:20.Where does AI and SEO intersect now for small business owners looking for prospects? Steven Schneidere is co-founder and CEO at TrioSEO, a blog writing agency that helps online businesses drive high-intent organic traffic through bottom-of-the-funnel content. Before TrioSEO, he co-owned a portfolio of 40 blogs, managed 400 articles monthly, and scaled to 7 figures in annual revenue with his two partners.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-sma

It seems if one thing is for sure, is that we are living in “the age of outrage”. Social media and politics certainly has turned up the heat and people seem to be outraged and angry almost everywhere about almost everything. How can we still lead in such a highly charged environment?My guest is Karthik Ramanna who is a professor of business and public policy at University of Oxford’s Blavatnik School of Government, where he has served as director of one of the world’s most diverse leadership programs.Previously a professor at Harvard Business School, Professor Ramanna studies how organizations and leaders build trust with stakeholders. His scholarship has won numerous awards including three times the international Case Centre’s prizes for “outstanding case-writing,” dubbed by the Financial Times as “the business school Oscars.” His new book is called "The Age of Outrage: How to Lead in a Polarized World".Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-small-business-radio-show--330644

Segment 1 with Tobias Sturesson starts at 0:00.Having grown up in a religious cult and later confronted its toxic culture, Tobias Sturesson evolved into a prominent advocate for the vital importance of cultural health for organizational success and human flourishing. He  is the author of "You Can Culture: Transformative Leadership Habits for a Thriving Workplace, Positive Impact and Lasting Success". Tobias has identified the four most crucial and timeless culture-building leadership habits.Segment 2 with Adrian Kelly starts at 13:17.Since no one is coming to save them, how do you help people get the most out of themselves and life. Adrian Kelly is the author of "The Success Complex: Ancient Wisdom, The Building Blocks of Life,and Your Path to Sustained Success". He is a recognized sports and performance coach, author, award winning lawyer, and a sought-after guest speaker.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-small-business-radio-show--3306444/support.

Segment 1 with Barry Conchie begins at 0:00.What talents does it take to be a great leader?My first guest is Barry Conchie who is the founder and president of Conchie Associates and author of " The Five Talents That Really Matter: How Great Leaders Drive Extraordinary Performance", with his business partner Sarah Dalton. He is an expert in psycho- metric talent assessments, leadership research and development, team building, and succession planning.Segment 2 with Roger Gerard begins at 17:30.Who are you as a leader? Do you own the room? Do you lead with purpose? Does your leadership inspire others?My second guest is Dr. Roger A. Gerard is the owner of Sloan & Gerard Consulting, a private consulting practice serving executives and boards in strategic planning, operational planning, executive coaching, and management development. A sought-after speaker, Dr. Gerard is the author of "Owning the Room and Lead With Purpose: Reignite Passion and Engagement For Professionals in Crisis."Become a supporter of this