1637: Energy Healing to Release Limiting Beliefs with Beth McGill

When life feels like an endless loop of the same problems, bad relationships, sabotaged sales calls, recurring self-doubt, it’s usually not a lack of willpower. It’s deeper patterns, hidden beliefs, and subconscious blocks quietly steering your choices. Today’s guest, Beth McGill of ThriveFlourishGrow.com, is a certified hypnotherapist, energy healer, spiritual mentor, and best‑selling author who helps people finally break those patterns by working at the root level of mind, body, and spirit. In this episode of Marketer of the Day, Beth explains how our thoughts, language, and energetic patterns shape our reality often more than we realize. She shares how clients usually come to her after trying “everything else” (therapy, acupuncture, mindset work, etc.) and still feeling blocked, anxious, or stuck in repeating cycles like toxic relationships, failed sales calls, or chronic self‑sabotage. Using a combination of hypnotherapy, energy work, and connection to the higher self, Beth helps uncover and release the original emotional imprints sometimes from decades earlier that are still influencing current behavior.

Beth demystifies what actually happens in a hypnotherapy/energy session and why it’s not like the movie clichés. She walks us through her process: a free consultation to clarify the real issue beneath the surface, then a guided, deeply relaxing session (in person or via Zoom) that blends prayer, grounding, visualization, sound healing, and intuitive guidance. Each session is unique, but the goal is the same: identify the emotional root cause, release it, and “activate” a new, empowered way of being so clients can move forward with clarity and confidence. We also dive into practical tools listeners can use right away. Beth shares how to shift your self‑talk by dropping disempowering words like “always,” “never,” and even “I’m sorry” (and replacing them with stronger language like “I apologize”). She explains why breathwork, especially extending your exhale, can instantly calm your nervous system before a Zoom call, sales conversation, or big decision. Throughout the conversation, Beth emphasizes that choice, awareness, and surrender to a higher power (God/Spirit/Universe) are not weaknesses, but gateways to recognizing your true inner power. Beth’s book, “Allow Life to Happen and Receive Everything You Desire,” distills her personal journey and research into a practical roadmap. She read 16 books, tested 30+ manifesting and mindset exercises, and then packaged the most effective ideas so readers can experiment, discover what resonates, and build their own toolkit for manifestation and spiritual growth without the overwhelm or guesswork.

If you’re feeling blocked by recurring patterns in business or life, struggling with negative self‑talk, or just sensing “something” is in the way but you can’t name it, this episode offers a grounded, spiritual, and highly practical perspective. Beth’s approach to transforming fear into freedom, connecting with your soul’s purpose, and manifesting with intention may be exactly the reset you’ve been looking for. Tune in to learn how to stop carrying old emotional baggage, tap into your higher self, and start allowing life to unfold in your favor.

Quotes:

“Surrender is powerful. When we truly surrender to God, Spirit, or the Universe, we recognize our own power within us.”

“Everybody else is a mirror. If we think something’s wrong with somebody else, they’re just being a mirror for us, and we need to go within.”

“One of the things I like to do is remind people how powerful they are in every situation. We don’t need to be in a place of victimhood.”

Contact Details:

• Ready to Thrive, Flourish & Grow? Start Your Journey Today
• Follow Beth McGill on Facebook for Daily Inspiration and Encouragement
• Connect with Beth McGill on LinkedIn for Inspiration, Insights, and Growth
• Subscribe to Beth McGill on YouTube for Inspiration and Practical Growth Tips
• Follow Beth McGill on Instagram for Daily Inspiration and Growth
• Discover Beth McGill on Pinterest for Fresh Inspiration to Thrive and Grow
• Allow Life to Happen: And Receive Everything You Desire on Amazon

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1636: Podcast Guesting Strategy for Organic Growth with Josh Elledge

Most experts don’t struggle to grow their business because they lack talent or results, they struggle because their message isn’t landing, their online presence is weak, and their podcast guesting feels random instead of strategic. Today’s guest, Josh Elledge, fractional Chief Revenue Officer and founder of Pod Verified, has launched over 300 podcasts, hosted more than 3,000 episodes, made 3,000+ traditional media appearances, and helped clients generate over $40 million using relationship‑driven podcast guesting strategies. In this episode of Marketer of the Day, Josh breaks down how to become the kind of podcast guest hosts want back again and again, and how to turn those appearances into real business results instead of “nice exposure” that goes nowhere. He explains why being “the marketing guy” or “leadership consultant” is killing your chances of getting booked, and how to define a clear, unique media brand that instantly stands out to podcast hosts and producers. Josh dives into the real rules of engagement for ethical podcast guests from positioning and messaging to websites, press kits, and LinkedIn profiles that actually impress decision makers. Josh shares why most common calls to action (“buy my book,” “join my newsletter,” “book a call”) fail for 95% of listeners, and what to offer instead so that cold listeners are willing to take the next micro‑commitment with you. He also explains why your website must be built to “concierge” podcast listeners, deepen the relationship, and keep them with you for another 15–20 minutes where conversion really happens.

You’ll learn how to appeal to both audiences and gatekeepers: what podcasters look for when they’re getting 200–300 pitches a month, why many good experts never break into the top 10% who get booked, and how to signal that you’re media‑savvy, prepared, and ready for prime time. Josh talks about authority signals, influence, and guest activity, and why your speaker kit, social presence, and on‑air performance either open doors or quietly disqualify you. This conversation also goes deep into mindset and skill development. Josh shares how he went from a shy, insecure “husky‑pants” kid to a Navy journalist and high‑volume media personality, and why “do the thing, have the power” applies perfectly to podcasting: you get good by doing reps, but only if you stop making the same mistakes and get the right feedback. He compares podcast guesting to stand‑up comedy and swimming: you can learn it, but only if you respect it as a skill, stop “spray and pray” pitching, and commit to intentional improvement.

If you’re an expert, coach, consultant, founder, or thought leader who’s tired of cold outreach, ads, and pushy sales, and you’d rather grow organically by serving audiences, this episode will give you a practical roadmap. You’ll discover how to assess where you really are today, what caliber of shows you should be targeting, and how to start showing up as a high‑value, ethical, and memorable podcast guest who builds trust, authority, and revenue, without feeling salesy. Tune in and learn how Josh’s Pod Verified approach can help you stop guessing, stop spamming, and start getting real results from podcast guesting.

Quotes:

“If you’re a speaker and you have no speaker kit on your website, there’s a reason you’re not getting paid very well. You just don’t look ready for prime time.”

“Podcast guesting works. If you’re smart but still broke from your PR efforts, it’s not the medium; it’s the strategy. You’ve been doing it wrong, and no one’s been honest enough to tell you.” 

“You can build an enormous business by serving audiences in the media. I’ve built multiple seven-figure companies without spending a dime on ads, simply by showing up and being generous.”

Contact Details:

• Join PodVerified And Turn Your Expertise Into Podcast Opportunities
• Start Growing Your Influence Today: Check UpMyInfluence Now
• Connect with Josh Elledge on LinkedIn for Influence and Business Growth Insights
• Follow UpMyInfluence on Facebook for Tips to Grow Your Influence
• Follow The Thoughtful Entrepreneur on Instagram for Business Insights
• Watch The Thoughtful Entrepreneur on YouTube for Smart Business Insights
• Follow Josh Elledge on X for Business and Influence Insights
• Tune in to The Thoughtful Entrepreneur on Spotify for Fresh Business Insights
• Join Josh Elledge on Threads for Growth, Strategy, and Inspiration

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1635: Manufacturing Growth for Small Manufacturers with Brian Becker

When small manufacturers hit a growth ceiling, the problem usually isn’t the product, it’s the constant firefighting, isolation, and lack of structured strategy. Strategic thinking, leadership development, and smart capacity planning often get pushed aside in favor of “just getting through the week.” Today’s guest, Brian Becker of Becker Growth Strategy and program director of the Manufacturing Accelerator Program (MAP), helps small manufacturers escape that reactive mode and build organizations that are designed to scale on purpose, not by accident. In this episode of Marketer of the Day, Brian shares how MAP, a tuition-free, national, virtual executive education program gives small U.S.-based manufacturers the tools, peer community, and strategic frameworks they need to grow. He explains why founders often feel alone on an “island,” and how curated cohorts, breakout rooms, and cross-industry conversations (including everything from biotech to feral pig trapping to chocolatiers) create mastermind-style support that changes how owners think and lead.

Brian dives into focus and execution as the real differentiators between businesses that plateau and those that expand. He walks through his “future casting” exercise, where owners imagine their ideal business five years from now with smooth operations, predictable revenue, strong team, and then reverse engineer the concrete steps to get there. From figuring out whether you truly have a sales problem or a capacity problem, to deciding whether to chase that dream big-box retail contract, Brian shows how clarity leads to better decisions.He also breaks down a practical task triage system what only you can do, what you can delegate, and what you should only touch on your worst day along with a powerful sports analogy of running a business like a soccer team: you can’t play offense (big growth goals) if your defense (operations, fulfillment, and retention) isn’t solid. For manufacturers eyeing larger enterprise customers, Brian shares the risks of overreaching too soon and how to ramp capacity intelligently so big opportunities don’t become “career killers.”

Beyond operations, Brian tackles workforce development and the talent gap in U.S. manufacturing, especially among younger workers. He explains how reframing roles around STEM, robotics, complex problem solving, and hands-on challenges can make manufacturing careers more attractive to the next generation, and how MAP is bringing in workforce experts to help owners rethink how they present and structure these jobs.Throughout the conversation, Brian emphasizes that no one is coming to save your business, but the right questions, the right community, and a willingness to invest time in your own growth can completely shift your trajectory. He shares hard-won lessons from his background in education, nonprofit fundraising, and as COO of Well Found Foods during COVID, plus life advice from his football days: “You said you wanted to be one. This is what being one means.”

If you’re a small manufacturer (or any small business owner) who feels stuck in the weeds, struggling to scale, or unsure whether to double down on sales or build capacity first, this episode will give you concrete mental models, frameworks, and next steps. Tune in to learn how to think more strategically, delegate more effectively, build your peer network, and grow a manufacturing business that doesn’t depend on you doing everything yourself.

Quotes:

“Business owners oftentimes can fall into the trap of worrying about everything else except for the strategic growth of the business.”

“Every single business is different, and most importantly, it’s because of you and the other people in the business; there’s no one-size-fits-all solution.”

“For most business owners, they need to invest in themselves, and the sooner they can understand that no one is coming to save them, the better off they’re going to be.”

Contact Details:

• Ready to unlock your next level of growth? Visit Becker Growth Strategy Today
• Explore Programs and Unlock Your Business Potential at ICIC
• Connect with Brian Becker on LinkedIn for Insights on Leadership, Growth, and Strategy

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1634: AI for Authors Ethical Writing & Marketing with Carma Spence 

Many smart, capable experts sit on powerful book ideas for years, not because they can’t write, but because they feel overwhelmed about finishing the manuscript and getting it in front of the right readers. Today’s guest, Carma Spence, multi-time best-selling, award-winning author and book marketing strategist, helps coaches, consultants, and nonfiction experts turn their books into engines for authority and client attraction by using AI ethically and intelligently across the entire author journey. In this episode of Marketer of the Day, Carma shares insights from her upcoming book “Author Ignition,” which gives authors the confidence, clarity, and strategy to treat AI as a creative ally rather than a threat. She and Robert break down what ethical AI use really looks like for authors, why AI detectors are unreliable and often wrong, and how to avoid publishing bland, generic “AI slop” while still taking full advantage of the technology.

Carma explains how she weaves AI into her “Road Trip to Authority” signature program, using it at every stage of the book journey to help writers move past the friction points that usually derail projects. From brainstorming and outlining to overcoming writer’s block and speeding up marketing tasks, she positions AI as a fast-learning intern: helpful, efficient, but always needing your direction and final human review. They zoom out to the bigger landscape too, looking at the backlash against AI, the mob mentality around calling everything “AI slop,” and the parallels to the early days of self-publishing when quality was questioned but the market eventually matured. Carma shares how she uses AI for images and even music (like transforming old poetry into songs), and why, in many cases, AI is enabling creativity rather than taking money out of artists’ pockets. Beyond tools and tactics, Carma challenges authors to wrestle with a deeper strategic question: “What do you want to be known for?” In an age of answer engines and algorithmic recommendations, you can’t be known for everything. She talks about narrowing your focus, choosing a niche where you can stand out, and defining your unique “pink gorilla” angle so that your book and brand become memorable and referable instead of blending into the noise. Carma dug into how AI is reshaping education and online courses. Static, teacherless courses are losing their appeal; hybrid models that mix evergreen training with live interaction, Q&A, and community are becoming the new standard. Carma shows how AI can handle the repetitive, time-consuming pieces of content and marketing while you double down on the human side of teaching, coaching, and leading your audience.

If you’re intrigued by AI but worried about losing your voice, or simply overwhelmed by where to start, this episode will help you see how to use AI to amplify your message, finish your book, and market it more effectively without compromising your ethics or authenticity. You’ll walk away with a clearer sense of how AI fits into your writing process, your business strategy, and the author brand you want to be known for. To dive deeper into Carma’s world, her books, podcasts, and services, or to schedule a short call to talk about your book and marketing systems, visit carmaspence.com.

Quotes:

“You can use AI if it starts with you and it ends with you, and it's not mass produced. It's unique for each piece.”

“Courses without a teacher are no longer very useful. The hybrid model, lessons plus live interaction; is where real transformation happens.” 

“If everything is slop, then the word means nothing. Being lazy with language says more about you than it does about AI.”

Contact Details:

• Ready to Turn Your Expertise Into a Book That Builds Authority? Visit the Official Website of Carma Spence
• Want to Turn Your Book Into Profit? Book a Book Profit Strategy Call with Carma Spence
• Follow Carma Spence on Facebook for Practical Tips on Book Strategy
• Want to Turn Your Expertise Into Authority and Profit? Connect with Carma Spence on LinkedIn
• Turn Your Expertise Into a Book That Builds Your Business: Subscribe to Carma Spence on YouTube
• Turn Your Expertise Into Profit: Follow Carma Spence on TikTok
• Turn Your Expertise Into Influence: Follow Carma Spence on Instagram
• Get Smarter About Books, Marketing & Business. Follow Carma Spence on X

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1633: AI Conversational Analytics for Business Intelligence with Dan Bruder 

Many companies obsess over sales reports, churn metrics, and dashboards, but the real story is hiding in what people say long before the numbers move. Today’s guest, Dan Bruder, co-founder of Blendification, helps organizations tap into that hidden layer by turning everyday conversations into decision-ready intelligence that leaders can use to predict and prevent problems before they show up in the P&L. In this episode of Marketer of the Day, Dan shares how Blendification uses conversational AI and linguistic analytics to run psychologically adaptive, goal-focused interviews at scale, thousands in a week if needed. Instead of just answering questions like traditional AI tools, their system asks smarter questions, reads engagement and emotional readiness, and uses a panel of specialized AI “agents” to understand what employees and customers really think and feel. The result: organizations can detect cultural hotspots, disengagement, and customer risk months before it shows up as lost revenue or turnover.

Dan explains how Blendification fuses this deep qualitative data with existing operational data from CRM, HR, and financial systems to create traceable dashboards, emotional intelligence patterns, and research-grade insights, without the months-long effort of a traditional consulting engagement. He also shares a bold vision: replacing static PowerPoint decks with dynamic, fully traceable presentations generated directly from source data and conversational insights, giving leaders both speed and confidence in their decisions. If you’re a consultant, advisor, market researcher, or small to mid-sized firm trying to compete with giants like Accenture, this episode is especially powerful. Dan shows how nimble firms that adopt conversational data analytics early can actually leapfrog larger, slower competitors, delivering deeper insights, faster, with far less manual labor. You’ll hear how conversational AI, when used as a true language tool (not just a fancier spreadsheet), opens up a blue ocean of understanding human behavior at scale.

Dan also shares a thought-provoking perspective on planning and uncertainty, why “it’s none of your business where you’ll be in five years” and how that mindset aligns with leading through rapid AI-driven change. If you’ve been stuck in the world of transactional metrics and static dashboards, and you suspect the real gold is hidden in the conversations your people and customers are already having, this episode will give you a clear, exciting look at what’s now possible with conversational AI and Blendification.

Quotes:

"With AI, we're not just leveling the playing field; we're giving a competitive advantage to the people who are nimble and move quickly."

"Most of what I've seen out there is really taking the same data we've always used and using AI to report the same dashboards we've always had, just a little bit quicker and with more data."

"We’ve created an AI platform that holds psychologically aware conversations just as a human would, adapting the next question to bring someone back in when they start to disengage."

Contact Details:

• Transform Your Brand with Blendification: Start Today
• Discover Better Leadership with Dan Bruder
• Connect with Dan Bruder on LinkedIn for Leadership Insights
• Subscribe to Dan Bruder's YouTube Channel for Leadership That Inspires Action

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1632: AI Video Sales Letters and Funnel Copy with Jon Benson

A great copy isn’t just a “nice to have” anymore, it’s the difference between traffic that prints money and traffic that quietly bleeds your ad budget dry. In a world where attention is short, feeds are noisy, and AI-generated fluff is everywhere, only truly persuasive words cut through and convert. Today’s guest, Jon Benson of BNSN.AI, is the copywriter credited with inventing the Video Sales Letter (VSL), a format that has generated billions of dollars in digital sales and reshaped online direct response marketing.In this episode of Marketer of the Day, Jon breaks down the evolution of the “ugly” VSL, from plain text on a black screen with voiceover, to hypnotic slide patterns, NLP command phrases, and innovations like magic buy buttons, no-pause video players, and timed call-to-action reveals. He explains why words on the screen plus spoken words outperform talking-head videos, how dual modalities (reading + listening) supercharge retention, and why removing distractions can multiply conversions even in today’s muted, mobile-first world.

Jon then pulls back the curtain on Benson (BNSN.AI), his AI-driven copy platform built specifically for high-converting VSLs and funnels. Instead of generic prompts and AI “stink,” Benson uses promptless AI, pre-prompting, frameworks, and RAG to train multiple LLMs on proven copy patterns. You’ll hear how his system breaks a VSL into specialized sections, uses different models for different copy tasks, and rewrites behind the scenes so what you see sounds like a top-tier human copywriter, not a template-spitting chatbot. A big theme of this conversation is mindset: you are not your avatar. Jon explains why writing “how you talk” usually kills conversions, why your copy shouldn’t sound exactly like you, and how to instead sound like the best version of you that your market will respond to. He shares lessons from decades as a hired gun copywriter and ghostwriter, the importance of writing for cold traffic, and why the words are still 80% of the funnel, even if you use ClickFunnels, GoHighLevel, or any other page builder.

If you’ve ever been frustrated by weak AI copy, low-converting VSLs, or the feeling that your offer “should” be selling better than it is, this episode will recalibrate how you think about persuasion, funnels, and AI-powered copywriting. You’ll walk away with a deeper understanding of what truly moves cold prospects to buy, and how tools like BNSN.AI can help you scale high-quality copy across your entire funnel without sacrificing human-level persuasion.

Quotes:

“It’s not enough to just give AI a good VSL and say ‘you figure it out.’ You have to break it into components and get very specific.”

“What people call ‘AI stink’ is really just AI pulling from the wrong training. If you don’t feed it the right patterns, you’ll never get what you’re wanting.”

“The words are the most important things that you have to sell anything… if you get the words that sell, you are 80% there.”

Contact Details:

• Turn AI Into Your Best Copywriter: Start with BNSN Today
• Master the Words That Sell: Learn from Jon Benson
• Connect with Jon Benson on LinkedIn and Master Copy That Sells
• Subscribe to Jon Benson's YouTube Channel for Sales Copy Secrets
• Follow Jon Benson on Instagram for Daily Copywriting Tips
• Follow Jon Benson for AI & Copywriting Strategies
• Master Copywriting: Follow Jon Benson on Facebook

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1631: B2B Event Strategy That Builds Pipeline with Joseph Fontana

Most B2B event strategies don’t fail because of budgets or venues, they fail because they’re built around pitches, decks, and headcount instead of real conversations with the right people. Today’s guest, Joseph Fontana, Chief Revenue Officer at Amzai and Chief Growth Officer at Buyer Foresight, has spent over 30 years building sales organizations and leading thousands of sales conversations. He’s turned a simple but powerful idea into a scalable model: conversations move pipeline, not pitches. In this episode of Marketer of the Day, Joe breaks down why we’re living in a “golden era” for events, even as AI floods the market with low-quality content and buyers become more skeptical than ever. Instead of chasing massive conferences and overproduced webinars, Joe helps B2B brands design one-to-few executive dinners and small-format events where prospects talk honestly about their biggest pain points. No slides. No case study walk-throughs. No “quick demos.” Just carefully curated conversations that build trust, insight, and long-term pipeline.

Joe explains where most companies get events totally wrong: talking at prospects instead of with them, making the night about their agenda instead of the buyer’s, and pushing decks, collateral, and follow-up sequences that instantly kill trust. He shows how to flip that model by starting with one critical question: “What makes this person sweat the bed at 4 a.m.?” From there, Joe and his team craft tight messaging, smart outreach, and 6–7 sharp questions that get high-value prospects to happily show up, engage with peers, and open up about the real problems they’re trying to solve. You’ll also hear Joe’s philosophy on simple systems that scale, the crucial difference between motivation and accountability, and why even the best event will fail without disciplined, thoughtful follow-up from the actual people in the room (not a random SDR three days later). He shares how his own chocolate-tasting events for marketers and sales leaders double as both a memorable experience and a live demonstration of his methodology in action, no hard pitch required.

If you’re tired of events that “look good” on a slide but don’t turn into revenue, this episode will show you a different path. You’ll learn how to design small, high-trust experiences that your buyers actually want to attend, how to listen more and talk less, and how to turn authentic executive conversations into predictable, high-quality pipelines.

Quotes:

“Sales has always been and always shall be a series of conversations that moves you from awareness to consideration, from life as it is today to life as it can be.”

“There’s nothing easy about a simple process, people see simple and assume they can ‘make it better,’ and that’s exactly how they break it.”

“Your prospect doesn’t care about you; they care about themselves, and the only time you enter the equation is if they think you might cost them their job.”

Contact Details:

• Ready to Make Every Event Deliver More? Discover How Amzai Helps Organizations
• Connect with Joe on LinkedIn to Unlock Your Next Business Opportunity
• Love a Good Laugh? Subscribe to Joe Fontana's YouTube Channel!
• Fred Flintstone Selling in a George Jetson World on Amazon
• Turn Buyer Conversations Into Qualified Pipeline: Connect with BuyerForesight Today

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1630: Future of Podcasting, AI and Trust with Rob Greenlee

The biggest challenges in podcasting today aren’t about microphones, software, or even ideas, they’re about trying to succeed with strategies built for a completely different era. In this episode, podcasting pioneer Rob Greenlee joins Robert Plank to unpack how the industry has evolved from early downloadable audio to today’s world of streaming video, AI, and creator-driven communities, and how relying on outdated models can quietly sabotage growth. Rob has been at the forefront of podcasting for over two decades, working with platforms like Spreaker and Libsyn, tools like StreamYard, and now leading initiatives such as Trust Factor Lab and the Podcast Hall of Fame. Rob dives deep into the shift from downloads to streaming-first distribution, and what that means for podcasters who want better metrics, deeper audience understanding, and more discoverability. Rob explains why big players like Apple backing streaming video changes the game, how dynamic and injectable ads went from “innovation” to standard, and why creators must think beyond “hosting and RSS” to a more holistic media strategy. They also explore the uncomfortable truth about content permanence, why platforms like Facebook are deleting videos after 60 days, why nothing online is truly permanent, and how that impacts how you plan, store, and repurpose your show.

A major theme of the conversation is the role of AI and trust in modern media. Rob breaks down the tension between creators publicly distrusting AI while privately experimenting with it, and the risks of going “all in” on one extreme or another. He shares a forward-looking view of how AI might interact with media archives, from simply storing transcripts to potentially powering AI agents modeled on real people, and why the real differentiator for podcasters will be human connection, authenticity, and trust, not just technology. They talk about the future of creators as facilitators of community conversations, where the audience’s interaction may ultimately become more valuable than the host’s monologue.

Rob also gives a behind-the-scenes look at his work with the Podcast Hall of Fame at PodcastHall.com, how inductees are chosen, why it’s not about raw download numbers, and how true impact in podcasting is measured in vision, leadership, and the ability to help others succeed. From his early days podcasting in 2004 (after starting on radio in 1999) to today’s global ecosystem, Rob shares hard‑earned lessons on staying relevant, reinventing yourself, and focusing on serving people, not algorithms. If you care about the future of podcasting, want to understand where AI, streaming, and community are really taking the medium, and need a grounded perspective on building long-term trust with your listeners, this episode with Rob Greenlee is a must-listen.

Quotes:

"A lot of people are fearful that what they create online will define them forever, but the trend lines are actually pointing to a lack of permanency and sustainability of content." 

"We’re shifting into an era where streaming capability doesn’t just deliver content; it gives creators deeper metrics and understanding of audiences so they can actually make better content." 

"The distinction between impacting a hundred people and impacting a million isn’t what matters. It’s more about attitude, vision, and how other people perceive the impact you’ve had on them."

Contact Details:

• Level Up Your Podcast; Visit New Media Show
• Discover Podcast Legends at Podcast Hall
• Build Trust. Grow Your Podcast. Explore Rob Greenlee's Official Website
• Learn From a Podcast Pioneer; Follow Rob Greenlee on Facebook
• Master the Future of Podcasting; Connect With Rob Greenlee on LinkedIn
• Follow Rob Greenlee on X for Podcast Insights
• Subscribe to Rob Greenlee's YouTube Channel for Podcast Success

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1629: Build an Online Wellness Business Using AI with Yvonne Franklin

Many people never launch the projects or businesses they dream about, not because they lack ideas, but because burnout, self-doubt, and emotional overwhelm stop them in their tracks. In this episode, Yvonne Franklin shares how, at age 61, a workplace injury and emotional breakdown ended her 30-year healthcare career, but also became the catalyst for building an online wellness ecosystem from scratch, without tech skills, marketing experience, or an ad budget. Her story is a powerful example of turning adversity into action and using lived experience to help others reset their lives. Yvonne explains how she discovered AI tools like Microsoft Copilot, ChatGPT, and especially the Buildyai platform to create a complete digital presence in just a few months. Without writing a line of code, she built The Mindful Reset at themindfulrezset.com, along with quizzes, email sequences, workbooks, guides, a course, and even marketing assets for social media. She also became an affiliate for Buildyai and created a guide specifically for non-technical people who want to get online without the overwhelm of domains, hosting, and web design.

At the heart of Yvonne’s work is a simple but powerful promise: you don’t need 60-minute routines or complex meditation practices to feel better. Her “Mindful Rezset” approach centers on 2–5 minute micro-resets, printable pocket cards, reflections, affirmations, breathing prompts, and short exercises designed for overstressed workers, professionals, parents, and caregivers in a fast-paced world. She breaks down different types of resets (emotional, rational, inspirational, mindset, and more) that help people pause, breathe, and reconnect with themselves so they can return to their day calmer and clearer.

Yvonne also shares the business-building side of her journey: using free and low-cost tools, posting organic content on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, and Pinterest, applying for grants as a women entrepreneur in Canada, and thinking strategically about partnerships and future webinars. She talks about writing her 107-page book “Your Reset Begins Here”, creating a reflection blog series called “When Thoughts Become Things”, and launching her Etsy store at rezsetyourmoments.etsy.com. Throughout, she returns to her core mantra: “You are allowed to come back. This is built for that.” If you’ve been feeling overwhelmed, stuck, or “too late” to start something new, Yvonne’s story and framework offer both practical tools and deep encouragement.

Quotes:

"I’m not a wellness guru; I’m just a simple person with lived experience, packaging what I’ve learned so everyday people can actually use it."

"If you feel lost, overwhelmed, or like you don’t recognize yourself anymore, this work is about helping you reconnect with you so you can move forward again."

"People don’t just need another routine; they need a moment to breathe, to come back to themselves, and remember who they are in the middle of a fast-paced world."

Contact Details:

• Ready To Rezset Your Mind? Start Your Journey Today
• Ready To Transform Your Life? Follow Yvonne Franklin Facebook Page
• Start Your Mindful Reset; Follow Mindful Rezset on Instagram
• Follow Yvonne Franklin on X for Daily Inspiration
• Shop Meaningful Moments; Rezset Your Moments on Etsy

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1628: AI-Driven FICA Flip to Boost Profits and Benefits with Ralph Watkins 

Hidden tax leaks and underutilized strategies quietly drain the profits of otherwise healthy companies. Today’s guest, Ralph B. Watkins went from losing a $10 million real estate empire to helping mid-sized businesses uncover “money hiding in plain sight” using a powerful, tax-advantaged benefits structure called the FICA Flip. In this episode of Marketer of the Day, Ralph breaks down how companies with at least 10 full-time W-2 employees can implement a self-insured medical expense reimbursement plan (SIMERP) that effectively lets them get paid to offer world-class health benefits. Instead of sending all those FICA dollars straight to the IRS, businesses can legally redirect a portion back into their own bottom line, typically around $640 per employee per year in employer savings, while also putting roughly $100 more per month into employees’ take-home pay.

Ralph explains how this SIMERP structure layers on top of existing health benefits without replacing them, giving employees access to a robust suite of virtual primary care, urgent care, mental health counseling, financial counseling, and a zero-deductible pharmacy with 1,000+ medications at no cost, covering the employee plus up to five family members, 24/7. He shares why enrollment and retention rates are so high, and why the most common objection he hears is simply that it “sounds too good to be true.” Beyond the financial strategy, Ralph walks through how he’s using AI daily to find opportunities, design outreach, and scale his impact, leveraging tools like LinkedIn Sales Navigator, Lemlist, webinars, and local business/service groups (Rotary, chambers, etc.) to get this message in front of decision makers. He shows how AI-powered prospecting, smart drip campaigns, and speaking to rooms instead of just individuals can rapidly compound recurring, per-employee revenue for marketers and advisors who partner on this model.

Underneath the tactics is Ralph’s deeper philosophy: authenticity, resilience, and service first. Drawing from his heart attack scare, major financial losses, and the lessons that led to his book “10 Habits of Shit Creek Survivors,” he encourages entrepreneurs to see life and business as a series of experiments, to be kinder to themselves, and to focus on genuinely helping others win. If you’re a business owner, advisor, or marketer looking for a real, compliant way to boost cash flow, improve benefits, and build residual income, while using AI as a force multiplier, this episode with Ralph Watkins is packed with ideas you can put to work right away.

Quotes:

“The future belongs not to the people whose jobs are displaced by AI, but to the ones who grab onto it and learn how to use it to get more done.”

“There is no success, there is no failure; we live in a lab. Every day we’re running experiments and simply getting results.”

“When your biggest objection is ‘this sounds too good to be true,’ that’s an objection I like dealing with.”

Contact Details:

• Start Your FICA Flip Journey Today
• Ready to Earn Dual Commissions? Apply Today and Start Keeping More of Every Deal
• Get the Book That’s Changing Lives; Visit NASCS.Org today
• Connect with Ralph Watkins on LinkedIn for Practical Financial Wisdom
• 10 Habits of Shit Creek Survivors: Lessons from Hell to Hope on Amazon
  
  

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1627: AI Sales Funnels for Service Businesses with Francis Rodino 

Service businesses usually don’t struggle because they lack leads, they struggle because those leads aren’t being captured, nurtured, or turned into consistent, predictable revenue. In this episode of Marketer of the Day, AI growth architect Francis Rodino, author of Leads Machine and founder of Lead Hero AI, explains why simply signing up for a CRM like Go High Level or installing the latest AI tool is never enough. The real leverage comes from doing the deep strategic work most business owners skip: understanding your ideal clients, their pain points, desires, and fears, and then building a revenue engine that turns that insight into sales. Francis breaks down why so many home service, trades, and local businesses feel burned by agencies, Facebook ads, and half-built funnels. They confuse software with strategy, thinking a shiny new CRM or AI agent will fix everything. Instead, Francis walks us through the nine-step Leads Machine system that underpins his book, a framework that connects the entire customer journey: from market research and messaging, to follow-up, sales processes, and retention. He shares how AI tools like ChatGPT and Claude can accelerate the “deep work” of customer understanding, but stresses that AI is the drill, not the painting, the tech is only as good as the strategy behind it. You’ll hear a powerful case study from a SaaS company called Book Magic, which helps authors write books using AI. They were sitting on a goldmine of 8,000+ dormant leads stuck in ActiveCampaign with no real customer journey. Francis’ team migrated them to High Level, cleaned and segmented the data, and launched an AI-powered database reactivation campaign via SMS and WhatsApp. The result? They doubled their MRR in just two months without spending a cent on ads, by simply re-engaging and nurturing leads they already had.

Throughout the conversation, Francis returns to a central theme: make marketing human again. Even as AI agents, automation, and complex tech stacks become more advanced, the fundamentals of human psychology haven’t changed. People still buy from people. The businesses that win won’t be the ones who spam prospects with robotic AI slop, but those who use AI to enhance empathy, relevance, and timing, crafting campaigns and follow-ups that feel like genuine conversations, not canned scripts. Francis explains how to align AI, CRM, and automation with real human behavior so that teams actually use the tools, leads are followed up with, and sales pipelines don’t quietly leak money.

If you’re a service or home services business owner staring at a barely-used Go High Level account, frustrated with inconsistent sales, or overwhelmed by all the AI “hype,” this episode will show you what’s really possible. You’ll learn how to turn your existing lead list into a reliable revenue engine, how to think about your tech stack as part of a bigger strategy, and how Francis’ nine-step Leads Machine framework can help you scale from early-stage chaos to multi-seven figures. Tune in to discover how to build AI-first revenue systems that are deeply human, highly profitable, and built to last.

Quotes:

"The biggest myth is that these systems are easy and they are fully automated, and you just sit back, do a lot of nothing, and the sales and the leads roll in." 

"Automation, AI, and tech are never a replacement for fundamental human psychology. At the end of the day, we're selling to people and marketing to people."

"Let's make marketing human again. The more empathetic and less robotic we can craft our AI to be, the more of a leg up those businesses will have in the short term."

Contact Details:

• Turn More Leads Into Customers with Lead Hero AI
• Scale Smarter with AI; Connect with Francis Today
• Connect with Francis on LinkedIn for AI-Powered Growth Insights
• Subscribe to Francis Rodino's YouTube Channel for Practical AI Marketing Insights
• Follow Francis on Instagram for Proven Lead Generation Strategies
• Grow Smarter with AI; Join Francis on Facebook
• Leads Machine on Amazon

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1626: AI Productivity for Entrepreneurs with Donna Blevins 

Many entrepreneurs are smart, experienced, and ambitious, but still feel stuck, scattered, and frustrated that their results don’t match their potential. In this episode of Marketer of the Day, Dr. Donna Blevins, a 6'5" former professional poker player, high-scoring basketball standout, stroke survivor, and performance coach, shows how changing your self-talk, daily habits, and relationship with AI can create real breakthroughs in your business and life. She draws on concepts from her book MindShift, where she teaches how to reframe setbacks, focus on wins, and harness the power of intentional language. Donna shares the pivotal story of being told by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar that her high school basketball stats made her not just “good,” but a star, even though she’d spent years telling herself she was terrible. That moment shattered her habit of focusing on misses instead of scores, and it mirrors how many entrepreneurs obsess over what’s not working instead of the results they are getting. Donna explains how this kind of negative self-talk quietly sabotages success, and why shifting your internal language is the first step to changing your external results.

From there, Donna gets practical. She reveals her simple productivity framework: finish three small things a day, and plan your business in 90‑day quarters instead of chasing vague, far-off “big goals” you never complete. She talks about her mind shifting process, so powerful she credits it with helping her regain speech three days after a massive stroke, and her exercise to “evict your perfection witch,” freeing you from the perfectionism that keeps offers, content, and ideas stuck in draft mode. You’ll learn why doing things live, iterating in public, and embracing “beta” versions is often the fastest path to a profitable, repeatable offer.

Donna also dives into how she’s using AI as a true virtual assistant, not a distraction. She explains how she trained ChatGPT’s new work feature to understand her voice (“donatize” her content), organize her Google Drive, build course templates, and act as a pocket performance coach for clients, while maintaining strict boundaries so the tech stays safe, useful, and under her control. For entrepreneurs, especially those over 50, who feel overwhelmed by tech, uncertain about their “next page,” or tired of spinning their wheels, this conversation offers a blend of mindset, systems, and AI strategy rooted in real-world experience. If you’re ready to stop overthinking, start finishing, and finally turn your brilliance into bankable results, you’ll want to hear what Donna shares.

Quotes:

"Find three little things that you can finish now. What happens? It changes the frequency, the energy within you, and the frequency around you, because we create the energy around us."

"When you make a goal, sure, look at the big hairy-ass goals, that's fine, but look at something that's three months away. If you plan in quarters, you're far more productive."

"I created a mind shift exercise called 'Evict Your Perfection Witch' because she has taken residence on my shoulders from time to time, and I want to evict her, evict the bitch, that's what I say."

Contact Details:

• Ready for Your Breakthrough? Visit the Official Website of Donna Blevins Today
• Your Next Chapter Begins with YES
• Connect with Donna on LinkedIn for Daily Mindset Breakthroughs
• Follow Donna on X for Daily Mindset Wins
• Transform Your Mindset; Follow Donna Blevins on Instagram
• Join the Journey; Subscribe to Big Girl Poker
• Subscribe to Donna's Substack for Weekly Mindset Breakthroughs
• MindShift On Demand: QUICK Life-Changing Tools on Amazon

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1625: Follow-Up Sales Strategies for More Clients with Wanda Allen

Too many business owners think their next sale is hiding behind a bigger ad budget or more leads, when in reality the real money is in the leads they’ve already generated, but never properly followed up with. Prospects say they’re interested, timing gets in the way, and then fear, procrastination, and disorganization quietly choke off potential revenue. Today’s guest, Wanda Allen of Follow Up Sales Strategies, has helped business owners, sales professionals, and especially realtors transform “I meant to call them” into a simple, systematic follow-up habit that consistently converts more existing leads into paying clients. In this episode of Marketer of the Day, Wanda breaks down why follow-up is the real leverage point in your sales process, and why the most powerful, underused tool is still the phone. She explains how a five-minute conversation can replace days of emails and DMs, uncover real objections, and build genuine prospect loyalty long before someone becomes a paying customer. Rather than chasing more leads or bigger ad budgets, Wanda shows you how to focus on the opportunities already in your pipeline.

Wanda shares the three fundamentals of effective follow-up: adopting the right mindset, consistently using a CRM, and making follow-up a true priority instead of something you “get to later.” She unpacks the hidden fears that keep people stuck, fear of rejection, of being pushy, of not knowing what to say, and reframes follow-up as a professional obligation, not a nuisance. With research showing that 80% of sales happen between the 5th and 12th contact while 90% of sellers quit after two, she explains why simply staying in the game longer can make you the “last one standing” who wins the business.

You’ll hear how Wanda’s systems-based approach has helped clients triple their sales just by getting serious about follow-up routines, tightening their processes, and reframing “I have so much follow-up to do” from a burden into a sign of opportunity. She also shares a powerful mindset rule you can apply to both sales and life: when you feel like you can’t do one more call or push-up, do two. If you’re ready to get over your discomfort, stop apologizing for doing your job, and turn your existing leads into real revenue, Wanda’s strategies will give you the structure and confidence to follow through.

Quotes:

“The salesperson that follows up and continues to follow up is the one that’s going to get the business, because when that prospect is ready, the one who followed up is the one who’s going to get the call.”

“When you have a lot of follow-up work to do, that shouldn’t stress you out; it should put a spring in your step. It means you’ve got opportunities in front of you.”

“If your job is to bring in more business, you have to follow up. When you’re following up, you’re doing your job; that’s called professionalism.”

Contact Details:

• Visit Follow-Up Sales Strategies to Turn More Conversations Into Closed Deals
• Connect with Wanda Allen on LinkedIn for Practical Follow-up Strategies and Sales Tips
• Ready to Close More Deals with Smarter Follow-up? Schedule a Call with Wanda Allen
• Follow Follow Up Sales on X and Discover Simple Strategies to Improve Follow-up
• Grow your Sales One Follow-up at a Time; Follow Follow Up Sales Strategies on Instagram

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1624: Private Money Real Estate Funding Secrets with Jay Conner

Funding, not deals, is often the real bottleneck in real estate investing. If you’ve been relying on banks or hard money lenders, you already know how slow, expensive, and restrictive they can be. In this episode of Marketer of the Day, Jay Conner, who has flipped and rehabbed over 500 single-family properties in eastern North Carolina and automated his seven‑figure business down to less than 10 hours a week, shows you a different path: private money. Since 2009, Jay hasn’t missed out on a single deal due to lack of funding. He breaks down exactly what private money is (and what it’s not), how it differs from hard money and bank financing, and why working directly with individual private lenders can transform your speed, flexibility, and profit margins. You’ll discover how everyday people, often using self-directed IRAs, can become your lenders, earning solid, secured returns while you gain fast, reliable funding for your flips, rehabs, and single-family projects.

Jay walks through his relationship-first approach to finding and educating private lenders, including how he “diagnoses” whether someone has an investment problem before ever offering a solution. You’ll hear why the old saying “get the deal and the money will show up” is dangerous, and how Jay instead lines up capital first, then uses his signature “good news phone call” to place his lenders’ money, without ever “asking for money.” He also shares his preferred strategies for single-family deals, from flipping and MLS resales to lease options, rent-to-own, and work-for-equity exits. You’ll learn his simple formula for not overpaying for properties, how he protects his lenders with conservative loan-to-value (LTV) limits, proper collateralization, and why he often gets paid to buy houses by borrowing up to 75% of the after-repaired value (ARV). Jay explains how strong relationships with attorneys, title companies, and lenders allow him to confidently offer seven-day closings that sellers love.

Jay also highlights his national best-selling book, Where To Get The Money Now: How and Where to Get Money for Your Real Estate Deals Without Relying on Traditional (or Hard Money) Lenders, which lays out his full system for raising and structuring private money. Combined with his scripts, frameworks, and real-world examples, this episode shows that raising private capital doesn’t have to be complicated or salesy; it can be a straightforward, repeatable system that fuels your deals and builds real wealth for both you and your lenders.

Quotes:

“One of the biggest lies in real estate is ‘get the deal under contract, and the money will show up.’ That’s the most stupid thing I ever heard in my life.”

“I want my private lenders to think of themselves as the bank. They’re secured by a note, a deed of trust, insurance, and title; just like the bank would be.”

“Private money is a simple business once you understand the moving parts; most new investors fail because they overcomplicate it.”

Contact Details:

• Visit Jay Conner's website and Discover Proven Private Money Strategies
• Secure your Seat at the Private Money Conference
• Connect with Jay Conner on LinkedIn for Expert Insights on Private Money Lending
• Follow Jay Conner on Facebook for Expert Tips on Private Money
• Apple Podcasts: Raising Private Money with Jay Conner
• Subscribe to Jay Conner's YouTube Channel to Start Learning Private Money Funding Tips
• Follow Jay Conner on Instagram for Insights on Private Money
• Grab your Copy of Jay Conner's Book
• Unlock Jay Conner's Proven Private Money Scripts by Downloading them for Free Today!
• Where To Get The Money Now on Amazon

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1623: Workplace Safety and Violence Prevention with Jerry McCormick 

In most workplaces, safety conversations jump straight to the scariest headlines, active shooters, and worst-case scenarios, while overlooking the everyday situations that are far more likely to cause harm. Yet the people who consistently stay safe aren’t superheroes; they’re ordinary individuals who’ve learned to notice early warning signs, trust their instincts, and take simple, proactive steps before trouble starts. Today’s guest, Jerry McCormick, Marine Corps veteran, retired police captain, workplace safety expert, and author of Why Some People Don’t Become Victims: What 10,000 Police Officers Reveal About Workplace Violence and Practical Prevention, is here to change how we think about personal and workplace safety. 

In this episode of Marketer of the Day, Jerry shares what he learned from interviewing more than 10,000 police officers worldwide about why they rarely become victims of crime off duty, despite constantly being around danger. Instead of teaching fantasy heroics or fear-based “what if” scenarios, Jerry focuses on plain-language, practical safety habits that anyone can use at work, at home, and in public. He explains why most companies don’t actually need “active shooter training” (which is designed for first responders), and why a holistic, everyday safety approach is far more effective and relevant. Jerry breaks down simple, high-impact actions, like knowing how to lock doors, use the office PA system, run basic lockdown and evacuation drills, and recognize when a situation is starting to turn bad so you can quietly leave before trouble starts. He also talks about the psychology of fear, how it hijacks your body in a crisis, and why rehearsed, step-by-step procedures help you act calmly when it matters most. Through real-world examples from offices, schools, industrial parks, and medical practices, he shows how small changes in preparation, communication, and team drills can massively increase safety without creating panic or disrupting operations.

If you’ve ever wondered whether your organization is focusing on the wrong threats, or you want your family and team to be safer without living in constant anxiety, this conversation delivers a grounded, empowering perspective. You’ll walk away with a clearer understanding of actual risks, simple ways to reduce them, and how to turn “safety” from a scary, technical topic into an everyday skill that everyone can understand and use.

Quotes:

"You don't need active shooter training; you need training that looks holistically at where you work, where you play, where you live, and how you can live safer without living in fear."

"My suggestion is see danger, recognize it, and avoid it in the first place; you don’t have to be the hero in every story to keep your family safe."

"When you give employees safety, you give them value, and excellent security is actually excellent customer service."

Contact Details:

• Visit Personal Safety at Work Today and Discover Expert Training to Help you Stay Prepared, Not Scared
• Follow Jerry McCormick on LinkedIn for Expert Insights on Workplace Safety
• Follow Jerry McCormick on Facebook for Practical Personal Safety Tips
• Why Some People Don't Become Victims on Amazon

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1622: Authentic Bestseller Book Marketing with Steve Kidd

Most authors have plenty of ideas, but struggle to turn those ideas into a book that is both authentic and successful. Today’s guest, Steve Kidd of Thriving Bestsellers, has spent over 40 years helping entrepreneurs uncover their true voice and transform it into bestselling books. He’s worked with more than 5,000 authors and contributed to 42 #1 international bestsellers, giving him a rare depth of insight into what it really takes to stand out in a crowded marketplace. In this episode, Steve dives into why self-discovery is the critical first step in authorship. Steve explains that most people are writing from the identity others assigned them; parents, teachers, spouses, instead of the person they actually are. He shares why your book becomes a powerful tool for transformation when it’s rooted in your authentic self, not in borrowed quotes or imitated styles. Rather than staring at a blank page, Steve recommends writing your book via interview, capturing real, spontaneous stories and insights that sound like you, then shaping that raw conversation into a compelling manuscript.

Steve tackles the rise of AI in writing head-on. Steve isn’t anti-AI; in fact, he shows how it can be incredibly powerful when you feed it deeply personal, accurate information about who you are and who you serve. But he warns that most AI-generated books are “garbage in, garbage out” generic content stitched together from other people’s work, with no real voice or originality. The difference between a soulless AI book and a powerful, AI-assisted bestseller is whether you’ve done the hard work of knowing yourself and clearly defining your reader. From there, the conversation shifts to the part almost no one plans for: real book marketing. Steve explains that a book is a product like any other, and it needs both a marketing plan and a marketing budget to perform. He breaks down why simply “hitting bestseller” on launch day is not a strategy, and why most authors stall out after release because they have no follow-up campaign. Steve shares how verified purchaser reviews, ongoing promotion, and a realistic ad budget (or equivalent time investment) make the difference between a book that quietly disappears and one that consistently brings in readers, clients, and opportunities.

If you’ve ever thought, “I’ll just let AI write my book,” or assumed that if you “build it, they will come,” this episode will challenge those myths and give you a grounded, hopeful path forward. Whether your book is just an idea, half-finished on your hard drive, or already published and underperforming, Steve offers a practical, encouraging way to bring your real voice to the page, and then get that book into the hands of the people who need it most. To explore your options for done-with-you or done-for-you support, head over to AskSteveKidd.com (that’s Kidd with two Ds) and see how Steve and his team can help you turn your message into a true bestseller.

Quotes:

“Most of the biggest problem people have with the book they write is they’re thinking they’re supposed to write a specific book because of a trend or something somebody told them to do.”

“Step one is knowing who are you, who are you writing to, and then what do they need; knowing those three elements before you do anything else.”

“Every product has to have a marketing plan and a marketing budget, whatever that is, and most people launch the book, hit bestseller, get excited, and then do nothing to follow it up.”

Contact Details:

• Visit the Thriving Best Sellers Website to Start Your Publishing Journey Today
• Connect with Steve Kidd on LinkedIn for Proven Bestseller & Business Growth Strategies
• Your Bestselling Journey Starts Here; Follow Steve Kidd on Instagram Today
• Ready to Become a Bestselling Author? Follow Steve Kidd on Facebook
• Get Expert Publishing Guidance; Book Your Personal Strategy Session with Steve Kidd
• Subscribe to Steve Kidd on YouTube for Expert Publishing Insights
• Best Seller is Only the Beginning on Amazon

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1621: Retail Growth and AI-Powered Operations with Mani Subramaniam

Retail success isn’t about chasing the latest tools; it’s about building operations that actually deliver on your promises. Today’s guest, Mani Subramaniam, Head of Retail and Consumer Goods at Experion Technologies, has spent over 30 years helping global retailers modernize their stores, supply chains, and customer experiences, all while keeping AI and technology tightly aligned with real business outcomes instead of hype. In this episode of Marketer of the Day, Mani explains why growth doesn’t solve weaknesses; it exposes them. Using vivid examples from major retailers (including what happens when shelves are literally empty for months), he breaks down retail operations like an umbrella: if every “spoke” (supply chain, merchandising, store ops, people, systems) isn’t working in harmony, the whole thing fails. 

Mani shares how smart retailers stress-test their operations before they scale, asking, “What will break if we grow faster?” and then fixing those weak links in advance. Mani dives into the mindset and measurement behind reliable execution: learning from mistakes instead of hiding them, building true teamwork instead of lone heroes, and measuring not just leads and sales, but on-time delivery and promise-keeping. Mani emphasizes that marketing and websites can say anything, but the customer only experiences one thing: whether you kept your promise. Fail at that, and you don’t just lose a sale; you lose the customer and their entire cohort. 

The conversation then shifts to AI in retail and business operations. Mani argues you should never start with “What can AI do for me?” but instead ask, “Where is my work breaking down, and can AI help there?” He shares how he uses AI to compress weeks of financial and business analysis into days, while still validating every insight, and how retailers are using AI for proactive communication around shipment delays, pricing changes, and faster, more consistent follow-up. If you’re interested in using AI as a practical assistant to strengthen existing processes, improve execution, and grow without breaking your business, this episode is packed with grounded, real-world insights you can apply right away.

Quotes:

“Marketing makes promises, but only your execution can keep them. The customer doesn’t care which part of your business failed; they only know that you failed.”

"Make sure that if you have made a promise, every small bit of your business is geared up to meet that promise."

“There are no single heroes in a retail operation. Everybody contributes to the success, and it’s the coordination of many small things that keeps your promises to the customer.”

Contact Details:

• Transform your Business with AI-powered Software Solutions: Explore Experion Global Today
• Join Mani Subramaniam on LinkedIn for Thought Leadership on AI, Retail, and Digital Transformation

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1620: Emotional Intelligence Leadership with Dr. Julie Donley

Stress, burnout, and emotional overload silently derail even the most talented leaders. Today’s guest, Dr. Julie Donley, a psychiatric nurse, leadership coach, and author, has transformed decades of personal hardship and frontline experience into practical tools that help leaders become more resilient, emotionally intelligent, and effective with their teams. In this episode of Marketer of the Day, Dr. Julie shares how surviving 17–18 surgeries, serious illness, divorce, single parenting, and financial hardship forged her perspective on change and leadership. Out of that journey came her book, Does Change Have to Be So Hard?, in which she breaks down why change is H.A.R.D. (Habits, Attachment, Resistance, Discouragement) and how to make it E.A.S.Y. using neuroscience, mindset shifts, and simple, repeatable strategies. Instead of getting stuck in “Why me?”, she shows leaders how to ask, “What can I learn from this?” and use adversity as curriculum for growth.

Dr. Julie dives into the human side of leadership, how to protect your attention, avoid “shiny object syndrome,” and use clear goals and vision to stay focused in a noisy, fast-paced world. Drawing on her decades in psychiatric nursing and leadership, she explains why emotional intelligence, boundaries, and self-awareness are now competitive advantages, especially as AI and technology accelerate. Her Leading at the Speed of People framework and C.A.R.E. model (Communicate, Appreciate, Respect, Empathize) help leaders create environments where people feel seen, supported, and inspired instead of burned out and checked out. You’ll also hear why mentors, coaches, and community are non-negotiable if you want to grow faster and avoid avoidable mistakes. Dr. Julie talks about the danger of negativity, whether from family, coworkers, or social media, and why curating what (and who) you allow into your head is essential for resilience. She shares practical ways to shift from scarcity (“I don’t have enough…”) to intentional creation, using mindset, structure, and support systems to move from survival mode to a life and career you’re genuinely proud of.

If you’re a manager suddenly thrust into leadership, a business owner feeling overwhelmed, or a high performer who’s quietly burning out, this conversation will give you tools and hope. You’ll learn how to define success on your own terms, lead at the speed of people, not just technology, and become “unapologetically you” while creating environments where others can thrive too.

Quotes:

“You are not alone, even if it feels that way. Your job is to find the mentors, the teachers, and the support that shorten your learning curve.”

“Leaders underestimate how hungry people are for attention, nurturing, and simple human kindness.”

“I believe we have far more power than we know how to use, and most of us are giving that power away without even realizing it.”

Contact Details:

• Lead with Confidence; Transform Your Leadership Today: Visit the Official Website of Dr. Julie Donley 
• Follow Dr. Julie Donley on Facebook for Emotional Intelligence Tips, and Practical Strategies
• Connect with Dr. Julie Donley on LinkedIn for Leadership Insights That Inspire Action
• Unlock Better Leadership; Subscribe to Dr. Julie Donley on YouTube
• Get Inspired; Follow Dr. Julie Donley on Instagram
• Does Change Have to Be So Hard on Amazon

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1619: Mastering Listening and Storytelling in Business with Scott Harvey

In today’s workplace, it’s rarely the lack of communication that causes the biggest problems; it’s the fear of saying the wrong thing, the emails never sent, and the hard conversations avoided. Silence, mixed messages, and surface-level conversations quietly erode trust, culture, and productivity. Today’s guest, Scott Harvey, a former FBI-trained hostage negotiator, communication advisor, and author of “Silence Kills,” reveals why unspoken conversations and poor listening are costing organizations up to 18% of their payroll in miscommunication, and what to do about it. In this episode of Marketer of the Day, Scott breaks down the art and science of communication as he’s lived it: from high-stakes hostage situations and law enforcement media briefings to corporate boardrooms and keynote stages. He explains why communication is a “dance” instead of a formula, how tone and body language outweigh the actual words you say, and why in a world obsessed with content creation and TL;DR shortcuts, deep listening has become a rare superpower.

Scott shares practical, real-world tactics leaders can use immediately: How to use tone, questions, and curiosity to “listen people” into the decisions you need them to make. Why silence without rapport feels like you don’t care, and how to break that silence in a way that builds trust instead of fear. How to leverage simple CRM notes and meaningful follow-up to create unforgettable experiences that keep customers and team members loyal (including a powerful hotel-cookie story you’ll remember). Ways to use AI as a research assistant and rehearsal partner, without becoming robotic or losing authenticity. We also dive into Scott’s passion for storytelling as a strategic tool. He explains how to collect everyday stories, test them on social media and podcasts, then refine them, just like a stand-up comedian, into a “quilt” of stories that emotionally land with audiences and make your message stick.

If you’re a founder, executive, coach, or team leader who senses that miscommunication, unasked questions, and unresolved tension are holding your people back, this episode will give you a new lens and a toolkit for leading with listening, speaking with confidence, and building the kind of trust that keeps your best people and best clients around for the long term.

Quotes:

“If there's no listener, there's no story. You can share stories all day, but if there's nobody there to interpret those stories, you're not communicating anything.”

“Don’t script hard conversations. In an AI-driven world, that feels inauthentic. Trust your tone to convey that this is hard, but that you both will be better at the end of it.”

“In a world that doesn’t ask you to listen much, listening today is so rare it’s like a superpower.”

Contact Details:

• Book Scott Harvey Today → Transform the Way Your Team Communicates
• Communication Can Make, or Break Your Team: Connect with Scott Harvey on LinkedIn
• Ready to Change the Conversations That Matter Most? Follow Scott Harvey on X
• Follow Scott Harvey on Facebook for Powerful Communication Strategies
• Follow Scott Harvey on Instagram for Quick Communication Tips
• Silence Kills on Amazon

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 28:19 — 22.7MB) | Embed

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1618: Global Warming Solutions and Climate Action with Dr. David E. Comings 

Most conversations about climate change stop at fear, politics, or denial, and never make it to practical solutions. Today’s guest, Dr. David E. Comings, is determined to change that. A physician, geneticist, former director of medical genetics at City of Hope National Medical Center, and author of nearly 500 peer‑reviewed papers, Dr. Comings brings a lifetime of scientific rigor to what he calls humanity’s greatest challenge: global warming. In this episode of Marketer of the Day, Dr. Comings breaks down four key variables driving climate change: rising CO₂ levels, the accelerating rate of that rise, Earth’s massive heat imbalance (equivalent to 143,000 atomic bombs going off every day), and the warming and acidification of the oceans. He connects the dots between hotter oceans, more extreme storms, deadly heat waves, crop failures, and food insecurity, showing how these forces compound into a global crisis already claiming thousands of lives.

But this isn’t just another doom-and-gloom climate episode. Dr. Comings lays out four actionable ways to fight global warming at scale. You’ll hear about restoring Earth’s albedo (reflectivity) with highly reflective surfaces in deserts, reversing ocean acidification, and using enhanced weathering, crushing specific rocks so they chemically bind CO₂ safely and permanently. He also explains why injecting carbon dioxide into basalt formations could safely store trillions of tons of CO₂, and why some popular “bury it underground” approaches may be far riskier than people realize. Dr. Comings also exposes the policy failures and missed opportunities that are making the problem worse, from governments paying companies not to build offshore wind farms, to leaders who dismiss climate science as a hoax. He contrasts this with countries like China, which, despite high emissions, are investing heavily in hydroelectric, solar, and wind, and “putting us to shame” with their sense of urgency. Along the way, he shares how his own shock at the accelerating rate of CO₂ increase pushed him, post‑retirement, to write his book “The Science of Global Warming: Four Ways to Fix It” with 106 color illustrations and over 300 scientific references.

If you’ve ever wondered, “Is there actually anything we can do?” this conversation offers both hard science and real hope. You’ll come away with a clearer understanding of the physics behind global warming, concrete large‑scale interventions that could make a meaningful difference, and specific actions individuals can take, from how they vote to how they might participate in enhanced weathering efforts. Whether you’re skeptical, overwhelmed, or already convinced, this episode will equip you with better arguments, better science, and a more actionable vision for what it would take to turn the ship around.

Quotes:

"The Earth's heat imbalance is equivalent to 143,000 atomic bombs going off every day. That is an enormous amount of heat going into the ocean." 

"Heat kills more people as a weather problem. It kills more people than hurricanes, tornadoes, and earthquakes combined."  

"Climate change is real, and it's getting worse and worse and worse. We need governments or billionaires to step in and say, 'I'm here to help.'" 

Contact Details:

• Discover Real-World Solutions to Climate Change. Visit the Comings Foundation Today
• Follow Dr. David E. Comings on Facebook to Stay Informed on the Latest Climate Science
• The Science of Global Warming: And Four Ways to Fix It on Amazon

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 23:21 — 18.7MB) | Embed

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1617: AI Client Management & Voice-First CRM with Jan Levine

When your business depends on appointments, renewals, and repeat clients, dropped follow-ups and scattered notes are expensive problems. Handwritten reminders, sticky notes, and overcomplicated CRMs often create more friction than they solve. Today’s guest, Jan Levine, CEO of ClientPulse Ltd, explains how he used Voice First AI to rescue his own rapidly growing financial practice from that chaos and then transformed his solution into a powerful platform that helps other service-based businesses stay organized, responsive, and consistently top-of-mind with their clients. In this episode of Marketer of the Day, Jan walks us through how voice-driven client management can replace tedious data entry and outdated workflows. Instead of typing notes or wrestling with bloated software, agents, advisors, salon owners, repair shops, and other professionals can simply talk into their phone as they leave a client meeting. Client Pulse automatically extracts the key details, contact info, assets, preferences, next steps, and appointment times, updates the record, sends a thank-you email, and schedules reminders, all in seconds.

Jan dig into one of the biggest fears around automation and AI: that it will feel cold, fake, and impersonal. Jan explains how he intentionally designed Client Pulse to do the opposite, using AI to create more human, personal communication at scale. From birthday and anniversary reminders that prompt you to record a quick, personalized video, to one-click follow-up calls and policy renewal reminders, the system keeps you consistently present in your clients’ lives without feeling like yet another generic, system-generated message. You’ll also hear how Jan has extended this technology beyond business into family life. He demonstrates a simple visual “family wall” interface built for grandparents, where each grandchild is represented by a photo. With a single click, Grandma or Grandpa can start a video call, send a message, or trigger reminders like “take your medication” or “call Mom,” all powered by the same AI-assisted reminder engine. It’s a compelling example of how voice, automation, and smart prompts can make life easier, not more complicated.

If you’ve ever felt guilty about weak follow-up, missed appointments, or losing client details in notes and memory, this episode will open your eyes to what’s now possible. You’ll learn how voice-first AI, personalized automation, and smart reminders can help you show up more consistently, deepen relationships, and grow your business, without adding more tech headaches to your day. Stay tuned to discover how Client Pulse can turn everyday conversations into organized, meaningful, high-touch client experiences.

Quotes:

"The whole idea is to use the concept of AI and the power of a contact management system, melding them so that the contact is very personalized and very much one-on-one."

"That's what this is all about, using AI to find a better way for people to care for and about each other."

"All of these features are designed not to replace but to augment communication, not to have any negative effect on anything artificial, just the opposite, personalizing everything."

Contact Details:

• The Faster You Automate, The Faster You Grow: Try ClientPulse Today
• Connect with Jan on LinkedIn for More AI strategies, Business Growth Tips, and Real-World Insights

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 27:37 — 22.1MB) | Embed

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1616: Franchise Business in a Box Success Strategies with Dave Roemer

Too many business owners discover the hard way that a solid idea isn’t enough, without strong leadership, real accountability, and reliable people systems, even promising businesses stall out. Drawing on decades in franchising and his work with Complete Pest Solutions, today’s guest Dave Roemer shows how clear systems, humble leadership, and a growth-focused culture can turn a local service business into a scalable, high-value asset. In this episode, Dave explains the critical difference between leading people and managing things, and why so many owners get stuck doing instead of delegating. He talks about the mental shift required to “let the racehorses run,” empower your team, and stop clinging to control just to feel useful. Using real-world analogies, from parenting to sports, Dave shows how intentional leadership development, asking better questions, and holding people accountable can transform a franchise from a stressful job into a scalable, team-driven business.

Franchising, as Dave describes it, is essentially a “business in a box”: proven systems, branding, and support that let you go into business for yourself, but not by yourself. However, he debunks the myth that buying a franchise guarantees success. You still have to execute, stay humble, follow the system, and continuously improve. Dave shares how to spot whether a struggling location is facing a system problem, a market problem, or a leadership problem, and why great franchisors are constantly revisiting and upgrading their systems to keep franchisees competitive. Dave also reveals his deeper “why”: helping people get a little bit better today than they were yesterday. He talks about using business as a vehicle for building a legacy, funding causes, and serving your community, not just making a paycheck. You’ll also hear his favorite guiding quote: “The experience of the customer will never exceed the experience of the team” and what that means for how you treat frontline employees, design your culture, and drive customer happiness at scale.

If you’re considering buying a franchise, already own one, or want to turn your current business into something that runs on systems instead of your constant presence, this episode is packed with practical mindset shifts and leadership insights. You’ll also hear about Dave’s book, “So You Bought a Franchise, Now What”, which offers practical tools and advice for new and existing franchise owners who want to build strong teams, happier customers, and businesses with real, lasting value.

Quotes:

“Ego has no place in business and no place in leadership. If you think you’re the smartest person in the room, you’re in the wrong room.”

“Nothing in life is automatic. If you believe success is automatic, we need to have a conversation.”

“An entrepreneur does not build a business, an entrepreneur builds a team, and the team builds the business.”

Contact Details:

• Visit Complete Pest Solutions to Schedule Your Free Quote and Get a Customized Pest Control Plan
• So, You Bought a Franchise. Now What? on Amazon
• Ready to Grow Your Franchise? Schedule Your Free Strategy Call Today with Dave Roemer
• Ready to Find the Right Franchise? Connect with David Roemer on LinkedIn

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 23:48 — 19.1MB) | Embed

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