Interview
1365: Building Meaningful Networks in the Digital Age with Master Connector Steve Spiro
There’s a strange tension in how connected everything seems on the surface, yet how distant people often feel. It’s hard to have real conversations when most interactions are filtered through screens, likes, and quick replies. For introverts or anyone craving more depth, the constant buzz can be overwhelming, not to mention draining. And in work settings, that gap between technical communication and personal connection can grow even wider. Finding a way to be heard without shouting is becoming more important than ever.
Steve Spiro is an author, speaker, and host of the Master Connector Show, where he champions real human connection in a digital world. Once a shy introvert, he learned to build strong relationships by challenging himself to meet strangers daily. Today, he talks about being intentional in networking, leading with service, and using platforms like LinkedIn to build trust. He stresses the value of listening, vulnerability, and consistent follow-up. His message: meaningful relationships are built by putting others first. Stay tuned!
Resources:
- STEVE SPIRO | MASTER CONNECTOR | INSPIRATIONAL KEYNOTE SPEAKER
- Steve Spiro
- Follow Steve Spiro on Facebook
- Connect with Steve Spiro on LinkedIn
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 25:00 — 35.2MB) | Embed
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1364: Featured: PR Hacks for Small Business Owners with Business Expert Brett Farmiloe
It’s frustrating watching others dominate the spotlight while your work stays in the shadows. You know your message matters, but breaking through the noise feels impossible. Traditional PR feels out of reach—expensive, complicated, and designed for big names with deep pockets. But there are ways stories get picked up because they’re real, clear, and timely—not because someone paid for them. The media isn’t just looking for polished brands; it’s looking for something worth hearing.
Brett Farmiloe is the founder and CEO of Featured and the new owner of HARO, both platforms that connect experts with media outlets. Known for his cross-country RV tour interviewing hundreds of professionals, he’s focused his career on helping people share their stories. Today, he shares how experts can land media features by being concise, credible, and consistent. Brett emphasizes the value of real experience over fluff and encourages professionals to pitch with clarity and confidence. Stay tuned!
Resources:
- The visibility platform for every subject matter expert. | Featured
- Brett Farmiloe
- Follow Brett Farmiloe on Facebook
- Connect with Brett Farmiloe on LinkedIn
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 22:05 — 31.2MB) | Embed
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1363: Emotional Intelligence Secrets for Better Leadership with Author and Leadership Management Coach Susan Schwartz
When teams don’t trust each other, even simple tasks become frustrating. People talk past one another, small issues spiral, and progress slows to a crawl. In those moments, it’s not usually a lack of talent—it’s a breakdown in how people work together. Leadership sets the tone, whether they mean to or not. A shift in how leaders show up can change everything, sometimes faster than anyone expects.
Susan Schwartz, founder of River Birch Group, helps leaders boost emotional intelligence and improve workplace communication. She’s written two books, including Creating an Even Greater Whole, a guide for managers who want to lead with more awareness and empathy. With years of coaching experience, she offers real-world strategies through her podcast and site. Today, she shares how better emotional awareness can strengthen teams and shift leadership from control to collaboration. Stay tuned!
Resources:
- The River Birch Group | Transforming expert professionals into emotionally intelligent leaders
- Connect with Susan Schwartz on LinkedIn
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 27:47 — 39.0MB) | Embed
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1362: The New Flat Rate: Boost Your Service Business and Double Your Service Ticket Sales Overnight with Home Services Expert Danielle Putnam
A lot of contractors are great at their trade but end up stuck when it comes to pricing their work in a way that reflects its real value. The old way of quoting jobs—flat fees or guessing what the customer will accept—just doesn’t cut it anymore. Too often, it means walking away from jobs with less money than you should’ve earned, even when you did everything right. A smarter pricing system doesn’t just help with the numbers—it changes how customers see the value of what you’re offering. And when that clicks, the whole business starts to feel less like a hustle and more like it’s finally working for you.
Danielle Putnam is the president of The New Flat Rate, a company revolutionizing pricing for home service contractors through menu-based systems. Coming from a multigenerational background in HVAC and plumbing, Danielle knows the industry inside and out. Today, she emphasizes how offering tiered pricing options empowers technicians to close higher-value jobs, improve customer satisfaction, and boost earnings—without feeling like salespeople. She also addresses common pushbacks to adopting new pricing models and how a strategic pricing reset can drive long-term business growth and technician confidence. Stay tuned!
Resources:
- The New Flat Rate’s AC & Heat Pump Maintenance Checklist!
- [Done-For-You] Flat Rate Pricing for Contractors
- Follow The New Flat Rate on Facebook
- Connect with Danielle Putnam on LinkedIn
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 26:44 — 37.6MB) | Embed
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1361: Build a Killer Sales Team Without the Headache with Sales and Persuasion Strategist Zac Palmer
It’s hard to grow a business when your team isn’t clicking and your sales keep falling short. You can feel the tension—meetings that drag, missed targets, and a sense that everyone’s just going through the motions. Even with great products or services, a fractured team can quietly drag everything down. When morale is low, it shows up in every pitch, every customer call, and every lost opportunity. It’s not always about tactics—sometimes, it’s about the people behind them.
Zac Palmer is a top-tier sales strategist who’s helped drive over $150 million in revenue. He began in the wellness industry at 19, later shifting to sales leadership and business consulting. Today, he breaks down why curiosity—not pressure—is the real engine behind effective selling. He emphasizes how founders often bottleneck growth and shared tips for fixing toxic sales cultures. His message: scale smart by building the right team and asking sharper questions. Stay tuned!
Resources:
- Are you not getting the results you want from your sales team? Transform Your Sales Team’s Performance
- Follow Zac Palmer on Facebook
- Connect with Zac Palmer on LinkedIn
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 25:00 — 35.2MB) | Embed
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1360: Inflection Growth: Startup Marketing Secrets and Data-Driven Growth with Growth Marketing Expert Jacob Levin
It’s frustrating to pour time and money into marketing that goes nowhere. You see others gaining traction, getting attention, and pulling ahead, while your efforts seem to fall flat. Often, it’s not about working harder—it’s about missing the mark on who you’re actually speaking to and what they care about. Without that clarity, even the flashiest campaigns won’t land. When the message finally hits the right people in the right way, everything changes.
Jake Levin is a startup marketing strategist and the CEO and founder of Inflection Growth, a consultancy that helps companies break through growth ceilings. With experience from brands like gopuff, he focuses on scaling businesses by aligning data-driven strategy with brand clarity. Today, Jake shares why many companies stall—misreading their audience or chasing the wrong metrics. He emphasizes using real customer data to refine messaging, target smarter, and unlock revenue. His approach is direct: know your audience or get left behind. Stay tuned!
Resources:
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 24:58 — 35.2MB) | Embed
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1359: Backstory Branding: Create a Memorable Brand People Love with Brand Strategist Jed Morley
It’s frustrating to pour so much effort into a business only to feel invisible in the market. When the message doesn’t click, no amount of hustle seems to move the needle. People scroll past, tune out, and the heart of what you offer never really lands. The brands that stand out are the ones that find a way to make people feel something real—something that sticks.
Jed Morley is the founder of Backstory Branding and author of Building a Brand that Scales. He helps companies like Lucidchart and BambooHR craft messaging that actually lands with customers. Today, he breaks down how message-market fit drives growth and why vague branding kills momentum. Jed emphasizes blending hard data with sharp storytelling to close the gap between what brands say and what audiences hear. His approach is simple: test, tweak, repeat until the message sticks. Stay tuned!
Resources:
- Get your story straight! | Backstory Branding
- Follow Jed Morley on Facebook
- Connect with Jed Morley on LinkedIn
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 24:40 — 34.8MB) | Embed
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1358: Better Call Daddy: Dad Stories and Media Magic with Mompreneur and Podcast Host Reena Friedman Watts
There’s a point where creating starts to feel like shouting into the void. You know you’ve got something meaningful to say, but the constant noise—online, in your head, from everyone else—makes it hard to hear your own voice. That frustration builds, especially when it feels like empty content gets more attention than thoughtful work. But deep down, the pull to create something real doesn’t go away—it just waits for the right crack to break through.
Reena Friedman Watts is a media pro and podcast host with deep roots in TV, including work on Jerry Springer and Court TV. She now runs “Better Call Daddy,” blending real-life stories with lessons from her father. Rena helps new podcasters find their voice and craft shows that resonate. Today, she shares practical tips on content creation, building confidence behind the mic, and using personal stories to create deeper audience connections. Her focus is on staying real, consistent, and curious. Stay tuned!
Resources:
- Uncensored podcasts. For the love of stories. Better Call Daddy Podcast
- Follow Reena Friedman Watts on Instagram
- Follow Reena Friedman Watts on Facebook
- Connect with Reena Friedman Watts on LinkedIn
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 35:44 — 49.9MB) | Embed
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1357: Satlantis: Startup Survival and Winning Strategies for Modern Entrepreneurs with Archeofuturist Aleksandar Svetski
Most travel apps feel like they were built for someone else—or maybe no one at all. They miss the mark on what actually makes a trip special: personal connection, spontaneity, and shared experiences. It’s not just about booking flights or finding tourist traps anymore—it’s about discovering places that mean something to you. The idea of tech that actually gets that, and builds your trip around it, feels long overdue.
Aleksandar Svetski is an Australian entrepreneur and writer known for bold ideas and early ventures in Bitcoin and fintech. He’s the founder of Satlantis, a new platform merging travel and social networking to help users connect more meaningfully in new cities. Aleksandar has contributed to outlets like Bitcoin Magazine and Zero Hedge, often writing about society, freedom, and tech. Today, he shares the tough realities of launching a complex startup and how clarity, conviction, and simplicity guide his decisions. His goal: reshape how people explore and interact with the world. Stay tuned!
Resources:
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 32:57 — 46.1MB) | Embed
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1356: Averi AI: Grow Your Business Faster Using AI Marketing Magic with AI Expert Zack Holland
It’s frustrating when you’ve got a solid idea but can’t seem to cut through the chaos to make it work. So many tools, platforms, and tactics promise results, but they end up pulling you in a hundred directions. It starts to feel like you’re spending more time managing marketing than building your actual business. That kind of noise can kill momentum before anything real even gets off the ground.
Zack Holland is a Brooklyn-based entrepreneur and four-time startup founder who sold his first company as a teenager to pay for college. Known for blending tech and strategy, he’s built and exited multiple ventures in the marketing space. Now, he runs Avery.ai, a platform that pairs AI with expert marketers to help businesses simplify and scale their content efforts. Zack also shares how meditation and stoicism keep him grounded through the chaos of startup life. His focus is on building smarter tools that reduce overwhelm and improve results. Stay tuned!
Resources:
- AI designed to help you grow
- Brooklyn-based startup founder, author, and GTM consultant | Zack Holland
- Follow Zack Holland on Facebook
- Connect with Zack Holland on LinkedIn
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 26:05 — 36.7MB) | Embed
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