Business Insanity Talk Radio

If you have listened to me for any period of time, you know I like to laugh- because if you don’t laugh in this world- you will only end up crying. In my mind, laughter is really the best medicine for almost anything. But can laughter help you be a better leader?My guest is Adam Christing is an American comedian, author, and motivational speaker from La Mirada, California. He is the founder and president of Clean Comedians, an organization composed of comedians, speakers, and entertainers who refrain from using objectionable material and profanity during their performances. He was voted as the best emcee by Best if LA and speaks at more than 100 events a year.His new book is called "The Laughter Factor: The 5 Humor Tactics to Link, Lift and Lead.“Humor is the shortcut to trust", says Christing. “Laughter skips the formalities and says, ‘I see you. I get you. I like you.’ It’s not just a nice-to-have—it’s the missing link for leaders, teams, and relationships of all kinds.”Become a supporter of this podcast: h

When I ask small business owners what was one of the keys to their success they always say- not money, not connects but having the right mentor- this is why my guest today is particularly important.Brad Feld has been an early-stage investor and entrepreneur since 1987. He co-founded two venture capital firms, Foundry Group and Mobius Venture Capital, and multiple companies, including Techstars. Brad has written multiple books on entrepreneurship and venture capital, and started blogging in 2004 before VC Twitter existed. He is also an art collector and long-distance runner.His new book is called "Give First: The Power of Mentorship".Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-small-business-radio-show--3306444/support.

One of the things I am most proud of is the way in business I have had to reinvent my self over the past 45 years of my career. I think this is a skill that serves entrepreneurs well.Carmen Van Kerckhove is an author and keynote speaker whose work explores how technology, social class, and cultural change are reshaping the way we live and work. Her upcoming book, "The Slingshot Effect", makes the case that pulling back—professionally, financially, creatively—isn’t failure, but often the smartest way to move forward. Carmen’s career is built on bold reinvention and small business roots.After starting at Goldman Sachs, she took a surprising step back—becoming an office manager—to create space for her first major pivot into writing. Her blog on race and pop culture, Racialicious, gained national attention and made her a sought-after speaker. From there, she co-founded a karate school in Brooklyn, then launched a family travel brand that grew into a multiple six-figure content business with over a million followe

Segment 1 with former Phoenix Mayor Paul Johnson starts at 0:00.Let me be honest; as a result of the current presidents on again off again policies and head turning daily flip flops, I am not quite sure what the future of the economy is in the US. Where are we headed as a democratic and capitalist society? My guest is Paul Johnson is a civic entrepreneur, investor, and former Mayor of Phoenix whose career spans public service, private enterprise, and global policy engagement. He is President of Redirect Health, and he has led multiple successful acquisitions and investment ventures, particularly in the healthcare and real estate sectors.  His book, "What’s Right with America"—explores the fusion of free markets, free trade, property rights, and the American civil rights tradition.    Segment 2 with Tom Hogan starts at 22:40.I remember in one of my favorite movie, "Starship Troopers", before going to war, the sargeant says to his new recruits before going to war- “You want to live forever”. My answer was yes,

Segment 1 with Johnathan Walton starts at 0:00.Con artists are everywhere—your new boyfriend or girlfriend, your new neighbor or coworker, your new friend—and they don’t outsmart you; they out-feel you to get their hands on your money. Johnathan Walton is an Emmy-winning former TV reporter and current reality TV producer who has written and produced shows like Shark Tank. He is also the host, writer, and executive producer of the hit podcast Queen of the Con. After he was scammed out of $100K, he wrote" Anatomy of a Con Artist: The 14 Red Flags to Spot Scammers, Grifters, and Thieves".Segment 2 with Jamie Van Cuyk starts at 23:49.Lets face it, Most small biz owners just suck at hiring. Typically we pick people that give good interview and we are in such a rush that we are quick to hire and slow to fire, this a big problem since turn over is so costly to every small business owner.Jamie Van Cuyk is the owner and lead consultant of Growing Your Team®. She is expert in hiring and onboarding teams within small bu

The average American spends the equivalent of 60 days a year on their phone.A few years ago, author Richard Simon made a transformative decision—he turned off his smartphone for a year, and in no time enriched virtually every facet of his life, from his relationships with his family and friends to how he slept, ate, and exercised. Now he shares every detail of a detox we could all benefit from in his new book- "UnPlug: How to Break Up with Your Phone and Reclaim Your Life".Our conversation included:Why Hacks Don’t Work: Putting a rubber band around your phone, deleting social media apps, or going grey scale is not going to cut it.Break-Up Styles to Explore: Simplify Your Phone Off-by-Default Getting Rid of It Altogether Quitting with Someone Else Managing Withdrawal (because it won’t be painless at first)The logistics: i.e., learning to live without GPSWhat to do with all of that newfound time?Tales of deepened relationships, improved focus, creativity, and peace of mindReintegration after a screen cleanse: p

With so many technology hacks around, we don’t pause to focus on the soft skills aka the "simple stuff" (or maybe not so simple) so we are prepared for the challenge of running a business.My guest is Amber Mac who is President of AmberMac Media, Inc., an award-winning content development agency, an award-winning podcaster and a bestselling author. She is also the host of The AmberMac Show podcast on SiriusXM with co-host Jeff MacArthur. Amber has keynoted more than 700 events around the world and has moderated sessions.As a parent, she working hard every day to teach the simple stuff to her son so that he’s prepared for the world of work and the challenge of running a business.Here is her list of "the simple stuff":Show up on time. Actually, show up early.Respond to people promptly.Be polite and communicate clearly.Take the time to learn how to spell and pronounce people’s names correctly.Send thank-you emails or texts when you finish a job.Pay people promptly.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.s

Segment 1 with Dave Whorton starts at 0:00. The “Get Big Fast” startup era is crumbling. Sky-high valuations, zero profits, and a fixation on rapid scaling have left businesses fragile and the economy unstable. It’s time for entrepreneurs to skip the funding rounds and rethink how they approach growth.In his new book "Another Way - Building Companies That Last…and Last…and Last",  former Kleiner Perkins Venture Capitalist Dave Whorton lays out a path forward. After seeing firsthand the risks of speculative growth, he rejected the Silicon Valley unicorn obsession he helped fuel, and now helps entrepreneurs thrive better in our volatile times.Segment 2 with Marcelo Barros starts at 20:28.Phishing attacks are forever changing and getting more creative. What do we need to know as small business owners and how should be educate our team?Marcelo Barros is the Global Director of Hacker Rangers. He is an IT professional with over 30 years of experience and a strong interest in cybersecurity. As the Global Markets Lea

Segment 1 with Richard Hagberg starts at 0:00.Most start ups fail within 5 years. Many more are the walking dead- why do most founders build their company’s to fail and what can they change about it.Rich Hagberg, Ph.D., often referred to as “Silicon Valley’s CEO Whisperer,” is a trained psychologist who has spent the last 40 years of his career as an executive management coach for over 6,000 executives. Since 2009 he has worked with companies like Tinder, Twitter, Dropbox, MixPanel, Zendesk, Quora, Asana, Pinterest, Salesforce, Munchery, Reddit, Gusto, Cruise, Tinder, Optimizely, Instacart, Patreon, Nerdwallet, and Super Evil Megacorp (it’s a gaming company).His new book is called "Founders, Keepers: Why Founders Are Built to Fail, and What it Takes to Succeed".Segment 2 with Lee Glickstein starts at 22:50.There is the old adage that we fear speaking in front of people more than death- the joke goes that we would rather be dead that speak in front of an audience.Lee Glickstein is a trailblazer in the field of

I have been thinking a lot about my Dad lately and what he taught me in business and life. This is because I just had a new grandson about a month ago and he was named for my dad! This week, I talk with Robert J. Finlay who is a Wall Street Journal bestselling author, seasoned entrepreneur, renowned speaker, and father of four. He is a successful entrepreneur and commercial real estate investor.  He has built and sold four companies. He brings strategic insights and inspires the next generation of leaders with his commitment to mentorship, education, and the integration of technology. Rob has a new book called "Hey Dad…Everything You Should’ve Learned About Life (But Didn’t)".We talked about:Should You Really Start a Business?Is It Smarter to Learn on Someone Else’s Dime First?Do You Have a Great Idea—or a Great Execution Plan?Who’s Your Mentor?Getting your first job (and keeping it)!Budgeting like a pro—even if you hate spreadsheets.Finding your first place without getting ripped off.Navigating credit, cars,

We all love great comeback stories. This is one but not like you think …but not in the way you think.Matt Antonelli was the 17th pick in the first round of the 2006 MLB draft by the San Diego . By the  2008 season, he was a top-50 prospect in baseball. But he only played 21 games in the MLB and by 2013 his professional baseball career was over. Matt says “ I’ve been called a bust so many times, I stopped caring a long time ago.” He is now a coach and business owner.His hardest moment was the year he made my big league debut. He was a top prospect in the Padres’ organization going into the 2008 season. Matt began the season in Triple A and, for the first time in his life, he was horrible. He forgot how to hit and had no idea how to fix it.We discussed:His first big league hit against Greg Maddux.What the hard moments teach you and what the easy ones never could.Your identity must be bigger than your achievements. Why so many business owners think they are their business.Sometimes the greatest growth comes afte

Segment 1 starts at 0:00 with Julia Austin.When I was an angel investor, people always used to say to me that "I have a great idea for a business, what do you think?" I would reply- "I have no idea" Successful businesses are not about ideas- they are about the execution of that idea. Julia Austin  is a seasoned operator who has served in leadership roles at several technology startups. She is on the faculty at Harvard Business School and is faculty cochair of the Arthur Rock Center for Entrepreneurship. As a certified executive coach, Austin works exclusively with startup founders. She is an angel investor, serves on startup boards, and advises many founders through her work with several accelerators. Her new book is "After the IDEA: What It Really Takes to Create and Scale a Startup".Segment 2 starts at 18:19 with Chris Berdik.I have always been very sensitive to loud noise in my work and personal environment- what effect does noise have on a person’s ability to be productive or just relax? Chris Berdik is a

Segment 1 with Jerry Jamison starts at 0:00.In business, I have always been a sucker for a good grifter story- how people do it, why they do it and why people believe them in a game that relies on winning someone's confidence.Over a span of 39 years, 23 aliases, 28 arrests in 20 cities, and nearly a dozen imprisonments, Robert Spears had lived a con artists' life of unparalleled adventure and intrigue.. Shortly before Thanksgiving Day in 1959, a plane exploded in mid-air, killing all 42 passengers and crew and leaving scattered debris and bodies across the otherwise tranquil Gulf waters. Listed on the manifest was Dr. Robert Spears—once the highly regarded president of the Texas Naturopathic Association. Father of two small children with a lovely, society-minded wife and an elegant home in an exclusive neighborhood, it was a monumental tragedy for them as it was for all the souls lost that day.Less than two months later, Robert Spears miraculously “rose from the dead” in Phoenix where he was promptly arrested

Segment 1 with Chuck Wisner starts at 0.00.Have we lost the art of conversation in work and life- seems like we communicate more often through text and emails and other asynchronous methods. What are we losing and how can we become more effective?Chuck Wisner is the author of "The Art of Conscious Conversations, Transforming How We Talk, Listen, and Interact"". He is a coach and speaker focusing on the lost art of conversations. His theories of the why, how, and what of conversations deeply dive into their DNA and introduce new tools and practices that transform how we can think about and be in them more successfully. He has spent thirty years as a trusted advisor to leaders, their teams, and their families in highprofile companies, including Google, Rivian, Apple, Tesla, Harvard Business School, Ford, and Chrysler.Segment 2 with Debra Andrews starts at 19:06.How can your company use AI in your marketing to attract more customers?Debra Andrews is the President and Founder of Marketri, a strategic marketing co

What role should the government play in small business owners economic life? It seems that with the Trump tariffs are at tax that the government is putting on all our lives, but should it just stay out of it?My next guests argue that that the evidence points to that  government interference and failed policies pose the most significant threat to economic freedom.Senator Phil Gramm served six years in the U.S. House of Representatives and eighteen years in the U.S. Senate where he was Chairman of the Banking Committee. Senator Gramm is a Visiting Scholar at the American Enterprise Institute.I also talk with Donald J. Boudreaux who is an American economist, author, professor, and co-director of the Program on the American  Economy and Globalization at the Mercatus Center at George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia.They have a new book called “The Triumph of Economic Freedom: Debunking the Seven Great Myths of American Capitalism”.Here is what we discussed:The genesis myth: the industrial revolution impoveri

Segment 1 with Chris Shank starts at 0:00.What are the key issues facing small businesses this year?Chris Shank is the Vice President of Retail-to-Business (R2B) Sales for Verizon Business, overseeing operations across 28 states with a team of over 450 employees that generates $1,042M in annual revenue.  He is responsible for driving sales and financial performance, enhancing the customer experience, fostering a strong organizational culture, and leading strategic planning efforts.We talk about AI adoption, cybersecurity, and SaaS application consolidation.Segment 2 with Rich Carr starts at 16:14.How can we reduce training time while improving retention in small businesses?Rich Carr is a pioneering expert in cognitive learning neuroscience and founder of Brain-centric Design (BcD). With decades of experience spanning media, marketing, and education, Rich has revolutionized how information is presented and retained by developing methodologies aligned with how the brain naturally processes information.Become a

Segment 1 with Dominick Miserandino starts at 0:00.While the current President implements his "on again off again" tariffs, small businesses will still have to deal with the highest tariffs on imported goods in the last 80 years. My first guest this week is Dominick Miserandino, CEO of Retail Tech Media Nexus who breaks down what the tariffs are, how they will affect consumers and what actions small businesses need to take.Segment 2 with Neil Rogers starts at 20:50.Can being a bartender really teach you to be better at sales and marketing?Neil Rogers is an author, speaker, and business leader with over 37 years of experience inmarketing & sales, generating revenue and guiding clients through highly effective and result-oriented marketing campaigns.  He built his career & business leveraging both old-school andnew- school marketing & sales techniques. Neil shares the skills and tools learned during hisearly working years as a bartender that led to his success as an entrepreneur and industryleader i

Segment 1 with Michael E. Gerber starts at 0.00Inc. Magazine calls him “the World’s #1 Small Business Guru” — the entrepreneurial and small business thought leader who has impacted the lives of millions of small business owners and hundreds of thousands of companies worldwide for over 40 years.Michael E. Gerber is a celebrated entrepreneur, author, and business coach renowned for his groundbreaking book, "The E Myth: Why Most Businesses Don't Work and What to Do About It." With a career spanning several decades, he has transformed the way small businesses operate by emphasizing the importance of effective systems and strategic planning. Gerber’s philosophy encourages entrepreneurs to work on their business rather than merely in it, fostering sustainable growth and innovation.  Segment 2 with Allen Batteau starts at 18:49.Why are we tie our self worth and identity to tech devices? Why do advances in tech many times disappoint us? Allen Batteau is a cultural anthropologist, professor at Wayne State University's

Segment 1 with Dr. Abbie Maroño starts at 0.00.A lot of small business owners feel shame when their company fails because they link who they are so much with their business. This is compounded when they lose money from people they know. What do we do with this shame?Dr. Abbie Maroño has a new book called "Work in Progress: The Road to Empowerment, The Journey Through Shame" which offers a fresh perspective on the often-overlooked role of shame in personal growth.  Segment 2 with Charles Heckler starts at 15:50.It seems that the current President wants to change the US policy and open up trade again with Russia. One of his goals is to encourage American businesses to begin again in Russia. Would they be interested or are they ready?Charles Hecker has spent forty years working in the Soviet Union and Russia. He has worked as a journalist at The Miami Herald and The Moscow Times, and as a geopolitical risk consultant at Control Risks, where he was a partner in the firm. He is also the author of "Zero Sum": The A

Segment 1 with Karin Hurt starts at 0:00.To say there is increased conflict inside of small business and workplaces is an understatement; it takes now more than ever a courageous leader to deal with this.Karin Hurt is the CEO and Founder of Let’s Grow Leaders, a global leadership company known for practical tools and leadership development that sticks. She’s the author of five books including, "Powerful Phrases for Dealing with Workplace Conflict and Courageous Cultures". She’s known best for building courageous cultures and high-performing teams.Segment 2 with Dr. Michael Aziz starts at 24:03.What about making America Health Again? How will Robert Kennedy as the head of the health secretary change this?Dr. Michael Aziz is a renowned internist anti-aging, regenerative physician specialist practicing at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City Dr. Aziz regularly provides medical commentary on many health networks, including NPR, Fox and Friends, ABC, WGN Chicago, NBC, and Telemundo. Dr. Aziz is the author of the n