The Small Business Radio Show

What make men tick? Many people  would tell you it's not that complicated and that is exactly what my guest believes.

Tom Sturges is a veteran music executive, author, mentor, educator, inventor, and public speaker. Over his more than thirty-five years in the music industry, he served as president of Chrysalis Music, EVP and Head of Creative for Universal Music Publishing Group, and VP/GM of Shaquille O’Neal’s TWIsM Records. Tom’s signings include Smashing Pumpkins, Foo Fighters, Outkast, Jack Johnson, 3 Doors Down, and Katrina & The Waves. Selling a combined 275 million albums and 46 million singles, in additio...

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...

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...

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 reinvent...

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 a...

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 t...

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...

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 ha...

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 en...

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 Supe...

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, ed...

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 m...

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, Au...

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...

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...

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 V...

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 c...

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 m...

Segment 1 with Michael E. Gerber starts at 0.00

Inc. Magazine calls him “the World’s #1 Small Business Guru” — the entrepreneurial and small business thought leader who has impacted the lives of millions of small business owners and hundreds of thousands of companies worldwide for over 40 years.

Michael E. Gerber is a celebrated entrepreneur, author, and business coach renowned for his groundbreaking book, "The E Myth: Why Most Businesses Don't Work and What to Do About It." With a career spanning several decades, he has transformed the way small businesses operate by emphasizing the importan...

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.

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. Michae...