Business Insanity Talk Radio

SEGMENT 1 with Ingrid Vanderveldt: We have a real problem in the U.S. around supplier diversity and the significant discrepancy between allocated spend on women-owned businesses. What can these businesses do to secure more contracts to close the gap? SEGMENT 2 with Steve Shwartz: Since artificial intelligence has become the latest tech buzzword, do we have reason to worry that the depictions of evil robots and killer computers we see in the movies will soon be a reality? SEGMENT 3 with Katelyn Hamilton: Where a lot of small business owners fall down is setting up processes and automating the backend of their business and they don’t realize how much this is costing them. Where is the best place to start?Sponsored by efile4Biz

SEGMENT 1 with Rita Clifton: Many of us have experienced what is called “imposter syndrome” - where we doubt our talents and are afraid of being exposed as a “fraud”. This can particularly affect small business owners, and it’s often limiting, but we’ll show you how it can actually be used to your advantage. SEGMENT 2 with Devin Marks: TED talks are known for their insightful storytelling – what if you could bring that skill to your next Zoom meeting? SEGMENT 3 with Martin Holland: Many small business owners work really hard but still don’t have any money. What is the solution to this profit problem?Sponsored by efile4Biz

SEGMENT 1 with Sarah Y. Tse: Many small business owners have to learn the hard way. It’s only through adversity and failure that we find out what we need to know. Many small business setbacks happened to Sarah Tse as an entrepreneur- personal trials, business losses, legal challenges, and more- and she’s here to share her experience.SEGMENT 2 with Jaime Lizotte: It’s that time of year that every small business owner dreads: tax time. Unfortunately, there are also some new tax forms this year. What are they and when do we need to file them by?SEGMENT 3 with Lil Roberts: What can small business owners do to control their finances during the pandemic when so many things seem to be beyond their control? Sponsored by efile4Biz

SEGMENT 1, starting at 0:00: Podcasts are all the rage, but sometimes it’s hard to pick what to listen to. There is now a tool that helps you choose by telling you the podcasts that your friends and other influencers are listening to. How can small business owners use this new social podcast app to grow their business and networks?SEGMENT 2, starting at 20:15: There will be a lot of shopping online this holiday season. Along with this comes all sorts of pitfalls and opportunities for small businesses and consumers – what are they?SEGMENT 3, starting at 40:00: There was a news article recently about Donald Trump deducting his haircuts on his taxes… As we prepare for tax time, are expenses like this really deductible for small business owners? Sponsored by The Hanover Insurance Group and efile4Biz

SEGMENT 1 with Po Bronson: The biggest question I get these days during the pandemic is where the heck the world heading. How do you live meaningfully in a world with so much uncertainty? SEGMENT 2 with Shani Godwin: The best currency in the COVID economy is joy. How exactly do we bring joy into our lives during this difficult time?SEGMENT 3 with Ray Ellin: I have always says that if we can’t laugh at things in small business, we are doomed to cry. Laughing during our work day is so important, especially during this pandemic. How can we bring more laughter into our lives?Sponsored by The Hanover Insurance Group and efile4Biz

SEGMENT 1: Small Business Saturday is quickly approaching and it will probably look a bit different than last year. Here with advice on how to take advantage of the holiday season is Chip Hamann who is the Deputy President – Small Commercial, of The Hanover Insurance Group.SEGMENT 2: A perennial issue for small business owners is determining who can be categorized as an employee and who can qualify as an independent contractor. Here to help us classify each person correctly is Jaime Lizotte with efile4Biz.SEGMENT 3: One of the biggest issues that small businesses face is that they don’t fully understand their financial statements. In fact, many never look at them monthly. Unfortunately, they are missing key data to managing their company, especially during tight cash flow times. Here to help is Christopher Calandra, the founder and principal of Elliott Wealth Management Services. Sponsored by The Hanover Insurance Group and efile4Biz

SEGMENT 1 with Seth Godin: Creative work doesn't come with a guarantee. But there is a pattern to who succeeds and who doesn't. Seth Godin outlines how you can take the risks worth taking and make work that contributes with authenticity and joy. SEGMENT 2 with Joshua Curlett: One of the industry hit hardest by COVID is live events. How are businesses in that space surviving? Joshua shares his experience as the owner of a Pro Audio, Video and Lighting Sales and Distribution company.SEGMENT 3 with Kim Saxton: The current coronavirus pandemic can be compared to many famous world disasters. One that comes to mind is the sinking of the Titanic 108 years ago. At the time, the ship was considered unsinkable and I think if you would have asked many Americans earlier this year, they would have said that there was nothing that could come along that would sink the economy to depression levels in 4 weeks. What can we learn from this disaster? Sponsored by The Hanover Insurance Group and efile4Biz

SEGMENT 1 with Meredith Schmidt: How are small business owners doing six months into the pandemic? Meredith Schmidt is here from Salesforce to talk about the Small & Medium Business Trends Report.SEGMENT 2 with Joy Gendusa: Postcardmania successfully rebounded from big hits early on in the pandemic and had their best summer ever in 2020. Joy is here to share how they've pivoted during a pandemic and have been successful in the coronaeconomy.SEGMENT 3 with Devin Miller: Unfortunately a lot of entrepreneurs work very hard to build a successful business over many years but never sufficiently protect their intellectual property. How can we make sure we don’t make this mistake?Sponsored by The Hanover Insurance Group and efile4Biz

SEGMENT 1 with Maëlle Gavet: While there are a lot of amazing things that technology has brought to the world, there are also a lot of things that are questionable, especially in terms of how they’ve improve humanity. We discuss the good, the bad, and the ugly of big tech, and if there is a solution to be found.SEGMENT 2 with Mark and Katrina Parris: What’s it like to run a retail store and a community center for local artists in NYC during the pandemic? Mark and Katrina share their experience.SEGMENT 3 with Paul Jarman: Your ability to connect with your customers digitally during COVID will determine if your company survives this pandemic. How do we connect with our customers online effectively?Sponsored by The Hanover Insurance Group

SEGMENT 1 with Reeves Wiedeman: Not too long ago, we looked at WeWork as another unicorn success story like Google, Facebook and Instagram. But The New York Times called the company's failed effort to go public and related turmoil, "an implosion unlike any other in the history of start-ups.” How did this happen?SEGMENT 2 with Evian Gutman: For most of us, COVID-19 has been the biggest problem that has ever happened to our small business. But COVID-19 also presents a once in a lifetime opportunity. How can our businesses capitalize on this?SEGMENT 3 with Robin Wilson: The home remodeling and design segment is hot hot hot as people nest and work to improve their homes. What’s it like to work in this industry and what does it take to succeed?Sponsored by The Hanover Insurance Group

SEGMENT 1 with Erik Qualman: Most of us are finding it very difficult to focus while working from home where there are so many distractions. My next guest says he has the answer.SEGMENT 2 with Michael Bernoff: Let’s face it, most of the things we do every day are average: the way we operate our business, the decisions we make, and the people we hire. How do you break out of your average?SEGMENT 3 with Chip Hamann: The risks to small business have increased substantially with the COVID-19 Pandemic. How can small business owners best deal with these increased risks in addition to the traditional risks they faced prior to the pandemic? Sponsored by HR Direct

SEGMENT 1: It is no surprise that depression and anxiety are up to record levels during the pandemic. What can we do to deal with these feelings?SEGMENT 2: Customer loyalty is the lifeblood of the American small business. We rely on repeat customers for economic sustainability and future planning. So what do consumers prioritize when finding go-to professional service providers?SEGMENT 3: Even before the pandemic, small business employees and employers were dealing with the effects of an increasingly complex work-life reality. With COVID-19 driving a “living at work lifestyle”, work-life reality is as complex as ever. How can we best manage this lifestyle and the “always on” work culture?Sponsored by The Hanover Insurance Group

SEGMENT 1 with Bill Flynn: It’s always been true that most businesses fail. Now, even more will fail as a result of COVID-19. Can we take the guesswork out of which small businesses will succeed and which will fail?SEGMENT 2 with Jaime Lizotte: In case you haven’t noticed, this is a presidential election year. This country is as divided as it ever has been and it’s no surprise that this divisiveness is spreading into businesses and virtual offices. What rules should be in place around discussing politics at the office?SEGMENT 3 with Steve Vamos: In March of this year, the game changed for all small business owners. With the outbreak of the pandemic and the subsequent lockdowns across the US, we discuss the new tools and resources that small business owners need to be successful. Sponsored by HR Direct

SEGMENT 1 with Jeffrey Hayzlett: The world is always changing and you need to be able to adapt. If your small business is solely focused on surviving, it’s not enough. You need to be in the mindset of making your small business thrive. Jeffrey shares the five things you need to focus on to make your small business thrive.SEGMENT 2 with Chris Brooks: During the COVID-19 pandemic, a lot of small businesses are having a hard time finding customers to buy their products. But there is a flip side to this as well. What happens when you sell a product like ventilators and the demand for your product skyrockets? How do you handle those challenges to scale quickly and efficiently?SEGMENT 3 with Meritxell Garcia Roig: The word of the year seems to be empathy. With hundreds of thousands of people dying of COVID-10 and millions losing their jobs and homes, we all need to show more empathy. Sponsored by HR Direct

SEGMENT 1 with Professor Mauro Guillen: In the business world, we often look into our crystal ball to make strategic decisions. With black swan events like COVID-19, it becomes a bit hazier than usual, but Professor Mauro Guillen says COVID-19 is accelerating trends that were already in motion. Learn what will the world look like in 10 years and how will this affect small business.SEGMENT 2 with Stelios Valavanis: Cybersecurity has always been a big problem for small business owners. They are targeted by hackers more than any other segment because they are the most vulnerable. The risk has now multiplied with COVID-19 and so many people working from home. What steps do small businesses need to take to secure their business?SEGMENT 3 with Alex Carroll: What do you do when your business shuts down overnight as a result of COVID-19? You PIVOT! But how? Sponsored by HR Direct

SEGMENT 1: 2020 will probably go down as one of the worst years for small business owners in their memory. But like most things, disruptions bring opportunity and there always is a silver lining. Carissa Reiniger, founder of Small Business Silver Lining, is here to share the silver lining and the new definition of success for small business in this difficult time.SEGMENT 2: No sector has been hit harder by the pandemic than restaurants. Most were closed for a period of time, and now that states are reopening, many are forced to operate at reduced capacity. What are the keys to restaurants surviving under these new conditions? Here to help is Jason Westhoff, the President of Cousins Subs. SEGMENT 3: One of the great things that I have seen come out of the COVID-19 pandemic is small business owners pulling together and large corporations assisting them. My next guest is involved in one of those programs. Eleni Stefanopoulos is Head of Curation at Ulule.Sponsored by HR Direct

SEGMENT 1: We all deal with disappointment, especially now during this pandemic. But as a Major League Baseball player, how do you deal with a career ending injury and then propel yourself to one of the most powerful sports agents? Nez Balelo is here to share his experience with reinventing himself & leading on and off the field. SEGMENT 2: How do you organize your life to keep your sanity and productivity during a pandemic? Here to help is Sophie Chiche is the founder and curator of Lifebyme.com and becurrent, a simple, proven, step-by-step process that moves you from point a to point b, towards all the things that matter to you.SEGMENT 3: How do adults make new friends in the COVID-19 pandemic? My next guest thinks he has the solution. Michael Pleasants is the founder of Qiirky, a new social networking app to help people meet new friends.Sponsored by HR Direct

SEGMENT 1: It has traditionally been very difficult for minority entrepreneurs to find financing for their business. So where can they turn now during this pandemic when their businesses need it most? Here to help is Rohit Arora, the CEO of Biz2Credit.SEGMENT 2: One of the most important organizations that has always helped small business is SCORE. With their 300+ chapters and 10,000+ volunteers, they are there when entrepreneurs need help. Now during this pandemic, their assistance is needed more than ever. My next guest is Bridget Weston is the CEO of the SCORE Association.SEGMENT 3: The COVID-19 pandemic has limited our ability to go about our normal routines. For many of us, that means a lot of our days look very similar, and that can put us into a funk! How can you fight the funk? Here to help is Coach Micheal Burt who is considered “America’s Coach”.Sponsored by HR Direct

SEGMENT 1: Are you using the right tools to run your business? With the right systems and processes in place, you can run your business more profitably and manage cash flow uncertainty more successfully. Here to help us figure out what this looks like on the financial side of our business is Tony Ward is the President of Xero for the Americas.SEGMENT 2: One of the biggest mistakes that entrepreneurs make when they start out or when they want to pivot is that they go too broad. They want to be everything to everybody because they figure they’ll get more sales that way. My next guest shares that you actually have to focus on a narrow niche to be successful, and she illustrates that with her own product. Alice Vaughn is the (in)famous creator of Offensive Crayons, an adults-only box of crayons for the wildly artistic with a healthy sense of humor.SEGMENT 3: I think it’s fair to say that the black swan event known as the COVID-19 Pandemic has shifted many peoples’ career paths in the last five months. Here to hel

SEGMENT 1: It used to be that entrepreneurs would need to move out to Silicon Valley to start their companies, but that’s simply not the case anymore. Startup activity is humming in Atlanta, Detroit, Denver, Kansas City, Nashville, Indianapolis, and more. What does it take for a city to become a thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem? Here to help is Brad Feld, a prominent leader in the startup community and an expert on building entrepreneurial ecosystems.SEGMENT 2: Two events are coming together right now that are forcing every company to reassess their marketing: COVID19 and the Black Lives Matters movement. How is this going to change how companies approach talking to customers? Here to explain is Andre Filip, the CEO and Founder of E-L-A, a global creative advertising agency headquartered in Los Angeles.SEGMENT 3: What do addicts and leaders have in common? Michael Brody-Waite, award-winning entrepreneur and author of “Great Leaders Live Like Drug Addicts” is here to share the tools he learned in his 12-step