Business Episodes

Imagine hearing clearly without the stigma, discomfort, or massive price tag of traditional hearing aids. In this episode of Conversations with Rich Bennett, Rich talks with Michael Leung, founder of the Flow Group in Calgary, about Flow True Balance 2.0, an open-ear bone conduction hearing device built for real life conversations, TV, and everyday connection.Michael opens up about his journey from Hong Kong to Canada, losing his mom at 11, living through vision loss and major setbacks, and how those experiences shaped his mission. You’ll hear how Flow differs from typical hearing aids, why seniors are adopting it fast, how it may help reduce tinnitus for some users, and why it is designed to keep you aware of your surroundings.Rich also shares a big idea for Lions Clubs and other community organizations to help more people access better hearing options.Learn more: theinnerflo.ca

What if your next client didn’t just sign a contract, but became a lifelong fan? In this episode, Rich Bennett sits down with Mark Stern, CEO of Custom Box Agency, to break down how physical “box experiences” can transform the customer lifecycle, from acquisition to onboarding to retention. Mark shares how businesses can gamify progress, define success for their customers, and create memorable experiences people actually keep, revisit, and talk about. You’ll hear real examples for online courses, real estate, book launches, and even how physical kits can help guests stand out when pitching podcasts.Sponsor: Daniel McGhee and The Victory Team, victoryteamsells.comLearn more: customboxagency.com

When a kid pulling golf balls out of ponds grows up to build one of the most influential platforms in podcasting, you know there’s a story worth hearing.In this episode, I’m joined by Alex Sanfilippo, founder of PodMatch and host of Podcasting Made Simple. We talk about his journey from the aerospace world to faith-based blogging and podcasting, to launching PodMatch in 2020 and watching it explode just as the world went into lockdown. Alex shares how a simple idea – “like a dating app, but for podcast interviews” – became a global tool that helps hosts find the right guests and guests find the right stages.We also dig into why Alex gives half of PodMatch’s profit back to podcasters through the PodValue initiative, what most hosts get wrong about sharing links to their shows, and how he’s building features like a built-in Workflow and review swaps to help podcasters grow sustainably.If you host a podcast, dream of starting one, or just love a good entrepreneurship story ro…

In this solo episode, host Rich Bennett pulls back the curtain on podcast advertising and shares what most businesses and nonprofits never hear before they sponsor a show. He explains why podcasting is such a powerful medium, why downloads do not equal listeners, and what really matters when you are deciding where to invest your marketing dollars.Rich walks through the key questions every smart sponsor should ask a podcaster: How long has the show been active? Who is actually listening? What hosting platform do they use? Does that platform insert its own ads, including possible competitors, right into your paid spot? Is the show a true podcast with an RSS feed, or just a video series calling itself one?He also shares how his own journey from Harford County Living to a podcast heard in more than 125 countries shaped the way he treats sponsors as true partners, not just logo placements. From guest opportunities and category exclusivity to giving sponsors full access to episode f…

When a business valuer told Australian marketer Wes Towers that his web and SEO agency “wasn’t worth much” because AI was coming for it, he was already in the middle of a divorce and feeling like everything was falling apart. Instead of walking away, Wes decided to confront the disruption head-on and rebuild his business around what AI cannot replace: human trust, clarity, and connection.In this episode, Wes shares how he went from crying under his desk to having his best financial year ever, why “search everywhere optimization” matters for trades and construction brands, and how to use AI as a powerful amplifier instead of a generic content machine. We also dig into the biggest website mistake that quietly kills sales, why you still absolutely need a website even if you are active on social media, and how Wes is changing his own habits as a founder.If you are a business owner, marketer, or trades leader trying to figure out where you fit in an AI-driven world, this conversati…

Jason Clark’s career started in a high school graphic arts program, running printing presses and drawing metal band logos on chalkboards. Today, he is the Chief Marketing Officer at Via Studio, a creative agency that has spent more than 25 years helping mission-driven organizations, nonprofits, and public institutions bring their brands to life.In this conversation, Jason and I get real about what still works in branding and marketing in a world full of AI, algorithms, and endless digital noise. We talk about his early work creating interactive CD-ROM training for GE Appliances, the award-winning rebrand of Kentucky’s Bernheim Forest, and why we might have moved from the “information age” into the “identity age.”Jason shares how to build logos and campaigns that actually mean something, why community feedback is now non-negotiable, and how AI can be a powerful assistant without replacing human creativity. We also have some fun with bourbon, clear ice, and the Mr. Boston Barten…

Former bartender and opiate addict Eric Turney hit multiple rock bottoms, including jail and failed treatment attempts, before a surprise wake up call changed everything. When he and his partner learned they were expecting their first child, Eric decided he was done burning bridges. He got serious about 12 step recovery and took a chance on a new life as an entry level sales rep at a small promotional products company.Today, Eric is the President and Sales and Marketing Director of The Monterey Company, a custom branded merch company founded in 1989 that creates premium challenge coins, lapel pins, belt buckles, hats, apparel, and more for brands like Google, Amazon, Target, Bentley, Lions Clubs, military units, and local organizations. After the founder offered employees the chance to buy the business, Eric and his partners stepped up and took it over.In this conversation, Eric and I dig into his journey through addiction and recovery, how he rebuilt his life and career, and …

Mental health is still one of the hardest things for people to talk about, even while more of us are willing to use words like anxiety, depression, and trauma. In this episode, Rich is joined once again by licensed clinical social worker and executive leader Jennifer Redding, founder of Harford Counseling and co-founder of Pebbles Throw Consulting, to dig into what real trauma-informed care looks like in everyday life and at work. Jennifer breaks down why mental health has long been seen as a “character flaw,” how social media encourages self-diagnosis and labels, and why there is a big difference between a tough season and a clinical condition. She shares the origin story of Harford Counseling, explains how trauma and substance use are intertwined, and talks about the importance of treating people as whole human beings rather than separating “mental health,” “addiction,” and “life problems” into different boxes.The conversation then shifts into the workplace. Jennifer introdu…

In this episode of Conversations with Rich Bennett, Rich sits down with Dr. Christiane Schroeter — TEDx speaker, university professor, entrepreneur, bestselling author, and host of the Happy Healthy Hustle podcast. Christiane shares her Petite Practice method and breaks down how small, intentional steps can create massive personal and professional change.Rich and Christiane dive into confidence, clarity, mindset, and the realities of building a business without feeding the overwhelm. From teaching more than 10,000 students to launching a top-ranked podcast, Christiane brings humor, heart, and practical strategy that entrepreneurs, creators, and dreamers can put into action immediately.They also explore cultural stories, cookies, German baking, vulnerability, TEDx insights, and why consistency is the real engine behind long-term success. Whether you're starting a business, launching a podcast, or simply trying to grow with more intention, this episode offers tools, perspective,…

Maryland State Senator and IBEW Local 24 leader Cory V. McCray joins Rich and Dan to share how a paid electrical apprenticeship rewired his life—from Baltimore City and the juvenile system to business owner and public service. Cory breaks down how union apprenticeships work, why mentors and discipline matter, and how practical pathways can lift families and entire communities. A grounded, honest guide for anyone who cares about second chances and real opportunity. Sponsored by Daniel McGhee and the Victory Team

Rapper, producer, and entrepreneur Robert “B-Cide” Cardillo joins Rich to share the raw story behind his memoir, Myelin My Shoes—from underground tours and handing out mixtapes to launching a streetwear brand from a wheelchair after an MS diagnosis at 28. He breaks down how creativity became therapy, what the music business really teaches you, and why he refuses to let chronic illness define the art—or the hustle. If you need proof that purpose outlasts pain, this one’s for you. Sponsored by Daniel McGhee and the Victory Team

Retired FBI Assistant Special Agent in Charge Gina L. Osborn takes us from Cold War counterintelligence in Europe to leading one of the largest FBI cyber & counterterrorism programs in Los Angeles—including the response to the 2014 Sony Pictures hack. She shares how “Maverick moves” and servant leadership shaped her teams, why she blew the whistle at LA Metro, and what it really takes to break barriers in male-dominated fields. If you want real-world lessons on courage, culture, and leading through crisis, this one delivers. Sponsored by American Auto Repair

Owner/operator Brittany Russin Smith shares how she turned a love of baking and community into The Hive at Rumsey—Harford County’s collaborative commissary kitchen—and The Honey Loft upstairs venue. She walks through vendor partnerships, micro-weddings, BYO alcohol logistics, and what it takes to run a flexible event space on the water in Joppatowne. If you care about local entrepreneurship, food businesses, and community-powered growth, this one’s packed with practical insights. Sponsored by Four Seasons Landscape & Construction Services

Licensed psychotherapist and author Dr. Foojan Zeine joins Rich to unpack Awareness Integration Theory (AIT)—a practical framework that helps you observe your inner world, reality-check assumptions, integrate past parts, and choose your next best action. She shares concrete ways to reduce anxiety, explains why some anxiety “leaks” biologically, and introduces the Foojan app with an embedded AIT-trained coach, Mira. If you want fast, deep tools to move from surviving to thriving, this one’s worth a close listen. Sponsored by CleverCat Marketing

John Carter’s life reads like a movie: teenage enforcer, shot in the head and left for dead, spiraling into addiction, and then a decade-long prison sentence. In this raw, uplifting conversation, John shares the plan that saved him, the people who didn’t give up on him, and how fitness, service dogs, and service to others rebuilt his life into one of purpose. If you need a wake-up call on grit, accountability, and second chances, this is it. Sponsored by Elite Power Washing

Business leader and mentor Irina Alexander joins Rich to unpack a neuroscience-rooted framework for staying regulated under pressure—especially in high-stress fields like first response and frontline leadership. She explains her C.A.R.E.S.™ approach (Communication, Awareness, Resilience, Emotional literacy, Self-mastery), why “knowing isn’t enough,” and how resilience is the byproduct of daily practices. Irina also shares candid stories of burnout, recovery, and the practical tools that help people shift from reactivity to regulation. Sponsored by Maryland Pickers

Rich sits down with award-winning author and nationally recognized financial educator Matt Paradise to explore “whole-health wealth”—the blend of practical money skills, mindset, and healing. Matt shares his path from homelessness and addiction to 20 years in nonprofit credit counseling, his battle with cholangiocarcinoma, and the tools anyone can use to lower anxiety, get out of debt, and build a purposeful life. Listeners walk away with real-world frameworks for budgeting, credit repair, and changing the money stories that keep them stuck. Sponsored by Elite Power Washing

Elizabeth Kipp spent 40 years in chronic pain and 31 years on prescribed opioids and benzodiazepines—including fentanyl—until a pain-management track at the Betty Ford Center in 2013 catalyzed a complete turnaround. In this conversation, she unpacks the mind-body nature of chronic pain, the practical role of 12-Step recovery, yoga, breathwork, prayer/ancestral clearing, and the simple relapse-prevention principle that changed everything: staying in personal integrity. Listeners get a hopeful blueprint that blends science and spirituality with concrete next steps. Sponsored by Rage Against Addiction

Rich sits down with Greg Derwart, Chris Coleman, and Robyn Burke to unpack what a true mastermind is—and what it isn’t. Using Napoleon Hill, Ben Franklin’s Junto, and real community examples, they show how purpose, harmony, and structure turn brainstorming into outcomes for businesses, nonprofits, and families. It’s a grounded conversation about building something that matters, online and off.Sponsored by Four Seasons Landscape & Construction Services

Speech‑language pathologist James Burden, founder of Stuttering Blueprint, shares a compassionate, research‑backed path to speaking with confidence—whether or not fluency is the outcome. He explains why techniques like the Camperdown Method must be paired with Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT), mindfulness, and “melting the iceberg” of fear and stigma. If you’ve ever felt your voice held back, this conversation reframes stuttering and shows practical ways to reclaim presence, purpose, and power. Sponsored by Tar Heel Construction Group

ENT surgeon Dr. Brett Cordes shares his extraordinary arc from surviving Non‑Hodgkin lymphoma at 19 to building a thriving surgical career—then spiraling into a hidden opioid addiction that cost him everything. He opens up about rehab during COVID, the true causes of physician burnout, and how he rebuilt his life as “The Burnout Doc,” a coach helping doctors find fulfillment without losing their identity. A powerful listen on turning pain into purpose and asking for help before it’s too late. Sponsored by Harford County Health Department

Sponsored by Harford County Chamber of Commerce What happens when your world collapses and you're left with nothing but a bottle of whiskey and broken dreams? For Ben Albert, it became the turning point. In this energizing and heartfelt episode, Ben shares how he rose from being furloughed during the pandemic to creating Real Business Connections, launching a marketing agency, and building a thriving mastermind community. This is a must-listen for entrepreneurs, podcasters, and anyone s...

In this thought-provoking solo episode, Rich Bennett dives deep into the destructive power of rumors—how they spread, why they take hold, and the devastation they cause to individuals, businesses, and entire communities. Through real-world examples and a heartfelt call to integrity, Rich explores how misinformation erodes trust, ignites panic, and undermines mental health. This episode is a must-listen for anyone navigating today’s fast-paced, hyper-connected world.

Sponsored by Tar Heel Construction Group In this engaging roundtable, Rich Bennett sits down with nonprofit consultant Katie Ramirez, alongside co-hosts Greg Derwart and Robyn Burke, for a candid discussion on the realities of nonprofit work. They dive into the importance of strong boards, smart fundraising strategies, and the evolving landscape of nonprofit leadership. Whether you're running a nonprofit, serving on a board, or just curious about community impact, this conversation offers practical insights you can use.