Pony Tales Podcast
by Andres Gamboa
We chat with successful entrepreneurs and professionals who share lessons learned by selling door-to-door during college with Southwestern Advantage. The show is not directly affiliated with the internship itself, but invites alumni of the program to share their experience. These stories vary from motivational, outrageous, comedic, instructional, informational and valuable to any person wanting to learn more about personal growth, attitude, discipline, sales, recruiting, work-life balance, entrepreneurship, work ethic, and much more. Listen on your favorite platform.
Episodes
-
#275: Jenny Dunkin and Shelley Haisman sold books...
Jenny and Shelley share how a simple speaking opportunity led to unexpected momentum, from presenting on mindset at a conference to being invited onto a podcast, and ultimately deciding to write a book with a six-month deadline. They talk about figuring things out as they go, emphasizing that you...
-
#274: Brandan Tobin Sold Books...
In this episode, the conversation covers Brandan Tobin’s summers selling books, the people he learned from, and the experiences that shaped how he approaches sales and leadership today. Brandan talks about starting out skeptical of the program, thinking it might be a scam, and showing up to...
-
#273: Linda Schwader sold books.
In this episode, Linda shares her journey from selling books in the 1970s to becoming one of the first women to manage and lead in Southwestern’s history. She talks about her first summer selling in Jackson, Mississippi, the nerves, the first door, the first sale, and the moment she almost quit —...
-
#272: Hans Schlegel sold books.
This one has been on our “Mount Rushmore” list from the very beginning. Hans Schlegel finally joins the show, and it’s everything we hoped for. From his roots on a family farm in northwest Ohio to eight summers selling books, Hans brings stories of go-kart racing, marching band, zoology, bird...
-
#271: Ben Fisher sold books.
In this episode of the Pony Tales Podcast, we sit down with Ben Fisher, a two-summer bookman with the FORCE organization (2011–2012) who now lives in California. Ben attended Concordia University in Nebraska and is the author of the children’s book Scribbaloo and the Color Cruncher, available on...
-
#270: John Carey sold books.
John Carey didn't plan on becoming an expert in grid security and renewable energy infrastructure—he started with a random call to his dorm at NC State, which landed him in door-to-door book sales with Southwestern Advantage. Today, he's CEO of Ovanova, a company creating portable microgrids and...
-
#269 Lester Crafton & John Carey sold books.
Lester Crafton and John Carey back to Pony Tales for nearly three hours of straight-through conversation. They start with the job that first put them on doorsteps and finish in the middle of a national-grid debate, showing—step by step—how those early summers shaped everything that came after....
-
#268: Victoria Varberg sold books.
Victoria Varberg works in conservation now — specifically raising money to help protect rhinos at Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Kenya. In this episode, she talks about how she got into that world, what it’s really like working in international fundraising, and how much of what she learned from selling...
-
#267: Eric Hampton sold books.
Eric Hampton is an AE and RevOps Manager at Lemony.ai, and he’s carved out a career in one of the fastest-moving industries out there: AI startups. In this episode, we talk about what it’s actually like working in tech after the book field — how sales cycles are different, how to position…
more -
#266: Ella Roach sold books
Get info about BIZZLER in Greece here: [email protected] Get ready for a marathon episode with Ella Roach! As the daughter of a book-seller, Ella brings a perspective we don’t hear often — what it’s like growing up around Southwestern and then going through the experience yourself. In…
more -
#265: Joe Siau sold books.
Get info about BIZZLER in Greece here: [email protected] In this episode of The Pony Tales Podcast, we chat with Joe, who sold books for three summers in the 1980s and went on to build a remarkable career. Joe is the author of Habits Driven is the Game Changer, where he shares how the...
-
#264: Emma Wheeler (Barnett) sold books.
In this episode of The Pony Tales Podcast, we sit down with Emma, a true champion of the book-field. Growing up in a family of successful book-sellers, Emma shares what it was like to be surrounded by such a high-achieving alumni family. She opens up about the pressures of living up to their...
-
#263: Monette Howell Sedberry sold books.
Monette Howell is a 7-summer book girl who sold in the late-70s/early-80s at a time when not many women were on the bookfield. During the COVID shutdown, Monette started her own weekly podcast, Mornings with Monette. She and Andres talk about the origins of her podcast and the learning curve that...
-
#262: Theo Davies, Highlanders
At the time of this recording, Theo is the Head of Business Enablement for Google in the Asia-Pacific region. In this episode, we discuss his career journey from books to Google, his accomplished public speaking career, and, of course, how he holds the record for experienced dealers and the best...
-
EE: Habits Acquired Since SW
Being curious, a better listener, less judgmental, and letting go are just some of the topics we shared in this hour long Executive Exercises episode. Let us know what habits you’ve learned since leaving the bookfield that you are proud of! Also, here is the video of the door-to-door pizza guy....
-
#261: Adam Outland, TD
Adam, a nine-summer bookman, hops on the show for a shorter episode with Andres. Oddly enough, Adam had multiple encounters with Filipino families while on the brookfield, and has some great stories to accompany them. Since his time selling books, Adam has worked with Southwestern Consulting and...
-
EE: Quiet Quitting.
This might be the best Executive Exercises episode ever. (Say that four times fast. It had disagreements, laughs, and feet.
-
#260: Phil Varberg, CADILLACS
Phil hops on as our second Varberg to grace the show (Peter is #215). From growing up in the Philippines, Phil heard all about selling books from his dad, and knew this was the path for him. He and Andres talk about the twists and turns of life after the bookfield and his journey with Inspire...
-
EE: Is It Time To Move On?
In this episode Pat, Alecia, Lee and Andres discuss when it is time to quit. How do you know if the career path you are on is not working out? Have you been at your role too long? Are you getting paid enough? Do your values align? These are the questions we address and more. Enjoy!
-
#259: Ian Brown, Eagle Blitz
Ian Brown hops on the show from Tampa, Florida after selling for 7 summers. Ian hit some great numbers in his time on the bookfield, and shares with Andres how his time as a track athlete set him up for success and a “fast” start. From Honky Tonk Badonkadonk, to Jesus PR, to Retail Leasing, these...
-
#258: Elliott Alexander Part 2, FORCE
PART 2 OF: Elliott Alexander (IG: @Ezander15) sold with the FORCE organization for three summers. Now with Family Heritage, Elliott shares some insight into what makes this endeavor unique from the bookfield experience. He wasn’t always the most “on schedule” bookman, and he and Andres share some...
-
#257: Elliott Alexander Part 1, FORCE
Elliott Alexander (IG: @Ezander15) sold with the FORCE organization for three summers. Now with Family Heritage, Elliott shares some insight into what makes this endeavor unique from the bookfield experience. He wasn’t always the most “on schedule” bookman, and he and Andres share some fantastic...
-
EE: When To Fire Someone
YOU'RE FIRED! The panel discusses the different circumstances that lead to letting someone go. Are they impacting your culture? Not meeting standards? Overpaid? Check out the philosophies that come up based on the different contexts involving the dismissal of a person from your company.
-
EE: Biggest Lesson from Southwestern and Since!
The title says it all. This time we sit down and chat about the most valuable lessons we have carried with us since our time selling books. This is one you want to have a pen and paper for. For more information about our panel: https://www.maverickandcompany.com/...
-
#256: Keith Hoogheem, FORCE
Keith sold books with FORCE for five summers. Now with Southwestern Consulting, Keith shares with Andres some powerful lessons learned from his clients and the defining difference between Competing and Collaborating. Keith grew up with Matt Atchison and has some great stories to share on how that...
-
EE: When Is Enough, Enough?
Ah yes, the "ONE MORE" culture. But how do you know when one more is actually hurtful. Great episode for those of you who struggle to know when enough is enough vs when you need to give it another shot. Also, sorry for the audio in some parts.
-
EE: Making Mistakes
This week we had Andres, Pat, Will, and Lee share some of the bigger mistakes in recent memory, both personally and professionally. The lessons they learned through these blunders, will help any listener avoid the same. Please enjoy!
-
#255: Brad Ledwith, Sweat (POWER)
Brad Ledwith is an 8-summer bookman and former DSL. He brings the FUN to the fundamentals of building a successful life. Brad currently runs his own financial wealth management firm and shares with Andres his WHY for the work he loves doing so much. Brad sold in the ‘90s and has some hilarious...
-
#253: Lainey Ramaekers, FORCE (Part 2)
Part 2 is HERE! Bizzler registration is now open. Checkout our Instagram page and go to our pinned post for more information. The sign up link is below. https://travefy.com/f/6kw9rqeqbxgqra6uetet6blu7rwgs88a Part 2 00:00:00 Start 00:53:09 Ad Ends. 00:01:30 Recruiting 00:02:28 Selling during COVID...
-
EE: Our Dirt Pile Stories Since College
Inspired by Lee's original "Dirt Pile" story, we decided to ask the crew about their toughest personal moments since leaving Southwestern. This will be a Part 1. Enjoy the stories from Pat, Andres, and Alecia. Lee's original story - https://youtu.be/sTQNQ7x5gIU?si=S4HjfdWmEjpoo6Zy About our…
more -
#253: Lainey Ramaekers, FORCE (Part 1)
For the first time ever, we are splitting an episode into separate parts. With Lainey, we knew that our conversation was going to be filled with many great stories. Instead of cutting them short, we decided to eat the elephant of stories, one bite at a time. Enjoy Part 1 of this episode, we know...
-
EE: OUR FAVORITE SUCCESS PRINCIPLES
Executive Exercises are back! We asked our panel to share their TOP 5 favorite success principles of all time. It's a fun ride from start to finish, thanks to how different everyone is. We've got stories, laughs, and a ton of wisdom packed into one conversation. Whether you're into hearing how...
-
#252: Logan Reelfs, FORCE
Logan is fresh off the bookfield and rocking in his new sales position. We love an episode full of stories and discussions of the Southwestern summer experience that include some feedback. Listen in and tell us your opinions on our opinions. 00:00:00 Start 00:03:14 Intro 00:12:42 Covid Sales…
more -
#251: Spouses Who Didn't Sell
We had to do an episode with spouses that didn’t sell. In this episode Brianna Gamboa (Andres Gamboa), John Kelly (Meredith Gardner), Sarah Greder (Grant Greder), Ben Taubensee (Naomi Kaufman), Jenny Roach (Patrick Roach), all joined us for a hilarious episode. We asked them the following...
-
#250: Andres Gamboa, FORCE
The day we’ve been waiting for - the day when our host Andres Gamboa is on the other side of the mic to share HIS time on the bookfield and the origin of this show that has made it to 250 EPISODES!!! Jacob Levine picks up the host mic and chats with Andres for an episode all about his origin…
more -
#249: Joshua Ignace, TD
Joshua is a 7-summer bookman who just wrapped up his final summer last year. Now going all in with The Knowledge Gap, Joshua and Andres reminisce over his seven summers selling and some of the wildest times he had. From Bank fraud, and horse riding, to nearly going to jail and getting bit by a...
-
#248: Peter Marshall, Cadillac
Peter Marshall is a 4-summer bookman who went on to work as an attorney in Corporate Law. Peter knew law school was in his future after selling books, and he shares with Andres the many ways that the training on the book field prepared him for finding success in his law firm. Working closely with...
-
#247: Will Arthur, Winning Tradition
If you enjoy our episodes that center around book stories for most of the episode, you will LOVE Will Arthur. Will is an insurance broker in Colorado and became a DSM with the legendary group from Wheaton College that included Pat Roach, Todd McWhirter, Jason Kolb, and Craig Soder, among others....
-
EE: The Power of Reflecting
An awesome way to start the year! Lee and the gang dive into reflecting and the perspectives on its effectiveness, approaches, and best practices. We hope you enjoy.
-
#246: Emmie Brown, EDUCATION
#246: Emmie Brown, EDUCATION What an absolute POWERHOUSE. If this episode had a theme, it would be “Ownership”. Emmie has been with the SWFC since 2000. Currently, Emmie is a Senior Partner with Southwestern Consulting. She is an executive coach and consultant, working with executives across all...
-
#245: Julio Hernandez, Eagle/Blitz
#245: Julio Hernandez Julio Hernandez, a Colombian alum, has accomplished impressive feats, including the sale of 10k units, 20-person teams, and reaching DSM status. We appreciated Julio sharing the wisdom that propelled him to these achievements before becoming the CEO and Founder of...
-
#244: Alex Kerezov
#244: Alexander Kerezov, Highlanders Alex and Andres met for an IN PERSON episode in the beautiful Historical Park in Bulgaria. Alex sold for 6 summers and is currently a Sales Director for two manufacturing companies. We love European guests on the podcast for their different perspectives during...
-
#243: Dustin Hillis, The Winning Tradition
Record breaker, CEO, legend. Dustin Hillis is one of the most recognized name in the world of Southwestern Alumni, and in this episode we catch up with the former head of the family of companies. Dustin shares what he has been doing since his exit from the company along with some advanced sales…
more -
#241: Gina Conroy
Gina is an author, coach, entrepreneur and a mother of a bookman. It is not often that we have a person on the show who has kids that sold. In this episode we dive into writing fiction, creating courses, and pursuing a passion for a living. Check out her published works here below! Gina's…
more -
#240: Ruthy Ann Taylor, SEEDS
Ruthy, a real estate agent in Gig Harbor, Washington, kickstarted her business by coaching her husband in the early days of his door-to-door real estate ventures. Together, they founded Mosaic Real Estate. Beyond expanding her business, Ruthy has cultivated significant online communities. Tune in...
-
#239: Joe Ignace, TD
Joe Ignace makes his way back on the show with an exciting new venture about to his a bookshelf near you! This December (2023), his book The Problem with Potential hits the internet stores, and on this episode, he and Andres talk about the motivation to write, the manuscript process, and Joe’s...
-
#238: Steve Roller, POWER
Recorded after a long stint traveling in Europe and back from Bizzler, Andres and Steve Roller sit down to chat! Steve got into copywriting after years in the bookfield, and now uses that experience to coach and empower other copywriters on how to grow their businesses. Steve has analyzed the...
-
EE: Feature - Alecia Huck
Alecia Huck speaks, and we all listen and take notes. This was a fun episode that truly gives a sample of her masterful approach to her coaching. She works with the leaders of fast growing companies. If you don't find yourself in this position, still have a listen, you will learn something in…
more -
EE: Feature episode - Pat Roach
This is an absolute masterclass, in leadership, management, culture building. Pat Roach shares the procedure he uses for leadership meetings. Grab a pen and paper.
-
EE: Beginning with the "The End" in mind.
A lot of podcasts have guests who talk about starting a business, what to do, and what to avoid, but not often have we found a good conversation about beginning with "The End" in mind. Should you sell, acquire other companies, or something different?
About this show
We chat with successful entrepreneurs and professionals who share lessons learned by selling door-to-door during college with Southwestern Advantage. The show is not directly affiliated with the internship itself, but invites alumni of the program to share their experience. These stories vary from motivational, outrageous, comedic, instructional, informational and valuable to any person wanting to learn more about personal growth, attitude, discipline, sales, recruiting, work-life balance, entrepreneurship, work ethic, and much more. Listen on your favorite platform.
Hosted by
Andres Gamboa
Categories