PODCAST · business
Small Business Stories
by Loralyn Mears, PhD
Welcome to Small Business Stories, the podcast where we celebrate the real-life journeys of small business owners. We dig into inspiring tales of triumphs, challenges, and the tough lessons we learned along the way. Each episode is packed with relatable anecdotes and practical tips that you can use to fuel your own entrepreneurial dreams. Whether you're just starting out or looking to grow your business, you'll find motivation and insight in every story. Tune in and get ready to be inspired by the heart and hustle of small business owners just like you! We say it like it is - no filters. Being an SMB owner isn't easy, but we're compelled to do it.
Episodes
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How to Be a Better Leader by Listening More & Leading With Heart Featuring Payman Lorenzo
S6:E88 After nearly 450 conversations on his Leaders With a Heart podcast, Payman Lorenzo has heard extraordinary stories of leadership, adversity, failure, resilience, and reinvention. But one of his most important lessons is surprisingly basic: Listen. Really listen. Queue up this episode of...
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Why Higher Sales Aren't Fixing Your Cash Flow with Matan Bar CEO Xero US
S6:E87 Overall, small business sales are growing. So why do so many owners still feeling the squeeze? The answer is hiding underneath the headline. Matan Bar, CEO of Xero U.S., joins Dr. LL to unpack what Xero's U.S. Small Business Insights data reveals when you look beyond one encouraging…
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How an Overlooked Service Business & Dirty Job Makes Money with Mark Regan
S6:E86 The businesses people overlook may be the ones worth examining. Especially those ew - yucky - services! Entrepreneurship culture gives enormous attention to innovation, technology, and businesses that sound impressive. Mark Regan built something very different: a recurring-revenue company...
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The Ripple Effect of Intentional Leadership with Lisa Even
S6:E85 People experience your leadership long before you make a formal leadership decision. It's in how you enter a room. How you react when you're stressed. Whether you acknowledge someone. The story you tell. The difficult interaction you choose not to pass along to the next person. Lisa Even...
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How to Become an Expert in Your Field with Katrena Friel
S6:E84 It has never been easier to look like an expert. That may be precisely why genuine expertise matters more. AI can help produce polished content, sophisticated branding, books, social posts, and an increasingly convincing professional presence. But none of those things automatically...
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Why Your Small Business Isn't Scaling with Joseph Shalaby
S6:E83 How do you know when persistence is serving the business? Or at what point does attachment to what you've built prevent you from seeing it clearly? Joseph Shalaby knows something about operating through uncertainty. As founder of eMortgage Capital, he has built within an industry shaped by...
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Why You're Wasting Money on Google Ads with Andy Janaitis
S6:E82 Better Data, Better Decisions with Andy Janaitis What if your advertising dashboard says you're succeeding but your bank account says otherwise? That's not necessarily a marketing problem. It may be an interpretation problem. Queue up this episode of Small Business Stories with Andy...
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Why Your Marketing Isn't Working with John Elbing
S6:E81 Businesses usually think about marketing from the inside out. Here's what we do. Here's why we're good. Here are our features. Here are our credentials. John Elbing thinks we should turn the entire thing around. As founder of Standpoint and creator of the Storybuilding approach, John helps...
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Should AI Replace Humans in Customer Service? Guest Nathan Strum has Thoughts
S6:E80 AI, Empathy & Why Humans Still Matter with Nathan Strum AI can answer the phone. It can schedule appointments. It can listen to sales calls, extract insights and eliminate tedious administrative work. But can it make someone who has just lost their cat genuinely feel heard? Nathan Strum...
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Why Your Google Ads Aren't Working Anymore with John Sanders
S6:E79 Why More Traffic Doesn't Mean More Business with John Sanders Your advertising may be doing exactly what you asked it to do. That doesn't mean it's helping your business. John Coleman Sanders has spent 16 years working with Google Ads, and he says the platform has undergone some of its…
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Why AI Won't Fix a Broken Business with Tullio Siragusa
S6:E78 AI doesn't arrive inside a business as a neutral cure for everything that isn't working. It encounters the decision structures, silos, leadership behaviors, customer experience and culture that are already there and then it can make them move considerably faster. That's the tension at the...
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How to Get Startup Funding with Vijay Rajendran
S6:E77 A funding round can transform a company. It can also change who controls it, how it's expected to grow and even whether the founder remains CEO. So perhaps the first fundraising question shouldn't be How do I get the money? It should be: Do I actually want what comes with it? Queue up this...
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Small Business Cybersecurity: What You Don't See Can Hurt You with Last Pass CEO Karim Toubba
S6:E76 Security is ultimately a promise of trust. So what happens when that trust gets broken? Karim Toubba has had to answer that question in circumstances few CEOs would choose. He joined LastPass as their CEO only months before the company experienced a significant and highly publicized 2022...
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The Founder Trap: Why Your Business Isn't Growing Even When You're Working Harder with Charles Gaudet
S6:E75 What if getting more customers actually made your business worse? That's the paradox Charles Gaudet sees repeatedly. A founder builds a business through hard work, referrals and personal relationships. Success arrives. More customers come in. Employees are hired. Yet instead of gaining...
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How to Plan Your Business Exit When Your Kids Don't Want to Take Over with John Abrams
S6:E74 What happens to your business when you aren't there anymore? For millions of founders, where more than half of all small businesses in the USA today are owned and operated by people over 50, that question is moving from theoretical to urgent. John Abrams says many owners assume they'll...
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What to Do When Your Business Is in Financial Trouble with Jim Martin
S6:E73 "If you were just here sooner." Jim Martin has never forgotten those words. They came from an employee of a 125-year-old company with approximately 1,800 employees that ultimately had to be liquidated. Jim had been brought in during the crisis. But by then, many of the options that might...
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Why Dating Apps Make It Harder to Find the Right Person with April Davis
S6:E72 Dating apps give us more choices than we've ever had, so why does finding the right person feel harder? Some people have given up, saying that it is "impossible" to find a mate! Matchmaker April Davis says too many options may actually be part of the problem, encouraging people to filter...
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Why AI Is Making Your Marketing Easier But Not Better with Gee Ranasinha
S6:E71 AI has raised the floor. But has it raised the ceiling? Gee Ranasinha doesn't think so. AI has democratized content production, giving small businesses access to capabilities once reserved for larger organizations. But Gee argues that we're simultaneously creating what he calls a greater...
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How to Stop Trying to Be Everything to Everyone with Christine Blosdale
S6:E70 Stop Trying to Be Everything to Everyone with Christine Blosdale You can be extraordinarily talented and still make yourself almost impossible to hire. Christine Blosdale sees it constantly: entrepreneurs with multiple skills, multiple offers, multiple audiences and multiple platforms…
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Why Good Products Fail After Launch with Lon Riley
S6:E69 When a Better Product Isn't Enough with Lon Riley This is stronger for streaming than a generic "Lessons from a Product Launch." It captures the central contradiction of his experience and makes Lon's hard-earned lesson the authority proposition. "Everybody loves your idea until it's time…
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How to Build Confidence When You're Afraid to Put Yourself Out There with Patty Aubery
S6:E68 Sometimes you meet someone whose work you've known for years and then discover that the story behind the success is even better than you expected. This was one of those conversations. Dr. LL openly admits to a little fangirling (okay - a lot - I cannot even tell you what an honor and...
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How Bad Credit Can Limit Your Business Funding Options with Daniel McDavid
S6:E67 The worst time to discover you have a credit problem may be when your business desperately needs money. An unexpected expense hits. Cash flow tightens. Payroll is coming. Suddenly, the entrepreneur isn't shopping for the best financing; he or she is searching for any financing. Queue up…
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How to Scale Your Business Without Growing Too Fast with Bryan Clayton
S6:E66 The Real Story About Scaling & Selling a Business with Bryan Clayton Bryan has actually done the thing entrepreneurs dream about: built a traditional business to $10M, sold it, then built again in an entirely different arena. Nobody wants to buy your basket of problems. That's Bryan...
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Why Entrepreneurs Struggle to Get Approved for a Mortgage with David Ostrowsky
S6:E65 Buying a home as an entrepreneur often feels like playing by a different set of rules. In this episode, Dr. LL speaks with mortgage specialist David Ostrowsky about what self-employed professionals need to understand in today's housing market. Together they discuss lending, affordability,...
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Why Your Business Isn't As Profitable As You Think with Matt Putra
S6:E64 Every entrepreneur has numbers. Not every entrepreneur knows how to listen to them. In this episode, Dr. LL sits down with fractional CFO Matt Putra to discuss how financial data becomes a decision-making system rather than simply an accounting exercise. Together they explore…
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How to Use AI Agents Without Replacing Your Team with Kenneth Corrêa
S6:E63 An optional title for this episode is, "Agentic AI, Human Judgment & Cognitive Organizations with Kenneth Corrêa." AI is moving faster than most organizations can absorb it. The temptation is to automate whatever already exists. But Kenneth Corrêa argues that this misses the deeper...
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Why Working Harder Isn't Fixing Your Business with Leadership Coach Michelle Pollack
S6:E62 Success becomes surprisingly heavy when you're carrying someone else's expectations. In this conversation, Dr. LL sits down with leadership coach Michelle Pollack to explore why entrepreneurs become exhausted by constantly chasing external definitions of success instead of intentionally...
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How to Create Multiple Income Streams Without Burning Out with Kelvin Abrams
S6:E61 Building a business is difficult. Building several businesses at the same time requires a different way of thinking. In this conversation, Dr. LL sits down with entrepreneur Kelvin Abrams to discuss multiple revenue streams, planning for seasonality, learning through discomfort, and…
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How to Build Wealth in Your Community Through Co-ops with Vernon Oakes
S6:E60 Not every successful business measures success the same way. In this conversation, Dr. LL sits down with Vernon Oakes, founder of Everything Cooperative, to explore how cooperative business models create stronger alignment between ownership, employees, customers, and communities. If people...
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How to Know If Your Product Idea Will Sell with Juliette Fasset
S6:E59 Every invention begins with an idea. However, very few ideas become sustainable businesses. In this conversation, Dr. LL sits down with inventor and entrepreneur Juliette Fassett to explore what really happens between inspiration and commercialization. She talks about validating demand and...
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Why Customers Don't Buy - and What to Do with Jason Fishman
S6:E58 Every customer journey begins long before someone clicks "buy." In this conversation, Dr. LL sits down with Jason Fishman, founder of Digital Niche Agency, to explore how customer trust is built through repeated interactions, thoughtful messaging, and data-informed marketing, not isolated...
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How to Be a Better Leader People Actually Want to Follow with William Davis
S6:E57 Leadership has never been more complex. Organizations have more technology than ever, yet many leaders feel less connected to the people they lead. In this conversation, Dr. LL sits down with leadership expert William Davis to discuss why communication, empathy, accountability, and genuine...
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How to Reinvent Yourself Without Starting Over with Ryan Estes
S6:E56 Feeling stuck in a career or business that no longer fits? Reinventing yourself doesn't always mean starting over. Sometimes it means trusting your curiosity and allowing yourself to grow into what's next. Loralyn Mears, PhD, aka "Dr. LL," brings you thoughtful conversations with...
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How to Prepare Your Business for Tariffs and Supply Chain Disruptions with Abe Orgel
S6:E55 Markets shift. Policies change. Supply chains break. Yet businesses still need to serve customers, protect margins, and make decisions. In this episode, Dr. LL sits down with Abe Orgel, founder of Simple Forwarding, to discuss what entrepreneurs can learn from navigating global shipping...
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Why You're Still Living Paycheck to Paycheck with George Thomas
S6:E54 What if the real measure of wealth isn't income? What if it's time? In this episode of Small Business Stories, Dr. LL sits down with George Thomas, Founder of Financial Freedom Builders, to discuss financial literacy, investing, wealth-building habits, and why so many people remain...
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Founder Fragility: Forrest Derr has Some Thoughts About Building a Business Dependent on YOU
S6:E53 What happens when a founder becomes the single point of failure? Many entrepreneurs spend years building successful companies only to discover the business cannot function without their constant involvement. In this episode, Dr. LL sits down with Forrest Derr, Founder of Derr Consulting…
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How to Grow Your Business When Ads Stop Working in the AI Economy with Ismael Wrixen
S6:E52 The platforms are changing. Search is changing. Customer acquisition is changing. So what remains stable when everything else feels uncertain? In this episode, Dr. LL sits down with Ismael Wrixen, Founder and CEO of ThriveCart, to explore how entrepreneurs, coaches, and creators can build...
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Confidence, Adversity & Seeing Beyond Limitations with a Blind Coach - Patrick Engasser
S6:E51 What if the biggest limitation in your business isn't your circumstances? What if it's the story you've accepted about what is possible? In this episode of Small Business Stories, Dr. LL sits down with Patrick Engasser, who is blind. He is an exceptional speaker, coach, and author whose…
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Trust, Curiosity, Stories & the Magic of Marketing with Jimi Gibson
S6:E50 A lot of businesses think they need more marketing. But better marketing is only part of the equation. In this episode, Jimi Gibson, marketing strategist and former professional magician, explains how the psychology of magic can improve storytelling, create curiosity, and help brands...
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If You Want to Charge Premium Prices, Nail the Customer Experience Says Vance Morris, former Disney Exec
S6:E49 Yes, you can charge premium pricing - but only if your customers feel the difference. In this episode, Dr. LL sits down with Vance Morris, founder of Deliver Service Now and former Disney leader, to explore how businesses can design experiences that justify higher prices and build stronger...
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How Solopreneurs can Use AI Without Losing Human Connection with Allan Ngo
S6:E48 The pressure to automate everything is reshaping entrepreneurship. But faster content does not automatically create deeper trust. In this episode of Small Business Stories, Dr. LL sits down with Allan Ngo, founder of Digital Solopreneur, to explore the tension between AI efficiency and…
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Dr. Erika Rasure
S6:E47 xx
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How to Increase Amazon Sales Without Spending More on Ads With Carolyn Lowe
S6:E46 More entrepreneurs are investing in ads, automation, and AI-generated content, yet many are still struggling to convert customers. In this episode of Small Business Stories, Dr. LL sits down with Carolyn Lowe, founder of ROI Swift, to explore what actually drives profitable growth on…
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When YOU the Entrepreneur Become THE BOTTLENECK with James Brown
S6:E45 What happens when a business grows faster than its structure, messaging, or leadership capacity? In this episode of Small Business Stories, Dr. LL sits down with James Brown, founder of Business Accelerator Institute and Perseverance Squared, to discuss why so many entrepreneurs become...
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Why Your Marketing Isn't Converting Leads into Customers with Amber Gaige Farrell
S6:E44 Marketing typically fails because of misalignment between the message and the buyer. Product market fit, or the lack thereof, is a business death nail. Many founders are active across multiple channels, yet their message doesn't land. The result is lower conversion AND confusion in the...
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Structure, Scale & the Hidden Cost of Growth with Brian Mattocks
S6:E43 Growth is often treated as proof that everything is working. But internally, it can signal the opposite. And growth can BREAK you and your business. Many businesses expand faster than their systems can support. What once felt agile becomes chaotic. Decisions stall. Teams drift. And over...
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How to Get Podcast Leads Without Paid Ads With Tom Schwab of Interview Valet
S6:E42 The market is louder than ever, yet trust feels like a rare commodity. Many founders are visible but not chosen. They generate impressions, traffic, and activity, yet still lack meaningful conversations with ideal buyers. If people don't trust you, they won't engage. If they don't remember...
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Small Business Growth Without Guardrails: Hiring, Risk & Profitability with Michelle Griffin
S6:E41 Growth exposes what founders postpone (isn't that the truth?!). Many businesses believe HR is just paperwork. In reality, HR often determines whether growth compounds, or fractures. If people don't trust your standards, culture weakens. If systems don't support growth, margins erode. If...
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How to Run a Small Business Better With Less Chaos Featuring Dan Norcross
S6:E40 Most businesses either have a revenue problem or an operating problem. In this episode, Dr. LL explores why capable founders often stay trapped inside businesses they built: overloaded, reactive, and too central to everything. "Founder fatigue" is real, folks. If people can't move without...
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How to Build Trust as an Entrepreneur When No One Knows You With Kira Shishkin
S6:E39 Trust isn't built by showing up more. It's built by being understood. In this episode, Dr. LL explores a recurring challenge facing entrepreneurs: why visibility alone isn't translating into credibility or growth. If people don't trust you, they don't buy. If they don't understand you…
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Welcome to Small Business Stories, the podcast where we celebrate the real-life journeys of small business owners. We dig into inspiring tales of triumphs, challenges, and the tough lessons we learned along the way. Each episode is packed with relatable anecdotes and practical tips that you can use to fuel your own entrepreneurial dreams. Whether you're just starting out or looking to grow your business, you'll find motivation and insight in every story. Tune in and get ready to be inspired by the heart and hustle of small business owners just like you! We say it like it is - no filters. Being an SMB owner isn't easy, but we're compelled to do it.
HOSTED BY
Loralyn Mears, PhD
CATEGORIES
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Small Business Stories have?
Small Business Stories currently has 200 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Small Business Stories about?
Welcome to Small Business Stories, the podcast where we celebrate the real-life journeys of small business owners. We dig into inspiring tales of triumphs, challenges, and the tough lessons we learned along the way. Each episode is packed with relatable anecdotes and practical tips that you can use...
How often does Small Business Stories release new episodes?
Small Business Stories publishes regularly with 200 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.
Where can I listen to Small Business Stories?
You can listen to Small Business Stories on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Small Business Stories?
Small Business Stories is created and hosted by Loralyn Mears, PhD.
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