Small Strides BIG Business

In this episode of Small Strides Big Business, Krystal Small sits down with Sonja Kuhn, founder of Mint Cover, an education-first insurance marketplace designed for Gen Z consumers. Sonja shares her entrepreneurial journey from working in consulting to launching her own startup, the challenges of building in the insurance industry, and how AI can improve customer experiences without removing the human touch. In this episode: • How Sonja identified a gap in the insurance market • Why transparency matters in insurance • The role of AI in matching customers with the right coverage • Why mentorship is critical for entrepreneurs • Time management and productivity tips for founders • The importance of trust in business and insurance Connect with Sonja Kuhn: 🌐 MintCover.net 📧 [email protected] 🔗 LinkedIn: Sonja Kuhn 🎧 New podcast episodes every Thursday. #Entrepreneurship #AI #Insurance #InsurTech #WomenInBusiness #StartupFounder

What happens when AI transforms healthcare, leadership, and the way we make decisions? In this powerful episode of Small Strides Big Business, Krystal Small sits down with Mark Seghers, CEO & Co-Founder of Inspire Health Tech, to discuss the future of AI in healthcare, entrepreneurship, transparency, and the growing challenge of finding truth in a digital world. Mark shares his journey from programmer and insurance executive to building innovative healthcare technology focused on helping consumers make smarter healthcare decisions through predictive analytics and AI. In this episode, we discuss: ✔️ How AI is reshaping healthcare ✔️ Why healthcare transparency matters ✔️ The dangers of misinformation and AI bias ✔️ Entrepreneurship lessons from decades of experience ✔️ Why loving your work changes your life ✔️ The future of human connection in an AI-driven world This conversation is insightful, thought-provoking, and packed with practical wisdom for entrepreneurs, healthcare professionals, business leaders, and anyone curious about the future of technology. 🎙️ Subscribe for more conversations on: • Entrepreneurship • AI & Innovation • Leadership • Healthcare Technology • Business Growth #AI #Healthcare #HealthTech #Leadership #Entrepreneurship #ArtificialIntelligence #Podcast #Innovation #BusinessGrowth #FutureOfWork

In this episode of Small Strides Big Business, Krystal Small welcomes Travis Yoh — entrepreneur, financial educator, and CEO of FTG Financial — for an eye-opening conversation about entrepreneurship, financial literacy, and creative wealth-building strategies. Travis shares his journey from working within large MLM organizations to building his own company focused on education, relationships, and long-term financial empowerment. Together, they discuss: • Infinite Banking & IUL strategies • Creative finance & real estate investing • Financial fears entrepreneurs face • Building a business while raising a family • Why success looks different over time • The importance of persistence and continuous learning This episode is full of practical insights, mindset shifts, and real conversations about creating wealth in non-traditional ways. 🎙️ Whether you’re an entrepreneur, parent, investor, or simply looking to better understand money, this episode will challenge the way you think about financial freedom. Listen now and take your next small stride toward bigger possibilities. #SmallStridesBigBusiness #EntrepreneurPodcast #FinancialLiteracy #CreativeFinance #InfiniteBanking #BusinessGrowth #Mindset #WealthBuilding #TravisYoh

What does it really take to build a $40–$50 million business in an industry people don’t even like? In this episode of Small Strides Big Business, Krystal sits down with Tad Nottage, founder of Aloha Insurance, to break down a 30+ year journey of resilience, smart decisions, and one powerful philosophy: 👉 People don’t need to love your product—they need to love working with you. From surviving a life-changing accident to scaling a thriving agency in Hawaii, Tad shares the real lessons behind: Building a business from the ground up Hiring (and keeping) the right people Why customer service is your biggest competitive edge How AI is transforming—not replacing—teams And what most business owners are still getting wrong This is a must-listen for entrepreneurs, agency owners, and anyone looking to grow a business without losing the human touch. 💡 Key Takeaways: ✔ The 90-day hiring rule that saves businesses ✔ Why answering your phone still wins ✔ How AI can save HOURS (without cutting jobs) ✔ The mindset shift that unlocked real growth 🎧 Tune in and discover how small strides can truly lead to big business. #AIinBusiness #ArtificialIntelligence #FutureOfWork #Automation #TechInBusiness

What if insurance wasn’t about selling… but about serving? In this episode, Mark Zimmerman, Founder of Aurifex Financial, shares the powerful moment that changed his perspective forever—delivering an insurance check to a grieving widow. That experience shaped his mission: 👉 To help families protect what matters most 👉 To guide people from paycheck-to-paycheck living to financial stability 👉 To bring trust and education back into the insurance industry This conversation goes beyond policies and premiums. We dive into: ✔️ Why insurance is really about wealth protection ✔️ The importance of financial education in today’s world ✔️ How to balance lead generation with real client relationships ✔️ Overcoming fear and taking action in sales and business ✔️ What it truly means to serve, not sell   Whether you're an entrepreneur, a financial professional, or someone looking to better understand how to protect your future—this episode delivers real, actionable insight. 🎧 Tune in and rethink what financial protection really means. 📌 Connect with Mark Zimmerman: 🌐 Aurifex Financial 📚 Join his free community: Aurifex Wealth Blueprint 👉 If you found value in this episode, don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share with someone who needs to hear this.

What does it take to build a 50-year career in insurance—and stay relevant through every major industry shift? In this episode of Small Strides Big Business, we sit down with Michael Wish, an independent insurance advisor and educator with over five decades of experience. From starting at just 18 years old to building his own agency at 26, Michael shares real-world lessons on: ✔️ Adapting to industry changes (tax laws, tech, and now AI) ✔️ Why disability insurance is often misunderstood ✔️ The importance of asking the right questions ✔️ How mentorship and relationships shape long-term success ✔️ What it truly means to be “client-first” 💡 One powerful takeaway: "I’m here to help my clients. That’s the bottom line." If you're an insurance professional, entrepreneur, or someone looking to better protect your financial future—this conversation is packed with insights you can use.

What if the way you’ve been taught to use money… is costing you more than you realize? In this episode of Small Strides Big Business, Krystal sits down with Jeremiah and Jonah Dew—better known as the Banking Bros—to unpack the concept of infinite banking and how it’s helping families rethink the way they save, spend, and build wealth. They break down: The difference between “if” vs. “when” financial products Their simple 3-cup system to understand cash flow and equity How people are using this strategy to pay off debt, fund purchases, and keep their money growing Why it’s never too late to start taking control of where your money lives Plus, they share powerful insights on: Building a brand through consistency Leveraging systems to scale a business The framework: Eliminate. Automate. Delegate. If you’re ready to challenge traditional thinking and take more control over your financial future—this episode is for you.

In this episode of Small Strides Big Business, we sit down with James Ahearn, an attorney, therapist, and entrepreneur who built a unique career at the intersection of law, mental health, and business leadership. James shares his unconventional journey from law school to becoming the founder and clinical director of Sonder Counseling, where he now leads a growing team of clinicians. We dive into the realities of building a service-based business, scaling a counseling practice, and balancing the human side of therapy with the operational side of running a company. If you're an entrepreneur, healthcare professional, or business leader, this conversation offers powerful insights into leadership, culture, and sustainable growth.

 In this episode, William Allison — founder of Modern Healthcare Plans of America and a 40-year insurance industry veteran — shares what most people don’t know about medical billing, private health plans, and how to shop smarter in today’s healthcare system. From rising marketplace premiums to negotiating hospital bills, this conversation dives deep into practical strategies that could save individuals, families, and small business owners thousands of dollars. 🎯 In This Episode, You’ll Learn: Why you should never pay the first medical bill How hospital pricing really works What 501(c)(3) nonprofit hospitals don’t advertise Alternatives to ACA marketplace health plans How defined benefit plans compare to traditional coverage Why specialization is the key to long-term insurance success How referral partnerships grow an insurance business Whether you’re self-employed, a small business owner, or an insurance professional, this episode is packed with real-world insights you can apply immediately.  

What do you do when your business launches straight into a crisis?   In this episode of Small Strides Big Business, Dave McFadden shares how he and his wife Cindy turned a devastating start — hurricanes, a shrinking captive carrier, and two years of losses — into a 20-year success story as independent agency owners.   Instead of quitting, they pivoted.   They left the captive model, went independent, eliminated their brick-and-mortar office, and built a thriving virtual insurance agency powered by relationships, referrals, and exceptional customer service.   In this episode, Dave breaks down:   ✔️ Why going independent was the turning point ✔️ How eliminating office overhead increased flexibility and profit ✔️ The #1 “kiss of death” mistake insurance agents make ✔️ Why personal touch beats automation and AI (for now) ✔️ How proactive client education reduces churn and builds 10+ year relationships ✔️ Why explaining coverage matters more than offering the lowest price If you're an insurance agent, entrepreneur, or small business owner, this episode is packed with practical insights on resilience, retention, and building a referral-driven business that lasts.

From $9K to $1K: AI Is Transforming Healthcare Costs | Frajman Medical bills are one of the leading causes of financial stress—and often, they’re wrong. In this episode of Small Strides Big Business, Krystal Small sits down with Assaf Frajman, a physician-turned-entrepreneur and Co-Founder of OctiHealth, to explore how AI is transforming the way medical bills are reviewed, reduced, and understood. After witnessing a $9,000 medical bill corrected to just $1,000, Assaf set out to solve a problem impacting millions. Today, his company helps reduce healthcare costs by an average of 61%—not just for individuals, but for entire organizations. They also dive into Assaf’s personal journey from medical school to tech, and what it really takes to pivot into a new career path.  

What does it really take to build a successful insurance agency from scratch — in a new country — while serving an underserved community? In this episode of Small Strides Big Business, we sit down with Lidia Rodriguez, Co-CEO of Rewarding Insurance Agency in Holyoke, Massachusetts. From knocking on doors in freezing temperatures to building a referral-driven agency rooted in trust, Lidia shares how personal tragedy shaped her mission to protect Hispanic families through final expense and life insurance education. This episode is about: ✔ Building a niche in the Hispanic community ✔ Turning hardship into purpose ✔ Why insurance is NOT a part-time career ✔ The truth about commission-based income ✔ Scaling an agency with systems and heart ✔ The power of referrals and community trust Lidia and her husband Miguel are not just selling policies — they are changing financial futures through education, transparency, and cultural understanding. If you're: • An aspiring insurance agent • A Latino entrepreneur • A small business owner • Or someone passionate about community impact This episode is for you.

Success isn’t built overnight — it’s built in the quiet moments no one sees. In this episode of Small Strides, Big Business, Krystal sits down with Dillon Taylor, Founder & CEO of Ascent Financial Solutions, to talk about what entrepreneurship really looks like behind the scenes. From spending nearly a decade in construction to building a thriving financial brokerage, Dillon shares the mindset shifts, leadership lessons, and service-first philosophy that shaped his journey. This conversation goes beyond insurance and finance — it’s about identity, discipline, long-term vision, and building something that actually lasts. #EntrepreneurMindset #InsuranceIndustry #FinancialServices #SmallStridesBigBusiness #Leadership #BusinessGrowth #TheSilentGrind #EntrepreneurLife

In this episode of the Small Strides Big Business podcast, host Krystal Small and Tiffany Peak interview Charley Tinsley, managing partner of TIG Thomas Insurance Group. Charley shares his journey from a family farming operation to building one of the largest Medicare agencies in the country, with over 1000 FA and P&C agents (Medicare agents and Employer Benefits agents). He emphasizes the importance of loyalty, education, and service in business, and discusses how technology has played a crucial role in managing growth and improving efficiency. Charley also offers valuable advice for new agents and those looking to scale their businesses, highlighting the significance of building strong relationships and finding a center of influence in the industry.

In this eye-opening episode of Small Strides, Big Business, hosts Crystal Small and Tiffany Peak sit down with Ted Reardon—a 40+ year insurance veteran, owner of Reardon Insurance (founded in 1920 by his great-grandfather), and managing partner of Virtual Agent Consultants.   Ted shares how he transformed his traditional brick-and-mortar agency into a fully virtual, service-center-driven model—eliminating payroll headaches, slashing overhead, and freeing up time to focus on what really matters: clients and growth.   💡 You’ll learn: ✅ Why hiring qualified staff is nearly impossible—and the bold solution Ted implemented ✅ How shifting client service to carrier service centers increased retention to 93%+ ✅ The exact moment he “pulled the trigger” in November 2020—and why it was the best business decision of his life ✅ How operating costs dropped from $2,000/month to just $325 ✅ His 4 non-negotiable tips for new agents entering the insurance industry ✅ Why Google reviews and modern tech are non-optional in today’s market   Whether you're an insurance agent, agency owner, or entrepreneur looking to streamline operations and future-proof your business, Ted’s story proves that sometimes, the bravest move is stepping off the ledge—and trusting the net will appear.    

What if the key to massive business growth wasn’t selling more… but selling less? In this episode of Small Strides Big Business, we sit down with Jeff Arnold — entrepreneur, founder of two highly successful insurance companies, and acquirer of 40+ agencies — to unpack the mindset shifts that transformed his career. Jeff didn’t start in insurance with a grand vision. In fact, he calls himself a “failed actor.” But through mentorship, discipline, and strategic thinking, he went from self-employed salesperson to true business builder. This conversation is packed with practical insights on delegation, recurring revenue, leadership, and leveraging AI the right way. 🎙 Interested in being a guest on Small Strides BIG Business? Apply here: https://forms.gle/38sFcC6E8TE1ci7t5

Welcome to Small Stride BIG Business Podcast — a podcast where we talk about the ups and downs, what has worked, and what has been great learning experiences, and talks about the trends over the past decade, and what is to come in the world of insurance. New episodes coming soon. Make sure to follow/subscribe so you don’t miss the launch!