PODCAST · business
The Trading Post
by Trader Stu
Welcome to, "The Trading Post": Barter Business Insights, the podcast where we dive into the fascinating world of B2B trading and networking. This podcast is organized by seasons. Season 1: Trade Education & Member Spotlights Season 2: Networking that nets business Season 3: Using A Podcast For Marketing (my experience with it) Disclaimer: The thoughts and views expressed in this podcast are solely those of the host and do not reflect the official policy or position of Metro Trading Association. Although the host is an employee of Metro Trading, this podcast is intended to educate entrepreneurs on the benefits of professional trading, regardless of their location. Additionally, the host reviews various pieces of camping gear due to the association of trade, barter, and prepping. “Whistles In The West” was written, recorded, and produced by Durracell, exclusively for use with Trader Stu’s p
Episodes
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Why I’m Switching from Buzzsprout to RSS.com—and What’s Next
Hey everyone, Trader Stu here! This episode is a little off the cuff—no script, just a catch-up on what’s happening with The Trading Post. I’m moving the podcast from Buzzsprout to RSS.com, taking a closer look at recurring expenses, and figuring out which tools I actually need. When you’re using…
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Digital Business Cards: Have We Gone Too Far?
We talk through a real business card bingo mixer and what it reveals about where networking is thriving and where tech is making things weird. We break down why physical cards still win in the room, how we use QR codes to drive podcast marketing, and the follow-up system that turns contacts into...
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How A Renaissance Festival Reveals Smart B2B Networking
What can the Michigan Renaissance Festival teach us about growing a business and keeping more cash in the bank? After attending Media Night with my family, I saw a real-life example of how a strong business ecosystem works: vendors, food, entertainment, artisans, operations, marketing, and…
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When Marketing Gets Loud How Do You Break Through
We share quick updates on how we’re growing a B2B barter community through local media, networking, and The Trading Post Podcast instead of leaning on SEO. Then we get honest about outbound lead gen, why Apollo.io isn’t fitting our small business targets, and why we may need to go back to door...
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You Can Modernize Your Marketing Without Burning Cash
We break down the biggest small business marketing trends for 2026 and the practical ways we can use AI, automation, local SEO, and short form video without hiring a big team. We also explain how Metro Trading Association lets us test modern marketing with trade dollars instead of draining cash.…
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What If Your Next Sales Rep Is Software
I’m trying to stop the endless cycle of hiring, training, and turnover by leaning into AI-driven outreach instead of adding another sales rep. I walk through what I’m testing with Apollo.io, what went wrong on my first run, and how I’m rebuilding my lead list and email sequence to reach real…
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If Nobody Shows Up To Interviews What Now
We share a real-world update on shifting from trying to hire sales reps to testing an AI agent for cold outreach and sales prospecting. We walk through what we have set up so far, what is already working, and what still feels messy as we try to scale follow-up without sounding like a robot. • why...
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Paying Job Boards Or Letting AI Do It
We’re trying to hire outside sales reps across Southeast Michigan and Northwest Ohio, and the “nobody wants to work” problem hits different when you’re the one posting the job. We lay out what cold calling looks like right now, why job boards feel like pay-to-play, and why we’re testing AI agents...
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I’m Hiring 1099 Reps And Testing AI To Grow Metro Trade
A water main break turns into a real-time stress test for local small businesses and a reminder that community awareness can reveal trade opportunities. I also share how I’m changing my sales approach with 1099 reps and AI tools so Metro Trading Association can grow without relying on endless…
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What Happens When You Stop Marketing Online And Start Selling Door To Door
We share a real-time update on how we’re changing our marketing plan and why we’re building a sales force instead of trying to do everything ourselves. We break down how interns and 1099 outside sales reps can help grow a B2B trade exchange across Southeast Michigan and Northwest Ohio. • shifting...
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What If Your Empty Capacity Was Real Money
We talk through how small businesses can barter to grow, market, and protect cash when costs like gas rise fast. We also share a real example of trading for local TV exposure and why relationships and networking still beat fancy tactics. • using trade dollars to scale without spending cash •...
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Sales Advice That Shapes Careers: What Actually Works
Discover the sales and marketing strategies that actually drive career growth. In this episode, we break down the proven frameworks, mindsets, and practical tactics that top performers use to sell smarter, market with clarity, and build long‑term momentum. You’ll learn why obsession outperforms...
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What Happens When A Coffee Shop Becomes A Mini Marketplace
We explore how buying products on trade and selling for cash turns a neighborhood coffee roaster into a mini marketplace with strong margins and steady foot traffic. We share the Deer Camp story, compare it with big-brand marketing, and map out how local vendors can plug in fast. • buying on…
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Podcast Flywheels For Real Business Growth
We share a simple system to turn a focused podcast into a self-sustaining flywheel for trust, leads, and reach. From choosing one core job to repurposing, micro CTAs, and meaningful metrics, we lay out a path that avoids burnout and builds momentum. • choosing one clear purpose for the show •...
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Small Business In A Shifting World
We track how global turbulence flows straight to main street and turn it into a clear playbook for small businesses. From supply chain fragility to AI leverage and selective consumer demand, we map risks, spot signals, and share steps to move faster with less stress. • geoeconomic confrontation...
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How To Turn A Podcast Into Leads, Trust, And Real Reach
We break down how to use a podcast as a focused marketing tool by picking one goal, delivering value first, and guiding listeners with clear, helpful CTAs. Along the way, we talk audio quality, repurposing, titles that win search, and building a simple flywheel from episode to offer. • choosing…
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The Ministry Of Prepping?
We explore how a messy backyard garden, township rules, and a few hard winters pushed us from lone-wolf prepping toward a service-first vision: a practical “ministry of prepping” that blends safety, community, and real skills. Strawberries, wood stoves, and one pastor’s nudge turn setbacks into a...
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Turning Holiday Overstock Into Trade Value
We share a fast, practical way to turn post-holiday overstock into real value using barter, consignment, and smart capacity planning. A 3D printing maker, a nonprofit partner, and a trade network show how to avoid clearance losses and keep cash in the bank. • converting unsold holiday stock into...
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AI Can Clone Your Voice; It Can’t Shake A Hand
We examine how deepfakes blur reality, why detectors can’t guarantee truth, and what proof still matters when anyone can clone a voice. Then we map a practical winter reset: less automation, more in‑person trust, and using podcasting as a bridge to real‑world networks. • deepfake tools outpacing...
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I Grew Microgreens For Money So You Don’t Have To
We lay out a simple path to turn a small garden into a resilience engine for home and business, using low-input systems and smart barter to protect cash flow. Global shocks set the stage, but the focus stays local with practical steps that work without constant power or spend. • just-in-time…
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From War Zones to Workflows: Real Business Resilience Strategies for 2026
We launch season four by reframing prepping as a competitive edge for entrepreneurs and B2B operators. Real stories from Ukraine, Lebanon and Afghanistan reveal how continuity plans, barter networks and remote-first systems turn crises into growth. • sponsors and NPC Game tie-in with Get Prepped…
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Live Recording At The American Business Women's Association Meeting
We share how a simple, audio-only podcast outpaced SEO, educated prospects on B2B trade, and opened doors to sponsors and even a video game cameo. The workflow stays light, the topics align with real searches, and distribution meets listeners where they already network. • origin story of Trader...
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When Cash Slows, Capacity Becomes Currency
We share why a substitute teaching plan got scrapped and why we doubled down on B2B trade. We unpack the empty lunch rush, tipping fatigue, and how restaurants use vouchers and breakage to turn quiet hours into revenue. • credit-hour roadblock ends sub teaching plan • recommitment to trading...
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Oh SNAP! Comfort Breeds Dependence; Scarcity Builds Drive
We push into the hard edges of SNAP: who it helps, who it misses, and how incentives shape what ends up on the table. From $292 to $975, from whole loins to rice and beans, we test frugal tools, rant about fast food EBT, and ask for real stories from the field. • why discomfort can drive progress...
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When Hustle Isn’t Sustainable, Systems Are
We share what worked and what didn’t while prepping and hosting a trade show, plus why we shipped a flawed audio episode to keep momentum. We dig into pay-per-appointment cold calling, LinkedIn access risks, and how to scale outreach without burning trust. • choosing cadence over perfect audio to...
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How Small Businesses Grow by Sponsoring Niche Podcasters and YouTubers
We explain why sponsoring niche podcasters and YouTubers beats mass ads for small businesses and local services. We share pricing ranges, performance tactics like affiliate links, and how authenticity drives trust and conversion. • housekeeping, health update, and sponsorship changes • local...
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Pivoting During Uncertainty: Career Shifts and Cottage Food Law Ventures
After a brief hiatus due to illness, I return to discuss my career pivot and new entrepreneurial plans. I'm scaling back my work at Metro Trading Association to pursue substitute teaching and explore starting a cottage food business. • Transitioning to part-time work at MTA due to changing…
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Old Grill, New Tricks: Sustainable Thinking for Entrepreneurs
Sustainability means more than recycling—sometimes it's about getting creative and maximizing what you already have, whether it's grilling equipment or business resources. • The dilemma of repairing versus replacing a Weber kettle with rusted vents • How spending $126 on repairs proved better…
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From Exploding Tents to Digital Billboards: A Trader's Journey
Trader Stu reveals how business barter creates opportunities for new customers and partnerships while sharing his journey using podcasting instead of SEO to market his business. He discusses innovative marketing strategies and shares exciting local events happening at the Michigan Renaissance...
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Indoor Billboard Advertising: The Future of Local Marketing
We unlock the secrets of business-to-business trade through powerful networking strategies and explore using podcasts as a marketing tool instead of relying solely on SEO. • Working from home while dealing with family health challenges demonstrates today's business flexibility • Renaissance...
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Microphone in Hand: Real Chamber Members Share Their Business Pitches
Behind the scenes of a local Chamber of Commerce networking event called "Coffee Talk," sharing real elevator pitches from business professionals across diverse industries. • Speed networking events allow participants to give 2-minute elevator pitches to multiple tables • Using notes is perfectly...
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Trading Lessons from Renaissance Merchants
We unlock the secrets of Renaissance-era business strategies and discover how 16th-century merchants mastered networking, marketing, and creative value exchange long before modern B2B concepts existed. • Medieval merchants created powerful visual branding with storefront symbols that became the...
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Chicken Wings for Plumbing? No, It's Smarter Than That
Trader Stu explores why restaurants should join barter groups as a strategic business move in today's challenging economic climate. • Restaurants face rising costs, cautious consumer spending, and fierce competition for loyal customers • Barter offers a creative way to overcome these challenges...
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From Influencer Trends to Affiliate Programs: The Future of Business Marketing
Affiliate and influencer marketing are no longer just for consumer brands—they're transforming B2B marketing with performance-based models that prioritize trust and authenticity over mass reach. Traditional marketing approaches are converging with new digital strategies as B2B companies recognize...
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Unlocking New Revenue: How Blending Trade and Cash Transforms Business
Trader Stu shares strategic approaches for blending trade and cash to maximize business revenue and expand customer reach with real-world examples from new members. • Combining trade with cash transactions creates a powerful marketing strategy that preserves cash while driving new business •…
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The Pocket Swap: From Chamber of Commerce Mixers to Chamber of Secrets
The Trading Post podcast unlocks the secret formula to transforming business cards into profitable relationships using a simple, measurable strategy that works at any networking event. • Approach networking events with the "40 card challenge" - emptying your left pocket of business cards while...
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What Failed Tsunami Predictions Teach Us About Business Forecasting
We dive into the reality of using LinkedIn for lead generation and why audio content might be making a surprising comeback while video content becomes less effective for busy professionals. • LinkedIn claims 80% of B2B leads originate there, but regional businesses may find better results on…
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Fake Internet Fame vs. Real Growth: A Trader's Take
We reflect on the journey of podcasting and content creation, comparing it to gardening where growth happens invisibly at first but eventually blossoms with patience and persistence. • Recently reached milestone of 25 podcast episodes • Importance of properly crediting sources in podcast content…
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Summer Podcasting: Staying Productive with Kids Underfoot
Staying consistent with podcasting becomes especially challenging during summer months when family obligations, home repairs, and world events compete for attention and energy. • Summer creates unique challenges for content creators with disrupted routines and family priorities • Home repairs and...
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10 Ways To Keep Your Podcast Listeners Engaged
We explore the top 10 ways to engage podcast listeners while sharing insights from personal experience in the podcasting world. The discussion reveals why authenticity trumps production quality and how building community can transform your podcast marketing strategy. • Ask for feedback and…
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Michigan's AI Calling Laws: What Businesses Need to Know
Michigan's new regulations prohibit using AI voices for B2B appointment setting beginning January 2025, with violations resulting in fines up to $1,500 per occurrence. Learn how AI is transforming podcasting while creating legal challenges for marketers and existential questions for content...
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The Podcast Profit Machine
Podcasting offers a distinctive advantage in today's AI-saturated digital landscape, creating an authentic connection between businesses and their audience that algorithms can't replicate. We explore how this medium transforms cold outreach into warm leads while establishing you as an authority…
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The Quest to Clone Yourself Through Technology
I share my journey exploring AI tools to automate cold calling and appointment setting for business development while maintaining personal connection with clients. The quest to multiply my sales efforts across multiple counties without hiring additional staff has led to testing innovative…
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The Truth About Starting a Business After Being Laid Off
Trader Stu explores the challenges of post-layoff entrepreneurship and shares exciting news about being featured in an upcoming apocalyptic survival video game called "Get Prepped." • Being featured as a trader character in "Get Prepped," an apocalyptic survival video game releasing this winter •...
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From Debt to Harvest: Rethinking Property and Side Income
We explore how to transform your yard from a money drain into an income-generating asset through innovative gardening approaches and direct sales to restaurant chefs. • Modern properties now cost money rather than generate income, from expensive driveways to high-maintenance lawns • Microgreens...
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How I Landed My First Podcast Sponsor (And What Comes Next)
I've landed my first podcast sponsorship with the Michigan Renaissance Festival and will be recording commercials for them through September. This milestone comes while I'm still recording from my car and figuring out audio settings. • Received VIP/media passes for August 13th networking event...
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The Unexpected Journey: When Your Podcast Gets Sponsored
A decade-long dream finally materializes! After years of creating content and navigating the ups and downs of podcasting, the Trading Post podcast has secured its first official sponsorship deal. This unexpected milestone arrived suddenly, catching me off guard despite having uploaded only 11-12...
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How I'm using AI to dominate my follow-up game when nobody else is
The Trading Post podcast explores how to leverage AI tools like Perplexity to transform business networking follow-ups and stand out from competitors who rarely capitalize on their business card collections. We demonstrate a systematic approach to turn networking connections into meaningful...
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What Nobody Tells You About Starting a Podcast for Business
The podcast downloads quadrupled after experimenting with posting twice weekly, proving that consistency is key to building an audience. Finding the right recording environment is crucial for maintaining authenticity and quality. • Car recording provides surprisingly good acoustics with all the...
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Networking Essentials for Entrepreneurs
https://linktr.ee/traderstu Networking remains vital for small businesses even in the digital age, with many entrepreneurs overlooking the power of face-to-face connections that lead to genuine business relationships. Trader Stu shares his comprehensive checklist of networking opportunities that...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Welcome to, "The Trading Post": Barter Business Insights, the podcast where we dive into the fascinating world of B2B trading and networking.
This podcast is organized by seasons.
Season 1: Trade Education & Member Spotlights
Season 2: Networking that nets business
Season 3: Using A Podcast For Marketing (my experience with it)
Disclaimer:
The thoughts and views expressed in this podcast are solely those of the host and do not reflect the official policy or position of Metro Trading Association. Although the host is an employee of Metro Trading, this podcast is intended to educate entrepreneurs on the benefits of professional trading, regardless of their location. Additionally, the host reviews various pieces of camping gear due to the association of trade, barter, and prepping.
“Whistles In The West” was written, recorded, and produced by Durracell, exclusively for use with Trader Stu’s p
HOSTED BY
Trader Stu
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does The Trading Post have?
The Trading Post currently has 62 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is The Trading Post about?
Welcome to, "The Trading Post": Barter Business Insights, the podcast where we dive into the fascinating world of B2B trading and networking. This podcast is organized by seasons. Season 1: Trade Education & Member Spotlights Season 2: Networking that nets business Season 3: Using A Podcast For...
How often does The Trading Post release new episodes?
The Trading Post has 62 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to The Trading Post?
You can listen to The Trading Post 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 The Trading Post?
The Trading Post is created and hosted by Trader Stu.
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