Small Business Stories

S6:E33 If people don't hear from you, they don't wait. They interpret . And most of the time, they get it wrong. In this episode, Dr. LL sits down with renowned executive coach, Ash Seddeek , to explore what leadership communication actually requires in today's environment where visibility is constant, trust is fragile, and silence carries weight. This is a conversation about responsibility, meani...

Some businesses attract more fantasy than fundamentals. Real estate is one of them. In this episode, Dr. LL talks with Jose Berlanga, CEO of Onyx Land Partners and author of Dirt Rich , about what actually separates durable success from aspirational noise in land development, home building, and entrepreneurship. If people don't trust your judgment, they won't invest with you. If you don't understa...

S6:E31 There is no shortage of marketing tools right now. There is a shortage of clarity. In this episode, Dr. LL sits down with Dave Charest , Director of Small Business Success at Constant Contact (you know - the pioneer of eMail marketing with revenues still over $250 million per year), to unpack what is actually happening beneath the surface for small business owners trying to stay visible in...

S6:E30 What happens when leadership is treated like status instead of stewardship? In this episode, Dr. LL sits down with Jim Matuga , founder of Interaction Media, longtime entrepreneur, podcast host, spirit "ambassador" for West Virginia, and author of  Humble Influence. We had a grounded conversation about culture, followership, faith, community, and what it really takes to lead people well in...

S6:E29 Some leaders are trying to be more human and still losing traction. Others hold the line so hard that people stop trusting them. In this episode, Dr. LL and Holly Golebiowski explore the tension between empathy, authority, accessibility, and real leadership growth. If people don't trust you, they won't follow you. If they don't remember you, they won't look for you. If your leadership creat...

S6:E28 Trust is rarely lost in one dramatic moment. More often, it slips through small signals of distraction, misalignment, or weak preparation. In this episode of Small Business Stories , Dr. LL sits down with Glenn Poulos , President of Prague USA and author of Never Sit in the Lobby , to talk about the discipline behind long- term sales relationships, the difference between activity and progre...

S6:E27 A lot of founders are generating revenue and staying busy, yet still feeling unclear about their finances and unsure about what to do next. Queue up episode In this episode of Small Business Stories , Loralyn Mears, PhD, aka Dr. LL talks with Emil Abedian , founder and CEO of Counsel CPAs, about what happens when entrepreneurs stay trapped in compliance mode and never fully step into strate...

S6:E26 Consumers want healthier food. But building those products is far more complex than most people realize. Queue Up Episode In this episode of Small Business Stories , Dr. LL sits down with Kash Rocheleau , CEO of Icon Foods, to explore the intersection of food innovation, consumer behavior, and leadership. If people don't trust you, they won't buy from you. If consumers don't understand what...

S6:E25 Raising capital is rarely just about money. It is about trust, credibility, and whether investors believe in the people behind the idea. Queue Up Episode In this episode of Small Business Stories , Dr. LL sits down with angel investor and author Marcia Dawood to explore the realities of early-stage investing. If people don't trust you, they won't invest. If investors don't believe the found...

S6:E24 Many founders start businesses seeking freedom. Then accidentally build companies that consume their lives. Queue Up Episode This week on Small Business Stories , Dr. LL sits down with Jesse P. Gilmore , founder of Niche In Control, to explore what happens when marketing agencies grow faster than their systems. If people don't trust you, they won't follow you. If your business depends entir...

S6:E23 Scaling a business doesn't reduce pressure. It refines it. Queue Up Episode This week on Small Business Stories, Dr. LL sits down with Borja Cuan , co-founder of 415 Digital, to explore what truly changes when companies move from startup to scale. If people don't trust you, they won't follow you. If your expectations drift faster than your clarity, growth fractures. Borja shares what eight...

S6:E22 Marketing fails because of fragmentation across too many platforms. Queue Up Episode This week on Small Business Stories, Dr. LL sits down with Jensen Savage , founder of Savage Growth Partners, to unpack what really drives sustainable growth. If people don't trust you, they won't buy. If your strategy isn't coherent, your signal gets diluted. Jensen shares why ruthless prioritization matte...

S6:E21 Most money problems are not mathematical. They are emotional. Queue Up Episode This week on Small Business Stories, Dr. LL sits down with Leisa Peterson , founder of WealthClinic.com and author of The Mindful Millionaire , to explore how scarcity thinking quietly shapes financial decisions. On a personal note, I was so compelled by what she had to say, I got her book and read it cover to co...

S6:E20 Most entrepreneurs fail because of what happens in their head AFTER the market shifts. Queue Up Episode This week on Small Business Stories, Dr. LL sits down with Chris Prefontaine , founder of Smart Real Estate Coach, to unpack what happens after financial collapse, and the guts (along with everything else) that it takes to rebuild. If people don't trust you, they won't follow you. If you...

S6:E19 Having authority does not mean you have followers. Queue Up Episode This week on Small Business Stories, Dr. LL sits down with executive coach and M&A advisor Joseph Incrocci to explore how leadership expectations have shifted in founder-led and middle-market businesses. If people don't trust you, they won't follow you. If they don't believe you can take them somewhere better, they won't al...

S6:E18 You can be fully booked and still be building a fragile business. Queue Up Episode This week on Small Business Stories, Dr. LL sits down with Mark Osborne, founder of Modern Revenue Strategies and author of Are Your Leads Killing Your Business? If people don't trust you, they won't buy. If you don't differentiate, you attract the wrong buyers. Mark explains how chasing more leads can erode...

S6:E17 Everyone wants the shortcut. No one wants to hear there isn't one. Queue Up Episode This week on Small Business Stories, Dr. LL sits down with technical advisor and business coach Matthew Mamet to unpack what AI is actually changing and what it is not. If people don't trust you, they won't buy from you. If they can't distinguish your expertise from a bot, they won't remember you. Matthew br...

S6:E16 If you keep hearing about the short-term rental tax loophole but it feels confusing, this episode makes it easy-peasy to understand. We unpack how 100% bonus depreciation can create big paper losses that may offset active income when structured correctly. Loralyn Mears, PhD, aka "Dr. LL ," brings you thoughtful conversations with entrepreneurs and small business leaders navigating visibilit...

S6:E15 What happens when the thing you built your identity around disappears? Queue Up Episode This week on Small Business Stories, Dr. LL sits down with former professional skier turned Denver real estate agent Athena Brownson. She's incredible! Introspective, resilient, and inspirational. Follow her on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/athenabrownsonrealtor_/ If people don't trust you, they w...

S6:E14 Loralyn Mears, PhD, aka "Dr. LL," brings you thoughtful conversations with entrepreneurs and small business leaders navigating visibility, leadership, and growth. Thank you for being here. Most founders are carrying more than they admit, and still trying to look "put together" while the ground shifts underneath them. In 2026, it is easy to confuse polish with progress, and busyness with mom...

S6:E13 Loralyn Mears, PhD , aka "Dr. LL," brings you thoughtful conversations with entrepreneurs and small business leaders navigating visibility, leadership, and growth. Thank you for being here. Overview A lot of founders are stuck because their identity is still anchored to safety, approval, and "the responsible choice." So the goalposts keep moving. The bank balance is never enough, the timing...

S6:E12 Loralyn Mears, PhD, aka "Dr. LL," brings you thoughtful conversations with entrepreneurs and small business leaders navigating visibility, leadership, and growth. Thank you for being here. Overview Sometimes the issue is not your talent. It is that people cannot verify it fast enough to feel safe choosing you. In a world where AI can generate endless output, the quiet problem becomes trust,...

S6:E11 Loralyn Mears, PhD , aka "Dr. LL," brings you thoughtful conversations with entrepreneurs and small business leaders navigating visibility, leadership, and growth. Thank you for being here. Overview There's a subtle moment many business owners miss: when growth doesn't stall because of effort, but because clarity slips. The work still happens, but the signal becomes harder to read. Over tim...

S6:E10 Loralyn Mears, PhD , aka "Dr. LL," brings you thoughtful conversations with entrepreneurs and small business leaders navigating visibility, leadership, and growth. Thank you for being here. Overview There is a specific kind of frustration that does not look dramatic from the outside: you are doing the work, you are buying the tools, you are trying to keep up, and somehow things feel harder,...

S6:E9 Pattern Discussed : Borrowed credibility, unearned trust. A founder attaches themselves to a "known" brand, platform, or business model and assumes it will carry visibility and trust, but the local operator work that actually earns belief (standards, reputation, community proof, consistency) still has to happen. How it keeps good businesses unseen, untrusted, underpaid, or underperforming: i...