Close The Deal Podcast

Are you delivering great service but still struggling to get new customers? For local business owners, getting found on Google can make the difference between a phone that rings and a business that gets overlooked. On this episode of Close The Deal Podcast, Ewell Smith sits down with John de Jong, founder of Alley Cat Signs & Marketing, to discuss how Google reviews, reputation management, and...

You're attending networking events, meeting people, and making connections. But are those connections turning into real business relationships? On this episode of Close The Deal Podcast, Ewell Smith welcomes longtime friend and business relationship expert John Barranco to discuss why networking doesn't end when you exchange business cards. John has spent more than 20 years working in sp...

You're spending money on Google Ads, but are those leads actually becoming customers? For many business owners, the problem isn't simply getting more leads. It's what happens after someone clicks an ad, visits your website, or calls your business. In this episode of Close The Deal Podcast, Ewell Smith sits down with John Sanders, founder of RevKey, to discuss three areas that can ma...

You're collecting leads, booking appointments, and staying busy. But are you actually closing deals? Sales trainer and author Lisa C. Laird , known as The Closer , joins Ewell Smith on Close The Deal Podcast to tackle one of the most persistent problems in sales: poor follow-up. Lisa explains why sales teams can become obsessed with prospecting numbers while overlooking the opportunities they...

AI is changing how we sell. But are we sacrificing the human connection that actually closes deals? In this episode of Close The Deal Podcast, Ewell Smith talks with Christopher Hughes, a sales professional with more than 25 years of experience, about the growing dependence on artificial intelligence in sales. AI can speed up research, improve writing, and automate repetitive work. But Christopher...

A private equity buyout can deliver a big check. But what happens after the deal closes? For business owners, private equity offers a chance to monetize years of hard work and address succession challenges. But the payout may come with a loss of control, staffing pressures, and an uncertain timeline for future returns. Ewell Smith welcomes John Scott, a partner at Anders CPA in St. Louis, to Close...

Think you have a time management problem? Amanda Van Der Heiden says the real problem may be your priorities, communication, or leadership. In this episode of Close The Deal Podcast, Amanda joins Ewell Smith to break down why productivity hacks alone often don’t solve the problem—and what busy professionals can do instead. Amanda explains why your calendar is one of the clearest indicators of your...

You have the knowledge. You have the experience. But can you get what’s in your head across to someone else in a way that actually makes an impact? That’s the communication problem Andrew Hurteau helps professionals solve. Andrew spent the first half of his career as a professional actor, performer, acting teacher, and coach. He eventually shifted that experience toward professionals who may never...

Are you using AI in your business without thinking about what happens when it touches employee data, hiring decisions, terminations, or critical business systems? AI can make a business faster and more efficient, but small business owners also need to understand the risks they may be creating along the way. Ewell Smith sits down with Sara Skowronsk , who brings 25 years of multi-state employment l...

You know what you need to do—but you still aren’t doing it. What’s actually keeping you stuck? Army veteran and executive coach Mark Reynolds joins Ewell Smith to unpack a problem almost every entrepreneur, executive, and business owner encounters: knowing something needs to change but failing to execute. Mark breaks the problem into what he calls the Three C Framework: clarity, competency, and ch...

What if your high-ticket offer isn't the problem? Esther Stewart, CEO of Cottn Owl , joins Ewell Smith on the Close The Deal Podcast to explain why struggling offers often come down to positioning, messaging, and an unnecessarily complicated sales funnel. Esther breaks down how to better communicate the value of your offer, differentiate yourself in a crowded market, and simplify the path tha...

James Trawick built one of the most ambitious rodeo and music festivals in America. But despite the success, there was still a commitment he'd been postponing. In this episode of Close The Deal, James shares the story behind Hondo Rodeo Fest, the challenge of launching in New Orleans, and the personal goal that kept getting pushed aside. The conversation ultimately reveals something many entr...

Kris Grey helps organizations recover failing projects and scale operations through better systems and project management. But behind the business success was a harder truth: years of neglecting his health, relationships, and personal priorities while trying to survive entrepreneurship. In this episode of Close The Deal, Kris shares: losing his job three days after becoming a father surviving nine...

Andrea Anderson built a massive online audience helping people buy cars and negotiate confidently. But success created a new problem: visibility. In this episode of Close The Deal, Andrea opens up about growing beyond the screen and confronting the one thing she still struggles with - public speaking and leadership visibility. Despite building 100,000+ followers online, Andrea admits she’s natural...

Success can quietly damage a marriage if couples aren’t intentional. In this episode of Close The Deal, Rock Sandretto shares the commitment he and his wife are making to protect their relationship while continuing to grow multiple businesses together. After battling addiction during the opioid epidemic and spending time in jail, Rock rebuilt his life through faith, family, and entrepreneurship. W...

This episode is about a decision most people avoid: choosing what you really want over what feels safe. The Decision Aideen had to choose: 👉 Stay focused on a stable business 👉 Or finally step into her identity as a singer The Commitment She commits to releasing an 8-song album by January 1st and performing live shortly after. Who This Episode Is For Creatives stuck in execution Entrepreneurs ba...

This episode is about a decision most entrepreneurs avoid— Do you stay comfortable, or do you scale when the opportunity shows up? Sam Caruso is facing that moment right now. The Decision Sam has momentum, clients, and opportunity. But now he must choose: → Keep things manageable and predictable → Or build a team, take bigger risks, and scale fast One path protects him. The other defines him. The...

Most entrepreneurs don’t struggle because they can’t build. They struggle because they avoid the decision that comes next. Heath Holmes already proved he can build—taking a business to $1.4M in just over a year. Now he’s at a crossroads that will define everything moving forward. Franchise the model… or build it himself and expand a different way. The Decision This isn’t theoretical. Heath has two...

Entrepreneurs are told to chase work-life balance - but what if that idea is completely wrong? In this episode, Tom Cox breaks down why trying to balance everything leads to failure in both business and family life. He shares a better approach focused on presence, consistency, and intentional decision-making. What You Will Learn: Why balance doesn’t work How to prioritize your family The power of...

Most business owners don’t have a sales problem—they have a money problem. In this episode, Tom Cox breaks down why entrepreneurs who are great at their craft still struggle financially. From misunderstanding cash flow to ignoring margin, this conversation dives into the real issues holding businesses back. You’ll also hear a powerful shift in thinking: instead of just making money, you need to le...

Pick up the phone sales may be the simplest growth strategy most companies overlook. In this episode of the Close The Deal Podcast, Scotty Baudoin explains how consistent outreach to warm contacts can generate stronger relationships and measurable revenue growth. The Outgrow method focuses on proactive communication—calling people you already know, leaving a message, following with a text, and ask...

Luxury brand positioning is the disciplined strategy of moving out of the commodity market and into premium authority. In this episode of the Close The Deal Podcast, Ewell Smith speaks with Kathryn Porritt about how founders can protect margins, reposition mastery, and stop competing on price. What You’ll Learn: Why the middle market is collapsing The structural difference between volume models an...

Most LinkedIn outreach fails because it starts with a pitch instead of a conversation. What You’ll Learn ⏺  Why feedback outperforms cold pitching ⏺ How to structure high response outreach ⏺ When automation helps and when it hurts ⏺ What cash collected really means in sales Short Episode Summary Jack Hayes joins Ewell Smith to break down a smarter approach to LinkedIn outreach. Instead of leading...

Half of all businesses fail within five years, and the leading cause is lack of product demand. What You’ll Learn Why demand generation determines survival How owned, earned, and paid marketing differ The 3D framework for structured growth Why authority and visibility matter more than ever Saul Marquez joins Ewell Smith to unpack why businesses fail and how founders can build sustainable product d...

Networking works when people understand how referrals actually happen. What You’ll Learn • How to become referable • How to create real connections • Why communication drives trust Angie Weidel explains the practical networking fundamentals most professionals never learn and how they directly impact referrals and revenue. Key Takeaways • Clarity drives referrals • Introductions matter more than le...