Power Producers Podcast

In the tenth installment of the "Becoming the Protégé" series on Power Producers Shop Talk, host David Carothers sits down with Rich Bales of the Avanti Group to discuss his journey from medical device sales to becoming an agency owner and contestant on The Protégé Season 3. Rich shares his entrepreneurial story, detailing why he left a high-stress corporate career to build a business with more fr...

In this episode of the Power Producers Podcast, host David Carothers interviews Terrence McLean, Co-Founder and CEO of SageSure. Terry joins the show from Silicon Valley to discuss how SageSure has grown into a powerhouse in the catastrophe-exposed property market. They dive deep into the philosophy of running toward risk when others run away, the critical importance of physical inspections, and w...

In this episode of the Power Producers Podcast, host David Carothers sits down with Aaron Puchbauer, a contestant on Season 3 of The Protégé. Aaron’s journey to insurance is unique—he spent 15 years as a healthcare executive before a corporate restructuring led him to pivot into the world of risk management. They discuss how Aaron’s background as a C-Suite buyer gives him a unique advantage in sel...

In this episode of the Power Producers Podcast, host David Carothers welcomes back Andy Mathisen, Insurance Sales Manager for Homebot. They dive into how agencies can dominate the personal lines market by shifting from transactional relationships to value-driven engagement.  Andy breaks down how Homebot serves as a "set it and forget it" tool that keeps agents front-and-center with insureds while...

In this episode of Power Producer Shop Talk, host David Carothers interviews Pam Seidler, the only female contestant in Season 3 of The Protégé. Pam shares her diverse background, from working in radio and TV to oxygen sales and a stint in the captive insurance world with AAA. Now, she's diving headfirst into commercial insurance, eager to prove that being new to the industry is not a disadvantage...

In this episode of the Power Producers Podcast, host David Carothers interviews Dean Bowen of Patriotic Insurance. Dean represents the next generation of producers, having transitioned from a background in blue-collar labor (roofing, manufacturing) into the insurance industry just over a year ago. They discuss the mental shift required to move from task-based physical labor to the self-motivated w...

In the seventh installment of the "Becoming the Protégé" series on Power Producers Shoptalk, host David Carothers interviews the first set of coaches for The Protégé Season 3: Zach Mefferd, Founder and CEO of ZipBonds, and Mike Fusco, President of Fusco & Orsini Insurance Services. Dressed in costumes (including sunglasses), the trio discusses their coaching strategies, evaluates the current crop...

In this episode of the Power Producers Podcast, host David Carothers sits down with Elana Burr, Co-Founder and President of Talent Harbor. They tackle one of the insurance industry's biggest headaches: acquiring top-tier sales talent. David shares his own frustrating journey of trying to enter the industry without a "traditional" background, while Elana pulls back the curtain on how recruiters ide...

In the sixth installment of the "Becoming the Protégé" series on Power Producers Shop Talk, host David Carothers speaks with contestant Jacob Brawner of Brawner Insurance, based in Iowa and serving the Midwest. Jacob shares his unconventional path from being a teacher to joining his family's agency, originally focused on crop insurance. The conversation highlights Jacob's educational background as...

In this episode of the Power Producers Podcast, David Carothers, Kyle Houck, and Clinton Houck explore how technology, customer experience, and new product offerings are reshaping opportunities in the insurance industry.  Clinton, who started his career at State Farm and later moved into the insurtech space, shares how his path led him to Fair, a company reimagining the vehicle warranty space. His...

In this fifth installment of the "Becoming the Protégé" series on Power Producers Shop Talk, host David Carothers chats with contestant Jeff Rountree, principal of the Roundtree Agency. The conversation is a flavorful blend of business strategy and culinary passion, as Jeff shares his journey from life insurance and corporate training to commercial ownership. They dive into the challenges of navig...

In this episode of the Power Producers Podcast, host David Carothers and co-host Kyle Houck welcome back Brian Ahearn, Chief Influence Officer at Influence PEOPLE. They discuss his fifth book, Influence from Above, a business parable that merges Robert Cialdini’s principles of persuasion with Biblical tenets. The conversation explores modern authorship using AI, the strict definition of ethical in...

In this episode of the Power Producers Podcast, host David Carothers and co-host Kyle Houck are joined by Jessica Fukuchi, co-founder of PCRG Insurance. They dive into the often-overlooked world of high-net-worth personal lines insurance and why middle-market commercial producers need to pay attention to it. Jessica shares her journey from a captive agent to building an independent agency speciali...

In the fourth installment of the "Becoming the Protégé" series on Power Producers Shop Talk, host David Carothers welcomes contestant Brian Shaw, the Principal at Alamo Insurance Professionals. Brian, a veteran of the US Army, law enforcement, and the financial services world, shares his powerful "why" for joining the competition. He discusses his unique challenge of feeling like he's "running in...

In this episode of the Power Producers Podcast, host David Carothers sits down with Jeff Harris, the CEO and co-founder of Appulate, widely considered the original Insurtech (founded in 2005). Jeff shares Appulate's journey from solving the "abysmal" problem of supplemental form generation to becoming an all-in-one AI solution for agencies. They discuss the critical gap between insurance and techn...

In this third installment of the "Becoming the Protégé" series on Power Producers Shop Talk, host David Carothers sits down with contestant Lloyd Brown. David opens the show with a candid discussion on the need for greater diversity in the "pale, male, and stale" insurance industry, commending Lloyd for joining the competition. Lloyd shares his powerful personal journey, from attending ministry sc...

In this episode of the Power Producers Podcast, host David Carothers sits down with Toby Hung, co-founder and COO of 1Fort, to discuss the practical application of AI in commercial insurance agencies. Toby shares his background on both the carrier and tech sides, explaining why he co-founded 1Fort to bridge the gap between insurance and technology. The conversation centers on how AI can automate t...

In this second episode of the "Becoming the Protégé" series on Power Producers Shop Talk, host David Carothers sits down with Protégé Season 3 contestant Joe Hollier, also known as "Mr. Hotel." Joe, a 20-year industry veteran, shares why he's joining the competition to accelerate his full transition into the commercial insurance space. The conversation covers his deep background in the hospitality...

In this episode of the Power Producers Podcast, host David Carothers and co-host Kyle Houck welcome Tania the Herbalist, a former top insurance salesperson turned holistic life advisor. Tania shares her journey from corporate burnout to helping people become the "CEO of their life" by finding purpose and balance across health, career, and relationships. The conversation delves into the scarcity mi...

In this first episode of a special 12-part Power Producer Shop Talk series titled "Becoming the Protégé," host David Carothers introduces the contestants and coaches for The Protégé Season 3. Kicking off the series is Sam Louwrens (Can't shut up Sam on X), whose application video generated significant buzz. David sets the stage, explaining his motivation for reviving The Protégé—to give back, trai...

In this episode of the Power Producers Podcast, host David Carothers and co-host Kyle Houck welcome back Ashley Napier of Solomon Strategic Advisors, a key supporter of Producers in Paradise. Ashley, who transitioned from an agency COO to a leadership consultant, shares her insights into the common struggles facing insurance organizations today. The conversation explores the critical need for orga...

In this episode of the Power Producers Podcast, host David Carothers and co-host Kyle Houck are joined by Kevin Surace, an inventor, keynote speaker, and the "father of the virtual assistant." They take a high-energy deep dive into the present-day impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on the insurance industry. Kevin explains that the AI revolution is not a future event—it's happening right now....

In the fourth and final installment of this Shoptalk series, host David Carothers and Zane Goldthorp of ProWriters tackle a critical issue facing agents every day: the vast difference between a standalone cyber policy and a simple BOP or package endorsement. They call out the laziness of settling for an endorsement, highlighting the massive coverage gaps it leaves and the E&O exposure it creates f...

In this episode of the Power Producers Podcast, host David Carothers and co-host Kyle Houck are joined by Austin Medlin of closedsales.com for a deep dive into the psychology of high-ticket sales. Austin, a sales expert with a 60% close rate on cold traffic, shares his journey from a natural-born hustler to a seven-figure closer. The conversation centers on overcoming the biggest hurdle for most s...

In the third installment of this Shoptalk series, host David Carothers and guest Zane Goldthorp of ProWriters shift the focus to proactive risk management for cyber insurance. They make the case that even in a soft market, a responsible business owner's focus should be on security, not just on meeting minimum carrier requirements. The conversation covers the essential security controls every busin...