Small Business Success Talk

Hemp isn't just CBD, THC gummies, or cannabis beverages. It can become animal bedding, seed oil, fish attractant, fire starters, automotive components, building materials, and entirely new business opportunities. So what happens when federal hemp restrictions threaten the profitability and investment that help make those innovations possible? In the final episode of The Business of Hemp , a three-...

What if CBD products remain legal, but the process used to manufacture them becomes legally complicated—or impossible for many American businesses? That's the warning from hemp farmer and cannabinoid industry professional Michael Adair in Part 2 of The Business of Hemp , a three-part special series from Small Business Success Talk . Host Christy Smallwood sits down with Michael, a Kentucky hemp gr...

Could new federal hemp restrictions force small businesses to close their doors? In Part 1 of The Business of Hemp , a three-part special series from Small Business Success Talk , host Christy Smallwood welcomes back Dee Dee, owner of 502 Hemp in Kentucky and 812 Hemp in Indiana, and president of the Kentucky Hemp Association. After years of building her business and serving customers, Dee Dee fac...

Is your business constantly fighting itself? You’re pushing for sales, chasing deadlines, solving operational problems, and working harder than ever. But is all that effort actually producing progress, or is it compensating for something that isn’t working? In this episode of Christy’s Corner on Small Business Success Talk, host Christy Smallwood explores what it really means for a business to fin...

What if the castle is evidence? Not just a beautiful thing at the end of Main Street. Evidence that somebody kept going. Evidence that people worked through financial pressure, uncertainty, failed attempts, difficult decisions and the very real possibility that what they were building might not work. That’s what struck me about the story behind Cinderella. And right now, I can relate. In the newes...

What does marching band have to do with entrepreneurship? A hell of a lot more than you might think. In this Christy's Corner episode of Small Business Success Talk, Christy Smallwood takes us behind the performance to explore The Business of Marching Band—the enormous ecosystem of businesses, careers, logistics, creative professionals, manufacturers, educators, and service providers required to p...

What can a hotel teach you about running your business? Turns out... A LOT. After spending the past month living out of hotels while traveling, I started noticing something. The businesses that earn five-star reviews aren't necessarily the fanciest. They're the ones that make people feel seen. So I took the Top 10 complaints hotel guests have and the Top 10 things they absolutely love ...and conne...

The word entrepreneur has become one of the most overused titles in business. Owning a business doesn't automatically make someone entrepreneurial. Having ideas doesn't automatically create a company. And success rarely happens as fast as social media would have us believe. In this week's Christy's Corner episode, I explore: • What entrepreneurship actually means• Why resilience matters more than...

When was the last time you gave yourself permission to imagine something bigger? In this Christy's Corner episode of Small Business Success Talk, Christy shares an unexpected lesson sparked by a morning at Walt Disney World—and a little girl experiencing pure wonder on the Little Mermaid attraction. That moment led to a much bigger question: What happens when entrepreneurs stop using their imagina...

Email isn’t dead. It’s just being used wrong. In this episode of Small Business Success Talk, Christy sits down with Dave Charest, Director of Small Business Growth at Constant Contact, to break down how email marketing—when powered by storytelling—becomes one of the most effective drivers of business growth. With decades of experience helping small businesses succeed, Dave shares why: Email is st...

What does it really take to grow a business today? In this episode of Small Business Success Talk, Christy sits down with Amy Torres, owner of Director of Marketing, Inc., and Collin Bonsey of Southwestern Consulting to break down the real relationship between marketing and sales—and why most businesses get it wrong. This conversation goes beyond theory and dives into what actually drives results....

If you’re building a business while running on stress, caffeine, and “I’ll deal with it later”… this episode is your wake-up call. In this episode of Small Business Success Talk, Christy sits down with Dr. Meredith Sweeney—a former bariatric surgeon turned longevity specialist—who walked away from traditional medicine to focus on proactive, data-driven health. Together, they unpack what most entre...

What happens when your business, finances, and life all hit at once… and nothing is working anymore? In this raw and honest episode of Small Business Success Talk, Christy pulls back the curtain on her personal journey through what she calls a “life storm”—from financial collapse and business setbacks to rebuilding with clarity, strategy, and a completely new mindset. This episode dives into: How...

In this episode of Small Business Success Talk, host Christy Smallwood sits down with Chris Bonbright, founder of Curiosity Consulting, to unpack why curiosity—not assumptions—is the most underrated business advantage today. Chris shares hard-earned insights from decades in market research, explaining why most businesses confuse symptoms with real problems, how to tell the difference between KPIs...

Isolation is sneaky. Entrepreneurs often call it “focus time” or “cocooning,” but it can quietly turn into loneliness, stagnation, and burnout. In this Christy’s Corner episode of Small Business Success Talk, Christy Smallwood breaks down the science, the soul, and the strategy behind solitude—why you need it sometimes, and when it starts working against you. 👉 Key insight: “Isolation becomes inc...

This week on Christy’s Corner, I unpack how one frustrated woman accidentally sparked a viral movement — and how small business owners can do the same. If you’ve ever felt overworked, underpaid, or simply over it, this one’s for you. From marketing myths to the messy middle, this episode is equal parts real talk, laughter, and strategy. 💡 Topics: How movements really start The “MVP” mindset: show...

Technology doesn’t have to be overwhelming. In this episode of Small Business Success Talk, host Christy Smallwood sits down with repeat guest Jeff Chandler, owner of ZJAK Technologies, to unpack the world of AI, cybersecurity, and small business tech solutions. Jeff shares insights on protecting your business from cybercriminals, avoiding shiny-object syndrome with new tools, and keeping technolo...

Dee Dee Taylor, owner of 502 Hemp and President of the Kentucky Hemp Association, returns to Small Business Success Talk for an update on the challenges and victories in the hemp industry. From Kentucky legislation to federal battles, Dee Dee shares the inside story of lobbying, integrity in business, and why hemp products matter for both customers and communities. This candid conversation dives i...

In this special “Christy’s Corner” episode of Small Business Success Talk, host Christy Smallwood opens up about navigating one of the most chaotic seasons of her business and personal life. From unexpected financial hits and rebranding on the fly, to rebuilding from scratch and letting go of her team, Christy shares real, unfiltered insights on finding calm, making bold decisions, and leading wit...

This week on Small Business Success Talk, I sat down with Kent and Wes Harris of TelScreen—a Louisville-based company helping eye doctors communicate more effectively with their patients. Their story includes humble beginnings, a powerful medical save involving a brain tumor, and some surprising laughs. They’re proof that innovation doesn’t always come from Silicon Valley—it often starts with a qu...

What happens when two powerhouse women—one a former Nestlé executive and certified leadership coach, the other a yoga instructor and education leader—meet in Louisville, KY and both get knocked flat by allergy season? They build a wellness center unlike anything else in the region. In this episode of Small Business Success Talk, host Christy Smallwood sits down with Anna Shulgina and Dasha Grankin...

What do dance, casting, and dog poop bags have in common? Kim Swanson. In this inspiring episode of Small Business Success Talk, Kim shares her journey from being a single mom crying in her car to launching a thriving dance studio, building a successful casting business, and founding SHŪNŪ, an eco-conscious dog product company that gives back to veterans. From church basements and Emmy-winning com...

What happens when a Deadhead entrepreneur becomes one of Louisville’s top attorneys and co-founds a powerhouse law firm in just one weekend? Meet Libby Gray, co-founder and managing partner at Gray Ice Higdon. In this episode, host Christy Smallwood digs into Libby's unconventional path from friendship bracelet slinger to federal court litigator, and how her firm is redefining law firm culture thr...

What happens when a former Microsoft exec buys a chocolate factory, reinvents the brand, and turns it into a movement? In this deliciously inspiring episode of Small Business Success Talk, host Christy Smallwood sits down with the powerhouse mother-daughter duo behind Maeve Chocolate (formerly Seattle Chocolate). Founder Jean Thompson shares how she went from investor to CEO, tackling imposter syn...

What if your story was the one thing that could shape generations to come? In this heartwarming and powerful episode of Small Business Success Talk, Christy Smallwood sits down with David Sermersheim—corporate leader by day, founder of Celebrate Audio by passion—to uncover how storytelling is the most underutilized yet impactful tool in business today. David shares how a personal voicemail at a we...