Ask Brien Show

Welcome to the Ask Brien Radio Show with hosts Peter Bronstein and Traci DeForge. This engaging episode delves into Chris Skates' multifaceted career, exploring his evolution from a chemist to a successful writer and political advisor. Chris recounts his experiences writing for the Governor of Kentucky and the Trump administration, offering insights into the world of political speechwriting. The d...

This week on the Ask Brien radio show, we're thrilled to welcome Andrew Brown, CEO and co-founder of Tool Fetch, a one-stop shop for tradespeople's equipment needs. Andrew shares his inspiring journey from a tech professional to a leading advocate for the skilled trades industry. Discover how the events of 9/11 shaped his entrepreneurial path and learn about the challenges he faced in building a s...

The Ask Brien podcast dives  into entrepreneurship and business success with host Peter Bronstein and co-host Alex Grossman. Alex shares his wealth of knowledge gained from various business ventures. The discussion covers key challenges faced by entrepreneurs, essential steps for business success, and the importance of proper business structure. Peter Bronstein adds valuable legal perspective...

The Ask Brien podcast welcomes Dr. Gina Williams, CEO of Mobility Health Physical Therapy, to discuss the importance of work-life balance and physical well-being for entrepreneurs. Hosts Peter Bronstein and Traci DeForge delve into Dr. Williams' transition from working in a "physical therapy factory" to founding her own mobile physical therapy practice. The conversation covers the benefits of dele...

In this episode of the Ask Brien podcast, host Peter Bronstein and guest-host Alex Grossman dive into the crucial topic of corporate compliance for small businesses. They’ll explore the intricacies of the Corporate Transparency Act, which requires businesses to file a Beneficial Ownership Information Report. They break down who needs to file, the penalties for non-compliance, and how to complete t...

In this episode of the Ask Brien podcast, hosts Peter Bronstein and Traci DeForge welcome executive leadership coach Corey Anker. Corey shares insights from his 15 years of experience coaching high-performing leaders across various industries. The conversation covers a wide range of business topics, including the transition from solopreneur to team leader, overcoming fears associated with scaling,...

In this episode of the Ask Brien podcast, hosts Peter Bronstein and Traci DeForge welcome Patricia Pinckney, founder of Rima Strategy. Patricia Pinckney shares her journey from working with marketing powerhouses like Procter & Gamble and Coca-Cola to founding her own strategy firm. The discussion covers the challenges of starting a business, the importance of research in strategy development,...

In this episode, hosts Peter and Traci chat with Kevin Waldher, CEO of Wealth Retention Strategies, to explore how his firm helps clients minimize tax exposure, maximize charitable giving, and build customized financial plans. Learn how to assess your current financial position, identify potential risks, and implement strategies to protect and grow your wealth. Whether you’re a business owner or a...

In this episode of the Ask Brien radio show, hosts Peter Bronstein and Traci DeForge dive into the world of podcasting. Traci is a podcasting expert, sharing insights from her experience as the Founder and CEO of Produce Your Podcast, a full service podcast production agency. This episode provides a comprehensive look at podcasting from a business perspective. Traci and Peter explore topics such a...

In this episode of the Ask Brien podcast, hosts Peter and Traci welcome Ernesto Calleri and Barbara Wardell, co-founder of Calleri and Wardell, a geofencing advertising agency. The guests share their journey from diverse backgrounds into the world of location-based digital marketing. This insightful discussion explores how geofencing technology is revolutionizing small business advertising and cus...

In this episode of the Ask Brien podcast, co-hosts Peter and Traci dive into the topic of entrepreneurial burnout. Guest Maegan Megginson, a former psychotherapist turned business coach, shares her expertise on recognizing and addressing burnout. She highlights the importance of self-awareness and differentiating between mild fatigue and severe burnout for entrepreneurs. Maegan discusses the conce...

On today’s episode of Ask Brien, Traci DeForge sits down with Jose Berlanga, CEO of Houstonian Capital and Onyx Land Partners. With 35 years of entrepreneurial experience, Jose helps business owners tackle critical questions like breaking even, valuing their time, and managing budgets. As a real estate developer, he’s worked with businesses across industries—from restaurants to oil and gas. Don’t...

In this episode of the Ask Brien podcast, hosts Peter and Traci welcome guest Jesse Hernandez Jr. of DepthBuilder.com. Jesse discusses his transition into consulting, focusing on improving communication and productivity in organizations. He opens up about his initial struggles with pricing his services and how a mentor's advice helped him gain confidence. Jesse also talks about handling rate incre...

In this episode of the Ask Brien Podcast, hosts Peter and Traci delve into the essentials of business success, focusing on financial management and strategic planning with Michele Williams the Founder and CEO of Scarlet Thread Consulting. Michele shares her journey from financial software development to entrepreneurship. She discusses the creation of a financial dashboard to aid business owners, p...

This week we were joined by Tony Ulwick, CEO of Strategyn. Tony shares the importance of doing research to understand what potential customers are really looking for and what their current unmet needs are. Instead of spending time testing out several different solutions or products, go directly to the source to see what their needs are, then design a solution around those needs. He talks about how...

Customer experience can make a huge difference in the success of a company, but it often gets overlooked. This week, we are joined by Aransas Savas and Dave Norton of Stone Mantel, a business that helps create better experiences for customers and helps clients create more value. Our guests discuss how they onboard new customers and uncover what their customers are needing in order for them to inno...

This week we are joined by marketing expert, Cyndee Harrison. Cyndee has worked with many entrepreneurs and businesses on sharing their stories and creating success in the marketing world. She explains why internal and external messaging is critical, and why your team needs to all be on board with the same mission. Cyndee talks about how podcasting has changed over the last 10 years, and why it ca...

Should you form a corporation or LLC immediately when starting a business? This week, our very own Peter Bronstein is discussing how to set up a business correctly, and the impacts that could happen if you don’t. He describes what companies need to know when it comes to written and verbal contracts, and how to best protect yourself. Peter dives into why a business may not create a separate entity...

Does it feel like you're spinning your wheels to get your business noticed? This week, we have Michelle Griffin on the show who is an expert on branding. As a Personal Brand and PR Advisor, Michelle discusses how to get your name out into the world as a small business and the best way to create a good message for potential clients. She talks about the books she has written, and why they can benefi...

There are so many financing options available, sometimes it can feel confusing to know which option would be best for your business. This week, we have Glenn Russo from Avatar Financial Consultants on the show to discuss the various funding options, as well as what to watch out for. He goes in depth on the different financial options and explains what types of business they may be best for. Tune i...

Are you a new business owner or entrepreneur who is looking for the best tips to get your business started right? This week, John Davenport joins the Ask Brien Show to talk about business development, marketing, and social media strategies. He shares some incredible tips on the best ways to utilize social media and how to ensure you are using ads correctly. He explains what the most important thin...

Diversity is so much more than just gender or race, according to Judith Weigle. Today, we have workshop leader and diversity expert Judith Weigle on the show to discuss how she has redefined diversity and why human connection is crucial to employee retention and a successful business. Judith explains how remote work has impacted diversity and the culture in companies and why the nationwide process...

As a serial entrepreneur, it seems that Alex has done it all. His latest venture into the retail space has proven to be more challenging, but he’s learned a lot. In this episode, Alex shares more about his specialized venture into the motorsports industry and his advice on running a brick and mortar store. Alex shares how COVID has changed the landscape for businesses and what people are more like...

Empowering women over 40 is Jenna Capozzi’s speciality, especially when it comes to helping them market their businesses! This week, Jenna joins the show to talk about how she transitioned away from Hollywood into marketing and mentorship. She shares the best ways to cold call businesses in order to get your services in front of them, and how to be prepared for those calls! Jenna shares the most c...

Have you been trying to get your website to rank on Google, but you can’t get it past the second or third page? This week, we are joined by David Lowbridge of Two Feet Marketing to discuss SEO (Search Engine Optimization). David shares best practices to get your website seen, including information about how many words to use, what type of images to use, and where to place your keywords to give you...