How I Built My Small Business

Today we’re diving into the world of publishing with Jackie Ashton —literary agent, journalist, and founder of Bookmark, a boutique agency helping thought leaders bring impactful books to life. Before launching The Bookmark Agency , Jackie was an agent at Lucinda Literary, where she landed major publishing deals for authors like Dave Pell ( Please Scream Inside Your Heart ) and Scott Shigeoka ( Se...

Today’s episode is part of Podcasthon , a global effort bringing thousands of podcasts together to raise awareness for charitable causes. My guest today is Christopher Helfrich , President and CEO of Eat. Learn. Play. , the foundation he co-founded with Stephen and Ayesha Curry to tackle childhood hunger, early literacy, and active lifestyles for kids in Oakland. Since launching in 2019, Eat. Lear...

Laura Wachtel talks about how improv can make life—and work—better. The principles of improv—like saying ‘yes, and,’ thinking on your feet, and embracing the unexpected—can transform how you communicate, lead, and handle challenges. Laura is the owner of Zipline Improv , where she’s bringing improv out of the theater and into the real world—helping individuals, businesses, schools, and communities...

Ru Hill is the founder of Surf Simply , a globally renowned boutique coaching resort in Costa Rica that has transformed the way people learn to surf. Unlike traditional surf schools, Surf Simply takes a science-based, technique-driven approach , breaking down the complexities of surfing into teachable, measurable skills. This method has attracted everyone from complete beginners to seasoned surfer...

Today, Dr. Alexa D’Agostino is coming on the show to share insights on how to build a company from six to seven figures or seven to eight. Alexa founded her first official company at 18 and went on to build and then exit multiple businesses achieving over nine figures in exits by the age of 30. As a part of her journey, she has raised over $100m for charities worldwide. As the CEO of Thynk Consult...

In today’s episode, Hayes Hitchens talks with us about his journey starting and building Moondance Adventures . Moondance is a teen adventure travel program that sends over 2000 teenagers each summer on trips across five continents and over twenty countries with a commitment to foster personal growth, leadership skills, problem solving, decision making and a love for the outdoors. For some backsto...

Today we have Dr. Megan Lyons on the show to talk about recognizing early symptoms of burnout, ways to optimize your health, and fix the root causes of illness. Megan is a Harvard graduate with two Master’s degrees, two Board Certifications, and a Doctorate of Clinical Nutrition. She is a passionate health and wellness expert, inspiring others to feel their healthiest and happiest.  In 2014, Megan...

Andy Hunter is the founder CEO of bookshop. Org   In todday's episode, he talks about his innovative solution to save indie bookstore. Quoting the New York Times, “The rapid rise of Bookshop.org during the shutdown has been hailed as a boon for independent stores.” B-Labs announced the company as one of the “best for the world,” and in the top 5% of all B-Corps. The business model is brillian...

Today we’re joined by Alexandra Janelli, a leading hypnotherapist and founder of ModrnSanctuary, an alternative beauty and wellness spa and winner of Philadelphia Magazine’s 2024 “Best of Philly.” She is also the founder of My Burble, a transformative app designed to help users overcome stress, anxiety, sleep issues, and other personal challenges through tailored guided visualizations and meditati...

I’m trying something new this week by releasing a shortened highlights episode alongside the full one. It’s designed for those of you who may not have time to listen to the whole episode—perfect for a quick commute or a busy day. To be honest, it’s more work, and my ADD brain isn’t entirely convinced this idea is worth continuing, but I wanted to experiment and see how it goes. I’d love to hear yo...

Today we’re diving into why building and scaling a business—and achieving more freedom and free time—starts with the “who” in your business. Our guest, Dr. Geoff Smart , is the Chairman and Founder of ghSMART, a leadership advisory firm specializing in helping companies make high-impact hiring and leadership decisions. With over $100 million in revenue, ghSMART’s hiring strategies are in high dema...

🎉 Season 2 of How I Built My Small Business is Coming January 21! Get ready for more thought-provoking stories, expert wisdom, and actionable advice to help you grow in both business and life. This season, I’m sharing conversations with incredible guests, including: Ru Hill ( Surf Simply Resort ): Discover why his impactful business model and unique perspective earned him an invitation to speak a...

Welcome to How I Built My Small Business: Bite-Sized ! I’m Anne McGinty, host of the show. While full-length guest episodes are on hold for the holidays, I’ve prepared a collection of short, impactful episodes to keep you inspired until Season 2. Subscribe on Apple Podcast , Spotify or YouTube . Let’s connect! Subscribe to my newsletter: Time To Live: Thriving in Business and Beyond Website: https...

Welcome to How I Built My Small Business: Bite-Sized ! I’m Anne McGinty, your host. While we take a break from full-length guest episodes for the holidays, I’ve curated a series of short, impactful episodes to keep you inspired. Each bite-sized episode features a collection of powerful snippets from interviews, organized by topic for easy listening. Stay tuned for quick insights to fuel your busin...

Welcome to How I Built My Small Business: Bite-Sized ! I’m Anne McGinty, host of the show. While full-length guest episodes are on hold for the holidays, I’ve prepared a collection of short, impactful episodes to keep you inspired until Season 2. Subscribe on Apple Podcast , Spotify or YouTube . Let’s connect! Subscribe to my newsletter: Time To Live: Thriving in Business and Beyond Website: https...

Welcome to How I Built My Small Business: Bite-Sized ! I’m Anne McGinty, your host. While we take a break from full-length guest episodes for the holidays, I’ve curated a series of short, impactful episodes to keep you inspired. Each bite-sized episode features a collection of powerful snippets from interviews, organized by topic for easy listening. Stay tuned for quick insights to fuel your busin...

Welcome to How I Built My Small Business: Bite-Sized ! I’m Anne McGinty, your host. While we take a break from full-length guest episodes for the holidays, I’ve curated a series of short, impactful episodes to keep you inspired. Each bite-sized episode features a collection of powerful snippets from interviews, organized by topic for easy listening. Stay tuned for quick insights to fuel your busin...

Welcome to a very merry episode of How I Built My Small Business ! I’m Anne McGinty, your host, and I know I said no new episodes, but this is a surprise Christmas special. Today, we’re diving into the magical world of Santa’s little helpers with Chanda Bell , co-founder and co-CEO of The Lumistella Company, home of The Elf on the Shelf .  Whether you’re a seasoned elf owner or someone who’s just...

Welcome to How I Built My Small Business: Bite-Sized ! I’m Anne McGinty, host of the show. While full-length guest episodes are on hold for the holidays, I’ve prepared a collection of short, impactful episodes to keep you inspired until Season 2. Subscribe on Apple Podcast , Spotify or YouTube . Let’s connect! Subscribe to my newsletter: Time To Live: Thriving in Business and Beyond Website: https...

Welcome to How I Built My Small Business: Bite-Sized ! I’m Anne McGinty, your host. While we take a break from full-length guest episodes for the holidays, I’ve curated a series of short, impactful episodes to keep you inspired. Each bite-sized episode features a collection of powerful snippets from interviews, organized by topic for easy listening. Stay tuned for quick insights to fuel your busin...

Welcome to How I Built My Small Business: Bite-Sized ! I’m Anne McGinty, your host. While we take a break from full-length guest episodes for the holidays, I’ve curated a series of short, impactful episodes to keep you inspired. Each bite-sized episode features a collection of powerful snippets from interviews, organized by topic for easy listening. Stay tuned for quick insights to fuel your busin...

Welcome to How I Built My Small Business: Bite-Sized ! I’m Anne McGinty, your host. While we take a break from full-length guest episodes for the holidays, I’ve curated a series of short, impactful episodes to keep you inspired. Each bite-sized episode features a collection of powerful snippets from interviews, organized by topic for easy listening. Stay tuned for quick insights to fuel your busin...

As we draw season one to a close, I’m thrilled to share some of the heartwarming stories and pivotal lessons that we've heard on this journey.  From grappling with technical hiccups like latency delays during my chat with Max Skinner of Two Rock Amplifiers to drawing inspiration from Jason Feifer's spontaneous interviewing style, this season has been an exhilarating learning curve. Your...

John Kilcullen, the creator of the For Dummies brand and former chairman and CEO of IDG Books, shares his journey in building one of the world’s most iconic publishing series. In this episode, John delves into the rise of For Dummies , his experience leading other renowned brands like Frommer's Travel and Cliff’s Notes , and his time as president and publisher of Billboard Magazine and The Ho...

Today we’re joined by Farnoosh Torabi , America’s leading personal finance expert who is dedicated to helping others become unapologetically rich. Farnoosh is an award-winning financial correspondent, television personality, and best-selling author of You’re So Money, A Healthy State of Panic, Psych Yourself Rich, and  When She Makes More . Her Podcast So Money was ranked a Top Female-Hosted Podca...