Making with Purpose

Most makers think marketing is about selling—but that's exactly where many businesses get stuck. In this episode of Making With Purpose , John and Marc break down what marketing really is, why so many entrepreneurs struggle to generate consistent sales, and the framework successful brands use to build awareness, earn trust, and create demand before customers are ready to buy. Whether you'r...

Direct Message us on MakerFlo’s Instagram or Facebook the word “Branding” to get the worksheet! Most makers build a product before they build a brand, and that's where things go wrong. In this episode of Making With Purpose, John and Marc break down what branding actually means for makers, why it matters more than most people think, and how to build a brand that people remember, trust, and com...

Fresh off the Shop Talk e-commerce conference, John and Marc break down everything makers need to know about AI in 2026. The episode covers practical AI applications for inventory forecasting, product design, marketing copy, and customer service, while drawing a clear line between where AI helps and where it can hurt your brand. They also discuss agentic commerce, AI image and video ethics, enviro...

John and Marc continue with Brit Shane to tackle one of the most common misconceptions in social media: that going viral is the goal. Brit breaks down why consistency beats virality, how micro-influencers outperform large accounts in conversions, and why reposting winning content is a legitimate and effective strategy for product businesses. Timestamps00:00:00 Trailer00:00:15 Consistency vs. Viral...

John and Marc continue their conversation with Brit Shane, covering practical content ideas for makers just starting out on social media. The discussion moves into sales funnels, first-party data, affiliate marketing margins, and why getting customers off third-party platforms and onto your own website is critical for long-term business growth. Timestamps:00:00:00 Trailer00:00:16 What Content to P...

John and Marc sit down with Brit Shane, a social media expert with over a decade of experience across Instagram, TikTok, and beyond. The conversation covers platform strategy, content creation, personal branding, paid promotion, content batching, and the tools Brit uses to manage multiple brands. This episode is a practical guide for small business owners looking to turn social media into a real s...

John and Marc sit down with Coach Tom Dougherty from ActionCoach to cover Step 6 of the business mastery framework: Freedom. The conversation explores what financial and personal freedom means for a business owner, why your "why" changes over time, and the different exit and growth paths available once a business reaches this stage. The episode closes with Coach Tom sharing where viewers...

John and Marc sit down with Coach Tom from ActionCoach to break down Step 5 of the business mastery framework: Synergy. The conversation covers what it means to truly step back from your business, how to know when you've reached that level, and why vacation is the real test of whether your systems are working. Practical examples are shared from their own business and from client success storie...

John and Marc sit down with business coach Tom Dougherty to break down two critical stages of business growth: systems and team. Tom explains how documenting processes, leveraging tools like Loom and Google Docs, and building the right team culture can free business owners from being the bottleneck in their own company. The conversation includes real examples from MakerFlo's growth journey, fr...

John and Marc of Makerflo sit down with their long-time business coach, Coach Tom Doughtery, to walk through ActionCoach's six-step framework for scaling a business. The conversation covers mastery, marketing, goal-setting, financial management, and low-cost strategies for growing a maker-based business. Coach Tom draws on his own experience founding and exiting a paintball manufacturing compa...

In the final part of the Making with Purpose podcast, Hosts John and Marc explore with Dr. K how environments shape execution in business and personal life, including physical, digital, social, and time aspects. They discuss setting up surroundings for success, the impact of surrounding oneself with higher-level peers, and building positive team cultures to reduce turnover. The conversation emphas...

In Part 3 of the Making with Purpose podcast, John and Marc discuss with Dr. K why personal energy levels predict business success more reliably than time or money. They explore detecting burnout through language and body cues, strategies to maximize energizing tasks while minimizing draining ones, and recommendations like the book Buy Back Your Time by Dan Martell. The conversation highlights tea...

In part 2 of the Making with Purpose podcast, John and Marc sit down with Dr. K, MakerFlo’s emotional health coach, and explore visualization techniques backed by brain science to help entrepreneurs mentally rehearse success. It covers balancing big-picture thinking with action, daily visualization routines, preparing for setbacks, and making visualization effective rather than wishful thinking. T...

In this episode of the Making with Purpose podcast, John and Marc interview Dr. K, MakerFlo’s emotional health coach, about his transition from Wall Street burnout to coaching. He discusses his rock bottom experience, the five pillars of emotional health, identity reinvention, and practical mindset strategies. The conversation covers goal setting for 2026, avoiding identity traps in business, acco...

In this episode of the Making with Purpose podcast, John and Marc talk about how adding real, authentic value creates the foundation of loyalty, trust, and brand longevity. They break down the mindset shift from transactional selling to impact-driven creation, and why “giving first” always comes back full circle in business and life. The episode dives into how small intentional actions compound ov...

In this episode of The MakerFlo Making with Purpose Podcast, the founders share how they built a business centred around people, not just profits. From free lunches and paid breaks to providing mental health support and a life coach for the team, they break down how “Be Good, Do Good, Spread Good” became more than a motto; it became the heart of MakerFlo. Stay till the end for a special bonus segm...

We just spent two weeks in China filming inside our factories, and we're showing you everything. This episode takes you through the real manufacturing process - from our tumbler factory that uses 12-15 machines and tests every unit at 1000°F, to why the "Made in China = cheap" myth exists (American buyers demanded the cheapest products for decades). We share our $40,000 mistake with...

It started with a plan… and quickly went sideways. Maybe you’ve been there—things looking perfect on paper, only for reality to crash the party. In this episode, we take you through the moments that made us panic, laugh, and question our life choices. From projects that blew up in our faces to unexpected wins that changed the game, we’re sharing the raw, unfiltered journey from chaos to clarity. Y...

If you’re a maker, creator, or small business owner, one of the biggest questions you’ll face is: Where should I sell my products?! Do you set up shop on Etsy and tap into their huge handmade-loving audience? Do you build your own branded storefront on Shopify for maximum control? Or do you throw your hat in the ring with Amazon to chase massive reach (but also massive competition)? In this episod...

Join Marc Pendergraft and John Modi in the first episode of "Making with Purpose" as we explore the journey of MakerFlo. We discuss challenges in product sourcing and quality control, emphasizing the importance of unique, high-quality offerings and a strong brand identity. Gain insights on connecting with audiences and fostering industry growth, with actionable advice for entrepreneurs!