"Nice Business!" Podcast

A business can answer every question correctly, move calls quickly, and still lose the customer without ever realizing why.  In this episode of the “Nice Business!” Podcast™, hosts Richard Train and Jim Bob Howard unpack what’s really happening on the other end of a customer call and why most businesses are measuring the wrong things. While many teams focus on speed, efficiency, and call resolutio...

Great customer service is not built on memorized scripts. It is built on structure, consistency, and the ability to genuinely listen. In this episode of the “Nice Business!” Podcast™, hosts Richard Train and Jim Bob Howard unpack why so many customer service fixes fail, even when businesses invest in scripts, workshops, and training programs. While these solutions may create short-term improvement...

In this episode of the “Nice Business!” Podcast™, hosts Richard Train and Jim Bob Howard unpack the psychology behind every customer call and why most businesses are missing the point. While companies often focus on answering questions quickly and efficiently, callers are silently asking something deeper: Do I matter? and Will this be easy? Through practical examples and a simple role-play, this c...

Most businesses still treat phone calls as a routine step in customer service. In reality, they’ve become one of the most decisive moments in the entire customer journey. In this episode of the “Nice Business!” Podcast™, hosts Richard Train and Jim Bob Howard explore how business phone calls have changed in an era shaped by AI, automation, and self-service research. While call volumes are declinin...

A strong business can take years to build, but one unexpected moment, one public mistake, or one fast-moving rumor can put everything at risk. In this episode of the “Nice Business!” Podcast™, hosts Richard Train and Jim Bob Howard sit down with crisis management PR specialist Jennifer Rice, co-founder of JNR Communications, to talk about the moments every business hopes never come and why prepari...

In this episode of the “ Nice Business! ” Podcast™, hosts Richard Train and Jim Bob Howard welcome Jim Furbish, Owner of Get It Together Assembly and Installation, for a wide-ranging conversation about reputation, integrity, and what it really means to do business the right way. Drawing from a career that includes work with major corporations, nonprofit leadership, and hands-on entrepreneurship, J...

Innovation sounds good in theory, but most organizations are quietly structured to prevent it. In this episode of the “ Nice Business!” PodcastTM, hosts Richard Train and Jim Bob Howard welcome Art Markman, a leading cognitive psychologist whose work focuses on how people think, learn, and create together inside organizations. Drawing from decades of research, teaching, and advisory experience acr...

Systems help businesses run smoother while giving people clarity, confidence, and the ability to do their best work. In this episode of the "Nice Business!" Podcast™, hosts Richard Train and Jim Bob Howard sit down with Liz Jenkins, Founder of A Fresh Space, for a practical and insightful conversation about why systems and processes matter more than most leaders realize. Liz shares how h...

In this episode of the "Nice Business!" Podcast™, hosts Richard Train and Jim Bob Howard sit down with Jennie Loev, Founder of JLoev Consulting, for a real conversation about imposter syndrome, confidence, and the messy reality of professional growth. Jennie sheds light on how even accomplished leaders quietly wrestle with self-doubt, why stretching into new roles creates tension, and ho...

In this episode of the "Nice Business!" Podcast™, hosts Richard Train and Jim Bob Howard sit down with Jason Duncan, founder of the Exiter Club and author of Exit Without Exiting , for an honest conversation about leadership, burnout, and what it really takes to build a business that does not consume your life. Jason challenges the idea that strong leadership requires fear or control and...

In this episode of the "Nice Business!" Podcast™, Richard Train and Jim Bob Howard talk with Randy Murphy, serial entrepreneur and fractional CEO, about keeping company culture intact during private equity transitions. Randy shares his experience guiding businesses through growth, recapitalization, and turnarounds, emphasizing the role of transparency, trust, and communication at every l...

In this episode of the "Nice Business!" Podcast™, Richard Train and Jim Bob Howard talk with Linda Braddy, CEO of the Red Cross of North Texas. Linda shares how her career path led her from higher education into nonprofit leadership, and how staying rooted in mission guides her decisions during times of crisis and uncertainty. Linda connects disaster response leadership to everyday busin...

"Love conquers fear. When we lead from a place of love, we inspire others to bring their best and their whole selves to everything they do." In this episode of the "Nice Business!" Podcast™, Richard Train and Jim Bob Howard sit down with Brett Hurt, serial entrepreneur, thought leader, and host of the Love Conquers Fear podcast. Brett shares his journey from discovering a passi...

In this episode of the "Nice Business!" Podcast™, Richard Train and Jim Bob Howard sit down with Jacob Johnson, CEO of Calyan Wax Co., a home fragrance company on a mission to combat human trafficking, for an insightful conversation on mission-driven entrepreneurship, purposeful leadership, and building a business that makes a difference. Topics Covered: 00:00 – Episode Snippet 01:14 – W...

In this episode of the "Nice Business!" Podcast™, Richard Train and Jim Bob Howard sit down with Laurie Guzman, CEO and Founder of The Inside Story, for an insightful conversation on the power of pivoting, purposeful leadership, and the people side of business. Together, they discuss the vital role of trust, transparency, and communication in building a strong, supportive team while main...

When a long anticipated federal funding stream stalled, Compudopt CEO Megan Steckly had to steer a hyper scaling nonprofit through a near reduction in force without breaking culture or momentum.  In this candid conversation with host Richard Train, Megan walks through the communications playbook her C suite used to realign strategy, reduce 41 roles in one day to avoid lingering fear, and rebuild t...

Why are your best people leaving? In this live “Nice Business” session, hosts Jim Bob Howard and Richard Train break down the three drivers behind costly turnover: ineffective management, unclear direction, and shallow recognition.   Then they give you a simple plan to reverse it. You will learn how to run two “opportunity analysis” meetings that surface smart, specific fixes from managers and sta...

When Jason Bronstad stepped in as CEO of MALK Organics, the company had a 45-day shelf life, a thousand stores to serve, and a shrinking team of employees.  The easy path would have been cutting corners with materials and employees. Instead, Jason doubled down on clean ingredients, transparency with his team, and a culture built on personal dreams. We ask Jason how he turned chaos into clarity: pe...

When 14 businesses become one, the hardest part isn’t the org chart… it’s the humans.  We ask Catalyst MedTech CEO: Marty Shirley about how he rebuilt culture after a seismic merger: opening direct access to leadership, making “everything is personal,” co-authoring performance plans, offboarding with dignity (and welcoming “boomerangs”), and using purpose as a filter for strategy. We get into mana...

Have you ever had a manager who told you they wanted people to fear them? If so, why? Or, if you are someone who once believed that was the best management method, but want to change, listen for some tips on what you can do to improve that behavior and reap the benefits today!

Introduction to the hosts, Richard Train of Richard L.Train Consulting, and Jim Bob Howard, Technical Consultant. They'll discuss how this podcast series will help business owners, executives and anyone looking to grow learn how to be kind in their business dealings, and also successful. There's always a nicer way to handle any situation.