PASSIONATELY CURIOUS with UpSwell Marketing

Dr. Christina Blatchford—former private-practice dentist and founder of Blatchford Solutions—joins the show to share how she’s helping dentists across the country build profitable, patient-centered practices that support their lives instead of consuming them. Drawing on her unique background in fashion merchandising, interior design, and clinical dentistry, Christina brings a rare blend of empathy...

In this special year-end episode, the Upswell team—Annie Burch, Matt C, and Eric Goodstadt—comes together to reflect on the forces that shaped 2025 for small businesses and to share clear-eyed guidance for navigating what lies ahead in 2026. Drawing on thousands of real-world conversations with business owners across the country, the team unpacks the economic realities behind the headlines—and wha...

Christa Pitts, co-CEO and founder of The Lumistella Company - home of the iconic Elf on the Shelf - joins the show to share the remarkable story of how a small family tradition became a global holiday phenomenon. Starting with a childhood memory passed down through generations, Krista and her family transformed an idea rooted in imagination into a brand that has reshaped Christmas for millions of...

Jeff Dauler, longtime Atlanta radio personality and podcast architect at 1022 Podcasts, joins the show to unpack what actually makes a podcast work—and why most people are thinking about it backwards. With 25 years in major-market radio, including two decades helping build The Bert Show from underdog to Atlanta’s #1 morning show, Jeff brings rare insight into audience growth, storytelling, and the...

James Hatfield, CRO of LiveSwitch, shares how his company is revolutionizing home services through instant video connectivity. After running a painting and power washing company while earning his MBA, Hatfield transitioned to technology, eventually buying LiveSwitch five years ago. The platform allows businesses to instantly video connect with customers via text—no app required—enabling remote est...

Jake Goates, founder of Goat CMO, shares his journey from sales manager to fractional Chief Marketing Officer for dental practices nationwide. After earning a degree in professional sales and managing a large call center, Goates discovered that better marketing directly improved sales performance. He entered the dental industry 13 years ago teaching phone etiquette and patient conversion, eventual...

In this episode, Carrie-Lynn Rodenberg, founder of Turnkey Marketing, shares her journey from selling flowers at age eight to building a marketing company dedicated to serving auto repair shops. After starting her business at 24 and working with various small businesses, she pivoted exclusively to the automotive repair industry over a decade ago. Carrie Lynn explains her philosophy of the "three M...

David and Crystal Spang, founders of Nine Dot Cannabis Beverages, share their eight-year journey in the heavily regulated cannabis industry. Starting with Coastal Green Wellness brick-and-mortar stores in 2017, they faced banking restrictions, social media censorship, and market skepticism in the Southeast. Their retail experience revealed that most hemp beverages missed the mark with five-milligr...

Ondar Tarlow, a marketing veteran with over 20 years of experience, joins us to explore the psychology behind successful branding and how bold storytelling, data, and AI are reshaping the marketing world. From leading $1.7 billion in product volume campaigns to working with brands like Porsche and the LA Chargers, Ondar shares real-world insights on navigating compliance-heavy industries, discover...

Nick Tapp, founder of Taptico AI marketing solutions, discusses how artificial intelligence can level the playing field for small businesses. With 20+ years of marketing experience at brands like Coca-Cola and Harley Davidson, Nick explains practical AI applications from training ChatGPT as a business assistant to using predictive analytics for market simulations. He covers emerging trends like An...

Restaurant industry veteran George McKerrow shares his remarkable journey from founding Longhorn Steakhouse in 1981 to building it into a national chain before selling to Darden Restaurants in 2007. Starting with just one location in an old adult bookstore that served only 14 lunches on opening day, McKerrow emphasizes treating each restaurant as an individual small business focused on genuine hos...

This episode of Passionately Curious features Dana Farber, CEO and founder of Moonstone Marketing. With extensive experience as a CMO and brand strategist, Dana shares her marketing philosophy centered on holistic, mindful approaches. She discusses her journey from editorial writing to PR to franchising, emphasizing the importance of marketing calendars for strategic planning rather than reactiona...

In this episode of "Passionately Curious," hosts Annie and Eric interview Brad Parker, founder and CEO of FormPiper, an affiliate of Upswell Marketing. Brad shares how he created FormPiper to solve financing problems he experienced as a retailer by developing a platform that allows customers to complete just one application to access multiple lending options. He explains how the system creates a "...

In this episode of Passionately Curious from Upswell Marketing, the hosts speak with Aaron Stokes, a successful entrepreneur in the automotive industry. Aaron shares his remarkable journey from humble beginnings in a trailer park to building multiple auto repair businesses and becoming the founder of ShopFix Academy, now the largest coaching company in the industry. He candidly discusses his strug...

In this episode of Passionately Curious, hosts Matt and Eric discuss financial flexibility in uncertain economic times with Kevin Park, co-founder of EveryStreet, and Samantha Holt, sales operation manager for Apple Pie Capital. After a lighthearted opening about an innovative dog poop bag marketing tactic, the conversation shifts to the challenges small businesses face when seeking financing. Kev...

In this episode of Passionately Curious, hosts Eric, Annie, and Matt discuss the results of Upswell Marketing's annual business sentiment survey. They explore how different industries performed in 2024, with auto repair and dental practices seeing strong growth while home services experienced declines. The conversation centers on the impact of tariffs, with 55% of surveyed business owners expressi...

In this episode of Passionately Curious, hosts Matt and Annie interview Michele Morris, Head of US Marketing for Big Green Egg. Michele shares her career journey from social media analytics to brand marketing, discussing Big Green Egg's strategy to expand beyond traditional demographics with initiatives like "Women on Fire." She details their data collection improvements, educational content creat...

Thomas Andrews, partner at CDT Automotive, shares how he and his friend Mike Liles turned their passion for diesel trucks into a successful business. Starting with a Facebook community for truck enthusiasts in 2012, they built their brand while maintaining day jobs - Thomas in IT and Mike as a mechanic. The business evolved from a small three-bay shop to a 14,500 sq ft facility with 15 bays, expan...

Shane Quillin, founder of Sugar Shane's, shares how he transformed from an Amazon program manager to owning a thriving cookie business in Atlanta. Started during COVID from his apartment kitchen, Sugar Shane's now has three locations, a franchise, and 50 employees. Shane discusses his marketing strategies, including creative tactics like simulated online waiting rooms, event presence, and loyalty...

With businesses stretching their marketing budgets across multiple channels, is TikTok worth the investment? In this episode, Matt Courtoy, Associate Director of Performance Media at Upswell Marketing, explains five key reasons why TikTok may not be the best platform for your ad dollars—and it has nothing to do with the app’s legal troubles. Five Reasons to Avoid TikTok Advertising 1. TikTok’s Aud...

With over 8.4 billion videos watched daily and YouTube accounting for over 10% of all U.S. TV viewing, this platform has become a powerhouse for marketers. In this episode, Matt Courtoy, Associate Director of Performance Media at Upswell Marketing, shares five reasons why YouTube advertising is a must-have in your marketing strategy. Why Advertise on YouTube? 1. Cost-Effectiveness YouTube ads oper...

Negative online reviews may feel like a setback, but when handled properly, they can become opportunities to demonstrate your commitment to excellence and build stronger customer relationships. In this episode, Matt Courtoy, Associate Director of Performance Media at Upswell Marketing, shares a seven-step approach to addressing negative feedback effectively. Seven Steps for Responding to Negative...

Email marketing remains one of the most effective tools for reaching and engaging your audience. In this episode, Matt Courtoy, Associate Director of Performance Media at Upswell Marketing, shares five simple steps to transform your email strategy into a powerful growth driver. Five Steps to Better Email Marketing 1. Personalize Your Content Gone are the days of generic email blasts. Use data and...

Seasonal trends and events—like holidays, back-to-school season, or local festivals—offer excellent opportunities to attract customers and boost sales. In this episode, Kalynn Hicks, Content Strategist at Upswell Marketing, shares how to plan and execute seasonal marketing campaigns that deliver results. How to Plan Seasonal Campaigns Start by looking at the calendar and identifying key dates that...

Standing out in a competitive market is essential for small businesses. In this episode, Kalynn Hicks, Content Strategist at Upswell Marketing, shares actionable tips to help you define your unique edge and make your business unforgettable. How to Stand Out in a Competitive Market Start by identifying what makes your business different. Is it exceptional customer service, locally sourced products,...