Power Producers Podcast

In this episode of the Power Producers Shop Talk, David Carothers shares an insightful conversation with Ciara Gravier from The Bunker Insurance & Risk Management and Zach Matter from ZipBonds. This episode is a must-listen for anyone involved with contractors, particularly those navigating the world of surety bonds. Ciara and Zach discuss how contractors can face challenges with messy financials...

In this episode of the Power Producers Podcast, David Carothers sits down with Ted Stuckey, President of Local Edge Brokerage, to discuss the evolution of the insurance market, especially for independent agents. Ted shares insights on the challenges agencies face, especially as the market hardens, and how Local Edge offers a valuable solution for agents seeking market access and diversification. T...

In this solo episode of the Power Producers Podcast, David Carothers reflects on the journey of success in the insurance industry, sharing personal stories and lessons learned along the way. David delves into the importance of staying grounded and avoiding the trap of arrogance that can come with success. He talks about the subtle ways ego can influence behavior and how staying humble is key to lo...

In this episode of the Power Producers Podcast, David Carothers is joined by Warren Cleveland, founder of Captive Coalition, to dive into the world of captive insurance. Warren offers a fresh perspective on captives, emphasizing how independent agents can add value by helping their clients save money and increase profitability. With practical insights, they discuss the benefits of captives, the ri...

In this Power Producers Podcast episode, David Carothers is joined by Kevin Ring, lead analyst at the Institute of Work Comp Professionals, for a deep dive into workers' compensation classifications. The discussion focuses on the challenges of ensuring that businesses are properly classified, the importance of getting class codes right, and strategies to avoid common mistakes that could lead to co...

In this episode of Power Producers Podcast, David Carothers is joined by Benjamin Dennehy famously known as the UK’s Most Hated Sales Trainer for a brutally honest and wildly entertaining conversation about what’s wrong with the modern sales game. From confronting imposter syndrome to challenging outdated sales scripts, Benjamin shares why most salespeople fail and what it actually takes to domina...

In this Power Producers Podcast episode, David Carothers is joined again by Kevin Ring, lead analyst at the Institute of Work Comp Professionals. The two dive into a critical yet often overlooked aspect of workers' compensation—understanding common majority ownership and how it affects the experience modification factor (mod). This discussion is vital for agents who deal with businesses that own m...

In this Power Producers Podcast episode, David Carothers sits down with Dylan Jordan from Amwins to discuss specialized niches within the insurance world, particularly focusing on the human services, healthcare, and life sciences markets. With only two months until Producers in Paradise 2025, the conversation covers a variety of challenges and opportunities in the current hard market, from navigat...

In this Power Producers Podcast episode, David Carothers is joined again by Kevin Ring, lead analyst at the Institute of Work Comp Professionals. In this Shop Talk session, they take a deep dive into the crucial topic of the valuation date and its significance in workers’ compensation policies. While last week’s discussion highlighted the importance of leading with workers’ compensation, this epis...

In this episode of the Power Producers Podcast, David Carothers welcomes Brett Fulmer, principal of Newport Beach Insurance Center, for a dynamic conversation packed with insights on insurance, career growth, and community building. Brett shares his unique journey in insurance, his passion for innovation, and how he balances multiple roles with energy and focus. David and Brett discuss everything...

In this episode of Power Producers Shoptalk, David Carothers welcomes back Kevin Ring, lead analyst at the Institute of WorkComp Professionals and one of the nation’s foremost experts on workers’ compensation. Kevin shares valuable insights into why leading with workers’ comp is a smart strategy for insurance agents, offering practical tips that agents can apply immediately to improve their game a...

In this episode of the Power Producers Podcast, David Carothers sits down with Aris Papadopoulos, Chairman of the Resilience Action Fund and author of Resilientomics. Aris shares his unique perspective on resilience, from his experience as a 9/11 World Trade Center survivor to his passion for building stronger, more resilient homes and communities. Together, David and Aris explore how resilience i...

In this final episode of Power Producers Shoptalk’s remote team series, David Carothers wraps up with the Insurance Futures team by focusing on a critical skill for producers and sales leaders alike: listening to calls and role-playing. Effective sales and leadership aren’t just about numbers, they’re about developing skills, refining approaches, and building confidence through practice. David, Je...

In this episode of the Power Producers Podcast, David Carothers sits down with Tony Canas, Chief Motivational Officer at Insurance Nerds. The conversation takes some unexpected and fun turns, including Tony’s unique background, passion for insurance, and his journey into magic. It’s a lively and engaging discussion that blends business, culture, and personal development in the insurance industry....

In this Power Producers Shoptalk episode, David Carothers returns for session five with the Insurance Futures team to tackle one of the most critical elements in managing a successful remote workforce: communication. Following four weeks of deep dives into building remote teams, this episode zeroes in on how effective communication can make or break your virtual agency’s culture and efficiency. Da...

In this Power Producers Podcast episode, David Carothers is joined by Jason Duby, Captive Manager at Garnet Captive, to dive deep into the concept of captives and how they can provide valuable opportunities for businesses, particularly as the market continues to harden. Jason breaks down the intricacies of captive insurance, explaining how they work, who benefits, and what sets Garnet Captive apar...

In this Power Producers Shoptalk episode, David Carothers continues his series with the team from Insurance Futures, diving into the importance of job descriptions for building a strong culture in remote teams. As remote work becomes more common, having clear job descriptions helps set expectations, boost accountability, and ensure employees understand their roles. David is joined by Jeremy Huerta...

In this episode of the Power Producers Podcast, David Carothers welcomes Jacob Hicks, a sales coach with an eclectic background in various industries, including retail, real estate, and optical sales. Jacob shares his insights on the evolution of sales and the importance of systems, follow-up, and understanding of your ideal client profile. David and Jacob explore Jacob's journey from selling suit...

In this Power Producers Shoptalk episode, David Carothers keeps the remote workforce series going with a deep dive into KPIs—why they’re crucial and how they should be tied to core values. David and his team from Insurance Futures discuss how measuring the right activities can lead to success and help remote agencies stay on track. This week, David is joined by Jeremy Huerta, Michael Overstreet, a...

In this Power Producers Podcast episode, David Carothers dives into the world of email marketing with Jay Schwedelson, founder of SubjectLine. The discussion focuses on how to refine your email marketing strategy, specifically the art of creating subject lines that boost open rates and increase engagement. David and Jay explore practical tips and insights on how to optimize your email outreach, av...

In this Power Producers Shoptalk episode, David Carothers continues the discussion on building and managing remote teams in the insurance industry, with a specific focus on culture and connection. In this second installment with the team from Insurance Futures, David dives into the importance of team-building activities in a virtual environment. This week, David is joined by Jeremy Huerta, Michael...

In this episode of Power Producers Podcast, David Carothers is joined by Eric Stein, the president of Insured Solutions and author of the newly published book The Blueprint. Eric brings a wealth of experience in the insurance industry, especially in alternative workers' compensation and risk management. Throughout the episode, he shares insights into the complexities of captives and alternative ri...

In this Power Producers Shop Talk episode, David Carothers kicks off a six-week series focused on the growing trend of remote workforces in the insurance industry. Rather than just relying on virtual assistants, David and his team are diving into the process of building and managing remote teams within the United States, specifically focused on highly skilled professionals. This week, David is joi...

In this episode of Power Producers Podcast, David Carothers welcomes back David LeFevre from Sales Power to dive into the transformative role AI is playing in the insurance industry. They explore how technology, specifically AI, can revolutionize data management, client experience, and operational efficiency in insurance agencies. David LeFevre brings fresh insights into how AI can enhance agency...

In this episode of Power Producers Shoptalk, David Carothers is joined by Colby Allen from Agency Brokerage Consultants for an in-depth discussion on producer equity. This conversation picks up where they left off in their previous episode on cracking the code of producer compensation, diving into the nuances of equity, ownership, and how to properly structure compensation plans for producers. Col...