Reptile Entrepreneur Podcast

Richard Stewart has built his passion for tarantulas into a content creation career. Utilizing monetization methods, the Tarantula Collective has become his primary source of income. In this interview, Richard joins me on the mic and we go over how he was able to make this happen.  If you have thought about becoming a content creator for your niche community then this interview will give you valua...

Breaking News episode! Instagram has announced that, in 2022,  we will be getting the choice between seeing three different versions of our home feed. Those are the posts that you see from other accounts on your Instagram app. All, well and good, but what are these new feeds and, more importantly, what do they mean for us as influencers and marketers needing to build our follower base? How does th...

In this episode we are going to talk about tools for growth on Instagram. Instagram is a very diverse and complicated platform and it really takes some time to learn all the tools and features. Honestly, looking at all the available social media platforms, I truly believe that Instagram has the best blend of tools for developing a community. Instagram has been accused of copying features from TikT...

Today I talk about how Instagram is evolving to become a video sharing platform. And, more importantly, what that means for us.  This is a Thursday episode where I just speak my mind and have an unscripted conversation with you. I call them my meditations because that is all they are. I just tell you what I have been thinking about. And, this is a seismic shift going on beneath our feet. Instagram...

Social media followers are the highest visibility measure of success. But it is an empty number in itself. The life blood of your account is the number of engaged followers.  Today I am talking about getting the right followers. 

In season 2 we have to goal to run through setting up a complete digital footprint for a standard business. And to start this off we will establish our digital home base on Instagram. In this kick off episode for season 2 we go over the strategies to set up your Instagram bio to attract the right kind of followers!

Etsy is a storefront platform which can offer entrepreneurs an easy way to get up and running. Etsy will take care of providing you digital space, payment processing, can help with shipping, and will take care of website maintenance. If you are an entrepreneur that doesn't have time to put together or maintain a website then consider Etsy. Etsy specializes in handmade items, but much of what...

How do you scale your business when your skill or insight is a key component to the product you sell? Today I talk with Jim Rykbost of Sunset Chameleons. Jim has started his company on a special type of feeder cup designed specifically with chameleons in mind. Each feeder is a work of art and dedication by Jim. Listen in and learn how Jim created a business hat combines art and function. We discus...

In the world of today you will need to establish a digital footprint. This can include social media, websites, eCommerce platforms and more. Today I start the discussion with a review of social media platforms so you can make educated decisions as to where to invest your time. 

What is the difference between a sole proprietorship and an LLC. And, more importantly, when should you consider one over the other as your business structure?  John Augustus Kim, tax attorney, comes on and explains the differences and when it is worth it to switch over. This episode is for anyone debating which business structure to go with.

Social media is the one biggest marketing outreach available to us. But it isn't as easy as just posting what you had for lunch. There is a serious strategy behind what you post, how you post, when you post, and what platform you post on. While it may seem frivolous to be dancing around to the latest trend, content creators know that is the battleground for the eyes and mind of 100s of millio...

Patent and Trademark attorney Richard Clarke returns to give us an overview of trademarks. He goes over what they are and how to use them.

Today I talk about the development of greenbananroach.com and what lessons we can learn about "niching down" in our product development and content streams.

Eddy Garabito, also known as @Father. Blou on Instagram, is an arboreal monitor enthusiast that has used 3D printing technology to create specialty products for his husbandry use.  Eddy shares how he got started with 3D printing and lays it out so enthusiasts from other communities may take advantage of this amazing 3D technology which allows us to create what we dream.

The Morelia Python Radio Podcast is one of our community's longest running podcasts. Hosts Eric Burke and Owen McIntyre join me and share what got them started and what has kept them going. They share words of inspiration for anyone who has ever considered starting a podcast of their own!

What drives an entrepreneur? Is it driving towards a purpose or staying a step ahead of the world that abhors someone trying to break out of mediocrity?  We all have our different reasons, but are united in time being our most precious resource. Today I talk about time and what it means to someone driven with purpose.

Today we are speaking with Khai Phan, a monitor breeder who has found a talent in breeding grasshoppers for feeder insects. And the grasshopper side of things has exploded to the point where it is a sizable enough business that he will soon be needing to make some serious decisions about growth.  We explore what it takes to develop and feeder business with a new species and what kind of decisions...

Ron Rundo of Snakescapes.com brings painting and sculpture to herpetoculture with  a museum quality enclosure that mimics a slice of the jungle. Artists are an important part of our reptile community foundation and Ron is an example of one that is thriving. Today Ron shares with us the history of his custom made enclosure and we discuss his realistic painting method which allows him to create such...

For today's meditation I talk about the times in our life when we need to end the chapter and move on to the next. This can be when you need to close down a business or when a product is no longer viable. One of the biggest decisions we must make is when to give up the consistent 9-5 paycheck and embrace the uncertainty of our own business.

Reptile shows are a foundation of the community. Rick Porter has built up  the San Jose Reptile Show in the San Francisco Bay Area with constant growth each year. In this episode he takes behind the scenes and shares with us what it takes to start and run a reptile show.

Josh Willard, CEO of Josh's Frogs, joins me and we talk about the core values that drive Josh's Frogs. Josh is an example of someone who has not lost the amazed wonder that inspires us to want to be involved with reptiles in the first place and that shows itself in the company he has built. From committing to offering only captive bred reptiles and amphibians to funding conservation effo...

Authenticity is presenting yourself as you are. Why do we feel like we need to be more? Is being the best and smartest and most “right” person in the room the path to success? Here is the truth about authenticity - You do not have to be more than you are to build a following. More so, you will build a stronger following if you come as you are. Today I explore being authentic in what we do.

There is an enormous amount of work that goes into creating and maintaining a content stream whether it be blog, video channel, or podcast. And your content stream is relentless in demanding new material every week or two. There are ways you can be compensated for your hard work which can allow you to invest in the show and help put the roof over your head! Joining me is Dillon Perron from the Ani...

Today I talk with Alex Menke of Frog Daddy who openly shares his experiences starting a dart frog breeding business. More than just talking about dart frogs, Alex gives us an insight into what he is doing to make his business successful. These principles are key to any business. But now you are hearing it from a man who is living it in the reptile community.  

Today we talk about being original in our business approach. The entrepreneurial mindset is that we can create a larger market and we can expand the customer base. We do not have to copy or follow in anyone else's footsteps.