The Rundown with Ramon - small business growth podcast for entrepreneurs

Zoho One 2025 represents a major shift in how small businesses can manage their entire workflow. In this episode, Ramon Ray talks with Zoho’s Director of Strategic Growth, Ali Shabdar , about the platform’s new unified experience, its focus on context-driven productivity, and how Zia AI is becoming a practical, everyday assistant for business owners. The conversation goes beyond features. Ali expl...

In this episode of The Rundown with Ramon , Ramon Ray breaks down the hidden habits that hold entrepreneurs back — especially the danger of being “too thirsty” for the sale. Ramon explains why desperation pushes prospects away, how unpreparedness causes entrepreneurs to fumble big opportunities, and why visibility and trust must come long before the ask. He also unpacks powerful business lessons f...

Ramon celebrates how not getting what he wanted yesterday, was GOOD! That unexpected “no” turns into a powerful lesson about gratitude, improvisation, and staying ready to create great content anywhere. Ramon breaks down what entrepreneurs can learn from recent stories about Waymo, Nike, Dollar Tree, and why cybersecurity needs to be taken seriously by every small business. The gift of a “no” – Ho...

In this episode, broadcast live from the lobby of Luminary in New York City, Ramon Ray delivers a straight-talk message to every entrepreneur and small business owner who has ever felt overlooked, underestimated, or “not chosen.” Ramon breaks down the true meaning of the underdog season —why it happens, what it reveals about your mindset, and how it can become the most transformative stage of your...

In this episode of The Rundown with Ramon , small business expert Ramon Ray shares how tracking his treadmill stats inspired a new level of discipline in tracking his business metrics. He walks through the simple dashboards he uses to monitor registrations, ad performance, and conversions—and explains why your next level of growth depends on what you measure, not just how hard you hustle. Ramon al...

In this episode of The Rundown with Ramon , Ramon Ray sits down with PR strategist and media expert Lauren Cabello to break down what actually works in publicity today. Lauren shares how she went from blogger and self-published author to national TV regular, bestselling author, and founder of a seven-figure media company. Together, Ramon and Lauren unpack how small business owners, authors, coache...

In this episode of The Rundown with Ramon, Ramon Ray walks in from the gym and dives straight into a conversation about what your priorities really are—because your life will always follow your calendar, not your intentions. He shares insights from Entrepreneur Media’s Jason Pfeiffer on how to stand out in a noisy world and stop obsessing over who doesn’t want to work with you, along with lessons...

In this episode of The Rundown with Ramon , small business expert Ramon Ray unpacks a stack of headlines—Amazon scam warnings, a partner hack impacting OpenAI customers, rising coffee prices, and an MIT study on AI job loss—and translates them into practical moves for entrepreneurs. He also dives into why Gen X’s spending power is being ignored, why your cybersecurity habits are now part of your b...

In this Thanksgiving episode of The Rundown with Ramon, small business expert Ramon Ray explores how gratitude can transform both your life and your business. From being thankful for decades of marriage and a growing family to honoring friends, clients, and community, Ramon shows how thankfulness is more than a feeling—it’s a strategy for clarity, resilience, and growth. He breaks down eleven powe...

On this episode of The Rundown with Ramon, small business expert Ramon Ray unpacks one big theme for entrepreneurs: value. He shares why he turned down a seemingly prestigious global mentorship opportunity, how he closed a major Manulife Canada and Black Enterprise event on a powerful high note, and what HP’s AI-linked layoffs and Roblox’s AI age verification push really mean for your business and...

On today’s episode of The Rundown with Ramon , Ramon Ray returns from two weeks of travel with a powerful message for entrepreneurs. After speaking with a new founder struggling to define her target customer, Ramon unpacks a tough but necessary truth: many entrepreneurs are running hobbies, not businesses. In this episode, you’ll learn the difference between passion and profit, how to identify you...

Ramon Ray unpacks a jam-packed episode for builders and buyers: why delaying VC can preserve your freedom and upside, what Cody Sanchez’s community is teaching about acquiring “boring” businesses, how success can reshape friendships, and the non-negotiables of small-business cybersecurity—plus a teen founder’s board-game breakout. Tune in for practical playbooks, mindset shifts, and real-world exa...

On this episode of The Rundown with Ramon, small business expert Ramon Ray shares a down-to-earth playbook for entrepreneurs: prepare for the unexpected, ask for help without hesitation, and build relationships everywhere you go. You’ll learn practical moves for financial cushions, cybersecurity basics, operational backups, smarter networking, and knowing when to pivot or stop—so you can lead with...

Ramon Ray breaks down simple, high-impact networking moves to win any room: lead with a smile, share one human detail, invite others in, and be the connector. He explains why trust—under attack in an AI-saturated world—must be protected with slower, more human verification. Plus, a quick look at the rise of home robots and the one weekly sales habit (a disciplined pipeline review) that keeps reven...

Ramon Ray dives into why well-designed business cards still open doors, how to turn self-doubt into leadership fuel, what YouTube’s AI-driven restructuring means for creators and brands, and the most useful updates from Canva’s latest keynote. Plus: a reminder that cybersecurity is everyday business—and a personal story about recommitting to structured learning. You’ll learn: • How to use business...

A candid, fast-moving episode of The Rundown with Ramon on choosing imperfect action, fortifying your small business against rising cyber risks, and translating Big Tech headlines into practical founder moves. Ramon talks purpose vs. imposter feelings, why to double down on your top 2–3 strengths, how to pivot with urgency, and what GM’s layoffs signal about knowing your numbers. Listen for mindse...

Ramon Ray, publisher of ZoneofGenius.com interviews Claude Silver, Chief Heart Officer at VaynerX, about her new book Be Yourself at Work , joined by entrepreneurs Kedma Ough, Alexandria Nicole, and Tina Wilson. They discuss emotional intelligence, leadership, trauma, empathy, and building cultures of care.

In this episode of The Rundown with Ramon, Ramon Ray challenges entrepreneurs to stop reacting and start playing chess. He breaks down how a small equipment company turned a jewel heist into marketing momentum, what real business leaders are doing with AI right now, and why Seth Godin’s “beyond the checkbox mindset” is the difference between staying stuck and leveling up. Ramon also opens up about...

In this episode of The Rundown with Ramon, Ramon Ray gets real about what’s happening behind the scenes in entrepreneurship. He reacts to new numbers showing that more than a million people every week are using AI to talk about self-harm and suicidal thoughts, and he challenges business owners to pay attention to the people around them. Ramon also breaks down Seth Godin’s call to “be worth the tri...

On today’s Rundown with Ramon, Ramon Ray (publisher of ZoneofGenius.com) breaks down five moves every entrepreneur should be thinking about right now. AI browsers: Why next-gen browsers like Atlas, Comet, and others are more than hype — and how they can literally work for you. Substack strategy: How creators are building lists, owning their audience, and getting paid. Merch made simple: Ramon shar...

In this episode of The Rundown with Ramon , Ramon Ray dives into why LinkedIn video is both a success and a struggle for marketers, shares how to know if your iPhone’s been hacked, and reveals what Hobby Lobby’s paper email signup box teaches about marketing. Plus—a reminder to keep showing up with positivity, even when life gets tough. A must-listen for entrepreneurs who want to grow smarter, lea...

Hiring a video editor isn’t a luxury—it’s a growth strategy. In this episode of The Rundown with Ramon, we unpack how your employer brand can quietly drain profits, what Amazon’s latest AI moves mean for small-business operations, and why delegating creative production frees you to do the work only you can do. We close with a practical security reminder every leader should adopt now. Tune in for c...

Ramon asks a big question for entrepreneurs: Are we called to show up for others—even when we don’t feel like it? He shares a simple two-minute strength routine plus a 30-minute power walk, unpacks Airbnb’s new group messaging for Experiences and what it means for building community, and highlights AI updates that are eliminating busywork so you can focus on the human stuff. Plus, a quick security...

In this episode of The Rundown with Ramon, Ramon Ray shares fast, practical wins for entrepreneurs: using AI for everyday tasks that save hours, building real redundancy so outages don’t derail your revenue, and applying the “questions before the questions” to make better strategic choices. He also offers a mindset reset—trade complaints for gratitude—and a reminder to secure your business like yo...

Ramon Ray tackles the hot question: should you hire your spouse—and if so, how do you do it right? In this episode, Ramon covers the unseen cost of last-minute cancellations, the compounding power of proximity, why strategic vulnerability builds trust, and why more seasoned founders are winning with simple tech and deep networks. You’ll hear real-world perspectives from the community and get a pra...