The Small Business Safari

Send us Fan Mail What does it really take to turn a scrappy New York storefront into a globally recognized luxury brand—and then exit it on your terms? Eric Malka breaks it all down. Summary Eric Malka shares the real story behind building a premium grooming brand from the ground up—starting with a $12,000 shop in New York and evolving through distributor, retailer, service provider, and manufactu...

Send us Fan Mail 🎧 The Small Business Safari Title: From Service to Skilled Trades:  Creating Real Jobs for Veterans  Too many veterans leave the military with discipline and grit—but no clear civilian pathway. Marty Strong is fixing that with real skills, real employers, and paid apprenticeships. Summary: We sit down with Marty Strong , founder of Warriors Haven USA , to break down a practical,...

Send us Fan Mail 🎧 The Small Business Safari Podcast Title: From Bank Teller to CEO:  Building Teams That Thrive  What if clarity—not hustle—was the real growth lever in your business? Summary: We unpack how clarity, boundaries, and respect transform a stressful, travel-heavy audit model into a high-retention, highly profitable practice—and how those same principles help founders escape the defau...

Send us Fan Mail Stop waiting to “feel ready.” Here’s the hard truth: confidence comes last. If layoffs, ageism, or career ghosting have knocked you sideways, this conversation with career transition coach John Tarnoff offers a practical way forward—without applying to 100 job postings. John breaks down why the old career playbook—resumes, cover letters, and cold applications—fails experienced pro...

Send us Fan Mail What happens when an investor swears off banks, personal guarantees, and risky one-and-done deals? Chris Prefontaine rebuilt from the 2008 crash by creating a bank-free model that produces cash now, cash monthly, and cash at exit. Summary: Chris Prefontaine, founder of Smart Real Estate Coach, shares how losing everything in 2008 forced him to rewrite the rules of real estate. He...

Send us Fan Mail What happens when you lose everything in 2008—and still choose to pay everyone back? Rob Stephenson rebuilt not just a business, but a reputation that now wins national NARI COTY awards. Summary: Rob Stephenson, founder of Stephenson Construction , shares how leaving engineering, moonlighting in rental units, and surviving the 2008 collapse shaped his disciplined, integrity-first...

Send us Fan Mail What happens when a regulatory attorney trades Wall Street stress for barber-chair swagger? Jessica shows how instinct, culture, and system design built a luxury grooming brand that outlasted the copycats. Summary: Jessica, founder of Mad Men Barbershop , shares how she turned gut calls, culture, and brand discipline into a multi-location grooming experience that grew stronger thr...

Send us Fan Mail What happens when small businesses stop fearing AI—and start using it to remove friction, boost margins, and strengthen customer trust? Summary: We trade fear for facts and show how real small businesses put AI to work without losing the human touch. From “Tina” the chatbot to contact-center triage, sales coaching, and smarter inventory planning, we map where humans still lead—and...

Send us Fan Mail 🎧 The Small Business Safari TITLE: From Anchorage to National: Niches, GEO, and Growth | Jennifer Christensen Hook in Body: What happens when ethical AI meets small business marketing? Jennifer Christensen built a national agency from Alaska, proving that data, discipline, and heart can scale together. Summary: Chris Lalomia and Alan Wyatt sit down with Jennifer Christensen, CMO...

Send us Fan Mail What happens when a corporate sales leader swaps the corner office for family time — and ends up building two thriving brands instead? Summary: A former tech sales leader shares how losing a franchise became the best thing that ever happened. From setting boundaries that shaped the business model to launching a manufacturing arm that wins architectural specs, this episode dives in...

Send us Fan Mail Summary: Jeremy LaDuke, founder of Epic Nine , dives into the attention economy and why bold, memorable branding outperforms safe, copycat marketing. He explains how small businesses can set honest budgets, track what really matters, and build brand familiarity that drives conversion — even without perfect attribution. From Liquid Death’s creative risk-taking to networking tips fo...

Send us Fan Mail Hook in Body: Chris and Greg met at Accenture and were implementing call center solutions at the nations largest banks, their friendship has been over 30 years and we are excited to share the journey that Greg has taken to this point. Summary: Greg, CEO of Timbers Resorts , shares how he went from Corporate Consultant to Real Estate Business Owner life of ownership, service, and d...

Send us Fan Mail 🎧 The Small Business Safari – Episode Title Profit Over Revenue: How 4 Corners CFO Turns Chaos into Clarity Hook: We dig into profit over revenue, how service businesses should structure their books, and why capacity-based budgeting beats guesses. Summary: Danielle Hendon, founder of 4 Corners CFO , shows how niching, clean reconciliations, and cash flow forecasts turn anxiety in...

Send us Fan Mail Marika Ponton, CPA and founder of Profit Truths , shares how she built, sold, and pivoted her way to helping business owners find clarity, profit, and calm. From Big Four beginnings to entrepreneurial coaching, Marika reveals how small business owners can master their numbers, reallocate marketing spend, and finally take control of cash flow. 🎥 Watch the full episode on YouTube:...

Send us Fan Mail Justin Goodbread unpacks how concentrated focus beats scattered effort, why enterprise value matters more than income, and how designing for an exit creates freedom long before a sale. He shares the Deca-Millionaire framework forged through wins, losses, and relentless execution. 🎥 Watch the Full Episode on YouTube 👉 https://www.youtube.com/@TheSmallBusinessSafari 💡 GOLD NUGGET...

Send us Fan Mail Skot Waldron shares how business leaders can transform their company culture by focusing on intentional leadership and internal brand development before external marketing. He explains that effective culture-building creates environments where people feel valued and motivated from within rather than being micromanaged. • The distinction between managing people versus leading them—...

Send us Fan Mail LinkedIn strategist Al Kushner shares essential strategies for cutting through the noise and leveraging AI to establish yourself as a thought leader on the world's largest professional network. • Creating an optimized LinkedIn profile is essential before any outreach • Establishing yourself as a thought leader requires providing value, not just selling • LinkedIn newsletters...

Send us Fan Mail Southside Steve Rickman shares his journey from radio personality to entrepreneur, revealing how corporate radio's restrictions pushed him to bet on himself and build multiple businesses on his own terms. • Began in radio accidentally by filling in for a voice talent at 96 Rock while working at an ad agency • Became known on "The Regular Guys" morning show for outra...

Send us Fan Mail Ian Hay returns to share crucial disaster preparedness strategies for business owners during hurricane season and National Preparedness Month, emphasizing self-reliance when government resources may be limited. • Text instead of calling during emergencies and include specific location information • Keep multiple backups of all cloud-based data in different physical locations • Mai...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Eric Fortenberry takes us through his unique journey—from software entrepreneur, to running a construction company, to discovering firsthand the operational flaws that hold businesses back. What started as troubleshooting for his own company turned into the creation of JobTread , a platform designed to solve the biggest pain points in the construction industry. Go...

Send us Fan Mail Ellen Tyler, founder of Ellen Tyler Coaching, shares her inspiring journey from corporate financial services to becoming a successful business coach. She reveals why mindset is the real currency of business — and how slowing down, visualizing success, and asking the right questions can lead to seven-figure growth. Ellen also breaks down her unique approach to coaching that focuses...

Send us Fan Mail Ever wondered how some businesses seem to have plenty of cash while others with similar revenue struggle to make payroll? The secret lies in understanding the financial gap between money coming in and money going out—and nobody explains this better than Cashflow Mike. In this eye-opening episode, Mike Milan shares his remarkable journey from state trooper to financial expert, reve...

Send us Fan Mail Ever wonder what keeps your friendly neighborhood business attorney up at night? Hint: it's watching entrepreneurs shake hands on partnerships without proper documentation, then having to pick up the pieces when it all falls apart. Brandon Woodward, founder of Woodward, Kelly, Fulton and Kaplan, cuts through the legal mystique to deliver straight talk about protecting your sm...

Send us Fan Mail James Holivsky of The Fran Dream shares his journey from corporate America to helping athletes and professionals find the right franchise fit, revealing what makes a successful franchise owner and which concepts offer the best opportunities today. • After 25 years in corporate America, James helped grow a restaurant chain from 1 to 100 stores before partnering with NFL players on...

Send us Fan Mail Charles and Clay Gridley, the father-son duo behind Six Bridges Brewing, share their journey from homebrewers to successful craft brewery owners with two locations in Georgia's Johns Creek and Milton areas. They reveal how strategic infrastructure planning, distribution partnerships, and community engagement have helped them thrive for seven years in a competitive market. • S...