Shows / Small Business Stories
Small Business Stories
Welcome to Small Business Stories, the podcast where we celebrate the real-life journeys of small business owners. We dig into inspiring tales of triumphs, challenges, and the tough lessons we learned along the way. Each episode is packed with relatable anecdotes and practical tips that you can use to fuel your own entrepreneurial dreams. Whether you're just starting out or looking to grow your business, you'll find motivation and insight in every story. Tune in and get ready to be inspired by…
Episodes
Small Business StoriesHow to Sell Art Online and Make a Living as an Artist in the AI Era with Tim Packer
S6:E12 Loralyn Mears, PhD, aka "Dr. LL," brings you thoughtful conversations with entrepreneurs and small business leaders navigating visibility, leadership…
Small Business StoriesDigital Media for Small Business: Earned Media and Trust Signals in AI Search with Larissa Banting
S6:E11 Loralyn Mears, PhD, aka "Dr. LL," brings you thoughtful conversations with entrepreneurs and small business leaders navigating visibility, leadership…
Small Business StoriesWhy Small Business Marketing Breaks in the Age of AI with Jennifer Christensen
S6:E10 Loralyn Mears, PhD, aka "Dr. LL," brings you thoughtful conversations with entrepreneurs and small business leaders navigating visibility, leadership…
Small Business StoriesFranchising in 2026: Choosing the Right Franchise and Avoiding Costly Mistakes with Franzy Co-Founder Alex Smereczniak
S6:E9 Pattern Discussed: Borrowed credibility, unearned trust. A founder attaches themselves to a "known" brand, platform, or business model and assumes it…
Small Business StoriesUnlock Your Influence: Executive Presence, Confidence, and Leadership Strategy with Vernessa Hopkins
S6:E8 Loralyn Mears, PhD, aka "Dr. LL," brings you thoughtful conversations with entrepreneurs and small business leaders navigating visibility, leadership…
Small Business StoriesWhat Ticket Sales Companies Gets Wrong and a New Solution by Fanfare Founder Michael Dodsworth
S6:E7 Loralyn Mears, PhD, aka "Dr. LL," brings you thoughtful conversations with entrepreneurs and small business leaders navigating visibility, leadership…
Small Business StoriesBuilding a Values-First Franchise: 180 Water Founder Jack Clark on Work-Life Balance and Growth
S6:E6 Loralyn Mears, PhD, aka "Dr. LL," brings you thoughtful conversations with entrepreneurs and small business leaders navigating visibility, leadership…
Small Business StoriesEmotional Intelligence at Work: How Clarity and Self-Awareness Help Leaders Navigate Uncertainty with Luz Gonzalez
S6:E5 Loralyn Mears, PhD, aka, "Dr. LL," loves bringing you entrepreneurs, small business owners, and actionable advice to you every week. Thank you for…
Small Business StoriesFrom Scientist to Small Business Owner: What Trial, Error, and Patience Teach You About Growth with Dr. Nivedita Lahiri
S6:E4 Starting a business can feel overwhelming, especially when the rules keep changing and the pressure never lets up. This conversation is a reminder that…
Small Business StoriesStaying True to Your Values Builds a Profitable Business When Growth Gets Hard with Jessica Lowery
S6:E3 When growth gets hard, shortcuts start to look tempting. This conversation is about what happens when you don't cave into the pressure to take shortcuts…
Small Business StoriesBodybuilding Fitness & Mindset: Stan Radomski on Consistency and Starting Again
S6:E2 If you're carrying a lot right now, like work stress, business pressure, and "life stuff," this episode is a breath of steady encouragement. Season 6 is…
Small Business StoriesHerbal Medicine: Practical Health & Wellness for Overwhelmed Entrepreneurs with Lily Kunning
S6:E1 When everything feels like too much, small business owners don't need more noise. They need steadier conversations they can trust. In this episode, we…
Small Business StoriesHow Storytelling Builds Trust, Visibility, and Sales for Small Businesses with Robert Kennedy III
S5:E40 If people don't trust you, they won't buy from you. If they don't remember you, they won't find you again. In this episode of Small Biz Stories, Robert…
Small Business StoriesBe a Lighthouse: Latino Student Success Through Belonging & Better Schools with Edgar Palacios
S5:E39 When education and society feels tense, the leaders who make the biggest difference aren't the loudest -- they're the clearest. In this episode, Edgar…
Small Business StoriesMost Small Businesses Struggle With Marketing Because They Can't Find Their Audience by Nathan Yeung
E5:S38 Most small businesses don't have a marketing problem: they have an audience clarity problem. In this episode of Small Biz Stories, Dr. LL sits down with…
Small Business StoriesHuman vs AI: The Customer Service Edge Small Businesses Can't Ignore With Jessica Volker
S5:E37 Small business owners: your phone experience is part of your brand. In this episode, Jessica Volker (Business Development Director at Responsive…
Small Business StoriesHow to Double Your Business Profits in 9 Months Without Micromanaging Your Team with Cary Prejean
S5:E36 In this episode of Small Biz Stories, Dr. LL sits down with Cary Prejean, founder of Strategic Business Advisors, to unpack a bold but proven claim…
Small Business StoriesFrom Stock Photos to Storytelling: Authentic Brand Photography for Small Businesses with Iri Grecco
S5:E35 In this episode of Small Biz Stories, Dr. LL sits down with Iri Greco, co-founder of Brakethrough Media, to talk about why stock photos are killing your…
Small Business StoriesStop Bleeding Cash: How to Find Hidden Money in Your Small Business with Natalia Zacharin
S5:E34 In this episode of Small Biz Stories, Dr. LL sits down with the brilliant, intuitive, plant-loving fractional CFO Natalia Zacharin, a woman (and…
Small Business StoriesHow Small Businesses Can Use Ethical AI to Finally Make Marketing Work With Steven Sakach
S5:E33 In this episode of Small Biz Stories, Dr. LL sits down with Stephen Sakach, founder of aiCMO.io, to unpack how small businesses can use AI without…
Small Business StoriesSmall Business Owners - Why Your Packaging Strategy is Failing You and How to FIX it by Jeremy Bower
In this episode S5:E32 of Small Biz Stories, Dr. LL sits down with Jeremy Bower, founder of Givr Packaging, chemical-engineer-turned-eco-entrepreneur, and one…
Small Business StoriesLeading With Love: How Dr. Roz Builds Stronger Relationships, Better Businesses, and a More Connected World
S5:E31 In this radiant and deeply human episode of Small Biz Stories, Dr. LL sits down with Dr. Roz, founder of the Love Revolution and creator of the…
Small Business StoriesUNFILTERED - Brandon Willington on DIY Marketing Ads & the LIES That Marketing Agencies Sell You
S5:E30 Tired of agencies that overpromise, underdeliver, and burn your cash? Meet Brandon Willington, the straight-talking founder of WHERE U?…
Small Business StoriesThe Truth About Digital Ads: What Google & Meta Aren't Telling You by Jeff Greenfield
S5:E29 In this eye-opening episode of Small Biz Stories, Dr. LL sits down with Jeff Greenfield, serial entrepreneur and CEO of Provalytics, to unpack why most…
Small Business StoriesAgentic AI for Small Businesses: Jim Weldon on Smart Agents, Meta-Models & Building Real Flywheels
S5:E28 If "AI" still feels like magic tricks and missed ROI, this episode will flip the switch. Dr. LL sat down with Jim Weldon (Founder/CEO, Prospect.ai) (one…
Small Business StoriesStop Chasing Shiny Objects: Lessons in Focus from Laurie Genevish
S5:E27 In this episode of Small Biz Stories, host Dr. Loralyn Mears chats with Laurie Genevish, founder of My Ideal College, who helps teens and entrepreneurs…
Small Business StoriesGoogle Ads That Actually Work: John Horn Shares Advertising Strategies for Small Businesses to Grow
S5:E26 In this punchy, practical episode of Small Biz Stories with Dr. LL, John Horn, CEO of StubGroup (a Google Premier Partner - note that very, very few…
Small Business StoriesFrom CPA to Partner: Emil Abedian on Scaling Law Firms, Niching Down, and Finding Work-Life Balance
S5:325 In this episode of Small Business Stories, host Dr. LL sits down with Emil Abedian, CEO of Council CPAs and newly minted author of Council to Council…
Small Business StoriesMastering the Mindset Game: Sofia Rozhko on Leading with Purpose & Power
S5:E24 In this soul-shifting episode of Small Biz Stories, host Dr. LL sits down with Sofia Rozhko, a powerhouse mindset and visibility coach who helps…
Small Business StoriesCollege Aid for Entrepreneurs: Brad Baldridge on FAFSA, Hiring Your Kids & Negotiating
S5:E23 College financial planning meets entrepreneurial reality. Brad Baldridge, host of Taming the High Cost of College, breaks down complex rules into simple…
Small Business StoriesMyth-Busting Lead Generation, SEO & Paid Ads: How to Grow Your Business in 2025 with Justin Abrams
S5:E22 In this episode of Small Biz Stories, host Dr. LL is joined by Justin Abrams, a Business & Strategy Consultant who's helped over 250 companies achieve…
Small Business StoriesPowerful Business Moves That Generated Millions with CFO Michael Barbarita
S5:E21 In this Small Biz Stories episode, Dr. LL sits down with Michael Barbarita, Jr., a fractional CFO, award-winning speaker, author of Powerful Business…
Small Business StoriesThe Client Flow Blueprint: Filip Sardi Shares the Secret to Turn eLearning Content into Revenues
You when you just "hit it off" with a total stranger? Watch the ideas fly! What a fabulous guest and learning experience! Filip is easy going and curious which…
Small Business StoriesEmpowering Women Through the Lens: Photography Tips & Personal Branding with Janet Joyner
S5:E19 In this inspiring episode of Small Biz Stories, we sit down with New Jersey photographer and former educator Janet Joyner, founder of Janet Joyner…
Small Business StoriesThe AI Santa: How Jonathan Mast Empowers Entrepreneurs with Smart Tools for Revenue Growth & Success
S5:E18 In this heartwarming and brilliant episode of Small Biz Stories, Dr. LL welcomes Jonathan Mast, affectionately known as "The Whitebeard of AI." He is a…
Small Business StoriesFrom Bankruptcy to Millions: Neil Twa on Amazon Fulfilment eCommerce & Mindset Shifts
S5:E17 In this high-voltage episode, Dr. LL sits down with Neil Twa, substack writer of column, ⚡"High Voltage Business Builders" and author of Almost…
Small Business StoriesMoney Moves: Small Business Funding & Real Estate Strategies with George Otel
Join Dr. LL for a value-packed conversation with George Otel, founder of US Business Funding and a top commercial real estate influencer. George shares…
Small Business StoriesUnlocking PR Success: Mickie Kennedy's Proven Press Release Strategies for Small Business Growth
S5:E15 Discover how small businesses can punch above their weight with actionable PR strategies from Mickie Kennedy, founder of eReleases and renowned PR…
Small Business StoriesProtect Your Business: What Every Entrepreneur Should Know About Insurance with Michael Silverman
S5:E14 Think insurance is boring? Think again. In this episode of Small Biz Stories, host Dr. LL sits down with Michael Silverman, founder of Silver Lining…
Small Business StorieseCommerce Growth Secrets: Sabir Semerkant Proven Tips for Small Business Success
Join Dr. LL on Small Biz Stories as she interviews Sabir Semerkant, founder of Growth by Sabir and a billion-dollar eCommerce strategist who has worked with…
Small Business StoriesLearning From the Past: Inspiration for Returning Citizens With Luis Angel Torres Rodriguez
In this inspiring episode (S5:E12) of Small Biz Stories, Dr. LL sits down with Luis Angel Torres Rodriguez, founder of Societal Bridge, Inc., to explore how…
Small Business StorieseCommerce: How to Boost Sales & Customer Lifetime Value by Matthew Stafford
Discover how to thrive in the new era of eCommerce with revenue optimization strategies that go beyond traditional marketing. Host Dr. LL sits down with…
Small Business StoriesA New Chill Technique Towards Focus & Healing With Christine Bernat
In this episode of Small Biz Stories, host Dr. LL welcomes Christine Bernat, a certified EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques) practitioner and holistic healing…
Small Business StoriesReset Your Mind for Success via Neuro Quantum Science with Marc Mathys
S5:E9 Are old habits and limiting beliefs holding you or your business back? In this episode of Small Biz Stories, Dr. LL sits down with Marc Mathys, CEO of…
Small Business StoriesNo Nonsense Web Design: A Proven Method to Boost Your Small Business by Michael Pilla
Join Dr. LL on Small Biz Stories as she sits down with Michael Pilla, founder of Pilla Creative Marketing, to uncover a straightforward, no-nonsense approach…
Small Business StoriesTrust Without Limits: Building Resilient Leaders with Dr. Darryl Stickel
S5:E7 Join Dr. Darryl Stickel, the world-renowned "Trust Architect," as he shares breakthrough insights from his acclaimed trust-building model—developed as a…
Small Business StoriesA Real Estate Investor Who Triumphed Over Tragedy: Motivation by Nick Prefontaine
💪 At just 14 years old, Nick Prefontaine survived a traumatic snowboarding accident that left him in a coma, with doctors predicting he'd never walk, talk, or…
Small Business StoriesRevolutionizing Small Business: Tips for Building a Thriving Community With Eric Vincent
In this eye-opening episode of Small Biz Buffet, we sit down with Eric Vincent, the "Excuse Killer," who just makes sh*t happen! He is the visionary founder of…
Small Business StoriesIgniting Learning: Anubha Bhatla is on a Crusade for Curiosity to Transform Education
🎙️ Small Biz Stories is thrilled to welcome Anubha Bhatla, founder of Curiosity Lab Inc. - she is a true Curiosity Crusader! 🌟 Recently named a grand prize…
Small Business StoriesNurturing Success: a Wholistic Approach to Entrepreneurship with Coach Mary Adelma
🍽️ Welcome to another nourishing episode of Small Biz Stories, where Dr. LL serves up insights to help your business thrive! 🌟 Today, we're joined by Mary…
Small Business StoriesUnlock the Power of Relationship Selling: Expert Insights with James Jacobi
Unlock the Secrets to Building Unbreakable Business Relationships! Join us on Small Biz Buffet as we sit down with renowned sales consultant and relationship…
Small Business StoriesSavoring Success: Insights from Marketing Maven Melanie Rudin
🍴 Ready for a taste of success? 🚀 Join us on Small Biz Buffet as we sit down with the incredible Melanie Rudin, marketing maven and owner of MiT…
Small Business StoriesThe Grit Files with Loralyn Mears & Guest Dr. David Lipman
Welcome to a journey down a health path. This podcast is dedicated to exploring the world of chiropractic care and holistic health. In this episode, we sit…
Small Business StoriesThe Grit Files with Loralyn Mears & Guest Franca Borgia
Franca Borgia is a visionary, artist, and author. As a polyglot, she is hyper-aware of cultural sensitivies and the power of nuance: words have impact. She…
Small Business StoriesThe Grit Files with Loralyn Mears & Guest Denise Drinkwalter
Denise Drinkwalter is one of those laid back, "take it as it comes," type of person that you can instantly relate with. Her Canadian roots and career in…
Small Business StoriesThe Grit Files with Loralyn Mears & Guest Danielle Perlin-Good
Danielle Perlin-Good has deep experience in digital marketing and ghostwriting. She takes her clients on a journey of personal discovery and healing as the…
Small Business StoriesThe Grit Files with Loralyn Mears & Guest Dr. Brenda Boston
Dr. Brenda Boston is the President of the Dr. Marie Barney Boston Foundation which was founded by her late mother. It offers more than a scholarship to help…
Small Business StoriesThe Grit Files with Loralyn Mears & Guest Jennifer Holmes
Jennifer Holmes founded Joyous Journeys - all because she was interested in "voluntourism" and "eco-tourism" but couldn't find the services that she needed to…
Small Business StoriesThe Grit Files with Loralyn Mears & Guest Annie Mork
Annie Mork is the founder of Jobs For Therapists, which is a job board made for theraplists including SLPs, PTs, OTs, and Psychs. She is helping connect…
Small Business StoriesThe Grit Files with Loralyn Mears & Guest Brilly Semenova
Meet Brilly Semenova - a disability self-advocate who does not take 'no' for an answer. She has the tenacity, spunk, and knowledge of an entire team of…