In this special behind-the-scenes episode of Build Boldly, Pat Rodgers sits down with Anthony Palmer, CEO and founder of Palm Tree Pod Co., the production partner behind the Build Boldly podcast.

Pat and Anthony get into why RISE created Build Boldly, how the show has evolved, and how businesses can use podcasts and long-form content to build trust, share customer stories, and create a content engine that supports marketing, sales, SEO, and community building.

Anthony explains why podcasting is not just about audio anymore. A single conversation can become a full ecosystem of content.. He also shares why the most effective content is often the most authentic. It’s the kind that helps people feel seen, educated, connected, and understood.

Pat and Anthony discuss:

• Why every business has a story worth telling
• How podcasts help companies build trust without hard-selling
• Why niche content can be more valuable than chasing massive audiences
• How one podcast episode can fuel social media, email, blogs, YouTube, and SEO
• Why customer stories are such powerful marketing assets
• How small teams can start creating content without overcomplicating it
• Why consistency, systems, and support matter
• What business owners should stop doing when creating content

Whether you’re a founder, operator, service provider, or small business owner wondering how to show up online with more purpose, this episode offers a practical look at how content can become a long-term growth engine.

Learn more: palmtreepodco.com

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Connect with Pat Rodgers on LinkedIn
Learn more about RISE Commercial District Website | Instagram | YouTube | LinkedIn

Build Boldly is produced by Palm Tree Pod Co. 

Franchising is not just a way to buy a business. For the right entrepreneur, it can be a strategy to scale smarter, reduce risk, build recurring revenue opportunities, and create long-term enterprise value.

In this episode of Build Boldly, host Pat Rodgers sits down with Anna Dey, franchise consultant, multi-brand operator, and founder of Franspot, to unpack how franchising can help entrepreneurs move from startup chaos to a more structured, supported path for growth.

Pat and Anna explore how operators can think strategically about growth, whether that means going deeper within one brand and market, expanding across complementary brands, or leveraging an existing customer base to create multiple revenue streams.

They also discuss the financial realities of franchising, including startup costs, net worth requirements, funding options, risk tolerance, and why working with a franchise consultant can help entrepreneurs filter through the noise and find the right fit.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• The difference between a franchisor and a franchisee
• How franchising can create structure, support, and scalability
• Why some owners grow through depth while others grow through width
• What to consider before investing in a franchise opportunity
• How funding, net worth, and risk tolerance shape franchise decisions
• How a franchise consultant can help simplify the evaluation process

If you’re an entrepreneur, operator, or service business owner looking for a smarter way to scale, this conversation offers a practical framework for evaluating franchising as a path to growth, liquidity, and long-term business value.

Learn more: thefranspot.com

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Connect with Pat Rodgers on LinkedIn
Learn more about RISE Commercial District Website | Instagram | YouTube | LinkedIn

Build Boldly is produced by Palm Tree Pod Co. 

Most buyers are not ready to buy the first time they see your business.

In this episode of Build Boldly, host Pat Rodgers sits down with Nicole Eldridge, Meta ads strategist and founder of Nicole Eldridge Media, to break down how small businesses can use Facebook and Instagram ads to build visibility, nurture leads, and drive real sales.

Nicole specializes in helping small and local businesses run effective Meta ad campaigns, from creative and targeting to retargeting, tracking, and SMS follow-up. In this conversation, she explains why Meta is still one of the most powerful advertising platforms for entrepreneurs, especially when businesses understand how to reach the 97% of buyers who are not ready to purchase yet.

You’ll learn:

• Why Facebook and Instagram ads still matter for small businesses
• How to create Meta ads that do not feel like traditional ads
• Why simple video and problem-focused creative often outperform polished flyers
• How retargeting helps businesses stay in front of warm audiences
• Why the Meta Pixel matters for tracking, optimization, and better ad performance
• How SMS follow-up can increase lead conversion
• What realistic timelines look like for Meta ad campaigns
• How to choose the right Facebook and Instagram ads partner

Nicole also shares why business owners need to understand the basics of Meta ads so they can make better decisions, avoid bad partners, and stop wasting ad spend, even if they plan to outsource.

For Build Boldly listeners, Nicole is offering a free Meta ads mini-course with the code BOLDLY, find it here: nicoleeldridgemedia.com

If you are a founder, operator, contractor, service provider, or small business owner trying to get more from your marketing budget, this episode gives you a practical starting point for building Meta ads that support long-term growth.

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Connect with Pat Rodgers on LinkedIn
Learn more about RISE Commercial District Website | Instagram | YouTube | LinkedIn

Build Boldly is produced by Palm Tree Pod Co. 

If your business looks smaller online than it is in real life, your brand may be costing you opportunities.

In this episode of Build Boldly, host Pat Rodgers sits down with graphic and digital designer Riley Best to break down the difference between branding and marketing, and why both matter for small businesses, service companies, and growing brands trying to be found, trusted, and chosen.

Pat and Riley unpack why marketing helps people discover your business, while branding shapes how they feel once they find you. From websites and social media to Google Business profiles, online reviews, email domains, and visual identity, they explain how every digital touchpoint either builds trust or creates doubt.

You'll learn:

•  The difference between branding and marketing 
•  Why brand consistency directly impacts sales and conversions 
•  How outdated websites and scattered visuals can hurt credibility 
•  Why small businesses need clear messaging before scaling marketing 
•  How to define who you help, what problem you solve, and why customers should care 
•  Practical branding-on-a-budget steps for business owners 
•  When to evolve your brand without alienating your core audience 
•  How AI, search behavior, reviews, and digital research are changing the way customers evaluate businesses 

If you’re relying on referrals but want to grow beyond word-of-mouth, this episode gives you a practical starting point for building a stronger brand foundation that helps the right customers find you, trust you, and take action.

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Connect with Pat Rodgers on LinkedIn
Learn more about RISE Commercial District Website | Instagram | YouTube | LinkedIn

Build Boldly is produced by Palm Tree Pod Co. 

In this episode of Build Boldly, Pat Rodgers sits down with entrepreneur and RISE Commercial District founder Jim Sapp to unpack the lessons behind scaling multiple high-growth businesses.

Jim shares how he grew Indie Lube to 50 locations across the Midwest, why he learned early that no founder can scale alone, and how that experience helped shape the vision for RISE Commercial District. From hiring key leaders in operations, sales, finance, and accounting to building a bench of mentors across real estate, finance, and leadership, Jim offers practical insight for business owners navigating growth.

Pat and Jim also talk about how to test new ideas without overextending, why small bets can protect your business from expensive mistakes, and how to know when it’s time to let go of control, failed experiments, or team members who are not aligned with the company’s future.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why founders need to build around key roles early
• How mentors and advisors help de-risk big decisions
• Why passion and ownership matter when hiring
• How to test ideas before investing too heavily
• Why leadership is about communication, not control
• How RISE Commercial District grew from real entrepreneurial lessons

If you’re a founder, operator, or small business owner trying to scale beyond yourself, this conversation is packed with hard-earned advice on leadership, team building, mentorship, and smart growth.

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Connect with Pat Rodgers on LinkedIn
Learn more about RISE Commercial District Website | Instagram | YouTube | LinkedIn

Build Boldly is produced by Palm Tree Pod Co. 

Marketing should not live in a silo. In this episode of Build Boldly, host Pat Rodgers sits down with Rachael Coverdale, CEO and founder of Coverdale Consulting, to break down how growing businesses can turn marketing into a true revenue engine. Rachael brings more than a decade of experience helping companies build marketing strategies rooted in sales alignment, customer understanding, analytics, and long-term business goals.

Together, Pat and Rachael unpack why marketing and sales have to work together, how founders can move beyond the idea that they can “sell to everyone,” and why defining your Ideal Client Profile is one of the most important steps in building a focused, effective marketing strategy.

They also cover how to evaluate modern marketing channels, use analytics to make better decisions, leverage AI for research and brainstorming, and avoid common mistakes when hiring agencies, consultants, or in-house marketers.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

•  Why marketing must be tied directly to revenue and sales goals 
•  How to define your Ideal Client Profile and buyer personas 
•  Why internal communication and culture matter in external marketing 
•  How to use analytics, engagement metrics, and sales feedback together 
•  Where AI fits into modern marketing strategy 
•  Why consistency matters more than chasing every new channel 
•  What red flags to watch for when choosing a marketing partner 

If you’re a founder, operator, or business owner trying to make smarter marketing investments, this episode gives you a practical playbook for building a cohesive, ROI-driven strategy that actually supports growth.

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Connect with Pat Rodgers on LinkedIn
Learn more about RISE Commercial District Website | Instagram | YouTube | LinkedIn

Build Boldly is produced by Palm Tree Pod Co. 

Dan Faber has spent years helping B2B and B2C companies build stronger sales systems, coach sales teams, and create accountability that actually drives revenue growth. In this episode of Build Boldly, host Pat Rodgers sits down with Dan, sales trainer and consultant of Lushin, to break down one of the biggest challenges growing businesses face: turning owner-led sales into a scalable, repeatable sales process.

Pat and Dan look at what it takes to move beyond “winging it” and build a true sales machine for trade businesses, service companies, contractors, agencies, and growing entrepreneurial teams.

You’ll learn:

• How to define your Ideal Client Profile (ICP)
• The difference between inbound vs. outbound sales strategies
• Why referrals and networking partners are critical growth drivers
• Building a frictionless sales process
• Using CRMs effectively to track opportunities and accountability
• Coaching vs. training salespeople
• How founders can stop being the bottleneck in sales
• Structuring goals, milestones, and accountability systems
• Why sales is a learned skill, not just a personality trait

Whether you’re still selling everything yourself or trying to scale a growing sales team, this episode is packed with practical advice to help you create predictable revenue and sustainable business growth.

 Listen now and learn how to build boldly through better sales leadership, systems, and process.

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Connect with Pat Rodgers on LinkedIn
Learn more about RISE Commercial District Website | Instagram | YouTube | LinkedIn

Build Boldly is produced by Palm Tree Pod Co. 

Today, we’re bringing back one of our most popular Build Boldly conversations from the archive. 

Before taking the leap with an Archadeck franchise, Ryan Pape felt his career had stagnated. In this episode, host Pat Rodgers sits down with Ryan to explore his journey from starting a franchise to navigating the challenges of 2020, including disrupted supply chains, shifting demand, and the need for consistent, strategic marketing in uncertain times.

Ryan shares how strong vendor relationships, franchise support, financial discipline, and a dedicated showroom helped him build momentum in the outdoor living space. He also offers practical advice for aspiring entrepreneurs on capital planning, company culture, and building a business that can weather the unexpected.

Whether you missed it the first time or are revisiting it with fresh perspective, this conversation is full of lessons on resilience, process, and what it takes to keep building boldly.

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This episode was originally published in March of 2025.

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Connect with Pat Rodgers on LinkedIn
Learn more about RISE Commercial District Website | Instagram | YouTube | LinkedIn

Build Boldly is produced by Palm Tree Pod Co. 

As Q1 wraps up, it’s the perfect time to pause and get honest about what your business really needs next. In this recap episode of Build Boldly, we revisit key moments from the first two episodes of our 2026 Business Roadmap series: Strategy & Operations and Finance & Accounting.

From defining a clear North Star goal and identifying bottlenecks, to tightening up your bookkeeping, budgeting, and cash flow systems, this episode is a practical check-in for entrepreneurs who want to build with more clarity and less chaos.

Whether you’re feeling on track or realizing a few things need to be reset, these clips will help you refocus on the foundations that support sustainable growth.

In this episode:

•  Why strategy and operations have to work together 
•  How to identify friction points slowing your business down 
•  What clean books and better cash flow visibility make possible 
•  Why financial discipline creates better decisions and less stress 
•  How to move into Q2 with more intention, clarity, and control 

If you’re a founder, operator, or business owner trying to lead well through growth, this recap will help you get grounded in the essentials before the next quarter begins.

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Connect with Pat Rodgers on LinkedIn
Learn more about RISE Commercial District Website | Instagram | YouTube | LinkedIn

Build Boldly is produced by Palm Tree Pod Co. 

Most businesses don’t fail because of a bad product. They fail because they run out of cash. In this episode of Build Boldly, Pat Rodgers sits down with Logan Burchett, founder and CEO of Forecastr, to break down how founders can use real financial planning and analysis (FP&A) to take control of cash flow, make smarter decisions, and scale with confidence.

Logan brings experience from institutional finance, venture-backed startups, and fractional CFO work, and now helps companies in the $1M–$50M range build financial systems that actually support growth. Pat and Logan talk about how founders can move beyond spreadsheets and guesswork into a more strategic, data-driven approach to building their business.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why cash flow is what keeps businesses alive
 • How to use forecasting to decide when to hire, invest, or expand
 • What FP&A actually is (and why most founders don’t use it)
 • How scenario planning removes fear and replaces it with clarity
 • The impact of financial modeling on valuation, lending, and exits
 • Why recurring revenue (ARR/MRR) changes everything for service businesses
 • How to blend software, AI, and human expertise for better decision-making

Logan also explains how founders can start simple and build toward a full financial strategy that supports long-term growth. If you’re making big decisions about hiring, equipment, marketing, or expansion, this episode will give you the framework to move forward with confidence.

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Connect with Pat Rodgers on LinkedIn
Learn more about RISE Commercial District Website | Instagram | YouTube | LinkedIn

Build Boldly is produced by Palm Tree Pod Co.