How I Built My Small Business

As we draw season one to a close, I’m thrilled to share some of the heartwarming stories and pivotal lessons that we've heard on this journey. 

From grappling with technical hiccups like latency delays during my chat with Max Skinner of Two Rock Amplifiers to drawing inspiration from Jason Feifer's spontaneous interviewing style, this season has been an exhilarating learning curve.

Your support has been the driving force behind this podcast’s success. From educators who use these episodes as teaching tools to entrepreneurs finding newfound motivation, your feedback is the lifeblood of this show. 

This platform, inspired by my father’s legacy, has become a space for sharing business know-how, niche expertise, ideas for making money, and for imparting life wisdom. 

As we wrap up Season One, I’m filled with gratitude and a continued commitment to help aspiring entrepreneurs take control of their futures. 

Have an incredible holiday season! Be kind, take deep breaths, slow down, find meaningful connection, and a moment to rest and reflect.

Season Two will launch the week of January 25, 2025.

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Website: https://www.annemcginty.com/

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John Kilcullen, the creator of the For Dummies brand and former chairman and CEO of IDG Books, shares his journey in building one of the world’s most iconic publishing series.

In this episode, John delves into the rise of For Dummies, his experience leading other renowned brands like Frommer's Travel and Cliff’s Notes, and his time as president and publisher of Billboard Magazine and The Hollywood Reporter.

A sought-after lecturer on entrepreneurship and innovation at institutions like Stanford, NYU, and Babson, John’s wisdom has been profiled in Forbes, The New York Times, and USA Today.

PART 1: The story behind For Dummies and how to build a lasting brand.

PART 2: Insights on the evolving future of publishing (starting at 43 minutes).

Closing: John’s invaluable advice for aspiring entrepreneurs, life wisdom, and actionable takeaways.

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Website: https://www.annemcginty.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annemcginty

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Today we’re joined by Farnoosh Torabi, America’s leading personal finance expert who is dedicated to helping others become unapologetically rich.

Farnoosh is an award-winning financial correspondent, television personality, and best-selling author of You’re So Money, A Healthy State of Panic, Psych Yourself Rich, and When She Makes More.

Her Podcast So Money was ranked a Top Female-Hosted Podcast by Entrepreneur Magazine, described as "a Podcast Your Wallet Will Love" by The New York Times, and has been downloaded over 35 million times, earning multiple Webby awards.

She is a former CNBC host and has been featured on NBC’s Today Show, ABC’s Good Morning America, and numerous major news and talk shows.

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Let’s connect!

Subscribe to my newsletter: Time To Live: Thriving in Business and Beyond

Website: https://www.annemcginty.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annemcginty

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Let's dive into a topic that affects all of us - how cellphones, social media, and AI are fundamentally reshaping the way we consume news and engage in politics.

Jack Brewster is the Founder and CEO of Newsreel, an app designed to make news more accessible for young people and those that are digitally exhausted. As a Fullbright scholar in Germany, he researched how young people consume news and how journalism can adapt to these changing behaviors. He is also the Enterprise Editor at NewsGuard, which rates the credibility of news sources and works to combat misinformation in media.

Before founding Newsreel, Jack was a reporter at Forbes Magazine, where he covered politics and online extremism. His work has appeared in The Wall Street Journal, Time Magazine, VICE, Fortune, and Newsweek. 

Jacks’ reporting has been featured in The New York Times, Bloomberg, CNN, and The Washington Post. 

Connect with Jack Brewster:
Jack Brewster on LinkedIn
Try Newsreel here
Newsreel on Instagram

Podcast recommendations from Jack:
Plain English with Derek Thompson
Up First
The Daily

A Balanced News Diet from Jack (Both Liberal and Conservative):
AxiosAM
The Rundown - an AI newsletter
Mainstream Conservative - The Dispatch, The National Review
Tortoise - British media publication 
Nate Silver’s substack

If you’re looking for a new news diet starting point, UpFirst gives the headlines in a succinct manner

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Let’s connect!

Subscribe to my newsletter: Time To Live: Thriving in Business and Beyond

Website: https://www.annemcginty.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annemcginty

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/annemcgintyhost

Jason is the Editor-in-Chief of Entrepreneur Magazine and is widely recognized as an authority on business and adapting to change. He's the author of the bestselling book Build for Tomorrow, host of the Help Wanted and Problem Solvers podcast and has been named a "Top Voice in Entrepreneurship" on LinkedIn.

With decades of experience in national media, Jason has held editor roles at Men's Health, Fast Company, Maxim and Boston Magazine and has written about business and technology for the Washington Post, Slate, New York Magazine and many more.

Connect with Jason Feifer:

Twitter: @heyfeifer
Instagram: @heyfeifer
Facebook: @heyfeifer
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jasonfeifer
Website: jasonfeifer.com
Newsletter: jasonfeifer.com/newsletter

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Let’s connect!

Subscribe to my newsletter: Time To Live: Thriving in Business and Beyond

Website: https://www.annemcginty.com/

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Ana Homayoun shares insights gained from over two decades of working with young people.

Ana is the founder of Silicon Valley-based Green Ivy Educational Consulting and the executive director of Luminaria Learning Solutions, a non-profit focused on developing executive functioning skills in classrooms. She’s the author of four books, including her latest, Erasing the Finish Line: The New Blueprint for Success Beyond Grades and College Admissions, which highlights the essential skills students and young adults need to thrive.

As an academic advisor and early career development expert, Ana blends executive functioning, technology, and personal development, working directly with students, schools, and global organizations. Her work has been featured in media outlets such as Good Morning America, The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Atlantic, Fast Company, and NPR.

Connect with Ana Homayoun:

www.greenivyed.com 

www.anahomayoun.com

www.luminarialearning.org

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Let’s connect!

Subscribe to my newsletter: Time To Live: Thriving in Business and Beyond

Website: https://www.annemcginty.com/

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Today, we're joined by Duran Morley, an action sports enthusiast who has built a thriving business centered around adventure living. Duran is the founder and CEO of VanSpeed, a company that converts sprinter vans into recreational vehicles for adventure-seeking customers.

College wasn't the right path for Duran, and he found that he learned best by doing. At just 17 years old, he opened the Van Mart, an e-commerce store selling van accessories. That venture has since snowballed into a full-scale, eight-figure annual revenue sprinter van conversion business, customizing vehicles not only for recreational use but also for mobile business opportunities. 

And he's only 24.

Duran has taken the outdated 1980s RV design and transformed it into something modern, efficient and visually appealing. As an avid surfer, motorcyclist and camper van traveler, duran is the end user of his own products. His work has been featured in American Iron Magazine, hot Bike Magazine, roadkill Magazine and Hot Rod Magazine.

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Let’s connect!

Subscribe to my newsletter: Time To Live: Thriving in Business and Beyond

Website: https://www.annemcginty.com/

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Sophie Milliken is a remarkable entrepreneur and leader with contributions that extend far beyond business. She co-founded City Ladies Networking, chairs the UK Charity Smart Works Newcastle, and serves as a Founding Ambassador for Every Child Needs a Mentor. 

Her dedication was recognized in 2023 when she was awarded an MBE by the Order of the British Empire for her services to Business and Education.

Sophie founded SRS Recruitment and Employability in 2013, successfully scaling it before selling in 2019. Now, as the Founder and CEO of Moja Group, an award-winning modern PR agency, Sophie continues to break new ground.

She is the host of the popular podcast Beyond The Bio which consistently ranks on the UK marketing podcast chart. Sophie has written two best-selling books, with a third on the way titled From Unknown to Unforgettable: How to Build a Personal Brand that Goes Beyond the Bio.

 Connect with Sophie!
 Buy Sophie's latest book From Unknown to Unforgettable
LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/sophie-milliken
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/moja_sophie/

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Let’s connect!

Subscribe to my newsletter: Time To Live: Thriving in Business and Beyond

Website: https://www.annemcginty.com/

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Today we have Dr. Harshal Chokhawala chatting with us about starting a biotech company.

Harshal is the CEO and Co-Founder of Zymochem, which he founded in 2015 and recently celebrated a major milestone by closing a Series A funding round in January this year.

As a speaker at the SynBioBeta conference in San Francisco and the Rethinking Materials conference in London, he is passionate about about bringing sustainability to everyday materials and reducing humanity's dependency on plastic. 

After hearing that microplastics can be carried through the placenta from mother to baby, Harshal doubled down on his mission to bring breakthrough technology products to everyday materials. 

Zymochem recently introduced Bayse, a biodegradable, bio-based super absorbent polymer that can be used to make diapers, the third-largest item in landfills. He aims not only to tackle the hygiene industry, but coatings, textiles, and plastics.

Zymochem has partnered with well-known including Toyota and Lululemon.

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Let’s connect!

Subscribe to my newsletter: Time To Live: Thriving in Business and Beyond

Website: https://www.annemcginty.com/

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Kimi Chadwick chats with us about running a pumpkin patch without any farming experience!

Kimi is the co-owner of Craven Farm, winners of the Best of Snohomish County two years in a row. She and her husband are incredibly savvy business owners who are utilizing vertical integration in nearly all aspects of their business, including a fleet of in-house concessions and floral design.

It's no surprise that on the day of our interview, they closed on the purchase of Whitewall Brewing Company, a local brewery that had been considering shutting down. They will be able to breathe new life and energy into the brewery, while also expanding on their existing offerings by possibly bringing Whitewall Brewery to their farm. 

Kimi is smart, yet incredibly humble, and I absolutely love her and her husband's innovative business approach.

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Let’s connect!

Subscribe to my newsletter: Time To Live: Thriving in Business and Beyond

Website: https://www.annemcginty.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annemcginty

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/annemcgintyhost