The Fresh Pot Podcast

What's scarier than a haunted house? Owning a business! 👀

This month on The Fresh Pot, the Cup O Code crew is getting spooky and talking about the REAL fears that come with running a business. From handling negative reviews and losing clients to navigating the unknown future of AI and knowing when to play it safe versus taking a leap of faith, we're spilling the coffee on the things that keep business owners up at night.

But it's not all tricks and scares! We've got plenty of treats to share, too! ☕

📸 Tim shares some exciting news about his photography awards from Salem!

🎭 We're officially the new owners of the Sunbury Arts & Curiosities Festival! We're thrilled to carry on this beloved, decade-long tradition and bring some fresh magic to the festivities.

🍻 We're gearing up for this month's Business Bytes & Brews! Find all the details at businessbytesandbrews.com.

🤫 And finally, we've been keeping a BIG secret... We're not quite ready to spill the beans, but trust us, you'll want to stay tuned for this reveal!

Grab your favorite fall brew, settle in, and join us for an episode full of business fears, exciting announcements, a few laughs, and maybe a little suspense. 🎃☕

The coffee’s fresh and the takes are HOT. 🔥

In September’s episode of The Fresh Pot, the Cup O Code team is tackling a question every business owner has probably asked themselves: Does being busy actually mean your business is growing?

We sound off with team questions, hot takes, and a few business paradoxes that had us thinking. We’re talking customer retention vs. chasing new business (and where the balance actually is), the rise of hustle culture and whether we think it’s motivating or just plain toxic, plus those weird contradictions that come with running and growing a business.

We’re also recapping Sam’s latest Business Bytes & Brews presentation, Content That Clicks, and introducing September’s guest speaker, Josh Bradley! Head to businessbytesandbrews.com to find out what Josh will be bringing to the table this month.

And, of course, there’s plenty brewing at Cup O Code. 👀 We’re talking the upcoming Salem Photo Contest, the Reader Roast Little Library, and a few other fun things we’re keeping under wraps for now.

You’ll just have to stay tuned. 😉

☕ Grab your coffee, settle in, and join us for another round of business talk, questionable opinions, and whatever else makes it into The Fresh Pot.

Conflict in business is inevitable—but it doesn't have to be a bad thing.

In this episode of The Fresh Pot, the Cup O Code crew dives into the reality of conflict resolution in the workplace. From navigating difficult conversations and avoiding common mistakes to recognizing the opportunities that can come from healthy conflict, the team shares practical insights from their own experiences.

Plus, we catch you up on everything brewing at Cup O Code! Tim is heading to our Salem location, Sam is this month's featured speaker at Business Bytes & Brews, where she'll be sharing how to use social media management to grow your business, and we've got exciting new Reader Roast announcements coming soon.

We're also celebrating a community partnership we're incredibly proud of. Thanks to the generosity of Aimee Buehner of Bowen Agency Realtors, The Backpack Project will provide 25 fully stocked backpacks to the children of The Refuge in Sunbury, helping local students head back to school ready to learn.

Pour yourself a cup of coffee and join us for another episode filled with honest conversations, practical business advice, and the latest from Cup O Code.

Summer break doesn't mean business stops... but it definitely changes the way you work.

This month on The Fresh Pot Podcast, the team dives into the balancing act of running a business while raising kids during the summer. From keeping routines without sucking the fun out of summer break to teaching work ethic through everyday moments, they're sharing the real-life strategies that help keep both work and family on track.

They also chat about what "taking time off" actually means, how they stay productive without burning out, and whether every business really needs to run summer promotions. Plus, they share practical marketing tips to help your business keep growing through the summer—and long after the season ends.

And before they wrap up, they talk about what's coming up at Cup O Code, including this month's Business Bytes & Brews featuring Abby Fertig. If you're a business owner, entrepreneur, or just looking to connect with other local professionals, you won't want to miss it. Find more info at businessbytesandbrews.com

Grab your favorite cup of coffee and join the conversation!

This month on The Fresh Pot Podcast, we're brewing up a conversation with the champions of Sam's Coffee Jam Madness! Join us as we sit down with Megan of Wagging Tail Coffee Co. and Samantha and Laurie of Little Pine Coffee Company to talk about their journeys as coffee shop owners, what winning Coffee Jam Madness meant for their businesses, and how they've built loyal communities around their brands.

From social media strategies that stay true to their culture to creating spaces where people can connect and belong, this episode is packed with insights for business owners, marketers, and coffee lovers alike. We dive into the importance of putting customers first and how meaningful experiences can turn a coffee shop into a community hub.

We also share exciting updates from Cup O Code, including the launch of the Witch City Exchange Interactive Directory at our new location in Salem, Massachusetts, and a sneak peek at the Site to Site Contractor Photo Gallery App currently in development.

Plus, we reflect on an unforgettable day at the Campus Theatre, where Cup O Code was honored with the Charles H. Coder Entrepreneurial Leadership Award by the SBDC.

And before we wrap up, we preview June's Business Bytes & Brews featuring guest speaker Mike Ferlazzo. Learn more and reserve your spot at businessbytesandbrews.com.

Grab your favorite cup of coffee and join us for another fresh conversation filled with entrepreneurship, community, and creativity.

Fresh ideas were brewing in May’s episode of The Fresh Pot Podcast! This month, the team dove into the reality of business growth and scalability — from making the right hires and building a team you trust, to finding the balance between growing fast and growing sustainably. We talked about the glamorous side of entrepreneurship versus the GRIND that nobody sees, plus how to stay authentic in your branding and content while still keeping your audience engaged.

We also celebrated the winners of Sam’s Coffee Jam Madness — congratulations to Little Pine Coffee Co! Huge thanks to Glick for powering this year’s competition and helping us spotlight incredible local coffee shops.

Tim also gave us a look into some exciting new projects, including ParDynamic, Site to Site, and Coil Guardian for our coastal customers. Plus, don’t miss our upcoming Business, Bytes & Brews event on May 27th!

To top it all off, we were honored to receive the Charles H. Coder Entrepreneurship Award. A heartfelt thank you to the Bucknell SBDC for their continued support and encouragement along the way.

What Makes People Choose YOU Over Someone Else
Why do customers pick one business over another… even when the product or service is similar?
In this episode of The Fresh Brewed Podcast, the team at Cup O Code breaks down the real factors that influence buying decisions, and it’s not always price.
We dive into:
 • What customers see first, and how design and branding shape perception
 • How your website and online presence build or break trust instantly
 • What happens when someone actually talks to you, and why that experience matters more than you think
From first impressions to final decisions, we explore how perception, trust, and experience often outweigh cost, and what you can do right now to stand out.
Plus, we get into some strong hot takes on branding, pricing, and why being the cheapest is not always the best.
If you’ve ever wondered why you’re losing deals, or how to become the obvious choice, this episode is for you.

On this episode of The Fresh Pot Podcast, the Cup O Code team dives into one of the biggest challenges businesses face today, selling online and building digital trust.
We talk about why customers decide within seconds whether they trust a business, and the common mistakes that cause people to leave a website without ever contacting you or making a purchase.
In this conversation we cover topics like website design, branding, user experience, and how reviews, photos, and proof of work influence buying decisions. We also discuss the growing trend of customers purchasing directly through social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok, and what businesses can do to take advantage of that shift.
The team also debates some fun but important marketing questions like the difference between stock photos and real photos, and how website speed and mobile experience impact conversions.
We also share real-world examples from client projects, lessons learned from marketing successes and failures, and a few updates on what’s happening at Cup O Code with upcoming projects, events, and initiatives.
If you run a business and want to understand what actually makes people buy online, this is a conversation you won’t want to miss.

February isn’t just the shortest month—it’s one of the most strategic. In this episode of The Fresh Pot Podcast, we’re talking about what Cup O Code is focusing on in month two of the year and what other businesses should be doing right now to set themselves up for long-term success.

This month’s conversation covers:

• 💡 February business strategy: Should you be running promotions—or holding steady?

• 🎥 Vertical vs. horizontal video and where each format actually performs best

• ⚙️ Systems that improve customer experience (and why they matter more than ever)

• 🛠️ Tim and Nick introduce Brew Path—a new Cup O Code system that lets website clients choose their own experience, from communication style to project pace, with real-time build updates along the way

• 🍻 A recap of January’s Business Bytes & Brews with Gilson Snow, plus key takeaways on company culture—especially why you should make decisions like everyone’s watching

• 🌟 Announcing our Glow Up of the Year winner: Root 11!

• ⚔️ A sneak peek at what’s next: Glow Up is evolving into Battle of the Brands—a quarterly showdown where one business wins a free 30-day billboard placement, with year-end winners battling it out on social media for an even bigger prize

As always, it’s part strategy session, part real-talk, and part community spotlight—all brewed fresh for business owners navigating 2026.

☕ Find everything the team is working on and what’s coming up next at cupocode.com, and follow along on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, Substack, and YouTube.

Press play and pour yourself a fresh perspective. 🎧

We’re kicking off 2026 with a full cup and a fresh perspective. In our first episode of the year, the team dives into New Year’s resolutions—both personal and professional, sharing what we’re leaving behind and what we’re committed to brewing stronger in the year ahead.

We also spill the tea on:

• 🚫 Marketing trends we’re ready to see disappear in 2026

• 🔁 Trends we’re begging to make a comeback

• ⚠️ The Google Business Profile scam you need to know about

• 🍻 The return of Business Bytes & Brews on January 28th, featuring Gilson Snowboards

• ✍️ Our brand-new Substack blogs, starting with Local SEO: Standardizing the Pillars
  👉 https://cupocode.substack.com/p/local-seo-standardizing-the-pillars

• 🔮 Our fun and fan-favorite Marketing Horoscope, Cosmic Grounds

• 🌟 The Glow Up of the Year Facebook contest—where one lucky local business will win a free placement on one of our digital billboards

It’s marketing insights, industry hot takes, community love, and a little cosmic energy—all brewed fresh for 2026. Pour a cup and press play. ☕🎧