The Rundown with Ramon - small business growth podcast for entrepreneurs

In this episode, broadcast live from the lobby of Luminary in New York City, Ramon Ray delivers a straight-talk message to every entrepreneur and small business owner who has ever felt overlooked, underestimated, or “not chosen.”

Ramon breaks down the true meaning of the underdog season—why it happens, what it reveals about your mindset, and how it can become the most transformative stage of your business journey. Whether you're fighting for visibility, battling doubt, or waiting for your big break, this episode will challenge you to stop waiting to be picked and start creating your own opportunities.

You’ll learn why excellence is the first rebellion of an entrepreneur, how proximity creates luck, and what it means to stay hungry when no one is applauding yet. If you’ve ever been told “you’re not ready,” this episode is for you.

• Being an underdog is a season, not your identity.

• Excellence is your best response to doubt or dismissal.

• Don’t wait for invitations—create your own opportunities.

• Your preparation during the “quiet” season determines your success in the spotlight.

• Hunger, grit, and consistency are competitive advantages.

In this episode of The Rundown with Ramon, small business expert Ramon Ray shares how tracking his treadmill stats inspired a new level of discipline in tracking his business metrics. He walks through the simple dashboards he uses to monitor registrations, ad performance, and conversions—and explains why your next level of growth depends on what you measure, not just how hard you hustle.

Ramon also pulls powerful lessons from three major headlines: OpenAI’s reported “code red” and renewed focus on ChatGPT, Instagram’s push to bring employees back into the office, and Apple’s latest AI leadership shift. Together, these stories reveal how great companies double down on their core product, leverage in-person connection, and keep building even when they’re under pressure.

In this episode you’ll learn:

• Why measuring your progress (in health and in business) creates real, compound growth

• The must-have metrics every entrepreneur should be tracking weekly

• What OpenAI’s focus shift teaches you about saying “no” to distractions

• How Instagram’s office mandate underscores the power of in-person experiences

• How to balance survival mode with building your long-term business flywheel

Perfect for entrepreneurs, coaches, and small business leaders who are ready to stop guessing, start tracking, and use their numbers to make smarter, more confident decisions.

In this episode of The Rundown with Ramon, Ramon Ray sits down with PR strategist and media expert Lauren Cabello to break down what actually works in publicity today. Lauren shares how she went from blogger and self-published author to national TV regular, bestselling author, and founder of a seven-figure media company. Together, Ramon and Lauren unpack how small business owners, authors, coaches, and experts can use PR, books, and personal branding to build credibility, get known, and ultimately grow their businesses.

Lauren explains why success is rarely about going viral—and almost always about clear positioning, consistency, and knowing your numbers. She also reveals her process for landing top media placements, how her agency uses AI to newsjack faster than ever, and why a book is still one of the most powerful tools for entrepreneurs who want to stand out.

If you’ve ever wondered how PR really works, whether you should hire an agency, or how to leverage media to boost your brand, this episode gives you the roadmap.

• PR isn’t fame chasing—it’s strategic visibility that supports business goals.

• The entrepreneurs who win are the ones who fail often but don’t quit.

• Books remain one of the strongest top-of-funnel assets for thought leaders.

• Earned media beats pay-to-play placements for long-term credibility.

• AI is transforming PR: story speed, timing, and relevance matter more than ever.

• Don’t just get press—leverage every interview, clip, and quote in your funnel.

• Lauren’s journey from blogger to national media contributor

• Why most people misunderstand how PR works

• The real purpose of a book for entrepreneurs

• What PR agencies actually do behind the scenes

• How much you should realistically expect to invest in PR

• How AI is changing media pitching and expert sourcing

• How to turn visibility into revenue through systems and leverage

Entrepreneurs, founders, consultants, speakers, authors, and anyone building a personal brand who wants more visibility—and wants to use PR the right way.

In this episode of The Rundown with Ramon, Ramon Ray walks in from the gym and dives straight into a conversation about what your priorities really are—because your life will always follow your calendar, not your intentions. He shares insights from Entrepreneur Media’s Jason Pfeiffer on how to stand out in a noisy world and stop obsessing over who doesn’t want to work with you, along with lessons from the Wall Street Journal on caring for others when you’re running on empty, and a Seth Godin–inspired challenge to move beyond a “checkbox” mindset.

Perfect for entrepreneurs, solo founders, and small business leaders, this episode will help you protect your time, your energy, and your business—so you can make a bigger impact without burning out.

In this episode of The Rundown with Ramon, small business expert Ramon Ray unpacks a stack of headlines—Amazon scam warnings, a partner hack impacting OpenAI customers, rising coffee prices, and an MIT study on AI job loss—and translates them into practical moves for entrepreneurs. He also dives into why Gen X’s spending power is being ignored, why your cybersecurity habits are now part of your brand, and how events can multiply your opportunities. Ramon opens with a heartfelt Thanksgiving reflection on how you never know who sees your home or your business as an “oasis,” and closes by challenging listeners to keep learning, stay visible, and protect what they’re building. Tune in if you want a fast, energetic briefing that helps you run a smarter, more resilient business.

In this Thanksgiving episode of The Rundown with Ramon, small business expert Ramon Ray explores how gratitude can transform both your life and your business. From being thankful for decades of marriage and a growing family to honoring friends, clients, and community, Ramon shows how thankfulness is more than a feeling—it’s a strategy for clarity, resilience, and growth.

He breaks down eleven powerful reasons gratitude matters for entrepreneurs, including how it changes your emotional state, strengthens relationships, creates competitive advantage, and even improves your health. Whether you’re in a season of wins or walking through something hard, this episode will challenge you to lead, build, and live with a deeper sense of gratefulness.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• How gratitude instantly shifts your mindset out of stress and scarcity

• Why thankful leaders are more approachable, trusted, and effective

• How a grateful perspective turns setbacks into lessons and fuel for growth

• Ways gratitude strengthens customer loyalty and differentiates your brand

• Simple, daily practices to build a lifestyle of thankfulness as an entrepreneur

On this episode of The Rundown with Ramon, small business expert Ramon Ray unpacks one big theme for entrepreneurs: value. He shares why he turned down a seemingly prestigious global mentorship opportunity, how he closed a major Manulife Canada and Black Enterprise event on a powerful high note, and what HP’s AI-linked layoffs and Roblox’s AI age verification push really mean for your business and career.

You’ll learn how to better own your worth, choose the right opportunities, close events and meetings with impact, and protect your future in an AI-driven world by doubling down on relationships, skills, and trust. Tune in if you’re an entrepreneur, speaker, or leader who wants to build a business that’s both secure and deeply impactful.

On today’s episode of The Rundown with Ramon, Ramon Ray returns from two weeks of travel with a powerful message for entrepreneurs. After speaking with a new founder struggling to define her target customer, Ramon unpacks a tough but necessary truth: many entrepreneurs are running hobbies, not businesses.

In this episode, you’ll learn the difference between passion and profit, how to identify your ideal customer, why “helping people like you” isn’t a sustainable business model, and what it truly takes to build a company that pays you—reliably and sustainably.

Perfect for: early-stage entrepreneurs, creators, coaches, consultants, and anyone ready to build a real business instead of an expensive hobby.

Ramon Ray unpacks a jam-packed episode for builders and buyers: why delaying VC can preserve your freedom and upside, what Cody Sanchez’s community is teaching about acquiring “boring” businesses, how success can reshape friendships, and the non-negotiables of small-business cybersecurity—plus a teen founder’s board-game breakout. Tune in for practical playbooks, mindset shifts, and real-world examples you can use this week.

Topics: bootstrapping vs. VC, MVP and revenue-first growth, Main Street acquisitions, relationships and trust at higher income levels, baseline cybersecurity, and the power of distribution.

On this episode of The Rundown with Ramon, small business expert Ramon Ray shares a down-to-earth playbook for entrepreneurs: prepare for the unexpected, ask for help without hesitation, and build relationships everywhere you go. You’ll learn practical moves for financial cushions, cybersecurity basics, operational backups, smarter networking, and knowing when to pivot or stop—so you can lead with confidence when plans change.