The Trading Post

Michigan's new regulations prohibit using AI voices for B2B appointment setting beginning January 2025, with violations resulting in fines up to $1,500 per occurrence. Learn how AI is transforming podcasting while creating legal challenges for marketers and existential questions for content creators.

• Michigan businesses cannot use AI voices for B2B appointment setting starting January 2025
• TCPA requires prior written consent for AI-generated or pre-recorded voice calls
• AI calling assistants sound obviously robotic and frequently fail in real-world applications
• AI synopsis tools threaten YouTube watch time by condensing hour-long videos into 4-minute reads
• Car podcasting presents unique acoustic challenges requiring experimentation with microphone placement
• YouTube is beginning to crack down on repetitive, low-quality AI content

Thanks to our sponsors: the Michigan Renaissance Festival, Metro Trading Association, Networking with Kids, and Get Prepped video game. Join us at Networking with Kids at Jungle Java in Clinton Township on the first Thursday of every month from 4-6 PM.

Send us Fan Mail

Presented by the Michigan Renaissance Festival — Experience a day of food, shopping, artisans, live entertainment, and jousting in Holly, Michigan. Open weekends August 22 through October 4, plus Labor Day and Festival Friday. Learn more and get tickets at MichRenFest.com. 

The Michigan Renaissance Festival
Experience the Michigan Renaissance Festival, where history and fantasy collide!

Survive the Apocalypse in Get Prepped! Game | GET PREPPED!

Support the show

Thanks for listening to The Trading Post Podcast!

Find all our important links— https://linktr.ee/traderstu

This episode of The Trading Post is proudly sponsored by Press X 2 Play Games, Metro Trading Association, and the Michigan Renaissance Festival. Exciting news—I’m featured as The Trader at the Trading Post in Press X 2 Play’s upcoming video game! Learn more about Press X 2 Play at pressx2play.games, discover how Metro Trading Association helps businesses grow through barter and trade, and explore the magic of the Michigan Renaissance Festival.

Questions or guest suggestions? Email us at [email protected]

“Whistles In The West” was written, recorded, and produced by Durracell, exclusively for use with Trader Stu’s platform.
    The track is protected under U.S. Copyright (filed and registered), and rights to use have been granted specifically to Trader Stu for content and promotional use related to his brand and media presence.
    For additional licensing, custom audio, or to inquire about future collaborations and performances, contact:
 📧 [email protected]
🌐 www.durracell.com

© 2025 The Trading Post Podcast. All rights reserved.

Podcasting offers a distinctive advantage in today's AI-saturated digital landscape, creating an authentic connection between businesses and their audience that algorithms can't replicate. We explore how this medium transforms cold outreach into warm leads while establishing you as an authority in your field.

• Building trust and authority by consistently sharing valuable insights about your industry
• Transforming traditional sales funnels by creating warm leads through podcasting
• Learning from brands like Four Sigmatic and Backblaze that grew through strategic podcast marketing
• Aligning your podcast with specific business goals rather than trying to appeal to everyone
• Creating high-value relationships with guests, listeners, and industry partners
• Maintaining consistency without getting derailed by perfectionism
• Approaching podcasting as a long-term strategy rather than expecting immediate results
• Focusing on providing value rather than excessive self-promotion
• Using AI tools to enhance your podcast strategy without losing authenticity

Ready to see how podcasting can help grow your business? Start by defining your audience and goals, then either launch your own show or reach out to be a guest on podcasts in your niche. Remember that consistency and authority are your most powerful marketing tools.

Ideas from:

Buzzsprout

https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/podcast-ideas-from-grow-radio-7240277072038834177/

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Presented by the Michigan Renaissance Festival — Experience a day of food, shopping, artisans, live entertainment, and jousting in Holly, Michigan. Open weekends August 22 through October 4, plus Labor Day and Festival Friday. Learn more and get tickets at MichRenFest.com. 

The Michigan Renaissance Festival
Experience the Michigan Renaissance Festival, where history and fantasy collide!

Survive the Apocalypse in Get Prepped! Game | GET PREPPED!

Support the show

Thanks for listening to The Trading Post Podcast!

Find all our important links— https://linktr.ee/traderstu

This episode of The Trading Post is proudly sponsored by Press X 2 Play Games, Metro Trading Association, and the Michigan Renaissance Festival. Exciting news—I’m featured as The Trader at the Trading Post in Press X 2 Play’s upcoming video game! Learn more about Press X 2 Play at pressx2play.games, discover how Metro Trading Association helps businesses grow through barter and trade, and explore the magic of the Michigan Renaissance Festival.

Questions or guest suggestions? Email us at [email protected]

“Whistles In The West” was written, recorded, and produced by Durracell, exclusively for use with Trader Stu’s platform.
    The track is protected under U.S. Copyright (filed and registered), and rights to use have been granted specifically to Trader Stu for content and promotional use related to his brand and media presence.
    For additional licensing, custom audio, or to inquire about future collaborations and performances, contact:
 📧 [email protected]
🌐 www.durracell.com

© 2025 The Trading Post Podcast. All rights reserved.

I share my journey exploring AI tools to automate cold calling and appointment setting for business development while maintaining personal connection with clients. The quest to multiply my sales efforts across multiple counties without hiring additional staff has led to testing innovative solutions that could revolutionize how small businesses approach growth.

• The continuing importance of cold calling for business development despite networking efforts
• Testing Callin.io AI appointment setting system that integrates with Google Calendar
• How AI can pre-qualify prospects and automatically schedule appointments 
• Technical challenges and programming considerations when implementing AI calling systems
• Potential cost savings of $30 for 3.5 hours of call time versus hiring staff
• The ultimate goal of expanding business reach across seven counties in Eastern Michigan

Whatever you do, be good or be good at it.

Send us Fan Mail

Presented by the Michigan Renaissance Festival — Experience a day of food, shopping, artisans, live entertainment, and jousting in Holly, Michigan. Open weekends August 22 through October 4, plus Labor Day and Festival Friday. Learn more and get tickets at MichRenFest.com. 

The Michigan Renaissance Festival
Experience the Michigan Renaissance Festival, where history and fantasy collide!

Survive the Apocalypse in Get Prepped! Game | GET PREPPED!

Metro Trading Association
MTA helps businesses improve cash flow, reduce inventory, and increase profits through bartering.

Networking With Kids!
For busy professionals who want to network without sacrificing family time.

The Michigan Renaissance Festival
Experience the Michigan Renaissance Festival, where history and fantasy collide!

First Hill Marketing
Elevating brands with innovative digital marketing strategies and solutions.

Good Neighbor Podcast
Bringing Together Local Businesses & Neighbors of Rochester & Shelby, MI/Greater Detroit Area

Press X 2 Play Games
Survive the apocalypse in "Get Prepped" by Press X2 Play—play now at pressx2play.games!

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Support the show

Thanks for listening to The Trading Post Podcast!

Find all our important links— https://linktr.ee/traderstu

This episode of The Trading Post is proudly sponsored by Press X 2 Play Games, Metro Trading Association, and the Michigan Renaissance Festival. Exciting news—I’m featured as The Trader at the Trading Post in Press X 2 Play’s upcoming video game! Learn more about Press X 2 Play at pressx2play.games, discover how Metro Trading Association helps businesses grow through barter and trade, and explore the magic of the Michigan Renaissance Festival.

Questions or guest suggestions? Email us at [email protected]

“Whistles In The West” was written, recorded, and produced by Durracell, exclusively for use with Trader Stu’s platform.
    The track is protected under U.S. Copyright (filed and registered), and rights to use have been granted

Trader Stu explores the challenges of post-layoff entrepreneurship and shares exciting news about being featured in an upcoming apocalyptic survival video game called "Get Prepped."

• Being featured as a trader character in "Get Prepped," an apocalyptic survival video game releasing this winter
• Average gamer today is in their 30s with disposable income - not just teenagers
• The Michigan Renaissance Festival sponsorship and themed weekend events
• Post-layoff entrepreneurship challenges and unrealistic expectations
• Most new business owners after layoffs rely on unemployment benefits for startup capital
• Without proper advertising and marketing budget, new businesses struggle to survive
• The three biggest challenges for post-layoff entrepreneurs: cash flow, marketing, and time management
• Approximately 45% of small businesses fail within the first few years
• The importance of having substantial capital when starting a business
• Many entrepreneurs create similar businesses in trendy fields without differentiation

Check out the Michigan Renaissance Festival this summer and fall, and look for "Get Prepped" coming this winter where you can find Trader Stu as the in-game trading post merchant.

Send us Fan Mail

Presented by the Michigan Renaissance Festival — Experience a day of food, shopping, artisans, live entertainment, and jousting in Holly, Michigan. Open weekends August 22 through October 4, plus Labor Day and Festival Friday. Learn more and get tickets at MichRenFest.com. 

The Michigan Renaissance Festival
Experience the Michigan Renaissance Festival, where history and fantasy collide!

Survive the Apocalypse in Get Prepped! Game | GET PREPPED!

Metro Trading Association
MTA helps businesses improve cash flow, reduce inventory, and increase profits through bartering.

The Michigan Renaissance Festival
Experience the Michigan Renaissance Festival, where history and fantasy collide!

Networking With Kids!
For busy professionals who want to network without sacrificing family time.

First Hill Marketing
Elevating brands with innovative digital marketing strategies and solutions.

Good Neighbor Podcast
Bringing Together Local Businesses & Neighbors of Rochester & Shelby, MI/Greater Detroit Area

Press X 2 Play Games
Survive the apocalypse in "Get Prepped" by Press X2 Play—play now at pressx2play.games!

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Support the show

Thanks for listening to The Trading Post Podcast!

Find all our important links— https://linktr.ee/traderstu

This episode of The Trading Post is proudly sponsored by Press X 2 Play Games, Metro Trading Association, and the Michigan Renaissance Festival. Exciting news—I’m featured as The Trader at the Trading Post in Press X 2 Play’s upcoming video game! Learn more about Press X 2 Play at pressx2play.games, discover how Metro Trading Association helps businesses grow through barter and trade, and explore the magic of the Michigan Renaissance Festival.

Questions or guest suggestions? Email us at

We explore how to transform your yard from a money drain into an income-generating asset through innovative gardening approaches and direct sales to restaurant chefs.

• Modern properties now cost money rather than generate income, from expensive driveways to high-maintenance lawns
• Microgreens business proved unprofitable at farmers markets due to hidden labor costs and time commitment 
• "Cut-and-come-again" garden model allows chefs to harvest their own produce, paying by weight with an honor system
• Raised bed hugelkultur gardening offers an ergonomic solution for growing that repurposes yard waste
• Suburban self-sufficiency isn't realistic, but even small-scale food production can offset rising grocery costs
• Victory gardens provide resilience against supply chain disruptions while keeping you close to home and family

Check out the Michigan Renaissance Festival this summer!

Send us Fan Mail

Presented by the Michigan Renaissance Festival — Experience a day of food, shopping, artisans, live entertainment, and jousting in Holly, Michigan. Open weekends August 22 through October 4, plus Labor Day and Festival Friday. Learn more and get tickets at MichRenFest.com. 

The Michigan Renaissance Festival
Experience the Michigan Renaissance Festival, where history and fantasy collide!

Survive the Apocalypse in Get Prepped! Game | GET PREPPED!

Support the show

Thanks for listening to The Trading Post Podcast!

Find all our important links— https://linktr.ee/traderstu

This episode of The Trading Post is proudly sponsored by Press X 2 Play Games, Metro Trading Association, and the Michigan Renaissance Festival. Exciting news—I’m featured as The Trader at the Trading Post in Press X 2 Play’s upcoming video game! Learn more about Press X 2 Play at pressx2play.games, discover how Metro Trading Association helps businesses grow through barter and trade, and explore the magic of the Michigan Renaissance Festival.

Questions or guest suggestions? Email us at [email protected]

“Whistles In The West” was written, recorded, and produced by Durracell, exclusively for use with Trader Stu’s platform.
    The track is protected under U.S. Copyright (filed and registered), and rights to use have been granted specifically to Trader Stu for content and promotional use related to his brand and media presence.
    For additional licensing, custom audio, or to inquire about future collaborations and performances, contact:
 📧 [email protected]
🌐 www.durracell.com

© 2025 The Trading Post Podcast. All rights reserved.

I've landed my first podcast sponsorship with the Michigan Renaissance Festival and will be recording commercials for them through September. This milestone comes while I'm still recording from my car and figuring out audio settings.

• Received VIP/media passes for August 13th networking event before the festival opens
• Might conduct my first podcast interviews with Renaissance Festival performers
• Planning to give away festival tickets to followers and listeners 
• Shared story of attending the festival dressed as Jack Sparrow during post-COVID crowds
• Found myself entertaining people stuck in traffic, which was more fun than the festival itself
• Recently helped two people set up their own podcasts on different topics
• Emphasized that starting a podcast requires time, commitment and just hitting record

Be good or be good at it.

Send us Fan Mail

Presented by the Michigan Renaissance Festival — Experience a day of food, shopping, artisans, live entertainment, and jousting in Holly, Michigan. Open weekends August 22 through October 4, plus Labor Day and Festival Friday. Learn more and get tickets at MichRenFest.com. 

The Michigan Renaissance Festival
Experience the Michigan Renaissance Festival, where history and fantasy collide!

Survive the Apocalypse in Get Prepped! Game | GET PREPPED!

Support the show

Thanks for listening to The Trading Post Podcast!

Find all our important links— https://linktr.ee/traderstu

This episode of The Trading Post is proudly sponsored by Press X 2 Play Games, Metro Trading Association, and the Michigan Renaissance Festival. Exciting news—I’m featured as The Trader at the Trading Post in Press X 2 Play’s upcoming video game! Learn more about Press X 2 Play at pressx2play.games, discover how Metro Trading Association helps businesses grow through barter and trade, and explore the magic of the Michigan Renaissance Festival.

Questions or guest suggestions? Email us at [email protected]

“Whistles In The West” was written, recorded, and produced by Durracell, exclusively for use with Trader Stu’s platform.
    The track is protected under U.S. Copyright (filed and registered), and rights to use have been granted specifically to Trader Stu for content and promotional use related to his brand and media presence.
    For additional licensing, custom audio, or to inquire about future collaborations and performances, contact:
 📧 [email protected]
🌐 www.durracell.com

© 2025 The Trading Post Podcast. All rights reserved.

A decade-long dream finally materializes! After years of creating content and navigating the ups and downs of podcasting, the Trading Post podcast has secured its first official sponsorship deal. This unexpected milestone arrived suddenly, catching me off guard despite having uploaded only 11-12 episodes total with sometimes months between releases.

The sponsorship opportunity involves exchanging airtime or mentions for tickets, opening exciting possibilities but also raising numerous questions. I'm now working with a consultant to navigate the business side of content creation—exploring everything from legal disclosures to potential tax implications and whether establishing an LLC makes sense. What started as a passion project about trading and bartering has suddenly transformed into what I jokingly call a "side come"—where opportunities come your way through consistent effort.

Recording challenges remain a fascinating part of my podcasting journey. Despite having access to workspace facilities, my car provides the environment where I feel most authentic and animated. I've experimented with various GarageBand settings from "narrator" to "radio ready" to find the right sound quality. Looking ahead, I'm considering using professional recording spaces for guest interviews while dreaming of an ultimate mobile podcast studio—perhaps a customized RV that embodies the rugged Trading Post brand. The lesson for fellow podcasters? Stay consistent, create content that excites you, and view sponsorships as a welcome bonus rather than the primary goal. Subscribe to follow this exciting new chapter and discover how persistence eventually pays off, even when the path feels slow and unpredictable.

Send us Fan Mail

Presented by the Michigan Renaissance Festival — Experience a day of food, shopping, artisans, live entertainment, and jousting in Holly, Michigan. Open weekends August 22 through October 4, plus Labor Day and Festival Friday. Learn more and get tickets at MichRenFest.com. 

The Michigan Renaissance Festival
Experience the Michigan Renaissance Festival, where history and fantasy collide!

Survive the Apocalypse in Get Prepped! Game | GET PREPPED!

Support the show

Thanks for listening to The Trading Post Podcast!

Find all our important links— https://linktr.ee/traderstu

This episode of The Trading Post is proudly sponsored by Press X 2 Play Games, Metro Trading Association, and the Michigan Renaissance Festival. Exciting news—I’m featured as The Trader at the Trading Post in Press X 2 Play’s upcoming video game! Learn more about Press X 2 Play at pressx2play.games, discover how Metro Trading Association helps businesses grow through barter and trade, and explore the magic of the Michigan Renaissance Festival.

Questions or guest suggestions? Email us at [email protected]

“Whistles In The West” was written, recorded, and produced by Durracell, exclusively for use with Trader Stu’s platform.
    The track is protected under U.S. Copyright (filed and registered), and rights to use have been granted specifically to Trader Stu for content and promotional use related to his brand and media presence.
    For additional licensing, custom audio, or to inquire about future collaborations and performances, contact:
 📧 [email protected]
🌐 www.durracell.com

© 2025 The Trading Post Podcast. All rights reserved.

The Trading Post podcast explores how to leverage AI tools like Perplexity to transform business networking follow-ups and stand out from competitors who rarely capitalize on their business card collections. We demonstrate a systematic approach to turn networking connections into meaningful business relationships through strategic AI utilization.

• Using Perplexity AI to research businesses from collected business cards
• Creating personalized follow-up emails with AI that match your authentic speaking tone
• Building custom AI personas to streamline repetitive business explanations
• How AI is changing SEO and potentially reducing direct website traffic
• Strategies for using AI in cold email campaigns while avoiding spam flags
• Challenges of geographic coverage when networking across multiple metropolitan areas
• Using LinkedIn Sales Navigator and other tools to target businesses by location

Whatever you do, be good or be good at it.

Send us Fan Mail

Presented by the Michigan Renaissance Festival — Experience a day of food, shopping, artisans, live entertainment, and jousting in Holly, Michigan. Open weekends August 22 through October 4, plus Labor Day and Festival Friday. Learn more and get tickets at MichRenFest.com. 

The Michigan Renaissance Festival
Experience the Michigan Renaissance Festival, where history and fantasy collide!

Survive the Apocalypse in Get Prepped! Game | GET PREPPED!

Support the show

Thanks for listening to The Trading Post Podcast!

Find all our important links— https://linktr.ee/traderstu

This episode of The Trading Post is proudly sponsored by Press X 2 Play Games, Metro Trading Association, and the Michigan Renaissance Festival. Exciting news—I’m featured as The Trader at the Trading Post in Press X 2 Play’s upcoming video game! Learn more about Press X 2 Play at pressx2play.games, discover how Metro Trading Association helps businesses grow through barter and trade, and explore the magic of the Michigan Renaissance Festival.

Questions or guest suggestions? Email us at [email protected]

“Whistles In The West” was written, recorded, and produced by Durracell, exclusively for use with Trader Stu’s platform.
    The track is protected under U.S. Copyright (filed and registered), and rights to use have been granted specifically to Trader Stu for content and promotional use related to his brand and media presence.
    For additional licensing, custom audio, or to inquire about future collaborations and performances, contact:
 📧 [email protected]
🌐 www.durracell.com

© 2025 The Trading Post Podcast. All rights reserved.

The podcast downloads quadrupled after experimenting with posting twice weekly, proving that consistency is key to building an audience. Finding the right recording environment is crucial for maintaining authenticity and quality.

• Car recording provides surprisingly good acoustics with all the soft surfaces absorbing sound
• Holding off on podcast marketing during early experimental phase allows freedom to try different approaches
• The vision of a "mobile trading post" concept aligns with modernizing traditional trading practices
• Content creation takes substantial time investment with slow returns - video editing requires 15-60 minutes per finished minute
• 38-42 of the top 50 podcasts don't incorporate video components
• 23 minutes is the optimal podcast length according to Buzzsprout, aligning with average commute times
• AI helps with podcast planning and structure, but authentic human voices remain essential for connection

Whatever you do, be good or be good at it.

Send us Fan Mail

Presented by the Michigan Renaissance Festival — Experience a day of food, shopping, artisans, live entertainment, and jousting in Holly, Michigan. Open weekends August 22 through October 4, plus Labor Day and Festival Friday. Learn more and get tickets at MichRenFest.com. 

The Michigan Renaissance Festival
Experience the Michigan Renaissance Festival, where history and fantasy collide!

Survive the Apocalypse in Get Prepped! Game | GET PREPPED!

Support the show

Thanks for listening to The Trading Post Podcast!

Find all our important links— https://linktr.ee/traderstu

This episode of The Trading Post is proudly sponsored by Press X 2 Play Games, Metro Trading Association, and the Michigan Renaissance Festival. Exciting news—I’m featured as The Trader at the Trading Post in Press X 2 Play’s upcoming video game! Learn more about Press X 2 Play at pressx2play.games, discover how Metro Trading Association helps businesses grow through barter and trade, and explore the magic of the Michigan Renaissance Festival.

Questions or guest suggestions? Email us at [email protected]

“Whistles In The West” was written, recorded, and produced by Durracell, exclusively for use with Trader Stu’s platform.
    The track is protected under U.S. Copyright (filed and registered), and rights to use have been granted specifically to Trader Stu for content and promotional use related to his brand and media presence.
    For additional licensing, custom audio, or to inquire about future collaborations and performances, contact:
 📧 [email protected]
🌐 www.durracell.com

© 2025 The Trading Post Podcast. All rights reserved.

https://linktr.ee/traderstu

Networking remains vital for small businesses even in the digital age, with many entrepreneurs overlooking the power of face-to-face connections that lead to genuine business relationships. Trader Stu shares his comprehensive checklist of networking opportunities that business owners should consider, from traditional organizations to digital platforms and organic encounters.

• Chambers of Commerce offer professional development, guest speakers, and valuable subgroups like Preferred Client Network
• Business Network International (BNI) provides structured weekly meetings but works best for cash-based businesses
• SCORE and entrepreneur organizations connect business owners with experienced mentors at no cost
• LinkedIn offers broad reach while Alignable provides more localized networking focused on specific geographic areas
• Organic networking through everyday interactions often yields better results than formal events
• Alternative networking models like "Networking with Kids" accommodate entrepreneurs with family responsibilities
• Personal branding helps you stand out at networking events and creates conversation starters
• Consistent follow-up transforms business card exchanges into meaningful relationships

Get out there, try something new, get on a platform, attend a local event, and whatever you do, be good or be good at it.

Send us Fan Mail

Presented by the Michigan Renaissance Festival — Experience a day of food, shopping, artisans, live entertainment, and jousting in Holly, Michigan. Open weekends August 22 through October 4, plus Labor Day and Festival Friday. Learn more and get tickets at MichRenFest.com. 

The Michigan Renaissance Festival
Experience the Michigan Renaissance Festival, where history and fantasy collide!

Survive the Apocalypse in Get Prepped! Game | GET PREPPED!

Support the show

Thanks for listening to The Trading Post Podcast!

Find all our important links— https://linktr.ee/traderstu

This episode of The Trading Post is proudly sponsored by Press X 2 Play Games, Metro Trading Association, and the Michigan Renaissance Festival. Exciting news—I’m featured as The Trader at the Trading Post in Press X 2 Play’s upcoming video game! Learn more about Press X 2 Play at pressx2play.games, discover how Metro Trading Association helps businesses grow through barter and trade, and explore the magic of the Michigan Renaissance Festival.

Questions or guest suggestions? Email us at [email protected]

“Whistles In The West” was written, recorded, and produced by Durracell, exclusively for use with Trader Stu’s platform.
    The track is protected under U.S. Copyright (filed and registered), and rights to use have been granted specifically to Trader Stu for content and promotional use related to his brand and media presence.
    For additional licensing, custom audio, or to inquire about future collaborations and performances, contact:
 📧 [email protected]
🌐 www.durracell.com

© 2025 The Trading Post Podcast. All rights reserved.