Torch Talk

In this episode of Torch Talk, Lindsey Chupp takes a look at the marketing trends shaping 2026 and what business owners need to understand to stay competitive in a rapidly changing landscape.

Lindsey breaks down the real-world changes businesses are already experiencing, from AI-powered search and content creation to shifting social media algorithms and evolving consumer behavior. Rather than focusing on predictions alone, the conversation explores what Fierce Creative Solutions is seeing firsthand through client campaigns, website performance, advertising, and content strategy.

The episode also examines how businesses can adapt their marketing strategies, strengthen their brands, and create more meaningful connections with customers as technology continues to reshape the industry.

In this episode, you’ll hear about:

• How AI is changing marketing and search

• Why brand voice matters more than ever

• The rise of creator-led and personal brand content

• What’s working on social media in 2026

• Why omnichannel marketing is becoming essential

• The importance of first-party data and CRM systems

• How businesses can prepare for future marketing shifts

• Why trust and branding are becoming competitive advantages

This episode offers a practical look at where marketing is headed and how businesses can position themselves for success in 2027 and beyond.

In this episode of Torch Talk, Lindsey Chupp sits down with Jordan Ray, Digital and Local Sales Manager at WKYC and TEGNA Media, to unpack the rapidly changing world of advertising, streaming television, and data-driven marketing.

As media consumption becomes more fragmented, Jordan explains how businesses can navigate the growing number of platforms, target the right audiences, and make smarter marketing investments. From streaming TV and attribution tracking to branding and lead generation, the conversation offers a practical look at how modern marketing strategies are evolving.

Jordan also shares insights into how businesses should think about balancing short-term lead generation with long-term brand building, and why understanding your customer journey is more important than ever.

In this episode, you’ll hear about:

• How streaming television has changed the advertising landscape

• The difference between building brand and driving leads

• Why audience targeting matters more than ever

• How businesses can use data to make smarter marketing decisions

• The role attribution plays in measuring campaign success

• How AI is helping marketers analyze and optimize performance

• Why marketing works best when multiple channels work together

• What business owners should consider before investing in advertising

This episode offers a practical look at modern marketing strategy, especially for business owners trying to understand where to invest, how to measure success, and how to build a brand that lasts.

In this episode of Torch Talk, Lindsey Chupp sits down with Rachel Summers, COO of Fierce Creative Solutions, for an honest conversation about leadership, growth, hiring, and what it takes to build a strong team.

Drawing from her experience helping grow Fierce over the last four years, Rachel shares lessons learned from navigating rapid growth, developing company culture, and building systems that support both employees and clients.

The conversation explores everything from hiring and team development to career transitions and personal growth. Lindsey and Rachel also discuss what today's workforce needs, what employers are really looking for, and why attitude and coachability often matter more than technical skills.

In this episode, you’ll hear about:

• Lessons learned through rapid business growth

• What makes a strong team culture

• Why attitude matters more than skill

• How Fierce approaches hiring and development

• The importance of coachability and communication

• Advice for professionals feeling stuck in their careers

• Why growth requires discomfort and hard work

This episode offers a practical look at leadership and team development, especially for business owners, managers, and professionals looking to grow, build stronger teams, and navigate change with confidence.

In this episode of Torch Talk, Lindsey Chupp sits down with Suzi Lantz, leadership development consultant and founder of Personal Peak Consulting, for a conversation about leadership growth, team dynamics, and what it takes to build healthy organizational cultures.

Drawing from her experience coaching executives and leadership teams, Suzi shares why many leaders get stuck, how self-awareness shapes influence, and why leadership development is about more than just solving problems. The conversation explores the importance of reflection, delegation, change management, and creating environments where people can grow and thrive.

Suzi also unpacks the role of executive coaching, how leaders can better understand themselves and their teams, and why curiosity may be one of the most important leadership skills of all.

In this episode, you’ll hear about:

• Why leadership growth starts with self-awareness

• How reflection helps leaders make better decisions

• The challenge of leading through constant change

• Why delegation is critical for sustainable growth

• How to create psychologically safe team cultures

• The role coaching plays in unlocking potential

• Why curiosity is a powerful leadership tool

• How strong leaders develop future leaders

This episode offers a practical look at leadership development, especially for business owners, managers, and executives who want to grow their influence, strengthen their teams, and lead with greater intention.

In this episode of Torch Talk, Lindsey Chupp and Julia Kooser break down what branding actually means in 2026 and why it’s far more than just a logo or color palette.

The conversation explores how strong brands create clarity, consistency, and trust across every customer interaction. Lindsey and Julia explain how businesses can build brands that actually stand out in a crowded market, from messaging and mission to customer experience and visual identity.

They also discuss the growing importance of storytelling, consistency across platforms, and why businesses need to revisit their branding regularly as they evolve.

In this episode, you’ll hear about:

• Why branding is more than just visuals

• How clarity strengthens your marketing

• Why consistency builds trust

• How to identify your ideal audience

• The role storytelling plays in modern branding

• Why businesses should revisit branding every few years

• How branding impacts customer experience

This episode offers a practical look at branding for modern businesses, especially for leaders trying to create stronger visibility, clearer messaging, and a more consistent customer experience.

In this episode of Torch Talk, Lindsey Chupp sits down with Rob Robincheck, better known as Cutco Rob, to talk about sales, customer relationships, and what it takes to build a successful career around trust and consistency.

After nearly three decades with Cutco, Rob shares how a summer job turned into a lifelong career and how he became the company's top-performing representative worldwide. Along the way, he offers practical insights into relationship-based sales, long-term thinking, and the value of serving customers well.

The conversation explores how strong relationships can outperform traditional sales tactics, why persistence matters, and how genuine care for customers creates opportunities that last for years.

In this episode, you’ll hear about:

• How Rob built a 29-year career with Cutco

• What it takes to create lasting customer relationships

• Why persistence beats pressure in sales

• The role trust plays in long-term success

• How to overcome rejection and stay motivated

• Why great customer service still stands out

• How businesses can use thoughtful gifting to strengthen relationships

This episode offers a practical look at sales, service, and relationship building, especially for business owners, sales professionals, and anyone looking to grow through trust rather than transactions.

In this episode of Torch Talk, Lindsey Chupp breaks down what’s changing in search engine optimization and what businesses actually need to pay attention to moving into 2026.

As AI continues to reshape how people search, Lindsey explains why relying on Google alone is no longer enough and how businesses need to think about visibility across multiple platforms.

The conversation walks through what SEO really is, how to measure whether it’s working, and why long-term strategy matters more than quick wins. Lindsey also highlights common mistakes that hold businesses back from getting real results.

In this episode, you’ll hear about:

• What SEO actually is and how it works

• How AI is impacting search and changing the landscape

• Why local SEO should align with where you actually do business

• What metrics matter: traffic, conversions, and click-through rates

• Why SEO is a long-term strategy, not a quick fix

• The role of content, user experience, and Google reviews

• Common mistakes like keyword stuffing and poor website performance

This episode offers a practical look at SEO today, especially for business owners trying to understand a changing digital landscape and build strategies that actually drive growth.

In this episode of Torch Talk, Lindsey Chupp sits down with Mike Eberly, President of Weaver Commercial Contractors, to talk about leadership, growth, and what it takes to run a successful commercial construction company.

Mike shares his journey from working on a dairy farm to stepping into the president role and why that brings a unique perspective shaped by hands-on experience and years of working his way through the company.

The conversation highlights the realities of managing long-term projects, building strong teams, and leading with accountability while navigating steady business growth.

In this episode, you’ll hear about:

• How Mike worked his way from entry-level roles to president

• What Weaver Commercial Contractors specializes in

• Why transparency and honesty matter in construction projects

• How to lead teams through growth and increasing demand

• The importance of owning both failures and successes as a leader

• Lessons from leadership books like Extreme Ownership and Rocket Fuel

• What healthy growth looks like in a growing company

This episode offers a practical look at leadership and business growth, especially for those managing teams, scaling operations, and trying to lead well in the middle of it.

In this episode of Torch Talk, Lindsey Chupp sits down with Julia Kooser to break down what’s actually changing in social media and what businesses need to be paying attention to moving into 2026.

As platforms evolve and search behavior shifts, social media is no longer just about posting content. Lindsey and Julia unpack how social is now directly tied to visibility, search, and long-term brand growth.

The conversation explores how businesses should be thinking about platform selection, content formats, and performance metrics, along with why consistency and strategy matter more than ever.

In this episode, you’ll hear about:

• How social media is becoming part of search (not separate from it)

• What types of content are actually performing right now (video vs. carousels)

• How to choose the right platforms based on your audience

• What metrics matter and why likes don’t mean much anymore

• Why consistency and long-term strategy drive real results

• How YouTube and short-form video are gaining traction

• The growing importance of personal brands in business

• How to use AI without losing authenticity in your content

This episode offers a practical look at social media today, especially for business owners trying to keep up with changing platforms and build a strategy that actually works.

In this episode of Torch Talk, Lindsey Chupp sits down with Dwayne Detweiler, owner of Salt Creek Coffee Roasting Company, to discuss building a business rooted in quality, consistency, and community.

After spending decades in ministry, Dwayne shares how he transitioned into entrepreneurship and what it looked like to grow a coffee roasting business from a small garage setup into a full-time operation.

The conversation highlights a steady, intentional approach to growth focused less on rapid expansion and more on doing the work well, serving people consistently, and letting results follow.In this episode, you’ll hear about:

• How Dwayne transitioned from ministry into business ownership

• What it looks like to grow a product-based business step by step

• How Salt Creek built its business through wholesale and local relationships

• Why “under promise and over deliver” still works as a business strategy

• How strong values and people-first leadership carry over into business

This episode offers a practical, grounded look at entrepreneurship, especially for those building something from the ground up and trying to grow it the right way.