Torch Talk

How to Spend Smarter on Paid Ads

In this episode of Torch Talk, Lindsey Chupp breaks down what’s happening in the world of paid digital advertising and what businesses need to understand about PPC moving into 2026.

As platforms like Google and Facebook continue to evolve, Lindsey explains how AI is changing the way ads are created, delivered, and optimized—and why many traditional strategies no longer work the same way they used to.

The conversation focuses on how to approach paid advertising with clarity, from setting the right budget to understanding what success actually looks like. Lindsey also addresses common frustrations business owners have with PPC and how to measure whether it’s truly working.

In this episode, you’ll hear about:

• What PPC (pay-per-click) actually is and how it works

• How AI is changing ad platforms like Google and Facebook

• Why creative assets and campaign structure matter more than ever

• How to determine the right budget based on your business goals

• What metrics to track, including cost per lead and conversions

• Why some industries require higher investment to compete

• Common mistakes businesses make when running paid ads

This episode offers a straightforward look at paid digital advertising, especially for business owners who want to better understand where their money is going and how to get real results from their campaigns.

In this episode of Torch Talk, Lindsey Chupp sits down with Leah Hudson, a strategic marketing leader, for a deep dive into what it actually takes to build, scale, and adapt marketing in a growing organization.

Drawing from her time at Culligan, Leah shares how she helped lead regional expansion, digital transformation, and post-acquisition integration across multiple markets. Her experience highlights the reality that marketing is rarely a straight path. It’s a constant process of testing, learning, and adjusting based on real data.

The conversation explores how effective marketing strategies are built through layering digital and traditional efforts, understanding local markets, and staying flexible as trends and technology evolve. Leah also offers insight into managing complexity, from overseeing multiple locations to balancing internal priorities with external partnerships.

In this episode, you’ll hear about:

• What Leah’s time at Culligan taught her about scaling marketing across regions
• Why the best marketing strategies are layered and adaptable
• How to use data to guide decisions and improve performance
• The importance of local relevance within a larger brand
• When and why to bring in outside experts to support growth

This episode offers a practical look at modern marketing leadership, especially for those managing growth, navigating change, and trying to build strategies that actually work in the real world.

In this episode of Torch Talk, Lindsey Chupp sits down with Rodd Welker, leadership coach and founder of Eagle Advisor Group, for a practical conversation about developing leaders, strengthening teams, and improving performance through intentional growth.

Rodd shares over 35 years' worth of insights from working with organizations across industries and leadership levels. The conversation explores common challenges leaders face today, including communication breakdowns, lack of trust, and navigating conflict. Rodd explains why these issues are less about systems and more about people, and why self-awareness is the starting point for real progress.

They also dive into the tools Rodd uses in his coaching, from behavioral assessments like DISC and Working Genius to trust and team evaluations. Beyond the tools, Rodd emphasizes the importance of reflection, feedback, and creating environments where teams can have honest conversations and grow together.

In this episode, you’ll hear about:

• The most common leadership challenges teams face today
• Why self-awareness is critical to effective leadership
• How tools like DISC and Working Genius improve communication
• What healthy, high-performing teams do differently
• Practical ways leaders can develop themselves and their teams

This episode offers a grounded, experience-driven look at leadership development, especially for leaders who want to move beyond surface-level fixes and build stronger, more effective teams over time.

In this episode of Torch Talk, Lindsey Chupp sits down with Cody Carpenter, Vice President of Branches Worldwide, for a behind-the-scenes look at building a global organization, navigating growth, and developing leaders with long-term impact.

Cody shares the story of Branches from its early days to where it is today, along with all of the challenges, setbacks, and lessons learned along the way. The conversation explores what it takes to build something from the ground up, especially when the vision is bigger than what currently exists. Cody highlights the role of adaptability and community in shaping the organization, from early uncertainty to growing international momentum.

The discussion also dives into how Branches develops leaders through its three-year model, focusing on leadership, business strategy, and community impact. Cody explains how the organization is working to support entrepreneurs around the world while creating a network that extends far beyond a short-term program.

In this episode, you’ll hear about:

• The origin and evolution of Branches Worldwide
• What it takes to build and scale a global organization
• Lessons learned from early challenges and setbacks
• How the three-year leadership development model works
• The long-term vision of investing in leaders for lasting impact

This episode offers a practical and honest look at leadership, growth, and building something meaningful over time, especially for leaders thinking beyond short-term success and into long-term influence.

In this episode of Torch Talk, Lindsey Chupp sits down with Shasta Mast, Director of Leadership Holmes County at the Holmes County Chamber of Commerce, to discuss developing leaders, strengthening communities, and building connections that last.

Shasta shares the story behind Leadership Holmes County and how the program was created to address a real need: developing confident, capable leaders in a growing but tight-knit community. The discussion walks through what the program looks like in practice, from monthly sessions and leadership-focused discussions to immersive experiences across industries like education, manufacturing, healthcare, and tourism.

The conversation also explores the deeper impact of leadership development. Shasta explains how the program helps individuals grow in confidence, expand their perspective, and build relationships that continue long after the program ends. Lindsey and Shasta also dive into the real challenges leaders are facing today, including hiring, generational differences, housing, and maintaining the identity of a community while it continues to grow.

In this episode, you’ll hear about:

• How Leadership Holmes County develops leaders across industries and experience levels
• Why connection and community are essential to effective leadership
• The long-term impact of building a strong peer network
• Challenges leaders are facing today, from hiring to workforce expectations
• Why leadership growth requires both learning and action

This episode offers a practical and community-centered look at leadership development, especially for organizations investing in their people and individuals looking to grow into greater influence.

In this episode of Torch Talk, Lindsey Chupp is joined by Julia Kooser for a blaze Business Expo wrap-up, breaking down the key insights, frameworks, and marketing resources shared during the event.

The conversation focuses on one of the biggest challenges business owners face today: lack of clarity. Lindsey walks through how many companies are making marketing decisions based on guesswork instead of data, and why that leads to inconsistent results. From there, they unpack the practical checklist shared at the Expo, covering how to evaluate your business across marketing, sales, leadership, and more.

They also dive into how to build a marketing strategy that actually works. That includes defining clear goals, understanding your audience, evaluating your current performance, and identifying gaps and opportunities. Lindsey emphasizes that marketing should function like a controlled experiment, not a series of random tactics, and explains how businesses can move toward more predictable, repeatable growth.

In this episode, you’ll hear about:

• Why lack of clarity is one of the biggest marketing challenges businesses face
• The importance of data over “gut decisions” in building strategy
• How to determine the right marketing channels based on your goals
• Evaluating your current marketing performance and identifying gaps
• Building a repeatable strategy that can scale into new markets

This episode serves as a practical extension of the blaze Business Expo, designed to help business leaders move from ideas to action with clearer direction and better decision-making.

In this episode of Torch Talk, Lindsey Chupp sits down with Misty Fraelich-Clark, Human Resources leader at Hummel Group, for a candid and practical conversation about modern HR strategy, talent acquisition, and building workplaces that truly support people.

Misty shares insight from years in the HR field, walking through the biggest challenges organizations are facing today, including attracting top talent, improving retention, and aligning workplace culture with what companies say externally. The discussion dives into interview strategy, brand alignment, leadership development, and the importance of clarity and transparency during hiring.

Throughout the episode, Misty emphasizes bringing the “human” back into human resources. She explains why organizations must treat employees as whole people, spiritually, emotionally, physically, and financially, and offers practical examples of wellness initiatives, development programs, and small gestures that build trust and loyalty over time.In this episode, you’ll hear about:

• Why talent acquisition remains one of today’s biggest HR challenges
• How to improve retention through leadership development and recognition
• The importance of brand alignment in hiring
• Practical interview process tips for attracting the right fit
• Treating employees as whole people, not just roles

This episode offers a grounded, real-world look at HR that goes beyond policies and paperwork, focusing instead on culture, care, and intentional leadership inside growing organizations.

In this episode of Torch Talk, Lindsey Chupp sits down with Seth Buckwalter, President of Whitaker Meyers, for a practical and eye-opening conversation about risk management, insurance strategy, and protecting what matters most in business.

Seth unpacks real-world scenarios that many business owners overlook, from special event coverage and cyber threats to employment practices liability, directors and officers insurance, and hired and non-owned auto exposure. Throughout the discussion, he explains how even businesses that “haven’t done anything wrong” can face significant legal and financial risk, and why proactive education is more powerful than reactive damage control.

The conversation also explores how independent agents evaluate risk, what business owners should be reviewing regularly, and why policy language and changing operations matter more than most leaders realize. Seth shares candid examples from real claims situations, emphasizing that smart risk management isn’t about fear. It’s about clarity, preparation, and informed decision-making.

In this episode, you’ll hear about:

• Why special event policies and host liquor liability matter
• The evolving reality of cyber threats and social engineering fraud
• How employment practices liability protects against costly allegations
• What directors and officers coverage actually does
• Why regular insurance reviews are critical as your business grows

This episode offers a grounded, practical look at the hidden exposures businesses face and how thoughtful planning can help leaders sleep better at night.

In this episode of Torch Talk, Lindsey Chupp sits down with Linda Allison, founder of Allison Management Solutions, for a practical and insightful conversation about leadership, people management, and building strong workplace systems.

Linda shares perspective from years of experience working with organizations on HR strategy, team development, and operational structure. The discussion explores common leadership blind spots, hiring mistakes, accountability challenges, and the importance of clarity in expectations. Linda explains why many business issues aren’t actually performance problems, but system problems, and how leaders can address them proactively instead of reactively.

The conversation also dives into workplace culture, documentation, difficult conversations, and the discipline required to create consistency inside growing organizations. Linda offers straightforward guidance for leaders who want to strengthen their teams without overcomplicating the process.

In this episode, you’ll hear about:

• Why structure and clarity prevent bigger people problems later
• Common hiring and onboarding mistakes leaders make
• The role documentation plays in accountability
• How to approach difficult employee conversations
• Practical ways to build consistency inside your organization

This episode is a grounded, no-nonsense look at leadership and management systems, especially for business owners who know their people matter but aren’t sure where to tighten the process.

In this episode of Torch Talk, Lindsey Chupp sits down with Jordan Mullet, sales leader and trainer with Sandler by the Ruby Group, for a practical and candid conversation about what it really takes to build a high-performing sales team.

Jordan breaks down why many business owners struggle with sales performance and where they often focus on the wrong metrics. He explains the difference between leading indicators and lagging indicators, why tracking behaviors matters more than obsessing over revenue, and how clarity around numbers creates accountability without creating chaos. The discussion walks through goal-setting strategies, including baseline and “brass ring” targets, and why salespeople must have ownership in setting their own numbers.

The conversation also dives into the emotional side of sales. Jordan emphasizes the importance of emotional maturity, self-regulation, and stability in both leaders and sales teams. He shares why sales can be “violently emotional,” how leaders set the tone for the team, and why emotional intelligence (EQ) often matters more than IQ in long-term performance.

In this episode, you’ll hear about:

• The difference between leading and lagging sales indicators
• How to set meaningful, behavior-based sales goals
• Why emotional maturity impacts revenue
• Building a repeatable sales process instead of relying on talent alone
• Practical steps for assessing and strengthening your sales system

This episode offers a direct, actionable look at sales leadership, especially for business owners ready to move beyond frustration and build systems that create consistent, measurable growth.