Uncertain Times

The last year has been tough, that’s an understatement, we’ve all needed some assistance along the way, especially the folks on Main Street USA. So what is big business doing to help small business through the pandemic? Joining Joe this week is Mark Tina, the Executive Director of Verizon Business Group East. Mark talks about how Verizon is actively assisting small businesses during the pandemic, how Verizon's senior leadership inspired their team over the past year, and how 5G will change the game in telecommunications.

If you want a driver’s license you need to take a test. If you want to pursue higher education, you need to take the SATs or ACTs. And if you want to know "Which Friends Character Are You?,"  you have to take a quiz on BuzzFeed. And now there's a test for CEOs. Joining Joe this week is Adam Bryant, the creator of the popular New York Times Corner Office series, the managing director of executive mentoring firm, Merryck & Co., AND the co-author of THE CEO TEST: Master the Challenges that Make or Break All Leaders.

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We all became armchair experts in healthcare for over the past year, terms like contact tracing, social distancing, COVID variants have all entered our everyday lexicon. One of the first to enter the global conversation was the acronym for Personal protective equipment, PPE. We're well aware of the mask and glove shortages that sprung up in the early days of the pandemic, but what’s happening in that space exactly one year later? This week Joe is joined by Sean Evans the CEO of Gloves.com. Sean talks about how his team acquired the Gloves.Com domain name, why he got involved in PPE and why Nitrile gloves have become the Cadillac of rubber gloves.

A year ago, we started this podcast dedicated to business owners surviving during the pandemic and we’ve spoken to entrepreneurs in all sorts of industries including the tech, social and hospitality space. But we’ve never spoken to a cannabis entrepreneur, until now.

Recreational marijuana is now legal in dozens of states and according to Politico about one in three Americans now live where all adults have access to it. That's nearly 100 million people. Plus, next year states like New York, Florida, and Ohio could pass legalization efforts.

Joining Joe this week is Charlotte Hanna, the founder of Community Growth Partners and the founder of Rebelle, a cannabis brand and store located in Great Barrington, Massachusetts. Charlotte talks about her love of marijuana, the challenges of being a cannabis entrepreneur and what the future of her industry looks like.

Are you on LinkedIn? If you’re listening to this podcast or any business podcast, the answer is probably yes. But. Are you an entrepreneur and getting the most out of being on LinkedIn? This week Joe is joined by Shay Rowbottom, the CEO of Shay Rowbottom Marketing. Shay is a digital marketing guru that specializes in creating social media video content that can bring more eyeballs to your business. Joe and Shay discuss the booming growth of LinkedIn, why creating authentic content can help grow your business, and how video sells itself.

Are you on LinkedIn? If you’re listening to this podcast or any business podcast, the answer is probably yes. But. Are you an entrepreneur and getting the most out of being on LinkedIn? This week Joe is joined by Shay Rowbottom, the CEO of Shay Rowbottom. Shay is a digital marketing guru that specializes in creating social media video content that can bring more eyeballs to your business. Joe and Shay discuss the booming growth of LinkedIn, why creating authentic content can help grow your business, and how video sells itself.

The fitness industry has changed immensely over the past 20 years thanks to technological innovations that have turned 'fitness' into a $100 billion global industry. But what will the industry look like after the pandemic? This week, Joe is joined by Mohammed Iqbal, the CEO of SweatWorks, a company that has grown from a single app to a global digital agency. Mohammed discusses how COVID-19 transformed the fitness industry, how technology enhances the working out experience, and what gyms will look like after the pandemic.

Millions of U.S. consumers looked to stretch their dollars and avoid taking on new credit-card debt during the coronavirus pandemic. In 2020, they flocked to “buy now, pay later” offers from fin-tech companies. But how do they work? One of those companies, Klarna, just made a big splash at the Super Bowl. Joining Joe this week is David Sykes, the Head of Klarna in the U.S. David explains Klarna's business model, why BNPL companies have exploded in the past year, and the difference between consumers in Europe and the U.S.

Did you know that major companies like Microsoft, Warby Parker, and Uber were started during a recession? But none of those companies did it during a pandemic induced recession. Joining Joe this week are a husband-and-wife team that did just that, Sara and Ben Jensen, the founders of skincare startup, Hugh & Grace. Sara and Ben discuss the inspiration for the company, the importance of hormone safe products and what it was like to launch a company in the middle of a pandemic.

We all know the origin stories of legendary franchises like McDonalds and Wendy’s, but how do you start a franchise in the age of COVID-19? This week, Joe is joined by Dan Rowe, the founder of Fransmart, a company that has developed over 5,000 franchises worldwide. Dan talks about what inspired him to launch mega-franchises like Five Guys Burgers & Fries and Halal Guys, the booming success of fast casual concepts and why now is the time to get into the franchise game.