Unscripted Small Business

Is your organization struggling with the revolving door of talent? In today's competitive market, retaining top performers requires more than competitive salaries—it demands a workplace where people feel valued, connected, and inspired to grow.

Join Abbey Crane for an illuminating conversation with Francie Jain, founder of Terawatt, who reveals how her innovative approach to group coaching is revolutionizing how companies invest in their most valuable asset: their people.

Francie shares why her marketplace model is making professional development accessible beyond the C-suite: "We really push group coaching because it's much more affordable. If you're a CEO or CFO, you may get one-on-one coaching as part of your benefits package. Whereas if you're a practicing contributor, you're definitely not getting one-on-one coaching."

The Real Cost of Burnout: Learn why employee disengagement isn't an individual failing but a symptom of system-wide dysfunction

Success Story: How a group of doctors transformed their workplace dynamics through targeted communication coaching

The "17 Touches" Principle: Why meaningful employee recognition might require more consistent effort than you think

Generational Insights: Discover why accommodating Gen Z's workplace expectations creates a better environment for everyone

"If you feel like you could just be as miserable, $10,000 more a year is a worthwhile reason to leave," explains Jain. "But if you felt like this was the most perfect job you've ever had, you wouldn't feel like an extra $10,000 would be worth it."

Ready to transform your organization's approach to professional development and dramatically improve retention? This episode provides actionable insights every leader needs to hear.

Visit terawatt.co to learn more about bringing affordable group coaching to your organization.

Other resources mentioned: 

Angela Frank is a fractional marketing director who has run budgets up to a million dollars a month. Her advice to everyone smaller than that is to stop being everywhere. Pick one channel, master it, and only then add a second.

The counter-intuitive part is not the advice, it is who is giving it. Someone who has managed a million a month in spend is telling small businesses to do less, because she has seen what a large budget actually buys and it is not available to them.

Five channels at ten per cent effort each produces five weak signals. One channel at full effort produces something a customer notices.

The selection rule is where the customer already is, not where the owner is comfortable. Those are frequently different, and the gap is expensive.

Her method is to establish the ideal customer profile properly, then find where those people already gather, then commit. That sequence makes the channel decision an observation rather than a preference.

The typical alternative for a growing business is a junior marketing hire, which buys availability and no judgement. A fractional director inverts that: judgement a few days a month, and no capacity.

Which is the right trade when the problem is deciding what to do. It is the wrong trade when the strategy is settled and the problem is execution.

Her marketing ecosystem framing is about coherence. Every asset should be visibly part of one argument, so that a customer who encounters three of them recognises the third.

Without that, a business with five channels does not have five times the presence. It has five separate small brands competing for the same attention.

Everything above depends on the customer definition being real rather than aspirational. A vague profile produces a vague channel choice, vague messaging and a campaign nobody can evaluate.

The test she applies is whether you can name the specific places those people already spend time. If you cannot, the profile is not finished.

She is a pragmatist about AI. It is for enhancing what a marketer already knows how to do rather than replacing the deciding, and the tools in her stack are ordinary ones.

The genuine surprise in her current mix is Reddit, which has become an effective channel again for businesses willing to participate rather than advertise.

Every link above goes somewhere different. These are the ones not already mentioned above.

She is on LinkedIn, where she posts about fractional marketing leadership.

Frank, Angela. Interviewed by Jeremy Rivera. “The Power of ONE.” Unscripted Small Business, 2025. https://unscripted-small-business.castos.com/episodes/angela-frank-the-power-of-one-a-counter-intuitive-marketing-approach-that-drives-results

In this engaging conversation, Abbey Crane interviews Brandon Barnum, known as the 'King of Referrals.' Brandon shares his inspiring journey from struggling financially to becoming a successful figure in the mortgage industry, emphasizing the importance of referrals in business. He discusses mindset shifts, strategies for building referral partnerships, and effective networking techniques, especially for introverts. The conversation also touches on the role of community in business, the balance between automation and personal touch in follow-ups, and the future of AI in relationship building. Brandon concludes with valuable insights on asking for referrals and the importance of trying new things to succeed.

Buy Brandon's book, Raving Referrals here! 

Why They Buy 

The One Minute Millionaire

The Gap and the Gain

ravingreferrals.com

hoa.com

Summary

In this engaging conversation, Jeremy Rivera and Melinda Martin explore the multifaceted world of publishing, discussing the importance of trust, the role of personal stories and tragedies in storytelling, and the differences between self-publishing and traditional publishing.

Melinda shares her insights on the investment required for quality publishing, the impact of AI on the industry, and the evolving landscape of book marketing in a digital age. The discussion emphasizes the balance between technology and authenticity, highlighting the human experience in the creative process.

"So many people in the publishing business, the publishing industry, they started a publishing business because they see it as a cash cow. They play on people's emotions and it is such a predatory industry. And I did not start this business. I really didn't even set out to start a business. The business just kind of found me." — Melinda Martin

"I am a good fit for someone, then we work hard at being a great team and publishing a quality book for their audience." — Melinda Martin

"Self-publishing has evolved so that it can now rival what you see in the traditional publishing realm. And that's because we now have access to these printers. We now have the internet where we can tap into the knowledge base of how traditional publishing works. And we can replicate that in our own business." — Melinda Martin

"Publishing for profit is a long game if you're doing the professional printing way of doing things." — Melinda Martin

"We need more than just the creative speaking out against the use of AI because the authors and the publishers are the ones that are making these long-term decisions to embrace AI or to embrace humanity." — Melinda Martin

"Picture books were a world for me to dive into... The majority of the authors I'm working with now, they are just wanting to make that same impact that picture books had on them." — Melinda Martin

In this conversation, Jeff Revilla shares his journey from skateboarding entrepreneur to digital marketing expert and podcast studio owner. He discusses the evolution of podcasting, the challenges he faced in building his studio, and his vision for creating a unique live podcasting experience. Jeff emphasizes the importance of community, creativity, and fostering a supportive environment for podcasters. He also shares insights on the future of his studio and the philosophy behind his business model, which aims to remove risks for content creators while promoting collaboration and growth.

"Podcasting is the creator, producer, and complete control of your content and destiny. There's no more DIY than podcasting."

"The ability to feel safe and to laugh is what really sparks creativity. If you're tense, you'll hold back."

"This theater is becoming the pivot point, the Lynch pin that's building this community of live podcasting."

"As a fan, you get to see the podcast up on stage, meet the host, shake their hands and say thank you. That's an experience you don't get just by clicking subscribe."

"You have to be excellent to each other. If you live your life serving others, being excellent, being a great host, and providing what people need, imagine what the world could be."

Podcasting has evolved dramatically since its early days in 2006-2007.

Five generations are simultaneously experiencing digital transformation.

Live podcasting creates deeper connections between creators and audiences.

The "infinite seat theater" concept removes capacity limitations.

Removing financial risk for creators encourages experimentation.

Community-building through meetups accelerates business growth.

Revenue-sharing models align venue and creator interests.

Creating safe spaces fosters creativity and innovation.

Digital marketing skills are transferable across industries.

Authenticity and playfulness strengthen audience relationships.

Listen to Jeff's podcast here! 

For booking information on Poduty Live, click here! 

Other showcase mentioned: Rise and Outshine 

In this conversation, Shahar Boyayan discusses the intersection of consumer behavior and AI, exploring how AI is transforming consumer interactions and business operations. She emphasizes the importance of understanding consumer behavior in the context of AI advancements, the pros and cons of AI in daily life, and the ethical implications of its use. Shahar also shares insights on how small businesses can integrate AI, the significance of market research, and the need for authenticity in marketing. She concludes with advice for entrepreneurs on overcoming fear and embracing change to succeed in a rapidly evolving landscape.

AI adoption is happening whether businesses are aware or not, requiring trusted internet service providers

Automation can free entrepreneurs to focus on growth.

Five generations are simultaneously experiencing AI transformation.

Authenticity matters more as technology advances.

Balance is crucial between AI efficiency and human connection.

Critical thinking prevents over-reliance on AI.

Small businesses should start automation with 10+ customers.

Systematizing operations enables business scaling.

Creative outlets help maintain mental health amid technology.

Transparency builds stronger customer relationships.

Interested in how PropTalkie could help your business? Click here to learn more! 

Other project mentioned: Unleash your creativity with online art classes at curiousmondo.com

In this engaging conversation, Anna Rósa Parker shares her journey from Iceland to New York, exploring her transformation from a theater actor to a lifestyle mentor and executive coach. She emphasizes the importance of storytelling in both personal and professional realms, highlighting how intuition and authenticity play crucial roles in personal development and branding. Anna discusses the challenges of navigating stuckness, the significance of curiosity, and the impact of AI on storytelling. She also shares insights on building a personal brand, the importance of empathy, and her upcoming app that merges technology with coaching.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Anna Rósa Parker
03:57 From Theater to Coaching: A Journey of Self-Discovery
07:08 The Art of Storytelling in Coaching
10:00 Intuition and Creativity: Tapping into Inner Wisdom
12:48 Creating Your Own Life: Understanding Worthiness
16:06 Navigating Stuckness: Simplifying Life and Work
19:02 The Role of the Body in Authentic Living
21:45 Curiosity as a Driving Force
24:36 Reinventing Routines for Entrepreneurs
29:44 Building Confidence and Authenticity in Branding
31:10 The Role of Storytelling in Brand Development
33:11 Leading with Heart: Authenticity in Teams
34:39 Values and Integrity in Business
36:34 The Impact of Technology on Branding and Storytelling
40:55 Creating an App: Merging Ideas and Technology
43:15 Empathy and Community Engagement in Entrepreneurship
46:22 Understanding Roots: Compassion and Empathy
49:04 Curiosity and Creativity in Daily Life
50:58 Knowing Your Story to Shape Your Future 

Interested in learning more about the E.V.O.K.E Method or working with Anna? Click here!