Podcasts about 3M

This week, we discuss some of the most insane auctions of recent times - and why everyone is scratching their heads at the results. The Bachman Collection, consisting of 48 Ferraris, just sold for over $114 million dollars and consisted of some of the most controversial specs ever produced. Ok, maybe we're being kind - many of these specs were just downright UGLY. But that didn't stop bidders from paying well above top dollar - with highlights including a 2003 Ferrari Enzo that sold for $17.875M, a  1995 Ferrari F50 that sold for $12.21M, and a 2017 LaFerrari Aperta which sold for $11M. Many cars sold for more than twice their previous records, including two Ferrari 360 Challenge Stradales that collectively fetched over $3M.  Derek and Jason discuss what this might mean for the collector car market overall, and whether or not these results are an indicator for where Ferrari values are headed in comparison to Lamborghini, Porsche and other brands. All this and more on this week's episode of The Carmudgeon Show. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Carl Quintanilla, Jim Cramer and David Faber discussed the open letter from more than 60 CEOs of Minnesota-based companies including 3M, Target and UnitedHealth. It calls for state and federal officials to de-escalate tensions and work together in wake of the turmoil in Minneapolis — after federal immigration agents fatally shot a U.S. citizen for the second time this month. CoreWeave shares soared on news that Nvidia is investing $2 billion in the cloud computing firm -- as part of an extension of their AI partnership.  Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang and CoreWeave CEO Mike Intrator joined the program exclusively to talk about their companies' alliance and the AI landscape. Also in focus: Winter storm impact, four "Mag 7" companies lead this week's earnings parade, "Squawk on the Street" anchors ring the NYSE opening bell in celebration of the show's 20 years on CNBC.Squawk on the Street Disclaimer Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

"My best learning opportunities were the ones where I've ultimately failed or made huge mistakes. I basically got an MBA in acquisitions in that deal." - Cameron BishopWhat if you could see your business through the eyes of someone who's completed over 100 acquisitions? In this episode, Bradley sits down with investment banker Cameron Bishop to explore the mind of an acquirer and how thinking like an investor can transform your business—whether you're planning to sell tomorrow or a decade from now.Cameron shares hard-won lessons from his journey from advertising copywriter to CEO of a $400 million company, and now as a managing director helping business owners navigate successful exits. You'll discover why the strategies that make a business attractive to buyers also make it a better business to own and operate.Resources MentionedRain CatcherWebsite: raincatcher.com Email: cameron.bishop@raincatcher.com.Connect with Cameron on LinkedIn.Free consultations available (no cost, no obligation, no sales pitch).Visit BlueprintOS.com to learn about the 2026 Above The Business Workshops, our coaching programs, and resources designed specifically for small business owners who want to build systematic, scalable operations that don't require your constant presence. Thanks to our sponsors...Coach P found great success as an insurance agent and agency owner. He leads a large, stable team of professionals who are at the top of their game year after year. Now he shares the systems, processes, delegation, and specialization he developed along the way. Gain access to weekly training calls and mentoring at www.coachpconsulting.com. Be sure to mention the Above The Business Podcast when you get in touch. Autopilot Recruiting helps small business owners solve their staffing challenges by taking the stress out of hiring. Their dedicated recruiters work on your behalf every single business day - optimizing your applicant tracking system, posting job listings, and sourcing candidates through social media and local communities. With their continuous, hands-off recruiting approach, you can save time, reduce hiring costs, and receive pre-screened candidates, all without paying any hiring fees or commissions. More money & more freedom: that's what Autopilot Recruiting help business owners achieve. Visit https://www.autopilotrecruiting.com/ and don't forget to mention you heard about us on the Above The Business podcast. Direct Clicks is built is by business owners, for business owners. They specialize in custom marketing solutions that deliver real results. From paid search campaigns to SEO and social media management, they provide the comprehensive digital marketing your business needs to grow. Here's an exclusive offer for Above The Business listeners: Visit directclicksinc.com/abovethebusiness for a FREE marketing campaign audit. They'll assess your website, social media, SEO, content, and paid advertising, then provide actionable recommendations. Plus, when you choose to partner with them, they'll waive all setup fees. About Above The Business: Above The Business is hosted by Bradley Hamner, founder of BlueprintOS, and focuses on helping small business owners transition from Rainmaker to Architect. Each week, Bradley shares frameworks, interviews successful entrepreneurs, and provides actionable insights for building businesses that run without you. Whether you're doing $300K or $3M in revenue, this show will help you get above your business and design the systems you need to scale.

Are you tired of feeling like you're living the same business year over and over again? In this episode, Bradley Hamner tackles the frustration many business owners feel when December rolls around and they're going through the same annual planning motions—setting objectives, hosting kickoffs, and wondering if anything will really change this time.Drawing inspiration from the classic movie Groundhog Day, Bradley explores the delicate balance between maintaining what works in your business while evolving to stay ahead of the curve. He challenges the common trap of either being an "arsonist" who burns down everything that's working or getting stuck in comfortable routines that no longer serve your growth.Key Question: How do you gain 20 years of real experience instead of repeating the same year 20 times?Visit BlueprintOS.com to learn about the 2026 Above The Business Workshops, our coaching programs, and resources designed specifically for small business owners who want to build systematic, scalable operations that don't require your constant presence. Thanks to our sponsors...Coach P found great success as an insurance agent and agency owner. He leads a large, stable team of professionals who are at the top of their game year after year. Now he shares the systems, processes, delegation, and specialization he developed along the way. Gain access to weekly training calls and mentoring at www.coachpconsulting.com. Be sure to mention the Above The Business Podcast when you get in touch. Autopilot Recruiting helps small business owners solve their staffing challenges by taking the stress out of hiring. Their dedicated recruiters work on your behalf every single business day - optimizing your applicant tracking system, posting job listings, and sourcing candidates through social media and local communities. With their continuous, hands-off recruiting approach, you can save time, reduce hiring costs, and receive pre-screened candidates, all without paying any hiring fees or commissions. More money & more freedom: that's what Autopilot Recruiting help business owners achieve. Visit https://www.autopilotrecruiting.com/ and don't forget to mention you heard about us on the Above The Business podcast. Direct Clicks is built is by business owners, for business owners. They specialize in custom marketing solutions that deliver real results. From paid search campaigns to SEO and social media management, they provide the comprehensive digital marketing your business needs to grow. Here's an exclusive offer for Above The Business listeners: Visit directclicksinc.com/abovethebusiness for a FREE marketing campaign audit. They'll assess your website, social media, SEO, content, and paid advertising, then provide actionable recommendations. Plus, when you choose to partner with them, they'll waive all setup fees. About Above The Business: Above The Business is hosted by Bradley Hamner, founder of BlueprintOS, and focuses on helping small business owners transition from Rainmaker to Architect. Each week, Bradley shares frameworks, interviews successful entrepreneurs, and provides actionable insights for building businesses that run without you. Whether you're doing $300K or $3M in revenue, this show will help you get above your business and design the systems you need to scale.

Most security & life-safety companies don't get stuck because they lack hustle—they get stuck because they lack measurement.In this special feed drop of Entry & Exit, Stephen Olmon and Collin Trimble (Alarm Masters, Houston) walk through their 2026 planning process: how they set revenue/RMR/EBITDA goals, translate them into departmental KPIs, and use actuals vs. budget to decide when to invest, when to cut, and how to avoid “hope-based” growth.They unpack why so many firms stall around $3M in revenue (comfort + underinvestment), why “Talent Wins” became a non-negotiable, and how to think about emerging trends like AI the right way—starting with a solid tech foundation and the right people before chasing shiny tools.You'll also hear the core scorecard metrics they track across sales, marketing, finance, operations, and M&A, plus practical homework you can apply immediately in your own business.

Stuart Mitchell: How he built $3M in 3 years (then realised he hated his own job)Stuart Mitchell launched Hampton North in September 2022.$1.6 million year one. $2.5 million year two. On track for $3 million plus in year three.Now 10 staff and projects $1m profit for next year.I interviewed him on the show in the middle of 2023, and things were flying.But over the following 18 months, he nearly broke.His dad died. His wife fell pregnant. And the VP he'd promised her-the guy who was supposed to take the pressure off-pulled out in January."I had to go home to my newly pregnant wife and have a really hard conversation."For 6 months, Stuart ground it out alone. High expectations, low empathy. The worst version of himself.Then at a wedding, his old running mate Greg Anderson said: "I think we should do this again."Greg joined in June and immediately told Stuart the truth: "There is nothing here. No process. Nothing written down. You're making it impossible for anyone who joins to actually do well."This week on The RAG Podcast, Stuart tells the full story.We cover:Launching just before the 2023 downturn and hitting $1.6M in the first yearLosing his dad and how it derailed him for two monthsThe VP hire that fell through one week after his wife fell pregnantWhy he admits "I had my own company and I didn't like my job"How one hire professionalised a business built entirely on talentBuilding a $3M agency with 10 people (and why he'll never scale past 25)Why he takes profit first and doesn't care about a big exitThe role this LinkedIn profile and brand played in attracting top-tier talentThis isn't about sacrifice for success.It's about a founder who built a multi-7-figure business, then redesigned it so he could pick his kids up from school.If you've ever wondered whether you can have both profit and peace, this episode is the proof you need!__________________________________________Episode Sponsor: AtlasAdmin is a massive waste of time. That's why there's Atlas, the AI-first recruitment platform built for modern agencies.It doesn't only track CVs and calls. It remembers everything. Every email, every interview, every conversation. Instantly searchable, always available. And now, it's entering a whole new era.With Atlas 2.0, you can ask anything and it delivers. With Magic Search, you speak and it listens. It finds the right candidates using real conversations, not simply look for keywords.Atlas 2.0 also makes business development easier than ever. With Opportunities, you can track, manage and grow client relationships, powered by generative AI and built right into your workflow.Need insights? Custom dashboards give you total visibility over your pipeline. And that's not theory. Atlas customers have reported up to 41% EBITDA growth and an 85% increase in monthly billings after adopting the platform.No admin. No silos. No lost info. Nothing but faster shortlists, better hires and more time to focus on what actually drives revenue.Atlas is your personal AI partner for modern recruiting.Don't miss the future of recruitment. Get started with Atlas today and unlock your exclusive RAG listener...

In der heutigen Folge sprechen die Finanzjournalisten Anja Ettel und Philipp Vetter über den schlechtesten Tag an der Wallstreet seit dem Liberation Day, neue Netflix-Zahlen und jede Menge Pharma-Schlagzeilen. Außerdem geht es um Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, Royal Caribbean, Netflix, Warner Brothers Discovery, Fresenius Medical Care, Carl Zeiss Meditec, Fresenius, Novavax, Pfizer, Moderna, Merck, GSK, ⁠RAPT Therapeutics, Qiagen, 3M und Disney. Wir freuen uns an Feedback über aaa@welt.de. Noch mehr "Alles auf Aktien" findet Ihr bei WELTplus und Apple Podcasts – inklusive aller Artikel der Hosts und AAA-Newsletter. Hier bei WELT: https://www.welt.de/podcasts/alles-auf-aktien/plus247399208/Boersen-Podcast-AAA-Bonus-Folgen-Jede-Woche-noch-mehr-Antworten-auf-Eure-Boersen-Fragen.html. Der Börsen-Podcast Disclaimer: Die im Podcast besprochenen Aktien und Fonds stellen keine spezifischen Kauf- oder Anlage-Empfehlungen dar. Die Moderatoren und der Verlag haften nicht für etwaige Verluste, die aufgrund der Umsetzung der Gedanken oder Ideen entstehen. Hörtipps: Für alle, die noch mehr wissen wollen: Holger Zschäpitz können Sie jede Woche im Finanz- und Wirtschaftspodcast "Deffner&Zschäpitz" hören. +++ Werbung +++ Du möchtest mehr über unsere Werbepartner erfahren? Hier findest du alle Infos & Rabatte! https://linktr.ee/alles_auf_aktien Impressum: https://www.welt.de/services/article7893735/Impressum.html Datenschutz: https://www.welt.de/services/article157550705/Datenschutzerklaerung-WELT-DIGITAL.html

SUBSCRIBE AND JOIN US LIVE EVERY MONDAY NIGHTBitcoin's biggest week yet. We break down everything: BIP-110's soft fork controversy (can 45% hashrate really win?), Eric Adams' NYC memecoin rug pull ($1.3M gone in 30 minutes), solo miners earning $300K blocks, and the Strive-Semler Bitcoin acquisition creating the #11 corporate holder globally.But it's not just crypto news. This week's also about decentralization actually working: X killed InfoFi with one API ban (validating why decentralized social networks matter), Uganda shut down the internet and 400K citizens downloaded Jack Dorsey's offline BitChat app instead, and Iran's $7.8B crypto economy proves Bitcoin's hardest use case is real—escaping financial repression.We also cover Canadian policy: the Federal Court ruled the Emergencies Act unconstitutional, Canada just pivoted to China with a major trade deal, and Ontario's homelessness hit 85,000 (government spent $4B and the problem got worse).⁠Discord:   / discord   A part of the CBP Media Network: ⁠www.twitter.com/CBPMediaNetworkThis show is sponsored by: easyDNS - https://easydns.com EasyDNS is the best spot for Anycast DNS, domain name registrations, web and email services. They are fast, reliable and privacy focused. With DomainSure and EasyMail, you'll sleep soundly knowing your domain, email and information are private and protected. You can even pay for your services with Bitcoin! Apply coupon code 'CBPMEDIA' for 50% off initial purchase Bull Bitcoin - ⁠⁠https://mission.bullbitcoin.com/cbp⁠⁠ The CBP recommends Bull Bitcoin for all your BTC needs. There's never been a quicker, simpler, way to acquire Bitcoin. Use the link above for 25% off fees FOR LIFE, and start stacking today.256Heat -⁠ https://256heat.com/ ⁠ GET PAID TO HEAT YOUR HOUSE with 256 Heat. Whether you're heating your home, garage, office or rental, use a 256Heat unit and get paid MORE BITCOIN than it costs to run the unit. Book a call with a hashrate heating consultant today.RESEARCH LINKS:BIP-110: https://stacker.news/items/1413227Eric Adams: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/13/ny...Solo mining: https://bitbo.io/news/solo-miner-rare...Strive-Semler: https://cryptobriefing.com/strive-add...21Shares: https://www.globenewswire.com/news-re...X/InfoFi: https://blog.mexc.com/news/x-kills-in...Self-custody: https://x.com/BitcoinNews/status/2012...Iran: https://www.chainalysis.com/blog/iran...Emergencies Act: https://www.fca-caf.ca/en/pages/decis...Canada-China: https://www.international.gc.ca/news-...Ontario: https://www.amo.on.ca/events-training...Uganda: https://www.reuters.com/business/medi...

David Faber and Jim Cramer kicked off the holiday-shortened trading week with the markets in sell-off mode — as President Trump ramps up his push to annex Greenland and threatens double-digit tariffs on eight European nations opposed to such a move. Jim explores how investors should navigate Tuesday's pullback. David breaks down Netflix's amended offer to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery's studio and streaming assets: It's now an all-cash deal. Hear what Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told CNBC at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland — from his message to Europe on Greenland, to comments about Fed Chair Jerome Powell's plans to attend the Supreme Court hearing on the case involving Fed Governor Lisa Cook. Also in focus: AI news galore, Amazon CEO Andy Jassy in Davos on tariffs and the consumer, 3M shares fall despite an earnings beat. Squawk on the Street Disclaimer Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Brianne Mees, CEO of Tender Loving Empire, shares how a people-first background in psychology and social work shaped the culture of a retail brand built to champion artists, makers, and small businesses. Brianne walks through the company's growth from a scrappy early storefront to seven locations (including airport stores), the toughest leadership decisions during the pandemic, and why mission alignment is the anchor for hiring and culture. Brandon and Brianne also explore "regenerative retail," community investing through Wefunder, and how leaders can build a business that supports local economies without losing sight of sustainability and scale. Key Timestamps 00:00 What the show is about + sponsor message from Xenium HR 01:00 Introducing Brianne Mees and the Tender Loving Empire mission 03:00 Brianne's unconventional path: psychology, social work, and a people-first approach 04:40 Why Tender Loving Empire started as a "helping profession" for artists and makers 05:00 The business today: seven retail locations, hundreds of makers, and a record label 06:00 The early days: starting before major online platforms existed for creators 07:00 The turning point: moving locations, hiring the first employee, and shifting from hobby to sustainable business 08:40 How Brianne's psychology background supported hiring and leadership 09:20 Scaling a creative retail brand into airports without losing the "feel" 10:00 Becoming "Portland tour guides" and translating local culture for travelers 12:00 Leading through the pandemic: scrappiness, resilience, and hard choices 13:00 The toughest day: furloughing the team while keeping leadership in place 13:50 Post-pandemic momentum: new airport locations and +$3M in annual revenue 14:10 How they keep 65 employees aligned: mission fit and kindness 15:20 The "Empire" name origin and the heart of the brand 15:40 The impact: celebrating $20M returned to artists and makers 16:00 Vendor selection today: buying team, data-driven decisions, and mission alignment 17:00 The ripple effect: vendors who reinvest through sustainability and social impact 18:00 Geographic focus: Portland and the broader Pacific Northwest 19:00 Why music remains the heart and soul of the brand 19:10 Why Tender Loving Empire chose Wefunder and community investing 20:40 Why VC is not the right fit for a values-based retail brand 21:20 How their Wefunder raise works: $1.2M goal and a convertible note approach 23:00 Advice to her 2007 self: confidence, trusting instincts, and staying close to the core 25:00 Preparing leaders for the next growth phase: transparency and sharing the full vision 27:20 What keeps Brianne going on tough days: impact, community, and walking into the stores 28:50 "Regenerative retail" explained: supporting communities vs. extracting from them 29:50 A first step for leaders: rethink suppliers and where resources flow 30:30 AI and the creator economy: efficiency benefits vs. IP and compensation concerns 33:00 Founder advice: grit, tenacity, support systems, and learning along the way 33:40 Closing: how listeners can support Tender Loving Empire and invest (starting at $100) 34:00 Podcast disclaimer and wrap-up A QUICK GLIMPSE INTO OUR PODCAST Podcast: Transform Your Workplace, sponsored by Xenium HR Host: Brandon Laws In Brandon's own words: "The Transform Your Workplace podcast is your go-to source for the latest workplace trends, big ideas, and time-tested methods straight from the mouths of industry experts and respected thought-leaders." About Xenium HR Xenium HR is on a mission to transform workplaces by providing expert outsourced HR and payroll services for small and medium-sized businesses. With a people-first approach, Xenium helps organizations create thriving work environments where employees feel valued and supported. From navigating compliance to enhancing workplace culture, Xenium offers tailored solutions that empower growth and simplify HR. Whether managing employee relations, payroll processing, or implementing impactful training programs, Xenium is the trusted partner businesses rely on to elevate their workplace experience. Discover how Xenium can transform your workplace: Learn more [https://www.xeniumhr.com/] Connect with Brandon Laws: LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/lawsbrandon] Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/lawsbrandon] About [https://xeniumhr.com/about-xenium/meet-the-team/brandon-laws] Connect with Xenium HR: Website [https://xeniumhr.com/] LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/xenium-hr] Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/XeniumHR] Twitter [https://twitter.com/XeniumHR] Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/xeniumhr] YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/user/XeniumHR

After 40 years, Roederer Estate, the Californian arm of Champagne Louis Roederer has really started to hit its stride. Arnaud Weyrich, SVP and Winemaker of Roederer Estate and Xavier Barlier, CMO of MMD USA, discuss its history, trajectory, and how Roederer Estate continues to create more reasons to believe in the brand and the wines. This belief is grounded in a vision to make wines that look and taste like Champagne, but with Californian roots. Detailed Show Notes: Arnaud's background: interned at Roederer Estate (“RE”) in 1993, returned to winemaking team in 2000Xavier's background: Moet Hennessy, Renault, Disney, then Roederer Marketing & CommunicationsRoederer Estate in contextLouis Roederer founded in 1776, began exporting to US in 1860-70's1980s - acquired Anderson Valley vineyards and built Roederer Estate wineryMaison Marques & Domaines (“MMD”) founded 1987 for launch of 1st vintage of RE and distribution of Louis RoedererRE founded because during 1980s, not enough Champagne made to supply growing US market and land was cheaper than France; could also do the estate model, which was difficult in ChampagneAnderson Valley had the right weather, track record of other quality, local wines (Chardonnay, Riesling, Gewurztraminer), and inexpensive land (was known for apple orchards)RE production1st harvest 1985 (80s challenged by legal problems for wine w/ sulfite content)Late 80s-early 90s - 40-45k cases Mid-90's-2000 - ~80k cases (bolstered by French paradox, internet boom, young chefs, and “sommelier” becoming an English word)2025 - ~100k casesLimited by estate model, remote part of CA (tries to attract talent by providing subsidized housing for 90% of staff, invested $3M over last 10 years)CA sparkling historyPioneers supported each other (e.g. - Schramsberg, Domaine Carneros, Iron Horse)Downturn in market (1987 stock market crash, 1989 phylloxera hit vineyards)Market reaction positive, particularly after Schramberg wine served by President Nixon in China at the 1972 “Toast to Peace”RE launch pricingChampagne was priced

SUBSCRIBE AND JOIN US LIVE EVERY MONDAY NIGHTBitcoin's biggest week yet. We break down everything: BIP-110's soft fork controversy (can 45% hashrate really win?), Eric Adams' NYC memecoin rug pull ($1.3M gone in 30 minutes), solo miners earning $300K blocks, and the Strive-Semler Bitcoin acquisition creating the #11 corporate holder globally.But it's not just crypto news. This week's also about decentralization actually working: X killed InfoFi with one API ban (validating why decentralized social networks matter), Uganda shut down the internet and 400K citizens downloaded Jack Dorsey's offline BitChat app instead, and Iran's $7.8B crypto economy proves Bitcoin's hardest use case is real—escaping financial repression.We also cover Canadian policy: the Federal Court ruled the Emergencies Act unconstitutional, Canada just pivoted to China with a major trade deal, and Ontario's homelessness hit 85,000 (government spent $4B and the problem got worse).⁠Discord:   / discord   A part of the CBP Media Network: ⁠www.twitter.com/CBPMediaNetworkThis show is sponsored by: easyDNS - https://easydns.com EasyDNS is the best spot for Anycast DNS, domain name registrations, web and email services. They are fast, reliable and privacy focused. With DomainSure and EasyMail, you'll sleep soundly knowing your domain, email and information are private and protected. You can even pay for your services with Bitcoin! Apply coupon code 'CBPMEDIA' for 50% off initial purchase Bull Bitcoin - ⁠⁠https://mission.bullbitcoin.com/cbp⁠⁠ The CBP recommends Bull Bitcoin for all your BTC needs. There's never been a quicker, simpler, way to acquire Bitcoin. Use the link above for 25% off fees FOR LIFE, and start stacking today.256Heat -⁠ https://256heat.com/ ⁠ GET PAID TO HEAT YOUR HOUSE with 256 Heat. Whether you're heating your home, garage, office or rental, use a 256Heat unit and get paid MORE BITCOIN than it costs to run the unit. Book a call with a hashrate heating consultant today.RESEARCH LINKS:BIP-110: https://stacker.news/items/1413227Eric Adams: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/13/ny...Solo mining: https://bitbo.io/news/solo-miner-rare...Strive-Semler: https://cryptobriefing.com/strive-add...21Shares: https://www.globenewswire.com/news-re...X/InfoFi: https://blog.mexc.com/news/x-kills-in...Self-custody: https://x.com/BitcoinNews/status/2012...Iran: https://www.chainalysis.com/blog/iran...Emergencies Act: https://www.fca-caf.ca/en/pages/decis...Canada-China: https://www.international.gc.ca/news-...Ontario: https://www.amo.on.ca/events-training...Uganda: https://www.reuters.com/business/medi...

Moyamoya Syndrome Stroke Recovery: Judy Kim Cage's Comeback From “Puff of Smoke” to Purpose At 4:00 AM, Judy Kim Cage woke up in pain so extreme that she was screaming, though she doesn't remember the scream. What she does remember is the “worst headache ever,” nausea, numbness, and then the terrifying truth: her left side was shutting down. Here's the part that makes her story hit even harder: Judy already lived with Moyamoya syndrome and had undergone brain surgeries years earlier. She genuinely believed she was “cured.” So when her stroke began, her brain fought the reality with everything it had. Denial, resistance, bargaining, and delay. And yet, Judy's story isn't about doom. It's about what Moyamoya syndrome stroke recovery can look like when you keep going, especially when recovery becomes less about “getting back to normal” and more about building a new, honest, meaningful life. What Is Moyamoya Syndrome (And Why It's Called “Puff of Smoke”) Moyamoya is a rare cerebrovascular disorder where the internal carotid arteries progressively narrow, reducing blood flow to the brain. The brain tries to compensate by creating fragile collateral vessels, thin-walled backups that can look like a “puff of smoke” on imaging. Those collateral vessels can become a risk. In Judy's case, the combination of her history, symptoms, and eventual deficits marked a devastating event that would reshape her life. The emotional gut punch wasn't only the stroke itself. It was the psychological whiplash of thinking you're safe… and discovering you're not. The First Enemy in Moyamoya Stroke Recovery: Denial Judy didn't just resist the hospital. She resisted the idea that this was happening at all. She'd been through countless ER visits in the past, having to explain Moyamoya to doctors, enduring tests, and then being told, “There's nothing we can do.” That history trained her to expect frustration and disappointment, not urgent help. So when her husband wanted to call emergency services, her reaction wasn't logical, it was emotional. It was the reflex of someone who'd been through too much. Denial isn't weakness. It's protection. It's your mind trying to buy time when the truth is too big to hold all at once. The Moment Reality Landed: “I Thought I Picked Up My Foot” In early recovery, Judy was convinced she could do what she used to do. Get up. Walk. Go to the bathroom. Handle it. But a powerful moment in rehab shifted everything: she was placed into an exoskeleton and realized her brain and body weren't speaking the same language. She believed she lifted her foot, then saw it hadn't moved for several seconds. That's when she finally had to admit what so many survivors eventually face: Recovery begins the moment you stop arguing with reality. Not because you “give up,” but because you stop wasting energy fighting what is and start investing energy into what can be. The Invisible Battle: Cognitive Fatigue and Energy Management If you're living through Moyamoya syndrome stroke recovery, it's easy for everyone (including you) to focus on the visible stuff: walking, arms, vision, and balance. But Judy's most persistent challenge wasn't always visible. It was cognitive fatigue, the kind that makes simple tasks feel impossible. Even something as ordinary as cleaning up an email inbox can become draining because it requires micro-decisions: categorize, prioritize, analyze, remember context, avoid mistakes. And then there's the emotional layer: when you're a perfectionist, errors feel personal. Judy described how fatigue increases mistakes, not because she doesn't care, but because the brain's bandwidth runs out. That's a brutal adjustment when your identity has always been built on competence. A practical shift that helped her Instead of trying to “finish” exhausting tasks in one heroic sprint, Judy learned to do small daily pieces. It's not glamorous, but it reduces cognitive load and protects energy. In other words: consistency beats intensity. Returning to Work After a Moyamoya Stroke: A Different Kind of Strength Judy's drive didn't disappear after her stroke. If anything, it became part of the recovery engine. She returned slowly, first restricted to a tiny number of hours. Even that was hard. But over time, she climbed back. She eventually returned full-time and later earned a promotion. That matters for one reason: it proves recovery doesn't have one shape. For some people, recovery is walking again. For others, it's parenting again. For others, it's working again without losing themselves to burnout. The goal isn't to recreate the old life perfectly. The goal is to build a life that fits who you are now. [Quote block mid-article] “If you couldn't make fun of it… it would be easier to fall into a pit of despair.” Humor Isn't Denial. It's a Tool. Judy doesn't pretend everything is okay. She's not selling toxic positivity. But she does use humor like a lever, something that lifts the emotional weight just enough to keep moving. She called her recovering left hand her “evil twin,” high-fived it when it improved, and looked for small “silver linings” not because the stroke was good, but because despair is dangerous. Laughter can't fix Moyamoya. But it can change what happens inside your nervous system: tension, stress response, mood, motivation, and your willingness to try again tomorrow. And sometimes, tomorrow is the whole win. Identity After Stroke: When “Big Stuff Became Small Stuff” One of the most profound shifts Judy described was this: the stroke changed her scale. Things that used to feel huge became small. Every day annoyances lost their power. It took something truly significant to rattle her. That's not magical thinking. That's a perspective earned the hard way. Many survivors quietly report this experience: once you've faced mortality and rebuilt your life from rubble, you stop wasting precious energy on what doesn't matter. Judy also found meaning in mentoring others because recovering alone can feel like walking through darkness without a map. Helping others doesn't erase what happened. But it can transform pain into purpose. If You're In Moyamoya Syndrome Stroke Recovery, Read This If your recovery feels messy… if you're exhausted by invisible symptoms… if the old “high achiever” version of you is fighting the new reality… You're not broken. You're adapting. And your next step doesn't have to be dramatic. It just has to be honest and repeatable: Simplify the day Protect energy Build routines Accept help Use humor when you can And find one person who understands Recovery is not a straight line. But it is possible to rebuild a life you actually want to live. If you want more support and guidance, you can also explore Bill's resources here: recoveryafterstroke.com/book patreon.com/recoveryafterstroke This blog is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Please consult your doctor before making any changes to your health or recovery plan. Judy Kim Cage on Moyamoya Stroke Recovery, Cognitive Fatigue, and Finding Purpose Again She thought Moyamoya was “fixed.” Then a 4 AM headache proved otherwise. Judy's comeback will change how you see recovery. Judy’s Instagram Highlights: 00:00 Introduction and Guest Introduction 01:43 Life Before the Stroke 11:17 The Moment of the Stroke 19:56 Moyamoya Syndrome Stroke Recovery 25:36 Cognitive Fatigue and Executive Functioning 34:50 Rehabilitation Experience 42:29 Using Humor in Recovery 46:59 Finding Purpose After Stroke 54:19 Judy’s Book: Super Survivor 01:05:20 Conclusion and Final Thoughts Transcript: Introduction and Guest Introduction Bill Gasiamis (00:00) Hey there, I’m Bill Gasiamis and this is the Recovery After Stroke podcast. Before we jump in a quick thank you to my Patreon supporters. You help cover the hosting costs after more than 10 years of doing this independently. And you make it possible for me to keep creating episodes for stroke survivors who need hope and real guidance. And thank you to everyone who supports the show in the everyday ways too. The YouTube commenters, the people leaving reviews on Spotify and Apple. The folks who bought my book and everyone who sticks around and doesn’t skip the ads. I see you and I appreciate you. Now I want you to hear this. My guest today, Judy Kim Cage, woke up at 4am with the worst headache of her life and she was so deep in denial that she threatened to divorce her husband if he called 911. Judy lives with Moyamoya syndrome, a rare cerebrovascular condition often described as the puff of smoke on imaging. She’d already had brain surgeries and believed she was cured until the stroke changed everything. Judy also wrote a book called Super Survivor and it’s all about how denial, resistance and persistence can lead to success and a better life after stroke. I’ll put the links in the show notes. In this conversation, we talk about Moyamoya Syndrome, stroke recovery, the rehab moment where reality finally landed. and what it’s like to rebuild life with cognitive fatigue and executive functioning challenges and how Judy used humor and purpose to keep moving forward without pretending recovery is easy. Let’s get into it. Judy Kim Cage, welcome to the podcast. Life Before Moyamoya Syndrome Judy Kim Cage (01:43) Thank you so much, Bill Bill Gasiamis (01:45) Thanks for being here. Can you paint us a picture of your life before the stroke? What were your days like? Judy Kim Cage (01:51) Hmm. Well, my life before the stroke was me trying to be a high achiever and a corporate nerd. I think so. I think so. I, you know, I was in the Future Business Leaders of America in high school and then carried that forward to an accounting degree. Bill Gasiamis (02:04) Did you achieve it? Judy Kim Cage (02:20) and finance and then ⁓ had gone to work for Deloitte and the big four. ⁓ And after that moved into ⁓ internal audit for commercial mortgage and then risk and banking and it all rolled into compliance, which is a kind of larger chunk there. But ⁓ yeah, I was living the corporate dream and Traveling every other week, basically so 50 % of the time, flying to Columbus, staying there, and then flying back home for the weekend and working in a rented office for the week after. And I did that for all of 2018. And then in 2019 is when my body said, hang on a second. And I had a stroke. Bill Gasiamis (03:17) How many hours a week do you think you were working? Judy Kim Cage (03:19) Well, not including the treble, ⁓ probably 50-55. Bill Gasiamis (03:26) Okay. Judy Kim Cage (03:26) Oh, wish, that wasn’t that that really wasn’t a ton compared to my Deloitte days where I’d be working up to 90 hours a week. Bill Gasiamis (03:37) Wow. in that time when you’re working 90 hours a week. Is there time for anything else? you get to squeeze in a run at the gym or do you get to squeeze in a cafe catch up with a friend or anything like that? Judy Kim Cage (03:51) There are people that do. think, yeah, I mean, on certain particular weekends and my friends, a lot of my friends were also working with me. So there was time to socialize. And then, of course, we would all let off some steam, you know, at the pub, you know, at the end of a week. But ⁓ yeah, I remember on one of my very first jobs, I had been so excited because I had signed up to take guitar lessons and I was not able to leave in order to get there in time. ⁓ so that took a backseat. Bill Gasiamis (04:40) Yes, it sounds like there’s potentially lots of things that took a backseat. Yeah, work tends to be like that can be all consuming and when friendships especially are within the work group as well, even more so because everyone’s doing the same thing and it’s just go, Judy Kim Cage (04:44) Yeah, definitely. Absolutely. We started as a cohort essentially of, I want to say 40 some people all around the same age. And then, you know, as the years ticked by, we started falling off as they do in that industry. Bill Gasiamis (05:19) Do you enjoy it though? Like, is there a part of you that enjoys the whole craziness of all the travel, all the hours, the work stuff? it? Is it like interesting? Judy Kim Cage (05:31) Yeah, I do love it. I actually do love my job. I love compliance. I love working within a legal mindset with other lawyers. And basically knowing that I’m pretty good at my job, that I can be very well organized, that it would be difficult even for a normal healthy person and challenging and that I can do well there. And yeah, no, was, when I had put in a year, when I was in ⁓ acute therapy, ⁓ I had spoken with a number of students and they had interviewed me as a patient, but also from the psych side of it all, ⁓ asking, well, what does it feel like to all of a sudden have your life stop? And I said, well, ⁓ and things got a bit emotional, I said, I felt like I was at the top of my game. I had finally achieved the job that I absolutely wanted, had desired. ⁓ I felt like I’d found a home where I was now going to retire. And all of a sudden that seems like it was no longer a possibility. Bill Gasiamis (06:55) So that’s a very common thing that strokes have over say who I interviewed. They say stuff like I was at the top of my game and there’s this ⁓ idea or sense that once you get to the top of the game, you stay there. There’s no getting down from the top of the game and that it just keeps going and keeps going. And, I think it’s more about fit. sounds like it’s more about fit. Like I found a place where I fit. found a place where I’m okay. or I do well, where I succeed, where people believe in me, where I have the support and the faith or whatever it is of my employers, my team. Is that kind of how you describe on top of your game or is it something different? Judy Kim Cage (07:41) I think it was all of those things, ⁓ but also, you know, definitely the kindness of people, the support of people, their faith in my ability to be smart and get things done. But then also ⁓ just the fact that I finally said, okay, this was not necessarily a direct from undergrad to here. However, I was able to take pieces of everything that I had done and put it together into a position that was essentially kind of created for me and then launched from there. So I felt as though it was essentially having climbed all of those stairs. So I was at the top. Yeah. you know, looking at my Lion King kingdom and yeah. Bill Gasiamis (08:43) just about to ascend and, and it was short lived by the sound of it. Judy Kim Cage (08:49) It was, it was, it was only one year beforehand, but I am actually still at the company now. I ⁓ had gone and done ⁓ well. So I was in the hospital for a few months and following that. Well, following the round of inpatient and the one round of outpatient, said, okay, I’m going back. And I decided, I absolutely insisted that I was going to go back. The doctor said, okay, you can only work four hours a week. I said, four hours a week, what are you talking about? ⁓ But then I realized that four hours a week was actually really challenging at that time. ⁓ And then ⁓ I climbed back up. was, you know, I’m driven by deadlines and… ⁓ I was working, you know, leveraging long-term disability. And then once I had worked too many hours after five years, you know, I graduated from that program, or rather I got booted out of the program. ⁓ And then a year later, I was actually, well, no, actually at the end of the five years I was promoted. So, ⁓ after coming back full time. Bill Gasiamis (10:20) Wow. So this was all in 2019, the stroke. You were 39 years old. Do you remember, do you remember the moment when you realized there was something wrong? We’ll be back with more of Judy’s remarkable story in just a moment. If you’re listening right now and you’re in that stage where recovery feels invisible, where the fatigue is heavy, your brain feels slower. or you’re trying to explain a rare condition like Moyamoya and nobody really gets it. I want you to hear this clearly. You’re not failing. You’re recovering. If you want extra support between episodes, you can check out my book at recoveryafterstroke.com slash book. And if you’d like to help keep this podcast going and support my mission to reach a thousand episodes, you can support the podcast at Patreon by visiting patreon.com/recoveryafterstroke. All right, let’s get back to Judy. The Moment of the Stroke Judy Kim Cage (11:16) Yes, although I was in a lot of denial. ⁓ So we had just had dinner with ⁓ my stepdaughter and her husband ⁓ and ⁓ we were visiting them in Atlanta, Georgia. ⁓ And we said, OK, we’ll meet for brunch tomorrow. You know, great to see you. Have a good night. It was four in the morning and I was told I woke up screaming and I felt this horrible, horrible worst headache ever ⁓ on the right side. And I think because I have, I have Moyamoya syndrome, because of that and because I had had brain surgeries, ⁓ 10 years or back in December of 2008, I had a brain surgery on each side. And that at the time was the best of care that you could get. You know, that was essentially your cure. And so I thought I was cured. And so I thought I would never have a stroke. So when it was actually happening, I was in denial said there’s no way this could be happening. But the excess of pain, ⁓ the nausea and ⁓ it not going away after throwing up, the numbness ⁓ and then the eventual paralysis of my left side definitely ⁓ was evidence that something was very very wrong. Bill Gasiamis (13:09) So it was four in the morning, were you guys sleeping? Judy Kim Cage (13:14) ⁓ yeah, we were in bed. Yep. And yeah, I woke up screaming. According to my husband, I don’t remember the screaming part, but I remember all the pain. Bill Gasiamis (13:24) Yeah, did he ⁓ get you to hospital? Did he the emergency services? Judy Kim Cage (13:30) I apparently was kind of threatening to divorce him if he called 911. Bill Gasiamis (13:38) Wow, that’s a bit rough. Oh my lord. Judy Kim Cage (13:41) I know. mean, that could have been his out, but he didn’t. Bill Gasiamis (13:45) There’s worse things for a human to do than call 911 and get your support. Like marriages end for worse things than that. Judy Kim Cage (13:53) because I’ve been to the ER many, many, many times. And because of the Moyamoya, you would always, it being a rare disease, you would never be told, well, you would have to explain to all the doctors about what Moyamoya was, for one. For two, to say if I had a cold, for instance, that Moyamoya had nothing to do with it. Bill Gasiamis (14:11) Wow. Judy Kim Cage (14:19) But also, you know, they would give me an MRI, oof, the claustrophobia. I detested that. And I said, if you’re getting me into an MRI, please, please, please, a benzodiazepine would be incredible. Or just knock me out, whatever you need to do. But I’m not getting into that thing otherwise. But, you know, they would take the MRI, read it. and then say, hours and hours and hours later, there’s nothing we can do. The next course of action, if it was absolutely necessary, would be another surgery, which would have been bur holes that were drilled into my skull to relieve some sort of pressure. ⁓ In this particular case, the options were to ⁓ have a drain put in my skull. and then for me to be reliant on a ventilator. Or they said, you can have scans done every four hours and if the damage becomes too great, then we’ll move on. Otherwise, we’ll just keep tabs on it, essentially. Bill Gasiamis (15:37) Yeah. So I know that feeling because since my initial blade in February, 2012, I’ve lost count how many times I’ve been to the hospital for a scan that was unnecessary, but necessary at the time because you, you know, you tie yourself up in knots trying to work out, is this another one? Isn’t it another one? Is it, it, and then the only outcome that you can possibly come up with that puts your mind at ease and everybody else around you is let’s go and get a scan and then, and then move on with life. Once they tell you it was, ⁓ it was not another bleed or whatever. Yeah. However, three times I did go and three times there was a bleed. So it’s the whole, you know, how do you wrap your head around like which one isn’t the bleed, which one is the bleed and It’s a fricking nightmare if you ask me. And I seem to have now ⁓ transferred that concern to everybody else who has a headache. On the weekend, my son had a migraine. And I tell you what, because he was describing it as one of the worst headaches he had ever had, I just went into meltdown. I couldn’t cope. And it was like, go to the hospital, go to the hospital, go to… He didn’t go, he’s an adult, right? Makes his own decisions. But I was worried about it for days. And it wasn’t enough that even the next few days he was feeling better because I still have interviewed people who have had a headache for four or five or six days before they went to hospital and then they found that it was a stroke. it’s just become this crazy thing that I have to live with now. Judy Kim Cage (17:26) I essentially forced Rich to wait 12 hours before I called my vascular neurologist. And once I did, his office said, you need to go to the ER. And I said, okay, then that’s when I folded and said, all right, we’ll go. ⁓ And then, ⁓ you know, an ambulance came. Bill Gasiamis (17:35) Wow. Judy Kim Cage (17:53) took me out on a gurney and then took me to a mobile stroke unit, which there was only one of 11, there were only 11 in the country at the time. And they were able to scan me there and then had me basically interviewed by a neurologist via telecall. And this was, you know, before the days of teams and zoom and that we all tested out ⁓ from COVID. ⁓ yeah, that’s. Bill Gasiamis (18:35) That’s you, So then you get through that initial acute phase and then you wake up with a certain amount of deficits. Judy Kim Cage (18:37) Yeah. my gosh. ⁓ Well, yeah, absolutely. ⁓ Massive amounts of pain ⁓ from all the blood absorbing back into the brain. ⁓ The left side, my left side was paralyzed. My arm fell out of my shoulder socket. So it was hanging down loosely. ⁓ I had dropped foot, so I had to learn to walk again. Double vision and my facial group on the left and then. Bluff side neglect. Bill Gasiamis (19:31) Yeah. So, and then I see in our, in your notes, I see also you had diminished hearing, nerve pain, spasticity, cognitive fatigue, ⁓ bladder issues. You’d also triggered Ehlers-Danlos symptoms, whatever that is. Tell me about that. What’s that? Moyamoya Syndrome Stroke Recovery Judy Kim Cage (19:56) So I call myself a genetic mutant because the Moyamoya for one at the time I was diagnosed is discovered in 3.5 people out of a million. And then Ehlers-Danlos or EDS for short is also a genetic disorder. Well, certain versions are more genetic than others, but it is caused by a defect in your collagen, which makes up essentially your entire body. And so I have hypermobility, the blood, I have pots. So my, my blood basically remains down by my feet, it pulls at my feet. And so not enough of it gets up to my brain, which also could, you know, have affected the moimoya. But Essentially, it creates vestibular issues, these balance issues where it’s already bad enough that you have a stroke, but it’s another to be at the risk of falling all the time. Yeah. Or if you get up a little too fast, which I still do to this day, sometimes I’ll completely forget and I’ll just bounce up off the sofa to get myself a drink and I will sway and all of a sudden Bill Gasiamis (21:07) Yeah. Judy Kim Cage (21:22) onto the sofa or sit down right on the floor and say, okay, why did I not do the three-step plan to get up? ⁓ But sometimes it’s just too easy to forget. Bill Gasiamis (21:37) Yeah, yeah. You just act, you just move out of well habit or normal, normal ways that people move. And then you find yourself in a interesting situation. So I mean, how, how do you deal with all of that? Like you, you go from having experienced more and more by the way, let’s describe more and more a little bit, just so people know what it is. Judy Kim Cage (22:02) Absolutely. So, my way is a cerebrovascular disorder where your internal carotid progressively constricts. So for no known reason, no truly known reason. And so because it keeps shrinking and shrinking, not enough brain, blood gets to your brain. So what the brain decides to do to compensate is it will form these collateral vessels. And these collateral vessels, which there are many of them usually, you know, the longer this goes on, ⁓ they have very thin walls. So due to the combination of the thin walls, and if you have high blood pressure, these walls can break. And that is what happened in my case. ⁓ Well, the carotids will continue to occlude, but what happens is, ⁓ least with the surgery, they took my temporal artery, removed it from my scalp, had taken a plate off of my skull and stitched that. temporal artery onto my brain so that it would have a separate source of blood flow so that it was no longer reliant on this carotid. So we know that the carotid, sorry, that the temporal artery won’t fail out. ⁓ So usually, ⁓ and this was my surgery was actually done at Boston Children’s Hospital ⁓ by the man who pioneered the surgery. And he was basically head of neurosurgery at Harvard Medical School and Boston Children’s because they more often find this in children now. And the sooner they find it, the fewer collateral vessels will form once the surgery is performed. Bill Gasiamis (24:17) Okay, so the long-term risk is that it’s decreased, the risk of a blade decreases if they do the surgery early on too. I love that. Judy Kim Cage (24:25) The rest. But I was diagnosed at the age of 29. So I had quite a while of these collateral vessels forming in what they call a puff of smoke that appears on the MRI. ⁓ And that is what, you know, Moyamoya essentially means in Japanese, is translated to in Japanese, it’s puff of smoke. Bill Gasiamis (24:50) Wow, you have been going through this for a while then. So I can understand your whole mindset around doctors, another appointment, another MRI. Like I could totally, ⁓ it makes complete sense. You you’re over it after a certain amount of time. Yeah, I’m the same. I kind of get over it, but then I also have to take action because you know what we know what the previous Judy Kim Cage (25:07) Absolutely. Bill Gasiamis (25:19) outcome was and now you’re dealing with all of these deficits that you have to overcome. Which are the deficits that you’re still dealing with that are the most, well, the most sort of prolonged or challenging or whatever you want to call them, whatever. Cognitive Fatigue and Executive Functioning Judy Kim Cage (25:34) The most significant, I guess it’s the most wide ranging. But it is. ⁓ Energy management and cognitive fatigue. ⁓ I have issues with executive functioning. ⁓ Things are, you know, if I need to do sorting or filing. ⁓ That actually is. one of my least favorite things to do anymore. Whereas it was very easy at one point. ⁓ And now if I want to clean up my inbox, it is just a dreaded task. ⁓ And so now I’ve learned that if I do a little bit of it every day, then I don’t have, it doesn’t have to take nearly as long. ⁓ Bill Gasiamis (26:26) What it’s dreaded about it is it making decisions about where those emails belong, what to do to them or. Judy Kim Cage (26:33) Oh, no, it’s just the time and energy it takes to do it. It drains me very quickly. Because you have to evaluate and analyze every line as you’re deciding what project it belongs to. And there’s a strategic way to do it in terms of who you normally deal with on each project, etc. etc. This chunk of time, calendar dates you’ve worked on it, etc. But, know, That might by the time I get to this tedious task, I’m not thinking about it strategically. ⁓ Yeah, I’m just dragging each individual line item into a little folder. ⁓ So, ⁓ but yeah, like the cognitive deficits. gosh. mean, I’m working on a computer all day. I am definitely a corporate desk rat or mouse, you know, on the wheel. ⁓ And a lot of Excel spreadsheets and just a lot of very small print and sometimes I get to expand it. ⁓ And it really is just trying not to, well, the job involves making as few errors as you possibly can. Bill Gasiamis (28:01) Yeah. Judy Kim Cage (28:02) ⁓ Now when I get tired or overwhelmed or when I overdo it, which I frequently frequently do, ⁓ I find out that I’ve made more errors and I find out after the fact usually. So nothing that’s not reversible, nothing that’s not fixable, but it still is pretty disheartening for a perfectionist type such as myself. Bill Gasiamis (28:30) Wow. So the perfectionism also has to become something that you have to deal with even more so than before, because before you were probably capable of managing it now, you’re less capable. yeah, I understand. I’m not a perfectionist by all means. My wife can tend to be when she’s studying or something like that. And she suffers from, you know, spending Judy Kim Cage (28:46) the energy. Bill Gasiamis (29:00) potentially hours on three lines of a paragraph. Like she’s done that before and I’ll just, and I’ve gone into the room after three hours and her, and her going into the room was, I’m going to go in and do a few more lines because she was drained or tired or, you know, her brain wasn’t working properly or whatever. I’m just going to go do three more lines and three hours later, she’s still doing those three lines. It’s like, wow, you need to get out of the, you need to get out. need to, we need to. break this because it’s not, it’s not good. So I totally get what it’s liked to be like that. And then I have had the cognitive fatigue where emails were impossible. Spreadsheets forget about it. I never liked them anyway. And they were just absolutely forget about it. Um, I feel like they are just evil. I feel like the spreadsheets are evil, you know, all these things that you have to do in the background, forget about it. That’s unbelievable. So, um, What was it like when you first sort of woke up from the initial stroke, got out of your unconscious state and then realized you had to deal with all of this stuff? I know for some time you were probably unable to speak and were you ⁓ trapped inside your body? Is that right or? Judy Kim Cage (30:19) I was in the ICU. I was paralyzed on the left side, so I was not able to get up, not really able to move much. ⁓ I was not speaking too much, definitely not within the first week. I was in the ICU for 10 days. ⁓ And yeah, I just wasn’t able to do much other than scream from the beam. ⁓ And then I, once I became more aware, I insisted that I could get up and walk to the bathroom myself. I insisted that I could just sit up, get up, do all the things that I had done before. And it being a right side stroke as well, you know, I think helps contribute to the overestimation or the… just conceitedness, guess, and this self-confidence that I could just do anything. Yes, absolutely. And I was told time and time again, Judy, can’t walk, Judy, can’t go to the bathroom, Judy, you can’t do these things. And I was in absolute denial. And I would say, no, I can, I can get up. And meanwhile, I would say that Bill Gasiamis (31:30) Delusion Judy Kim Cage (31:51) husband was so afraid that I was going to physically try to get up and fall over, which would not have been good. ⁓ And so, you know, there was, there were some expletives involved. ⁓ And, ⁓ and then eventually once I was out of the ICU, ⁓ I didn’t truly accept that I couldn’t walk until Bill Gasiamis (32:00) but. Judy Kim Cage (32:20) one of the PT students had put me into an exoskeleton and I realized that my foot did not move at all, you know, like a full five seconds after I thought I picked it up. And I said, wait, hang on, what’s going on here? And I said, ⁓ okay, I guess I have to admit that I can’t walk. And then I can’t, I can’t sit upright. I can’t. You know, and like you had mentioned, you know, I had lost the signals from my brain to my bladder. They were slow or whatnot. And I was wetting the bed, like a child at a sleepover. And I was pretty horrified. And that happened for, you know, pretty much my, pretty much all my time at Kratie, except I got the timing down. ⁓ eventually, which was fantastic. But then when I moved to post-acute, ⁓ then I had to learn the timing all over again, just because, you know, of different, rules being different, the transfers being different, and then, ⁓ you know, just ⁓ the timing of when somebody would answer the call button, et cetera. Bill Gasiamis (33:45) Yeah. Do you, what was it like going to rehab? I was really excited about it. I was hanging out because I learned that I couldn’t walk when the nurse said to me, have you been to the toilet yet? And I said, no, I hadn’t been to the toilet. We’re talking hours after surgery, you know, maybe within the first eight or nine hours, something like that. And I went to put my left foot down onto the ground. She was going to help me. She was like a really petite Asian. framed lady and I’m and I’m probably two feet taller than her, something like that, and double her weight. And then she said, just put your hand on my shoulder and then I’ll support you. So I did that. I put my hand on her shoulder, stepped onto my left foot and then just collapsed straight onto the ground and realized, ⁓ no, I’m not walking. I can’t walk anymore. And then I was then waiting. hanging out to go to rehab was really excited about that. ⁓ What was it like for you? Moyamoya Syndrome Stroke Rehabilitation Experience Judy Kim Cage (34:48) Initially, well, do you so you mean. ⁓ Bill Gasiamis (34:56) Just as in like, were you aware that you could ⁓ improve things? Were you kind of like, we’re gonna overcome this type of stuff? Because you had a lot more things to overcome than I did. So it’s like, how is that? How do you frame that in your head? Were you the kind of person who was like, ⁓ rehab’s around the corner, let’s do that? Or were you kind of reluctant? Judy Kim Cage (35:19) It was a combination of two things. One, I had been dying to go home. I said, I absolutely, why can’t I go home? I was in the hospital for three weeks before we moved to the rehab hospital. And once we had done that, I was there basically for the entire weekend and then they do evaluations on Tuesday. And so I was told on Tuesday that I would be there for another at least four to six weeks. And so that was even before therapies really began. So there was a part of me saying, I don’t care, let me go home and I’ll do outpatient every day and everything will be fine. At least I get to go home. But then the other part. Bill Gasiamis (35:52) Thanks. Judy Kim Cage (36:11) said, okay, well, once I realized I was stuck and that I couldn’t escape, I couldn’t go anywhere, ⁓ I actually, I did love therapy. ⁓ I loved being in speech therapy, being in OTE, being in PT even, because my girls were fantastic. They were so caring, so understanding. They made jokes and also laughed at mine, which was even better. And when you’re not in therapy, especially on the weekends, you’re just in your room by yourself. And you’re not watching TV because that input is way too heavy. Listening to music. maybe a little bit here and there. ⁓ You know, all the things that you know and love are nowhere to be found, you know, really. ⁓ Yeah, absolutely. Yeah, yeah. And I get claustrophobic in the MRI, in the hospital, et cetera. yeah. Bill Gasiamis (37:14) Oscillating. Yeah. I was on YouTube, searching YouTube videos that were about neuroplasticity, retraining the brain, that kind of stuff, meditations, type of thing. That really helped me on those weekends. The family was always around, but there was delays between family visits and what have you that couldn’t be there that entire time. ⁓ So I found that very interesting. And you know, rehab was a combination of frustration and excitement, excitement that I was getting the help, frustration that things weren’t moving as quickly as I wanted. ⁓ And I even remember the occupational therapist making us make breakfast. And I wouldn’t recommend this breakfast for stroke survivors. I think it was cereal and toast or something like that. And I remember being frustrated, why are they making me make it? My left side doesn’t work. Like I can barely walk. I cannot carry the glass with the tea or anything like that to me. What are these people doing? They should be doing it for us. I wasn’t aware. I wasn’t aware that that was part of the therapy. I just thought they were making us make our own bloody breakfast. I thought these people are so terrible. And it took a while for me to clue on like, ⁓ okay. Judy Kim Cage (38:44) you Bill Gasiamis (38:52) They want me to be able to do this when I get home. ⁓ understood. Took a while. I’m thick like that. Judy Kim Cage (39:00) Fortunately, wasn’t made to cook until close to the end. And also during outpatient, I was tasked to make kind of a larger, you know, crock pot dinner so that, you know, I could do that at home. Meanwhile, the irony of it all is that. I can cook and I used to love cooking, but I don’t do it nearly as much as I used to. So that skill did not really transfer over. ⁓ I have Post-it notes up by the microwave that tell me right hand only because if I use my left hand, the temperature differential I will burn myself ⁓ without even realizing it or even reaching for a certain part of a pan that I think is going to be safe and is somewhat heat resistant. And I touch it and then poof, well, you know, get a burn. So there are post-it notes everywhere. There’s one by the front door that says, watch the steps, because I had a couple of times flown down them and gashed my knee. Bill Gasiamis (40:13) Yeah. Judy Kim Cage (40:26) And it’s amazing actually how long a Post-It note with its temporary stick will stay up on a wall. Bill Gasiamis (40:35) Well, there’s another opportunity for you there, like do a project, ⁓ a longevity of Post-it Notes project, see how long we can get out of one application. Judy Kim Cage (40:46) Yeah, well, this one actually, so I think it was three months after I had moved in, which would have been 10 months into my stroke recovery. And that’s when I fell down these steps. And that’s when I put up the Post-It note. it has been, a piece of tape has been added to it. but it only fell down, I think, a couple of years ago. Bill Gasiamis (41:18) Yeah. So 3M need to shift their entire focus. I feel like 3M. Yeah. I think 3M needs to have a permanent ⁓ post-it note application, but easy to remove. if I want to take it down, like it’s permanent once I put it up, but if I want to take it down, it’s still easy to remove and it doesn’t ruin my paint or leave residue. Judy Kim Cage (41:44) They do actually have that tech. have it for, they call it command. It’s what they have for the hooks for photos and whatnot. And then if you pull the tab and then release it, it will come off and leave the wall undamaged, but it will otherwise stay there for a long. Bill Gasiamis (42:04) Yes, yes, I think you’re right. Most of the time it works, yes. Okay, well, we’re moving on to other things. You’ve overcome a lot of stuff. You’re dealing with a lot of stuff. And yet, you have this disposition, which is very chirpy and happy, go lucky. Is it real, that disposition, or is it just a facade? Using Humor in Moyamoya Syndrome and Stroke Recovery Judy Kim Cage (42:29) No, no, it’s real. It’s real. ⁓ I think I’ve always ⁓ tried to make light of things. ⁓ Humors, probably my first defense mechanism. ⁓ And I think that helped out a lot ⁓ in terms of recovery. And also, ⁓ it put my therapist in a great mood. Also, because not many people did that apparently. You know, most people curse them off or, you know, were kind of miserable. And there were times when I was miserable too. Absolutely. But, but I probably took it out more on my husband than I did the staff. And he, and he would call, you know, I said, I was so mean to you, Rich. was so mean to you. And he said, yeah, you were nicer to the nurses than to me. And I. I apologized for it, but at the same time I’m like, yeah, but sometimes, bud, you are so annoying. Bill Gasiamis (43:33) You had it coming. Judy Kim Cage (43:34) Yeah. Why are you so overprotective? Why do you point out every crack in the sidewalk? Why do you know, you still say I have to stop to tie up my hair when we’re walking on the sidewalk, you know, because you’re not supposed to do two things at once. ⁓ Yeah. So I felt as though I would make jokes all the time. I when my left hand would start to regain function. I called it my evil twin because I didn’t even recognize that it was mine. But then I would give it a high five every time I started gaining function back. And I would say things like, yeah, hey, evil twin, congrats. Or ⁓ I would say, I guess I don’t have to clean the house anymore. I don’t have to use my left hand to dust. I’m not capable of doing it. So why do it? Bill Gasiamis (44:29) Yeah. Judy Kim Cage (44:30) And I’m like, let’s always look for the silver lining. And it would usually be a joke. But, you know, if you couldn’t make fun of it or think about the ridiculousness of it, then I think it would be easier to fall into a pit of despair. Bill Gasiamis (44:48) I agree with you and laughing and all that releases, know, good endo, good endorphins and good neurochemicals and all that kind of stuff really does improve your blood pressure. It improves the way that your body feels, you know, the tightness in your muscles and all that kind of stuff. Everything improves when you laugh and you have to find funny things about a bad situation to laugh at, to kind of dial down the seriousness of the situation. can you know, really dial it down just by picking something strange that happened and laughing at it. I found myself doing that as well. And I’m similar in that I would go to rehab and they would, you know, we would chit chat like I am now with you and would have all sorts of conversations about all kinds of things. And the rehab was kind of like the, the, it was like the vessel, you know, to talk shit, have a laugh. ⁓ you know, be the clown of the rehab room. And I get it, everyone’s doing it tough, but it lightened the mood for everybody. You know, was, it’s a hard thing. You know, imagine it being just constantly and forever hard. And it was like, I don’t want to be that guy and wish they have fun as well. And, and I think my, my, my tough times were decreased as a result. Like, you know, those stuff, mental and emotional days, they, they come, but they go. then you have relief from them. And I think you need relief. Judy Kim Cage (46:23) Absolutely. Otherwise, just could feel perpetual and just never ending. ⁓ And why or how could you possibly survive feeling that way? Bill Gasiamis (46:39) Yeah. So who are you now? as in your, how does your idea of who you are sort of begin to shift after the initial acute phase and now six years in, almost seven years into your stroke journey? Finding Purpose After Stroke Judy Kim Cage (46:59) I think I am. I’m pretty confident in who I am, which is funny. ⁓ I ⁓ actually lean more into making more jokes or ⁓ lean into the fact that things don’t, they don’t have nearly the importance or the impact that you would otherwise think. ⁓ One of my sayings, I guess I say all the, you know, how they say don’t sweat the small stuff. my big stuff, like big stuff became small stuff, you know. So it would have to be something pretty big in order for me to really, really, you know, think about it. And a lot of the little things, you know, the nuisances in life and stuff, would usually just laugh or if I tripped or something, then I would just laugh at it and just keep moving on. ⁓ And I think, you know, It’s funny because some people will say, ⁓ gosh, like stop, you know, there is toxic positivity, right? And there’s plenty of that. And ⁓ I stay away from that, I think. But when I try to give people advice or a different outlook, ⁓ I do say, well, you you could think of it this way, you know. It’s not all sunshine and rainbows and flowers and, you know, care bears, but it is, you know, but it, but you can pull yourself out of a situation. You can try to figure out a way to work around it. You can, you know, choose differently for yourself, you know, do things that you love. You know, you’re only given a certain amount of limited time on the earth. So how do you want to spend it? And if you are on your deathbed, you know, would you have, do you have any regrets? You know, like you did read the books about, you know, that, ⁓ why am I forgetting? Doctors ⁓ that perform palliative care and, you know, they’ve written books about you know what people’s regrets have been after, know, once they are about to pass and you know, that not taking action was a regret. You know, like why didn’t I do this? Or why didn’t I do this? Why didn’t I try this? Like really, what would have been the downfall to trying something? ⁓ And I find that, you know, aside from just naturally being able to see things to laugh at or, or positive sides of things. ⁓ I tried, like, I wish that people could experience that without having gone through what we went through. ⁓ but that’s virtually impossible. I think. Bill Gasiamis (50:18) I think it’s impossible, totally, 100 % impossible because everybody thinks they’re doing okay until they’re not. You just cannot prevent somebody from going through something by taking the learning first. The learning has to come second. Sad as that is. Judy Kim Cage (50:39) ⁓ Well, and we all think we’re invincible to a large extent. ⁓ But ⁓ I think what I’ve been trying to do or me now, I’ve always, you know, volunteered in various ways, but now I take and hold extra value in being a mentor for other stroke patients. Bill Gasiamis (51:03) Yeah, yeah, that’s Judy Kim Cage (51:04) And for, you know, individuals that even just come up to me and talk about all of their medical problems, it doesn’t matter if it’s circulated or not, you know, it’s medically they’re like, there’s some white matter on my MRI, what do think I should do? I’m like, it’s not that simple of an answer. I think you should go to the doctor. Get on a list. Bill Gasiamis (51:29) Yeah. Your journey seems like you’re growing through this adversity, like as in it’s very post-traumatic growth type of experience here. Something that I talk about on my book, the unexpected way that a stroke became the best thing that happened. Not something that I recommend people experience to get to the other side of that, of course. But in hindsight, like it’s all those things that you’re describing. Judy’s Book: Super Survivor And I look at the chapters because in fact, you’ve written a book and it’s going to be out after this episode goes live, which is awesome. And the book that you’ve written is called Super Survivor. And indeed that is a fitting title. Indeed it is. How denial, resistance and persistence can lead to success and a better life after stroke. Right? So just looking at some of the chapters, there’s a lot of overlap there, right? And one of the chapters that there’s overlap in is the volunteering and purpose. I’ve got parts of my book that specifically talk about doing stuff for other people and how that supports recovery and how the people who said that stroke was the best thing that happened to them, the ones that I interviewed to gather the data, one of the main things that they were doing was helping other people, volunteering in some way, shape or form. And that helped shape their purpose in life. and their meaning in life. And it’s how I got there as well. It was like, okay, I’m gonna go and prevent stroke. I’m gonna go talk on behalf of the Stroke Foundation. We’re gonna raise awareness about what stroke is, how to take action on stroke, what to do if somebody’s having a stroke. And I started to feel like I gained a purpose in my life, which was gonna to not allow other people to go through what I went through. And then, With that came public speaking and then with that came the podcast and then the purpose grew and it became really ⁓ all encompassing. It’s like, wow, like I know what my mission is. I didn’t seek to find it. I stumbled across it and the chapter in my book is called stumbling into purpose because you can’t think it up. You just have to take action and then bam, bam, it appears. Like, is that your experience? Judy Kim Cage (53:53) ⁓ Well, so much of my identity had been wrapped up in my occupation. ⁓ And so when, you know, the stroke first happened, et cetera, but then as time has passed, ⁓ yeah, I’ve absolutely found more meaning in providing comfort to other stroke patients. whether it’s because they see me as inspiring that I was able to recover so quickly or that I was able to go back to work, you know, permanently. And just to give them hope, really. And ⁓ when I was in acute, I felt as though like, We do so much of the recovery alone ⁓ and there isn’t a ton of, you know, of course our therapists are fantastic and they’re, you know, they’re loving and they’re caring. But in terms of having to make it through, you know, certain darkness alone or, ⁓ you know, just feeling sorry for yourself even sometimes, or feeling like, hey, I can do everything, but nobody’s encouraging that. because they think it’s dangerous. ⁓ I had wished that, you know, there were more people who could understand ⁓ what survival and then recovery was, you know, truly like. And so I had read that in a number of books before hearing people tell me their stories in person because Emotionally, I absorbed too much of it. ⁓ I wanted to, I think I passed that five-year survival mark of the 26.7%, which I know varies for everybody. ⁓ at the same time, I said, wow, I did, I made it to the other side, I beat these odds. I think I wanted to keep it secret from all the people I worked with. which I still have actually, it won’t be for too much longer. ⁓ But ⁓ just being able to share that and to be vulnerable and to say all the deficits that I have and what I have overcome, ⁓ I think it’s also given people some hope that they can, if she was able to do it, then maybe it isn’t as tough as I think it is. Bill Gasiamis (56:43) Anyone can. Yeah, I love that. That’s kind of my approach to, you know, I’m just a average, humble, normal, amazing guy. You could do it too. You know, I could, I could teach you to what you need to do is learn. ⁓ but that’s true. It’s that it’s that we are, I get, I get people come on the podcast going, I’m so nervous to meet you. You’re on the, I’m on your podcast. Dude, you don’t know who I am. Like if you think I’m the podcast guy, you’ve got no idea. I’m in the back of my, in my garden, in a shed. what was something that’s meant to be a shed that looks like a studio and amazing and all this kind of stuff. Like, dude, I’m just. Judy Kim Cage (57:29) would not have known if you hadn’t told me. Bill Gasiamis (57:32) That’s right, because looks can be deceiving and that ideas that we get of people are just, you know, they’re just not accurate until we get to spend time with people and understand them. And I always try and play down who I am so that people can see that I am just a regular guy who went through this and had no, no equipment. had no ⁓ knowledge. had no skills overcoming learning. Like I just, I picked up what I needed when I could just so that I can stumble through to the next hurdle and stumble through that one and then keep going. I really want people to understand that even the people who appear to be super fabulous at everything, like they’re just not, nobody is that, everyone is just doing their best they can. Even the guy who’s got more money than you, a bigger house, whatever, a better investment, all that stuff, they’re all faking it until shit hits the fan and then they’ve got to really step up to be who they are. You know, that’s what I find. But attitude, mindset, ⁓ approach, know, laughing, doing things for other people all help. They are really important steps, you know. The other chapter that kind of. made me pay attention and take note ⁓ was you talk about the night everything changed, complicated medical history, lifesavers, volunteering and purpose, the caregivers, ⁓ easing back into life, which I think is a really important chapter, returning to work, which is really important. then chapter nine, life after stroke continued. That kind of really is something that made me pay attention because that’s exactly what it is, right? It’s life after stroke. It’s like a continuation. It’s a never ending kind of ⁓ unattainable thing. Judy Kim Cage (59:27) It just keeps rolling on. doesn’t stop. You know, even if you’ve gone through a hardship and overcome it, it doesn’t mean that life stops. You’ve got to keep learning these lessons over and over and over again. Even if you don’t want to learn them, however stubborn you are. ⁓ And I, you know, I one thing that I had written about was that I had resented ⁓ you know, what I had gone through for a little while. I said, why do I still have to learn the same lessons that everybody else has to learn? You know, if I’ve gone through this kind of transcendental thing, why do I still have to learn, you know, these other things? But then I realized that I was given the opportunity ⁓ from surviving, was given another chance to be able to truly realize what it was like to be happy and to live. And I’d never, I mean, I had, I had been depressed, you know, for an anxious for years. And, you know, I’ve been in therapy for years and, ⁓ you know, it really wasn’t truly until kind of getting this push of the fast forward button on learning lessons that it truly became happy, like true, true happiness. And I said, wow, that was the gift. And then to try to pass that on. Bill Gasiamis (1:01:10) It’s a pretty cool life hack. A shit way to experience it, but a pretty cool life hack. Judy Kim Cage (1:01:15) Yeah, yeah, yeah, definitely don’t I don’t recommend it I don’t Bill Gasiamis (1:01:20) Yeah. You get the learning in a short amount of time instead of years of years of wisdom and developing and learning and overcoming, which you avoided up until your first, you know, 38 years. And then, you know, you then, and then you kind of all of a sudden go, okay, well, I really have to buckle down and do these, ⁓ these modules of learning and I’ve got no choice. And I was the same. ⁓ and I have my days, I have my Good days, bad days, and I even recently had a bit of a day where I said to my wife, I got diagnosed with high blood pressure, headaches, migraines, a whole bunch of stuff, and then just tomorrow, I’m I’ve had enough. Why do I need to to be diagnosed with more things? Why do I need to have more medical appointments? Enough, it’s enough. I need to stop this stuff. It’s not fun. And then it took me about half a day to get over myself and go, well, I shouldn’t be here, really. Technically, Somebody has three blades in the brain, you know, I don’t know, maybe 50 years ago, they weren’t gonna make it. So now you’ve made it also high blood pressure. If you had high blood pressure 50 years ago, there was nothing to do to treat it. It was just gonna be high until you had a heart attack or ⁓ a brain aneurysm burst or something. And it’s like, I get to live in a time when interventions are possible and it is a blip on the radar. Like just all you do is take this tablet and you’re fine. Not that I revert to give me the tablet solution. I don’t, I’m forever going under the underlying cause. I want to know what the underlying cause is trying to get to the bottom of all of that. But in the meantime, I can remain stable with this little tablet and ⁓ decrease the risk of another brain hemorrhage. So it’s cool, know, like whatever. And that kind of helps me get through the, why me days, you know, cause They’re there, they come, they turn up, especially if it’s been one day after the next where things have been really unwell and we’ve had to medical help or whatever. When it’s been kind of intense version of it, it’s like, okay, I don’t want any more of this. So I get the whole, I’ve experienced the whole spectrum in this last 13, 14 years. We’re coming up to, I think the 20th or 21st, I think is my, maybe the 25th of my anniversary of my brain surgery. Jeez, I’ve come a long way. It’s okay. It’ll be like 11 years since my brain surgery. A lot of good things have happened since then. We got to live life for another 13 years, 11 years. I keep forgetting the number, it doesn’t matter. Yeah. Judy Kim Cage (1:04:17) Mine will have been my 17th ⁓ anniversary of my brain surgery ⁓ will be in January, sorry, in December. And then the seventh anniversary of the stroke is in January. So lot of years. Bill Gasiamis (1:04:33) Yeah, yeah. A lot of years, a lot of years, great that they’ve happened and I’m really happy with that. Keep doing these podcasts, makes me forget about myself. It’s about other people, so that’s cool. know, meet people like you, putting out awesome books. And when I was going through early on, there wasn’t a lot of content. It was hard to get content on stroke surviving, recovery, all the deficits, all the problems. That’s part of the reason why I started this. And now I think I’ve interviewed maybe 20 or 30 people who have written a book about stroke, which means that the access to information and stories is huge, right? So much of it. ⁓ Your book comes out in early December. Where is it going to be available for people to buy? Conclusion and Final Thoughts Judy Kim Cage (1:05:20) It is currently available to download ⁓ through the Kindle app and through Amazon. The hard copies will be available to order through Amazon and hopefully in other booksellers, but that’s TBD. Bill Gasiamis (1:05:39) Yeah, well, we’ll have all the current links by then. We’ll have all the current links available in the show notes. ⁓ At the beginning of this episode, I would have already talked about the book and in your bio when I’m describing the episode and who I’m about to chat to. So people would have already heard that once and hopefully they’ll be hearing it again at the end of the episode. So guys, if you didn’t pay attention at the beginning, but now you’re at the end, it’s about to come. I’m going to give all the details. Judy Kim Cage (1:06:07) stuck around. Bill Gasiamis (1:06:09) Yeah. If you stuck around, give us a thumbs up, right? Stuck around in the comments or something, you know? ⁓ Absolutely. Thank you so much for joining me, reaching out, sharing your story. It is lovely to hear and I wish you well in all of your endeavors, your continued recovery. yeah, fantastic. Great stuff. Thank you so much. Thank you. Well, that’s a wrap for another episode. want to thank Judy for sharing her story so openly. The way she spoke about denial, rehab, reality, cognitive fatigue and rebuilding identity is going to help a lot of people feel less alone. If you’re watching on YouTube, let us know in the comments, what part of Moyamoya Syndrome stroke recovery has been the hardest to explain to other people for you? Was it the physical symptoms or is it the invisible ones? like fatigue and cognition. And if you’re listening on Spotify or Apple podcasts, please leave a review. It really helps other stroke survivors find these conversations when they need them most. Judy’s book is called Super Survivor, How Denial Resistance and Persistence can lead to success and a better life after stroke. And you’ll find the links in the show notes. And if you want more support from me, you can Grab a copy of my book at recoveryafterstroke.com/book, and you can become a Patreon supporter at patreon.com/recoveryafterstroke. It genuinely helps keep this show alive. Thanks again for being here. Remember you’re not alone in this recovery journey and I’ll see you in the next episode. Importantly, we present many podcasts designed to give you an insight and understanding into the experiences of other individuals. Opinions and treatment protocols discussed during any podcast are the individual’s own experience and we do not necessarily share the same opinion nor do we recommend any treatment protocol discussed. All content on this website and any linked blog, podcast or video material controlled this website or content is created and produced for informational purposes only and is largely based on the personal experience of Bill Gasiamis The content is intended to complement your medical treatment and support healing. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical and should not be relied on as health advice. The information is general and may not be suitable for your personal injuries, circumstances or health objectives. Do not use our content as a standalone resource to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease for therapeutic purposes or as a substitute for the advice of a health professional. Never delay seeking advice or disregard the advice of a medical professional, your doctor or your rehabilitation program based on our content. If you have any questions or concerns about your health or medical condition, please seek guidance from a doctor or other medical professional. If you are experiencing a health emergency or think you might be, call 000 if in Australia or your local emergency number immediately for emergency assistance or go to the nearest hospital emergency department. Medical information changes constantly. While we aim to provide current quality information in our content, we do not provide any guarantees and assume no legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, currency or completeness of the content. If you choose to rely on any information within our content, you do so solely at your own risk. We are careful with links we provide. However, third party links from our website are followed at your own risk and we are not responsible for any information you find there. The post Moyamoya Syndrome Stroke Recovery: How Judy Rebuilt Her Life After a “Puff of Smoke” Diagnosis appeared first on Recovery After Stroke.

Tonight on On Trial, Mark Radulich and Jesse Starcher put two divorces in the dock: Danny DeVito's The War of the Roses (1989) vs. Jay Roach's pseudo-remake The Roses (2025). DeVito's film—adapted from Warren Adler's 1981 novel, scripted by Michael J. Leeson and produced by James L. Brooks and Arnon Milchan—reunites Romancing the Stone stars Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner, with DeVito as the couple's lawyer. A pitch-black farce of marital escalation, it cost about $26M and grossed about $160M worldwide. Roach and writer Tony McNamara retool the premise for modern resentment: Benedict Cumberbatch and Olivia Colman, plus Allison Janney, Kate McKinnon, Andy Samberg, and Ncuti Gatwa, as careers invert and the gloves come off. Released Aug. 29, 2025, it opened around $6.3M domestically and has earned about $15.3M in the U.S./Canada on an estimated $35M budget. We break down what each version keeps, what it softens, and whether satire or therapy-era realism lands harder in 2026Disclaimer: The following may contain offensive language, adult humor, and/or content that some viewers may find offensive – The views and opinions expressed by any one speaker does not explicitly or necessarily reflect or represent those of Mark Radulich or W2M Network.Mark Radulich and his wacky podcast on all the things:https://linktr.ee/markkind76alsohttps://www.teepublic.com/user/radulich-in-broadcasting-networkFB Messenger: Mark Radulich LCSWTiktok: @markradulichtwitter: @MarkRadulichInstagram: markkind76RIBN Album Playlist: https://suno.com/playlist/91d704c9-d1ea-45a0-9ffe-5069497bad59 

WORK WITH ME HERE: https://gabe.detailinggrowth.com/podcastIn this episode of the Talkin' Paint podcast I sit down with Jeremy Harding from Nasiol USA to talk about what really matters when you choose a coating brand for your shop. We walk through his thirty plus years in the industry, why Nasiol chose to be a true manufacturer instead of only a label, and how that choice shapes the products installers use every day.I ask Jeremy the questions that owners are already thinking about. We talk about single layer coatings, real world durability, what makes an installation actually repeatable for a team, and how to judge a coating line without chasing hype. We also dig into values, how brands treat distributors and shops, and why your mindset as a student of the craft will decide where your business ends up.Chapters:00:22 - Concerns About Product Safety03:33 - The Journey into Detailing09:56 - Transitioning to New Opportunities13:45 - Introduction to Naziol and Its Market Strategy17:07 - Introduction to NASIO Products and Market Positioning29:29 - Understanding Coating Chemistry and User Experience31:07 - The Importance of User Experience in Product Engineering39:01 - Transitioning to Business Perspectives49:42 - Transitioning from Detailer to Distributor: Insights and Experiences55:55 - A Shift in Perspective on Industry Relationships01:01:17 - Navigating Training Challenges in the Industry01:04:46 - Approaching Success as a Student01:06:23 - Growth Through ExperienceShort list Companies MentionedNasiol USA: Nano coating manufacturer focused on safe, high performing products for installers.Detailing Growth: Full stack marketing and growth partner for detailing and film shops.Autoality: Supply partner that helps shops lower costs on towels and consumables.Meguiar's, 3M, RUPES: Brands that shaped Jeremy's experience in paint care and tools.Short list Websites Mentioneddetailinggrowth.comautoality.com

Minnesota is home to more than a dozen Fortune 500 companies, including 3M, Target, Best Buy, and General Mills. But in a wave of wake immigration arrests and ICE's killing of 37-year-old Renee Good, executives from many of the state's leading corporations have been noticeably quiet. This morning, we'll examine why exactly that is. But first, enrollment at community colleges was up for the fourth fall in a row.

Minnesota is home to more than a dozen Fortune 500 companies, including 3M, Target, Best Buy, and General Mills. But in a wave of wake immigration arrests and ICE's killing of 37-year-old Renee Good, executives from many of the state's leading corporations have been noticeably quiet. This morning, we'll examine why exactly that is. But first, enrollment at community colleges was up for the fourth fall in a row.

Have you seen what Curt Cignetti has done at Indiana? In just his second year, he's taken one of college football's historically worst programs to the number one ranking in the country. But here's what matters for business owners: he didn't figure it out alone.In this episode, Bradley breaks down the Curt Cignetti story and the four critical lessons every business owner needs to understand about following a proven blueprint versus trying to figure everything out yourself.Visit BlueprintOS.com to learn about the 2026 Above The Business Workshops, our coaching programs, and resources designed specifically for small business owners who want to build systematic, scalable operations that don't require your constant presence. Thanks to our sponsors...Coach P found great success as an insurance agent and agency owner. He leads a large, stable team of professionals who are at the top of their game year after year. Now he shares the systems, processes, delegation, and specialization he developed along the way. Gain access to weekly training calls and mentoring at www.coachpconsulting.com. Be sure to mention the Above The Business Podcast when you get in touch. Autopilot Recruiting helps small business owners solve their staffing challenges by taking the stress out of hiring. Their dedicated recruiters work on your behalf every single business day - optimizing your applicant tracking system, posting job listings, and sourcing candidates through social media and local communities. With their continuous, hands-off recruiting approach, you can save time, reduce hiring costs, and receive pre-screened candidates, all without paying any hiring fees or commissions. More money & more freedom: that's what Autopilot Recruiting help business owners achieve. Visit https://www.autopilotrecruiting.com/ and don't forget to mention you heard about us on the Above The Business podcast. Direct Clicks is built is by business owners, for business owners. They specialize in custom marketing solutions that deliver real results. From paid search campaigns to SEO and social media management, they provide the comprehensive digital marketing your business needs to grow. Here's an exclusive offer for Above The Business listeners: Visit directclicksinc.com/abovethebusiness for a FREE marketing campaign audit. They'll assess your website, social media, SEO, content, and paid advertising, then provide actionable recommendations. Plus, when you choose to partner with them, they'll waive all setup fees. About Above The Business: Above The Business is hosted by Bradley Hamner, founder of BlueprintOS, and focuses on helping small business owners transition from Rainmaker to Architect. Each week, Bradley shares frameworks, interviews successful entrepreneurs, and provides actionable insights for building businesses that run without you. Whether you're doing $300K or $3M in revenue, this show will help you get above your business and design the systems you need to scale.

It's a massive Thursday on the Hot Options Report (THOR) as host Mark Longo breaks down one of the most active trading sessions of 2026 so far. With nearly 800,000 contracts required just to break into the Top 10, the tape was on fire. We dive into the "on-again, off-again" dance between Nvidia and China, Intel's wild 25% year-to-date run, and a strange wave of deep-in-the-money and out-of-the-money puts dominating the tape in Apple, Microsoft, and Netflix ahead of Friday's expiration. The Top 10 Breakdown #1: NVIDIA (NVDA): Still the undisputed king with 2.76M contracts. Rallying 2% on China export optimism, traders are eyeing the $190 strike for tomorrow's close. #2: Tesla (TSLA): A tug-of-war at $438. Over 100k contracts traded at the $450 strike. Can the bulls reclaim that level by the bell? #3: Netflix (NFLX): "The Widowmaker" puts up 1.3M contracts. Significant interest in the $105 OTM puts expiring tomorrow. #4: AMD: Substantial volume in the $235 calls despite a close below $228. Are traders "rolling the bones" or getting trapped? #5: Apple (AAPL): 1.08M contracts. Unusual activity in the $270 ITM puts as the "Fruit Company" sells off. #6: Meta (META): Bucking the "tech wreck" to rally back to $620. Funky paper hitting the $650 OTM puts. #7: Microsoft (MSFT): A rough start to the year continues. We analyze 75,000 contracts of the deep-in-the-money $495 puts. #8: MicroStrategy (MSTR): "The Monster" gives back some gains. 875,000 contracts on the tape with heavy action in the $175 calls. #9: Intel (INTC): Up 25% YTD but cooling off today. Is the "closing paper" at the Jan $50 strike a sign of a local top? #10: AbbVie (ABBV): Breaking into the Top 10 on X-Div action with 171k contracts in the Jan $210 calls. Key Takeaways & Market Intel Semiconductor Sentiment: Between Nvidia's China news and Intel's massive YTD surge, chips continue to drive the lion's share of options volume. Expiration Fever: A recurring theme of massive put volume across Big Tech (Apple, Microsoft, Netflix) suggests high-stakes positioning ahead of the Friday options expiration. Market Heat: Why 800k contracts is the "new normal" for the Top 10 in 2026. Resources & Links Get the Data: TheHotOptionsReport.com Go Pro: TheOptionsInsider.com/Pro (Join us for Vol Death Match 2.0!) Follow on Twitter: @Options

Scott Bushkie has facilitated over $2 billion in business sales—and he's seen it all. From founders accepting lowball offers to sellers leaving millions on the table because they didn't prepare, Scott breaks down exactly what it takes to maximize your exit. In this episode, we cover: ✅ Why most business owners are worth 30-40% LESS than they think ✅ The "$500K mistake" that could have been avoided with simple tax planning ✅ How to turn an unsolicited $31M offer into a $51.3M sale using POMO™ (Power of Multiple Options) ✅ The 3-legged stool framework: Real Market Value → Net Number → Lifestyle Number ✅ Why knowing your business value means nothing if you don't know what you'll NET ✅ The biggest red flags that kill business valuations (customer concentration, owner dependency, etc.) ✅ How AI is transforming M&A and what sellers need to know NOW Scott's no-BS approach to exit strategy will change how you think about building and selling your business. Whether you're planning to exit in 2 years or 20 years, this conversation is packed with actionable insights that could literally save (or make) you millions. About Scott Bushkie: Scott is the Founder & Managing Partner of Cornerstone Business Services, one of the most respected M&A advisory firms in the lower middle market. With 27+ years of experience and hundreds of successful exits under his belt, Scott has built a national network of 70,000 financial advisors, 300+ business coaches, and 75 CPA firms—all focused on helping entrepreneurs exit right. He's the creator of the proprietary Assurance 360™ process that creates competitive bidding environments and the POMO™ framework that ensures sellers never leave money on the table.

Links & Mentions: Consult booking link: www.dryazdancoaching.com/consult Email me: DrDYazdan@gmail.com Make more money video: www.dryazdancoaching.com/MDM Follow me for more tips: (@DrYazdan) www.instagram.com/dryazdan and (@DrYazdanCoaching) www.Instagram.com/dryazdancoaching Episode Summary: In this episode, we're diving into something few dentists talk about — but nearly all experience: the addiction to hustle. That constant drive to do more, achieve more, fix more — even when everything is going right. If you've ever felt restless during your vacation or guilty for taking a slow day, this conversation will hit home. Dr. [Your Name] shares powerful insights on why so many dentists equate productivity with worth, how this mindset leads to burnout, and most importantly — how to unwind it. You'll hear real coaching examples from inside SMDP, where dentists are learning to scale their practices without sacrificing peace, joy, or time freedom. Because how you get there is how you'll be when you arrive. If you hustle your way to $1M, you'll hustle at $1M. But if you create your success from calm, creativity, and confidence — that's how you'll live once you get there. In This Episode, You'll Learn: • ⚡ The sneaky signs you might be addicted to hustle (even if you think you're just “busy”) •

Welcome back to the EUVC Podcast where we go behind the craft of building and backing venture-scale companies in Europe.Today, we're joined by Sean Mullaney, Founder & CEO of Seapoint, and Will Prendergast, as the Founding Partner at Frontline Ventures.Seapoint has just come out of stealth with a $3M pre-seed to rebuild the fragile and fragmented financial stack that European startups (and later: mid-market companies) rely on. With a Stripe-forged team, AI-native development culture, and operators from Revolut, Tines & more on board, Seapoint wants to become the financial home for European startups.This conversation dives deep into founder pain, broken tooling, AI-native product building, engineering culture, the changing shape of startup teams, syndicate-building, and why Frontline backed Sean with high conviction.Here's what's covered:01:07 The Mission: “The financial home for European startups”03:32 Frontline's conviction moment06:24 The founder pain: 5 tools, 5 accounts, zero clarity08:07 The invisible tax: fragmentation, reconciliation hell, no real-time view10:14 Why this problem is structurally important12:19 European vs US lens: why Seapoint is ahead13:18 AI-native engineering: “We rebuild the stack from processes, not accounts”15:19 AI agents allow senior engineers to ship full-stack features alone — compressing timelines that previously required 2–3× more engineers.17:19 Rethinking teams: fewer people, more senior, more generalist19:33 Productivity does NOT reduce funding needs — it increases ambition21:27 Culture: curiosity, experimentation, and founder-led technical push36:11 Syndicate design: Angels as a go-to-market weapon.40:23 From startup financial home → to powering Europe's mid-market backbone: lending, treasury, automation, embedded finance.

You're burning out trying to serve everyone with cheap digital files—and deep down, you know it's not sustainable. You're working nonstop and still not making what you deserve. But what if there were a better way? In this episode, Sarah Petty walks you through five simple steps to price your printed portraits profitably—without scaring off clients. Drawing from her $3M portrait business, she shares how shifting to a boutique model changed everything. ● A simple pricing formula that ensures you're finally paid what you're worth ● Why giving away files is costing you more than just money ● The exact conversation that eliminates 90% of price objections If you're ready to stop trading time for pennies and start building a business that honors your time, talent, and life—this one's for you. RESOURCES:  Photography Business Tools to Get Started 37 CLIENTS WHO CAN HIRE YOU TODAY https://info.photographybusinessinstitute.com/37-clients-optin   INSTAGRAM – DM me "Conversation Starters" for some genuine ways to strike up a conversation about your photography business wherever you are. https://www.instagram.com/sarah.petty   FREE COPY: NEW YORK TIMES BEST SELLING BOOK FOR PHOTOGRAPHERS www.photographybusinessinstitute.com/freebook    BOUTIQUE BREAKTHROUGH – 8-WEEK WORKSHOP www.photographybusinessinstitute.com/boutiquebreakthrough   FREE FACEBOOK GROUP: Join and get my free mini-class: How I earned $1,500 per client working 16 hours a week by becoming a boutique photographer. https://www.facebook.com/groups/ditchthedigitals    YOUTUBE: Check out my latest how to videos:  https://www.youtube.com/photographybusinessinstitute   LOVE THE SHOW? Subscribe & Review on Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/worth-every-penny-joycast/id1513676756

Hana's mom is 92. Mom's husband is 74, and after years of trying to help a family member, nearly a million dollars is gone. How do they stop the bleeding before it's too late, and how much can they spend each year from what's left? That's today on Your Money, Your Wealth® podcast number 564 with Joe Anderson, CFP® and Big Al Clopine, CPA. Plus, "Peter and Gwen" from Virginia have a pension, Roths, and a shrinking IRA. With the new tax law, IRMAA, and Social Security decisions all colliding, should they keep converting to Roth, and when should they actually collect Social Security? Also, does it make sense for "Mr. and Mrs. Scarecrow" to claim Social Security early and invest it? Finally, "Rosie and Astro" from Pennsylvania ask if they can retire in just three years with $1.3 million, and whether it's time to hire an advisor to help them get there. Free Financial Resources in This Episode: https://bit.ly/ymyw-564 (full show notes & episode transcript) Social Security Handbook Retirement Readiness Guide 6 Biggest Financial Pitfalls in America (Avoid These Traps!) - YMYW TV Financial Blueprint (self-guided) Financial Assessment (Meet with an experienced professional) REQUEST your Retirement Spitball Analysis DOWNLOAD more free guides READ financial blogs WATCH educational videos SUBSCRIBE to the YMYW Newsletter   Connect With Us: YouTube: Subscribe and join the conversation in the comments Podcast apps: subscribe or follow YMYW in your favorite Apple Podcasts: leave your honest reviews and ratings   Chapters: 00:00 - Intro: This Week on the YMYW Podcast 02:21 - Family Wrecking Retirement: How Much Can Benevolent Retirees Afford to Spend? (Hana) 10:30 - We Have a Pension. Should We Do Roth Conversions After the OBBBA? When to Claim Social Security? (Peter Parker & Gwen Stacy) 23:29 - Should We Claim Social Security Early and Invest It? (Mr & Mrs Scarecrow) 29:56 - We're 60 and 57 with $1.3M. Can We Retire in 3 Years? Should We Hire an Advisor? (Rosie & Astro, PA) 41:04 - Outro: Next Week on the YMYW Podcast

What if you treated your team with the same care and attention that Four Seasons gives its guests? In this episode, Bradley sits down with Melissa Fackler, small business coach at OneTeam Partners, to explore how hospitality principles can transform your company culture and customer experience.Melissa spent a decade in the hospitality industry working in hotels, banquets, venues, and country music entertainment before transitioning to business coaching in 2021. She shares the specific tactics and mindset shifts that helped her create world-class guest experiences and how business owners can deploy those same strategies internally with their teams.From eye contact and name recall to growth mindset coaching and behavioral assessments, this conversation gives you practical tools to make everyone in your business feel truly seen and valued.Ready to create more margin in your business?Visit BlueprintOS.com to learn about the 2026 Above The Business Workshops, our coaching programs, and resources designed specifically for small business owners who want to build systematic, scalable operations that don't require your constant presence. Thanks to our sponsors...Coach P found great success as an insurance agent and agency owner. He leads a large, stable team of professionals who are at the top of their game year after year. Now he shares the systems, processes, delegation, and specialization he developed along the way. Gain access to weekly training calls and mentoring at www.coachpconsulting.com. Be sure to mention the Above The Business Podcast when you get in touch. Autopilot Recruiting helps small business owners solve their staffing challenges by taking the stress out of hiring. Their dedicated recruiters work on your behalf every single business day - optimizing your applicant tracking system, posting job listings, and sourcing candidates through social media and local communities. With their continuous, hands-off recruiting approach, you can save time, reduce hiring costs, and receive pre-screened candidates, all without paying any hiring fees or commissions. More money & more freedom: that's what Autopilot Recruiting help business owners achieve. Visit https://www.autopilotrecruiting.com/ and don't forget to mention you heard about us on the Above The Business podcast. Direct Clicks is built is by business owners, for business owners. They specialize in custom marketing solutions that deliver real results. From paid search campaigns to SEO and social media management, they provide the comprehensive digital marketing your business needs to grow. Here's an exclusive offer for Above The Business listeners: Visit directclicksinc.com/abovethebusiness for a FREE marketing campaign audit. They'll assess your website, social media, SEO, content, and paid advertising, then provide actionable recommendations. Plus, when you choose to partner with them, they'll waive all setup fees. About Above The Business: Above The Business is hosted by Bradley Hamner, founder of BlueprintOS, and focuses on helping small business owners transition from Rainmaker to Architect. Each week, Bradley shares frameworks, interviews successful entrepreneurs, and provides actionable insights for building businesses that run without you. Whether you're doing $300K or $3M in revenue, this show will help you get above your business and design the systems you need to scale.

Remember when building a luxury Ritz-Carlton tower in downtown Portland seemed like a brilliant idea? Fast forward to 2026, and we've got a 50% fire sale on units that can't even move at half price. What could go wrong with $7.85 million condos surrounded by open-air drug markets, zombie mini-marts, and streets you wouldn't walk at night?We're breaking down how this 460-foot skyscraper went from Portland's luxury flagship to an absolute albatross—with one-bedrooms slashed from $1.2M to $600K, two-bedrooms cut from $2.6M to $1M, and three-bedrooms gutted from $3.3M to $1.6M. Only 11 of 130+ units sold, and the lender is desperate to move inventory. We'll walk through the dystopian street-level reality, the appraiser's brutal analysis showing units priced 3.7X higher than downtown averages, and why even world-class finishes can't overcome external obsolescence when your neighborhood features hypodermic needles and human feces.Is this a buying opportunity or the perfect case study in timing over location? Will 50% off actually move the needle, or do these prices need to drop another 20%? Drop your thoughts below—and if you've experienced downtown Portland lately, share your stories.

Most business owners don't realize they've hit a ceiling until growth feels heavier, riskier, and strangely optional. In this episode, Simone is joined by Tim Martinez (The Inside Man) to unpack the invisible "$3 Million Wall"—the point where personal comfort quietly replaces strategic leadership, and businesses stall without the owner even realizing why. To connect with Tim go to theinsideman.biz This conversation pulls back the curtain on why strategy alone won't get you past this stage, why identity is the real bottleneck, and what must change if you want a business that grows without consuming you—or trapping you indefinitely. The $3M wall isn't a revenue problem—it's a leadership and identity problem. Until you decide who you need to become as the next-level leader, your business will keep pulling you back into operations, burnout, and dependency on you. Key Takeaways Why so many owners plateau around $1–3M without realizing they're stuck How personal financial comfort quietly kills growth momentum The identity shift required to scale beyond founder-dependence Why operations is the easiest (and most dangerous) place for owners to hide The real reason most exit plans fail—and why wishing to exit isn't a strategy The Three Exit Framework: mental exit, role exit, and technical exit Why most businesses aren't sellable—and how to fix that before it's too late How legacy teams, misplaced loyalty, and tolerance sabotage enterprise value Why culture is what you tolerate—not perks, slogans, or values posters How building systems and leadership depth reduces burnout and increases valuation If you recognize yourself in this episode—busy, successful, tired, and quietly wondering "Is this it?"—it's time to stop managing chaos and start building a business that can run without you. Grab the AI Business Scaling Blueprint to start installing the systems, leadership structure, and clarity required to break through the $3M wall and reclaim your role as CEO:  https://aibusinessscalingblueprint.com/ And remember: the business you want on the other side of burnout doesn't start with more effort—it starts with a different way of leading.

The Chicago Bulls are sitting on a trade deadline cheat code: $89.3M in expiring contracts

In this Friday solo episode, Bradley introduces his Word of the Year for 2026: Margin. Drawing on wisdom from his mentor and coach Sean Blanc, Bradley explores margin as "the difference between your load and your limit" and how this framework can transform the way business owners approach stress, overwhelm, and burnout. Whether you're struggling with time constraints, financial pressure, or emotional exhaustion, this episode offers a practical two-lever approach to creating more breathing room in your life and business.Thanks to our sponsors...Coach P found great success as an insurance agent and agency owner. He leads a large, stable team of professionals who are at the top of their game year after year. Now he shares the systems, processes, delegation, and specialization he developed along the way. Gain access to weekly training calls and mentoring at www.coachpconsulting.com. Be sure to mention the Above The Business Podcast when you get in touch.Autopilot Recruiting helps small business owners solve their staffing challenges by taking the stress out of hiring. Their dedicated recruiters work on your behalf every single business day - optimizing your applicant tracking system, posting job listings, and sourcing candidates through social media and local communities. With their continuous, hands-off recruiting approach, you can save time, reduce hiring costs, and receive pre-screened candidates, all without paying any hiring fees or commissions.More money & more freedom: that's what Autopilot Recruiting help business owners achieve. Visit https://www.autopilotrecruiting.com/ and don't forget to mention you heard about us on the Above The Business podcast.Direct Clicks is built is by business owners, for business owners. They specialize in custom marketing solutions that deliver real results. From paid search campaigns to SEO and social media management, they provide the comprehensive digital marketing your business needs to grow. Here's an exclusive offer for Above The Business listeners: Visit directclicksinc.com/abovethebusiness for a FREE marketing campaign audit. They'll assess your website, social media, SEO, content, and paid advertising, then provide actionable recommendations. Plus, when you choose to partner with them, they'll waive all setup fees.About Above The BusinessAbove The Business is hosted by Bradley Hamner, founder of BlueprintOS, and focuses on helping small business owners transition from Rainmaker to Architect. Each week, Bradley shares frameworks, interviews successful entrepreneurs, and provides actionable insights for building businesses that run without you. Whether you're doing $300K or $3M in revenue, this show will help you get above your business and design the systems you need to scale.Ready to create more margin in your business?Visit BlueprintOS.com to learn about our coaching programs, workshops, and resources designed specifically for small business owners who want to build systematic, scalable operations that don't require your constant presence.

Join Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga for their second annual NRF must-see tech preview, showcasing five breakthrough retail technologies solving critical operational challenges. From AI employees autonomously negotiating supplier contracts to overhead RFID achieving 99% inventory accuracy, discover the solutions delivering measurable ROI and transforming how retailers operate in 2026. Featured companies and innovations: • Gain - AI employees Natalie and Bob executing end-to-end supplier negotiations and replenishment, closing deals from repair parts to $2-3M agreements • ESW - Cross-border commerce platform reducing international duties by 60% and enabling launches across 200+ countries without the $2.5-4.5M per-country build cost • PervasID - Overhead RFID technology (Trackmaster 3X) delivering 98-99% stock accuracy with 6-8 month ROI and 5-10% sales increases through improved on-shelf availability • Diebold Nixdorf - Visual AI at checkout reducing shrink from 3% to under 1% through intelligent nudging, with 80% of shoppers self-rectifying when prompted about missed scans • Cleveron - Robotic parcel lockers deployed in 300+ Zara stores across 38 countries, eliminating click-and-collect friction with QR code scan delivery in seconds Whether you're a retail technology executive planning your NRF booth strategy, building your 2026 technology roadmap, or looking to move beyond pilots to production deployments, this preview delivers real deployment data, ROI calculations, and operational insights from retailers like Zara, H & M, Calvin Klein, and other major CPG companies already scaling these solutions. #RetailTechnology #NRF2026 #AgenticAI #CrossBorderCommerce #RFID #ComputerVision #RetailAutomation

In this episode of the Contractor Growth Network Podcast, Logan sits down with Andrew Nuhfer, founder of AKN Interiors, to unpack how clear communication, structured systems, and expectation-setting fuel high-end remodeling growth. Andrew shares how he's scaled AKN Interiors to over $3M annually while running 15–20 active projects—without sacrificing the client experience. From pre-construction planning and interior design collaboration to daily logs, scheduling, and post-project follow-ups, this episode breaks down what it actually looks like to run a modern, client-first remodeling operation. If you're looking to reduce friction, avoid misaligned expectations, and build a repeatable communication process your team and clients can trust, this conversation is packed with real-world insight.

Luke Berry went from selling Cutco knives to building a $3M insurance book by 33.In this episode, he breaks down exactly how he did it—and how he'd do it even faster if starting over....

Michael Green: How he made $700K in year one (after not billing for 6 years)Michael Green spent six years running teams of 100+ recruiters.Building offices. Managing people. Zero placements.When he launched Unico in April 2024, he had to go back to basics."I had to do role plays to myself. I hadn't qualified a candidate in six years."Day one was brutal. Just him, his house and a dog.But Michael had something most recruiters don't: a genuine answer to "what makes you different?"While everyone else competed on job boards chasing $30K fees, Michael went the opposite direction.Senior positions only. Architect level and above.New York Location onlyHis average fee jumped from $30K to $60K overnight.His biggest placement? $170,000.12 months later: $700K gross profit. Solo.Year two: $1.5M with just four people.But here's what makes Michael different.He's not scaling headcount - he's scaling quality.Ultra-niche: ServiceNow and bleeding-edge SaaS. One technology. Total focus.Last week, a major partner messaged him: "I've seen your posts. I've heard your reputation. We want to use you exclusively."He'd never spoken to them before..He's now targeting growth15 profitable recruiters and $3M in 2026.This week on The RAG Podcast, Michael tells the full story.We cover:- Why he walked away from running 200 people to start from scratch- How he made $700K in year one after six years out of recruitment- The "top 3%" model that clients can't say no to- Why he pivoted from $30K to $100K+ fees overnight- The AI screening tool that's changing his close rate- His LinkedIn strategy that generates 70% conversion ratesThis isn't about scaling fast.It's about a man who had to relearn his own trade, doubted himself daily, and built a $1.5M business in 20 months that doesn't require 100 heads to hit seven figures.No venture capital. No growth-at-all-costs.Just profitable headcount over vanity metrics.If you've ever wondered whether you can start your own agency after years of management - or if there's a smarter way to scale than just adding bodies – this episode has the blueprint.__________________________________________Episode Sponsor: AtlasAdmin is a massive waste of time. That's why there's Atlas, the AI-first recruitment platform built for modern agencies.It doesn't only track CVs and calls. It remembers everything. Every email, every interview, every conversation. Instantly searchable, always available. And now, it's entering a whole new era.With Atlas 2.0, you can ask anything and it delivers. With Magic Search, you speak and it listens. It finds the right candidates using real conversations, not simply look for keywords.Atlas 2.0 also makes business development easier than ever. With Opportunities, you can track, manage and grow client relationships, powered by generative AI and built right into your workflow.Need insights? Custom dashboards give you total visibility over your pipeline. And that's not theory. Atlas customers have reported up to 41% EBITDA growth and an 85% increase in monthly billings after adopting the platform.No admin. No silos. No lost info. Nothing but faster shortlists, better hires and more time to focus on what actually drives revenue.Atlas is your personal AI partner for modern recruiting.Don't miss the future of recruitment. Get started with...

Dave and Chuck the Freak talk about overstaying your welcome, words that should be banished, teen bought struggling restaurant, old driver hit landscaper, people stuck in Caribbean after Venezuela raid, people robbing nerds after buying collectibles, kids saved bus driver when she stopped breathing, NFL coaches who were released, 60-year-old becomes oldest to compete in speed skating trials, all of Kim Kardashian's kids got a puppy for Christmas, Mickey Rourke GoFundMe, teen influencer turned 18 and made $2.3M in first day on OnlyFans, Stranger Things bonus episode, bus driver got off bus to bang a guy, elderly threesome gone wrong, man had gun hidden under fake boobs, surgeon stripped naked in bathroom and texted co-worker, things stuck in penises last year, perv at Mexican restaurant accused of hiding cameras, 2 guys and a lady busted running rub and tug, mailman tried to run over kid he thought was a porch pirate, father injured after line cutting incident, and more!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode the hosts hilariously critique a New England insulation and energy‑efficiency contractor deal, debating subsidy dependency, normalized EBITDA red flags, and whether it's a business worth owning.Business Listing – https://drive.google.com/file/d/1x1fQmCWxkw0Jzbhc-vGwR89oK25r91Lm/view?usp=drive_linkWelcome to Acquisitions Anonymous – the #1 podcast for small business M&A. Every week, we break down businesses for sale and talk about buying, operating, and growing them.

The STR game has changed—and most operators haven't caught up.In this episode, we break down what actually separates top-performing short-term rentals from the ones stuck in the middle. From design and amenities to operations, leadership, and systems—this is a real look at how elite STR businesses are built and sustained in hyper-competitive markets.This isn't theory. It's what's working right now.Inside this episode:- Why “good enough” STRs are getting crushed- The amenity arms race (and how to win without wasting money)- What guests notice that most hosts completely miss- How ops and hospitality matter more than design long-term- Why disciplined systems protect profit—even in down years- The leadership mindset required to scale without chaosIf you want longevity in this industry, this episode is required listening.00:06:15 – Becoming “The Guy” in a Hyper-Competitive STR Market07:45 – Why Copying Competitors Is a Losing Strategy09:15 – The New Minimum Standard for STR Design & Amenities11:40 – Why Half-Upgraded Properties Always Underperform18:50 – The Amenity Arms Race: What Actually Moves Revenue20:00 – When Design Stops Mattering and Ops Take Over26:10 – Building Teams and Systems That Don't Break Under Stress30:45 – Leadership Lessons from Military and STR Operations34:05 – How Efficiency Protects Profit in Down Revenue Years39:35 – The Long-Term STR Play: Scale, Discipline, and LongevityGuest Bio:Shane O'Connor is the CEO & Founder of Alchemy Real Estate & Alchemy Hosting. Alchemy is based in Tampa, FL, building a portfolio of Short-Term Rental assets primarily focused in Central Florida. By delivering vertically integrated, top-tier service from beginning to end in the investment process, Alchemy has grown from a single property (and single employee) to 11 properties & a team of four in less than a year. In that same time, Alchemy will have also delivered more than $3M in closed real estate deals for its clients.By the end of 2022, it is Shane's goal to have a blended Direct Ownership & Co Hosting portfolio of 30 properties centered in Florida, to then begin expanding to other markets. Shane is a graduate of the United States Naval Academy and served as an Officer in the U.S. Navy for 9 years. He received an M.S. Degree in Real Estate from the University of Florida. He runs the company with his brother, Captain Devin O'Connor, who is an active duty Marine Corps helicopter pilot in addition to being the Director of Operations for Alchemy.Guest Link:https://www.instagram.com/oc_dreams19/Get FREE Access to our Community and Weekly Trainings:https://group.strsecrets.com/

In this episode of Building A Better Brand®, host Tony Triumph sits down with Angel Gregorio, the visionary entrepreneur and community builder behind The Spice Suite and Black and Forth—DC's first Black-owned strip mall. Recorded live during Congressional Black Caucus Week, this conversation traces Angel's intentional journey from the classroom to multimillion-dollar real estate development. Angel pulls back the curtain on her "rule-breaking" philosophy, sharing how she transformed a single vacant storefront into a national movement for collective ownership and economic empowerment.The conversation reveals Angel's unfiltered approach to scaling, from using a 9-to-5 as a "dream investor" to navigating a $2.3M renovation and securing emergency city legislation to complete her mission. Together, they explore the importance of discernment, the power of peer-led mentorship, and why moving beyond the "struggle narrative" is essential for building sustainable community systems. Whether you are a brick-and-mortar founder or a digital operator, this episode offers a masterclass in purpose-driven entrepreneurship and what it truly looks like to build a better brand through service, distinction, and disruption.What You'll Learn in This Episode:Momentum for the "Big Leap": The real story behind leaving a career in education to bet fully on a single storefront and the mindset required to scale.Building Big in DC: How The Spice Suite evolved into Black and Forth—DC's first Black-owned strip mall—and the shift from shop owner to real estate developer.The Math of Scaling: A transparent breakdown of a $2.3M renovation, including city infrastructure requirements and the hidden costs of scaling brick-and-mortar.Partnership Over Hustle: How to leverage civic engagement and emergency legislation to secure high-level funding, including a $1M grant.The Hybrid Model: Why every for-profit needs a nonprofit arm and how Dream Incubator was built on service before structure.Systems Over Struggle: A vital conversation on moving beyond the “struggle narrative” to focus on operational outcomes and sustainable business solutions.Brand Authority & Data: How to use relevant insights and performance data to communicate brand value to funders, government entities, and customers.

The STR game has changed—and most operators haven't caught up.In this episode, we break down what actually separates top-performing short-term rentals from the ones stuck in the middle. From design and amenities to operations, leadership, and systems—this is a real look at how elite STR businesses are built and sustained in hyper-competitive markets.This isn't theory. It's what's working right now.Inside this episode:- Why “good enough” STRs are getting crushed- The amenity arms race (and how to win without wasting money)- What guests notice that most hosts completely miss- How ops and hospitality matter more than design long-term- Why disciplined systems protect profit—even in down years- The leadership mindset required to scale without chaosIf you want longevity in this industry, this episode is required listening.00:06:15 – Becoming “The Guy” in a Hyper-Competitive STR Market07:45 – Why Copying Competitors Is a Losing Strategy09:15 – The New Minimum Standard for STR Design & Amenities11:40 – Why Half-Upgraded Properties Always Underperform18:50 – The Amenity Arms Race: What Actually Moves Revenue20:00 – When Design Stops Mattering and Ops Take Over26:10 – Building Teams and Systems That Don't Break Under Stress30:45 – Leadership Lessons from Military and STR Operations34:05 – How Efficiency Protects Profit in Down Revenue Years39:35 – The Long-Term STR Play: Scale, Discipline, and LongevityGuest Bio:Shane O'Connor is the CEO & Founder of Alchemy Real Estate & Alchemy Hosting. Alchemy is based in Tampa, FL, building a portfolio of Short-Term Rental assets primarily focused in Central Florida. By delivering vertically integrated, top-tier service from beginning to end in the investment process, Alchemy has grown from a single property (and single employee) to 11 properties & a team of four in less than a year. In that same time, Alchemy will have also delivered more than $3M in closed real estate deals for its clients.By the end of 2022, it is Shane's goal to have a blended Direct Ownership & Co Hosting portfolio of 30 properties centered in Florida, to then begin expanding to other markets. Shane is a graduate of the United States Naval Academy and served as an Officer in the U.S. Navy for 9 years. He received an M.S. Degree in Real Estate from the University of Florida. He runs the company with his brother, Captain Devin O'Connor, who is an active duty Marine Corps helicopter pilot in addition to being the Director of Operations for Alchemy.Guest Link:https://www.instagram.com/oc_dreams19/Get FREE Access to our Community and Weekly Trainings:https://group.strsecrets.com/

In this episode of the Grow A Small Business Podcast, host Troy Trewin interviews Natalee Leach, founder of The Payroll Collective, shares her journey from a corporate payroll career to building a fast-growing consultancy on track for $3M in revenue. She breaks down how values-driven leadership, people-first culture, and client retention fueled rapid growth. Natalee also opens up about managing fast scaling, hiring at the right time, and the mental strain of entrepreneurship. She explains why foundations, systems, and the right team matter more than aggressive sales. A candid conversation on sustainable growth, leadership, and building a business with purpose. Why would you wait any longer to start living the lifestyle you signed up for? Balance your health, wealth, relationships and business growth. And focus your time and energy and make the most of this year. Let's get into it by clicking here. Troy delves into our guest's startup journey, their perception of success, industry reconsideration, and the pivotal stress point during business expansion. They discuss the joys of small business growth, vital entrepreneurial habits, and strategies for team building, encompassing wins, blunders, and invaluable advice. And a snapshot of the final five Grow A Small Business Questions: What do you think is the hardest thing in growing a small business? According to Natalee Leach, the hardest thing in growing a small business is the speed of growth. Growing too fast can feel scary and overwhelming, especially with the fear that "what goes up must come down." Managing rapid scaling while keeping the business stable, sustainable, and healthy is the real challenge. What's your favorite business book that has helped you the most? Natalee Leach's favorite business book is The Diary of a CEO, which has helped her the most by offering honest, relatable insights into leadership, mindset, and personal growth, while also providing validation and practical ideas that she can apply to building and leading a successful business. Are there any great podcasts or online learning resources you'd recommend to help grow a small business? Natalee Leach recommends a few great podcasts and online resources to help grow a small business, including The Diary of a CEO for mindset and leadership insights, How I Built This for real founder stories, and Smart Passive Income for practical business strategy. She also points to MasterClass, Coursera, and LinkedIn Learning as solid hubs to level up skills in marketing, leadership, and scaling operations — all great for small business growth. What tool or resource would you recommend to grow a small business? Natalee Leach often points to Notion as one of her go-to tools for growing a small business — it's great for organizing workflows, project plans, SOPs, content calendars, client onboarding, and team collaboration all in one place. She also recommends Slack for team communication, Asana or Trello for task management, and Stripe/QuickBooks for streamlined billing and finances. These tools help keep operations smooth, teams aligned, and growth intentional. What advice would you give yourself on day one of starting out in business? According to Natalee Leach, one advice she would give herself is to book a Pilates session or schedule time for yourself in your diary from day one because the business will run over you if you do not. She emphasizes that setting these boundaries immediately is crucial for maintaining a lifestyle that offers longevity rather than constant exhaustion. This self-care allows for quality time with family and friends, ensuring you are not too tired to actually enjoy life outside of work. By prioritizing your own physical and mental strength early on, you can better power through the different phases of business growth. Ultimately, she views scheduling this personal time as a paramount habit that business owners must develop to prevent being derailed by the mental strain of leadership. Book a 20-minute Growth Chat with Troy Trewin to see if you qualify for our upcoming course. Don't miss out on this opportunity to take your small business to new heights! Enjoyed the podcast? Please leave a review on iTunes or your preferred platform. Your feedback helps more small business owners discover our podcast and embark on their business growth journey.     Quotable quotes from our special Grow A Small Business podcast guest: From day dot, make sure you schedule time in your diary for yourself, because the business will run on top of you if you don't — Natalee Leach We are a values-based business that lives by a mission to drive positive change through optimizing people and payroll spaces everywhere — Natalee Leach I believe success is all about the people you work with and building a culture where everyone is heard and feels they belong — Natalee Leach  

We kick off 2026 by talking everything from Frozen iguanas in Miami to Will Smith's weird harassment lawsuit. Also: Elon Musk assassination rumors, Dispatch selling 3M copies in 2 months, and why game localizers are allergic to common sense.Tiny Pandaface: https://rumble.com/c/TinyPandaface?e9s=src_v1_clr Wicked Virtue: https://www.youtube.com/@WickedVirtue

Would you like access to our advanced agency training for FREE? https://www.agencymastery360.com/training What a year. I sat down with over 100 incredible agency owners—and the insights were unreal. From million-dollar breakthroughs to hard-earned lessons, these founders brought the real talk. In this special year-end episode, I'm sharing the top 5 interviews that stood out most. To everyone who tuned in, shared an episode, or took action from something they heard—thank you. This show is for you, and because of you. Here's to a smarter, stronger, more scalable 2026. Let's go.   Subscribe Apple | Spotify | iHeart Radio Sponsors and Resources E2M Solutions: Today's episode of the Smart Agency Masterclass is sponsored by E2M Solutions, a web design, and development agency that has provided white-label services for the past 10 years to agencies all over the world. Check out e2msolutions.com/smartagency and get 10% off for the first three months of service.   AI, Efficiency & the Future of Digital Agencies | with Manish Dudharejia (E2M Solutions) If you're running a digital agency and wondering how the hell you're supposed to keep up with AI, automation, and shifting client expectations—this one's for you. Jason sits down with Manish Dudharejia, founder of E2M Solutions, one of the largest white-label partners for agencies, to break down where the real opportunities are—and what's about to get wiped out. Spoiler: Agencies that don't embrace efficiency will get eaten alive. Whether you're stuck in fulfillment hell or just trying to stay 3 steps ahead, this is a must-watch if you want to grow smarter, not grind harder.   From Freelancer to CEO: How Kriston Sellier Built a Scalable, Human-Centered Agency Kriston Sellier, Founder of Id8, shares how she broke free from the freelancer grind, stopped being held hostage by a single client, and transformed into a confident CEO with systems, a team, and a business that no longer revolved around her. We dig into the moment she realized she wasn't really running a business and how hiring a consultant changed everything (and brought in 25 new clients) This isn't fluff. It's the real path from chaos to clarity—one that too many agency owners skip because they're stuck reacting.   From $1M to $40M: How Chris Dreyer Scaled His SEO Agency with One Counterintuitive Strategy If you're an agency owner stuck managing chaos, wondering how the hell to grow without everything breaking—this is your blueprint. I sat down with Chris Dreyer, CEO of Rankings.io, who scaled his agency from barely breaking 7 figures to nearing $40 million in pure service revenue. And no, it wasn't because of some sexy funnel or overnight hack. It was because he doubled down on relationships. Favorite line from Chris: "You mean to tell me it's not worth $500 to go shake hands with a $125K client?" This isn't theory. It's what the top 1% of agencies are actually doing—and it's probably not what you're doing right now.   How to Build an Agency Team That Sticks & Clients Who Actually Respect You | Colin Hetherington I sat down with Colin Hetherington, founder of Dublin's Common Good and co-founder of Zoo Digital (which scaled to $3M+ with less than 5% turnover). Colin's the real deal—he's built agencies people love working at and clients want to stay with. You'll hear how Colin combined strategy, creativity, and technical execution to create an agency that stood out—and why focusing on team trust and clarity made all the difference. Whether you're scaling or starting fresh, there's gold in this conversation on how to lead without burning out.   Do You Want to Transform Your Agency from a Liability to an Asset? Looking to dig deeper into your agency's potential? Check out our Agency Blueprint. Designed for agency owners like you, our Agency Blueprint helps you uncover growth opportunities, tackle obstacles, and craft a customized blueprint for your agency's success.

Learn the art of storytelling to build trust, attract clients, and scale your business beyond six figures. In this episode, I'm sharing exactly how to map your personal journey into powerful stories that convert your audience into loyal clients.I'll break down the key elements of a compelling business story: the pivotal decisions, breakthroughs, and even the lessons from failures. I'll use my own examples, like generating nearly $3M on one platform and going from zero to $100K in 92 days, to show you the blueprint.Storytelling is the ultimate social proof and the fastest way to connect. It provides a clear roadmap for your ideal client, so they can see their future success in your past experiences. Stop relying on outdated strategies and start leveraging your unique story.Ready to build a business that scales? Apply to work with me one-on-one and get the frameworks that got me here: https://workwithelsa.comSubscribe for more strategies on mindset, marketing, and consistent business growth#StorytellingForBusiness #ScaleToSixFigures #BusinessGrowth #MarketingStrategy #PersonalBrand #EntrepreneurMindset #ClientAttraction #BusinessCoachGet my FREE 6-Figure Blueprint:https://www.empoweryouacademy.com/six-figure-blueprint

Stop making million-dollar decisions alone. Hampton gives you a personal board of eight vetted founders in your city who meet monthly to tackle your hardest problems. Find your group: https://joinhampton.com/Five founders. Five exits. All around $30 million. So why did one walk away with $30M – and another with just $2M? From taxes and co-founders to deal structure and equity rollovers, the factors that shape a founder's final payout are rarely simple. This episode is your crash course in what really happens when a deal closes.Here's what we talk about:How Eran Galperin took home ~$30M while still keeping ~50% of his companyWhy Scott Galloway only netted $2–3M from a $33M saleHow Alex Hormozi earned more from distributions than the $31M exit itselfThe ultra-simple, debt-free deal that netted two Canadian brothers $20M eachMarshall Haas' $18M cash payout – and why he held onto equity for peace of mindWhy the "headline number" often masks the founder's true financial outcomeThe impact of seller notes, taxes, state residency, and post-sale rolesWhat to consider before you sell to avoid regret or burnoutThe myth of the $1B exit – and how one founder only took home $70MCool Links:Hampton https://www.joinhampton.com/Lower Street https://www.lowerstreet.co/Chapters:(0:42) Five Exits, Five Wildly Different Payouts(1:37) Eran Galperin: The Gym Desk Power Play(4:19) Tax Dodges & Seller Notes: Cash Isn't Always King(5:22) Scott Galloway: $33M Headline, $3M Reality Check(7:39) Alex Hormozi: Gym Launch – Cash Out, Cash In(8:32) The Sinkinson Brothers: Double or Nothing in Canada(11:56) Marshall Haass: The Art of the Partial Exit(13:17) Why Smart Founders Never Sell It All(15:28) Scoreboard Envy: Don't Get PlayedThis podcast is a ridiculous concept: high-net-worth people reveal their personal finances. Inspired by real conversations happening in the Hampton community.Your Host: Jackie LamportNot really the host, but the producer.Wrote this sentence.

In this episode, host Galen Hair sits down with creative entrepreneur and author Aurora Winter to explore the power of storytelling in business, leadership, and sales. Aurora explains why expertise alone is no longer enough in a crowded, AI-driven world—and how the right message can dramatically multiply impact and revenue. Drawing from neuroscience, real-world case studies, and her book Turn Words Into Wealth, Aurora breaks down how stories bypass resistance, build trust, and drive decision-making. From crafting irresistible hooks to leveraging books as powerful business assets, this conversation offers a clear framework for turning your experiences into influence and income. Highlights Aurora Winter's journey as a creative entrepreneur and author Why most professionals underinvest in their message How one simple messaging shift led to $3M in sales The neuroscience of communication and the three-step persuasion framework Why stories sell better than data alone Pattern interrupts and hooks that cut through content noise The role of status, authority, and social proof in messaging How AI can help—and where it falls short in storytelling Using books as lead magnets rather than products Aurora's $250,000 case study from a single book funnel The 27x value multiplier created by adding meaning and story Why struggle is essential to the hero's journey Aurora Winter's definition of leveling up Episode Resources Connect with Aurora Winter https://www.aurorawinter.com/ Connect with Galen M. Hair https://insuranceclaimhq.com hair@hairshunnarah.com  https://levelupclaim.com/

In this episode, the hosts explore a pet cremation franchise for sale in Miami, unpacking a franchise model with big claims, low margins, and a morbidly niche market.Welcome to Acquisitions Anonymous – the #1 podcast for small business M&A. Every week, we break down businesses for sale and talk about buying, operating, and growing them.

This episode sponsored by Serenity Roofing & Construction   LightSpeed VT: https://www.lightspeedvt.com/ Dropping Bombs Podcast: https://www.droppingbombs.com/ In this raw Dropping Bombs episode, Billy Fain reveals the roofing secrets behind how he escaped 25 years of miserable retail to bootstrap the debt-free, 8-figure Serenity Roofing & Construction empire. From praying broke with $400 to his name to ranking #93 nationally in year one, Billy shares the discipline, cash flow strategy, and sales-over-labor mindset separating millionaires from broke hard workers.   Hear the unfiltered truth: surviving a $130K scam, working 110-hour weeks, and why 97% of roofing startups fail. Billy breaks down the $3M apartment deal that funded his first commercial property, why hard work alone is a trap, and the exact commission structure that built his fortune. If you're ready for the blueprint to escape corporate handcuffs and build real wealth through grit and execution, this conversation is essential.  

Reach Out Via Text!In this episode of the Growing Green Podcast, Jeremiah shares a full keynote from January 2025 featuring Mark Bradley from the Roadmap to $1M online event. Mark explains why most contractors never reach $1M in revenue, starting with a lack of true financial awareness and control of the numbers. He walks through the importance of budgeting, estimating correctly, and job costing so business owners know exactly where profit is made or lost. Mark also breaks down why systems and SOPs are a continuous process and how documenting what success looks like makes hiring, training, and scaling far more manageable. The conversation highlights the importance of focusing on high margin services and revenue per hour rather than chasing all revenue. The keynote wraps with practical guidance on sales pipelines, key performance indicators, and what fundamentally changes when a business grows from $1M to $3M.Support the show 10% off LMN Software- https://lmncompany.partnerlinks.io/growinggreenpodcast Signup for our Newsletter- https://mailchi.mp/942ae158aff5/newsletter-signup Book A Consult Call-https://stan.store/GrowingGreenPodcast Lawntrepreneur Academy-https://www.lawntrepreneuracademy.com/ The Landscaping Bookkeeper-https://thelandscapingbookkeeper.com/ Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/growinggreenlandscapes/ Email-ggreenlandscapes@gmail.com Growing Green Website- https://www.growinggreenlandscapes.com/

On today's episode, Part 2 of this two-part Golden Rhino special, we highlight the incredible turnaround of Dr. Monica Urda. What started as a promising practice with a hidden undercurrent of burnout, toxic culture, and financial strain evolved into a $4.5M powerhouse in the heart of Chicago.   Hear how Monica went from working seven days a week to earning over $1.3M in take-home income – all while reducing clinical days, expanding to 13 operatories, and transforming into a confident, culture-first leader and Black Belt Coach. This episode is packed with insight into building sustainable growth, developing systems, and leading with purpose. Be sure to check out the full episode from the Dentalpreneur Podcast! EPISODE RESOURCES https://www.truedentalsuccess.com Dental Success Network Subscribe to The Dentalpreneur Podcast

It's mid-December and the running news keeps coming! Grand Slam Track filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy — we dig into the creditor list, the shocking $272K owed to Citius Mag, and what it reveals about the league's spending. On Friday, we broke the news that Athing Mu has left coach Bobby Kersee and moved to Dallas — what's next for her? Plus race recaps from the Brooks XC Championships, the Kalakaua Merrie Mile in Hawaii, and European Cross Country in Portugal. 279.26 we're joined by Yared Nuguse, who previews his quest for a fourth straight Wanamaker Mile title at the Millrose Games on February 1st. Can he break the world record in the indoor mile again?

Julie Solomon didn't just see entrepreneurs struggling with Instagram marketing; she lived the frustration herself. Despite growing an audience, her revenue stalled until she invested $25K in high-level mentorship and uncovered the real drivers of social media growth. Within nine months, she scaled from $250K to $1.3M and now shares her strategy with other creator entrepreneurs. In this episode, Julie reveals how to build a magnetic Instagram brand, boost engagement, and convert followers into paying customers regardless of your audience size. In this episode, Hala and Julie will discuss: (00:00) Introduction (01:52) Redefining Visibility in Influencer Marketing (07:53) The Importance of Value-Driven Content (12:38) Foundations for Magnetic Instagram Branding (19:05) Building a Profitable Instagram Ecosystem (26:19) Automating Instagram Sales and Messaging (35:46) Monetizing Small Audiences on Social Media (48:07) Marketing Tips for Boosting Engagement (52:05) Why Every Entrepreneur Needs a Mastermind (59:23) Manifestation Practices for Entrepreneurs' Success Julie Solomon is a brand strategist, bestselling author, and host of the Woman of Influence podcast, where she helps entrepreneurs grow their visibility and monetize their influence. A trusted voice for aspiring influencers and established creatives, she is known for her expertise in content creation, social media strategy, and personal branding. Julie has been featured in Forbes, Entrepreneur, and Business Insider, and was named one of the top 100 leaders in influence marketing by Influence Co. Sponsored By: Indeed - Get a $75 sponsored job credit to boost your job's visibility at Indeed.com/PROFITING  Shopify - Start your $1/month trial at Shopify.com/profiting.  Revolve - Head to REVOLVE.com/PROFITING and take 15% off your first order with code PROFITING  DeleteMe - Remove your personal data online. Get 20% off DeleteMe consumer plans at to joindeleteme.com/profiting  Spectrum Business - Visit Spectrum.com/FreeForLife to learn how you can get Business Internet Free Forever. Airbnb - Find yourself a cohost at airbnb.com/host  Northwest Registered Agent - Build your brand and get your complete business identity in just 10 clicks and 10 minutes at northwestregisteredagent.com/paidyap Framer - Publish beautiful and production-ready websites. Go to Framer.com/design and use code PROFITING Intuit QuickBooks - Bring your money and your books together in one platform at QuickBooks.com/money  Resources Mentioned: Julie's Website: juliesolomon.net  Julie's Instagram: instagram.com/julssolomon  Julie's Podcast, Woman of Influence: bit.ly/WOI-apple  Julie's Book, Get What You Want: bit.ly/GWUWant  Julie's Program, The Revenue Growth Lab: juliesolomon.net/profiting   Active Deals - youngandprofiting.com/deals  Key YAP Links Reviews - ratethispodcast.com/yap YouTube - youtube.com/c/YoungandProfiting Newsletter - youngandprofiting.co/newsletter  LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/htaha/ Instagram - instagram.com/yapwithhala/ Social + Podcast Services: yapmedia.com Transcripts - youngandprofiting.com/episodes-new  Entrepreneurship, Entrepreneurship Podcast, Business, Business Podcast, Self Improvement, Self-Improvement, Personal Development, Starting a Business, Strategy, Investing, Sales, Selling, Psychology, Productivity, Entrepreneurs, AI, Artificial Intelligence, Technology, Marketing, Negotiation, Money, Finance, Side Hustle, Startup, Mental Health, Career, Leadership, Mindset, Health, Growth Mindset, SEO, E-commerce, LinkedIn, Digital Marketing, Content Creator, Storytelling, Advertising, Social Media Marketing, Communication, Video Marketing, Social Proof, Marketing Trends, Digital Trends, Content Marketing, Online Marketing, Marketing Podcast