Podcasts about acquiring

Join us on an exciting episode of The Hospitality Mentor Podcast as host Steve Turk dives into the incredible journey of Francesco Balli, co-CEO of Grove Bay Hospitality Group. Discover the unique paths that led Francesco and his partner from being CPAs to successful restaurateurs, the challenges they overcame, and the wisdom they've gathered along the way. This episode is a must listen for anyone interested in the hospitality industry, as Francesco shares insights on building a business, the impact of AI, and the exciting future of their ventures. Special thanks to our sponsor Lodgify for making this episode possible. Don't miss out on this inspiring conversation!00:00 Introduction to the Hospitality Mentor Podcast00:44 Sponsor Spotlight: Lodgify01:38 Guest Introduction: Francesco Bali02:08 Francesco's Early Career and First Job in Hospitality02:28 The Journey from CPA to Hospitality02:51 Family Influence and Entrepreneurial Spirit04:34 The Leap from Ernst and Young to Areas USA15:36 Navigating the Concession World18:40 The Birth of Grove Bay Hospitality Group24:27 Acquiring the Airport Restaurant26:06 Winning the Coconut Grove Contract28:01 Launching Glass and Vine30:37 Partnering with Top Chef Jeremy Ford33:11 Expanding with Stubborn Seed and Stiltsville Fish Bar35:01 Venturing into Airport Concessions41:10 Future Prospects and AI in Hospitality42:57 Advice for Young Entrepreneurs

The president continued his fight to acquire the Danish self-governing territory of Greenland during a speech billed as an address related to domestic affordability issues. We explain what happened.Then, members of Congress met with Danish and Greenlandic officials in Copenhagen last week to discuss the increased tensions with the U.S. We talk about how the meetings went, and what Danes are thinking about it all.This episode: voting correspondent Miles Parks, White House correspondent Danielle Kurtzleben, congressional correspondent Barbara Sprunt, and senior political editor & correspondent Domenico Montanaro.This podcast was produced and edited by Casey Morell & Bria Suggs.Our executive producer is Muthoni Muturi.Listen to every episode of the NPR Politics Podcast sponsor-free, unlock access to bonus episodes with more from the NPR Politics team, and support public media when you sign up for The NPR Politics Podcast+ at plus.npr.org/politics.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

SEGMENT 2: MARKETS AND GREENLAND CONTROVERSY Guest: Liz Peek Peek analyzes market reactions to the incoming administration and addresses Trump's renewed interest in acquiring Greenland. Discussion covers the strategic importance of Greenland's resources and location, European responses to the proposal, and how this diplomatic imbroglio fits into broader economic and geopolitical considerations facing the new term.

What does it take to create a truly special short-term rental? Maybe you want to create a boutique hotel or even a micro-resort. In today's episode, I'm talking with property owner Ian Joseph about the development of his hospitality group and West Virginia stays. We also dive into his background in both commercial banking and real estate development, and how he has combined these interests with his love for hosting to create a unique personal brand. Time-stamps:Get to know Ian Joseph (1:37)Investing in West Virginia (3:30)See the value where others might not (7:48)Overcoming doubt and managing risk (10:30)Acquiring properties with a banking background (17:57)Short-Term Rental Acquisition Checklist (28:22)Building relationships with local communities (29:14)Finding the land and developing a micro-resort (33:15)From residential to commercial real estate (39:09)Building a personal brand from a wide range of experience (43:20)Be the best in your brand and market (47:03)Mentioned in This Episode:Short-Term Rental Acquisition Checklist: brandandmarket.myflodesk.com/str-acquisition-checklist“The War of Art” by Steven Pressfield: a.co/d/a9eH8xsConnect with Ian: Instagram: instagram.com/ijoseph09Email: ian@staywithbranch.comStay with Branch on Instagram: instagram.com/staywithbranchThe Billy Motel on Instagram: instagram.com/thebillymotelSign up for the Stay with Branch email list to receive $50 off your first stay in Berkeley Springs: staywithbranch.comConnect with Ali: Website: brandandmarket.coInstagram: instagram.com/brandandmarket.coBook a discovery call with Ali: brandandmarket.17hats.com/p#/scheduling

Augustus Doricko is Founder and CEO at Rainmaker, a company using cloud seeding, drones, and radar to increase rain and snow as water scarcity and drought intensify across the West. In this episode of Inevitable, the conversation focuses on why cloud seeding—often misunderstood as science fiction or geoengineering—has existed for decades and why it has only recently become possible to prove it actually works.The discussion centers on the industry's core constraint: attribution. For years, operators couldn't measure whether precipitation would have occurred anyway. Doricko explains how advances in dual-polarization radar and targeted flight paths now make it possible to identify human-caused snowfall, unlocking a path to scale.Doricko also walks through Rainmaker's vertically integrated approach, from weather-resistant drones and proprietary radar to software and validation systems, and why the company focuses on snowpack as a bankable water source. The episode also addresses public scrutiny, regulatory bans, and what it takes to build water infrastructure in a category that's easy to misunderstand but increasingly necessary.Episode recorded on Dec 16, 2025 (Published on Jan 20, 2026)In this episode, we cover: [1:53] Cloud seeding vs geoengineering [3:27] How cloud seeding works and its history[9:14] When and how it became commercially deployable [15:28] Advantages of using drones vs manned aircraft [18:34] The limits of today's validation methods [24:54] Why Rainmaker focuses on snowpack first [27:34] Rainmaker's go to market[29:34] Acquiring legacy operators to scale faster[32:40] Why Rainmaker sells services, not water[38:25] State bans, politics, and public backlash[40:39] Chemtrails and Texas flood controversies[47:15] The future of cloud seeding in the US and abroad Enjoyed this episode? Please leave us a review! Share feedback or suggest future topics and guests at info@mcj.vc.Connect with MCJ:Cody Simms on LinkedInVisit mcj.vcSubscribe to the MCJ Newsletter*Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant

And it has nothing to do with Europe's response, or even Denmark, for that matter. Jim Carafano is with Heritage, and speaks some truth on this national security interest.

#749 How do you grow a t-shirt hustle from your parents' basement into a $6 million brand? Today's guest, Tom Rauen, did just that! As the founder of 1-800-Tshirts, Tom shares how he scaled his custom apparel business from a local screen printing startup into a national brand — without relying on paid advertising. Hosted by Brien Gearin, this episode dives into how Tom partnered with his mom as his first employee, figured out when to wear multiple hats versus hire help, and used outside-the-box marketing stunts (like breaking a Guinness World Record) to fuel viral growth. You'll also hear how he uses personalized customer service, branded online stores, and high-quality swag to help small businesses turn merch into a profit center. This is a masterclass in scaling, branding, and customer experience! (Original Air Date - 5/25/25) What we discuss with Tom: + From basement startup to $6M brand + Partnering with his mom early on + Scaling to 42 employees + Navigating hiring and delegation + Acquiring the 1-800-Tshirts brand + Creating branded online stores + Turning merch into a profit center + Prioritizing customer experience + Unique marketing stunts and PR + Competing with big players like 4imprint Thank you, Tom! Check out 1-800-Tshirts at ⁠1800Tshirts.com⁠. Follow Tom on ⁠Facebook⁠, ⁠Instagram⁠, and ⁠YouTube⁠. Watch the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠video podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ of this episode! To get access to our FREE Business Training course go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠MillionaireUniversity.com/training⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ To get exclusive offers mentioned in this episode and to support the show, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠millionaireuniversity.com/sponsors⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mississippi State has had a good week, but the Bulldogs are still barking. Our Sponsors:* Check out Aura.com: https://aura.com/remove* Check out BetterHelp: https://www.betterhelp.comSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-boneyard/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Leading Into 2026: Executive Pastor Insights Momentum is real. So is the pressure. This free report draws from the largest dedicated survey of Executive Pastors ever, revealing what leaders are actually facing as they prepare for 2026. Why staff health is the #1 pressure point Where churches feel hopeful — and stretched thin What worked in 2025 and is worth repeating Clear decision filters for the year ahead Download the Full Report Free PDF • Built for Executive Pastors • Instant access Welcome back to another episode of the unSeminary podcast. We're continuing our special series responding to insights from the National Executive Pastor Survey with an executive pastor from a prevailing church. Today we're joined by Eric Garza, Executive Pastor at Cross Church. Cross Church is one of the fastest-growing churches in the country, with 12 campuses across South Texas, serving both English- and Spanish-speaking congregations. In this conversation, Eric helps unpack the number-one fear expressed by executive pastors in the survey: running out of space and not knowing what to do next. Is your church growing but feeling physically constrained? Are facilities, kids' space, or parking holding you back from what God may want to do next? Eric offers practical, hard-earned wisdom from leading through rapid multisite expansion. Facilities don't just limit space—they shape momentum. // At Cross Church, growth has come through both campus planting and mergers or acquisitions of existing churches. In both cases, facilities either enable momentum or quietly choke it. Sustainable space must support all aspects of ministry—not just a worship room. Parking, kids' environments, lobbies, restrooms, storage, and office space all play a role. A building that works on paper can quickly fail if it can't support the full weekend experience. Don't rush into permanence. // One of Eric's strongest recommendations is to resist the pressure to own a building too early. Several Cross campuses began in leased spaces, which reduced operational burden and allowed the church to test viability without long-term risk. Leasing removes concerns like insurance, major maintenance, and long-term liability, freeing leaders to focus on ministry. If a campus stalls or misses the mark, leaders can pivot without being locked into a costly asset. Location matters more than you think. // Some facility lessons are learned the hard way. Eric humorously—but seriously—warns against launching next to railroad tracks or industrial zones. Visiting a facility during a Sunday morning timeframe is essential. Noise, safety, curb appeal, and accessibility all influence guest experience. Cross has launched campuses in libraries and event centers, learning to adapt acoustics and layouts while prioritizing safety and hospitality. Capital campaigns need margin. // Eric is candid about capital campaigns. Churches often believe in faith for a number that rarely materializes at full scale, especially since capital giving sits above normal tithes. Meanwhile, construction costs almost always rise. Cross learned the hard way that campaign timelines and construction timelines rarely align. Building 10–15% margin into every campaign accounts for inflation, surprises, and delays. If surplus remains, it becomes a testimony of generosity rather than a crisis averted. Remodeling vs. rebuilding requires sober math. // Acquiring an existing building can be a gift—or a trap. Before knocking down walls, Eric urges leaders to get third-party inspections and cost estimates. Some remodels quietly approach the cost of new construction while delivering less functionality. Evaluate whether a building should serve as a long-term campus, a ministry center, or even collateral for future development. Sometimes the wisest move is not to hold services there at all. Define a clear facility standard. // Over time, Cross Church developed a consistent “Cross standard” across campuses—shared color palettes, stage layouts, kids' safety ratios, and ministry flow. While floor plans differ, the experience feels familiar. This standard helps teams evaluate remodels quickly and ensures families know what to expect. It also clarifies where compromise is acceptable and where it's not. When space is tight, simplify strategically. // Not every constraint requires construction. Cross has increased capacity by adding services, adjusting service times, and consolidating kids' age groups when space is limited. Combining grades temporarily doesn't dilute quality—it preserves momentum. Eric defines excellence not as “having the best,” but “doing the best with what you have.” Obstacles are reframed as opportunities to steward growth faithfully. Communicate the season clearly. // Your people can endure inconvenience when they understand the why. Leaders don't need to share every detail, but they should frame facility strain as evidence of impact, not failure. Clear vision keeps people focused on mission rather than discomfort. To learn more about Cross Church, visit crosschurchonline.com or follow @crosschurchrgv on social media. You can also connect with Eric directly on social media at @ericpgarza. Watch the full episode below: Thank You for Tuning In! There are a lot of podcasts you could be tuning into today, but you chose unSeminary, and I'm grateful for that. If you enjoyed today's show, please share it by using the social media buttons you see at the left hand side of this page. Also, kindly consider taking the 60-seconds it takes to leave an honest review and rating for the podcast on iTunes, they're extremely helpful when it comes to the ranking of the show and you can bet that I read every single one of them personally! Lastly, don't forget to subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, to get automatic updates every time a new episode goes live! Thank You to This Episode’s Sponsor: Risepointe Do you feel like your church’s or school's facility could be preventing growth? Are you frustrated or possibly overwhelmed at the thought of a complicated or costly building project? Are the limitations of your building becoming obstacles in the path of expanding your ministry? Have you ever felt that you could reach more people if only the facility was better suited to the community’s needs? Well, the team over at Risepointe can help! As former ministry staff and church leaders, they understand how to prioritize and help lead you to a place where the building is a ministry multiplier. Your mission should not be held back by your building. Their team of architects, interior designers and project managers have the professional experience to incorporate creative design solutions to help move YOUR mission forward. Check them out at risepointe.com/unseminary and while you’re there, schedule a FREE call to explore possibilities for your needs, vision and future…Risepointe believes that God still uses spaces…and they're here to help. Episode Transcript Rich Birch — Hey friends, welcome to the unSeminary podcast. So glad that you have decided to tune in. We are in the middle of, in the in the midst of, is maybe a better way to say, these special set of podcasts where we’re responding to what you said in the National Executive Pastor Survey, which turned out to be the largest dedicated or direct executive pastor survey that we’re aware of ever, which is kind of cool. And hundreds of people were you know, logged in and told, gave us a sense of where ministry is at. And what we’ve been doing is spending time with an executive pastor from a prevailing church, and frankly, people I like, to get their ah thoughts on kind of what was surfaced. Rich Birch — And today we’ve got a big one. This is a significant issue. In fact, it was the single biggest fear that was expressed. We asked a question around, what’s your kind of biggest fear for this year? And nearly one in five executive pastors expressed fear about this. And what is that fear? It’s the whole issue of our facilities, space, capital projects, that sort of thing. Many churches are running out of kids space, parking, seating, lobby capacity. Rich Birch — You know, we’re all worried about in inflation of construction costs. If you got a building quoted on five years ago, you’re going to want to get it quoted on again, you know, renovation, building, all of this stuff. And, you know, we’re excited to have ah today a return guest, Eric Garza with us. He is from a fantastic church, Cross Church, which is located in Texas. It’s one of the fastest growing churches of ah in the country, and they have 12 campuses, if I’m counting correctly. So Eric has thought about facilities and so excited to have you back on the show, Eric. Thanks for being here.Eric Garza — Rich, thanks for having me back. Good to have an opportunity to have a great conversation about a big topic for a lot of pastors and executives across the country. Yeah.Rich Birch — Well, you’re going to solve all our problems for us today, Eric. So.Eric Garza — It’s just some nuggets of what I’ve learned and experienced. But if I can make your life and your world a little bit better, awesome.Rich Birch — That’s great. That’s good. Kind of tell us a little bit about Cross again, kind of set the context, you know, give us a bit of sense of the the church.Eric Garza — Yeah, so we’re in deep south Texas. Most of our campuses are within a half hour north of the US-Mexico border. So right at the bottom of the tip of Texas. 30 years going on 31 years as a ministry. In the last eight years, we went from one site ah to now seven locations, physical locations and 12 campuses.Eric Garza — We’re a bilingual ministry, which means we do we have English campuses and we have Spanish campuses. And we recently, last year in 2025, launched our first campus outside of our region in San Antonio, Texas. Rich Birch — Love it.Eric Garza — And you can imagine a lot of ah victories and a lot of challenges, ah you know leaving your space, your comfort area, the region where you’ve been, for 30 years and then heading out and venturing off into what we believe God called us to do in in Central Texas.Eric Garza — So ah just phenomenal growth. We’ve seen God’s hand up on our ministry and it’s come with, ah like I said, a lot of wins and a lot of challenges we’ve had to navigate. And being a a predominantly Hispanic ministry that reaches both English congregants and Spanish congregants, dealing with cultural, political issues in our region of the country ah has just been a whirlwind. But as anybody could imagine, it’s been a big learning season for us for expansion. You know, I know we’re talking about facilities going from one side to multisite and all of that that entails operationally, logistically, financially. So I wouldn’t say we know it all. We certainly don’t if we’re always learning. But man, if if we can just impart any wisdom, we’re we’re all for that.Rich Birch — Love it. Well, I would say I actually re-looked at a lot of these fears. And the overall tone, if you were to kind of summarize the the conversation that people seem to be expressing is like, there’s this sense from a lot of executive pastors, listen, our ministry could grow, but our space, frankly, is holding us back. And we’re not entirely sure what the path forward is. It’s like, we we see the physical space issues, but I’m not sure where to go from here. So I’d love to jump right in. Eric Garza — Sure.Rich Birch — How have you, as you’ve looked at your seven physical locations, 12 campuses, how do you evaluate facility limitations? And are they the things that are actually restricting growth or does the issue lie somewhere else? How do you, how are you discerning that when you look at, you know, this, this whole issue?Eric Garza — Yeah, a lot of our of our growth has come from us planting campuses, but some of our growth has come from, I guess, what the corporate world calls mergers and acquisitions, where we’ve merged or really acquired other ministries who either had an existing facility that we took over. Or where we partnered with them through the acquisition and launched a campus in a new building or a new facility.Eric Garza — So some of the things that we’ve done is, there’s a whole process, right, that that it’s entailed with going multisite. And one of those big key indicators of whether the campus or the church plant is going to succeed is whether they have a sustainable facility that can house all aspects of the ministry. And sometimes that can be difficult to find.Eric Garza — For example, you don’t just want meeting space to have services, right? You need maybe an office space, you need childcare space, you need a meeting space, you need lobby, restrooms, you need adequate parking. And all of those factors come into play when you’re looking to find the right spaces. So for us, We’ve just been blessed that ah either we’ve have you know gone through the capital campaigns, we’ve gone through the funding, the you know internal funding to build new facilities, or the acquisition that we’ve ah done over the last couple of years already had an existing facility, which is a plus. Because instead of building, we just went into a remodel phase to bring that building up to what we would call our Cross-standard to house our campus and facility. And so I mean it’s It’s a holistic approach. Rich Birch — Yeah, yeah.Eric Garza — You look at parking, kids space. What you don’t want to do and what what we’ve run into in the past, is it’s okay to to launch with limited space, but if you’re launching and you already have a couple of hundred people that are gathered, you’re going to want to find a space that’s going to give you ample room to have one or two services without having to crunch yourself in the short term. And it’s going to, in in in a larger sense, going to really facilitate some challenge and some angst and frustrations early on. And you want to minimize as much of that, especially when you’re when you’re launching and you’re setting out to start a new campus or a new church.Rich Birch — Yeah, so that’s one of those kind of pinch points would be too small, right? Like I’m assuming you’ve ended up in facilities where it’s like, okay, this is this just frankly is too small. Eric Garza — It’s not going to work. Rich Birch — And so we’ve got to, it’s not going to work. We’re going have to start with three services and that, you know, or something like that. Or we’ll start with two and we’ll be pinched too quickly. Are there any other kind of tripwires that you’ve run into that are like, oh, like it might be great on these five things, but this, these, if it’s not these two or three, if these aren’t right, we were not going in there. Are there any other things to get to, as you said, a sustainable facility? Are there any kind of big no-nos that you’ve bumped into, or maybe you wish you knew before? Yeah. Tell me about that.Eric Garza — Yeah, a couple of things. Number one is don’t ah start a church next to the railroad tracks. That may sound a little funny.Rich Birch — No, tell me more.Eric Garza — You never know that during your Sunday morning message at your 10 o’clock service, roughly about 10:40 a.m., this train… Rich Birch — Oh, gosh. Eric Garza — …who’s two or three blocks away is going to come blaring out ah and just completely disrupt your sound and and your service and your message for a few minutes. So it may sound comical, but ah yeah, definitely don’t do that. Right.Rich Birch — No, that’s very good.Eric Garza — Yeah.Rich Birch — That’s well, and even going and seeing, that’s a great takeaway because even going and seeing the facility during a Sunday morning, like, cause you wouldn’t know that if you’re there to just Tuesday afternoon or something, you would have no sense of that. Eric Garza — Yeah.Rich Birch — But, but cause it might be a train, but there’s, I could see lots of things where.Eric Garza — Trains are not confined to Monday through Friday.Rich Birch — Yes. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.Eric Garza — They’re there every day as they need. And so you just you just never know. That has to happen a couple of times, and it’s incredibly frustrating. Rich Birch — Yeah. That’s interesting. That’s good.Eric Garza — And so you play it off the middle of the service, but man, it can it can mess it could mess with some stuff. The second thing I would say is is this when looking for a facility. There’s obviously some innate some internal perhaps pressure or self-imposed pressure as a pastor or an executive to want to get into a permanent facility right away.Eric Garza — One of the things that helped us early on with with a couple of our campuses is we actually rented. And here’s the benefit of renting or leasing, even for a year or two, as you grow that site is number one, you’re not worried about insurance, right? You’re not worried about lawsuits. You’re not worried about maintenance or you’re paying for that, right? But there’s a lot that you minimize when it comes to overloading your mind and your brain about what you have to handle.Rich Birch — Yep. Eric Garza — Alright. And so you pay a fee, but the building’s clean when you come in. And right after you set, you know, you tear down your equipment for the service in your kids area, you don’t have to worry about that because you’re leasing a space. Rich Birch — Yeah, that’s good.Eric Garza — And so if you can minimize, like I said, as much of the overload of operations and facilities on the front end, that’s that’s a great a great thing. And most spaces, right, what we did early on is if we had an event center where we would rent the main auditorium uh we would use conference rooms or or multi-purpose room for child care. We would safe proof them, right – all of our protocols in place. But that’s what we would do early on, and it would give us a chance to test and gather some data. Rich Birch — That’s so good.Eric Garza — Is this going to work long term? Right. Number one, we don’t believe we missed God. But if after a couple of years, this isn’t going anywhere. Well, thank God we didn’t buy a building… Rich Birch — Right. Eric Garza — …because now we’re you know up a creek without a paddle, as they say. And so leasing is not is not an entirely bad idea on the early outset.Rich Birch — No, that’s great.Eric Garza — But definitely the neighborhood that you’re in, right beside the town that you’re in, you want to be in a centrally as centrally as you can, centrally located as you can, and and not next to a railroad track or any industry or warehouses where there’s going to be trucks, just for safety concerns, for the curbside appeal. And so that’s why public libraries or where we had actually launched started campuses was at a public library – acoustic set because we couldn’t be so loud. So all of those facility concerns are are really things you want to keep in mind.Rich Birch — Yeah, I love that. I love the idea of the rental on the front end. What a great way to, it’s good use of capital. It’s a good, you know, it it gives you a chance to test… Eric Garza — Yeah. Rich Birch — …even if you stay for a couple of years, that’s, you know, that’s fantastic. So you’ve been through multiple, you know, capital campaigns, this whole process of like, we’ve got to raise money and then get a facility renovated or, you know, you know, expanded or whatever. Rich Birch — What, what do you wish you would have known before all that? Well, are there a couple like things that either, you know, you stumbled upon, you stubbed your toe or you wish, man, I wish somebody would have told me this. Are there any things that stand out to you?Eric Garza — Number, I think the first one is this. You have an you have a number in your mind, and you of course you believe God for it. It…Rich Birch — And it’s lower. It’s going to come in lower every time.Eric Garza — …it is. Every single, unless God does a miracle, which he is more than able to do… Rich Birch — Yes.Eric Garza — …it’s going to come in lower. And so I think have have high anticipation but realistic expectations… Rich Birch — Right. Eric Garza — …because most capital campaigns are campaigns that are above normal giving.Rich Birch — Yeah. Okay. Yep.Eric Garza — Right. And so at least for us, it’s above normal giving. Rich Birch — Yep.Eric Garza — We encourage and we get people to give towards a specific capital campaign, which is for a specific campus or a specific project or or what have you. But you have this number in mind and then if you can tend to early on. It’s not coming in yet. Or maybe you’ve done it for a year or give a specific timeline.Rich Birch — I see. Okay. Yep.Eric Garza — And you can get quickly discouraged, especially with capital campaigns where you’re like, we’re halfway through this thing and not even half has come in yet, or of what we thought would come in. And so it’s easier to get discouraged. But that was a big thing is that number in your mind, it’s going to be lower. And that’s not a bad thing. Right. That’s not a bad thing.Eric Garza — People are giving to a capital campaign above giving of their normal giving, sacrificially, they’re giving by faith. They’re giving with expectation. But at the same time, for those of us on the inside, right, those of us who are managing the resources and what have you, it’s it’s about having a realistic expectation that we have the faith that God can do it. But we’re all going to budget ourselves knowing that if there’s a high probability, not impossible, there’s a high probability that the number we had in mind, is not going to be what comes in for the capital campaign.Rich Birch — Let’s talk about that there. So there’s an interesting, um so I’ve seen that for sure in churches. There’s an interesting kind of tension that pulls in two different directions. One, you can have exactly what you’re talking about, which is, you know, we thought we would go in, we we were hoping we would raise X and we raised something less than that. Eric Garza — Yeah. Rich Birch — But then the other part of it is we were hoping the project was going to cost X and it costs X plus, you know, it’s costing us more than, than we anticipated. How do you manage that tension? How have you been able to kind of navigate that? That’s a, that’s a tough tension.Eric Garza — Yeah, the longevity of the capital campaign is gonna is not always going to be exactly match, it’s not going, rather, to exactly match what the building construction cost was at the beginning. Prices fluctuate and prices change.Eric Garza — And so let’s say you have let’s use so a rough even number, a million dollar capital campaign for your church organization. And the construction is going to cost, I don’t know, $900,000, $950,000. Well, a million dollars should cover it. But by the time a million dollars or shortly or short of that comes in, well, your budget is now at 1.2 or 1.3. Rich Birch — Right. Eric Garza — It’s fluctuated. And so the what’s congruent at the beginning can be really a little bit financially off by the time that can…In other words, the timelines of the capital campaign and your building projects sometimes don’t align perfectly. And we’ve run into that too, where we’ve had to take from our operating budget a little bit, or we’ve had to really emphasize a certain amount during the campaign, because that’s what needs to come in. We’ve you know met with with key givers and donors of the church. And those are challenges that you navigate ah during the capital campaign process. Rich Birch — Sure. Eric Garza — And and like I said earlier, it’s it’s challenging because, well, let me backtrack and say this.Eric Garza — This is why on the front end, you should add margin into your capital campaign… Rich Birch — Yeah, that’s good. Eric Garza — …which we didn’t do that, perhaps the first go around. But certainly the later ah seasons, we added margin in our capital campaigns to account for any fluctuation in construction costs. And if there was ever in a surplus, well, we would tell the church it’s because of your giving and because of your support and generosity that we had more than enough come in. Rich Birch — That’s good.Eric Garza — And so now we’re going to use those funds for X or they’re going to go back to the general fund or or whatever whatever the case. But I think that the key that would be to incorporate some 10 to 15% margin in your capital campaign on the outset to account for anything that might happen 12, 15, 18 months down the road.Rich Birch — Yeah, that’s good. That’s really good. That’s good. You maybe just saved somebody a lot of headache two years from now… Eric Garza — Yeah. Rich Birch — …because of that part of the conversation. I want to go back to something you talked about earlier. You’ve had multiple buildings that you’ve acquired or you’ve merged with, and you were talking about remodeling and there’s like, that can be a blessing and a curse. Like it can be amazing. Like, wow, this is great. And…Eric Garza — You never know what you’re going to find.Rich Birch — …you know, you open up, you open up a wall and who knows what’s behind that wall. And, you know, there’s all that. And you talked about bringing it up to the Cross standard. Talk me through what how have you decided what that is? What is the Cross standard? And how do you what are the common things that you find, Oh, we’ve got to make this change. And how have you kind of defined that as you think about projects like that?Eric Garza — Yeah, so over the last few years, we’ve pretty much honed in on, I guess, the vibe and the look of what we want our campuses to to feel and look like.Rich Birch — Okay.Eric Garza — They may be different ah floor plans because some of them we built, some of them we acquired, properties we took over. But as far as color schemes, we do our very best to match wall colors, sanctuary colors. We use the same stage equipment, both branding and layout as best as possible across all of our sanctuary auditoriums, our stages. Eric Garza — Our kids spaces, ah we have an internal ratio of how many teachers or volunteers per infants, per toddlers, for school-age children we want. And so that determines our spacing. And so sometimes we’ve got to knock some walls down or build some walls in to accommodate for for what, like I said, our standard of ministry, both in appeal, but also in care for for our congregants and for our families.Eric Garza — And so when we remodel, you’re right, there’s some things that once you knock down a wall, you’re not going to know until you knock it down. And that’s where that, you know, that margin comes in. But for the most part, right, we’ve had we do inspections, we get we get third party opinions on the building, on the cost estimates, and like we would encourage anybody to do, right.Eric Garza — But that’s our Cross standard is the look, the feel, the equipment, the wall colors, you know is there enough space for our our guests, connect area, our next steps area for first impressions. Does every ministry have adequate space to store their items – all of those factors come into play in deciding how we’re going to remodel a facility. Eric Garza — And I’ll say the second thing is this is why before you break or before you knock down a wall, get an inspector or or get some people either in your church or in the construction industry or somebody that you know in in your community. Because sometimes when you have a building, your initial thought is to remodel. That may not always be the most financial financially wise decision. And here’s why. Because you may not know all that you’re going to encounter, you may in the long run end up spending just as much as if you had built a brand new facility with the exact floor plan you want.Eric Garza — And so that’s where you’re evaluating and deciding, is it more feasible to remodel this building for X amount of dollars? Or are we within 5% to 10% budget margin, where we might just say it’s it’s in the best interest of the church perhaps to use either this facility as collateral for our next building or a brand new building, or is it better to use it a multisite building, excuse me, multi-purpose building, and we end up building a new facility…Rich Birch — Right.Eric Garza — …for the church or for the campus. And so those cost estimates are going to help you make the best, most informed decision of where you’re going to steward the resources financially in either remodeling or in building a site.Rich Birch — Yeah, I love that. One of my favorite churches, Mercy Hill Church in North Carolina, they they had a building that was given to them and they did, they weren’t entirely sure what to kind of, it was in a part of town, they weren’t necessarily sure they wanted to launch a campus and just they had a campus closer and all that. And they ended up using it turned it into a really a student center and it’s a fantastic ministry building and it’s active, you know, five, six days a week.Rich Birch — Now they don’t do Sunday morning services there, but they do all kinds of other stuff, which is fantastic. Like is a great, you know…Eric Garza — And we’ve seen that too. Yeah. They use for leadership meetings, for small chapel receptions… Rich Birch — Yeah. Eric Garza — …or gatherings or next gen events, youth, young adults, even renting it out to the community as a means to supply income to the church…Rich Birch — Yep. Yep. On a daycare or something.Eric Garza — …to like, you know aligned organizations, of course, whatever your church policy is. But yeah, sometimes the best use of that building is not for church services.Rich Birch — Have you, have you run into facilities that you’ve evaluated and then decided, no like this is going to cost way too much to renovate and we’re, so we won’t go forward with it. Have you run into that after evaluation?Eric Garza — Well, not entirely, but I’ll say this…recent… Rich Birch — I know that risk is there for sure.Eric Garza — Yeah, there is risk. There is risk. And the risk assessment is different when you’re leasing a space or remodel… Rich Birch — Right. Eric Garza — …and when you’re when you’re obviously building your own facility, as far as and including the costs associated with that. One of our campuses recently, and I mean in the last 24 months, before we moved into our new building was leasing a space and we were given the option to remodel the space we were leasing. Because though it was suitable for what we needed for the ministry, for Sunday services and and all the other ministries, parts of it were not really conducive to growth for the congregation and for the ministry.Eric Garza — So we did contemplate remodeling. I think I think what kept us from doing that number one is whatever you remodel for the landlord the landlord is going up keeping. And so the return on that investment would be short term and not long term, We were already in the midst of building our building but we were growing at a rapid rate, and so we were eight, twelve months out from from being in our building and the campus was growing, and so we needed a short-term solution. Rich Birch — Right.Eric Garza — So we did think, Well, we’ll spend X amount of dollars to remodel our site where we’re leasing before we get into the new building. But we found out that shifting our service times and and doing different different strategies ended up alleviating in the short term the constraints we had to give us a time to get into our new building, which is now more than enough space for us to grow for for years and years to come.Rich Birch — Right. That’s cool. Yeah. Cause I’ve said as a, I feel like I’ve been in a ton of conversations with XPs where, you know, they’re talking about this issue and you know, there’s like a building that they’re, maybe it’s another church that’s come to them and they’re having a conversation and they’re, I would say their mindset is like, I’m not sure we should do this. Like this is, they’re like, this other church came to us and statistically, actually the most likely for these mergers to succeed are when the joining church comes to the lead church. Eric Garza — Yeah.Rich Birch — So they would come to your church and be like, Hey, we’re interested. So it actually happens a fair amount. And I’ve, I feel like I’ve talked, tried to talk so many executive pastors into like, man, it’s gotta be a really bad building. If particularly if it’s like has debt or has no debt or very little debt on it, it’s gotta be a very bad building to not want to take it. Cause it’s like, you know, you can, you can take, invest, you know, a moderate amount of money. You don’t need to dump a ton into it and get something great. And like you said, as long as you’re above board with everybody, you know, five years from now, if it doesn’t work, you could take that asset, sell it and move on and use those resources somewhere else.Eric Garza — And that’s very good because when you talk about acquiring a ministry, especially if it has a low balance on their mortgage or or they don’t have much to pay off the building, and if you’re in a position to pay that off within the first year of acquiring the ministry… Rich Birch — Right. Eric Garza — …think of a collateral and the equity that your organization now has because of that new facility that’s in your portfolio.Rich Birch — 100%.Eric Garza — And I know it sounds very business-minded, but when you’re looking to expand into the future, even at another site in your church ministry organization, you now have more collateral, more resources to leverage for a better financial position in the future when you do want to actually build a building. Eric Garza — And the second thing is this, if you’re acquiring a ministry that already has an existing building, in most cases, it’s already built out for church purposes. So that’s very helpful. So at that point, you may be putting in a smaller amount and just… Rich Birch — Right. Eric Garza — …you know, refurbishing it, painting the walls, putting some new equipment, some new screens, maybe be changing out the flooring a little bit, or some of the fixtures in different spaces… Rich Birch — There’s technology or whatever, yep. Eric Garza — …because it’s already built out for a church. And so that’s the benefit of going or acquiring in a ministry if you’re going that route that already has an existing facility.Rich Birch — Yeah, we had, ah we were running, our budget was about $8 million dollars and we were, we had a church come to us and they were, they had really, they had had a tough season and the summer before we ended up merging with them or they joined us really, they had multiple Sundays where they had two people show up on Sunday. They had the person that was preaching and the guy that was opening the door, like it was, it had really atrophied down.Rich Birch — And I remember in one of those conversations, they had had a bit of a roof problem. The facility was worth just probably south of 2 million. It was like ah a great facility, but they had a roof problem. And I remember one of the the elders leader person, he said, you know, we we got a quote on the roof and it’s it’s going to cost maybe about $15,000 to fix. Do you think you guys will be able to fix that? And they had no debt and were going to give us their building. Rich Birch — Well, like I humbly had to say like, like, yeah, we’ll we’ll be okay. Like, it’s gonna it’s gonna be fine. Like, you know, I what I didn’t want to say is like, I feel like our youth guys have like wasted $15,000 this year. Like, you know, like it’s like we can, you know, the exchange just on paper. And again, that’s not why you go into those conversations. Eric Garza — Of course.Rich Birch — But a part of that is, particularly in our seats as executive pastors, that’s a part of what we have to wrestle through and think about those things. So let’s get back to the renovation thing. A lot of what churches were talking about is like, pressure of like, man, I just, our physical facilities are, are holding us back. Rich Birch — Any other thoughts around, you know, changes you’ve made to increase capacity or, um you know, things that maybe are like some low hanging fruit or creative solutions that have that, that maybe we’re not thinking about, but as a leader who’s been through this, you know, you’ve been, you’ve wrestled through that, that we, we could, you know, benefit from.Eric Garza — Yeah, absolutely. A couple of things. You can please everybody, right? Rich Birch — That’s good. Eric Garza — And so I think one of the ministry pressures well, we want to please the next gen. We also want to please the child care. We also want to please the elders of the church. And we also want to please the younger families of the church and young professionals. And when you’re when you’re in a facility that wasn’t originally built according to your specs, it’s going to be difficult to do that.Eric Garza — And so you have to focus, as we have, on the most critical areas, sanctuary and child care. If you don’t have child care, it’s going to be a barrier to growth because families or parents are not going to have the comfort level they need to come to your church on a regular basis and to be a part of the community. And so for us, when we’ve remodeled, the first things we look at are sanctuary and then the kid space. Do we have enough adequate kids space?Rich Birch — That’s good.Eric Garza — Some of the solutions when we’ve been limited in space is is launching multiple services to we have a smaller sanctuary or a smaller space, we’ll offer more service opportunities. Or when it comes to our kids ministry, we’ve evaluated with our kids directors and our our kids department of how can we best merge age groups to maximize the space that we have. So if you have right an ideal facility where you have you know your child your child care divided by grade level or age level, sometimes you have the amenity to do that and many times you don’t. And so what we’ve done is instead of having first grade on their own, maybe we’ll put you know kindergarten and first grade level kids together.Rich Birch — Yeah, that’s good.Eric Garza — We’ll put second and third together, fourth and fifth together as a way to consolidate because we don’t have the space that we prefer to have, at least in this season. And so for us, sometimes you’re not watering down in essence, the content, the quality, but you are consolidating in the short term or even medium term… Rich Birch — Right. Eric Garza — …if you will, if that’s even a term, to make adequate space for the constraints that you may have. Rich Birch — That’s good.Eric Garza — And so you have 600 members and you only have 200-seat sanctuary, 250. Well, that’s an opportunity for three services. Rich Birch — Right.Eric Garza — Is that is that is that Is that a strain? Well, it can be if you see it from core perspective versus a perspective of, Man, we’re so large and we have the space. You know, one of our core values at our church is excellence. And we’ve defined excellence as not having the best, but doing the best with what you have.Rich Birch — Oh, that’s good.Eric Garza — So we may not have a thousand seat auditorium for this growing congregation, but what we do have, we’re going utilize it and steward it to our best ability. So if that means two or three services, well, God give us the strength and the people to manage and to lead and to execute three strong services every weekend, or every Sunday, in order to meet the need of the congregation that we have.Eric Garza — And and I think one of the biggest things, Rich, is also communicating this. It’s keeping them current, right. You’re not going to go into all the details per se, unless that’s your preference and that’s your senior pastor’s prerogative. But to share with them the overarching theme of, hey, here’s where we’re at as a ministry. Here’s our facility. And here’s what we’re going to do to continue to offer as best a ministry as we can, while at the same time being cognizant of the challenges that we’re facing.Eric Garza — We said this to our staff and to our church many times, is we don’t look at obstacles as negatives. We look at obstacles as opportunities. Okay.Rich Birch — That’s so true.Eric Garza — If this is what we have, how can we be as excellent as possible with what we have? If that means going to a third service, well, then we’re going to give it a shot because what we don’t want to do is allow facility constraints to translate into diminished capacity or into a diminishing congregation and I’m talking about numerically. Because the diminishing congregation numerically also means a diminishing budget and revenue financially because you have less givers in the seats. And that’s those are some of the challenges that you got navigate so we don’t see it as obstacles. We don’t see obstacles necessarily as a challenge we see that’s an opportunity of okay how can we navigate around this mountain if you will to continue to provide as excellent a ministry as we can.Rich Birch — Yeah, I love that. I love your example of the kids age size rooms. Because I think you’ve you’re articulating a tension that whenever we’re, particularly for launching we talked a lot about this, like renovating other spaces and new campuses and all that, where I think really is germane to our job as executive pastor to to manage this tension of we want it feel, you know, the language you used was Cross standard. It’s absolutely has got to be Cross standard, but there will be areas where we’re going to have to compromise. Like that is just true. And a part of what we have to do, we have to use our leadership and our discernment and, you know, get the right players in the room and have the conversation. And, you know, somebody using your example, somebody kids’ ministry to be like, no, we can’t combine them together. That’ll be terrible. And it’s like, we’re going to be fine. Like, we’ll figure it out, you know. Eric Garza — Yeah [inaudible].Rich Birch — Yeah, it’s going to be okay. We’ll we’ll help that navigate. And that’s one example, but there’s a ton of those that can come up in these, you know, in these renovations for sure.Eric Garza — Yeah, absolutely.Rich Birch — That’s good.Eric Garza — and And people are always going to have opinions. Rich Birch — Right.Eric Garza — But I’ll say this from experience. And I mean, no ill intent towards anybody in your congregation or your ministry.Rich Birch — No.Eric Garza — Most of the people that are criticizing are the people that aren’t giving anyway. And so I’m not saying ignore them by any means. They’re part of your part of your ecosystem. They’re part of your church, they’re part of your flock.Rich Birch — Yep. That’s very true.Eric Garza — But it’s always with a grain of salt because the people that are really bought into your ministry are going to walk through those opportunities alongside you, ah hopefully with the best attitude that they possibly can muster up because this too shall pass.Rich Birch — Yes.Eric Garza — Right.Rich Birch — Yes.Eric Garza — If you’ve gone out in faith to plant or to grow or to expand your congregation, this is a temporary season. It’s not a permanent season. You won’t always be at three or four services, right? Or multiple services.Eric Garza — At some point, if God is in this and you really believe He is, and I believe He is for many organizations and ministries, the timing will be right when you have a facility that can house what you need, or that can provide the amenities and space that you need. And so for parents, for givers, for guests, it is just letting them know as best you can, even subtly through announcements or even messages and say, hey, we’re in a season of growth and expansion. Growth doesn’t always look you know perfect. And so we have seasons where we’re going to navigate some some challenges and opportunities as best we can to get us to an end goal.Eric Garza — This is a means to an end. What we’re going through is a means to get us to where we want to go as a ministry. And as long as you keep it at the forefront, tying it into the vision of the house, you’re going to see that in a large sense, you’re going to have people rally behind that idea and unfocused, if you will, from the constraints of their of the facility to the broader appeal of what God is doing in the ministry.Rich Birch — Yeah, that is so good. Friends, you should go back and re-listen to what Eric just said there. That is some wise advice. And obviously from somebody that’s been in the trenches a lot, that’s been my experience as well. The people, the complainers, I’m reading through the book of Job right now. And I’m like, man, his friends are just like, this guy needs better friends.Eric Garza — Yeah.Rich Birch — And that that reminded me of the people you’re talking about. Like…Eric Garza — Yeah.Rich Birch — You know, there’s these people who are just, you know, sniping from the cheap seats and they’re not really engaged in the mission where, man, those people that are right on in the middle of it, they’re like, let’s go, let’s lean in.Rich Birch — And man, that’s the kind of person, I’m hoping as I transition into older age that I’m that person, you know, because we have a number of those people at our church that I look at that are like, these are incredible saints who have seen so much change. And who I’m sure lots of things annoy them, but they’re fired up for the mission. They’re excited in our case to reach unchurched people, to see people who far from Jesus connected.Eric Garza — If you’re not changing, you’re not making progress, right? Rich Birch — Yeah, absolutely. And the fact you the fact that your ministry is facing opportunities or obstacles rather disguised as opportunities is proof positive you’re going somewhere. Rich Birch — Yeah.Eric Garza — You’re not a stagnant ministry. You’re not a you’re not a lazy ministry, right? You’re not apathetic. You’re really out in the field of vision that God has given you or to your senior leadership. And so it’s proof positive, right? And so take that as an badge of honor in some way to say, we must be doing something right.Rich Birch — So good. Well, Eric, just as we’re coming to kind of land, this has been a great conversation, hopefully been helpful for you, friends, as you’ve have been listening in. But as we kind of come to land today’s conversation, what’s a question or two that that you’re kicking around for this year at at Cross as you’re thinking about 2026? Where’s your head at? What are the things you’re wondering? It doesn’t have to be about this, could be anything.Eric Garza — Yeah, well, ah thanks for letting me speak into that, Rich. I think for me as an executive and looking at our ministry, you know, looking at the previous 30 years and looking at the next decade, if you will, of where God is going to take our ministry, being one of America’s fastest growing churches, being the largest bilingual Hispanic-led ministry in the country. We’ve, you know, like I’ve said in a previous episode with you, we haven’t had any precedent for us in our context. And so we’ve navigated a lot of uncharted waters and learned from both wins and losses and different opportunities and struggles to get us to where we’re at now. Eric Garza — I think one of the biggest questions facing the church at large in 2026 is how the church is going to respond to the ever increasingly fast-paced changes that we’re seeing on the political front, on the cultural front. I’m not saying that the church has to be a political response. The church has to be, has to provide a biblical response to what we’re seeing.Rich Birch — Yep. Eric Garza — And with the fast paced nature of culture and society and trends, I don’t believe it’s the church’s responsibility to respond to every trend or to everything, but certainly the overarching elements of our current culture and political dynamic where there is a biblical either mandate or precedent for it, that the church would speak it into that and provide biblical perspective… Rich Birch — That’s good. Eric Garza — …and and and wisdom for how people should think about certain topics that have a biblical or moral prerogative. And so navigating that as an organization, because as a growing church and being such a large ministry, if you can imagine the opinions. We have people in our church who are conservative and who some who are not. We have people who belong to one political party over another. We’re in multiple communities. And so different communities have different demographics, different cultural contexts, different policy initiatives. There’s a lot going on.Eric Garza — And as a church ministry, especially as that we’re multisite, one of the biggest questions I’m asking myself and our team is how do we, number one, stay biblically founded, right? And unwavering in what the biblical standard is.Eric Garza — Number two is how do we address the different things and different occurrences in different communities that we’re in? If we were just one site and one community, well, then we would just be I guess you could say in our own little space and our own little focus. But we have multisites, so we have multi-focus, if you will, at how we continue to provide as excellent a ministry as possible… Rich Birch — That’s good. Eric Garza — …keeping Jesus at the forefront, above the fray, and at the same time, giving a biblical perspective so that people have the right biblical worldview for how to walk out their journey of faith their relationship with Christ, but at the same time, how to respond to what’s happening in our world. I think for many times, for for many years, really for decades, the church has abdicated its biblical responsibility, if you will, to speak into things, not from a political perspective, but from a biblical perspective.Eric Garza — And because that abdication of responsibility we’ve seen a lot of things that have happened. Thankfully, in recent seasons, in recent years, we’ve seen a a shift where faith is now at the forefront. And so though I have that question, my biggest, I guess you could say prerogative is to leverage that people are focused more on faith, that people are open to faith now more so in our country, that people are focused more on this person of Jesus and is to leverage that as an opportunity to really hone in and speak into people’s hearts and minds and into the different communities that we’re in so that they have the right biblical perspective, the biblical worldview to carry out what God has enabled them or called them to do.Rich Birch — Yeah, that’s so good. I love I love what you’re saying there. And you know I know had a friend say, you know if you’re, you know, we we all are serving in a context. We serve in a particular time, in a particular cultural context, and God’s called us to lead in that context. And if you’re not feeling the pull from, you know, multiple sides, multiple polarities, you’re like, well, everybody here agrees with me then it means you’re not actually reaching your community, you know. And the fact that you’re feeling that tension means, okay, like there’s there’s people from a wide variety of, and it can be all different political is one, but there’s lots of different ways to think of that.Eric Garza — Yeah.Rich Birch — And yeah, that’s that’s so true. I really appreciate this. Well, Eric, you’re you’re a blessing to us. I thank you so much for for giving us time today and helping us think about these things as we kick off into 2026. If where do we want to send people if they want to track with you or with the church?Rich Birch — How do we how do we want to get people connected to Cross?Eric Garza — Yeah, well, Rich, thanks for the opportunity. And it’s what a blessing for us and for me personally to be able to just share some thoughts. And if it helps anybody, well, praise God for that. I think if you want to follow the church, we’re crosschurchonline.com or crosschurchrgv on Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, all of, you know, most of the social media platforms.Eric Garza — If you want to connect with me, I’d be happy to connect with you at Eric, E-R-I-C-P Garza on any of social media platforms. It’d be a h privilege for me to help you guys and to share some thoughts and even answer questions. I’d be more than happy to do that. If I can serve your ministries in any way, by all means, feel free to reach out to me on any of the social media platforms.Rich Birch — Nice. Thanks so much, Eric. Really appreciate being here today, sir. Thank you. Eric Garza — Thank you, man. God bless. Appreciate it.

What happens when a seasoned real estate investor steps away from physical property and into the world of digital acquisitions? In this episode, we sit down with Julien Jacques, who made the bold transition from building a real estate portfolio to acquiring online businesses—uncovering both the opportunities and the unexpected mistakes along the way. Julien shares his transparent journey, including his non-traditional Canadian financing strategies, the specific digital business models he targets, and the hard-earned “humble realist” lessons that came from both successful acquisitions and costly missteps. Whether you’re managing rental properties, exploring your first acquisition, or curious about “online real estate,” this conversation delivers a grounded, experience-driven look at what it truly takes to scale in the digital business landscape. Ready to rethink how you build wealth beyond physical assets? Watch the full episode now! Episode Highlights 10:51 Lessons Learned in Acquisition 13:28 The Importance of Relationships in Business 16:16 Structuring the Deal 21:01 Navigating Business Financing and Debt 22:11 The Dangers of Overdue Diligence 25:25 Making Decisions with Incomplete Information 29:45 Lessons from a Business Acquisition Failure 36:12 The Importance of Leadership and Networking 40:41 The Journey of an Entrepreneur: Risks and Rewards Key Takeaways ➥ Real estate can provide passive income but requires management. ➥ Buying an existing business can be less risky than starting from scratch. ➥ Due diligence is important but can be misleading if overanalyzed. ➥ Networking is crucial for entrepreneurial success. ➥ Entrepreneurship requires resilience and adaptability. About Julien Jacques Julien Jacques is a former real-estate investor and entrepreneur who pivoted into buying online businesses after a year-and-a-half of searching across franchises, retail, and other opportunities. He now owns Rocket Powered Sound, a digital products e-commerce business selling sample packs to music producers, and has firsthand experience in financing, acquiring, and scaling an online company in Canada. Julien’s practical transition from physical assets to “online real estate” gives him a unique perspective on acquisition due diligence, margin dynamics in digital products, and how to turn acquisition opportunities into reliable income streams. Connect with Julien Jacques ➥ https://www.linkedin.com/in/juljacques/ Resource Links ➥ Connect with Jaryd here - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jarydkrause➥ Buying Online Businesses Website - https://buyingonlinebusinesses.com ➥ Download the Due Diligence Framework - https://buyingonlinebusinesses.com/freeresources/➥ Sell your business to us here - https://buyingonlinebusinesses.com/sell-your-business/ ➥ Google Ads Service - https://buyingonlinebusinesses.com/ads-services/ Buy & Sell Online Businesses Here (Top Website Brokers We Use)

This is our daily Tech and Business report. KCBS Radio News Anchor Holly Quan spoke with Bloomberg's Reshmi Basu. A year after acquiring Neiman Marcus, Saks is filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

Kasa has acquired Mint House at a moment when much of the urban apart-hotel sector has collapsed. In this GMH special, Wil Slickers sits down with Kasa Founder and CEO Roman Pedan to break down how the deal came together, why Mint House chose Kasa, and what this acquisition signals about the future of urban short-term rentals and apart-hotels. With Sonder now gone and capital having pulled back from the category, Roman explains how Kasa survived the shakeout, what it did differently, and whether consolidation is just getting started. They also discuss how Kasa plans to use the Mint House brand, what this means for property owners, and whether more acquisitions could be coming in 2026. This conversation offers a clear look at one of the last scaled players standing in urban lodging and what comes next for the sector. Read more about this news here! Connect with Skift: LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ WhatsApp: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://facebook.com/skiftnews⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Threads: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.threads.net/@skiftnews⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Bluesky: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/skiftnews.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ X: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/skift⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Subscribe to ⁠@SkiftNews⁠ and never miss an update from the travel industry.

In this episode of Tank Talks, host Matt Cohen sits down with Michael Platt, CEO of Carma Corp., and lifelong friend, to explore his incredible journey from corporate lawyer to building and selling one of Canada's leading sub-metering companies.Michael shares how he transitioned from practicing law to launching a self-funded search fund, ultimately acquiring Carma Corp., a family-run business he scaled from 40,000 to over 135,000 customers nationwide. He opens up about the challenges of cold-calling owners, managing a solo search process, and living out of a motel during due diligence, all while learning the ropes of entrepreneurship on the fly.He also dives into the bold decisions that fueled Carma's growth, from strategic acquisitions like Priority Submetering and Spectrum Building Services to the recent landmark sale to CVC DIF. He reflects on lessons from missed deals, imposter syndrome, and why relationships are the real key to success in M&A.From humble beginnings to leading a national powerhouse, Michael's story is one of persistence, grit, and lifelong learning. Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur, investor, or operator, this conversation offers an honest look at what it takes to go “all in” and build something extraordinary.From Corporate Law to Entrepreneurship (02:45)* Michael's roots in a family of lawyers, and his early career in corporate tax law.* The “non-merit-based” soft skills learned as a junior lawyer: preparation, punctuality, and clear communication.* The decision to supplement his skills with business courses leading him to a new path in management consulting.The Search Fund Journey: Going Rogue (10:17)* Why Michael chose the self-funded search path over the traditional model for greater flexibility.* The grueling process: building a team of unpaid analysts, sourcing thousands of leads, and the power of relentless follow-up.* The 23-month proprietary pursuit of Carma, including an 8-month stint living in a Lindsay motel to build trust and conduct diligence.Acquiring and Scaling Carma Corp (18:40)* Finding the right capital partner in Terranova Partners.* Stepping in as CEO and fostering a “soft landing” with the existing team.* The acquisition strategy that fueled growth: buying competitors like Priority Submetering and expanding services with Spectrum Building Services.* Scaling from 40 to 225 employees and from 40,000 to 135,000 customer accounts.Navigating a Landmark Sale to CVC DIF (31:44)* Recognizing the right time to sell and the decision to go to market.* The intense, year-long sale process: working with Jefferies, meeting global buyers, and running an auction.* Why CVC Dif was the ideal partner for Carma's next chapter.* The key takeaway: it takes a deep bench of advisors, investors, and a strong leadership team to reach the finish line.Lessons on Resilience and Building (35:25)* Michael's pride in what the team built and the people he built it with.* Advice for aspiring searchers: “You have to be all in” and hold yourself accountable.* The life lessons that guided him: “The Man in the Arena” and “This too shall pass.”About Michael PlattMichael Platt is a serial operator and entrepreneur. He is the CEO and visionary behind Carma Corp., a leading sub-metering provider in Canada. After a career in corporate law and management consulting, Michael successfully launched a search fund, acquired Carma, and scaled it dramatically before leading its successful sale to CVC DIF in a landmark deal. He remains dedicated to Carma's future growth as its CEO.Connect with Michael Platt on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-plattVisit the Carma Corp. website: https://carmacorp.com/Connect with Matt Cohen on LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/matt-cohen1Visit the Ripple Ventures website: https://www.rippleventures.com/ This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit tanktalks.substack.com

New camera footage emerged from the fatal shooting involving an ICE officer in Minneapolis. Footage from the officer's POV shows how dangerous the situation was as the driver accelerates directly at him. Law enforcement of all kinds receives very little appreciation for the dangerous situations they encounter everyday. Congressman Dan Crenshaw, a former Navy SEAL gives his take as left-wing media and Democrats paint a shameful picture of the ICE agent involved. Democrats are using hyperbolic language on President Trump's actions in Venezuela. The indictment on Nicolás Maduro has been in place since 2020 and his extraction from Venezuela is legally justified. The current Vice President of Venezuela Delcy Rodríguez is a Communist that hates the United States and western ideologies. President Trump's motives are to align Venezuela with U.S. interest when it comes to oil and resources and it is yet to be seen if Rodríguez will cooperate with the United States. It was hours before Congressman Crenshaw was set to fly to Nashville before Shawn Ryan cancelled his appearance on The Shawn Ryan Show. He is bringing the receipts today to clear up rumors of insider trading and exactly what went down between himself and Shawn Ryan. Featuring: Rep. Dan Crenshaw U.S. Congressman | Texas, District 2 https://crenshaw.house.gov/ FREE CONTENT FRIDAY: https://www.seanspicer.com/p/media-exploits-minneapolis-tragedy Today's show is sponsored by: Boll & Branch The key to wellness starts with a good night's sleep. Making your night's sleep better starts with quality sheets. Boll & Branch sheets start unbelievably soft and get softer over time. Boll & Branch sheets are made with the finest 100% organic cotton in a soft, breathable, durable weave. If you're looking for sheets that last, feel amazing, and help you sleep better, Boll & Branch is where it's at. Feel the difference an extraordinary night's sleep can make with Boll & Branch. Just head to https://www.bollandbranch.com/SPICER for 15% OFF and FREE SHIPPING. ------------------------------------------------------------- 1️⃣ Subscribe and ring the bell for new videos: https://youtube.com/seanmspicer?sub_confirmation=1 2️⃣ Become a part of The Sean Spicer Show community: https://www.seanspicer.com/ 3️⃣ Listen to the full audio show on all platforms: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sean-spicer-show/id1701280578 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/32od2cKHBAjhMBd9XntcUd iHeart: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-the-sean-spicer-show-120471641/ 4️⃣ Stay in touch with Sean on social media: Facebook: https://facebook.com/seanmspicer Twitter: https://twitter.com/seanspicer Instagram: https://instagram.com/seanmspicer/ 5️⃣ Follow The Sean Spicer Show on social media: Facebook: https://facebook.com/seanspicershow Twitter: https://twitter.com/seanspicershow Instagram: https://instagram.com/seanspicershow Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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Michael Becker, Assistant Professor of International Human Rights Law at Trinity College Dublin, assesses the latest situation in Venezuela after President Maduro's ousting and the ramifications for Greenland and NATO.

Guest: Gregory Copley. President Trump's interest in acquiring or occupying Greenland is driven by the island's strategic value for polar routes, satellite contact, and missile positioning, though Copley argues that administration claims regarding Russian and Chinese provocation in the area are exaggerated to justify the move. While the U.S. seeks to enforce a version of the Monroe Doctrine across the Americas to ensure hegemonic control, this approach risks alienating loyal allies like Denmark, especially since the Greenlandic people have no desire to become Americansdespite close defense ties.1770 GREENLAND

Full Consulting for 2026. Get Full Access to me and my team, all courses, and we'll dive into Search Questions, Deal Review, Deal Structure, Raising Money, etc.!  Areas I can help with: * Buying and Selling Businesses * All things Acquiring and Searching for a business to buy.  * Understanding CIMs / Business Summaries * Due Diligence on Businesses * Go-To-Market Strategies * Investing in Searchers * Podcasting * Exit Prep * Leaving Corporate America for Business Ownership, How do you not run out of money? How can you get your spouse on board?, etc.   Letsbuyabusiness.com/2026  

From walking away from e-commerce to building a $50K-per-month profitable brand. This episode shows what happens when you stop quitting and fix the real problem.In today's episode of High Voltage Business Builders, Neil sits down with Jared Jones, a Voltage client who originally dismissed e-commerce entirely. After acquiring a struggling Amazon business, Jared identified a single product issue holding everything back. Fixing that one problem changed the trajectory of the entire brand.This conversation breaks down what real business ownership looks like, why most people quit too early, and how process, patience, and reinvestment turn chaos into a scalable asset.In This Episode, We Cover:✅ Why Jared originally ignored e-commerce and what changed his mindset✅ The difference between being an operator and being an owner✅ How a failing product almost killed the business and why fixing it mattered✅ What it takes to relaunch a broken Amazon brand✅ How reinvesting profits fuels compounding growth✅ Why Amazon alone is not a complete business✅ Building an omnichannel brand with a 3-5 year exit in mind

Dr. David Tolin is the Founder & Director of the Anxiety Disorders Center at the Institute of Living, the author of over 200 scientific journal articles & even received the Award for Lifetime Contribution to Psychology from the CT Psychological Association, but you may recognize him from the reality TV series Hoarders, The OCD Project or My Shopping Addiction. In this episode he shares what diagnosing hoarding disorder looks like, what brain scans reveal & the myth of trauma. This episode originally aired November 27, 2023.If you liked this episode, you'll also like episode 208: TRIGGER WARNINGS: MAKING US FRAGILE OR HELPING US HEAL? Guest: https://drtolin.com/homehttps://www.linkedin.com/in/drdavidtolin/https://a.co/d/hDRDee8 Host:  https://www.meredithforreal.com/  https://www.instagram.com/meredithforreal/ meredith@meredithforreal.comhttps://www.youtube.com/meredithforreal  https://www.facebook.com/meredithforrealthecuriousintrovert  Sponsors: https://www.jordanharbinger.com/starterpacks/ https://www.historicpensacola.org/about-us/  02:38 — How common hoarding really is04:05 — When clutter ≠ hoarding disorder05:00 — Why letting go feels painful06:02 — What actually causes hoarding08:00 — Attention, cognition, vulnerability10:00 — Why empathy changes everything11:05 — ADHD, brain scans, and myths14:10 — The “salience network” explained15:05 — Why clutter fades into the background16:00 — When every object feels urgent17:05 — Decision-making becomes unbearable18:10 — Avoidance as survival strategy20:00 — Why animal hoarding is different23:00 — What people actually hoard24:00 — When hoarding becomes extreme25:10 — Digital hoarding counts too26:05 — Emails, photos, and emotional pain27:00 — Objects as identity30:15 — The downward arrow technique31:20 — Why therapists and patients talk past each other32:15 — Anthropomorphizing our stuff33:20 — Why kids' toys still haunt us34:15 — Grief as an accelerant35:20 — Stuff as memory protection36:10 — Acquiring as mood regulation37:10 — When retail therapy backfires38:15 — Emotion regulation gone wrong39:10 — Compassion without enabling40:05 — Boundaries that don't abandon41:10 — Why insight takes repetition42:15 — Therapy isn't one magic moment43:10 — How to stay anchored in reality44:05 — Questions that interrupt impulse45:10 — Why self-questioning works better46:15 — What “success” actually looks like47:15 — Managing vs curing hoarding48:10 — Exposure therapy in real life49:10 — TJ Maxx as a trigger50:05 — Sitting with discomfort on purpose51:10 — Rewriting your relationship with stuff52:05 — How hoarding changed his own habits53:10 — Keeping what truly serves you54:05 — Buried in Treasures and next steps55:10 — Final reflections on stuff and selfRequest to join my private Facebook Group, MFR Curious Insiders https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1BAt3bpwJC/

SoftBank is fronting $4 billion to buy DigitalBridge (DBRG). George Tsilis talks about why the firm is making a 10-digit offer for the digital infrastructure company. Amazon (AMZN) started Monday's session lower even after Evercore ISI labeled the Mag 7 company as a top pick for 2026. George later turns to the housing market and explains why JPMorgan cut its price target for the stock. ======== Schwab Network ========Empowering every investor and trader, every market day. Subscribe to the Market Minute newsletter - https://schwabnetwork.com/subscribeDownload the iOS app - https://apps.apple.com/us/app/schwab-network/id1460719185Download the Amazon Fire Tv App - https://www.amazon.com/TD-Ameritrade-Network/dp/B07KRD76C7Watch on Sling - https://watch.sling.com/1/asset/191928615bd8d47686f94682aefaa007/watchWatch on Vizio - https://www.vizio.com/en/watchfreeplus-exploreWatch on DistroTV - https://www.distro.tv/live/schwab-network/Follow us on X – https://twitter.com/schwabnetworkFollow us on Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/schwabnetworkFollow us on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/schwab-network/ About Schwab Network - https://schwabnetwork.com/about

If you thought getting customers was the hard part, you haven't paid the price of losing them. In this follow-up episode, Dan Kennedy and Bill Glazer reveal the second half of their 14 strategies for keeping customers glued to you emotionally, financially, and even psychologically. You'll hear why making it painful to leave is smart business, how to spot a defection before it happens, and why triggering a customer's ego might be your most profitable retention tool. Miss these strategies, and you'll keep paying to acquire one-time customers... while someone smarter keeps them for life. MagneticMarketing.com NoBSLetter.com

Dan Abel Jr. is the Chief Chocolate Officer of two beloved St. Louis-based companies: Chocolate Chocolate Chocolate Company and Bissinger's Handcrafted Chocolatier. Dan occasionally goes by another nickname: “Willy Wonka of the Midwest.” But no matter what you call him, he'll never forget his roots. Dan is a 2nd Generation Chocolatier & son of the founder of Chocolate Chocolate Chocolate Company. Along with his two siblings, Dan oversees the operations of both Chocolate Chocolate Chocolate Company and Bissinger's Handcrafted Chocolatier. Manufacturing, distribution, national sales channel and product development are the key areas to Dan's focus. Currently the Abel family is expanding its manufacturing facility, adding a bar and a café – and Dan is very instrumental in the construction management and development of both concepts while continuing to push growth. Dan is married with three children –enjoys playing golf, gardening with his young children and spending time with his family. In This Conversation We Discuss:[00:00] Intro[00:32] Sponsor: Taboola[01:48] Growing ventures through deep personal ties[03:01] Finding purpose through early hands-on work[04:29] Optimizing small resources for maximum impact[05:53] Building presence through hands-on outreach[07:56] Leveraging sampling to win customer trust[09:00] Sponsor: Next Insurance[10:12] Creating impact with hands-on marketing[15:18] Callouts[15:28] Attending trade shows to drive direct sales[16:35] Sponsor: Electric Eye[17:44] Sponsor: Freight Fright[19:44] Acquiring companies to accelerate growth[26:11] Delivering customer value despite COVID pressure[30:25] Creating connection through thoughtful service[31:41] Reinvesting in technology to enhance experience[34:34] Experimenting with old and new strategies [35:25] Solving problems through direct involvementResources:Subscribe to Honest Ecommerce on YoutubeHandcrafted Artisan Chocolates chocolatechocolate.com/Handcrafted Chocolatier  bissingers.com/Follow Dan Abel Jr. linkedin.com/in/dan-abel-jr-15541765Reach your best audience at the lowest cost! discover.taboola.com/honest/Easy, affordable coverage that grows with your business nextinsurance.com/honest/Schedule an intro call with one of our experts electriceye.io/connectTurn your domestic business into an international business freightright.com/honestIf you're enjoying the show, we'd love it if you left Honest Ecommerce a review on Apple Podcasts. It makes a huge impact on the success of the podcast, and we love reading every one of your reviews!

Most business owners obsess over getting customers, and then give almost ZERO thought to keeping them. Don't be one of those people. In this episode, Dan Kennedy and Bill Glazer expose the high cost of customer churn, reveal the real reasons customers vanish and deliver 7 no-fluff strategies for turning one-time buyers into loyal lifetime customers . From avoiding the lazy trap of price competition to engineering real engagement, this episode is part 1 of a masterclass in building customer allegiance that actually pays (big time). MagneticMarketing.com NoBSLetter.com

Heather Reekie - Casa de Corazón On Working With the SBA: "Getting the SBA loan was literally the hardest thing I've ever done. And I've given birth twice, naturally." We all wish we were smarter.  As we get older, it becomes more difficult to learn new things. What if children could learn new things while they have a developing brain that can handle faster education.  What if you could immerse a child into an environment that helps children learn another language, eat healthy and fresh food and do it all with peers that are learning and playing alongside you?  It is with questions like these that Casa de Corazón got started. Heather Reekie is the owner of the Madison, Wisconsin based Casa de Corazón.  She shares her inspiring journey from speech and language pathologist to entrepreneur, detailing the transformation of an old translation office into a thriving early childhood center focused on nurturing bilingual minds and compassionate hearts. She highlights Casa de Corazón's unique approach, including their in-house app for real-time parent updates, commitment to organic meals and sustainable practices, and the importance of intercultural learning. Heather details the challenges of launching a business, the joys of fostering a strong community, and the impact of quality early education. Listen as Heather gives more insights into how passion and purpose can create lasting change, one child at a time. Enjoy! Visit Heather at: https://casaearlylearning.com/location/madison-wi/ https://www.instagram.com/casa.madison.wi/   Podcast Overview: 00:00 "Bilingual Boost at Casa" 06:54 "Acquiring a Language-Focused Property" 16:20 "Connected to Franchise Core Values" 17:17 "Eco-Friendly Childcare Practices" 23:33 Franchisee Frustration with Franchisors 29:09 "Teachers Genuinely Care Deeply" 33:39 "Raising Thriving, Empathetic Early Learners" 42:15 Playground Requirements and Safety Standards 44:48 "Overcoming Leadership and Loan Challenges" 53:19 "Staff Excellence and Parent Resources" 59:12 Infant Curriculum and Monthly Themes 01:02:37 Storm Shelter and Flags Display 01:07:09 "Elevator and Furnace Challenges" Sponsors: Live Video chat with our customers here with LiveSwitch: https://join.liveswitch.com/gfj3m6hnmguz Some videos have been recorded with Riverside: https://www.riverside.fm/?utm_campaign=campaign_5&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_source=rewardful&via=james-kademan Podcast Transcription: Heather Reekie [00:00:00]: But the Casa app is special to the Casa brand and it's real time updates on what your child is doing throughout the day, including photos. So that's throughout the day innovation. Yep, yep. And so you know, like no notates when the child falls asleep for rest time or what they, you know, how much of the lunch they ate and you know when they used the bathroom or had a diaper change and that kind of thing. James Kademan [00:00:23]: Holy cow. So that's cool. Heather Reekie [00:00:26]: It's informative and just fun to interact with as well. James Kademan [00:00:35]: You have found Authentic Business Adventures, the business program that brings you the struggle stories and triumphant successes of business owners across the land. Downloadable audio episodes can be found on the podcast link found drawincustomers.com we are locally underwritten by the bank of Sun Prairie and today we're welcoming slash preparing to learn from Heather Ricci of I'm going to destroy this. But I don't mean to Casa de Corazón remotely close Casa de Corazón and I just learned is that House of Hearts. Heather Reekie [00:01:05]: House of Hearts. House of Love. James Kademan [00:01:07]: All right, very cool. So let's go on. What do you do, Heather? Heather Reekie [00:01:12]: Well, so I'm the owner operator of Casa de Corazon Madison, which is a franchise from the corporate offices which are in Minnesota and we opened almost exactly two years ago, November 15th of 2023. James Kademan [00:01:28]: Nice. Heather Reekie [00:01:28]: And so I am trying to keep. James Kademan [00:01:31]: Running the place and this place, I gotta say, this place is huge. I expected a little daycare and this is. We're in two story building. Heather Reekie [00:01:41]: Yes. James Kademan [00:01:42]: In what I would consider to be the southern heart of Madison. So we get the belt line right here and all that. So I got a lot of questions for you, so let's just knock it out first. So Heather, tell me about the Spanish immersion. Heather Reekie [00:01:54]: So that's the icing on the cake of just a really high quality childcare and preschool situation. Here at Casa de Corazón, Spanish immersion is help helping grow the synapses in the children's brain. So even if you don't go on to a bilingual or Spanish immersion elementary school after attending casa, you will have reaped the benefits of growing your brain cells by becoming bilingual or learning a second or sometimes in some cases a third language. Because what it does is it gives you multiple words for the same vocabulary and the same sentence structure. And all you're just learning all of these ways to think about language. It increases your empathy, it increases your ability to start talking at a younger age and communicate your thoughts and feelings. One mom told me about her two children who attend here. They're siblings and they speak in Spanish when they're playing together at home. James Kademan [00:03:00]: It's oh nice. Heather Reekie [00:03:01]: Sounds really adorable. And then they're code switching when they're talking to her because they know that she's not fluent in Spanish like they are and so they'll switch to English to talk to. James Kademan [00:03:10]: I'm just imagining a pair of kids that know a language that the parents don't. I don't know if it's good or bad. Heather Reekie [00:03:14]: Yeah, it could be fun. James Kademan [00:03:16]: Interesting. So the, the age. I guess I never asked you that. What are the ages that attend here? Heather Reekie [00:03:23]: We are licensed to provide care for children starting at six weeks and then up through school age. So we have had some school age children attend on days off of school school, you know, old older siblings a lot of times and also in the summer when they're not in public school or the school year school and but technically the franchise caters to birth through four year old kindergarten. James Kademan [00:03:52]: Okay. Heather Reekie [00:03:52]: Right before they would go to 5 year old kindergarten in an elementary school. James Kademan [00:03:57]: Tell me. So the daycare is way back when I had to deal with daycares and stuff like that when I had a kid. I shouldn't say I did, my wife did. I didn't have anything to do with it, but I learned from other people that there's wait lists and all that other kind of stuff. Where are you guys at with the wait list? Or is there a wait list or that whole people can't find daycare anywhere? Is that still a thing? Heather Reekie [00:04:19]: It can be, yes. Because we're still Fairly new at 2 years old, we have been able to enroll children for their desired start date. So we do have a wait list. It's through the branded CASA app it's called. And we keep track of families based on when they tour and when they want to enroll their child. And for certain ages, the younger the child wants to be enrolled, those are our smaller classrooms with lower teacher to student ratios. So those ones fill up more quickly. And then because we're still like the children who started with us at a young age haven't grown into be a three year old and able to attend or be enrolled in one of our older age level classrooms where the ratios increase so those classrooms are not full. Heather Reekie [00:05:20]: And we are sitting in one of our our 11th classroom which we haven't opened yet. We've opened the other 10, but this is our pre K room. The franchise calls it pre K which is essentially a four year old kindergarten classroom because we are currently combining the three And a half year olds and four year olds together. James Kademan [00:05:39]: Okay. Heather Reekie [00:05:40]: In our two preschool B classrooms. So there's a little multi age learning going on right now and so we have more capacity to enroll those older children right now. James Kademan [00:05:54]: Well, I imagine if somebody starts with you at birth or early, whatever, six weeks that they'll go with you through until they get to school age, is. Heather Reekie [00:06:03]: That safe to say that is the, the most beneficial way to benefit from a Spanish immersion environment. James Kademan [00:06:10]: Yeah. Heather Reekie [00:06:11]: And just the high quality education and the loving teachers. Yeah. Yes. That is the, the corporate idea is that the children would start with us, you know, as soon as they find out about us whether their babies are a little bit older and then. Yes. Stay through that four year old year and then possibly go to kindergarten when they're five or six. James Kademan [00:06:32]: That's cool. That's super cool. They'll find out about you on a podcast. So it's all good. Tell me, how did you end up. A couple years ago you opened this place. So let's first talk about location. So to me this is pretty, I mean you can get to this place anywhere pretty easily. James Kademan [00:06:51]: So how did you end up in this building? Heather Reekie [00:06:54]: I had hired a broker to find a location and there just weren't a lot that were in a price range that I could afford. And so we looked at several options but kept coming back to this. And this used to be Geo Co. Geo Group, which did translations in all different languages for like manuals and, and auditory, verbal, you know, and written translations. I'm sure they did way more than that.

Gm! We're back with Dan Smith to discuss the latest happening in the Solana ecosystem. We deep dive into the new Lightspeed investor relations platform, takeaways from Breakpoint, the rise of prop AMMs & more. Enjoy! -- Follow Dan: https://x.com/smyyguy Follow Danny: https://x.com/defi_kay_ Follow Lightspeed: ⁠https://twitter.com/Lightspeedpodhq⁠ Join the Lightspeed Telegram: ⁠https://t.me/+QUl_ZOj2nMJlZTEx⁠ -- To find out more about the Lightspeed platform: https://x.com/Blockworks_/status/1999110569186701349 -- peaq, the Machine Economy Computer, proudly sponsors the Lightspeed podcast. peaq is home to 60+ apps across 20+ industries and millions of devices, machines, and onchain robots. It powers the world's first tokenized robo-farm, launching soon in Hong Kong, and has launched the Machine Economy Free Zone in Dubai as a Web3 x Robotics x AI innovation hub. For more about peaq, check out www.peaq.xyz -- Sablier is the leading onchain token distribution protocol — now on Solana. Trusted by top crypto teams, Sablier automates airdrops and vesting onchain, securely and transparently. Start in seconds at sablier.com. -- Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: ⁠https://blockworks.co/newsletter/⁠ -- (00:00) Introduction (02:22) The Lightspeed Investor Platform (09:59) Peaq Ad (10:25) Sablier Ad (10:54) Takeaways From Breakpoint (19:20) Can Solana Become The Everything Chain? (28:57) Token Value & Acquiring (40:37) Peaq Ad (41:02) Sablier Ad (41:31) Prop AMMs -- Disclaimers: Lightspeed was kickstarted by a grant from the Solana Foundation. Nothing said on Lightspeed is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Danny, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Judd, Jessi, and AJ discuss how expectations have shifted for the Wild after trading for Quinn Hughes. Is it truly Cup or bust? What sort of final piece could Bill Guerin look ato add via trade? Is Sidney Crosby a realistic option? Plus injury Updates for Minnesota and more!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Judd, Jessi, and AJ discuss how expectations have shifted for the Wild after trading for Quinn Hughes. Is it truly Cup or bust? What sort of final piece could Bill Guerin look ato add via trade? Is Sidney Crosby a realistic option? Plus injury Updates for Minnesota and more!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

You follow Demetri Papanicolau's winding path from Fidelity financial consultant to full-time booking agent and working musician, discovering how taking risks, saying yes to scary gigs, and learning from every stage moment shaped his career. You hear how singing AC/DC and Zeppelin in high school, drilling Beatles harmonies, and navigating the evolution from originals to covers built the chops he still relies on today. As you ride through stories of surprise band formations, COVID-era pivots, and the birth of Rotten Apple, you're reminded that you must Always Be Performing, even when the gig you expected turns into something entirely different. You also step inside Demetri's world at Notso Costley Productions, where booking is equal parts diplomacy, coaching, and reading the room. He breaks down what venues actually want, what musicians consistently get wrong, and how reliability wins more than draw. You learn how he balances the needs of solos, duos, trios, and full bands; why non-verbal communication and a good hang matter; how to build an EPK that gets you on a roster; and what happens when rates rise across the scene. Through it all, Demetri shows how being both booker and performer lets him guide bands and venues toward smoother nights, stronger partnerships, and gigs that keep everyone coming back. 00:00:00 Gig Gab 512 – Monday, December 15th, 2025 December 15th: National Cupcake Day Guest co-host: Demetri Papanicolau from Notso Costley Productions NAMM coming up! GG Coverage Sponsor: Ultimate Ears Pro! 00:02:19 From Fidelity Financial Consultant to Acquiring and running a Booking Agency Josh Logan, local to New Hampshire, did Rock Star Supernova and then The Voice And then…Demetri wins the Black Brimmer's Rock Star ManchVegas Doors opened! 00:05:33 Singing AC/DC and Zeppelin in high school to vocal lessons 00:06:06 Learning harmonies by singing The Beatles 00:07:32 Playing in an original band that became a cover band 00:10:05 Learning while not playing…big ears! Submitted to America's Got Talent 00:13:39 Taking new gigs even when they scare the heck out of you A Josh Logan cancelation leads to a band formation to sub! 00:16:02 It's not about the gigs you take, it's also about the gigs you don't take Be selective! 00:17:17 Alice and Chains becomes the thread to the story 00:18:51 COVID derails (and delays) some gigs…oh how we remember! October and November, 2020 When an acoustic duo gig turns into a full band on stage Rotten Apple forms! A tribute to Alice and Chains 00:22:28 Always performing with passion …and perfection! Developing that non-verbal communication 00:28:22 Bonding as harmony singers When you find that magic formula with someone, stick with it! 00:33:41 Putting the time in for continuous growth Maintaining beginner's mind 00:34:07 Finding those right partners where it's a good hang When your FOH Jim Roese, FOH with Fuel, Melissa Etheridge, and also Rotten Apple 00:37:44 Running a booking agency Working for both the venue and the performer Having a roster of musicians: solos, duos, trios, full bands Being in the performer's shoes helps Demetri be a coach to bands AND venues to ensure smooth sailing 00:42:48 Reading the room goes a long 00:44:15 Demetri's advice for making it work (or not work) To get on the roster: Have a good EPK and promo kit Once you're on: responsiveness, being available, managing your schedule 00:46:24 Demetri's biggest juggling act: adapting to last-minute changes The time Casual Gravity cancelled last minute! Reliability is huge 00:54:17 Venue feedback Draw isn't always the most important thing Be a pro on the mic. Represent the venue. Play the right songs. Keeping the venues happy allows Demetri to book his roster of performers 00:57:43 Raising rates for the performer New rates for 2025 $230-$250 for solo (from $170-$200 three years ago) $450-$500 for duo $660-$700 for trio $700-$1,000 for bands (or more for A-List prices) Balancing rates between performers and venues, ensuring everyone is profitable 01:05:03 Carrying on Paul Costley's legacy and tradition with Nosto Costley Productions Took a voluntary buyout package from Fidelity to make the time to acquire the agency 12/31/2021 was the day Demetri took over…and stopped cutting his hair 01:09:20 Gig Gab 512 Outtro Follow Demetri Papanicolau Notso Costley Productions On IG @DemetriPapanicolau Contact Gig Gab! @GigGabPodcast on Instagram feedback@giggabpodcast.com Sign Up for the Gig Gab Mailing List The post Booking Smarter, Singing Harder: Demetri Papanicolau on Gig Life — Gig Gab 512 appeared first on Gig Gab.

This is the full conversation I had with Will Smith and Niklas James on the Acquiring Minds podcast in April of 2025. We broke down how I bought Somewhere.com, how I run my real estate private equity firm, and how I leverage offshore talent to scale revenue while saving costs. We discussed how I think about building teams, why sales is the foundation of all businesses, and why buying a company isn't a shortcut, it's a challenge most people aren't ready for.If you're thinking about buying a business, this episode will show you the side of acquisitions people rarely talk about. Big thanks to Will Smith for having me on, follow him here: https://x.com/whentheresawill Check out more of his work here: https://acquiringminds.co/episodes Also shoutout to Niklas James from Minds Capital for co-hosting this conversation with Will. https://x.com/NiklasWJ In the intro, I mentioned that you should check out this episode from Acquiring Minds that came out just before Thanksgiving, episode 407 with Linh Tran. He quit corporate, bought a small HVAC business, scaled it, and now makes over $5M a year with a CEO running it for him. It's a really good episode: https://acquiringminds.co/articles/linh-tran-advanced-commercial-group-apex-fund Grow your business:   https://sweatystartup.com/events   Book:   https://www.amazon.com/Sweaty-Startup-Doing-Boring-Things/dp/006338762X     Newsletter:   https://www.nickhuber.com/newsletter     My Companies:   Offshore recruiting – https://somewhere.com   Cost segregation – https://recostseg.com   Self storage – https://boltstorage.com   RE development – http://www.boltbuilders.com   Brokerage – https://nickhuber.com   Paid ads – https://adrhino.com   SEO – https://boldseo.com   Insurance – https://titanrisk.com   Pest control – https://spidexx.com     Sell a business:   http://nickhuber.com/sell     Buy a business:   https://www.nickhuber.com/buy     Invest with me:   http://nickhuber.com/invest     Social Profiles:   X – https://www.x.com/sweatystartup   Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/sweatystartup   TikTok – https://www.tiktok.com/404?fromUrl=/sweatystartup   LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/sweatystartup     Podcasts:   The Sweaty Startup & The Nick Huber Show   https://open.spotify.com/show/7L5zQxijU81xq4SbVYNs81     Free PDF – How to analyze a self-storage deal:   https://sweatystartup.ck.page/79046c9b03  

Servitude; Bondage; Slavery; Critical topic; Debt; "gods many"; "son of God" title; Firing the moneychangers; Statues; Abraham's story; Defining "servitude"; "Inalienable rights"; "Covenants of the gods" book; Sureties for debt; Sharing with the needy; Pension story; Imagined entitlements; What a free government looks like - Leviticus; 13th amendment; Corporate persons; Worshipping metaphors; Workers of iniquity; Learning how to be free; "Altars"; Q from Mark: Employment?; Protection?; Bondage of Egypt; Consequences of oppression; Social Security insurance?; Christ's answer; Taxes vs tithes; Moses freeing the people; Asking the right teacher; "Saved already"?; Modern Christians mimicking pharisees; Q from Katwellair: Noahide laws?; Mark responds; Idolatry; Gen 9:4; Tearing from neighbors' flesh; Loving neighbor; Daily sacrifice; Acquiring wisdom; Christ's commands; Taking back your responsibilities; Body of Christ; Levites; "Corvee"; Amish?; Masses yearning for free stuff; "Judeo-Christian values"?; vs Covetous practices; Family corporation; Rev 18:11; What happens after death?; Surrendering; Seeking His kingdom and righteousness; Simplicity of Christ's process; Collapsing the economy; Gathering in Tens, Hundreds and Thousands; Possession; "Cash"; Centering your faith; Private interpretation; Fear not!

Mike & JD are back from Thanksgiving break discussing Netflix's acquisition of WBD. All the details, what they're actually getting, and the hurdles in the way. We also detail how this could potentially affect AEW. Then we talk about TNA's new TV deal with AMC, Mike calls out all the non-believers, and then Mike breaks down TNA Final Resolution 2025.For premium, exclusive Mike & JD content head to patreon.com/themikeandjdshow.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

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Another major shake up is coming to the streaming sphere as Netflix agrees to acquire Warner Bros Studios. The $125B acquisition includes HBO Max - giving them the rights to shows like Game of Thrones, Succession, and Euphoria. Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos has said theatrical releases will become more limited, as Netflix sees them as not 'consumer friendly'. Wall Street Journal media and entertainment reporter Joe Flint told Heather du Plessis Allan, "generally Wall Street and Hollywood already felt Netflix was the king. So yes, if this goes through, not only are they the king, but they've probably extended their reign by 100 years or so." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The legendary Scotty Bowman, the winningest coach in NHL history, joins Neil and Vic for the inaugural episode of NHL Wraparound Hall of Fame Edition. At 91 years old, Bowman shares remarkable stories from his seven-decade journey through hockey, from his childhood in Verdun to building dynasties in Montreal, Pittsburgh, and Detroit. He discusses his mentorship under Sam Pollock, the evolution of the game, coaching superstars, and the challenges facing teams trying to rebuild in today's NHL.IN THIS EPISODE:[00:00] - Launching NHL Wraparound Hall of Fame Edition franchise with hockey's greatest coach, Scotty Bowman.[03:00] - Bowman's Scottish immigrant father arriving in Montreal in 1929 as a blacksmith for the CNR railway, and growing up in Verdun.[06:00] - Learning French naturally on the streets of Verdun and perfecting bilingual skills coaching French-Canadian players in Ottawa.[08:00] - Growing up as a Boston Bruins fan, not a Canadiens fan, listening to games on radio with his father writing down scores.[11:00] - How his father worked on building the Verdun Auditorium in 1939 - the same building later named after Scotty and his brother.[13:00] - Transitioning from playing to coaching after injury, and the pivotal mentorship of Sam Pollock beginning in junior hockey.[14:00] - Sam Pollock's genius as a GM: learning the business from the ground up in Ottawa, selling ads, arranging housing, and understanding hockey operations.[16:00] - The evolution from coaching junior hockey to scouting, and how Sam Pollock brought Bowman into the Canadiens organization.[19:00] - Sam Pollock's brilliance: 8 Stanley Cups in 13 seasons as GM, master of trading draft picks with expansion teams, and later success with the Toronto Blue Jays.[21:00] - Why there should be a Sam Pollock Trophy for GMs - the greatest general manager in hockey history.[23:00] - Pollock's draft pick wizardry: how he acquired picks that became Guy Lafleur, Steve Shutt, and Bob Gainey.[25:00] - The challenge of coaching today's entitled generation versus the players of previous eras.[26:00] - How Florida's Bill Zito works closely with Paul Maurice to get specific types of players - size, strength, and physicality over soft skill players.[28:00] - The difficulty of complete rebuilds: why stripping teams down to the girders (Chicago, San Jose) makes competing nearly impossible.[30:00] - The problem with half the league missing playoffs - how can you sell tickets when fans know their team has no shot?[32:00] - The infiltration of European hockey into NHL systems, and how taking a gamble on Russian players changed everything.[34:00] - Acquiring the Russian Five: Sergei Fedorov's defensive brilliance, Vladimir Konstantinov's tragic injury, and the Lou Lamoriello connection that brought Slava Fetisov to Detroit.[36:00] - Adding Viacheslav Kozlov and Larry Murphy to complete the puzzle - parallels to Neil's Edmonton Oilers acquisitions for the 1994 Rangers.[38:00] - The entitlement problem with today's young stars drafted 1-8: they feel they've already made it before proving anything.[40:00] - Communication with superstars: never sugarcoating, always telling the truth even when players don't want to hear it.[43:00] - Buffalo's 13-year playoff drought and the challenge of selling tickets when your team can't compete.[44:00] - Guy Lafleur's difficult start: the pressure of being ordained as the next Jean Beliveau and transitioning from center to wing.[46:00] - Steve Yzerman's transformation: convincing a 150-point scorer to sacrifice offense, become a checker, and embrace defense to win championships.[48:00] - Florida's threepeat chances: the importance of the Seth Jones and Sam Bennett additions, and managing goaltending with 37-year-old Sergei Bobrovsky.[50:00] - The challenge of defending...

Meta has launched a new, unified support hub for Facebook and Instagram, X was fined 120 million euros by EU regulators, and Meta has established new licensing partnerships with various news organizations. MP3 Please SUBSCRIBE HERE for free or get DTNS Live ad-free. A special thanks to all our supporters–without you, none of this wouldContinue reading "Netflix Is Acquiring Warner Bros. For $83 Billion – DTH"

Paul McGuire Grimes is a film critic and media personality. He joins Scott Korzenowski to talk about the implications of Netflix acquiring Warner Brothers for almost $83 billion dollars. Paul discusses the changes to the business, to the production of art itself and the merging of differing content models that are unique to each platform. They also touch on the legal and administrative options the government has in the approval process for deals of this magnitude.

Join hosts Fr. Michael Trummer, Fr. Christopher Trummer, and Mary Bielski as they discuss what it truly means to be holy. This episode tackles the common misconception that holiness is boring and instead presents it as an adventurous pursuit of God. They explore how genuine holiness involves our humanity, unique personalities, and the transformation by God's grace. Be inspired by the call to live a life set apart and discover what makes sainthood appealing in today's world. Whether you're curious about holiness or seeking to deepen your spiritual journey, this conversation will embolden you to embrace the adventure of becoming a saint.    "Support Our Mission through Patreon patreon.com/TheNCLPodcast"   00:00 Introduction to Holiness 01:36 The Call to Adventure 03:17 Understanding True Holiness 04:54 Inspiration from the Saints 08:26 The Battle for Holiness 23:15 Embracing Trials and Suffering 34:35 The Radical Commitment to Holiness 35:34 Inoculated Against Authentic Christianity 36:02 The Joy of Following Christ Fully 36:30 Living a Life in the Spirit 37:47 The Process of Acquiring a Taste for God

Interview with Nick Smart, CEO of ValOre Metals Corp.Our previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/valore-metals-tsxvvo-pitch-perfect-november-2025-8623Recording date: 3rd December 2025ValOre Metals is executing an ambitious transformation from single-asset platinum-palladium explorer into an integrated precious metals producer operating across Brazil. Under CEO Nick Smart—an Anglo American veteran with 21 years of experience building and commissioning operations globally—the company is pursuing a dual-track strategy: advancing the flagship Pedra Branca PGM project towards production whilst acquiring near-term cash-flowing assets to accelerate transformation into a diversified producer.The platinum-palladium market has shifted dramatically from anticipated decline to structural deficit. Contrary to earlier predictions that electric vehicles would eliminate PGM demand, hybrid vehicles—now representing a larger automotive segment than pure EVs—actually require higher loadings of platinum and palladium in autocatalysts due to smaller engines operating at lower temperatures. This has created steady demand whilst years of low prices discouraged new supply investment.South Africa holds 90% of global PGM resources, but ageing deep-level operations face mounting operational challenges and costs. With relatively few development-stage projects globally and extended timelines for new supply even once financed, the supply deficit appears structural. Global platinum production approximates 6 million ounces annually—a fraction of gold's 120 million ounces—meaning modest demand shifts drive significant price impacts. Industrial catalyst applications and jewellery substitution for record-priced gold provide additional demand support.ValOre's Pedra Branca project in Ceará State, Brazil, offers compelling economics compared to traditional PGM operations. Most significantly, mineralisation extends to surface, enabling open-pit mining rather than the expensive 600-800 metre deep underground operations characterising South African production. This provides substantial cost advantages—open-pit mining is cheaper and faster to develop than underground operations requiring massive shaft infrastructure investment.The Pedra Branca project holds a 2.2 million ounce inferred resource at 1.08 grams per tonne, with higher-grade ore near surface providing advantages for early production economics. The asset spans 50,000 hectares with mineralisation extending over 80 kilometres, suggesting expansion potential. Infrastructure advantages—stable jurisdiction, excellent access, supportive government policies—compound the geological benefits.Accelerated Development PathwayValOre is leveraging Brazil's trial mining licensing programme, which allows demonstration-scale operations at approximately one-tenth of planned full capacity. For Pedra Branca, targeting eventual production of 150,000 ounces annually, the trial mining phase would operate at approximately 15,000 ounces per annum. Following a preliminary economic assessment by end-2026 and an 18-month construction period, the company expects H2 2028 production. This phased approach reduces capital intensity, enables operational refinement, and generates cash flow supporting subsequent expansion.ValOre is actively pursuing Brazilian precious metal projects (particularly gold assets) that have completed trial mining but require capital for full production. The company targets acquisitions in early 2026 that would provide production that same year, ramping through 2027-2028 as Pedra Branca advances. As a Discovery Group-backed entity with North American capital access, ValOre can provide financing that Brazilian-domiciled companies struggle to secure.Acquiring projects with existing operational teams, completed engineering work, and functioning demonstration plants accelerates production whilst building internal capability. This dual-track approach—near-term production via M&A alongside Pedra Branca development—aims to transform ValOre from explorer to diversified producer within compressed timeframes across multiple Brazilian operations, establishing production profile whilst maintaining leverage to potential PGM price recovery.View ValOre Metals' company profile: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/companies/valore-metalsSign up for Crux Investor: https://cruxinvestor.com

In this episode, Kevin Daisey sits down with legal marketing expert Gary Sarner to break down the true secrets of law firm growth. Together, they explore why small cases often generate more referrals than big ones, why intake is one of the most important parts of your business, and why authentic human connection still beats AI in building trust with clients. Gary and Kevin share real stories from years of working with law firms across the country and highlight what separates successful, growing firms from those that remain stuck. If you want to strengthen your culture, improve your service, and increase referrals, this conversation is packed with practical insights you can use right away. Today's episode is sponsored by The Managing Partners Mastermind. Click here to schedule an interview to see if we are a fit. Chapters (00:00:00) - Gary Sauner On The Managing Partners Podcast(00:04:08) - Law Firm Network: The Human Connection(00:06:38) - Law Firm Executives: AI Taking Over the Phone(00:09:14) - The Dictionary Additions Words From The 90s(00:10:17) - Acquiring a Client(00:10:57) - Law Firm Referral Business(00:17:14) - Chris Farley's Second Conference(00:18:26) - The Digital Law Firm Conference(00:20:03) - Ron and Gary on Law Firm Connections(00:25:47) - The Secret to Hiring the Best Lawyer(00:26:47) - Law Firm Review: The Settlement Sucked(00:29:14) - Small Cases Are Worth It(00:34:41) - Pimcon 2017: No Sales Pitch(00:35:30) - Jason Tackett On The Podcast(00:37:03) - When You Can't Attend A Metallica Concert(00:39:13) - Steve Perry on One Last Concert(00:41:41) - Gary and Steve Meet on LinkedIn

Get your own free copy of my 9 Minute Kettlebell and Bodyweight Challenge here => http://www.9MinuteChallenge.com  I'm joined on this episode once again by none other than kettlebell superstar Zack Henderson to talk about his annual Lift-A-Palooza event held each year during the last week of January.  Here's a list of all the fun stuff we talked about (according to the super genius AI cyborg type thing that I politely but firmly demanded to put together a list of topics for you to be able to pick and choose from): [0:00:02] Introduction to the episode and hosts. [0:00:23] Discussion about nicknames and owning your name online. [0:00:50] Acquiring personal domain names and issues with name spelling. [0:02:05] The importance and impact of using one's real name versus a nickname. [0:03:18] Screen names, social media identities, and meeting online connections in person. [0:04:16] First impressions of meeting people from social media in real life. [0:06:19] Tactical size and body image perspectives in fitness. [0:07:24] History and organization of the "Lift-a-Palooza" fitness event. [0:10:00] Online versus live (in-person) events post-COVID. [0:12:12] Structure and promise of Lift-a-Palooza: hands-on experience, guest instructors. [0:14:30] Details on guest coaches: Brett Jones (kettlebell training) and Jen Thompson (powerlifting). [0:17:57] Do coaches attend each other's sessions? Conference logistics and memorable past guests. [0:19:02] Reflections on last year's event and interactions between renowned coaches Dan John and Ed Cohn. [0:22:35] Changes in fitness culture: from niche to mainstream, impact of social media, and knowledge sharing before the Internet. [0:24:16] Visiting iconic gyms, the value of legacy in strength sports, and exclusive education from experts. [0:25:34] Social media's impact on fame and niche celebrities. [0:28:13] Comparing attention/fame pre-internet and today, value of in-person learning, and boundaries. [0:31:24] The value of deep learning, goal-setting, and fitness as culture. [0:32:35] Event logistics: ticket availability and group size at Lift-a-Palooza. [0:34:45] Where to find more information: www.ZackHenderson.com, YouTube. [0:35:00] Podcast closing remarks and mutual appreciation. Check Zack out at https://zackhenderson.com/  On YouTube you can find him at https://www.youtube.com/@ZackHenderson  If you like training that: · Gives you more strength than it takes from you · Improves your stamina and resilience simultaneously · Powers-up every nook, cranny, crevice, and corner of your Soft Machine Then you just might like my 9-Minute Kettlebell and Bodyweight Challenge. As the name indicates, it's just 9 minutes long, and it's designed to be done WITH your current workouts – NOT instead of them. Even cooler: Many find that it actually amplifies their strength in their favorite kettlebell and bodyweight moves, like presses, squats, pullups, and more. And best of all, it's free. How free? I'm talkin' freer than the 4th of July, my friend. Get thee thine own copy here:  http://www.9MinuteChallenge.com  Have fun and happy training! Aleks Salkin

After listening to Craig Breslow, the Red Sox may not be done with making moves this offseason and want to stay open to many other moves this offseason

In this episode of the Goal Crazy Podcast, host Jason VanDevere interviews Blake Serrano, an entrepreneur who has taken a unique path through business acquisition. Blake shares his journey from being a tech consultant to acquiring and running a fabric business. He discusses the challenges he faced, the lessons learned from previous ventures, and how he leveraged his tech background to innovate in the fabric industry. The conversation also touches on the importance of audience building, marketing strategies, and future aspirations in the evolving landscape of entrepreneurship.Website: https://sewsnip.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sew_snipTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sew_snipChapters00:00 The Journey to Entrepreneurship03:05 Discovering the Fabric Industry05:53 Initial Ventures and Lessons Learned08:58 Acquiring the Fabric Business11:53 Building an Online Presence14:45 Challenges and Solutions in Operations17:49 Scaling the Business20:38 Finding Stability and Growth23:31 The Power of Audience and Marketing26:32 Future Aspirations and Industry Insights

In this archive episode, we dive into the concept of “Profit First” E-commerce and why focusing solely on revenue can lead to big surprises. Karl O'Brien, Co-Founder of Store Hero, an e-commerce analytics tool, shares how their system helps store owners avoid common financial pitfalls by shifting their focus from top-line sales to bottom-line profitability. He explains how to gain a clear view of true profit and what to do with that information to drive business forward.Topics discussed in this episode:  Why many merchants get a profit shock at month's end. Why revenue-based decisions can hurt profits in e-commerce. How contribution margin bridges the gap between marketing and finance. What products are hidden cash cows or are actually unprofitable. How to calculate break-even point ROAS for individual products. Why Q4 strategy should be based on profit, not just sales.What Store Hero is: a profit-first e-commerce analytics tool. Links & Resources Website: https://storehero.ai/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/storehero/Twitter: https://twitter.com/StoreHeroApp Get access to more free resources by visiting the show notes at https://tinyurl.com/dsay245p______________________________________________________ LOVE THE SHOW? HERE ARE THE NEXT STEPS! Follow the podcast to get every bonus episode. Tap follow now and don't miss out! Rate & Review: Help others discover the show by rating the show on Apple Podcasts at https://tinyurl.com/ecb-apple-podcasts Join our Free Newsletter: https://newsletter.ecommercecoffeebreak.com/ Support The Show On Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/EcommerceCoffeeBreak Partner with us: https://ecommercecoffeebreak.com/partner-with-us/

3rd shiur - R' Chaim Schwartz Likutei Moharan Torah 7 TinyanaSubscribe to our WhatsApp status for exclusive updates, short clips and more. We are also available on Youtube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts.Download our english and hebrew pamphlets here

In 2020, we sat down with structural geologist Marcia Bjornerud on the Shape of the World for a conversation that reshaped how we think about time. We decided to revisit and re-release that episode. Marcia has continued to research and to write, and she has a new book out that we love; it's called Turning to Stone: Discovering the Subtle Wisdom of Rocks.   Marcia Bjornerud has published many professional papers (read mainly by expert academics in her field) and wrote two popular books that, in the opinion of this podcast, ought to be read by every inhabitant of our planet: Reading the Rocks (2005) and Timefulness: How Thinking Like a Geologist Can Change the World (2018). The first was an awe-inspiring, sometimes amusing and always relatable way of understanding the Earth itself. The second showed us a way to live on the Earth that respects how remarkable this planet is. Acquiring a better grasp of our planet's long history is what Marcia describes as “timefulness.” The concept of timefulness pushes back against the narrow perspectives and super-short time frames in which our modern societies generally operate. We each tend to think of our everyday life as singular, without precedent. Yet our lives are built upon a series of processes set in motion billions of years ago–and it's entirely possible that life on Earth may roll comfortably on for another billion. “Thinking like a geologist is about expanding our time frame, not seeing ourselves as the center of the cosmos, learning patience, understanding what lasts and what doesn't.” – Dr. Marcia Bjornerud is Professor of Geosciences and Environmental Studies at Lawrence University in Appleton, Wisconsin. She conducts structural geology field research in Norway, New Zealand, arctic Canada, Italy and the Lake Superior region. How to Find Out More Read Marcia's books. Order them from your favorite local bookstore. Her first two books, Timefulness: How Thinking Like a Geologist Can Help Save the World (2018) and Geopedia: A Brief Compendium of Geologic Curiosities (2022) were published through Princeton University Press and can be found here. Her most recent book, Turning to Stone: Discovering the Subtle Wisdom of Rocks, was published by Flatiron Books in 2024 and can be found here. You can also find some of Marcia's talks on YouTube. In the podcast, Marcia talks about the Surtsey volcano. This could be the exact same film Marcia describes having seen in grammar school. Marcia Bjornerud in front of what she calls her dream house in the Italian Apennines, not far from the famed Carrara Marble quarries. In fall of 2016, she taught a semester-long field course in the Marche region and returned to the United States around the time of the 2016 Presidential election. That election and its outcome was a major catalyst for her to write the book “Timefulness.”

Luke Helliker is a buy and hold real estate investor that has leveraged networking, house hacking, and value-add strategies to build a successful portfolio. Luke kicks things off by sharing how he acquired his first house hack and provides insights on the ADU process that he used to add a third legal unit. He lays out top considerations when converting a basement into a dwelling unit including the top dollar items. Luke talks about getting a 4-unit acquisition to the finish line, despite it involving violations and a difficult seller. Throughout this episode, Luke demonstrates how holding real estate for the long term has built him great wealth and how staying active in the market is the key to success! If you enjoy today's episode, please leave us a review and share with someone who may also find value in this content! ============= Connect with Mark and Tom: StraightUpChicagoInvestor.com Email the Show: StraightUpChicagoInvestor@gmail.com Properties for Sale on the North Side?  We want to buy them. Email: StraightUpChicagoInvestor@gmail.com Have a vacancy? We can place your next tenant and give you back 30-40 hours of your time. Learn more: GCRealtyInc.com/tenant-placement Has Property Mgmt become an opportunity cost for you? Let us lower your risk and give you your time back to grow. Learn more: GCRealtyinc.com ============= Guest: Luke Helliker Link: Luke Helliker - DocuSign | LinkedIn Link: EUBA Link: SUCI Ep 345 - Joey Turano Link: SUCI Ep 354 - Jake Fugman & Mike Scanlon Link: SUCI Ep 389 - Sebastian Mysliwiec Link: Rich Dad Poor Dad (Book Recommendation) Guest Questions:  03:15 Housing Provider Tip - Ensure to perform periodic checks on properties to identify issues that tenants may not bring up! 05:03 Intro to our guest, Luke Helliker! 13:19 Luke's first deal: a 2-unit house hack! 20:18 How to leverage the ADU process. 27:20 Funding an ADU project. 41:09 Navigating investing with your significant other. 43:15 Acquiring a 4-unit building in a competitive market! 58:47 Lessons learned on the 4-unit acquisition. 65:30 Luke's next investment targets. 66:19 What is your competitive advantage? 67:15 One piece of advice for new investors. 67:59 What do you do for fun? 69:19 Good book, podcast, or self development activity that you would recommend?  70:01 Local Network Recommendation?  70:30 How can the listeners learn more about you and provide value to you? ----------------- Production House: Flint Stone Media Copyright of Straight Up Chicago Investor 2025.

Bob and Dave are joined by Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times live at the VMAC to discuss the Seahawks acquiring Rashid Shaheed, what the offense would look like if Geno Smith was still in Seattle, and how the Seahawks rank among the best teams in the NFL, they break down how Shaheed will help Sam Darnold, and they hear Mike Macdoanld heap praise on Riq Woolen in Sweeping the Dial. 

Bump and Stacy react to the breaking news of the Seahawks reportedly acquiring Saints WR Rashid Shaheed, they give you their thoughts on the Sauce Gardner trade and Cal Raleigh being named an AL MVP Finalist in Headlines Rewrites, they react to a hypothetical blockbuster Mariners trade, and they try to figure out if the NFC West is the best division in the NFL right now. 

PREVIEW: South Korea, Plutonium, and Nuclear Proliferation Guest: Henry Sokolski Henry Sokolski addresses the Department of Energy's plutonium availability and the possibility of South Korea acquiring or producing plutonium to match North Korea's nuclear capabilities. Greenlighting South Korea to recycle plutonium and enrich uranium represents a major nonproliferation concern. South Korea already possesses some technology to pursue these capabilities independently, raising the stakes for policy decisions. The proliferation implications of allowing advanced nuclear fuel cycle technologies to spread beyond current holders pose significant regional and global security challenges.