Podcasts about Sleeping Giant

In this episode, we uncover the real reasons most insurance agencies struggle to grow and why relying on old-school sales tactics is no longer enough. We're joined by Andy Neary, who shares how he rebuilt his career from scratch in a market where no one knew him and why building a powerful personal brand became the game-changer that transformed his business.From the importance of patience in marketing, to the 90-day “this isn't working” phase, to the moment the hockey-stick breakthrough appears, this conversation is packed with the mindset, discipline, and strategy agency owners desperately need today. If you want to understand the core pillars of an effective marketing strategy and how consistency compounds into massive growth, this episode is your roadmap.Perfect for agency owners, producers, marketers, and anyone ready to stop surviving and start scaling.Join the elite ranks of P&C agents. Sign up for Agent Elite today and get exclusive resources to grow your agency!

Interview with Pascal Hamelin, President & CEO of Abcourt Mines Inc.Our previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/abcourt-mines-tsxvabi-new-quebec-producer-positioned-for-growth-cash-flow-buybacks-8051Recording date: 3rd December 2025Abcourt Mines (TSXV:ABI) has successfully transitioned from exploration to production at its Sleeping Giant mine in Quebec, representing an increasingly rare case study in debt-financed mine development that avoids the severe shareholder dilution typical of traditional equity-financed builds. The company secured $12 million in financing from Nebari—including C$8 million initial tranche, $2 million follow-on, and $2 million used to buy down the Triple Flag NSR royalty from 2% to 1.5%—and commenced gold production.October 2025 production reached 475 ounces whilst operating at conservative staffing levels and building mill circuit inventory. Management projects cash flow positivity by Q2 2026 at approximately 700 ounces monthly production, with current monthly burn rate below $1 million. The Nebari credit facility includes a two-year interest-only period until July 2027, providing critical runway to demonstrate operational consistency and build cash reserves before principal repayments commence.The operational leverage inherent in Abcourt's asset base is substantial. The company operates an 800-tonne-per-day mill (permitted for 950 tonnes per day) currently running at less than 45% capacity. Management targets 350 tonnes per day by autumn 2025, with the mill processing all current mine production in approximately eight hours on day shift only. Plans include expanding to two shifts in early 2026 and eventually four shifts as production scales, providing a clear pathway to meaningful production growth without major capital investment.The constraint on production growth is labour availability rather than geological or metallurgical factors. CEO Pascal Hamelin explicitly stated: "It's not the feed, it's the people, that's the problem you're trying to solve for." The company has invested in infrastructure to address recruitment challenges, including a sleep camp commissioned in September 2024 with Phase Two expansion pending permit approval.The current mine plan supports seven years producing 25,000–33,000 ounces annually, with variation driven by grade. Management's strategic priority centres on extending mine life to 10+ years through three underground drill rigs at Sleeping Giant, then increasing mining fronts to utilise full mill capacity. This narrow-vein, high-grade mining approach—room-and-pillar methods targeting veins 30 centimetres to one metre wide—inherently limits tonnes but maximises grade, with underground samples showing visible gold exceeding 300 g/t.The Flordin discovery adds significant exploration upside. Systematic work exposed 300 metres of strike length grading 5 g/t gold over 15–20 metres width at surface, located 138 kilometres from existing mill infrastructure within a potential two-kilometre mineralised corridor. Abcourt has planned 20,000 metres of drilling for 2026—winter programmes targeting the eastern extension towards Agnico Eagle's adjacent property boundary, spring/summer/autumn programmes targeting northwestern extensions—entirely funded from operating cash flow.Management and directors hold approximately 30% ownership, having consistently supported development through equity investments. Shareholders have expressed preference for share buybacks over dividends once balance sheet permits, with capital allocation decisions driven by financial strength rather than arbitrary timelines.Sustained gold prices above US$4,000 per ounce have fundamentally improved narrow-vein deposit economics. Every US$100 increase translates to approximately US$2.5–3.3 million in additional annual revenue at current production guidance. The investment case depends on execution during the 18-month ramp-up period, successful miner recruitment, and drilling success at both assets to extend mine life and confirm district-scale potential at Flordin.View Abcourt Mines' company profile: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/companies/abcourt-mines-incSign up for Crux Investor: https://cruxinvestor.com

In this episode, we're joined by Dan Garzella, a highly respected entrepreneur and the founder of The Garzella Group, one of the fastest-growing independent insurance agencies in the U.S. Dan has built multiple successful businesses, mentors leaders across industries, and continues to guide entrepreneurs on scaling teams, simplifying systems, and creating long-term, sustainable success.In this episode, we talk about building confidence when you don't feel ready, why showing up consistently is more about mindset than motivation, what most new creators get wrong about visibility, how Dan built systems, discipline, and clarity during the hardest seasons of his life, and strategies to grow without burning out.If you've been struggling with motivation, self-doubt, or the pressure to “perform,” this conversation will feel like a warm, grounding pause.Join the elite ranks of P&C agents. Sign up for Agent Elite today and get exclusive resources to grow your agency!

Chuck Zodda and Paul Lane discuss how a divided Fed could come to the decision to cut rates in December. Consumer confidence continues to decline as retail growth cools. Grim retail sales data fuels concerns about health of US economy. Google, the Sleeping Giant in Global AI Race, Now ‘Fully Awake'. How much will Thanksgiving dinner cost? It depends on whom you ask.

MRKT Matrix - Tuesday, November 25th Dow rallies nearly 700 points on increased hope for a December rate cut (CNBC) Consumer confidence hits lowest point since April as job worries grow (CNBC) Market Volatility Underscores Epic Buildup of Global Risk (NYTimes) Nvidia says its GPUs are a ‘generation ahead' of Google's AI chips (CNBC) Google, the Sleeping Giant in Global AI Race, Now ‘Fully Awake' (Bloomberg) OpenAI needs to raise at least $207bn by 2030 so it can continue to lose money, HSBC estimates (FT) Oracle-Linked Borrowing Binge Worries Lenders (The Information) Private Credit's Sketchy Marks Get Warning Shot From Wall Street's Top Cop (Bloomberg) --- Subscribe to our newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://riskreversalmedia.beehiiv.com/subscribe⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ MRKT Matrix by RiskReversal Media is a daily AI powered podcast bringing you the top stories moving financial markets Story curation by RiskReversal, scripts by Perplexity Pro, voice by ElevenLabs

36ONE's Steven Hurwitz says Prosus has finally shifted from promise to profit, with its e-commerce brands now earning real money beyond Tencent. Buybacks are shrinking the discount and a Just Eat turnaround could unlock major upside for South African investors. The only wildcard? China still holds the key to how big the payoff can be.

We had the pleasure of sitting down with Michelle O'Connor, a seasoned insurance professional with over 25 years of experience, to talk about the ins and outs of growing a successful business. From mastering follow-ups and building consistent sales processes to leveraging technology and AI to better serve clients, Michelle shares practical insights that any entrepreneur or agent can apply.In this episode, she opens up about managing teams, implementing structure without losing flexibility, and creating systems that make business easier and more efficient.Join the elite ranks of P&C agents. Sign up for Agent Elite today and get exclusive resources to grow your agency!

WhoDeb Hatley, Owner of Hatley Pointe, North CarolinaRecorded onJuly 30, 2025About Hatley PointeClick here for a mountain stats overviewOwned by: Deb and David Hatley since 2023 - purchased from Orville English, who had owned and operated the resort since 1992Located in: Mars Hill, North CarolinaYear founded: 1969 (as Wolf Laurel or Wolf Ridge; both names used over the decades)Pass affiliations: Indy Pass, Indy+ Pass – 2 days, no blackoutsClosest neighboring ski areas: Cataloochee (1:25), Sugar Mountain (1:26)Base elevation: 4,000 feetSummit elevation: 4,700 feetVertical drop: 700 feetSkiable acres: 54Average annual snowfall: 65 inchesTrail count: 21 (4 beginner, 11 intermediate, 6 advanced)Lift count: 4 active (1 fixed-grip quad, 1 ropetow, 2 carpets); 2 inactive, both on the upper mountain (1 fixed-grip quad, 1 double)Why I interviewed herOur world has not one map, but many. Nature drew its own with waterways and mountain ranges and ecosystems and tectonic plates. We drew our maps on top of these, to track our roads and borders and political districts and pipelines and railroad tracks.Our maps are functional, simplistic. They insist on fictions. Like the 1,260-mile-long imaginary straight line that supposedly splices the United States from Canada between Washington State and Minnesota. This frontier is real so long as we say so, but if humanity disappeared tomorrow, so would that line.Nature's maps are more resilient. This is where water flows because this is where water flows. If we all go away, the water keeps flowing. This flow, in turn, impacts the shape and function of the entire world.One of nature's most interesting maps is its mountain map. For most of human existence, mountains mattered much more to us than they do now. Meaning: we had to respect these giant rocks because they stood convincingly in our way. It took European settlers centuries to navigate en masse over the Appalachians, which is not even a severe mountain range, by global mountain-range standards. But paved roads and tunnels and gas stations every five miles have muted these mountains' drama. You can now drive from the Atlantic Ocean to the Midwest in half a day.So spoiled by infrastructure, we easily forget how dramatically mountains command huge parts of our world. In America, we know this about our country: the North is cold and the South is warm. And we define these regions using battle maps from a 19th Century war that neatly bisected the nation. Another imaginary line. We travel south for beaches and north to ski and it is like this everywhere, a gentle progression, a continent-length slide that warms as you descend from Alaska to Panama.But mountains disrupt this logic. Because where the land goes up, the air grows cooler. And there are mountains all over. And so we have skiing not just in expected places such as Vermont and Maine and Michigan and Washington, but in completely irrational ones like Arizona and New Mexico and Southern California. And North Carolina.North Carolina. That's the one that surprised me. When I started skiing, I mean. Riding hokey-poke chairlifts up 1990s Midwest hills that wouldn't qualify as rideable surf breaks, I peered out at the world to figure out where else people skied and what that skiing was like. And I was astonished by how many places had organized skiing with cut trails and chairlifts and lift tickets, and by how many of them were way down the Michigan-to-Florida slide-line in places where I thought that winter never came: West Virginia and Virginia and Maryland. And North Carolina.Yes there are ski areas in more improbable states. But Cloudmont, situated in, of all places, Alabama, spins its ropetow for a few days every other year or so. North Carolina, home to six ski areas spinning a combined 35 chairlifts, allows for no such ambiguity: this is a ski state. And these half-dozen ski centers are not marginal operations: Sugar Mountain and Cataloochee opened for the season last week, and they sometimes open in October. Sugar spins a six-pack and two detach quads on a 1,200-foot vertical drop.This geographic quirk is a product of our wonderful Appalachian Mountain chain, which reaches its highest points not in New England but in North Carolina, where Mount Mitchell peaks at 6,684 feet, 396 feet higher than the summit of New Hampshire's Mount Washington. This is not an anomaly: North Carolina is home to six summits taller than Mount Washington, and 12 of the 20-highest in the Appalachians, a range that stretches from Alabama to Newfoundland. And it's not just the summits that are taller in North Carolina. The highest ski area base elevation in New England is Saddleback, which measures 2,147 feet at the bottom of the South Branch quad (the mountain more typically uses the 2,460-foot measurement at the bottom of the Rangeley quad). Either way, it's more than 1,000 feet below the lowest base-area elevation in North Carolina:Unfortunately, mountains and elevation don't automatically equal snow. And the Southern Appalachians are not exactly the Kootenays. It snows some, sometimes, but not so much, so often, that skiing can get by on nature's contributions alone - at least not in any commercially reliable form. It's no coincidence that North Carolina didn't develop any organized ski centers until the 1960s, when snowmaking machines became efficient and common enough for mass deployment. But it's plenty cold up at 4,000 feet, and there's no shortage of water. Snowguns proved to be skiing's last essential ingredient.Well, there was one final ingredient to the recipe of southern skiing: roads. Back to man's maps. Specifically, America's interstate system, which steamrolled the countryside throughout the 1960s and passes just a few miles to Hatley Pointe's west. Without these superhighways, western North Carolina would still be a high-peaked wilderness unknown and inaccessible to most of us.It's kind of amazing when you consider all the maps together: a severe mountain region drawn into the borders of a stable and prosperous nation that builds physical infrastructure easing the movement of people with disposable income to otherwise inaccessible places that have been modified for novel uses by tapping a large and innovative industrial plant that has reduced the miraculous – flight, electricity, the internet - to the commonplace. And it's within the context of all these maps that a couple who knows nothing about skiing can purchase an established but declining ski resort and remake it as an upscale modern family ski center in the space of 18 months.What we talked aboutHurricane Helene fallout; “it took every second until we opened up to make it there,” even with a year idle; the “really tough” decision not to open for the 2023-24 ski season; “we did not realize what we were getting ourselves into”; buying a ski area when you've never worked at a ski area and have only skied a few times; who almost bought Wolf Ridge and why Orville picked the Hatleys instead; the importance of service; fixing up a broken-down ski resort that “felt very old”; updating without losing the approachable family essence; why it was “absolutely necessary” to change the ski area's name; “when you pulled in, the first thing that you were introduced to … were broken-down machines and school buses”; Bible verses and bare trails and busted-up everything; “we could have spent two years just doing cleanup of junk and old things everywhere”; Hatley Pointe then and now; why Hatley removed the double chair; a detachable six-pack at Hatley?; chairlifts as marketing and branding tools; why the Breakaway terrain closed and when it could return and in what form; what a rebuilt summit lodge could look like; Hatley Pointe's new trails; potential expansion; a day-ski area, a resort, or both?; lift-served mountain bike park incoming; night-skiing expansion; “I was shocked” at the level of après that Hatley drew, and expanding that for the years ahead; North Carolina skiing is all about the altitude; re-opening The Bowl trail; going to online-only sales; and lessons learned from 2024-25 that will build a better Hatley for 2025-26.What I got wrongWhen we recorded this conversation, the ski area hadn't yet finalized the name of the new green trail coming off of Eagle – it is Pat's Way (see trailmap above).I asked if Hatley intended to install night-skiing, not realizing that they had run night-ski operations all last winter.Why now was a good time for this interviewPardon my optimism, but I'm feeling good about American lift-served skiing right now. Each of the past five winters has been among the top 10 best seasons for skier visits, U.S. ski areas have already built nearly as many lifts in the 2020s (246) as they did through all of the 2010s (288), and multimountain passes have streamlined the flow of the most frequent and passionate skiers between mountains, providing far more flexibility at far less cost than would have been imaginable even a decade ago.All great. But here's the best stat: after declining throughout the 1980s and ‘90s, the number of active U.S. ski areas stabilized around the turn of the century, and has actually increased for five consecutive winters:Those are National Ski Areas Association numbers, which differ slightly from mine. I count 492 active ski hills for 2023-24 and 500 for last winter, and I project 510 potentially active ski areas for the 2025-26 campaign. But no matter: the number of active ski operations appears to be increasing.But the raw numbers matter less than the manner in which this uptick is happening. In short: a new generation of owners is resuscitating lost or dying ski areas. Many have little to no ski industry experience. Driven by nostalgia, a sense of community duty, plain business opportunity, or some combination of those things, they are orchestrating massive ski area modernization projects, funded via their own wealth – typically earned via other enterprises – or by rallying a donor base.Examples abound. When I launched The Storm in 2019, Saddleback, Maine; Norway Mountain, Michigan; Woodward Park City; Thrill Hills, North Dakota; Deer Mountain, South Dakota; Paul Bunyan, Wisconsin; Quarry Road, Maine; Steeplechase, Minnesota; and Snowland, Utah were all lost ski areas. All are now open again, and only one – Woodward – was the project of an established ski area operator (Powdr). Cuchara, Colorado and Nutt Hill, Wisconsin are on the verge of re-opening following decades-long lift closures. Bousquet, Massachusetts; Holiday Mountain, New York; Kissing Bridge, New York; and Black Mountain, New Hampshire were disintegrating in slow-motion before energetic new owners showed up with wrecking balls and Home Depot frequent-shopper accounts. New owners also re-energized the temporarily dormant Sandia Peak, New Mexico and Tenney, New Hampshire.One of my favorite revitalization stories has been in North Carolina, where tired, fire-ravaged, investment-starved, homey-but-rickety Wolf Ridge was falling down and falling apart. The ski area's season ended in February four times between 2018 and 2023. Snowmaking lagged. After an inferno ate the summit lodge in 2014, no one bothered rebuilding it. Marooned between the rapidly modernizing North Carolina ski trio of Sugar Mountain, Cataloochee, and Beech, Wolf Ridge appeared to be rapidly fading into irrelevance.Then the Hatleys came along. Covid-curious first-time skiers who knew little about skiing or ski culture, they saw opportunity where the rest of us saw a reason to keep driving. Fixing up a ski area turned out to be harder than they'd anticipated, and they whiffed on opening for the 2023-24 winter. Such misses sometimes signal that the new owners are pulling their ripcords as they launch out of the back of the plane, but the Hatleys kept working. They gut-renovated the lodge, modernized the snowmaking plant, tore down an SLI double chair that had witnessed the signing of the Declaration of Independence. And last winter, they re-opened the best version of the ski area now known as Hatley Pointe that locals had seen in decades.A great winter – one of the best in recent North Carolina history – helped. But what I admire about the Hatleys – and this new generation of owners in general – is their optimism in a cultural moment that has deemed optimism corny and naïve. Everything is supposed to be terrible all the time, don't you know that? They didn't know, and that orientation toward the good, tempered by humility and patience, reversed the long decline of a ski area that had in many ways ceased to resonate with the world it existed in.The Hatleys have lots left to do: restore the Breakaway terrain, build a new summit lodge, knot a super-lift to the frontside. And their Appalachian salvage job, while impressive, is not a very repeatable blueprint – you need considerable wealth to take a season off while deploying massive amounts of capital to rebuild the ski area. The Hatley model is one among many for a generation charged with modernizing increasingly antiquated ski areas before they fall over dead. Sometimes, as in the examples itemized above, they succeed. But sometimes they don't. Comebacks at Cockaigne and Hickory, both in New York, fizzled. Sleeping Giant, Wyoming and Ski Blandford, Massachusetts both shuttered after valiant rescue attempts. All four of these remain salvageable, but last week, Four Seasons, New York closed permanently after 63 years.That will happen. We won't be able to save every distressed ski area, and the potential supply of new or revivable ski centers, barring massive cultural and regulatory shifts, will remain limited. But the protectionist tendencies limiting new ski area development are, in a trick of human psychology, the same ones that will drive the revitalization of others – the only thing Americans resist more than building something new is taking away something old. Which in our country means anything that was already here when we showed up. A closed or closing ski area riles the collective angst, throws a snowy bat signal toward the night sky, a beacon and a dare, a cry and a plea: who wants to be a hero?Podcast NotesOn Hurricane HeleneHelene smashed inland North Carolina last fall, just as Hatley was attempting to re-open after its idle year. Here's what made the storm so bad:On Hatley's socialsFollow:On what I look for at a ski resortOn the Ski Big Bear podcastIn the spirit of the article above, one of the top 10 Storm Skiing Podcast guest quotes ever came from Ski Big Bear, Pennsylvania General Manager Lori Phillips: “You treat everyone like they paid a million dollars to be there doing what they're doing”On ski area name changesI wrote a piece on Hatley's name change back in 2023:Ski area name changes are more common than I'd thought. I've been slowly documenting past name changes as I encounter them, so this is just a partial list, but here are 93 active U.S. ski areas that once went under a different name. If you know of others, please email me.On Hatley at the point of purchase and nowGigantic collections of garbage have always fascinated me. That's essentially what Wolf Ridge was at the point of sale:It's a different place now:On the distribution of six-packs across the nationSix-pack chairlifts are rare and expensive enough that they're still special, but common enough that we're no longer amazed by them. Mostly - it depends on where we find such a machine. Just 112 of America's 3,202 ski lifts (3.5 percent) are six-packs, and most of these (75) are in the West (60 – more than half the nation's total, are in Colorado, Utah, or California). The Midwest is home to a half-dozen six-packs, all at Boyne or Midwest Family Ski Resorts operations, and the East has 31 sixers, 17 of which are in New England, and 12 of which are in Vermont. If Hatley installed a sixer, it would be just the second such chairlift in North Carolina, and the fifth in the Southeast, joining the two at Wintergreen, Virginia and the one at Timberline, West Virginia.On the Breakaway fireWolf Ridge's upper-mountain lodge burned down in March 2014. Yowza:On proposed expansions Wolf Ridge's circa 2007 trailmap teases a potential expansion below the now-closed Breakaway terrain:Taking our time machine back to the late ‘80s, Wolf Ridge had envisioned an even more ambitious expansion:The Storm explores the world of lift-served skiing year-round. Join us. Get full access to The Storm Skiing Journal and Podcast at www.stormskiing.com/subscribe

We're joined by Brian Greenberg, founder of True Blue Life Insurance, to discuss how agents can combine AI, automation, and traditional strategies to grow their business. From improving lead conversion and designing effective landing pages to harnessing client reviews and maintaining persistence in sales, Brian breaks down the tools and mindset that make modern life insurance sales effective.Join the elite ranks of P&C agents. Sign up for Agent Elite today and get exclusive resources to grow your agency!

In this episode, we're honored to have Nathan Glass, founder of Utopia Risk, to explore the strategies behind making smarter business decisions. Nathan shares his insights on identifying the right people to work with, whether it's for hiring, partnerships, or long-term collaborations. He dives into how everyday conversations reveal values, why understanding someone's life outside of work matters, and how subtle red flags in planning or approach can signal bigger issues down the line.Listeners will gain practical guidance on building trust, aligning with the right people, and knowing when to step back early, turning every decision into a more intentional, thoughtful move for their business.Join the elite ranks of P&C agents. Sign up for Agent Elite today and get exclusive resources to grow your agency!

In today's episode, we're joined by Pascal Hamelin, President and CEO of Abcourt Mines, a Canadian gold producer and explorer with a strong footprint in Quebec. We'll be discussing Abcourt's flagship Sleeping Giant Mine, the company's focus on narrow vein underground mining, and how innovation, automation, and community engagement are shaping its next phase of growth. Pascal is also going to be attending the upcoming Resourcing Tomorrow event - the premier gathering for the world's mining leaders taking place in London from 2-4 December. What sets this event apart is its unmatched audience: C-level executives from the biggest mining companies worldwide, over 40 government ministers, leading mining technology providers, and more. Dig Deep The Mining Podcast is proud to partner with Resourcing Tomorrow so to register, go to https://hubs.ly/Q03JvH2K0 and use DIGDEEP10 for 10% off your pass. KEY TAKEAWAYS The company, originally focused on zinc, shifted to gold assets in Northern Quebec in the mid-2000s, leveraging its ownership of the Elder Mine and eventually acquiring the high-grade Sleeping Giant Mine and Mill in 2016. Abcourt secured financing in mid-2025 to restart the Sleeping Giant Mine, which boasts historically high-grade, narrow-vein underground gold (averaging 10.3 grams/tonne G/T) The company champions narrow-vein underground mining to minimise waste and surface disruption, a model with higher social acceptability Abcourt sees significant deep exploration potential at Sleeping Giant, believing the high-grade deposit extends to greater depths where "no one drilled yet" BEST MOMENTS "The main focus and why I came in was to actually start the Sleeping Giant Mine." "The issue we have with mining that narrow is the equipment is not there... I believe that the advancement of technology right now is going at full speed." "The belief is there's a giant at depth. And no one drilled at depth yet... So we're just scratching the surface on that deposit." "If you have an underground narrow-vein mine with 200 employees, 300 employees, with a 20, 30-year life – that's what people like." VALUABLE RESOURCES Mail:        ⁠rob@mining-international.org⁠ LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-tyson-3a26a68/⁠ X:              ⁠https://twitter.com/MiningRobTyson⁠  YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/c/DigDeepTheMiningPodcast⁠  Web:        ⁠http://www.mining-international.org⁠ CONTACT METHOD ⁠rob@mining-international.org⁠ ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-tyson-3a26a68/⁠ Podcast Description Rob Tyson is an established recruiter in the mining and quarrying sector and decided to produce the “Dig Deep” The Mining Podcast to provide valuable and informative content around the mining industry. He has a passion and desire to promote the industry and the podcast aims to offer the mining community an insight into people's experiences and careers covering any mining discipline, giving the listeners helpful advice and guidance on industry topics.  This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/

Mark Flockhart, founder of Valor Insurance Group, shares his journey from exploring different roles in the insurance industry to building one of the most trusted independent agencies. He dives into how he combined his experience in sales, content creation, and training to create a system that helps clients and agents thrive.In this episode, Mark talks about the strategies that set him apart, from leveraging digital content to educate clients, to identifying the right opportunities and leads and scaling a business while maintaining a personal touch.Join the elite ranks of P&C agents. Sign up for Agent Elite today and get exclusive resources to grow your agency!

Discover the real power with the impact of empathy with Dr. Nicole Price. Nicole is an amazing speaker incorporating her skills into human connections and eliminating the missing parts required to strengthen sales, relationships or leadership.Her Book “Spark the Heart: Engineering Empathy in Organization” has great lessons to understand the meaning of empathy by not judging and making sense of everything. Join the elite ranks of P&C agents. Sign up for Agent Elite today and get exclusive resources to grow your agency!

In this episode, we explore the remarkable journey of Susana Gibb, who transitioned from a theater major and professional actress to a thriving insurance entrepreneur. Susana's story demonstrates how creativity and entrepreneurship can flourish together, from performing on stage to running her own agency.Susana discusses how her acting background has influenced her communication, confidence, and leadership approach. She offers insights on growing a successful agency, fostering team accountability, and leveraging creativity as a key business asset.Tune in to know how blending passion with purpose can lead to remarkable success both on stage and in the insurance industry.Join the elite ranks of P&C agents. Sign up for Agent Elite today and get exclusive resources to grow your agency!

In this episode we have Andrew Engler, the Co-founder and CEO of Kettle who has built groundbreaking strategies that combine insurance, technology, and real-world mitigation to lower premiums, reduce risk, and protect communities.This conversation is bold, refreshing, and packed with insights that could redefine how we approach risk in the modern world.Join the elite ranks of P&C agents. Sign up for Agent Elite today and get exclusive resources to grow your agency!

Ailish Forfar and Justin Cuthbert kick things off with Sportsnet's Chris Leroux (1:49) ahead of Game 4 of the ALDS. They discuss what to expect in a must-win game for the Yankees and what it is like for him to return to one of his old big-league teams. They discuss the epic collapse from the Jays in the Bronx last night, if the Jays woke up a sleeping giant, the performance of the bullpen heading into a bullpen game, the Yankees' defensive improvements, and much more. Then, Ailish and Justin go through their thoughts and reactions to last night's game, how they expect the bullpen to perform, how the Jays put themselves in this position, the big names they left out of the ALDS roster, and much more. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

Jimmy Shin, introduction, Serenity Prayer, patriotic song, No Free Lunch, Rules for Anti Radicals, Rules for Retrogrades, Waking the Sleeping Giant, motivation, meditation, Asian news, miscellaneous, Return of the Primitive, conclusionBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-true-conservative--2039343/support.

Pete Holmes, introduction, Serenity Prayer, patriotic song, No Free Lunch, Rules for Anti Radicals, Rules for Retrogrades, Waking the Sleeping Giant, motivation, meditation, Bill O'Reilly, Maria Bartiromo, Antifa, Return of the Primitive, conclusionBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-true-conservative--2039343/support.

In this episode, we had a conversation with educational consultant, Melissa Dillon.  She shared how redefining failure can transform the way we learn, work, and live. From healing old classroom wounds to building confidence in careers, this conversation dives into resilience, mindset, and the power of persistence. Join the elite ranks of P&C agents. Sign up for Agent Elite today and get exclusive resources to grow your agency!

Dr. Gerald Kieschnick, the 12th president of the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, reflects on his years of leadership, how he led through the 9/11 terrorist attack, what he has learned about unity in the church, and why the next generation needs courageous, faithful leaders more than ever. To learn more about the podcast or access the show notes, visit www.redletterpodcast.com.Today's episode is brought to you by our partner Child Beyond International. Thanks to this week's sponsor: Child Beyond International (CBI), a ministry dear to my heart. Based in Guatemala, CBI transforms the lives of orphaned, abandoned, and abused children by offering a Christ-centered new beginning. A dedicated team of caregivers, doctors, and social workers provides round-the-clock care, faith lessons, and prayer. Children are later reunited with safe relatives or adopted into loving Guatemalan families, with ongoing support beyond their time at CBI.For only $40 a month, you can help change a child's life. Because of the intensive care, it takes 20 people to fully sponsor one child. This season, we're using our podcast platform for good—we want Season 9 to sponsor a child through Red Letter Living. Could you be one of the 20? Visit www.childbeyond.org/rll. Jesus said it is more blessed to give than receive—this is a chance to experience that joy.Resources Mentioned in the Episode:Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS)Waking the Sleeping Giant by Gerald KieschnickLutheran Hour MinistriesConcordia Seminary, St. LouisLCMS FoundationGBKIES@gmail.comAre you following Jesus? Many want to be greater followers of Jesus but don't know how. We extensively studied everything Jesus commanded of us and located five key targets to which Jesus invited His followers. The five targets are Being, Forgiving, Serving, Giving, and Going.In partnership with LifeWay Research, we created a Red Letter Challenge Assessment that will measure you according to these five targets. And the best news of all: it's free! You will receive your results immediately and be presented with the next steps to help you become an even greater follower of Jesus.You can take the FREE Red Letter Challenge Assessment here. Watch the Entire Season for FreeWe upload every episode of The Red Letter Disciple Podcast on our YouTube channel. Subscribe here! https://www.youtube.com/@RedLetterLivingSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Norm MacDonald, introduction, Serenity Prayer, patriotic song, No Free Lunch, Rules for Anti Radicals, Rules for Retrogrades, Waking the Sleeping Giant, motivation, meditation, Georgia Meloni, Return of the Primitive, conclusion kBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-true-conservative--2039343/support.

In this episode, we sat down with a speaker, coach and consultant Brian Ahearn where he shared the real influence and a key to unlock your potential associated with love.This episode was all about choosing love, balancing life, focusing on a partner's positivity and making bonds with people connected with you.Join the elite ranks of P&C agents. Sign up for Agent Elite today and get exclusive resources to grow your agency!

This episode of the "Need to Know Morning Show" kicks off with hosts Kevin and Alex discussing the wet weather ahead for the weekend, which might dampen bow hunting plans but is a welcome relief for some. The conversation quickly shifts to the serious topic of the murder of Charlie Kirk and the subsequent fallout, including the cancellation of Jimmy Kimmel's show after a controversial joke about the killer. They also touch on the widespread condemnation of those celebrating the event online. The show features a variety of guests and segments, including an agriculture report from Bridget Riedel, an outdoor update with Steve Carney, and a political discussion with Minnesota gubernatorial candidate Kendall Qualls. Standout moments: 1:40 - Kevin talks about the messy weather forecast for the weekend, and his plan to re-anchor two dozen hunting decoys. 3:00 - The hosts discuss Jimmy Kimmel's show being pulled by Disney after he made a controversial joke about Charlie Kirk's killer. 7:10 - Bridget Riedel reports on avian bird flu being found in the region and cases of summer pneumonia in cattle. 12:10 - Kevin talks about a proposed bill to make October 14th, Charlie Kirk's birthday, a national holiday. 15:00 - Steve Carney discusses the impact of the warm weather on bow hunting, duck migration, and fishing patterns. 17:00 - A safety reminder is issued for hunters to wear a harness when in a tree stand. 19:00 - Minnesota gubernatorial candidate Kendall Qualls joins the show to discuss his campaign and the current political landscape in the state. 23:00 - Qualls explains his three-point plan for Minnesota: economic prosperity, safe communities, and improving public schools. 25:00 - Qualls discusses the state's low rankings in math and reading, which have dropped from a high position to 45th and 34th, respectively. 26:30 - The hosts talk about the National Toy Hall of Fame finalists, which include popular toys like the Star Wars lightsaber, Tickle Me Elmo, and games like Battleship.

Interview with Pascal Hamelin, President & CEO of Abcourt Mines Inc.Our previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/abcourt-mines-tsxvabi-gold-producer-ready-to-restart-sleeping-giant-mine-7160Recording date: 15th September 2025Abcourt Mines (TSXV:ABI) has successfully completed its first gold pour at the Sleeping Giant Mine in Quebec, marking a critical transition from development company to gold producer. Speaking at the Denver Gold Forum, President and CEO Pascal Hamelin outlined an aggressive production scaling strategy designed to capitalize on favorable gold market conditions.The company plans to ramp production from zero to 30,000 ounces annually within 18 months, following a detailed preliminary assessment released in 2023. This production target represents only 45% of the mill's total capacity, providing significant room for future expansion to potentially 60,000-70,000 ounces annually. The scalability provides multiple expansion avenues as the company develops additional mining fronts within the existing operation.Operationally, Abcourt maintains a strong cost structure with all-in sustaining costs projected at $1,600 USD per ounce and monthly operating costs of approximately $4 million. At current gold prices exceeding $3,600 per ounce, this creates substantial margins and positions the company for rapid cash flow generation.Beyond the Sleeping Giant operation, Abcourt has identified significant exploration potential at its Flordin project. The 2024 discovery exposed a vein measuring 300 meters long by over 10 meters wide, with drilling confirming continuity to 400 meters depth. Geophysical surveys suggest the vein could extend up to 2 kilometers in length, with management projecting a four to five-year timeline to operational status.The company maintains a portfolio of 15 projects within trucking distance of the Sleeping Giant mill, enabling potential infrastructure sharing and operational synergies. With plans for eventual share buybacks rather than dividends to optimize tax efficiency for shareholders, Abcourt appears positioned to benefit from sustained precious metals strength while building a scalable production platform in Quebec's mining-friendly jurisdiction.View Abcourt Mines' company profile: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/companies/abcourt-mines-incSign up for Crux Investor: https://cruxinvestor.com

In this episode, we sat down with Roger Short an amazing entrepreneur with great experience in multiple ventures for over 25 years. He discussed the ideas of building trust and scaling agency beyond price.Roger's contribution as the co-founder of Life Insurance Academy has made him successful through consistency and rethinking the insurance sales game from leads to loyalty. Join the elite ranks of P&C agents. Sign up for Agent Elite today and get exclusive resources to grow your agency!

In this episode, we hop aboard the Culture Train and travel to the breathtaking country of Armenia. Together, we visit the peaceful little village of Ushi with children's book author Astrid Kamalyan, explore the ancient Saint Sarkis Monastery, and discover Armenia's towering mountains, sacred waters, and centuries-old traditions. Along the way, we learn about Mount Aragats, Armenia's highest point, Mount Ara, the “sleeping giant” with its healing spring water, and Mount Ararat, the mountain believed to be the landing place of Noah's Ark. We walk up to Saint Sarkis Chapel, take in the thick stone walls that have stood for over a thousand years, and marvel at the khachkars—beautifully carved Armenian cross-stones that seem to whisper the stories of the past. Astrid also shares what it's like to raise her children surrounded by this deep history and natural beauty, and reminds us how Armenian culture takes whatever it has and makes it beautiful.

After a tough first-half, the White Sox had been showing major signs of improvement. Chuck Garfien welcomes MLB Network's Dan Plesac to break down a 17-game stretch that included seven comeback wins and one of the league's hottest offenses since the All-Star break. They discuss the spark from rookies, Colson Montgomery's breakout, and how Will Venable's message has shifted the team's approach. Plesac explains why the Sox feel like a “sleeping giant,” what September means for 2026, and why the worst may finally be behind them.

A Bitcoin company focused on educating and supporting local communities. $ BTC 112,029 Block Height 913,729 Today's guests on the show are Jeremy Almond, CEO of Paystand, and Alexandra Navarro, who leads the Paystand Foundation, which focuses on educational outreach programmes for underserved communities. Who are Paystand and what is it they do? How did Jeremy find Bitcoin and why did it resonate with him so much that he decided to build a business and start a fund? What projects has Alex managed to find, and how do Paystand circular economies grow with Bitcoin? How did Jeremy and Alex meet and Orange Pill A Chief of an indigenous tribe? Are you the sleeper Bitcoiner in your company and how can you make a difference? A huge thank you to Jeremy and Alexandra for everything they are doing for Bitcoin and their tireless efforts to support and help educate as many people as possible. Find out more here: https://www.paystand.com/ https://www.paystand.org/ Jeremy - @jeremyalmond @ReDeFined_talks Alexandra - @alex_navarro0

This week on UTH, Imogen learns the ins and outs of family trust elections and family trust distributions tax with Robyn Jacobson, senior advocate at The Tax Institute. Tune in to hear more about: Why there is increased interest in family trusts and family trust elections. The key features of family trust elections. FTE, FTDT, IEE, and what they all mean. Why Robyn describes FTDT as “unforgiving”. Cases where FTDT liabilities are arising unexpectedly and/or impacting the ability to make distributions. You can contact the Accountants Daily team and podcast host Imogen at imogen.wilson@momentummedia.com.au.

Welcome back to another episode of The Insurance Dudes! In today's episode, we had the pleasure to sit down with Chase Beach, Co-Founder of InsureGrid. A young talented innovator who's transforming the insurance industry by simplifying the way agents buy and sell. Are you struggling hard to chase leads, collecting clients info and price competing? Listen to Chase, how he has revolutionized the sales process for agents with his amazing skills and knowledge.  Join the elite ranks of P&C agents. Sign up for Agent Elite today and get exclusive resources to grow your agency!

Welcome back to another episode of The Insurance Dudes! Craig and Jason sit down with the energetic and insightful Julian Chambers. From his early days dabbling in network marketing straight out of high school, to finding his stride in life insurance and then crushing it in Medicare sales, Julian shares his journey as a young entrepreneur in the insurance world.You'll hear firsthand about the mindset shifts, personal development rituals inspired by Tony Robbins and Grant Cardone, and the actionable strategies that helped Julian go from rookie uncertainty to writing ten Medicare Advantage policies a week.If you're an agent looking to up your game or just need a dose of motivation, you won't want to miss this episode packed with real talk, practical tips, and a whole lot of inspiration. Let's dive in!Join the elite ranks of P&C agents. Sign up for Agent Elite today and get exclusive resources to grow your agency!

What if the biggest threat to Christian values in America isn't hostile politicians—but Christians who refuse to vote? Bunni Pounds drops a bombshell statistic that will shake you: Christians are registering and voting at exactly the same rates as the general population. That means roughly half of Bible-believing Americans are voluntarily sitting out the very process that determines who governs their communities. While faithful Christians stay home on election day, secular activists are showing up in droves to elect school board members who push gender ideology, city council members who restrict religious freedom, and county officials who shut down churches. We're literally handing over our nation to people whose worldview is diametrically opposed to Scripture—and then wondering why our culture is falling apart. Bunni's journey from homeschool mom to political consultant to mobilizing nearly a million Christians reveals the stunning power of engaged believers and the devastating consequences of Christian apathy.   Resources: https://www.bunnipounds.com/   https://christiansengaged.org/   https://www.americareadsthebible.com/   This episode of Refining Rhetoric is sponsored by Grand Canyon University and Classical Conversations Plus Undergraduate Program: Is your homeschooler ready for what's next? At Grand Canyon University, we're Christ-centered and academically focused, just like your family. GCU supports homeschool students with Classical Conversations scholarships, personalized guidance at every step and a welcoming student community. See for yourself with our homeschool campus visit programs — where faith, freedom and community meet. Grow spiritually. Grow academically. Find your purpose at GCU.  Learn more at gcu.edu/homeschool.   Classical Conversations Plus Undergraduate Program Your Purpose Made Approachable… Whether that is a degree, a discipline, or a deeper understanding of interests, CC Plus Undergrad can help. Our unique relationship with Southeastern University provides multiple opportunities and options for enrolling as a degree-seeking student at Southeastern University, which allows for a continued pursuit of lifelong learning, making passion and purpose approachable whether you are a CC graduate or CC parent.   To learn more about the CC Plus Undergrad Program or to begin your journey of pursuing your next season of learning, go to www.classicalconversationsplus.com/undergraduate-program

The Jags did not perform to their ability last season, and the mood in training camp is positive this yearOur friends at QuinnBet have great odds on the upcoming Premier League season, amazing Acca Bonuses, Acca Insurance & many other daily specials. Find out more at QuinnBet.com/promotions or use the LINK provided. Remember its 18+ T&Cs Apply - Always Gamble Responsibly.

Welcome back to The Insurance Dudes! In this episode, we're joined by Don Wilson, the dynamic founder and owner of Capital Insurance Group. Don's journey is as compelling as it is inspiring—he went from running retail clothing stores in West Virginia to leading a multi-state insurance agency with the mantra of authentic leadership and relentless persistence.Don shares wild tales from the trenches, including a not-to-be-missed story involving a would-be client with “grenades”—plus some runaway police chases tossed in for good measure.But it's not all war stories and dad jokes (of which Don delivers his top three). We dig deep into Don's business philosophy—why branding matters, how focusing on your target demographic leads to agency growth, and the importance of building a culture that puts employees first. Don's passion for mentorship, creativity in prospecting (think “Big Check Express” and the “pastry guy”), and commitment to authentic connections will fire up anyone in the insurance biz—or anyone thinking of making a leap in their career.Join the elite ranks of P&C agents. Sign up for Agent Elite today and get exclusive resources to grow your agency!

Today on the CityLight Podcast, special guest Prophet Nathaniel St. Eloi exposes the “enemies of expansion” that can quietly hold us back from God’s best. God’s plan is for us to grow and thrive in every area—our character, our finances, our relationships, and beyond—but sometimes we get in our own way. Nathaniel unpacks key obstacles like complacency, relying on our own strength, and struggling to process disappointment, and shows how we can invite the Holy Spirit to breathe fresh life into stagnant places. This powerful message is like spiritual jumper cables—a jolt of encouragement and direction you won’t want to miss.(00:00) Awakening the Sleeping Giant(05:21) Enemies of Expansion(13:53) Embracing a Culture of Expansion(21:45) Expanding in God's Presence(35:23) Overcoming Disappointment(42:12) Honesty and Restoration Through Faithhttps://citylightnyc.com/ 

Welcome to another episode of The Insurance Dudes! In this candid and insightful conversation, hosts Jason Feltman and Craig Pretzinger are joined by Brandon Wolfe, Managing Partner at Jordan Partners, to dive deep into the world of insurance agencies and private equity.Ever wondered if insurance is the "legalized mafia" of finance, or why so many private equity investors are drawn to this industry? You'll get the inside scoop on what makes insurance such a unique — and investable — business, plus why slow, steady growth always wins the game.Hear Brandon break down the differences between captive and independent agencies from a private equity perspective, and learn what it really takes to get your agency "tuned up" and ready to sell.Whether you're thinking about selling, scaling, or just staying relevant in today's rapidly changing landscape, Brandon's experience negotiating deals and growing businesses offers a refreshing dose of reality and optimism for agency owners at any stage.Join the elite ranks of P&C agents. Sign up for Agent Elite today and get exclusive resources to grow your agency!

Welcome back to The Insurance Dudes! In this compelling episode, host Craig Pretzinger and co-host Jason Feltman sit down with Kathy Hitchcock from the Hitchcock Insurance Group in Rome, Georgia. Kathy shares her remarkable journey as a young scratch agent, opening her agency in 2015 just months before facing back-to-back rate hikes and near-impossible market conditions.Through honest stories about crying on her daily commute, the grit it took to build a thriving business, and insights into weathering tough insurance cycles, Kathy pulls back the curtain on what it really means to persevere as an agency owner. This episode dives deep into the challenges of scaling, hiring, and motivating a winning team—and how to create true work-life harmony when the business never really shuts off.Whether you're just starting your insurance journey or looking for fresh perspective on leadership, culture, and adapting to change (including a candid take on AI's impact), Kathy's story is packed with valuable lessons and real-world strategies for building a resilient, profitable insurance agency. Tune in for one of our most authentic discussions yet!Join the elite ranks of P&C agents. Sign up for Agent Elite today and get exclusive resources to grow your agency!

Welcome back to The Insurance Dudes! In this episode, Craig and Jason sit down with Sethe Smith, owner of the Sethe Smith Agency in Fort Wayne, Indiana, for a candid conversation packed with both wisdom and wild stories from the insurance trenches. From cleaning up unforgettable office mishaps to building a top-performing agency from scratch, Sethe shares the real-life ups and downs of agency ownership—including valuable lessons learned from failure, the importance of having a “why,” and the challenges of hiring and retaining great salespeople.Whether you're an aspiring agent, a seasoned agency owner, or just someone looking for a fresh take on what it really takes to grow a successful insurance business, this episode pulls back the curtain on the highs, the lows, and everything in between. Tune in for some laughs, plenty of actionable insights, and inspiration to tackle the daily grind with grit and vision.Join the elite ranks of P&C agents. Sign up for Agent Elite today and get exclusive resources to grow your agency!

Darlene Lopez helps artists sell out without selling out. As a first-generation Peruvian-American, Darlene's career goal has been to thrive at the intersection of culture and technology. So what does that look like in this digital age? Latin music. With close to 10 years working in entertainment, Darlene has championed the latest wave of Latin music at tech titans Apple and TikTok. She led the Latin music business for TikTok, successfully advocating for the globalization of Mexican Music with artists like Fuerza Regida, Eslabon Armado, and Peso Pluma. Prior to TikTok, Darlene spent five years at Apple Music overseeing Latin music business partnerships and building out the global strategy for the genre. There, she helped launch Apple's first artist-led playlist, ¡Dale Play! with Bad Bunny and Drake, as well as project managing Bad Bunny's Artist of the Year campaign in 2022, among other global campaigns with artists like KAROL G and Rauw Alejandro. Now, Darlene has followed in her parents' footsteps and started her own small business: a digital marketing agency named Evoke Creative. Here's where the work really begins: how do we harness the power of live stream shopping for Latin artists to promote their music and sell out their catalog? In this week's episode, Darlene shares her experience working in the industry and how she eventually was inspired to start her own company. Darlene was sometimes one of the only Latinas in the room advocating for Latin music, but that didn't stop her from making sure that black and brown artists were represented fairly and accurately. Tune in to hear why representation is so important to her, her family's immigration story, and why she decided to leave the corporate world to start her own company.  Keep up with Darlene on her Instagram @instadar  and her website www.evokeculture.com.  For all Hella Latin@ updates, follow @hellalatinopodcast on Instagram and connect on LinkedIn. More at odalysjasmine.com. To learn more about your ad choices visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Podcast production for this episode was provided by CCST. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome back to The Insurance Dudes! In today's episode, hosts Craig Pretzinger and Jason Feltman sit down with Tung Le, the unstoppable insurance entrepreneur behind a thriving Allstate agency in Houston, Texas. Tung gets real about his rollercoaster journey, starting from scratch in March 2020—just as the world shut down. From losing his first employees on day one, to hitting the phones himself, Tung shares how he bootstrapped his way through the uncertainty of COVID, faced painful early setbacks, and relentlessly built a powerhouse $12 million book of business in just a few years.Listen in as Tung opens up about the tough lessons learned in hiring, building a resilient team, and outlasting the storms—literally and figuratively—of the Texas insurance market. He gets candid about separating service and sales teams, dialing in on valuable data and zip codes, and learning to adapt strategies as both the industry and his agency evolve. If you've ever wondered what it takes to grow an agency from zero to millions, especially through some of the most challenging years in recent memory, this episode is packed with practical insights, plenty of laughs, and straight-shooting advice you won't want to miss. Let's jump in!Join the elite ranks of P&C agents. Sign up for Agent Elite today and get exclusive resources to grow your agency!

Welcome to another episode of The Insurance Dudes! In this episode, Jason and Craig sit down with Cassidy Arbeli—a powerhouse agency owner whose journey is as inspiring as it is unconventional. Raised by entrepreneurial parents and equipped with a natural flair for business, Cassidy shares how she transformed her insurance career from humble beginnings with a newborn in tow to a multi-business owner, coach, and advocate for women in the industry.Cassidy opens up about the real challenges insurance agents face, from the gap in business education to the importance of building strong agency culture and the value of putting systems in place to gain real freedom. She talks candidly about what it was like to walk away from a successful captive agency to launch her own independent venture—and how that leap of faith led to even greater success and fulfillment.Join the elite ranks of P&C agents. Sign up for Agent Elite today and get exclusive resources to grow your agency!

OH BOY do the people have the Packers completely wrong this year. This team is a SLEEPING GIANT for some fantasy football stars. Listen in!

Curious what it's really like to work in intelligence? Former CIA analyst Brent Giannotta shares powerful lessons on how threats evolve, how decisions are made, and what it all means for our safety and freedoms. A conversation that sheds light on the unseen world shaping our future.

Welcome to another episode of The Insurance Dudes! In this powerful conversation, hosts Jason Feltman and Craig Pretzinger sit down with Dan Kitajima to unpack a truly wild journey from building a $17 million captive insurance agency to making the bold leap into the independent world.Dan shares the highs and lows of his experience—from signing a jaw-dropping $20,000/month office lease just before his carrier pulled the rug out by non-renewing $6 million in policies, to learning how to pivot, retain clients, and ultimately rebuild—this time with even greater focus, flexibility, and profitability. The trio dives into the nuances of switching from captive to independent, breaking down differences in closing ratios, broker fees, marketing strategies, and what it really takes to survive (and thrive) through massive industry disruption.Join the elite ranks of P&C agents. Sign up for Agent Elite today and get exclusive resources to grow your agency!

AFB welcomes El Niño a.k.a. the chosen one a.k.a. Tobias Tello a.k.a. Tobi and Abel Murphy, hosts of The Colder Boys podcast, to break down Western States 100. In This Episode: Meet The Colder Boys: Tobias and Abel share their backgrounds in trail and ultra running, how their podcast started, and the elite-level analysis East Coast scene. Beast Coast Trail Talk: A breakdown of favorite Connecticut trails like Sleeping Giant and West Rock, plus a plug for the underrated Blue to Blue Challenge. Western States 100 Men's Preview: Predictions, hot takes, and strategy talk. Killian? Roche? A young gun or a dark horse? The guys don't hold back. (OK they did save a little for of the nuggets for their own upcoming preview show.) Fantasy Ultra Running: Deep dives into Free Trail Fantasy picks, including a sleeper Euro pick you probably haven't heard of P**** F****. Women's Field Breakdown: International talent, breakout stars, and why this year's WSER women's race might be the most exciting one yet. #TeamRiley Heat Training and Race Strategy: What really separates the elite runners when temperatures rise—and how social media is changing how we see athletes. Ultra Storytelling and Coverage: From golden hours to emotional cutoffs, the guys talk about what race broadcasts are getting righ and where they still fall short. Looking Ahead: Tobias is racing Manitou's Revenge and QMT 135K, Abel is volunteering at an aid station, and both are dreaming of a Rim-to-Rim run this fall. Listen to The Colder Boys Manitous Revenge Western States Get your official Cultra Clothes and other Cultra TRP PodSwag at our store! Outro music by Nick Byram Become a Cultra Crew Patreon Supporter  basic licker.  If you lick us, we will most likely lick you right back Cultra Facebook Fan Page Go here to talk shit and complain and give us advice that we wont follow Cultra Trail Running Instagram Don't watch this with your kids Sign up for a race at Live Loud Running and feel better Buy Fred's Book Running Home More Information on the #CUT112   

On this episode of The Insurance Dudes, hosts Craig Pretzinger and Jason Feltman sit down with BJ Hill, owner of Summit Insurance in Loveland, Colorado. BJ shares his remarkable journey from college basketball coach to building one of the top insurance agencies in the country, now writing over $18 million in premium. From his early days as a “juco” coach and experiencing a steep learning curve buying his first $3 million agency, to overcoming challenges like passing industry exams and developing his leadership style, BJ gets candid about the grind, the setbacks, and the drive required to scale a business.Tune in as BJ reveals the secrets to coaching and developing a winning insurance team, the importance of culture and accountability, and the lessons he's learned from both sports and entrepreneurship. His unique perspective shows how building champions—on the court or in the agency—always comes down to grit, self-awareness, and relentless improvement. Plus, you'll hear some wild agency stories, tactics for onboarding and motivating staff, and BJ's best advice for fellow agency owners who want to scale up. Get ready for an inspiring, actionable conversation, packed with real-world insights for insurance pros and business leaders alike!Join the elite ranks of P&C agents. Sign up for Agent Elite today and get exclusive resources to grow your agency!

Welcome to this episode of The Insurance Dudes, where hosts Jason and Craig sit down for a high-energy, no-holds-barred conversation with the dynamic David Carothers.David shares his unconventional journey from a college baseball player and retail worker living off macaroni and cheese to running a powerhouse commercial insurance agency in Tampa. In this episode, you'll hear how David's unique hiring process—bringing in producers from outside the insurance industry—and his out-of-the-box, yet structured approach have set his agency apart. He talks candidly about building a resilient culture, the importance of self-belief, and getting creative within the strict confines of insurance regulations. With plenty of laughs, practical advice, and raw insights, David lays out exactly what it takes to thrive in this business, even when the odds—and your bank account—are stacked against you.Whether you're new to insurance or a seasoned pro, this episode is packed with the energy and wisdom you need to go out and get it.Join the elite ranks of P&C agents. Sign up for Agent Elite today and get exclusive resources to grow your agency!

Welcome to another exciting episode of "The Insurance Dudes," where hosts Craig Pretzinger and Jason Feltman are on a mission to help you escape the constraints of your insurance agency with the secrets to creating a predictable and profitable sales machine. In this episode titled "Audio Make Leads Paid For Put Your Thimble On Front Of Funnel," we have a fascinating guest, Jay Bregman, who takes us on his entrepreneurial journey in the insurance industry.Jay shares how his passion for drone piloting unexpectedly led him to identify a gap in the market—drone pilots struggling to secure insurance for their gigs. This revelation sparked the creation of Thimble, a company dedicated to simplifying the world of small business insurance. Jay delves into the nuances of building his team and the challenges of sticking to a disciplined business model as they expanded from insuring drone pilots to servicing a myriad of small business professionals with a modern approach.Join the elite ranks of P&C agents. Sign up for Agent Elite today and get exclusive resources to grow your agency!

Welcome back to The Insurance Dudes! In this episode, hosts Jason Feldman and Craig Pretzinger sit down with industry powerhouse Peter Fournier to uncover the secrets behind building a thriving, recession-proof insurance agency. Peter shares his journey from flipping Pokémon cards as a kid to carving out his niche in mortgage protection within the insurance world. He dishes out hard-earned lessons on money management, the critical importance of process, and how mastering referrals transformed his business. You'll get candid stories from the field, tips on holding yourself accountable, and actionable advice for new and seasoned agents alike.Whether you're looking to break free from the grind of cold leads or level up your agency sales game, there's a ton of wisdom packed into this lively and insightful conversation. So grab your notepad, and let's dive in!Join the elite ranks of P&C agents. Sign up for Agent Elite today and get exclusive resources to grow your agency!