Advertise on podcast: Idaho Business Podcast

What does it take to build a business that lasts more than 20 years almost entirely through word of mouth? In this episode of the Idaho Business Podcast, Spencer Ward sits down with Linda Davies, founder of Wild Hair Estate Liquidations in Pocatello, Idaho. Linda calls herself an "accidental businesswoman." Her journey began when a friend who handled estate sales in the area decided to retire and started sending his customers her way. More than two decades later, Linda has built a loyal following of customers who will stand in line through snow, rain, and summer heat to get into one of her sales. Linda and Spencer talk about why trust and integrity have been critical to her success, the power of scarcity in business, building a loyal customer base through word of mouth, knowing when not to expand, and the lessons she's learned from working inside people's homes during some of the most emotional moments of their lives. And after 20 years of estate liquidations, Linda has some stories including an estate connected to a convicted Ponzi schemer that eventually attracted the attention of the FBI. This episode is a great reminder that you don't need a massive marketing machine to build a successful business. Sometimes reputation, integrity, and taking care of people are what create a business that lasts. If you are feeling the love, make sure to subscribe, rate, and review on iTunes, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you are!! If you'd like to be featured on an episode go to theidahobusinesspodcast.com to APPLY! Apple Podcasts Spotify

What if working harder isn't actually the answer? In this episode of the Idaho Business Podcast, Spencer Ward sits down with entrepreneur, keynote speaker, and Herald Cards founder Jeffrey Jeffrey McKeegee-Williams to talk about self-leadership, discipline, habits, adversity, and what it really takes to create lasting change. Jeffrey shares his story of growing up in Fuller Park on Chicago's South Side and how those experiences shaped his approach to discipline, personal growth, and leadership. The conversation explores why motivation and hard work alone aren't always enough—and why sometimes growth requires not adding something new, but "decommitting" from the habits, relationships, and patterns holding you back. Spencer and Jeffrey also discuss self-sabotage, building habits that survive difficult circumstances, leading yourself before leading others, and why financial or business success doesn't automatically change who you are. Jeffrey also shares the story behind Herald Cards, his newly launched digital business card company, and his family's recent move to Meridian, Idaho. If you're a business owner or leader trying to grow your company while also becoming a better version of yourself, this conversation is for you. If you are feeling the love, make sure to subscribe, rate, and review on iTunes, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you are!! If you'd like to be featured on an episode go to theidahobusinesspodcast.com to APPLY! Apple Podcasts Spotify

Why do some successful business owners still struggle with confidence, communication, and leadership? In this episode of the Idaho Business Podcast, Spencer Ward sits down with leadership development coach and Thriving by Nature founder Bethany Stone to discuss the human skills behind effective leadership. Bethany explains why many business owners misdiagnose communication problems as marketing or messaging problems, why knowing your personal values is foundational to genuine confidence, and how leaders can become better at connecting with the people around them. They also dive into the "10-Foot Rule" for building better relationships, the difference between real confidence and simply looking confident, shiny object syndrome, and Bethany's Five Domains framework: emotional health, values, physical well-being, communication, and intellectual development. If you're growing a company but feel like something is holding you or your leadership back, this conversation may help you identify what you've been missing. Learn more about Bethany Stone and Thriving by Nature at thrivingbynature.com.

Fifth-generation Idaho potato farmer and entrepreneur Cody Holm is taking on a completely different industry: business banking and payments. Cody joins Spencer Ward to explain Spud Pay, a fintech platform built to bring stablecoins, blockchain payments, and modern financial technology to agriculture, construction, and other traditional industries. They break down what stablecoins actually are, how blockchain payments work, why businesses may want an alternative to traditional payment processing, and how Spud Pay connects with existing banking and accounting systems. Cody also explains how businesses can send payments, pay vendors, move money internationally, and potentially earn rewards on money that would otherwise sit in a checking account. They also discuss Spud Pay's three-minute business onboarding, QuickBooks and inventory integrations, ACH and check capabilities, and Cody's goal of bringing fintech tools to industries that are often the last to adopt new financial technology. If you've wondered what stablecoins and blockchain could actually mean for a real-world business, this conversation makes the technology much easier to understand. Guest: Cody Holm, CEO of Spud Pay Learn more: SpudPay.io If you are feeling the love, make sure to subscribe, rate, and review on iTunes, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you are!! If you'd like to be featured on an episode go to theidahobusinesspodcast.com to APPLY! Apple Podcasts Spotify

Braden shares how his background in the building industry shaped the way he approaches the title business, especially when working with new construction versus existing homes. But the bigger conversation is about growth, sales, leadership, and company culture. They dive into how Braden has helped grow his branch, why having the right people and culture matters, and how the way you treat your employees ultimately shows up in the experience you provide your customers. If you're a business owner or leader trying to grow your company without sacrificing your culture, this episode is for you.   If you are feeling the love, make sure to subscribe, rate, and review on iTunes, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you are!! If you'd like to be featured on an episode go to theidahobusinesspodcast.com to APPLY! Apple Podcasts Spotify

When you're neck-deep in the day-to-day of your business, creativity drops and stress takes over. In this episode of the Idaho Business Podcast, Spencer Ward breaks down why stepping out of your environment, even briefly, can reset your perspective, open doors to new ideas and lead to better leadership decisions.  He shares how a trip to Miami forced a needed reset, why doing less can result in more and how journaling tools like ChatGPT and new rooms can sharpen your thinking. If you're burning out or losing clarity, this episode is your reminder to step back in order to move forward.   If you are feeling the love, make sure to subscribe, rate, and review on iTunes, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you are!! If you'd like to be featured on an episode go to theidahobusinesspodcast.com to APPLY! Apple Podcasts Spotify

Twenty-five years after September 11, 2001, we remember the lives lost, the first responders who ran toward danger, the passengers of Flight 93 who fought back, and the servicemen and women who have sacrificed to protect our country. In this episode of the Idaho Business Podcast, Spencer Ward reflects on the courage displayed on 9/11 and the American "can-do" spirit that emerged in the days that followed. Running a business will never compare to the sacrifices made by our heroes. But their courage can inspire us to lead with greater courage in our own lives to take calculated risks, build companies, create jobs, serve our communities, get back up after failure, and refuse to let fear make our decisions. We may be vulnerable, but we don't have to be fragile. Never forget. 🇺🇸   If you are feeling the love, make sure to subscribe, rate, and review on iTunes, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you are!! If you'd like to be featured on an episode go to theidahobusinesspodcast.com to APPLY! Apple Podcasts Spotify

What does it actually take to expand your business across state lines? In this episode of the Idaho Business Podcast, Spencer Ward breaks down what he's doing right now to open a new Nucleane branch in Phoenix, Arizona without spending a fortune building infrastructure before the revenue exists. We cover market research, competition, pricing, insurance, entity structure, marketing in a completely new market, appointment setters, subcontractors vs. employees, when to hire a local manager, and how to determine your break-even point. The strategy is simple: prove the market before you build the infrastructure. If you've ever thought about expanding your company into another city or state, this episode gives you a real-world look at the decisions, risks, costs, and opportunities that come with taking a proven business model into a brand-new market.   If you are feeling the love, make sure to subscribe, rate, and review on iTunes, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you are!! If you'd like to be featured on an episode go to theidahobusinesspodcast.com to APPLY! Apple Podcasts Spotify

What can you really learn about an employee in their first 90 days? Inspired by an A-player hiring memo from Leila Hormozi, Spencer breaks down why the first 90 days aren't about mastering the job they're about trajectory and core-value fit. Learn how to spot ownership, coachability, work ethic, and character early, why talented employees can still poison your culture, and how tolerating mediocrity can ultimately chase away your best people. You don't need an A-player by day 90 but you should know whether you're looking at one in the making. If you are feeling the love, make sure to subscribe, rate, and review on iTunes, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you are!! If you'd like to be featured on an episode go to theidahobusinesspodcast.com to APPLY! Apple Podcasts Spotify

Small businesses are a bigger target for cybercriminals than many owners realize and protecting your company doesn't have to require a massive IT department. In this episode of the Idaho Business Podcast, Spencer sits down with cybersecurity consultant Shad Harris to break down cybersecurity from a small business owner's perspective. We start with the threats business owners may be underestimating, then look at how real-world cyberattacks happen and where criminals are finding vulnerabilities. From there, Shad shares practical ways businesses can protect themselves, their employees, customer information and their money. We also discuss employee mistakes, passwords and multifactor authentication, phishing and impersonation scams, AI's impact on cybercrime, cyber insurance, and what an owner should do immediately if they discover their company has been compromised. The goal isn't to scare business owners. It's to give them a practical plan for reducing their risk before something happens. If you own or manage a small business, this is one episode worth sharing with your leadership team and employees. If you'd like to reach out to Shad for his cybersecurity services, you can reach him at [email protected] If you are feeling the love, make sure to subscribe, rate, and review on iTunes, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you are!! If you'd like to be featured on an episode go to theidahobusinesspodcast.com to APPLY! Apple Podcasts Spotify

A lot of business owners don't actually own a business, they own a demanding job they created for themselves. In this episode of the Idaho Business Podcast, Spencer breaks down the difference between the CEO mindset and the technician mindset and why making that shift is critical if you want to scale. We cover why great owners stop asking "How do I do this?" and start asking "Who should own this?", how to stop being the bottleneck, why being busy doesn't always mean you're productive, and how to build leaders who can make decisions without you. You'll also hear leadership principles from Alex Hormozi, Ed Mylett, and Mike Campion about leverage, delegation, leadership, and focusing on the work that creates the most value. The ultimate test: If you disappeared from your company for 30 days, what would break? If you're trying to build a profitable business that can eventually operate without depending on you every day, this episode is for you. If you are feeling the love, make sure to subscribe, rate, and review on iTunes, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you are!! If you'd like to be featured on an episode go to theidahobusinesspodcast.com to APPLY! Apple Podcasts Spotify

Every business owner dreams of taking a vacation without their phone ringing every five minutes but very few build a company that can truly operate without them. In this episode,  Spencer shares the blueprint for creating a business that doesn't rely on the owner for every decision. Learn how to build systems that scale, discover your company's true core values, hire people who fit your culture, empower leaders, and use the "Bus Test" to determine if your business is built to last. If you want more freedom, a stronger team, and a business that thrives without you, this episode is for you. If you are feeling the love, make sure to subscribe, rate, and review on iTunes, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you are!! If you'd like to be featured on an episode go to theidahobusinesspodcast.com to APPLY! Apple Podcasts Spotify

What if feeling worse is actually a sign you're improving? After a golf lesson, I walked onto the course expecting to play better. Instead, I played worse. That experience reminded me of one of the biggest lessons in business: every meaningful improvement feels awkward before it becomes natural. Whether you're learning sales, leadership, marketing, hiring, or any new skill, there's a period where your performance may actually decline. The entrepreneurs who succeed aren't the ones who avoid that target, they're the ones who push through it. In this episode, I share why embracing the uncomfortable learning phase is essential for long-term success and how it applies to every area of business and life. If you are feeling the love, make sure to subscribe, rate, and review on iTunes, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you are!! If you'd like to be featured on an episode go to theidahobusinesspodcast.com to APPLY! Apple Podcasts Spotify

One of the hardest decisions in business is knowing whether an employee needs more training or needs to be let go.   In this episode, Spencer Ward breaks down the difference between skill problems and character problems. He explains why coachable, hardworking and honest employees are worth developing, while chronic complainers, drama creators and employees who constantly blame others can damage the entire company.   Spencer also explains why your core values should become the rules of the game. At Nucleane, those values are: Be Honest, Work Together, Make Money and Have Fun. When employees consistently work against those values, leadership has to protect the customers, the culture and the rest of the team.   You'll learn how to evaluate struggling employees, when to offer more coaching, when to consider a different position and when it may be time to show someone the door.   Topics include employee accountability, company culture, leadership, employee training, toxic employees, core values, performance management and building a stronger team. If you are feeling the love, make sure to subscribe, rate, and review on iTunes, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you are!! If you'd like to be featured on an episode go to theidahobusinesspodcast.com to APPLY! Apple Podcasts Spotify

Everyone tells young entrepreneurs to start a business. I disagree. In this episode, I share the exact advice I gave my nephew when he asked how to become a business owner without money or years of experience. Instead of joining the 90% of startups that fail, I explain why I believe the smarter path is to work inside the industry you want to own, become indispensable, and position yourself to buy an established business from a retiring owner. We also discuss: Why the skilled trades are one of the greatest wealth-building opportunities today. How baby boomer retirements are creating once in a generation acquisition opportunities. How seller financing can help you buy a business even if you don't have cash. Why messy financial statements can actually create opportunities for buyers. The importance of staying in your lane and buying businesses that match your expertise. Why experience is often worth far more than a business degree when it comes to ownership. If you're young, thinking about entrepreneurship, or you're a parent wondering what advice to give your kids, this episode could save years of frustration and possibly hundreds of thousands of dollars. 🎙️ Subscribe to the Idaho Business Podcast for practical business strategies, acquisitions, leadership lessons, and real-world advice from entrepreneurs building successful companies. If you'd like to be featured on an episode go to theidahobusinesspodcast.com to APPLY! Apple Podcasts Spotify