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  • Jay Silverman and Joel Bennett Search for West Virginia’s Best Hot Dog

    Jay Silverman and Joel Bennett Search for West Virginia’s Best Hot Dog
    2026/04/30
    I talk with Jay Silverman and Joel Bennett about their dogumentary on the search for the best West Virginia hot dog. What starts as a COVID-era idea to support mom-and-pop restaurants turns into a years-long project across the state. They visit 284 places, judge every part of a West Virginia-style hot dog, and meet people and stories they never could have planned. We talk about the Saint Albans premiere, the mustard-colored carpet, Bogeys serving hot dogs at the event, and how the project grows beyond food. Jay and Joel explain that the film is really about West Virginians supporting each other, celebrating small businesses, and showing the state in a way people do not always get to see. The lesson is simple: stay focused, stay consistent, and follow the story where it takes you.
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    1分未満
  • Edward Yu on the Human Side of Data and AI

    Edward Yu on the Human Side of Data and AI
    2026/04/28
    I talk with Edward Yu, principal of Huntington Analytics in downtown Huntington. Ed helps organizations close the gap between wanting AI and having the structured data needed to make it useful. We talk about why data matters for businesses, nonprofits, and workforce development programs, especially when grants and public trust are involved. Ed explains how tracking outcomes can show whether programs are helping people gain skills, find work, and move forward. He also pushes back on the fear that technology will replace people. To him, better data frees people to focus on the human side of the work. We also get into why every entrepreneur needs technology skills, how digital focus groups may shape media testing, and why Ed believes goodwill is good business.
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    1分未満
  • How Amanda Franklin Turned a Personal Pole Dancing Passion Into a Business

    How Amanda Franklin Turned a Personal Pole Dancing Passion Into a Business
    2026/04/23
    In this episode of the Kanawha Valley Hustlers podcast, I talk with Amanda Franklin about building Phoenix Pole Fitness and turning a personal passion into a business in Charleston. She walks me through how she got started, what pole dancing has meant in her life, and why she wants other women to experience the strength, balance, and confidence it can build. We get into the reality of business ownership too. She explains that running a business takes your full attention and that trying to split time between this and a regular job did not work for long. We also talk about the stigma around pole dancing and the false idea that someone has to already be strong or fit to begin. Amanda pushes back on that and makes the case that growth comes from showing up and staying with it. What I take from the conversation is that she believes in her work, cares about her students, and stands by the idea that fear and judgment should not stop someone from trying something new.
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    1分未満
  • The 7-11-4 Rule for Modern Marketing

    The 7-11-4 Rule for Modern Marketing
    2026/04/21
    In this episode of the Kanawha Valley Hustlers podcast, I explain that we are living through a trust recession, and that is changing how people buy. I make the case that visibility alone is not enough because people are hit with scams, spam, and sales messages all day, so they do not trust businesses right away. I break down the 7-11-4 idea to show what it takes to earn that trust: seven hours of engagement, eleven touch points, and four platforms before a prospect is ready to consider buying. I use examples like ads, networking, business cards, LinkedIn, Google, and in person conversations to show how trust gets built across multiple channels over time. My point is that no single ad, post, or sales call carries the load by itself. Businesses need to stop looking for one magic move and start building a system that keeps them visible, credible, and easy to verify wherever buyers go looking.
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    1分未満
  • Michael O’Shaughnessy on Growing a Landscaping Business

    Michael O’Shaughnessy on Growing a Landscaping Business
    2026/04/16
    In this episode of the Kanawha Valley Hustlers podcast, I talk with Michael O’Shaughnessy and talk about how his business grows from a small lawn care crew into a company that handles landscaping, hardscaping, patios, retaining walls, drainage, and more. What I like most is how honest he is about the business side of it. He admits that even after years in, there is still more to learn, and he talks about the trap a lot of owners fall into by trying to do everything themselves. He makes the point that growth really starts when you bring in people who know things you do not and learn to trust them. We also get into the real challenges he deals with now, especially staffing and the seasonal nature of the work. On top of that, he shares a few lessons from the field, like how simple marketing tools such as door hangers can work, and how a bad truck purchase can turn into a headache fast. His mindset is clear: keep growing, stay hungry, and keep moving forward.
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    1分未満
  • Money, Focus, and Financial Advice with Colton Jones

    Money, Focus, and Financial Advice with Colton Jones
    2026/04/14
    In this episode of the Kanawha Valley Hustlers podcast, I sit down with Colton Jones to talk about what a financial advisor really does and how he helps people make better decisions with their money. He explains that real planning starts with looking at what you earn, spend, and save today, then working backward from the future you want. We talk about inflation, tax issues, and why different income sources create different challenges. Colton also shares a lesson from early in his career: trying to do too much at once keeps you stuck, while focus moves you forward. We get into the problem with social media financial advice and why broad tips are not the same as advice built around your real situation. He also talks about the value of learning, separating business and personal finances, and using financial modeling to make better decisions. The biggest point he leaves me with is that no one is too early or too late to start. Progress builds over time, and the key is to take the next step.
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    1分未満
  • Mike Means on Building UKV HVAC

    Mike Means on Building UKV HVAC
    2026/04/09
    In this episode of the Kanawha Valley Hustlers podcast, I talk with Mike Means of UKV HVAC about how he got into the business, what his company does, and what he has learned along the way. Mike tells me he did not start out planning on HVAC, but after life took a few turns and he teamed up with the right partner, he found work he believes in. He explains that UKV HVAC solves comfort problems for homes and businesses, from heating and cooling issues to water leaks from a system. What hits me most is his point about betting on yourself. He talks about reaching a place where life looked stable, but the work did not light him up, and now he wakes up ready to go. We also get into common misconceptions about pricing in the HVAC world and the real challenge of finding people who not only know the trade, but also care about doing the job right. Mike closes by talking about sharpening sales skills, keeping the right outlook, and holding to his faith no matter what.
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    5 分
  • The Difference Between Marketing and Advertising

    The Difference Between Marketing and Advertising
    2026/04/07
    I break down the difference between advertising and marketing and explain why so many business owners confuse the two. I argue that advertising has one job: getting attention. If people see it, react to it, and talk about it, the ad does its job. I use the Bud Light and Dylan Mulvaney campaign as an example because it got massive attention, which makes it successful as advertising. But I also explain why it failed as marketing. The issue is not whether people like or dislike the people involved. The issue is that the message does not match the brand Bud Light spent years building. From there, I define marketing as the larger system behind the ad, including the offer, the audience, the pricing, the messaging, the branding, and the sales process. My point is simple: ads get attention, but marketing turns that attention into paying customers. If those two pieces are out of sync, the business pays for attention without getting results.
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    10 分