“Culture trumps everything."

In this episode of The TrustBuilt podcast, host Alan Bennett sits down with Jason Robinson, co-founder of IntegraTech, to discuss his journey from corporate IT to entrepreneurship.

He opens up about the challenges of running a service-based business, the importance of trust and relationships, and how he’s building a company culture that aligns with his values.

📌 Resources & Links Mentioned:

Jason Robinson’s Company: IntegraTech

Book: The E-Myth Revisited by Michael E. Gerber

Learn more about Strength Assessments for Teams: Gallup StrengthsFinder

🔗 How to Connect with Jason:

Website: https://integritech.io/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robinsonjas/

The Secret to Better Teams, Higher Retention, and Real Growth? Core Values.

In this episode, we sit down with Roxanne Martino to discuss the power of hiring based on core values. Beyond technical skills, finding team members who align with your company’s mission and culture leads to stronger collaboration, better retention, and a thriving workplace.

Key Topics Covered:

✅ The importance of hiring for values alignment, not just skills

✅ How to craft interview questions that reveal a candidate’s core values

✅ The role of trust and communication in workplace culture

✅ Practical strategies for fostering a positive, high-performing team

✅ The long-term benefits of prioritizing culture in business growth

📌 Resources & Links Mentioned:

Gallup StrengthsFinder – Discover and develop your team’s strengths

The Pros of Positive Work Culture – Related blog post on how culture impacts the bottom line

Building a Team That Embodies Your Values – Nurture email on hiring beyond the resume

Thinking Outside the Financial Box: Three Ways to Measure Success – Free resource for redefining business success

if you're tired of cookie-cutter marketing and looking to reconnect with your ‘why’—this one's for you!

In this episode of the TrustBuilt Podcast, host Alan Bennett sits down with Cari Kaufman, founder of Storyteller Wordsmith, to unpack how storytelling, authenticity, and trust can transform a small business’s marketing strategy.

👇 CHAPTERS:

00:00 - Welcome & Introducing Cari Kaufman

00:12 - The Story Behind "Storyteller Wordsmith"

01:52 - What Is Copywriting (and Why It Matters)?

03:00 - What Most Business Owners Miss About Marketing

05:00 - Storytelling as Business Therapy

07:04 - Why Connection to Your 'Why' Changes Everything

10:22 - Helping Business Owners Overcome Fear

13:25 - Defining a Unique Marketing Message

16:00 - Building Custom Marketing Strategies

18:52 - Compassion, Connection & Competency in Business

21:00 - The Launch Phase: From Vision to Visibility

23:20 - Why Analytics + Storytelling = Smart Marketing

26:44 - Preventing Stagnation with Content Ecosystems

30:20 - Understanding Business Owner Personality Types

33:20 - Building Trust Across Styles (Visionaries vs. Analysts)

37:50 - When Cari Says "No" (and Why That Builds Trust)

41:40 - How Cari Defines a "Touchdown" Win

44:50 - Final Takeaway: Great Marketing Honors Your Story

✅ Connect with Cari Kaufman:

Website: https://storytellerwordsmith.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carikaufman

What does it take to turn creativity, resilience, and a bold vision into a successful business? In this episode of The TrustBuilt Podcast, Bea Apple, founder of Hillfolk, shares her unconventional journey from engineering to entrepreneurship, building a thriving craft business that’s about to launch in 1,500 Walmart stores nationwide.

Key Takeaways from This Episode:

✅ Entrepreneurship is a mindset, not just a business model.

✅ You don’t need a perfect plan—just the courage to start. .

✅ Your business should solve a real problem.

✅ Scaling a small business requires innovation.

✅ Great businesses don’t just serve customers; they build communities.

✅ Authenticity builds trust.

✅ A business must evolve to survive.

Resources & Links Mentioned:

📌 Hillfolk (https://hillfolk.com/) – Bea’s craft store and creative community

📌 Hillfolk Craft Kits at Walmart (Launching soon!)

📌 The Ideal Team Player by Patrick Lencioni – A must-read on hiring the right people

📌 The E-Myth by Michael Gerber – Understanding why small businesses fail and how to build a scalable system

If you want a business that grows instead of stalls, you have to embrace vision, iteration, and adaptability.

In this episode of The TrustBuilt Podcast, John Shrewsbury, co-founder of Gen Wealth Financial Advisors, shares his journey from working out of the trunk of his car to building a financial firm managing nearly $1 billion in assets.

Key Takeaways from This Episode:

✅ Vision isn’t optional.

✅ The businesses that fail aren’t the ones with bad ideas.

✅ Small, strategic changes (not massive reinvention) drive lasting success.

✅ Hiring the right team is the secret to scaling.

✅ Change isn’t just necessary—it’s survival.

✅ Leading a business means balancing vision and execution.

✅ The best advice John ever received: "Sometimes you have to go slow to go fast."

Resources & Links Mentioned:

📌 Gen Wealth Financial Advisors

📌 The Ideal Team Player by Patrick Lencioni

📌 The E-Myth by Michael Gerber

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In this episode host Alan Bennett sits down with Amy Pierce, founder of Bank Strategic Solutions, a firm dedicated to helping banks streamline operations, navigate mergers & acquisitions, and improve efficiency.

If you’re a banking professional, entrepreneur, or business owner looking to scale effectively, this episode is packed with real-world strategies on leadership, problem-solving, and process improvement.

Key Topics Covered:

✅ How Amy transitioned from a banking executive to a successful entrepreneur.

✅ The challenges banks face with mergers & acquisitions and efficiency.

✅ Why community banks struggle with operations—and how to fix it.

✅ The power of mentorship and how accountability groups shape business growth.

✅ Lessons learned from taking risks and betting on yourself.

✅ How data science is changing the way banks operate.

✅ The importance of core values, flexibility, and workplace culture.

Resources & Links Mentioned:

🌐 Bank Strategic Solutions Website: https://bankstrategic.com/

💼 Connect with Amy Pierce on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amy-pierce-gnaadvisors/

In this episode of The TrustBuilt Podcast, host Alan Bennett sits down with Brett Goode, former professional football player turned entrepreneur. Brett shares how the discipline, resilience, and structure of his 10-year football career laid the foundation for his transition into business ownership.

Key Topics Covered:

✅ How football prepared Brett for the challenges of business ownership.

✅ The importance of mindset in overcoming setbacks.

✅ Why entrepreneurs must learn to block out negativity and keep moving forward.

✅ The power of mentorship and accountability in building a business.

✅ How to create a positive team culture and develop strong leadership skills.

✅ The reality of taking the leap into entrepreneurship—and why Brett wishes he had done it sooner.

✅ How innovation and adaptability keep businesses relevant.

Resources & Links Mentioned:

🏈 Follow Brett Goode’s Business Journey: https://www.mosquitosquad.com/north-west-arkansas/

📢 Connect with Brett on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brett-goode-a37bb569/]

📖 Recommended Reads on Leadership & Mindset:

📖 The Score Takes Care of Itself – Bill Walsh

(Lessons from an NFL coach on leadership, building a winning culture, and staying focused on the long game.)

📖 Extreme Ownership – Jocko Willink & Leif Babin

(How taking full responsibility for your team and decisions leads to lasting success in business and leadership.)

In this episode of the TrustBuilt Podcast, Alan Bennett interviews Scott Bowman, a seasoned entrepreneur with a fascinating background spanning the military, Walmart, and consulting.

Scott shares his entrepreneurial journey, from his early days in the Army to creating innovative business solutions for small and medium-sized enterprises.

This episode is packed with wisdom on risk-taking, self-discipline, and building a business that thrives in challenging markets.

Scott’s journey highlights the importance of adaptability, self-awareness, and leveraging unique skills to create a thriving business.

His candid recounting of setbacks and triumphs offers valuable lessons for entrepreneurs navigating challenges and seizing opportunities in competitive markets.