THE STERN TRUTH: Business Unfiltered

Marshall Stern
  • 0.0 (0)
  • ENTREPRENEURSHIP

The Stern Truth: Business Unfiltered is the no-BS podcast for overwhelmed small business owners & entrepreneurs who are tired of the noise, the hype, and the so-called “experts” telling them how to grow their business. Hosted by Marshall Stern, a seasoned business owner and coach with over 35 years of experience, this podcast cuts through the confusion to bring you real, practical advice that actually works. If you feel stuck, exhausted, and like you’re doing it all alone—this is for you. Each episode delivers honest conversations, actionable strategies, and straight talk about what it really takes to grow and lead a thriving business. No fluff. No gimmicks. Just The Stern Truth you need to move forward with confidence. It's time to stop spinning your wheels and start leading your business like the unstoppable force you are.

  1. Ep. 55 The Stern Truth: Improving Your Results With Your Own Inner Circle

    4D AGO

    Ep. 55 The Stern Truth: Improving Your Results With Your Own Inner Circle

    Send us a text What’s next for the new year? You’re probably thinking that every January. I have a suggestion for you that so many business owners don’t utilize.  Would you like to improve your results this year? (You probably do.) Do you have times when you feel lonely in your business and you’re doing everything yourself? (I bet you are. I know I’ve felt that.)  My suggestion is to have an inner circle. Not a circle of friends or family, but a group of trusted advisors, confidantes who are in the same business-minded boat as you. It’s not a strategy. It’s not a tool. Simply put, it’s community, and it can make all the difference between staying stagnant in your business and seeing the results you want. When you join a community of like-minded businesspeople, an inner circle, you know you're around people who really get it. These are the people that are just like you, small business owners and entrepreneurs with goals they’re working towards.   The ONtrepreneur Inner Circle is just that. It’s a new program for a small group of entrepreneurs. With this group, the aim is to create a community that supports each other and keeps one another accountable—we want to step up our game and achieve their goals this year!  I invite you to really open your mind to the possibilities of what that inner circle can do for you and your business and what that can look like. You can’t do everything alone, and, frankly, sometimes, you need that push to get started. Find out more here if you’re interested in joining the ONtrepreneur Inner Circle: https://marshallstern.net/landing/innercircle  Subscribe to The Stern Truth Business Unfiltered so you never miss an episode and receive a FREE GIFT: http://www.thesterntruth.com/ Join my Business Inner Circle Community for free here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thebusinessinnercirclegroup Book your complimentary business blindspot assessment with me here: https://attractwell.com/MarshallStern/landing/breakthrough-session I encourage you to reach out with feedback, topic suggestions, and share your own entrepreneurial challenges. Get in touch in the comments or head to... Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marshallstern/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MarshallDStern Email: marshall@marshallstern.net

    12 min
  2. Ep. 54 The Stern Truth: Two Styles. One Mission. Unstoppable Growth with Alison and David Setton

    JAN 6

    Ep. 54 The Stern Truth: Two Styles. One Mission. Unstoppable Growth with Alison and David Setton

    Send us a text In this unique episode, I sit down with a dynamic duo, Alison and David Setton, who are not just business partners but life partners as well.  For over 10 years, I've watched both of them navigate their entrepreneurial journeys, and now they've joined forces in financial services with an ambitious vision to build an agency of 100 associates. Alison shares her move from engineering to financial services. Admittedly, she said she wasn’t naturally entrepreneurial. Eventually, she “caught” that fervor from David. David himself opens up about his struggles with ADHD, feelings of "not being good enough," and how gratitude and meditation have become essential tools for success. David also shared, with raw honesty, the emotional toll of entrepreneurship and how he's learned to get back up quickly after setbacks. Their golden nuggets are powerful: Alison emphasizes giving first without expecting reciprocation. David's advice? When you get knocked down, take immediate action.  Their different strengths create the perfect and unstoppable balance in the partnership. Alison is analytical and steady; David is visionary and action-oriented. A great match all around.  You’ll find the beautiful messiness of entrepreneurship in this episode, from the self-doubt to different money backgrounds to the power of having someone who believes in you. If you're wondering whether you need a partner in business or just someone to support you, this episode will give you pause for thought. Connect with David and Alison here: Email: david@settongroup.ca, alison@settongroup.ca  Website: www.settongroup.ca  We have a new group program for business owners coming in January called the ONtrepreneur Inner Circle. This program includes ongoing masterminding, mentorship, coaching, accountability, and encouragement to step up your game and achieve your goals. If you’re interested, reach out to me at marshall@marshallstern.net.  Subscribe to The Stern Truth Business Unfiltered so you never miss an episode and receive a FREE GIFT: http://www.thesterntruth.com/ Join my Business Inner Circle Community for free here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thebusinessinnercirclegroup Book your complimentary business blindspot assessment with me here: https://attractwell.com/MarshallStern/landing/breakthrough-session I encourage you to reach out with feedback, topic suggestions, and share your own entrepreneurial challenges. Get in touch in the comments or head to... Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marshallstern/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MarshallDStern Email: marshall@marshallstern.net

    43 min
  3. Ep. 53 The Stern Truth: Your Year in Review

    12/30/2025

    Ep. 53 The Stern Truth: Your Year in Review

    Send us a text Welcome to your year in review! In this episode, I encourage you to look back at the year, see what you achieved, or what you didn’t, and why that happened. Looking back is the only way that we can move forward. Even if you didn’t have a plan or didn't write down any goals, I want you to reflect on your year. Think about the goals you set out, if you achieved them, and how you did that. Were they measurable results? How did you achieve them? It may have been the steps you executed. Maybe it was the processes that you implemented. Or maybe it was the accountability, coming back day after day to work tirelessly on that goal. You might be saying, but Marshall, I didn’t achieve my goals. Then let’s ask a few more questions. What are you currently doing that feels productive but isn't actually moving your business forward? If you could do one thing over the next 90 days to achieve your goals, what would that be? Ask yourself what you can commit to on a daily and weekly basis that can create momentum to get you the results you want. Focus on what lights you up, and that commitment, that zone of genius, will come naturally.   We have a new group program for business owners coming in January 2026 called the ONtrepreneur Inner Circle. This program includes ongoing masterminding, mentorship, coaching, accountability, and encouragement to step up your game and achieve your goals. If you’re interested, reach out to me at marshall@marshallstern.net.  Subscribe to The Stern Truth Business Unfiltered so you never miss an episode and receive a FREE GIFT: http://www.thesterntruth.com/ Join my Business Inner Circle Community for free here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thebusinessinnercirclegroup Book your complimentary business blindspot assessment with me here: https://attractwell.com/MarshallStern/landing/breakthrough-session I encourage you to reach out with feedback, topic suggestions, and share your own entrepreneurial challenges. Get in touch in the comments or head to... Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marshallstern/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MarshallDStern Email: marshall@marshallstern.net

    14 min
  4. Ep. 52 The Stern Truth: Stop Fighting the Chaos with Diana Dinh

    12/23/2025

    Ep. 52 The Stern Truth: Stop Fighting the Chaos with Diana Dinh

    Send us a text Diana Dinh, mom of four, financial strategist, and business owner, is my guest on this episode. In her life she has found that when trying to make everything easier, that’s what can actually make things harder. Her advice is to take things as they come. Diana is a great example of that, with four kids, a husband, and her own business. She says don’t fight the chaos. See it as it comes and deal with it. As a mother/business owner, Diana saw a gap in the networking space for young professional moms like her. She closed that gap when she created Mama Masterminds, an intentional community where business-minded moms have time to connect and bond over something as simple as a pizza. So HOW does she deal with it all? For her, it boils down to the four S’s. Self, strategy, systems, and support. Admittedly, at first, she wasn’t an expert at balancing all these S’s. The inner work that she’s done is something she credits as helping her be successful. Our discussion gets into the “act as if” mindframe. If you’ve never heard of it, it’s easy—act like the person you want to be. We even play a game where I shoot her common business terms, and she explains the “act as if” behind it. Diana gave us so many golden nuggets from this episode. Make time for the things that are important to you. If it’s meant to be, it’s up to me. And a special message to the mom entrepreneurs is to recognize how much power you already have in yourself.   Want to connect with Diana? Check out her Facebook group, her podcast, or connect on LinkedIn.   Mama Mastermind Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/officialmamamasterminds/about/ Diana's podcast "Mama Masterminds": https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/mama-masterminds/id1721418663 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/itsdianadinh/ Subscribe to The Stern Truth Business Unfiltered so you never miss an episode and receive a FREE GIFT: http://www.thesterntruth.com/ Join my Business Inner Circle Community for free here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thebusinessinnercirclegroup Book your complimentary business blindspot assessment with me here: https://attractwell.com/MarshallStern/landing/breakthrough-session I encourage you to reach out with feedback, topic suggestions, and share your own entrepreneurial challenges. Get in touch in the comments or head to... Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marshallstern/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MarshallDStern Email: marshall@marshallstern.net

    49 min
  5. Ep. 51 The Stern Truth: Lessons from Turning 50

    12/16/2025

    Ep. 51 The Stern Truth: Lessons from Turning 50

    Send us a text What’s on your Business Bucketlist, the things that you want to achieve in your business? Maybe you haven’t even looked at it for a while. In this episode, I talk about my own Business Bucketlist item that came to fruition in 2025—this very podcast. I talk about the lessons that I’ve learned over 50 episodes of the Stern Truth. As some of you might know, about 10 years ago, I had another podcast. I stopped around episode 20, but I always wanted to get back on the podcast horse. And at the beginning of this year, I did, with some amazing assistance along the way. Since this is Business Unfiltered, I’ll be honest and let you know that this podcast was the ultimate in “I will when” procrastination. I made a list of what I wanted to do in January 2025 and this podcast was near the top of the list of what I wanted to accomplish. I never got around to making a specific timeframe or plan. Not until I took my own 1-person entrepreneur retreat, which gave me the clarity I needed about what I REALLY wanted to do.  “Launch the podcast by December 2025” was on the top of my Business Bucketlist. I knew what didn’t work, and I was ready to loop in a team so I could focus on the coaching, the conversations, and the relationships within the podcast. I made a clear vision of what I wanted. I built a team. I focused on what lights me up and fell in love with the outcome. Above all, I was consistent, and I built something I’m proud of. Even if you didn’t look at the title and say, “Wow, Marshall, you look great for 50!” I’m always glad to have you here listening or watching, my friends. 50 episodes is a true milestone in my book. Subscribe to The Stern Truth Business Unfiltered so you never miss an episode and receive a FREE GIFT: http://www.thesterntruth.com/ Join my Business Inner Circle Community for free here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thebusinessinnercirclegroup Book your complimentary business blindspot assessment with me here: https://attractwell.com/MarshallStern/landing/breakthrough-session I encourage you to reach out with feedback, topic suggestions, and share your own entrepreneurial challenges. Get in touch in the comments or head to... Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marshallstern/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MarshallDStern Email: marshall@marshallstern.net

    12 min
  6. Ep. 50 The Stern Truth Turns 50: The Team Behind the Mic

    12/09/2025

    Ep. 50 The Stern Truth Turns 50: The Team Behind the Mic

    Send us a text It’s the 50th episode of the Stern Truth! I almost can’t believe it. The guests I have are a bit different than my usual guests. For this special 50th episode, we have Jordan Eaton, CEO and founder of BOSS Assistants (who was also on episode 13,) and Lindsey Molyneaux, BOSS’ social media manager and podcast manager. They have helped me make the podcast what it is. I had a podcast about 10 years ago but barely made it past episode 25. The BOSS Assistants team and I work together so well, and this podcast is living proof that a good team can help you get to where you want to go in your business. What really kicked my butt into gear to create this podcast was the accountability this team brought with them. We work well together, and we all help each other reach our goals. Having people like that in your business is truly priceless. We also get into the benefits of hiring out vs. hiring in-house. Either way, it’s an investment, a cost of both money and time. But, on the other side of the coin, there's a huge cost in NOT getting the proper guidance or getting an expert to help you, and that's missing out on opportunities.  Jordan and Lindsey even give a few golden nuggets to the table. The little tasks add up. The first impressions make a difference. The most important one of the episode—it’s all about building a team. It’s the best money you will ever spend. Focus on what you do best, and let someone else, like BOSS Assistants, do the rest. Get in touch with Jordan here: LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/jordan-eaton/ Website: bossassistants.com Subscribe to The Stern Truth Business Unfiltered so you never miss an episode and receive a FREE GIFT: http://www.thesterntruth.com/ Join my Business Inner Circle Community for free here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thebusinessinnercirclegroup Book your complimentary business blindspot assessment with me here: https://attractwell.com/MarshallStern/landing/breakthrough-session I encourage you to reach out with feedback, topic suggestions, and share your own entrepreneurial challenges. Get in touch in the comments or head to... Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marshallstern/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MarshallDStern Email: marshall@marshallstern.net

    36 min
  7. Ep. 49 The Stern Truth: Business Hacks with Leslie Hacker

    12/02/2025

    Ep. 49 The Stern Truth: Business Hacks with Leslie Hacker

    Send us a text Aside from having one of the coolest names, Leslie Hacker has a keen business sense. Leslie started her marketing and PR business in 2015 while taking care of her sick parents. She prefers to call herself a consultant and a communicator, since that’s really at the core of what she does. The episode gets into the idea of being uncomfortable, which, let’s be real, no one really likes. But for Leslie, she knows that when businesses do the same thing over and over, those things eventually won’t work. We talk over the analogy of putting your oxygen mask on when you’re on an airplane before helping others. One of Leslie’s golden nuggets (which I’m calling Business Hacks for this episode) is that her work is better when she has oxygen. Leslie told us how she’s noticed that when she works with a company that she’s a customer of herself, that’s when she’s most passionate about the job. For her, that’s when it’s more than just money. That being said, we also get into being cautious with your passion. It could take you down a dark path. The businesses and clients that we work with, or that anybody works with, for that matter, might not always be a fit. We have to be careful where our passion takes us and discern from that to make the most of our time and energy. Get in touch with Leslie here to book a strategy session: Website: hackercommunications.com  Instagram: @hacker_communications Subscribe to The Stern Truth Business Unfiltered so you never miss an episode and receive a FREE GIFT: http://www.thesterntruth.com/ Join my Business Inner Circle Community for free here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thebusinessinnercirclegroup Book your complimentary business blindspot assessment with me here: https://attractwell.com/MarshallStern/landing/breakthrough-session I encourage you to reach out with feedback, topic suggestions, and share your own entrepreneurial challenges. Get in touch in the comments or head to... Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marshallstern/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MarshallDStern Email: marshall@marshallstern.net

    37 min
  8. Ep. 48 The Stern Truth: If Not Now, When?

    11/25/2025

    Ep. 48 The Stern Truth: If Not Now, When?

    Send us a text We’re coming up to the beginning of a new year. I often hear “I will when” around this time of the year.  Oh, but you’re waiting for the economy to get better, holding on until the new year, or hoping the timing will be better when the kids are grown. There’s so many excuses to not do it. The question I have to ask you is, “If not now, when?”  The “I’ll do this later” mindset quickly turns into procrastination. That’s exactly when we lose the opportunities that are present to us. Look back on 2025. Were you in your comfort zone the whole time? We get so comfortable with just being comfortable. We don’t grow. We’ve stopped remembering why we do it. Or maybe it’s not important to us anymore.  Our competitors aren’t slowing down. They still have their marketing. They’re not stopping their lead gen. If we pause and don’t keep that momentum going, our competitors will lap us (and no one wants that!).  The Kickstart Lab 2026 can help you get out of your comfort zone. This is a 90-day block where we review what’s worked, what didn’t, and why, and clarify what we want for 2026. Success leaves clues. Follow them so you can achieve what you want to achieve in 2026. We kick off December 1st, so grab your spot here: https://marshallstern.net/landing/2026-kickstart  Subscribe to The Stern Truth Business Unfiltered so you never miss an episode and receive a FREE GIFT: http://www.thesterntruth.com/ Join my Business Inner Circle Community for free here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thebusinessinnercirclegroup Book your complimentary business blindspot assessment with me here: https://attractwell.com/MarshallStern/landing/breakthrough-session I encourage you to reach out with feedback, topic suggestions, and share your own entrepreneurial challenges. Get in touch in the comments or head to... Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marshallstern/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MarshallDStern Email: marshall@marshallstern.net

    10 min
See All (55)

About

The Stern Truth: Business Unfiltered is the no-BS podcast for overwhelmed small business owners & entrepreneurs who are tired of the noise, the hype, and the so-called “experts” telling them how to grow their business. Hosted by Marshall Stern, a seasoned business owner and coach with over 35 years of experience, this podcast cuts through the confusion to bring you real, practical advice that actually works. If you feel stuck, exhausted, and like you’re doing it all alone—this is for you. Each episode delivers honest conversations, actionable strategies, and straight talk about what it really takes to grow and lead a thriving business. No fluff. No gimmicks. Just The Stern Truth you need to move forward with confidence. It's time to stop spinning your wheels and start leading your business like the unstoppable force you are.

Information