Brand Builders Podcast W/ Daron Pacheco

Daron Pacheco
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Business
  • Updated Weekly

The Brand Builders Podcast is where entrepreneurs, creators, and kingdom-minded business owners come to grow their personal brand and online influence — through video, storytelling, and strategy. Hosted by Daron Pacheco, founder of Howdy Media, and Katie Pacheco (Co-Founder), this show breaks down what actually works in today’s digital world — from content systems and social media growth to monetization strategies and faith-led leadership. Each episode is a raw and real conversation with top-performing entrepreneurs, creators, and marketers who are doing it their way — with integrity, boldness, and intentionality. Whether you're launching your first piece of content or scaling to 7 figures with a personal brand — this show is your playbook.

  1. 3d ago

    How to Grow a Business in a Small Town Market (Niche Down?)

    Bryce (owner) and Sean (manager) of Lytle Aviation join the Brand Builders Podcast to break down how they built a flight school in Abilene, Texas — from working out of an airplane with zero office space to training pilots across West Texas. They get real about the risk Sean took accepting a pay cut to come on board, the moments they doubted whether the business would survive, why most people in Abilene don't even know the town has an airport, and how faith shaped every major decision along the way. They also dig into where AI actually fits (and doesn't) in one of the most heavily regulated industries in the country. If you're building a business in a small market, weighing a risky career move, or just want an honest look at what it actually takes to keep a company alive past year one — this episode is for you. In this episode: 00:00 – Is flying actually safe? (The stat that surprises everyone) 02:15 – How Bryce started Lytle Aviation from scratch in Abilene 05:40 – The story of how Sean went from student pilot to company manager 09:20 – Building a team around your weaknesses, not just your strengths 14:00 – Growing pains: starting with a shared notes app as a scheduling system 18:30 – Why most people don't know Abilene even has an airport 23:45 – The moments they doubted the business would survive 27:10 – How faith shapes their approach to risk and failure 30:45 – Where AI fits into aviation — and where it doesn't 35:00 – The one piece of advice they'd give any new business owner 38:00 – Where to connect with Lytle Aviation About Lytle Aviation: Lytle Aviation is a Part 61 flight school based at Abilene Regional Airport (ABI), offering private, commercial, and instrument pilot training, flight simulator sessions, and Discovery Flights for anyone curious about learning to fly. Book a free consultation or Discovery Flight: 🌐 Website: https://www.lytleaviation.com 📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Lytleaviation 📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lytle.aviation 📍 Subscribe for new episodes featuring local business owners every week Empire Management Group — https://www.empire-management-group.com/ Better Business Bureau of Abilene — https://www.bbb.org/ Graze Craze Abilene -- https://www.grazecraze.com/abilene-tx

  2. Aug 10

    Your Competitor Isn’t Better Than You, They’re Just More Visible

    🎙️ Sponsor the Brand Builders Podcast: https://www.howdy-media.com/brand-builders-podcast Join Our Community: https://www.skool.com/brand-builders-community-4614/about Your competitor may not have a better product or service—they may simply be more visible. In this episode of the Brand Builders Podcast, Daron Pacheco sits down with Britini Casady, President and CEO of the Better Business Bureau of the Big Country, to discuss why great businesses often struggle while more visible competitors continue attracting customers. She shares her journey from teacher and Texas state investigator to photographer, entrepreneur, and CEO. She explains how she built her photography business from a Facebook page, found her first clients, overcame imposter syndrome, and eventually created a business that supported her family. Daron and Britni also break down what business owners need to understand about social media marketing, customer complaints, BBB ratings, trust, delegation, work-life balance, and building a reputable brand. In this episode, you’ll learn: • Why your competitor may be getting more customers than you • How visibility can matter as much as the quality of your product • What could happen if you post two videos every day for 30 days • Why customers forget about businesses that stop showing up • How to start marketing your business before everything is perfect • What the Better Business Bureau actually does • How BBB accreditation works • Why receiving a complaint does not automatically make you a bad business • How your response to a complaint can affect your reputation • How entrepreneurs can delegate work and protect their family time • Why trust is the foundation of every successful business The Better Business Bureau of the Big Country serves 13 counties and helps connect consumers with trustworthy local businesses. It also provides complaint resolution, scam-prevention resources, education, networking opportunities, and greater visibility for accredited businesses. Whether you are starting your first business, struggling to attract customers, trying to improve your online presence, or looking for practical small-business advice, this conversation will help you understand why being great at what you do is no longer enough. People must know that your business exists. Subscribe to the Brand Builders Podcast for conversations about entrepreneurship, branding, content creation, social media strategy, leadership, and building a business that gives you greater freedom. CHAPTERS: 00:00 Why visibility matters for local businesses 02:40 Meet Brittany Cassidy 04:30 Brittany’s career before the BBB 06:30 From teacher to Texas state investigator 08:00 Starting a photography business 10:00 Finding her first clients through Facebook 12:00 Overcoming imposter syndrome 14:00 Balancing business and family 18:00 Returning to the corporate world 22:00 How the BBB helps businesses and consumers 25:00 Protecting customers from scams 27:00 Rebuilding the Better Business Bureau locally 30:00 Why business owners should delegate 33:00 Why great businesses remain invisible 35:00 How consistency creates customers 37:00 Future plans for the BBB 40:00 Networking, workshops, and local business growth 42:00 The best advice for new business owners 43:00 The two-videos-a-day challenge 46:00 Where to connect with the BBB #BrandBuildersPodcast #SmallBusinessMarketing #Entrepreneurship #BusinessGrowth #SocialMediaMarketing #LocalBusiness #BetterBusinessBureau #PersonalBranding #ContentMarketing #BusinessPodcast Empire Management Group — https://www.empire-management-group.com/ Better Business Bureau of Abilene — https://www.bbb.org/ Graze Craze Abilene -- https://www.grazecraze.com/abilene-tx

  3. Jul 23

    Most Business Owners Never Escape Their Own Business (Here's The Fix)

    🎙️ Sponsor the Brand Builders Podcast: https://www.howdy-media.com/brand-builders-podcast Join Our Community: https://www.skool.com/brand-builders-community-4614/about Most business owners will never take a real vacation — not because their business can't survive without them, but because they never built the systems to make it possible. In this episode of the Brand Builders Podcast, I break down the exact framework I used to leave the office for a full week while my content, clients, and revenue kept moving without me. I call it the PREP Framework — Produce ahead, Remove yourself, Establish expectations, Protect your presence — and it's the same system I used to record this episode from a picnic table on vacation, unedited, one camera, zero excuses. Inside this episode, you'll learn: ✅ How to prep your team and clients so nothing falls apart while you're gone ✅ Why removing yourself as the bottleneck is the real unlock for time freedom (not hustle, not burnout) ✅ How to set client and team expectations in advance so nobody expects the impossible ✅ A real story of a stranger closing a deal with me before I said a single word — because of consistent content ✅ Why I think the FIRE movement gets "early retirement" wrong for entrepreneurs ✅ The one challenge every business owner needs to ask themselves: could your business survive 7 days without you? If you're a small business owner, agency founder, or entrepreneur trying to build a business that runs without owning your entire life, this episode gives you the exact system to start reclaiming your time — starting this week. 🎧 Timestamps: 00:00 – Why most entrepreneurs never take a real vacation 01:25 – Introducing the PREP Framework 01:50 – Why "retiring early" misses the point 03:18 – Step 1: Produce Ahead 05:47 – Step 2: Remove Yourself 07:48 – Step 3: Establish Expectations 09:31 – Step 4: Protect Your Presence 09:31 – The stranger who bought before I said a word 13:38 – Why your camera doesn't matter as much as your content 17:22 – The 7-Day Challenge: could your business survive without you? 19:11 – Final encouragement for self-employed business owners 🤝 Thank you to our sponsors: Empire Management Group — https://www.empire-management-group.com/ Better Business Bureau of Abilene — https://www.bbb.org/ Graze Craze Abilene -- https://www.grazecraze.com/abilene-tx

  4. Jul 16

    How to Build Wealth on Any Income

    🎙️ Sponsor the Brand Builders Podcast: https://www.howdy-media.com/brand-builders-podcast Join Our Community: https://www.skool.com/brand-builders-community-4614/about He walked away from a big financial firm to build a 100% fiduciary wealth management company from scratch — and five years later, Cedar Gap Wealth Management is on pace to double every four years. In this episode of Brand Builders Podcast, Michael Hull (Co-Founder of Cedar Gap Wealth Management in Abilene, TX) breaks down what it actually took to leave the safety of a big firm and go independent: the "golden handcuffs" corporate firms use to keep advisors from ever leaving, why he and partner Ben McAnally chose fee-based fiduciary pricing over commissions, how sponsoring rodeo athletes and the National Finals Rodeo became an unconventional but high-ROI growth strategy, and the 10-10-80 rule he teaches clients for building wealth on any income. We also get into his path from banking, to pharmaceutical sales at Johnson & Johnson, to wealth management — and how his wife's support was the deciding factor in whether Cedar Gap ever got off the ground at all. If you're an entrepreneur, business owner, or W-2 employee thinking about going independent, this episode is a real, unfiltered look at what it costs and what it's worth. 🔑 WHAT YOU'LL LEARN: - The "golden handcuffs" strategy big firms use to keep employees dependent - Why 100% fiduciary + fee-based pricing changes the advisor-client relationship - How Cedar Gap turned rodeo sponsorships into a real client acquisition channel - The 10-10-80 rule for building wealth (tithe, save, live) - Why hiring an assistant came before hiring a salesperson - Cedar Gap's 10-year growth plan and expansion into the Fort Worth market - What Michael would tell himself before becoming an entrepreneur ⏱️ TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 – Why most people never learn how to actually run a business 00:35 – Welcome Michael Hull, Co-Founder of Cedar Gap Wealth Management 01:30 – What wealth management actually involves 03:00 – Michael's path: banking → Johnson & Johnson → wealth management 05:30 – Why he and Ben McAnally started Cedar Gap in 2021 07:30 – Biggest lessons from 5 years of entrepreneurship 11:21 – First hires: why an assistant came before a salesperson 14:00 – How Cedar Gap actually gets new clients 16:00 – Fee-based vs. commission-based advisors — how they get paid 18:30 – Crypto: is it worth it? 19:00 – The 10-10-80 rule for building wealth 21:30 – Paying off business debt vs. building a financial plan 33:18 – Why Cedar Gap sponsors rodeo athletes and the NFR 35:31 – The "golden handcuffs" that almost kept him in corporate 37:02 – Why his wife's support made Cedar Gap possible 39:27 – Mentorship over books: how Michael actually learned 44:02 – Cedar Gap's 10-year goal and Fort Worth expansion 44:49 – Where to connect with Cedar Gap Wealth Management CONNECT WITH CEDAR GAP WEALTH MANAGEMENT: Website: https://www.cedargapwealth.com/ Location: Abilene, TX 🤝 Thank you to our sponsors: Empire Management Group — https://www.empire-management-group.com/ Better Business Bureau of Abilene — https://www.bbb.org/ Graze Craze Abilene -- https://www.grazecraze.com/abilene-tx

  5. Jul 10

    She Tripled Her Income, Built the Brand… Then Life Hit Back

    🎙️ Sponsor the Brand Builders Podcast: https://www.howdy-media.com/brand-builders-podcast Join Our Community: https://www.skool.com/brand-builders-community-4614/about She tripled her salary in 2 months after quitting an in-network physical therapy job — then COVID hit two weeks after she opened her own practice. This is how BodyWorx Abilene got built anyway. In this episode of the Brand Builders Podcast, Jodi (owner of BodyWorx Abilene) breaks down why insurance companies decide when your recovery is "done" regardless of your actual results, why one Texas law (Direct Access, 2019) is the only reason cash-pay physical therapy exists, and why scaling from a solo practice to 14 employees and 2,000 patients cut her profit margin from 85% down to 15%. TIMESTAMPS 00:00 – Losing control (and learning to let go of it) 01:18 – How Scout Guide and word-of-mouth built her first clients 02:06 – Her first client came from ChatGPT, not Google 06:02 – The windstorm that blew her sign off (and why it didn't matter) 07:02 – Graduating PT school in 2013 and 6 years of burnout in-network 10:04 – The Texas law that made her own practice possible 12:35 – Tripling her salary in the first 2 months 14:03 – Why growth cut her profit margin from 85% to 15% 14:36 – Hiring a business coach and becoming one herself 23:39 – The hardest lesson: you can't force people to care like you do 25:21 – What she'd tell herself on day one 59:09 – Why every business is really the same skill set 1:00:05 – Her dream to open a trade company next 1:01:16 – Where to find BodyWorx Abilene ABOUT THE GUEST Jodi is the owner of BodyWorx Abilene, a cash-pay physical therapy practice and gym in Abilene, Texas. Follow her at: instagram.com/bodyworks_abilene ABOUT THE BRAND BUILDERS PODCAST The Brand Builders Podcast features real conversations with entrepreneurs, business owners, and brand builders in West Texas and beyond, no fluff, no gurus, just what actually worked (and what didn't). Subscribe for new episodes every week #SmallBusiness #PhysicalTherapy #Entrepreneurship 🤝 Thank you to our sponsors: Empire Management Group — https://www.empire-management-group.com/ Better Business Bureau of Abilene — https://www.bbb.org/ Graze Craze Abilene -- https://www.grazecraze.com/abilene-tx

  6. Jul 1

    How She Went From A Corporate Job To Full Time Influencer

    🎙️ Sponsor the Brand Builders Podcast: https://www.howdy-media.com/brand-builders-podcast Join Our Community: https://www.skool.com/brand-builders-community-4614/about She left a 10-year corporate banking career with no plan, four kids at home, and a small social media following — and built a full-time income without ever going viral. In this episode of the Brand Builders Podcast, I sit down with Yeli, a West Texas-based content creator, brand partner, and mom of four, to talk about the real side of building a content business from nothing. We cover what actually makes money on social media, why consistency beats volume, how to deal with haters, and why most people who buy courses never build anything. Topics we get into: How to make money on social media (UGC, brand deals, affiliates, digital products, communities) Why you don't have to be an "influencer" to win online The truth about buying $10,000 courses — and what she learned from it Why Abilene, TX is more behind than you think (and why that's actually an opportunity) Building a content schedule as a solo creator with no help and four kids The Skool community math: 100 people × $10/month = life-changing income Why community over competition is the only play for local creators How social media paid for her family's dream of having mom stay home Connect with Yeli: Instagram / TikTok / YouTube: @yeli.heidecker Subscribe to the Brand Builders Podcast for weekly conversations on content strategy, brand building, and growing a business in West Texas and beyond. #ContentCreator #SocialMediaMarketing #BrandBuilders #WestTexas #UGC #MomCreator #ContentStrategy #MakingMoneyOnline #PersonalBrand #Abilene 🤝 Thank you to our sponsors: Empire Management Group — https://www.empire-management-group.com/ Better Business Bureau of Abilene — https://www.bbb.org/ Graze Craze Abilene -- https://www.grazecraze.com/abilene-tx

  7. Jun 24

    If You Add This ONE Habit, Everything Else In Your Life Gets Better...

    🎙️ Sponsor the Brand Builders Podcast: https://www.howdy-media.com/brand-builders-podcast Join Our Community: https://www.skool.com/brand-builders-community-4614/about He wakes up at 3:50 AM, journals like a Stoic, and turns down business on purpose. On this episode of the Brand Builders Podcast, we sit down with Manny Lampson — an Abilene, Texas business owner who built his life around one core idea: you can't (and shouldn't) try to serve every client in your market. We get into his non-negotiable morning routine (3:50 AM wake-up, daily journaling, Stoic reading, 5 AM gym), why staying intentionally small with 15–20 core clients beats chasing every lead in town, and how he balances business, marriage, fatherhood, and health without burning out. Plus: his path from the military to calling Abilene home, and his wife's journey from undergrad to finishing her doctorate and teaching health and wellness online. 🔔 Subscribe to the Brand Builders Podcast for more conversations on faith, family, and business with West Texas entrepreneurs. #BrandBuildersPodcast #AbileneTexas #SmallBusinessStrategy #MorningRoutine #EntrepreneurMindset 🤝 Thank you to our sponsors: Empire Management Group — https://www.empire-management-group.com/ Better Business Bureau of Abilene — https://www.bbb.org/ Graze Craze Abilene -- https://www.grazecraze.com/abilene-tx

  8. Jun 15

    How Gen Z Is Stealing YOUR Customers (2026)

    🎙️ Sponsor the Brand Builders Podcast: https://www.howdy-media.com/brand-builders-podcast What's up Brand Builders! The creator economy just hit $250 BILLION — and most small business owners don't even know it. In this episode of the Brand Builders Podcast, Daron breaks down the biggest business and content trends happening right now in 2026 so you can stop guessing and start growing. Whether you're a business owner in Abilene, West Texas, or anywhere in between, this episode gives you a real-time snapshot of what's working online, what's dying, and where the money is actually going. In this episode: Why the creator economy is projected to hit $528 billion by 2030 — and how to get your piece. The truth about short-form video (YouTube Shorts has 200 BILLION daily views — but is it right for your business?). Why Daron got 1 million views on Instagram and barely gained 10 followers How AI is disrupting Abilene, Texas and what West Texas business owners should actually do about it. The #1 reason 4 out of 5 businesses are falling behind in 2026 Why authenticity is now more valuable than polished, AI-generated content. How podcast hosts became the most trusted influencers — beating Instagram and YouTube stars. The $34 billion podcasting industry and why NOW is the time to start your show. A free AI life hack that keeps you up to date on your industry every single morning in minutes. Big Tech's massive AI infrastructure bets (SpaceX, Google, Microsoft) and what it means for your business. If this episode hit, send it to one person who needs to hear it. That's how Brand Builders grows. ⏱️ Timestamps: 00:00 — The Creator Economy Just Hit $250 Billion 01:30 — What Is the Creator Economy? 03:15 — 200 Million Creators, 5 Billion Users — The Window Is Open 04:15 — Short-Form Video Is Taking Over the Internet 06:13 — When Long-Form Wins (And Why Podcasting Is the Move) 07:05 — AI Data Centers Are Coming to Abilene, Texas 08:02 — Why Small Business Owners Should Embrace AI 09:44 — Most Businesses Still Aren't Using AI — Here's the Opportunity 11:33 — The Free AI Life Hack to Stay Current Every Day 13:27 — Authenticity Is Beating AI Content ("AI Slop") 15:15 — Human Connection Will Never Be Replaced 16:17 — Podcast Hosts Are the Most Trusted Influencers in 2026 19:17 — Why 1 Million Views Got Me Almost Nothing (And What Actually Converts) 20:58 — How to Start Your Own Podcast 21:50 — Big Tech Is Betting Everything on AI Infrastructure 23:20 — Final Thoughts + How to Work With Daron 🔔 Subscribe so you never miss an episode. 🤝 Thank you to our sponsors: Empire Management Group — https://www.empire-management-group.com/ Better Business Bureau of Abilene — https://www.bbb.org/

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The Brand Builders Podcast is where entrepreneurs, creators, and kingdom-minded business owners come to grow their personal brand and online influence — through video, storytelling, and strategy. Hosted by Daron Pacheco, founder of Howdy Media, and Katie Pacheco (Co-Founder), this show breaks down what actually works in today’s digital world — from content systems and social media growth to monetization strategies and faith-led leadership. Each episode is a raw and real conversation with top-performing entrepreneurs, creators, and marketers who are doing it their way — with integrity, boldness, and intentionality. Whether you're launching your first piece of content or scaling to 7 figures with a personal brand — this show is your playbook.

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