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John Corcoran
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"Top 100 Small Business Podcasts 2014" -- Small Biz Trends. Former Clinton White House Writer John Corcoran shows you how to build relationships intelligently to get more clients, grow your income and advance your career. Discover how you can use win-win networking and intentional relationship-building with Influencers and VIPs, even if you "hate networking" or feel like you have "nothing to offer" people who are successful. Interviews with today's top entrepreneurs and authors such as Dan Pink, Michael Port, Gary Vaynerchuk, Marie Forleo and Guy Kawasaki, who reveal how they use relationships to grow their businesses and their incomes. Find out more at SmartBusinessRevolution.com.

  1. 1D AGO

    Building Businesses for Adventure With Derek Kalles

    Derek Kalles is the Founder and CEO of Kalles Group, a Seattle-based consulting firm specializing in cybersecurity and engineering solutions for organizations navigating today's rapidly evolving digital landscape. Under his leadership, Kalles Group has built a reputation for human-centric security practices and boasts an impressive client roster. In addition to his main venture, Derek is a serial entrepreneur with multiple businesses across property management and AI-driven sales, and has shared valuable lessons from both successes and pivots. In this episode… Some entrepreneurs build companies to chase growth, while others build them to create a life big enough for the people and adventures that matter most. What does it take to design businesses that can keep moving forward, even when the founder is halfway across the world? For Derek Kalles, a lifelong builder and multi-business entrepreneur, the answer is people, systems, and the willingness to let go of being the hero. He explains that working with great people makes it possible to operationalize and sustain multiple ventures, whether it's cybersecurity consulting, property management, finance, or AI. That mindset has allowed him to keep building while also creating room for family, travel, and a leadership style that empowers others to step up. Tune in to this episode of the Smart Business Revolution Podcast as John Corcoran interviews Derek Kalles, CEO of Kalles Group, about building businesses for adventure. Derek talks about launching multiple ventures, navigating AI and cybersecurity risks, and living in Spain with his family. Derek also shares advice on balancing founder instincts with leadership-led growth.

    38 min

  2. MAY 1

    Healthcare Transformation and the Disruptive Power of AI With Zak Eisenberg

    Zak Eisenberg is a Partner at Merritt Healthcare Advisors, a leading investment bank specializing in providing mergers and acquisitions advisory services to healthcare organizations such as physician-owned surgery centers, hospitals, and medical practices. Under his leadership and the firm's founder-operator approach, Merritt Healthcare Advisors has rapidly grown to develop nearly four dozen healthcare facilities across the US, making it one of the top healthcare-focused investment banks in the nation. Zak's diverse background includes founding an edtech startup in college, experience in venture capital and private equity, and advising on complex healthcare transactions. In this episode… Healthcare isn't just changing, it's being quietly rebuilt from the inside out. As technology accelerates and costs climb, the question becomes harder to ignore: can the system evolve fast enough to keep up with the demands of an aging population? According to Zak Eisenberg, a seasoned healthcare dealmaker and advisor to physician-led businesses, the answer lies in shifting how and where care is delivered. He explains that rising costs and demographic pressures are pushing healthcare away from hospitals and toward more efficient outpatient settings, while also emphasizing prevention over treatment. From ambulatory surgery centers replacing costly hospital visits to a growing focus on population health, the system is being reengineered to do more with less. The result is a transformation that could redefine both patient outcomes and the economics of care for decades to come. In this episode of the Smart Business Revolution Podcast, John Corcoran is joined by Zak Eisenberg, Partner at Merritt Healthcare Advisors, to discuss healthcare transformation and the disruptive power of AI. They explore demographic shifts driving demand, the rise of outpatient care models, and how AI is improving diagnostics and workflows. Zak also talks about navigating complex healthcare deals and managing long transaction timelines.

    32 min

  3. APR 24

    Building Bottom-Up AI Momentum With Sam Klein

    Sam Klein is the AI Architect, Co-founder, and Advisor at AiArchitects, a company that helps businesses integrate and optimize artificial intelligence solutions across various industries. Under Sam's leadership, AI Architects has delivered transformative results for clients ranging from advertising agencies to tech startups, and Sam was recognized as TIME's 2025 Person of the Year for his pioneering contributions to AI adoption. With a background in advertising, startups, and digital media, Sam brings practical expertise in driving organizational change through AI. In this episode… Most companies don't struggle with AI because of the technology, they struggle because their people never really adopt it. So what actually creates real, lasting momentum with AI inside an organization? According to Sam Klein, an experienced AI practitioner and advisor who has worked hands-on with teams across industries, the answer is simple: start from the ground up. He believes teaching individuals how to prompt and experiment builds confidence and capability far faster than rolling out top-down tools. Instead of forcing adoption, he focuses on helping people solve repetitive, real tasks so they experience quick wins. That shift turns AI from an abstract initiative into something practical, contagious, and ultimately transformative for the entire organization. Tune in to this episode of the Smart Business Revolution Podcast as John Corcoran interviews Sam Klein, AI Architect, Co-founder, and Advisor at AiArchitects, to discuss building bottom-up AI momentum. They explore why prompting skills matter, how small workflows drive adoption, and why top-down AI strategies often fail. Sam also shares advice on overcoming skepticism and creating lasting team engagement with AI.

    36 min

  4. APR 17

    Launch and Market Your Podcast Like a Pro With John Corcoran

    John Corcoran is a recovering attorney, an author, and a former White House writer and speechwriter to the Governor of California. Throughout his career, John has worked in Hollywood, the heart of Silicon Valley, and run his boutique law firm in the San Francisco Bay Area, catering to small business owners and entrepreneurs. Since 2012, John has been the host of the Smart Business Revolution Podcast, where he has interviewed hundreds of CEOs, founders, authors, and entrepreneurs, including Peter Diamandis, Adam Grant, Gary Vaynerchuk, and Marie Forleo. John is also the Co-founder of Rise25, a company that connects B2B businesses with their ideal clients, referral partners, and strategic partners. They help their clients generate ROI through their done-for-you podcast service. In this episode… Many aspiring podcasters hesitate to launch, held back by fear of visibility, pressure to make a strong debut, and uncertainty around marketing and distribution. These challenges can make the process unnecessarily complex. But is launching a successful podcast really that complicated? John Corcoran, a podcasting expert and entrepreneur, shares practical strategies to move past these barriers and take action. John emphasizes that perfectionism often delays progress, and instead recommends launching with multiple episodes to build early momentum. He highlights the importance of tapping into existing networks, maintaining consistent publishing, and using platforms like LinkedIn and email to generate visibility. John also underscores the value of repurposing content into formats like clips, newsletters, and long-form assets to maximize reach. Tune in to this episode of the Smart Business Revolution Podcast as Chad Franzen interviews John Corcoran, Co-founder of Rise25, about overcoming podcast launch fears and simplifying the path to getting started. John also explores content repurposing, multichannel distribution, and leveraging podcast guesting to accelerate growth.

    18 min

  5. FEB 27

    Mastering Podcast Production for Business Growth With John Corcoran

    John Corcoran is a recovering attorney, an author, and a former White House writer and speechwriter to the Governor of California. Throughout his career, John has worked in Hollywood, the heart of Silicon Valley, and run his boutique law firm in the San Francisco Bay Area, catering to small business owners and entrepreneurs. Since 2012, John has been the host of the Smart Business Revolution Podcast, where he has interviewed hundreds of CEOs, founders, authors, and entrepreneurs, including Peter Diamandis, Adam Grant, Gary Vaynerchuk, and Marie Forleo. John is also the Co-founder of Rise25, a company that connects B2B businesses with their ideal clients, referral partners, and strategic partners. They help their clients generate ROI through their done-for-you podcast service. In this episode… A podcast can open doors, spark relationships, and quietly become your most powerful business development tool. But in a world where anyone can hit record on their phone, what actually separates a show that drives growth from one that fades into the noise? According to John Corcoran, the difference comes down to intention and execution. Professional production is not about fancy studios or overproduced edits, but about clean audio, thoughtful structure, strong branding, and a strategy that supports relationship-building and thought leadership. When you treat your podcast as a core part of your business development strategy rather than a side project, it becomes a powerful engine for networking, credibility, and long-term growth. Tune in to this episode of the Smart Business Revolution Podcast as Chad Franzen of Rise25 interviews John Corcoran about mastering podcast production for business growth. They discuss what separates professional podcasts from DIY efforts, how video has become essential for reach and SEO, and why over-editing can actually hurt authenticity. John also shares advice on leveraging thought leadership and short-form video to expand your impact.

    20 min

  6. FEB 20

    [AI Tips and Tricks Series] How To Drive Authority and Trust To Get More Traffic & Sales

    Bruno Felicidade Jones is Senior Vice President at Trace Brand Building, a company specializing in brand strategy, digital marketing, and agile digital transformation to help businesses enhance customer experience and drive sales. Under Bruno's leadership, Trace Brand Building has enabled clients to achieve impressive results through innovative AI-driven marketing systems, and Bruno himself is recognized for over two decades of experience in brand building and digital transformation. An advocate for leveraging AI to accelerate content creation, Bruno frequently shares practical strategies for establishing authority and trust online, optimizing for search engines, and building a strong digital presence. In this episode… If you think a polished LinkedIn profile is enough to build credibility online, think again. In an era where AI tools decide who gets seen and who gets ignored, the real question is: how do you prove your authority and earn trust in a way that both humans and machines recognize? For Bruno Felicidade Jones, a seasoned brand strategist and digital authority expert, the answer lies in mastering E-E-A-T: experience, expertise, authority, and trust. He explains that search engines and large language models are constantly "crawling" your digital footprint, evaluating not just what you say about yourself, but how the broader internet validates it. That means optimized team bios, linked LinkedIn profiles, external reviews, authoritative backlinks, structured service pages, and content that reflects real-world perspective, not generic AI filler. When done right, this layered approach doesn't just improve rankings; it positions your business as the obvious, credible choice in both search results and AI-generated recommendations. Tune in to this episode of the Smart Business Revolution Podcast as John Corcoran interviews Bruno Felicidade Jones, Senior Vice President at Trace Brand Building, to discuss how to drive authority and trust to get more traffic and sales. They explore E-E-A-T fundamentals, optimizing About and service pages, leveraging off-site reviews and backlinks, and using long-tail content to win AI visibility. Bruno also shares advice on turning email newsletters and sales insights into revenue-driving SEO assets.

    42 min

  7. FEB 13

    Building and Harnessing an Autonomous Open-Source AI Agent for Business With St Clair Newbern

    St Clair Newbern is the CEO of Live Energy Inc., a Colleyville, Texas-based energy broker that helps large commercial clients procure and manage their electricity and natural gas needs. Under his leadership, Live Energy has served businesses across the country for over 20 years, leveraging industry expertise and technology to optimize energy strategies for clients — he also boasts an extensive entrepreneurial background. In addition to his energy industry work, St Clair has recently launched an AI consultancy, diving deep into practical applications of autonomous AI agents and building innovative solutions for knowledge work. In this episode… In a world where automation is becoming increasingly crucial, how far can we push AI to truly enhance business operations? Imagine an AI agent that doesn't just assist with tasks but takes full ownership, running seamlessly 24/7. Could this be the future of work? According to St Clair Newbern, a seasoned entrepreneur with deep roots in AI and energy, the future lies in giving AI true autonomy. Drawing from his experience building autonomous systems, St Clair explains how an open-source AI agent, capable of managing complex projects, sending emails, and even performing research while you sleep, could revolutionize productivity. The real magic, he argues, lies in the model's ability to self-manage, persistently learn, and maintain continuity across tasks — an unprecedented level of automation that empowers businesses to scale without increasing headcount. Tune in to this episode of the Smart Business Revolution Podcast as John Corcoran interviews St Clair Newbern, the CEO of Live Energy Inc., to discuss building and harnessing an autonomous open-source AI agent for business. St Clair shares insights on creating AI that acts like a high-performing employee, the architecture behind persistent memory in AI, and how businesses can leverage AI agents to streamline operations.

    56 min

  8. JAN 30

    How To Get Found in AI Search With Josh Hanosh

    Joshua (Josh) Hanosh is the Co-founder and Vice President of Three29, a Sacramento-based digital marketing and web development agency that helps B2B companies achieve results through data-driven websites, SEO, pay-per-click advertising, and branding strategy. With over 15 years of experience, Josh has guided Three29 in working with a wide range of clients and successfully grew his agency to a team of 12 before merging with another firm, further expanding the brand's capabilities. In this episode… Getting found online used to be about keywords and rankings. Now, it's about whether AI even knows you exist. So as search behavior shifts from blue links to direct answers, how do businesses make sure they're still the ones being recommended? For Josh Hanosh, the key lies in understanding that AI search isn't just a new channel, it's a new mindset. Drawing from his experience as a digital marketing strategist, Josh explains that people now trust AI like a knowledgeable friend, asking it who to hire and what to do next. The businesses that win are the ones clearly signaling expertise, credibility, and relevance in ways machines can easily understand, which ultimately changes how trust is built online. Tune in to this episode of the Smart Business Revolution Podcast as John Corcoran interviews Joshua (Josh) Hanosh, Co-founder and Vice President of Three29, to discuss how to get found in AI search. You'll learn how AI is reshaping buyer behavior, why generative engine optimization matters more than rankings, and how websites need to evolve for humans and bots. Josh also shares advice on using PR and authority signals to boost AI visibility.

    33 min
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4.7
out of 5
210 Ratings

About

"Top 100 Small Business Podcasts 2014" -- Small Biz Trends. Former Clinton White House Writer John Corcoran shows you how to build relationships intelligently to get more clients, grow your income and advance your career. Discover how you can use win-win networking and intentional relationship-building with Influencers and VIPs, even if you "hate networking" or feel like you have "nothing to offer" people who are successful. Interviews with today's top entrepreneurs and authors such as Dan Pink, Michael Port, Gary Vaynerchuk, Marie Forleo and Guy Kawasaki, who reveal how they use relationships to grow their businesses and their incomes. Find out more at SmartBusinessRevolution.com.

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