Unscripted Small Business

Abbey Crane
  • 5.0 (2)
  • MARKETING

Our Unscripted Collaborative hosts Keith Bresee, Zaneta Chuniq, Keiron Bailey & 17 year SEO industry expert Jeremy Rivera are having unscripted interviews small business owners, founders and creators across the United States, learning about their challenges, successes and insights into the world of SMBs.

  1. JAN 28

    Breaking the Consultant Hustle Cycle with Rachel Minion

    If you've ever found yourself trapped in the exhausting cycle of filling your pipeline, delivering to clients, then scrambling to fill your pipeline again—this episode is for you. Rachel Minion, Head Rock Star at Rockstarr & Moon, joins host Zaneta Chuniq Inpower to break down why consultants get stuck in what she calls "the grind cycle" and how to escape it without working more hours. Rachel brings a unique perspective as a third-generation entrepreneur who cut her teeth managing 400 to 1,200 estimates daily at her parents' printing company before moving into corporate marketing roles at Verizon Wireless and Ticketmaster. When the pandemic hit and she was furloughed, she went full-time on her consulting business and never looked back. In this conversation, Rachel shares how her Profit Multiplier program helps consultants find at least $100,000 in hidden profit—with one client already seeing a 52% year-over-year sales increase and another at 42% growth, all without adding staff. She also gets refreshingly honest about the moment every entrepreneur faces when they think "maybe it would be easier to just get a job" and how to push through it. The most tactical segment comes when Rachel describes losing her project manager of three years and her husband's challenge: what if you automated 80% of the role? Three weeks of intensive work later—mapping processes, rewriting SOPs, and building automations—she went from working 3 a.m. to 7 p.m. to finishing by 5:30 for dinner. Her example of turning meeting note-takers into automated task creation systems is something any consultant can implement immediately. Rachel also challenges the common advice to just "talk about yourself more" when marketing your consulting business. Her reframe: make the client the hero of every success story. When you showcase their transformation and challenges, prospective clients see themselves achieving the same results. The conversation touches on why systems beat hustle every time, the importance of interconnected tools rather than disconnected apps, and Rachel's ambitious goal to help 100 small businesses double by 2029. She argues that when small businesses grow, the ripple effects extend far beyond revenue—to their families, communities, local little leagues, and neighboring businesses in ways that large corporations simply don't replicate. For consultants struggling with inconsistent lead flow, Rachel's core message is clear: you're not lacking talent, you're lacking structure. And more hustle won't fix a business that isn't built on a proven growth system. Connect with Rachel directly at rachelminion.com or explore her consulting frameworks at rockstarrandmoon.com—that's Rockstarr with two R's at the end. Rachel's current reading stack includes Alex Hormozi's $100M Offers and $100 Million Leads, which she returns to regularly for fresh ideas on testing and experimentation. About the Host Zaneta Chuniq Inpower is a marketing professional and entrepreneur based in Atlanta with experience across multiple industries including resume writing and personal branding. About the Guest Rachel Minion is the founder and Head Rock Star at Rockstarr & Moon, a RevOps organization helping B2B consultants escape the grind cycle and build predictable, scalable profit. A third-generation entrepreneur...

    24 min

  2. JAN 9

    Dave Gulas on Customer Service, Entrepreneurship & E-commerce Logistics

    Episode from the Unscripted Small Business Podcast Host: Jeremy Rivera — SEO Arcade Founder & Freelance SEO Consultant Guest: Dave Gulas — President & Co-Founder of EZDC 3PL Sponsored by: Cookeville Sunroom Company About the Guest Dave Gulas is the president and co-founder of EZDC 3PL, providing warehousing, fulfillment, and transportation services for manufacturers and e-commerce brands. With 20 years in medical/pharmaceutical sales and over three years in logistics, Dave brings a customer-first approach to the 3PL industry. Dave also hosts the Beyond Fulfillment Podcast, featuring real stories from entrepreneurs — available on the EZDC Blog and all major podcast platforms. Episode Summary In this conversation, Dave shares how he and his partner identified a gap in the 3PL market — legacy providers weren't delivering the customer service that growing e-commerce brands needed. Three years later, EZDC has built a reputation for responsiveness and genuine care. Key Topics Covered: Why e-commerce brands reach a "graduation point" where outsourcing fulfillment makes sense The importance of warehouse management systems (WMS) and automated integrations Common mistakes when scaling a business — saying yes to the wrong customers Bootstrap vs. funded startups: which succeed more often? The unglamorous reality of entrepreneurship Why personal branding matters more than ever in 2026 Resources & Links Mentioned About EZDC 3PL EZDC 3PL Homepage About EZDC Packaging and Kitting Services Retail Logistics and Warehousing Services The Kentucky Advantage: Why a Central Hub is Key for Nationwide 3PL EZDC Blog & Beyond Fulfillment Podcast Connect with Dave Gulas Dave Gulas on LinkedIn SEO & Marketing Resources From SEO Arcade: SEO Forecasting 101: Methods, Metrics, Tools, and Challenges The Revenue-First SEO Strategy That's Actually Working Opportunity Sizing in SEO How a Podcast Generates Links, Content, Audience, Citations & Authority White Label Podcast Service From Jeremy Rivera SEO: SEO Basics for Small Business Simple, Effective Link Building

    30 min

  3. 12/08/2025

    The Costanza Theory: How Doing the Opposite Drives Success For Bill Kasko

    Unscripted Small Business Podcast - Episode Show Notes The Costanza Theory: How Doing the Opposite Built a 21-Year Business Empire Guest: Bill Kasko, Founder & CEO of Frontline Source Group Host: Jeremy Rivera Podcast: Unscripted Small Business by Be Sharp Digital Marketing Episode Summary In this episode, Bill Kasko shares how he built a successful recruiting and staffing agency by doing the exact opposite of industry standards. From inverting the traditional sales model to being the first company to publish pricing online, Bill's "Costanza Theory" has disrupted an entire industry for over two decades. We dive deep into the evolution of customer service technology, the fragmentation of the search landscape, and how AI is creating both opportunities and challenges for businesses. Bill also shares his insights on the current job market and why honest communication wins more business than overselling. Key Topics Discussed The Costanza Theory in Action How inverting the traditional sales-to-recruiter ratio created competitive advantage Why being the only company with a pricing page became their #1 traffic driver The importance of customer convenience over business convenience Technology Evolution & Customer Service Early adoption of online chat 21 years ago The rise and fall of chatbot effectiveness 24/7 scheduling and weekend service calls Why AI agents still aren't quite ready The Changing Search Landscape Why presence across multiple platforms is now essential How TikTok became the #2 search engine for young users The challenge of getting indexed across different search engines Reddit dominating 60% of search queries AI's Impact on Business The rise of fake candidates using AI tools How HR departments are adopting AI faster than job requirements The cognitive decline concerns with AI dependency Why verification processes had to evolve Honest Marketing Philosophy Why transparency builds more trust than overselling The importance of setting realistic expectations How detailed information (like gravel driveway delivery specifics) improves customer experience Guest Information Bill Kasko is the Founder and CEO of Frontline Source Group, a staffing agency and executive search firm with over 21 years of experience. Known for their industry-disrupting five-year placement warranty and contrarian business approach. Connect with Frontline Source Group: Website: frontlinesourcegroup.com LinkedIn: Follow their company page for white papers and industry insights Specialties: Executive Search,

    49 min

  4. 12/08/2025

    The Human Element in SEO for SMBS: A Unscripted Interview with Tianna Mamalick

    Guest: Tianna Mamalick, SMB Marketing School Episode Overview Tianna Mamalick brings 12 years of SEO expertise focused exclusively on small businesses. In this conversation, she reveals why working with SMBs is more rewarding than enterprise clients, how to honestly manage expectations while delivering real results, and why she went back to human-written content after testing AI extensively. If you're a small business owner wondering what actually works in SEO right now, this episode cuts through the hype with practical, proven strategies. Why This Episode Matters for Small Business Owners Running a small business means every marketing dollar counts. Tianna specializes in helping businesses with limited budgets compete effectively by focusing on what drives actual revenue—not just traffic or rankings. She shares her formula for pairing SEO and paid ads that works specifically for service-based businesses, and explains why your service pages matter more than blog posts right now. Key Discussion Points The Small Business Advantage Unlike enterprise clients where a 20% conversion increase gets a polite "that's nice," small business owners email about life-changing results: hiring their first employee, taking their first vacation, or investing in business growth. For Tianna, this feedback makes the work meaningful. Honest Expectations Setting Three-month minimum commitment required Clients must have budget they can afford to lose completely Not every market works the same (example: Pilates in Las Vegas vs. other cities) Regular check-ins at three months to evaluate if the strategy is working The SEO + Ads Formula While ads don't directly boost SEO, they strategically help prime new pages through engagement. When expanding to multiple locations, running targeted ads on new service pages helps get Google Business Profiles moving faster and improves location-specific performance. What's Actually Working in Content Service pages are the priority: Every service needs its own detailed page Blog posts are secondary: Focus on key blog content, not volume Collaboration posts: Feature complementary businesses (example: makeup company writing about top lotions that pair well with their products) Opinion-based content: Take hard stands on your values and approach The AI Content Experiment Tianna's agency tested AI-generated content extensively—and none of those articles ranked well. They've gone 100% back to human-written content, using AI only for creating outlines based on top-ranking competitors. The reality: people want authentic mistakes and real human voice. AI Search Reality Check Less than 10% of traffic comes from ChatGPT for most small businesses. While you should prepare by enriching About pages with certifications and expertise, this isn't the urgent crisis some marketers claim. Most people aren't using ChatGPT for business searches yet—we're still in early adoption. Mining Your Best Content Stop using SEMrush as your starting point. Instead: Record sales calls and note what converts prospects Review customer support emails for common questions Ask front-line staff to keep notebooks of daily questions Use this real language in your content—it converts better than corporate marketing speak Platform-Agnostic SEO SEO principles work across all platforms, not jus...

    41 min

  5. 12/05/2025

    Crafting Memories: The Journey of a Wedding Photographer with Terrence Irving

    Join Jeremy Rivera as he delves into the world of wedding photography with Terrence Irving. Discover how Terrence transitioned from a hobbyist to a professional, balancing his passion with a corporate career, and the unique challenges and joys of capturing life's most cherished moments. Learn about his marketing strategies, the importance of building relationships, and his vision for the future.

    28 min

  6. 12/04/2025

    From Failed Ventures to Financial Freedom & Faith with Scott Curry

    Scott Curry shares his incredible 15-year entrepreneurial journey from multiple failed businesses to building a thriving YouTube channel that replaced his six-figure income in just three months. In this powerful conversation, Scott reveals how a personal tragedy inspired his new mission: helping a million people achieve financial freedom so they never have to choose between work and family. In This Episode, You'll Learn: How Scott pivoted from motivational speaking to YouTube success during COVID by teaching investment strategies The reality of working 3-4 hours of sleep per night for three months to launch a successful side hustle Why YouTube monetization is just the beginning—Scott made $5,000 in month two with only $500 from ad revenue The strategic shift from one-time affiliate income to monthly memberships that scaled to $25,000/month How to survive YouTube's brutal first 10 videos when the algorithm ignores you completely Why providing value to many people beats charging premium prices to a few The heartbreaking family story that transformed Scott's business mission forever Scott's framework for "failing small" and getting through 100 failures faster to reach success Key Timestamps: [00:01] Introduction and Scott's current success after 15 years of failures [02:00] The COVID pivot from motivational speaking to online education [04:51] Turning $1,000 into $32,000 in one month—proof of actual results [08:13] The truth about YouTube monetization and multiple income streams [12:23] Why YouTube is harder than other platforms (and why that's good) [15:26] The Faith Roar mission: inspired by a mother's one regret [22:20] "You're paid based on the value you provide" finally makes sense [25:03] The two books that shaped Scott's journey Notable Quotes: "I didn't give up. I had a failure, overcame it, failure, overcame it, and just kept on going." "It is exceptionally rare to find somebody who can and teaches—and when you find people like that, go subscribe to every single social media platform they're on." "I've met a lot of people on their deathbeds. I've never met anybody who said they regretted not working more. I've met a lot of people who regretted not spending more time with their family." "The people that go into business to help others are the ones that are the most successful. Your why for starting a business has to be to help people. It cannot be to make money." "The only thing that is stopping you from achieving the life you've always wanted is action. So just get started." Resources Mentioned: Faith Roar - Scott's new company dedicated to helping people achieve financial freedom: faithroar.com We Profit Day and Night Trading Success Journal - Scott's 230-page journal with only 30 pages of information and 200 pages of action steps The Bible - Particularly Psalms, Proverbs, and the Gospels for strength and perseverance Connect with Scott Curry: Website: faithroar.com Learn about investment education and trading strategies Discover how to start a YouTube channel and online business Access resources for achieving financial freedom About the Unscripted Small Business Podcast: Hosted by Zanetta Chunique Empower, Unscripted Small Business brings you authentic conversations with entrepreneurs who share the real stories...

    27 min

  7. 11/17/2025

    Hand Therapy, MetaFlex® Gloves, and the Future of Rehabilitation With Justin Stehr

    In this episode, Jeremy Rivera sits down with Justin Stehr, OT, a Certified Hand Therapist at Vanderbilt Health and Clinical Consultant for MetaFlex®. Justin shares his journey from business operations to working at Vanderbilt, and discusses innovative approaches to hand therapy, the mental health connection to chronic pain, and unexpected clinical applications of compression gloves. Episode Highlights: The power of movement and understanding hand biomechanics Why we all have overly strong flexors (and what to do about it) How MetaFlex® gloves work differently from traditional bracing Unexpected applications: Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, stroke recovery, and more The sleep-mental health-pain connection you're probably overlooking A remarkable Vanderbilt limb salvage case study Upcoming research presentations at ACRM and beyond About Justin Stehr Justin Stehr, OT, CHT is a Certified Hand Therapist at Vanderbilt Health in Nashville, Tennessee, where he was recently named 2024 Acute Occupational Therapist of the Year. He holds a master's degree in occupational therapy with specialized focus on upper extremity rehabilitation, stroke recovery, and hand therapy. Justin also holds certifications in: Wound care Ergonomics Hand therapy (CHT) He currently serves as Clinical Consultant for MetaFlex®, where he educates healthcare professionals on innovative approaches to hand rehabilitation. Justin has presented research at national conferences including the American Congress of Rehabilitative Medicine (ACRM) and has upcoming presentations with the Canadian Percussion Network on the biomechanics of drumming. Personal Background: Justin's path to hand therapy includes a unique personal connection—15 years ago, he experienced a severe hand injury requiring reconstruction of tendons, nerves, and arteries, giving him firsthand understanding of the rehabilitation journey. Key Takeaways 1. The Flexor-Extensor Imbalance Quote: "We spend all day long, we grip everything. So we're constantly grabbing and pinching and then when we're ready to let go of that item or task, we just let go, we relax. We never forcefully open." This creates an imbalance where our flexor muscles become overly strong while...

    41 min

  8. 10/13/2025

    Interview with Conrad Coe: Operations, AI, and the Evolution of Automotive Wrapping

    Interview with Conrad Coe: Operations, AI, and the Evolution of Automotive Wrapping Host: Jeremy Rivera, Unscripted Small Business Guest: Conrad Coe, Operations Manager at Exotic Vehicle Wraps Episode Overview In this episode, Conrad Coe shares his unconventional journey from music education to becoming operations manager at one of the nation's top automotive wrapping shops. We explore how AI tools are transforming small business operations, the value of hands-on experience over formal education, and why showing the heart of your business matters more than polished marketing in today's digital landscape. Top Quotes On Experience vs. Education: "I would rather have four years of hands-on practical experience at the thing you're trying to do than a degree saying I'm good at it." On AI in Small Business: "We wrap cars with vinyl. That's sticky. So what we've been using AI for has been mostly beneficial for us." On Marketing Differentiation: "No one uses dashes. Nobody does except for GPT and AI models... In that way, we are using AI to help us differentiate ourselves from AI." On Customer Service: "We're not vinyl installers. This isn't a vinyl wrap shop. This is a client experience shop." On Problems as Opportunities: "Problems are bugs and not a feature. Like, you're going to have problems. That problem then therefore becomes a feature if you know you're going to have these problems." About Conrad Coe Conrad Coe is the operations manager at Exotic Vehicle Wraps, a premier automotive aesthetic restyling shop in Loudoun County, Virginia. With 20 years of experience in the industry, Conrad's path started in retail management, moved through music education at Berkeley Boston, and evolved through design, print, and installation before landing in shop management. His hands-on approach and mentorship style have helped shape one of the longest-running and most respected shops in the automotive wrapping industry. Key Discussion Points The Non-Traditional Path to Success Conrad discusses his journey from aspiring music teacher to operations manager, emphasizing how mentorship and practical experience often outweigh formal education in tr...

    36 min
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Our Unscripted Collaborative hosts Keith Bresee, Zaneta Chuniq, Keiron Bailey & 17 year SEO industry expert Jeremy Rivera are having unscripted interviews small business owners, founders and creators across the United States, learning about their challenges, successes and insights into the world of SMBs.

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