Best Don McKinnon Podcasts (2024)

1
Random w/ Mark Rank 59:41

2d ago59:41

59:41

Mark R. Rank is recognized as a foremost expert on issues of poverty, inequality and social justice. To date he has written 10 books on a range of subjects, including an exploration of the American Dream and a new understanding of poverty and inequality. In this episode, I talk to Mark about his latest book, The Random Factor which looks at the rol…

1
339 | Updates on Independent Contractor Guidelines with Kira La Forgia, Paradigm Consulting 40:44

3d ago40:44

40:44

If you work with independent contractors in your business, you will want to listen closely to this podcast episode. In March 2024, the US Department of Labor issued new stricter guidelines regarding independent contractor workers. Today's guest is HR consultant and expert, Kira La Forgia of Paradigm Consulting. She is breaking it all down for us so…

1
S2, Ep 7: Positivity, Love, Light, and Peace: Manning Sumner and Nicole Amato 1:08:07

6d ago1:08:07

1:08:07

In this episode of the Big Dawgs Podcast, Manning Sumner welcomes Nicole Amato, a multifaceted individual who has triumphed over adversity in numerous arenas. From her roles as a model, artist, and entrepreneur to her recently patented invention, “All Ball”, a former celebrity trainer, injured cheer athlete suffering from a paralyzing spinal injury…

1
338 | Exiting and Acquiring a Business with Kiwi Schloffel & Meghan Hopkins Sokorai 43:10

10d ago43:10

43:10

If you have ever considered exiting your business or even acquiring another person's business, today's podcast episode is for you. My guests today are two of my clients and also friends: Meghan Hopkins Sokorai of And Here We Are, and Kiwi Schloffel of Your Gal Kiwi. Last year, Kiwi made the decision that she wanted to exit her product-based busines…

1
Family w/ Brittany Means 57:43

17d ago57:43

57:43

Brittany Means is author of the critically acclaimed memoir, “Hell if We Don’t Change Our Ways”. Reviews have called it “gut-wrenching and triumphant.” “Readable and rigorous.” “Brutal and beautiful.’ At its heart, it is a book about family. as Means recounts her complex relationships with her mother, father, brother, and grandparents and eventual …

1
337 | Exclusivity and Ethics in Retail with Kimberley Yurkiewicz, Measure Twice 33:38

17d ago33:38

33:38

One of the things that sets Proof to Product apart from other people teaching about wholesale is the breadth and depth of not only my personal knowledge but also the fact that we bring in a variety of other perspectives from buyers to sales reps to consultants and manufacturers. This wide lens allows us to share best practices and current trends th…

1
S2, E6: Just Get To Work, At Something: Manning Sumner and Matthias Mckinnon 1:10:27

22d ago1:10:27

1:10:27

In this episode of The Big Dawgs Podcast, Manning Sumner sits down with Matthias McKinnon, a fitness influencer, soon-to-be bodybuilding competitor, and owner of “I Grind 365 Gym” in Voorheesville, New York. In this podcast episode, Matthias shares his journey of overcoming adversity, from navigating an Individualized Education Program (IEP) and lo…

1
336 | Utilizing Abandoned Cart Email Automations to Drive Sales with Katie Hunt 10:12

24d ago10:12

10:12

Did you know that almost 70% of shoppers abandon their online shopping carts and don't follow through with a sale? That means that only 3 out of 10 of your customers who go to your website and load up their shopping cart complete their purchase. The same report from Baymard Institute said that more than $18,000,000,000 in e-commerce sales are lost …

1
335 | The Changing Landscape of In-Person Retail Markets with Emily Chiang, Danella McKinnon, and Kate Pinto 58:58

1M ago58:58

58:58

Our focus here at Proof to Product is teaching people how to successfully sell their products to the wholesale market. But many of our community members sell through multiple sales channels, including licensing, custom work, direct-to-consumer online sales, and in-person retail markets. For today's episode, we're sharing a portion of a recent coffe…

1
334 | Expanding into 1,000 Stores with Brittany O'Brien, Brittany Paige 34:00

1M ago34:00

34:00

The last time Brittany O'Brien was on the podcast was back in 2022, and we were talking about how she scaled her business to 500 wholesale accounts. Earlier this year, Brittany crossed a new milestone. Her products are now sold in over 1,000 stores, and today, we're going to dig into what the last year and a half has looked like for her. Specifical…

1
S2, Ep 5. Elev8te: Yourself, Business, and Team: Manning Sumner and Angel Bajana 1:10:42

1M ago1:10:42

1:10:42

In this episode of The Big Dawgs podcast, Manning Sumner welcomes Angel Bajana, owner and founder of Elev8tion Fitness, currently with 5 locations and a mission statement of being "Results Driven. Passion Fueled." In this podcast episode, Manning and Angel relate their experiences as gym owners in Miami and the responsibilities that come with it. T…

1
333 | Scaling without Employees with Beth Roszkowski, Tiny Hooray 30:37

2M ago30:37

30:37

We have shared many incredible business growth stories here on the Proof to Product podcast. One thing that I always try to emphasize is that business is not one size fits all. Every business will look different, operate differently, and have different goals they're working towards. To build a profitable, successful long-term business, we have to b…

1
332 | Rebuilding Self-Trust and Confidence as a Business Owner with Ginny Krauss & Elli Runkles, Supported CEO (Part 2) 22:48

2M ago22:48

22:48

Last week on episode 331, you met my friends Ginny and Elli from the Supported CEO. They very candidly shared their stories of experiencing burnout in entrepreneurship, including what that was like, what they felt, and they shared their journey back from burnout and what they did to get to where they are today. Today is part 2 in the discussion wit…

1
331 | Back From Burnout with Ginny Krauss & Elli Runkles, Supported CEO (Part 1) 35:53

2M ago35:53

35:53

The topic of burnout is popping up a lot in my business circles. People are tired, and they are struggling with decision fatigue. Many people I talk to are questioning whether to even continue with their business or whether they should make an exit, but these types of conversations typically happen behind closed doors, or worse, they don't happen a…

1
S2, Ep 4. You Gotta Do It For You: Manning Sumner and Justin Saka 1:24:22

2M ago1:24:22

1:24:22

In this episode of The Big Dawgs podcast, Manning Sumner sits down with Justin Saka, financial advisor, investor of NDO H2O, a longtime friend and former client who underwent an incredible fat loss journey of losing 80 pounds under Manning’s personal training guidance. In this conversation, they discuss what it takes to take control of your life by…

1
330 | How to Have Tough Conversations with Your Team with Tatiana O'Hara, T. O'Hara Consulting 36:15

2M ago36:15

36:15

If you're looking for ways to be a stronger leader within your business or you're considering expanding your team, please block off some quiet time to carefully listen today. Our guest for this episode is Tatiana O'Hara, a team and leadership development consultant who helps successful yet overwhelmed online business owners create the structure nee…

1
329 | How These 9 Businesses Have Grown Since Attending Paper Camp 16:55

2M ago16:55

16:55

We are gearing up for the 43rd round of Paper Camp and we are so excited! This is our wholesale intensive program, and I wanted to do something fun for this week's podcast episode to celebrate this milestone and the fact that enrollment for Paper Camp is currently open. I asked our past Paper Camp students to answer 1 question: How have you and you…

1
328 | An inside look at what Paper Camp is like 17:09

3M ago17:09

17:09

Have you ever wondered what it's like to attend our Paper Camp program? If so, today's episode is for you! I am sharing an inside peek into one of our Paper Camp coaching calls. This one is with Alex Gagne of Chez Gagné. Alex has been a longtime member of our Paper Camp community. When she first attended as a student, she had been in business a lit…

1
327 | How to apply for a Paper Camp scholarship with Katie Hunt 6:42

3M ago6:42

6:42

If you’re listening today that means you’re likely interested in applying for our Paper Camp scholarship! Giving back is one of our core values here at Proof to Product and we give back through our time, knowledge as well as financial scholarships. Since 2011, we’ve awarded over $275,000+ in scholarship funds to creative entrepreneurs who sell phys…

1
S2, Ep. 3: Buy Back Your Time: Entrepreneurial & Personal Development: Manning Sumner & Dan Martell 1:09:30

3M ago1:09:30

1:09:30

In this captivating episode of The Big Dawgs podcast, Manning Sumner welcomes Dan Martell, a multifaceted entrepreneur, angel investor, business coach, public speaker, content creator, and author of the eye-opening book Buy Back Your Time: Get Unstuck, Reclaim Your Freedom, and Build Your Empire, where he teaches readers “how to scale their busines…

1
326 | The State of Trade Shows in 2024 with Katie Hunt 14:50

3M ago14:50

14:50

I have been doing so much good content for other people and I’m doing my best to bring it back around so that you all have access to it and know about these resources. Recently, the team of Aeolidia asked me to weigh in with my thoughts on the changing landscape of wholesale trade shows for their blog. The post features comments from Arianne Foulks…

1
325 | How To Plan Out New Wholesale Product Releases With Divya Guruju, Mellowworks 32:33

3M ago32:33

32:33

I’ve been thinking a lot about how our past work experience and general lived experience shape how we start and build our businesses. For me, I spent 12 years in the corporate world leading business development and strategic marketing teams for large law firms before starting my product line. That time in my life taught me about project management,…

1
S2, Ep 2. The Beauty In “The Wait”: Manning Sumner and Stephen Wilkes 1:04:37

4M ago1:04:37

1:04:37

In this episode of The Big Dawgs podcast, Manning Sumner sits down with the revolutionary changemaker Stephen Wilkes—an accomplished photographer, photojournalist, director, and fine artist renowned for his groundbreaking project that started in 2009: Day to Night. With two Ted Talks dedicated to this world-changing series, Stephen shares his uniqu…

1
324 | Your 2024 business checklist for product brands 14:32

4M ago14:32

14:32

Happy New Year! I hope you had a restful and relaxing holiday season. I enjoyed a lot of downtime with my family and also worked on a few things behind the scenes to get Proof to Product ready for 2024. I thought it might be helpful to share some of the things that I look at as I’m wrapping up one year and starting a new one. So today’s episode is …

1
S2, Ep 1: The Mental Part IS The Hard Work: Manning Sumner and Shaun Livingston 1:18:12

4M ago1:18:12

1:18:12

*NEW YEAR, NEW SEASON* In this episode of The Big Dawgs podcast, Manning Sumner welcomes Shaun Livingston, a former NBA player recruited out of high school turned seasoned basketball executive. With an impressive career playing for the Los Angeles Clippers, Miami Heat, Oklahoma City Thunder, Washington Wizards, Charlotte Bobcats, Cleveland Cavalier…

1
We're on winter break! 1:49

4M ago1:49

1:49

The Proof to Product podcast team and I are practicing what we preach and the podcast is taking a winter break! We will be back with a new podcast episode on Tuesday, January 9, and we have some incredible things lined up for you! While we're gone, be sure to dip back into the archives. We have over 323 incredible episodes to help you strengthen yo…

1
Libraries of Belonging | Aging Together in New York | WLIW-FM Special Program 27:26

4M ago27:26

27:26

In communities across the country, including New York, library budgets and hours are being cut, just at a time when society needs them most. This is in spite of the incredible success that libraries have in bringing people, particularly older adults, together. Bob McKinnon, host of the podcast, Attribution talks with Eric Klinenberg, NYU sociologis…

1
The Checklist | Aging Together in New York | WLIW-FM Special Program 26:44

4M ago26:44

26:44

It is the simplest of tools designed to help us tackle the complexities of life. It helps reduce errors, remember what’s important, assess and reflect on what and how we’re doing. Pilots, astronauts, builders and surgeons use them to save lives. What is this elementary yet powerful tool? A checklist. Is it possible that a simple checklist could do …

1
323 | 6 Reasons Why You Should Not Be Doing Monthly Wholesale Promotions 14:45

4M ago14:45

14:45

There is a lot of noise on the internet. Lots of gurus, experts, and other people claim you have to do things a certain way in order to be successful. We see ads on social media telling us there is a magic formula or 5-step process that will make all of our dreams come true. It seems that a new business coach is popping up on the scene every day wi…

1
322 | From Fear to Strategy: Navigating the Entrepreneurial Roadmap with Katie Hunt 43:39

5M ago43:39

43:39

Hey everyone! I was recently on Shirlee Fisher's podcast, The Tillage Podcast, where we talked about a variety of topics: how to navigate challenges during a crisis, how to make informed decisions with my four-factor framework, how to embrace knowing your numbers as a neutral tool for success and so much more. I had such a good time that I asked Sh…

1
321 | The Changing Landscape of Wholesale Trade Shows with Store Owner Audrey Woollen, Urbanic 40:46

5M ago40:46

40:46

It’s no secret that wholesale buying patterns and in-person trade shows have shifted substantially over the last few years. Where buyers were once placing fewer, but larger orders a couple of times a year - oftentimes at trade shows - they are now placing more frequent, smaller orders throughout the year both online and at in-person markets. As som…

1
Class w/ Stephanie Land 57:07

5M ago57:07

57:07

Stephanie Land is the New York Times bestselling author of Maid: Hard Work, Low Pay, and a Mother’s Will to Survive which is now the inspiration for the Netflix series of the same name. Her latest book, Class: A Memoir of Motherhood, Hunger and Higher Education is out now. During our conversation we talked about the challenges and judgment that she…

1
320 | The challenges of bringing a new product to life with Zeba Parkar, Treleaf 26:10

5M ago26:10

26:10

The best products solve a problem or create an emotional connection. The ideas for these products stem from our own pain points or challenges as well as the joys in our lives. That is what our guest today did when she brought a new product to market. Today's guest is a scientist by training, a creative tinkerer, and a natural show entrepreneur. Zeb…

1
Happy Thanksgiving! 2:50

5M ago2:50

2:50

The podcast is taking a break this week so that our team can celebrate Thanksgiving with our families and friends. We will be back next week with an interview with Paper Camp alumni & LABS member Zeba Parkar of Treleaf who is going to share what it was like bringing her laser-cut wood trellises to market — a brand new product in the plant category.…

1
319 | 2024 Market Trends For Product Based Businesses with Jessica Totillo Coster 36:13

5M ago36:13

36:13

We recently did a two-part series on the State of Retail where I talked to two independent brick-and-mortar retail shop owners [episode 1] [episode 2]. This is important because we teach all of you how to sell wholesale to stores like Katie & Jen’s shops and it is important that you understand the challenges that they are facing and how they are ad…

1
Shop small this holiday season! 2:26

6M ago2:26

2:26

Today I’m popping in with a call to action and that is… I want you to shop small this holiday season. To make this as easy as possible for you, we’ve put together a robust holiday gift guide featuring almost 300 independent brands from our Proof to Product Community. The Proof to Product gift guide includes a wide range of products including candle…

1
318 | You need to be selling each and every day with Katie Hunt 12:10

6M ago12:10

12:10

You know we like to keep things real with you here at Proof to Product and the truth is, there will be a lot of businesses that will close their doors over the next year. There will be lots of reasons for this. Some business owners will decide that they no longer want to navigate the ups and downs of entrepreneurship. Some will not be able to keep …

1
Ep 24. You Don’t Get What You Don’t Ask For: Manning Sumner and Tyler Anderson 50:27

6M ago50:27

50:27

In this episode of The Big Dawgs podcast, host Manning Sumner welcomes Tyler Anderson: a seasoned real estate expert with a niche in new construction at Douglas Elliman in South Florida, and a Diesel Wynwood In-House Agent, who grew up in a family-owned appraising company. The two of them delve into the fascinating world of real estate, discussing …

1
Uneducated w/ Christopher Zara 56:32

6M ago56:32

56:32

Christopher Zara is the News Editor at Fast Company. His recent memoir, Uneducated, explores his unlikely journey into the newsroom without the credential of a college degree. During our conversation we talked about both his own story but also more broadly about the role of education - higher and otherwise - in creating opportunities to climb the p…

1
317 | The State of Independent Retail with Jen Palacio & Katie Wilson [Part 2] 25:35

6M ago25:35

25:35

Today’s episode is part 2 of a two-part series on the state of independent retail right now. If you missed last week’s episode, I encourage you to check that one out first. In that episode, Katie Wilson of Crush & Touch and Jen Palacio of Tiny Turns Paperie shared feedback on their summer 2023 sales season, how they are preparing for 2023 Q3 holida…

1
316 | The State of Independent Retail with Jen Palacio & Katie Wilson [Part 1] 36:55

6M ago36:55

36:55

Over the last few months, I’ve had a lot of private conversations with store owners about the state of independent retail. They’ve confided in me about a wide range of challenges that they are facing - individually as well as collectively. Things like the economy, less foot traffic in their stores, staffing and cash flow limitations - have forced t…

1
315 | His candles (and your products) aren't for everyone with Jesse Regis, Virgins On Fire Candle Co 28:57

6M ago28:57

28:57

We are excited to host Jesse Regis from Virgins on Fire Candle Company and today, we talk to him about the evolution of his brand, the importance of finding community, and why your product is not for everyone. There is a quote by Amy Poehler that we've used at our events in the past, and it really encapsulates today's discussion. She said, “Find a …

1
Ep 23. Turning Your Pain Into Purpose: Manning Sumner, Stevi Allen, & Gigi Giusti 1:01:34

7M ago1:01:34

1:01:34

In this episode of The Big Dawgs podcast, host Manning Sumner is joined by two remarkable guests: Stevi Allen, the founder of Ink Angel, a Fort Lauderdale-based cosmetic tattooing studio, and Gigi Giusti, a pre-construction real estate expert and co-partner of LEGACY gym in Fort Lauderdale with Manning Sumner. Together, the three of them explore th…

1
314 | Shopify Invests in Faire. What this means for you with Katie Hunt 12:04

7M ago12:04

12:04

News recently broke that Shopify was closing Handshake, its wholesale sales platform, and investing as a shareholder in Faire. Today’s episode is bringing you the news mixed in with a few of my thoughts on the topic. I will be doing a deeper analysis and sharing some research I’ve done within our LABS program - so definitely look for that if you’re…

1
313 | How To Integrate Inclusive Marketing Into Your Customer Experience With Sonia Thompson 29:13

7M ago29:13

29:13

Making your customers feel like your product or service is tailored specifically for them is the key to inclusive marketing. Inclusive marketing expert Sonia Thompson joins us today on the podcast to share more on how to integrate inclusive marketing into your customer experience. Tuning in, you’ll hear all about Sonia’s career, how you can diversi…

1
312 | Expanding into Licensing with Betsy Garcia, Bloomwolf Studio 30:39

7M ago30:39

30:39

Licensing is an excellent opportunity to extend the reach of your brand and expand your business offerings. But finding the right partnership can be tricky, and it’s not always easy knowing where to start. Joining us today on the podcast to share her story and talk about her journey into licensing is return guest, Betsy Garcia. Betsy is the co-foun…

1
Trying w/ Joy Oladokun 58:04

7M ago58:04

58:04

Singer/songwriter Joy Oladokun is a master storyteller whose songs have been listened to over forty million times. Her latest album, Proof of Life is being heralded as her breakthrough. We talked about her journey as an artist and her process of making music that “helps myself and others process this world.” Links to learn more about: Joy Oladokun …

1
311 | 4000% Increase in Wholesale Orders this Year with Lauren te Velde of Paper Farm Press 39:27

7M ago39:27

39:27

Today’s podcast guest, Lauren te Velde Paper Farm Press, a woman-owned stationery and gift design shop in Kingsburg, CA, is a big fan of having a brand story that is strong and simple. She is intentionally focused on authentically pursuing wealth and believes money will follow because she wholeheartedly believes in putting better products out into …

1
Ep 22: Being Who You Are, While Becoming A Better Version Of That: Manning Sumner & El Caballo 44:19

7M ago44:19

44:19

In this episode of The Big Dawgs podcast, Manning Sumner welcomes Marcos Alexander Tabares, aka El Caballo. A local Miami-based Cuban comedian and content creator who leans into his Cuban heritage for comedic inspiration. While El Caballo is one to crack jokes and make people laugh, he is also one to get honest, vulnerable, and real. Get ready for …

1
310 | What is a SKU and why do I need them? with Katie Hunt 11:04

8M ago11:04

11:04

Do you find yourself fresh in the wholesaling journey? Are you asking yourself whether you need stock-keeping unit (SKU) numbers? And if you do, how do you create them? In today’s episode, I’m answering some frequently asked questions often heard at Paper Camp, regarding creating and utilizing SKU systems. Listen in to hear tips on setting up your …

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Don McKinnon Podcasts

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