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Confessions Beyond the Food is a podcast about working in the Food Industry. People who work in the Food Industry have grit and lots of stories to tell. W3 Sales, a sales & marketing company, will host this podcast with their confessions on how they have a new, fresh approach and invite guests to confess their secrets to their sauce.
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Set your time free through smarter systems so you can do more of your best work. Free Time launched in 2021 and releases on Tuesdays and Fridays. It's a Webby-nominated business podcast and winner of three W3 awards for best show and best host. Join Jenny Blake, author of three award-winning books—including Free Time: Lose the Busywork and Love Your Business and Pivot: The Only Move That Matters Is Your Next One—to explore our guiding question: How can we earn twice as much in half the time, ...
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In this episode, "The Human Approach to Selling," we dive into the art of building genuine connections in the sales world with Steven Rogers, the Southwest Regional Sales Manager for Inteplast. Hosted by Nancy Ridlen, this week's episode brings you insightful conversations and practical advice on fostering meaningful relationships with clients. Ste…
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Following "Hope in Hard Times: Faith Stories from the Trenches," Nancy and Brett dive even deeper into their journeys. In this part 2 episode, "Finding Light: Steps to Hope and Healing," they share the practical steps they've taken to find exactly that. Building on their raw and honest confessions, they outline the tools and strategies that have he…
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In this deeply personal episode, we pull back the curtain on the realities behind the food service industry’s shiny facade. Join Nancy Ridlen and Brett Smith as they share their raw, unfiltered journeys through anxiety, depression, and addiction, highlighting the often unseen battles faced by many. Discover how Nancy’s faith kept her afloat during …
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We're thrilled to introduce you to three dynamic women who are redefining sales in Central Texas and Oklahoma: Lori Cathey, Vina Finke, and Mallary Mann. These powerhouse sales leaders from W3 Sales share their unique insights, strategies, and personal stories that have propelled them to the top of their field. In this episode, Lori Cathey from Okl…
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Step into the vibrant world of W3 Sales and Marketing as we introduce you to the dynamic duo behind the scenes in our latest episode. Join Nancy as she sits down with Macy and Alex, two powerhouse members of our brand team. Discover how Macy and Alex found their footing in the industry, from diving into the unknown to embracing the challenges of in…
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Kicking off a multi-series podcast to introduce the W3 team, Nancy Ridlen welcomes her first guests, Kevin Porter & Traci Hess. These three make up the leadership team at W3 Sales. Kevin, Traci and Nancy discuss what leadership looks like in today's ever-changing foodservice industry. They take a deep dive into what makes up a great sales team, coa…
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In this episode, we delve into the captivating story of Larry Lavine. Larry shares the evolution of his visionary journey - from the inception of Chili’s, to creating & working with some of the most well known restaurant brands, to what he is working on today. He always has a surprise up his sleeve! Discover the passion that drives Larry to build c…
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In this episode, host Nancy Ridlen sits down with Denise Munion, Vice President of Culinary Services at Oakdale Seniors Alliance. Their discussion emphasizes the vital role of preserving residents' dignity through culinary offerings, ensuring that meals not only nourish the body but also uplift the spirit. Listen in on Nancy and Denise’s eye-openin…
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In this episode, host Nancy Ridlen is joined by Blair Michal from Better Earth to shed light on a topic close to their hearts: National Endometriosis Awareness Month. Both Nancy and Blair have grappled with the ongoing effects of endometriosis since their teenage years, and they bravely share their personal journeys with all of us. From the relentl…
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In this special episode, we spoke with Dan Hinton, a true legend in the hospitality industry and whose wisdom and guidance have left an unforgettable mark on all who knew him. As we delve into his remarkable journey, we are reminded of the profound impact he had on the world of sales and hospitality during his 30-year tenure at the Edward Don Compa…
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As I round the corner into this ninth year of podcasting and after over 700 episodes, today I’m announcing a pause for both shows. Listen in to hear what factors helped me reach this decision across time, money, energy, depressing industry articles, the pace of both shows’ growth, and mix of additional business factors that make this an important m…
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Join host Nancy Ridlen in a candid and insightful conversation with Danielle Graves, a multifaceted professional and devoted working mom. In this episode, Danielle shares her inspiring journey through various industries, navigating the complexities of balancing career and motherhood. From her firsthand experiences to the invaluable lessons learned …
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“I don’t get on the airplane—and definitely not the stage—unless all invoices are paid in full.” When my friend and fellow keynote speaker Joey Coleman said this to me over coffee, I started drilling him for details: Really?! How do you have the nerve to say that to a speaking client?! How do you avoid caving in to make sure their event doesn’t fal…
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What mysterious ingredients make a book launch successful? What number of first-week and first-year sales truly make a difference to a book’s longevity? What can you do to turn lagging numbers around? In a flagship illuminating post for the industry, Todd Sattersten, publisher and owner of Bard Press, shared his findings in The Magic Number. In thi…
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Laura Mae Martin has a fascinating role as the Executive Productivity Advisor at Google in the Office of the CEO—one that she helped create six years ago (with big thanks to Jenny Wood for introducing us!). ****She coaches Google’s top executives on the best ways to manage their time and energy and sends out a weekly productivity newsletter that re…
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In this episode, join us as we sit down with Jeff Castor, a seasoned sales professional with a deep passion for the hospitality industry. Drawing from his own experiences, Jeff understands the importance of recognizing the power of continuing to move forward. Whether it's making strides in his professional career or embracing personal growth throug…
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While the title of this episode, The Framework Framework™ is tongue-in-cheek, I’m pulling this out of the BFF bonus vault because it’s one of the community’s favorites. I’m sharing the first steps to how you can set up a framework to help bolster your IP and your business; either by scaling through programs like certification and licensing, and to …
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What do you do when you lose your biggest client? If you haven’t already, listen to part one for some answers—264: What to Do When You Lose Your Biggest Client— and save these links for a rainy day :) The next time you’re going through something challenging in your business, remember: you are not alone! I hope you find comfort through the voices of…
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What do you do when you lose your biggest client? That was my Spotify search query for podcast episodes on this topic in the summer of 2023. It came up empty—there was not a single podcast episode on this topic. Of course not. Who wants to admit out loud and in their archives that they've lost their biggest client? In the past, I probably wouldn't …
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“I am great in the early, messy days and I know that about myself, so I designed my business around serving others in that stage.” In this conversation with business strategist (genius!) Michelle Warner, we cover the three growth stages most relevant to tiny business owners, how to fix broken business models, validating product-market-founder fit, …
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“Things today are waaayyyyy better than Things have ever been. Cavemen had sticks. In the Middle ages they had typhoid. We have iPhones and Hermann Miller chairs and shoes with air in the soles. Inside the soles! How do they get the air inside the soles??? We are living in the Golden Age of Things, in the Golden Empire of Things.” —Shalom Auslander…
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Join us as John Franke continues to share his journey of faith and self-discovery, revealing how he found a deeper sense of purpose and identity beyond his chef coat. We discuss his transition from one facet of the culinary world to another in a new role as a consultant, ultimately demonstrating that while our careers shape us, they don't have to d…
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If you’re anything like me, you may find conducting online launches for your programs or events exhausting and sometimes even cringe-inducing. Thankfully, today’s guest, Anne Samoilov, is here to help! Anne is a long-time expert in the space who has helmed product launches for Laura Roeder, Marie Forleo, and Jonathan Fields. Today, we’re talking ab…
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“Whenever you have a choice of what to do, choose the more interesting path." In honor of our upcoming Free Time x Long Game IRL event in Miami on February 1 and 2 (it’s not too late to join!), today I’m bringing you a favorite episode from the earliest days of the Free Time pod. In this conversation with Dorie Clark—aka “DC”—one of my closest frie…
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Before you post anything, ask: Why am I posting this? Is this within my brand guardrails? Even still, you may find yourself in hot water someday, and it’s important to think through how you will respond (and the pop-up team you will assemble to help) in advance. Today, we’re breaking down the tricky art of crisis communications and apologies with A…
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What’s on your business owner to-do list? Here’s a peek at mine, full of items large, small, and existential. This is another crossover from Rolling in D🤦🏻‍♀️h, a recent essay that was an unexpected runaway hit—the most popular to date in the six months since I started on Substack. I had no idea (as usual) whether it would resonate or not when I hi…
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Join us as we unravel the inspiring journey of John Franke, a culinary expert turned restaurant consultant. In this episode, we explore the challenges of balancing between passion and exhaustion, as Franke touches on building brands, teams, and striving for excellence in the culinary world. Explore the entrepreneur's mindset, the struggle for work-…
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“We don’t want our time to be spread thin like peanut butter on a slice of toast. You will have greater impact when you concentrate your efforts on work that is closely tied to winning—however you define it.” Are you working in a frustration factory? If so, it’s important to recognize that not all friction is created equal. Some is good, to slow do…
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I'm so excited to bring you a listener submission today from Renee Rubin Ross about my summer Voxer coaching pop-up. I've done these two summers in a row now, and I've learned so much every subsequent time. In this episode, I’ll share the structure, systems, and pricing that help me create a joyful asynchronous program that keeps our calendars free…
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“It wasn’t about being better than others, it was being ourselves, and true to our ideals in our work.” That’s just one of many gems from today’s guest, Birch Coffee co-founder Paul Schlader, who says, “I don’t accept anything less than absolute excellence.” In this conversation we talk about how he stands out in the New York City noise by hiring f…
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Today is a crossover episode from the Pivot podcast celebrating eight lessons learned from over eight years of podcasting. The Free Time podcast is now approaching its third birthday—I launched it on March 21, 2021—a year prior to the book coming out. I encourage you to grab your copy if you haven’t already, or even better—🎁 give the gift of free t…
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“’Something I always say: at the very least, do it for the plot. Do it for the story. Be bold in life, mostly because not being bold is boring as hell.’ Margot tipped her head back in glittery laughter and I felt my chest expand in hope.” That’s just one of many glittering conversations that the main character of Jamie Varon’s debut novel, Main Cha…
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”In a society that glorifies titles, visibility, reach, and the grind, taking a beat to opt out of all that isn’t easy,” today’s guest Mel Dizon writes in the origin story to her pop-up Substack. Mel shares how she defines an accidental sabbatical; the energetic urgency and pent up ambition that let her know it was time to leave her job; the permis…
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Just because you use pretty words that sound nice doesn’t mean they are effective. Although we know what we do because we do it all the time; it’s hard to separate that from what your audience wants and experiences. Thankfully, today’s guest is here to help. Ben Guttmann is a marketing and communications expert and author of Simply Put: Why Clear M…
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The phrase is emblazoned at WeWorks across the globe: in large neon lights across lobby walls, bedecking laptops via swag stickers, and printed in playful cursive on the mugs that facilitate bottomless free coffee—with the addition of always in small print at the top. But what becomes of the adage to do what you love when the company blasting it ev…
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“The biggest breakthroughs came from the random side projects that I had no expectation would turn into anything.” Josh Kaufman is a longtime friendtor (13 years and counting!) who I admire for his streamlined approach to running his business in a way that supports family life and creative solitude. In our last conversation we spoke about releasing…
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Are you running a Franken-Brand? A quick, inexpensive logo here. And then someone a few months later tries to write the brand strategy. And then another junior hire adds in graphics and you don’t even know where they came from. Suddenly, you have this brand that is cobbled together, and no one on the team is feeling compelled. Today, returning gues…
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Bill Flannery, Managing Partner with M2 Reps (aka The DC Plate King) joins Traci Hess and shares how to get an audience engaged and get real results on social media. Bill jumped in and was an early adopter across all social media platforms and has built an impressive following. He continues to innovate in his own unique way.…
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Has your business brand become stale, perhaps to the point of being a liability? After a few years, especially with major pivots, you may run the risk of losing clients and credibility. Sometimes it’s time for a tune-up and fresh tires, and sometimes, it’s time for a whole new brand engine. As today’s returning guest, my good friend and part of the…
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What do you do when a business area becomes energetically draining, or the income isn’t flowing? Today’s guest has many intuitive superpowers, and one of them is “following the data points of truth.” In this episode, Erin Weed and I discuss why you shouldn’t just stick with something that is no longer aligned; the tragic event that launched her jou…
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How can you get paid for who you are, not just what you do? Today’s guest, Terry Rice, is teaching us his Golden Link Strategy for creating a steady stream of potential clients, without giving them (or you) “the ick” through cold outreach misfires. He also shares speaking and marketing tips he pulled from one of his mentors, Daymond John, how he re…
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“What am I pretending not to know?” There is tremendous power in asking better questions, whether it comes to ideal day design, creating systems in your business, or teaching someone how to help tame your inboxes. Today’s conversation with Claire Giovino covers all that ground and more. We talk about what qualities make email so vexing for many bus…
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"For the first time in a decade, I feel free again." That’s how one of my earliest blogging friends, longtime community leader David Spinks, was feeling when I caught up with him in-person in the middle of his yearlong sabbatical, after selling his community-based business. David and I discuss best practices for creating and nurturing communities, …
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“The world doesn’t need another expert.” So says today’s guest, Andrew Davis. Experts rely on hacks, tips, tricks, teaching, preaching, and over-promising. Visionary leaders a) tend not to call themselves that and b) focus on the quest for knowledge itself, with enough humility to admit what they don’t know, or the problems they are exploring even …
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Nancy Ridlen interviews Thad Smith on engaging training and presenting practices. Thad is an absolute rockstar in the industry and graciously shares his secrets for engaging with small groups, large training settings, virtual trainings and so much more. Thad is the Director of Brand Communications and Executive Chef with Sterno.…
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“You do not need to cannibalize your healing for content.” Today, I’m in conversation with longtime blog-turned-IRL friend Nic Antoinette, diving deeper into her decision to shut down her Patreon community (taking a $30,000/year haircut to do so), then pivoting to a private paid Substack while she navigated her way through decisions about what migh…
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If you have been in business for any amount of time, then you know the feeling when a launch just isn’t working. The sales are crawling, you start doubting yourself, wondering if you created the right thing in the first place, if you built a big enough audience to sell anything at all. All kinds of additional questions and insecurities follow when …
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“I only write books for problems I can’t otherwise solve,” Nir Eyal says. “I don’t write my books for my readers; I write my books for myself.” Driven by curiosity to fix his own problems, Nir’s books have sold over one million copies. Listen to today’s conversation on how he weathered the criticism storm around his first book, Hooked; the one esse…
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Abundance was my word of 2019. I’d love to tell you I meant abundance in the broadest possible sense, appreciating the bounty already in my life, financial and otherwise. But mostly, my theme was about money. Specifically: to surpass one million dollars in revenue by the end of the year. I was going to build the sexiest small business rocket ship t…
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