The Other 99%: A Podcast for Small Business Owners and Direct Sellers

Hosted by Lisa Duck and Susan Larimer

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Episodes

145

Latest episode

Oct 2026

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About the show

Welcome to The Other 99%, where we talk about what building a business really looks like behind the highlight reel. Hosts Lisa Duck and Susan Larimer share honest conversations, real stories, practical strategies, and plenty of laughs about the wins, pivots, mistakes, and lessons that come with entrepreneurship. Because success isn’t just about the 1% you always hear about. It’s built every day by the other 99%. 🎧 New episodes every Tuesday.

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60 recent

October 27, 2026Episode 14545 min

E145: Who’s Running Your Business: You or the Next Flash Sale?

Your company announces another flash sale, and suddenly you feel like you need to drop everything, create a graphic, send an email and tell every customer. Sound familiar? ☕ This week, Lisa Duck and Susan Larimer are talking about running your direct sales business your way, even when the holiday promotions keep coming. We chat about protecting your profits, avoiding the comparison trap and deciding which company offers actually fit your customers and your plan. Plus, we explore how constant discounts can encourage customers to wait for the next deal. We also put each other in the hot seat with real sales scenarios: What if your company undercuts a bundle you’ve already announced? Do you match another consultant’s bigger discount? And should every flash sale mean another email to your entire list? You’ll hear ideas for setting boundaries, reaching out thoughtfully and letting customers opt in to the sale notifications they actually want. Grab a coffee and get comfy. Those company promotions can be the gravy, but you’re still in charge of the meal! Connect with your hosts: Lisa Duck: https://lisaduck.com/its-me-lisa/ Susan Larimer: https://susanlarimer.com/its-me-susan/ 🎵 Music CreditSong: French MorningMusic by: CreatorMix.com ⚠️ DisclaimerSome links in this description are affiliate links. If you purchase through them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend tools I personally use and trust. This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only. Nothing shared constitutes business, legal, or financial advice. Results depend entirely on your own efforts and execution.

October 20, 2026Episode 14437 min

E144: The Stress-Free Holiday Prep Your Business Needs

Ready, set, ho ho ho! 🎄 What are you doing now that your December self will thank you for? This week, Lisa Duck and Susan Larimer are chatting about getting your business holiday ready while protecting your profits, your energy and your family time. We’re talking simple offers, realistic income goals, working with company promotions and why you don’t need to copy someone else’s discounts to make sales. Plus, we share reminders about reconnecting with past customers, checking your shopping links and giving holiday shoppers a reason to come back in January. There’s also a little holiday business audit to help you look at what worked last year, what you can reuse and where a collaboration could make things easier. Grab a coffee and get comfy. A little planning now could save you a whole lot of holiday scrambling later! ☕ Connect with your hosts: Lisa Duck: https://lisaduck.com/its-me-lisa/ Susan Larimer: https://susanlarimer.com/its-me-susan/ 🎵 Music CreditSong: French MorningMusic by: CreatorMix.com ⚠️ DisclaimerSome links in this description are affiliate links. If you purchase through them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend tools I personally use and trust. This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only. Nothing shared constitutes business, legal, or financial advice. Results depend entirely on your own efforts and execution.

October 13, 2026Episode 14339 min

E143: It’s All About the Yaps! 🎥 Talking-to-Camera Reels, Hooks & Getting Started

We’ve been yapping together on this podcast for years. Talking to our phones by ourselves? That’s a different story. 😂 This week, Lisa and Susan share about their first experiments with “yaps,” short, conversational videos that help people get to know you and your business. We chat about finding something worth saying, grabbing attention with a good hook and editing out the bits that slow your video down. We also share how we’re using Instagram’s Edits app and ChatGPT, plus why keeping your own voice matters. And we get honest about the uncomfortable part: being on camera when you’d really rather hide from it. If you’ve been putting off making videos until you feel more confident, grab a coffee and join us. We’re figuring it out as we go, too. ☕ Trying your own yaps? Send us a DM on Instagram so we can check them out! Connect with your hosts: Lisa Duck: https://lisaduck.com/its-me-lisa/ Susan Larimer: https://susanlarimer.com/its-me-susan/ 🎵 Music CreditSong: French MorningMusic by: CreatorMix.com ⚠️ DisclaimerSome links in this description are affiliate links. If you purchase through them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend tools I personally use and trust. This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only. Nothing shared constitutes business, legal, or financial advice. Results depend entirely on your own efforts and execution.

October 6, 2026Episode 14238 min

E142: What They Say! 😂 Canadian vs. American Words

We’re taking a break from business talk and putting a little giggle into your day! 😂 Lisa is Canadian. Susan is American. And apparently, speaking the same language doesn’t mean we always know what the other person is talking about. In this just-for-fun episode, we compare what we call everyday things, from toques and sneakers to pencil crayons and chicken burgers. Naturally, the conversation takes a few detours into bagged milk, ketchup chips and the great Smarties debate. Grab a coffee and play along. What words would have YOU asking, “Wait… what did you just say?” 📺 We’re reacting to pictures throughout this episode, so head over to The Other 99% Podcast on YouTube if you’d like to see what we’re looking at! Connect with your hosts: Lisa Duck: https://lisaduck.com/its-me-lisa/ Susan Larimer: https://susanlarimer.com/its-me-susan/ 🎵 Music Credit Song: French Morning Music by: CreatorMix.com ⚠️ Disclaimer Some links in this description are affiliate links. If you purchase through them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend tools I personally use and trust. This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only. Nothing shared constitutes business, legal, or financial advice. Results depend entirely on your own efforts and execution.

September 29, 2026Episode 14132 min

E141: Your Friends Don’t Owe You a Purchase

What happens when a friend becomes a customer, or a customer becomes a friend? The line between friendship and business can get awkward quickly, especially when every conversation starts feeling like an opportunity to make a sale, book a party, or recruit someone. In this episode of The Other 99%, Lisa and Susan share about navigating friendships while running a business. They discuss friends and family who don’t buy from you, customers who become genuine friends, people who choose to shop with someone else, and why supporting someone’s business should never feel like an obligation. They also talk about keeping score with other business owners, giving friends special discounts, and the uncomfortable habit of messaging someone simply because they viewed your social media story. Your friends don’t owe you a purchase, and your customers don’t need to become your friends. You can build meaningful relationships and confidently run your business without making every interaction feel transactional. Connect with Lisa: https://lisaduck.com/its-me-lisa/ Connect with Susan: https://susanlarimer.com/its-me-susan/ 🎵 Music Credit Song: French Morning Music by: CreatorMix.com ⚠️ Disclaimer Some links in this description are affiliate links. If you purchase through them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend tools I personally use and trust. This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only. Nothing shared constitutes business, legal, or financial advice. Results depend entirely on your own efforts and execution.

September 22, 2026Episode 14044 min

E140: Why Customers Choose You Over Amazon

Your customers can find products almost anywhere, so why should they choose to shop with you? Spoiler alert: it isn’t because you post every company special or share the same sales graphics as everyone else. In this episode of The Other 99%, Lisa and Susan share what customers actually want from the person behind the business. They talk about making shopping easier, offering trustworthy recommendations, following up after the sale, respecting a customer’s “no,” and helping people feel remembered and appreciated. You’ll also hear a fun round of “Customer Service or Customer Annoyance?” featuring some common business behaviours that might be helping your customers or quietly driving them away. This episode will help you take an honest look at the experience you’re creating and answer one important question: Why should someone choose to shop with you? Connect with Lisa: https://lisaduck.com/its-me-lisa/ Connect with Susan: https://susanlarimer.com/its-me-susan/ 🎵 Music Credit Song: French Morning Music by: CreatorMix.com ⚠️ Disclaimer Some links in this description are affiliate links. If you purchase through them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend tools I personally use and trust. This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only. Nothing shared constitutes business, legal, or financial advice. Results depend entirely on your own efforts and execution.

September 15, 2026Episode 13940 min

E139: The 10 Customers You’re Probably Ignoring

Business owners are constantly encouraged to find the next new customer, but what about the customers already connected to the business? In this episode, Lisa and Susan share 10 types of customers who may be getting overlooked, including one-time buyers, former regulars, seasonal shoppers, frequent supporters, referral sources and customers who simply haven’t heard from you in a while. They explore how to reconnect, improve customer follow-up and build genuine relationships without turning every interaction into a sales pitch. By the end of the episode, you’ll have a practical list of people to reconnect with and a simple challenge to help you get started. CONNECT WITH LISA AND SUSAN: Meet Lisa: https://lisaduck.com/its-me-lisa/ Meet Susan: https://susanlarimer.com/its-me-susan/ 🎵 Music Credit Song: French Morning Music by: CreatorMix.com ⚠️ Disclaimer Some links in this description are affiliate links. If you purchase through them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend tools I personally use and trust. This channel is for educational and informational purposes only. Nothing shared constitutes business, legal, or financial advice. Results depend entirely on your own efforts and execution.

September 8, 2026Episode 13820 min

E138: Email Marketing Part 6/6: Email Marketing Can Be Your Best Sales System

We're wrapping up our email marketing series with the big question: when does your email list actually become a sales system? Lisa Duck and Susan Larimer walk through the full customer journey — from that first welcome email all the way to a five-step customer care sequence that keeps people coming back. We also talk about why it takes way more emails than you'd expect before someone buys, why unsubscribes aren't something to fear, and a simple trick for keeping your emails out of the spam and promotions folders. Connect with Lisa: https://lisaduck.com/its-me-lisa/ Connect with Susan: https://susanlarimer.com/its-me-susan/ 🎵 Music: French Morning Music by CreatorMix.com 📌 Disclaimer: Some links may be affiliate links. I only recommend tools I use and trust.

September 1, 2026Episode 13725 min

E137: Email Marketing Part 5/6: What Should I Email My List Every Week?

In part five of our email marketing series, Lisa Duck and Susan Larimer are answering the question we hear the most: what do I actually send my list every week? We share six go-to content ideas — tips and education, personal stories, customer success stories, product highlights, seasonal reminders, and FAQs — plus why consistency matters more than frequency, and how to find a cadence that actually fits your life. Connect with Lisa: https://lisaduck.com/its-me-lisa/ Connect with Susan: https://susanlarimer.com/its-me-susan/ 🎵 Music: French Morning Music by CreatorMix.com 📌 Disclaimer: Some links may be affiliate links. I only recommend tools I use and trust.

August 25, 2026Episode 13623 min

E136: Email Marketing Part 4/6: Why an Email Welcome Sequence Matters!

In part four of our email marketing series, Lisa Duck and Susan Larimer are talking about the welcome sequence — why it's one of the most important (and most skipped) pieces of your email marketing, and how to set one up so it works for one customer just as well as it works for a thousand. We cover what to actually say in those first few emails, why automation matters so much more than people realize, and why welcome sequences consistently get your highest open rates. Plus, a peek at the 5-Minute Welcome Sequence System if you want a done-for-you swipe file to get started. Connect with Lisa: https://lisaduck.com/its-me-lisa/ Connect with Susan: https://susanlarimer.com/its-me-susan/ 🎵 Music: French Morning Music by CreatorMix.com 📌 Disclaimer: Some links may be affiliate links. I only recommend tools I use and trust.