Idaho Business Podcast

Hosted by Spencer Ward, Business owner, Podcast host, entrepreneur

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Episodes

431

Latest episode

Oct 2026

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About the show

If you LOVE our town and LOVE small business, you are in the right place!! We interview local legends, learn business and have way too much fun doing it!!

Listen to episodes

60 recent

October 27, 2026Episode 43117 min

The Accidental Entrepreneur: How Linda Davies Built a 20-Year Business on Trust

What does it take to build a business that lasts more than 20 years almost entirely through word of mouth? In this episode of the Idaho Business Podcast, Spencer Ward sits down with Linda Davies, founder of Wild Hair Estate Liquidations in Pocatello, Idaho. Linda calls herself an "accidental businesswoman." Her journey began when a friend who handled estate sales in the area decided to retire and started sending his customers her way. More than two decades later, Linda has built a loyal following of customers who will stand in line through snow, rain, and summer heat to get into one of her sales. Linda and Spencer talk about why trust and integrity have been critical to her success, the power of scarcity in business, building a loyal customer base through word of mouth, knowing when not to expand, and the lessons she's learned from working inside people's homes during some of the most emotional moments of their lives. And after 20 years of estate liquidations, Linda has some stories including an estate connected to a convicted Ponzi schemer that eventually attracted the attention of the FBI. This episode is a great reminder that you don't need a massive marketing machine to build a successful business. Sometimes reputation, integrity, and taking care of people are what create a business that lasts. If you are feeling the love, make sure to subscribe, rate, and review on iTunes, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you are!! If you'd like to be featured on an episode go to theidahobusinesspodcast.com to APPLY! Apple Podcasts Spotify

October 20, 2026Episode 38625 min

Hard Work Isn't Enough: Building Habits That Create Lasting Success | Jeffrey McKeegee-Williams

What if working harder isn't actually the answer? In this episode of the Idaho Business Podcast, Spencer Ward sits down with entrepreneur, keynote speaker, and Herald Cards founder Jeffrey Jeffrey McKeegee-Williams to talk about self-leadership, discipline, habits, adversity, and what it really takes to create lasting change. Jeffrey shares his story of growing up in Fuller Park on Chicago's South Side and how those experiences shaped his approach to discipline, personal growth, and leadership. The conversation explores why motivation and hard work alone aren't always enough—and why sometimes growth requires not adding something new, but "decommitting" from the habits, relationships, and patterns holding you back. Spencer and Jeffrey also discuss self-sabotage, building habits that survive difficult circumstances, leading yourself before leading others, and why financial or business success doesn't automatically change who you are. Jeffrey also shares the story behind Herald Cards, his newly launched digital business card company, and his family's recent move to Meridian, Idaho. If you're a business owner or leader trying to grow your company while also becoming a better version of yourself, this conversation is for you. If you are feeling the love, make sure to subscribe, rate, and review on iTunes, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you are!! If you'd like to be featured on an episode go to theidahobusinesspodcast.com to APPLY! Apple Podcasts Spotify

October 13, 2026Episode 42920 min

The Leadership Skills Most Business Owners Are Missing - Featuring Bethany Stone

Why do some successful business owners still struggle with confidence, communication, and leadership? In this episode of the Idaho Business Podcast, Spencer Ward sits down with leadership development coach and Thriving by Nature founder Bethany Stone to discuss the human skills behind effective leadership. Bethany explains why many business owners misdiagnose communication problems as marketing or messaging problems, why knowing your personal values is foundational to genuine confidence, and how leaders can become better at connecting with the people around them. They also dive into the "10-Foot Rule" for building better relationships, the difference between real confidence and simply looking confident, shiny object syndrome, and Bethany's Five Domains framework: emotional health, values, physical well-being, communication, and intellectual development. If you're growing a company but feel like something is holding you or your leadership back, this conversation may help you identify what you've been missing. Learn more about Bethany Stone and Thriving by Nature at thrivingbynature.com.

October 6, 2026Episode 42621 min

The Future of Business Payments: Stablecoins, Banking & Spud Pay - Featuring Cody Holm

Fifth-generation Idaho potato farmer and entrepreneur Cody Holm is taking on a completely different industry: business banking and payments. Cody joins Spencer Ward to explain Spud Pay, a fintech platform built to bring stablecoins, blockchain payments, and modern financial technology to agriculture, construction, and other traditional industries. They break down what stablecoins actually are, how blockchain payments work, why businesses may want an alternative to traditional payment processing, and how Spud Pay connects with existing banking and accounting systems. Cody also explains how businesses can send payments, pay vendors, move money internationally, and potentially earn rewards on money that would otherwise sit in a checking account. They also discuss Spud Pay's three-minute business onboarding, QuickBooks and inventory integrations, ACH and check capabilities, and Cody's goal of bringing fintech tools to industries that are often the last to adopt new financial technology. If you've wondered what stablecoins and blockchain could actually mean for a real-world business, this conversation makes the technology much easier to understand. Guest: Cody Holm, CEO of Spud Pay Learn more: SpudPay.io If you are feeling the love, make sure to subscribe, rate, and review on iTunes, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you are!! If you'd like to be featured on an episode go to theidahobusinesspodcast.com to APPLY! Apple Podcasts Spotify

September 29, 2026Episode 42719 min

How Strong Company Culture Drives Business Growth - Featuring Braden Hillebrant

Braden shares how his background in the building industry shaped the way he approaches the title business, especially when working with new construction versus existing homes. But the bigger conversation is about growth, sales, leadership, and company culture. They dive into how Braden has helped grow his branch, why having the right people and culture matters, and how the way you treat your employees ultimately shows up in the experience you provide your customers. If you're a business owner or leader trying to grow your company without sacrificing your culture, this episode is for you. If you are feeling the love, make sure to subscribe, rate, and review on iTunes, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you are!! If you'd like to be featured on an episode go to theidahobusinesspodcast.com to APPLY! Apple Podcasts Spotify

September 22, 2026Episode 4268 min

The CEO Reset: How Stepping Away Helps You Think Bigger - Featuring Spencer Ward

When you're neck-deep in the day-to-day of your business, creativity drops and stress takes over. In this episode of the Idaho Business Podcast, Spencer Ward breaks down why stepping out of your environment, even briefly, can reset your perspective, open doors to new ideas and lead to better leadership decisions. He shares how a trip to Miami forced a needed reset, why doing less can result in more and how journaling tools like ChatGPT and new rooms can sharpen your thinking. If you're burning out or losing clarity, this episode is your reminder to step back in order to move forward. If you are feeling the love, make sure to subscribe, rate, and review on iTunes, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you are!! If you'd like to be featured on an episode go to theidahobusinesspodcast.com to APPLY! Apple Podcasts Spotify

September 15, 2026Episode 42515 min

Never Forget: 9/11, Courage & the American Can-Do Spirit - Featuring Spencer Ward

Twenty-five years after September 11, 2001, we remember the lives lost, the first responders who ran toward danger, the passengers of Flight 93 who fought back, and the servicemen and women who have sacrificed to protect our country. In this episode of the Idaho Business Podcast, Spencer Ward reflects on the courage displayed on 9/11 and the American "can-do" spirit that emerged in the days that followed. Running a business will never compare to the sacrifices made by our heroes. But their courage can inspire us to lead with greater courage in our own lives to take calculated risks, build companies, create jobs, serve our communities, get back up after failure, and refuse to let fear make our decisions. We may be vulnerable, but we don't have to be fragile. Never forget. 🇺🇸 If you are feeling the love, make sure to subscribe, rate, and review on iTunes, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you are!! If you'd like to be featured on an episode go to theidahobusinesspodcast.com to APPLY! Apple Podcasts Spotify

September 8, 2026Episode 46817 min

How to Expand Your Business Into Another State - Featuring Spencer Ward

What does it actually take to expand your business across state lines? In this episode of the Idaho Business Podcast, Spencer Ward breaks down what he's doing right now to open a new Nucleane branch in Phoenix, Arizona without spending a fortune building infrastructure before the revenue exists. We cover market research, competition, pricing, insurance, entity structure, marketing in a completely new market, appointment setters, subcontractors vs. employees, when to hire a local manager, and how to determine your break-even point. The strategy is simple: prove the market before you build the infrastructure. If you've ever thought about expanding your company into another city or state, this episode gives you a real-world look at the decisions, risks, costs, and opportunities that come with taking a proven business model into a brand-new market. If you are feeling the love, make sure to subscribe, rate, and review on iTunes, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you are!! If you'd like to be featured on an episode go to theidahobusinesspodcast.com to APPLY! Apple Podcasts Spotify

September 1, 2026Episode 42116 min

You Should Know by Day 90: Hiring A-Players

What can you really learn about an employee in their first 90 days? Inspired by an A-player hiring memo from Leila Hormozi, Spencer breaks down why the first 90 days aren't about mastering the job they're about trajectory and core-value fit. Learn how to spot ownership, coachability, work ethic, and character early, why talented employees can still poison your culture, and how tolerating mediocrity can ultimately chase away your best people. You don't need an A-player by day 90 but you should know whether you're looking at one in the making. If you are feeling the love, make sure to subscribe, rate, and review on iTunes, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you are!! If you'd like to be featured on an episode go to theidahobusinesspodcast.com to APPLY! Apple Podcasts Spotify

August 25, 2026Episode 41826 min

How to Protect Your Small Business from Hackers | Shad Harris

Small businesses are a bigger target for cybercriminals than many owners realize and protecting your company doesn't have to require a massive IT department. In this episode of the Idaho Business Podcast, Spencer sits down with cybersecurity consultant Shad Harris to break down cybersecurity from a small business owner's perspective. We start with the threats business owners may be underestimating, then look at how real-world cyberattacks happen and where criminals are finding vulnerabilities. From there, Shad shares practical ways businesses can protect themselves, their employees, customer information and their money. We also discuss employee mistakes, passwords and multifactor authentication, phishing and impersonation scams, AI's impact on cybercrime, cyber insurance, and what an owner should do immediately if they discover their company has been compromised. The goal isn't to scare business owners. It's to give them a practical plan for reducing their risk before something happens. If you own or manage a small business, this is one episode worth sharing with your leadership team and employees. If you'd like to reach out to Shad for his cybersecurity services, you can reach him at shadharris@gmail.com If you are feeling the love, make sure to subscribe, rate, and review on iTunes, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you are!! If you'd like to be featured on an episode go to theidahobusinesspodcast.com to APPLY! Apple Podcasts Spotify