Monday Morning Radio

Hosted by Dean Rotbart

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721

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Nov 2026

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About the show

A regular audio podcast that features some of the country's most innovative business owners and experts - men and women who are putting into practice the profitable lessons that can be gleaned by reading Roy H. William's Monday Morning Memo

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November 9, 2026Episode 71739 min

Why Reinventing the Customer Experience Can Be More Valuable Than Reinventing the Product

There's a misconception about entrepreneurship: To build a successful business, you need to invent something new. But not all promising business opportunities require inventing better products. Some come from finding better ways to buy and sell products that already exist. This week's guest, Ari Kimmelfeld , 27, launched Commonplace —a nationwide market for bulky, used goods—in March 2024, buying and reselling used Peloton exercise bikes. The equipment still had value. The problem was that buying and selling secondhand fitness apparatus was inconvenient. Buyers worried about what they were getting. Sellers faced the hassle of finding customers and arranging transportation. Ari set out to eliminate those frustrations. Today, Commonplace is connecting buyers and sellers of everything from used exercise equipment to furniture, appliances, hot tubs, golf carts, and even boats. But the interesting part isn't what Commonplace sells. It's how Ari has built a business that aims to make secondhand purchases nearly as convenient as buying new. For entrepreneurs, there's a valuable lesson. When customers accept inconvenience as unavoidable, the business that removes it may have a considerable competitive advantage. Monday Morning Radio , now in its 15th season, is hosted by the father-son duo of Dean and Maxwell Rotbart . Photo: Ari Kimmelfeld, Commonplace Date : November 9, 2026 Monday Morning Run Time: 39:18 Episode : 717 RELATED EPISODES: Remember the Rush and Anxiety of Starting Your First Business? At 36, He is Dynamic, Visionary and Knows How to Spot and Seize Opportunities RomanticSpotsinAustin.com Is the First of Many Local Online Guidebooks for Sweethearts

November 1, 2026Episode 71659 min

Never Stop, Never Take 'No' for an Answer: The Scott Woolley Story

From stocking grocery shelves before dawn to building and selling businesses across wildly diverse industries, Scott Woolley , founder and president of The SW Group , has made a specialty of venturing into unfamiliar territory. A highly successful serial entrepreneur, Scott has partnered with legendary Miami Dolphins quarterback Dan Marino on Rock N Roll Tequila . Today, he also helps manage his wife's luxury interior design business, TW Interiors . Together, they host the iDesignLab podcast. Along the way, Scott has cultivated some extraordinary relationships. Actor and comedian Jerry Lewis became a mentor and taught him the fundamentals of television production. Automotive legend Lee Iacocca offered advice that transformed Scott's approach to management. Actor William Shatner and hair-products billionaire John Paul Mitchell became personal friends. Scott's guiding philosophy is disarmingly simple: Never stop. Never take "no" for an answer. In a wide-ranging conversation, Scott explains why curiosity, persistence, and a willingness to keep learning will open unexpected doors. [You can vote for Scott's twin daughters, "The Ruffles," here .] Monday Morning Radio , now in its 15th season, is hosted by the father-son duo of Dean and Maxwell Rotbart . Photo : Scott Woolley, The SW Group Date : November 2, 2026 Monday Morning Run Time : 59:30 Episode : 716 [Be sure to pick up your copy of All You Can Eat Business Wisdom: Second Helpings , the chart-topper Monday Morning Radio anthology featuring 21 world-class thinkers and leaders.]

October 25, 2026Episode 71538 min

Why Visiting Your Accountant Should Be Less Painful Than Seeing Your Dentist

For many business owners, visiting an accountant sounds about as appealing as a trip to the dentist. But New Age accounting firm owner Robert "Rob" Wood doesn't fit the buttoned-up Big Four stereotype. As owner and founder of Wood and Sons Accounting & Tax , Rob, an enrolled agent, serves clients ranging from a cannabis farm in Oregon to paintball enthusiasts across the country. With year-end approaching, Rob makes a lively case for acting now, while there's still time to legally shrink your 2026 tax bill and clean up ledgers that could cause expensive IRS headaches later. Rob also makes clear why smart business owners see their accountant at least twice as often as their dentist. Monday Morning Radio , now in its 15th season, is hosted by the father-son duo of Dean and Maxwell Rotbart . Photo: Rob Wood, Wood & Sons Accounting & Tax Date: October 26, 2026 Monday Morning Run Time: 38:23 Episode: 715 POPULAR EPISODES: Head-to-Head: One Buyer, One Small Business Valuation Expert, and Plenty of Relevant, Unscripted Questions Apple Rejected His Breakthrough App, But Couldn't Break His Entrepreneurial Determination The Same Strategic Principles That Led Colorado to Statehood on August 1, 1876, Continue to Drive Successful Organizations 150 Years Later

October 16, 2026Episode 7141 hr 1 min

How To Preserve Family and Business Legacies Without Burdening the Next Generation

Aging Baby Boomers face a dilemma. What do they do with a lifetime of possessions when they are ready to downsize? For business owners, the challenge can be especially complicated. Beyond their personal possessions, they may have decades of company memorabilia, historical records, and reminders of the enterprises they worked so hard to build. Quite often, the next generation has little interest in inheriting any of it. Mindy Godding , founder of Abundance Organizing , has spent more than two decades helping people decide what to keep, donate, or discard. Clutter, she observes, often represents an aspiration, a memory, or a version of ourselves we haven't given up on yet. The real challenge, therefore, is psychological. Successfully downsizing begins with understanding the emotional attachments that make letting go so difficult. This week, Mindy explains how to preserve meaningful memories without holding on to every object associated with them. And for business owners in particular, how to protect their legacies without leaving their families an overwhelming burden. Monday Morning Radio , now in its 15th season, is hosted by the father-son duo of Dean and Maxwell Rotbart . Photo : Mindy Godding Date : October 19, 2026 Monday Morning Run Time: 1 Hour 1 Minute Episode: 714 Co-Hosts Maxwell and Dean Rotbart at the recent Watters Garden Center book-signing for All You Can Eat Business Wisdom: Second Helpings .

October 8, 2026Episode 71344 min

When Valuing a Business, Buyers and Sellers Often Reach Very Different Conclusions

When business owners think about selling their companies, they tend to focus on what they believe the business is worth. Buyers look at things very differently. They want to know what happens when they peel back the curtain, examine the financials, study how the company operates, and consider whether the value they see today will still be there after the owner walks away. Mark Sims , this week's guest, spends a great deal of his time helping buyers answer those questions. Mark leads the Technology Solutions Group at consultMSG , a financial and operational advisory that works with companies making acquisitions or undergoing transitions and major transformations. His work includes technology strategy, mergers and acquisitions, due diligence, analytics, and artificial intelligence But Mark's perspective isn't simply that of an outside consultant. Before joining consultMSG , he spent about 15 years working inside industry. Among his roles, he headed strategy and M&A. for Scotts Miracle-Gro, putting him directly on the buy side of deals—and giving him extensive experience evaluating potential acquisitions. That background provides Mark an unusually practical understanding of what buyers are really looking for—and what can cause them to lower their offer, hesitate, or walk away altogether. Monday Morning Radio , now in its 15th season, is hosted by the father-son duo of Dean and Maxwell Rotbart . Photo : Mark Sims, consultMSG Date: October 12, 2026 Monday Morning Run Time: 44:35 Episode: 713 RELATED EPISODES: Head-to-Head: One Buyer, One Small Business Valuation Expert, and Plenty of Relevant, Unscripted Questions How Transforming Into an 'Unfear' Business Can Lead to Breakthrough Performance and Improve Employee Satisfaction 'Know-it-All' CEOs Seldom Do: The Power of Curiosity in Business

October 3, 2026Episode 71247 min

From Corporate Marketer to Solopreneur: A Story of Hope and Caution

April Paige is a portrait of a determined solopreneur. Her business, April Paige Fine Art , sells her original paintings and archival-quality prints. She has also added an art-rental program and an online home-design collection. April spent three decades in senior corporate marketing roles with companies including Honeywell , JPMorgan , New York Life , and MetLife . After a series of corporate layoffs, she decided to devote herself full time to her longtime passion: creating fine art. Her story is one of both hope and caution. In this episode, April shares advice based on personal experience—both good and bad—for anyone tempted to turn a side hustle into a livelihood. April's own business remains a work in progress. As she readily acknowledges, passion can take a solopreneur only so far. Turning that passion into a sustainable business requires patience, sound judgment, and a willingness to learn as you go. [ Mark your calendars for Friday, October 9th, when Monday Morning Radio co-host Maxwell Rotbart will sign copies of his latest anthology, All You Can Eat Business Wisdom: Second Helpings , at Watters Garden Center. For more information or to register for the free event, visit https://tinyurl.com/MMR-Watters ] Monday Morning Radio, now in its 15th season, is hosted by the father-son duo of Dean and Maxwell Rotbart . Photo : April Paige, April Paige Fine Art Posted : October 5, 2026 Monday Morning Run Time: 47:02 Episode : 712 POPULAR EPIISODES: When Everything Breaks Down, What Keeps A Business Going? Apple Rejected His Breakthrough App, But Couldn't Break His Entrepreneurial Determination What Zig Ziglar Would Advise Business Leaders in the Age of Artificial Intelligence

September 26, 2026Episode 71156 min

Head-to-Head: One Buyer, One Small Business Valuation Expert, and Plenty of Relevant, Unscripted Questions

This week's episode is less an interview with a small business expert and more of a working session. It features David C. Barnett , a small business valuation expert and head of Business Buyer Advantage , and Ken Lain, owner of Watters Garden Center , a successful plant nursery in Prescott, AZ. David excels at advising those looking to acquire small businesses, while Ken is currently shopping to purchase other garden centers. They make a perfect pairing: an experienced valuation adviser and a business owner actively looking to buy. The questions that Ken asks and the answers that David gives prove invaluable to anyone thinking of buying — or selling — a company. David and Ken have both been guests on Monday Morning Radio previously, but separately. David's latest book is Business and Asset Values: How Owners, Buyers, Sellers, Lenders, and Advisors Should Think About Small Business and Equipment Value . Along with his wife, Lisa, Ken hosts the popular Mountain Gardener podcast. [ Mark your calendars for Friday, October 9th, when Monday Morning Radio co-host Maxwell Rotbart will sign copies of his latest anthology, All You Can Eat Business Wisdom: Second Helpings, at Watters Garden Center. For more information or to register for the free event, visit https://tinyurl.com/MMR-Watters ] Monday Morning Radio , now in its 15th season, is hosted by the father-son duo of Dean and Maxwell Rotbart . Photos: David C. Barnett and Ken Lain Posted: September 28, 2026 Monday Morning Run Time : 56:42 Episode : 711

September 21, 2026Episode 71057 min

The Leadership Skill That Can Defuse Conflict in Ninety Seconds

One of the seven laws of the advertising universe — as articulated many years ago by The Wizard of Ads Roy H. Williams — boils down to this: "Win the hearts of the people, their minds will follow." Douglas E. Noll expresses it differently but arrives at much the same conclusion. Strong leadership, he says, begins with understanding a simple truth: People are emotional beings, and their nervous systems shape how they respond at work. Doug is a former trial lawyer and experienced mediator who developed and refined his skill as a consultant to senior executives while working with gang members and other criminals in maximum-security prisons. A consultant to senior executives, he has written five books; his most recent, published earlier this month, is Empathy Leadership: The Powerful Skill That Drives Winning Results . On this week's podcast, he explains that employers "should stop thinking of their staff as rational, and recognize instead how strongly their emotions drive their actions and decisions on the job." Those leaders who understand this fundamental truth will reduce workplace conflict and get more productive results from their people. Monday Morning Radio , now in its 15th season, is hosted by the father-son duo of Dean and Maxwell Rotbart . Photo: Douglas E. Noll Posted: September 21, 2026 Monday Morning Run Time: 57:26 Episode: 710 [Be sure to pick up your copy of All You Can Eat Business Wisdom: Second Helpings , the new Monday Morning Radio anthology featuring 21 world-class thinkers and leaders.]

September 13, 2026Episode 70958 min

Your Best Business Ideas May Arrive When You Stop Trying to Think of Them

Some of your best business ideas and solutions may arrive when you stop trying so hard to think of them. Neuroscience-based strategist and executive coach Sara Connell , founder of Thought Leader Academy , has studied why moments of clarity often surface while walking, showering, or letting the brain wander. Author of the forthcoming book, The Download: Train Your Brain. Unlock Your Genius. Create Miracles , Sara instructs her readers and clients on how to generate more of those breakthroughs intentionally. She also addresses a problem many entrepreneurs know well: having more ideas than time to pursue them. This week, she shares her approach designed to dramatically increase your impact and income: Slow the mental noise, identify which ideas are worth exploring, and turn flashes of inspiration into concrete next steps for business and life. Monday Morning Radio , now in its 15th season, is hosted by the father-son duo of Dean and Maxwell Rotbart . Photo : Sara Connell, Sara Connell Coaching Posted : September 14, 2026 Monday Morning Run Time : 58 Minutes Episode : 709 POPULAR EPISODES: When Everything Breaks Down, What Keeps A Business Going? How to Pursue Success Without Letting Work Define Who You Are How Resilience, Customer Psychology, and a Willingness to Adapt Transformed a Crushing Setback into a Thriving Business

September 5, 2026Episode 70844 min

SPECIAL EDITION: When Everything Breaks Down, What Keeps A Business Going?

Twenty-five years after 9/11, the remarkable story of how The Wall Street Journal overcame the destruction of its main newsroom and published a Pulitzer Prize-winning newspaper the very next day offers lessons that reach far beyond journalism. In this special edition of Monday Morning Radio , Maxwell Rotbart turns the microphone on his father and co-host, Dean Rotbart , author of the newly expanded September Twelfth: An American Comeback Story . Their conversation examines what business owners, executives, and entrepreneurs can learn from the Journal 's extraordinary response to a crisis no contingency plan could have fully anticipated. Dean identifies four leadership principles that helped the newspaper keep functioning when its workplace was unusable, communications failed, and senior leaders were temporarily unreachable: clarity of purpose , consistent standards , trust and autonomy , and permission to take intelligent risks . Maxwell and Dean also explore why strong company culture must be built before a crisis strikes; how leaders can determine whether their organizations are too dependent on them; why employees need the authority to act without waiting for permission; and how humility can become a genuine competitive advantage. They also consider what the Journal' s experience means in today's world of smartphones, cloud computing, and artificial intelligence — where technology continues to evolve, but human judgment remains indispensable. This episode offers a practical test for every leader: If you became unreachable tomorrow, would your people know what matters — and would they feel empowered to act? Monday Morning Radio, now in its 15th season, is hosted by the father-son duo of Dean and Maxwell Rotbart . Photos : Co-Hosts Dean and Maxwell Rotbart Posted : September 7, 2026 Monday Morning Run Time : 44:20 Episode : 708