Small Business Success Talk

Hosted by Christy Smallwood

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150

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Sep 2026

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About the show

Small Business Success Talk is your go-to podcast for real conversations about entrepreneurship, marketing, leadership, and business growth. Hosted by Christy Smallwood, each episode delivers expert insights, inspiring stories, and actionable strategies to help you scale your business and thrive. Whether you're a seasoned entrepreneur or just getting started, we cut through the noise to bring you the tools and tactics you need for success. Tune in, level up, and let’s build something great together!

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November 2, 20261 hr 7 min

The Business of Hemp, Part 3: Beyond CBD—Hemp Products, Opportunities & the Federal Ban

Hemp isn't just CBD, THC gummies, or cannabis beverages. It can become animal bedding, seed oil, fish attractant, fire starters, automotive components, building materials, and entirely new business opportunities. So what happens when federal hemp restrictions threaten the profitability and investment that help make those innovations possible? In the final episode of The Business of Hemp , a three-part special series from Small Business Success Talk , host Christy Smallwood welcomes Katie Moyer, founder of Kentucky Hemp Works , a family-owned business in Christian County, Kentucky. Katie's journey into hemp began with grassroots advocacy, not farming. Her passion for agricultural freedom, property rights, and plant-based products led her to work with legislators and serve on Kentucky's Industrial Hemp Commission during the movement to legalize industrial hemp. Today, Katie and her family create and sell hemp-based products that demonstrate just how versatile this crop can be. But she also sees a serious challenge facing the industry: many of the innovative products made from hemp fiber, seeds, and stalks aren't yet profitable enough to support themselves without revenue from established cannabinoid products. In this episode, we explore: How grassroots advocacy helped bring industrial hemp back to Kentucky The difference between hemp cannabinoids, fiber, seeds, stalks, and other plant materials Surprising hemp products, including animal bedding, fish attractant, seed oil, and fire starters Why CBD and hemp-derived THC revenue can help fund new product development How federal hemp restrictions could create unintended consequences for seeds and agricultural production Why hemp-based automotive components and other industrial products haven't reached their full commercial potential The costs of continually navigating changing regulations as a small business owner Katie's proposed three-stage approach to federal hemp policy Why she supports age restrictions, product testing, and labeling instead of broad prohibitions How consumers, entrepreneurs, and policymakers can better understand the hemp industry Katie's personal definition of success through service, contribution, and community Katie also shares a wonderfully entrepreneurial perspective: rather than protecting every product idea, she wants other people to discover new uses for hemp and start businesses of their own. This conversation is about more than saving existing hemp businesses. It's about protecting the opportunity to build the next generation of them. Visit https://kentuckyhempworks.com/ to learn more. Learn more about the advocacy efforts discussed in the episode: https://savehemp.org Subscribe to Small Business Success Talk for Parts 2 and 3 of The Business of Hemp, exploring additional perspectives from across the industry. Thank you to our sponsor 502Hemp and 812Hemp! (https://502hemp.com and https://812hemp.com ) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

November 2, 202648 min

The Business of Hemp, Part 2: How the Federal Hemp Ban Threatens Farmers & CBD Production

What if CBD products remain legal, but the process used to manufacture them becomes legally complicated—or impossible for many American businesses? That's the warning from hemp farmer and cannabinoid industry professional Michael Adair in Part 2 of The Business of Hemp , a three-part special series from Small Business Success Talk . Host Christy Smallwood sits down with Michael, a Kentucky hemp grower with nearly a decade of experience in the industry, to explore the often-overlooked business behind hemp production. Michael entered the hemp industry in 2017 after a career in beverage sales and management, including time with Coca-Cola. Today, he operates a Kentucky farm, grows hemp and strawberries, works in cannabinoid manufacturing and sales, and serves on the board of the Kentucky Hemp Association. While Part 1 of this series explored the retailer's perspective with Dee Dee of 502 Hemp, Part 2 goes deeper into the agricultural and manufacturing supply chain. Michael walks through the journey from hemp biomass to crude oil, distillate, CBD isolate, and finished products—and explains why he believes the new federal hemp restrictions could disrupt far more than THC gummies and beverages. In this episode, we discuss: How the 2014 and 2018 Farm Bills transformed the hemp industry Why an explosion of hemp growers and processors created oversupply What it takes to turn hemp plants into CBD and other cannabinoid products Why THC concentrations during extraction and processing are a major regulatory concern How federal restrictions could affect American farmers, laboratories, manufacturers, and transportation businesses Why Michael believes a beverage-only regulatory approach won't sustain the broader hemp supply chain The relationship between hemp-derived THC beverages and the alcohol industry The financial risks of losing an established domestic manufacturing ecosystem What entrepreneurs and consumers can do to participate in the legislative conversation Why Michael defines success through meaningful work, family, and happiness rather than money alone Michael also brings an unexpected personal story to the conversation. He never planned to become a farmer, but today he finds genuine fulfillment working in his greenhouses, growing plants, and building a life that allows him to be present for his two daughters. The Business of Hemp isn't just about cannabis. It's about agriculture, manufacturing, regulatory uncertainty, entrepreneurship, and the people who keep an industry running. Add your voice to the cause here at https://www.savehemp.org/ Visit https://www.kyfarmed.com/ to learn more. #TheBusinessOfHemp #SmallBusinessSuccessTalk #HempIndustry #HempFarming #CBDManufacturing #HempSupplyChain #FederalHempBan #KentuckyHemp #Entrepreneurship Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

November 2, 202641 min

E29: The Business of Hemp Series: Will the Federal Hemp Ban Shut Down Small Businesses?

Could new federal hemp restrictions force small businesses to close their doors? In Part 1 of The Business of Hemp , a three-part special series from Small Business Success Talk , host Christy Smallwood welcomes back Dee Dee, owner of 502 Hemp in Kentucky and 812 Hemp in Indiana, and president of the Kentucky Hemp Association. After years of building her business and serving customers, Dee Dee faces one of the biggest challenges of her entrepreneurial journey: federal legislation that could make many hemp-derived cannabinoid products illegal beginning in December 2026. This isn't just a conversation about CBD, THC, or cannabis. It's about what happens when federal policy changes the rules for an entire industry—and small business owners are left wondering whether they'll still have a business tomorrow. In this episode, Christy and Dee Dee discuss: What the federal hemp restrictions could mean for CBD and THC products The differences between hemp, cannabis, CBD, CBG, and THC Why Dee Dee supports responsible regulation but opposes sweeping product restrictions The financial burden of operating hemp businesses across Kentucky and Indiana How licensing, banking challenges, and inconsistent state laws affect entrepreneurs The potential consequences for farmers, processors, retailers, employees, and customers Why Dee Dee is taking her concerns directly to Washington, D.C. What consumers can do to make their voices heard Dee Dee shares that she has paid approximately $14,000 in business-related licensing and product approval fees this year alone. Now, with her employees asking about their December schedules and other hemp retailers already announcing closures, the future feels anything but certain. For anyone who owns a small business, works in a regulated industry, or wants to understand the economic impact of the changing hemp laws, this conversation offers a firsthand look at the people behind the headlines. Learn more about the advocacy efforts discussed in the episode: https://savehemp.org Visit https://502Hemp.com to learn more about the products Dee Dee offers. Subscribe to Small Business Success Talk for Parts 2 and 3 of The Business of Hemp , exploring additional perspectives from across the industry. #SmallBusinessSuccessTalk #BusinessOfHemp #HempIndustry #FederalHempBan #CBDIndustry #SmallBusiness #Entrepreneurship #502Hemp #KentuckyHemp Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

September 28, 202643 min

Business Flow: How Identity and Alignment Create Lasting Impact

Is your business constantly fighting itself? You’re pushing for sales, chasing deadlines, solving operational problems, and working harder than ever. But is all that effort actually producing progress, or is it compensating for something that isn’t working? In this episode of Christy’s Corner on Small Business Success Talk, host Christy Smallwood explores what it really means for a business to find its flow—and why organizational alignment alone isn’t enough. Drawing from her own journey of business reinvention, leadership challenges, and personal transformation, Christy examines how a clearly defined business identity, aligned people and systems, and coordinated movement can create an organization that works together instead of constantly working against itself. You’ll discover: • Why your business identity is much more than your logo, mission statement, or brand guidelines. • How a leader’s habits and behaviors can unintentionally create organizational bottlenecks. • Why alignment doesn’t require everyone to agree or think alike. • How hidden friction and misalignment cost your business time, energy, and money. • The difference between individual flow, team flow, and organizational flow. • Why a business that depends entirely on its owner may not have the operational flow you think it does. • How to move beyond constant pushing and create a sustainable business rhythm. Using an orchestra as an example, Christy explains how people can understand their individual roles and follow the same direction without necessarily creating an extraordinary performance. True flow happens when everyone listens, responds, and moves together. The ultimate question: What kind of impact do you want your business to have in the world, and what needs to change to make that possible? Join Christy for a conversation about identity, leadership, organizational alignment, and creating a business that can move forward without constantly fighting itself. Subscribe to Small Business Success Talk for conversations about entrepreneurship, business strategy, leadership development, and creating your own kind of success. Visit our sponsor: https://502hemp.com/ Visit other episodes on our site: https://smallbusinesssuccesstalk.biz/ #BusinessFlow #OrganizationalAlignment #BusinessLeadership #SmallBusinessSuccess #BusinessStrategy #ChristysCorner Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

September 13, 202634 min

e27: The Cinderella Bet: What Going All-In Can Build

What if the castle is evidence? Not just a beautiful thing at the end of Main Street. Evidence that somebody kept going. Evidence that people worked through financial pressure, uncertainty, failed attempts, difficult decisions and the very real possibility that what they were building might not work. That’s what struck me about the story behind Cinderella. And right now, I can relate. In the newest Christy’s Corner, I use Cinderella and the business struggles surrounding its creation as the jumping-off point for a much bigger conversation about entrepreneurship. What happens when the formulas that used to work stop working? When do you need to step away from the weeds and look at the whole business again? Where do you need your own “Roy”—someone whose strengths complement yours? Are you operating from the core of who you actually are? And perhaps most importantly: Do you want this—or are you committed to it? Those aren't the same thing. I’m living that question myself right now. This episode gets into debt, business strategy, Identity Integrity, efficiency, definiteness of purpose and the moment when “I want to” finally has to become “I am doing this.” Because none of us knows what our version of the castle will eventually be. But we’ll never find out if we don’t build it. Show site: https://smallbusinesssuccesstalk.biz/ SPONSOR: https://502hemp.com/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

August 21, 202646 min

The Business of Marching Band: What Marching Arts Can Teach Entrepreneurs About Business

What does marching band have to do with entrepreneurship? A hell of a lot more than you might think. In this Christy's Corner episode of Small Business Success Talk, Christy Smallwood takes us behind the performance to explore The Business of Marching Band—the enormous ecosystem of businesses, careers, logistics, creative professionals, manufacturers, educators, and service providers required to put a competitive marching arts production on the field. Inspired by watching the Drum Corps International (DCI) semifinals, Christy started asking a simple question: How much business just walked off that field? From instrument manufacturers, uniform designers and prop builders to charter buses, CDL drivers, athletic trainers, music publishers, sound engineers, software developers, photographers, food-service providers and dozens of other professions, marching arts is much more than musicians performing a 12-minute show. Christy also shares her own journey from teaching herself clarinet to becoming a color guard performer, drum major, marching band instructor and show designer—and the business and leadership lessons she still carries from those years. You'll hear about: The hidden network of businesses supporting DCI and the marching arts More than 80 potential career paths connected to marching band The millions of dollars flowing through Drum Corps International The extraordinary logistics behind taking a competitive corps on tour Why systems and consistency matter in business What the marching-band principle “Space creates weakness” can teach us about operational gaps Why mastery requires returning to the basics again and again How music, movement and storytelling create unforgettable audience experiences What businesses can learn from performers who know how to earn a standing ovation Because the finished performance is only what we see. Behind those 12 minutes are thousands of hours of work, hundreds of people, dozens of professions—and an entire economy working together to create the experience. And your business isn't really that different. If you've ever been a band kid, band parent, music educator, DCI fan—or you're simply fascinated by the business hiding behind the things we love—this episode is for you. SPONSOR: https://502hemp.com Visit: https://smallbusinesssuccesstalk.biz Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

August 6, 202644 min

What Hotels Can Teach Every Business Owner About Customer Experience

What can a hotel teach you about running your business? Turns out... A LOT. After spending the past month living out of hotels while traveling, I started noticing something. The businesses that earn five-star reviews aren't necessarily the fanciest. They're the ones that make people feel seen. So I took the Top 10 complaints hotel guests have and the Top 10 things they absolutely love ...and connected every one of them back to leadership, customer experience, branding, and business. Because whether you're running a hotel, a law firm, a marketing agency, a manufacturing company, or a coffee shop... People remember how you make them feel. 🎙️ In this Christy's Corner episode we'll talk about: ✔ Why customer experience starts long before the sale ✔ The biggest mistakes businesses don't realize they're making ✔ What creates loyal customers ✔ How Identity Integrity shows up in every interaction ✔ Small changes that produce big results If you own a business or lead people... This one's for you. 🎧 Listen now wherever you get your podcasts. #SmallBusinessSuccessTalk #CustomerExperience #Leadership #BusinessGrowth #Hospitality #BrandExperience #Entrepreneurship #IdentityIntegrity Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

July 1, 202631 min

The Truth About Entrepreneurship

The word entrepreneur has become one of the most overused titles in business. Owning a business doesn't automatically make someone entrepreneurial. Having ideas doesn't automatically create a company. And success rarely happens as fast as social media would have us believe. In this week's Christy's Corner episode, I explore: • What entrepreneurship actually means • Why resilience matters more than motivation • The difference between operating a business and building an enterprise • The advisors every entrepreneur should have in their corner • How to create a business that supports the life you actually want If you're building something meaningful—or considering taking that leap—I think you'll appreciate this conversation. I'd love to hear your perspective after you watch. #Entrepreneurship #Leadership #BusinessStrategy #SmallBusiness #BusinessGrowth #LeadershipDevelopment Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

June 3, 202637 min

What If You Let Your Imagination Run Your Business Again?

When was the last time you gave yourself permission to imagine something bigger? In this Christy's Corner episode of Small Business Success Talk, Christy shares an unexpected lesson sparked by a morning at Walt Disney World—and a little girl experiencing pure wonder on the Little Mermaid attraction. That moment led to a much bigger question: What happens when entrepreneurs stop using their imagination? Somewhere between deadlines, payroll, marketing plans, and putting out daily fires, many business owners lose the very thing that started their journey in the first place: the ability to dream, create, and imagine what could be. From Walt Disney's vision to Thomas Edison's inventions, every innovation that has shaped our world began as an idea in someone's imagination. The same is true for your business. In this episode, Christy explores: • Why imagination is essential for business growth • How creativity impacts confidence and belief • The connection between innovation and childlike wonder • Why entrepreneurs need time to play, think, and dream • How guided reflection can unlock new possibilities • The role imagination plays in leadership, invention, and success If you've been feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or trapped in the day-to-day demands of running a business, this episode is an invitation to step back, think differently, and reconnect with the ideas that once inspired you. Because every breakthrough starts as imagination. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

April 30, 20261 hr 0 min

How Email Marketing Drives Business Growth Through Storytelling

Email isn’t dead. It’s just being used wrong. In this episode of Small Business Success Talk, Christy sits down with Dave Charest, Director of Small Business Growth at Constant Contact, to break down how email marketing—when powered by storytelling—becomes one of the most effective drivers of business growth. With decades of experience helping small businesses succeed, Dave shares why: Email is still one of the highest ROI marketing channels Most businesses fail because they focus on “what” instead of “why” Storytelling is the missing link between attention and conversion From internal podcasts to preserving founder stories, Dave reveals how authentic storytelling builds trust, drives engagement, and ultimately increases revenue. You’ll learn: ✔ Why email marketing still outperforms social media for conversions ✔ How storytelling builds stronger customer relationships ✔ The difference between transactional emails and transformational emails ✔ How to turn your business story into consistent marketing content ✔ Simple ways to improve your email strategy immediately If you’re sending emails that aren’t getting opened, clicked, or converting—this episode will show you what’s missing. 📩 Get your copy of the Small Business Now Report from Constant Contact HERE . https://www.constantcontact.com/ https://smallbusinesssuccesstalk.biz/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.