Archives: Episodes

In this episode of the Kanawha Valley Hustlers podcast, I chat with Haley Merritt, an account manager at ProSource, to talk about what she has learned from working in sales. We discuss how she moved away from relying on rehearsed pitches and started focusing more on relationships, networking, and listening to what businesses need. Haley explains how B2B sales differs from retail and why trust often has to come before the sale. We also talk about changes in the printing and office technology industry, including document automation, hidden printing costs, and ways businesses can improve their workflows. Haley shares why BNI has been a valuable investment, how mistakes can lead to growth, and why accountability matters in sales. We wrap up by discussing one of the most important skills she is working on now: learning when to stop talking and listen. Her approach is simple. Practice may not make perfect, but it does make you better.

In this episode of the Kanawha Valley Hustlers podcast, I talk about what it takes to lead a team and why leadership is a skill that can be developed. I explain the difference between compliance and cooperation, and why getting people to understand the mission is more effective than relying on threats or consequences. I also discuss why leaders have to practice what they expect from others because employees pay attention to actions as much as instructions. I look at the difference between inspiring people and intimidating them, especially when business owners expect employees to match years of experience or long work hours. From there, I share a three-step process for training employees: show them how to do the task, watch them perform it while correcting gaps, and have them teach someone else. The goal is to build people who can take ownership, train others, and allow the business owner to step back from doing everything personally.

In this episode of the Kanawha Valley Hustlers podcast, I sit down with Lee Jordan of Fear on the Farm as the attraction celebrates its 10th anniversary. We talk about how his love of Halloween grew into a business with ten attractions, how the team keeps the experience fresh each year, and why so much of the revenue goes back into sets, animatronics, and improvements. Lee explains how Fear on the Farm recruits and trains its actors through monthly “Monster School” sessions and why building a strong team culture matters as much as creating scares. We also discuss one of the biggest challenges facing the business today: staffing. Lee shares lessons from ideas that worked, ideas that had to change, and why entrepreneurs need to keep marketing across social media, radio, print, events, and community outreach. At its core, his story is about reinvestment, teamwork, persistence, and creating an experience people remember long after they leave.

In this episode of the Kanawha Valley Hustlers podcast, I sit down with Austin Taylor, owner of AT Woodwork in Charleston’s Elk City district. Austin shares how his interest in woodworking began in high school shop class and grew into a business focused on custom furniture and woodworking. We talk about the difference between mass-produced furniture and pieces built with cabinet-grade plywood and solid hardwood, as well as why quality work can cost more up front but last for decades. Austin also opens up about the realities of entrepreneurship, including long hours, uneven income, failed marketing efforts, and lessons learned from buying cheap tools. He explains why communication, networking, and professionalism are as important as technical skill when building a business. Austin is still early in his career, but his approach is clear: keep learning, build systems, provide lasting value, and keep moving forward even when business gets hard.

In this episode of the Kanawha Valley Hustlers podcast, I talk with James Stanton, founder of Never Deer, a West Virginia company that makes professional deer repellent for homeowners, landscapers, and other customers. James explains how the business started when he tried to stop deer from eating his wife’s plants and how that solution grew into a product he now manufactures in Big Chimney. We talk about his background in wildlife and fisheries management, the move into manufacturing and sales, and the amount of time it takes to build relationships and get a product in front of customers. James also shares what he has learned about asking for help, using local business resources, deciding when to hire, and preparing for growth. We discuss the challenge of wearing multiple hats as a new business owner and why trust matters when dealing with customers. His experience shows that building a business takes more than creating a product. It also requires sales, relationships, planning, and knowing when to bring other people into the process.

In this episode of the Kanawha Valley Hustlers podcast, I break down the difference between how traditional computers, artificial intelligence, and human beings solve problems. I explain deductive, inductive, and abductive reasoning and why those differences matter when we use AI to help make decisions. Traditional computers follow fixed algorithms, while AI relies on patterns in training data to produce probable answers. Human beings operate differently because we can apply knowledge and experience across new situations. I use examples like solving mazes, learning to type, and recognizing how a left-handed person should look to show where AI can struggle to generalize. My main point is that AI can be a powerful tool without actually thinking, understanding, or experiencing the world the way we do. The better we understand those limits, the better we can use AI without turning our own thinking over to it. I encourage people to keep learning, experimenting, and building their own knowledge while using AI as a tool rather than a replacement for human thought.