Join The Challenge : https://luma.com/dz66gcxe

Join Allie's Resale Page: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/19erTJ39dU/

In this episode of the Brand Builders Podcast, Daron sits down with Allie Reed of Reed Resale to talk about how she built a growing resale business using Facebook, community, simple systems, and a whole lot of hustle — without even having a website.

Allie shares how she went from teaching and running an online boutique to creating a resale business out of her garage, where local customers could drop off clothes, shop daily Facebook drops, and pick up orders right from her home. What started small quickly grew into a system handling **100+ clients**, dozens of daily pickups, shipping orders across the country, and a growing team helping her keep up with demand.

We also talk about the realities of entrepreneurship: learning when to delegate, building a team around your weaknesses, setting boundaries between work and home, using social media to grow a business, adapting when systems break, and creating a business that gives you more freedom instead of simply creating another job. Allie explains why freedom and flexibility matter so much to her, especially as a mom, and how she has intentionally built the business around those priorities.

We also get into Facebook selling, resale and consignment, shipping, customer experience, AI in small business, faith in entrepreneurship, and why sometimes the smartest thing you can do is stop overthinking your idea and simply start.

If you’ve ever wanted to start a side hustle, build an online business, make money from home, grow a business through Facebook, or turn a simple idea into something bigger, this episode is packed with practical lessons and encouragement.

*In this episode:*

How Allie started Reed Resale

Building a business through Facebook without a website

How the resale and consignment model works

Growing to 100+ clients

Hiring and delegating as the business grows

Building systems around your strengths

Creating work-life boundaries as an entrepreneur

Using social media to grow a local business

Shipping and expanding beyond your local market

AI and automation in small business

Faith and entrepreneurship

Advice for anyone afraid to start a business

Allie’s advice to aspiring entrepreneurs is simple: get over the pride, give the idea a real shot, work hard, and go all in long enough to see whether it works.

Subscribe to the Brand Builders Podcast for more conversations with entrepreneurs, creators, and business owners about branding, marketing, content, leadership, entrepreneurship, and building businesses that create real freedom.

#Entrepreneurship #SmallBusiness #FacebookMarketing #OnlineBusiness #Reselling #SideHustle #BusinessGrowth #SocialMediaMarketing #PersonalBranding #BrandBuildersPodcast

Thanks to our sponsors:

Empire Management Group — https://www.empire-management-group.com/

Better Business Bureau of Abilene — https://www.bbb.org/

Join The Challenge : https://luma.com/dz66gcxe

Today's guest is Rivers Rodriguez — a 22-year-old who went from zero to managing nearly 100 rental units in just 14 months through Airbnb and mid-term rental arbitrage. In this episode, we break down exactly how he built trust with landlords who almost kicked him out for being "too young," the outreach system he used to close his first deals, the moment he nearly lost everything from overleveraging, and why he says the "no's" in business are more valuable than the "yeses."

If you've ever wanted to start a business with no capital, no connections, and no safety net — this is the blueprint.

In this episode, we cover:

How Airbnb/mid-term rental arbitrage actually works (and the real math behind it)

How to get landlords to trust you when you have zero track record

The exact script and outreach order (call, text, email) that gets meetings booked

Why he almost lost his business by reinvesting every dollar too fast

The $6.51 vs. $25,000 moment that almost broke him

How he structures leases to guarantee landlords their rent

What happens when a client with 25 houses walks away overnight

Real profit margin numbers on subleasing, managing, and owning rental property

How faith and community shaped his business and his soccer coaching program

How he uses AI to write contracts instead of paying a lawyer $500 a pop

⏱️ Timestamps

00:00 – Intro: $6.51 vs. $25,000

00:20 – Meet Rivers Rodriguez

03:28 – How to actually build landlord trust

08:04 – Getting his first client

09:13 – Building a team as cash flow grows

12:20 – The outreach system: call, text, email

18:04 – Yard signs, billboards, and what actually converts

20:19 – Getting underestimated (and ghosted) for being young

24:19 – Fear of rejection and the numbers game

26:24 – Why he chose this path over a "normal" job

29:49 – Faith, stress, and handing it over to God

31:09 – How a soccer coaching side hustle became a Christian training program

35:51 – Did he expect real estate to work out?

37:38 – The $6.51 birthday and the $25K he didn't have

41:57 – Real profit margins: subleasing vs. managing vs. owning

45:20 – How he uses AI to save on contracts and legal fees

49:33 – Where to find Rivers and final thoughts

Connect with Rivers:

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rivers_rodriguez9/reels/

This episode is brought to you by:

🤝 Empire Management Group — helping businesses grow through better benefits, insurance, and leadership development.

🏆 Better Business Bureau of the Big Country — helping consumers find businesses they can trust.

🎙️ New episodes of Brand Builders drop weekly. Subscribe so you don't miss the next one.

#RealEstateInvesting #AirbnbArbitrage #EntrepreneurStory #BrandBuildersPodcast #SmallBusiness #FaithAndBusiness #Abilene #RealEstate #podcast

Thanks to our sponsors:

Empire Management Group — https://www.empire-management-group.com/

Better Business Bureau of Abilene — https://www.bbb.org/

Join The Challenge : https://luma.com/dz66gcxe

Are you actually building a better workplace culture, or just hoping for one? Learn how to evaluate if your business is truly fruitful.

Running a business requires more than just showing up. In this episode, we examine the habits that separate a thriving organization from one that is merely surviving. Drawing on personal observations and real-world experiences, we discuss the essential shifts needed to foster a more productive environment for your team and your bottom line.

Whether you are managing a small team or scaling up, the foundation of your success rests on the environment you create. We explore how intentional leadership impacts your daily operations and long-term results. By refining your approach to small business management, you can cultivate a space where both your employees and your business goals can flourish.

Thanks for watching...

#BrandBuildersPodcast #SmallBusinessMarketing #Entrepreneurship #BusinessGrowth #SocialMediaMarketing #LocalBusiness #BetterBusinessBureau #PersonalBranding #ContentMarketing #businesspodcast

Thanks to our sponsors:

Empire Management Group — https://www.empire-management-group.com/

Better Business Bureau of Abilene — https://www.bbb.org/

Join The Challenge : https://luma.com/dz66gcxe

Your competitor may not have a better product or service—they may simply be more visible.

Selling With Conviction: Why You're Not Actually Selling What You Think You Are

Most businesses sell the wrong thing. You're not selling a video — you're selling more leads. You're not selling a mattress — you're selling a good night's sleep. In this episode of the Brand Builders Podcast, I break down the exact mindset shift that changed how I price, pitch, and sell inside my own agency — including a real client story: one small business posted just 8 Instagram Reels and landed 8 new jobs (with 3 more leads on the way) from a business that had zero social media presence before.

If you've ever wondered why your conversion rates are low, why prospects hesitate, or whether you're pricing your offer correctly, this episode gives you a simple test to run before your next sale: would you buy the thing you're selling?

What you'll learn in this episode:

✅ Why people buy results, not products or services

✅ The real Instagram Reels case study that generated 8 new jobs for one small business

✅ How to price an offer so it feels like a steal, not a stretch

✅ The difference between selling with conviction and scamming a client

✅ Why your reputation is your most valuable (and fragile) business asset

Timestamps:

0:00 – Selling with conviction over selling a product

0:54 – Why you sell the result, not the thing

1:19 – Real case study: 8 Reels → 8 new jobs

2:58 – Where most businesses go wrong with their offer

4:02 – The Profitable Personal Brand Challenge

5:13 – Selling with conviction, continued

6:04 – Are you helping clients or scamming them?

7:06 – How to price a $10K offer so it feels like $20K of value

8:23 – The mindset shift: it's just a vehicle

9:24 – Your reputation takes years to build, one day to destroy

If you're a business owner ready to turn your expertise into a profitable personal brand through content, join the free 3-day Profitable Personal Brand Challenge — link in the description below.

#BrandBuildersPodcast #SmallBusinessMarketing #Entrepreneurship #BusinessGrowth #SocialMediaMarketing #LocalBusiness #BetterBusinessBureau #PersonalBranding #ContentMarketing #businesspodcast

Thanks to our sponsors:

Empire Management Group — https://www.empire-management-group.com/

Better Business Bureau of Abilene — https://www.bbb.org/

Join our free community: https://www.skool.com/brand-builders-community-4614/about

Social Media is destroying your life... here are my thoughts on it as a business owner who runs a social media company that relies on content marketing for clients, and for my our services to other businesses. This is what we provide.

As contradicting as it sounds, it's destroying us.

Make sure to watch to the end to find out how I have wrestled with this whole idea.

📍 Subscribe for new episodes featuring local business owners every week

Thanks to our sponsors for making this show possible.

Empire Management Group — https://www.empire-management-group.com/

Better Business Bureau of Abilene — https://www.bbb.org/

Bryce (owner) and Sean (manager) of Lytle Aviation join the Brand Builders Podcast to break down how they built a flight school in Abilene, Texas — from working out of an airplane with zero office space to training pilots across West Texas. They get real about the risk Sean took accepting a pay cut to come on board, the moments they doubted whether the business would survive, why most people in Abilene don't even know the town has an airport, and how faith shaped every major decision along the way. They also dig into where AI actually fits (and doesn't) in one of the most heavily regulated industries in the country.

If you're building a business in a small market, weighing a risky career move, or just want an honest look at what it actually takes to keep a company alive past year one — this episode is for you.

In this episode:

00:00 – Is flying actually safe? (The stat that surprises everyone)

02:15 – How Bryce started Lytle Aviation from scratch in Abilene

05:40 – The story of how Sean went from student pilot to company manager

09:20 – Building a team around your weaknesses, not just your strengths

14:00 – Growing pains: starting with a shared notes app as a scheduling system

18:30 – Why most people don't know Abilene even has an airport

23:45 – The moments they doubted the business would survive

27:10 – How faith shapes their approach to risk and failure

30:45 – Where AI fits into aviation — and where it doesn't

35:00 – The one piece of advice they'd give any new business owner

38:00 – Where to connect with Lytle Aviation

About Lytle Aviation:

Lytle Aviation is a Part 61 flight school based at Abilene Regional Airport (ABI), offering private, commercial, and instrument pilot training, flight simulator sessions, and Discovery Flights for anyone curious about learning to fly.

Book a free consultation or Discovery Flight:

🌐 Website: https://www.lytleaviation.com

📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Lytleaviation

📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lytle.aviation

📍 Subscribe for new episodes featuring local business owners every week

Empire Management Group — https://www.empire-management-group.com/

Better Business Bureau of Abilene — https://www.bbb.org/

Graze Craze Abilene -- https://www.grazecraze.com/abilene-tx

🎙️ Sponsor the Brand Builders Podcast: https://www.howdy-media.com/brand-builders-podcast

Join Our Community: https://www.skool.com/brand-builders-community-4614/about

Your competitor may not have a better product or service—they may simply be more visible.

In this episode of the Brand Builders Podcast, Daron Pacheco sits down with Britini Casady, President and CEO of the Better Business Bureau of the Big Country, to discuss why great businesses often struggle while more visible competitors continue attracting customers.

She shares her journey from teacher and Texas state investigator to photographer, entrepreneur, and CEO. She explains how she built her photography business from a Facebook page, found her first clients, overcame imposter syndrome, and eventually created a business that supported her family.

Daron and Britni also break down what business owners need to understand about social media marketing, customer complaints, BBB ratings, trust, delegation, work-life balance, and building a reputable brand.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why your competitor may be getting more customers than you

• How visibility can matter as much as the quality of your product

• What could happen if you post two videos every day for 30 days

• Why customers forget about businesses that stop showing up

• How to start marketing your business before everything is perfect

• What the Better Business Bureau actually does

• How BBB accreditation works

• Why receiving a complaint does not automatically make you a bad business

• How your response to a complaint can affect your reputation

• How entrepreneurs can delegate work and protect their family time

• Why trust is the foundation of every successful business

The Better Business Bureau of the Big Country serves 13 counties and helps connect consumers with trustworthy local businesses. It also provides complaint resolution, scam-prevention resources, education, networking opportunities, and greater visibility for accredited businesses.

Whether you are starting your first business, struggling to attract customers, trying to improve your online presence, or looking for practical small-business advice, this conversation will help you understand why being great at what you do is no longer enough. People must know that your business exists.

Subscribe to the Brand Builders Podcast for conversations about entrepreneurship, branding, content creation, social media strategy, leadership, and building a business that gives you greater freedom.

CHAPTERS:

00:00 Why visibility matters for local businesses

02:40 Meet Brittany Cassidy

04:30 Brittany’s career before the BBB

06:30 From teacher to Texas state investigator

08:00 Starting a photography business

10:00 Finding her first clients through Facebook

12:00 Overcoming imposter syndrome

14:00 Balancing business and family

18:00 Returning to the corporate world

22:00 How the BBB helps businesses and consumers

25:00 Protecting customers from scams

27:00 Rebuilding the Better Business Bureau locally

30:00 Why business owners should delegate

33:00 Why great businesses remain invisible

35:00 How consistency creates customers

37:00 Future plans for the BBB

40:00 Networking, workshops, and local business growth

42:00 The best advice for new business owners

43:00 The two-videos-a-day challenge

46:00 Where to connect with the BBB

#BrandBuildersPodcast #SmallBusinessMarketing #Entrepreneurship #BusinessGrowth #SocialMediaMarketing #LocalBusiness #BetterBusinessBureau #PersonalBranding #ContentMarketing #BusinessPodcast

Empire Management Group — https://www.empire-management-group.com/

Better Business Bureau of Abilene — https://www.bbb.org/

Graze Craze Abilene -- https://www.grazecraze.com/abilene-tx

🎙️ Sponsor the Brand Builders Podcast: https://www.howdy-media.com/brand-builders-podcast

Join Our Community: https://www.skool.com/brand-builders-community-4614/about

Most business owners will never take a real vacation — not because their business can't survive without them, but because they never built the systems to make it possible. In this episode of the Brand Builders Podcast, I break down the exact framework I used to leave the office for a full week while my content, clients, and revenue kept moving without me.

I call it the PREP Framework — Produce ahead, Remove yourself, Establish expectations, Protect your presence — and it's the same system I used to record this episode from a picnic table on vacation, unedited, one camera, zero excuses.

Inside this episode, you'll learn:

✅ How to prep your team and clients so nothing falls apart while you're gone

✅ Why removing yourself as the bottleneck is the real unlock for time freedom (not hustle, not burnout)

✅ How to set client and team expectations in advance so nobody expects the impossible

✅ A real story of a stranger closing a deal with me before I said a single word — because of consistent content

✅ Why I think the FIRE movement gets "early retirement" wrong for entrepreneurs

✅ The one challenge every business owner needs to ask themselves: could your business survive 7 days without you?

If you're a small business owner, agency founder, or entrepreneur trying to build a business that runs without owning your entire life, this episode gives you the exact system to start reclaiming your time — starting this week.

🎧 Timestamps:

00:00 – Why most entrepreneurs never take a real vacation

01:25 – Introducing the PREP Framework

01:50 – Why "retiring early" misses the point

03:18 – Step 1: Produce Ahead

05:47 – Step 2: Remove Yourself

07:48 – Step 3: Establish Expectations

09:31 – Step 4: Protect Your Presence

09:31 – The stranger who bought before I said a word

13:38 – Why your camera doesn't matter as much as your content

17:22 – The 7-Day Challenge: could your business survive without you?

19:11 – Final encouragement for self-employed business owners

🤝 Thank you to our sponsors:

Empire Management Group — https://www.empire-management-group.com/

Better Business Bureau of Abilene — https://www.bbb.org/

Graze Craze Abilene -- https://www.grazecraze.com/abilene-tx

🎙️ Sponsor the Brand Builders Podcast: https://www.howdy-media.com/brand-builders-podcast

Join Our Community: https://www.skool.com/brand-builders-community-4614/about

He walked away from a big financial firm to build a 100% fiduciary wealth management company from scratch — and five years later, Cedar Gap Wealth Management is on pace to double every four years.

In this episode of Brand Builders Podcast, Michael Hull (Co-Founder of Cedar Gap Wealth Management in Abilene, TX) breaks down what it actually took to leave the safety of a big firm and go independent: the "golden handcuffs" corporate firms use to keep advisors from ever leaving, why he and partner Ben McAnally chose fee-based fiduciary pricing over commissions, how sponsoring rodeo athletes and the National Finals Rodeo became an unconventional but high-ROI growth strategy, and the 10-10-80 rule he teaches clients for building wealth on any income.

We also get into his path from banking, to pharmaceutical sales at Johnson & Johnson, to wealth management — and how his wife's support was the deciding factor in whether Cedar Gap ever got off the ground at all.

If you're an entrepreneur, business owner, or W-2 employee thinking about going independent, this episode is a real, unfiltered look at what it costs and what it's worth.

🔑 WHAT YOU'LL LEARN:

- The "golden handcuffs" strategy big firms use to keep employees dependent

- Why 100% fiduciary + fee-based pricing changes the advisor-client relationship

- How Cedar Gap turned rodeo sponsorships into a real client acquisition channel

- The 10-10-80 rule for building wealth (tithe, save, live)

- Why hiring an assistant came before hiring a salesperson

- Cedar Gap's 10-year growth plan and expansion into the Fort Worth market

- What Michael would tell himself before becoming an entrepreneur

⏱️ TIMESTAMPS:

00:00 – Why most people never learn how to actually run a business

00:35 – Welcome Michael Hull, Co-Founder of Cedar Gap Wealth Management

01:30 – What wealth management actually involves

03:00 – Michael's path: banking → Johnson & Johnson → wealth management

05:30 – Why he and Ben McAnally started Cedar Gap in 2021

07:30 – Biggest lessons from 5 years of entrepreneurship

11:21 – First hires: why an assistant came before a salesperson

14:00 – How Cedar Gap actually gets new clients

16:00 – Fee-based vs. commission-based advisors — how they get paid

18:30 – Crypto: is it worth it?

19:00 – The 10-10-80 rule for building wealth

21:30 – Paying off business debt vs. building a financial plan

33:18 – Why Cedar Gap sponsors rodeo athletes and the NFR

35:31 – The "golden handcuffs" that almost kept him in corporate

37:02 – Why his wife's support made Cedar Gap possible

39:27 – Mentorship over books: how Michael actually learned

44:02 – Cedar Gap's 10-year goal and Fort Worth expansion

44:49 – Where to connect with Cedar Gap Wealth Management

CONNECT WITH CEDAR GAP WEALTH MANAGEMENT:

Website: https://www.cedargapwealth.com/

Location: Abilene, TX

🤝 Thank you to our sponsors:

Empire Management Group — https://www.empire-management-group.com/

Better Business Bureau of Abilene — https://www.bbb.org/

Graze Craze Abilene -- https://www.grazecraze.com/abilene-tx

🎙️ Sponsor the Brand Builders Podcast: https://www.howdy-media.com/brand-builders-podcast

Join Our Community: https://www.skool.com/brand-builders-community-4614/about

She tripled her salary in 2 months after quitting an in-network physical therapy job — then COVID hit two weeks after she opened her own practice. This is how BodyWorx Abilene got built anyway.

In this episode of the Brand Builders Podcast, Jodi (owner of BodyWorx Abilene) breaks down why insurance companies decide when your recovery is "done" regardless of your actual results, why one Texas law (Direct Access, 2019) is the only reason cash-pay physical therapy exists, and why scaling from a solo practice to 14 employees and 2,000 patients cut her profit margin from 85% down to 15%.

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 – Losing control (and learning to let go of it)

01:18 – How Scout Guide and word-of-mouth built her first clients

02:06 – Her first client came from ChatGPT, not Google

06:02 – The windstorm that blew her sign off (and why it didn't matter)

07:02 – Graduating PT school in 2013 and 6 years of burnout in-network

10:04 – The Texas law that made her own practice possible

12:35 – Tripling her salary in the first 2 months

14:03 – Why growth cut her profit margin from 85% to 15%

14:36 – Hiring a business coach and becoming one herself

23:39 – The hardest lesson: you can't force people to care like you do

25:21 – What she'd tell herself on day one

59:09 – Why every business is really the same skill set

1:00:05 – Her dream to open a trade company next

1:01:16 – Where to find BodyWorx Abilene

ABOUT THE GUEST

Jodi is the owner of BodyWorx Abilene, a cash-pay physical therapy practice and gym in Abilene, Texas. Follow her at: instagram.com/bodyworks_abilene

ABOUT THE BRAND BUILDERS PODCAST

The Brand Builders Podcast features real conversations with entrepreneurs, business owners, and brand builders in West Texas and beyond, no fluff, no gurus, just what actually worked (and what didn't).

Subscribe for new episodes every week

#SmallBusiness #PhysicalTherapy #Entrepreneurship

🤝 Thank you to our sponsors:

Empire Management Group — https://www.empire-management-group.com/

Better Business Bureau of Abilene — https://www.bbb.org/

Graze Craze Abilene -- https://www.grazecraze.com/abilene-tx

🎙️ Sponsor the Brand Builders Podcast: https://www.howdy-media.com/brand-builders-podcast

Join Our Community: https://www.skool.com/brand-builders-community-4614/about

She left a 10-year corporate banking career with no plan, four kids at home, and a small social media following — and built a full-time income without ever going viral.

In this episode of the Brand Builders Podcast, I sit down with Yeli, a West Texas-based content creator, brand partner, and mom of four, to talk about the real side of building a content business from nothing. We cover what actually makes money on social media, why consistency beats volume, how to deal with haters, and why most people who buy courses never build anything.

Topics we get into:

How to make money on social media (UGC, brand deals, affiliates, digital products, communities)

Why you don't have to be an "influencer" to win online

The truth about buying $10,000 courses — and what she learned from it

Why Abilene, TX is more behind than you think (and why that's actually an opportunity)

Building a content schedule as a solo creator with no help and four kids

The Skool community math: 100 people × $10/month = life-changing income

Why community over competition is the only play for local creators

How social media paid for her family's dream of having mom stay home

Connect with Yeli:

Instagram / TikTok / YouTube: @yeli.heidecker

Subscribe to the Brand Builders Podcast for weekly conversations on content strategy, brand building, and growing a business in West Texas and beyond.

#ContentCreator #SocialMediaMarketing #BrandBuilders #WestTexas #UGC #MomCreator #ContentStrategy #MakingMoneyOnline #PersonalBrand #Abilene

🤝 Thank you to our sponsors:

Empire Management Group — https://www.empire-management-group.com/

Better Business Bureau of Abilene — https://www.bbb.org/

Graze Craze Abilene -- https://www.grazecraze.com/abilene-tx

🎙️ Sponsor the Brand Builders Podcast: https://www.howdy-media.com/brand-builders-podcast

Join Our Community: https://www.skool.com/brand-builders-community-4614/about

He wakes up at 3:50 AM, journals like a Stoic, and turns down business on purpose. On this episode of the Brand Builders Podcast, we sit down with Manny Lampson — an Abilene, Texas business owner who built his life around one core idea: you can't (and shouldn't) try to serve every client in your market.

We get into his non-negotiable morning routine (3:50 AM wake-up, daily journaling, Stoic reading, 5 AM gym), why staying intentionally small with 15–20 core clients beats chasing every lead in town, and how he balances business, marriage, fatherhood, and health without burning out. Plus: his path from the military to calling Abilene home, and his wife's journey from undergrad to finishing her doctorate and teaching health and wellness online.

🔔 Subscribe to the Brand Builders Podcast for more conversations on faith, family, and business with West Texas entrepreneurs.

#BrandBuildersPodcast #AbileneTexas #SmallBusinessStrategy #MorningRoutine #EntrepreneurMindset

🤝 Thank you to our sponsors:

Empire Management Group — https://www.empire-management-group.com/

Better Business Bureau of Abilene — https://www.bbb.org/

Graze Craze Abilene -- https://www.grazecraze.com/abilene-tx

🎙️ Sponsor the Brand Builders Podcast: https://www.howdy-media.com/brand-builders-podcast

What's up Brand Builders!

The creator economy just hit $250 BILLION — and most small business owners don't even know it. In this episode of the Brand Builders Podcast, Daron breaks down the biggest business and content trends happening right now in 2026 so you can stop guessing and start growing.

Whether you're a business owner in Abilene, West Texas, or anywhere in between, this episode gives you a real-time snapshot of what's working online, what's dying, and where the money is actually going.

In this episode:

Why the creator economy is projected to hit $528 billion by 2030 — and how to get your piece.

The truth about short-form video (YouTube Shorts has 200 BILLION daily views — but is it right for your business?).

Why Daron got 1 million views on Instagram and barely gained 10 followers

How AI is disrupting Abilene, Texas and what West Texas business owners should actually do about it.

The #1 reason 4 out of 5 businesses are falling behind in 2026

Why authenticity is now more valuable than polished, AI-generated content.

How podcast hosts became the most trusted influencers — beating Instagram and YouTube stars.

The $34 billion podcasting industry and why NOW is the time to start your show.

A free AI life hack that keeps you up to date on your industry every single morning in minutes.

Big Tech's massive AI infrastructure bets (SpaceX, Google, Microsoft) and what it means for your business.

If this episode hit, send it to one person who needs to hear it. That's how Brand Builders grows.

⏱️ Timestamps:

00:00 — The Creator Economy Just Hit $250 Billion

01:30 — What Is the Creator Economy?

03:15 — 200 Million Creators, 5 Billion Users — The Window Is Open

04:15 — Short-Form Video Is Taking Over the Internet

06:13 — When Long-Form Wins (And Why Podcasting Is the Move)

07:05 — AI Data Centers Are Coming to Abilene, Texas

08:02 — Why Small Business Owners Should Embrace AI

09:44 — Most Businesses Still Aren't Using AI — Here's the Opportunity

11:33 — The Free AI Life Hack to Stay Current Every Day

13:27 — Authenticity Is Beating AI Content ("AI Slop")

15:15 — Human Connection Will Never Be Replaced

16:17 — Podcast Hosts Are the Most Trusted Influencers in 2026

19:17 — Why 1 Million Views Got Me Almost Nothing (And What Actually Converts)

20:58 — How to Start Your Own Podcast

21:50 — Big Tech Is Betting Everything on AI Infrastructure

23:20 — Final Thoughts + How to Work With Daron

🔔 Subscribe so you never miss an episode.

🤝 Thank you to our sponsors:

Empire Management Group — https://www.empire-management-group.com/

Better Business Bureau of Abilene — https://www.bbb.org/

Work With Howdy Media: https://www.howdy-media.com

Crockett Carothers was broke, introverted, and letting them come repossess his truck — all so he could keep paying his studio bill. Two and a half years later, he has 137,000 Facebook followers, 10,000 downloads per episode, and a podcast that now rivals his main business income.

In this episode of the Brand Builders Podcast, Daron Pacheco sits down with Crockett Carothers, host of the Wealthy Cowboy Show, to talk about how he built a podcast from nothing, why most people quit right before the money comes, and how to turn your show into an actual business — not just content.

If you've ever thought about starting a podcast or wondered why yours isn't making money yet, this one is for you.

In this episode:

Why a podcast is the ultimate cheat code for content

How to get your first sponsor even when nobody knows you

The fake sponsorship hack that actually works

Why he committed to one full year before he'd let himself quit

How to borrow credibility when you have zero of your own

Why the month you almost quit is the month the money comes

Connect with Crockett Carothers:

The Wealthy Cowboy Show | Facebook: Crockett Carothers

Youtube channel :  @TheWealthyCowboyShow 

how to start a podcast, how to monetize a podcast, podcast sponsorships, Wealthy Cowboy Show, Crockett Carothers, Brand Builders Podcast, Daron Pacheco, podcast growth tips, content strategy for business, how to grow a podcast, podcast as a business, West Texas entrepreneur, small business content marketing, podcast for beginners, how to get podcast sponsors

🔔 Subscribe for weekly episodes on branding, content strategy, and business growth.

📍 Film your podcast at Howdy Media Studio in Abilene, TX → https://www.howdy-media.com/

Work With Howdy Media: https://www.howdy-media.com

Kolten Thigpen built his show cattle operation from the ground up — and then sold everything in 2021 because God told him to. What happened next changed his life.

In this episode of the Brand Builders Podcast, Daron Pacheco sits down with Kolten Thigpen, founder of Cattle Coach Academy, co-founder of Express Livestock Genomics, and one of the most recognizable voices in the show cattle world. Kolten opens up about faith-driven business decisions, building multiple businesses from scratch, the real truth about business partnerships, and how a podcast he almost didn't start now reaches over 1.2 million people a month on Facebook alone.

Connect with Kolten Thigpen:

Cattle Coach Academy | YouTube: @CattleCoach | Facebook: Kolten Thigpen

🎙️ Want us to handle your podcast from start to finish? Book a discovery call with Howdy Media → www.howdy-media.com

🔔 Subscribe for weekly episodes on branding, content strategy, and business growth.

📍 Film your podcast at Howdy Media Studio in Abilene, TX → https://www.howdy-media.com/

Work With Howdy Media: https://www.howdy-media.com

If you're waiting for the perfect time to start your business, this episode is for you. RJ, founder of Worthy Hat Co., started her hat brand as a broke college sophomore with nothing but a notebook full of ideas and a name inspired by her mom's fourth-grade classroom. Less than a year in, she was doing so much volume she bought out her own embroidery vendor — at 21 years old. No business degree. No mentor. No paycheck for 3 years. Just trial, error, and a bias toward action.

In this episode we talk about:

How a Crumble Cookie run turned into a business idea

The 2 Instagram posts that took Worthy Hat Co. national

How she got into wholesale and what it actually means for a product business

Building a team through personal connections and Instagram DMs

Why she's shifting from quantity to quality in 2026

The role faith and family have played in building the brand

Her #1 piece of advice for anyone sitting on a business idea right now

If you're a business owner, entrepreneur, or creator in the Abilene and West Texas area — or anywhere — this one's worth your time.

🎩 Follow Worthy Hat Co: @worthyhatco on Instagram and Facebook

🎙️ Brand Builders Podcast is produced by Howdy Media in Abilene, Texas. We talk to local business owners, creators, and entrepreneurs who are building something worth watching.

Subscribe so you don't miss the next one.

#WorthyHatCo #BrandBuildersPodcast #HowdyMedia #AbileneTexas #WestTexas #SmallBusiness #Entrepreneurship #WomenInBusiness #StartYourBusiness #HatBrand #BusinessPodcast #TexasBusiness #ContentCreator #BuildYourBrand

🎙️ Want us to handle your podcast from start to finish? Book a discovery call with Howdy Media → www.howdy-media.com

📍 Howdy Media | Abilene, Texas

🔔 Subscribe for weekly episodes on branding, content strategy, and business growth.

🎙️ Brand Builders Podcast is where faith meets business.

📍 Film your podcast at Howdy Media Studio in Abilene, TX → https://www.howdy-media.com/

What does it take to stay at a company for 17 years — and actually love it? Trista, Support Director at Exceptional Brands LLC, sits down with Daron on the Brand Builders Podcast to share her journey from small-town Dalhart, Texas to managing marketing and operations across six Buffalo Wild Wings locations and Miguel's Mex Tex Cafe in Abilene and beyond.

In this episode, Trista opens up about learning marketing from scratch with zero formal training, keeping every single employee during COVID without a single layoff, and how a faith-first leadership culture is the real reason people stay for decades — not just years.

Whether you're a business owner, a team leader, or someone trying to figure out how to build something that lasts — this one's for you.

🔑 In This Episode:

How Trista went from restaurant GM to running support for an entire multi-city franchise group

Why she believes community-first marketing outperforms paid ads every time

The leadership style that keeps a VP around for 30 years and an hourly employee for 18

What really happened inside Exceptional Brands during COVID — and how they came out stronger

Her honest take on AI tools in the restaurant and marketing world

How faith completely reshaped her approach to work, leadership, and life after 2020

📍 Connect With Our Guest:

📧 marketing@exbrandstx.com

🌮 Miguel's Mex Tex Cafe — https://www.miguelsmextexcafe.com

🍗 Buffalo Wild Wings — https://www.buffalowildwings.com

Work With Howdy Media:

🌐 https://howdy-media.com

📸 Follow us on Instagram & Facebook @HowdyMedia

SPONSOR THE BRAND BUILDERS PODCAST:

https://www.howdy-media.com/brand-builders-podcast

⏱️ Chapters:

00:00 — Welcome & Intro

00:43 — Trista's 17-Year Journey with Exceptional Brands

02:57 — Growing Up in Dalhart, Texas

04:20 — Books & Podcasts That Shaped Her Walk

07:40 — Did She Ever See This Role Coming?

08:56 — What Her Day-to-Day Actually Looks Like

10:50 — How Community-First Marketing Was Born

16:42 — Why People Stay for 17, 18, Even 30 Years

20:10 — The Culture at Miguel's (Shoutout Miss Ruth!)

22:18 — Surviving COVID Without a Single Layoff

30:28 — Faith, Church Community & Real Relationships

34:31 — What She Really Thinks About AI

59:50 — How to Connect With Trista & Exceptional Brands

#BrandBuildersPodcast #FaithAndBusiness #RestaurantLeadership #AbileneTX #BuffaloWildWings #Miguels #CommunityMarketing #ServantLeadership #SmallBusiness #ChristianEntrepreneur #HowdyMedia

Work With Howdy Media: www.howdy-media.com

Are paid ads really the best way to grow your business… or is organic content the smarter long-term play?

In this episode of the Brand Builders Podcast, Daron breaks down the real difference between organic content and paid advertising from a Gen Z marketing perspective and explains why organic content can create a much higher return on your time, attention, and money.

Paid ads can get you in front of people fast. But organic content helps you build trust, relationships, authority, and brand equity over time. Instead of paying for random impressions from people who may never think about your business again, organic content gives you the opportunity to consistently show up, stay top of mind, and turn attention into real business.

If you are a business owner, entrepreneur, creator, realtor, service provider, or brand trying to decide where to invest your energy and marketing dollars, this episode will help you think differently about content strategy, social media marketing, brand building, and customer acquisition.

In this episode, we cover:

Organic content vs paid ads

Which marketing strategy gives you better long-term ROI

Why Gen Z values trust and authenticity in marketing

How to use content to build real relationships with your audience

The difference between renting attention and owning attention

How organic content can lead to more clients, customers, and brand growth

Why business owners should not rely only on paid advertising

How to create content that works for your business over time

At Brand Builders Podcast, we help business owners build a brand that actually grows their business through content, clarity, and consistency.

If this episode helped you, make sure to like, subscribe, and share it with another business owner who needs to hear this.

#OrganicContent #PaidAds #ContentMarketing #SocialMediaMarketing #BrandBuilding #PersonalBrand #BusinessGrowth #DigitalMarketing #Entrepreneurship #brandbuilderspodcast

🎙️ Want us to handle your podcast from start to finish? Book a discovery call with Howdy Media → www.howdy-media.com

📍 Howdy Media | Abilene, Texas

🔔 Subscribe for weekly episodes on branding, content strategy, and business growth.

🎙️ Brand Builders Podcast is where faith meets business. Real conversations.

📍 Film your podcast at Howdy Media Studio in Abilene, TX → https://www.howdy-media.com/

Should YOU start a podcast in 2026? If you've been sitting on the fence, this is your sign — IT IS TIME. In this episode of the Brand Builders Podcast, we break down exactly why business owners need a podcast right now, how to monetize it from day one (without needing 1,000 subscribers), and what it really takes to stay consistent and build a brand that people trust.

With 584 million podcast listeners worldwide and only 15% of podcasts actually staying active, the opportunity has never been bigger for you to stand out. We cover the 7-hour trust rule, the barrier to consistency, video vs. audio podcasting, what equipment you actually need, and how to turn your podcast into a client-generating machine.

Whether you're just getting started or you've tried before and stopped, this episode will give you the clarity and strategy you need to take action today.

🎙️ Want us to handle your podcast from start to finish? Book a discovery call with Howdy Media → www.howdy-media.com

📍 Howdy Media | Abilene, Texas

🔔 Subscribe for weekly episodes on branding, content strategy, and business growth.

🎙️ Brand Builders Podcast is where faith meets business. Real conversations.

📍 Film your podcast at Howdy Media Studio in Abilene, TX → https://www.howdy-media.com/

#BrandBuildersPodcast #FaithAndBusiness #ChristianEntrepreneur #SmallBusinessMindset #ComparisonTrap #HustleCulture #BiblicalBusiness #ContentCreator #AbileneTexas #BusinessPodcast

-Daron's Free Gear List: https://tinyurl.com/mr26rtz9

5 Day Challenge Application: https://funnel-focus-build.lovable.app

Most entrepreneurs think hitting a big revenue month will finally make them feel like enough. I hit $40K in a single month at Howdy Media — and I still felt like it wasn't enough. In this episode, I'm talking about something nobody in the business world wants to admit: comparison is quietly destroying you, and hustle culture is feeding the lie.

We get into:

Why comparison is the #1 silent killer for business owners (and how social media makes it worse)

The moment I realized $40K months don't actually fix the feeling you're chasing

Why hustle culture is straight-up unbiblical — and what Scripture actually says about rest

How reading Paul, Solomon, and Romans changed my entire business mindset

Why your current season is intentional — even when it doesn't make sense

The ONE question I ask every new client at the studio that changes everything

Why real human content will always outlast AI — and what that means for your brand

Theodore Roosevelt said "comparison is the thief of joy." Solomon called it chasing the wind. They were both right — and if you're building a business right now, this episode is for you.

🎙️ Brand Builders Podcast is where faith meets business. Real conversations.

📍 Film your podcast at Howdy Media Studio in Abilene, TX → www.howdy-media.com

#BrandBuildersPodcast #FaithAndBusiness #ChristianEntrepreneur #SmallBusinessMindset #ComparisonTrap #HustleCulture #BiblicalBusiness #ContentCreator #AbileneTexas #BusinessPodcast

Work With Howdy Media: www.howdy-media.com