Sales POP! Podcasts: Insights from Top Experts in Sales, Marketing, Leadership & More.

Shabnum Bi, Founder and Director of Early Nurture Preschool in Birmingham, joins John Golden to discuss how she rebuilt an award-winning early years setting after forced liquidation — and why staying small, community-rooted, and hands-on is the strategy behind her Outstanding Ofsted rating and global recognition. Learn more at www.earlynurturepreschool.co.uk.

Lisa Pagotto, Founder & CEO of Crooked Compass, joins John Golden to discuss what happens when a business loses its founding purpose — and how to rebuild when everything collapses at once. Drawing on her Shark Tank Australia experience, a near-administration crisis, and a bold COVID pivot into private aviation touring, Lisa shares the leadership principles that have kept her business growing for over 12 years. Learn more at crooked-compass.com.

Sridhar Ravilla — fractional transformation executive and author of Transformation That Lands — joins John Golden to examine why well-funded enterprise transformations fail after strategy is approved, tracing the moment accountability quietly moves from named owners into committees, dashboards, and AI systems. Sridhar shares the resignation test, the deferral committee trap, and the 90-degree blind spot that AI leaves in every programme. Connect with Sridhar at linkedin.com/in/sridharravilla/.

Susan Friedman, founder of Aviva Publishing & Marketing, joins host John Golden to share why most nonfiction business books fail to generate results — and how a strategic shift toward niche marketing, bulk sales, and long-term promotion changes everything. With 30 years of experience and 18 books published, Susan gives authors a practical roadmap for turning their book into a business asset rather than a shelf trophy. Learn more and connect with Susan at https://avivapubs.com.

Andy Hedrick, Founder and CEO of Green Path Tech, joins Sales POP! to unpack the 2V2R Rapid Sales Growth System — a proven B2B framework built on one principle: Value and Verified Results must outweigh Risks and Resistors in every deal. Andy covers proof-of-concept selling, fractional resourcing, and using AI without losing buyer trust — drawing on 250+ projects and $500M+ in revenue growth. Learn more at https://greenpathtech.com/.

Tony Paquin, CEO and Co-Founder of iRemedy Healthcare and co-inventor of 12 AI and machine learning patents, joins Sales POP! to discuss how artificial intelligence is transforming healthcare procurement, eliminating supply chain risk, and redefining the future of sales. Drawing on 30 years of software and healthcare technology experience, Tony explains why experienced professionals are better positioned than ever to lead in the AI era — and why every business leader needs to act now. Learn more at iremedy.com.

Sai Dhanak, CEO and co-founder of Deduction, joins John Golden to explain how his AI-powered tax advisory service is solving the US CPA shortage by pairing AI agents with experienced human CPAs to deliver IRS-ready returns at a fixed price of $499 per year — with no upsells, no waiting weeks for a response, and unlimited advice year-round. Sai also shares his philosophy on the inaction trap, the art of the well-timed pivot, and why the collapse of the billable hour is coming for every professional service industry. Learn more at deduction.com.

Pricing and business development expert John Ray joins Sales POP! host John Golden to explain why hourly billing is the fastest path to commoditizing your professional expertise — and how consultants, attorneys, coaches, and fractional executives can shift to value-based pricing by mastering the art of the discovery conversation. John's framework centers on understanding how clients experience value, not just what they need delivered. Learn more and access free resources at https://www.johnray.co/

Kai Stone built a $297/month platform that's helped over 1,000 contractors scale with AI — and he did it from his mom's house. In this conversation with SalesPOP! host John Golden, Kai breaks down why most small businesses are losing leads to unanswered phone calls, how a simple AI text-back system changes the game, and why every contractor needs a personal brand (even if it's just a phone and $5/day). Plus: why searching for your business on ChatGPT matters as much as Google now.

Adnan Malik, co-founder and CEO of Softwarefinder, joins host John Golden to discuss why 70–80% of B2B software buyers end up dissatisfied — and how trust and human-driven consulting can fix that. Softwarefinder's pay-equal model removes financial bias from software recommendations, connecting buyers with the right solutions through trained consultants across 40+ verticals. Explore the platform and book a free consultation at softwarefinder.com.

Amir Berenjian, founder of REM 5 Studios, has put over 150,000 people into VR headsets — from pro sports fans at the Minnesota State Fair to UN policymakers experiencing polio vaccination campaigns in Zambia. In this conversation with SalesPOP! host John Golden, Brenian explains where immersive tech actually delivers marketing ROI, why $300 headsets are changing the game, and why spatial computing will become the primary way we interact with AI.

Guest: Steven Rosen, MBA — Founder of STAR Results and author of Focused: The Leadership Discipline That Protects Performance from Distraction A quick preview of our conversation with Steven Rosen. After 30 years coaching CROs and VPs of sales, Steven has a blunt message: if your numbers are off, stop looking at your reps and start looking in the mirror. Here's a taste of what he shared with John Golden. Key Takeaways: Most sales managers were promoted because they were great reps — then handed targets with zero leadership training. Performance doesn't collapse overnight. It erodes one small lapse at a time. The single best investment a company can make is teaching its managers how to coach. Quotes from Steven Rosen: "It doesn't collapse overnight. It erodes over time. There are leaks. Discipline is falling." "Performance breaks when standards stop being held — especially when you're under pressure." Listen to the full episode for Steven's complete framework on coaching, inspection, and the leadership enforcement spine. Links: Steven's website: https://starresults.com | Book on Amazon: Focused | LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/stevenrosen

What does it really take to reach the top one percent in sales—or any competitive field? In this episode of the Sales POP! podcast, host John Golden sits down with Larry Weidel, a veteran sales executive, investor, and bestselling author of Serial Winner. With more than $6 billion in assets under management, Larry has earned his place among the elite—and he's on a mission to show others the path. Larry's journey from construction work to the pinnacle of financial services wasn't powered by genius. It was powered by mentors, relentless curiosity, and a repeatable framework he calls the "cycle of winning." In this conversation, he unpacks why community matters more than talent, how discipline and humility outperform motivation, and what it means to treat success as a process rather than a destination. Whether you're a new rep looking for a competitive edge or a seasoned leader refining your approach, this episode delivers practical strategies you can put to work today. Tune in and discover why the best performers never stop learning.

What separates a great sales hire from a costly mistake? In this episode, John Golden welcomes Steve Radford, a seasoned UK-based sales leader and author with over 25 years of experience, to tackle one of the toughest challenges in any growing organization: finding and selecting salespeople who will actually perform. Radford explains why traditional resume-driven hiring consistently fails and what forward-thinking companies do instead. He walks through his approach to building success profiles that go beyond skills and experience to capture the traits, values, and behavioral patterns that predict real-world performance. The conversation covers practical screening techniques—from structured behavioral interviews to psychometric assessments—and explores why over-reliance on AI-powered resume filters can screen out your best candidates before a human ever sees their application. Whether you're a sales leader scaling a team, a hiring manager tired of revolving-door turnover, or a recruiter looking for a sharper evaluation framework, this episode delivers immediately actionable insights you can put to work in your next hiring cycle.

Spending on Google Ads without a real strategy is like filling a bucket with holes—money flows in and leads trickle out. This episode dives into the common traps that burn through ad budgets and delivers a clear framework for turning paid search into a predictable, profitable channel. You'll learn why aligning your ad copy, keywords, and landing pages around a defined buyer persona is the single most important step most advertisers skip. Jeff Coleman shares battle-tested strategies for using negative keywords and audience exclusions to cut waste, why the top ad spot is rarely worth the premium, and how to scale campaigns without watching your cost per lead spiral out of control. The discussion also explores how Google's AI-driven features are reshaping campaign management and what the rise of AI search engines means for advertisers. If you've ever felt like Google Ads is a black box eating your budget, this is the episode that turns on the lights.

Your brand is speaking to your customers' brains every single day. The real question is: which brain is actually listening? In this episode, John Golden welcomes Paul Larche to the Sales POP! podcast for a wide-ranging conversation that bridges neuroscience, artificial intelligence, and real-world selling strategy in ways you won't hear anywhere else. Larche, author of The Divided Brain, explains how AI-powered personalization exploits the same survival instincts that once kept our ancestors alive in the wild—and what that means for the way we build brands, craft campaigns, and close deals in today's hyper-connected world. He walks listeners through his Brand Value Canvas, a three-pillar approach to messaging that connects with buyers on the rational, emotional, and subconscious levels simultaneously, giving your communication depth that most competitors overlook. The episode also tackles the darker side of algorithmic influence, from the exploitation of cognitive bias to the quiet erosion of critical thinking, and delivers actionable advice on how leaders can adopt AI with intention and strategy rather than blind impulse. Download the episode now and start selling the way the brain actually buys.

George Rivera's father was dying when he delivered the advice that changed everything: stop missing your son's games. That single conversation forced Rivera—a self-made entrepreneur running a $20 million business—to rethink what success actually looks like when your kids are growing up without you. In this powerful conversation with host John Golden, Rivera opens up about the emotional toll of being a founder and why so many entrepreneur dads stay trapped in a cycle they never planned for. He introduces the concept behind his 18 Summers Roundtable, a community where founder fathers share real struggles, hold each other accountable, and commit to being present before those eighteen childhood summers slip away. Rivera also tackles the mindset shift required to move from "always on" to truly engaged—covering everything from calendar boundaries and shutdown routines to the daily scorecards that let you step away from the business without anxiety. This isn't about working less. It's about making sure the work serves your life instead of replacing it.

Most business advice boils down to one thing: make more money. But what happens when the money's coming in and you still feel stuck? Andy Clark has spent two decades helping business owners answer that question. In this episode, he joins host John Golden to introduce the Whole Pie System — a 15-step framework designed to help entrepreneurs build companies that are profitable, meaningful, and genuinely enjoyable to run. Andy walks through the biggest mistakes he sees small business owners make, from neglecting their core values to getting addicted to crisis management. He also shares a deceptively simple diagnostic question every owner should ask themselves when things feel off — and a free tool you can use right now to assess 25 critical areas of your business. This isn't theory. It's a practical conversation grounded in real experience, real failures, and real solutions. If you've ever wondered whether there's a better way to run your company without sacrificing your sanity, this is the episode for you.

Paul Ross has spent 30 years studying why people say yes—and it rarely has anything to do with your product. In this episode, he explains how top-performing reps create emotional safety before ever making a pitch. Small language shifts—words like "explore" and "together"—signal partnership instead of pressure, quietly lowering a buyer's guard. When objections arise, Ross doesn't argue. He interrupts the pattern with a question that reframes the resistance entirely. The result? Conversations that feel less like sales calls and more like genuine decisions being made.

Kai Law spent years coaching high-performing remote salespeople — and the pattern is always the same. The ones who last aren't the most gifted. They're the most prepared. In this episode, Kai covers financial runway strategies for commission-only roles, why peer communities change everything in remote work, and how persistent follow-up quietly outperforms raw talent every single time. If you're serious about remote sales, this conversation is your starting point.

Your packed calendar isn't proof of strong leadership — it might be the biggest obstacle to it. Dr. Garland Vance warns that chronic busyness destroys the focus, creativity, and presence that effective leadership demands. His fix: audit your commitments ruthlessly, protect thinking time, and answer the four questions your team is silently asking — where are we going, how do we get there, what's my role, and why does it matter? Clear answers to those questions change everything.

Tim Rexius spent years testing, repackaging, and studying sales velocity before investing in marketing. When he finally expanded internationally, distributors paid upfront, cash flow stabilized, and growth accelerated. His core lessons: bootstrap until your system is bulletproof, tell your story authentically, and stay adaptable enough to pivot before the market forces your hand. Entrepreneurship isn't a launch. It's a long game of compounding small, smart decisions. Bet on yourself early. The results show up later.

Sales POP! host John Golden sat down with Simon Bowen to unpack why the "how" beats the "why" every time in sales conversations. Bowen's core idea: clients don't buy your product — they buy confidence in your process. A clear, visual framework that explains your approach in under 10 minutes builds more trust than any pitch deck ever will. In the age of AI, the professionals who stand out won't just have better tools — they'll have better thinking behind those tools. Catch the full episode on Sales POP! to hear Simon Bowen's complete framework.

Track your time for one week, and you'll never look at your schedule the same way. That's where this conversation with Claire Giovino starts — and it goes deep fast. We unpack how to match your best work to your peak energy windows, why delegation fails without documentation, and how intentional breaks actually increase output. Practical, no-fluff, and built for leaders who are done being busy without being effective. 🎧 Hit play — your perfect workday is closer than you think.

Speed wins in sales. The faster you follow up, the more deals you close — and AI voice agents are making instant follow-up achievable at any scale. In this episode, Will from Thoughtly shares the use cases that actually drive revenue, why transparency with AI builds trust rather than breaks it, and how businesses are doubling close rates with tools most teams haven't used yet. If your pipeline has a follow-up problem, this one's worth your time.

Most businesses stop growing when the founder does. Allan Khazak figured out why — and fixed it. In this episode, Khazak shares how personal discipline, embracing failure, and obsessing over key metrics helped him scale Vroom Media Group fast. From hiring strategies to AI leverage, every insight is practical and immediately actionable. Hit play and learn how to stop being your own biggest obstacle.

What separates six-figure entrepreneurs from seven-figure icons? Kathryn Porritt breaks down the luxury brand framework that commands premium prices. First, master one hyper-specific skill. Generalists struggle at the top—luxury clients pay for depth, not breadth. Your expertise needs years of proven results, not surface-level knowledge. Second, flip your business model. Most entrepreneurs start cheap and climb up. Luxury brands launch with high-ticket offers ($100K+) immediately, building credibility that flows downward. Third, surround yourself with peers who understand your journey. Isolation kills momentum. Community creates accountability and opens opportunities.

Abby Connect's CEO, Nathan Strum, reveals what separates successful AI implementations from failures: hybrid models that leverage both technology and human expertise. Their three-tier approach—human-only, AI-only, and hybrid service—addresses different customer needs. AI excels at routine inquiries and complex scheduling that would require extensive human training. Humans handle nuanced situations requiring empathy and creative problem-solving.

Old-school management is dying, and good riddance. The "first in, last out" mentality never measured real productivity—it just rewarded theater. Christine Sandman Stone spent decades leading transformation at global companies, and she's clear: location doesn't matter. Hours don't matter. Results matter. Modern managers need to stop monitoring presence and start defining outcomes. Give your team clear goals, regular check-ins, and trust. That's it. The pandemic proved remote work functions. Now it's time to embrace what actually drives performance: clarity over surveillance, impact over optics, and real achievement over visible struggle. Not everyone should manage people. Build dual career tracks. Recognize that technical excellence and people leadership require different skills—and reward both equally.

In this episode, Dr. Don Capener reveals Chang Robotics' proven methodology for integrating AI and robotics without workforce resistance. His counterintuitive insight: automation should eliminate tasks, not jobs. Learn why starting with stakeholder workshops prevents implementation disasters, how transparency builds trust faster than any marketing campaign, and why treating failure as data—not disaster—accelerates innovation

Amrit Dhaliwal bought into the franchise dream—turnkey business, proven system, guaranteed support. She got none of that. Her first franchise left her struggling with "entrepreneurial poverty": owning a business but barely surviving. So she built Goldfinch differently. Her home care franchise rejects half its applicants, provides real coaching, and goes fully digital in a paper-obsessed industry. The mission? Help franchisees actually thrive, not just survive. Goldfinch's "Time to Thrive" philosophy extends to clients, too. Through Thrive Clubs offering yoga and art classes, they're redefining aging as opportunity, not decline. Dhaliwal's advice for entrepreneurs: Make purpose your filter for every decision. Growth without alignment isn't success—it's just noise.

What makes customers remember your brand instead of scrolling past? Anique Mautner breaks it down to three essentials: relevance, distinction, and clarity. On the Expert Inside Interview podcast, Mautner revealed how brands win by embracing imperfection. She references kintsugi—Japanese pottery repaired with gold—as the perfect metaphor. "Your cracks make you memorable, not your polish," she explains. Her advice for marketers? Stop chasing perfection. AI can generate flawless content, but audiences crave authentic human stories. Listen deeply to your customers, highlight what makes you unique (including your flaws), and communicate with crystal clarity. The brands thriving today aren't the most polished—they're the most genuine. In a world of AI-generated sameness, your authentic imperfections become your competitive edge.

In this episode of Sales POP!, supplement industry veteran John Smiddy (New to Marketers) reveals the strategies behind his $100M+ in client revenue. Key takeaways for 2026: AI-first optimization: Structure your product data for AI recommendation engines, not just search engines. Consumers are buying through ChatGPT conversations now. Amazon launch strategy: Start on Amazon to build instant credibility and reviews. Smiddy's data shows conversion rates of 5%+ for new brands- better than most DTC sites. Differentiation is critical: Generic formulations fail. Partner with experts to create proprietary blends backed by clinical validation and third-party testing. Balance AI with authenticity: Use AI for research and optimization, but keep your creative human. Customers can spot AI-generated content instantly.