How I Built My Small Business
Anne McGinty
2025 Communicator Award of Excellence in the Educational Series category2024 + 2025 People's Choice Podcast Awards Finalist Nominee x 2Named "One of the Best Business Podcasts" by RamseyIn 'How I Built My Small Business,' we explore real-life entrepreneurship and building a meaningful, balanced life. The show’s guests (diverse in industry, experience, and background) open up about the real stories behind building a business: the wins, the mistakes, and the values that shape their choices.This is not a business show focused on the numbers of the game. It’s about the founder’s journey and their way of thinking. If you are looking for a show that talks about top line, bottom line, profit margin, and mainly financial info… this is not the show for you. While you’ll find some episodes in Season One (and sporadically thereafter) that include financials, the host’s interest is more in the human(s) behind the business.Sometimes an episode is a masterclass, other times it’s an honest, heart-opening connection between two people. There’s always curiosity, growth, and learning through storytelling… with a sprinkle of life wisdom.Every guest has started a business at some point in their journey, and the line-up includes a 50/50 split of women and men.Whether you're a founder, dreamer, curious individual or lifelong learner, I hope each episode makes you think or leaves you with at least one spark that inspires your own path or broadens your perspective.Thank you for listening. Let’s learn together.My Website: https://www.annemcginty.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annemcginty/Behind-The-Scenes: https://www.instagram.com/annemcgintyhost
Episodes
Mentioned books
Nov 4, 2025 • 50min
How I Cured My Two Autoimmune Conditions
This is my personal story and is not business-related.It's the reason why I have taken the last month off from podcasting and interviewing... because about a month ago, I got the lab results back showing that not only have my thyroid panels been in range for well over a year now, but they've continued to move more into the ideal center of that range.I've been off medication for over three years now.About 17 years ago, I was diagnosed with both Graves and Hashimotos diseases (thyroid autoimmune conditions). For 13 years, I went down the conventional medicine route and was told repeatedly that autoimmune diseases are not curable.Says who?Deep in my heart, I did not take that statement as fact.So, around 4 years ago, I decided to make it my job to figure out how to cure myself. It's been a journey, and one of the most important and deeply rewarding things I've ever done.I'm sharing my story in case it can help someone else.I am not a doctor and this is not professional medical advice. Listeners should always consult appropriate health care professionals. This is just my story.Subscribe on Apple Podcast , Spotify or YouTube.Let’s connect!Subscribe to my newsletter: Time To Live: Thriving in Business and BeyondWebsite: https://www.annemcginty.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annemcgintyInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/annemcgintyhost
4 snips
Sep 23, 2025 • 50min
Nik Hulewsky - He Put $180k Down. Then Built and Grew $18m in Businesses.
Nik Hulewsky, a serial entrepreneur and founder of the Nikonomics podcast, shares his journey from working in healthcare to building and selling multiple businesses. He discusses the turning point of losing his job during COVID, leading him to buy a medical billing company through strategic outreach. Nik highlights the importance of financial structuring and creative financing approaches. He also reflects on his adventures in various ventures post-exit and his current focus on a healthcare venture studio aimed at innovating outdated systems.
Sep 16, 2025 • 56min
How to Start a Christmas Lighting Business: Listener Q&A
🎄 Ever thought about running a Christmas light business? This is your behind-the-scenes masterclass.In this special episode, a podcast listener flips the mic and interviews the host, Anne McGinty, about how she started a seasonal Christmas lighting business.The listener comes prepared with thoughtful, detailed questions about every step of starting and scaling a holiday lighting operation.If you're considering a side hustle, craving entrepreneurial inspiration, or curious about a surprisingly lucrative niche, this deep-dive delivers practical tools, strategy, and real talk.This is more of a How-To episode.Subscribe on Apple Podcast , Spotify or YouTube.Let’s connect!Subscribe to my newsletter: Time To Live: Thriving in Business and BeyondWebsite: https://www.annemcginty.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annemcgintyInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/annemcgintyhost
Sep 9, 2025 • 31min
Chris Smith - What it really takes to run Award-Winning SONOMA PIZZA CO.
Chris Smith is the co-founder and co-owner of Sonoma Pizza Co., an artisan pizzeria in Forestville, California, which he launched in 2022 with his wife, Eda Atasoy. After three decades in San Francisco’s nightlife and hospitality world… running spots like The Pawn Shop, Monarch, The Great Northern, and even the record label Om Records… Chris shifted his focus from nightlife to culinary craft.He trained with renowned pizzaiolo Tony Gemignani and, together with executive chef Carl Shelton, developed a signature dough rooted in Michelin-level technique. Sonoma Pizza Co. is known for its naturally leavened sourdough crust, cold-fermented for 72 hours, and made with organic, locally sourced ingredients.In just two years, the restaurant has been named one of Yelp Elite’s "Top 50 places to eat in the Bay Area" and was voted "Best Pizza in Sonoma County" by Visit Sonoma.Subscribe on Apple Podcast , Spotify or YouTube.Let’s connect!Subscribe to my newsletter: Time To Live: Thriving in Business and BeyondWebsite: https://www.annemcginty.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annemcgintyInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/annemcgintyhost
Sep 2, 2025 • 34min
Israa Nasir - Escaping TOXIC PRODUCTIVITY
Israa Nasir is a New York City–based psychotherapist, writer, and the founder of WellGuide, a digital community dedicated to mental health awareness. With a master’s in counseling and advanced training in Cognitive Behavioral and Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy, she’s dedicated her career to mental health.Israa has built a community of over 350,000 followers with her evidence-based approach to mental health and productivity. She’s the author of Toxic Productivity, where she unpacks the hidden drivers of overwork and offers tools for balance. Her work has been featured in Forbes, Harvard Business Review, and Time, and she’s spoken at Google, Instagram, Microsoft, and major conferences like SXSW.Subscribe on Apple Podcast , Spotify or YouTube.Let’s connect!Subscribe to my newsletter: Time To Live: Thriving in Business and BeyondWebsite: https://www.annemcginty.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annemcgintyInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/annemcgintyhost
Aug 26, 2025 • 33min
Johnny Rickard - Train for Life: Martial Arts Wisdom from THE REFINERY NZ
Johnny Rickard calls in from Raglan, New Zealand, where he has built a full-time martial arts dojo on his family’s ancestral land.Johnny was a dedicated schoolteacher for 15 years when life circumstances gave him a nudge (or perhaps a calling) to change paths.With over 30 years of experience in martial arts and personal training, Johnny is the founder of THE REFINERY, a community space that’s far more than a training ground. It’s a sacred place for healing, connection, and rediscovering who you are. He was raised by a fifth-dan black belt father, mentored by his whānau, and is deeply grounded in Māori values of stewardship and unity.In this episode, Johnny shares his story and the deeper meaning of martial arts, beyond the punches and kicks.Subscribe on Apple Podcast , Spotify or YouTube.Let’s connect!Subscribe to my newsletter: Time To Live: Thriving in Business and BeyondWebsite: https://www.annemcginty.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annemcgintyInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/annemcgintyhost
Aug 19, 2025 • 38min
Dr. Sarah Daccarett - What Everyone Needs to Know About Perimenopause
Dr. Sarah Daccarett is a board-certified physician, hormone specialist, and founder and CEO of Inner Balance, a personalized hormone therapy platform that just closed a significant investment round and is scaling quickly.Today’s episode is all about menopause (perimenopause, menopause, and post-menopause) and the physical, emotional, and hormonal shifts that come with it. We talk about common symptoms, how they’re often dismissed or misdiagnosed, and what women can do to start feeling better.Now, Dr. Sarah’s expertise is in hormone replacement therapy, so that’s a big part of our discussion. But there are many approaches to menopause care, and this episode is meant to inform, not prescribe. My hope is that it helps you feel more seen, ask better questions, and advocate for a path that feels right for you.This conversation is not medical advice. It’s for informational purposes only. Always consult your licensed healthcare provider when making decisions about your personal health.Subscribe on Apple Podcast , Spotify or YouTube.Let’s connect!Subscribe to my newsletter: Time To Live: Thriving in Business and BeyondWebsite: https://www.annemcginty.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annemcgintyInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/annemcgintyhost
Aug 12, 2025 • 49min
Jason Graystone's Path to Financial Independence (Why Freedom Is the Real Currency)
Today’s guest is Jason Graystone, a professional investor, trader, entrepreneur, and founder of the Tiers of Freedom program. He’s the author of Always Free, shares generous education on financial freedom, wealth building, investing, trading, and creating passive income YouTube, and creates financial empowerment content on his own podcast.I’ve been self-taught in forex trading for a while now, reading books, doing my own research, and watching videos, including some of Jason’s. So I’m especially excited for you to hear his insights today.Jason has been featured in Forbes, speaks at live events, writes a weekly newsletter, and has made it his life’s mission to help people achieve true financial independence and live their most inspired lives.The information in this episode is for educational and entertainment purposes only and is not financial advice. Please consult a qualified professional before making any financial decisions.Subscribe on Apple Podcast , Spotify or YouTube.Let’s connect!Subscribe to my newsletter: Time To Live: Thriving in Business and BeyondWebsite: https://www.annemcginty.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annemcgintyInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/annemcgintyhost
Jul 22, 2025 • 3min
Summer Reset: Why I’m Sitting By the Pool Instead of the Mic (And Why That Matters)
Subscribe on Apple Podcast , Spotify or YouTube.Let’s connect!Subscribe to my newsletter: Time To Live: Thriving in Business and BeyondWebsite: https://www.annemcginty.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annemcgintyInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/annemcgintyhost
Jul 15, 2025 • 42min
Elizabeth Husserl - The POWER OF ENOUGH: Redefining Wealth, Well-Being, and What Really Matters
Today’s guest is Elizabeth Husserl, a financial advisor, registered investment advisor representative, and the co-founder of Peak360 Wealth Management, a boutique wealth planning firm based here in the Bay Area.Elizabeth has this rare and fascinating blend of expertise: she holds a degree in economics from Tulane and a master’s in East-West psychology from the California Institute of Integral Studies, where she’s also served as an adjunct professor. Her work weaves together money, meaning, entrepreneurship, and mental well-being — a thread I found both timely and deeply resonant.Before launching Peak360, Elizabeth worked across the Americas in nonprofit settings, and today she’s also a sought-after speaker, having led workshops at places like Airbnb, Unity, and Google.She lives in the Bay Area with her husband and daughter, and I can’t wait for you to hear the way she approaches personal finance through the lens of both human psychology and long-term vision.Buy The Power of EnoughFacebook: @conversationswithmoneyInstagram: @elizabethhusserlLinkedIn: Elizabeth HusserlSubscribe on Apple Podcast , Spotify or YouTube.Let’s connect!Subscribe to my newsletter: Time To Live: Thriving in Business and BeyondWebsite: https://www.annemcginty.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annemcgintyInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/annemcgintyhost
