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
Jun 20, 2024 • 47min
Amanda Judge - How to grow a successful jewelry biz? 8-figure UNTAMED PETALS brand with 100k+ customers worldwide!
Amanda is the CEO, founder and lead designer of Untamed Petals, a bridal jewelry and dresses brand that started as an Etsy shop and is now tipping 8-figures a year with a direct-to-consumer e-commerce site, over 250 wholesale accounts nationwide, and an emerging presence internationally. Her business has collaborated with Nordstroms, Anthropologie, and the costume designer for the CW drama Reign. Her creations have been photographed being worn on the red carpet by several celebrities, including Kate Beckinsale, Jennifer Lopez, Gwen Stefani, Sofia Vergara and many more.Amanda is a proud member of the female founder collective, the 10th House.This episode is sponsored by Pareto Labs, an online business education platform.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
Jun 18, 2024 • 26min
Joe Allen - $30k in a week? 3+ months of vacation a year? JUMPIN' JACKS bounce house biz
Joe Allen is the owner of Jumpin' Jacks, a family owned and operated event rentals company that offers bounce houses, inflatables, and other event entertainment in Sonoma County. Majority of rentals take place within a 6 month window from the end of April until the end of October, providing for a great lifestyle and very comfortable, livable income for Joe and his family.Listen in as he shares his story - jumping (no pun intended) from cellular retail sales to buying (what was at the time) a very small bounce house business and making improvements that have helped him build to 750+ events per year (and growing).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
Jun 11, 2024 • 34min
Nicole Stevenson - What goes into producing a street fair? Inside PATCHWORK SHOW's Journey to 500k Attendees and 15k Artist Vendors!
Today we have Nicole Stevenson talking with us about what it takes to start and run a street fair. Nicole is the co-founder CEO of Dear Handmade Life, a company that produces Patchwork Show Festivals in nine cities twice a year, reaching over 500,000 attendees in a marketplace for over 15,000 artists and small business owners. Her business also produces the Craftcation Conference, an incredible five-day event with over 200 craft and business workshops in Ventura, California. That conference has been described as "life-changing" and "an MBA for creatives in a weekend." Dear Handmade Life has been featured on Good Day LA, the Huffington Post and Sonoma Magazine, the LA Times and countless blogs.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
Jun 4, 2024 • 38min
Alex Salz and Buzz Bonneau - Making Waves: The Inspiring Journey of FERAL WETSUITS and Its Visionary Founders
Alex Salz and Buzz Bonneau talk with us about their journey starting an international wetsuit brand.Alex and Buzz are two avid surfers who started and still run FERAL Wetsuits, a mostly direct-to-consumer brand from Ocean Beach in San Francisco. FERAL designs and produces the Vans Surf Team wetsuits, has collaborated with Volcom, and Stab's editor-in-chief, Michael Chiaramella, was quoted saying "it's my favorite of the entire wetsuit test. Their business has been featured in Surfer, Stab, Vans, Vogue and in the short film "Once Upon a Time in New Zealand" with Raglan surfer and comic Luke Cederman @RaglanSurfReport.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
May 28, 2024 • 47min
Alison Hotchkiss - How ALISON EVENTS became one of Vogue's Top 50 Event Planners in the World
Alison Hotchkiss is one of Vogue’s top 50 “Best wedding planners around the world,” and has topped over half a dozen other prestigious lists.Alison is the founder CEO of Alison Events. She is a destination wedding planner, event producer, luxury concierge, and now a third-time author of “Gorgeous Gatherings” a large format coffee-table book that showcases some of her most stunning events and is an explosion of visual inspiration with practical tips and how-to for anyone designing a bespoke event.She has produced over 500 jaw-dropping events in 15 countries and 29 cities. Her exquisite celebrations have been featured in Vogue, Brides, Martha Stewart Weddings, Elle Magazine, Harper’s Bazaar.Other businesses that have helped Alison on her journey:Studio MondineNorman and BlakeMax CutroneSubscribe 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
May 21, 2024 • 43min
Ali Navid - Ready to Ditch Corporate and Unlock Financial Secrets? Discover How THRIVING MINDSETS Levels the Playing Field!
Ali Navid about his journey from the corporate world to crafting Thriving Mindsets financial education programs. Ali was a former banking VP and private wealth advisor who managed client relationships with high net worth individuals and only working with wealthy people did not align with his personal values. So, he made a transformative leap into offering the same high caliber financial education, but to thousands of regular everyday people at a very reasonable cost. He places the highest value on quality and has self-limited the number of individuals that he can accept at a time so that he can maintain an open line of communication with his students and so that he doesn't compensate quality. He is the author of the bestselling book Stock Investing Without Fear and is driven by a passion for empowering others to make savvy investment choices and attain financial freedom more quickly. 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
May 14, 2024 • 16min
Anne McGinty - Part 2 - Host Reflection: How has podcasting been so far?
This episode is Anne McGinty's reflection on how hosting the 'How I Built My Small Business' podcast has been so far and offers additional insights into the process.She answers the questions:How has podcasting been?How do you find your guests?Are you monetizing?How is the show performing?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
May 14, 2024 • 21min
Anne McGinty - Part 1 - Host Introduction: Who is the host of HOW I BUILT MY SMALL BUSINESS? Why did she start this podcast?
In this episode, the podcast host, Anne McGinty, shares anecdotes from her upbringing and the motivation behind starting her podcast.Links to references in her episode:BUNAC - Work visas for other countries for people ages 18-30 The Pop Nation - Gourmet ice pop businessSF Holiday Lighting, Inc. - Christmas lighting businessSubscribe 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
May 7, 2024 • 40min
Matt Scorringe - A life-changing moment? New Zealand's Olympic Surfing Coach and THE ART OF SURFING in 40+ Countries
Matt is the New Zealand's Olympic surf coach and founder CEO of THE ART OF SURFING, a business that provides high-performance, personalized surf coaching, academy memberships and remote coaching worldwide. He's not just a former professional surfer; Matt's an inspirational figure who's story is as compelling as it is educational. His programs are designed to help surfers (of all abilities) fulfill their potential by fine-tuning their personal style while mastering technique.Matt has been featured on the cover of Uno Magazine and New Zealand Surfing Magazine.You Tube The Art of SurfingInstagram @TheArtofSurfingSubscribe 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
May 2, 2024 • 38min
Libiss and Matt Skinner - Why Starting a Business in Your Mid-40s Could Be the Best Decision of Your Life? HIGH RISE BEVERAGE COMPANY’s hockey-stick growth
Matt and Libiss Skinner are the co-founders of the Charleston Hemp Collective and High Rise Beverage Company, both which have been guided by their commitment to highest quality ingredients. Their CBD brand makes tinctures, topicals, gummies, pantry items and beverages.After only five years in operation, Charleston Hemp Collective brings in a couple million dollars a year. After only two years, High Rise Beverage Company has a $40 million valuation. They started both businesses in their mid-late 40s. They've been featured in Charleston Magazine, South Magazine, the local Charleston News and many more. You can find a link through to their business in the episode's description. HighRise InstagramHighRise Tik TokHighRise FacebookCharleston Dry Bar InstagramCharleston Hemp Collective InstagramCharleston Hemp Collective Tik TokCharleston Hemp Collective FacebookMatt Skinner Personal Brand InstagramWebsites:HighRise Bev Charleston Hemp CollectiveSubscribe 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
