Épisodes

  • Fed Up Foods

    Fed Up Foods
    Nov 28 2025
    Carrie Stevens - Fed Up Foods On the Knowing What it Takes to be Successful: "When you're setting up your business, you want to make it convenient for the customer, but also it needs to be convenient for us because if we can't maintain it then we're going to get burnt out and we can't sustain it." Thousands of pounds of produce goes to waste every year. This is due to many things, often having nothing to do with the actual taste or health of the produce. Sometimes it just isn't pretty enough. So what can be done with all of this good food that should be consumed? Carrie Stevens has a farm, butchers animals to sell and recently purchased the business named, Fed Up Foods. This is a business that takes less than pretty food and turns it into beautiful sauces, relishes and pickled produce. Fed Up Foods got its start in the local farmers markets, thanks to Wisconsin's pickle law. Carrie Stevens is building on that foundation to bring locally sourced, shelf-stable products—ranging from pickle relish and maple ginger beets to cranberry applesauce—to more retail shelves and customers. Discover the surprising details behind what it takes to buy and run a canned goods business, from PH testing and food safety to sourcing "imperfect" produce and managing labels and inspections. Listen as Carrie explains her journey and what she has learned from building her sustainable food businesses. Enjoy! Visit Carrie at:https://www.fedupfoodswi.com/ Podcast Overview: 00:00 Woman-Owned Artisanal Canned Goods 03:41 Pickle Business Journey and Growth 09:04 Pasture Management and Livestock Rotation 10:44 Horseback Observation Resolves Calf Issues 13:23 Wisconsin Food Finance Support 17:00 "Work to Eat Philosophy" 21:21 Pickling Process and Variations 22:58 "Imperfect Produce Solutions" 27:59 "Pickled Beets Worth the Effort" 30:04 "Lard Pigs, Not Lean" 32:04 "Food Business Quality Challenges" 35:50 "Product Testing & Process Authority" 40:27 Scaling Production with Co-Packer 43:41 Cost-Effective Labeling Challenges 46:33 Frozen Meat Storage Advice 50:26 "Balancing Business and Convenience" 53:47 Cranberries: Creative Uses and Recipes 55:03 "Podcast, Support, Share Sauce" Podcast Transcription: Carrie Stevens [00:00:00]: And I said, hey, why don't you try the cranberry sauce in there? Because, you know, muddled cherries kind of look like cranberries in the cranberry sauce. And I picked them up just that day from the Mr. Ayan Rousch from Roush Century Farms in central Wisconsin. He gave me a nice little tour of his cranberry farm. Organic cranberries. Fantastic. James Kademan [00:00:20]: Sounds like another podcast guest. Yeah. Yes. Carrie Stevens [00:00:22]: So, yeah, just a little cranberry sauce in your old fashioned. James Kademan [00:00:27]: How about that? Carrie Stevens [00:00:27]: Make it the rest of the way however you like, your favorite way. James Kademan [00:00:30]: Foreign. Authentic Business Adventures, the business program that brings you the struggle stories and triumphant successes of business owners across the land. Downloadable audio episodes can be found in the podcast link fundedrawincustomers.com we are locally underwritten by the bank of Sun Prairie and today we're welcoming slash preparing to learn from Carrie Stevens of Fed Up Foods. Carrie, I'm so freaking excited. We're talking about food, which is always good. Carrie Stevens [00:01:00]: Always good. James Kademan [00:01:01]: We're talking about pickles, which is always good. Carrie Stevens [00:01:02]: Absolutely. James Kademan [00:01:03]: And we're talking business. So I feel like we got the trifecta here. Carrie Stevens [00:01:06]: Yeah, absolutely. James Kademan [00:01:07]: How's it going today? Carrie Stevens [00:01:08]: Good, good. James Kademan [00:01:09]: All right, tell us the story. What is Fed Up Foods? Carrie Stevens [00:01:12]: So Fed Up Foods is a woman owned Wisconsin based artisanal canned goods company. So I purchased the business this past August. So I'm fairly new to it. However, it has been around for about five years. So it was started by a woman in central Wisconsin and her, her background, she was a produce buyer at the food co op and, and kind of different roles like that, very involved in the farmer's market and she saw a lot of produce going to waste and that was bothersome to her. Well, you know, and if you, we also own a farm, I'll talk about that more. But for a while I was getting produce from the grocery store, feeding it to our animals when it's, you know, there's a lot of beautiful produce, but you know, what happens to that produce after they can't sell it anymore. James Kademan [00:02:03]: So you would get the stuff that was blem essentially or just didn't look pretty. Carrie Stevens [00:02:07]: Yeah, or it was too, you know, I had been there for a couple weeks and it was okay, it was going mushy or whatever. James Kademan [00:02:14]: Pigs like it, humans don't love it. Carrie Stevens [00:02:15]: Right, ...
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    56 min
  • Learn to See, Learn to Paint

    Learn to See, Learn to Paint
    Nov 22 2025
    Kevin Murphy - Evolve Artist On the Value of Learning Art Beyond Making Art: "As an artist, you require more data. And so an education trains your subconscious mind to feed the data that you need to draw and paint, rather than just the stuff you need for survival." The power of art goes well beyond pictures, sculpture and music. To simplify it down to the audio and visual alone is to miss the power that learning how to have an eye for art can offer you. Knowing how to view the world from different angles to help you create a painting is just as useful to see the world from different angles to understand all manner of perspectives. Kevin Murphy draws thought provoking parallels between learning art and mastering other complex skills, exploring how our brains process visual information and how deliberate, foundational training opens doors not just in painting, but in any creative pursuit. You’ll also hear inspiring stories of Evolve Artist students, from high school competitors to retirees, many of whom have gone on to find personal fulfillment and financial success through their art. Listen as Kevin explains how Evolve Artist systematizes the fundamentals of art to help you and other artists see the world and make it more beautiful. Enjoy! Visit Kevin at: https://www.instagram.com/evolveartist/ On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/evolveartist/ Podcast Overview: 00:00 Art Foundations and Skill Decay 10:00 "Subconscious Processing and Art" 11:02 "Understanding vs. Replicating Visuals" 19:34 "Foundations of Creating Poetry" 25:51 "Photoshop Pixel Tool Insight" 27:47 "Improving Color Accuracy Techniques" 34:24 Brush Types and Their Uses 38:49 "Quality Paints Worth the Cost" 45:41 Portrait Artist Opens a School 50:30 "Building a Frictionless Art School" 56:30 Mentorship Through Shared Experiences 01:03:33 "Knowing If It's Done" 01:04:10 "Painting Perfection and Consequences" 01:14:05 Authentic Business Adventures 01:19:04 "Gradual Pricing & Promotion" 01:22:18 Business Basics in the Program 01:30:56 "Corporate Structure Enables Success" 01:36:05 "ABA Art Site Launches" 01:37:10 "Appreciation and Positivity" Podcast Transcription:
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  • Property Investing Insights

    Property Investing Insights
    Nov 14 2025
    Cody Wiseman - Wiseman Capital On the Caring for Your Investments: "I don't want to be driving by that in 15 years and seeing it's a dump." Investing in real estate has many benefits, but not all investors are created equal. Cody Wiseman started investing in real estate a few years ago. Through his hard work and care he has built a portfolio, which is great. the exciting thing is that he gets compliments from his tenants and neighbors for the work that he has done to the properties, to lift the neighborhoods to be nicer places to live. Without necessarily raising rents. Affordable luxury, is what he calls it. From the challenges of his very first property renovation, to the ambitious transformation of a rundown motel into affordable luxury apartments, Cody Wiseman shares the behind-the-scenes realities of real estate: sleepless nights, hard-earned lessons, and the creative hustle required to make deals work. Listeners will get an insider’s look at how Cody Wiseman partners with local investors, the value of authentic networking—like the Madison Multifamily Meetup that he’s grown into the Midwest’s largest—and why hands-on leadership and a passionate team matter. Listen as Cody explains his philosophies on real estate investing and how you can apply them to your real estate investments as well. Enjoy! Visit Cody at: https://www.codywiseman.com/ https://Wisemancapitalgroup.com On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/codyewiseman/ Podcast Overview: 00:00 Wiseman Capital: Local Real Estate Partner 03:30 Real Estate Investment Journey 09:09 Getting Started in Real Estate 10:55 Multifamily Real Estate Networking Event 13:39 "Learning Multifamily & Passive Investing" 18:21 Delegating While Staying Hands-On 22:16 "Journey to Affordable Housing" 23:54 Personal Standards in Property Development 26:37 Community Impact and Urban Transformation 31:08 "Hidden Costs of Rent Explained" 35:00 Property Agreement Protects Long-Term Value 38:49 "Delays, Costs, and Waivers" 40:58 "Proving Creative, Affordable Housing" 45:56 Hardee's Worker Brings Joy 46:48 "Emily Sets Event's Tone" 50:19 "Authenticity in Business Partnerships" 52:49 Navigating Challenges with Confidence Podcast Transcription: Cody Wiseman [00:00:00]: Average rents in Madison, you know, 15, 1600 bucks. Our average rent is a little over a thousand bucks. James [00:00:04]: Wow. Cody Wiseman [00:00:05]: Brand new. I market it as affordable luxury. So people are like, what, what is that? How do you do? Well, let me tell you, we have all of the amenities that you're going to have with a brand new class a ground up deal in downtown Madison. Pool, pool, fitness co working areas, bike parking and storage, dog park, dog wash. James [00:00:30]: You have found authentic Business Adventures, the business program that brings you the struggle stories and triumphant successes of business owners across the land. Today we're welcoming slash, preparing to learn from Cody Wiseman of Wiseman Capital Group. So Cody, how's it going today? Cody Wiseman [00:00:45]: Excellent. Thank you so much James for having me. I'm excited to be here. It's a beautiful studio you have and so close to home. James [00:00:51]: Indeed. So nice. Tell me a story. What is Wiseman Capital Group? Cody Wiseman [00:00:55]: Yeah, so Wiseman Capital, I founded this company back in 2022 and so we're a real estate investing firm really focused in the greater Madison area, multifamily specific. So at the end of the day what it is is we partner with everyday people to invest in real estate together. So that's, that's the beautiful thing about it is a lot of times people are, hey, how do I invest in this building that I see getting put up in Madison or these apartment buildings? They think it's just a big investment firm or something like that. But Wiseman Capital is partnering just with everyday people, a lot of local Madison people, and we run the project for them. They get investor updates. I put my own money in too, so they're investing right alongside of me. James [00:01:37]: All right, so you're talking the huge apartment buildings, the 5500 unit, whatever stuff. Cody Wiseman [00:01:42]: Yeah, maybe not quite 5500 units, but yeah. So we've got, we just opened up 129 units over on the east side of Madison. So I mean some, some consider that large medium, you know, it kind of depends. But yeah, the larger buildings where we've got an on site property manager, we actually manage our properties now in house, meaning we've got our own property manager that works for Wiseman Property Management, which is a subsidiary of Wiseman Capital. James [00:02:09]: Sure. Cody Wiseman [00:02:10]: So it gives us a little bit better control and a better resident experience when we're controlling the full asset and experience from, I like to say from lead to lease. Right. You know, if you come in and you want to inquire about living here, we want to give that great experience, fast response right away, ...
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  • The Financial Backend of Property Investing

    The Financial Backend of Property Investing
    Nov 9 2025
    Jacob Walter - VP of Finance - Patriot Properties On the Property Management Conundrum: "We look really good when everybody's making money. You know, we're always the problem when they're not." The thing about investing is that the financial part is the important part. It's all fun and games until you realize you aren't making money, or worse. This is where it pays, literally, to have a smart finance guy in your corner. Jacob Walter is the VP of finance with Patriot Properties. As the guy watching the money go in and out for themselves and clients, he is in charge of making sure the numbers are not in parenthesis in the wrong spots. Listen in as Jacob Walter shares his journey from college intern to finance executive, offering a behind-the-scenes look into the complexities of managing thousands of rental units, navigating the fast-paced real estate market, and building a team that can handle everything from apartment complexes to storage units. Whether you’re an aspiring investor, experienced landlord, or simply curious about the business of property management, you’ll hear plenty of candid advice, funny client stories, and hard-won lessons on scaling up in a competitive industry. Enjoy! Visit Jacob at: http://www.patriotpropertieswisconsin.com/ On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/patriotpropertieswi/ Podcast Overview: 00:00 "Client Forgot Their Property" 05:12 "Life Insurance: Niche Necessity" 08:30 Hiring Considerations for Job Roles 11:35 "Client Forgot Their Property" 13:24 Property Deals and Financing Insights 18:08 Madison's Rental Market Trends 20:52 Real Estate Rent Challenges 24:24 "Leaky Boiler Water Feature" 28:30 "Unrealistic Deal Evaluation" 31:01 Unit Maintenance and Value Maximization 35:19 Madison Property Repositioning Strategies 36:53 Tired of Property Management 41:37 Barrack-Style Madison Property Sold 43:49 Less Competition, Greater Opportunity 46:28 "First Deal Matters Most" 50:15 "Scaling Property Management Success" 53:26 Competition and Property Pricing Factors Podcast Transcription: Jacob Walter [00:00:00]: I do have a funny story. One of my clients, he, he left for, I believe like Italy or Greece or something. He was gone for like two, three weeks. That was right. You know, when he came back was like, right when we were sending out our monthly statements and he called me, he's like, Jacob, like, I forgot I had this property. I'm like, what do you, what do you mean? He's like, yeah, you just, you guys have been handling. I haven't had to worry about it. Nice to see that there's plenty of money in the account. Jacob Walter [00:00:23]: Like, this is great. This is exactly what I want. James Kademan [00:00:31]: Have found Authentic Business Adventures, the business program that brings you the struggle stories and triumphant successes of business owners across the land. Downloadable audio episodes can be found in the podcast link found@drawincustomers.com we are locally underwritten by the bank of Sun Prairie and today we're welcoming, preparing to learn from Jacob Walther, the VP of finance at Patriot Properties. Jacob, how's it going today? Jacob Walter [00:00:56]: I'm doing well, thank you. Thank you for having me. James Kademan [00:00:58]: Let's start with what is Patriot Properties? Jacob Walter [00:01:00]: Yeah, Patriot Properties, full service property management company. So we kind of joke around that if you can rent it, you know, we will manage it for you. We do. Obviously our bread and butter is multifamily. We do short term rentals. At one point we did camper van rentals. James Kademan [00:01:19]: Oh wow, you weren't joking. Jacob Walter [00:01:21]: Yeah, yeah, don't do that anymore. That was, that was an interesting time. But storage units, whatever you can rent, real estate wise, we can manage. James Kademan [00:01:32]: All right. And how long have you been with them? Jacob Walter [00:01:35]: I've been with Patriot for about five years now. Just over five years. James Kademan [00:01:39]: Sure. And tell me, VP of Finance, is that finance for internal within the company or is this more external helping investors and stuff like that? Jacob Walter [00:01:47]: So it's more internal. James Kademan [00:01:48]: Okay. Jacob Walter [00:01:49]: Obviously with property management, you're kind of a VP for finance for all the clients you have. So we have 122 different, different bank accounts, if you will, that. James Kademan [00:02:02]: Sure. Jacob Walter [00:02:02]: VP of Finance for. So it can, it poses its challenges, I bet. But you know, it's, it's, it's fun. James Kademan [00:02:09]: All right. I wonder how many people would agree with that. Like, oh, VP of Finance sounds like a blast. So how do you get in that world? How do you end up as a VP of finance? Jacob Walter [00:02:19]: Yeah, so went to college, you know, did the accounting route. Kind of bounced around a few times before Patriot Properties and how we kind of found Patriot Properties is a little ...
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  • How to Make a Living With Your Art

    How to Make a Living With Your Art
    Oct 31 2025
    Tim Packer - Tim Packer Art Academy On the Truth: "I mean the universities and colleges are failing them just miserably." We all remember being kids and making art of some kind. Water colors, macaroni pictures, maybe even some Play-Doh creatures. But did you ever think you could make a living from it? Tim Packer realized he could. In this candid conversation, Tim Packer pulls back the curtain on the realities of the art world, busting myths about the "starving artist" and explaining why most universities and mainstream art advice miss the mark for artists hoping to make a living from their passion. He details how he leveraged both his artistic talent and business savvy to grow his own career, how he turned his mentorship of a young artist into a global success story, and how his experiences inspired him to launch his online academy to help others achieve the same. Listen as Tim explains how to enjoy what you do and make some good money doing it. Enjoy! Visit Tim at: https://www.timpackerartacademy.com/ On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/timpackerartacademy/ Podcast Overview: 00:00 Teaching Artists to Earn Income 07:56 "Regret, Art, and Helping Others" 12:25 Art Worlds: Villages and Markets 16:39 90s Limited Edition Print Boom 22:11 "Keys to Successful Art Sales" 30:03 "From Artist to Police Officer" 35:30 "Art, Auctions, and Breakthroughs" 39:44 "Keys to a Thriving Art Career" 43:29 "Creating Art You Truly Love" 52:39 "When to Pursue Art Full-Time" 54:13 "Turning Point in Career Success" 01:03:10 Artistic Process and Experimentation 01:04:04 Breaking Free from Comfort Zones 01:11:18 "Art, Critics, and Accessibility" 01:15:44 Art vs Commerce Priorities Podcast Transcription: Tim Packer [00:00:00]: I mean, my dream when I. Because I quit my job and walked away from my pension as a police officer when I was 40 to give this another try. My goal was if I could ever just make as much as what I would have made had I stayed and gone on pension, then it'll be a wash, right? Well, I far surpass that. But while I was in there, you know, just kind of and watching the sales go up and I was mentally crunching the numbers because this was November, and I thought, holy. Know what? I'm going to make over a quarter million dollars this year. As an artist. James Kademan [00:00:34]: You have found Authentic Business Adventures, the business program that brings you the struggle stories and triumphant successes of business owners across the land. Downloadable audio episodes can be found in the podcast link fund@drawincustomers.com we are locally underwritten by the bank of Sun Prairie Calls On Call, Extraordinary Answering Service, as well as the Bold Business Book. And today we're welcoming preparing to learn from Tim Packer of Tim Packer Art Academy. I'm excited we get to talk about art, Tim. So how are you feeling today, Tim? Tim Packer [00:01:04]: I'm feeling great. I'm excited to be here and thanks for having me on the podcast. James Kademan [00:01:08]: Yeah, I'm excited because I don't know if you know this or not, but I majored in graphic design. Tim Packer [00:01:13]: Oh, me too. James Kademan [00:01:14]: Way back when. I don't do anything with it now. And I just got back from Italy and it was interesting because I'm like, wait a second, I've actually painted and drawn this cathedral. Tim Packer [00:01:27]: Yeah. James Kademan [00:01:28]: And I just never knew where it was. Tim Packer [00:01:30]: Oh, this is going to be a lot of fun then, because there's going to be a lot of context on your end, and I'm sure you're going to have a lot of questions as well, which is cool. Yeah. James Kademan [00:01:37]: So let's start with the foundation. What is Tim Packer Art Academy? Tim Packer [00:01:41]: Okay. It's my online art academy. And there's a lot of, like, recorded courses where people pay just for a certain course. I can get my color and composition course or see how I paint the subjects that I paint, or I have, like, whole suites of programs on there. And then I also have, like, a mastermind program. I call it the Hungry Artist Community. And that's where they get all of my courses. Plus, every week I do a live zoom call from the students, basically from around the world. Tim Packer [00:02:11]: But I'll critique their paintings, I'll answer any questions they have about art or the business of being an artist, and I'll give them coaching Advice. James Kademan [00:02:20]: So is the idea, I guess most of your students, are they looking to do art just as a hobby or are they looking to do it as a professional? Tim Packer [00:02:27]: Yeah, that's my niche is like I've been, I am a very successful artist. I've had a really successful career as an, as an artist, as a self publisher, kind of ran my own gallery. But what I really want to do now is my new mission in life is sharing the lessons and the knowledge that I've acquired over 25 years of being a full time professional artist with other people who share ...
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  • How to Be An Electrician

    How to Be An Electrician
    Oct 25 2025
    Cole McCloskey - The Electrician, Inc. On the Appreciating the People: "I don't know that it's necessarily a bad thing that we, as a society, in business, are adopting a culture of being appreciative and valuing people for more than just what they produce." Flip a switch, the lights come on. Plug in your phone charger at night and your phone is ready to go when you wake up. We take things like this for granted, but what does it take to make the lights turn on and the power to move through a house? Cole McCloskey, co-owner of The Electrician, Inc. shares with us what it takes to become one of the people that do what they can to make sure the lights can turn on the and the electricity can move through the right wires. The conversation goes beyond the nuts and bolts of working with electricity, delving into the challenges and rewards of starting a business, the importance of building trusted relationships in the trades, and the lessons learned from managing and growing a team from just a handful of employees to nearly one hundred. Cole opens up about the pivotal moment he became a partner at The Electrician Inc., why he believes in empowering team members rather than binding them with golden handcuffs, and how genuine appreciation and leadership can make all the difference in retaining good people. Listen as Cole explains his journey and how others can follow his path to become not only electricians, but entrepreneurs as well Enjoy! Visit Cole at: https://theelectricianinc.com/ On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theelectricianinc/ Podcast Overview: 00:00 From Construction to Electrician Journey 06:10 "From Apprentice to Entrepreneur" 08:17 Succession and Growth Strategy 12:13 Reluctant but Generous Mentorship 15:27 Organic Leads Build Relationships 18:43 "Freedom Over Golden Shackles" 20:01 Retaining Good Employees 25:03 "Code Exceptions and Missteps" 28:53 Journeyman vs. Master Licenses 29:54 Master Electrician: Skill vs. Integrity 33:38 Madison Electrician Training Insights 36:32 Electrical Practices and Misconceptions 42:13 Trusting and Empowering Others 44:36 Prioritize Valuing Top Performers 46:51 "Embracing Appreciation in Business" 50:16 Strategic Approach to Tough Conversations 54:23 Entrepreneur Stories & Electrician Insights Podcast Transcription: Cole McCloskey [00:00:00]: You do have to have a master electrician license to have your own business, because to have your own business to pull permits, you have to have a contractor's license. You have to have a master license to get the contractor license. So if that's a route someone wants to go, they do have to pass that exam. James Kademan [00:00:14]: So if they pass that test, then they have achieved master electrician status. Cole McCloskey [00:00:18]: Yeah, really above that, you can get into credentials for being an inspector if you want. The master exam is the first step towards that. If that's route you want to go. James Kademan [00:00:30]: You have found Authentic Business Adventures, the business program that brings you the struggle stories and triumphant successes of business owners across the land. We are locally underwritten by the bank of Sun Prairie and downloadable audio episodes can be found in the podcast link found at https://drawincustomers.com Today we're welcoming, preparing to learn from Cole McCluskey of the Electrician Inc. And we are talking construction, electrician, electricity, all the good stuff. So Cole, how is it going today? Cole McCloskey [00:00:59]: Going very well. Thank you for having me. James Kademan [00:01:00]: Let's talk about the foundation. What is the Electrician Inc.? Cole McCloskey [00:01:04]: So we are a full services electrical contractor. We do jobs large and small across all sectors from residential to commercial to industrial. We do also fire alarm and low voltage access control systems. So we cover a wide variety of the market in that way. But just the full service is electrical contractors is what we are. James Kademan [00:01:26]: Right on. And how did you get into that? Cole McCloskey [00:01:29]: Well, I grew up in the industry, so my father has worked for a construction company for his entire life. So growing up, right about the time I was old enough to grab a hammer and swing it, he was teaching me how to do that. So that was pretty cool to grow up in the industry and just be interested in what it's like to work with your hands. So I would help him out with roofs and woodworking projects and remodels and all kinds of different things. That was, that was really cool. And so I knew I wanted to get into a field that allowed me to do that when I became an adult. And long story short, I ended up through a family friend, finding the Electrician Incorporated and talking to the owner, who's now my business partner. So I'm sure we'll get into that piece of things. Cole McCloskey [00:02:17]: But just worked there for a summer in high school and fell in love with it and just really enjoyed ...
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  • Solving Veterinary Clinic Chaos: Inside the World of Vet Receptionist Remote Call Services

    Solving Veterinary Clinic Chaos: Inside the World of Vet Receptionist Remote Call Services
    Oct 22 2025
    Isabelle Blaser - Vet Receptionists On the State of the Veterinary Field: "I think it's just a nationwide thing. That vet hospitals are understaffed and overworked and they always need an extra set of hands." Pets are like family to a great majority of our population. As living creatures, these pets need help. Sometimes just a checkup, and sometimes something deeper, such as surgery. Regardless of what they need, they are the animals we care about and so we want them to be taken care of. The world of veterinary medicine is a challenging one. The volume of pets is increasing, the volume of veterinarians and technicians is decreasing. The workload is simply too much for most people to bear for anything considered long term. But does it have to be this way? Isabelle Blaser is the incredible manager at Vet Receptionists, a company designed to lift much of the burden found in most veterinary clinics, by taking calls and helping reduce the workload of the overworked staff. By doing this, Isabelle and her crew at Vet Receptionists are able to help their client's employees keep doing all they need to do, keep them sane and keep them happily employed. In this episode Isabelle shares the problems facing most veterinary clinics and the solutions that can turn a struggling practice into a place of happiness. Though most veterinary clinics may not be struggling financially, mentally and culturally they are often a house of cards. Many times without the doctors or clinic owners even knowing of the issues or demands being made on their team. Listen as Isabelle explains the need for improved customer service to allow your clients to be treated better, as well as your employees. Enjoy! Visit Isabelle at: https://vetreceptionists.com/ On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vetreceptionists/ Podcast Overview: 00:00 Supporting Overworked Vet Hospitals 04:20 Staffing Shortages and Owner Misunderstandings 08:15 Vets Avoiding Independent Practice 09:49 Veterinary Staff Experience Insights 13:12 Teamwork in Hospitals Explained 16:57 Veterinary Medicine: Broad, Demanding Expertise 19:31 Healing Through Puppy Care 23:08 "Clinic Growth and Staffing Strain" 28:08 General Practice Veterinary Hospital Size 29:58 Dominance of Market Software Leaders 34:05 "Veterinary Hiring Knowledge Test" Podcast Transcription: James Kademan [00:00:00]: What is Vet Receptionists? Isabelle Blaser [00:00:01]: Vet Receptionists is a remote reception service for veterinary hospitals. James Kademan [00:00:06]: Nice. Isabelle Blaser [00:00:07]: In short, that's. James Kademan [00:00:08]: That's cool. That's cool. Why is that important? Isabelle Blaser [00:00:11]: It's important because I'm sure you've been to a veterinary hospital sometime recently. The staff is more than you'd like to admit. I think it's just a nationwide thing that vet hospitals are understaffed and overworked and they always need an extra set of hands. That way they can take care of the patients that are in the hospital. Isabelle Blaser [00:00:29]: So that's where we come in. James Kademan [00:00:34]: You have found Authentic Business Adventures, the business program that brings you the struggle stories and triumphant successes of business owners across the land. Downloadable audio episodes can be found in the podcast link found@drawincustomers.com we are locally underwritten by the banks of Sun, Bank of Sun Prairie. Woof. Calls on Call, Extraordinary Answering Service as well as the Bold Business Book. And today we're welcoming, slash preparing to learn from Isabelle Blaser, at Vet Receptionists. So, Isabelle, how is it going today? Isabelle Blaser [00:01:04]: It is going just fabulous. How about yourself? James Kademan [00:01:07]: Sweet. It's going well. I'm excited. We're talking about veterinary receptionists. Let's just start there. What is Vet Receptionists? Isabelle Blaser [00:01:14]: Vet Receptionists is a remote reception service for veterinary hospitals. James Kademan [00:01:20]: Nice. In short, that's cool. That's cool. Why is that important? Isabelle Blaser [00:01:26]: It's important because I'm sure you've been to a veterinary hospital sometime recently. The staff is more than. More than you'd like to admit. I think it's just a nationwide thing that vet hospitals are understaffed and overworked and they always need an extra set of hands. That way they can take care of the patients that are in the hospital. So that's where we come in. It's really important just to have a backup and just, you know, a fail safe of someone else that can handle the phone calls, the text messages, the emails that come in so that the staff can handle the critical patients that are in front of them. James Kademan [00:02:03]: And is this a problem that's been going on for years, forever, or is this a fairly new issue? Isabelle Blaser [00:02:09]: I think it's been a problem that's been going on for a while, but it's becoming more prevalent because more people are having pets. ...
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  • How to Update Your Kitchen Cabinets

    How to Update Your Kitchen Cabinets
    Oct 10 2025
    Allen Curran - Curran Cabinetry and Design On the Knowing Your Users: "So if you have teenagers at home, it might come in really handy to be able to slow that down so they don't have the opportunity to slam things shut." We all live in homes with a few of the same types of rooms. We all have kitchens, bathrooms, bedrooms and a place to do laundry and maybe even a place to hold stuff in the garage. In almost all of these rooms we have cabinets. That is where the similarities deviate. Cabinets can be made of a variety of materials, and styles. How do you choose the best cabinets for your remodeling project. Allen Curran, owner of Curran Cabinetry and Design, knows a thing or two about cabinets. He has been in the industry for years and has seen designs come and go and come back again. Listen as Allen explains the nuances of cabinets, the different design options and even the things you don't see, but you actually feel when using the cabinets. It opens up a whole new world to making your house a much nicer home. Enjoy! Visit Lane at: https://currancabinetrydesign.com/ On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/curran.cabinetry.design/ Podcast Overview: 00:00 "Timeless Cabinet Color Choices" 04:00 "Architect Encounter on Flight" 09:45 Soft-Close Drawer and Door Features 12:17 Toolbox Over Kitchen Cabinets 14:46 Friendship, Friction, Sales Strategy 20:07 "Connecting with Amish Artisans" 22:55 "Helpful Advice From Retiree" 25:19 "Shop Machinery and Systems" 29:37 Local, Quality-Focused Service 33:07 "Custom Cabinets, Semi-Custom Pricing" 37:39 Muted Colors for Timeless Kitchens 39:17 Oak's Decline and Revival 42:38 "Microwave Drawers and Filtration Systems" 46:56 "Counter-Depth vs Full-Size Refrigerators" 49:43 Ethical Start in Remodeling Business 53:30 Modern Trends in Door Desgin 57:20 "Efficient Kitchen Showroom Design" Podcast Transcription: Allen Curran [00:00:00]: White or shades of white are still the most popular. Gray, blue, and green are the other options. And if you look at the blues and the greens, they will tend to have a shade of gray in them. And the reason for that is so much easier to decorate with other colors. If you wanted cobalt blue cabinetry, certainly we can do it. We offer all the Sherwin Williams paint colors as standard, different colors to choose from. But if you want cobalt blue, my biggest concern and first question is going to be how long before you get tired of that color? James Kademan [00:00:42]: You have found Authentic Business Adventures, the business program that brings you the struggle stories and triumphant successes of business owners across the land. Downloadable audio episodes can be found in the podcast link find@drawincustomers.com we are locally underwritten by the bank of Sun Prairie, and today we're welcoming, preparing to learn from Alan Curran of Curran Cabinetry and Design. I almost forgot the and design part. Allen Curran [00:01:06]: Perfect. James Kademan [00:01:07]: So, Alan, how is it going today? Allen Curran [00:01:09]: Today's going well. It's a beautiful sunny day. James Kademan [00:01:11]: Yeah. We're talking cabinetry here. Allen Curran [00:01:13]: We are. James Kademan [00:01:14]: So let's just start with the foundation. How do you get in the cabinetry business? Allen Curran [00:01:18]: Well, how I got into the cabinetry business is I applied for a job, having had experience selling to general contractors and found out a little bit later that I was the only one who applied and dressed in a suit. That's my claim to fame, is I wore a suit the right day. James Kademan [00:01:37]: You know, that is. That's funny. You say that side anecdote here. I'm hiring, I guess you've been doing some hiring. And I get people in Zoom meetings. You probably, I imagine, have people in person. Allen Curran [00:01:48]: A bit of both. James Kademan [00:01:49]: So how are people dressing when they come to apply to your job? Allen Curran [00:01:53]: Much more casually than I would like. James Kademan [00:01:54]: Yeah. Allen Curran [00:01:55]: Or would expect. James Kademan [00:01:56]: Almost to the point of jammies. Allen Curran [00:01:58]: Tennis shoes, sometimes. James Kademan [00:02:00]: Okay. Allen Curran [00:02:00]: And it's like, okay, we're kind of a big ticket item and we're selling to typically professionals or, you know, people are. Most of our customers are 55 years of age and older. That's starting to change a little bit. But I mentioned to one of my employees who wants to dress a little more casual than I would like, and I said, okay. Have you ever gotten a compliment on how you're dressed? And he says, well, no. And I says, I have. James Kademan [00:02:31]: I love that. Allen Curran [00:02:32]: It's not like I'm bragging or anything of that sort. It's just to me, it's kind of showing respect. James Kademan [00:02:38]: Absolutely. Allen Curran [00:02:39]: For the people that you're talking to. And if you want to come across as professional, I ...
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