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It’s nothing new to hear that hospitality should be a big priority for all business owners. But, for Cali BBQ, it’s all about Digital Hospitality. While that may sound like just another buzzword, it’s something that all businesses should be prioritizing. In this ‘Deep Dive’ episode, Shawn Walchef, Owner of Cali BBQ & Founder of Cali BBQ Media, talks about what Digital Hospitality is, why it’s so important and what steps business owners can take to implement an effective digital strategy. Cali BBQ: https://www.yelp.com/biz/cali-comfort-bbq-spring-valley-4 Ali Schwartz: https://linktr.ee/alischwar Meserole Sound: https://www.meserolesound.nyc/

Can cannabis help with weight loss and be part of a nutritious diet? Brooke Alpert thinks so. She is a certified holistic cannabis practitioner, nutrition expert, and founder of B Nutritious, a consulting practice in New York City. Brooke has a line of CBD products called The Daily Habit. Brooke’s interest in cannabis, particularly in CBD came from trying to help her husband manage his debilitating autoimmune disease. Seeing what CBD could do for her husband, Brooke brought CBD into her private practice and saw many of her clients overall wellness improve

Brooke Baldwin is the author of “Huddle: How Women Unlock Their Collective Power.” The longtime CNN news anchor describes the “huddle,” as a phenomenon where women get together in politics, Hollywood, activism, the arts, sports, and everyday friendships to provide each other with support, empowerment, inspiration, and strength to ultimately create change.

Keri Ford - CEO of Elevate with Keri & Holistic Life Coach joins Alan today as they discuss the journey of healing oneself.  Alan talks about how he is taking care of business but no his body.  They discuss his keto diet, and Alan shares how he is constantly counting carbs and is afraid of eating things now.  This is a no no, says Keri, this will make you want to eat everything if you put yourself in a counting craze.  Keri believes a lot of our bad food habits could have come from being told negative things when we were younger.  She shares that we should use our intuition to eat, that we should listen to our bodies more.  Achieving the cookie confidence, which means, if you are craving a cookie and that is truly what your body is telling you, then have a cookie.  Food currency can be either positive or negative.  Alan shares that he got a somatic healing and was told he carries a lot of negative energy.  Keri shares how carrying around past wants or traumas can lead one to eating disorders.  She says we need to live on purpose with purpose.  Realigning and developing a healthy regiment is needed to make yourself a priority. [00:00:00] Business Good, Body Bad [00:05:25] Counting Carbs [00:11:31] Sticks and Stones [00:18:22] Follow Your Intuition [00:25:43] Negative Energy [00:33:23] I Am Priority

A decade ago, Stephan Aarstol walked onto the set of 'Shark Tank' and left with $150K deal. Here's what he's learned since.

How do you poke fun at something in a way that excites everyone and upsets no one? It's a skill that actor Ryan Reynolds has mastered—as his marketing company, Maximum Effort, churns out one viral hit after another. In this conversation with Entrepreneur editor in chief Jason Feifer, he shares how he does it.

This week we’re trying something a bit different and are introducing a Deep Dive episode where we’ll go deeper on one topic with one of our previous podcast guests. This week: Hiring and Firing with The Candle Pour’s Misty & Dennis Akers. They share their expertise and help business owners with how they might want to think about staffing and why who you hire is essential to creating an unforgettable experience. The Candle Pour: https://www.yelp.com/biz/the-candle-pour-tampa Ali Schwartz: https://linktr.ee/alischwar Meserole Sound: https://www.meserolesound.nyc/

Shavo Odajian is the bassist for the legendary metal band System of the Down. He is also a cannabis advocate and founder of the cannabis lifestyle brand 22Red, which focuses on cannabis, fashion, music and wellness. The company started here in California, but 22Red is now sold in Nevada and Arizona as well. On the pod, Shavo talks about how he first discovered cannabis, why he went into the business, and the origin of his trademark beard.

David Rogier is the CEO and Co-Founder of MasterClass—the online-learning platform where you can learn to shoot a basketball from Steph Curry, filmmaking from Martin Scorsese, and photography from Annie Leibovitz. MasterClass is slick and highly produced, carrying classes from the biggest names in their respective industries. On this week's episode Rogier details the progression of MasterClass with its foundation rooted in his love for learning.

The co-founder of Reddit on why finding balance will make you more successful.

The pandemic taught us an important lesson: The things we once thought were impossible might actually be our greatest opportunities.

Many people care about small businesses and philanthropic causes, but truly making a difference takes a little something more. In our final episode during Women’s History Month, I spoke with Angela Shen, owner and founder of Savor Seattle. Angela cares deeply about her local community, advocates for a number of social causes, and actively supports women-owned businesses. Yelp reviewer, Vy M. connected immediately with Savor Seattle because of Angela’s customer service & mission. Savor Seattle: Ali Schwartz: https://linktr.ee/alischwar Meserole Sound:

Kris Krane, Co-Chair of the National Cannabis Industry Association (NCIA) as well as President & Co-Founder of 4Front Ventures, offers up his thoughts on the ever-growing cannabis industry and what the future may hold for newly emerging markets.

Jeff Arnold’s storied career began with founding QDS, a cardiac arrhythmia monitoring company, one of the first organizations to use telemedicine. He then founded WebMD, the first healthcare company to harness the internet’s power to create a destination for consumers, healthcare institutions, and physicians. Today, Arnold runs Sharecare, a digital health company helping people manage their needs in one place. In this episode, Arnold details his journey and how he’s shaped the healthcare world.

Joann Lublin - Longtime Wall Street Journal career columnist and author of Power Moms joins Alan as they discuss the journey women have taken to become successful business women.  Joann talks about her book and how she interviewed women who are in places of power and are mothers.  From mothers to entrepreneurs, women are making a rise in the business world.  Kristin lee - Entertainment Business Manger and Founder of KLBM, talks about how she has clients from all over the world and she helps them navigate different policies and restriction that they aren't familiar with.  She shares how robotic men are when it comes to running a business in comparison to women who are more caring and nurturing.  Alan shares how there is a huge rise in women in businesses.  Kristin closes the show by saying, know your worth and to make sure you set boundaries, know when to say no. [00:00:00] Places of Power and a Mother [00:06:33] Working Moms to Entrepreneurs [00:11:31] Family Oriented [00:18:22] Rise UP! [00:25:23] Robotics [00:33:22] Know Your Worth

He revolutionized the way comics are drawn and the way toys are made. And at 60, he says he's just getting started.

Chip Gaines (of Fixer Upper) loves people who say yes. “People who say yes to life, yes to hard work, and yes to risk, but who aren’t yes-people,” he writes in his new memoir, called No Pain, No Gaines. In this conversation, we talk about the power of building a network, imposter syndrome, getting through hard times, and so, so much more!

For many companies both big and small, international expansion is an incredibly daunting task. The thought of carrying a large open balance from a custom half-way around the world and unsure if their international clients will even pay their invoices, causes much heartburn and lack of sleep for U.S. exporters. That’s where the Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM) comes in! EXIM offers export credit insurance on those receivables, which provides peace of mind knowing they will be covered against non-payment. Not only does EXIM provide an insurance policy for companies, but also incredible knowledge on international expansion. In this episode we sit down with the local Vermont startup, Darn Tough, as they detail their incredible experience with EXIM helping them expand into international markets. Visit us at   to speak with an export business specialist today.

This week we talked with Amanda Scotese, owner + founder of Chicago Detours - a touring company that is always pushing the limits of what is expected to create an unforgettable - and more importantly, irreplicable - experience for their customers. That mindset enabled them to thrive during a pandemic when in-person tours are out of the question. Our Yelp reviewer, Michelle R., experienced the Chicago tour from her living room in Orlando - an offering Amanda hadn’t dreamed of just one year ago. Chicago Detours: https://www.yelp.com/biz/chicago-detours-chicago-3 Ali Schwartz: https://linktr.ee/alischwar Meserole Sound:

For more than a decade, The Emerald Cup has been one of the most beloved cannabis events in California. We sat down with its Founder and President Tim Blake to discuss how he came to the cannabis industry, how The Emerald Cup helps teach regenerative and sustainable practices in the industry, and what it's been like launching The Emerald Cup digitally.