Buying Local

In this episode, our host Mike Nelson interviews Aimee Woodhouse, a local professional Lactation Consultant! Aimee helps expecting and current mothers prepare for the proper feeding of their children, and there's a lot more that goes into it than you might think! Give this episode a listen to find out what value her service - and other similar services, such as doulas - bring to our community. A SARATOGA BUSINESS REPORT & GLENS FALLS TODAY PRODUCTION NOTE: The opinions reflected in this podcast are not indicative of the views of Saratoga Business Report, SaratogaBride.com LLC, Saratoga TODAY, Glens Falls TODAY, or Five Towers Media. 00:21 - Introduction: What’s an IBCLC? 01:29 - Shoutout to the Eden Center! https://www.theedencarecenter.com/ 03:15 - What Does a Lactation Consultant Do? 05:32 - Discovering a Calling 07:41 - The Boob Whisperer 09:52 - Coming Home, and Filling a Need 12:50 - The Stress of Being a Mom 14:50 - Dads Do Their Best! 15:26 - How do Moms Find Aimee?.. Google at 2:00 AM! 16:57 - Shoutout to Tisha Graham: The Value of a Doula 18:32 - Lactation Care is… Covered by Insurance?! 22:18 - When to Call? Before the Baby Even Comes! 23:30 - A Precise Measurement 25:02 - Protecting and Promoting 27:42 - How to Get in Touch: www.aimeelactation.com, @AimeeLactation 29:00 - The Ups and Downs of TikTok 29:46 - Closing Remarks

In this episode, our host Mike Nelson interviews Don "The Soldier's Son" Walton, a former pro MMA fighter turned fight coach! The road to "fighting for a living" was a difficult one to travel, but Don never gave up and made his dream come true! Listen now to hear his incredible success story! A SARATOGA BUSINESS REPORT & GLENS FALLS TODAY PRODUCTION NOTE: The opinions reflected in this podcast are not indicative of the views of Saratoga Business Report, SaratogaBride.com LLC, Saratoga TODAY, Glens Falls TODAY, or Five Towers Media. 00:59 - Don Walton, a Man of Many Talents 01:54 - A Modern Day Master 02:44 - The Black-Belt Expectation 04:06 - The Path of the Warrior: How Don Found His Way 07:02 - Nothing to Fear in the Ring! 09:10 - What’s the Point of Point-Fighting? 10:17 - March, 2014… The Turning Point 12:09 - The First Fight 15:47 - A Bloodsport 17:36 - The Limitations of New York 20:38 - What is Muay Thai? 21:47 - A King’s Welcome 23:30 - Van Life 26:15 - Five Years in the Dojo: Turning Pro 30:38 - From Sport to Entertainment: Promoting Yourself 32:26 - The COVID Crash: It’s Time to Come Home 34:25 - Fighting in a Mask 35:54 - Round Two: Back to Pro 39:14 - Femur-Breaker: Shins of Steel 40:40 - The Current Line-Up: Don the Coach 44:30 - The Olympic Muay Thai Team 46:56 - Pro Fighting Aspirations… Anything’s Possible, But It’s Not for Everyone! 48:15 - How to Get in Touch: www.nebjja.com

In this episode, our host Mike Nelson interviews Alan VanTassel, the Outsourced VP of Sales at Velocity Sales! Developing and nurturing a sales team and structure for your business is no easy task, but Alan's got the know-how to take you from a sales slump to a bargain bonanza! How? Take a listen and find out! A SARATOGA BUSINESS REPORT & GLENS FALLS TODAY PRODUCTION NOTE: The opinions reflected in this podcast are not indicative of the views of Saratoga Business Report, SaratogaBride.com LLC, Saratoga TODAY, Glens Falls TODAY, Spa City Digital, or Five Towers Media. 00:21 - Introduction 01:33 - What Alan VanTassel Does: Grow Sales with Strategy and Processes 04:22 - Not Just Strategy, But Tactics 05:43 - Helping the Many, Not Just the Few 06:30 - Entrepreneurship: A Path to Freedom, But No Path is Perfectly Paved! 08:37 - A Good Foundation Matters for Any and All Developments! 11:08 - Sales & Marketing: Not Rivals, But Closely-Knit Teammates! 12:38 - Guaranteeing Results 13:48 - The Value of Training 15:33 - Assessing the Sales Environment 16:51 - “Just Start Selling”? NO! Foundation is CRITICAL! 18:52 - Helping All Companies, Big or Small! 22:28 - Advice to the DIY-ers: Sales is Not as Easy as it Looks! 25:02 - Techniques Keep Evolving: Door-to-Door Just Doesn’t Work Anymore! 26:05 - Is There a Sales Technique Winner?.. The 50/50 Split 27:53 - Account Managers Aren’t Hard to Find… But Hunters? 30:31 - Relationship is EVERYTHING! 32:44 - From Local-Only to Selling Nationally… What Do You Do? 35:13 - Be Honest and Transparent… The Second You Aren’t, Big Trouble! 36:08 - Alan’s Key Piece of Advice: If it’s Not Working, Then Change It! 37:07 - Closing Remarks: How to Get in Touch

In this episode, our host Mike Nelson interviews Chris Leuzinger, the head tutor and founder over at Nourishing Minds! How'd he get started with professional tutoring? How did COVID affect his business? What subjects are kids struggling with nowadays? Listen to this episode and find out! A SARATOGA BUSINESS REPORT PRODUCTION NOTE: The opinions reflected in this podcast are not indicative of the views of Saratoga Business Report, SaratogaBride.com LLC, Saratoga TODAY, Glens Falls TODAY, Spa City Digital, or Five Towers Media. 00:21 - Introduction: What is Nourishing Minds? 02:37 - Nine Years of Excellence! 04:33 - Born From a Fluke: New York Couldn’t Slow Chris Down! 07:29 - The COVID Crisis… IMPROVED Chris’ Business?! 09:58 - And the Post-Pandemic Recovery… ALSO Improved the Business! 11:27 - Education Shifting 13:52 - Online Options… Not Very Popular for Tutoring, or Even in General! 15:52 - The Common Core Boogeyman 17:33 - Keeping Up With the Latest Methods 18:39 - Trials in Math and Englush… Anglish… Inglesh… 20:39 - Assistant Chief of the Fire Department, Too?! Helping People 21:58 - Closing Remarks: How to Get in Touch

In this episode, our host Mike Nelson interviews Brandi Tyler, the workout guru behind Unbroken Athletics and Club Midnight Crossfit! They talk on location after an intense workout and cover all the bases behind what it entails, who can join in on it, and more! A SARATOGA BUSINESS REPORT PRODUCTION NOTE: The opinions reflected in this podcast are not indicative of the views of Saratoga Business Report, SaratogaBride.com LLC, Saratoga TODAY, Glens Falls TODAY, Spa City Digital, or Five Towers Media. 00:21 - Introduction 00:38 - Unbroken Athletics vs. Midnight Crossfit: What’s the Difference? 01:26 - Why Crossfit? 04:00 - Crossfit vs. YMCA and Other Gyms 05:50 - Why Crossfit? Part 2 07:14 - Gyms During COVID 07:56 - Who is Crossfit For? 10:26 - What is Crossfit? 11:53 - Mike’s Experience with Crossfit… So Early! 12:31 - Commercial Break: Contact Bob Fitch Today! 12:46 - Crossfit Movements: All About the Barbels! 15:04 - Other Movements: They All Intertwine 16:21 - The Best Part About Crossfit: It All Comes Together! 18:34 - Pushing Yourself is What It’s All About! 19:57 - Closing Remarks: How to Get in Touch

In this episode, our host Mike Nelson interviews Samantha Bosshart, the Executive Director of the Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation! Her organization is dedicated to preserving the historic legacy of Saratoga Springs in more ways than one, and they have an exciting event coming up very soon! Take a listen and find out what they're about, and what the event will be! A SARATOGA BUSINESS REPORT PRODUCTION NOTE: The opinions reflected in this podcast are not indicative of the views of Saratoga Business Report, SaratogaBride.com LLC, Saratoga TODAY, Glens Falls TODAY, Spa City Digital, or Five Towers Media. 00:21 - Introduction 00:42 - Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation: Who Are They… 01:24 - … And What Do They Do? 02:53 - The Objective: Preserving the Legacy of 65 Phila Street 04:39 - What Exactly Will Be Done? 05:26 - Previous Successes: 117 Grand Avenue, 5 Clinton Street 07:12 - Targeting Strategies, and the Most Gratifying Project… The Spirit of Life! 09:25 - An Upcoming Event: The Historic Homes Tour! 12:34 - Choosing Destinations 14:05 - Where to Buy Tickets and Learn More: https://www.saratogapreservation.org/ 14:50 - What Does Membership Entail? 15:44 - A Great Mother’s Day Gift! 16:25 - Other Programs: Lunch & Learn, Breakfast & Buildings 17:17 - Just to Recap… Closing Remarks

In this episode, our host Mike Nelson interviews Chris Mast, owner and operator of The Car Shoppe - two locations in Queensbury, and now, a brand new one in Malta! Where did he come from? How has he had such success? How do new mandates affect his business? To find out, listen to this episode! A SARATOGA BUSINESS REPORT PRODUCTION NOTE: The opinions reflected in this podcast are not indicative of the views of Saratoga Business Report, SaratogaBride.com LLC, Saratoga TODAY, Glens Falls TODAY, Spa City Digital, or Five Towers Media. 00:21 - Introduction 01:12 - A New Location: Hello, Malta! 01:56 - Started in Long Island… Now We’re Here! 03:09 - Why Cars? “I’ve Always Done Cars” 04:35 - The Shoppe is Community-Driven… Pun Intended! 05:46 - Vehicle Vending Machines… A Mistake? 07:05 - Inventory Shortages are Better… But are Going to Get Worse! 09:57 - Trucks MUST be Bought From a Dealer: Franchise Laws 12:13 - Mandates, Mandates, Mandates! 15:15 - From 3 Cars to 3 Shops: All Thanks to Good People! 18:53 - Growing Pains: Balancing the Old with the New 20:42 - Where Does it End?.. Who Knows! 21:51 - Passing the Business On… Has Gotten Harder! 23:40 - Closing Remarks: How to Get in Touch

In this episode, our host Mike Nelson interviews Teddy Foster and Chris Ryan - two superstars that work with the Universal Preservation Hall! They're hosting a fundraising event on May 18th: The Shaken and Stirred Celebrity Bartender Party! What will the event be like? Who will be there? To find out, listen to this episode, and check out their website at: https://universalpreservationhall.org/shaken-and-stirred-2023/ A SARATOGA BUSINESS REPORT PRODUCTION NOTE: The opinions reflected in this podcast are not indicative of the views of Saratoga Business Report, SaratogaBride.com LLC, Saratoga TODAY, Glens Falls TODAY, Spa City Digital, or Five Towers Media. 00:21 - Introduction 01:23 - The Founding of The Universal Preservation Hall 04:24 - What UPH Does 05:09 - UPH’s Shows: Rosanne Cash, Louie Anderson, Bobby Collins, and So Much More! 06:14 - Fundraising! 08:03 - Coping With COVID… With Pinball?! 10:49 - Commercial Break: Visit SkyZone Trampoline Park in Queensbury! 11:04 - Rock Camp… And Maybe a Jazz Camp, Too! 11:52 - Eric Carl and The Very Hungry Caterpillar 12:42 - Chris’ Role on the Team 13:35 - Have You Heard of Shaken and Stirred? 14:35 - Celebrity Teams, with Their Own Themes! 18:22 - Commercial Break: Call Cerrone Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning Today! 18:41 - The Power of the QR Code: Pick a Team! 20:01 - The Steeple-tini: Taste-Testing in Progress! 21:04 - The Social Media Brawl: #ShakenAndStirred2023 23:23 - Boomerangs are ABSOLUTELY Still a Thing! 24:20 - The Newcomers: Micropolitan Matchmakers! 25:08 - No Spoilers: Come to the Event! 26:28 - Closing Remarks: How to Get in Touch

In this episode, our host Mike Nelson interviews Andy Liporace - the President of Blue Flame Gas - and Joe Cerrone, the Manager and Owner of Cerrone Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning! New York's Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act is calling for the installation of heat pumps in many homes and business throughout the state. What does this mean? Is it going to be expensive? Is it practical? These questions and more have been on the minds of everyone in the state... But don't worry! Our guests have all the answers you need here, in this informative episode! A SARATOGA BUSINESS REPORT PRODUCTION NOTE: The opinions reflected in this podcast are not indicative of the views of Saratoga Business Report, SaratogaBride.com LLC, Saratoga TODAY, Glens Falls TODAY, Spa City Digital, or Five Towers Media. 00:21 - Introduction 01:27 - A Basic Understanding of the New Heat Pump Laws 03:45 - How Will the Law Affect Businesses? 05:37 - Mike’s Heating Situation: How Far Building Codes Have Come 06:41 - What is a Heat Pump? Will it Be Able to Heat My Home? 09:26 - 500 to 5,000 Dollars in Rebates?! National Grid Grows Stronger 11:56 - The Weakness of the Heat Pump: They’re Less Effective the Colder it Gets! 13:09 - Is New York Really the Best State to Test Out This Law? 15:12 - Good for the Environment, But are Heat Pumps Sustainable? 16:29 - Replacing Your Heating Systems Won’t Come Cheap… 17:26 - … And the Use Cost is Often Higher, Too! 19:18 - Can the Grid Support This Change? Panel Upgrade Costs are Huge, Too! 21:46 - Crushing the Consumer to Protect the Environment 22:34 - The Smart Move: Hybrid Solutions 23:47 - Unrealistic Projections: Propane Supply and Demand Goes Down, But Not Rapidly 27:19 - The Miracle That is Renewable Propane 28:25 - What Should Homeowners Do? Don’t Miss the Rebates, Get a Free Estimate! 30:17 - Replace if You Need To, But if it Ain’t Broke… 31:14 - Your Needs are Unique! Math is Your Friend 32:49 - Closing Remarks: How to Get in Touch

In this episode, our host Mike Nelson interviews Jennifer "Gem" Rhodes - the founder of the Mind Body Soul Expo - and Drew Cali, a psychic-medium and intuitive guide! They discuss the fantastic offerings of the Expo, the trials Drew faced that led him to his practice, and even conduct a brief reading on Mike! You won't want to miss this episode! A SARATOGA BUSINESS REPORT PRODUCTION NOTE: The opinions reflected in this podcast are not indicative of the views of Saratoga Business Report, SaratogaBride.com LLC, Saratoga TODAY, Glens Falls TODAY, Spa City Digital, or Five Towers Media. 00:21 - Introduction 01:48 - The Mind Body Soul Expo 05:15 - Thousands of Attendees: A Positive Energy 07:01 - Handpan: An Amazing, Unique Instrument! 09:30 - Bringing in Drew 13:12 - Who is Drew Cali? 16:42 - Tragedy Upon Tragedy 19:50 - Growing: Mentally, Emotionally, and Spiritually 20:30 - A Fated Meeting: The Mind Opens 23:55 - Drew Awakens 26:13 - The Evidential Medium: Training Worldwide 29:11 - Standing in the River of Consciousness 32:09 - Commercial Break: Call Cerrone Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning Today! 32:28 - Drew Gives Mike a Reading! 37:12 - A Message for Mike 39:39 - The Process 42:05 - What’s the Connection? 44:19 - The Neon Sign in the Spiritual Shop 46:20 - Commercial Break: Call 1-800-PAINT-JOB Today! 46:31 - MBS Expo, April 8th! Free Admission! 47:50 - DrewCali.com: Pre-Order Your Event Ticket, Don’t Miss Out! 50:21 - Closing Remarks

In this episode, our host Mike Nelson interviews Sarah Craig, the Executive Director at Caffé Lena! Caffé Lena needs no introduction as one of the most historic spots in all of Saratoga Springs, and Sarah has plenty of stories to tell about its past, present... And future! A SARATOGA BUSINESS REPORT PRODUCTION NOTE: The opinions reflected in this podcast are not indicative of the views of Saratoga Business Report, SaratogaBride.com LLC, Saratoga TODAY, Glens Falls TODAY, or Spa City Digital. 00:40 - An Introduction to Caffé Lena, and Sarah Craig 02:40 - 10 People… 900 Events! Managing a Staff 05:45 - The 2016 Renovation 08:23 - A Deeper History: Caffé Lena’s Origins 11:43 - Entrepreneurial Optimism: Joy and Struggle, Struggle and Joy 13:59 - Check Out the Documentary at: https://www.wmht.org/lena/ 14:17 - The Library of Congress: https://history.caffelena.org/ 15:00 - Famous Performers… Have to Start Somewhere! 17:20 - The COVID Crash: Thank You to All Donors! 17:54 - Commercial Break: Visit Bogey’s Pub & Grill! 18:19 - Keeping an Audience: Could Saratoga Become an Artist’s Haven? 20:58 - Emerging Artists and Legends Only! 24:47 - Not Just for Folk Folks: Lineage is the Deciding Factor! 26:41 - Keeping Ticket Prices Reasonable, While Respecting Performers 29:58 - The Importance of Merchandising 31:47 - Post-COVID… Everybody Wants to Hear Music Again! 35:18 - Focus on New People 36:47 - Commercial Break: Visit Skyzone Trampoline Park, Queensbury! 37:50 - Weekdays… Open Mic, No Alcohol, Music Lessons! 39:35 - Amplifying Fellow Non-Profits 40:56 - The Art of Community 43:03 - True Songs 43:51 - How to Get in Touch: https://www.caffelena.org/

In this episode, our host Mike Nelson interviews Chris Ryan and Leah Parillo - the "Supreme Commander" and "Purveyor of Fun" respectively at SIX Marketing! Marketing can often be a challenge for burgeoning and experienced businesses alike, and these two have no shortage of advice to offer and strategies to implement! How can their expertise help YOUR business? Take a listen and find out! A SARATOGA BUSINESS REPORT PRODUCTION NOTE: The opinions reflected in this podcast are not indicative of the views of Saratoga Business Report, SaratogaBride.com LLC, Saratoga TODAY, Glens Falls TODAY, or Spa City Digital. 00:07 - Introduction 00:45 - Not a Marketing Agency; A Growth Agency! 04:02 - The Start of SIX 06:48 - What’s Special About the SIX Approach? 08:50 - What Makes a Business Thrive?.. There’s No Single Answer, But SIX Has Them All! 12:25 - The Influencer Market… Is There Value on a Local Level? 15:39 - What’s My Company’s Next Step? 18:08 - The TikTok Bubble 20:11 - Is Having a Social Media Presence Worth It? 24:37 - Lead Generation vs. Brand Awareness 27:55 - Shoutout to EOS! 28:54 - The Data Privacy Boogeyman: Gather All You Can! 31:15 - The Shiny, Happy, Positive Trend of 2023 33:26 - SCRAPPYYYYYYY!!! 34:32 - DISC Assessments: Learn to Communicate! 38:20 - In-Person Connections Are on the Rise! 40:13 - Closing Remarks: How to Get in Touch

In this episode, our host Mike Nelson interviews Ray Apy, the CEO of Saratoga Biochar Solutions! The organization is hoping to open a facility that can process biosolids and turn them into clean fertilizer, but they've encountered some problems along the way... Find out what their goal is and how their process works in this informative episode! A SARATOGA BUSINESS REPORT PRODUCTION NOTE: The opinions reflected in this podcast are not indicative of the views of Saratoga Business Report, SaratogaBride.com LLC, Saratoga TODAY, Glens Falls TODAY, or Spa City Digital. 00:07 - Introduction 02:04 - What is Saratoga Biochar’s Goal? 04:33 - The Maine Problem… 06:51 - … And How Biochar is Completely Different! 08:38 - Restoring Carbon to Its Place in Nature (After Cleaning!) 10:26 - What Happens to PFAS and Other Nasties? 12:56 - A Clean Stack 13:55 - Pyrolysis: Heating, But Not Burning! 17:12 - Polluting Days are Over: DEC Oversight is Strict, and Biochar More Than Complies! 21:30 - Manufacturer Guarantee: How Strong Is It? VERY! 27:25 - Being a Good Neighbor 28:31 - The Lawsuit 32:16 - Biosolids vs. Sewage Sludge… Not the Same, At All! Biochar Uses Biosolids! 34:46 - Without Biochar, the Environment Suffers! 39:15 - Biochar May Qualify For USDA Organic Certification! 39:43 - Ray Would Use the Biochar Product, Too! 40:39 - Closing Remarks: How to Find Out More

In this episode, our host Mike Nelson interviews James Bruchac, the founder and program director of Ndakinna Education Center! They discuss the value of a "Renaissance Man", how martial arts can tone the body as well as the spirit, the many offerings of the Ndakinna Center, and more in this fantastic episode! A SARATOGA BUSINESS REPORT PRODUCTION NOTE: The opinions reflected in this podcast are not indicative of the views of Saratoga Business Report, SaratogaBride.com LLC, Saratoga TODAY, Glens Falls TODAY, or Spa City Digital. 00:07 - Introduction 01:14 - James Bruchac: A Renaissance Man 03:57 - The World’s Toughest 80-Year-Old 05:31 - The Ndakinna Center 07:37 - Mike’s Endorsement: He and His Son Loved Ndakinna! 08:45 - Martial Arts: Jiu Jitsu, Pencak Silat, Kyokushin Karate, Muay Thai 11:20 - SBR’s Own Chad Beatty: A Black Belt! 13:00 - The Don of Jiu Jitsu 14:30 - Jesse and the 13th Language: Abenaki 15:54 - Youth Martial Arts Training: Lots of Options! 18:28 - Martial Artists… Are Not Easy to Pick Out in a Crowd! 19:36 - Budding Martial Artists Have Nothing to Fear! 22:09 - Not Sure Which Style is Right For You? Try Them All! 25:08 - The Ups and Downs of Each Martial Art… And When to Use Them! 28:29 - Conditioning: Martial Arts to Get in Shape! 32:06 - Holiday Gifts: Buy Someone You Love a Membership! 32:45 - The Meaning of Ndakinna 34:29 - Closing Remarks: How to Get in Touch

In this episode, our host Mike Nelson interviews Nick Pavoldi, the massage master at Bodywork Professionals! They discuss the many different kinds of massage he can perform, how one of Nick's hobbies transformed into a lucrative side hustle, and the business' unique application of "Gong Therapy"... Don't know what that is? Take a listen and find out! A SARATOGA BUSINESS REPORT PRODUCTION NOTE: The opinions reflected in this podcast are not indicative of the views of Saratoga Business Report, SaratogaBride.com LLC, Saratoga TODAY, Glens Falls TODAY, or Spa City Digital. 00:27 - Introducing… Nick Pavoldi, and Bodywork Professionals! 02:30 - “Rolfing”: What is It? 05:33 - It’s Not About Crushing Pain, But CURING Pain! 08:17 - Mike’s Massages 10:04 - Not Just Rolfing: Any Kind of Massage Your Body Needs, From Mild Relaxers to Medical Therapy! 13:26 - Post-Natal Massage: An Essential Procedure! 15:48 - Gong Work: The Power of Sonic Restoration! 20:35 - Blasting Stress to Bits: BWOOOAAAAMMMM 22:30 - Letter-Pressing: Back to the Classics! 25:14 - Pursuing Your Passion 26:35 - Paying Rent with Whiskey Labels! 28:15 - Stepping Back in Time 30:04 - Put in the Effort: Even the Little Things Deserve Your Attention! 30:42 - Massage School: Bringing in the Pros to Teach the Next Pros! 34:18 - Even Santa Claus Loves Massages! Holiday Season Specials 35:34 - Closing Remarks: Call 518-MASSAGE!

In this episode, our host Steve Cully interviews Brandon Greczkowski - proprietor of Purdy's Discount Wine & Liquor and olympic-level judoka - and Jaclyn Shyptycki - a marketing mastermind! They discuss the store's stellar business model and offerings, how much work goes into being an olympian athlete, and more in this stellar episode! A SARATOGA BUSINESS REPORT PRODUCTION NOTE: The opinions reflected in this podcast are not indicative of the views of Saratoga Business Report, SaratogaBride.com LLC, Saratoga TODAY, Glens Falls TODAY, or Spa City Digital. 00:07 - Introduction 00:51 - A Brief History of Purdy’s Wine & Liquor: Open Over 60 Years! 03:30 - Judo: Starting Young and Moving On! 05:07 - Jacqueline’s Schooling: The Foreign Experience is a Delight! 08:04 - Marketing by Chance 09:29 - Ten Years in the Making! 10:32 - Competing in Judo: At the Olympic Level! 16:18 - Most Critical Aspect of Pro Judo: Cutting Weight 19:12 - Some MMA Talk: Amanda Nunes 22:23 - Marketing Strategies: Accept Your Limitations and Play To Your Strengths! 27:35 - Visit the Saratoga History Museum! 28:14 - Getting Back Into - And Out of - Judo 31:11 - Schmoozing: Right for Some, But Not All! 32:02 - Purdy’s: The Wine-Lover’s Dream Store! 34:37 - Leadership Quality: You’re Either a Leader, or You’re Not! 36:47 - Judo Training… More Fun if You Know the Basics Already! 40:06 - Splitting Duties: Get the Right People Assigned to the Right Job! 40:48 - Getting Through the Pandemic: Pretty Much No Change in Demand, People Gotta’ Drink! 42:50 - Married Life… Not That Different! Jacqueline’s Wedding 44:02 - A Marketing Tip: Don’t Try to Fumble Through It, Get a Professional! You NEED a Website! 46:22 - Holiday Top Sellers: Wine Makes a Great Present! Special Gift Boxes Available! 48:54 - Closing Remarks: How to Get in Touch

In this episode, our host Steve Cully tag-teams with Jamie Parillo from the Saratoga History Museum to interview Justin Bartlett, owner and proprietor of Dizzy Chicken! They discuss his culinary background, his history in Saratoga and Glens Falls, the challenges a restaurant can face, and more in this feature-length episode! A SARATOGA BUSINESS REPORT PRODUCTION NOTE: The opinions reflected in this podcast are not indicative of the views of Saratoga Business Report, SaratogaBride.com LLC, Saratoga TODAY, Glens Falls TODAY, or Spa City Digital. 00:01:29 - Sports History of Justin Bartlett 00:04:11 - Touring and Meeting His Wife in Romania! 00:08:37 - Farmers’ Markets: Justin Saw an Opportunity! 00:11:35 - Eastern European Work Visas… Need to Come Back! 00:13:13 - The Siren Call… Of Cooking! 00:15:16 - Culinary School is Just a Foundation: Get the Experience Next! 00:18:35 - Cooking is Not Enough: RUNNING a Restaurant is Part of the Battle, Too! 00:21:22 - Getting the Idea… 00:23:51 - Office by Day, Restaurant by Night! 00:25:49 - Smoking Chickens: The Process 00:27:14 - The Origin of Dizzy Chicken’s Name! 00:29:56 - The Wrong Side of the Street of Dreams 00:31:44 - 10 Million Dollars to… Nothing? Leaving Glens Falls 00:33:18 - Why Did Saratoga Work Out So Much Better? 00:37:15 - The COVID Crisis: How Dizzy and the Museum Coped 00:40:55 - Skip the Apps (If You Can) and Get Your Own Drivers! 00:43:17 - Learning From Mistakes: Control Those Profit Margins! 00:45:05 - Smoking With Hickory?.. NO! Oak and Maple! 00:46:20 - A Big Challenge: Balancing a Thoughtful Mindset With a Successful Model! 00:50:15 - Separate Business and Pleasure: A Funny Story 00:53:14 - Expansion? No Thanks! 00:55:01 - The Best Catering Opportunities: Weddings! 00:56:34 - A Tasty, Healthy and Locally-Sourced Menu! 01:01:27 - Smoking VS Frying: Two Very Different Methods! 01:04:49 - Working For Yourself is High-Stress… But It’s Worth It! 01:07:27 - A Five-Star Reputation! 01:09:26 - Building the Bar 01:10:21 - Restaurant Week: Three-Course Dinner, $25! 01:13:23 - Shoutout to the Staff! 01:15:10 - Murder in the Canfield Casino, December 8th!

In this spooky seasonal episode, our host Steve Cully brings in Jamie Parillo and Charlie Kuenzel from the Saratoga History Museum... To talk about GHOSTS! Ghouls, Wights, Phantoms, Specters; by any name, the remnant energy of the dead given form here on Earth... Get ready for a spine-tingling episode, as they'll talk about several confirmed encounters and readings, the potential history behind the haunting themselves... And our ghastly subjects just may chime in themselves with a few words. By the way, listeners... The interference and noise in this episode was not added in editing. A SARATOGA BUSINESS REPORT PRODUCTION NOTE: The opinions reflected in this podcast are not indicative of the views of Saratoga Business Report, SaratogaBride.com LLC, Saratoga TODAY, Glens Falls TODAY, or Spa City Digital. 00:00:07 - Introduction 00:01:04 - HULK HOGAN, BROTHER! 00:02:21 - Ghost Tours at the Canfield Casino! 00:04:02 - Rationalizing the Presence of Ghosts as a Man of Science 00:08:12 - What Makes a Believer Out of a Skeptic? 00:09:40 - Connecting History to Canfield’s Spectral Stick-Arounds 00:11:51 - The Battle of Saratoga… Oops! I Mean, Battle of Schuylerville! 00:13:04 - John Morrissey’s Fascinating History: From Prize-Fighting to State Senator to Illegal Casinos! 00:14:05 - The Presence of the Dead Has Only Recently Coalesced! 00:15:45 - Calling on the Ghost-Hunters: Did a Great and Respectful Job! 00:17:14 - Dozens of Encounters... 00:18:17 - … But One Stands Out! 00:19:27 - Functional Equipment Still Has Spooky Errors! 00:22:05 - Taking an Uninvited Guest Home… 00:23:40 - Choosing a Floor… First is Tame, but Second and Third are Simply Teeming! 00:25:38 - “Interactive Personalities” - The Nurse 00:28:25 - Have You Heard Them?.. The Whispers of the Dead?.. 00:28:50 - The Structure of the Ghost Tour 00:30:34 - The Ghost-Hunters Visit: Bringing Everything Short of a Proton Pack! 00:33:16 - Take a Picture. It’ll Last… FOREVER! 00:34:14 - Haunted Belongings: If You’re Not in the Will, Leave it Still, Or a Ghost Will Come and Give You a Chill! 00:36:15 - The Latest Phantasmal Encounters 00:37:28 - Halloween… More of a Living Holiday! 00:40:53 - Hauntings at the Bachelor Mansion and Lake Avenue School! 00:41:35 - Telling Classes About Ghosts… Only if They Behave! 00:42:07 - Overnight Stays… If You Dare! 00:43:00 - Local Ghost Hunters… Half a Dozen Organizations! Many Individuals as Well! 00:44:56 - A True Geistjäger Needs No Tools! 00:46:16 - What Lies Beyond: Paradiso, Reincarnation, Wighthood… Or Maybe All Three? 00:48:53 - Extraterrestrials… Impossible For Them Not to Exist! 00:50:04 - Quantum Theory and Relativity Cannot Coexist! There Are… Eleven Dimensions?! 00:53:35 - Mars Aeternum: The Plan to Land on the Red Planet 00:55:04 - Steve’s “Out-of-This-World” Experience 00:57:38 - The Spacefarer Budget Can’t Afford Compromise! 00:59:12 - THE DEAD SPEAK… Do You Hear? 01:00:30 - Making Money From Space Travel… Is It Possible? 01:02:25 - December 8th Fundraiser - Murder in the Canfield Casino! 01:03:58 - November 15th - Guest Speaker! 01:05:00 - Closing Remarks: Don’t Miss Out on the Upcoming Events!

In this episode, our host Steve Cully - the greatest podcast host in the (known) universe - interviews Mariah Fortune; Bowled Co. partner, trade show organizer and lacrosse coach extraordinaire! They discuss Steve's most controversial word "culture", the ups and downs of competitive atmospheres, and more in this stellar episode! A SARATOGA BUSINESS REPORT PRODUCTION NOTE: The opinions reflected in this podcast are not indicative of the views of Saratoga Business Report, SaratogaBride.com LLC, Saratoga TODAY, Glens Falls TODAY, or Spa City Digital. 00:07 - Introduction: Steve’s Got a(nother) Fan! 00:47 - The Great Culture Throwaround: It’s Not a Cheap Word! 02:46 - Where Do Staffing Issues Come From?.. Work-Life Balance! 05:12 - True Wealth is Not Money… It’s Having the Freedom to Do What You Need and Want To! 06:34 - The Entrepreneurial Spirit: Nature or Nurture? 09:15 - Where Did Mariah’s Success at ABC (and Beyond) Come From? 09:56 - Ad Break: Visit the Saratoga History Museum! 11:04 - How the Digital World Changed the Marketing Game 13:13 - Why “Bowled”? 15:06 - Opening a Business One Month Before COVID Hit… How Did Bowled Still Succeed? 16:17 - Overcoming Fear: Keep Your Foot on the Gas Pedal! 17:47 - Mariah’s Athletic Background… Doesn’t Exist?! Picking Up Coaching “Best Thing She’s Ever Done!” 20:21 - Cult-ure: The Sports Family Feeling 21:23 - Coaching Can Be Tough: Both Steve and Mariah Know! 22:36 - Sports: Get Into Them For the Right Reasons, and Learn How to Accept Losses! 25:13 - The Competitive Atmosphere: Lovely for Some, Toxic for Others! 27:16 - Franchise Coaching: Beginning at Bowled Now! 28:20 - Expos and Trade Shows: “The Bro Show” is Coming November 12th and 13th! 30:16 - It’s Not Always Easy to Sit Still! 30:53 - Mariah’s Next Venture… 32:23 - Operation At-Ease: Rescuing Dogs and Training Them to Be Service Dogs! 33:23 - Honoring our Veterans’ Sacrifices and Giving Back 36:07 - Steve’s Romantic Life… Take Her to The Bro Show! 36:38 - Closing Remarks

In this episode, our host Steve Cully - the greatest podcast host in the universe - interviews Juan Luis Lopez Fons, the head producer at Emotivo Productions! They discuss Juan's interesting youth, his passion for documentary filmmaking, and more! A SARATOGA BUSINESS REPORT PRODUCTION NOTE: The opinions reflected in this podcast are not indicative of the views of Saratoga Business Report, SaratogaBride.com LLC, Saratoga TODAY, Glens Falls TODAY, or Spa City Digital. 00:07 - Introduction 01:40 - Steve and Juan’s Experiences With BNI 04:30 - A Brief History of Juan Luis: Money Can’t Buy Happiness! 09:05 - A Flash of Inspiration: Juan Turns His Interests Into a Money-Making Venture! 12:17 - Juan’s Philosophy: Meaning Must Come From Within! Find Your Purpose! 14:36 - Understanding Psychology: It’s Always Worthwhile to Try to Understand Your Fellow Man! 16:17 - Juan’s Favorite Projects… Documentaries! Writing, Directing, Editing, and More! 20:34 - Upstate Grounds: The Project That Never Was, and Never Will Be 22:36 - Come on, Steve! Snow is Great! 23:02 - Emotivo Productions: From Side Hustle to Professional Documentary Production Company! 25:16 - Personalizing Your Work: Take Pride in Anything that Has Your Name on it! 27:10 - Commercial Break - Visit the Saratoga History Museum! 28:14 - The Emotivo Process: From Concept to Finished Production 29:43 - Editing is Awesome, But Stressful: Picking the Best Clips and Unifying Them Just Right! 32:26 - Juan’s Wife: Julia Lopez 34:35 - Capital Region Hispanic Chamber of Commerce: Helping Local Latinos! 37:37 - How Helping Your Community Helps You - In More Ways Than One! 39:23 - A Perk of Extroversion: The Fascinating Stories People Might Have For You! 41:26 - Patience… A Trait in Short Supply, The Value of Which Cannot be Overstated! 43:29 - Kindness Doesn’t Hurt! If Juan Wasn’t a Filmmaker, He’d Be a Mediator! 44:17 - Closing Remarks: How to Get in Touch!

In this episode, our host Steve Cully brings back Josh Cupp for a return interview! He still had plenty to say, and you're going to hear it all here - his special jam-packed weekend, his efforts to cultivate a real family atmosphere in his business... And much much more! Take a listen and find out just what they've got in store for you! A SARATOGA BUSINESS REPORT PRODUCTION NOTE: The opinions reflected in this podcast are not indicative of the views of Saratoga Business Report, SaratogaBride.com LLC, Saratoga TODAY, Glens Falls TODAY, or Spa City Digital. 00:07 - Introduction 01:18 - Josh’s Amazing Weekend - From Work to Pro Golf to a Concert, and Back to Work! 04:45 - The Big Benefit of Age - Learning to Appreciate What Was Once Mundane 05:57 - Strange Setlist: Not Ending With the Main Attraction? 07:01 - Talking to a Security Guard… Friendliness Can Pay Off! 09:09 - Paying it Forward: Genuine Good Deeds are Often Rewarded (But Only If You Don’t Count On It!) 11:26 - 2004 Olympics: The Redeem Team! 14:44 - Back to Culture: Takes Work to Build, But is Absolutely Worth It! 16:09 - Business Has Costs: You Can’t Have Great Culture AND A Franchise! 17:39 - Maintaining a Happy Parliament: Josh’s Joy! 18:57 - Back to the Redeem Team: One of the Best Games of All Time! 21:15 - Picking One Sport… Not For Sico! Tennis, Golf, Flag Football, Baseball, Basketball, Sailing… 25:14 - Supporting Your Kid: No Matter Their Interests! Fusing Math and Sports Together! 27:11 - Joe Rogan? No Way! Steve or Bust! 30:24 - Verbalizing Affection: Don’t Just Assume People Know! Tell Them! 31:49 - Billy Zabka 32:53 - “Shutting It Off”: Is “Retiring” From Your Sports a Bad Thing? 33:25 - Yup, We’re Still Using the Modeling Photo! 34:46 - Josh’s Relationship With His Ex-Wife… “Intriguing” 36:00 - The “Looking Glass Self” - Who Do You Think You Are? It’s Important to Have an Idea! 38:07 - Josh the Introvert… Nobody is Wholly a Trope! 40:17 - Being “Woke” - Compassion is Important! (But Pick Your Battles!) 43:30 - Comparing the Looking-Glass Self to the Public Self: When Does the Difference Matter? 44:59 - Why is Treating Others Right Prone to Such Flux? The Enigma of Sapient Minds 47:29 - The Guy in Charge Takes the Blame… Such is the Way 50:33 - Closing Remarks

In this very special tenth episode, our host Steve Cully interviews Josh Cupp, owner of The Thirsty Owl in Saratoga; and "Juniper", a local musician that sometimes plays there! They talk about the Owl and Josh's incredible history, the importance of building relationships to building a business, and - you might have seen this coming, based on the title - a little music! You won't want to miss this landmark episode! A SARATOGA BUSINESS REPORT PRODUCTION NOTE: The opinions reflected in this podcast are not indicative of the views of Saratoga Business Report, SaratogaBride.com LLC, Saratoga TODAY, Glens Falls TODAY, or Spa City Digital. 00:00:07 - Introduction 00:00:51 - The Origin of Thirsty Owl’s Name 00:02:13 - The Origin of Juniper’s Stage Name 00:03:31 - Steve’s Meeting With Jewel 00:05:44 - How Steve Got Josh on the Show: Keepin’ it Real! 00:07:30 - A Brief Background of Josh Cupp: Rome, Golf, and… Women’s Studies? 00:10:38 - How Josh Does Restaurateuring: His Way! 00:13:06 - Juniper’s Testimony: Josh is Fun, But he Still Works Hard! 00:14:17 - How Josh and Juniper Dealt With the COVID Crisis 00:15:51 - The Quiet, Family-Oriented Golf Course That is Hidden Valley… And Their Salad Dressings! 00:17:02 - Who’s Ted? A Little Cupp Family History 00:22:19 - Steve’s Search: Finding Josh by Accident! 00:22:56 - Juniper’s Background: Connecting With Saratoga Via SPAC! 00:27:28 - Open Mic Night: For Novices and Pros Alike! Any Music Lovers Welcome! 00:29:07 - No, Juniper and Josh are Not Related! 00:29:38 - Saratoga Synergy: How the Town Made a Turnaround 00:33:08 - How and Why Did Josh Decide to Open a Restaurant in Saratoga? 00:36:40 - College Coaching: So Many Rules! Why Did Steve and Josh Leave? 00:40:00 - Not Just the Owner: Josh Bartends, Waits… And Mops! 00:41:40 - The Renaissance Man is a Man Who Dips His Quill in All Things! 00:42:24 - Balancing the Bill-Paying Work With Passion Work: Busy, But Fulfilling! 00:44:46 - Transitioning Into Running a Business: You’ll Need All the Help You Can Get! 00:49:03 - The Customer… Is NOT Always Right! 13% Will Bust Your Chops, 1% Can Never Be Satisfied! 00:51:22 - Engaging With Your Customers Can Make All the Difference in the World! 00:52:36 - Cultivating Culture: Not Just a Word, But a Philosophy That Must Be Deliberately Nurtured! 00:55:42 - Keeping Good Employees: Not Just Money or Benefits, But Sharing the Vision! 00:57:40 - Sticking Together: There’s Nothing Like Family! Ohana! 01:01:00 - Solo Act VS. Playing in a Band… Juniper Couldn’t Possibly Choose Just One! 01:03:27 - Playing With Steve Zucchini of the Zucchini Brothers! 01:04:12 - Substance Abuse… Affects Some Musicians, But Not Juniper! 01:06:26 - Recruiting Players: The Life-Blood of Any Sport! Josh Loved It! Transfer Protocol Being Gone is Great! 01:10:37 - MUSIC TIME!!! Juniper Plays “You Ain’t Woman Enough” as a Tribute to Loretta Lynn 01:14:49 - How to Find More Juniper Music: Online and Local Shows! 01:15:54 - Upcoming Events at the Owl: Wine-Pairing Dinner, Steve Candlen! 01:17:25 - Closing Remarks

In this episode, our stellar host Steve Cully interviews Bob Fitch, head of the Bob Fitch State Farm Agency! They discuss Bob's history, his choice to start a business instead of climbing the corporate ladder, his business' moral philosophy, and more in this superb episode! A SARATOGA BUSINESS REPORT PRODUCTION NOTE: The opinions reflected in this podcast are not indicative of the views of Saratoga Business Report, SaratogaBride.com LLC, Saratoga TODAY, Glens Falls TODAY, or Spa City Digital. 00:08 - Introduction 01:34 - A Little History of Bob Fitch and His Family 03:00 - Bob’s Sports Experience: Division 2 Basketball at Green Mountain! 03:54 - The Burnt Hills Powerhouse: A Recent Phenomenon! 04:55 - Why Green Mountain? 07:25 - Steve’s College Experience at Yukon: A Much Larger School Makes For a Less Focused Experience! 08:35 - Steve Asks “The” Question: No, Bob Did Not Play Football! 09:07 - A “Mind For Marketing” 09:59 - How Bob Found His Way to Insurance 11:49 - Mortgage Brokering: The Inside Scoop 12:59 - A Very Special Internship 14:00 - The Importance of Workplace Culture 14:45 - Grammar Lesson: “Resonate” is the Word in This Case! 15:06 - Pivoting Away From Mortgages 15:53 - Underwriting: Triple-Checking if Doing Business is Worthwhile or Not! 17:14 - Educating and Getting to Know Your Customers: Essential for a Good Insurance Provider! 18:11 - Climbing the Corporate Ladder… Not For Everyone! 18:57 - Personal Connections: Less and Less the Higher You Climb! 20:16 - Self-Employment: A Challenge, But Such a Worthwhile One! 21:02 - How Independent is an Insurance Agency That Still Sells “State Farm” Insurance?.. VERY! 23:14 - The 2011 Return Home: State Farm Helped the Dream Become a Reality! 24:22 - Insurance Licensing: Not Too Hard! Take the Test! 27:32 - Where IS the Agency? Moreau, New York! 28:28 - How Did Sports Shape Bob Fitch… And How Can They Help Shape Others, Too? 30:59 - The Community’s Love For Bob Fitch: He’s More Than a Marketing Tycoon! 33:00 - Branding: Not Just For the Company, But For YOURSELF! 34:38 - Marketing: Not a Drag, But a Delight! 35:33 - Social Media Strategies: Quite the Change From Direct Mailing! 38:26 - Name-Dropping Bob’s Amazing Team! 38:47 - Which Platform is Most Successful? Doesn’t Matter - The Content Does! 40:22 - Leave the Inorganic Stuff to Corporate! 41:28 - Personalized Insurance: Auto, Home and Life to Perfectly Suit Your Needs! 43:58 - Salvaging Bad Experiences: Show Malcontents How the Pros Do It! 44:59 - Bob’s Employees?.. No! Bob’s TEAM! 46:38 - How Bob Can Handle Changing You From Your Current Provider 48:21 - Culture: More Than Just a Buzzword! Don’t Just Say It - MEAN IT! 48:58 - Closing Remarks

In this dynamite episode, our host Steve "Scully" Cully interviews JR Butler, the founder and CEO of Shift Group! They talk about the company's focus on hiring athletes, their strong training program, and more in this informative episode! A SARATOGA BUSINESS REPORT PRODUCTION NOTE: The opinions reflected in this podcast are not indicative of the views of Saratoga Business Report, SaratogaBride.com LLC, Saratoga TODAY, Glens Falls TODAY, or Spa City Digital. 00:07 - Introduction 00:34 - JR Confirms What We Already Know 01:32 - How JR Came to Start Shift Group 04:13 - How Athletes Make Good Sales Representatives: Focusing on the Fundamentals 05:41 - College Teaches Many Things… But NOT the Fundamentals You NEED! 06:56 - Recent Graduates VS Seasoned Recruits: Either is Good, But You Just Can’t Beat Experience! 09:49 - What Kind of Training Can Shift Group Hires Expect? 12:29 - How Much Work Goes Into Making a Good Resume? Is It Important? 14:58 - The Shift Group Team! 16:34 - Steve Harassed His Trainer: To Make Sure He Was Doing His Job Right! 17:28 - How and Why Did JR Decide to Make Time For Every New Employee? 19:27 - How are People Recruited to Shift Group?.. Not For Remote Workers! 21:25 - An Important Part of Sales: Matching Salesperson Personalities to the Clients! 22:43 - You’re Not Just a Resume in a Pile: You’re a Skilled, Valuable Person! 23:41 - What IS the Interview Process? Is it Consistent? How SG is Advancing Theirs 25:14 - Steve’s Experience With Shift Group: 24/7 Communication! 26:14 - Survive and Advance: Find Out How You Did, Even if it’s Awkward! 27:54 - Steve’s Heartfelt “Thank You” 28:54 - Closing Remarks