Small Strides BIG Business

In this episode of Small Strides Big Business, Krystal Small sits down with Sonja Kuhn, founder of Mint Cover, an education-first insurance marketplace designed for Gen Z consumers.
Sonja shares her entrepreneurial journey from working in consulting to launching her own startup, the challenges of building in the insurance industry, and how AI can improve customer experiences without removing the human touch.
In this episode:• How Sonja identified a gap in the insurance market• Why transparency matters in insurance• The role of AI in matching customers with the right coverage• Why mentorship is critical for entrepreneurs• Time management and productivity tips for founders• The importance of trust in business and insurance
Connect with Sonja Kuhn:🌐 MintCover.net📧 Sonja@mintcover.net🔗 LinkedIn: Sonja Kuhn
🎧 New podcast episodes every Thursday.
#Entrepreneurship #AI #Insurance #InsurTech #WomenInBusiness #StartupFounder

What happens when AI transforms healthcare, leadership, and the way we make decisions?
In this powerful episode of Small Strides Big Business, Krystal Small sits down with Mark Seghers, CEO & Co-Founder of Inspire Health Tech, to discuss the future of AI in healthcare, entrepreneurship, transparency, and the growing challenge of finding truth in a digital world.
Mark shares his journey from programmer and insurance executive to building innovative healthcare technology focused on helping consumers make smarter healthcare decisions through predictive analytics and AI.
In this episode, we discuss:✔️ How AI is reshaping healthcare✔️ Why healthcare transparency matters✔️ The dangers of misinformation and AI bias✔️ Entrepreneurship lessons from decades of experience✔️ Why loving your work changes your life✔️ The future of human connection in an AI-driven world
This conversation is insightful, thought-provoking, and packed with practical wisdom for entrepreneurs, healthcare professionals, business leaders, and anyone curious about the future of technology.
🎙️ Subscribe for more conversations on:• Entrepreneurship• AI & Innovation• Leadership• Healthcare Technology• Business Growth
#AI #Healthcare #HealthTech #Leadership #Entrepreneurship #ArtificialIntelligence #Podcast #Innovation #BusinessGrowth #FutureOfWork

In this episode of Small Strides Big Business, Krystal Small welcomes Travis Yoh — entrepreneur, financial educator, and CEO of FTG Financial — for an eye-opening conversation about entrepreneurship, financial literacy, and creative wealth-building strategies.
Travis shares his journey from working within large MLM organizations to building his own company focused on education, relationships, and long-term financial empowerment.
Together, they discuss:• Infinite Banking & IUL strategies• Creative finance & real estate investing• Financial fears entrepreneurs face• Building a business while raising a family• Why success looks different over time• The importance of persistence and continuous learning
This episode is full of practical insights, mindset shifts, and real conversations about creating wealth in non-traditional ways.
🎙️ Whether you’re an entrepreneur, parent, investor, or simply looking to better understand money, this episode will challenge the way you think about financial freedom.
Listen now and take your next small stride toward bigger possibilities.
#SmallStridesBigBusiness #EntrepreneurPodcast #FinancialLiteracy #CreativeFinance #InfiniteBanking #BusinessGrowth #Mindset #WealthBuilding #TravisYoh

What does it really take to build a $40–$50 million business in an industry people don’t even like?
In this episode of Small Strides Big Business, Krystal sits down with Tad Nottage, founder of Aloha Insurance, to break down a 30+ year journey of resilience, smart decisions, and one powerful philosophy:
👉 People don’t need to love your product—they need to love working with you.
From surviving a life-changing accident to scaling a thriving agency in Hawaii, Tad shares the real lessons behind:
Building a business from the ground up
Hiring (and keeping) the right people
Why customer service is your biggest competitive edge
How AI is transforming—not replacing—teams
And what most business owners are still getting wrong
This is a must-listen for entrepreneurs, agency owners, and anyone looking to grow a business without losing the human touch.
💡 Key Takeaways:
✔ The 90-day hiring rule that saves businesses ✔ Why answering your phone still wins ✔ How AI can save HOURS (without cutting jobs) ✔ The mindset shift that unlocked real growth
🎧 Tune in and discover how small strides can truly lead to big business.
#AIinBusiness #ArtificialIntelligence #FutureOfWork #Automation #TechInBusiness

What if insurance wasn’t about selling… but about serving?
In this episode, Mark Zimmerman, Founder of Aurifex Financial, shares the powerful moment that changed his perspective forever—delivering an insurance check to a grieving widow.
That experience shaped his mission: 👉 To help families protect what matters most 👉 To guide people from paycheck-to-paycheck living to financial stability 👉 To bring trust and education back into the insurance industry
This conversation goes beyond policies and premiums. We dive into: ✔️ Why insurance is really about wealth protection ✔️ The importance of financial education in today’s world ✔️ How to balance lead generation with real client relationships ✔️ Overcoming fear and taking action in sales and business ✔️ What it truly means to serve, not sell
 
Whether you're an entrepreneur, a financial professional, or someone looking to better understand how to protect your future—this episode delivers real, actionable insight.
🎧 Tune in and rethink what financial protection really means.
📌 Connect with Mark Zimmerman: 🌐 Aurifex Financial
📚 Join his free community: Aurifex Wealth Blueprint
👉 If you found value in this episode, don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share with someone who needs to hear this.

What does it take to build a 50-year career in insurance—and stay relevant through every major industry shift?
In this episode of Small Strides Big Business, we sit down with Michael Wish, an independent insurance advisor and educator with over five decades of experience.
From starting at just 18 years old to building his own agency at 26, Michael shares real-world lessons on: ✔️ Adapting to industry changes (tax laws, tech, and now AI) ✔️ Why disability insurance is often misunderstood ✔️ The importance of asking the right questions ✔️ How mentorship and relationships shape long-term success ✔️ What it truly means to be “client-first”
💡 One powerful takeaway: "I’m here to help my clients. That’s the bottom line."
If you're an insurance professional, entrepreneur, or someone looking to better protect your financial future—this conversation is packed with insights you can use.

What if the way you’ve been taught to use money… is costing you more than you realize?
In this episode of Small Strides Big Business, Krystal sits down with Jeremiah and Jonah Dew—better known as the Banking Bros—to unpack the concept of infinite banking and how it’s helping families rethink the way they save, spend, and build wealth.
They break down:
The difference between “if” vs. “when” financial products
Their simple 3-cup system to understand cash flow and equity
How people are using this strategy to pay off debt, fund purchases, and keep their money growing
Why it’s never too late to start taking control of where your money lives
Plus, they share powerful insights on:
Building a brand through consistency
Leveraging systems to scale a business
The framework: Eliminate. Automate. Delegate.
If you’re ready to challenge traditional thinking and take more control over your financial future—this episode is for you.

In this episode of Small Strides Big Business, we sit down with James Ahearn, an attorney, therapist, and entrepreneur who built a unique career at the intersection of law, mental health, and business leadership.
James shares his unconventional journey from law school to becoming the founder and clinical director of Sonder Counseling, where he now leads a growing team of clinicians.
We dive into the realities of building a service-based business, scaling a counseling practice, and balancing the human side of therapy with the operational side of running a company.
If you're an entrepreneur, healthcare professional, or business leader, this conversation offers powerful insights into leadership, culture, and sustainable growth.

 In this episode, William Allison — founder of Modern Healthcare Plans of America and a 40-year insurance industry veteran — shares what most people don’t know about medical billing, private health plans, and how to shop smarter in today’s healthcare system.
From rising marketplace premiums to negotiating hospital bills, this conversation dives deep into practical strategies that could save individuals, families, and small business owners thousands of dollars.
🎯 In This Episode, You’ll Learn:
Why you should never pay the first medical bill How hospital pricing really works
What 501(c)(3) nonprofit hospitals don’t advertise
Alternatives to ACA marketplace health plans
How defined benefit plans compare to traditional coverage
Why specialization is the key to long-term insurance success
How referral partnerships grow an insurance business
Whether you’re self-employed, a small business owner, or an insurance professional, this episode is packed with real-world insights you can apply immediately.
 

What do you do when your business launches straight into a crisis?
 
In this episode of Small Strides Big Business, Dave McFadden shares how he and his wife Cindy turned a devastating start — hurricanes, a shrinking captive carrier, and two years of losses — into a 20-year success story as independent agency owners.
 
Instead of quitting, they pivoted.
 
They left the captive model, went independent, eliminated their brick-and-mortar office, and built a thriving virtual insurance agency powered by relationships, referrals, and exceptional customer service.
 
In this episode, Dave breaks down:
 
✔️ Why going independent was the turning point
✔️ How eliminating office overhead increased flexibility and profit
✔️ The #1 “kiss of death” mistake insurance agents make
✔️ Why personal touch beats automation and AI (for now)
✔️ How proactive client education reduces churn and builds 10+ year relationships
✔️ Why explaining coverage matters more than offering the lowest price
If you're an insurance agent, entrepreneur, or small business owner, this episode is packed with practical insights on resilience, retention, and building a referral-driven business that lasts.