Conversations with Rich Bennett

When a kid pulling golf balls out of ponds grows up to build one of the most influential platforms in podcasting, you know there’s a story worth hearing.In this episode, I’m joined by Alex Sanfilippo, founder of PodMatch and host of Podcasting Made Simple. We talk about his journey from the aerospace world to faith-based blogging and podcasting, to launching PodMatch in 2020 and watching it explode just as the world went into lockdown. Alex shares how a simple idea – “like a dating app, but for podcast interviews” – became a global tool that helps hosts find the right guests and guests find the right stages.We also dig into why Alex gives half of PodMatch’s profit back to podcasters through the PodValue initiative, what most hosts get wrong about sharing links to their shows, and how he’s building features like a built-in Workflow and review swaps to help podcasters grow sustainably.If you host a podcast, dream of starting one, or just love a good entrepreneurship story rooted in service and integrity, this conversation will encourage you to keep creating, keep connecting, and keep the conversations going.Send us Fan MailFreedom Federal Credit UnionHELPING YOU REACH YOUR FINANCIAL DREAMSDisclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the showRate & Review on Apple Podcasts Follow the Conversations with Rich Bennett podcast on Social Media:Facebook – Conversations with Rich Bennett Facebook Group (Join the conversation) – Conversations with Rich Bennett podcast group | FacebookTwitter – Conversations with Rich Bennett Instagram – @conversationswithrichbennettTikTok – CWRB (@conversationsrichbennett) | TikTokSponsors, Affiliates, and ways we pay the bills:Hosted on BuzzsproutSquadCastSubscribe by Email

In this solo episode, host Rich Bennett pulls back the curtain on podcast advertising and shares what most businesses and nonprofits never hear before they sponsor a show. He explains why podcasting is such a powerful medium, why downloads do not equal listeners, and what really matters when you are deciding where to invest your marketing dollars.Rich walks through the key questions every smart sponsor should ask a podcaster: How long has the show been active? Who is actually listening? What hosting platform do they use? Does that platform insert its own ads, including possible competitors, right into your paid spot? Is the show a true podcast with an RSS feed, or just a video series calling itself one?He also shares how his own journey from Harford County Living to a podcast heard in more than 125 countries shaped the way he treats sponsors as true partners, not just logo placements. From guest opportunities and category exclusivity to giving sponsors full access to episode files for their own marketing, Rich lays out a model built on trust, long-term value, and community.If you are a business or nonprofit thinking about sponsoring a podcast – or already doing it – this episode will help you protect your brand and get far more from every ad dollar you spend.Send us Fan MailSupport the showRate & Review on Apple Podcasts Follow the Conversations with Rich Bennett podcast on Social Media:Facebook – Conversations with Rich Bennett Facebook Group (Join the conversation) – Conversations with Rich Bennett podcast group | FacebookTwitter – Conversations with Rich Bennett Instagram – @conversationswithrichbennettTikTok – CWRB (@conversationsrichbennett) | TikTokSponsors, Affiliates, and ways we pay the bills:Hosted on BuzzsproutSquadCastSubscribe by Email

When a business valuer told Australian marketer Wes Towers that his web and SEO agency “wasn’t worth much” because AI was coming for it, he was already in the middle of a divorce and feeling like everything was falling apart. Instead of walking away, Wes decided to confront the disruption head-on and rebuild his business around what AI cannot replace: human trust, clarity, and connection.In this episode, Wes shares how he went from crying under his desk to having his best financial year ever, why “search everywhere optimization” matters for trades and construction brands, and how to use AI as a powerful amplifier instead of a generic content machine. We also dig into the biggest website mistake that quietly kills sales, why you still absolutely need a website even if you are active on social media, and how Wes is changing his own habits as a founder.If you are a business owner, marketer, or trades leader trying to figure out where you fit in an AI-driven world, this conversation will give you both practical tools and some hope.Send us Fan MailEco-Cool HVACYOUR FRIEND IN THE SUMMERS & WINTERS! Heating & Air Conditioning Service and Repair, Furnace & BoilDisclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the showRate & Review on Apple Podcasts Follow the Conversations with Rich Bennett podcast on Social Media:Facebook – Conversations with Rich Bennett Facebook Group (Join the conversation) – Conversations with Rich Bennett podcast group | FacebookTwitter – Conversations with Rich Bennett Instagram – @conversationswithrichbennettTikTok – CWRB (@conversationsrichbennett) | TikTokSponsors, Affiliates, and ways we pay the bills:Hosted on BuzzsproutSquadCastSubscribe by Email

Jason Clark’s career started in a high school graphic arts program, running printing presses and drawing metal band logos on chalkboards. Today, he is the Chief Marketing Officer at Via Studio, a creative agency that has spent more than 25 years helping mission-driven organizations, nonprofits, and public institutions bring their brands to life.In this conversation, Jason and I get real about what still works in branding and marketing in a world full of AI, algorithms, and endless digital noise. We talk about his early work creating interactive CD-ROM training for GE Appliances, the award-winning rebrand of Kentucky’s Bernheim Forest, and why we might have moved from the “information age” into the “identity age.”Jason shares how to build logos and campaigns that actually mean something, why community feedback is now non-negotiable, and how AI can be a powerful assistant without replacing human creativity. We also have some fun with bourbon, clear ice, and the Mr. Boston Bartender’s Guide.If you are a business owner, nonprofit leader, or creative trying to stand out without selling out, this episode will give you a lot to think about and a few ideas you can use right away.Send us Fan MailAmerican Auto Repair Sales & ServicesAmerican Auto Repair & Performance was founded on the basic idea that everyone deserves respect. It Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the showRate & Review on Apple Podcasts Follow the Conversations with Rich Bennett podcast on Social Media:Facebook – Conversations with Rich Bennett Facebook Group (Join the conversation) – Conversations with Rich Bennett podcast group | FacebookTwitter – Conversations with Rich Bennett Instagram – @conversationswithrichbennettTikTok – CWRB (@conversationsrichbennett) | TikTokSponsors, Affiliates, and ways we pay the bills:Hosted on BuzzsproutSquadCastSubscribe by Email

Former bartender and opiate addict Eric Turney hit multiple rock bottoms, including jail and failed treatment attempts, before a surprise wake up call changed everything. When he and his partner learned they were expecting their first child, Eric decided he was done burning bridges. He got serious about 12 step recovery and took a chance on a new life as an entry level sales rep at a small promotional products company. Today, Eric is the President and Sales and Marketing Director of The Monterey Company, a custom branded merch company founded in 1989 that creates premium challenge coins, lapel pins, belt buckles, hats, apparel, and more for brands like Google, Amazon, Target, Bentley, Lions Clubs, military units, and local organizations. After the founder offered employees the chance to buy the business, Eric and his partners stepped up and took it over. In this conversation, Eric and I dig into his journey through addiction and recovery, how he rebuilt his life and career, and why he believes high quality merch beats cheap “trash trinkets” every time. We talk challenge coins and club pins, wild custom projects like Bentley letter openers and ultra marathon belt buckles, the surprising subculture of lapel pin collectors, and how smart SEO and retargeting help The Monterey Company stand out in a noisy world. We also get hungry talking barbecue, smoked salmon, oysters, and crab mac and cheese, and we close with Eric sharing what people often get wrong when they look at his life now and why mentoring others in recovery has become a powerful form of therapy. If you care about second chances, small business, or branding that actually means something, you are going to get a lot out of this episode.Sponsor: This episode is brought to you by Your Pet AuPair, your pet care partner in Bel Air, Maryland. They provide bonded, insured, and background checked pet sitters trained in pet first aid and CPR so you can travel with peace of mind. Visit belairaupair.com to learn more. Send us Fan MailYour Pet AuPairDoing It for the Sits & Wiggles! At Your Pet AuPair our mission is to give your pets the same Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the showRate & Review on Apple Podcasts Follow the Conversations with Rich Bennett podcast on Social Media:Facebook – Conversations with Rich Bennett Facebook Group (Join the conversation) – Conversations with Rich Bennett podcast group | FacebookTwitter – Conversations with Rich Bennett Instagram – @conversationswithrichbennettTikTok – CWRB (@conversationsrichbennett) | TikTokSponsors, Affiliates, and ways we pay the bills:Hosted on BuzzsproutSquadCastSubscribe by Email

Author and artist Lara Luna never planned on becoming the “angel number lady” in her Florida 55+ trailer park. After years of painting and working as a mobile home agent, she hit a breaking point and started asking bigger questions about why she was here and what she was meant to do. A trip into hidden caves in Lecanto, Florida, where she found 444 and 111 spray painted on the walls, sent her down a rabbit hole of synchronicities, angel numbers, and a full-on spiritual awakening.In this episode, Lara joins Rich to talk about her memoir Trailer Park Angel and the podcast of the same name, where trailer park drama, spiritual signs, and everyday humor collide. She shares how numbers like 444, 555, 666, and 11:11 helped her move out of a fear-based belief system, how her book helped a depressed neighbor feel less alone and protected, and why she believes we never really die. You will also hear hilarious stories about gnome-filled lawns, Captain Crunch the one-eyed alligator, and the “banana economy” where neighbors drop off fruit right before asking for a big favor.Lara also opens up about her automatic writing practice, channeling messages she later validated through multiple AI programs, and why her next book may be the most important thing she will ever publish. Along the way, she and Rich reflect on authenticity, not giving your power away, and what it means to live in a world where people truly show up for one another.If you need a dose of laughter, hope, and proof that you are more guided than you realize, this conversation is for you.Connect with Lara: Website: https://laralunacreations.comSend us Fan MailRichardson FarmsLocally grown produce, flowers, fresh rotisserie chicken, specialty food items, and more!Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the showRate & Review on Apple Podcasts Follow the Conversations with Rich Bennett podcast on Social Media:Facebook – Conversations with Rich Bennett Facebook Group (Join the conversation) – Conversations with Rich Bennett podcast group | FacebookTwitter – Conversations with Rich Bennett Instagram – @conversationswithrichbennettTikTok – CWRB (@conversationsrichbennett) | TikTokSponsors, Affiliates, and ways we pay the bills:Hosted on BuzzsproutSquadCastSubscribe by Email

Mental health is still one of the hardest things for people to talk about, even while more of us are willing to use words like anxiety, depression, and trauma. In this episode, Rich is joined once again by licensed clinical social worker and executive leader Jennifer Redding, founder of Harford Counseling and co-founder of Pebbles Throw Consulting, to dig into what real trauma-informed care looks like in everyday life and at work. Jennifer breaks down why mental health has long been seen as a “character flaw,” how social media encourages self-diagnosis and labels, and why there is a big difference between a tough season and a clinical condition. She shares the origin story of Harford Counseling, explains how trauma and substance use are intertwined, and talks about the importance of treating people as whole human beings rather than separating “mental health,” “addiction,” and “life problems” into different boxes.The conversation then shifts into the workplace. Jennifer introduces concierge  behavioral health, a new arm of Harford Counseling that reimagines traditional employee assistance. She explains how trauma-informed leadership, psychological safety, and simple, consistent practices can improve retention, reduce conflict, and help people actually want to show up and do their best work.If you are a leader, a parent, a helping professional, or simply someone who wants to better understand your own mental health, this episode will give you language, perspective, and hope.Learn more about Jennifer and her team: HarfordCounseling.comSend us Fan MailSupport the showRate & Review on Apple Podcasts Follow the Conversations with Rich Bennett podcast on Social Media:Facebook – Conversations with Rich Bennett Facebook Group (Join the conversation) – Conversations with Rich Bennett podcast group | FacebookTwitter – Conversations with Rich Bennett Instagram – @conversationswithrichbennettTikTok – CWRB (@conversationsrichbennett) | TikTokSponsors, Affiliates, and ways we pay the bills:Hosted on BuzzsproutSquadCastSubscribe by Email

What happens when a neurologist spends more than 30 years not just treating the brain, but really listening to the person behind the diagnosis?In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Carolyn Larkin Taylor, a board certified neurologist and author of Whispers of the Mind: A Neurologist’s Memoir. Carolyn shares stories from the exam room and the bedside that will move you, challenge you, and restore some faith in what medicine can look like when compassion leads the way.We talk about her journey from optometrist to neurologist, why MS and Parkinson’s patients hold a special place in her heart, and how treatments for these conditions have changed over the years. Carolyn also opens up about the pressures of corporatized medicine, medical gaslighting, and the burnout many doctors are feeling as insurance and billing rules pull them away from real human connection.One of the most powerful parts of this conversation is the story of Prancer, the golden retriever therapy dog who worked by Carolyn’s side for 14 years and comforted patients in ways medicine never could. We also explore addiction, end of life decisions, and the neurologic illnesses that affected her own family.If you have ever felt dismissed as a patient, know someone living with a neurologic condition, or just want to hear stories of courage and humanity in healthcare, this is an episode worth your time.Listen in, share it with a friend, and check out Whispers of the Mind to dive even deeper into Carolyn’s stories.Send us Fan MailSerenity Salt Spa Serenity Salt Spa is the 1st Himalayan Salt Therapy & Wellness Spa to come to Harford County, MarylaDisclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the showRate & Review on Apple Podcasts Follow the Conversations with Rich Bennett podcast on Social Media:Facebook – Conversations with Rich Bennett Facebook Group (Join the conversation) – Conversations with Rich Bennett podcast group | FacebookTwitter – Conversations with Rich Bennett Instagram – @conversationswithrichbennettTikTok – CWRB (@conversationsrichbennett) | TikTokSponsors, Affiliates, and ways we pay the bills:Hosted on BuzzsproutSquadCastSubscribe by Email

Author and recovery advocate Damian Bloss returns to share how much life has changed since he first stepped onto the podcast and broke his silence. His memoir, Breaking the Silence, continues to reach people across the country, and in this conversation Damian opens up about speaking engagements, podcast appearances, and the surprising ways his story has made an impact.Damian also gives a first look at his next book, Recovering Out Loud, a hybrid of storytelling and workbook-style exercises designed to help readers navigate the recovery journey. He explains why Pink Cloud Syndrome needs more attention, how community support shaped his healing, and why he’s now pushing himself into new creative and outreach opportunities.From humor and honesty to deep reflection, this episode highlights the courage it takes to speak openly about recovery and the power of helping just one person at the right moment.Send us Fan MailChesapeake Podcast NetworkCPN (Chesapeake Podcast Network) is a collection of podcasts that are somehow tied to the ChesapeakeDisclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the showRate & Review on Apple Podcasts Follow the Conversations with Rich Bennett podcast on Social Media:Facebook – Conversations with Rich Bennett Facebook Group (Join the conversation) – Conversations with Rich Bennett podcast group | FacebookTwitter – Conversations with Rich Bennett Instagram – @conversationswithrichbennettTikTok – CWRB (@conversationsrichbennett) | TikTokSponsors, Affiliates, and ways we pay the bills:Hosted on BuzzsproutSquadCastSubscribe by Email

Author Claudine Marcin returns to Conversations with Rich Bennett, and this episode goes places. From real-life ghost encounters that shaped her horror novels to the research behind The Owl Witch, Claudine offers a fascinating look into her storytelling process. We dig into folklore, the craft of building fear, and even how historical journal entries helped bring her characters to life.But that’s only half of it. Claudine also opens up about her adventures in modern online dating—complete with catfishing, red flags, unsolicited photos, and stories wild enough to inspire her upcoming smut/romance novel. With Kayla cohosting, this episode is equal parts spooky, hilarious, and brutally honest.If you enjoy horror, folklore, writing, dating stories, or just great conversation, you’ll love this one. Learn more about Claudine and her books at ClaudineMarcin.com.Send us Fan MailCleverCat MarketingDreams shouldn't cost a fortune, budget should never be a barrier! We focus on YOU & create killer cDisclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the showRate & Review on Apple Podcasts Follow the Conversations with Rich Bennett podcast on Social Media:Facebook – Conversations with Rich Bennett Facebook Group (Join the conversation) – Conversations with Rich Bennett podcast group | FacebookTwitter – Conversations with Rich Bennett Instagram – @conversationswithrichbennettTikTok – CWRB (@conversationsrichbennett) | TikTokSponsors, Affiliates, and ways we pay the bills:Hosted on BuzzsproutSquadCastSubscribe by Email