Publicist and entertainment manager Cathy Cardenas joins the Mostly Middle Tennessee Business Podcast to unpack how real PR works in 2024: word-of-mouth over ads, picking the right clients, protecting reputations in the internet age, and keeping faith at the center through brutal personal seasons.

Cathy and Jim swap radio war stories, talk about WWE and NFL stars, dig into hard lessons from bad clients, and break down what it actually takes to be “PR ready” as a brand or business. Cathy also shares how she built her agency almost entirely on referrals, launched a clothing line and a faith-based podcast, and walked through a year that included losing her mom and her son’s cancer battle.

Timed highlights:
00:00 Self-employed life and intro to the Mostly Middle Tennessee Business Podcast
05:00 Launching a PR firm in a financial crisis and the Lucha Libre breakthrough
07:18 Why her entire PR business is built on word-of-mouth
10:33 Turning people away: “You’re not ready for PR yet”
18:22 The “Ferrari principle” of being selective with clients
26:45 The “I want a Gary V content machine on a $60K salary” conversation
30:41 From Lucha Libre to TNA Wrestling and working with Hulk Hogan
33:38 NFL, NBA, WWE, Danica Patrick, Danica McKellar, and Donovan McNabb
42:33 How the internet changed crisis and reputation management
51:24 Thank-you notes, fan engagement, and the Taylor Swift playbook
58:00 Hope Wear Clothing, Grace Begins podcast, and giving back
59:43 Losing her mom and her son’s cancer year – and which clients stayed
1:03:43 Her son’s cancer-free update and why she added consulting

mmtbp.com
CathyCardenas.com
@GraceBeginsThePodcast on Youtube

John Myers of Alliance Family Services joins Jim to talk candidly about faith, church hurt, and the hard conversations around abortion and real-world ministry.

They dive into John’s journey from missionary kid to youth pastor to working with Alliance Women’s Clinic, why honesty and trust matter more than polished church branding, and how men must step up in the pro‑life conversation. Jim shares deeply personal stories about grief, divine nudges, and what it really means to hear from God in everyday life.

If you or someone you know is facing an unplanned pregnancy, or wrestling with doubts about church, faith, or the pro‑life movement, this conversation is raw, honest, and full of hope.

Timed highlights:
1:42 Football, rugby, and late‑night baby cardio
7:36 Ice cream, Ninja Creami, and nutrition struggles at 50
10:48 Eggnog, alcohol, and learning moderation
12:21 John’s missionary‑kid upbringing and moving all over the world
15:11 Church hurt, trusting pastors, and putting faith in Jesus instead of people
19:04 Jim’s journey into apologetics and the case for Christ
25:05 Prophecies, Bible credibility, and why the details matter
31:26 Meeting his British wife, moving to England, and life in ministry
47:14 Leaving a church staff role over leadership issues
52:16 Branding, church shopping, and when church becomes an idol
58:00 Marketing candor, Avis vs. Hertz, and why people crave honesty
1:11:05 How John ended up at Alliance Women’s Clinic in Tennessee
1:13:32 What Alliance actually does for women and families
1:17:10 Abortion, the Holocaust comparison, and the numbers no one wants to talk about
1:19:50 Why John believes unborn children have God‑given value
1:38:41 Services Alliance offers, including abortion pill reversal
1:44:54 Post‑abortive care and why Jesus still wants the rose
1:49:38 How to connect with Alliance Women’s Clinic and support the work

Alliance Women’s Clinic (local site): https://alliancewomensclinic.org

Mostly Middle Tennessee Business Podcast: https://mmtbp.com

Studio: https://itsyourshow.co

Jim McCarthy sits down with Babcox Media’s Brian Ankney to talk about how a 106-year-old automotive media company keeps reinventing itself with video, AI search, and niche-focused content. They dive into the real future of car dealerships, F&I, EVs, and what “good” selling actually looks like in 2026.

If you’re in automotive, real estate, or any small business that lives on leads and relationships, this episode is loaded with practical perspective and stories from the trenches.

Highlights
00:00 Sales vs “being pushy”: reframing what selling really is
03:30 E-bikes, safety, and 50-year-old-guy workouts
04:27 Who is Brian Ankney and what is Babcox Media?
05:38 How a 106-year-old print company reinvented into video and podcasts
06:25 Building a garage studio right before COVID (and what it did for the business)
08:05 Letting the market tell you where to go (niche media and product pivots)
13:21 How Babcox uses AI instead of editorial calendars
15:11 AI search, car shoppers, and why “traditional” search is quietly shrinking
18:16 Why not paying attention to AI search could cost 30–40% of your market
20:53 What the next generation dislikes about AI (and why)
21:14 Tech shortages in dealerships, body shops, and repair facilities
24:42 Subscription car services and the future of vehicle ownership
28:21 Cars as rolling storage units and the “junk trailer” idea
30:38 New battery tech and the truth about “clean” energy
32:21 EVs, coal plants, and how emissions are really measured
33:54 Leasing vs buying EVs and the resale value problem
37:17 Full-serve gas in New Jersey and post-COVID fuel lines
38:21 Third-generation leadership at Babcox and staying “100 years young”
41:03 Inside culture at Babcox: open doors, mandatory AI, and cross-brand collaboration
42:05 Why Brian now hosts multiple industry podcasts
43:19 How much engineering goes into tire tread
43:58 Early career: selling cars, consulting, and flying every day pre-9/11
47:34 High-pressure window sales, 65% first-night close, and getting thrown out of houses
52:33 Lessons from the Honda and Mercedes showroom floors
55:10 Why most people are still going to need a human in the car-buying process

_____________________________________________________________________
****SUBSCRIBE/RATE/FOLLOW the Mostly Middle Tennessee Business Podcast: www.mmtbp.com www.instagram.com/mostlymiddletnbusinespodcast www.instagram.com/jimmccarthyvos Tiktok: @jimmccarthyvos

Phillip Cantrell went from running a family printing business to building Benchmark Realty into a multi-state brokerage closing over $5 billion a year in sales. In this episode, we talk about pivots, faith, hard times, and why real estate is facing its own “2008 moment” with AI and industry lawsuits.

Phillip shares what he learned from brutal commercial printing, how he rebuilt during the 2008 crash, why he sold Benchmark, and what agents and business owners must do to survive the next wave of change. If you’re an entrepreneur, real estate pro, or anyone grinding through a tough season, this one’s for you.

Timed Highlights:
00:00 Real estate, radio, and low-bar professions
04:08 Launching Benchmark from the front room of his house
17:52 The 2008 crash flips the switch off overnight
19:18 Reinventing as a fee-based brokerage model
22:24 Borrowing against the house but not quitting
31:38 Building culture and clarity as a CEO
36:37 Selling Benchmark and stepping out of the way
38:01 Lawsuits, consolidation, and a new “2008 moment”
43:35 How AI really changes real estate
51:23 Why agents lose repeat business they should own
1:03:31 How Fed policy and easy money broke housing
1:07:32 Homeownership vs apartments and long-term wealth
1:12:36 Lessons from 40+ years, wins and losses

_____________________________________________________________________

****SUBSCRIBE/RATE/FOLLOW the Mostly Middle Tennessee Business Podcast:

www.mmtbp.com

www.instagram.com/mostlymiddletnbusinespodcast

www.instagram.com/jimmccarthyvos

Tiktok: @jimmccarthyvos

__________________________________________________________

Shoutout to Matt Wilson for lending his voice to the new intro of MMTBP.

Follow him and his podcast from which I may have borrowed the *mostly* concept:

https://linktr.ee/mamwmw

___________________________________________________________

If you like Jim's Boston Scallys, click here to shop and order yours!

https://www.bostonscally.com/a/refer-a-friend/redeem/mqgpwi3u0zgm89vaxnv5crzvlolevo82rvcygsn5/1668

___________________________________________________________

***You hear Jim mention it on almost every episode, ME vs. WE and how 2023 will be 1943 all over again….order “PENDULUM:How Past Generations Shape Our Present and Predict Our Future”:

https://a.co/d/7oKK7Ip

_________________________________________________________________

The co-author of Pendulum wrote a myriad of other books and started a non-profit 21st Century Non-Traditional Business School that you should really check out:

Wizard Academy - www.wizardacademy.org

______________________________________________________________________

Curious about podcasting? This podcast (and many others) is produced by www.itsyourshow.co

On this episode of the Mostly Middle Tennessee Business Podcast, Jim McCarthy sits down with longtime Middle Tennessee realtor and 615 Podcast host, Nick Woodard. They dig into what it really takes to stand out in a crowded real estate market, how authenticity online can quietly build a powerful client pipeline, and why Middle Tennessee keeps attracting families from all over the country.

Nick shares stories from 22 years in real estate, from viral influencer-parody videos that accidentally drove new business, to ethical nightmares with other agents, to helping out-of-state clients find not just a house, but a whole new way of life. They also talk hunting, land management, raising kids with situational awareness, the tension between faith and “the religion business,” and what long-term success actually looks like beyond the next commission check.

Quick Timestamps:
0:00 The viral influencer-parody video that brought real clients
7:03 Real estate in uncertain times and “war mode” headlines
11:40 When another agent does you dirty and how you respond
20:44 Being authentically yourself online and attracting like-minded clients
23:39 Taking California clients shooting and giving them a Tennessee experience
35:46 Is it a good time to invest or flip in and around Williamson County
39:51 Land appreciation stories you wish you had lived through
42:14 College, money, and what “enough” really looks like
57:16 The “religion business,” megachurch scandals, and term limits for pastors

Connect with Nick:
Website: nickwoodard.com
Instagram: @nickwoodardrealtor
YouTube: @nickwoodardrealtor

_____________________________________________________________________
****SUBSCRIBE/RATE/FOLLOW the Mostly Middle Tennessee Business Podcast: www.mmtbp.com www.instagram.com/mostlymiddletnbusinespodcast www.instagram.com/jimmccarthyvos Tiktok: @jimmccarthyvos __________________________________________________________
Shoutout to Matt Wilson for lending his voice to the new intro of MMTBP. Follow him and his podcast from which I may have borrowed the *mostly* concept: https://linktr.ee/mamwmw
___________________________________________________________
If you like Jim's Boston Scallys, click here to shop and order yours! https://www.bostonscally.com/a/refer-a-friend/redeem/mqgpwi3u0zgm89vaxnv5crzvlolevo82rvcygsn5/1668
___________________________________________________________
***You hear Jim mention it on almost every episode, ME vs. WE and how 2023 will be 1943 all over again….order “PENDULUM:How Past Generations Shape Our Present and Predict Our Future”: https://a.co/d/7oKK7Ip _________________________________________________________________
The co-author of Pendulum wrote a myriad of other books and started a non-profit 21st Century Non-Traditional Business School that you should really check out: Wizard Academy - www.wizardacademy.org ______________________________________________________________________
Curious about podcasting? This podcast (and many others) is produced by www.itsyourshow.co

In this episode of the Mostly Middle Tennessee Business Podcast, host Jim McCarthy sits down with Greg Oliver and Abigail Garrett of GOA Speakers to unpack the business of booking faith-based speakers, comedians, and artists.

Greg shares how he went from running a massive Christian nightclub in Texas to building a Nashville-based agency that represents some of the biggest names in Christian speaking and leadership, including John Maxwell, Lisa TerKeurst, Scott Hamilton, Lee Strobel, and Willie Robertson. Abigail walks through how GOA leverages social media, email marketing, and content to champion their speakers and grow demand.

They talk about the grind of the early days (including giant long-distance phone bills), how the industry has changed, why COVID nearly wiped out live events, and what aspiring speakers really need to do before they’re ready for representation.

Whether you’re a business owner, a podcaster, or an aspiring speaker, this conversation is packed with real-world lessons on persistence, diversification, and building a reputation over decades.

Timed Highlights:
00:00 GOA Speakers intro: booking music artists and speakers

00:25 Show open: Mostly Middle Tennessee Business Podcast

02:30 Meet Greg Oliver and Abigail Garrett from GOA Speakers

03:32 Launching the GOA Speakers Podcast and why they started it

04:25 How GOA vets speakers and why most inquiries get a no

07:07 Why GOA focuses on faith-based speakers who can also serve corporate events

08:52 Greg’s entrepreneurial journey: janitorial business to Christian nightclub

09:55 Running a 1,000-seat Christian venue with concerts every weekend

13:47 Moving from Texas to Nashville and battling for industry acceptance

21:36 Diversifying with a speakers bureau and merchandising company

24:49 Shifting focus from music artists to speakers and why speakers are easier to book

28:42 COVID’s impact on live events and how merchandising kept them afloat

30:56 GOA’s speaker mix: Bible teachers, athletes, comedians, and more

33:33 How Abigail joined GOA and grew into marketing and PR

41:08 Daily social media and email tactics to keep speakers in front of planners

49:14 Real advice for aspiring speakers on getting stage time and building a platform

54:17 Why publishers, books, and podcasts all matter for speaker demand
01:01:24 GOA’s deeper mission: making an eternal impact through events

Visit GOASpeakers.com to explore their roster of faith-based speakers, authors, athletes, comedians, and leaders.

_____________________________________________________________________

****SUBSCRIBE/RATE/FOLLOW the Mostly Middle Tennessee Business Podcast:

www.mmtbp.com

www.instagram.com/mostlymiddletnbusinespodcast

www.instagram.com/jimmccarthyvos

Tiktok: @jimmccarthyvos

__________________________________________________________

Shoutout to Matt Wilson for lending his voice to the new intro of MMTBP.

Follow him and his podcast from which I may have borrowed the *mostly* concept:

https://linktr.ee/mamwmw

___________________________________________________________

If you like Jim's Boston Scallys, click here to shop and order yours!

https://www.bostonscally.com/a/refer-a-friend/redeem/mqgpwi3u0zgm89vaxnv5crzvlolevo82rvcygsn5/1668

___________________________________________________________

***You hear Jim mention it on almost every episode, ME vs. WE and how 2023 will be 1943 all over again….order “PENDULUM:How Past Generations Shape Our Present and Predict Our Future”:

https://a.co/d/7oKK7Ip

_________________________________________________________________

The co-author of Pendulum wrote a myriad of other books and started a non-profit 21st Century Non-Traditional Business School that you should really check out:

Wizard Academy - www.wizardacademy.org

______________________________________________________________________

Curious about podcasting? This podcast (and many others) is produced by www.itsyourshow.co

Jim sits down with legendary live-event entrepreneur Scott Scovill to unpack how a kid who flunked out of college, battled crippling fear of failure, and waited tables at Howard Johnson’s ended up pioneering concert video, touring with the biggest acts in the world, and building Moo TV.

Scott shares the true origin story behind his career, the life-changing U2 moment that set everything in motion, the loss of his mentor that pushed him into entrepreneurship, and why he wrote a self-help book for people who hate being told what to do.

If you’re a business owner, creative, or late bloomer wondering if it’s “too late,” this one will hit home.

Timed highlights:
0:00 Scott’s fear of being told what to do and why he wrote “Tenacious”
1:19 Jim sets the scene: Middle Tennessee Business Podcast and studio talk
3:43 Flunking out, anxiety attacks, and being labeled a “bad student”
5:34 The low point: waiting tables at HoJo’s and the U2 tour bus moment
6:48 Paradigm shift in the dark: “This is what you’re going to do with your life”
9:21 The scalp-shirt tour schedule that changed everything
10:40 Quitting three jobs, leaving college, and the worst plan in music history
11:22 “I was told I couldn’t sing” and the big life shift around 40
13:33 Paper tigers and learning to try despite fear of failure
19:03 Sneaking into U2 shows, getting fined by the union, and almost getting arrested
20:09 Choosing video when video was brand new
21:21 Corporate ballroom grind, panic attacks, and being far from the dream
25:27 Redefining success: loving the ride, not just the goal
27:27 Frustration as fuel and knowing when to walk away from a “good” job
29:09 Getting fired from a rap tour and sneaking back into the stadium
30:39 “I’m yelling at this guy because I’m frustrated with my life” – meeting Pete
31:19 The Rolling Stones opportunity and leaving the safety net
38:12 New York vs Nashville vs LA: honesty, fakeness, and “what can you do for me?”
40:00 Inventing an industry: the birth of Moo TV as a content company
42:14 The call: Lee is gone – carjacking, grief, and devastation
45:00 Keeping a mentor alive by starting a hardware company
46:33 Realizing four years in that Lee was still gone and needing a new “why”
48:38 Hiring for personality, work ethic, and “great hang” over pure skill
50:15 Culture, loyalty, and why Scott turns down offers to sell
55:21 Being proud but not pretending to be perfect
57:22 Fear as fuel and beating it one day at a time
1:00:09 “There is no crisis” and taking the next step
1:01:30 Just take a step: breaking inertia and getting unstuck
1:03:22 What Scott wants next: giving back, speaking, and making music
1:05:18 Consolidation in music, live events, and why Moo TV stays independent
1:10:17 Starting to play music at 45 and opening for big acts in Europe
1:12:01 Where to find Scott and pre-order “Tenacious”

_____________________________________________________________________

****SUBSCRIBE/RATE/FOLLOW the Mostly Middle Tennessee Business Podcast:

www.mmtbp.com

www.instagram.com/mostlymiddletnbusinespodcast

www.instagram.com/jimmccarthyvos

Tiktok: @jimmccarthyvos

__________________________________________________________

Shoutout to Matt Wilson for lending his voice to the new intro of MMTBP.

Follow him and his podcast from which I may have borrowed the *mostly* concept:

https://linktr.ee/mamwmw

___________________________________________________________

If you like Jim's Boston Scallys, click here to shop and order yours!

https://www.bostonscally.com/a/refer-a-friend/redeem/mqgpwi3u0zgm89vaxnv5crzvlolevo82rvcygsn5/1668

___________________________________________________________

***You hear Jim mention it on almost every episode, ME vs. WE and how 2023 will be 1943 all over again….order “PENDULUM:How Past Generations Shape Our Present and Predict Our Future”:

https://a.co/d/7oKK7Ip

_________________________________________________________________

The co-author of Pendulum wrote a myriad of other books and started a non-profit 21st Century Non-Traditional Business School that you should really check out:

Wizard Academy - www.wizardacademy.org

______________________________________________________________________

Curious about podcasting? This podcast (and many others) is produced by www.itsyourshow.co

In this episode of the Mostly Middle Tennessee Business Podcast, Jim McCarthy sits down with mediator and veteran civil litigator Tamara Gauldin to explore what it really means to stay neutral in a polarized world. They discuss mediation, control, apologies, faith, parenting, and how our idea of “good” is often a matter of perspective.

Tamara shares how she left corporate America to start her own mediation practice, why she’s more open-minded now than ever, and what she’s learned watching people fight over everything from legal disputes to kids’ toys.

Timed Highlights:
0:00 Leaving corporate America and redefining risk
0:46 Welcome to the Mostly Middle Tennessee Business Podcast
1:00 Flat earthers, moon landing doubts, and belief systems
3:30 Show sponsors and the rise of E-bikes
4:58 Tamara’s cycling background and E-bike skepticism
6:24 Introducing mediator Tamara Gauldin
7:00 Faith, open-mindedness, and evolving beliefs
8:04 Rotating churches, meditation, and embracing different traditions
8:39 Who decides what’s “good”? Shifting paradigms and ideology
9:55 “Think together, not think alike” – the philosophy of mediation
11:50 Control, trust, and what really drives most disputes
13:31 Good vs bad, Super Bowls, 9/11, and subjective morality
15:04 Admitting we don’t know and making informed decisions anyway
16:10 Marriage, conflict, and the power of cooling off
17:41 Why apologies matter more than we think
18:12 The surprising number of people who just want “I’m sorry”
20:00 How many mediations Tamara handles and where she volunteers
20:30 Why mediating between kids can be harder than adults
20:51 Why Tamara won’t mediate for her own family
21:18 Bias, neutrality, and staying fair as a mediator
22:59 From litigator to mediator: Tamara’s 20-plus-year legal journey
24:24 Inside insurance defense and employment law

_____________________________________________________________________

****SUBSCRIBE/RATE/FOLLOW the Mostly Middle Tennessee Business Podcast:

www.mmtbp.com

www.instagram.com/mostlymiddletnbusinespodcast

www.instagram.com/jimmccarthyvos

Tiktok: @jimmccarthyvos

__________________________________________________________

Shoutout to Matt Wilson for lending his voice to the new intro of MMTBP.

Follow him and his podcast from which I may have borrowed the *mostly* concept:

https://linktr.ee/mamwmw

___________________________________________________________

If you like Jim's Boston Scallys, click here to shop and order yours!

https://www.bostonscally.com/a/refer-a-friend/redeem/mqgpwi3u0zgm89vaxnv5crzvlolevo82rvcygsn5/1668

___________________________________________________________

***You hear Jim mention it on almost every episode, ME vs. WE and how 2023 will be 1943 all over again….order “PENDULUM:How Past Generations Shape Our Present and Predict Our Future”:

https://a.co/d/7oKK7Ip

_________________________________________________________________

The co-author of Pendulum wrote a myriad of other books and started a non-profit 21st Century Non-Traditional Business School that you should really check out:

Wizard Academy - www.wizardacademy.org

______________________________________________________________________

Curious about podcasting? This podcast (and many others) is produced by www.itsyourshow.co