Podcast
Business Growth Spotlight
Hosted by Heidi Schalk · EN
Welcome to Business Growth Spotlight, the podcast where we shine a light on innovative business leaders, cutting-edge strategies, and the latest trends shaping the world of business growth. Whether you're a corporate leader, entrepreneur, or online educator, this podcast delivers actionable insights and expert conversations to help you scale your business, increase revenue, and stay ahead in a competitive market.
Join host Heidi Schalk as we dive deep into the stories and strategies of industry leaders, uncovering the tools and tactics they use to drive success. From navigating corporate challenges to mastering online visibility, this podcast is your go-to resource for scaling your business and reaching your goals.
Tune in weekly for inspiring conversations, practical advice, and a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to thrive in today’s ever-evolving business landscape.
49episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Ep. 205 Why More Content Does Not Always Mean More Growth for Coaches with Andrew Chesnutt
1w ago00:39:23Tap to summarizeShow Notes:In this episode of Business Growth Spotlight, Heidi Schalk sits down with Andrew Chesnutt, founder of Authority Forge, to discuss what it really takes to build authority, simplify marketing, and grow a sustainable business.With over 20 years of experience in learning and development and more than a decade in entrepreneurship, Andrew shares how he transformed his expertise into helping coaches and founders manage marketing overwhelm while focusing on the work they do best.This conversation dives into founder marketing, the balance between personal storytelling and business content, the role of AI in modern business, and why entrepreneurs often struggle by trying to do everything themselves.Andrew also opens up about costly lessons learned, including a failed $15,000 marketing campaign, hiring mistakes, business pivots, and strategies that now consistently drive growth.Discover practical insights on content strategy, authentic storytelling, pivoting, and leveraging AI effectively. If you're a coach, entrepreneur, or founder looking to create visibility, build authority, and scale strategically, this episode delivers practical insights you can implement immediately.To connect with our guest, click on the links below:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewchesnutt/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theauthorityforge/ Website: https://theauthorityforge.com/ Connect with me:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heidischalkcoaching/🎁 Grab your Spotlight to Scale Blueprint: https://spotlighttoscale.com/blueprint🎁 Looking for the solution to missed calls and leaking revenue? Check out Leah, our AI employee then get your free custom demo for your business: myhlhgrowthsolutions.com/leah
Transcribe →Ep. 204 Navigating Menopause, Weight Loss, and Professional Life with Dr. Heather Awad
1w ago00:22:01Tap to summarizeShow Notes:In this episode of the Business Growth Spotlight, Heidi Schalk talks with Dr. Heather Awad, family physician and certified coach, about helping professional women navigate menopause and achieve sustainable weight loss. Dr. Heather shares her personal journey through midlife weight challenges, how she developed Vibrant MD’s flexible, science-backed approach, and the power of virtual group coaching for professional women.Listeners will learn:Why traditional diet and exercise methods often fail during menopauseHow Dr. Heather’s approach combines medical expertise with coaching for lasting resultsThe role of community and group coaching in achieving weight loss and confidenceStrategies for growing a virtual health business and marketing effectively to midlife womenUpcoming projects including a book on menopause weight loss and plans to make programs evergreenWhether you’re navigating midlife weight challenges or looking to scale a service-based business online, this episode is packed with practical insights and inspiration.Bio*Heather Awad, MD is a family doctor and certified coach helping professional women at menopause and beyond to lose the weight that won’t budge. Her proven system works with their hormone changes instead of against them, showing women how to enjoy food, reset their metabolism, and achieve lasting results—without dieting or willpower. She also hosts the Vibrant Menopause podcast, where she shares real-life strategies for weight loss and midlife health.To connect with our guest, click on the links below:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heatherawadmd/Facebook: https://www.instagram.com/heatherawadmd/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heatherawadmd?trk=public_post_feed-actor-nameYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@heatherawadmd7858Website: https://www.vibrant-md.com/ 🎁Free Gift: https://www.vibrant-md.com/breakfast Connect with me:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heidischalkcoaching/🎁 Grab your Spotlight to Scale Blueprint: https://spotlighttoscale.com/blueprint🎁 Looking for the solution to missed calls and leaking revenue? Check out Leah, our AI employee then get your free custom demo for your business: myhlhgrowthsolutions.com/leah
Transcribe →Ep. 203 Treating People Not Numbers: Inside the Virtual Midwest Concussion Clinic with Matt Campbell
2w ago00:37:52Tap to summarizeShow Notes:In this episode, Matt Campbell, co-founder and owner of Virtual Midwest Concussion Clinic, joins host Heidi Schalk to share his journey building a 100% virtual concussion care practice that is changing how patients experience brain injury recovery. From unexpected business origins to navigating a pandemic pivot, Matt opens up about what it truly means to put patients first in a healthcare system that often leaves concussion sufferers behind.Matt breaks down why the traditional medical model fails concussion patients and how his virtual clinic fills a critical gap for adults who have been dismissed, misdiagnosed, or simply left without answers. He walks through his multi-system treatment approach that includes vision therapy, vestibular therapy, cognitive rehabilitation, and lifestyle modification coaching, all delivered virtually so patients never have to risk making their symptoms worse by driving to an appointment.The conversation also digs into the business side of running a specialized niche clinic as a solo founder. Matt shares how word of mouth, consistent free content, TikTok lives, monthly webinars, and a commitment to radical accessibility have become his most powerful growth tools. He also addresses why he operates on a flat rate cash pay model, how AI and automation are helping him run lean without sacrificing the patient experience, and what revenue leaks he sees most commonly in concussion care practices.Bio:As the Owner of the Midwest Concussion Clinic, I have created a business from the ground up that specializes in the evaluation, diagnosis and treatment of concussions and Persistent Post Concussion Symptoms (PPCS).With over 10 years of experience in concussion management as an Athletic Trainer and Certified Brain Injury Specialist, my goal is to provide a unique and patient centered experience for anyone struggling with their brain injury recovery. You’re not a number. You’re a person in our clinic and that will always be our main focus. We treat all aspects of the individual after a concussion, not just their symptoms. To connect with our guest, click on the links below:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-campbell-lat-atc-aib-vrc-v2fit-itat-2bb28053/ Website: https://mwconcussion.com/ Connect with me:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heidischalkcoaching/🎁 Grab your Spotlight to Scale Blueprint: https://spotlighttoscale.com/blueprint🎁 Looking for the solution to missed calls and leaking revenue? Check out Leah, our AI employee then get your free custom demo for your business: myhlhgrowthsolutions.com/leah
Transcribe →Ep. 202 Physician Entrepreneurs: How to Bring a New Medical Technology to Market Without Waiting for Perfect Conditions with Dr. Michael Rubenstein
2w ago00:29:29Tap to summarizeShow Notes:In this episode of the Business Growth Spotlight, host Heidi Schalk sits down with Dr. Michael Rubenstein, co-founder of Relief Now Laser Centers. Dr. Mike shares his remarkable journey from sales and marketing to becoming a chiropractor, and ultimately building a differentiated laser pain relief brand that has grown into an unfranchise model with locations across the United States and even Dubai. He breaks down the business model behind Relief Now Laser Centers, how they help both patients and doctors, and why laser therapy is the future of non-invasive pain treatment. Key Takeaways1. Differentiation is survival. In a commoditized market, finding a unique clinical offering is the key to long-term growth and profitability.2. Laser therapy expands your patient universe. By operating as a laser pain center rather than a traditional chiropractic office, you can attract the 87% of people who would never seek chiropractic care.3. Start before you are ready. Dr. Mike and his partner launched Relief Now during a global pandemic because they finally had time to build the systems, not because conditions were perfect.4. Referrals are still king. Even in the age of digital marketing, 80% of Relief Now's B2B growth comes from relationships and referrals built over years of practice.5. AI is a back-end game changer. From CRM automations to call bots to lead reactivation, AI tools like GoHighLevel and Claude are helping practices run leaner and smarter.6. Top of funnel is the ultimate bottleneck. When your product sells itself once people see it, the real challenge becomes generating a consistent flow of qualified leads.7. Success leaves clues. Find someone who has already built what you want to build, mimic their path, and collapse your timeline.To connect with our guest, click on the links below:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-rubenstein-dc-b1373491/Website: https://thelasermasters.com/Connect with me:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heidischalkcoaching/🎁 Grab your Spotlight to Scale Blueprint: https://spotlighttoscale.com/blueprint🎁 Looking for the solution to missed calls and leaking revenue? Check out Leah, our AI employee then get your free custom demo for your business: myhlhgrowthsolutions.com/leah
Transcribe →Ep. 201 Why Patients Should Stop Accepting Status Quo Healthcare with Jim Floyd
2w ago00:28:51Tap to summarizeShow Notes:In this episode of the Business Growth Spotlight, host Heidi Schalk sits down with Jim Floyd, founder of Ascent Total Performance, to discuss how physical therapy can play a much bigger role in transforming healthcare outcomes.Jim shares how his frustration with the traditional healthcare system inspired him to create a patient centered practice focused on prevention, performance, and long term wellness rather than reactive care. The conversation dives into leadership, company culture, healthcare innovation, AI in physical therapy, and why patients need to advocate for themselves.You will hear how Jim built a high performance culture rooted in accountability and continuous learning while creating an environment where both staff and patients thrive. He also opens up about the operational challenges of growing a healthcare business, navigating insurance limitations, and balancing premium care with sustainable growth.This episode is packed with insights for healthcare professionals, entrepreneurs, and anyone looking to better understand how movement, prevention, and personalized care can dramatically improve quality of life.Bio:Dr. Jim Floyd, DPT, CSCS, CSPS did not follow the traditional path to physical therapy and that is what sets him apart.Before earning his Doctorate in Physical Therapy, Jim built his foundation in marketing and advertising, gaining business acumen and communication skills most clinicians never acquire. When he entered healthcare, he saw a system comfortable with average and decided to challenge it.In 2016, he co-founded his first practice and in 2021 he launched Ascent Total Performance in Columbia, South Carolina, applying nearly a decade of lessons to build something done right. Today, ATP operates across two locations as the region’s premier destination for rehabilitation, performance, and wellness.Jim holds advanced certifications in dry needling, spinal manipulation, strength and conditioning, sports performance, and functional movement, but at ATP, credentials are just the baseline.What truly sets ATP apart is its culture. In an industry plagued by burnout and turnover, Jim has created an environment where practitioners grow, lead, and believe in something bigger than a caseload. Standards are shared, and every team member champions change, pursues excellence, and serves with dedication rarely demanded in traditional healthcare. That culture transforms the patient experience.Now, Jim is expanding ATP into a full-spectrum performance and executive wellness hub for people who want more than recovery. They want optimization. It is not just a clinic. It is a movement led by a practitioner who refuses to accept the status quo.To connect with our guest, click on the links below:IG: https://www.instagram.com/floyddpt/ https://www.instagram.com/ascentrehab/ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-jim-floyd/FB: https://www.facebook.com/ascentrehab Website: www.achieveatp.com Connect with me:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heidischalkcoaching/🎁 Grab your Spotlight to Scale Blueprint: https://spotlighttoscale.com/blueprint🎁 Looking for the solution to missed calls and leaking revenue? Check out Leah, our AI employee then get your free custom demo for your business: myhlhgrowthsolutions.com/leah
Transcribe →Ep. 200 Breaking the Cycle: Narcissism, Trauma, and Rising as a Woman Leader with Dr. Sage Breslin
3w ago00:49:26Tap to summarizeShow Notes:In this powerful episode, host Heidi Schalk sits down with Dr. Sage Breslin, a transformation psychologist and coach with 35 years of experience helping people get unstuck and rise above where they are. Dr. Sage opens up about her personal journey through toxic relationships, financial devastation, a bone marrow cancer diagnosis, and the breakthrough that changed everything, and how all of it shaped the work she does today with professional women leaders.The conversation dives deep into one of the most overlooked blind spots in business and personal life: the impact of narcissistic individuals on high-achieving women. From the workplace to intimate relationships, Dr. Sage explains why old soul women are especially vulnerable, how narcissists systematically dismantle confidence and clarity, and what leaders can do to protect themselves and their teams.Bio:Dr. Sage Breslin is a Breakthrough and Transformation Coach, Trauma Psychologist, Motivational Speaker, Screenwriter, and Best-Selling Author. Despite surviving extensive trauma—including sexual assault, paralysis, cardiac arrest, and a bone marrow transplant—she has turned her experiences into a force for helping others.She holds a BA in Behavioral Psychology from UCSD and an MA and PhD in Counseling Psychology from Northwestern University and is certified in Mind/Body Medicine at Harvard Medical School. Her acclaimed books include Lovers & Survivors, The Secret to Conception, Daily Pearls: 365 Days of Sage Wisdom, and the best-seller Breaking Through: The Conscious Leader’s and Entrepreneur’s Guide to Amplify Intuition, Clarity, Vision, Motivation and Productivity. Her upcoming release, Ditch the Narcissist Magnet, is coming in 2026.Dr. Breslin also offers self-paced courses and transformational masterminds for leaders, and she is the founder of the ROSE System, helping high-achieving women reclaim passion, purpose, and joy. Learn more at SageBreslin.com and TheROSESystem.com.To connect with our guest, click on the links below:https://www.linkedin.com/in/drsagebreslinnarcissistrecoveryexpert/https://www.facebook.com/SageWisdomInstitutehttps://www.youtube.com/@SageBreslinBreakthroughshttps://www.instagram.com/sagebreslin/https://www.tiktok.com/@dr.sage.breslinhttps://www.lemon8-app.com/@dr.sage.breslinhttps://www.amazon.com/author/sagebreslin Connect with me:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heidischalkcoaching/🎁 Grab your Spotlight to Scale Blueprint: https://spotlighttoscale.com/blueprint🎁 Looking for the solution to missed calls and leaking revenue? Check out Leah, our AI employee then get your free custom demo for your business: myhlhgrowthsolutions.com/leah
Transcribe →Ep. 199 She Was Told to Fold. 26 Years Later She Has Six Clinics: Sheree' Behrndt of Sensory Solutions
3w ago00:35:27Tap to summarizeShow Notes:What does it take to build a pediatric therapy practice from zero to six locations over 26 years with no business degree, no roadmap, and more than a few moments of wanting to walk away? Sheree' Behrndt, founder of Sensory Solutions, has lived that story and she is still writing it.Sheree' is an occupational therapist who stumbled into pediatrics when the company she worked for was closing its doors. In April of 2000, with a new partner and a whole lot of belief, she launched Sensory Solutions out of the home health space in Missouri. Within the first few years, the business exploded to 50 contractors, then collapsed almost overnight when the state cut funding. She started an outpatient clinic, had no referral network, had no idea how to bill insurance, and by her own admission fell flat on her face more times than she can count.She kept going anyway.Today Sensory Solutions operates four clinics across the St. Louis metro area and has expanded into Paducah, Kentucky through a partnership with a longtime team member. The practice provides physical, occupational, and speech therapy for children from birth to age 18, with a specialty that sets them apart from nearly anyone in the region: children who cannot eat.Sheree' shares her passion for the zero to three age window, explaining the science behind neuroplasticity and why early, high frequency intervention can change the trajectory of a child's life permanently. She talks about the two year old who eats only Ritz crackers, the babies falling off growth charts and facing feeding tubes, and the college graduates who reach out years later to say they would not be where they are without her team.The conversation also gets honest about the hard stuff. Personal challenges in recent years led Sheree' to step back, turnover followed, and revenue took a significant hit. Rather than walk away, she is back out meeting with pediatricians, writing thank you cards to referral partners she had taken for granted, showing up at the office, and betting on herself againBio:Owner; Occupational Therapist at Sensory Solutions, LLC; Partner of Sensory Solutions-KY, LLC To connect with our guest, click on the links below:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sheree-behrndt-2471637/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SensorySolutionsLLC Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SensorySolutionsKYInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/sensorysolutionsllc Website: https://sensorysolutions.org Connect with me:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heidischalkcoaching/🎁 Grab your Spotlight to Scale Blueprint: https://spotlighttoscale.com/blueprint🎁 Looking for the solution to missed calls and leaking revenue? Check out Leah, our AI employee then get your free custom demo for your business: myhlhgrowthsolutions.com/leah
Transcribe →Ep. 198 The $5 Trillion Problem: How Preventative Medicine Could Save Our Health Care System with Dr. Roger Jahnke
3w ago00:39:49Tap to summarizeShow Notes:In this episode of Business Growth Spotlight, host Heidi Schalk sits down with Dr. Roger Jahnke, founder of Health Action, a wellness and health maximization organization with over 35 years in business. Dr. Jahnke shares his deeply personal journey into integrative medicine, rooted in losing his father to cancer at just 10 years old, and how that experience shaped his life's mission of helping people unlock their body's natural capacity to heal.Dr. Jahnke breaks down why preventative and integrative medicine has been slow to gain adoption despite decades of conversation, pointing to societal addiction to convenience, the financial incentives embedded in the pharmaceutical and agricultural industrial complexes, and a healthcare system that profits from chronic illness rather than preventing it.The conversation dives deep into the staggering financial reality that over 80% of the current $5 trillion annual US healthcare spend goes toward preventable chronic disease, and how organizations that invest just $1 in health maximization practices can see a return of $3 to $6. Dr. Jahnke shares firsthand stories from his consulting work with the Veterans Administration, hospital systems, corporations, and school districts, and why even well-intentioned organizations fall short when it comes to implementing real wellness programs.He also touches on how Health Action is beginning to integrate AI into their strategic planning and content creation, while remaining grounded in human connection and nature-based wellness practices.Topics covered include the difference between "healthcare" as a financing system versus true health maximization, why the human body is always working to heal itself, how organizations can train teams to embed wellness naturally into their culture, and why breaking the traditional "target market" rule has worked for Health Action for over three decades.To connect with our guest, click on the links below:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rogerjahnke/Website: https://healthaction.net/Email: drjahnke@healthaction.net Connect with me:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heidischalkcoaching/🎁 Grab your Spotlight to Scale Blueprint: https://spotlighttoscale.com/blueprint🎁 Looking for the solution to missed calls and leaking revenue? Check out Leah, our AI employee then get your free custom demo for your business: myhlhgrowthsolutions.com/leah
Transcribe →Ep. 197 What Chiropractors Need to Know About Running a Successful Business
4w ago00:37:14Tap to summarizeShow Notes:What does it really take to build a business that lasts decades, not just years.In this episode of Business Growth Spotlight, Heidi Schalk sits down with Dr Doug Long, co-owner of Renaissance Chiropractic Center, to unpack the real drivers behind sustainable growth in healthcareWith over 30 years in practice and a multi-generational chiropractic legacy, Dr Long shares what most practitioners never learn in school. How to actually run a business.From navigating insurance challenges to building a referral driven practice, this conversation breaks down the operational and cultural decisions that separate thriving practices from struggling onesWhether you are in healthcare or any service-based business, the lessons here apply directly to retention, team building, and long-term growthBio:Co-owner of Renaissance Chiropractic Center with my brother. 15 chiropractors in the family including father, wife, daughter, son-in-law, brother and two sisters. 33rd year of practice. Served as President and Board member of Washington State Chiropractic Association and member of the Washington State Chiropractic Quality Assurance Commission. Member of the Chiropractic Knights of the Round Table. Featured speaker at multiple chiropractic events. Renaissance Chiropractic Center has 5 doctors, 3 massage therapists and mutliple support staff. We provide care to children/infants, pregnant moms, families, seniors, motor vehicle accident victims, injured workers, etc. incorporating chiropractic adjustments, massage therapy, high intensity laser therapy, non-surgical spinal decompression therapy, spinal curve correction and rehab exercises.To connect with our guest, click on the links below:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/douglas-long-52457413/Instagram @douglongdc Website: www.chirotacoma.com Connect with me:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heidischalkcoaching/🎁 Grab your Spotlight to Scale Blueprint: https://spotlighttoscale.com/blueprint🎁 Looking for the solution to missed calls and leaking revenue? Check out Leah, our AI employee then get your free custom demo for your business: myhlhgrowthsolutions.com/leah
Transcribe →Ep. 196 The Hidden Strength Behind Your Biggest Weakness with Gary Acevedo
4w ago00:43:55Tap to summarizeShow Notes:What if the things you have been trying to fix about yourself are not flaws at all but hidden strengths?In this episode of the Business Growth Spotlight, Heidi Schalk sits down with Gary Acevedo of Rise Leadership to unpack a radically different approach to personal and professional growth.Gary shares how decades of working in transformational leadership led him to one core belief: there is nothing wrong with people. The behaviors, doubts, and patterns we often criticize are often misunderstood strengths that, when properly understood, can unlock massive growth.This conversation dives into how leaders can shift from criticism to empowerment, why most people stay stuck in patterns, and how aligning with a higher purpose can accelerate both personal success and business results.You will also hear practical strategies around influence, leadership, sales, and mindset that can be applied immediately in business, parenting, and everyday life.This episode will challenge how you think about growth and what is actually holding you back.Bio:For over 40 years best-selling author Gary Acevedo has immersed himself in over 30 cutting edge empowerment innovations like NLP, Rapid Eye, TBM, Gestalt, Breath work, and many more. He has combined and built on these to design the pinnacle of personal effectiveness and empowerment. He has become recognized as a world-class trainer of trainers creating advanced training for some of the country’s best facilitators, coaches, healers and speakers. He is the best-selling author of the book “Ignite the Gift You Are: 7 Master Keys to Awaken Your Passion, Power and Profits.” Gary created “The Awakening” retreat grads say is the pinnacle of re-programming. He has a Breakthrough Process that has helped Leaders create outstanding results.To connect with our guest, click on the links below:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/garyacevedo/ YouTube: The 7 Master Keys to How Life Really Works🌟 with Gary AcevedoYouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@RiseLeadershipGroup/videos Connect with me:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heidischalkcoaching/🎁 Grab your Spotlight to Scale Blueprint: https://spotlighttoscale.com/blueprint🎁 Looking for the solution to missed calls and leaking revenue? Check out Leah, our AI employee then get your free custom demo for your business: myhlhgrowthsolutions.com/leah
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