Grow A Small Business Podcast

Our weekly 30 minute podcast helps you, a small business owner with 5 to 30 team members, take your company to the next level. The Grow A Small Business community, weekly cast, blog and leadership email supports leaders get through the pain of growth.With insights, lessons learned, books and tools as well as habits these experienced small business owners suggest you develop, our interviews unearth tremendous value for anyone wanting to grow their business with less stress.

Grow A Small Business Podcast is a business podcast hosted by Troy Trewin, with 794 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Troy Trewin hosts Grow A Small Business Podcast, a business show with 794 episodes published.

Our AI reads these to draft pitches. Use them as grounding for a pitch that cites a real guest and a specific topic.

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  Episode #793

  Raj Thiruchelvarajah of Hytro: From PwC to Building a Human Performance Business Used by 400+ Pro Sports Teams and NASA/SpaceX Astronauts—Why Strategy, Networking, Resilience & a Bold B2B Pivot Drive Growth. (Episode 793 - Raj Thiruchelvarajah)

  Sep 6, 202639 minS1

  In this episode of the Grow A Small Business Podcast host Troy Trewin interviews Raj Thiruchelvarajah , co-founder of Hytro , shares his journey from 15 years at PwC to building a pioneering human performance company used by elite athletes and astronauts. He explains how Hytro's wearable blood flow restriction technology helps improve performance, recovery, strength, and endurance. Raj discusses the company's pivotal shift from direct-to-consumer to B2B, which helped Hytro gain credibility through professional sports and expand into more than 400 teams. He highlights strategy, networking, resilience, and making fast decisions with limited information as essential lessons for growing a startup. Raj also opens up about the realities of entrepreneurship, including fundraising challenges, work-life pressures, and why founders must continuously learn, adapt, and enjoy the long journey. Why would you wait any longer to start living the lifestyle you signed up for? Balance your health, wealth, relationships and business growth. And focus your time and energy and make the most of this year. Let's get into it by clicking here . Troy delves into our guest's startup journey, their perception of success, industry reconsideration, and the pivotal stress point during business expansion. They discuss the joys of small business growth, vital entrepreneurial habits, and strategies for team building, encompassing wins, blunders, and invaluable advice. And a snapshot of the final five Grow A Small Business Questions: What do you think is the hardest thing in growing a small business? Raj Thiruchelvarajah shares that the hardest thing in growing a small business is managing the work-life balance, especially during intense periods of the startup journey. He explains that building a business can be brutal and demanding, requiring founders to constantly juggle business pressures, family responsibilities, and their own wellbeing. He believes there are peaks and troughs rather than a perfect balance, and founders need to accept that some phases will be particularly challenging. What's your favorite business book that has helped you the most? Raj Thiruchelvarajah shares that his favorite business book that has helped him the most is The Hard Thing About Hard Things by Ben Horowitz, which he plans to reread because it powerfully illustrates that there is no playbook for building a startup—you are constantly learning on the job amid the brutal realities and hard decisions that come with growth. Are there any great podcasts or online learning resources you'd recommend to help grow a small business? Raj Thiruchelvarajah recommends the UK podcast Startup Inside Out (formerly part of Bay HQ), hosted by Amadip Palmer, as a standout resource for founders, praising it as a really strong show that delivers practical insights into the startup journey. He also values peer learning through founder groups and networks (including a sports-tech founders group he's part of), conversations with other entrepreneurs further along the path, conferences and face-to-face events, coaches and mentors tailored to different stages of growth, and revisiting classic startup books such as The Lean Startup. What tool or resource would you recommend to grow a small business? Raj Thiruchelvarajah recommends networking and cultivating a strong community as the most powerful "tool" for growing a small business. He explains that Hytro's organic growth has come from authentic relationships with pro coaches and athletes who love the product and advocate for it, creating word-of-mouth advocacy that no paid marketing can match. What advice would you give yourself on day one of starting out in business? Raj Thiruchelvarajah would tell himself on day one: "Do you really want to do this?" He would also warn that it takes far longer than you expect, they once thought they'd be multimillionaires in five or six years, but the reality is much slower. The journey is beautiful and amazing, so try to enjoy it as much as you can, even though it is brutal and will take longer than you think. Book a 20-minute Growth Chat with Troy Trewin to see if you qualify for our upcoming course. Don't miss out on this opportunity to take your small business to new heights! Enjoyed the podcast? Please leave a review on iTunes or your preferred platform. Your feedback helps more small business owners discover our podcast and embark on their business growth journey. Quotable quotes from our special Grow A Small Business podcast guest: Strategy is everything — if you're not really clear at the beginning, you end up scrabbling around and wasting your time and effort – Raj Thiruchelvarajah I don't think I'll ever feel like we've succeeded; as a founder you're always thinking about the next thing and fixing the next problem – Raj Thiruchelvarajah It takes far longer than you think — the journey is beautiful and amazing, but it's a brutal one, so try to enjoy it as much as you can – Raj Thiruchelvarajah

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  Episode #792

  Owner of Chiro One Wellness Centers: From Four Failed Businesses and Being Forced Out to Scaling from 2 Clinics & 12 Staff to 164 Offices in 13 States with 1000+ Team Members and a Landmark $100M+ Private Equity Exit Deal!. Episode 792 - Brett Penager)

  Aug 30, 20261h 2mS1

  In this episode of the Grow A Small Business Podcast host Troy Trewin interviews Brett Penager , co-founder of Chiro One Wellness Centers, shares his remarkable journey from four failed businesses and being forced out of a top practice management firm to building a chiropractic empire that grew from just two clinics and 12 team members to 164 offices across 13 states with over 1,000 employees. In this candid conversation, he reveals the highs and lows of rapid scaling, including a near-collapse that forced the closure of dozens of locations, the landmark $100M+ private equity deal in 2017, and hard-won lessons on culture, leadership, and accountability. Penager challenges the myth of work-life balance, stresses surrounding yourself with smarter people, and explains why complete personal responsibility is the true lid on any company's growth. He also discusses his book Larger Than Life and his new mission to support 5,000 entrepreneurs worldwide. Packed with practical wisdom for owners scaling past the 5–30 team stage, this episode delivers both inspiration and actionable insights. Why would you wait any longer to start living the lifestyle you signed up for? Balance your health, wealth, relationships and business growth. And focus your time and energy and make the most of this year. Let's get into it by clicking here . Troy delves into our guest's startup journey, their perception of success, industry reconsideration, and the pivotal stress point during business expansion. They discuss the joys of small business growth, vital entrepreneurial habits, and strategies for team building, encompassing wins, blunders, and invaluable advice. And a snapshot of the final five Grow A Small Business Questions: What do you think is the hardest thing in growing a small business? Brett Penager shares that the hardest thing in growing a small business is learning to set it up so you're no longer the source of everything, especially once you reach around 40–50 employees. He emphasizes putting capable people in place, staying out of their way even if they don't do the job exactly as well as you would, and accepting that acceptable results from others free you to focus on what you do best. What's your favorite business book that has helped you the most? Brett Penager shares that his favorite business books are The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership, Good to Great, and The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. If he had to choose just one, he says The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People has been the most powerful for him. Are there any great podcasts or online learning resources you'd recommend to help grow a small business? Brett Penager shares that he listens to a wide variety of podcasts and online learning resources rather than sticking to just one or two regularly. He values hearing many different voices and perspectives, so he recommends exploring broadly across platforms instead of limiting yourself to a single show or tool. What tool or resource would you recommend to grow a small business? Brett Penager recommends the Landmark Forum (from Landmark Education) as the most powerful tool for growing a small business. He describes it as transformational learning that accelerates personal growth, helping entrepreneurs become the kind of leaders who can successfully scale their companies by gaining decades of wisdom in a much shorter time. What advice would you give yourself on day one of starting out in business? Brett Penager shares that he would tell himself on day one: "It's all going to work out." He encourages embracing the beauty of the journey itself, because the real magic happens in the process—not just at the mountaintop—and that mindset helps shorten the learning curve when starting over. Book a 20-minute Growth Chat with Troy Trewin to see if you qualify for our upcoming course. Don't miss out on this opportunity to take your small business to new heights! Enjoyed the podcast? Please leave a review on iTunes or your preferred platform. Your feedback helps more small business owners discover our podcast and embark on their business growth journey. Quotable quotes from our special Grow A Small Business podcast guest: Balance is a myth — when you're out of balance, it simply means you're doing things that aren't lighting you up – Brett Penager If it's working, it's on me. If it's not, it's on me. At the end of the day, the leader is the lid – Brett Penager Every problem has a solution, and every solution brings with it a new problem you could never have foreseen – Brett Penager

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  Episode #791

  Molly Ruland: From $100K Debt to Growing Heartcast Media to 8 Team Members, $3M+ in Business and 71% Growth, Using Podcasting, SEO, Systems and Relationships to Build a Profitable, Pandemic-Resilient Agency + Team Culture. (Episode 791 - Molly Ruland)

  Aug 23, 202626 minS1

  In this episode of the Grow A Small Business Podcast host Troy Trewin interviews Molly Ruland , founder of Heartcast Media , shares how she rebuilt after closing her first business with $100,000 in debt and launched a profitable podcast production agency in 2018. She grew Heartcast Media to an eight-person team and over $3 million in business, including a 71% year-over-year growth year. Molly explains how she transformed the business during the pandemic, growing 200% while keeping every employee employed. She discusses the importance of SEO, podcasting, systems, relationships, and understanding your value when scaling a business. She also shares hard-earned lessons on hiring, leadership, company culture, perseverance, and building a business that can operate without you. Check out The Next 100: Hosted by Molly Ruland , a podcast designed to remind listeners that the next 100 days can create meaningful change through small, consistent actions. Molly shares personal experiences, business lessons, motivation, and practical insights to help listeners move from feeling stuck to taking action. Why would you wait any longer to start living the lifestyle you signed up for? Balance your health, wealth, relationships and business growth. And focus your time and energy and make the most of this year. Let's get into it by clicking here . Troy delves into our guest's startup journey, their perception of success, industry reconsideration, and the pivotal stress point during business expansion. They discuss the joys of small business growth, vital entrepreneurial habits, and strategies for team building, encompassing wins, blunders, and invaluable advice. And a snapshot of the final five Grow A Small Business Questions: What do you think is the hardest thing in growing a small business? Molly Ruland says the hardest thing in growing a small business is perseverance. She compares business growth to the ocean—there are ebbs and flows, so you have to keep going through both the good and bad periods. She also emphasizes staying vigilant by continually checking your offers and reviewing your website/content to make sure everything is still relevant. What's your favorite business book that has helped you the most? Molly Ruland shares that her favorite business book is The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership by John C. Maxwell. She reads it once a year because every time she revisits it, she finds new areas to work on. Are there any great podcasts or online learning resources you'd recommend to help grow a small business? Molly Ruland shares that she is a member of Together Digital, a women-in-marketing digital collective, which she finds to be an excellent resource. She also relies heavily on business books and audiobooks for professional development, treating them almost like mentors. What tool or resource would you recommend to grow a small business? Molly Ruland shares that she highly recommends Gamma. She says Gamma can significantly improve proposals, reports, and other business materials, and that it can change the way you work. What advice would you give yourself on day one of starting out in business? Molly Ruland shares that she would tell herself to "get a therapist." She explains that so much of running a business is a head game and that entrepreneurship can be a lonely journey. Having a strong handle on your mental health can help you navigate the challenges of leadership and avoid problems in the business. Book a 20-minute Growth Chat with Troy Trewin to see if you qualify for our upcoming course. Don't miss out on this opportunity to take your small business to new heights! Enjoyed the podcast? Please leave a review on iTunes or your preferred platform. Your feedback helps more small business owners discover our podcast and embark on their business growth journey. Quotable quotes from our special Grow A Small Business podcast guest: You just got to keep doing it because sometimes it's going to work and sometimes it's not and that's part of the journey - Molly Ruland You got to do the stuff you don't like but when you get good at it you might realize that you actually love those things - Molly Ruland Nobody's coming to save you so understand your systems and how they work and learn how to fix them when they break - Molly Ruland

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  Episode #790

  From $40K Rescue to $10M+ Exit: How Murray Kent Built Conex to 35 Employees, Reduced Customer Risk, and Sold for Nearly 6.5× EBITDA—Plus the Mindset, Open-Book Culture & "Built to Sell" Strategy Behind It. (Episode 790 - Murray Kent)

  Aug 16, 202644 minS1

  In this episode of the Grow A Small Business Podcast host Troy Trewin interviews Murray Kent shares how he turned a $40,000 acquisition of Con-ex into a $10M+ business with 35 employees and consistent 15–20% annual growth. He reveals how customer diversification, niche marketing, financial discipline, and an open-book management culture helped drive that growth. Murray explains why reducing owner dependency and building a strong team ultimately increased Conex's value and helped him secure a sale at nearly 6.5× EBITDA. He also discusses managing stress, maintaining work-life balance, and helping employees break through their own limitations. Finally, Murray shares his advice for business owners thinking about their exit, including why you should start building Conex to sell from day one. Why would you wait any longer to start living the lifestyle you signed up for? Balance your health, wealth, relationships and business growth. And focus your time and energy and make the most of this year. Let's get into it by clicking here . Troy delves into our guest's startup journey, their perception of success, industry reconsideration, and the pivotal stress point during business expansion. They discuss the joys of small business growth, vital entrepreneurial habits, and strategies for team building, encompassing wins, blunders, and invaluable advice. And a snapshot of the final five Grow A Small Business Questions: What do you think is the hardest thing in growing a small business? Murray Kent shares that the hardest part of growing a small business is managing your own expectations and stress. He explains that stress is a constant part of business ownership, whether it comes from people, finances, or sales. The key is learning to manage it, stay healthy, and remind yourself that difficult periods will eventually pass. What's your favorite business book that has helped you the most? Murray Kent shares that his favorite business book is Built to Sell, which had a major influence on how he approached building his businesses. He says its focus on creating a business with the eventual exit in mind shaped his thinking throughout his journey. Murray believes this approach leads to a stronger, more attractive business for a future buyer. Are there any great podcasts or online learning resources you'd recommend to help grow a small business? Murray Kent shares that he regularly learns from podcasts and books featuring the experiences of other business owners. He recommends Built to Sell Radio and Mark Bouris's Straight Talk, along with Money Café and The Contrarians. Murray values hearing real business stories because they reveal what worked, what didn't, and lessons he can apply to his own experience. What tool or resource would you recommend to grow a small business? Murray Kent shares that the most valuable resource for growing a small business is becoming a better coach, encourager, and inspirer of people. He believes business owners should learn how to bring out the best in their team and help employees feel like owners. By developing and empowering people, leaders can create stronger engagement and drive sustainable business growth. What advice would you give yourself on day one of starting out in business? Murray Kent shares that he would remind himself that everything is going to be okay and encourage himself to take the leap. He believes it is important to consider the worst that could happen, but also think about the regret of not taking the opportunity. His advice is to have a plan, take the risk, and trust yourself to make it work. Book a 20-minute Growth Chat with Troy Trewin to see if you qualify for our upcoming course. Don't miss out on this opportunity to take your small business to new heights! Enjoyed the podcast? Please leave a review on iTunes or your preferred platform. Your feedback helps more small business owners discover our podcast and embark on their business growth journey. Quotable quotes from our special Grow A Small Business podcast guest: Success is having the freedom to live life on your own terms — Murray Kent Build a business that can grow without being dependent on you — Murray Kent If you want to take a leap, think about the worst that can happen, but also think about what you might regret if you do not do it — Murray Kent

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  Episode #789

  Thais Saenz of Saenz Global: From a $62K Start to a Multiple Seven-Figure Business, Doubling Sales Every Year, Helping a Roofing Client Grow from $3M to $80M & Learning That Growth Starts With Fixing Yourself. (Episode 789 - Thais Saenz)

  Aug 9, 202632 minS1

  In this episode of the Grow A Small Business Podcast host Troy Trewin interviews Thais Saenz , founder of Saenz Global , shares how she built a multiple seven-figure business by specializing in operations for roofing companies. She explains how her company helped a long-term client grow from $3 million to more than $80 million in annual sales. Thais discusses the importance of niching down, building lean teams, embracing technology, and creating systems that support sustainable growth. She also shares lessons on leadership, culture, hiring the right people, and recognizing when team members are no longer the right fit. Most importantly, Thais reveals how personal growth, continuous learning, and taking ownership of problems have been the biggest drivers of her business success. Why would you wait any longer to start living the lifestyle you signed up for? Balance your health, wealth, relationships and business growth. And focus your time and energy and make the most of this year. Let's get into it by clicking here . Troy delves into our guest's startup journey, their perception of success, industry reconsideration, and the pivotal stress point during business expansion. They discuss the joys of small business growth, vital entrepreneurial habits, and strategies for team building, encompassing wins, blunders, and invaluable advice. And a snapshot of the final five Grow A Small Business Questions: What do you think is the hardest thing in growing a small business? Thais Saenz shares that the hardest thing in growing a small business is yourself, explaining that entrepreneurs must move beyond a victim mentality, take ownership of problems, improve their communication, and ensure the right people are in the right roles. What's your favorite business book that has helped you the most? Thais Saenz says her favorite business book is *How to Win Friends and Influence People* by Dale Carnegie. She describes it as her "original gangster" business book, sharing that she has listened to it repeatedly from her early twenties through her late thirties because its lessons on relationships, communication, and influence remain highly relevant and practical today. Are there any great podcasts or online learning resources you'd recommend to help grow a small business? Thais Saenz recommends podcasts as a valuable resource for small business growth, particularly *How I Built This* from NPR, which helped her while building her business by showing her that even successful entrepreneurs face challenges and problems. What tool or resource would you recommend to grow a small business? Thais Saenz recommends having strong systems in place to grow a small business, particularly using ClickUp to create transparency and keep the team organized. She also advises hiring an expert to properly set up the system if needed, sharing that she wishes she had implemented it much earlier in her business. What advice would you give yourself on day one of starting out in business? Thais Saenz advises her day-one self to focus more on profit rather than trying to make everyone feel blessed and taken care of. She says she would have built a leaner business, been more disciplined with raises and expenses, and prioritized taking home profit instead of working extremely hard without paying herself. Book a 20-minute Growth Chat with Troy Trewin to see if you qualify for our upcoming course. Don't miss out on this opportunity to take your small business to new heights! Enjoyed the podcast? Please leave a review on iTunes or your preferred platform. Your feedback helps more small business owners discover our podcast and embark on their business growth journey. Quotable quotes from our special Grow A Small Business podcast guest: Your company can only grow as much as you do – Thais Saenz Success is being able to build a life where you can choose how you spend your time – Thais Saenz If you are not going to help the team win you have to be willing to make the tough decision – Thais Saenz

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