THE STERN TRUTH: Business Unfiltered

The Stern Truth: Business Unfiltered is the no-BS podcast for overwhelmed small business owners & entrepreneurs who are tired of the noise, the hype, and the so-called “experts” telling them how to grow their business. Hosted by Marshall Stern , a seasoned business owner and coach with over 35 years of experience, this podcast cuts through the confusion to bring you real, practical advice that actually works. If you feel stuck, exhausted, and like you’re doing it all alone—this is for you. Each episode delivers honest conversations, actionable strategies, and straight talk about what it really takes to grow and lead a thriving business. No fluff. No gimmicks. Just The Stern Truth you need to move forward with confidence. It's time to stop spinning your wheels and start leading your business like the unstoppable force you are.

THE STERN TRUTH: Business Unfiltered is a business podcast hosted by Marshall Stern, with 97 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80.

Marshall Stern hosts THE STERN TRUTH: Business Unfiltered, a business show with 97 episodes published.

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  Episode #97

  Ep. 97 The Stern Truth: Scaling Your Business with Joshua Gould

  Sep 22, 202641 minS2

  Are you ready for gold nugget after gold nugget? Then this episode with Joshua Gould is for you. Joshua is the CEO of thebigword, a translation and interpretation company. He’s an entrepreneur, an investor, a dad, and a husband. Make no mistake, though; he’s been through recessions and the pandemic and made his way out the other side, when so many business owners haven’t. He admits that it’s a different kind of mindset than when you own a business. He even has his own word for an entrepreneur already inside a business - intrapreneur. Got to say, I love it. It’s the beginning of a true entrepreneurial spirit. Joshua tells us about a time he started a janitorial services business and admits that he lost money on keyword advertising at first. Eventually, after some learning more about ads, and several thousand dollars later, they figured out how to create a full-fledged strategy that worked. Like I said, it's golden nugget after golden nugget in this episode. When you’re young, take risks. Get comfortable with rejection. Once you get comfortable with it, those risks are more of a numbers game. He mentions one of my favourites which is to be of service to others, not for money or for a fee - ask what you can do for them. Joshua hammers home to have no regrets. You don’t want to be thinking about the “what ifs.” You can’t have an ego when you start a business, so his advice is to stay humble but stay confident. Get in touch with Joshua here: Website: www.thebigword.com Email: contact@joshuagould.com LI: linkedin.com/in/joshuadgould/ Do you have requests for episode topics? Feel free to send any feedback or questions about the Stern Truth to marshall@marshallstern.net . Subscribe to The Stern Truth Business Unfiltered so you never miss an episode and receive a FREE GIFT: http://www.thesterntruth.com/ Join my Business Inner Circle Community for free here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thebusinessinnercirclegroup Book your complimentary business blindspot assessment with me here: https://attractwell.com/MarshallStern/landing/breakthrough-session I encourage you to reach out with feedback, topic suggestions, and share your own entrepreneurial challenges. Get in touch in the comments or head to... Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marshallstern/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MarshallDStern Email: marshall@marshallstern.net

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  Episode #96

  Ep. 96 Welcome to Season 2 and Back to Business Time!

  Sep 8, 202611 minS2

  It’s Season 2! I’ve intentionally decided to start this new season in September. Summer is a slower time for most entrepreneurs and small business owners. But when it comes to September, it’s back to business. What are you doing to prepare for it? Do you have a plan in place? How will you stay accountable for these next four months? Life gets in the way, and you might not even know what to do. Business can be lonely, but you don’t have to do it alone. If you’re feeling overwhelmed or unfocused, you might need guidance, like a coach or an accountability group. Come join us in the ONtreprenuer Inner Circle before September 15th. If you’re hearing this after September 15th and are still interested, reach out to me at marshall@marshallstern.net . My tips for the next four months are to help you get clarity. Decide what the remaining four months will look like. What do you want to achieve by the end of the year? Where are you with your goals that you set in January? Work backwards to figure out the "how” that can help set you up for success. Stop being reactive. Just like one of my episodes in Season 1, use the power of 10 seconds. Slow down, really think about what’s happening, and use that pause as either a mini-break or an opportunity to plan your next move. Step into the leadership role that your business needs you to be, instead of just being an employee of your company. Have a leader’s mindset. Get comfortable being uncomfortable. Use time blocking—when it’s done right, it’s a powerful system. We’ve got some great guests coming up on Season 2. We’ll have even more gold nuggets coming up to share with everyone. We’ve only got four more months left of 2026, so let’s make the most of them. Do you have requests for episode topics? Feel free to send any feedback or questions about the Stern Truth to marshall@marshallstern.net . Subscribe to The Stern Truth Business Unfiltered so you never miss an episode and receive a FREE GIFT: http://www.thesterntruth.com/ Join my Business Inner Circle Community for free here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thebusinessinnercirclegroup Book your complimentary business blindspot assessment with me here: https://attractwell.com/MarshallStern/landing/breakthrough-session I encourage you to reach out with feedback, topic suggestions, and share your own entrepreneurial challenges. Get in touch in the comments or head to... Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marshallstern/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MarshallDStern Email: marshall@marshallstern.net

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  Episode #95

  Ep. 95 The Stern Truth: Does Your Story Serve You? With Alex Garnier

  Aug 25, 202633 minS1

  Ep 95 is the final episode of Season 1 of The Stern Truth! I can’t believe that we’ve done a full season, and what a year and a half it’s been. In today’s Season 1 finale, it’s all about stories. It shapes who we are and how we show up in the world. We control more of it than we might think. Alex Garnier, a character animator, is a master of storytelling himself and sees obstacles more as a fascination and not a roadblock. Alex started off in art school, then pivoted to animation school, and later into the animation industry. He learned a lot more about what characters want and what they are meant to pursue through his time in animation. Think about it for a minute, my friends - have you ever seen a cartoon character without a goal? There’s a strong benefit in telling our own story as a business owner. Alex goes on to explain that when you share it with people, there’s the emotional connection that needs to be there. The core values help Alex to shape the story of the who behind the businesses. We get into how you can utilize storytelling in business, not necessarily to get more clients but to get to that next step in business. One tip Alex has is to make the experience of telling your story unique to each prospective client. How you present yourself makes all the difference. Alex’s golden nugget from the episode is so beautiful that you’ll have to tune in to hear it. But I will leave you with one he gave right before the end, and that is to show your passion to people; the connection will come naturally. Get in touch with Alex here: LI: @alexgarnierstoryteller Email: alexgarnierstoryteller.pro@gmail.com September 8th is the premiere of Season 2 of The Stern Truth. Tune in to get even more of the inspiring stories about entrepreneurs and small businesses that you love. Have feedback or questions about this or any episode of the Stern Truth? Send me an email at marshall@marshallstern.net . Subscribe to The Stern Truth Business Unfiltered so you never miss an episode and receive a FREE GIFT: http://www.thesterntruth.com/ Join my Business Inner Circle Community for free here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thebusinessinnercirclegroup Book your complimentary business blindspot assessment with me here: https://attractwell.com/MarshallStern/landing/breakthrough-session I encourage you to reach out with feedback, topic suggestions, and share your own entrepreneurial challenges. Get in touch in the comments or head to... Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marshallstern/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MarshallDStern Email: marshall@marshallstern.net

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  Episode #94

  Ep. 94 The Stern Truth: The Power of 10 Seconds

  Aug 11, 20268 minS1

  A few weeks ago, I was rushing to a meeting and stopped for coffee first. Being in a hurry, I wanted to get my coffee as soon as possible. The barista took a bit of extra time to write something on the cup, and, to be honest, I was agitated. Until I looked at the cup. A small message that took 10 seconds to write changed my day. It changed my attitude. Even in a rush, I slowed down and took in that moment of kindness. Like I say often, we need to slow down in order to speed up. Maybe it is 10 seconds or 10 minutes, or longer. Not everything has to be so rushed and reactive, especially in a small business. Take 10 seconds to think about our day ahead. Just 10 seconds to plan it and set the intention. Or, better yet, use 10 seconds and interact with your customers or clients to make it count. I guarantee you’ll see a difference. What would your 10 seconds look like? I would love to hear the answer. Comment below or send me an email at marshall@marshallstern.net. Subscribe to The Stern Truth Business Unfiltered so you never miss an episode and receive a FREE GIFT: http://www.thesterntruth.com/ Join my Business Inner Circle Community for free here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thebusinessinnercirclegroup Book your complimentary business blindspot assessment with me here: https://attractwell.com/MarshallStern/landing/breakthrough-session I encourage you to reach out with feedback, topic suggestions, and share your own entrepreneurial challenges. Get in touch in the comments or head to... Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marshallstern/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MarshallDStern Email: marshall@marshallstern.net

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  Episode #93

  Ep. 93 The Stern Truth: The Only Way to Grow with Amariah Murdock

  Aug 4, 202641 minS1

  Amariah Murdock describes herself as your black bubbly partner in success. As a business owner of her company INFINTEXEC, entrepreneur, mom, wife, and podcaster, she has a busy life yet keeps her bubbly self going. As a postpartum new mom, she was trying to navigate business and motherhood and, like most new mothers, found it hard. Her podcast “Mompreneurs Making Moves” allowed her to put out questions about motherhood and managing it all. Speaking of managing it all, Amariah goes over a few things that allow her to manage everything. She also doles out golden nugget after golden nugget in this episode, like take off the labels and the narratives that people put on us, and there’s so much more to success than money. I note the similarities between her and me and how passionate we both are about servant leadership. The value that it brings to both the giver and the receiver is insurmountable. We also both especially emphasize how positive connections, not relationship arrogance, should be one of the things we strive for in business. Amariah also gets into one of her biggest struggles, which is imposter syndrome. The way she puts it is that most people with imposter syndrome have a fear of being found out—"What if they know I’m still learning?” As long as you’re learning, you’re not left behind, which is a compliment to something I always say: we need to fall in love with the process, not the goal. One of the last golden nuggets Amariah gave was this: the way you show up changes the world. I couldn’t agree more. Believe me, you’ll need the whole pad of paper and a pen for this episode. Connect with Amariah here: Website: www.infinitexec.com LI: @amariahmurdock FB: @ @INFINITEXEC Podcast: mompreneursmakingmoves.com I would love to hear your feedback on this or any episode. Send any comments or questions to me at marshall@marshallstern.net . Subscribe to The Stern Truth Business Unfiltered so you never miss an episode and receive a FREE GIFT: http://www.thesterntruth.com/ Join my Business Inner Circle Community for free here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thebusinessinnercirclegroup Book your complimentary business blindspot assessment with me here: https://attractwell.com/MarshallStern/landing/breakthrough-session I encourage you to reach out with feedback, topic suggestions, and share your own entrepreneurial challenges. Get in touch in the comments or head to... Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marshallstern/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MarshallDStern Email: marshall@marshallstern.net

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