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This is The Power Producers Podcast where we are refining and redefining the sales game. A place where sales professionals can come to learn from other sales professionals and thought leaders who have mastered their craft. As well as their peers who are still striving for perfection to achieve their “why”. Real sales professionals. Real stories. Real results. Are you ready to feel the power?
In this episode of The Power Producers Podcast, David Carothers and co-host Kyle Houck interview Kaleigha Cramer of 212 Insurance Group. Kaleigha shares her journey to becoming an independent agent and discusses the importance of rest, learning, and finding joy and purpose in your work.
In this episode of The Power Producers Podcast, David Carothers and guest co-host Abe Gibson interview Chris Walker, CEO of Refine Labs. Chris discusses how Refine Labs helps companies to execute marketing strategies to start generating revenue, and the importance of digital marketing in today’s business landscape.
In this episode of The Power Producers Podcast, David Carothers interviews James Jenkins, Founder & CEO at RiskWell & Host of the Agency Freedom Podcast. James shares his personal experience leaving a captive agency and the lack of resources available to him at the time, which inspired him to write the book “Leaving Captivity” as a guide for others.
In this episode of The Power Producers Podcast, David Carothers and co-host Kyle Houck interview Kevin Mlynarek, Co-Owner of Ideal Traits. Kevin discusses the importance of taking a logical approach to find the right fit for your team, the value of using personality assessments to determine if a candidate is suited for the role, and how Ideal Traits can help insurance agency owners make better hiring decisions.
In this episode of The Power Producers Podcast, David Carothers shares his expertise on how to structure fee agreements and recoup costs when auditing accounts and discusses the importance of being transparent about compensation with clients.
In this episode of The Power Producers Podcast, David Carothers and co-host Kyle Houck interview Paul Hawkins and Sean Hawkins from HawkSoft. Paul and Sean discuss the value of understanding a customer’s needs before offering solutions and the importance of building a workplace culture of empathy and collaboration.
In this episode of The Power Producers Podcast, David Carothers and co-host Kyle Houck interview David Neagle, Founder of Life Is Now, and host of The Successful Mind Podcast. David Neagle discusses the importance of having a positive mindset, and the significance of believing in oneself, charging the correct value for services, and being disciplined in sticking to one’s business plan.
In this episode of The Power Producers Podcast, David Carothers and co-host Kyle Houck discuss ways to address policy errors before they become a problem and the importance of getting to know your client’s needs before trying to sell them anything.
In this episode of The Power Producers Podcast, David Carothers interviews Paul Epstein, bestselling author, and keynote speaker. Paul discusses the importance of adaptability, resilience, and a positive mindset and the importance of understanding yourself and your purpose.
In this episode of The Power Producers Podcast, David Carothers and co-host Kyle Houck interview Liz Benz, Marketing Director at New Buffalo Insurance Agency. Listen to this inspiring conversation filled with insights on resilience, teamwork, and the pursuit of growth in both personal and professional life.
In this episode of The Power Producers Podcast, David Carothers and co-host Kyle Houck interview Trace Meek, Founder of Fetch. Trace explains how Fetch helps insurance agents find policy-specific carriers and discusses the launch of a new product called Ask Fetch, which utilizes machine learning to teach AI about insurance underwriting.
In this episode of The Power Producers Podcast, David Carothers and co-host Kyle Houck interview Donald Shampine, President of Michigan Insurance Group. They discuss the importance of knowledge and education in the sales process, the challenges of starting and running an agency, and the benefits of being involved in industry associations.
In this episode of The Power Producers Podcast, David Carothers and co-host Kyle Houck interview Peter Dunn, Sr. Vice President, Commercial Division at DHI Commercial Roofing. Peter Dunn discusses DHI Commercial Roofing’s proactive approach to roof inspections and maintenance recommendations, as well as its use of technology to monitor weather events, and the importance of understanding insurance policies when it comes to roof damage.
In this episode of The Power Producers Podcast, David Carothers and co-host Kyle Houck interview Jacob Simon, Founder & CEO at Adapt API. They discuss the benefits of using Adapt API to streamline processes and automate repetitive tasks and the challenges of automating the exchange of information between carriers and agencies.
In this episode of The Power Producers Podcast, David Carothers and guest co-host Josh Gurley discuss various topics related to the insurance industry, including the challenges of the hard market and the importance of branding and building strong relationships.
In this episode of The Power Producers Podcast, David Carothers and guest co-host Josh Gurley discuss the challenges of navigating the hard market in the insurance industry, the importance of understanding reinsurance, and providing accurate information to underwriters.
In this episode of The Power Producers Podcast, David Carothers and co-host Kyle Houck interview Josh Braun, a Sales Guru, and host of the Inside Selling Podcast. Josh discusses his approach to sales and how mindfulness training can help you lower the zone of resistance people often have with salespeople.
In this episode of The Power Producers Podcast, David Carothers reveals that his single biggest affliction also serves as his most powerful superpower, and discusses the importance of self care and how the pressure to emulate “perfect” role models can set newer producers up for disappointment.
In this episode of The Power Producers Podcast, David Carothers and co-host Kyle Houck interview Anurag Sha, CEO & Co-Founder of Aureus Analytics. Anurag discusses the use of AI and machine learning in the insurance industry. They talk about Donna for Agents and discuss the future of AI and machine learning in the insurance industry.
In this episode of The Power Producers Podcast, David Carothers and co-host Kyle Houck interview Bharath Bangalore, Founder of Blue Ocean Strategic Partners. Bharath discusses process efficiency, automation, and the impact of technology on the insurance industry.
The truth about professional sales isn’t flashy, and it certainly isn’t about charisma. If you think selling is about having the “gift of gab,” winging it on calls, or leaning on your likability to win deals, you’re doing it wrong—and that’s why you’re struggling. In this post, we’re breaking down lessons from a brutally honest conversation with Benjamin Dennehy, the UK’s Most Hated Sales Trainer®, about why so many producers in commercial insurance and other industries fall short—and what the top performers do differently.
Middle market producers often believe that bigger accounts come from quoting better, faster, or cheaper. But in reality, the leap from writing $5,000 policies to closing $1.2 million in premium starts with a different mindset. It starts with consulting over quoting. That’s exactly the story that unfolded at Producers in Paradise when Doug Benz shared how he landed the largest account of his career—not by selling insurance, but by solving problems no one else could.
This post breaks down the step-by-step strategy Doug and his mentor David Carothers used to win a high-stakes, complex account through total cost of risk analysis, claims data visibility, and certificate compliance solutions. If you’re a commercial producer trying to break into the middle market, this blueprint is for you.
At Producers in Paradise 2025, five insurance leaders took the stage to share exactly how they’ve built brands that drive real conversations and real revenue: Patrick McBride, David Carothers, Ciara Gravier, Daniel Wakefield, and Aaron Levine.
In a constantly evolving insurance landscape, commercial producers are being forced to adapt—quickly. Between InsurTech advancements, shifting market conditions, and increasing client expectations, producers must learn how to balance innovation with deep relationship-building and technical risk expertise. On a recent episode of the Power Producers Podcast, industry veteran David Carothers sat down with Brett Fulmer, principal at Newport Beach Insurance Center, to talk about navigating these dynamics with authenticity and strategy. What followed was a roadmap for producers who want to succeed in today’s middle market.
In the commercial insurance industry, success can come fast—especially for driven producers who are focused on the middle market. The money starts coming in, the book grows, and you find yourself standing in rooms where you once only dreamed of being. But with that success comes a subtle trap—one that’s caught more than a few top producers off guard: arrogance.
It’s not always loud or obvious. Sometimes, it’s the silent erosion of empathy. Other times, it’s the misplaced belief that your way is the only way. In this post, I want to explore how insurance producers can stay grounded even as their careers take off, how they can build respect by honoring where they came from, and how to avoid becoming the very kind of producer people whisper about after conferences for all the wrong reasons.
In the world of commercial insurance, no phrase inspires more dread—or confusion—than “workers’ comp audit.” Often, the root cause of these audits isn’t fraud or underreporting, but something far more preventable: incorrect workers’ compensation class codes.
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