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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 Tracy Cotton, Executive Client Manager at Starr-Mathews Agency. Tracy discusses why everybody, particularly those in the insurance industry, should be flexible and open to new experiences and how she came up with the concept of trying 50 new things on her 50th birthday.
In this episode of The Power Producers Podcast, David Carothers and co-host Kyle Houck interview Ellie Platt. Ellie explains how she manages and values her team, and how they show their dedication to their clients and the community they serve.
In this episode of The Power Producers Podcast, David Carothers and co-host Kyle Houck talk about the purpose of marketing drops, why we should value everyone regardless of their position, and why having a good conversation with the gatekeeper is important.
In this episode of The Power Producers Podcast, David Carothers and guest co-host Jason Cass, interview Dr. Billy Williams, CEO of Williams Family Investment Group and President of Inspire a Nation Business Mentoring. They talk about the four types of discipline, the five levels of leadership, and how investment allows you to accomplish more of what you want.
In this episode of The Power Producers Podcast, David Carothers with co-host Kyle Houck and guest host Ryan Deeds interview Jeff Teschke, Founder & CEO of Forge3 to talk all the value of maximizing your agency’s website.
In this episode of The Power Producers Podcast, David Carothers interviews Chris Greene, The Flood Insurance Guru. Chris discusses the Flood Education Center’s mission and highlights the importance of customer/client feedback and the key elements to consider while developing content.
In this episode of The Power Producers Podcast, David Carothers and co-host Kyle Houck interview Cassidy Arbeli, Business Strategist and Consultant and CEO of The Arbeli Group. Cassidy shares her journey to becoming an independent agent and offers advice to other women in the insurance industry.
In this episode of The Power Producers Podcast, David Carothers and co-host Kyle Houck interview John Yarbrough Carrier and MGA/MGU Solutions Specialist at Appulate. John talks about the impact of being transparent with your clients and how their company helps agents with their services.
In this episode of The Power Producers Podcast, David Carothers and co-host Kyle Houck talk about some of the difficulties they have encountered when working with construction accounts.
In this episode of The Power Producers Podcast, David Carothers and co-host Kyle Houck interview Clayton Wood, CFP®, Managing Partner at C. B. Wood Financial. Clayton shares cold calling strategies that have worked for him and discusses the current landscape of self funding and healthcare benefits.
In this episode of The Power Producers Podcast, David Carothers and co-host Kyle Houck interview Wes Becknell, Vice President of Marketing at RockLake Insurance Group. Wes answers the most queried questions in the trucking industry.
In this episode of The Power Producers Podcast, David Carothers and co-host Kyle Houck talk about how to use a financial discussion with your client or your prospect to make your point and drive the wedge.
In this episode of The Power Producers Podcast, David Carothers and co-host Kyle Houck interview Randy Schwantz CEO of The Wedge Group and creator of Bignition, the simplified growth system built for independent commercial insurance agencies. Randy discusses the purpose behind Bignition and how it is helping middle-market producers grow agencies.
In this episode of The Power Producers Podcast, David Carothers went to Vegas for the Keystone Emerging Leaders Conference, where he got a chance to jump on a podcast with a few of the best people in the industry, including Keynote Speaker, Alan Stein Jr., Shawn Eagan – Senior Vice President at Imperial PFS, Katherine Smith, Chief Customer Officer at Strate Insurance Group, Andy Phillips, Risk Manager, Motivational Speaker, Josh Gurley of HM advisors, Stephen Sedlak, President at Workcompology, Christian DeLozier, Trusted Business Risk, and Insurance Consultant at Mike Keith Insurance.
In this episode of The Power Producers Podcast, David Carothers, Todd Thams, Founder of Mod Adviser, Direct Work Comp and President of Thams Agency, and Kevin Ring of the Institute of WorkComp Professional talk all about learning to read and understand mod worksheets.
In this episode of The Power Producers Podcast, David Carothers and co-host Kyle Houck interview Dawnyel Smink, President of Canyon Lands Insurance. Dawnyel shares strategies that have contributed to her agency’s success in commercial lines, how they are building a network of agencies, and offers her perspective on how the industry has changed for women over the years.
In this episode of The Power Producers Podcast, David Carothers and guest host Ryan Mathisen of GloveBox, interview Zach Mefferd, Co-Founder at ZipBonds. Zach explains the importance of giving your clients access to a bonding capacity and how ZipBonds is working to help agents provide that access in a simple and intuitive way.
In this episode of The Power Producers Podcast, David Carothers together with Todd Thams, the Founder of Mod Adviser, Direct Work Comp and President of Thams Agency, and Kevin Ring of Institute of WorkComp Professional, discuss audits and certificates of insurance.
In this episode of The Power Producers Podcast, David Carothers interviews Steve Williams and AJ Peterson of Workers’ Compensation Company of America. Steve and AJ talk in-depth about the complexities of Workers’ Comp claims.
In this episode of The Power Producers Podcast, David Carothers and co-host Kyle Houck interview Howie Zales, President of HJZ Productions. Howie talks about being a professional camera operator for network level sports and entertainment events and his recent shift into broadcast-quality live streams and remote recording productions.
The commercial insurance industry is changing faster than ever—and not always for the better. Consolidation is accelerating. Service levels are declining. Private equity is pushing agencies to scale in ways that strip out the personal touch that once defined the independent channel. But for the producers willing to do the work, lean into mentorship, and sharpen their craft, this isn’t a challenge—it’s an opportunity.
The commercial insurance industry is in the midst of a major evolution. The traditional workflows that once drove agency productivity are now dragging down growth, overloading staff, and frustrating owners who are trying to scale efficiently. For independent insurance agencies—especially those in the middle market—adapting to these challenges without increasing overhead is a tightrope walk.
Few industries reward consistency, discipline, and patience quite like middle-market commercial insurance. Initially, every producer starts with a different story, background, and path into the business. However, the ones who rise are the ones who learn to embrace the long game. Moreover, while success may take time, those who persevere ultimately reap the benefits. Furthermore, this industry values resilience, and those who remain committed often find themselves achieving great success in the end.
In today’s performance-obsessed culture, achieving elite status in your profession can often come with a hidden price. Tania Khazaal, known to many as Tanya the Herbalist, knows this truth firsthand. After climbing the ranks in the insurance industry and landing in the top 1% of sales professionals, she found herself at a crossroads. Despite the accolades, international travel perks, and consistent recognition, she was suffering from a quiet crisis: burnout.
In the fast-paced world of commercial insurance, the grind of daily operations often blinds agency leaders to the foundational cracks forming beneath them. Producers are focused on closing deals. Account managers are buried in servicing. Agency principals are juggling leadership, sales, operations, and finance. Yet in the midst of this hustle, many agencies lack the one thing that can unlock the next level of growth: organizational clarity.
Brian’s journey isn’t one of shortcuts or overnight success. It’s the story of a man who has faced battlefields, boardrooms, and hospital beds — and come out the other side with an unshakable sense of purpose. His agency is young, his vision is clear, and his “why” runs deep.
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