Welcome to the

Power Producers
Podcast

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?

Power Producers Podcast

If It’s FEE It’s for Me With Andrew Martin, Episode #137

In this episode of The Power Producers Podcast, David Carothers and co-host Kyle Houck interview Andrew Martin, Founder & President of Atlas Financial Strategies. Andrew discusses his transition from life insurance to financial planning, why he decided to become a fee-based advisor, and how he provides value for his clients.

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The Sedlak Sessions 3| Shoptalk Series, Episode #66

In this episode of The Power Producers Podcast, David Carothers and co-host Kyle Houck are joined by Stephen Sedlak. David, Kyle, and Stephen discuss strategies for making connections, boosting your credibility, and how to have productive meetings with your clients.

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Be Wise With Your Stak with Casey Nelson, Episode #135

In this episode of The Power Producers Podcast, David Carothers and co-host Kyle Houck interview Casey Nelson, Founder & CEO at StakWise. Casey discusses the significance of data automation and how StakWise can help agencies in leveraging the most out of their tools and platforms.

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The Sedlak Sessions 2 | Shoptalk Series, Episode#65

In this episode of The Power Producers Podcast, David Carothers and co-host Kyle Houck are joined by Stephen Sedlak, author of: The Work Comp Control Effect: 7 Steps to Increase Profits Through Your Work Comp Program. Stephen discusses the purpose of the book, his writing process and shares a few of the unique ways that he has promoted the book.

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Diving Deep into Data with Ron Shroyer, Episode #132

In this episode of The Power Producers Podcast, David Carothers and co-host Kyle Houck
interview Ron Shroyer, Vice President of Sales at Aureus Analytics. Ron discusses what Aureus Analytics is doing, what the Donna platform is and what it does, and how they’re using integration to make it a lot simpler to operate an agency intelligently.

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The Sedlak Sessions 1 | Shoptalk Series, Episode #64

In this episode of The Power Producers Podcast, David Carothers and co-host Kyle Houck are joined by Stephen Sedlak, the Vice President of Schmale Insurance Agency. Stephen talks about how he gets new business and how his experience with ADP helped prepare him for what he does now.

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Ask Questions Like a Lawyer, Episode#131

In this episode of The Power Producers Podcast, David Carothers and co-host Kyle Houck interview Crystal Ware, Chief Risk Strategist at Empower Benefits & Insurance Group. Crystal discusses how she transitioned from being an attorney to becoming an insurance producer and how they are helping their clients by simplifying the insurance process.

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A Mi Manera with Guillermo Vera, Episode #129

In this episode of The Power Producers Podcast, David Carothers and co-host Kyle Houck interview Guillermo Vera, Risk Advisor at The Bunker Insurance & Risk Management. Guillermo discusses how they approach potential clients, how they are functioning during COVID, and the importance of branding.

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Flood Insurance 2.0 with Chris Greene, Episode #127

In this episode of The Power Producers Podcast, David Carothers and co-host Kyle Houck interview Chris Greene, President of The Flood Insurance Guru, an agency that provides flood education and insurance nationwide. Chris discusses how the private insurance industry has evolved, his biggest challenges, and what the future holds.

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The Power Producers Podcast where we are refining and redefining the sales game.

Kyle Houck

Risk

From Policies to Profitability: How Strategic Risk Consulting Can Transform Middle Market Insurance Production – A Conversation with Doug Benz

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.

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Risk

From InsurTech to Relationship-Driven Risk Management: Lessons for Modern Insurance Producers – A Conversation with Brett Fulmer

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.

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Insurance

How Successful Insurance Producers Can Stay Grounded, Build Respect, and Avoid the Arrogance Trap

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.

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