Episodi

  • The Navigator’s Letter: Love, War, and a WWII Story Hidden in Family Letters with Jan Cress Dondi

    The Navigator’s Letter: Love, War, and a WWII Story Hidden in Family Letters with Jan Cress Dondi
    Sep 23 2026
    Send us Fan MailWhat happens when a box of old family letters opens a window into one of the most dangerous chapters of World War II?This week on Here’s What We Know, we welcome author Jan Cress Dondi to talk about The Navigator’s Letter, a remarkable story built from letters, family memories, military records, and the lives of three young people whose paths were changed by war. Listen in as the conversation takes us into the world of B-24 navigators, the deadly Ploesti mission, prisoner-of-war camps, and the emotional reality faced by young men who knew they might not make it home. Jan also shares the deeply personal connection she has to the story through her father, her uncle, and her mother, and how those letters helped bring their personalities and experiences back to life decades later.We’ll also deep dive into what happens when the people who lived through history don't talk about it and what families can discover when they take the time to ask questions and preserve the stories that remain.If you have old letters, photographs, journals, or stories from someone in your family who served, this conversation may make you look at them a little differently.In this episode:The true story behind The Navigator’s LetterWhat WWII letters reveal about the lives of young servicemenThe dangers faced by B-24 crews and navigatorsThe infamous Ploesti mission and "Black Sunday"Life inside a Romanian POW campThe friendship and complicated relationship between Bob, John B., and PollySurvivor's guilt and the emotional cost of warWhy family history matters before the people who lived it are gone This episode is sponsored by: Dignity Memorial Reed Animal Hospital Bio:Jan Cress Dondi's journey began in Hillsboro, Illinois, where the inspiration for The Navigator’s Letter took root. With thirty years experience in legal writing and research, she learned to trace facts with precision, following threads of the past—across time, language, and continents. Her pursuit was personal—a labor of love of family—a desire to connect historical truth with the human experience. The culmination of which has enriched this narrative with depth and authenticity.Hundreds of letters from two B-24 navigators—John B. and Bob—and a POW diary together with historical documents became the backbone of this book. Clues led Dondi on an emotional search for answers, one that carried her across the globe—to her father’s POW camp in Romania, the military archives in Germany, her uncle’s military base in England—where she pieced together a deeply human story of war, courage and love—one that had waited decades to be told. Dondi was born in Hillsboro, IL. Raised in Atlanta, she graduated from the University of Georgia; lived years in Anchorage, AK, where she pursued post-graduate studies at the University of Alaska; and built a career as a litigation paralegal. She has spoken about her father's POW experience at the US Embassy in Bucharest, recounted her uncle's mission experience to the 93rd Bombardment Group in Washington, DC, and flown in one of the only B-24 Liberators still operating. The mother of two daughters and grandmother of four, Jan has been married nearly forty years to an aviation enthusiast and hobby pilot whose projects include building a 72% scale all-carbon replica of a P-51 Mustang, the WWII fighter that significantly impacted the war. She lives in Fort Lauderdale, FL.Website: https://jancressdondi.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jancressdondi/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thenavigatorsletter/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/b24navigators/Tags: The Navigator's Letter, Jan Cress Dondi, World War II, WWII, WWII family history, WWII letters, World War II history, WWII veterans, WWII navigator, B-24 Liberator, Ploesti mission, Ploiesti Romania, WWII prisoner of war, WWII POW, military family history, family letters, World War II books, WWII memoir, historical nonfiction, Gary Scott ThomasConnect with Gary:Gary's WebsiteFollow Gary on InstagramGary's TiktokGary's FacebookWatch the episodes on YouTubeAdvertise on the PodcastThank you for listening. Let us know what you think about this episode. Leave us a review!
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    57 min
  • Kenny Chesney: The Superstar I Never Saw Coming | Once Around The Country

    Kenny Chesney: The Superstar I Never Saw Coming | Once Around The Country
    Sep 16 2026

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    Our host, Gary Scott Thomas, has spent nearly 50 years in radio, and during that time he has met plenty of artists who went on to become stars. But there was one he never saw coming: Kenny Chesney.

    This week on Once Around the Country, Gary walks through Kenny's full journey, from a self-produced demo album sold out of the trunk of his car in Johnson City clubs to a publishing deal at the Opryland Music Group to a first record deal that ended when the label shut down to the persistence that finally landed him a deal with BNA Records. Gary also shares a personal memory from a moment in a program director's office, when a young and slightly discouraged Kenny Chesney needed a laugh and a little belief from the people around him.

    Years later, when Kenny had become a superstar, he returned the favor by being the first big guest on KRTY’s new streaming radio station. This is a story about Kenny Chesney, hard work, humility, timing, and what happens when someone keeps going even when the path ahead isn't obvious.

    In This Episode:

    • Kenny Chesney's childhood in Luttrell, Tennessee, and his athletic beginnings
    • Attending Gibbs High School, the same school that later produced Morgan Wallen
    • Discovering bluegrass music at East Tennessee State
    • Meeting Alison Krauss while both were still students
    • Selling over a thousand self-produced albums with no promotion
    • Moving to Nashville and playing the Bluebird Cafe and the Turf
    • Signing his first record deal on Capricorn Records in 1994
    • The label closing and what came next
    • Signing with BNA Records in 1995 and his first top ten hits
    • The moment Gary and his radio partner Julie helped Kenny push through self-doubt
    • Kenny agreeing to help launch the radio station's move to streaming
    • What Kenny Chesney is really like, according to someone who has known him for decades

    This episode is sponsored by:

    Bison Junk Removal

    Mike Counsil Plumbing & Rooter (Use code “Gary” to get $89 off any service!)

    License #: 679261


    Bio:

    Kenny Chesney is one of country music’s biggest stars, but his story started far from the stadiums. A Tennessee native and former college baseball and football player, Chesney discovered bluegrass at East Tennessee State before moving to Nashville and building his career one club, song, and fan at a time. Known for hits like “How Forever Feels,” “She Thinks My Tractor’s Sexy,” and “That’s Why I’m Here,” Chesney’s career is a story of hard work, persistence, and knowing when to change course.


    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kennychesney/


    Tags: Kenny Chesney, Kenny Chesney story, Kenny Chesney career, Kenny Chesney biography, Kenny Chesney early career, Kenny Chesney Nashville, Kenny Chesney country music, Tim McGraw, Gary Scott Thomas, country music stories, country music history, country music radio, Nashville music, Here’s What We Know, Once Around the Country, Kenny Chesney superstar, Kenny Chesney rise to fame

    Connect with Gary:

    • Gary's Website
    • Follow Gary on Instagram
    • Gary's Tiktok
    • Gary's Facebook
    • Watch the episodes on YouTube
    • Advertise on the Podcast

    Thank you for listening. Let us know what you think about this episode. Leave us a review!
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    17 min
  • NFL Is Back: 49ers, Rams, Chargers, Broncos & Super Bowl Picks with Mark Willard

    NFL Is Back: 49ers, Rams, Chargers, Broncos & Super Bowl Picks with Mark Willard
    Sep 9 2026

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    Who has the best shot at making the Super Bowl this NFL season?

    This week on Here’s What We Know, longtime Bay Area sports radio host Mark Willard joins Gary Scott Thomas to talk 49ers, Rams, Chargers, Broncos, and the teams he thinks could make a serious run this season.

    Mark explains why he has the Rams as his favorite in the NFC, where he sees the 49ers in the NFC West, and why he’s finally willing to take the Chargers seriously. We get into Justin Herbert, Matthew Stafford, quarterback play, injuries, the changing world of college football, NIL, the transfer portal, and what it all means for the game we grew up watching. And yes, they make their Super Bowl predictions.

    It is a fun, opinionated conversation full of Bay Area sports talk, some good-natured arguing, and a reminder that being a fan is supposed to be fun in the first place.

    In This Episode:

    • Why local radio is not dying, even when parts of the industry are struggling
    • What it is like to be a fan of a genuinely hated team
    • Growing up a Saints fan in South Alabama with no cable television
    • Why criticism online is often a sign you are doing something right
    • Football as the last true team sport left in modern athletics
    • The NIL era and what it means for the future of college football
    • NFC West breakdown: Rams, 49ers, Seahawks, and Cardinals
    • Matthew Stafford, Justin Herbert, and the quarterbacks who deserve more credit
    • Baker Mayfield's contract standoff with the Buccaneers
    • Why the Patriots may take a step back this season
    • The case for the Chargers as a real AFC contender
    • Final Super Bowl predictions from both Gary and Mark

    This episode is sponsored by:

    Bison Junk Removal

    Mike Counsil Plumbing & Rooter (Use code “Gary” to get $89 off any service!)

    License #: 679261


    Bio:

    Mark Willard is the host of the San Francisco-Bay Area leading drive-time show “Willard & Dibs” on 95.7 The Game and is a nationally syndicated weekend host on FOX Sports Radio. He previously hosted college football Saturdays for Pac-12 Networks and a daily show on ESPNLA with Lakers great Mychal Thompson, as well as the weekly show The Forum. He is the proud father of three teens.


    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marktwillard/

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mtwillard/


    Tags: NFL predictions 2026, NFL season predictions, 49ers predictions, San Francisco 49ers, Los Angeles Rams, LA Rams, Los Angeles Chargers, LA Chargers, Denver Broncos, NFC West predictions, Super Bowl predictions, Mark Willard, Mark Willard NFL, Matthew Stafford, Justin Herbert, NFL quarterbacks, college football, sports radio, football podcast, Gary Scott Thomas

    Connect with Gary:

    • Gary's Website
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    • Gary's Tiktok
    • Gary's Facebook
    • Watch the episodes on YouTube
    • Advertise on the Podcast

    Thank you for listening. Let us know what you think about this episode. Leave us a review!
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    39 min
  • Comedian Alex Pearlman on the Taco Bell Rant That Went Viral and Turning Anger Into Comedy

    Comedian Alex Pearlman on the Taco Bell Rant That Went Viral and Turning Anger Into Comedy
    Sep 2 2026

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    What happens when anger becomes funny?

    Alex Pearlman has built a following by saying the things many people are thinking but cannot always say themselves. His viral Mexican Pizza rant helped put him on the map, but there was a lot of work behind that moment.

    This week on Here’s What We Know, comedian and TikTok star Alex Pearlman talks about growing up outside Philadelphia, finding his voice through more than two decades of comedy, going viral, and what happens when the internet suddenly decides you're an "overnight success."

    Alex believes people have lost sight of the fact that there is a real person on the other side of the screen. His Crashing Out Tour is part of his effort to get people out of comment sections and back into real conversations. Listen now.

    In This Episode:

    • The real story behind Alex's viral "Mexican Pizza Hut rant" and what he learned about timing, monetization, and TikTok
    • Why Alex calls himself an "anger translator" for people who can't say what they're really thinking
    • Growing up in Delco, outside Philadelphia, and how that shaped his comedic voice
    • The difference between angry-and-funny and angry-and-jerky, and why so few comedians land on the right side of that line
    • What Alex means by a "25-year overnight success" and the odd jobs that quietly fed his material for decades
    • Why his wife became his most trusted editor and what that partnership taught him about ego
    • The danger of young creators going viral with no life experience to back it up
    • Why Alex built the Crashing Out Tour around getting people off their phones and back into a room together
    • What's coming to San Francisco's Palace of Fine Arts on September 11th


    Catch Alex Pearlman's Crashing Out Tour on September 11.

    Pick up your tickets here before they sell out!


    This episode is sponsored by:

    Sterling Oak Cabinetry

    Reed Animal Hospital


    Bio:

    Alex Pearlman is a comedian, podcaster, and creator who has been performing stand-up since 2002. A longtime Philadelphia-area resident, Alex has built a following with his sharp, often angry, and always funny takes on everyday life, culture, and politics. His viral videos have introduced him to a much larger audience, but his comedy is rooted in more than two decades of performing and developing his voice. He is also the creator of the Crashing Out Tour, which aims to bring people out of online arguments and back into real conversations with one another.


    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pearlmania500/

    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pearlmania500/

    TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@pearlmania500

    YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AlexPearlman2000

    Connect with Gary:

    • Gary's Website
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    • Gary's Tiktok
    • Gary's Facebook
    • Watch the episodes on YouTube
    • Advertise on the Podcast

    Thank you for listening. Let us know what you think about this episode. Leave us a review!
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    13 min
  • Remembering Dolly Parton | Once Around the Country

    Remembering Dolly Parton | Once Around the Country
    Aug 31 2026

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    We lost the biggest star country music has ever had.

    This week on Once Around the Country, our host, Gary Scott Thomas, takes you back to a Saturday afternoon in Red Level, Alabama, where an eight-year-old boy stood in a plowed field, fire ants and all, as Porter Wagoner performed on a flatbed trailer and a young Dolly Parton walked onto the stage. Gary had no idea then that he was watching someone who would become one of country music’s biggest stars.

    In this episode, Gary shares what he remembers about that day, industry insight from his years in country radio, and a heartfelt tribute to a woman who built an empire, stayed true to herself, and never forgot where she came from.

    Gary also talks about Dolly’s relationship with Porter, her rise from country music star to cultural icon, her marriage to Carl Dean, and the few moments he was lucky enough to speak with her. And at the end, he’ll tell you what happened when he asked Dolly if she remembered that first concert. Listen now.

    In this episode:

    • Gary's first concert ever, and why it still sticks with him today
    • The real story behind Porter Wagoner and Dolly Parton's partnership and eventual split
    • How "I Will Always Love You" started as a professional goodbye letter
    • Dolly's business instincts, including the decision that cost Elvis Presley the song and made Dolly millions
    • Dollywood, her marriage to Carl Dean, and what she was like one-on-one
    • Why Gary believes Dolly was country music's first true crossover star


    This episode is sponsored by:

    Sterling Oak Cabinetry

    Reed Animal Hospital


    Bio:

    Dolly Parton is a country music legend, singer, songwriter, actress, author, and entrepreneur who rose from a large, poor family in Tennessee to become one of the most recognizable and beloved artists in the world. Known for her distinctive voice, songwriting talent, humor, and business sense, she built a career that crossed from country music into pop culture while remaining proud of her Appalachian roots. Her catalog includes classics such as “Jolene,” “Coat of Many Colors,” and “I Will Always Love You,” and her legacy extends beyond music through Dollywood, philanthropy, and her commitment to literacy and children’s causes.

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dollyparton/


    Tags: Dolly Parton, Dolly Parton podcast, Dolly Parton story, Dolly Parton first concert, Here’s What We Know, Porter Wagoner, Dolly Parton and Porter Wagoner, country music history, country music stories, Dolly Parton career, Dolly Parton legacy, I Will Always Love You, Dollywood, Carl Dean, country music podcast


    Connect with Gary:

    • Gary's Website
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    • Gary's Tiktok
    • Gary's Facebook
    • Watch the episodes on YouTube
    • Advertise on the Podcast

    Thank you for listening. Let us know what you think about this episode. Leave us a review!
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    13 min
  • Middle Falls Bestselling Author Shawn Inmon Opens Up About Writing, Love, and Cancer

    Middle Falls Bestselling Author Shawn Inmon Opens Up About Writing, Love, and Cancer
    Aug 26 2026
    Send us Fan MailMiddle Falls Time Travel series bestselling author Shawn Inmon has been on Here's What We Know twice before, and this conversation might be the most personal one yet. In this episode, join us for a wide-ranging conversation about writing, love, creativity, and facing cancer. Shawn shares how the idea behind Middle Falls came from wondering whether we could go back in time and change the choices we made, and how that universal idea grew into a bestselling book series. He also talks about expanding the Middle Falls universe to England and Australia, working with other writers, and why he trusts his audiobook narrators so much. Shawn also opens up about how cancer and treatment have affected his ability to write, why he has permitted himself to step away from the keyboard for a while, why he's choosing to be open about it publicly, and what he wants other men to know about catching it early. Listen now.In this episode:How Shawn met his wife at 15, lost her for 30 years, and found her again at a drive-inWhy Shawn calls himself an organic writer and how he builds a book without an outlineThe story behind Michael Hollister, the shortest and most beloved book in the Middle Falls seriesWriting Reggie Blackwell, a character who resists redemption for yearsHow Chuck Burke's storyline tackles hoarding and addiction with honestyExpanding Middle Falls into England with co-writer Kirsten McKenzieBringing a Western Australia storyline into the series with a new collaboratorShawn's prostate cancer diagnosis, his treatment, and why he's sharing his story publiclyWhat's coming next, including fan-favorite character MoondogThis episode is sponsored by:Mike Counsil Plumbing & Rooter (Use code “Gary” to get $89 off any service!)License #: 679261Bison Junk RemovalBio:Shawn Inmon is a small-town kid who dreamed of being a writer. Today, he is a full-time author who lives in Tumwater, Washington, USA. He worked several dozen jobs - retail, real estate, traveling with the Unlimited Hydroplanes, crabbing in Alaska, morning disc jockey and station manager, and many others he can't remember to list. These jobs gave him a wonderful base to write what he knows because he knows a little about a lot.He achieved his dream of becoming a full-time writer in 2016 and has never looked back. One reviewer called him "The King of Redemption stories." Shawn says he doesn't feel like a king of anything, but he does love a good tale of second chances.He is the author of the ever-growing The Middle Falls Time Travel series, 18 books and counting, and The Alex Hawk Time Travel Adventure series. He is also the author of Feels Like the First Time, a bestselling memoir of growing up in a small town in the seventies, falling in love, and messing everything up.He lives with his high school sweetheart - now wife -Dawn, two happy-go-lucky Chocolate Labs, and a slightly schizo cat named Georgie. Website: https://www.shawn-inmon.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ShawnInmonWriter/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shawninmon/X: https://twitter.com/ShawnInmonTags: Shawn Inmon, Middle Falls, Middle Falls series, bestselling author, Shawn Inmon interview, time travel books, second chances, writing books, author interview, audiobook narration, cancer and creativity, writing through adversity, Who is Shawn Inmon, what is the Middle Falls series, Shawn Inmon books, Shawn Inmon author interview, what is Middle Falls about, Shawn Inmon writing process, Shawn Inmon cancer, Shawn Inmon audiobook, books about second chances, books about time travel,Connect with Gary:Gary's WebsiteFollow Gary on InstagramGary's TiktokGary's FacebookWatch the episodes on YouTubeAdvertise on the PodcastThank you for listening. Let us know what you think about this episode. Leave us a review!
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    1 ora e 2 min
  • Brooks & Dunn: The Duo That Tried to Break Up Twice | Once Around The Country

    Brooks & Dunn: The Duo That Tried to Break Up Twice | Once Around The Country
    Aug 25 2026

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    Ronnie Dunn was studying to be a preacher while Kix Brooks was already a working Nashville songwriter with hits on the radio. Neither one planned on becoming half of the biggest duo in country music history, and neither one really wanted to be tied to a partner.

    This week on Once Around the Country, our host, Gary Scott Thomas, walks through the real story of Brooks & Dunn, from a Nashville meeting neither man asked for, to three straight number one singles to a farewell tour that didn't stick and the reunion that proved some partnerships are worth fighting to keep.

    Give it a listen today. We think you'll walk away with a whole new appreciation for the two guys behind "Neon Moon."

    In This Episode:

    • How Ronnie Dunn and Kix Brooks were introduced by producer Tim DuBois
    • The story behind their first single, "Brand New Man," and writing three hits in one session
    • Why Kix Brooks was considered the bigger star when the duo formed
    • The disagreement over recording "My Maria" and why it became their biggest hit
    • How "Only in America" ended up as a campaign song for both parties
    • Brooks & Dunn's first attempted breakup and the record executive who talked them out of it
    • The Last Rodeo farewell tour and what changed Ronnie Dunn's mind
    • Why Reboot and Reboot 2 brought a new generation of country stars into their catalog
    • What it's really like watching Brooks & Dunn open for Morgan Wallen today


    This episode is sponsored by:

    Mike Counsil Plumbing & Rooter (Use code “Gary” to get $89 off any service!)

    License #: 679261

    Bison Junk Removal


    Brooks and Dunn:

    Brooks & Dunn, made up of Kix Brooks and Ronnie Dunn, became one of the most successful duos in country music history. They came together in Nashville in the late 1980s and quickly found success with hits like “Brand New Man,” “Neon Moon,” “Boot Scootin’ Boogie,” and “My Maria.” Their partnership produced years of awards, chart-topping songs, and unforgettable live performances, even as the two men eventually tried to go their separate ways twice. Somehow, they kept finding their way back to the music that made them one of country’s most beloved duos.


    Website: https://www.brooks-dunn.com/


    Tags: Brooks & Dunn, Ronnie Dunn, Kix Brooks, Brooks and Dunn breakup, Brooks & Dunn history, Brooks & Dunn story, Neon Moon, Brand New Man, My Maria, country music history, country music duos, Nashville music, Last Rodeo, Brooks & Dunn Reboot

    Connect with Gary:

    • Gary's Website
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    • Gary's Tiktok
    • Gary's Facebook
    • Watch the episodes on YouTube
    • Advertise on the Podcast

    Thank you for listening. Let us know what you think about this episode. Leave us a review!
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    20 min
  • Why Curiosity Wins Every Time: Mark J. Carter on Networking With Successful People

    Why Curiosity Wins Every Time: Mark J. Carter on Networking With Successful People
    Aug 19 2026

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    Have you ever wanted to reach out to someone you admire but talked yourself out of asking?

    This week on Here’s What We Know, Mark J. Carter has been asking people for their time since he was in college, when he started tracking down CEOs, authors, and other successful people simply because he wanted to learn from them. That curiosity eventually led to his work as an interviewer, the Idea Climbing podcast, and conversations with people like Bo Jackson.

    Mark shares what he has learned from years of interviewing successful people, including the two questions that can help an interviewer when they don't know what to ask next: How? And why? We also talk about networking, asking for help, finding your personal superpower, building a brand, and figuring out how to turn a big idea into something that can actually make money.

    In this episode, you'll hear about:

    • How Mark started reaching out to successful people before social media changed networking
    • Why asking for someone's time can be much easier than we make it
    • The importance of genuine curiosity
    • Mark's "How and Why" approach to interviewing
    • What he learned from interviewing Bo Jackson
    • How to find your personal superpower
    • Why everyone has a personal brand
    • How to ask for help without feeling like you're imposing
    • Turning a big idea into a business
    • Why successful entrepreneurs keep looking for the next challenge
    • How Mark uses interviews to help coaches, consultants, and speakers tell better stories

    This episode is sponsored by:

    Dignity Memorial

    Sterling Oak Cabinetry


    Bio:

    Mark J. Carter is the founder and host of the Idea Climbing podcast, as well as an interviewer, speaker, author, and entrepreneur. For more than 27 years, his curiosity about how successful people think, solve problems, and turn ideas into action has led him to conversations with entrepreneurs, authors, athletes, and other accomplished people. He is the author of Idea Climbing: How to Create a Support System for Your Next Big Idea, and his upcoming book, Idea Scaling: How to Monetize Your Next Big Idea With Passion and Purpose, draws on interviews with six-, seven-, and eight-figure business owners to offer practical guidance for entrepreneurs. Mark also brings his experience as an improv practitioner to his interviews and presentations, creating conversations that are curious, collaborative and spontaneous.


    Website: https://www.markjcarter.com/

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mjcarter/

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/markjcarter/

    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mjcarter/

    YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MarkJCarter


    Connect with Gary:

    • Gary's Website
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    • Advertise on the Podcast

    Thank you for listening. Let us know what you think about this episode. Leave us a review!
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    34 min