What You Need To Grow Podcast
Mary Kennedy Thompson: Why Great Businesses Are Built on Relationships, Not Transactions
Episode Summary
Success isn’t about reinventing the wheel—it’s about committing to proven systems, building meaningful relationships, and never stopping your own growth.
In this episode, Jennie Bellinger sits down with Mary Kennedy Thompson, CEO of BNI, Marine veteran, franchise executive, and leadership expert, to discuss how strong cultures create strong businesses. Mary shares her journey from the Marine Corps to leading some of the world’s most recognized franchise organizations before becoming CEO of BNI
Together they explore why successful entrepreneurs embrace systems instead of resisting them, how “Givers Gain®” transforms networking into genuine relationship-building, and why lifelong learning is one of the greatest competitive advantages a business owner can have.
Whether you’re building a business from the ground up, leading a team, or simply looking to grow personally, this conversation is filled with practical wisdom that reminds us: your business can only grow as much as you do.
Three Topics Discussed
- How proven systems help entrepreneurs grow faster without reinventing the wheel
- Why a strong organizational culture creates long-term business success
- How franchising creates opportunities for business ownership and wealth creation
Three Key Takeaways from Mary Kennedy Thompson
- Strong business cultures are built on shared values that extend to both employees and customers.
- Comfort may feel safe, but lasting growth always requires stepping outside your comfort zone.
- Networking is most effective when your focus is serving others before expecting anything in return.
What You Need to Grow Podcast is presented by Badass Podcast Mastery and Jennie Bellinger, C.P.C.
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Want to get paid to share your message with the world? What if you could ALSO build your business at the same time?
Check out “How I Monetize My Podcasts 7 Ways” webinar replay and learn how YOUR podcast could be monetized in 90 days without chasing corporate sponsors or building a massive audience. Access the replay here: https://webinar.badasspodcastmastery.com/registration
Want to connect with Jennie Bellinger?
Email: jennie@badassdirectsalesmastery.com
Website: https://whatyouneedtogrow.com
Text: 1-618-920-9837
You can be a featured expert on What You Need to Grow!
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Cecil McIntosh: The 60-Second Shift That Can Change Your Life
Episode Summary
Sometimes the biggest breakthroughs come after life completely falls apart.
After experiencing divorce and bankruptcy in the same week, Cecil McIntosh realized he’d spent years chasing success while ignoring the wisdom that had shaped him growing up in Barbados. That painful season became the catalyst for a completely different way of living—one centered around inner stillness instead of constant striving.
In this conversation with Jennie Bellinger, Cecil shares how returning to the lessons of his grandmother transformed not only his personal life but also his approach to leadership, business, relationships, and communication.
If you’ve ever felt exhausted from trying to force results, this episode will challenge you to discover how slowing down may actually be the fastest path to growth.
Three Topics Discussed
- Why community, presence, and generosity create lasting success
- How Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) improves communication and leadership
- The power of inner stillness and the “60-Second Shift” for overcoming challenges.
Three Key Takeaways from Cecil McIntosh
- Lasting success begins with inner alignment rather than external achievement.
- Listening to your inner wisdom often leads to better decisions than reacting from fear or pressure.
- Business growth and personal growth are not separate—they strengthen one another.
What You Need to Grow Podcast is presented by Badass Podcast Mastery and Jennie Bellinger, C.P.C.
Sign up for email notifications at https://whatyouneedtogrow.com
Get all our guest’s gifts in the Gift Vault at https://whatyouneedtogrow.com/giftvault
Want to get paid to share your message with the world? What if you could ALSO build your business at the same time?
Check out “How I Monetize My Podcasts 7 Ways” webinar replay and learn how YOUR podcast could be monetized in 90 days without chasing corporate sponsors or building a massive audience. Access the replay here: https://webinar.badasspodcastmastery.com/registration
Want to connect with Jennie Bellinger?
Email: jennie@badassdirectsalesmastery.com
Website: https://whatyouneedtogrow.com
Text: 1-618-920-9837
You can be a featured expert on What You Need to Grow!
Go check out why you should be on the show:
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Alexei Musienko: How Strategic Relationships Can Change Your Business and Your Life
Episode Summary
Alexei Musienko, entrepreneur, bestselling author, and relationship strategist, sits down with Jennie to explore how meaningful relationships can transform your business, mindset, and future. Alexei shares his journey from building successful companies to overcoming personal struggles, including depression and burnout, and reveals how the concept of being “one relationship away” became the foundation of his life’s work. Together, they discuss intentional networking, creating a vision for your future, and aligning your time and resources with the life you truly want to build.
Three Topics Discussed
- How a single relationship can create opportunities, breakthroughs, and life-changing momentum.
- Matching your calendar to your dreams to ensure business growth and success.
- Leveraging podcasts, video books, and speaking gigs to create value-driven content that builds trust and attracts opportunities.
Three Key Takeaways from Alexei Musienko
- The right relationship can dramatically accelerate your growth, create new opportunities, and help you achieve goals that would take much longer on your own.
- If your time and money aren’t being invested in your goals, your results won’t align with your vision. Growth requires intentional investment of both resources.
- Shifting from limitation-based thinking to possibility-based thinking unlocks creativity, problem-solving, and momentum toward your biggest goals.
What You Need to Grow Podcast is presented by Badass Podcast Mastery and Jennie Bellinger, C.P.C.
Sign up for email notifications at https://whatyouneedtogrow.com
Get all our guest’s gifts in the Gift Vault at https://whatyouneedtogrow.com/giftvault
Want to get paid to share your message with the world? What if you could ALSO build your business at the same time?
Check out “How I Monetize My Podcasts 7 Ways” webinar replay and learn how YOUR podcast could be monetized in 90 days without chasing corporate sponsors or building a massive audience. Access the replay here: https://webinar.badasspodcastmastery.com/registration
Want to connect with Jennie Bellinger?
Email: jennie@badassdirectsalesmastery.com
Website: https://whatyouneedtogrow.com
Text: 1-618-920-9837
You can be a featured expert on What You Need to Grow!
Go check out why you should be on the show:
https://podcast.whatyouneedtogrow.com/whyyoushouldbeaguestwyntg
Fabienne Marneau: What’s Really Blocking Your Success
Episode Summary
What if the biggest thing holding you back in business… isn’t strategy—but energy?
In this powerful conversation, Fabienne Marneau shares how unseen ancestral patterns, emotional blocks, and energetic misalignment can quietly sabotage success. Jennie and Fabienne explore how clearing these hidden influences can unlock confidence, clarity, and true business growth—revealing that success starts from within.
Three Topics Discussed
- How ancestral patterns and unresolved emotional blocks impact personal and business success
- The connection between healing, self-alignment, and sustainable business growth
- Practical ways to clear energetic blocks and reprogram limiting beliefs
Three Key Takeaways from Fabienne Marneau
- Your business reflects you. Growth in business starts with internal healing, alignment, and self-awareness.
- Not all limitations are yours. Many beliefs around money, success, and confidence can be inherited and unconsciously carried until identified and cleared.
- Healing can be fast—but reprogramming takes time. Real transformation happens through consistent work to replace old patterns with empowering habits and beliefs.
What You Need to Grow Podcast is presented by Badass Podcast Mastery and Jennie Bellinger, C.P.C.
Sign up for email notifications at https://whatyouneedtogrow.com
Get all our guest’s gifts in the Gift Vault at https://whatyouneedtogrow.com/giftvault
Want to get paid to share your message with the world? What if you could ALSO build your business at the same time?
Check out “How I Monetize My Podcasts 7 Ways” webinar replay and learn how YOUR podcast could be monetized in 90 days without chasing corporate sponsors or building a massive audience. Access the replay here: https://webinar.badasspodcastmastery.com/registration
Want to connect with Jennie Bellinger?
Email: jennie@badassdirectsalesmastery.com
Website: https://whatyouneedtogrow.com
Text: 1-618-920-9837
You can be a featured expert on What You Need to Grow!
Go check out why you should be on the show:
https://podcast.whatyouneedtogrow.com/whyyoushouldbeaguestwyntg
The Million-Dollar Tax Strategies Small Businesses Need to Know
Episode Summary
Most business owners are overpaying in taxes — not because they have to, but because nobody ever taught them the strategies available to them.
In this episode of the What You Need to Grow podcast, Jennie sits down with tax expert and founder of Out of the Box Taxes, Courtney Epps, to uncover the tax strategies small and medium-sized businesses should be using to build wealth, increase profits, and stop leaving money on the table.
Courtney shares how she built a $10 million company while making advanced tax education accessible to everyday business owners instead of hiding it behind expensive paywalls. From tax deductions and tax-free income strategies to the biggest myths business owners believe about taxes, this episode is packed with practical insights that could save you thousands.
If you want to make more money, keep more money, and finally understand how taxes can become a tool for growth instead of stress — this episode is a must-listen.
Three Topics Discussed
- Tax strategies small businesses can use to legally reduce taxes
- How Courtney Epps built a $10 million tax company
- Breaking down tax myths and making high-level tax education affordable
Three Key Takeaways from Courtney Epps
- Wealthy businesses often use strategies that smaller businesses are never taught — but they are accessible when you know where to look.
- Understanding how to legally create tax-free income opportunities can dramatically impact long-term wealth building.
- Many business owners miss out on deductions simply because they were never educated on them.
What You Need to Grow Podcast is presented by Badass Podcast Mastery and Jennie Bellinger, C.P.C.
Sign up for email notifications at https://whatyouneedtogrow.com
Get all our guest’s gifts in the Gift Vault at https://whatyouneedtogrow.com/giftvault
Want to get paid to share your message with the world? What if you could ALSO build your business at the same time?
Check out “How I Monetize My Podcasts 7 Ways” webinar replay and learn how YOUR podcast could be monetized in 90 days without chasing corporate sponsors or building a massive audience. Access the replay here: https://webinar.badasspodcastmastery.com/registration
Want to connect with Jennie Bellinger?
Email: jennie@badassdirectsalesmastery.com
Website: https://whatyouneedtogrow.com
Text: 1-618-920-9837
You can be a featured expert on What You Need to Grow!
Go check out why you should be on the show:
https://podcast.whatyouneedtogrow.com/whyyoushouldbeaguestwyntg
Brian Arbor: Why You’re Still Stuck — The Truth About Trauma & Success
Three Topics Discussed
- The hidden impact of trauma on entrepreneurship
- Authenticity, identity, and self-expression in business
- Healing vs. coping: why mindset work isn’t enough
Three Key Takeaways from Brian Arbor
- You can’t outwork unhealed trauma. Personal development can mask deeper wounds—but it doesn’t replace true healing.
- Healing requires safe spaces and real conversations. Growth accelerated for Brian when he stopped isolating and started sharing.
- Build systems for who you are—not who you think you should be. Sustainable success comes from working with your reality, not against it.
What You Need to Grow Podcast is presented by Badass Podcast Mastery and Jennie Bellinger, C.P.C.
Sign up for email notifications at https://whatyouneedtogrow.com
Get all our guest’s gifts in the Gift Vault at https://whatyouneedtogrow.com/giftvault
Want to get paid to share your message with the world? What if you could ALSO build your business at the same time?
Check out “How I Monetize My Podcasts 7 Ways” webinar replay and learn how YOUR podcast could be monetized in 90 days without chasing corporate sponsors or building a massive audience. Access the replay here: https://webinar.badasspodcastmastery.com/registration
Want to connect with Jennie Bellinger?
Email: jennie@badassdirectsalesmastery.com
Website: https://whatyouneedtogrow.com
Text: 1-618-920-9837
You can be a featured expert on What You Need to Grow!
Go check out why you should be on the show:
https://podcast.whatyouneedtogrow.com/whyyoushouldbeaguestwyntg
Michelle G LeBlanc – Why You Keep Hitting the Same Income Ceiling and How to Break It
Three Topics Discussed
- The role of the Akashic Records in uncovering subconscious money blocks
- How the nervous system limits your capacity to receive wealth
- Ancestral and subconscious self-sabotage patterns affecting business and visibility
Three Key Takeaways from Michelle G. Leblanc
- Your nervous system sets your financial ceiling. If it cannot safely hold more success, you will subconsciously sabotage it.
- Money blocks aren’t just mindset — they can be ancestral, energetic, or tied to subconscious vows.
- Awareness is the first step. Notice where you are accelerating with one foot on the brake.
Discover Your Biggest Abundance Blocks here: https://www.healwithmichelle.com/podcast-free-gift
What You Need to Grow Podcast is presented by Badass Podcast Mastery and Jennie Bellinger, C.P.C.
Sign up for email notifications at https://whatyouneedtogrow.com
Get all our guest’s gifts in the Gift Vault at https://whatyouneedtogrow.com/giftvault
Want to get paid to share your message with the world? What if you could ALSO build your business at the same time?
Check out “How I Monetize My Podcasts 7 Ways” webinar replay and learn how YOUR podcast could be monetized in 90 days without chasing corporate sponsors or building a massive audience. Access the replay here: https://webinar.badasspodcastmastery.com/registration
Want to connect with Jennie Bellinger?
Email: jennie@badassdirectsalesmastery.com
Website: https://whatyouneedtogrow.com
Text: 1-618-920-9837
You can be a featured expert on What You Need to Grow!
Go check out why you should be on the show:
https://podcast.whatyouneedtogrow.com/whyyoushouldbeaguestwyntg
Michael Babcock – Protect Your Business Assets for Growth
Topics Covered
- Insurance Essentials for Startups
- Why new businesses pay higher premiums for the first three years, the importance of building clean loss history, and how to budget for insurance costs when every penny counts.
- Scaling Your Business with Insurance Strategy
- Understanding insurance audits, the critical importance of keeping your agent informed during growth phases, and how to avoid surprise audit bills that can disrupt cash flow.
- Choosing the Right Insurance Partner
- The difference between insurance brokers and captive agents, why having a trusted advisor matters more than a 1-800 number, and how the right relationship can save you time, money, and headaches.
3 Key Takeaways
- Get Insurance Early, Even When It Hurts
- Startup insurance is more expensive, but building 2-3 years of clean loss history gives you significantly more bargaining power and flexibility with carriers. Start as soon as you launch your business to begin building that track record.
- Your Insurance Agent Should Be on Speed Dial
- Don’t wait for annual renewals. When you’re scaling and making significant changes (hiring employees, increasing sales, expanding operations), call your agent immediately for midterm endorsements. This prevents massive surprise audit bills at year-end.
- Find Your Broker and Let Them Run
- Independent insurance brokers can shop multiple carriers on your behalf, unlike captive agents tied to one company. Find a broker you trust through referrals from other successful business owners, then build a long-term relationship where they know your business inside and out.
Michael Babcock’s Contact Information:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikebabcock/
What You Need to Grow Podcast is presented by Badass Podcast Mastery and Jennie Bellinger, C.P.C.
Sign up for email notifications at https://whatyouneedtogrow.com
Get all our guest’s gifts in the Gift Vault at https://whatyouneedtogrow.com/giftvault
Want to get paid to share your message with the world? What if you could ALSO build your business at the same time?
Check out “How I Monetize My Podcasts 7 Ways” webinar replay and learn how YOUR podcast could be monetized in 90 days without chasing corporate sponsors or building a massive audience. Access the replay here: https://webinar.badasspodcastmastery.com/registration
Want to connect with Jennie Bellinger?
Email: jennie@badassdirectsalesmastery.com
Website: https://whatyouneedtogrow.com
Text: 1-618-920-9837
You can be a featured expert on What You Need to Grow!
Go check out why you should be on the show:
https://podcast.whatyouneedtogrow.com/whyyoushouldbeaguestwyntg
Virginia Muzquiz – Growth Through Connections
Virginia Muzquiz
Master Connectors, LLC
3 Discussion Points:
- The Origin of “The Referral Diva”
- Virginia shares the entertaining story of how she earned her moniker while working with a branding agency
- The Three Fatal Networking Mistakes
- Virginia breaks down the biggest errors entrepreneurs make when networking
- Personal Growth Through Crisis
- Virginia opens up about her battle with Guillain-Barré syndrome, losing executive function, and how that experience led to profound personal transformation and the concept of “turning towards yourself.”
3 Key Takeaways About Networking:
- Quality Over Quantity in Connections
- Don’t treat everyone as a potential client. Distinguish between clients, connectors, and referral partners. Most people should be in your referral pipeline, not your sales pipeline.
- Alignment is Everything
- Filter for psychographics and values alignment, not just demographics. Misaligned clients and partners cost you sleep, energy, and money. The right people will pay premium prices and cause fewer problems.
- Networking Requires a System
- Successful networking isn’t about attending events and hoping for the best. You need a deliberate plan: know who you want to meet, why you want to meet them, what you have to offer, and how to nurture different types of relationships.
“Nobody ever says marathons are impossible. I can’t run a marathon today… but they’re not impossible. So when people say networking doesn’t work, really what you’re saying is networking for results is impossible. People are doing it. So it’s not impossible.” -Virginia Muzquiz
Crack The Collaboration Code ebook: http://collaborationcodereport.com/
What You Need to Grow Podcast is presented by Badass Podcast Mastery and Jennie Bellinger, C.P.C.
Sign up for email notifications at https://whatyouneedtogrow.com
Want to get paid to share your message with the world? What if you could ALSO build your business at the same time?
Check out “How I Monetize My Podcasts 7 Ways” webinar replay and learn how YOUR podcast could be monetized in 90 days without chasing corporate sponsors or building a massive audience. Access the replay here: https://webinar.badasspodcastmastery.com/registration
Want to connect with Jennie Bellinger?
Email: jennie@badassdirectsalesmastery.com
Website: https://whatyouneedtogrow.com
Text: 1-618-920-9837
You can be a featured expert on What You Need to Grow!
Go check out why you should be on the show:
https://podcast.whatyouneedtogrow.com/whyyoushouldbeaguestwyntg
Anne Casey – Your Financial Growth
In this episode, Anne Casey and Jennie Bellinger discuss:
- Anne’s journey into day trading, including her motivation to help her daughters graduate college debt-free and her transition from sales to trading and representing a trader education program.
- The basics of currency trading versus stock trading, how Anne’s company supports new traders, and the tools and education provided to help people start trading with confidence.
- The accessibility and flexibility of day trading, including automation, demo accounts, and the supportive community and resources available for both beginners and those seeking deeper understanding.
Three Key Takeaways:
- Day trading, especially in currency pairs, can be a practical and flexible way to generate income, even for those with no prior experience—thanks to education programs, demo accounts, and automation tools.
- Consistency and risk management (like using stop-loss orders) are crucial for success in trading, and Anne’s program emphasizes education and support to help members trade confidently and safely.
- The opportunity to grow financially and personally is accessible to a wide range of people, from young adults seeking alternatives to traditional 9-to-5 jobs to business owners and sales professionals looking for more stable income streams.
“We are helping people build an understanding of what trading is about. Currency trading is a $6 trillion per day market… I think it’s so important for everyone to have an understanding of what’s happening and what the opportunities are there.” – Anne Casey
Anne Casey’s Contact Information:
Email: anne@currencytradesystem.com
Organization: Currency Trade System
Website: https://take1tradeaday.com/
LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anne-casey-a6593211/
What You Need to Grow Podcast is presented by Badass Podcast Mastery and Jennie Bellinger, C.P.C.
Sign up for email notifications at https://whatyouneedtogrow.com
Want to get paid to share your message with the world? What if you could ALSO build your business at the same time?
Check out “How I Monetize My Podcasts 7 Ways” webinar replay and learn how YOUR podcast could be monetized in 90 days without chasing corporate sponsors or building a massive audience. Access the replay here: https://webinar.badasspodcastmastery.com/registration
Want to connect with Jennie Bellinger?
Email: jennie@badassdirectsalesmastery.com
Website: https://whatyouneedtogrow.com
Text: 1-618-920-9837
You can be a featured expert on What You Need to Grow!
Go check out why you should be on the show:
https://podcast.whatyouneedtogrow.com/whyyoushouldbeaguestwyntg