Toucan Talks
Toucan Talks is a podcast for Wilmington-area business owners and entrepreneurs who are eager to learn from those on a similar journey. Each week, we talk with an area business owner about their successes, challenges, and experiences in business. Don’t worry – we keep it fun as we bounce from topic to topic.
Episodes
40 episodes
2026 Planning: Set Up Your Marketing Flywheel Before January
If your marketing ends at “closed won,” you’re leaving growth on the table. We turn the funnel into a flywheel and show how small changes to attract, engage, and delight can lower acquisition costs, increase retention, and make every customer a...
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14:36
The Death of Vanity Metrics: What Really Matters in 2025
Vanity metrics look shiny—but they don’t pay the bills. In this episode, we break down the difference between numbers that look good (followers, likes, views) and the metrics that actually move your business forward. You’ll hear how we...
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14:28
Email Is Back: Why Email Marketing Outperforms Social Media
Tired of chasing algorithms just to have 5% of your followers see your content? You’re not alone. This week, we’re breaking down why email, yes, email, is having a major comeback, and why it’s outperforming social media across nearly e...
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15:35
2025 Marketing Hot Topics: From Rebrands to Relevance
In this episode, we look at two of the year’s biggest marketing moments: Cracker Barrel’s quick “un-rebrand” and Duolingo’s “Duo is dead” campaign. Both sparked huge reactions for opposite reasons, and we break down what worked, what didn’t, an...
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8:58
Why Customer Experience IS Marketing
What if the most effective marketing you’ll run this quarter isn’t an ad at all? We make the case that customer experience is your strongest growth channel, and we break down exactly how to design it so referrals, reviews, and repeat pur...
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12:38
What We’re Watching: 3 Marketing Trends Heading Into 2026
The future of marketing is rapidly evolving, and this week's conversation dives into the trends shaping 2026's digital landscape. Did you know videos under 90 seconds achieve 50% higher retention rates? This statistic sets the stage...
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9:10
Holiday Marketing Starts Now: Why Waiting Until November Is Too Late
Timing is everything in holiday marketing, and waiting until November might be your biggest mistake this season. Our latest Kickstart Your Week episode dives into why October is the critical month for launching your holiday campaigns and how th...
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8:45
Maximizing Video Content: How to Turn One Video into Multiple Assets
Ever feel like content creation never ends, or it's too overwhelming to even begin? You're not alone. In this practical conversation with our videographer and podcast producer Joshua, we unlock the secrets to making your video content work hard...
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8:40
How to Prep Your Marketing for Q4 Without Burning Your Budget
Feeling the pressure of year-end marketing goals while watching ad costs climb? You're not alone. The holiday season brings opportunities but also challenges as advertising platforms become increasingly competitive and expensive. In this return...
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Season 3
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Episode 4
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8:50
Video Trends for 2025
Video marketing has evolved beyond trends to become an essential business tool, with specific approaches that capture audience attention and drive meaningful engagement in today's digital landscape.• Short-form content remains dominant,...
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Season 3
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Episode 3
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22:38
Marketing in 2025: What's Already Working
Marketing never stands still, and as we move through 2025, several key trends are already reshaping how successful brands connect with their audiences. In this episode of Toucan Talks, we unpack the strategies that are delivering real results r...
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Season 3
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Episode 2
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17:47
Super Bowl Commercials: Hits and Misses from 2025
Season 3 is here! We’re kicking off the new season of Toucan Talks with one of our favorite topics—Super Bowl ads! In this episode, we break down the biggest marketing moments from the 2025 Super Bowl, sharing which ads we loved...
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Season 3
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Episode 1
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26:41
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EP28 Minisode - Harnessing Humor and Nostalgia: Making Successful Video Campaigns
Tune into this week's episode of Toucan Talks as Luke and Joshua Break Down Mess Hall's Good Burger Ad. Ever wondered how a dollop of humor and a dash of nostalgia can turbocharge a marketing campaign? Get the inside scoop on how we transformed...
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Season 2
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Episode 28
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13:49
EP27 - Will Hardison: Marketing Mastery and the Entrepreneurs Journey
Tune into Toucan Talks this week as we chat with Will Hardison of Creative Outdoor Solutions. Once a cover band member and DJ, he started a successful marketing agency and worked with an innovative e-commerce business selling meats online. Now ...
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Season 2
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Episode 27
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31:47
EP26 - Jacob Tippett: Business and Strategy with a Serial Entrepreneur
Jacob Tippett joins us on this week's episode of Toucan Talks to unravel his journey as a serial entrepreneur. With ventures ranging from e-learning platforms like Production Online to the innovative Sticky Notes, Jacob imparts a masterclass in...
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Season 2
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Episode 26
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30:26
EP25 - Minisode: Breaking Down This Year's Super Bowl Commercials
Join us as we breakdown some of our favorite Super Bowl ads from this year. This episode pulls back the curtain on big-brand maneuvers, revealing how they can be scaled for small and medium-sized businesses. From the importance of generating pr...
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Season 2
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Episode 25
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40:34
EP24 - Sherry and Carmin Black: Business Ventures, Family and Resilience
Have you ever wondered how the bond of family can weave its way into the fabric of entrepreneurship? Tune into Toucan Talks this week for an intimate conversation with Sherry and Carmin Black, the mother-daughter powerhouse whose stories will i...
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Season 2
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Episode 24
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1:15:11
EP23 Minisode: Marketing Ins and Outs for 2024
Tune into Toucan Talks this week with Laura and Alyssa from Kickstart Collective. In this minisode, we break down the freshest marketing trends of the new year. We play marketing "Ins and Outs" for 2024 and discuss how a strategic approach to d...
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Season 2
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Episode 23
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31:11
Ep22 - Wes Barefoot: Franchise Opportunities and Entrepreneurial Success
Explore the world of franchising with industry expert Wes Barefoot, owner of Path of Freedom. Wes is a passionate entrepreneur with extensive experience in franchising, who now helps other entrepreneurs with proven franchise consulting processe...
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Season 2
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Episode 22
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55:24
EP21 - Coach Reggie: Growth Strategies for Small Businesses in 2024
Welcome to Season 2 of Toucan Talks! We are excited to be back and are looking forward to bringing you more insights from business owners in the Wilmington area. Season 2 is going to be all about business strategies to help you start 2024 off o...
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Season 2
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Episode 21
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1:16:33
EP20 - Steering your Business to Success with Q4 Marketing Strategies
Elevate your marketing game this Q4! Join us as we share how to enhance your strategy by aligning business goals with ideal customer profiles. We guide you through creative content ideas that resonate with your audience. Plus, discover ...
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Episode 20
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23:02
EP19 - Laurel Senick author of Foam: Navigating the World of Self Publishing and the Business of Writing
It's not every day we get to talk about writing, surfing, and the journey of self publishing a book. But today, we're doing just that with the multi-talented author, Laurel Senick. With her first novel 'Foam' and her upcoming novel 'Lum...
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Episode 19
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28:17
EP 18 - Brittany Fountain on Scaling Businesses, Communication Strategies, and Balancing Work-Life
Who wouldn't want to illuminate the blind spots in their business? Brittany Fountain from Britt Joy & Co joins us to share her unique approach to growth and culture strategy. She has applied her human-focused strategy to collaborate with co...
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Episode 18
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42:20
EP17 - Bill Simpson: The Art of Custom Shower Renovation
Have you ever imagined what it's like to reinvent yourself in your sixties and thrive? Our guest, Bill Simpson, did just that, and he's here to share his inspiring journey. From engineering to ministry, Bill's career path is unique. Now, he's t...
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Episode 17
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43:47
EP16: A Step-by-Step Guide to Building an Engaging Marketing Plan [Minisode]
In this minisode, Laura and Alyssa with Kickstart Collective guide you through the steps to craft an effective marketing strategy aligned with your business goals. They break down the process into attainable and relevant building blocks for a s...
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Episode 16
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35:16
