Reptile Entrepreneur Podcast: Recent Episodes
Bill Strand
Learn skills for creating a business within the reptile community. Hear from entrepreneurs who have already done it. The reptile community is growing and healthy growth can only come if community members step up to the plate and provide the right products and solid education. Join me and other entrepreneurs as we share with you the steps we took to build a business in this community we love.
Summer Winston introduces us to a new vision of the experience that finding a reptile pet companion can be. The SHAP is a reptile pet store in Vallejo, CA and provides education and experiences to go along with picking out your new reptile. Join me and Summer as we explore this vision!
Artificial Intelligence is a reality and represents the latest wave of technology that will either empower you to do more or leave you behind. The first step is to understand what it is. Jonathan Hill of iPardalis works with AI and gives us an introduction to what it is and how it works.
Carolyn Laframboise from FramsChams joins me to discuss the use of websites and social media for reptile breeders. She shares the experience of growing a business through Facebook, Instagram, website, and email. She also shares what happens when your social media account is removed with no warning.
To see what Framschams is up to check out their website at
https://framschams.com/
If you would like to purchase a chameleon you can get $25 off by using the coupon code ACADEMY.
3D printers have given each of us the ability to manufacture close to any plastic product we can think of. And this gives us powerful capabilities to further our personal reptile husbandry as well as create side businesses. Today I give an introduction to this exciting technology!
It is too easy to get lost in trying to grow our social media accounts that we neglect the true followers of what we do. That serves our social media platform, but doesn't necessarily serve ourselves. Today I talk about how to focus on your purpose and the looming threat of AI which makes this all the more critical of a mindset shift.
Colby Gingles wanted a better light spectrum for his frogs. He ended up designing and manufacturing his own LED light bar and is now selling them through Thrive Ecosystems
The special thing about entrepreneurs is they make what they want and the rest of us benefit from it!
Today Colby comes on and shares with us what inspired this new design and the ups and downs on how he went about making it a reality.
Frank Payne joins me to discuss his rare lizard breeding business called Living Art by Frank Payne. Through this business he looks to bring new lizard species to the market. In this episode we talk about the challenges surrounding wrapping a business around species that require customer education as to what they are.
Should you get on Threads?
We had a social media shake up this week as Meta, the company behind Facebook and Instagram, launched Threads, a conversation based social media app that sits squarely in the same space as Twitter. This is a detailed overview into how to decide if Threads is a platform that will serve your purpose.
The Threads app from Meta has just been released and it holds promise. In this preliminary review I give you a basic overview of what has happened in the last 48 hours.
How to balance being a breeder and having an educational outreach!
We in the reptile world often are both part breeder and part influencer. But how would you set up a digital outreach to support both those things at the same time? Today, Ryan Dumas of Rad Reptiles and the Let's Talk Turtles Podcast talks about the beginning stages of putting together a website, blog, podcast, youTube, and Instagram outreach. I then use this as a real world example to discuss scenarios that are often faced in our reptile community.
Sean McNeeley returns to the podcast to share his 2023 outreach goals. Many of us will see ourselves with the same decisions as Sean as to how to structure multiple outreach efforts. One website or three? One Instagram or three?
If you create content on a regular basis you will soon run into the problem of keeping your past episodes accessible. Dan Drobates, the host of the Amphibicast podcast joins me to discuss how he intends to make sure over 100 episodes of solid amphibian information is not lost.
This is a case study on the challenges in putting together both a 3D printing business and an educational outreach. I talk with Eddy Garabito, known as Father Blue, about his work with Blue Tree Monitors, and the 3D printed projects he designs for their husbandry.
What do you think your first year of YouTube would look like if you were serious about creating a video outreach? I talk talk about what he has experienced. Does it live up to the hype? Is he rich and famous yet? Join us as we talk about the ups and downs of creating a YouTube channel.
Search engines run the digital world and it is in our best interests to understand how they work. I'll go over the basics in this episode!
One of the most frustrating things is when someone copies your product and then sells it themselves. Today I talk about how to deal with this community dynamic and stay ahead of the copycats.
The Niche Content Creator Podcast is here for you to better understand the process and strategy of creating content in this digital world of ours. This will be a separate podcast show, but I wanted to share the first episode with you and invite you to subscribe to that show. These two shows will work together to bring you a holistic view of being an entrepreneur in this digital world!
The ease of social media is a trap to get you working for their platform. But then they have control over your account and your years of hard work. But you can change that with a website. In fact, I cannot think of an entrepreneurial outreach that would not benefit from having a website. This episode starts the discussion with explaining how social media is a trap the snares us before we know it. This is the perfect time to snap out of it and establish your own digital independence!
We have come to the end of season 2 and it is time to review and take a break to prepare for season 3! I talk about the turmoil that is going on in social media right now and remind all of us that likes and follows are important, but they aren't our purpose.
Social media platforms have a habit of growing large and then flaming out. We are seeing in front of us drama that affects the platforms we rely on. Whether it is the US congress, Antitrust laws, accusations of spying by the director of the FBI, or just Elon Musk's unique management strategies our social media platforms are not as invulnerable as they may feel! Today I talk about what is going on and how it may affect us.
TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram have been busy since we last had a social media update! So, it is time to review what these platforms have been doing and what in the world it means for us!
A Live session is where you are able to interact with your followers in real time. This can be as casual as spontaneously going live to talk to people while you clean your snake cage to creating a formal show.
Today I am joined by Jeremy Turgeon of The Reptile Talk Podcast which is recorded live. And we talk about what it takes to add a live stream to your outreach!
Jeremey Turgeon from Reptile Talk comes on and shares his experience with having both a podcast and. Youtube show. We talk about the advantages of each and help you decide what it right for your outreach!
In today's digital world art is being stolen as a normal day occurrence. We all have had our images lifted for others to sell their products. Though today I have an interview of someone whose life is affected to a greater degree. Jennifer Cook is the artist behind Snakearts.com and she is currently taking legal action against Facebook and Instagram to fight the people who have stolen her images and are selling cheap knock offs of her products. Join in and let's have a discussion of security for your digital content and physical artwork.
It is time for an update on what is going on with Instagram and I introduce you to the Vero app. Could it be a good place to put some effort and join the budding reptile community there? I am saying it is worth dropping by and checking it out!
Podcasting and YouTube are two tools that can be used to present your show. Both have their characteristics and by knowing those we can make the right choice for our show.
There is a whole strategy around using the one website link we are given in our Instagram and TikTok profiles. There are special tools available to optimize that valuable feature to your best advantage. Today I review that status of link-in-bio tools and run you through the set-up for what I consider the best option - Koji.
Sean Mcneeley has been following the Reptile Entrepreneur 2022 project since the beginning. He took on the 2022 challenge and has just made his first digital dollar from his eCommerce site.
Join us as learn how he did it and what he has learned!
There are many choices for your outreach. Today I look at blogs, podcasts, email, YouTube, Instagram, and Tiktok. Making the right platform decisions can ease the way to success.
Have you thought about starting a podcast or a YouTube channel? Which one should you go with? Both? Dillon Perron runs the Animals At Home Network and has experience producing both a podcast and a YouTube show. Today I interview him and ask for his insight to help you decide which way to go!
Creating your logo can be overwhelming. When I needed help I used 99designs.com to run a contest with spectacular results. If you are struggling to create a logo, this episode is for you!
Print on demand platforms can be an easy way to get your first eCommerce business up and running. Today I show you how.
Social Media is rushing at a break neck speed around us and we have to hang on tight to stay on top of it. Considering all the changes we have seen it was time to discuss the one that have the most direct effect on us. I talk specifically about the newest changes on Instagram and TikTok and what they mean for us entrepreneurs in the reptile community.
A logo is a defining element to your business or influencer outreach. But where do you start? Adeline Robinson is an artist in the reptile community that also creates logos professionally. Adeline shares what we should look for in a logo and how to go about getting yours.
Learn about the methods to make or prototype a new part. Tim Marks from the new company Leap joins me and shares his experience with injection molding, extrusions, thermoforming, CNC and 3D printing to create a product that couldn't have been made effectively from off-the-shelf parts. And Tim shares the methods he used to do that cage as well as build Eco-Tech Marine from the humble beginnings of his college dorm room.
Artists of all kinds will enjoy hearing from a successful photographer as Zac Herr provides on insight into what it is like being an artist in the reptile community!
I talk about the insatiable demand of being an entrepreneur on social media, establishing sanity limits, how to increase productivity without paying for it with your health, and, finally, having a healthy understanding of our ever present adversary, burnout.
If you are an artist, enjoy reptiles, and would love to combine the two to make a living then this episode is for you. Adeline Robinson's reptile art is incredible! And her time is split between making fine art, logos, and reptile shows...and a lot of social media marketing! Join us as we discuss what it is like being a full time artist in the reptile community.
TikTok cannot be ignored and we are facing it head on! When a new platform is intimidating you find a guide who has been there and we have our guide in Lyssa from Lyssa's Lizards who has built a huge TikTok following. Her "TikToks" make responsible reptile keeping fun to present!
Lyssa gives an introduction to TikTok by providing a perspective that will help entrepreneurs make educated decisions regarding their social media footprint.
Retention is keeping the followers that have joined our social media outreach. Success relies on how well you communicated what your account was about and how well you keep to that promise. Today I talk about how to develop a strategy that focuses on retention and the specific tools in Instagram available for us to use.
Learn how to optimize your Instagram account to increase the number of people who become followers. Conversion is the part of social media strategy where you convince people who are curious about your account that they should commit to following your account. Followers are the lifeblood of social media accounts and so your conversion strategy needs to be effective to not waste all the people you bring in with your outreach!
To get followers you need to work with your social media algorithm to reach out and put your content in front of interested people. In this episode I talk about how algorithms work and how you can be effective in your social media outreach to gain not just any followers, but the RIGHT followers! I use reptile accounts on Instagram as my example, but this strategy is the same with any niche topic on any social media platform. It is just how algorithms and social media works at the most basic level!
Every social media strategy consists of Outreach, Conversion, and Retention. But these are just actions that are based on your social media promise and purpose. In this episode I lay the ground work for for selecting our promise and purpose to focus our outreach.
If you have ever thought of being a YouTuber in the reptile community this is the podcast episode to listen to! Dayyan, or Reptiliatus, is about the nicest guy you will ever meet and is a full time reptile YouTuber. Today he shares with us what life is like as a YouTuber and what it takes to make it work. Sit back, relax, and enjoy this talk!
A tried and true business success strategy is to take a niche you are passionate about and tenaciously dedicate yourself to that niche. To share how he did this exact thing, Josh Halter, The Bio Dude, joins me and shares his experiences starting from less than nothing and building bio-active into a successful business that cares about both the reptiles and the employees.
Today is a serious topic where I give my take on the current amendment proposal to the Lacey Act. This amendment has serious repercussions for reptile keeping and this is no drill. It snuck by undetected in the House and now it is on its way to the Senate. This is an example of how vigilant we need to be to protect our community. I figure it is more than worth talking about this because if this passes, our community will take a serious hit and it is this community which sustains us.
Justin Kobylka has turned a personal breeding project into an international reptile breeding business. While he may be best known for his Ball Pythons, I wanted to learn about the entrepreneur behind the 20 year old business. In this interview Justins shares his perspective on the reptile community past, present and future. Join us as we talk about how it is to start a reptile breeding business in today's conditions!
Losing your Instagram account to hackers is a horrible way to end an Instagram career. This episode is about securing your account against hacker attacks and what to do if one succeeds.
With the popularity of video under 60 seconds in length, or, "short form" video, we are in a position to help guide the definition of what an educational short will be. Whether a "TikTok", an Instagram Reel, or a YouTube Short, scientists and teachers are seeing how they can leverage this new media form to share knowledge. And this is where we come in - it is up to us to find ways of educating the new community that is attuned to short form video.
Emma Lynne Sampson comes on the podcast and talks about her growth from a YouTuber to becoming the creator of a virtual zoo. She shares how she went from struggling to open a Google Docs to completing a membership website and shows that we can accomplish more than what we are today if we commit to growth!
Richard Stewart has built his passion for tarantulas into a content creation career. Utilizing monetization methods, the Tarantula Collective has become his primary source of income. In this interview, Richard joins me on the mic and we go over how he was able to make this happen.
If you have thought about becoming a content creator for your niche community then this interview will give you valuable insight into how one man made it happen.
Breaking News episode! Instagram has announced that, in 2022, we will be getting the choice between seeing three different versions of our home feed. Those are the posts that you see from other accounts on your Instagram app. All, well and good, but what are these new feeds and, more importantly, what do they mean for us as influencers and marketers needing to build our follower base? How does this change our outreach? I share what we know and my analysis as to how we deal with the changes.
In this episode we are going to talk about tools for growth on Instagram. Instagram is a very diverse and complicated platform and it really takes some time to learn all the tools and features. Honestly, looking at all the available social media platforms, I truly believe that Instagram has the best blend of tools for developing a community. Instagram has been accused of copying features from TikTok, but they are adding those to an already robust platform that allows the three pillars of creating a thriving fan base. Outreach to bring in interested followers, development of your community of followers, and one on one relationship building. Today I will focus on the features and tools that help us present ourselves to potential new followers to grow the account.
Today I talk about how Instagram is evolving to become a video sharing platform. And, more importantly, what that means for us.
This is a Thursday episode where I just speak my mind and have an unscripted conversation with you. I call them my meditations because that is all they are. I just tell you what I have been thinking about. And, this is a seismic shift going on beneath our feet. Instagram is following the trends and pushing short form video heavily. And this is a shift in culture that we need to change with or else we will be further and further behind.
Social media followers are the highest visibility measure of success. But it is an empty number in itself. The life blood of your account is the number of engaged followers. Today I am talking about getting the right followers.
In season 2 we have to goal to run through setting up a complete digital footprint for a standard business. And to start this off we will establish our digital home base on Instagram. In this kick off episode for season 2 we go over the strategies to set up your Instagram bio to attract the right kind of followers!
Etsy is a storefront platform which can offer entrepreneurs an easy way to get up and running. Etsy will take care of providing you digital space, payment processing, can help with shipping, and will take care of website maintenance. If you are an entrepreneur that doesn't have time to put together or maintain a website then consider Etsy. Etsy specializes in handmade items, but much of what we do is handmade. And, yes, 3D printed items are accepted on the Etsy platform.
Doug Young of Firehouse Geckos has established a thriving business on Etsy and shares how he did it and, more importantly, what you need to know for you to do it yourself!
How do you scale your business when your skill or insight is a key component to the product you sell? Today I talk with Jim Rykbost of Sunset Chameleons. Jim has started his company on a special type of feeder cup designed specifically with chameleons in mind. Each feeder is a work of art and dedication by Jim. Listen in and learn how Jim created a business hat combines art and function. We discuss how to run a business that requires personal attention to each product and what scaling up the business would look like.
In the world of today you will need to establish a digital footprint. This can include social media, websites, eCommerce platforms and more. Today I start the discussion with a review of social media platforms so you can make educated decisions as to where to invest your time.
What is the difference between a sole proprietorship and an LLC. And, more importantly, when should you consider one over the other as your business structure? John Augustus Kim, tax attorney, comes on and explains the differences and when it is worth it to switch over. This episode is for anyone debating which business structure to go with.
Social media is the one biggest marketing outreach available to us. But it isn't as easy as just posting what you had for lunch. There is a serious strategy behind what you post, how you post, when you post, and what platform you post on. While it may seem frivolous to be dancing around to the latest trend, content creators know that is the battleground for the eyes and mind of 100s of millions of potential customers. Today I am joined by the woman behind Neptune the Chameleon as she shares with us the deliberate strategy behind her postings, platforms, and singing trends.
Patent and Trademark attorney Richard Clarke returns to give us an overview of trademarks. He goes over what they are and how to use them.
Today I talk about the development of greenbananroach.com and what lessons we can learn about "niching down" in our product development and content streams.
Eddy Garabito, also known as @Father.Blou on Instagram, is an arboreal monitor enthusiast that has used 3D printing technology to create specialty products for his husbandry use. Eddy shares how he got started with 3D printing and lays it out so enthusiasts from other communities may take advantage of this amazing 3D technology which allows us to create what we dream.
The Morelia Python Radio Podcast is one of our community's longest running podcasts. Hosts Eric Burke and Owen McIntyre join me and share what got them started and what has kept them going. They share words of inspiration for anyone who has ever considered starting a podcast of their own!
What drives an entrepreneur? Is it driving towards a purpose or staying a step ahead of the world that abhors someone trying to break out of mediocrity? We all have our different reasons, but are united in time being our most precious resource. Today I talk about time and what it means to someone driven with purpose.
Today we are speaking with Khai Phan, a monitor breeder who has found a talent in breeding grasshoppers for feeder insects. And the grasshopper side of things has exploded to the point where it is a sizable enough business that he will soon be needing to make some serious decisions about growth.
We explore what it takes to develop and feeder business with a new species and what kind of decisions must be made when your business starts outgrowing your space.
Ron Rundo of Snakescapes.com brings painting and sculpture to herpetoculture with a museum quality enclosure that mimics a slice of the jungle. Artists are an important part of our reptile community foundation and Ron is an example of one that is thriving. Today Ron shares with us the history of his custom made enclosure and we discuss his realistic painting method which allows him to create such works of art.
For today's meditation I talk about the times in our life when we need to end the chapter and move on to the next. This can be when you need to close down a business or when a product is no longer viable. One of the biggest decisions we must make is when to give up the consistent 9-5 paycheck and embrace the uncertainty of our own business.
Reptile shows are a foundation of the community. Rick Porter has built up the San Jose Reptile Show in the San Francisco Bay Area with constant growth each year. In this episode he takes behind the scenes and shares with us what it takes to start and run a reptile show.
Josh Willard, CEO of Josh's Frogs, joins me and we talk about the core values that drive Josh's Frogs. Josh is an example of someone who has not lost the amazed wonder that inspires us to want to be involved with reptiles in the first place and that shows itself in the company he has built. From committing to offering only captive bred reptiles and amphibians to funding conservation efforts to offering grants for amphibian research, Josh and his team are showing what a true reptile-focused company can be.
Authenticity is presenting yourself as you are. Why do we feel like we need to be more? Is being the best and smartest and most “right” person in the room the path to success? Here is the truth about authenticity - You do not have to be more than you are to build a following. More so, you will build a stronger following if you come as you are. Today I explore being authentic in what we do.
There is an enormous amount of work that goes into creating and maintaining a content stream whether it be blog, video channel, or podcast. And your content stream is relentless in demanding new material every week or two. There are ways you can be compensated for your hard work which can allow you to invest in the show and help put the roof over your head! Joining me is Dillon Perron from the Animals At Home Network to share how he has monetized his show. Listen in and learn what you can do for your content outreach.
Today I talk with Alex Menke of Frog Daddy who openly shares his experiences starting a dart frog breeding business. More than just talking about dart frogs, Alex gives us an insight into what he is doing to make his business successful. These principles are key to any business. But now you are hearing it from a man who is living it in the reptile community.
Today we talk about being original in our business approach. The entrepreneurial mindset is that we can create a larger market and we can expand the customer base. We do not have to copy or follow in anyone else's footsteps.
Good morning, Reptile Entrepreneurs! This fine day we will be talking about patents. This is the protection you have to profit from your invention. Everyone loves a good idea. The only thing better than a good idea is a good idea that someone one spent all the effort to develop, prove out, and create a market for. Which isn’t that great when someone else decides to make money off of what you invented! So, it is worth spending some time here exploring what protection is available for inventors. I will be talking with Richard Clarke who is the patent attorney who helped me get my patent on the Dragon Ledges.
The quickest way to prototype a product to prove out a design is to find a manufacturer that makes a similar product who can tweak the design to match your specifications. They then can manufacture the product for you. Today I talk to Todd Goode, president of LightYourReptiles.com, who has spent years working with overseas manufacturers to get his high end and specialty reptile lighting products made. Todd comes on and shares the process so that you have another option for getting your products made.
It is important to create a comprehensive success scenario that ensures that you will be happy when you achieve your entrepreneurial goals. In today's episode I help make sure you don't lose the most important things while chasing your dream.
Breeding reptiles is a dream job for many of us. And there are some people who have been able to make it work enough that that is what they do. Today I talk with Josh Dovenbarger from Phantom Dragons. Josh is one of the top breeders of bearded dragons and shares with us how he built this business, what his life is like, and his advice to anyone who would like to breed reptiles for a living.
The tag line of this podcast is making responsible and successful businesses in the reptile community. Today I wanted to talk about what success means. Financial success is certainly front and center, but there are other forms of success that we should keep in mind. And when you are considering an entrepreneurial project consider the big picture.
This is a meditation Thursday episode where I explore a concept and just shoot the breeze! Pull up a chair, pour a cold brew, and let's see where this takes us!
And here is the opportunity that is presenting itself to us. Through 3D printing we have the ability to make for our specialized community what we will not soon find in any national chain pet store.
David has graciously agreed to join me on the show today and share how he leveraged 3D printing technology to create valuable specialty husbandry products for his community.
This is Meditation Thursdays where I talk about a topic that is meaningful to me or an educational discussion I feel is important. The Monday episodes are all business and can be considered the boardroom, while Thursday is free for all and can be considered the water cooler.
Today I share why I am so passionate about entrepreneurial ventures. My side business literally gave me the freedom to get out of bad career positions. It made all the difference in the world to feel the freedom to stay or go depending solely on whether the job was good for me. But it is best you just listen to it. This is an unstructured sharing where you get to know a bit more about me and why I am doing this.
A website is the best option for your business's home base in the digital realm. In this episode I make the argument as to why you should have one. There are web builders that make it easier than it was in the past. With Weebly, Wix, and Squarespace you can start off in a highly controlled, but limited arena. With Wordpress you can spread your design wings along with greater opportunity for things to go wrong along with the gains in freedom!
Welcome to the Reptile Entrepreneur! This is a show for anyone interested in starting a business in the reptile world or has a business and wants to hear from others what they are doing.
We’ll talk about how to come up with product idea, prototype, and test it out. We’ll talk about manufacturing and basic business management. What if your business is content? Video, audio, the written word… There is a need for good solid information on YouTube, Instagram, or any other social media site. Yes, even that Tik Tok thing!
Product development, business management, marketing, and just surviving the entrepreneurial grind. - These will be nuts and bolts discussions about how you can start a business in the field you love.
In this episode I let you know what is in store for this show. Let's see what we can build!