Episodes

  • Marketing Intelligence for Insurance Agencies with Joshua Lauer

    Marketing Intelligence for Insurance Agencies with Joshua Lauer
    Sep 17 2025
    In this episode of the Power Producers Podcast, host David Carothers and co-host Kyle Houck are joined by Joshua Lauer of Lauer Creatives for a deep dive into the world of marketing intelligence. Joshua shares his unique journey from aspiring songwriter to a data-driven marketing consultant. The conversation focuses on the most common and costly mistake B2B companies make: losing marketing attribution as leads move from their website to their CRM. Joshua breaks down the technical solutions for creating a seamless data flow, discusses the complexities of tracking "dark social," and offers his perspective on the practical applications and limitations of AI in marketing analytics. Key Highlights: Fixing the Leaky Funnel: Website to CRM Attribution Joshua Lauer identifies the critical disconnect between marketing efforts and sales outcomes as the most common issue he encounters. He explains how crucial data—like which campaign a lead came from—is often lost as it moves through a CRM, leaving businesses blind to which marketing channels are actually driving revenue and resulting in inefficient ad spend. The Technical Fix: Hidden Inputs and Data Persistence The conversation dives into the solution for lost attribution. Joshua details his method of using hidden form fields on websites to capture UTM parameters and other tracking data. He stresses the importance of ensuring that this data persists as a lead is converted from a Lead to a Contact and then to an Opportunity within the CRM, providing true end-to-end visibility. Navigating Dark Social and Attribution Models David and Joshua discuss the challenge of tracking word-of-mouth referrals and "dark social," which often manifest as an increase in "direct traffic." They also touch on the pitfalls of platform-specific attribution models, like Facebook's aggressive view-through credit, highlighting the need for a critical and nuanced approach to analyzing marketing data. The Practical Role of AI in Marketing Intelligence While AI is transforming many areas, Joshua explains its current role in his field. He sees AI as a powerful tool for content optimization and creating conversational interfaces for data analysis, but clarifies that it cannot yet replace the human expertise required for the complex, business-specific logic of a proper tracking setup. Connect with: Joshua Lauer LinkedIn David Carothers LinkedIn Kyle Houck LinkedIn Visit Websites: Power Producer Base Camp Lauer Creations Killing Commercial Crushing Content Power Producers Podcast Policytee The Dirty 130 The Extra 2 Minutes
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    39 mins
  • The Captive Conversation Part 4

    The Captive Conversation Part 4
    Sep 12 2025
    In the fourth and final episode of The Captive Conversation on Power Producers Shoptalk, host David Carothers and Warren Cleveland of Captive Coalition unpack the conversation framework that allows agents to stay in control of their most valuable client relationships. They reframe the captive solution as the ultimate business continuity plan for an agent's book, ensuring long-term retention. The conversation provides tactical advice, including a powerful "pattern interrupt" to start the discussion, and stresses the importance of shifting from a salesperson to a true strategic advisor. They also cover the right and wrong times to introduce the captive concept and why agents must act as the "quarterback" to guide their clients. Key Highlights: Captives as Your Book's Continuity Plan David reframes the captive conversation away from being just another market. Instead, he positions it as the ultimate "continuity plan" and "finish line" for an agent’s best clients. Getting an account into a captive creates powerful financial and strategic ties that make them a client for life, effectively protecting them from competitors.1 The Strategic Advisor vs. The Salesperson This episode drills down on the critical mindset shift required to succeed. A captive is a long-term business strategy, not a quick premium-saving quote.2 The conversation contrasts the transactional salesperson who asks for loss runs with the strategic advisor who discusses growth, profitability, and preserving the bottom line—a conversation that wins 100% of the time. The Conversation Framework and Pattern Interrupt Warren provides a tactical opener to spark curiosity and bypass typical sales resistance. He shares his five-second "pattern interrupt"—"I show business owners how to own their own insurance company"—and explains how this simple phrase immediately elevates the conversation from a commodity sale to a high-level strategic discussion. Timing is Everything: When to Have the Talk The episode provides crucial advice on when to introduce the captive concept. They warn agents not to present it at renewal alongside traditional quotes, as that is a losing strategy. The right approach is proactive and educational, starting the conversation well in advance, such as 90 days after the previous renewal, to properly frame it as a long-term play. Connect with: Warren Cleveland LinkedIn David Carothers LinkedIn Kyle Houck LinkedIn Visit Websites: Captive Coalition Power Producer Base Camp Killing Commercial Crushing Content Power Producers Podcast Policytee The Dirty 130 The Extra 2 Minutes
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    22 mins
  • Turning Risk Into Opportunity with Valkyrie Holmes

    Turning Risk Into Opportunity with Valkyrie Holmes
    Sep 10 2025
    In this episode of the Power Producers Podcast, host David Carothers and co-host Kyle Houck are joined by Valkyrie Holmes, the CEO and co-founder of FAURA, for a look into the future of risk assessment. Valkyrie explains how her background in data science at NASA and SpaceX led to the creation of FAURA, a platform that quantifies a property's ability to withstand natural disasters, a concept she calls property survivability. They discuss how this technology equips agents with the tools to explain risk, justify pricing in a hard market, and offer clients actionable steps for mitigation. The conversation covers the agent education gap, building codes as "minimum wage," and how granular, property-level data is changing the insurance landscape. Key Highlights: Introducing FAURA: Quantifying Property Survivability Valkyrie Holmes details how FAURA uses hundreds of data points to generate a simple 0-100 survivability score, moving beyond general climate risk to assess how a specific property will fare in a disaster. This provides a clear, understandable metric for agents and policyholders, empowering them with the principle that "if you can't explain the risk, you can't justify the price." Arming Agents in a Hard Market The conversation addresses the agent education gap. In a market where agents struggle to explain rate increases, FAURA provides property-specific data that acts as "weaponry," allowing them to have informed conversations about risk factors and justify pricing, ultimately helping them retain clients by offering proactive solutions instead of just bad news. From Assessment to Actionable Mitigation FAURA's platform is more than just a score; it's a solution. After an initial assessment, a digital inspection generates a detailed report with a prioritized list of mitigation actions. It then connects users with vetted local contractors, turning a complex problem into a manageable and actionable plan for homeowners. The Science of Wildfire & Hail Resilience The discussion dives into specific perils, revealing that simple, low-cost actions can dramatically increase a property's chance of survival. Valkyrie shares examples, such as ember-resistant screens for wildfire defense, showing how data-driven insights can lead to effective and accessible mitigation strategies that agents can share with their clients. Connect with: Warren Cleveland LinkedIn David Carothers LinkedIn Kyle Houck LinkedIn Visit Websites: Captive Coalition Power Producer Base Camp Killing Commercial Crushing Content Power Producers Podcast Policytee The Dirty 130 The Extra 2 Minutes
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    56 mins
  • The Captive Conversation Part 3

    The Captive Conversation Part 3
    Sep 5 2025
    In the third installment of our four-part series on Power Producers Shop Talk, host David Carothers and Warren Cleveland of Captive Coalition break down the fundamentals of captive insurance. This episode is designed to give agents the foundational knowledge needed to confidently discuss captives with clients. Warren demystifies the core concept, explains the different models, and provides a critical warning against the misused 831(b) tax election. They also tackle common misconceptions about size and risk, and outline the ideal prospect profile, emphasizing that commitment to risk management is non-negotiable for success. Key Highlights: Demystifying Captive Models Warren Cleveland explains that a captive is simply an insurance company owned by its members, designed to let them keep the underwriting profit. He clarifies the primary models agents will encounter: Group Captives (where multiple businesses pool risk), Single-Parent Captives (for very large companies insuring their own risk), and Cell Captives (an efficient structure where a business "rents" a legally separate cell from a larger captive). A Critical Warning on the 831(b) Tax Election A significant portion of the episode is dedicated to a crucial warning: stay away from the 831(b) tax election. Warren stresses that this is a tax classification, not a type of captive, and has been widely abused by promoters as a tax shelter. The IRS is aggressively and successfully prosecuting these cases, and agents should advise clients that any true captive must be about insurance first, not a tax play. Busting Common Agent Misconceptions The conversation addresses the myths that stop agents from exploring captives. They debunk the "you're not big enough" fallacy, clarifying that businesses spending $250,000 or more can be ideal candidates. They also tackle the "it's too risky" concern, explaining that an agent’s job is to help the client understand and quantify the risk, not avoid the conversation entirely. The Anatomy of an Ideal Captive Prospect Warren outlines the three pillars of a perfect captive candidate. First, they must have sufficient premium spend. Second, the business owner must be frustrated with the traditional market and willing to take on calculated risk. Third, and most importantly, they must have a deep-seated belief that investing in risk management, safety, and training will directly improve their financial outcomes. A captive exposes risk management flaws; it doesn't fix them. Connect with: Warren Cleveland LinkedIn David Carothers LinkedIn Kyle Houck LinkedIn Visit Websites: Captive Coalition Power Producer Base Camp Killing Commercial Crushing Content Power Producers Podcast Policytee The Dirty 130 The Extra 2 Minutes
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    30 mins
  • From Cold Calls to Carpool Closers with Ema Roloff

    From Cold Calls to Carpool Closers with Ema Roloff
    Sep 3 2025
    In this episode of the Power Producers Podcast, host David Carothers sits down with Ema Roloff of Roloff Consulting for a deep dive into modern digital marketing for the insurance industry. They discuss the critical shift from traditional sales tactics to building trust through educational content, a strategy Ema calls the “Favorite Teacher Framework.” The conversation tackles the biggest hurdles for agents to talk about and lack of time—and offers practical solutions for creating a sustainable content engine. They also explore the right and wrong ways to leverage AI, the trap of vanity metrics, and why authenticity is the most important currency in today’s digital landscape. Key Highlights: The Favorite Teacher Framework Ema Roloff explains her core philosophy, which is rooted in her past as a high school teacher. The framework encourages agents to step out of a boastful, sales-focused mindset and into the role of an educator. By consistently providing value and teaching your audience, you build trust at scale, which has become the foundation of modern sales and marketing. Overcoming Content Creation Excuses David and Ema dismantle the two most common excuses for not creating content: “I don’t have time” and “What do I talk about?” They argue it’s an issue of priority, not time, and offer the simple advice to “start” and “don’t stop.” They share practical tips, like recording daily client calls and internal conversations, to generate an endless supply of real-world, valuable content ideas. Authenticity in the Age of AI As AI makes it easier to produce generic content, a genuine human voice is more valuable than ever. The conversation stresses that being the same person online as you are in person is the ultimate trust-builder. The goal isn't to appeal to everyone; it's to be yourself and let the right audience find you, which means being okay when people unsubscribe or unfollow. Vanity Metrics vs. Meaningful Engagement This segment addresses the common mistake of chasing likes and impressions. Ema and David explain that the goal isn't millions of views, but reaching the right few hundred people. They discuss the power of “dark social”—the vast audience that consumes your content without ever publicly engaging—and emphasize that the true measure of success is the business opportunities your content generates, not its viral potential. Using AI as a Tool, Not a Crutch David shares his sophisticated workflow for using AI as an organizational powerhouse, not a content writer. He explains how he uses it to transcribe and summarize community calls, pull key quotes, create blog post outlines, and even structure entire training courses. The key is leveraging technology to accelerate your process while ensuring your human expertise and authentic voice remain the core of the final product. Connect with: David Carothers LinkedIn Kyle Houck LinkedIn Ema Roloff LinkedIn Visit Websites: Power Producer Base Camp Roloff Consulting Killing Commercial Crushing Content Power Producers Podcast Policytee The Dirty 130 The Extra 2 Minutes
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    55 mins
  • The Captive Conversation Part 2

    The Captive Conversation Part 2
    Aug 29 2025
    In this second episode of our four-part series on Power Producers Shop Talk, host David Carothers is joined again by Warren Cleveland of Captive Coalition. They dive deep into the three primary mental roadblocks that prevent agents from successfully presenting captive insurance solutions to their clients. The conversation quickly evolves into a powerful critique of flawed commission models, with David making a compelling case for a fee-based compensation structure that aligns an agent's success directly with client savings. They break down common agent fears, provide tactical advice on educating clients, and explain why mastering these concepts is critical to retaining your best accounts. Key Highlights: Breaking Down the Three Mental Roadblocks Warren Cleveland identifies the top fears agents have about captives: not understanding how they work, the fear of losing control of the client relationship, and the excuse of not having time to learn. David and Warren dismantle each roadblock, arguing that these are mindset issues, not legitimate barriers, and that failing to overcome them is a direct path to losing your largest and most valuable clients. The Compensation Conundrum: Commission vs. Fees The discussion pivots to the fourth, unstated roadblock: fear of talking about compensation. David explains why the traditional commission model is broken—it often pays agents more when their clients perform worse. He outlines his strategy of using a transparent service fee with a gain-share option, which stabilizes producer income and proves immense value by tying increased pay directly to increased client savings. A Strategic Path to Captives The episode provides a clear roadmap for producers. Instead of jumping directly to a captive, agents can gauge a client’s risk tolerance by introducing other loss-sensitive options first, such as a retro program. This approach helps educate the client, forces them to implement better controls, and creates a natural progression toward a captive solution. Mastering Core Insurance Mechanics To be a true consultant, an agent must be able to explain how an insurance company makes money. Using a workers' comp carrier's 65% loss ratio as an example, David demonstrates how this knowledge allows an agent to justify premium to clients with poor loss runs and, more importantly, highlight the profit they are giving away for those with excellent loss control. Connect with: Warren Cleveland LinkedIn David Carothers LinkedIn Kyle Houck LinkedIn Visit Websites: Captive Coalition Power Producer Base Camp Killing Commercial Crushing Content Power Producers Podcast Policytee The Dirty 130 The Extra 2 Minutes
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    21 mins
  • Driving Business through Curious Leadership with Jon Bassford

    Driving Business through Curious Leadership with Jon Bassford
    Aug 27 2025
    In this episode of the Power Producers Podcast, David Carothers joined by Jon Bassford, author of the insightful book, "The Curious Leader," to discuss the transformative power of curiosity in leadership, sales, and personal growth. We explore how an inquisitive mindset fuels innovation, the crucial distinction between a salesperson and a true consultant, and the flaws within the insurance industry's compensation models. The conversation also touches on the parallels between endurance challenges like running marathons and the journey of leadership, emphasizing the importance of vulnerability, building diverse teams, and fostering psychological safety. Key Highlights: The Power of the Curious Leader Jon Bassford shares the core message from his book, explaining how fostering an inquisitive mindset is the engine for genuine innovation. We discuss the importance of educated risk-taking and creating an environment where acknowledging mistakes is seen as a vital part of individual and organizational development, not a failure. Salesperson vs. Consultant in the Insurance Industry The conversation shifts to the insurance sector, where we critique flawed compensation models that incentivize policy-pushing over problem-solving. Using real-world examples like the Fisker Auto bankruptcy, we highlight how true value comes from objective audits and a consultative approach that enhances a client's risk profile, drawing a clear line between surface-level sales and deep operational consulting. Leadership Lessons from Marathons and Writing We explore the powerful metaphors of running a marathon and writing a book. Jon and I discuss how these challenging, introspective journeys teach profound lessons in vulnerability, perseverance, and self-discovery, mirroring the trials and tribulations faced by any effective leader. Building Psychologically Safe & Diverse Teams This segment focuses on common leadership pitfalls and the critical need for psychological safety. Jon Bassford offers compelling insights on how leaders can empower their teams by building diverse groups where every individual feels safe to contribute, challenge ideas, and innovate without fear of reprisal. Connect with: David Carothers LinkedIn Kyle Houck LinkedIn Jon Bassford LinkedIn Visit Websites: The Curious Leader (Book) Power Producer Base Camp Killing Commercial Crushing Content Power Producers Podcast Policytee The Dirty 130 The Extra 2 Minutes
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    49 mins
  • The Captive Conversation Part 1

    The Captive Conversation Part 1
    Aug 22 2025
    24 mins