The Power of Podcasting: How Traci DeForge Transforms Business Growth
The Elevate Your Business Podcast with Adam Koos
Release Date: 07/17/2025
The Elevate Your Business Podcast with Adam Koos
In this special episode share, Adam Koós, joins Gary Heldt as a guest on the Grow Your Business and Grow Your Wealth Podcast for a wide-ranging conversation on fiduciary responsibility, business exit planning, and the hidden risks business owners face when they wait too long to plan. Adam shares his personal journey from pre-med to finance, why he launched Libertas at age 25, and how his mission evolved into helping business owners protect and eventually monetize their life’s work. Together, Gary and Adam explore why 80% of business owners’ net worth is tied to their company — yet...
info_outlineThe Elevate Your Business Podcast with Adam Koos
In this How I Built This episode of The Elevate Your Business Podcast, Adam sits down with George Sortino — a Sicilian-born, American-made entrepreneur who built hotels, restaurants, bowling alleys, sports books, barbershops, and entertainment centers across Northern Ohio. From arriving in the U.S. at age seven, to buying his first hotel with no money down, to creating Sortino’s legendary Italian restaurant experience, George embodies the spirit of old-school entrepreneurship fueled by humility, grit, and a relentless commitment to people. This episode is packed with “cheat codes”...
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In this episode of The Elevate Your Business Podcast, host Paden Squires sits down with Adam Koós — founder and president of Libertas Wealth Management Group and creator of Adrenaline Advisor Consulting. Adam shares how he built a thriving firm from the ground up after starting his career just ten days before 9/11. From grinding through door-to-door sales to managing four major market crashes, Adam opens up about resilience, leadership, systems, and what it really takes to balance ambition with family life. He also shares how entrepreneurs can turn their business into an investment...
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In this episode of The Elevate Your Business Podcast, host Adam Koós welcomes Christine, a former corporate leader who turned her career burnout into a catalyst for creating a purpose-driven business. Christine opens up about the moment she realized success wasn’t just about climbing the corporate ladder, how she built a business aligned with her values, and the lessons she’s learned about resilience, leadership, and living with intention. From breaking free of “golden handcuffs” to embracing uncertainty, Christine’s story is a roadmap for business owners ready to align profit with...
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Adam Koós joins legacy coach Angelina Carleton on her show to explore one of the most overlooked (yet critical) parts of building and exiting a business: defining what legacy really means. Too often, business owners wait until the last minute to plan their exit, focusing only on financials or legal documents while avoiding the deeper, more personal side of what they’ll leave behind. Adam shares insights from 23 years of experience helping clients navigate business transitions, and why legacy planning starts long before you list your company for sale. They discuss how values, identity,...
info_outlineThe Elevate Your Business Podcast with Adam Koos
In this episode of the ELEVATE Your Business Podcast, host Adam Koós sits down with Traci DeForge, founder of Produce Your Podcast, to explore how podcasting has evolved into one of the most powerful tools for business development and brand authority. With over 30 years of experience in broadcast media and Fortune 500 consulting, Traci shares how she’s helped everyone from scrappy startups to brands like Google and Hilton harness the power of podcasting. From launching your show with purpose to avoiding costly content mistakes, this episode delivers clear, practical strategies for...
info_outlineThe Elevate Your Business Podcast with Adam Koos
In this episode of the ELEVATE Your Business Podcast, host Adam Koós sits down with Bill Woods, co-founder and CMO of 50 Marketing and host of the Missing Half podcast, to explore the crucial role marketing plays in scaling your business and boosting your company’s value at exit. With over two decades of experience in B2B and manufacturing marketing, Bill breaks down how building a repeatable, scalable, and predictable marketing and sales engine can elevate your valuation multiples and attract the right kind of buyers. He shares what most business owners get wrong about marketing, the...
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In this episode of the ELEVATE Your Business Podcast, host Adam Koós sits down with Shelly Peterson, President of Kahuna Investments, to discuss her remarkable journey from a successful career in pharmaceutical sales to managing over $250 million in real estate assets. Shelly shares how a life-changing investment inspired her to pivot careers and how she leveraged her relationship-building skills to thrive in the world of passive real estate investing. Shelly also discusses the challenges of transitioning from the corporate world to entrepreneurship, how she and her husband built Kahuna...
info_outlineThe Elevate Your Business Podcast with Adam Koos
In this episode of the ELEVATE Your Business Podcast, host Adam Koós sits down with Sharad Mehta, the Founder and CEO of REsimpli, to discuss how he transformed his real estate business from a solo operation into a scalable powerhouse. Sharad shares his journey from an accountant at EY to a real estate mogul who has flipped over 800 properties and built a portfolio of 60 rental units owned free and clear. As a business owner, scaling efficiently while maintaining profitability is key. Sharad breaks down how he systemized his entire operation by building REsimpli, an all-in-one real estate...
info_outlineThe Elevate Your Business Podcast with Adam Koos
In this episode of Elevate Your Business, Adam welcomes Andrew Doup, founder of Syndication Counsel, to discuss the powerful tax benefits of Qualified Opportunity Zones. Andrew shares his expertise on how these zones work, the federal and state tax incentives they offer, and how investors can strategically leverage them to maximize their returns while minimizing their tax liabilities. Adam and Andrew explore practical tips for properly utilizing Qualified Opportunity Zones, highlighting common mistakes to avoid and the key steps to unlocking their full investment potential. Whether you’re an...
info_outlineIn this episode of the ELEVATE Your Business Podcast, host Adam Koós sits down with Traci DeForge, founder of Produce Your Podcast, to explore how podcasting has evolved into one of the most powerful tools for business development and brand authority.
With over 30 years of experience in broadcast media and Fortune 500 consulting, Traci shares how she’s helped everyone from scrappy startups to brands like Google and Hilton harness the power of podcasting. From launching your show with purpose to avoiding costly content mistakes, this episode delivers clear, practical strategies for creating a podcast that actually drives results.
Traci also opens up about how her own journey, from radio executive to podcast pioneer, shaped the mission behind her company. Whether you're an advisor, entrepreneur, or small business owner, this episode will show you how podcasting can amplify your voice, generate leads, and deepen trust with your audience.
✨ Key Takeaways:
- Start with Why: Podcasting isn’t just about creating content. It’s about serving your audience with intention and value.
- Don’t Treat It Like a Hobby: Treat your podcast like a core piece of your business development strategy.
- Consistency Compounds: Showing up regularly and delivering high-value content builds trust over time.
- Podcasting Is a Business Tool: Done right, a podcast can generate leads, increase brand visibility, and attract the right clients.
- Your Clients Are Your Bosses: A service-first mentality is key to long-term growth and retention.
- Podcasting is Becoming Media: As traditional media fades, podcasting is positioned to become the next dominant content platform.
🎙️ Connect with Traci DeForge:
- Website: https://www.produceyourpodcast.com
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracilongdeforge/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/produceyourpodcast/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/produceyourpodcast/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCN1LkFZCc8oCX8tWdMTD-UQ
📲 Connect with ELEVATE and Adam Koós:
- LinkedIn: Adam Koós on LinkedIn
· Facebook: https://facebook.com/elevateandexit
· Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elevateandexit
· Threads: https://www.threads.com/@elevateandexit
· LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/elevateandexit
· Twiiter: https://x.com/ELEVATEandEXIT
· Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@elevateexit2
· Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@elevateyourbusinesspodcast
· email: info@elevateandexit
· website: www.elevateandexit.com