Real Profit, Real Perspective Podcast

In this week’s episode Connor Malatesta, CPA, and Ryan Bannister, CPA, break down the headline‑grabbing tariff moves against the EU, decode how subsidies differ, and map out who actually pays when politics reshapes global supply chains.

Then they dive into Congress’s freshly minted One Big Beautiful Bill: new tip‑income exclusions, overtime deductions, and a kinder 1099 reporting threshold ($2 k). Who wins, who loses, and how sh...

When things feel chaotic, your best move is to zoom in on what you can control.

In this episode of Real Profit, Real Perspective, Ryan Bannister and Connor Malatesta break down what it means to “control the controllable”—in business, finances, and life. From goal-setting to fear-setting, they share how focusing on inputs (not outcomes) builds confidence and momentum.

Whether you’re facing a tough season or just trying to stay focused...

Without clear cashflow forecasting, your business (and personal finances) are flying blind.

In this episode of Real Profit, Real Perspective, Ryan Bannister and Connor Malatesta break down how to forecast cash flow the right way, why budgeting isn’t just for spreadsheets, and the mindset shifts that can make or break your financial plan.

From emotional spending triggers to common misconceptions like “I can’t afford that,” they share ...

The best business owners aren’t the ones who know it all—they’re the ones who keep learning.

In this episode of Real Profit, Real Perspective, Connor Malatesta and Ryan Bannister dive into what it means to be a lifelong learner. From peer conversations to parenting, marketing mistakes to client wins, they explore how staying curious and reflective helps you grow—not just as a professional, but as a human.

Whether you're a...

You don’t build a successful business by just being good at what you do—you build it by learning to sell. In this episode, we unpack what it really means to develop sales skills as a business owner.

From identifying weaknesses to systematizing your sales calls, we share how our sales skills have evolved—and what we wish we knew sooner.

Whether you have zero sales experience like we did, or you're an established business o...

Poor communication kills productivity, breaks trust, and tanks teams. In this episode, Ryan Bannister and Connor Malatesta dig into why communication is the skill that most people neglect—and what it actually looks like to get it right.

From client updates to internal Slack threads, we unpack the tools, habits, and frameworks that have helped us level up our communication game (and where we still mess it up sometimes). If you wo...

If you’ve ever ghosted your bank account or made a panic decision during a market dip… this one’s for you. In this episode, Ryan Bannister and Connor Malatesta break down the biggest money mistakes they’ve seen—and made. From emotional spending to “management by abdication,” we’re diving into the patterns that quietly sabotage financial growth and how to build guardrails that actually work.

Whether you're a content creator, busi...

Why does "owning it" play such a crucial part in leadership? Today we pull back the curtain on accountability and how radical self-honesty fuels better decisions, keeps cash moving, and builds teams that actually execute. From solo-entrepreneur hurdles, to "extreme ownership" leadership lessons, we share real wins, hard-learned misses, and strategies you can put into play today.

Have a question or want to ch...

If you've ever gotten stuck wondering what to do next, this episode's for you.We're breaking down what really goes into making business decisions - especially when there's no obvious "right" answer.

We talk about:

• Why overthinking can stall your progress,
• How to take action without having it all figured out,
• What to do when a decision doesn't go as planned, and
• How to stay accountable once the choice is made.

We share real (...

The moment you realize... “Papa, I’m a real business now.” 🎉

In this episode of Real Profit, Real Perspective, Connor and Ryan talk about what it's really like making the leap from solo entrepreneur to running a business with a team. From the growing pains of delegation, to building processes that actually work (instead of duct taping things together), to why sales never stop mattering — we’re sharing the real stories behind scalin...

Running the whole show by yourself? We see you.

In this episode, we’re digging into the real (and often messy) realities of being a solo entrepreneur—from the weight of every decision falling on your shoulders to the never-ending juggle of time, money, and mental energy.

We talk through the most common struggles solos face, what they don’t teach you in business school, and how to build something sustainable without burning out.

This o...

In our first full episode, we dive into the big question behind every smart business decision: Where are you right now?

We break down our goals for this podcast, our philosophy on business life cycles, and why blanket advice just doesn’t cut it. From early-stage hustle to established creative businesses, we explore how different types of financial and strategic advice apply depending on where you're really at.

Oh—and if you'r...

Welcome to the kickoff episode! Before we dive into the deep stuff, we're taking a moment to introduce ourselves - no fluff, just real talk.

We're pulling back the curtain on our backgrounds, career pivots, wild client stories, and why we decided to start this show in the first place. It's part interview, part origin story, part "why you should care."

If you're a business owner, whether you're a...