Connections That Matter
Connections That Matter is a business networking podcast featuring real stories of growth through relationships. Host Andrew Johnson interviews Northern Colorado entrepreneurs and small business owners who share how strategic networking, trust, and referrals shaped their journeys. You’ll learn practical insights on networking, referral marketing, and relationship-based business growth—plus the mindsets and habits that help local leaders build communities and businesses that last. Connect with Andrew + Northern Colorado Networking Events Want to meet our guests (and maybe be a future guest yourself) Upcoming Next Level Networking events: https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/nia-next-level-networking-3697909
Episodes
A barber's chair is one of the most honest rooms in town, and Noe Rodriguez has learned to treat every conversation in it as a chance to actually know someone. In this episode of Connections That Matter, Andrew Johnson talks with Noe Rodriguez of Sanctuary Barbers about building loyalty one haircut at a time, and how that same approach turned into a seat on a county fair board and a published book.
Episode Highlights
🔹 Why Noe s...
"What if the best marketing for your business is just posting exactly what makes you say 'don't do that' out loud?" In this episode of Connections That Matter, Andrew Johnson talks with Brent Fletcher, owner of Fletcher's Home Inspections and founder of Happy Hour Real Estate Networking.
Episode Highlights
🔹 What a home inspector actually looks for, a condition report, not a pass-fail.
🔹 The origin story of Brent's viral "...
Most painting companies show up, paint, and leave. Travis Diener built his business on being the person homeowners trust to help them decide. In this episode of Connections That Matter, Andrew Johnson talks with Travis Diener, owner of Renewed Creations Painting, about earning that trust job after job and how a year of consistent networking helped him land some of Fort Collins' biggest names as clients.
Episode Highlights
🔹 Why...
We don't think to get our neck checked when our blood pressure runs high or we're catching every cold that goes around, but the nervous system that controls all of it runs straight through one small bone in the neck. In this episode of Connections That Matter, Andrew Johnson sits down with Dr. Jane Brewer, owner of Precision Chiropractic and an upper cervical chiropractic specialist, to talk about what that specialty actually treat...
Most people never think about what it actually takes to help a family heal after child abuse, the therapy, the funding, and the years of trust-building behind it. In this episode of Connections That Matter, Andrew Johnson talks with Kathleen Baumgardner of Child Safe Colorado about how the nonprofit supports survivors from age 2 to 78, and how Northern Colorado's business community keeps that work funded.
Episode Highlights
🔹 W...
The fastest way to lose a sale is to pitch before you understand the problem, and Matt Roberts has coached that lesson into salespeople for years. In this episode of Connections That Matter, Andrew Johnson talks with Matt Roberts, sales coach at Affectus Sales Partners, about building a repeatable sales process and what most networkers get wrong right after a great conversation.
Episode Highlights
🔹 Why pitching too early is th...
"What if veterans didn't need to be shown as broken to get support, because that's exactly what keeps them from feeling empowered?" In this episode of Connections That Matter, Andrew Johnson talks with Nick Dunagan, founder of Health4Heroes, a nonprofit that empowers veterans and first responders to take command of their physical and mental health.
Episode Highlights
🔹 Why Nick left the military early after a mental health cris...
"What if the best networking strategy isn't a stronger pitch, but the courage to be fully yourself?" In this episode of Connections That Matter, Andrew Johnson talks with Rebeccah Silence, an emotional health and relationship coach and author of Coming Back to Life.
Episode Highlights
🔹 The difference between your "survival self" and your "healed self" — and why the healed version connects more.
🔹 Why Rebeccah teache...
"What if the smartest person in the room only has some of the answers, but ten people together have all of it?" In this episode of Connections That Matter, Andrew Johnson sits down with Curt Bear, founder of LOCO Think Tank and host of The Loco Experience podcast. Curt built LOCO Think Tank to give Northern Colorado business owners a place to get honest, experienced advice from fellow business veterans, not consultants.
Episode High...
What if the biggest thing costing you referrals isn’t your work, your pricing, or your network—but the fact that people can’t clearly explain what you do?
Your brand is more than a logo, color palette, or business card. It is the complete experience people have whenever they interact with you—and that experience can determine whether customers find, trust, and choose your business.
In this episod...
Entrepreneurs rarely start a business intending to sacrifice their marriage or family. Yet without intentional boundaries, the company can slowly become the “mistress”—taking the time, energy, and attention once reserved for home.
In this partnership edition of Connections That Matter, Angela and James Mitchell, co-founders of Love Intentionally, share how entrepreneurial couples can build successful businesses wit...
Business networking becomes more memorable when you have more than a business card to share. A professionally published book can build authority, support referrals, and keep your expertise in front of potential clients.
Liz Mrofka, Chief Creative and owner of What If? Publishing, joins Andrew Johnson to share lessons from her 30-year career in publishing, marketing, and graphic design. Liz explains how print-on-demand has opened new...
Being good at what you do is not enough if no one remembers you.
In this episode of Connections That Matter, Andrew Johnson sits down with Todd Schreier from Schreier Group to explore how business owners can stand out, build trust, and turn ordinary interactions into memorable experiences.
Todd shares his unconventional approach to grassroots marketing, why fear of rejection keeps people from pursuing opportunities, and the two quest...
Business networking becomes much more powerful when a relationship develops into an intentional, working partnership.
In this special partnership deep dive episode of Connections That Matter, Andrew Johnson welcomes back two previous guests: Joe Pucci, owner of Choice Moving Company, and Austin Foss, Senior Loan Officer with American Capital Mortgage Group.
Joe and Austin operate at different stages of the real-estate transaction, bu...
What happens when your business is generating revenue—but you cannot figure out where the money is going? Or when you are working 80 hours a week and still feel like everything depends on you?
In this episode of Connections That Matter, Andrew Johnson sits down with Austin Odle, founder of Odle Consulting, to discuss how business owners can identify the real problems hiding beneath the symptoms.
Austin explains why many suppose...
Your health does not stay at home when you go to work. It affects your energy, focus, decision-making, follow-up, and ability to show up for the people who depend on you.
In this episode of Connections That Matter, Andrew sits down with Gerri Kier from Complete Nutrition Alliance to discuss how nutrition, lifestyle choices, and individualized testing can help people better understand why they may feel tired, foggy, uncomfortable, or...
What can happen when a new entrepreneur makes a vulnerable Facebook post asking for help? For Michael Weant, it led to a conversation over a beer with Tim Jordan, a mentorship relationship, and eventually a business partnership that became Service Catalyst.
In this special partnership deep dive, Tim and Michael share how authentic connection, consistent follow-through, complementary strengths, and a willingness to learn helped them ...
In this episode of Connections That Matter, Andrew sits down with Desiree Gustafson, publisher of Loveland + South City Lifestyle Magazine. Desiree shares how she uses storytelling, intentional networking, and authentic relationships to spotlight the people, businesses, and nonprofits making Loveland, Berthoud, and Johnstown stronger.
From helping business owners clarify their “why” to bringing partners into the right ro...
In this special partnership deep dive episode of Connections That Matter, Andrew sits down with Jackie Stevens and Giuli Diaz, two of the three women behind The Mayorettes.
The Mayorettes are building bridges between Northern Colorado businesses and nonprofits. Through social media spotlights, relationship-building, nonprofit tours, event support, volunteer connections, and good old-fashioned coffee meetings, they are helping more p...
In this episode of Connections That Matter, Andrew sits down with Michelle Gould from The Gould Agency, an insurance professional based in Casper, Wyoming, who serves clients across Wyoming, Colorado, and several surrounding states.
Michelle shares how she has built a strong referral network across multiple communities by consistently showing up, staying involved, and being responsive to the people who trust her with their clients. ...
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