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Artwork for Small Town Big Business

Small Town Big Business

EThOs at The Citadel
Marion, Illinois
Southern Illinois
Marketing
Ethos
Thisable Veteran
Gilead Girls
Mindys Miles Travel Agency
People's National Bank
Southern Illinois University
Mandela Gardens
The Patch
Silkworm Ink
Restoration & Decor
Marion
The Dome At Blueberry Hill
Glamping
Beef Tallow
Art
Alexander Family Practice
Landscaping and Excavation

Entrepreneurship and Business Opportunities in Today’s Small Towns hosted by Russell Williams, Jennifer Olson, and Deb Barnett.

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes136Founded5 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
EntrepreneurshipBusiness

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Small Town Big Business

Latest Episodes

Recorded at EThOs Small Business Incubator and Co-working Spaces in Marion, Illinois.members.ethosmarion.org/ SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST

Small Town, Big Business: Take Action Today Inc. with Chrystal CantrellJennifer Olson and Russell Williams host Small Town, Big Business in downtown Marion, Illinois, and interview Chrystal Cantrell, executive director of Take Action Today Inc., a re... more

Small Town, Big Business: The Alexanders Bring Independent Primary Care Back to MarionHosts Jennifer Olson and Russell Williams welcome Dr. Jim Alexander and physician assistant Jennifer “Jen” Alexander to discuss opening Alexander Family Practice on... more

Small Town, Deep Roots: Amy Eckert on Building Gideon Realty in Marion, IllinoisJennifer Olson and Russell Williams host Small Town, Big Business from downtown Marion, Illinois, introduce sponsors, and interview Amy Eckert of Gideon Realty. A lifelon... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

William Martinez
Founder/coach of Feral Boxing Club (Willie Martinez, friend and guest)
Feral Boxing Club
Episode: Pharaoh Boxing: Small Town Big Business
Jacob Crawford
Coach, fighter, and rising trainer
Feral Boxing Club
Episode: Pharaoh Boxing: Small Town Big Business
Chrystal Cantrell
Certified peer recovery specialist and executive director of Take Action Today, Inc.
Take Action Today, Inc.
Episode: Take Action Today with Chrystal Cantrell
Jim Alexander
Physician, co-owner of Alexander Family Practice
Alexander Family Practice
Episode: Alexander Family Practice: Small Town Big Business Podcast
Jennifer Alexander
Physician Assistant, co-owner of Alexander Family Practice
Alexander Family Practice
Episode: Alexander Family Practice: Small Town Big Business Podcast
Amy Eckert
Native Marionite, founder of Gideon Realty, former homeschooling advocate
Gideon Realty
Episode: Gideon Realty: Amy Eckert
Brittany Hammers
Founder of Rooted and Whole Wellness
Rooted and Whole Wellness
Episode: Rooted & Whole Wellness | Small Town Big Business
Elaine Ramseyer
Long-term marketing professional with Branch Cafe and Market
Branch Cafe and Market
Episode: Branch Cafe & Market: Elaine Ramseyer and Nina Donovan
Nina Donovan
Marketing professional with Branch Cafe and Market; sister-in-law of Elaine
Branch Cafe and Market
Episode: Branch Cafe & Market: Elaine Ramseyer and Nina Donovan

Hosts

Jennifer Olson
Director of Business Development for the City of Marion; host and interview guide for the show; co-hosting with Russell Williams.
Russell Williams
Director of ETHOS (small business incubator); co-host and interview guide; active in regional business development.
Deb Barnett
Co-host and guest host; supports show structure and guest interviews.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 18 ratings
  • Inspiring For Business Owners And Dreamers

    Whether you own a small business or you are dreaming of starting one, this podcast offers incredible inspiration from business owners in Southern Illinois who are making it happen. I can’t recommend this podcast enough. Listen, get inspired and then come visit this growing, revitalized region.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Jennifer Spence
    United States2 years ago
  • Great idea!

    I love the concept behind this podcast! Jennifer and Russ are amazing and I can’t say enough about what they are doing for Marion and the entire region! Keep up the amazing work.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Nic Skovgaard
    United States2 years ago
  • Great Podcast!

    What a great podcast! I find myself learning something new on every one. It is fantastic what the Marion Community is doing with & for business owners!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Whyny31
    United States3 years ago
  • Small Town Big Podcast!

    What a quality podcast. The deep questions and enthusiasm radiated by Russ and Allison make for a great listen. Additionally, I’m grateful for Ethos and their investment in the small businesses of So. ILL!🙌

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Serve to Lead
    United States3 years ago
  • Great podcast about doing business in rural middle America.

    Alison & Russ do a great job exploring the why & how businesses thrive in rural areas in the Midwest.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    thelukeoneill
    United States5 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Show quality and guest variety praised, with strong host dynamics
Feels authentic and community-first, with actionable takeaways for small-town growth
Emphasizes collaboration and local partnerships over national hype
Highlights regional business success and community investment
Resonates as a practical blueprint for rural entrepreneurship

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Saluki Athletics: Tim Leonard and Kat Willams
Q: What is the vision for SIU Athletics in the next few years?
The vision is to transform SIU Athletics into a mid-major model close to professional standards while preserving the student-athlete experience, focusing on strategic investments (basketball, softball, and eventually football), faster decision-making, and deeper community and donor engagement to drive economic impact.
Saluki Athletics: Tim Leonard and Kat Willams
Q: How do NIL changes affect SIU Athletics planning and funding?
NIL changes create opportunities to monetize student-athletes via partnerships and sponsorships, allowing the department to leverage marketing and ticket revenue to invest in programs, while requiring careful financial literacy and governance to ensure sustainable support.
HoneyBeez SnowBallz: Syhemia Gray
Q: How did you transition from tables at a church picnic to a full-fledged mobile business and contracts with colleges?
Starting with small, church-based events, leveraging family involvement, and gradually expanding as demand grew, including formal registrations and contracts with higher education institutions.
HoneyBeez SnowBallz: Syhemia Gray
Q: What would you say to someone else who has a business idea you want to encourage them to pursue?
Take inspiration, pray for it, put it into action, and just do it now—there's nothing to wait for.
Revival Land Management: Nate Watts - Small Town Big Business
Q: What has been the biggest surprise in growing the business?
The rapid ramp-up in demand and the realization that the right people and a local network can fuel growth quickly; also, the realization that marketing focus and in-person connections can outperform branding alone.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Small Town Big Business

What is Small Town Big Business about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A show focused on practical entrepreneurship and opportunity in small towns, often anchored in Southern and Central Illinois. Episodes spotlight real people building diverse businesses—from boutique real estate, wellness practices, and family-owned cafes to glamping, artisanal food, and design services—within tight-knit communities. Notable throughlines include community networks (ETHOS and local incubators), faith- and education-informed decision making, and leveraging local partnerships to grow sustainable ventures in rural settings. The approach tends to be hands-on, mentorship-oriented, and grounded in local culture, highlighting practical lessons, branding, and scalable ideas tailored for small-town America. Potential listeners include... more

Where can I find podcast stats for Small Town Big Business?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Small Town Big Business. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Small Town Big Business and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Small Town Big Business get?

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How many subscribers and views does Small Town Big Business have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Small Town Big Business has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Small Town Big Business?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Small Town Big Business:

1. Mind Pump: Raw Fitness Truth
2. The Way I Heard It with Mike Rowe
3. This American Life
4. Dateline NBC
5. 48 Hours

How many episodes of Small Town Big Business are there?

Small Town Big Business launched 5 years ago and published 136 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Small Town Big Business?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Small Town Big Business?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Small Town Big Business from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Small Town Big Business?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Small Town Big Business. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on Small Town Big Business?

Recent guests on Small Town Big Business include:

1. William Martinez
2. Jacob Crawford
3. Chrystal Cantrell
4. Jim Alexander
5. Jennifer Alexander
6. Amy Eckert
7. Brittany Hammers
8. Elaine Ramseyer

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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