How Gen Z Is Stealing YOUR Customers (2026)

How Gen Z Is Stealing YOUR Customers (2026)

🎙️ Sponsor the Brand Builders Podcast: https://www.howdy-media.com/brand-builders-podcast What's up Brand Builders! The creator economy just hit $250 BILLION — and most small business owners don't even know it. In this episode of the Brand Builders Podcast, Daron breaks down the biggest business and content trends happening right now in 2026 so you can stop guessing and start growing. Whether you're a business owner in Abilene, West Texas, or anywhere in between, this episode gives you a real-time snapshot of what's working online, what's dying, and where the money is actually going. In this episode: Why the creator economy is projected to hit $528 billion by 2030 — and how to get your piece. The truth about short-form video (YouTube Shorts has 200 BILLION daily views — but is it right for your business?). Why Daron got 1 million views on Instagram and barely gained 10 followers How AI is disrupting Abilene, Texas and what West Texas business owners should actually do about it. The #1 reason 4 out of 5 businesses are falling behind in 2026 Why authenticity is now more valuable than polished, AI-generated content. How podcast hosts became the most trusted influencers — beating Instagram and YouTube stars. The $34 billion podcasting industry and why NOW is the time to start your show. A free AI life hack that keeps you up to date on your industry every single morning in minutes. Big Tech's massive AI infrastructure bets (SpaceX, Google, Microsoft) and what it means for your business. If this episode hit, send it to one person who needs to hear it. That's how Brand Builders grows. ⏱️ Timestamps: 00:00 — The Creator Economy Just Hit $250 Billion 01:30 — What Is the Creator Economy? 03:15 — 200 Million Creators, 5 Billion Users — The Window Is Open 04:15 — Short-Form Video Is Taking Over the Internet 06:13 — When Long-Form Wins (And Why Podcasting Is the Move) 07:05 — AI Data Centers Are Coming to Abilene, Texas 08:02 — Why Small Business Owners Should Embrace AI 09:44 — Most Businesses Still Aren't Using AI — Here's the Opportunity 11:33 — The Free AI Life Hack to Stay Current Every Day 13:27 — Authenticity Is Beating AI Content ("AI Slop") 15:15 — Human Connection Will Never Be Replaced 16:17 — Podcast Hosts Are the Most Trusted Influencers in 2026 19:17 — Why 1 Million Views Got Me Almost Nothing (And What Actually Converts) 20:58 — How to Start Your Own Podcast 21:50 — Big Tech Is Betting Everything on AI Infrastructure 23:20 — Final Thoughts + How to Work With Daron 🔔 Subscribe so you never miss an episode. 🤝 Thank you to our sponsors: Empire Management Group — https://www.empire-management-group.com/ Better Business Bureau of Abilene — https://www.bbb.org/

How to Turn Your Podcast Into a Business w/ Crockett Carothers (The Wealthy Cowboy Show)

Work With Howdy Media: https://www.howdy-media.com Crockett Carothers was broke, introverted, and letting them come repossess his truck — all so he could keep paying his studio bill. Two and a half years later, he has 137,000 Facebook followers, 10,000 downloads per episode, and a podcast that now rivals his main business income. In this episode of the Brand Builders Podcast, Daron Pacheco sits down with Crockett Carothers, host of the Wealthy Cowboy Show, to talk about how he built a podcast from nothing, why most people quit right before the money comes, and how to turn your show into an actual business — not just content. If you've ever thought about starting a podcast or wondered why yours isn't making money yet, this one is for you. In this episode: Why a podcast is the ultimate cheat code for content How to get your first sponsor even when nobody knows you The fake sponsorship hack that actually works Why he committed to one full year before he'd let himself quit How to borrow credibility when you have zero of your own Why the month you almost quit is the month the money comes Connect with Crockett Carothers: The Wealthy Cowboy Show | Facebook: Crockett Carothers Youtube channel :  @TheWealthyCowboyShow  how to start a podcast, how to monetize a podcast, podcast sponsorships, Wealthy Cowboy Show, Crockett Carothers, Brand Builders Podcast, Daron Pacheco, podcast growth tips, content strategy for business, how to grow a podcast, podcast as a business, West Texas entrepreneur, small business content marketing, podcast for beginners, how to get podcast sponsors 🔔 Subscribe for weekly episodes on branding, content strategy, and business growth. 📍 Film your podcast at Howdy Media Studio in Abilene, TX → https://www.howdy-media.com/

How Content Can Change Your Entire Life And Business (1+ Million Views/Month!?)

Work With Howdy Media: https://www.howdy-media.com Kolten Thigpen built his show cattle operation from the ground up — and then sold everything in 2021 because God told him to. What happened next changed his life. In this episode of the Brand Builders Podcast, Daron Pacheco sits down with Kolten Thigpen, founder of Cattle Coach Academy, co-founder of Express Livestock Genomics, and one of the most recognizable voices in the show cattle world. Kolten opens up about faith-driven business decisions, building multiple businesses from scratch, the real truth about business partnerships, and how a podcast he almost didn't start now reaches over 1.2 million people a month on Facebook alone. Connect with Kolten Thigpen: Cattle Coach Academy | YouTube: @CattleCoach | Facebook: Kolten Thigpen 🎙️ Want us to handle your podcast from start to finish? Book a discovery call with Howdy Media → www.howdy-media.com 🔔 Subscribe for weekly episodes on branding, content strategy, and business growth. 📍 Film your podcast at Howdy Media Studio in Abilene, TX → https://www.howdy-media.com/

If You're Waiting For The Perfect Time To Start, Watch This Episode...

Work With Howdy Media: https://www.howdy-media.com If you're waiting for the perfect time to start your business, this episode is for you. RJ, founder of Worthy Hat Co., started her hat brand as a broke college sophomore with nothing but a notebook full of ideas and a name inspired by her mom's fourth-grade classroom. Less than a year in, she was doing so much volume she bought out her own embroidery vendor — at 21 years old. No business degree. No mentor. No paycheck for 3 years. Just trial, error, and a bias toward action. In this episode we talk about: How a Crumble Cookie run turned into a business idea The 2 Instagram posts that took Worthy Hat Co. national How she got into wholesale and what it actually means for a product business Building a team through personal connections and Instagram DMs Why she's shifting from quantity to quality in 2026 The role faith and family have played in building the brand Her #1 piece of advice for anyone sitting on a business idea right now If you're a business owner, entrepreneur, or creator in the Abilene and West Texas area — or anywhere — this one's worth your time. 🎩 Follow Worthy Hat Co: @worthyhatco on Instagram and Facebook 🎙️ Brand Builders Podcast is produced by Howdy Media in Abilene, Texas. We talk to local business owners, creators, and entrepreneurs who are building something worth watching. Subscribe so you don't miss the next one. #WorthyHatCo #BrandBuildersPodcast #HowdyMedia #AbileneTexas #WestTexas #SmallBusiness #Entrepreneurship #WomenInBusiness #StartYourBusiness #HatBrand #BusinessPodcast #TexasBusiness #ContentCreator #BuildYourBrand 🎙️ Want us to handle your podcast from start to finish? Book a discovery call with Howdy Media → www.howdy-media.com 📍 Howdy Media | Abilene, Texas 🔔 Subscribe for weekly episodes on branding, content strategy, and business growth. 🎙️ Brand Builders Podcast is where faith meets business. 📍 Film your podcast at Howdy Media Studio in Abilene, TX → https://www.howdy-media.com/

What Keeps Employees Loyal For 17+ Years (It's Not Money) | Ft. Trista Vincent

What does it take to stay at a company for 17 years — and actually love it? Trista, Support Director at Exceptional Brands LLC, sits down with Daron on the Brand Builders Podcast to share her journey from small-town Dalhart, Texas to managing marketing and operations across six Buffalo Wild Wings locations and Miguel's Mex Tex Cafe in Abilene and beyond. In this episode, Trista opens up about learning marketing from scratch with zero formal training, keeping every single employee during COVID without a single layoff, and how a faith-first leadership culture is the real reason people stay for decades — not just years. Whether you're a business owner, a team leader, or someone trying to figure out how to build something that lasts — this one's for you. 🔑 In This Episode: How Trista went from restaurant GM to running support for an entire multi-city franchise group Why she believes community-first marketing outperforms paid ads every time The leadership style that keeps a VP around for 30 years and an hourly employee for 18 What really happened inside Exceptional Brands during COVID — and how they came out stronger Her honest take on AI tools in the restaurant and marketing world How faith completely reshaped her approach to work, leadership, and life after 2020 📍 Connect With Our Guest: 📧 marketing@exbrandstx.com 🌮 Miguel's Mex Tex Cafe — https://www.miguelsmextexcafe.com 🍗 Buffalo Wild Wings — https://www.buffalowildwings.com Work With Howdy Media: 🌐 https://howdy-media.com 📸 Follow us on Instagram & Facebook @HowdyMedia SPONSOR THE BRAND BUILDERS PODCAST: https://www.howdy-media.com/brand-builders-podcast ⏱️ Chapters: 00:00 — Welcome & Intro 00:43 — Trista's 17-Year Journey with Exceptional Brands 02:57 — Growing Up in Dalhart, Texas 04:20 — Books & Podcasts That Shaped Her Walk 07:40 — Did She Ever See This Role Coming? 08:56 — What Her Day-to-Day Actually Looks Like 10:50 — How Community-First Marketing Was Born 16:42 — Why People Stay for 17, 18, Even 30 Years 20:10 — The Culture at Miguel's (Shoutout Miss Ruth!) 22:18 — Surviving COVID Without a Single Layoff 30:28 — Faith, Church Community & Real Relationships 34:31 — What She Really Thinks About AI 59:50 — How to Connect With Trista & Exceptional Brands #BrandBuildersPodcast #FaithAndBusiness #RestaurantLeadership #AbileneTX #BuffaloWildWings #Miguels #CommunityMarketing #ServantLeadership #SmallBusiness #ChristianEntrepreneur #HowdyMedia