Building Christmas Magic, Scaling a Global Brand, and Protecting Wonder at Scale with Christa Pitts

Reimagining Dentistry, Building Sustainable Practices, and Designing a Life That Comes First with Dr. Christina Blatchford

Dr. Christina Blatchford—former private-practice dentist and founder of Blatchford Solutions—joins the show to share how she’s helping dentists across the country build profitable, patient-centered practices that support their lives instead of consuming them. Drawing on her unique background in fashion merchandising, interior design, and clinical dentistry, Christina brings a rare blend of empathy, systems thinking, and business clarity to an industry under growing pressure. Christina walks through her unconventional path into dentistry, the realities of private practice versus corporate dentistry, and why so many dentists struggle—not because they’re bad clinicians, but because they were never taught how to run a business. She explains how reframing “sales” as patient education, shifting from needs-based to wants-based care, and creating a clear vision for outcomes can transform both case acceptance and trust. She also dives into the systems that make sustainable dentistry possible: thoughtful scheduling, disciplined processes, checklists, and a radical rethinking of work-life balance. From practices taking up to 12 weeks off per year to building teams that thrive without burnout, Christina offers a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to make dentistry both fulfilling and financially sound. At its core, this conversation is about alignment—between purpose and profit, care and clarity, and building a practice that truly serves both patients and practitioners for the long term.

Looking Back at 2025, Preparing for 2026, and Leading Small Businesses Through Uncertainty

In this special year-end episode, the Upswell team—Annie Burch, Matt C, and Eric Goodstadt—comes together to reflect on the forces that shaped 2025 for small businesses and to share clear-eyed guidance for navigating what lies ahead in 2026. Drawing on thousands of real-world conversations with business owners across the country, the team unpacks the economic realities behind the headlines—and what they actually meant on the ground. The conversation explores the outsized impact of tariffs, inflation, labor shortages, and shifting consumer behavior, revealing how uncertainty—not collapse—defined the year. Eric shares firsthand insights from months on the road with customers, explaining why delayed spending, tighter wallets, and cautious optimism created a uniquely challenging environment for operators across industries. They also dive into the growing importance of customer retention, local loyalty, and value-driven decision-making as consumers become more intentional with their dollars. From marketing strategy and channel mix to the evolving role of AI, the team breaks down what’s real, what’s overhyped, and where businesses should—and shouldn’t—invest their time and money next year. The episode closes on a deeply personal note, honoring the late executive producer Walker Vreeland and the lasting impact he had on the show and its hosts. Thoughtful, candid, and grounded in lived experience, this conversation offers both perspective and encouragement—reminding business owners that while 2026 may bring challenges, resilience, adaptability, and optimism remain their greatest competitive advantages.

Building Christmas Magic, Scaling a Global Brand, and Protecting Wonder at Scale with Christa Pitts

Christa Pitts, co-CEO and founder of The Lumistella Company - home of the iconic Elf on the Shelf - joins the show to share the remarkable story of how a small family tradition became a global holiday phenomenon. Starting with a childhood memory passed down through generations, Krista and her family transformed an idea rooted in imagination into a brand that has reshaped Christmas for millions of families around the world. Christa walks through the early days of the business, from self-funding the first 5,000 units and facing total industry rejection, to building momentum one Christmas market at a time. She explains how word-of-mouth, disciplined storytelling, and an unwavering belief in the magic of the product helped Elf on the Shelf grow organically, long before social media amplified its reach. She also dives into the realities of scaling a seasonal, IP-driven business: protecting global intellectual property, hiring ahead of growth, balancing creativity with operations as a co-CEO alongside her twin sister, and thoughtfully expanding the North Pole universe beyond December. From Netflix partnerships and books to games, collectibles, and cultural legacy, Christa offers a rare behind-the-scenes look at how to grow a beloved brand without losing the joy and authenticity that made it special in the first place. At its core, this conversation is about belief: in family, imagination, simplicity, and the idea that joy, when done right, can become timeless.

Building Better Podcasts Through Strategy, Story, and Scrappiness with Jeff Dauler

Jeff Dauler, longtime Atlanta radio personality and podcast architect at 1022 Podcasts, joins the show to unpack what actually makes a podcast work—and why most people are thinking about it backwards. With 25 years in major-market radio, including two decades helping build The Bert Show from underdog to Atlanta’s #1 morning show, Jeff brings rare insight into audience growth, storytelling, and the discipline behind compelling audio. Jeff shares how his time in radio taught him to win “one listener at a time,” why hyper-specific content always beats watered-down messaging, and how small, consistent wins ultimately build massive audiences. He explains why most new podcasters overestimate ad revenue, underestimate strategy, and miss the importance of defining a goal before ever turning on a microphone. He also breaks down the business side of podcasting—how brands can use podcasts as relationship engines, how to monetize through sponsorship rather than downloads, and why shorter, faster, more intentional content will define the next generation of podcasting. From pivots he learned launching his own top-10 show to the storytelling frameworks he uses with clients today, Jeff offers a masterclass in creating audio that actually moves people—and moves businesses forward.

Revolutionizing Customer Connections with LiveSwitch

James Hatfield, CRO of LiveSwitch, shares how his company is revolutionizing home services through instant video connectivity. After running a painting and power washing company while earning his MBA, Hatfield transitioned to technology, eventually buying LiveSwitch five years ago. The platform allows businesses to instantly video connect with customers via text—no app required—enabling remote estimates, AI-powered diagnostics, and faster closing rates. Originally developed to reinvent 911 calls for Washington DC police, the technology now serves thousands of home service businesses, moving companies, and auto repair shops. Hatfield discusses using QR codes on appliances for instant service access, AI co-pilots that diagnose issues and create proposals, and the future of wearable technology for hands-free operations. Beyond business, he runs Inmates to Entrepreneurs, a nonprofit featured on ABC's "Free Enterprise," and emphasizes that giving back doesn't require wealth—just commitment to serving your community.