Best Tails From The Dog House Podcasts (2025)

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Are Opportunity Zones really an opportunity or is the tax tail wagging the investment dog with Peter Lazaroff, CFA, CFP® 46:11

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1d ago46:11

46:11

Welcome to this episode of 20/20 Money! My guest on today’s show is Peter Lazaroff, CFA, CFP®. Peter joins me to examine whether the much-touted tax benefits of opportunity zones (OZs) justify the risks required, or if investors are letting the “tax tail” wag the investment dog. We cover how OZs work, what the new One BBB Act means for the program’…

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Building my ideal "Frankenstein" practice discourse, 3 important practice metric numbers to focus on, and examples of AI use in practice with Dr. Dodge Perry, OD 1:03:15

8d ago1:03:15

1:03:15

Welcome to this episode of 20/20 Money! My guest on today's show is Dr. Dodge Perry, OD. Dodge joins me on the show to have an open discussion after listening to my "Frankenstein" episode, which was inspired by him asking me the question "If I could create an ideal private practice, what would go into that decision making process?" We discuss the i…

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What the One Big Beautiful Bill Act means for optometry private practice owners & their financial planning 1:01:59

15d ago1:01:59

1:01:59

In this episode of 20/20 Money, I break down some of the most impactful tax and planning changes introduced in the recently passed Big Beautiful Bill Act—Congress’s sweeping update to the tax code that makes many TCJA provisions permanent while adding new wrinkles that matter to private practice owners. Whether you’re thinking about how to reduce y…

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5 common decisions that prevent ODs from achieving financial independence 39:30

22d ago39:30

39:30

Welcome to this episode of 20/20 Money. In the spirit of Independence Day, today’s episode explores a different kind of freedom—financial independence—and the common decisions that often stand in the way of achieving it. I walk through five recurring mistakes I see optometric practice owners make that limit their long-term financial freedom, both p…

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ANOTHER 20/20 Takeover: Your favorite KPIs (and why?!) w/ Drs. Jennifer Stewart, OD & Jeremy Ciano, OD 51:15

29d ago51:15

51:15

Welcome to this episode of 20/20 Money! My guests on today's show are my two good friends—and successful practice owners—Drs. Jeremy Ciano and Jennifer Stewart, OD. This is another takeover episode, so I'm honestly not sure where they'll take the conversation. The only direction I gave them was the title of the episode, so I'm just as curious as yo…

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Why You're Still Doing All the Pet Care (and How to Get Your Family to Step Up) 26:39

1M ago26:39

26:39

Ever feel like you're the only one who remembers to feed the dog, clean the litter box, or refill the water bowls? You’re not alone, and you don’t have to keep doing it all. This bonus summer episode gives you a complete system to get your household to step up and share the pet care load, without nagging, yelling, or turning into the resentful pet …

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The delegation journey...and why every practice owner should be on it! with Dr. Michael Neal, OD 49:32

1M ago49:32

49:32

Welcome to this episode of 20/20 Money. My guest on today’s show is Dr. Michael Neal, OD. Mike joins me on the show to talk about the evolution of delegation as a practice owner—specifically, the journey of learning to trust your team with everything outside of your core revenue-producing activities. We share our own experiences with delegation, wh…

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Using data to determine the best location for your practice with Mike Jorgenson from Carr Healthcare Realty 1:06:14

1M ago1:06:14

1:06:14

Welcome to this episode of 20/20 Money! My guest on today's show is Mike Jorgenson from Carr Healthcare Realty. Mike joins me back on the show to talk about what goes into a demographics search when evaluating the location of a practice—and he does it from both a cold start as well as existing practice's point of view. We talk about the minimum OD:…

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A big update about the Brains On Universe 2:56

2M ago2:56

2:56

We're moving the Brains On Universe Headquarters, and that means we have to stop putting out new episodes until we get settled. We know: not cool. But, our new home is going to be bigger and better and the absolute BEST. We can't wait until it's ready for you to visit. In the meantime, we still have some live shows planned this fall. Brains On Live…

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The power of community, stopping the "race to the bottom," educating ODs on practice affordability, discussing the Associate OD shortage, and more with Dr. Mick Kling, OD 44:24

2M ago44:24

44:24

Welcome to this episode of 20/20 Money! My guest on today’s show is Dr. Mick Kling, OD. Mick joins me back on the show to talk about the power of community within the profession and how optometrists can avoid the “race to the bottom” when it comes to pricing by focusing on delivering and communicating value to their patients. We also discuss how to…

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The life of a NASA astronaut 35:17

2M ago35:17

35:17

Brains On is a non-profit public radio program. There are lots of ways to support the show: Support the podcast with donation | Subscribe to Smarty Pass for ad-free episodes and bonus content | Buy our book and merch | Come to our live shows | Get the newsletter for parents | Find teacher resources Living in space would be super cool. You could flo…

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From blank to bank: How a $35 lens becomes a $525 sale by finishing in-house with Dr. Mike Satryan, OD 1:04:06

2M ago1:04:06

1:04:06

Welcome to this episode of 20/20 Money. My guest on today's show is Dr. Mike Satryan, OD, a partner with Mountain View Eye in Altoona, PA. Mike is a long-time practice owner who brings over 25 years of experience running an in-house optical lab within their practice. We dive into the substantial cost savings his practice has realized by finishing l…

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How do weather stations predict the weather? 28:29

2M ago28:29

28:29

Brains On is a non-profit public radio program. There are lots of ways to support the show: Support the podcast with donation | Subscribe to Smarty Pass for ad-free episodes and bonus content | Buy our book and merch | Come to our live shows | Get the newsletter for parents | Find teacher resources You can’t see into the future, but with weather re…

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The home loan balancing act: smart mortgage moves for optometry practice owners with Lee Raykovicz, OD 1:06:38

2M ago1:06:38

1:06:38

Welcome to this episode of 20/20 Money! My guest on today's show is Lee Raykovicz, OD, a mortgage broker with Go Rascal Mortgages. On today's episode we dive into what goes into the mortgage underwriting process, how practice owners can get creative when it comes to purchasing their homes, the details on what Physician loans actually are and how th…

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Tree, Myself and I: All about our leafy green friends 28:27

2M ago28:27

28:27

Brains On is a non-profit public radio program. There are lots of ways to support the show: Support the podcast with donation | Subscribe to Smarty Pass for ad-free episodes and bonus content | Buy our book and merch | Come to our live shows | Get the newsletter for parents | Find teacher resources Trees are the strong, silent type but that doesn’t…

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REWIND: 3 financial lessons learned from my grandpa and grandma that can shape your relationship with money 33:10

2M ago33:10

33:10

Welcome to this REWIND episode of 20/20 Money! Given that my grandpa just recently celebrated his 96th birthday, I wanted to bring back this episode and share it again for new and long-time listeners alike. It's also a subtle reminder about the importance of understanding longevity risk in one's financial plan. I can only imagine the unfortunate si…

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Body Bonanza: Bruises, scars and Band-Aids 32:20

3M ago32:20

32:20

Brains On is a non-profit public radio program. There are lots of ways to support the show: Support the podcast with donation | Subscribe to Smarty Pass for ad-free episodes and bonus content | Buy our book and merch | Come to our live shows | Get the newsletter for parents | Find teacher resources It’s a Body Bonanza and this time we’re answering …

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Schedule management, pre-appointing, & the importance of listening to your practice w/ Dr. Chris Wolfe, OD 39:22

3M ago39:22

39:22

Welcome to this episode of 20/20 Money! My guest on today's show is Dr. Chris Wolfe, OD. Chris joins me back on the show to talk about why it's important to be intentional about the business decisions you make in your practice and make those decisions based on data and a plan. We talk about this concept through the lens of schedule management and h…

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Smarty Pass Sneak Peek: Life is Poopiful 1:38

3M ago1:38

1:38

Oh no! An awful spell has put Ruby, Rosie, and Anna in a poopiful situation at Brains On HQ! It looks like the only way to save them is with a quick game with Molly Bloom. Grab your Smarty Pass to hear how a change of verb can leave things poopiful.By American Public Media

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Are birds dinosaurs? 37:49

3M ago37:49

37:49

Brains On is a non-profit public radio program. There are lots of ways to support the show: Support the podcast with donation | Subscribe to Smarty Pass for ad-free episodes and bonus content | Buy our book and merch | Come to our live shows | Get the newsletter for parents | Find teacher resources When you think of dinosaurs, you might picture gia…

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Increasing optical sales using influential communication with Kayla Ashlee (live on location from BCDO) 1:04:28

3M ago1:04:28

1:04:28

Welcome to this episode of 20/20 Money! My guest on today's show is Kayla Ashlee. Kayla joins me on the show to discuss how the communication cues (or miscues) that unknowingly are happening in your office can be both positively or negatively impacting your patient experience and thus influencing the buying decisions of your patients. She shared ex…

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Let's RAGE!!! (a Rant Against Growth Excuses) with Nathan Hayes 1:08:46

3M ago1:08:46

1:08:46

Welcome to this episode of 20/20 Money! My guest on today’s show is Nathan Hayes with Books & Benchmarks and IDOC. On this show, Nathan and I RAGE!! That's right, we Rant Against Growth Excuses. We talk about the common headwinds, obstacles, and challenges that we both hear when talking with practice owners...and how to think about solving those is…

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Why the “No Kill” Movement Hurts More Than It Helps 53:09

3M ago53:09

53:09

What if the no-kill movement isn’t saving animals but failing them? It promised to end unnecessary euthanasia and revolutionize sheltering. But behind the glowing stats and feel-good slogans lies a much messier reality, one most people don’t want to talk about. In this episode, I sit down with animal welfare expert Daniel Ettinger to expose the uni…

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Live from NSUOCO: Top 10 Tips for (Financial) Success for Optometrists 1:18:10

3M ago1:18:10

1:18:10

Welcome to this episode of 20/20 Money! This week's episode is the recording of my presentation at NSUOCO, titled "Top 10 Tips for (Financial) Success for Optometrists." Over the course of the year, I'm privileged to present in front of a variety of optometry schools' private practice clubs and classes. The purpose of the presentation is to help OD…

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When Rescue Breaks You: The Cost of Saying Yes Too Much 8:58

4M ago8:58

8:58

What happens when your love for animals becomes the thing that breaks you? I broke down in the middle of a hurricane, sobbing, soaked, and desperately trying to keep my barn from blowing away while sick kittens cried in a barely secured shed. That was the moment I knew something had to change. In this raw, no-holds-barred solo episode, I share the …

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My Frankenstein practice: how I would assemble the perfect optometry practice 1:00:11

4M ago1:00:11

1:00:11

Welcome to this episode of 20/20 Money! What would I do if I were starting an optometric practice from the ground up? A listener posed the question—and I went deep. In this episode, I walk through everything from choosing the right location (hint: geography is everything) to building the skills that matter most when you’re just getting started. We …

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Heartworm Prevention Myths That Could Cost Your Pet’s Life 37:24

4M ago37:24

37:24

Heartworm Truths Every Pet Owner Needs to Hear with Dr. Zoo 💔 Heartworm disease is slow, painful, and entirely preventable. So why are pets still dying from it? In this essential episode of Muddy Paws and Hairballs, Dr. Zoo shares two real-life cases that hit hard: a young German Shepherd in kidney failure at just two years old after his owners sto…

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Can we PLEASE agree on some numbers (and the KPIs that influence them)?? 39:17

4M ago39:17

39:17

Welcome to this episode of 20/20 Money! In this episode, we tackle the confusion around key financial numbers in your optometric practice and why it’s critical to have a common understanding of their definitions. From gross COLLECTED revenue, cost of goods sold, and net operating income, we explore the most important KPIs that influence your bottom…

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Turn Pet Hunger Into Hope for Families in Need 45:31

4M ago45:31

45:31

What if feeding your pet meant you had to skip dinner yourself? For thousands of families, that’s not a hypothetical—it’s a heartbreaking daily decision. And when the bills pile up, surrendering a beloved pet can feel like the only option left. In this episode, I talk with Stacey LeBaron, founder of PAWSitive Pantry and host of The Community Cats P…

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An update on Taxes 101: Understanding tax brackets, deductions, and credits for optometric practice owners 48:38

4M ago48:38

48:38

Welcome to this episode of 20/20 Money! In today’s episode, we’re diving into the details of your tax return—beyond just whether you got a refund. We’ll break down the difference between deductions and credits, how our tax brackets work, why you should focus on Line 24—your total tax paid—instead of Lines 34 or 37, and what Line 38 might be telling…

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Still Feeling Guilty After Losing a Pet? Here’s Why 52:43

4M ago52:43

52:43

Did I wait too long? Did I do the right thing? What if I failed them? If you’ve lost a beloved pet, you’ve probably asked yourself these same painful questions. Grief is hard enough, but guilt can make healing feel impossible. I’ve been there too. When I had to say goodbye to our 34-year-old rescue horse, Cherokee, I was overwhelmed with guilt, eve…

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The Art of Delegation from a practice owner's perspective with Dr. Ted McElroy, OD 58:05

4M ago58:05

58:05

Welcome to this episode of 20/20 Money! My guest on today’s show is Dr. Ted McElroy, OD. Ted and I share in a conversation that's on the heels of a 2 hour CE session I did at SECO 2025, which was titled The Art of Delegation. We talk through why practice owners get stuck on delegation, ways to think about becoming more comfortable delegating, the t…

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Are Hairballs Normal? What Most Cat Parents Get Wrong 34:55

4M ago34:55

34:55

Think hairballs are just a normal part of life with cats? Think again. If your cat is coughing up hairballs weekly or even monthly, it’s not just gross—it’s a red flag. Frequent hairballs can point to stress, food allergies, digestive issues, or even chronic illness. In this episode, I talk with veterinarian Dr. Linda Atkins about what really cause…

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The difference between saving vs deferring taxes 47:56

4M ago47:56

47:56

In this episode, we break down the common misconception that tax deferral is the same as tax savings—spoiler alert: it’s not. We discuss how strategies like funding retirement plans, loss harvesting, and depreciation only push taxes into the future, while true tax savings come from tools like QCDs, business deductions, and Roth account growth. We e…

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Make Your Pet Happier by Meeting Their Real Needs 43:23

5M ago43:23

43:23

Is calling your pet your “fur baby” harmless fun or actually harmful to your pet’s well-being? If you’ve ever wondered whether treating your pet like a child is helping or hurting them, you’re not alone. The truth is, humanizing pets isn’t the issue. Misunderstanding their needs is. In this episode, I talk with veterinary psychiatrist Dr. Rachel Ma…

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Trends: How do they start? 31:54

5M ago31:54

31:54

Brains On is a non-profit public radio program. There are lots of ways to support the show: Support the podcast with donation | Subscribe to Smarty Pass for ad-free episodes and bonus content | Buy our book and merch | Come to our live shows | Get the newsletter for parents | Find teacher resources Collecting Pokémon cards. Trading friendship brace…

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How practices can benefit using fractional services like a CMO with Daniel Palmer 45:36

5M ago45:36

45:36

Welcome to this episode of 20/20 Money! My guest on today’s show is Daniel Palmer. Daniel joins me back on the show to talk through a growing service and role in small businesses (optometry included), which is the Fractional C*O service. I use the * to depict the fact that this role could be Chief Operating, Marketing, Information/Technology, and y…

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Smarty Pass Sneak Peek: Molly’s Inconceivable Preposterous Skateboard 1:39

5M ago1:39

1:39

Oh no! Molly’s been bequeathed her great-great grandfather’s skateboard, which unfortunately contains the spirit of dictionary editor Rutherford Williams Webster! Hoping to defeat the skateboard poltergeist, Anna and Marc must attempt to spell and define Webster’s most obscure words!By American Public Media

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How does solar power work? 28:03

5M ago28:03

28:03

Brains On is a non-profit public radio program. There are lots of ways to support the show: Support the podcast with donation | Subscribe to Smarty Pass for ad-free episodes and bonus content | Buy our book and merch | Come to our live shows Solar panels capture energy from the sun and turn it into electricity. But how do they work?Join guest host …

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Thinking About Getting a Dog? Listen to This First 49:50

5M ago49:50

49:50

Thinking about getting a dog? Hold that thought. Too many adoptions fail because people fall for a face or a story without understanding what they’re signing up for. Choosing the wrong dog can lead to frustration, heartbreak, and sometimes surrender. In this episode, I talk with Pete Campione about how to avoid the biggest mistakes people make when…

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Making good decisions (and avoiding costly mistakes) when purchasing optometry equipment w/ Rick Norwood 47:30

5M ago47:30

47:30

Welcome to this episode of 20/20 Money! My guest on today’s show is Rick Norwood, founder & President of Norwood Device & Diagnostics. Rick joins me on the show to talk through an often-discussed topic in practice ownership, and that is the responsible purchasing of equipment. We talk through how practice owners should evaluate various suppliers, t…

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What is asthma? 25:52

5M ago25:52

25:52

Asthma is a disease that can make it hard to breathe. And it’s common! One in twelve people in the United States have it, including host Molly Bloom. But what is asthma? And why do some people have it, but not others? Join Molly and co-hosts Audrey and Indytas they learn about asthma. First, they’ll shrink down and explore how breathing works — ins…

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Is Your Dog Getting Too Much Exercise or Not Enough? 39:38

5M ago39:38

39:38

Is your dog getting the right amount of exercise, or are they overdoing it without you realizing? Whether your pup is high-energy, low-key, or somewhere in between, knowing how to safely meet their physical needs is crucial to keeping them healthy and pain-free. But most pet parents don’t know when to push their dog or when to let them rest. In thi…

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Edging in-house vs outsourcing: the economics, trade-offs, and data an optometric practice needs to measure with Drs. Jennifer Stewart, OD & Sam Hornberger, OD 1:14:43

5M ago1:14:43

1:14:43

Welcome to this episode of 20/20 Money! My guests on today’s show are Drs. Jennifer Stewart & Sam Hornberger, both private practice owners in their respective practices. Sam and Jennifer join me on the show to talk about a topic that admittedly, in over 300 episodes of 20/20 Money, I haven't talked about yet: edging and the decisions around whether…

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How does coral communicate? 35:01

5M ago35:01

35:01

Coral is one of the coolest creatures in the ocean. It comes in all shapes, sizes and colors, from bright yellow stars to big round brains. Sometimes, coral looks like rocks or even plants – but did you know it’s actually an animal? This week, your ears are in for a special treat: Brains On editor Shahla Farzan (a.k.a. world’s biggest coral fan) ho…

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Want Goats? What You Need to Know Before You Regret It 50:50

5M ago50:50

50:50

Thinking about getting goats? Don’t let Instagram fool you. Goat ownership isn’t just cute photos and fresh milk. It’s daily work, specific care, and a long-term commitment that catches a lot of new owners off guard. In this episode, I talk with goat expert and homesteader Deborah Niemann, host of the For the Love of Goats podcast, who pulls back t…

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Providing vision therapy profitably and passionately with Dr. Leigha Nielsen, OD 1:02:20

5M ago1:02:20

1:02:20

Welcome to this episode of 20/20 Money! My guest on today’s show is Dr. Leigha Nielson, OD FOVDR, founder of High 5 Vision Development in New Braunfels, TX. Leigha joins me on the show to talk about how she's created both a successful practice and a life she loves—personally and professionally—through a vision-therapy focused practice. She talks ab…

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Why do we have crushes? 33:27

6M ago33:27

33:27

When you've got a crush on someone, it can feel a bit overwhelming. All of a sudden, you might have butterflies in your stomach! And maybe you find yourself acting differently than you normally would. Why does our brain do this to us anyway? In this episode, we'll answer a slew of your crush-related questions: Why do we get crushes? Why do they mak…

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Pet Emergencies Happen Fast. Will You Know What to Do? 40:50

6M ago40:50

40:50

Would you know how to save your pet if they started choking or collapsed from heatstroke? Pet emergencies can happen in seconds, and knowing what to do could be the difference between life and death. Most pet parents aren’t prepared—and that’s exactly what this episode aims to change. I’m joined by Arden Moore, a master-certified pet first aid and …

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Think differently about "admin days" in your practice --my guest appearance on "Eye Own a Business" with Dr. Steve Vargo, OD 51:53

6M ago51:53

51:53

Welcome to this episode of 20/20 Money! This week's episode is my guest appearance on Dr. Steve Vargo's show "Eye Own a Business," produced by IDOC. Steve had me on the show to talk about something that I've been thinking about for some time, and I used his show to "stake my claim"—I don't like term "admin day" and want to see the profession start …