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Index/Startups & Founders/The Small Business School Podcast
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Episode 399 & Beyond: The Future of Small Business School

The Small Business School Podcast · 2026-06-30 · 8 min

0:00--:--

Key moments - from our scoring

Substance score

6 / 100

Five dimensions, 20 points each

Insight Density1 / 20
Originality2 / 20
Guest Caliber0 / 20
Specificity & Evidence2 / 20
Conversational Craft1 / 20

After 399 episodes, the host reflects on the unexpected growth of Small Business School and announces significant changes to the show's format and schedule. Beginning with a summer hiatus to focus on developing new accounting software for their firm, the podcast will return with episode 400 on the host's 40th birthday in September. Going forward, the show will transition from a variable release schedule to one episode per week, with two monthly guest interviews and two strategic solo episodes addressing common listener questions. The host emphasizes that the show is listener-driven and actively solicits feedback on desired guests and burning questions from the audience. This represents a deliberate move toward sustainability and intentionality after experimenting with various formats and themes over nearly 400 episodes.

Key takeaways

  • →The host is launching new accounting software to enhance their firm's service delivery while continuing to operate their accounting practice.
  • →Starting fall 2026, Small Business School will publish one episode per week with two guest episodes and two strategic solo episodes monthly, down from the previous variable schedule.
  • →During the summer hiatus, listeners are encouraged to revisit previous episodes and the show will highlight timeless advice on social media rather than releasing new episodes.
  • →Episode 400 will air in September and marks a reset point for the podcast's content strategy and release schedule.
  • →The host values listener input and is asking the audience to suggest guests and submit burning questions to shape upcoming episodes.

Topics in this episode

Social media content strategySmall Business School PodcastThrive Accountingaccounting software developmentpodcast format strategyguest interview seriesstrategic solo episodessummer content hiatus

Questions this episode answers

What is happening to Small Business School Podcast this summer?

The show is going on hiatus from new episodes, with the host pausing to focus on developing new accounting software for their firm and preparing the podcast format for the remainder of 2026 and 2027.

When will episode 400 be released?

Episode 400 will be released in September when the host turns 40, marking the return of new episodes with the updated format.

What is the new episode release schedule starting in fall 2026?

The podcast will release one episode per week, with two guest episodes and two strategic solo episodes per month, compared to the previous variable schedule of one to three episodes weekly.

How can listeners get involved with future episodes?

The host is asking listeners to suggest guests they'd like to hear from and submit burning questions they want answered, with the commitment to make guest episodes address audience-submitted inquiries.

What our scoring noted

Our reviewer’s read on each dimension, with quotes from the episode.

Insight Density

1 / 20

This is a pure housekeeping/announcement episode with no substantive business content whatsoever. The entire runtime is devoted to telling listeners the podcast is going on hiatus and will reformat, offering zero actionable or educational material for a B2B operator.

business doesn't have to be hard. We're here to make it easier. No business degree required.
I have tried things like showing up for different, um, like themes, different series, tried just giving my brain dump and thoughts.

Originality

2 / 20

The only idea that approaches originality is the brief 'delusion is necessary' point about starting ventures without full knowledge, but it is never developed beyond a surface assertion and is a well-worn entrepreneurship trope.

The delusion is necessary. The delusion that, like, it can be easy and we can do these massive things without even really knowing much about software, learning along the way.

Guest Caliber

0 / 20

There is no guest in this episode at all. The host is a solo accountant/podcaster making administrative announcements about a summer break, with no practitioner expertise demonstrated or relevant operator insights offered.

I am starting something new and I think some of that delusion when you start something is so important. So what am I starting new? I'm not abandoning accounting by any means. I'm actually going to be develop, developing some software.

Specificity & Evidence

2 / 20

The episode is almost entirely abstract and anecdotal. The only concrete figures mentioned are the episode count (399) and a vague secondhand anecdote about a $8,000 community spend, neither of which constitutes useful evidence or data for listeners.

he's like, I spent $8,000 or something to be in this person's community, and I wish could have just paid this guy, like, $8,000 to ask him this one question.

Conversational Craft

1 / 20

This is a meandering solo monologue with no interviewing, no structured questions, no follow-ups, and no intellectual tension. The delivery is rambling and unfocused, drifting between unrelated tangents without ever arriving at a coherent point.

I remember like sitting in, in a vehicle in Cabo and just Being like, okay, I'm just gonna do like 15 episodes and see how this goes.
I turned 40 in September and we are going to release the 400th episode.

Conversation analysis

Computed from the transcript - who did the talking, and the words that came up most.

Most-used words

episodes12small7expect6episode6show5summer5podcast4fall4success3massive3support3delusion3accounting3software3excited3started3

Episode notes

In this reflective solo episode of Small Business School , host Staci Millard shares a major milestone, episode 399, and announces a thoughtful pause and evolution for the podcast. As she steps into building new software alongside her accounting firm, Staci opens up about the importance of reinvention, intentionality, and allowing space for growth. She also shares what listeners can expect moving forward, including a shift in publishing cadence, more intentional guest curation, and a renewed focus on high-impact, strategic content.

Full transcript

8 min

Transcribed and scored by The B2B Podcast Index.

Speaker A: Welcome to Small Business School, where we help you build a thriving business on your own terms. We've been right where you are scaling from the basement to the boardroom. So we get it. We know the challenges of entrepreneurship, the highs, the lows, and the sleepless nights. But here's the thing. Business doesn't have to be hard. We're here to make it easier. No business degree required. Join us every week as we dive deeper into what it really takes to have the success, the time, the money, and the freedom that you desire, all while having a massive impact on those people that you serve. It's okay to want it all. We're going to give you the challenges, the inspiration and the strategy that you need to take your next step while you're busy supporting others. Let us support you. 399 episodes. I cannot even imagine. I think it's kind of like business, you know, when you start, you're like, I'm just going to do this little thing often for a lot of small, uh, like bootstrap companies. Like, that's what we think. I'm just gonna do this little thing. And then a few years later, all of a sudden we've got these massive companies and all these things that we're doing and we just had no idea. Which is actually really funny saying that because I have said this publicly, but I feel like not very loudly. So this will be it, I guess. Uh, I am starting something new and I think some of that delusion when you start something is so important. So what am I starting new? I'm not abandoning accounting by any means. I'm actually going to be develop, developing some software. And I'm so excited because as we do that, I think it'll just a level up our firm and even continuing to level up the quality that we can deliver consistently, reliably on time. And I think it'll create a really great solution for so many other people. And I'm so excited. But the delusion is necessary. The delusion that, like, it can be easy and we can do these massive things without even really knowing much about software, learning along the way. And that's how I was when I started my accounting firm, and that's also how I was when I started the podcast. I remember being in Cabo, maybe I agreed to my friend Christina, who, um, has been on the podcast. We've done some joint. So many joint episodes together, but she owns the agency that I always recommend all of our clients to. And I remember like sitting in, in a vehicle in Cabo and just Being like, okay, I'm just gonna do like 15 episodes and see how this goes. And now we're at 399. I cannot believe it. If you've been along for the journey, I'm sure that you've felt the difference in episodes. And that brings me to wanting to talk about what to expect from us for episode 400 and onward. So with some of those really, uh, new, fun, amazing things that are going to be taking up some of our time, I really reevaluated how I want to show up for the podcast. I have tried things like showing up for different, um, like themes, different series, tried just giving my brain dump and thoughts. And I think, like, everything, eventually you just get more intentional because you've tried things. And obviously there are some things that have worked so well because I want to keep going and there are things that I feel good leaving behind. And so all of that to say what to, what to expect from the fall first, what to expect from the summer. I'm going to go quiet for the summer. I really want to put some effort into the software and I want to go big with it. So I'm going to be putting some time in there and prepping for how we show up for the remainder of like, 2026 and 2027. And so what I'd like to encourage you to do is go back to the episodes. It's like anything you learn, take a look at the list, see what speaks to you, what kind of season you're in. In business, we have had so many experts on the show that are from like every walk of life, every, um, you know, area of the country, every different industry that you could need as a serv. As a business owner. And there's gotta be something that speaks to you. So go back and listen. Even if you listen before, you never know what might jump out a second time. And that is what we're going to do. We're going to be re releasing some episodes. Actually not even re releasing because we're stopping at 3.99 for the summer. But on Social, we'll be highlighting some of those episodes that were done already, talking about the timeless advice, um, that was given in those episodes. So you'll see us posting about those. And then I turned 40 in September and we are going to release the 400th episode. And from then on, what you can expect through the fall for sure, for the remainder of 2026 is once a week episodes. I know that sometimes we were doing up to three a week and we had done, uh, Two a week often. And we've been doing a couple a week the last little while. But we're going to consistently do one episode a week. Two of those episodes a month will be guests, and two of them will be me, and they'll be strategic episodes, things that people are asking us about all the time. And the guests, I'm really excited, but I am going to be asking you more on social, like, what do you want to know from these people? If you had 20 minutes or one question that you got to ask. Oh, that reminds me of this epic conversation I had yesterday. We got referred a new client, and he's like, I spent $8,000 or something to be in this person's community, and I wish could have just paid this guy, like, $8,000 to ask him this one question. I'm, um, like, yeah, if you h. If. If you had these people, these guests that you could ask this question, what would it be? So if you have a guest that you're like, I would love to hear from them. Stacy, you need to have them on the show. Like, please let me know. If you have burning questions that you need answered. Please let me know. The show is designed for you. It's all about the listener, and I would appreciate your feedback, but that's what you can expect from us come the fall. So I hope that you enjoy the summer. Just because we're not releasing new episodes, I hope that you don't just give up and move on, but you can absolutely express. Expect fresh content. Content come the fall, and it is going to be absolutely epic. And I really want your involvement. And if you are in a position that you want to take the summer off, please don't let me guilt you into, like, making you do something you don't want to do. Sometimes I personally, as well, need seasons where we just have less input. So depending on where you're at, just follow your heart. And thank you so much for listening to this point. Thank you for literally being the reason that I still do this, because the feedback that I get from everybody, anybody, it means everything to me. All right, see you at, uh, episode 400. Thank you so much for tuning into this episode of the Small Business School podcast. I know how important small business owners like you are to our communities, and I believe the work you put in today can fuel your small business for a lifetime of success and impact. And I'm here to support you every step of the way. Something I said today resonated with you. I'd love it if you could share it with a friend when we started support each other in business. We all grow stronger together. Looking to go further faster in your small business? For even more tailored advice and a deep dive into your financial strategy, check out Thrive Accounting, where our focus is on putting your small business on the rocket ship to success. I can't wait to catch up with you in the next episode.

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