Business, Beer & BS with Mike & Blaine

Dive into "Business, Beer, and BS" with seasoned entrepreneurs Mike Milan and Blaine Bertsch! Each episode is a lively mix of business insights and casual conversation fueled by cold beers and real talk. Mike and Blaine share their rollercoaster journeys of running businesses and tackling real-world challenges with humour and honesty. Expect practical tips, unforgettable stories, and plenty of laughs along the way. It’s the perfect blend of expert advice and laid-back fun. Don’t miss out! Subscribe, follow, and like "Business, Beer, and BS" for engaging stories, valuable lessons, and great entertainment. Catch every episode!

Business, Beer & BS with Mike & Blaine is a business podcast hosted by Mike Milan & Blaine Bertsch, with 248 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80.

Mike Milan & Blaine Bertsch hosts Business, Beer & BS with Mike & Blaine, a business show with 248 episodes published.

Our AI reads these to draft pitches. Use them as grounding for a pitch that cites a real guest and a specific topic.

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  Episode #252

  Merriam-Webster Added WHAT?! Decoding TikTok Slang & Business Tactics with Dre Baldwin

  Sep 25, 202657 minS6

  Send us Fan Mail Apparently Merriam-Webster added 1,400 new words to the dictionary, which means “looksmaxxing,” “Rickroll” and “cuffing season” are now legitimate English—and we're clearly losing control of the situation. This week, we're joined by Dre Baldwin, founder of Work On Your Game, to see whether any of the three of us can actually define the language the internet has invented. We argue about whether TikTok is destroying English, why corporate leaders speak like malfunctioning consultants, and how evolving language impacts your overall business strategy. In modern marketing and leadership, clear communication is everything. We break down the tactics behind staying culturally relevant without sacrificing brand clarity, executive messaging, or team alignment. Dre also shares practical business tactics from his transition from professional basketball to building an enterprise centered on discipline, standards, and execution—proving that while knowing what "vibe coding" means might make you sound cool, clear systems and daily consistency are what actually drive business growth. Grab a beer, bring a dictionary, and prepare to discover that apparently we've all been speaking English wrong. Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/GPG38pVgjew Loved the show? Support the podcast and buy us a beer at mikeandblaine.com! We want to hear from you! beer@mikeandblaine.com Connect with Dre Baldwin: linkedin.com/in/dreallday Work on Your Game: workonyourgame.com Thanks to our Beer Sponsors: "Baltimore Mike" Karen Hairston from 3S Smart Consulting CPA Larry Weinstein, the Cash Flow Cowboy from Houston Texas Neighbor Pat Trey Milton Listen to all our episodes at mikeandblaine.com Learn about: Cash Flow Mike who trains CPAs to provide effective advisory to their clients at cashflowmike.com Dryrun Cash Flow Forecasting for the office of the CFO where they get finance teams out of spreadsheets at dryrun.com Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/GPG38pVgjew #MerriamWebster #TikTok #TikTokSlang #WorkOnYourGame #DreBaldwin #BusinessStrategy #Leadership #Entrepreneurship #BusinessTactics #MarketingStrategy #CorporateCulture #NewWords #InternetSlang #Slang #GenZSlang #Language #Dictionary #VibeCoding #Looksmaxxing #Parasocial #BusinessBeerAndBS #SmallBusiness #BusinessGrowth Support the show Catch more episodes, see our sponsors and get in touch at https://mikeandblaine.com/

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  Business, Beer & BS with Mike & Blaine

  Is Drinking Going Out Of Style? Beverage Industry Trends & Business Strategy

  Sep 11, 20261h 6m

  Send us Fan Mail For 249 episodes we drank beer, so naturally we decided to celebrate number 250 with whiskey—at almost the exact moment the whiskey business started wondering where everybody went. In this milestone episode of Business, Beer & BS, we're figuring out whether people are actually drinking less, drinking differently, or just paying $14 to have someone leave the alcohol out of their cocktail. We get into sober raves, canned cocktails (RTDs), GLP-1 weight loss medications, the supposedly sober Gen Z suddenly drinking more, and whether bourbon collecting is really just Pokémon for middle-aged men. Somewhere between the first pour and whatever seemed like a good idea by the third, we discover that drinking isn't disappearing nearly as fast as the traditional rules around it are. From a business strategy and market execution standpoint, these changing consumer habits represent a structural shift in customer acquisition, menu margin engineering, and product portfolio management. As non-alcoholic options, functional beverages, and zero-proof spirits outpace legacy alcohol growth, smart business owners, hospitality operators, and beverage distributors must adapt their cash flow tactics and inventory strategy. Whether you are retooling your offerings to capture health-conscious consumers, leveraging premiumization, or navigating GLP-1 market disruption, staying agile is essential to protecting your bottom line. If you enjoyed this episode, head over to mikeandblaine.com to buy us a beer and keep the conversation going! We want to hear from you! beer@mikeandblaine.com Thanks to our Beer Sponsors: Karen Hairston from 3S Smart Consulting CPA Larry Weinstein, the Cash Flow Cowboy from Houston Texas Neighbor Pat Trey Milton Listen to all our episodes at mikeandblaine.com Learn about: Cash Flow Mike who trains CPAs to provide effective advisory to their clients at cashflowmike.com Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/n3bpldzgzBg Dryrun Cash Flow Forecasting for the office of the CFO where they get finance teams out of spreadsheets at dryrun.com #Whiskey #WhiskeyTok #SoberCurious #MindfulDrinking #Mocktails #NonAlcoholic #ReadyToDrink #RTD #GenZ #DrinkingTrends #BusinessStrategy #BeverageIndustry #Entrepreneurship #CashFlow #SmallBusinessTactics #AthleticBrewing #LiquidDeath #Heineken #MolsonCoors #Diageo #BuffaloTrace #Poppi #Ozempic #BusinessPodcast #MikeAndBlaine Support the show Catch more episodes, see our sponsors and get in touch at https://mikeandblaine.com/

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  Episode #249

  Is Your Life Advertising Inventory? How Brands Are Monetizing Your Personal Life

  Sep 4, 202659 minS6

  Send us Fan Mail Apparently weddings, sorority rush, run clubs, and baby showers are advertising inventory now—and once again, we appear to have missed an opportunity to stop paying retail. This week, we're diving deep into the trend of brides getting brands to foot the bill for their big day, major companies hijacking RushTok, and everyday people getting free swag and sponsorships simply because they've assembled the right group of humans in one place. We debate whether this is brilliant marketing, shameless begging, or just the classic Tupperware party upgraded with better Wi-Fi and 4K cameras. Beyond the sponsored open bars and 600 sorority sisters morphing into "mini creators," there is a massive business strategy and growth tactic at play. In an era where digital Customer Acquisition Cost (CAC) continues to climb across traditional paid ad platforms, brands are realizing that high-intent, hyper-niche micro-communities yield dramatically higher engagement and conversion rates. We break down the tactical power of micro-influencer targeting, zero-party data gathering, organic word-of-mouth distribution, and why an engaged room of 25 targeted ideal clients can deliver far more Lifetime Value (LTV) than 25,000 passive, random followers. Whether you run a B2B advisory firm, an e-commerce brand, or a local service business, understanding how to monetize ambient attention and leverage organic micro-audiences is a modern distribution playbook you cannot afford to ignore. Grab a beer and join the conversation—and if any brand out there wants to sponsor our next round, our DMs are wide open! Love the show? Visit mikeandblaine.com to buy us a beer and keep the conversations brewing! We want to hear from you! beer@mikeandblaine.com Thanks to our Beer Sponsors: Karen Hairston from 3S Smart Consulting CPA Larry Weinstein, the Cash Flow Cowboy from Houston Texas Neighbor Pat Devin Trey Milton Listen to all our episodes at mikeandblaine.com Learn about: Cash Flow Mike who trains CPAs to provide effective advisory to their clients at cashflowmike.com Dryrun Cash Flow Forecasting for the office of the CFO where they get finance teams out of spreadsheets at dryrun.com #RushTok #BamaRush #WeddingTok #BachelorettePR #CreatorEconomy #InfluencerMarketing #BrandPartnership #ExperientialMarketing #BusinessStrategy #GrowthMarketing #MicroInfluencer #DigitalMarketing #CustomerAcquisition #Nike #TarteCosmetics #Poppi #Zola #TheKnot #KendraScott #TikTok #Meta #Entrepreneurship #SmallBusinessStrategy Support the show Catch more episodes, see our sponsors and get in touch at https://mikeandblaine.com/

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  Episode #248

  When Did Everyone Become a Cowboy? The Business of Country's Mainstream Takeover

  Aug 31, 20261h 2mS6

  Send us Fan Mail Apparently everybody is country now, including people who probably couldn't identify a cow without Google Lens. This week on Mike & Blaine, we're figuring out how country music went from something people proudly claimed to hate to taking over the charts, stadiums, TikTok dances, and apparently half the closets in New York. We'll argue about whether modern country is actually country, why Luke Combs just had NFL stadiums teasing his tour, and how many cowboy hats you can sell to people who've never touched a horse. Beyond the whiskey songs, belt buckles, and questionable line dancing, there is a serious masterclass in business strategy here. What happens when a hyper-specific niche explodes into a global movement? In this episode, we break down the core business tactics and market dynamics driving this trend. Grab a beer, dust off the boots you bought for one wedding, and saddle up with Cash Flow Mike and Blaine Bertsch! Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/0uqIq4roHGc We want to hear from you! beer@mikeandblaine.com Love the show? Visit mikeandblaine.com to buy us a beer! Thanks to our Beer Sponsors: Karen Hairston from 3S Smart Consulting CPA Larry Weinstein, the Cash Flow Cowboy from Houston Texas Neighbor Pat Trey Milton Listen to all our episodes at mikeandblaine.com Learn about: Cash Flow Mike who trains CPAs to provide effective advisory to their clients at cashflowmike.com Dryrun Cash Flow Forecasting for the office of the CFO where they get finance teams out of spreadsheets at dryrun.com Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/0uqIq4roHGc #CountryMusic #CountryTok #ChoosinTexas #EllaLangley #LukeCombs #LineDancing #Wrangler #Stetson #Lucchese #Ariat #Spotify #CMT #CMA #MorganWallen #PostMalone #CoorsLight #BusinessStrategy #SmallBusiness #MarketStrategy #BrandPositioning #CashFlow #Entrepreneurship Support the show Catch more episodes, see our sponsors and get in touch at https://mikeandblaine.com/

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  Episode #247

  The Business of Digital Detox: How Phone-Free Zones Become Premium Business Strategies

  Aug 13, 202658 minS6

  Send us Fan Mail We invented a device that does almost everything, became hopelessly attached to it, and have now created an entire industry devoted to taking it away from us. In this episode of Mike & Blaine, we dive deep into the booming economy of "disconnection." From phone-free bars, restaurants, concerts, and schools to high-end digital detox retreats, we analyze whether any of us can survive a simple dinner without checking a notification—and more importantly, how entrepreneurs are turning our collective lack of discipline into a profitable business model. We debate whether locking up smartphones creates richer customer conversations or merely turns bartenders and venue staff into middle-school principals. Beyond the behavioral economics, we explore the strategic business tactics behind selling silence, privacy, and borrowed self-control. Business & Strategy Key Takeaways: Monetizing Friction: How forcing customers to unplug creates a high-value, premium experience people will pay extra for. Customer Dwell Time: Why removing digital distractions increases engagement, lengthens visits, and boosts total spend in hospitality and retail. Differentiation in a Noisy Market: Using phone-free policies as a unique selling proposition (USP) to build intense brand loyalty. Operational Reality: Managing the fine line between policy enforcement and delivering top-tier customer service. Grab a beer, hide your screen time report, and join us before one of us gets distracted halfway through the episode! Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/s___KWkcQQA Love the show? Visit mikeandblaine.com to buy us a beer and keep the taps running! We want to hear from you! beer@mikeandblaine.com Listen to all our episodes at mikeandblaine.com Learn about: Cash Flow Mike who trains CPAs to provide effective advisory to their clients at cashflowmike.com Dryrun Cash Flow Forecasting for the office of the CFO where they get finance teams out of spreadsheets at dryrun.com Thanks to our Beer Sponsors: Karen Hairston from 3S Smart Consulting CPA Larry Weinstein, the Cash Flow Cowboy from Houston Texas Neighbor Pat Devin Trey Milton #PhoneFree #DigitalDetox #Smartphones #CustomerExperience #DigitalWellness #BusinessStrategy #Entrepreneurship #SmallBusiness #CustomerLoyalty #Monetization #BehavioralEconomics #Apple #Samsung #Google #Meta #Verizon #ATT #Yondr #MikeAndBlaine Support the show Catch more episodes, see our sponsors and get in touch at https://mikeandblaine.com/

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