Sweatpants & Strategy

Welcome to the Sweatpants & Strategy: SBA Success Stories Podcast, where we dive into the world of SBA lending, business growth, and personal success stories – all in a relaxed, down-to-earth twist! Please note, the content of this podcast is for informational and entertainment purposes only and should not be considered legal or financial advice. Always consult with a qualified professional for guidance specific to your business or financial needs. This podcast is inspired by and dedicated to my father, Norman Hirschkowitz, whose encouragement, and belief in taking risks led me to where I am today. His lessons continue to guide me, and I’m proud to honor his memory with each episode.

Sweatpants & Strategy is a business podcast hosted by Dana Hirschkowitz, with 25 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Dana Hirschkowitz hosts Sweatpants & Strategy, a business show with 25 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.

• 

  Episode #24

  Episode 24: Leadership, Culture, and the Working Mom Reality

  Apr 10, 202618 minS0

  <p>🚨 <b>LEADERSHIP ALERT. 🚨</b></p><p>If you think HR is just about black-and-white policies and sitting on the sidelines, this episode is your wake-up call. We’re diving back into the "structured chaos" of SBA with the woman who is redefining executive leadership in the people space.</p><p>In Part 2 of this deep dive, Dana continues her conversation with <b>Brittany Lyons</b>, Chief People Officer at <b>Port 51</b>. Brittany breaks down why culture is the ultimate deal-breaker, how to lead with a "newborn mental load," and why top-tier producers are ditching big-name banks for environments that act...

  ListenShow Notes
• 

  Episode #23

  Episode 23: Structured Chaos, The "Cool HR" Guide to SBA Talent and Leadership

  Apr 8, 202617 minS0

  <p>🚨 HR ALERT. HR ALERT. 🚨<br /><br />Think SBA talent is the same as traditional banking? Think again. It’s not just about credit scores—it’s about surviving the "structured chaos."<br /><br />In this episode of Sweatpants & Strategy, Dana sits down with the woman who is redefining what it means to be a Chief People Officer: Brittany Lyons of Port 51. Brittany isn't your typical "policy enforcer" hiding behind a handbook; she’s in the weeds with the revenue producers, the COO, and the Chief Credit Officer, proving that to drive a company, you have to deeply understand the business impac...

  ListenShow Notes
• 

  Episode #22

  Episode 22: Scaling a 24-Hour Empire w/ the RIGHT Lender | Signed, Funded & Loved: Pt. 3

  Apr 8, 202631 minS0

  <p>🚨 VALENTINE’S FINALE. 🚨<br />The third and final part of our SBA Love Story series has landed. Forget roses and chocolates—we’re talking about the real romance: Trust, Timing, and Collaboration.<br /><br />In this episode of Sweatpants & Strategy, Dana sits down with one of her favorite "former candidates turned superstar lenders," Kahla Miscavige from FirstTrust. Kahla brought along her favorite borrower, Andrew Ruba, the founder of Ironworks Fitness in Philadelphia. Together, they break down the relationship milestones of an SBA loan: from the "First Date" intro call to the "Outcome" of a thriving, scaled business.<br /><br />🎙️ Featuring the leg...

  ListenShow Notes
• 

  Episode #21

  Episode 21: From Bad Dates to the Big Leagues | Signed, Funded & Loved: Part 2

  Apr 8, 202630 minS0

  <p>🚨 SBA VALENTINE’S ALERT🚨<br /><br />The second episode of our "February Love Stories" has arrived, and it’s a grand slam. If you’ve ever felt like the banking world was just one big series of "bad dates" and "ghosting," this one is for you.<br /><br />Dana sits down with her partner-in-crime Lyndsey Blanks from Hancock Whitney and the powerhouse moms behind Triple Threat Athletics: Ashlee Loewen and Christine Michel. This isn't just a business deal; it’s a survival story about what happens when three moms with full-time careers decide to stop driving four hours for sports trainin...

  ListenShow Notes
• 

  Episode #20

  Episode 20: Signed, Funded & Loved: Part 1 | Marissa & Angela

  Apr 7, 202632 minS0

  <p>🥋 HI-YAH! 🥋 The SBA Love Story has landed. Brace yourselves. <br /><br />Yes. THAT episode. The one where we prove that SBA isn't just a mountain of paperwork—it’s a 21-year career of passion, grit, and finding your "person" in the industry. We’re talking about chemistry that survives construction nightmares and "seven-year-itch" timelines. <br /><br />🎙️ Featuring the legendary humans who lived to tell the tale: <br />⭐ Marissa Ames – SBA Expert at 44 Business Capital 🏦 (the grinder with the "grit" to get it done)<br />⭐ Angela Cao – Co-Founder of Koma 🥋 (the commercial banking pro who chose SBA to scale her empire) <br /><br />📊 Inside th...

  ListenShow Notes

Recent guests on Sweatpants & Strategy. Study who booked and why before you pitch.

Based on semantic analysis of episode topics and host coverage, this show is a strong guest fit for executives in:

Industry fit is computed by PitchCentric using vector embeddings of the show's episode catalog.