Episode #173
Building Community, Sharing Value & Lessons from the NYC Mastermind
Aug 11, 202611 minS1
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business
Hosted by Unknown Host · business · EN-US · 176 episodes
The Scratch Agency Podcast is for scratch insurance agents by scratch insurance agents. Shawn Fitzgerald and Stephen Turnbull discuss all aspects of opening a new insurance agency and provide real-life examples of their experiences. Whether it's obtaining new carrier appointments, sales strategies, virtual assistants, or marketing The Scratch Agency Podcast dives into what you need to know to kill it in the scratch agency game.
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Signup to Generate a PitchThe Scratch Agency Podcast is a business podcast hosted by Unknown Host, with 176 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.
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Episode #173
Episode #171
In Episode 171 of the Scratch Agency Podcast, Stephen Turnbull and Shawn Fitzgerald welcome Kelly Donahue-Piro, Founder and President of Agency Performance Partners (APP), for a conversation every scratch agent needs to hear. Whether you're preparing to make your first hire or trying to build an agency that can scale beyond you, Kelly shares practical advice on hiring, training, delegation, systems, and agency operations. From avoiding common hiring mistakes to creating repeatable processes that increase profitability, this episode is packed with actionable insights for agency owners who want to build a business—not just a book of business. If you're wondering when to hire, who to hire first, or how to create an agency that grows without becoming dependent on you, this episode is a must-listen. Timestamps: 00:00 – Introduction & Meet Kelly Donahue-Piro 03:10 – Why Agency Owners Need to Think Like Business Owners 07:20 – Making Your First Hire: Common Mistakes & Lessons Learned 11:30 – Virtual Assistants vs. In-House Team Members 15:10 – Building Systems Before You Need Them 20:45 – Optimizing Every New Client from Day One 24:15 – Setting Client Expectations & Protecting Your Time 28:00 – Creating an Agency That's Built to Scale 31:20 – Agency Performance Partners & Available Resources 33:45 – Final Thoughts & Closing Sponsored by HawkSoft https://www.hawksoft.com A family-owned agency management system built to serve independent agencies with flexibility, transparency, and human-centered support. Links & Resources: Join Our Telegram Community: https://t.me/+cISob2kA3pAyMmY5 Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thescratchagencypodcast Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7hutxCZ5NUPqF5hRdC79Hl Visit Our Website: https://scratchagencypodcast.com One of the biggest takeaways from this episode is that successful agencies aren't built by simply writing more business—they're built by creating strong systems, hiring intentionally, training consistently, and making decisions that allow the agency to grow beyond its owner. Kelly shares practical strategies that can save scratch agents years of trial and error while helping them build a more scalable and valuable business.
Episode #170
🎙️ Podcast Episode 170 – Automate, Delegate & Eliminate | Building a More Efficient Agency In Episode 170 of the Scratch Agency Podcast, Stephen Turnbull and Shawn Fitzgerald dive into one of the most important—but often overlooked—topics for agency owners: continuously improving your business through automation, delegation, and elimination. Rather than interviewing a guest, Stephen and Shawn have a candid conversation about the systems they've built inside their own agencies, the lessons they've learned from scaling, and why optimizing your workflow isn't a one-time exercise—it's something every agency owner should revisit regularly. From conducting time and energy audits to identifying repetitive tasks that can be delegated or automated, this episode provides practical advice for scratch agents who feel overwhelmed, stretched too thin, or ready to level up their operations. 🔍 If you're spending too much time working in your agency instead of growing it, this episode will help you identify where to reclaim your time and build more scalable systems. 🕒 Timestamps: 00:00 – Introduction 01:15 – Why Solo Episodes Are Sparking Better Conversations 02:00 – The Automate, Delegate & Eliminate Framework 05:10 – Identifying Bottlenecks Inside Your Agency 07:00 – The Time & Energy Audit Explained 09:30 – Delegating Personal Lines vs. Commercial Lines Workflows 12:15 – Building Better Processes One Step at a Time 15:00 – Lessons Learned from Commercial Renewals & SOPs 17:30 – Why Every Team Question Should Become a Process 19:30 – Final Thoughts & Agency Community Updates 💼 Sponsored by HawkSoft A family-owned agency management system built to serve independent agencies with flexibility, transparency, and human-centered support. 🌐 https://www.hawksoft.com 🔗 Links & Resources: 📲 Join Our Telegram Community: https://t.me/+cISob2kA3pAyMmY5 📸 Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thescratchagencypodcast 🎧 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7hutxCZ5NUPqF5hRdC79Hl 🌐 Visit Our Website: https://scratchagencypodcast.com One of the biggest takeaways from this conversation is that growth isn't just about selling more policies—it's about intentionally designing your agency so you can focus on the highest-value work. By regularly auditing your time, documenting processes, and empowering your team, you'll create a business that scales more efficiently while reducing overwhelm along the way.
Episode #169
In Episode 169 of the Scratch Agency Podcast, Stephen Turnbull and Shawn Fitzgerald sit down with Tolga Tezel, Founder and CEO of Canopy Connect, to discuss how modern technology is transforming the insurance quoting process. Tolga shares the story behind Canopy Connect, how a conversation with an independent agent inspired the platform, and why eliminating manual data collection helps agencies close more business while creating a better customer experience. The discussion covers everything from secure insurance data sharing and workflow automation to integrations, commercial capabilities, and the future of insurance intake technology. Whether you're already using Canopy Connect or simply looking for ways to make your agency more efficient, this episode offers practical insights into reducing administrative work so you can spend more time advising clients and writing business. 🔍 If you're looking to streamline your quoting process, improve client experience, and leverage technology to grow your agency, this episode is packed with actionable takeaways. 🕒 Timestamps: 00:00 – Introduction & Meet Tolga Tezel 02:00 – The Story Behind Canopy Connect 06:45 – Security, Privacy & Consumer Data Protection 10:05 – How Canopy Connect Works Behind the Scenes 14:00 – Why Every Quote Should Start with Accurate Insurance Data 16:15 – Underused Features Agents Should Be Using 20:45 – Integrations, Automation & Saving Time 24:45 – Data Enrichment & Smarter Prospect Intake 28:05 – Commercial Insurance Capabilities 31:45 – Upcoming Features & The Future of Canopy Connect 34:40 – Final Thoughts & Where to Learn More 💼 Sponsored by HawkSoft A family-owned agency management system built to serve independent agencies with flexibility, transparency, and human-centered support. 🌐 https://www.hawksoft.com 🔗 Links & Resources: 📲 Join Our Telegram Community: https://t.me/+cISob2kA3pAyMmY5 📸 Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thescratchagencypodcast 🎧 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7hutxCZ5NUPqF5hRdC79Hl 🌐 Visit Our Website: https://scratchagencypodcast.com One of the biggest themes throughout this conversation is that the future of independent agencies isn't about replacing relationships with technology—it's about using technology to eliminate repetitive work so agents can spend more time building trust, educating clients, and closing more business. Canopy Connect is one example of how better workflows can create a better experience for both agencies and their customers.
Episode #168
In Episode 168 of the Scratch Agency Podcast, Stephen Turnbull and Shawn Fitzgerald welcome back Charles Specht for Part 2 of their conversation on one of the biggest challenges facing scratch agents: consistently generating quality commercial opportunities. Charles shares practical strategies for building a sustainable commercial prospecting system, from identifying the right outreach methods for your personality and niche to creating referral partnerships that generate long-term business. The conversation also dives into producer accountability, meaningful KPIs, and how agency owners can build sales systems that scale instead of relying on motivation alone. Whether you're hiring your first producer or looking to improve your own prospecting process, this episode is packed with actionable advice you can begin implementing immediately. 🔍 If you're serious about growing your commercial book of business, improving producer performance, and building predictable referral pipelines, this episode is one you won't want to miss. 🕒 Timestamps: 00:00 – Introduction & Welcome Back, Charles Specht 02:10 – The Best Ways to Prospect Commercial Accounts 05:15 – Why One Prospecting Method Doesn't Fit Everyone 08:40 – Building Consistency Through Multiple Prospecting Channels 11:00 – Creating Referral Partners Instead of Chasing Referrals 15:10 – How to Approach Centers of Influence the Right Way 18:00 – Producer KPIs That Actually Matter 22:00 – Holding Producers Accountable Without Micromanaging 25:30 – Training New Producers for Long-Term Success 29:00 – Building Referral Networks That Scale 32:00 – Final Advice for Growing Commercial Insurance Agencies 💼 Sponsored by HawkSoft A family-owned agency management system built to serve independent agencies with flexibility, transparency, and human-centered support. 🌐 Learn More: https://www.hawksoft.com 🔗 Links & Resources: 📍 Scratch Agency NYC Mastermind July 31, 2026 | New York City https://scratchagencynyc.com 👥 Join the Scratch Agency Podcast Private Facebook Community 📸 Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thescratchagencypodcast 🎧 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7hutxCZ5NUPqF5hRdC79Hl 🌐 Visit Our Website: https://scratchagencypodcast.com One of the biggest lessons from this conversation is that successful commercial prospecting isn't about finding the "perfect" strategy—it's about finding the prospecting methods that match your personality, your niche, and your market, then executing them with consistency. As Charles explains, systems, relationships, and accountability will always outperform sporadic bursts of motivation.
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