Behind the Signs Podcast

About Behind the Signs Podcast

A podcast for the people who power the sign industry. Hosted by Joe Arenella, founder of Sign Tracker, and his daughter Liz Arenella Toynes of Studio Dzo, Behind the Signs brings real conversations with sign shop owners, fabricators, designers, and industry leaders across the country. Whether you’re launching your first sign shop, scaling a growing team, or just looking for fresh inspiration, each episode dives into the stories behind the signs — the wins, the hard lessons, and the people who make this industry tick.

Publisher

Behind the Signs Podcast

Category

business

Language

en

Explicit

Yes

First episode

12 May 2025

Latest episode

26 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

35 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   26 Oct 2026

   35: 3 Systems That Keep the Small Stuff From Running Your Sign Shop

   Small problems don’t stay small in a sign shop. The material you needed isn’t on the truck, your lead installer calls in sick, or a vendor never sends the final invoice. Joe and Liz walk through the three systems that keep the small stuff from running your shop: a simple, repeatable workflow, controlling today instead of everything at once, and building buffer into every job. Plus, the daily “happenings report” Joe’s team used to see yesterday, today and tomorrow without chasing anyone down.

2. 

   1 Oct 2026

   34: Me, Myself and AI: What Sign Shops Should (and Shouldn't) Use AI For

   Is AI a threat to your sign shop, or just another tool in the toolbox? Joe and Liz cut through the noise after their Sign Builder Illustrated column "Me, Myself and AI" sparked strong reactions in the Behind The Signs community. They explain why AI isn't coming for real design work and where it can save shop owners hours: pulling sign counts from full construction sets, building sales and AR reports, and drafting SOPs, job descriptions and customer emails. You don't have to adopt it to succeed, but you do have to keep up with speed to market.

3. 

   6 Aug 2026

   33: Public Speaking Isn't the Problem — Your Sign Shop Is Full of It Every Day

   Public speaking isn't just stages and TEDx talks — it's every time you talk to a client, pitch a job, or coach your team. Joe and Liz break down why simple conversations can trigger real fight-or-flight, where imposter syndrome comes from, and the confidence framework that actually works.

Who has been a guest on Behind the Signs Podcast

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Tami
• Ashley Borell Miner
• Russell Toynes
• Mike Stephens
• Lori Anderson

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

YouTube views

18,761

Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

2 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

2 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 29 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

14

Social presence

0

YouTube

76

Engagement

32

Contact Behind the Signs Podcast

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

Questions about Behind the Signs Podcast