ConversActions cuts through the noise with conversations that lead to action. Hosted by Bill Mitchell, each episode brings you unique perspectives, practical advice, and strategies from business leaders that you can apply to your own life or business.
With over 20 years of experience connecting companies to growth opportunities, Bill Mitchell brings a wealth of knowledge to the ConversActions podcast. His mission? To help you learn from the best and apply those lessons to your journey.
Alex Ray on Rhythm, Healing, and the Art of Living in Flow
Alex Ray on Rhythm, Healing, and the Art of Living in Flow
What if the key to finding balance isn't balance at all – it's rhythm? In this episode, Alex Ray, founder of Root Rhythm, takes us on a fascinating journey through the world of percussion, sound healing, and what it truly means to live in sync with yourself.
From drumming on a school drumline to teaching tongue drumming (yes, tongue drumming) to students around the world, Alex has spent a lifetime exploring how rhythm connects us to ourselves and to each other. Whether she's leading online masterclasses, running an intimate healing instrument shop in Minnesota, or tracking six years of her own personal rhythm cycles, Alex brings a grounded, joyful wisdom to everything she does.
In this episode, we explore:
(00:47) Rhythm as a way of understanding life's cycles
(02:25) Alex's winding path into world percussion
(04:07) Where the tongue drum really comes from
(06:15) How drumming bridges mindfulness and the natural world
(09:12) Finding balance by living in rhythm instead
(12:25) Building real connection through online teaching
(20:09) Running a creative business with your life partner
(27:18) Tracking six years of personal rhythm cycles
Resources Mentioned:
Root Rhythm: https://rootrhythm.com/ (https://rootrhythm.com/)
Root Rhythm YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYBwZ-EiSYaG5wwSQX-X7-Q (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYBwZ-EiSYaG5wwSQX-X7-Q)
8 Oct 2026
Brandon and Erin Clare: Meat Lockers, Community Trust, and Building a Legacy
Brandon and Erin Clare, owners of JM Watkins Meats in Plum City, Wisconsin, unpack what it really means to run a family-owned, USDA-certified meat processing facility – commonly called a ‘meat locker’ - serving farmers, families, and communities across the Midwest.
From a veterinary career and managing construction sites to processing 30 head of beef a week in a brand-new 10,300-square-foot facility, the Clare's share how grit, grant funding, and genuine community connection built something worth passing down to the next generation.
In this episode, we explore:
(02:09) From small-town roots to owning a meat locker
(05:48) Navigating grant funding to fuel major expansion
(10:10) How local processors compete against industry giants
(13:45) What USDA certification means for quality and trust
(16:33) Consumer trends shaping the future of local meat
(21:49) Lessons for family business owners on growth and operations
(26:46) Building a legacy with the next generation
Resources Mentioned:
JM Watkins Meats: https://www.jmwatkinsmeats.com/ (https://www.jmwatkinsmeats.com/)
Wisconsin Association of Meat Processors: https://wi-amp.com/ (https://wi-amp.com/)
24 Sept 2026
Matt Curtis on Choral Tracks, Choral Education, and Building a Business Around Music
What if the secret to a better choir wasn't just more rehearsals, but smarter practice at home? In this episode, Matt Curtis, founder of Choral Tracks and former tenor and assistant music director for the world-renowned ensemble Chanticleer, reveals how a choir kid from La Crosse, Wisconsin, turned a summer experiment into one of the most influential tools in choral music today.
From recording Gregorian chant tracks as a college junior to navigating explosive growth during COVID, Matt shares how Choral Tracks is empowering singers of every level to practice with confidence, artistry, and joy, and where the platform is headed next.
In this episode, we explore:
(02:56) From choir kid to professional singer and entrepreneur
(06:41) Recording Gregorian chant tracks as a college side hustle
(09:39) How Choral Tracks helps singers practice outside of rehearsal
(12:30) What artistry really means in choral music
(17:35) Why healthy singing matters for amateur choir members
(24:52) How COVID sparked 150% year-over-year growth for Choral Tracks
(27:28) Using AI tools to manage over one million MP3s in the catalog
Resources Mentioned:
Choral Tracks: https://choraltracks.com/ (https://choraltracks.com/)
Chanticleer: https://www.chanticleer.org/ (https://www.chanticleer.org/)
Who has been a guest on ConversActions
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
Steve Glynn
Guy Rehorst
Mary Brazeau Brown
Grant Pauly
Andrew Hutchison
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
4 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
4 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 16 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
19
Social presence
0
YouTube
0
Engagement
32
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