In our 100th episode of The Beacon Way Podcast, we're celebrating a milestone by digging into something that changed everything for our guest: data. Host Adrienne Wilkerson sits down with founder and clinical director of the Center for Intimacy & Relationships, Camille Espinoza, to talk about how tracking team metrics and understanding what actually drives success helped her improve client outcomes, boost team morale, and make better leadership decisions. Whether you're running a clinic...

In this heart-wrenching yet inspiring episode of the Beacon Way Podcast, host Adrienne Wilkerson is joined by Jeffrey Johnston, a remarkable individual who shares his deeply personal story of loss, addiction, and finding purpose. Jeff talks about the devastating loss of his son Seth and wife Prudence and how these tragedies led to the foundation of Brightn, an AI-powered mental wellness app. Jeff's story is a poignant reminder of the power of resilience and the importance of prevention...

In this episode of The Beacon Way podcast, host Adrienne Wilkerson is joined by Steve Ramona, a prolific podcaster who started his journey in October 2022 and has already completed 850 shows! Steve shares insightful tips on how to succeed in the podcasting world, the importance of a servant's heart in business, and his experiences that highlight the law of reciprocity. From overcoming initial fears to harnessing the power of relationships, Steve elaborates on his journey and offers val...

Welcome to another episode of The Beacon Way podcast! In this episode, host Adrienne Wilkerson is joined by Courtney De Ronde, founder and CEO of Forge Financial and Management Consulting and the creator of the Simple ScaleUp System. Courtney shares her journey from founder to CEO, discussing how success often introduces complexity in business. She talks about her firm's evolution and the decision to split from a traditional CPA firm, focusing on financial, leadership, and management c...

In this short and heartfelt episode of The Beacon Way Podcast, CEO Adrienne Wilkerson shares a message of gratitude as the team reflects on a year of massive change, AI disruption, and renewed purpose. From marketing shifts to internal transformation, Adrienne offers her thoughts on where we’ve been, what we’re navigating now, and why—despite the uncertainty—there’s so much to be thankful for. If you're a leader managing disruption or just looking to pause and reflect this holiday season, t...

Join host Adrienne Wilkerson in this solo episode of the Beacon Way Podcast as she talks about the importance and impact of AI voice search on mental health practices. Discover why voice search is crucial for your practice, the evolution of AI search behaviors, and comprehensive strategies for optimizing your content for voice AI. Learn about the four primary pillars of modern search behavior, local voice optimization, visual content discoverability, and the shift towards generative en...

In this episode of the Beacon Way podcast, host Adrienne Wilkerson welcomes a special guest, Steve Koscik, who has been the fractional CFO at Beacon for the past three years. Steve shares his extensive background, having previously served as a CFO for a Toyota-based material handling company. He discusses the substantial benefits of fractional CFO services, including financial clarity, KPI setup, cash flow optimization, and strategic decision support. Steve explains the differences bet...

Most organizations focus on ROI—but what about VOI? In this episode, CRO Ken Okonek breaks down the concept of VOI (Value on Investment) and why it’s essential for behavioral health organizations and mission-driven businesses to understand it. While ROI tracks dollars in vs. dollars out, VOI looks at the real-world impact of your marketing: community trust, patient engagement, reputation, and long-term outcomes. If your marketing efforts are about more than just revenue, this episode is for...

Join Ken Okonek, CRO of Beacon Media + Marketing, on this episode of the Beacon Way Podcast as he delves into the crucial subject of calculating a true ROI in digital marketing. Ken discusses common misconceptions, important metrics, and practical strategies for understanding and maximizing ROI beyond simple revenue calculations. Learn about the significance of baseline business metrics, the complexity of multi-touch attribution, and the impact of factors like customer lifetime value and br...

In this episode of The Beacon Way Podcast, host Adrienne Wilkerson sits down with Dr. Monica Estes, a Navy veteran, endodontist, and founder of a rapidly growing dental group with three South Carolina locations. Dr. Monica shares her journey from dental school to military service to launching a practice straight out of residency—an uncommon but intentional leap. Together, they unpack the mindset shifts required to grow from solo practitioner to multi-location leader, the business skills dent...

In this episode of The Beacon Way podcast, host Adrienne Wilkerson sits down with Scott and Brian Seideman to discuss their innovative new app, Theo, which leverages AI to support teens struggling with mental health issues. Brian, a licensed therapist, shares his extensive background working with a variety of populations, while Scott explains the personal experiences that led to the development of Theo. They dive into the creation process, the urgent need for teen mental health resources, an...

In this episode of the Beacon Way podcast, host Adrienne Wilkerson welcomes Loralyn Mears, co-founder of HELPipedia. They delve into HELPipedia's initiatives in transforming education for high school students, especially those with special needs. Loralyn shares the story behind the creation of HELPipedia, its mission to provide safe spaces and resources for youth development, and their pivot to focus on empowering parents and caregivers. They also discuss the importance of community ev...

In this episode of the Beacon Way Podcast, CEO Adrienne Wilkerson is joined by CRO Ken Okonek to discuss exciting updates at Beacon Media + Marketing. They announce the transition of co-founder Jennifer Christensen to her new passion projects and share their enthusiasm for the future of Beacon. The discussion covers the company's renewed mission and vision, their commitment to quality in the rapidly changing AI marketing landscape, and their focus on deepening expertise in the behavior...

In this episode of the Beacon Way Podcast, host Adrienne Wilkerson welcomes Josh Troche, owner of Pedal Stomper Productions, to discuss the intricacies of podcasting and video production for business marketing. Josh shares his journey from starting a YouTube channel at a semi-truck dealership to running a full-fledged production company specializing in photo, video, and podcast content. The conversation delves into essential tips for creating impactful video content, overcoming camera ...

In this episode of the Beacon Way podcast, Adrienne Wilkerson welcomes Gerry Gadoury, a 25-year veteran of the tech professional services industry. Gerry discusses his diverse career, which includes roles as a recruiter, salesperson, manager, consultant, trainer, executive, speaker, author, and business owner. He shares insights about his Destination Employer Methodology, aimed at helping startups and scaling companies attract and retain top talent. Gerry emphasizes the critical role of cultu...

Join host Adrienne Wilkerson in this *solo* episode of The Beacon Way podcast as we explore the critical role of authenticity and consistency in branding for behavioral health clinics. Learn how a strong, reliable brand presence can boost revenue, build trust, and connect with patients meaningfully. Discover practical tips on leveraging personal stories, digital marketing, and AI tools to enhance brand authority and recognition. Don't miss this insightful conversation that delve...

In this episode of The Beacon Way Podcast, host, Adrienne Wilkerson welcomes special guest Peter House, CEO & Founder of DeepTree, a managed IT and cybersecurity service provider. With a history dating back to fourth grade, the two professionals discuss the transition from wearing multiple hats as a founder to becoming a CEO. Peter shares his journey, including the pivotal moment of a traumatic brain injury that greatly impacted his career and life. They talk about the importance o...

Welcome to another episode of the Beacon Way Podcast! In this episode, host Adrienne Wilkerson dives deep into how Artificial Intelligence (AI) can revolutionize personalized marketing, making it accessible for small and medium-sized businesses. Learn about AI-driven strategies like predictive analytics, dynamic content creation, and advanced customer segmentation. Adrienne also discusses the importance of ethical AI use, data minimalization, and emerging trends. Whether you're ...

Join the award-winning executive team of Beacon Media + Marketing on The Beacon Way Podcast as they host Mitchell Beinhaker, a seasoned business law and estate planning attorney with over three decades of experience. In this episode, Adrienne and Mitchell discuss the vital aspects of legal considerations for business owners, from drafting contracts to handling commercial leases and structuring multi-generational family businesses. Mitchell sheds light on the importance of having legal ...

The way people search is changing fast — and if your content isn’t keeping up, you’re already falling behind. In this solo episode of The Beacon Way, Adrienne breaks down the best practices for SEO and GEO optimization in 2025, and how AI is completely reshaping the game. Whether you’re a business owner, content creator, or marketer, this episode will help you understand how to stay relevant in search — and in front of the right audience. From smarter algorithms to the rise of Generative ...