Pony Tales Podcast

In this episode, Linda shares her journey from selling books in the 1970s to becoming one of the first women to manage and lead in Southwestern’s history. She talks about her first summer selling in Jackson, Mississippi, the nerves, the first door, the first sale, and the moment she almost quit — but didn’t. That decision shaped everything that came after.Linda recalls becoming a stockbroker after leaving Southwestern, realizing it wasn’t for her, and returning to the company with new purpose. She later joined Family Heritage, where she recruited and trained a team that remains successful decades later. From there, she became a certified trainer, teaching Integrity Selling and goal-setting programs that helped people learn how to sell and believe in themselves.She describes attending Tony Robbins’ early live events, walking through fire, and spending ten life-changing days in Hawaii that shifted how she viewed goals, family, and purpose. That experience led to years as a professional speaker, trainer, and coach, helping others find clarity and motivation.Linda also shares how COVID pushed her to take her work online, how she learned to sell virtually, and how she now works with women creating retreats and online programs. Her story includes raising a family, moving across the country, mentoring others, and rediscovering herself through each chapter.Along the way, she talks about being one of the only women at sales school, learning to get indoors in the South, recruiting over 100 people, leading teams, and the friendships that have lasted over 50 years — friendships that still make her laugh until she cries.By the end, Linda reflects on a lifetime of lessons about rejection, confidence, attitude, and how a single summer job can change the trajectory of a life.

This one has been on our “Mount Rushmore” list from the very beginning. Hans Schlegel finally joins the show, and it’s everything we hoped for.From his roots on a family farm in northwest Ohio to eight summers selling books, Hans brings stories of go-kart racing, marching band, zoology, bird study, saving a man’s life with the Heimlich, and building a family with his wife Laura and their five kids.We dive into his first summer in Joplin, Missouri, those early “canon events” on the book field, the challenges of finding HQs, the grind of first days, and what made him stick it out. Hans also shares the beginnings of traditions, wild Sizzler lore, and even the origin story of the legendary “Speedo Amigos.”And on top of it all, we talk about the momentum building today around Southwestern alumni — with Hans spearheading the company’s official network and Pony Tales launching its independent community. Two networks, two vibes, one mission: bringing book people back together.Scroll down for links to pre-register for the Southwestern Alumni Network, to join the Pony Tales “Neighborhood,” and more.00:00 – Intro & why Hans was a “Mount Rushmore” guest02:06 – Who is Hans Schlegel? Farm life, go-karts, marching band, zoology, and saving a life04:14 – Selling books for eight summers & family background05:37 – First big conversation: were we in a cult?10:12 – Early book memories & friendships11:07 – Launching alumni networks: corporate & independent22:20 – Why two networks make sense25:15 – Canon events: the shared Southwestern experience31:51 – Family legacies and alumni kids36:00 – Quitting thoughts, turning points, and growth41:50 – Community, accountability, and why alumni networks matter46:00 – How to connect with Hans and the Southwestern alumni group52:40 – What’s next: timeline and goals1:12:00 – Rewinding the clock: Hans’ first summer in Joplin1:20:00 – First doors, first customers, first day alone1:28:00 – Struggles, breakthroughs, and record weeks1:43:30 – Highlights of that rookie summer2:05:00 – Heimlich maneuver story: saving a life2:18:00 – Traditions, lore, and GRS costumes2:37:00 – Favorite turf, states, HQs, and rapid-fire favorites3:13:00 – The Speedo Amigos legacy3:28:00 – Closing thoughts & links to alumni networks

In this episode of the Pony Tales Podcast, we sit down with Ben Fisher, a two-summer bookman with the FORCE organization (2011–2012) who now lives in California. Ben attended Concordia University in Nebraska and is the author of the children’s book Scribbaloo and the Color Cruncher, available on Amazon in paperback and Kindle, with more than 175 five-star reviews. He’s also the Ben behind the classic “I sell books and I love it” video many alumni remember from Sales School.This conversation is filled with reflections, laughs, and lessons: from the opening line of “Were we in a cult?” to stories from the book field, publishing a children’s book, and the practical side of decision-making. Ben shares how the simple act of narrowing choices became a powerful tool, and he comes back again and again to the lessons learned selling books — persistence, resilience, and how to talk to people.We close with a fun rapid-fire round, covering favorite turf (New York vs. Maine), territory types, and more. Ben also shares where you can find his book and connect with him.Chapters:00:00 – Intro (California, two summers, FORCE org, Concordia)01:32 – “I sell books and I love it” video03:18 – Scribb Aloo and the Color Cruncher (Amazon; 175 five-star reviews)04:00 – “Were we in a cult?”38:26 – Writing and publishing a book53:04 – Decision-making trick by narrowing options1:12:27 – Lessons from the book field1:15:29 – Rapid-fire round begins1:16:16 – Favorite territory, turf type, and more1:29:39 – Closing thanks and where to find Ben’s bookSubscribe to Pony Tales Podcast for more conversations with alumni and the stories that connect us all.

John Carey didn't plan on becoming an expert in grid security and renewable energy infrastructure—he started with a random call to his dorm at NC State, which landed him in door-to-door book sales with Southwestern Advantage. Today, he's CEO of Ovanova, a company creating portable microgrids and secure energy solutions.In this three-hour conversation, John covers how knocking on doors in rural America prepared him for leadership, resilience, and high-stakes problem-solving. He shares detailed experiences like the night his own home power system was disabled by a firmware update from overseas, highlighting hidden vulnerabilities in our energy grid.John explains Ovanova’s Portable Energy Trailer (PET)—a robust, mobile microgrid that significantly outperforms standard units, capable of powering communities during natural disasters and supporting emergency response operations. He dives into critical issues facing America's energy grid, from rural utilities struggling with peak-hour demand to car dealerships facing millions in grid infrastructure costs.Along the way, John shares his reflections on leadership strategies he's carried forward from his early door-to-door days, why emotional intelligence still matters deeply in tech-driven fields, and the books he recommends most often (Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, Deep Work, and the Bhagavad Gita).If you're curious about energy security, microgrids, or simply how the skills learned from door-to-door sales translate into leading an innovative tech company, this episode offers unmatched insights directly from John's experience.Stream the full episode, share your thoughts in the comments, and subscribe to Pony Tales Podcast for weekly stories from alumni doing remarkable things.

Lester Crafton and John Carey back to Pony Tales for nearly three hours of straight-through conversation. They start with the job that first put them on doorsteps and finish in the middle of a national-grid debate, showing—step by step—how those early summers shaped everything that came after.Lester explains the moment he realised energy was the thread connecting almost every modern problem and why he left residential solar to focus on utility-scale projects. John walks through the hard lessons of appointment setting, the day a remote firmware update shut off power to his own house, and the reason rural co-ops care more about peak-demand penalties than slick marketing. Together they break down how portable “energy trailers” can back up disaster zones, soak up excess midday solar and even feed power back to transformers that would otherwise overload at five p.m.The conversation drifts—from the first time either of them heard the phrase “grid security,” to an early field test where three kinds of solar modules were bolted to the same roof just to see what would survive a Carolina summer. Along the way they trade stories: a cash quote so high a homeowner laughed out loud, a USDA grant that sat frozen for a year, and the drone-monitored micro-grid they built as a sandbox for every new inverter they could find.By the last hour the talk shifts to leadership and culture: why commissions alone never keep a team together, how emotional intelligence shows up in metrics-driven sales, and the simple coaching habits—borrowed straight from the book field—that still anchor their companies today.It is equal parts technical deep-dive and field-tested mindset, and it shows exactly how two former door-to-door reps ended up solving problems that touch the U.S. power grid. Stream the full episode to see how it all connects.Big thanks to our sponsors over at Cardinal Senior Insurance — and shoutout to everyone who's been supporting the show!Get a sit down with their leadership and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠schedule an Interview with Cardinal Senior Benefits⁠⁠Get info about BIZZLER in Greece here: ⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠Welcome to The Pony Tales Podcast, where we dive into the inspiring stories and unique experiences of Southwestern Advantage alumni. Each episode features candid conversations with former book-sellers, exploring how their time selling books shaped their personal and professional lives. From incredible career journeys to valuable life lessons, our guests share the habits, mindset, and challenges that led them to success. Whether you’re a former book-seller or just looking for some motivation and wisdom, you’ll find something to relate to and learn from in every episode.