How Small Brands Power A Growing Podcast

Ever wonder which sponsors are worth your time—and which ones we actually use? We open the garage and pull every tool off the shelf: the golf gloves that came from a college teammate’s hustle, the beard oil a touring comic perfected, the veteran-built shirts with a purpose, the cheeky golf gear that keeps rounds fun, and a ranch-born hat brand preaching the art of being a straight shooter. This is a behind-the-scenes tour of small businesses with big missions and the real ways they support our show and our listeners.

We start with Sweet Hand Sports, where Matt “Lando” Landowski turned dugout grit into batting and golf gloves that feel right on day one. Then we get personal with Buddy’s Beard Care—locally sourced oils, balms, and wash that transformed daily grooming and made our Patreon viewers ask what changed. We move into service-driven apparel: Tactical Brotherhood, channeling proceeds to veterans and first responders facing physical and mental health challenges; and Deemed Fit, reminding us to check in with “Are You OK” and to keep going with “You Got This.”

From there, we hit the fairway with Shankit Golf—polos, hats, and towels that don’t take your three-putt too seriously—and tip our caps to Webb Western, a new partner built by a former rancher who believes in hard work, clean design, and calling your shots. Along the way, we share how our sponsorship model evolved, from early read swaps to evergreen pre-rolls, and why your brand’s message now reaches listeners in more than 80 countries and over a thousand cities. If you’ve got a mission and the grit to match, our door is open.

Grab the deals: Sweet Hand Sports 10% (code Mike Bono), Buddy’s Beard Care 15% (code Mike Bono), Tactical Brotherhood 10% (cod

All music brought to you by former guest of the show Speedo

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Tactical Brotherhood
The Tactical Brotherhood is a movement to support America.

Dubby Energy
FROM GAMERS TO GYM JUNKIES TO ENTREPRENEURS, OUR PRODUCT IS FOR ANYONE WHO WANTS TO BE BETTER.

Shankitgolf
Our goal here at Shankitgolf is for everyone to have a great time on and off the golf course

Sweet Hands Sports
Elevate your game with Sweet Hands Sports! Our sports gloves are designed for champions,

Buddy's Beard Care
Buddy's Beard Care provides premium men's grooming products at an affordable price.

Deemed Fit
Be a part of our movement to instill confidence motivation and a willingness to keep pushing forward

Webb Western
Webb Western is for those who roll up their sleeves and do what it takes to get the job done.

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Transcript

Welcome & Episode Setup

SPEAKER_00 4:48

Welcome, everybody, to another episode of the Ride Home Rants Podcast. This is, as always, your host, Mike Fono. I have a great and very special episode that we're going to do for you here today. I am bringing on the wonderful manager of the podcast, Johnny Fitti Falcone here. Everybody knows him. I'll we will save the introduction. He's been on a bunch of shows. He's the man behind the scenes, too, as well. But we are going to be talking about today all of the great and wonderful sponsors that we have for the Ride Home Rans podcast. We're going to show them some love and give them a whole episode where we're just going to sit and talk about them. So Web Western, Tactical Brotherhood, Sweet Hand Sports, Shankit Golf, Buddy's Beard Care, Deemed Fit, all of those great sponsors that you hear in the pre and the post role, uh, that role at the beginning and end of this episode. We're going to talk to them, show them some love. So without further ado, Fitti, welcome on, brother.

Sweet Hand Sports Origin & Offer

SPEAKER_01 5:44

Yeah, man, this is uh this is pretty cool. I know we talked a little bit about how our sponsors work when we did the behind the scenes show a couple years ago. It's be pretty cool to just talk about all things sponsors and how it goes into it, how we get them, how long they've been with us, you know, how we uh how we exchange things with them. And I know we're both rocking hats with the different sponsors, you with what Western and me with Sweet Hand Sports. So, you know, I'm happy to dive into all that stuff.

SPEAKER_00 6:10

Absolutely. Um, yeah, we're gonna dive into that. Let's talk about uh Sweet Hand Sports, our good buddy Matt Lando Landowski, uh coming on board with us here with Sweet Hand Sports with his golf gloves and everything like that. You and I have both known Lando forever, um, since the days of Bethany College. Uh him starting this own business and this business venture has been great. We're happy to have him on board. I know you and him talk a little bit more about it uh too as well. Uh, you two connect a little bit more than I can. I'm a little bit busier than uh most people. So tell us a little bit more about uh sweet hand sports that you know.

SPEAKER_01 6:48

Yeah, so for people that don't know, Matt uh Lando, Landowski, Lando, as we all call him. Um, him and I were college teammates. Um, you know, of course, we don't went to school with Mike, even though Lando is a few years younger than me. So when we reconnected with the show, for people that don't know, Lando started this sweet hand sports business, which was batting gloves and golf gloves. So softball, baseball, or you know, golf, a golf glove. I should say, not gloves, a glove. So when Lando was uh was on the show with us a whole bunch of times, you know, taking time out of his uh busy schedule of his regular full-time job and then doing sweet hand sports. Um, you know, we Mike and I talked here and I said, hey Mike, maybe we should think about bringing Lando on as a sponsor. He's taking all this time out to be with us. And for people that don't know, all of our guests do this for free uh because they enjoy being on. So we wanted to reward Lando with always being on the roundtables and jumping in when needed. But uh, you know, he does sell golf gloves, golf gloves, baseball gloves, um, softball gloves. So if you look in the hit the links, or you know, the diamond the spring and summer, whether you're a high school student or you know an amateur, just someone who's out there having fun. You know, definitely uh check out Matt with that. He does a great job with it. He sent me in Bono hats, sweet hand sports hats. I actually love this hat. It's like one of my favorite hats. Yeah, so thank you, uh, thank you, Bono, for that. So um, you know, shout out to Sweet Hand Sports there.

Buddy’s Beard Care Results & Deal

SPEAKER_00 8:13

Yeah, absolutely. Uh Lando has been great, uh, big fan of the show. We're big fans of him too, as well. I'm actually pumped uh a buddy of mine. We are uh planning a little golf kit together. We haven't been together, been able to connect for a while. So we're getting a bunch of buddies of ours together here in May. Uh, so I'm really gonna get the chance to test out the golf glove that uh that Lando sent me. Um, you're right, I do wear that hat a lot. Um not as much as I would want to. Uh, I have other great sponsors that send me some hats and shirts and that that I want to get to be able to give them their their love and shine and everything like that with helping out with the show, too, as well. So big shout out to Matt Landowski. Um, if you go to his uh website, sweethandsports.com, uh promo code Mike Bono, and he's gonna save you 10% off of uh your purchase of your glove. He does have the hats on there too, as well. Um, I know me and him have talked about he is uh gonna start getting some like golf polos too as well. Um, I don't know if there's one on the website yet. Um, but keep a lookout for those too as well. Again, uh promo code Mike Bono and it'll save yourself 10%. Uh so that's the first one. Um, another one I want to talk about a little bit too as well. Uh one I'm really proud of, and that's Buddy's beard care. Uh comic friend of mine, Buddy Holly, is uh comedian. He started his own beard care company. Um, and if anybody has seen any of his stuff, this man has the most fantastic beard I've ever seen. I mean, it's one of those Z Z top-length beards. I mean, it's phenomenal. And the stuff that he sends me um monthly is the beard bomb and beard oil. I know if anybody's been watching on the Patreon, you've seen my beard be getting thicker and thicker um as the shows go on, and it is because of Buddy's products. Uh, I use his beard oil and his beard balm every day. Uh, he does have a uh face wash in there too as well, beard wash that I use uh daily. He it, I mean, I I never had a problem with growing facial hair or anything like that. This is just set it to like Jedi level, and I I feel like my beard is growing faster and faster, and it's felt healthier and healthier. Um, I don't know if it's directly related to this, but you know, I am getting older, so the grays are becoming less and less. I don't know if that's just a coincidence or what it is, uh, but that has helped out. Uh, he is helping out everybody. Again, promo code uh Mike Bono, 15% off at uh buddiesbeardcare.com. Uh check him out on stage. He's all over Ohio. And the best thing about all of his stuff is all of his products are locally sourced here to Ohio. Um, he is a very local small business. Uh, he wants to support local. We are all on board with that too, as well. Anybody who's willing to support local and small businesses, we have looked into connect with them. But Buddy's beard care is a phenomenal product. Uh the beard bomb keeps my beard intact, it doesn't get straggly or crazy. Um, keeps it looking neat and trimmed and um just felt healthier. It's softer now. So those are some of the things for for Buddy's Beard Care. I don't believe uh you've gotten to use any of that uh with Buddy's Beard Care yet, have you, Freddie?

SPEAKER_01 11:51

No, no, I I haven't. And I'm sometimes I'm like, should I? But the way my beard grows, like I like to try to keep it like a two-guard or one because uh I don't I just don't like it getting super bushy to to want to throw on stuff. But I will definitely tell you this I have more grades than you, so you know, kudos to to Buddies Buddy's beard care and the must-be rope gain in there, uh, or just for men or whatever it is to get everybody's like patches and fullness and like make it look dark and suave. So I I got like kind of like the salt and pepper going on now. Um, but you know, yeah, you can't even see no whites in yours, so shout out buddy's beard care.

SPEAKER_00 12:28

They're they're there, don't don't let that fool you. They're there. The camera is being kind to me today, uh, with that, but um, they're probably going to be more and more here. Um, I haven't said this on here uh much, but I know they're going to be getting more and more grays. Uh my stepdaughter is due with our first grandchild here at the end of May. So come that time, uh, I'm sure there's going to be a lot more gray hairs with uh there being a baby coming in. So I'm sure that'll happen there too, as well. But that is um Buddy's Beard Care again, uh Buddy's Beard Care.com, promo code Mike Bono, save yourself 15% off of those two, as well. Uh Buddy's Beard Care has been with us now, coming up on a little bit over a year. Um, now that I've been using the products and he's been on board. Uh, real happy to have Buddy on. So shout out to you, buddy. Um, hope you know you're killing it on stage and you got a busy schedule too, as well. Uh, but we're happy to have you on board. Another sponsor that has been on here for a while. Uh they've been on since uh, I think they're on their third season now with us, and that is Tactical Brotherhood. Uh Tactical Brotherhood is a company that it was founded by veterans, um, for veterans, and all um, if not not all, sorry, most of the proceeds do go to uh helping veterans with their uh physical and mental health. Uh, I support our veterans. I have a lot of military in my family. My wife has a lot of military in her family. Uh, so we are always wanting to support them. Uh the products are great, uh, they're comfortable. Uh, they all have great messages on them too as well. Fitty, I know you've seen them um around. Obviously, they've been they've been around with us for a couple of seasons now. So just take us through a little bit of your thoughts on tactical brotherhood.

SPEAKER_01 14:24

Yeah, so for people that don't know, it was really established to help the veterans that that work through COVID, whether it's first responders, police, you know, you can even throw your medical personnel in there, right? People who were really at the front lines dealing with the public during that public health crisis. So, you know, you had a lot of people unfortunately um have not just physical ailments from dealing with the COVID pandemic, but also uh mental ailments. So um, and unfortunately some issues there. So, you know, yeah, the petrichal brotherhood jumped up. There, their proceeds do go help supporting veterans, which is a great cause. And, you know, I know Mike has that on the on the post-roll and the or the pre-roll when you do listen to the show. Um, so I think it is great for that. You know, we are a very um proud um veterans show. We we've had veterans on here, people that have served proudly, from police officers and fire firemen and fire, you know, even women, um, and also people who served in the military. You know, four members of my fan family served proudly in three global conflicts. So, you know, we're definitely very happy to have them on. Um, and you know, we love our veterans and our first responders. So, you know, we're definitely happy to share a little bit of insight for them here and give them some love on uh you know ride home rants.

Tactical Brotherhood’s Mission

SPEAKER_00 15:37

Yeah, I mean I I I love their shirts and their their clothing line too as well. Um, that they have just some of the messages that they have on the shirts. Uh they do have funny sayings too on there, too, as well, but it's all military themed. Uh um like they sent uh me, obviously, just the standard tactical brotherhood across the uh the chest with that. But they uh they knew I had a son who was interested in the military. Uh they sent me a complimentary shirt for him. Uh and they knew my wife had uh military members in her family. Uh her father and her grandfather, uh 106th airborne screaming eagles. Uh, he's no longer with us, uh, but we are very proud of that. And they sent her a shirt, and on the back says, I got your six, and it has a big screaming eagle on it, which we thought was awesome. Uh that that came through uh for us. They listened to us and they they sent that out to us. Um my son, uh, he was thinking about he's still kicking around uh joining the Marines after high school. Uh so they sent him a uh Marine Corps green uh t-shirt, Tactical Brotherhood, um, and has Semperfy on the back of it, which again thought was pretty cool for them to listen to that, get to know me a little bit better, and then send those complimentary shirts for us. Uh, again, on Patreon, you'll be able to see those uh shirts uh that I wear uh during the shows. Uh, you're gonna have to go back a few seasons to be able to see a couple of those. Um, I've had a lot of other sponsors that have come on too as well that I'm trying to show love to. But Tactical Brotherhood, Mike Bono, save yourself 10% off of their purchases there. Again, everything's going to a great cause. Part of every proceeds uh from everything that is bought is going to uh first responders, veterans, uh, mental and physical health. Huge thing for us. Um, and we're always happy to support that. Uh Finney, which one uh the great sponsors uh next would you like to talk about?

SPEAKER_01 17:45

Yeah, maybe let's go into uh talking about golf and gearing up for golf season here with March. Um let's talk about Shankin Golf.

SPEAKER_00 17:51

I love Shankin Golf. I I'm such a fan of Shank Golf. I was so happy when they came on board. Um golf apparel. I mean, I'm not the best golfer in the world, but um I love their polos. They're great, they're comfortable. Uh they've sent me a couple of hats uh that again I will be uh rocking in the golf out in come May. Um the funny sayings that they have on all of their their golf equipment that they send sent us. Uh I actually went on and bought a ball marker. Um and it says three putt king, which is just perfect for me. Um with the funny sayings that they have on their on their apparel that they have. Uh they have one. Um I'm debating on which golf towel I want to use if I'm gonna switch it up because we are playing two courses come May uh in one day. Uh but one of them is for Star Wars Day, and instead of May the fourth be with you, it says may the course be with you, um, which I thought was pretty cool, has a lightsaber uh that turns into a golf club, which is hilarious to me. Um and being a comedian, you know, them having the funny sayings on all of their things, like the other golf towel says I use this towel to wash my balls. Um, it's just these double entendres that I think are hysterical to me. And I love golf. I just don't get to get out as much as I would like to uh with my busy schedule. Uh I don't believe you golf that much, or have you uh in the past, Betty?

SPEAKER_01 19:28

No, no, I'm much more of a um, if everybody knows me, contact sport guy, boxing, football, you know, even my I love my tracking field. But no, I don't have the patience to golf. I think anybody that knows me on like a personal level knows if there was ever someone who would act like Happy Gilmore on the golf course, it would be me. And I wouldn't be good driving the ball 400 yards, driving about 40 yards and throw the club maybe 80 yards. Um, so yeah, no, I I play a mean game of putt-putt, but uh, but yeah, regular golf on the golf course, just can't do it. I just can't do it.

SPEAKER_00 20:04

Yeah, I don't see you as a golfer for sure. Uh I love my contact sports too, but um got into golf at an early age. My uh my grandmother golfed uh a lot, she would take me out all the time. Uh grandfather actually had his pro card um and was a big golfer, so uh got into golf uh you know at an early age. I'm not that good at it. Um, I mainly go out to have fun uh with my buddies, which is all what shank it golf is about. Now, obviously, there are some actual golfers that use shank it golf, um, but I I like it for the funny sayings and for the comedic value of it, being a comedian myself. Uh shank it golf, promo code Mike Bono, save yourself 20% off of all of their stuff there. Uh again, Shankit Golf, promo code Mike Bono. Um that one is they've been around for a while now, too. I think they're coming on their second season with us, if not their third. They were one of the one of the first ones to come on board. I'm trying to remember if it was two or three. I think it's three seasons now, if not more.

SPEAKER_01 21:16

Mike, I think this is their season since we're in season six, this is their fourth season.

SPEAKER_00 21:20

This is their fourth season. Yeah, okay.

SPEAKER_01 21:22

I'm almost positive.

Shankit Golf Gear & Humor

SPEAKER_00 21:23

Yep. Oh, yeah, they're yeah, they're they've been around um a little bit. So that would mean Tactical Brotherhood. This is on their fourth or fifth season then. Um because they were one of the first sponsors we landed was Tactical Brotherhood, and Shankit Golf came on shortly after. So yeah. Um fourth season for Shankit Golf uh of the Ride Home Rans podcast. We're super happy to have them on board again. Shankitgolf.com. Promo code MikeBono. Save yourself 20%. And get out and hit the links, everybody. I mean, even if it's putt-pipe, who cares? Uh, get yourself some Shanket Golf gear. You can rock it uh on and off the course. And just get out and have some fun and golf. Uh, can't wait for my golf outing again in May, uh, with a couple good buddies of mine that I haven't gotten to see since college days. So it's gonna be it's gonna be a lot of fun to get out and and reconnect with them and and just have some fun on the course for sure. Um I feel like there's one sponsor we're leaving out for this show here. Um who am I forgetting? Um we got buddy oh, Deemed Fit. Oh, there it is. Yep, I'm saying there's there was one more before we get into the newest one with Web Western. Uh, but Deemed Fit also uh a first responder based uh clothing apparel company, um helping them again with mental and physical health, too, as well. Another clothing company that wants to jump on board with us, uh, mainly for the first responders that work during the COVID pandemic. Um, again, everyone on the front lines, this is going to them too as well. Um, these ones have messages on them too as well. Uh, but it is a lot of positive uh messages on there. Uh their you got this line uh reminds them that no matter what you're going through, there are people behind you. You do have the support that you're gonna need. Um don't be afraid uh to go out and get it. Uh their are you okay line, again, reminding you that just because people put on a happy face doesn't mean everyone is always doing great. And just reminds you to check in with everybody and just as we say at the end of every episode, be a friend and tell a friend. You know, if somebody is needing you there, um, just be that support for them. Um, I'm a big fan of you know just supporting others. That's why we have all these great sponsors on the show. Uh, that's why I'm always giving people shameless plugs and shout-outs on here uh because I want to be able to help them. But a lot of friends um that were uh police officers and firefighters. I have a buddy who has been on the show before, Harry Myers. Um, he was a police officer for as long as I can remember, uh, knowing him uh growing up, he was actually the canine unit in my hometown and has since moved over to the fire department in Wheeling, West Virginia. So he uh has done and seen both sides of the coin uh being in fire uh and police. He's also a paramedic now on the uh firefighting on the for the fire department in wheeling. So kudos to Harry. Shameless plug, shameless shout-out for your for your fire department there in Wheeling. Um, I know you I always see you on TikTok, you guys are doing big things there too as well, but deemed fit um is for anybody in our for your first responders that doesn't disclude the medical professionals out there, um, the nurses, the doctors, everybody that was on the front lines during the pandemic. Um this is a company for you too as well. We want to be able to support that in any way we can. So anybody that goes on, all of these links, by the way, are in the description of every show. Um, if you can't remember which um website to go to, and the promo codes uh will be on there too as well, and attached to those too as well. Uh so just click the links in the in the description in the bios of these uh episodes, and you'll be able to take yourself right to these websites and get these great products, but deemed fit. So uh Fiddie, tell me a little bit about more about uh some of your favorite things about Deemed Fit.

SPEAKER_01 25:57

Yeah, I I think that like we we gotta have we we have said um it's the messages, right? It's the supporting people. And I think that's the great thing about really all of our sponsors, right? Is they support someone somehow, some way, some small business, some endeavor, you know, whatever it may be. And I swear it's about Web Western still, but I just like all the messages that that we have, you know, and the fact these are really small business owners, you know, that um that you know help us because we are a small podcast trying to find our way. But you know, thankful for all the great sponsors over the past uh you know six years with uh with hanging with us. But that's probably what I would say about the deemed deemed fit but all of them though. They're you know, just go out, check them, check them out. And for people that don't know, the great descriptions that you see for all the shows um is all Mike. So shout out to Mike on that because that was the AI. Companion that we got to list all of the great uh websites for everyone and all the details of the show. Um, so you know, that's just something to shout out as well. But um, you know, definitely check out the websites, everyone. I think it's it's well worth it to at least browse, you know, and you know, every purchase does, you know, change someone's life in a positive way. You know, you get to grow a great message or support a small business, and you're helping a small business grow. So just my my shameless plug there as well.

Deemed Fit’s Supportive Messages

SPEAKER_00 27:12

Yeah, we're we're always about shameless plugs. Yeah, I I I love it. I appreciate the shout out there with the descriptions. Uh the AI companion has been a big help uh with that, uh for sure, and making sure I get everything in there for all of these great sponsors, and I don't miss anything with that. Um Deemed Fit. Uh, again, promo code Mike Bono will save yourself 10% off of those two as well. Um, and it's deemed fit.co um for them. Again, Mike Bono promo code 10% off. And the last one that we were going to talk about is the newest one to the show. Uh, they have been on for a couple of months now. They came out and they rounded out, I believe, season five at the very end of the season there. And then we've been on since season six now, and that is Webb Western, uh, clothing company. For those of you who aren't afraid of hard work, uh, people that like to live off the land. Dylan Webb, uh, a former rancher, um, turned entrepreneur into this, is the one who started this company. Um, they say they're a no-bs company, and I believe it. Uh, they love hunting, fishing, uh, living off the land, and working the land. You can find them all over social media now. They are becoming a huge social media presence uh on there with Web Western and trying to get their hat line out there. They are starting into the clothing department too. It is mainly hats. I am wearing uh their antler one for their bow hunters out there with the arrow through it. And the arrow doesn't just mean for bow hunting, it is to remind everyone to be a straight shooter. Uh, they have just found out that there's been you know kind of a lot of fluff that's been out there, and we don't need that anymore. We need to just be straight shooters with everybody and just roll with the punches and don't be afraid of hard work because it will get you somewhere. Look at all the great small businesses that are a part of this show, and you know, even this show in general. Uh, Johnny and I have been working tirelessly for six years on this show, and it is growing, and we are proud of where we are at. Um, so that is part of the reason I wanted Web Western to come on, and I'm glad they did. Um, somebody when you grow up in the country of West Virginia too as well, it's it's a great cut, it's a great uh company to to work with you. Uh Bitty, I know they're they're newer to us here too as well, but take us through your thoughts on Web Western.

SPEAKER_01 29:52

Yeah, I think they're a great addition, right? Especially because um they're just a different type of apparel, right? If you don't want the tactical brotherhood or you don't want the golf stuff, right? Um, you don't want the messages from Dean Fit. Like if you just want a hat, you want to go work on the land, or you want to go fishing in the streams of West Virginia, or you know, go hunting or hiking in the rolling hills of Virginia or wherever, Appalachia or you know, the Rockies. I think it's just a great thing to have. Um, you know, and I and I think too the to be the straight shooter thing is really cool, right? I think most people appreciate when you can be direct. Being direct in a kind way, though, right? So be a straight shooter, you know, just be kind, be be direct with people. I think people will really appreciate that. So I think it's a good message for everyone to be a straight shooter. And I think we've had enough people on here um who probably would appreciate that, being, you know, outdoorsy people and being involved, or you know, our first responders or police officers, whatever they may be. So I think they'd they would probably also enjoy um you know some of those uh some of those sayings with um with Web Westerns. So yeah, I think they've been a they've been a great addition.

SPEAKER_00 30:58

Yeah, they've they've definitely been a great addition. I was I was pumped. I've been watching their stuff for a while. Um seeing them kind of start to creep onto my feeds on uh Facebook and everything like that and Instagram. And took a shot in the dark and reached out to them. Uh wanted to see if they wanted to come on board, was pumped when they said they did. Uh sent me some complimentary hats again. They sent me one, they sent my wife one, and they sent my son one. Um and uh shamelessly, I went on and I ordered more. I have about five different hats from Web Western um and I love every single one of them. Um, if I can get my son to stop stealing them uh from me, that would be great. Uh, because he loves them too as well. Um, but yeah, we're really happy to have them on um on board. Uh WebWestern.com promo code Mike Bono will save yourself 10% off of all of their stuff. Um, they have great hats. Go and check them out. They have them for everything. Uh they've even started to dabble lately in the golfing era uh for people that just want to get out there too. Again, you're you're not working the land, but you're on the land out there golfing. Um so go out, check them out, webwestern.com, promo code Mike Mono. Save yourself 10%. That is all of the curr sponsors that are on board here for the Ride Home Rants podcast. I wanted to get all of them in first um and talk about them. Um, Fiddy, I'm gonna turn it over to you because we've had other people come on in other ways um to help us out. And I'll let you talk a little bit more about some of them too as well, and we'll get dive into that.

Meet Webb Western & Ethos

SPEAKER_01 32:45

Yeah, for sure. So the people that have been listening for six years, right? You you've seen the progression with our sponsors, with doing the reads, right? When the when the show would actually start, to then, you know, having in the intro music to then pre-and post-role recordings. And that's all really come about from a couple of different things, right? When the show started, um we didn't have an intro. Um, you know, we had uh one of my friends on Speedo, um, who loves music, and you know, he created the intro for uh, you know, Ride Home Rants here. So shout out Speedo, he's a great musician, knows a lot about music, the music, you know, industry, music tech. So he he had the intro start. So it made it a little bit easier to start flowing into the sponsors, right? And when you're starting out, when you don't hardly have you know any momentum here, and you're trying to find sponsors, and we're bringing all these different people on pretty much every week. Um, you know, our sponsors have come from a lot of different, you know, methods. You know, the ones Mike has are locked in with commission and sales and the discounts and things of that nature. The other sponsors we've had off and on, like um Nick Tombo, who's been an individual guest and on a few times with Coach's Dry Rub. When Nick was on the first time, um, he sent Mike and I some dry rub from his dry rub business. So shout out Coach's Dry Rub. Um, so we did we did a sponsor read for him, I think, for a month. So we said, Nick, what do you want us to say? You sent us both dry rub to test out, um, you know, and then we went from there. And then another thing that we did was uh with him was that we um we had him on or he wanted to sponsor, I think May is um like National Barbecue Month or something like that, national cookout month. So he wanted to be a part of that. So uh we went forward with doing that. He sent him on to some of the guests that we had, which was really, really cool. Um, so we had that going on. So he wanted to be a part of that. I think that was about three years ago now. Um, we've had on um Wendy Coonash for people that have listened to a lot of the roundtables. Wendy's a staple of the show. Um, I think back five years ago, she gave Mike and I beanies for her um company that she works for in the real estate business. So Mike and I wrote a um, you know, a sponsorship uh write up for her, and we listed that for five weeks just because she sent us the hats and still wear that hat, you know, all the time. Um, you know, our um one of our first season guests, Dana, um, owned a candle business, and you know, she paid uh for I think a month promo uh read. So, you know, it was that, and then Lando with the hats rolled in and just having them on and doing it a couple of times and then going from there. So, you know, he's had a lot of um guests on like that, which is which is pretty cool. Um we've also done a small business roundtable show a few years back and let those guests also talk about their business and have that on as almost like a promotional read for themselves. Um, so it's been pretty cool, you know, still working out some other things. But really basically what we'll do is, you know, if you want to come on the show, you know, get a hold of Mike and I, we're happy to do from one week to really, you know, a duration of time with being a sponsor. Um, we'll do anything from exchanges of wearing your gear on the show or around town to, you know, a monetary um a gift to ride home rants. And it's you know, pretty, pretty nominal when you think about all the listeners that are going to hear your show, um especially with all the countries that we are located in within. So, yeah, so if anybody's interested, you know, you can always hit up Mike or hit up myself. We're happy to collaborate, talk. And um, you know, even Mike could potentially work out some other trades with you if you have a show and you want him to go on. You know, you've been on this. Um, one of the other former guests, Austin, used to have a sports um business. Um, and we sponsored his all-star baseball game one time, and then Mike's been on the show a bunch. So we would do, or Mike was on a show a few times with Austin, or you know, and then Austin was on a few times. So we did some exchanges with promo reads on that as well. So yeah, we're happy to always collab and do some different uh different ones. I probably missed a couple people in there, Mike, but I want to definitely give all the listeners a gist of how we, you know, um how we codependent with our sponsors when they when they send us stuff and how we you know enable them to have our uh have our listeners um hear what they're about and then have us wear their materials.

SPEAKER_00 37:16

Yeah, I'm always happy to uh do that, especially if anybody uh sends us anything. I will rock it on not just a show here, um, for everyone that's watching on the Patreon too as well. Um we'll see all the gear too as well. Um, I don't just wear it on the show, I do wear it out and around town. Um I will wear it on stage too as well, when I'd have any type of uh comedy show that would pop up that I could be on. I'm always down to help anybody out in any way, shape, or form that we can. Uh, that was part of the reason we started with the guest, is I just wanted to be able to help people. Um, and the show is heard in a lot of different countries. I think we're up to like 39 or 40 different countries right now um that the show is heard in. I'd have to double check the stats. Freddie, I know you're kind of the the numbers guy here um with that, but fitty keeps me in line with the numbers and he loves diving into those.

SPEAKER_01 38:24

Um I have so yeah, so we we actually are a little off on that. We're we're in 81 countries in the United in the world, um 80 after the United States, um, with our biggest um two through ten, I'll just read them off for Germany, Brazil, the Netherlands, Singapore, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and Ireland. Yeah, are our next uh nine biggest ones right after the United States. So we are definitely heard in a lot of places. Um but probably some of the biggest ones, though, Germany, Brazil, the Netherlands, Singapore are top top five. So yeah, you're heard there, and then uh as of today, which is the day before the show's release, we're heard in 1,669 cities worldwide, um, with people's um promos being heard in the top ten places like Zanesville, Ohio, Cleveland, Ohio, Columbus, Ohio, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Youngstown, Ohio, Menor, Ohio, Ashburn, Virginia, Dallas, Texas, North Bergen, New Jersey, and Grahua Maro Marajano as rounding out the top 10. Um, so you know, you are definitely heard in a lot of places when you're a sponsor here.

How Sponsorships Evolved

SPEAKER_00 39:41

Yeah, that's what one thing that I know uh definitely wanted to get out there. I knew you would you would have those readily available and be able to see that. I I haven't looked at how many countries actually were in a while. Um, but yeah, that's just phenomenal stuff there too, as well. So get out, get heard uh on this show. Uh, we are always down to to do it. Um, if you want to get a hold of us in the description of every episode, there is a link where you can send us a quick message. Uh send us a text. Um, it will pop up through my phone and through my email, so I will be able to see that. I do respond to those as quickly as I possibly can with them coming through. Uh so excuse me, but yeah, that is one thing we like to do is to be able to help anybody out. Um, and we're always searching for new people to help out and new people to come on board. Again, like Fiddy said, I am always down to cross-promote. If you have a show, I will come on yours. I will bring you on ours um so that we can get everything out there for everybody. Um, and again, just to be on the show, we don't charge anything um other than uh some social media posts, is all we ask um to come onto the show for all of the guests on there. Um and we're up to 283 episodes. I think we are 84. I think that's what makes 284 uh now. Um so we've been at it for a while, but that's kind of where we are at with the with the sponsorships. And I can see you diving into it already, Fitty. I know you're gonna fact check my my stats with uh how many episodes we've actually done.

SPEAKER_01 41:30

We have done I'm looking right now. Um I'm gonna dive back into this real quick, but I'm pretty sure we are this episode will be 285 in six years.

SPEAKER_00 41:45

Okay. Yep. So yeah, we've we've been out a lot. We um keep pumping these shows out every week. So weekly, your your stuff will be heard on here. Uh, that is what we like to do and what we're willing to do for anybody that is out there. Um that's kind of all I got for the sponsors, Fitty. If you have any last words you'd like to get out there, and then we can wrap up this episode.

SPEAKER_01 42:10

Yeah, for sure. And the thing is as well, right? If you come on as a sponsor, um, and you know you're putting to a pre-roll or post-roll, um, it's not just the newest show that you're on. Uh, these sponsors can be heard the whole way back to Mike's original show six years ago. I mean, the first guest show with myself up to really the present day, right? So if people are going back and downloading, you know, seasons one episode or three or four or whatever it may be, your sponsorship will still be heard because everybody is tied into the same pre-roll and post-roll on this. So it's just something to think about, you know, for yourself, right? The the the show is has has done great. Um, you know, for two guys really didn't know what we were doing. So, you know, just come jump aboard and you know, give it a try. And, you know, when I looked at just some numbers here real quick, right? We're where you are heard in 81 countries. There's 195 recognized countries in the world. So we are downloaded in 41.3% of the entire world's countries. So um, you know, being a sponsor is a good way to get yourself just out there, just get more information. And um, for people that don't know, as well, right? When when you're on the show and you repost about being on the show, everything um is being marketed and promoted that way too, right? People are seeing us about the show and they're learning more about you. So um I think we we do a good job with that marketing and that promotion, even with non-sponsors, because when you are on the show, you are sponsoring a show with that episode, because then you're reposting all about us. So um just shout out to all of our sponsors, you know, definitely check them out, right? You know, the the world needs more small uh business support. Um, you know, so definitely give them a whirl and uh you know try them out. And a lot of the guests that are on um who are the sponsors all have, of course, you know, social media pages too. So if you're not interested in wanting to go to the website, just go to their social media page and check them out. But that's not I got up for that, Mike.

SPEAKER_00 44:09

Yeah, absolutely. Um, you hit the nail right on the head. Um, I don't think there's anything that needs to be added to that. Check everybody out, uh, for sure. Uh, even the ones that we mentioned that have been on before and have helped out before, check them out for sure, too, as well, with everything. And uh with that being said, that is going to do it for this week's episode of the Ride Home Rants podcast. Uh, again, I want to thank all of the wonderful sponsors on the show. Uh, Johnny for coming on and doing this with me here, too, as well. Uh, getting to sit down and actually talk about these uh great companies and be able to get them out there and just to show just about them. Uh I'd love to do that and love to help them out. And as always, if you enjoyed the show, be a friend. Tell a friend. If you didn't, tell them anyways. They might like it just because you didn't. That's gonna do it for me, and I will see y'all next week.