Straight Talk – an ISSA Podcast
Straight Talk, an ISSA podcast, presents a curated playlist of the hottest topics facing the cleaning industry today—from health and safety to infection prevention to innovative products to business development and much more. ISSA, the worldwide cleaning association, brings together the top experts and decision makers give our listeners and members the most up-to-date information for their businesses.
Episodes
479 episodes
Good Salespeople Fail in Bad Systems
If your sales team isn’t hitting its numbers, the instinct is often to blame the people. But what if the real problem is the system they’re operating in?
Breaking Away: How Contractors Are Growing Without TPAs or Franchises
There's a growing movement in the restoration industry—one that says independent contractors don't need a franchise or a TPA to build a thriving business. Trusted Restorer has been making that case for years, and under its recently refreshed id...
Navigating the Storm: Why Good Data is Your Business Playbook
If your cleaning business feels harder to run right now, you’re not imagining it. Rising costs, labor challenges, and constant uncertainty are putting pressure on every part of the operation. But what if the answer isn’t working harder—it’s wor...
What Really Matters When You're Ready to Sell
You had a great year. Revenue is up. The phone kept ringing. So when you call a broker and float the idea of selling, you expect excitement on the other end of the line. Here is why that may fall flat.
When Growth Works Against You
Growth should feel like progress—but for many businesses, it creates more problems than it solves. In this episode, we take a closer look at the leadership decisions that determine whether growth actually scales or simply adds stress, complexit...
Women in Leadership: Building Confidence, Taking Chances, and Shaping the Future
What does it take to lead—and succeed—at the highest levels of the cleaning industry? In this episode, we sit down with three dynamic women leaders in manufacturing and distribution to explore the real drivers behind their success.
Stop Using One AI Tool for Everything
Are you using ChatGPT for everything? You might be slowing yourself down without even realizing it. In this episode, we break down a smarter way to use AI: matching the right tool to the right job. From writing and research to strategy, numbers...
The Trust Factor: An Inside Look at RIA’s new Ethics Framework
Why do ethics matter in restoration? Because trust is everything. In this conversation, Saima Hedrick, CEO of the Restoration Industry Association, and Justin Woodard, the RIA President Elect, discuss why ethics are not just a talking poin...
Why Air Quality is the New Five-Star Standard
Indoor air quality and mold are no longer just operational concerns—they’re central to guest experience, brand reputation, and long-term building health. In this conversation, Doug Hoffman of NORMI and John Greenwell of EcoLife Asia share how g...
Policy in Motion: Why the IICRC Legislative Fly-In Matters to You
What happens in Washington, D.C., doesn’t stay in Washington—it impacts every corner of the cleaning and restoration industry. In this conversation, we explore the IICRC Legislative Fly-In, where industry professionals meet directly with Congre...
A Quiet Change in Xactimate Could Cost You on Every Job
A small change to a software setting… with a big impact. In this conversation, we break down the updated labor efficiency settings in Xactimate and what they mean for disaster restoration professionals.
The Rise of the Robotic Workforce: Who Will Manage the Machines?
Robotics is reshaping the cleaning industry—but the real story goes beyond machines. In this episode, we explore how automation is addressing labor shortages, improving consistency, and introducing new ways to manage cleaning operations through...
The Rise of the Robotic Workforce: Who Will Manage the Machines?
Robotics is reshaping the cleaning industry—but the real story goes beyond machines.In this episode, we explore how automation is addressing labor shortages, improving consistency, and introducing new ways to manage cleaning operations t...
How ABM Industries Is Turning CIMS Into a Competitive Advantage
What does it take to deliver consistent, high-quality cleaning at scale—while also meeting growing demands for sustainability?In this conversation with ABM, one of the world’s largest facility solutions providers, we explore how ISSA’s C...
RJ Schinner: Built to Last With Plenty of Growth on the Horizon
RJ Schinner is a behind-the-scenes force in the cleaning industry supply chain, serving distributors across janitorial and sanitation, foodservice, paper, and other commercial markets. In this ISSA member spotlight, Jeff Cross sits ...
The Caring Nurse Who Cleaned for Cancer Patients—Then She Became the Patient
In this powerful and heartfelt conversation, Richard Leaton shares a deeply personal story about compassion, service, and the full-circle impact of Cleaning for a Reason.After years of giving back through her work as a Navy oncology nurs...
The Discipline Behind Consistent Results
Success isn’t built on big moments—it’s built on consistent habits. In this conversation, we explore how disciplined habits in preparation, communication, and follow-through can transform performance and build long-term credibility. From showin...
Why Better Sales Training Won't Fix Your Sales Problem
Most sales problems aren’t actually sales training problems—they’re structural. In this conversation, we introduce “The Navigator’s Chart,” a four-layer framework for building a successful sales organization.
Activate Your Ghost Protocol to Keep Candidates From Disappearing
If you’ve hired in the past few years, you’ve probably experienced it: A promising candidate applies, interviews well, maybe even accepts the job … and then disappears. No call. No email. Just silence. Here's how to avoid all of this.
Think Beyond the Contract: How Customer Lifetime Value Changes Everything
Most cleaning business owners are focused on one thing: the next job. But what if the real opportunity for growth isn’t in constantly chasing new customers—but in maximizing the value of the ones you already have?In this conversation, w...
Spotless Spaces: How the American Museum of Natural History Sets the Standard for Clean
What does it take to maintain a world-class facility that welcomes millions of visitors each year—without missing a beat on cleanliness?In this conversation, ISSA Media Director Jeff Cross visits with Michael Freshour, the Facility Mana...