Skip to content
The Official BNI Podcast artwork

The Official BNI Podcast

Dr. Ivan Misner·300 episodes

BusinessEntrepreneurshipMarketingEducationSelf ImprovementShort episodesReferral marketingBusiness networkingActionable adviceWeeklyBNI members

Referral marketing tips from Dr. Ivan Misner, Founder and Chief Visionary Officer of BNI

Why listen

The Official BNI Podcast gives you short, practical lessons on referral marketing, business networking, and chapter leadership from BNI founder Dr. Ivan Misner. Episodes are usually under 15 minutes, with a mix of solo teaching, guest examples, and classic replays, making it useful for entrepreneurs, sales professionals, and BNI members who want specific habits they can apply right away.

Series(2)

Episodes

12 min
Jun 3, 2026Episode 963
The Power of “Feel, Felt, Found”

Whether you re managing a BNI chapter or negotiating with a client, "Feel, Felt, Found" helps you win by aligning.

13 min
May 27, 2026Episode 962
Time and Money (Classic)

Shirley Towne returns to the podcast to explain why some visitors hesitate to join BNI and how to address their concerns.

12 min
May 20, 2026Episode 961
Hard Work vs. Luck

Without effort, luck is useless. Hard work doesn't guarantee success, but without it, success is almost guaranteed not to happen.

12 min
May 13, 2026Episode 960
Why Most Leaders Fail

As leaders, we have two jobs: to set the vision and to remove obstacles. Use "The 3D Fix:" Discernment, Discipline, and Diligence.

12 min
May 6, 2026Episode 959
Make Yourself Referrable

You can't refer someone you can't remember. Laura Reid shares a simple framework to make yourself referrable with one memorable story.

12 min
Apr 29, 2026Episode 958
How You Stand Changes Who You Meet (Classic)

If you have an open stance, you're going to meet a lot of people that you may not have had an opportunity to meet in the past.

12 min
Apr 22, 2026Episode 957
Two Beers and a Puppy

Bradley Page shares Ross McCammon's "Two Beers and a Puppy" test and how it fits in with the concepts in Who's In Your Room?

11 min
Apr 15, 2026Episode 955
You Can't Think Your Way into Transformation

Have you ever known you should do something and not done it? You can't think your way into transformation: you have to live it.

12 min
Apr 8, 2026Episode 955
Vision without Execution Is Wishful Thinking

Execution turns vision into lasting results. You need a clear vision, defined systems of execution, and a culture of accountability.

12 min
Apr 1, 2026Episode 954
Protect Your Network

A year after leaving BNI, Kameron Thorne lost 48% of his business. Today he shares what he learned about protecting your network.

13 min
Mar 25, 2026Episode 952
Growth in Difficult Times (Classic)

Belief, passion, and leadership are the keys to business growth in difficult times. Why accept mediocrity when excellence is an option?

13 min
Mar 18, 2026Episode 952
Positive Attitude is a Competitive Advantage

Positive attitude is one of the top two characteristics of great networkers. Realism with hope attached builds trust faster than credentials.

14 min
Mar 11, 2026Episode 951
The Curse of Complexity

This is the curse of complexity: what starts as improvement turns into friction, and what starts as innovation turns into inertia.

13 min
Mar 4, 2026Episode 950
The Growth Mindset

John Rivers explains how to apply a growth mindset to your BNI chapter by dedicating 15 minutes a day to inviting visitors and following up.

14 min
Feb 25, 2026Episode 949
Coaching a Chapter to Greatness (Classic)

How can your chapter benefit from coaching? Mark Breves shares actions the BNI Founder Chapter took to grow from 20 to 35 members.

13 min
Feb 18, 2026Episode 948
How to Be a Friend

Reliability builds trust faster than charisma ever will. Follow through consistently. Friendship in networking is all about being safe.

12 min
Feb 11, 2026Episode 947
Guinness Networking World Record

BNI now holds the Guinness World Record for the most people attending a speed networking event: 1108 BNI members, 20,000 rounds, 90 minutes.

13 min
Feb 4, 2026Episode 946
Small Talk

Small talk doesn't have to be shallow. It is a bridge to meaningful conversation, and it can show warmth, approachability and confidence.

12 min
Jan 28, 2026Episode 945
Turning Personal Connections Into Relationships

If you're stuck at the Visibility stage of the VCP process, here are some strategies to make the shift to Credibility and Profitability.

17 min
Jan 21, 2026Episode 944
Don't Let Your Group Deflate While You Wait (Classic)

Don't let your group deflate while you wait to go back to meeting in person. Stop making excuses and start getting results.

12 min
Jan 14, 2026Episode 943
What to Say to Boring People

It's not the person you're talking to who's boring. You can't have an interesting conversation with anyone without being interested.

13 min
Jan 7, 2026Episode 942
Engaging Long-Time Members

Tim Roberts and Ivan Misner explain why mentoring new BNI members is the best way for long-time members to stay engaged.

13 min
Dec 17, 2025Episode 941
My Personal Story

All BNI members speak the language of Givers Gain®. Attending BNI's national and global events opens up a world of referrals.

11 min
Dec 10, 2025Episode 940
Holiday Party Networking

Everybody goes to parties during the holiday season. To make the most of holiday party networking, here are a few things to keep in mind.

14 min
Dec 3, 2025Episode 939
When Is Two Not Better Than One? (Classic)

The divided loyalties of members who belong to more than one BNI group create serious trust issues in both chapters.

14 min
Nov 26, 2025Episode 937
Legal Spheres in BNI

Seventeen attorneys in one BNI Chapter? Barry Stein joins the podcast to explain how narrow specialization brings more business to everyone.

13 min
Nov 19, 2025Episode 936
Try Smart Talk, Not Small Talk

Effective business networking is about smart talk, not small talk. The right message in the right setting creates instant credibility.

13 min
Nov 12, 2025Episode 936
Why New Members Struggle

When new members get referrals right away, they become more committed to the chapter, believe in the process, and invest more in others.

11 min
Nov 5, 2025Episode 935
Choose the Lense You See the World Through (Classic)

You can choose to see the world through a lens that lets you deal most effectively with the hand you've been dealt.

10 min
Oct 29, 2025Episode 934
Comparing Our Inside to Other People’s Outside

Comparison is the thief of joy, so follow Ivan Misner's tips for surviving in the age of social media highlight reels.

9 min
Oct 22, 2025Episode 933
Effort Drives Outcomes

The harder you work, the luckier you get. Luck opens doors, but hard work walks you through them. You won't succeed without it.

10 min
Oct 15, 2025Episode 932
"Hey, could you introduce me to So-and-So?"

Making a bad introduction reduces your future opportunities. Be honest, be respectful, and preserve relationships for the future.

12 min
Oct 8, 2025Episode 931
Navigating Through Fear

Listen to fear---but don't let it drive. Listening to the message fear is giving us helps us find action steps to alleviate it.

10 min
Oct 1, 2025Episode 930
Why Even Have Substitutes?

The substitute program is not about your convenience. It's about bringing value to your BNI meeting when you're not there.

11 min
Sep 24, 2025Episode 929
Education Coordinators (Classic)

Learn how one education coordinator transformed his chapter's Education Moments into lively seminars with active member participation.

12 min
Sep 17, 2025Episode 928
Using LinkedIn to Grow Your Chapter

Tom Etherington explains how to work with the other members of your chapter to develop a strategic visitor invite campaign using LinkedIn.

12 min
Sep 10, 2025Episode 927
Stay in Your Lane = More Givers Gain

Define yourself, clarify your role, build trust, connect specialists, and reap the benefits of Givers Gain®.

13 min
Sep 3, 2025Episode 926
Diamond Chapter Culture

Building a Diamond Chapter with 100+ BNI members requires strategy, accountability, motivation, and measurable goals.

10 min
Aug 27, 2025Episode 925
Opportunity vs. Obligation

If you're asked to take a leadership role in your BNI chapter, look at it as an opportunity, not an obligation.

16 min
Aug 20, 2025Episode 924
The Five Levels of Leadership

Learn how to apply BNI's Core Values to help yourself move through John Maxwell's Five Levels of Leadership.

11 min
Aug 13, 2025Episode 923
So You Want to Meet a Big Name (Classic)

If you want to meet a Big Name in your industry, find someone who knows and trusts you both and ask for an introduction.

12 min
Aug 6, 2025Episode 922
The Power Beneath the Surface

When you join BNI, you get much more than referrals. Beneath the surface are structure, commitment, education, coaching, and mentoring.

12 min
Jul 30, 2025Episode 921
Why Time and Chapter Size Matter

The amount of time that someone stays in a BNI chapter and the size of the chapter make a huge difference in the return on investment.

14 min
Jul 23, 2025Episode 920
No One Cares What You're Saying

Kamryn Reynolds explains that the way to get more referrals is to share why you do what you do in a way that makes your listeners feel good.

8 min
Jul 16, 2025Episode 919
The Easiest and the Worst Time Not to Network

Holidays are a great time to network, so teach your BNI chapter how to identify referral opportunities at events.

12 min
Jul 9, 2025Episode 918
Passion, People, Process (Classic)

Master Passion, People, and Process to become a leader in your industry and create an enterprise that makes a difference in people's lives.

11 min
Jul 2, 2025Episode 917
Show and Tell in Your BNI Presentations

Using props in your BNI presentations helps you demonstrate the value of your services in a specific and memorable way.

13 min
Jun 25, 2025Episode 916
40 Years to Overnight Success

Dr. Misner shares lessons from BNI's past 40 years so your business can experience decades of sustained growth.

12 min
Jun 18, 2025Episode 915
5 More Important Things for Great Networking

Great networkers nurture strategic power teams, are always referable, read the room, tell sticky stories, & show up.

13 min
Jun 11, 2025Episode 914
5 Important Things for Great Networking

The ability to connect, contribute and cultivate opportunity is what transforms ordinary professionals into networking legends.