In late 2021, in partnership with County 10, the Lander Chamber of Commerce launched a new member benefit, the Lander Biz show (now called Fremont Biz) to highlight our expanding membership to the residents of Fremont County and beyond. In less than a year on the air, the podcast/radio program was recognized by the Wyoming Association of Broadcasters (WAB) and awarded second place in its Best Radio Show (Small Market) division. In 2023, the WAB awarded the show first in the same division. Now in 2025, the show has garnered its second first 1st place award from the WAB!
Podcast co-host and co-creator, Lander Chamber CEO Owen Sweeney, noted, “I’m thrilled; this is a remarkable achievement for our relatively small chamber. One of our core functions is to promote our community and the businesses within it, and we were looking for a new way to get the word out about our members; we’ve succeeded beyond our expectations.”
One might be tempted to think that a podcast highlighting business owners touting their goods and services would be a dry affair, but Sweeney observed that show’s success comes chiefly from the “magic” that happens on-air between him and the show’s co-host, County 10’s Charene Herrera, a seasoned morning show and podcast host with a growing influence as a podcasting consultant.
Magic Behind the Mics
“Charene and I didn’t know each other before the show,” observed Sweeney, “but something clicked between the two of us when we got behind the mics. We read each other well, have similar senses of humor, and just have a knack of getting folks to laugh, which helps them relax and feel comfortable sharing their stories. The show’s as much about the people behind the businesses as the businesses themselves, and that’s what makes it appealing to listeners.”
Statewide Influence
The show has had influence far beyond the borders of Fremont County. In 2024, the Wyoming State Chamber of Commerce invited Sweeney and Herrera to speak at its statewide spring conference in Casper. Sweeney shared, “The success of Fremont Biz inspired other Wyoming chambers to explore starting their own podcasts. Charene and I were happy to tell our story and provide some do’s and don’ts. The one thing we stressed more than anything else was the serendipitous nature of our on-air rapport. You can’t expect just any two people to click like we did and achieve near-immediate success; even more than luck, it was providence.”
A Successful Partnership with County 10 and Fremont Toyota
The idea of the show first came about during a conversation between Sweeney and County 10’s CEO Will Hill. That relationship has thrived and, after initial and sustained success, Sweeney approached Fremont Toyota asking whether they’d be interested in sponsoring the show. “Fremont Toyota has been the Lander Chamber’s top supporter for years, particularly in their support of Lander Brewfest,” said Sweeney. “I know they’re always looking for community initiatives to support, so I pitched them on the show, and they loved the idea. I’m especially grateful to Mike Myers, Jeff Running, and Garrott Smith for their enthusiastic support of the Chamber.”
Memorable Episodes
More than one hundred episodes have aired to date, featuring Lander Chamber members from both Lander and Riverton. When asked which episodes stand out to him, Sweeney replied, “Many come to mind, but a few that stand out to me are the Messenger Girls, Maven, NOLS Wilderness Medical Institute with guest host Jerrad Anderson, Fabel’s Furniture, CMBC Building & Restoration, and Summit West CPA Group. There are others for sure that I’m not remembering.”
New Topics to Come
In addition to highlighting its members, Sweeney shared that the Chamber will be expanding the show to include discussions of business-specific topics as well as matters of public policy that can impact businesses and the communities they serve.
Lander Chamber Membership
If you’d like to inquire about Lander Chamber membership and how you can be a guest on the now 3x award winning podcast, contact Member Services Coordinator Grace Jubber at grace@landerchamber.org.
