Send us Fan Mail

What happens when a first time LedgeCon attendee walks into Capitol Hill and discovers the true power of advocacy in the rent to own industry?

In this episode of The RTO Show Podcast, Lauren Talicska shares her experience attending APRO’s LedgeCon 2026 and explains why legislative advocacy, industry relationships, and storytelling matter more than ever in modern rent to own. 

From changing public perception and educating lawmakers to building stronger customer relationships and growing leadership confidence, this conversation explores how the rent to own industry continues evolving through collaboration, community engagement, and proactive advocacy. 

What You’ll Learn:

• Why APRO’s LedgeCon is one of the most important advocacy events in the rent to own industry
•  How Lauren Talicska transitioned from retail marketing into becoming a leading voice in RTO marketing and communications
•  The biggest misconceptions lawmakers and consumers still have about rent to own
•  How customer stories, Google reviews, and community relationships shape the future of RTO advocacy
•  Why confidence, mentorship, and industry collaboration are critical for the next generation of rent to own leaders

Episode Highlights:

• 01:40 – Lauren Talicska shares her first impressions of APRO’s LedgeCon 2026
•  03:19 – Inside Lauren’s role as Vice President of Marketing and Communications at Arona
•  12:20 – Why improv, communication skills, and confidence matter in leadership and marketing
•  15:42 – The fellowship program that introduced Lauren to legislative advocacy on Capitol Hill
•  22:05 – How the RTO industry united around one shared message during meetings with legislators
•  32:43 – The customer stories and Google reviews that changed Lauren’s perspective on rent to own advocacy
•  38:24 – Why rent to own remains a critical solution for customers with limited buying options
•  51:36 – What Lauren learned during the LedgeCon debrief dinner with industry leaders
•  59:10 – The most underrated part of working in rent to own and why relationships matter

Meet the Guest:

Lauren Talicska is the Vice President of Marketing and Communications at Arona Home Essentials. She has more than 30 years of experience in retail advertising, marketing, and customer engagement, and she currently serves on the TRIB Group Board while actively supporting APRO advocacy initiatives in the rent to own industry. 

Tools, Frameworks, or Strategies Mentioned:

• APRO LedgeCon Fellowship Program
•  Rent Direct marketing initiatives
•  Google Reviews and customer feedback strategy
•  Community driven advocacy storytelling
•  Legislative relationship building for the RTO industry
•  Retail marketing and omnichannel communication strategies
•  Mentorship and leadership development within rent to own
•  Industry collaboration through APRO and TRIB Group

Closing Insight:

“People outside the industry often misunderstand rent to own because they do not see the relationships behind it. They do not see the customers, the families, and the communities being helped every single day.”

Support the show

Join The RTO Newsletter: https://bit.ly/RTOPODnewsletter

Subscribe on Apple: https://apple.co/4wpbUqF

Subscribe on Spotify: https://bit.ly/RTOPODspotify

Learn More About Sponsorship: https://bit.ly/RTOPODsponsor