Podcast appearances and mentions of Gary Vaynerchuk

Most people say they want financial breakthrough, but very few are actually walking in the faith it takes to get there. In this episode, Ray Higdon delivers a powerful and challenging message for anyone who feels stuck financially. The problem, Ray says, isn't strategy or timing. It's who you're being every single day, and whether you're truly walking in faith or just claiming to be. Ray draws on scripture, personal stories, and hard-won business experience to unpack what walking in faith actually looks like in practice. He shares the moment his company faced a $1.1 million hotel bill for a major event, how he was led to bring in John Maxwell as a speaker despite the enormous financial pressure, and why that obedience, not logic, produced the breakthrough. He also unpacks the parable of the talents, Abraham's willingness to sacrifice Isaac, and David's posture before Goliath to illustrate what genuine faith-driven decision-making looks like when the numbers don't make sense. This episode will challenge you to stop holding on so tightly to the money you have that you miss the investment God is calling you toward. If every opportunity looks like a cost instead of a door, this message is for you. Ray's raw honesty and faith-based perspective make this one of the most compelling episodes for entrepreneurs and network marketers who want God-led financial growth, not just hustle. —

Quick SummaryMatt Diamante — founder of the Hey Tony Agency — joins host Kelsey for a candid conversation about his winding path from process server to band member to SEO expert. Matt breaks down the foundational steps any small business owner can take to rank on Google, explains how AI search is changing content strategy, and shares the simple daily habit that transformed his referral-only agency into a content-driven machine.In This EpisodeHow Matt accidentally fell into marketing while trying to promote his bandThe unusual jobs (process server, film crew) that shaped how he runs his agencyGrowing an alternative lifestyle blog from zero to 4 million monthly visitors — and what it taught him about hooksThe origin story behind the name "Hey Tony"The three SEO fundamentals every small business needs: Google Business Profile, a multi-page website, and topical authorityWhy most SEO vendors are scamming small businesses — and how to protect yourselfThe AI prompt Matt uses to write unique, expert-driven blog posts in one hourHow SEO is evolving in the age of ChatGPT and AI search enginesWhat two books pushed Matt to post on social media every single day in 2023Why he doesn't batch content — and why he thinks you shouldn't eitherKey TakeawaysEvery page on your website is a door. Service-based businesses should have a dedicated page for every service they offer. If Google doesn't see it, it doesn't know you offer it.Use AI to extract your expertise, not replace it. Instead of asking ChatGPT to "write a blog post," prompt it to interview you with 10 questions and answer in voice mode. The result is genuinely unique content that reflects your experience.Get to the point faster. In the age of AI search, content that buries the answer under a long preamble will lose. Lead with the answer, then go deeper.Reviews require a system, not willpower. Build a consistent ask into every completed transaction. You can incentivize leaving a review — just not a five-star one specifically.Consistency beats perfection. Matt went from 4 hours per video to 5–10 minutes by posting every single day. The skill builds. The ideas flow. Just start.Memorable Quotes"I believe the world is built on small businesses. If I can help good people grow through SEO, they can hire more staff, create jobs, send their kids to college. If I want to make the world a better place, I can do that one small business at a time." — Matt Diamante"SEO is just solving somebody's problem. How do I fix this myself? That's a blog post. How do I hire someone? That's a service page." — Matt Diamante"That's basically how you run a business. You set up a printer in your car and you figure out how to do this more efficiently." — Matt DiamanteResources MentionedInstagram: Search @heytonyagency or Matt Diamante???? Get Found by Matt Diamante — Matt's plain-English SEO book for small business owners???? The One Thing by Gary Keller & Jay Papasan???? Jab, Jab, Jab, Right Hook by Gary Vaynerchuk???? AnswerThePublic.com — tool for finding customer questions to write blog posts around???? ChatGPT / Claude — recommended AI tools for blog post creation???? Hey Tony Inside — Matt's community for small business owners doing their own SEO???? Google Business Profile — free local SEO tool for any brick-and-mortar or service-area businessAbout the GuestMatt Diamante is the founder of Hey Tony Agency, a Canadian digital marketing agency specializing in SEO for small businesses. After growing an alternative lifestyle publication to 4 million monthly visitors, Matt channelled those hard-won content lessons into building an agency, a community, and a book — all aimed at helping small business owners get found online without getting scammed. He has posted on social media every single day since January 2023.

The CPG Guys are joined in this episode by Doug VandeVelde, Chief Growth Officer at WK Kellogg Co, manufacturer of an iconic brand portfolio including Kellogg's Frosted Flakes®, Rice Krispies®, Froot Loops®, Kashi®, Special K®, Kellogg's Raisin Bran®, and Bear Naked®.Follow Doug on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/doug-vandeveldeFollow WK Kellogg Co online at: https://www.wkkellogg.com/Doug answered these questions:95% of Americans are missing their daily fiber, but nobody goes to a Super Bowl party looking for a "health lecture." Why was 2026 the specific moment you decided to use the world's loudest stage to talk about the "Fiber Gap"?Fiber has historically been marketed as a functional necessity for the "older" demographic. How are you using this campaign to pivot the narrative from a "health trend" to a "tasty daily routine" for everyone from Gen Z to Boomers?You partnered with Gary Vaynerchuk's team to bring humor and high-profile talent to a topic as "unsexy" as gut health. How do you, as a 25-year CPG veteran, balance the "legacy brand guardrails" of Kellogg's with the fast-paced, "attention-first" creative style of VaynerMedia?You chose a regional and streaming-first buy for the Big Game rather than a traditional national spot. As Chief Growth Officer, how did you justify the "reach vs. precision" trade-off to your board?Gut health can be clinical and boring. Talk to me about the decision-making process behind using humor. Does "funny" actually move units of Raisin Bran and Mini-Wheats, or is it just about winning the "Ad Meter" rankings?With a streaming-first approach, you have more data than a traditional TV buy. How is WK Kellogg using real-time signals from this campaign to adjust shelf-level execution in the weeks following the game?You've been in this game for over 25 years. What is the one "old school" CPG rule you had to break to make this 2026 Super Bowl campaign a reality?When you go big on a Super Bowl scale, the pressure on the supply chain is immense. How did the $500M modernization of your plants allow you to "lean in" to this demand spike in a way you couldn't have three years ago?Before the campaign went live, did you use AI-driven "attention analytics" or "predictive creative" tools to ensure the humor would land across different demographics, or was this a "gut-feel" (pun intended) decision?If this "Fiber Gap" campaign succeeds, you aren't just selling boxes of cereal—you're changing a category's trajectory. Is the future of WK Kellogg less about "Breakfast" and more about "Functional Wellness"?CPG Guys Website: http://CPGguys.comFMCG Guys Website: http://FMCGguys.comSheCOMMERCE Website: https://shecommercepodcast.com/Rhea Raj's Website: http://rhearaj.comLara Raj in Katseye: https://www.katseye.world/DISCLAIMER: The content in this podcast episode is provided for general informational purposes only. By listening to our episode, you understand that no information contained in this episode should be construed as advice from CPGGUYS, LLC or the individual author, hosts, or guests, nor is it intended to be a substitute for research on any subject matter. Reference to any specific product or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by CPGGUYS, LLC. The views expressed by guests are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. CPGGUYS LLC expressly disclaims any and all liability or responsibility for any direct, indirect, incidental, special, consequential or other damages arising out of any individual's use of, reference to, or inability to use this podcast or the information we presented in this podcast.

12:47 AM   Your prospects don't hate your offer. They feel your desperation. And that's what's killing your sales. In this episode, Ray Higdon gets brutally honest about one of the most overlooked killers of conversion: the energy you bring into every sales conversation. Whether you call it eagerness, pushiness, or commission breath, prospects sense it and it sends them running, even when they actually want what you're selling. Ray breaks down three concrete steps to eliminate desperate energy from your prospecting for good. Step one: talk to more people. When you only have two prospects in your pipeline, desperation is almost unavoidable. When you're consistently reaching out to 30, 40, or 50 people a week, you stop fixating on any single outcome. Step two: stop focusing on your solution and start focusing on the problem your prospect has actually told you about. If you don't know what they're struggling with, it's likely because you've never asked. Step three: develop posture. Posture is the ability to manage the energy of a conversation without chasing, guilting, or pressuring. Ray shares the exact mindset he carried when reaching out to his warm market as he became the number one income earner in his company: "I'm going to do this with or without you." This episode is a masterclass in sales psychology for network marketers, direct sellers, and anyone who's ever felt like they were trying too hard. If you're ready to close more sales by caring less about any one outcome, this is the episode you've been waiting for. —

Most people think getting healthy requires extreme discipline, perfect routines, and complicated fitness advice.In this episode, I speak with Gary Vee's long-time coach Jordan Syatt about the biggest lies we've been sold about health and fitness, and why the simple things often matter most.We talk about walking, longevity, fitness myths, dieting, body image, perfectionism, food addiction, biohacking, health trackers, and why so many people struggle to stay consistent.Jordan also shares his own experience with eating disorders, the lessons he learned from coaching thousands of clients, and why chasing perfection is often what causes people to fail.What I loved about this conversation is that Jordan cuts through the noise. In a world full of extreme advice, he brings the focus back to what actually works.Jordan Syatt is a strength coach, author, educator, and host of The Jordan Syatt Podcast. He is widely known for coaching Gary Vaynerchuk and helping thousands of people improve their health through simple, evidence-based fitness and nutrition principles.Timestamps: (00:00) Introduction: Health Fitness Lies(00:28) Walking For Longevity(02:35) Complexity Vs Basics(04:44) Steps Targets That Work(07:28) All Or Nothing Trap(08:34) Perfectionism Mindset(14:02) Progress Beyond Scale(16:08) Psychology And Motivation(18:03) Food Behavior Addiction(20:50) Exercise Addiction Story(24:11) Jordan's Wrestling Origins(24:36) Weight Cutting And Eating Disorders(27:36) Doctors And Trust Issues(28:23) Doctor Sign Off Loophole(29:56) Finding Strength Training(31:26) Breaking the Binge Cycle(33:51) Coaching Through Experience(35:24) Cutting Through Diet Noise(40:33) Biohacker Nonsense Exposed(42:40) Why Pseudoscience Spreads(47:02) Health Data Obsession(52:03) Simple Habits Win Long Term(53:01) Wrap UpConnect with Nick:Instagram: https://instagram.com/nickbracksWebsite: http://nickbracks.comEmail: contact@nickbracks.comConnect with Jordan: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/syattfitnessWebsite: https://www.sfinnercircle.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

You already know what to do. You know you should lift, you know you should walk, you know protein matters. The information was never the problem. So why do you keep falling off the second life gets busy, and why does it feel like the only thing standing between you and consistency is more discipline you cannot seem to build? Here is the truth most women never hear: it was never just about discipline. I sat down with Jordan Syatt, strength and nutrition coach to Gary Vaynerchuk and a five time world record powerlifter, to talk about the real reason women cannot stay consistent, and it comes down to a "perfectionism" trap that quietly gives you permission to quit every time you fall short. We also get into why walking is one of the most underrated things you can do for your body, the blood markers that tell you more about your health than the scale ever will, and his honest take on motivation, GLP-1s, and what it actually takes to stop starting over.If you're tired of starting over and finally want to build a sustainable road to fitness that'll snowball to consistency and habits, this episode is for you.  What's Discussed: (01:06) Why a short calorie tracking window can change how you eat. (07:29) Why walking is the most underrated thing you can do for your long term health. (13:05) Why your blood work tells you more about your health than the scale. (17:25) The DEXA scan problem and why body fat numbers do more harm than good. (23:51) Renaming "maintenance" to "momentum" and why holding your results is its own skill. (29:13) The "perfectionism" trap and why it is the real reason you cannot stay consistent. (32:24) Motivation versus discipline and why you actually need both.  (40:07) The truth about GLP-1s beyond weight loss. Join us live on Monday, June 15 at 5pm CST and you'll get a special discount on BroadsCOACH BUILD if you sign up for the Summer Cohort on the call. Save your spot now at: broads.app/body-recomp-webinar Find out more from Broads: Website: broads.app Instagram: @broads.podcast @broads.app Check More Resources: Macronutrient Guide: Want a simple place to start fuelling for the body you're building? Grab Broad's FREE Macronutrient Guide: The Balanced Plate Blueprint at broads.app/macronutrient-guide. Gym Starter Guide: Ready to stop waiting for "someday"? Download the free guide at broads.app/gym-starter-guide  Check out more from Tara LaFerrara: Website: taralaferrara.com Instagram: @taralaferrara YouTube: @TaraLaferrara TikTok: @taralaferrara Check out more from Jordan Syatt: Website: syattfitness.com  YouTube: @jordansyatt  Instagram: @syattfitness Facebook: Jordan Syatt TikTok: @syattfitness  Podcast: The Jordan Syatt Podcast 

Danny Miranda is the host of The Danny Miranda Podcast and the founder of The Art of Interviewing. He is a writer and podcaster who has conducted more than 450 interviews with well-known entrepreneurs, authors, and creators, including Gary Vaynerchuk, Alex Hormozi, and many others.In today's episode, Danny joins me to discuss restarting his podcast, the impact of intuition on his life, and how to become better at relationships and communication.We dive into meditation, emotional awareness, and the importance of understanding yourself before trying to understand others. Danny explains why people struggle to “be themselves,” the impact of telling the truth, and the key to deeper connection and fulfillment.Danny also shares what truly makes a great question and how to create authentic conversations. He explains the importance of deeply exploring your own emotions and experiences first, as well as how to communicate with more private people.Our discussion also explores self-love, human connection, podcasting, handling emotions, building meaningful friendships, and the difference between intelligence and love. Danny also reveals how his Art of Interviewing course helps people become better communicators.Join us today as we dive into communication, emotional healing, forming meaningful friendships, asking life-changing questions, podcasting lessons, finding your true self, and much more.–If you enjoyed this conversation, check out more of Danny's deep interviews on self-awareness, relationships, and human connection. >> https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-danny-miranda-podcast/id1532160275 –Want to become a better communicator, ask deeper questions, and create unforgettable conversations? Check out Danny's Art of Interviewing course where he breaks down the exact frameworks he's used across 470+ podcast episodes. >> https://art-of-interviewing.webflow.io/ –Visit Danny Miranda's website: https://dannymiranda.com/ Connect with Danny Miranda On Social Media:Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/DannyMiranda Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heydannymiranda/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dannymiranda/ ---FOLLOW RJ ON SOCIAL MEDIA:Facebook: ⁠ https://www.facebook.com/therjahmed/Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://www.instagram.com/itsrjahmed/Get My Free Script that used to Interview Over a Billion $ worth of Entrepreneurs: ⁠⁠https://www.highticketshowaccelerator.com/free-interview-script54485653---★ Register For a Free 5 Day Challenge on How to Book Your Dream Guests: https://bit.ly/BYDGChallenge★ Want to Learn How to Use the Power of Dream 100 Using Interviews: https://www.highticketshowaccelerator.com/order40702842★ Want to Have One-on-One Support For Building Your Own Show and Building Relationships With Top Influencers in your Market?: https://shopogeniestudios.com/

Introducing Russell Aaron I didn't learn WordPress at a fancy college or career academy. I graduated from the University of YouTube. My internship was the Las Vegas WordPress Meetup and WordCamp Vegas. The rest I learned building mortgage company platforms, working for casinos, inside managed WordPress hosts, and at some of the best WordPress development and support shops on the planet. Show Notes For more on Russell, check out his website: https://russellenvy.com Transcript: Topher DeRosia: All right. Here we go. Hey folks. Russell Aaron: And three, two, one. Topher DeRosia: Hey folks. Welcome to Hallway Chats. I’m Topher, and I’m here with Russell Aaron. I assume I pronounced that right, because it’s not that hard, but you never know. Russell Aaron: You know, so many people call me Aaron. They’ll tag me and they go, “Thanks, Aaron.” And I’m like, “You know, it’s Russell, but it’s cool.” Topher DeRosia: Yeah, nice. All right. Well, I saw a post on LinkedIn the other day from you talking about podcasts having the same people on episodes all the time. I thought, “Oh, I gotta have that guy on my podcast.” Because then you can’t go on any other ever again, because then you’ll be that guy. Russell Aaron: Maybe. Topher DeRosia: So, I snooped a little. You live much closer to me than I expected. Have we met? Did we meet at a WordCamp? Russell Aaron: I think we met at WordCamp Ann Arbor one year. Topher DeRosia: Oh, okay. I went to a whole bunch of those. Russell Aaron: Yeah. I think I spoke 2018, something like that. Topher DeRosia: Yeah. I was probably there. Russell Aaron: Yeah. Topher DeRosia: All right. So tell me where you live, what you do, all that kind of stuff. Russell Aaron: I currently reside in Indianapolis, Indiana, and I am just freelancing as of right now. You know, I live in a pretty small town where it’s kind of old school WordPress, if you will. Anyone who is worth their salt keys will remember a day when websites were not responsive or a business has a cousin of a friend of a brother who builds websites and, “Hey, he’s working on it,” and three years later, there’s still no new website. I kind of live in a town where I’m kind of getting back to my grassroots, where I stay up late at night with my insomnia, and I will roll up to a business and I will say, “Your new website can look like this today. If you pay me this much money, I will install it today, and this is your new website.” And it’s got your updated menu, and it’s responsive, and it works on mobile, and we can connect it to AppPresser and make it an app and stuff like that. So I’m kind of reliving the glory days of what I remember WordPress to be. Topher DeRosia: I’m also freelancing right now, sort of by choice, sort of not by choice. Somebody I’m married to would rather I had regular pay and insurance. Russell Aaron: Heard that. Topher DeRosia: Are you in the same boat, or did you do this on purpose? Russell Aaron: I did this on purpose. I was not working for the man, but I was working with some people. I’m over the tiny little granular things that somebody can fire you over. Like they’re watching if your mouse moves or they’re watching if you haven’t logged in. There’s just no more trust, I feel like, in so many cases. And so I know that I can do things better on my own, and I’m going to. Topher DeRosia: I have to admit, I love the freelance life. It is pretty special. Russell Aaron: Right. It’s almost like… what’s that movie? The 40-Year-Old Virgin, where they are making a website and they’re like, “Hey, Spider-Man 3’s on in five minutes. Let’s go watch it.” Like they totally ignore their job and they just go watch this movie now. It’s kind of like that. Topher DeRosia: Yeah. Yeah. For me, it’s doing stuff with my wife. She has a day job, but it has kind of chaotic hours and not specific days of the week. And so I work when she does, which sometimes is Saturday and Sunday, and then I just don’t on Tuesday and Thursday. That’s pretty great. Russell Aaron: I’m kind of in the same boat. My wife has a wonderful job, and she is with a great group, and she does global advocacy. I mean, she just deals with people that are happy with the product, and she keeps them happy. She does lots of stuff like that. I’m kind of the same thing, where their company is now starting to get into AI, and they have so many questions, and I’m over here building things with AI and doing things like that. So I’m not exactly consulting, but my ideas are going into their company through my wife. Topher DeRosia: My wife works at a grocery store, and they have a cash machine they use in the back office that runs Linux. Russell Aaron: Oh, wow Topher DeRosia: And the IT guys had to come in and do some work on it, and she saw the screen and she’s like, “Oh, is that Linux?” And I’m like, “Who are you, and what do you know?” Super nerd. So what’s your company name? Do you have one, or is it just WP Pro Support? Russell Aaron: WP Pro Support. Topher DeRosia: WP Pro Support. Okay. Do you concentrate more on support, or do you build more? Russell Aaron: I have been doing support since 2011. I formed my very first support company, and I launched it the same day that Shane Sanderson launched Maintainn. My buddy, who you might know, John Hawkins, I was at the Vegas WordPress Meetup Group, and I had the idea in Vegas WordPress Meetup Group where there’s 70 people sitting right here behind me and they all want help. And I was like, “How do I do this?” So I built my first thing where I gave everybody free-for-life support, and they were my test group, if you will. And they helped me work out my bugs and tickets, and they helped me work out how I actually operate and do stuff like that. Then when I launched it, literally that day, John goes, “Wait, have you seen this?” And we had no idea about each other, but we literally launched them the same day. Fast forward three years down the road, I ended up working for Maintainn when it was owned by WebDevStudios. But everything I’ve done in WordPress has been support, whether I’ve worked for a mortgage company, a casino in Vegas, hosting with Liquid Web, doing stuff with NerdPress or AppPresser. Everything I’ve done is support. That’s really where my passion is because I remember what it’s like being a first timer. I think that there is a huge market potential here of people are always going to be new. I don’t care who you are. There’s always somebody new walking in the door, and there has to be a person who will sit down and say, “Come here, I’ll hold your hand.” And I am that person. I always try to look at WordPress from that lens is if a new person is looking at this today, are they going to be happy? Are they going to be confused? And I go from there. So currently today I’m transitioning away from support as we know it, where you write a ticket and then somebody on the other end is like, “Hey, I fixed your site,” or whatever. And I’m transitioning to a new product that I’m working on. So I’m going to be getting away from traditional support, but I’m still going to be doing things in the support space, if that makes sense. Topher DeRosia: Yeah, that makes sense. When I first got into WordPress, it was 2010, and custom post types were brand new. Russell Aaron: Right? Topher DeRosia: And I was out of my element with WordPress. I did not know what I was doing, but I did know PHP, and no one else knew post types yet. So when it comes to that, I was on an equal footing, and that was my way in. That was my leverage. I made a lot of money in the early days just building custom post types. Russell Aaron: Custom post types and single-posttype.php or whatever. Yeah. Topher DeRosia: So I was a competent PHP guy who didn’t know WordPress. And I feel like we’re in kind of the same transition space right now with AI, where we have tons of competent WordPressers who don’t really know AI yet. I think there’s a great space for that, teaching our friends, teaching everybody we’ve known for 10 years in WordPress. You know what I mean? Russell Aaron: I do. That’s one of the things that I really love about WordPress is that… let’s take the new 7.0 that just came out, I think it re-leveled the playing field. Before this came out, there were people that were ahead of others when it comes to patterns or blocks or the command palette and stuff like that. But now I think with this, we’re back to an even playing field because every… I mean, not exactly. There’s still some people who know AI a lot better than others, but you’re always five minutes ahead of somebody and five minutes behind somebody else. Topher DeRosia: Oh, yeah. Russell Aaron: But I do think that with 7.0, a new level playing field has come out. And now is the time to start learning, or you got to wait until 7.1 comes out where that new level playing field comes out. But that’s what I love about WordPress is that it continues to happen. Like you said, CPTs. I still love CPTs. I think they’re one of my favorite things. I look at all of these features, you know, page builders, another time when the playing field was leveled again. Now you learn page builders and then shortcodes and then this and then that. I think that’s the one gift that WordPress keeps giving is that you might be out of date six months from now, but then 7.1 comes out and you’re caught right back up. Topher DeRosia: Right. Yeah. And while you’re five minutes ahead, you quick do a WordCamp talk. Russell Aaron: Yes. Yeah. Topher DeRosia: For that long, you know more than other people, right? Russell Aaron: At least it’s on video, right? Topher DeRosia: Right. I was an expert for a minute and a half. Russell Aaron: That was my 15 minutes of fame. Topher DeRosia: What is your WordCamp life like these days? When was the last one you went to? Russell Aaron: The last one I went to was in Vegas, 2018. It was at the Plaza Hotel, which I worked at. When John was putting that together, in Vegas we had a wonderful space, and it was called The Innevation Center, and it was at a data facility called Switch. And they donated so much to us, and we are so grateful to them. And then they kind of had a change in their policy where they weren’t doing things, and then they overpriced how much it would cost to hold events and stuff like that. I was working at a hotel, and so we had this giant convention space, if you will. And so because I was able to pull some strings, we got a great, great discount, all food paid for. I mean, all of it. So that was my last WordCamp. The after party was on top of a pool deck, and there was pickleball courts, and there was a pool, and there was an open bar. I mean, it was rad. That was my last one. I have kids now. My kids are seven and eight and so my WordPress travels have slowed. No, I’m sorry. I take it back. WordCamp US last year was my last one, where we went scorched earth. That’s what I call it. I call it WordCamp scorched earth. Topher DeRosia: I was there for that one. I used to go to a lot every year. Go to- Russell Aaron: Five, six? Topher DeRosia: Five and 10. But since COVID, I think maybe just US every year. It’s weird to just go to one. Russell Aaron: It is. And just US, it’s almost like we used to have what I used to call regional events, where I lived in Vegas, I would hit up WordCamp Orange County, then I’d hit up San Diego, then we’d hit up LA, and then we’d make our way up to Portland, and then maybe if San Francisco did one, and then Phoenix. I did all my regional stuff. And then every once in a while I would venture… I mean, I love WordCamp Minneapolis. Love the people up there. Love so much about that event. Used to do that a lot. What’s the one in Ohio that I used to go to? Topher DeRosia: In the teens, there were five in Ohio. And being in Michigan, I used to just cruise down there. Russell Aaron: It’s a three-hour, three-and-a-half-hour drive, huh? Topher DeRosia: Yeah. Russell Aaron: About that. Yeah. Topher DeRosia: At the time, I was working for a company that was paying me to go to WordCamps. I had to make the case for each one, but it was a really simple case for all the Ohio ones because I didn’t need a plane ticket. I just drive over there. It’s like five in Ohio. There was Ann Arbor, there was Detroit, there was Grand Rapids, there was Chicago. I mean, there was almost 10 WordCamps within a three-hour drive of me. Russell Aaron: That’s beautiful. Topher DeRosia: It’s just not there anymore. Russell Aaron: I was very fortunate to work for companies like WebDevStudios, where I could tell them, “Hey, I got into WordCamp Minneapolis. I’m going to speak there.” And because I’m speaking there, they would reimburse me X amount of dollars for something, and then they would sponsor the WordCamp, and then they would make a thing out of it. I mean, I was very fortunate in being able to do that. Then I worked with a really great company called NerdPress, and they are a fantastic group of people that do the same thing. And then I ventured out into different straits, and it was very much different. I’ll say that much. Topher DeRosia: Yeah. Those are good times. Russell Aaron: It’s almost like… the way that I put it is it’s like we all graduated. We all did our four years of college, we all graduated, and now we went to our temp jobs or we went to our internships. Like the band broke up. Topher DeRosia: Yep. Yeah, it is a lot like that. I have seen generations of WordPressers. There was all the crew before 2010 that were downloading zip files and hacking themes to even get them to run. Then there was after 2010, and custom post types were new and stuff. And then there’s the whole Gutenberg generation that never experienced all that crazy theme stuff. Russell Aaron: I mean, you tell people that child themes were so new that people didn’t even grasp the concept of a child theme, and today it’s so baked in. It’s not even something that people think about. It’s just you install this and the child theme, and it’s a thing. But I remember writing those by hand. Topher DeRosia: Yeah. No kidding. Then to a certain extent, not even having child themes anymore because nothing is stored on the file system. Russell Aaron: I love it. I love it. In my very first WordCamp talk in Vegas 2012, I made a prediction that everything was powered by the theme. Everything used to… I mean, that’s as far as I go back is every template was the same. It was left column, right sidebar, header, and every page, whether you liked it or not, looked like a blog post. And it wasn’t full-width, responsive. I remember a lot of that. And then corporate themes came out, and then cupcake themes came out, then lawn company themes came out, and then the rise of Envato and stuff like that. That’s a good name for a band, The Rise of Envato. Topher DeRosia: I’d go see them. Russell Aaron: But all that stuff comes out. And then you look at it now and it’s like, that seems so far away. I still remember the day that I learned about child themes, and I’ve never forgotten that. And I think, coming back full circle, that’s why I stay in this beginner support space because I’m kind of keeping that nostalgia around, I guess. Topher DeRosia: Yeah. There’s a lot of joy in watching people’s eyes light up when they get it. Russell Aaron: That’s the best part is just telling people what’s possible. When they’re frustrated with something and you go, “Oh, hey, Gravity Forms can do that.” And they’re like, “Wait, what?” And I’m like, “Yeah.” And they can also do… And I just start naming stuff. And I show all 50 extensions that they have and they’re just like, “Wait, what?” And I’m like, “Yeah.” I’m like, “This starts getting radical when you’re into it.” Topher DeRosia: There’s something I miss from old WordPress that I don’t see in modern WordPress. It might not be a thing. And that is dramatic new styling with a theme the instant you install it. My wife is not a computer person and does not care about computers. She loves design stuff. There was a time we used Winamp. Russell Aaron: Wow. Topher DeRosia: And she loved getting skins for Winamp. And she would download 30 in a day and try them all out. And then when I set her up for the blog the first time and showed her the theme repo on .org, this is in 2011, she would literally spend a day just downloading theme after theme after theme. Russell Aaron: Same way. Topher DeRosia: And you just install it and poof, your site looks amazingly different. These days, I mean, you install something like Kadence or GeneratePress or Ollie or any of them, really, and it’s kind of a blank canvas. Russell Aaron: It’s very minimalist. It’s very minimalist. Topher DeRosia: I miss the ability to say, “I feel like making a change today,” and two minutes later, your site looks completely different because you’re using… Russell Aaron: Couldn’t agree more. Couldn’t agree more. I mean, I look back at old pictures from when I would host the meetup group in Vegas, and there’s pictures of me talking, and then on the screen behind me is my old site, and it was this old layout. I bought the theme from Envato because I was just fascinated with it. It was everything that I wanted it to look like. But same thing is now when you change your theme from this one to that one, that dark grunge kind of thing is gone, and now you’ve got this bootstrap-looking thing or whatever. I agree with you. I think that comes from my days of being in MySpace. That’s how I got started with all this. So you could change your MySpace template like that, and I think that’s where it comes from, at least for me. Topher DeRosia: I haven’t even looked into it. Can you make a Gutenberg-based blog theme that has a very striking look and just release it? And then, I don’t know, just release a whole bunch of them like in the old days? Theme shops had 35 themes for sale, and they all looked different because they were all totally different themes. Russell Aaron: I remember there was a day on Envato where it was the same theme, it was just rebranded. So it was like theme name 1.0, and it was called Atlas. And then it’s the same theme but in orange, and now it’s 1.2, and it’s called Dungeon or something. And then we have 1.3 again. Same theme, same framework, but each version was named something different. It made that developer look like they had five different products instead of just one over and over. Now you look at something like a page builder, and it’s like, “We’ve got 500 different templates in one thing.” I can’t do that. I think that’s too much for me. Topher DeRosia: It’s like the days of the CSS Zen Garden. Russell Aaron: Right. Topher DeRosia: HTML is the same, CSS changes. Before I used WordPress, I built my own blog system. Russell Aaron: Oh, wow. Topher DeRosia: It never got super advanced, but I used it for 10 years. One of the things you can do in your HTML is register alternate stylesheets. It’s the same tag, it’s just an alternate word in there. And then in Firefox, at least, you can go under “view Page Style”, and they would all be listed there, and you can just choose different themes. I figured out the JavaScript, even though I didn’t know JavaScript. I figured out the JavaScript to make a little dropdown box in my sidebar so my visitors could say, “Oh, I want to change my theme here.” I never figured out how to do that in WordPress because everything was so tied to style.css. I didn’t know how to make a different one be the main one. But that’s something else I miss in WordPress is the ability to just so dramatically and dynamically change your design because your content is structured so well. Russell Aaron: You know, not only that, but I really liked the websites where there was a demo, and then it gave you a basic username. The username was demo, the password was demo. But then the one thing I never figured out was how every 24 hours the site would just reset. So somebody can go in there and they could do whatever they wanted to do. They could create their own pages. They could create their own blog posts. And for 24 hours, there was a page called Russell’s Awesome. But then after 24 hours, it would just reset. I always thought that was so cool, but I could never figure out how to do that. Topher DeRosia: Oh, yeah. And everybody was editing all at the same time, within that 24-hour period. Russell Aaron: I have since restructured my website. I use the block theme from WebDevStudios. I kind of feel like that’s where I got my education from. I was somebody who kind of dabbled around in WordPress, and then when I went to go work with them for three years, they had a set of standards that I couldn’t even fathom to begin with. But then as we built things and I saw how their machine works, how their business revolves, I was like, “You know, for me, this is the way that I like to do things, is the way that they like to do things.” And so my new website… I mean, not new website, but it’s my new theme, I actually had AI build it for me. I had Claude. I was using… It’s by ThemeIsle. Neve. I was using Neve, one of my favorite themes. Love them. So I was using that, and then my site was kind of all over the place. It was an “I’ll teach you how to do this”. That’s kind of the main focus of my site is I will jump on a call with you, and whatever questions you have, I’ll sit here for five hours with you if you want. I will teach you and until you get it. But then I also had this section about band names that were just… earlier when we were talking about the rise of Envato, you know, like I would have a section on my blog where you could create a new band name and then I had all these random blog posts. And so my website was kind of like this potluck, if you will, just like this random stuff. And I was like, you know, I want to be doing something else. I think my website needs to change. And I have those old blog posts still, but they’re hidden. So now with my new theme, I had AI look at my old site and say, this is what I think we should do. I picked out some colors and over like five days, I had it build me five different HTML pages, like completely different, you know? And then I started giving AI and I said like, “Okay, I want to look like this.” And then I was like, well, okay, I like this and I like this, but I also like this from this other site.” So I started feeding it information and like when the HTML came out, I had 12 different templates. I had my blog posts, I had my archive, but I had everything built in HTML. And the cool thing about the WDS block theme is that it serves everything as an HTML page. So I literally just took AI and said, “Take these HTML pages, bake them into how this theme does it,” and bam, my site came up. I had it done in maybe two days. Topher DeRosia: Wow. Russell Aaron: And then after that, I had it take all of those HTML pages and create me patterns. So now I can go in, and when I go into my full site editor, I can go to patterns, I have all my homepage patterns, my blog patterns, I sliced everything up, and they’re all WordPress native blocks. So I can literally go in and change the coloring on any page I want instead of having to edit the HTML or anything. And now that I have that, I feel this sense of freedom where I’m not worrying about an update coming tomorrow, if my update is gonna break or I don’t have to read a changelog that is not specific anymore. I can’t stress how much I love not having to read changelogs or the lack of changelogs. I mean, I’m fully happy with how things have come out. And over time, I’m gonna keep fine-tuning it, but I’m pretty much where I’m at right now. With all of this new technology that’s come out, I’ve really kind of found my love again for WordPress. I was kind of in a slump where I just wasn’t really doing anything. Now I take my son and we’ll drive down to Louisville, Kentucky. He rides BMX. So while he’s racing, I will literally have Claude Code open on my computer and I will log into the Claude app on my phone and I can keep sitting there having the same conversation. So this new thing that I’m building, I can still do it while I’m sitting there watching him race or while I’m doing something else. I was just like, this is fantastic. And then my wife will drive home and I’ll just sit there and I talk into my phone, I literally put the microphone on and I’ll be like, “You know, I don’t like that. And here’s my thoughts about this.” And you know, my phone dictates all of that and then I send it to my computer through the app and it just keeps spinning things up. Then by the time I get home, I have a new version that I can demo or I have a new version that I can test. I mean, I am just so fascinated by it. Topher DeRosia: That’s cool. Were we at WebDev at the same time? Russel Aaron: I don’t think so. Topher DeRosia: I was there just over three years ago. Russel Aaron: I was there 2015 through 2018. Topher DeRosia: Oh, yeah. I came much later. I was only there for like two months. Russell Aaron: Oh, wow. Sometimes that’s the way it goes. Topher DeRosia: Yeah. They were gonna get a big contract that hired a bunch of people and two months later didn’t get the contract and let us all go. Russell Aaron: As much as I hate that, that also taught me that the people that do great work or the people that show up every day and are putting in more than they’re getting out, those are usually the people that stay in companies like that. That really changed my work ethic. I used to be somebody who wanted to be not lazy, but I didn’t wanna be pressed for time or having to go, go, go and having to be on all the time. Now, I’m the opposite. Now, I’m like, now that I’ve done that, I kind of earn for that stretch for a little bit. I mean, you were just saying that how you’ve transitioned to where you are. I was watching a Barstool Sports interview with a guy who runs a pizza shop in… it’s either New Jersey or New York. The guy’s only open Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday. And he’s only open nine to six or something like that. And he built that business… well, it’s been in his family for like 60 years or something. He has one of the last original pizza ovens ever. But anyways, the point is, is that he lives at the pizza place, that’s where his entire life is, but he built the business around his life. I’m doing the same thing where if I wanna literally go jump on my bike right now and go for a two-mile ride, I’m gonna go do that. And I don’t have to feel like, hey, you’re not logged in and we’re not tracking your mouse. Like what’s happening? How come you’re not on Slack? You know what I mean? I’m not tied down to that. And I can’t stress that enough of like, that is where I wanna be. Topher DeRosia: Yeah. Yeah, it is a good life. We are at about the time to wrap it up. Okay. So I’m gonna do that. Where do you hang out online? Russel Aaron: Where do I hang out online? Topher DeRosia: Are you in any common WordPress Slacks? Russel Aaron: I’m on the main WordPress Slack sometimes. I tend to watch more than I do involve anymore. A long time ago, I used to be very vocal and I used to be not afraid to walk in to a room guns blazing. With the big cultural shift that happened in WordPress, I tend to just sit back now and be more self-reserved. So I post on my website, russellenvy.com. I’m on LinkedIn. I’ve been utilizing Reddit a lot too. I think for me, Reddit is a place where I kind of disagree with the fact that you can hide behind a pseudonym, but I do like the brutal honesty that people will have because they are hiding behind something and they will say, dude, this flat out sucks. Or they’ll be like, Hey, this is great, but it would be cool if, or somebody can be like, “Hey, that already exists. You’re not doing anything new.” I do like that. Because it kind of not puts me in my place, but it shows me either how connected or disconnected I am to what I think I’m doing. And so Reddit is a very great place. I mean, everything is russellenvy.com except for Twitter or X, whatever you want to call it. Topher DeRosia: All right, cool. Russel Aaron: Where do you hang out at? Topher DeRosia: I am in probably 40 slacks, but the vast majority of them, I don’t look at. I’m there so that someone can ping me. I’m in a couple of slacks in India. Okay. I’m in the WordPress Italian community Slack. Russel Aaron: That’s interesting. Topher DeRosia: Post status make, of course there’s a hero press Slack. I have my own company Slack, my local meetup has a Slack. There’s just a lot of them. I wouldn’t say I’m super active on any of them. I just occasionally interact with somebody. I use my own company Slack to invite my clients in when we talk there. Russel Aaron: Right. Do you find yourself reading things more than, you know… from the outsider looking in, I post a lot and it looks like I post a lot… I mean, especially on LinkedIn, but I’m always consuming more than I’m posting. Do you find yourself doing that? Like where you’re… maybe not keeping up with the trades anymore, but like, you know… I used to read maybe 1,500 blog posts a week and then… what was that service where you could like save…? I used to have a service where you could save articles and then that way, late at night, I would just read, you know, maybe 10 or 15 of them a night. But now I look at things like Reddit where I see… I just look at somebody who’s going on there and asking for help. Again, it’s a standard WordPress person that, hey, I’m new to this, I don’t know how, and I’m looking at it and I’m just like, how can we make that better? That’s kind of where I’m at these days. Topher DeRosia: I don’t read a whole lot in Slack. It really is for my convenience. I’m pretty active with my RSS reader. I follow a lot of stuff. Russell Aaron: Oh, wow. Topher DeRosia: Because I don’t wanna go chase it all down all over the internet. So, you know, there’s that. I’m on LinkedIn a fair amount, Facebook a little bit. I’m on Mastodon and Blue Sky mostly just to post stuff. It’s funny, I have more followers… No, let me say it this way. Mastodon, I have the fewest followers, but the most engagement from those followers. Russell Aaron: Isn’t that interesting? Topher DeRosia: Yeah, I’ll post something and I’ll get some favorites or reposts or whatever. Blue Sky, I get almost nothing at all, despite the fact that I have like a thousand followers there. Russell Aaron: But Blue Sky is a community that is fast-moving. I almost compare it to anything Meta has, which is you can post today right now and in three minutes you’re 785 posts down. That’s what I really love about Reddit is that I posted something about this AI team that I’m building that I give away for free on GitHub, and so for like five days, I was the number two post on that subreddit. And the volume that I saw from that. I mean, Reddit really loves human writing. If you go in there, you post something that somewhat seemingly might suggest that you had AI do anything with it, they will just downvote it. But if you write original and you write from the heart and stuff, like your stuff skyrockets there. I’ve learned a lot from Reddit because of that. Topher DeRosia: That’s really cool. Russell Aaron: It’s interesting. Topher DeRosia: Yeah. All right, well, thanks for chatting with me. Russell Aaron: Thank you for the time. Topher DeRosia: And now you can’t be on anybody else’s podcast. Russell Aaron: I’m actually starting my own, sir. Topher DeRosia: Are you? All right. Russell Aaron: I have, like you said, the reason why we started this is because you saw something from me that says, “I’m tired of the indie circuit,” if you will. I put out a LinkedIn post, I don’t know, maybe a month ago at this point and I asked people if they wanted to be on a show. So I have WP Roundtable. I got that from Kyle Mahler, a person who I love in WordPress more than I can express. One of the best people on the planet, I feel like. I was thinking about starting that up again, because we don’t have WP Watercooler anymore. We don’t have anything like that. That’s kind of where I got my start from. But again, I also identify that that’s kind of the problem is that every Monday or Friday I was on a show and I was one of the people that you would see constantly. And so I was sitting there thinking and I was like, what doesn’t the space have? What kind of show do I wanna watch? Because I don’t watch shows when they come out, do you? Topher DeRosia: No. Russell Aaron: I always watch them maybe four weeks down the road at like 2:30 in the morning when I have nothing going on. And by that point, the information is almost stale. I mean, the way that anything works these days. And there’s a few that I might watch maybe within 48 hours of coming out, but at this point, there is something… a new idea that myself and… the guy’s actually an automatician. And so it’s actually kind of interesting because we don’t wanna say anything that would put him in a position to where he’s saying something bad about the company he works for, but I’m also the person where I get to say something to the person who works at Automattic to maybe incite some change. So we are working on something like that, but it’s not going to be an interview show. It is not going to be something where you tune it out or you put it on a 2.5 playback speed just to get through it. You know what I mean? And that’s really what the emphasis of my post was about is that so many of the interviews go that way. Topher DeRosia: Yeah. Are you familiar with wppodcasts.com? Russell Aaron: Yes. Topher DeRosia: Okay, good. So when you get it started up, submit it there. Russell Aaron: That’s a place. I’m very fascinated by Gary Vaynerchuk. Are you familiar with Gary V? Topher DeRosia: No. Russell Aaron: I watch something Gary V every day. That guy makes me feel like I’m lazy every single day, but he is also one of the people that says like, “Hey, you’re 40, you’re still just a baby.” A lot of people feel like I should be two kids, a house, marriage, this, that, and because I’m not, I’m behind the ball. And he’s one person that’s like, “Listen, you’re still a kid.” And he’s like, “You’re 40, I’m 40, and you have 10 years until you’re 50.” And even then you’re still so young to where you can generate something again and from 50 to 60, you can now do. That kind of mentality really moved me around. Why I bring that up is, I’m trying not to post on the same places that everybody else is. I wanna find that new venture. Substack is a great one. And they also have a way to release podcast episodes through them. So they can actually be your entire engine. So like you don’t have to host them on different places and stuff like that. So I’m looking for different plays like that. Topher DeRosia: All right, cool. Well, I look forward to hearing about it when it comes out. I’m sure you’ll post on LinkedIn. Russell Aaron: Yes, yeah. Topher DeRosia: All right. All right then, well, I will maybe find you on Slack or Reddit or someplace. Russell Aaron: Slack, Reddit, LinkedIn. Either way, please keep in touch. First of all, it’s great to see somebody familiar in the space. It’s great. I mean, just talking about the old days, I could sit here and do it forever. Topher DeRosia: All right, I’ll see ya. Russell Aaron: Have a good one. Topher DeRosia: All right, so that was the end of the podcast. If you could send me a headshot. And yep, that’s the one. Cool. And any links you want in the liner notes. Russell Aaron: Cool. Topher DeRosia: And two or three sentences about you and what you do and whatnot. Russell Aaron: Cool. I noticed that you… are you trying to revive Hallway Chats? Or is it something that when you just find something interesting, you’re like, hey, I’ll go do that. Topher DeRosia: That’s it right there. Russell Aaron: Okay. Sure, sure. Topher DeRosia: There was a time when it was a weekly podcast and now it’s a whenever I feel like it podcast. Russell Aaron: I love it. I think that’s the biggest reason why I’m trying to do something different is I really dislike watching a podcast. The first thing they do is they come on and they go, “Hey, welcome to WP whatever. Hey, sorry we didn’t post this week. I was bit…” If you are gonna say you’re gonna post every Wednesday at one, that’s on you. But I do not like when things start off with an apology. Like just get to it. Because I’m not watching it Wednesday at one. I mean, unless you’re Joe Rogan, or unless you are somebody who has a huge following that people will watch you live because it’s important. Otherwise, it’s just consumable stuff, you know? Topher DeRosia: Yeah. For years, I posted it Heropress weekly on Wednesday without fail. I would ignore my family to go get it done. Then I was talking to Morton Rand Hendrickson. You know him? Russell Aaron: Uh-huh. Topher DeRosia: Yeah, he’s a huge fan of Heropress. And I said to him, “Do you read every week?” He’s like, “Oh no, not at all.” He’s like, “Oh, I thought you really liked it.” And he said, “Oh, I love it. But I don’t have time to read every week.” Every few months I’ll get depressed about the WordPress community and I’ll go read 10 essays. And then one time I was at WordCamp Ann Arbor, probably the same one you were at and Josepha came to me and said that… she was kind of a sounding board for employees that come to her and said, “Listen, I’ve been working support all day and people suck and I’m depressed and I hate life.” And she would just listen for a while and then at the end they would say, “Okay, I’m gonna go read a bunch of Heropress and I’ll feel better.” And it really changed my perspective of what I was making. I wasn’t making a weekly publication. I was making an archive, a collection to be used as a tool, a library. Russell Aaron: I’m gonna say this poorly, but it’s almost like you are creating a support help hotline where it’s like, if you’re on the verge of blowing up your website, please call this number. We’ll talk you down from it. It’s almost like you’re building that. Topher DeRosia: That’s funny. Russell Aaron: That’s interesting. And then now you’re just selective about it or you’re so far- Topher DeRosia: I’m less aggressive about finding essayists and less insistent that they get it to me by a certain time. Like I would find somebody and say, listen, I need it by Sunday on this date. And they were like, “Okay.” And that worked for a while. Russell Aaron: Oh, before, before. Okay. Topher DeRosia: Yeah. But now I’ll find somebody… No, I don’t go looking as often. Russell Aaron: You’ll maybe find something that somebody wrote and you’ll be like, “Hey, are you interested in doing this?” Topher DeRosia: Yes. And I don’t find people as often. I used to find my people on Twitter and I’m not on there anymore. Russell Aaron: Like by personal choice? Topher DeRosia: Yeah. Russell Aaron: Okay. Topher DeRosia: I just left Twitter. Russell Aaron: Oh, wow. You feel like your life improved? Topher DeRosia: Yes and no. Russell Aaron: Okay. Topher DeRosia: I feel the loss of what Twitter was. And it’s not there anymore. It’s just gone. Russell Aaron: Especially around WordCamp and stuff like that. That used to have to be the place that you’d be on, you know? Topher DeRosia: The Twitter I loved doesn’t exist anymore. And so, yeah, I feel that loss. Russell Aaron: I need a t-shirt that says that. Topher DeRosia: Yeah. Wow. I’m in the process of making a printable store. Printable? Printful. Printful store. Russell Aaron: Cool. Topher DeRosia: With Woo, to make a video with. I need to make a bunch of products. Maybe I’ll make one of those. Russell Aaron: It’s interesting. Wow. You just flat-out left X. Do you feel like with Heropress, it was… and again, this is why I made that post, is that people almost see it like they can make the rounds. And it’s like, well, I haven’t gone there yet. And so they’re gonna submit something to you because they’re gonna get some press out of it. And it’s not so much what’s best for your brand or it’s not best for your website. They just see it as, well, I’m gonna get some exposure there. Do you feel like it used to be that? Topher DeRosia: No. I’ve gotten maybe two or three submissions ever like that. And a couple of them, I was able to say, “No, that’s not what we’re about. It’s this other thing, what Heropress is actually about.” And they’re like, “Oh, well, okay, that’d be great.” And they do that. And maybe one or two people have said, “I built this great company and everyone should come use my company.” Like, no, not so much. Russell Aaron: Interesting. Topher DeRosia: And that’s the end of it. Russell Aaron: I remember back in, I wanna say like 2013, people used to call each other out and be like, why are you giving the same speech at WordCamp Miami, WordCamp Minneapolis, WordCamp San Diego. And that’s kind of where I was at with that same LinkedIn post. It’s like, I really, really enjoy watching Matt Cromwell’s show, but the guy that he just had on also was on Jonathan Denwood and was also on this one. It was also on, I was like, I’ve already seen this. Maybe I get three more percent information that wasn’t in that last, or because Matt knows a little bit more about personal stuff in WordPress or building a business, he might have some more insight there, but it’s like, I’ve already heard this and I’m kind of already over it. And that’s kind of where I was at is you don’t have to just say, I’m gonna do this one and that’s it. But it’s almost like, you’re making yourself not… what’s the word. Not credible because you’re going around and saying the same thing and it’s just, you’re not doing anything different than a blog post could have done. Topher DeRosia: You know what I mean? I don’t feel too bad about repeating WordCamp talks because, especially at small camps, because a lot of people are just gonna go to their local camp and never go to another one. And unless they cruise.tv, they’re not gonna see it. I struggle a little bit with podcasts because I’ve been asked a lot over the last 10 years to come on a podcast and talk about the story of WordPress. And it’s the same story every time, you know? And so, I’ll try to mix it up a little bit, give different information that I’ve never given before, that sort of thing. But it is something I think about and struggle with a little bit. Russell Aaron: What do you struggle with about it? Topher DeRosia: I don’t wanna just say the same thing over and over again. You know, I don’t want people to go, oh, Topher’s on another podcast episode. Oh, I’ve heard this story. I don’t need to be on this episode. Fortunately, it’s been around long enough that I can give a brief synopsis of the beginning and talk about stuff that’s happened in the last couple of years. Russell Aaron: Right. Topher DeRosia: Which is gonna be really different from the podcast episode I was on in 2020. Russell Aaron: You know? Right. Topher DeRosia: It’s an interesting dilemma when you have one story to tell and everybody wants you to tell it. How do you deal with that? Russell Aaron: Well, I’ve noticed that too. It is like, you know, I’ll watch [Insert Famous Name Here], and they have a podcast, and they’re interviewing, again, [Insert Famous Name Here], and that person was also just on That Famous Name and That Famous Name. I actually saw somebody, it’s like almost a year ago, and they were just like, “Do you want me just to say this so your show has this speech in it or are you genuinely asking me?” Because, you know, like you want this story so you can post it on your social media. But I’ve already given that story 15 different times because they wanted it for their own, you know? And it’s almost going that way where I kind of respect it in a way because you don’t want to post other people’s content. But I also feel like I’m tired of saying the same shit over and over again. It’s interesting, man. Topher DeRosia: Yeah, that’s a dilemma. Russell Aaron: So you’re just like kicking back and… are you building something for you that you think is gonna scale or are you trying to get away from WordPress? That’s kind of where I’m at right now. Topher DeRosia: Yes and no. I have always wanted to… I’ve always been better with people than code. I’m a life coach. Russell Aaron: Yeah. I did not know that about you. Topher DeRosia: I love talking to the client more than coding. I love helping people learn things. And so those skills could be anywhere in WordPress, but also could be anywhere outside of WordPress. So I’m looking for those jobs and they are not out there. Russell Aaron: Right. Topher DeRosia: So here we are. Russell Aaron: I’m to the point now where my son, he’s eight, but he races BMX, like actual bikes and stuff. And so there’s a college here in Indianapolis and it’s one of the best cycling schools in the country. And there’s like five Olympians that practice every Tuesday and Thursday and they’re right in our back door. These are people that have a great social following, but they don’t post very well. They have a brand name, but they don’t have a website. So I’m noticing that every new space that I go into, it’s kind of like I get to jump back into WordPress again, where it’s like, hey, I just built a website for this BMX track in Louisville, Kentucky. It’s one of the best tracks in the country by everybody that has ever raced in a sport, they all vote that it’s one of the best, but they don’t have a website period. I just went through this where they have a guy, he’s their treasurer and he’s like, “Well, I’m an AI software guy.” And I’m like, “Well, how come you don’t have a website?” And he’s like, “Well…” And I’m like, “Listen, I submitted a new version of a we… literally, I uploaded it to my Russell website or to my Russell Envy site and I just put it in a sub-folder and I was like, “Your website could look like this today.” I was like, “For free. I don’t want anything from you. No free anything.” I was like, “I want to donate this to you because I want to grow the sport.” And the guy’s like, “I wanted to build it and React.” And I’m like, “Well, why didn’t you?” And the guy’s like, “Uh.” And I’m like, “I have free hosting for life from WPEngine.” And I was like, “I won’t charge you guys ever. I will host a site. I have free with AppPresser. I’ll build you guys an app where you guys can send push notifications.” And the guy’s like, “Well, I want to have a lot of control and say over it.” And I was just like, “All right, you know what?” And then I built my own. Now I own a domain all about their BMX track and now they’re calling me going, “We should have went with you.” I’m to the point now where I’m nice. And then it’s just like, “Dude, I’m 10,000 miles over you and I’m going to go this way.” Liquid Web did that to me. Liquid Web brought me in and they were like, “We’re going to…” I was supposed to be the OG stellar WP. They brought me in, I was hiring all my friends and I was bringing in people and we were building something. And then they called me and they were like, “Well, you can either be a level two support person or you could just not work here.” And I was like, “Well, I don’t work here anymore.” And they were like, “Well, wait, hang on.” And I literally hit “click” and I have never logged on since. Topher DeRosia: That’s funny. Russell Aaron: I’m in that same boat where, you know, I don’t have to work for you. You know what I mean? Like, fuck, I’m 40. I should be doing something on my own anyway. I kind of wish I had… what was WP 101? Sean did that for all those years. I wish I would have done that. Or every week, I should have had some YouTube about talking about something and maybe I could have monetized that, but I’m not behind the ball. I let the ball slip is what I feel like. Topher DeRosia: It’s not too late to start. I picked that up when Sean, quit and I’ve got a YouTube channel with a bunch of stuff on it. I published one today. Russell Aaron: Oh wow. It’s just interesting things that you think about, or is it like educational, like tutorials? Topher DeRosia: It’s educational tutorials, but stuff that I find interesting. Like today I made a desktop wallpaper for WordCamp Europe. Russell Aaron: Nice. Topher DeRosia: And I did it by going to their webpage in my browser and using the console to hack the HTML and CSS until it looked like a screen, a wallpaper. Russell Aaron: That’s fucking cool. Topher DeRosia: So I published it right before I’d started talking to you, like minutes before that. And it has three views. Russell Aaron: Woohoo. Topher DeRosia: But a couple of weeks ago I did one called fun and games in the terminal. And it’s how to play Tetris in the terminal and how to make a choo-choo train go across your screen when you type LS wrong. And it has 784 views right now. Russell Aaron: That’s awesome. Topher DeRosia: I did one on how to brighten a photo. I did a series. I’m working on a series called Topher learns how, or I talk to people who know how to do things that I really should know how to do, but don’t. I talked to Scott Kingsley Clark about pods, which has been around forever, but I’ve never used. I talked to Donata about Termageddon, because I know it’s important, but I have stayed away because I don’t understand and it’s scary. Russell Aaron: Termageddon. I’ve never heard that. Topher DeRosia: Oh. You know the little cookie consent things, privacy policies and whatnot? Russell Aaron: Yeah. Topher DeRosia: So when you sign up with term again, you pay a surprisingly low monthly fee and they have a human get on the phone with you and talk through your requirements of where you live, your legal stuff. Like, are you in Europe? Are you in California? Where are you? Where are your customers, your viewers? Then you drop in a short code for your privacy code and for the cookies and they keep them up to date based on how the laws change. So you don’t have to pay attention to, Oh, did California make some crazy new law about cookies? What do I need to do to update my site? It’s really, really great. So I did an interview with her. Russell Aaron: $12 a month or $119 a year. Topher DeRosia: Yeah. Russell Aaron: What is the point of having a privacy policy if you don’t pay extra for limiting your liability? Wow. That’s amazing. Topher DeRosia: It is. Russell Aaron: That’s someone just thinking outside the box. Topher DeRosia: Yeah. I have a couple of videos where I was given an account at a hosting company that I’ve never used and videoed logging in for the first time and getting to a website. Russell Aaron: Oh, wow. Just from first login to setting everything up to now you have something production. Wow. Topher DeRosia: Yeah. Specifically not reading the docs. Russell Aaron: Oh, just trying to brute force your way through it. Topher DeRosia: Yeah. Russell Aaron: That’s smart, dude. Topher DeRosia: It’s partly about… well, they may have wonderful docs. It may be super easy to do if you read all the docs. I don’t want to read the docs. Russell Aaron: Me neither. Topher DeRosia: Clickety clickety click, I have a website. So I did GreenGeeks. I did honesthosting.io. I did X cloud. So that’s the kind of stuff I’m doing. Russell Aaron: That’s interesting. That is something that, that Gary V talks about a lot is that it used to have to be where you are this WordPress brand and you do just this and all your videos could only be about that. Anytime you stepped outside the box, people were like, “Why am I watching this?” And today now we’re to finally to where my website would probably actually thrive is it’s so random. It’s just something out of my head and one thing can skyrocket and it’s like hitting the jackpot, you know? That’s interesting. Topher DeRosia: Another thing I did is I made a site called topher.how and because I realized I had never really made stuff in my own channel. I’ve been blogging for decades, making videos, WinningWP. I have over a hundred videos on WinningWP. Russell Aaron: WinningWP? Topher DeRosia: Yeah. Russell Aaron: Did you start that when Charlie Sheen started doing Winning? Topher DeRosia: No, no, no, no. But I was thinking, boy, I’d love to have all this stuff on my own website, but I don’t want to go find it all and copy paste posts. And then I realized nearly every place I’ve ever made content has RSS for their authors. Russell Aaron: Yeah. Topher DeRosia: And so I found the sites, found my author RSS feed and started piping them into WP all import. And now topher.how has all my content from the last 15 years on a dozen different sites, doesn’t more than a dozen different sites, all my videos, all my posts, everything on wordpress.tv, all that stuff. So it’s kind of a portfolio. Yeah, so you can go to topher.how and see all my stuff. Russell Aaron: That was actually one thing that I was really proud of was that my entire WordPress journey is documented on somebody else’s project. So, like you go to WPwatercooler and my resume, what is great about it is that it is not me who can edit those videos, it is not me who can master them. Those words are there. Those words are me. You want to know my qualifications in WordPress, there’s all my shit. For me, I was like, “That’s actually pretty sick. You know what I mean?” Topher DeRosia: Yeah. Russell Aaron: Wow. Topher.how. Oh, dude, do you know who Jeffrey Zinn is? Topher DeRosia: No. Russell Aaron: Oh God. Him and Brandon Dove they have Pixel Jar. Have you ever heard of Pixel Jar? Topher DeRosia: Maybe. Russell Aaron: They’re big West coasters. I’ll tell you that much. He just wrote me, “He literally just said, dude, how do you find the time to write so much on LinkedIn? I enjoy all your stuff, but mostly I’m blown away by the volume.” Topher DeRosia: Nice. Russell Aaron: I’m going to write him back and just tell him the truth. But you know, it’s all thought man. Interesting. Topher, I’ve had a lot of fun. Am I taking up your time? Topher DeRosia: I should get back to work. Russell Aaron: All right, sir. Have a good one. Topher DeRosia: All right. I’ll see ya. Russell Aaron: Bye. Topher DeRosia: Bye.

Diving deeper on AI with Gary Vaynerchuk. Gary Vaynerchuk, Chairman of VaynerX and CEO and Creator of VeeFriends, joins Gen C to discuss why we are living through the most consequential technological moment since electricity. Sam and Gary dig into his long-held conviction that NFTs are a generational collectible, not a fad, his bold thesis that the rise of AI will trigger a massive IRL comeback, and why agentic commerce will make brands more important, not less. Links mentioned from the podcast: Gary's Twitter: https://x.com/garyvee Vayner Website: https://vaynerx.com/ VeeFriends Website: https://veefriends.com/ - "Gen C" features host Sam Ewen. Executive produced by Uyen Truong.

If your sales are slow and your effort isn't producing results, this episode is exactly what you need. Ray Higdon breaks down the 10 specific reasons why people aren't buying from you — and these aren't the generic tips you've heard before. From not talking to enough people, to focusing on your solution instead of your prospect's problem, to the often-overlooked mistake of sending a video that's completely incongruent with your invite, Ray exposes the real friction points that are quietly killing conversions for network marketers and salespeople at every level. Ray also goes deep on the belief barriers that most sales trainers never address: what to do when you secretly don't believe your product will work, when you're unsure of its value, or when you don't feel like you deserve the income you're chasing. He covers the critical role of posture, why sloppy follow-up is costing you more sales than any objection ever could, and how a mismatched social media bio can send prospects running before you even get to your pitch — sharing a real client example of Christie Morgan, who generated $100,000 in personal commissions in under 60 days once her outreach and bio aligned. The episode closes with one of the most powerful — and most ignored — sales principles: mental rehearsal. Ray challenges you to stop rehearsing failure and start visualizing the win, connecting this mindset shift to both elite athletic performance and a foundational scripture from Mark 11:24. If you're in a product or service you believe in, this episode is your reminder that getting better at selling isn't optional — it's your responsibility. —

Diving deeper on AI with Gary Vaynerchuk. Gary Vaynerchuk, Chairman of VaynerX and CEO and Creator of VeeFriends, joins Gen C to discuss why we are living through the most consequential technological moment since electricity. Sam and Gary dig into his long-held conviction that NFTs are a generational collectible, not a fad, his bold thesis that the rise of AI will trigger a massive IRL comeback, and why agentic commerce will make brands more important, not less. Links mentioned from the podcast: Gary's Twitter: https://x.com/garyvee Vayner Website: https://vaynerx.com/ VeeFriends Website: https://veefriends.com/ - "Gen C" features host Sam Ewen. Executive produced by Uyen Truong.

Guest: Rich Butler, Founder—RAGE Works Podcast NetworkOriginally aired on: Podcast Network Insights with Greg WassermanListen to the original: https://rss.com/podcasts/podcast-network-insights/2751235/About This EpisodeWhat happens when a podcast network stops chasing CPMs and starts asking a different question: how do we help creators actually stick around?Rich Butler has been running the RAGE Works Podcast Network since 2014, 12 years without changing the core model. In this conversation with Greg Wasserman, Rich walks through the architecture of a network built on a shared aggregation feed, friction removal, and a revenue split that puts the creator's independence first.If you're a podcaster evaluating networks or a creator building your own, this episode is a practical look at what support from a network can actually mean.Quick StatsNetwork founded: 2014—12 years runningLongest-running show: Turnbuckle Tabloid—525+ episodesHosting platform: Captivate FMRevenue model: 80/20 split (network-sourced ads only)What We Cover0:00 — The jockey and the horseWhy talent matters more than gear and the analogy that frames everything.3:08 — What a podcast network actually isRich's definition: a one-stop shop for discoverability, cross-pollination, and variety.4:37 — How RAGE Works startedFrom a 400-episode run on Blog Talk Radio to building a network for the people who caught the podcast bug.7:41 — The network feed model explainedWhy running a shared aggregation feed helps new shows build an audience before their individual feed even goes live.10:01 — Revenue without chasing ad salesHow the network makes money and why creator-sourced sponsorships get zero cut.16:09 — Red flags when evaluating a networkThe first question to ask isn't "how will you grow my show?" It's "how are you growing the network?"19:11 — What Rich actually does as a network operatorRemoving friction: RSS setup, editing, distribution, mic technique feedback, and platform reporting.23:29 — Audio vs. video in 2026Why audio comes first, how video complements it, and why the "us vs. them" framing is wrong.27:48 — Onboarding new showsThe discoverability call, the gear list, the Google Drive workflow, and how real onboarding actually works.33:43 — The long game and the ROI reframeWhy Rich defines ROI as "return on interest" and what Gary Vaynerchuk said on stage that nearly ended the network.39:41 — Book recommendationsJab, Jab, Jab, Right Hook, and The Subtle Art of Not Giving a Fck* — two books every podcaster should read.45:21 — Final thought: just create the thing26 years in, Rich's parting message for anyone still waiting to start.Key TakeawaysA shared network feed isn't just a distribution trick, it's a litmus test for new shows and a built-in audience-building tool before a podcast's individual feed even goes live.Most networks fail creators by leading with ad sales. Removing friction (RSS, editing, submission, platform reporting) is the actual service.If a creator sources their own sponsor, the network takes nothing. That's a deliberate choice, not a gap in the model.Audio first, always. Good audio teaches storytelling through inflection. Video amplifies what's already there; it doesn't replace it.Consistency is the real filter. If a network has to chase you for your episode, the show is already in trouble.Download counts aren't the metric. Ten loyal listeners in a room look very different when you're standing in front of them.Quote of the Episode"The podcast is the horse. You're the jockey. You have to be the compelling talent that makes me want to give a damn about you."— Rich Butler, Founder, RAGE Works Podcast NetworkResources MentionedRAGE Works Podcast Network — rageworks.netPress Record Studios — http://www.pressrecordstudios.comCaptivate FM — Podcast hosting platform used by the networkRiverside.fm — Remote recording platform used in this episodeOriginal Episode — Podcast Network Insights — https://rss.com/podcasts/podcast-network-insights/2751235/Book: Jab, Jab, Jab, Right Hook — Gary VaynerchukBook: The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck — Mark MansonPodcast: The Jay Ferruggia Podcast (formerly Renegade Radio)Podcast: Morning Chat with Mark Ronick

The CFTC is moving to withdraw its $5 million penalty against the crypto exchange founded by the Winklevoss twins, a Google staffer in Europe has been charged with fraud over his bets on Polymarket, New York City's pied-a-terre tax will take effect in July, Fertitta Entertainment is buying Caesars in a $17.6B deal, and drone strikes continue in the Middle East, despite a ceasefire. Thanks to the tech sector, markets are on the rise, but Sanctuary Wealth Management's Mary Ann Bartels is reading for a shift–eventually. Plus, New York City is buzzing with the first Knicks NBA final since 1999. Self-proclaimed “psycho fan” Gary Vaynerchuk discusses the eye-popping courtside ticket prices at MSG, pent up demand, and the power of paid media…when coupled with social media virality.   Mary Ann Bartels - 12:35 Gary Vaynerchuk - 24:38   In this episode: Gary Vaynerchuk, @garyvee Joe Kernen, @JoeSquawk Becky Quick, @BeckyQuick Andrew Ross Sorkin, @andrewrsorkin Katie Kramer, @Kramer_Katie Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

When your income starts to scale, the instinct is to focus on earning more and delegate everything else. You build momentum, create cash flow, and then hand your capital over to advisors, funds, and institutions that are supposed to manage it efficiently in the background. The system looks sophisticated, regulated, and optimized, so it feels like the right move. But what many high-income earners and investors don't realize is that the biggest risk to their wealth often isn't the market… It's the structure their money sits inside. Because once capital is placed into systems you don't fully understand, small decisions start compounding in almost invisible ways. Fees that seem insignificant begin to erode long-term growth.  Portfolios that look diversified turn out to be overlapping and inefficient. And over time, instead of compounding wealth, you're quietly leaking it. In this episode of Money School Elite, I sit down with Robert Rolih, investor, entrepreneur, and author of The Million Dollar Decision, to break down what really happens to your money after you've made it. In this conversation, we discuss why small, seemingly harmless fees can significantly delay your financial freedom, how a lack of visibility into your own portfolio creates hidden risk, and why many investors don't actually know what they own. About the Guest    Robert Rolih is an entrepreneur, bestselling author, and long-term investing expert known for exposing Wall Street's hidden traps and teaching investors how to simplify wealth building. He is the international bestselling author of The Million Dollar Decision: Get Out of the Rigged Game of Investing and Add a Million to Your Net Worth, a book that has received glowing reviews from readers around the world. His mission is to reveal what the financial industry doesn't want you to know about investing, helping people greatly improve their long-term investing gains and take control of their financial future. Today, Robert has a thriving investment portfolio that serves him, not the financial industry. As a sought-after speaker, he shares his expertise with audiences worldwide, helping people avoid costly mistakes and achieve financial freedom. His ability to break down complex financial concepts into simple, engaging lessons and make investing interesting and fun has become his trademark. Robert was featured in more than 50 newspapers, websites, and TV stations, including CNBC, Yahoo Finance, Newsmax TV, Business Insider, and has had the honor of sharing the stage with renowned figures such as Robert Kiyosaki, Gary Vaynerchuk, Brian Tracy, Jack Canfield, Daniel Priestley, and many others. His international bestseller The Million Dollar Decision has been translated into several languages, including Chinese Mandarin, and published in special editions in countries such as India, Taiwan, Bulgaria, and Thailand. To get a free chapter of Robert's bestselling book, go to https://robertrolih.com/ or buy the book here. You can also join Robert's free masterclass when you go to https://robertrolih.com/masterclass.    About Your Host From pro-snowboarder to money mogul, Chris Naugle has dedicated his life to being America's #1 Money Mentor. With a core belief that success is built not by the resources you have, but by how resourceful you can be. Chris has built and owned 19 companies, with his businesses being featured in Forbes, ABC, House Hunters, and his very own HGTV pilot in 2018. He is the founder of The Money School™ and Money Mentor for The Money Multiplier. His success also includes managing tens of millions of dollars in assets in the financial services and advisory industry and in real estate transactions. As an innovator and visionary in wealth-building and real estate, he empowers entrepreneurs, business owners, and real estate investors with the knowledge of how money works. Chris is also a nationally recognized speaker, author, and podcast host. He has spoken to and taught over ten thousand Americans, delivering the financial knowledge that fuels lasting freedom.   Resources Private Money Guide:  https://go.moneyschoolrei.com/book-podcast Wealth Wednesday Webinar: https://go.moneyschoolrei.com/wednesday-webinar-podcast Mapping out the Millionaire Mystery:  https://go.moneyschoolrei.com/newbook-podcast    

Most salespeople and network marketers believe their closing problem is a leads problem. In this episode, Ray Higdon dismantles that excuse and reveals the two root causes behind why talented, motivated people consistently fail to close — even when they're generating leads every day. Ray shares a real, unscripted example from back-to-back major podcast appearances that perfectly exposes the single most costly mistake in sales: pitching your solution before you've ever diagnosed your prospect's real problem. Whether you're selling health and wellness products, coaching services, or business opportunities, this episode will immediately change how you approach every sales conversation. Ray breaks down why surface-level answers like "lose weight" or "make money" are not the prospect's real problem — and why stopping there is quietly costing you 30% of the sales and lives you could be impacting. You'll hear exactly what a problem-first discovery conversation sounds like, how to expand a prospect's pain before ever introducing your solution, and why the best closers in the world lead with curiosity, not a pitch deck. This is the training most sales coaches never give you, and it works whether you're in cold market outreach, warm market conversations, or anywhere in between. If you're serious about closing more sales, building a stronger team, and creating real impact with your product, service, or opportunity — this episode is the mindset and skill shift you've been waiting for. Ray's message is direct, practical, and grounded in real-world experience: the leads are not your problem. Your approach is. And that means it's completely within your power to fix it today. —

Alternative Titles:“Why Human-Centered Leadership Wins the Long Game”“The ROI of Human Understanding”“The Leaders Who Will Win in the AI Era”“Goodwill in the Bank: Building Teams That Actually Innovate”“Short-Term Operators vs Long-Term Builders”Episode Description:In this episode, Anthony Vaughan breaks down a powerful idea sparked by a conversation featuring Alexis Ohanian, Gary Vaynerchuk, and Sam Parr: the difference between short-term and long-term greed in business. AJ explores why the future of leadership won't belong to the loudest operators or the most tactical executives, but to leaders willing to do the “unscalable” work of deeply understanding people. From communication styles and workflow preferences to timing, trust, emotional alignment, and organizational energy, this episode unpacks why human nuance may become the ultimate competitive advantage in the AI era. The conversation dives into:Why most business advice is too tactical and disconnected from how humans actually operateThe hidden power of building “goodwill in the bank” with peopleWhy vulnerable, honest teams innovate fasterThe dangerous pressure modern leaders face with leaner teams and AI-driven expectationsHow alignment, trust, and emotional intelligence create long-term business leverageWhy the best leaders spend time on conversations that “don't make sense on paper”This episode is a masterclass on playing the long game — not just in business, but in leadership, culture, and human capability.Quote Pull:“Teams that deeply understand each other aren't perfect — they're honest enough to innovate.”

You already have 300+ leads sitting in your social media connections right now — Ray Higdon is here to show you exactly why you're not reaching them, and the one skill that changes everything. In this episode, Ray breaks down the power of cold market messaging: what it is, why most salespeople avoid it out of fear or uncertainty, and how mastering it means you will literally never run out of people to prospect for the rest of your life. This isn't a trick or a loophole — it's a proven outreach skill grounded in psychology, intentional language, and consistent action. Ray shares his three favorite cold market approaches — Location, Occupation, and Intelligent Comment — and walks through how he's actively using them right now to prospect for a business and faith-based program he recently joined. You'll hear how one woman in Ray's challenge had never gotten a lead as far into the process as she did after applying these frameworks, simply because she learned how to say the right things in a more powerful way. Ray makes it clear: cold market never runs out, and when you combine skill with volume, sales are inevitable. If you've been sitting on hundreds of connections you've never messaged, this episode is your wake-up call. Ray lays out the two variables that determine your results — the quality of your messaging skills and the number of messages you're willing to send — and reminds you that the compound effect of consistent outreach typically produces its biggest results in the first 14 to 30 days. Show up, do the work, and start treating your social media connections as the goldmine they already are. —

Travis and his producer Eric break down the idea of a personal “Mount Rushmore” of high‑value influences and why picking the right people to follow can make you more successful and less susceptible to the spammy, scammy side of self‑help and business content. They use a viral clip about “the most attractive man in America” as a humorous jumping‑off point to talk about substance over style in the online influencer world. On this episode we talk about: Why the phrase “high value man” has become a cringe trigger and what people really mean when they say it. Using a funny viral clip to pivot into a serious conversation about who actually influences your thinking and behavior. Travis's Mount Rushmore of mentors: Naval Ravikant, Adam Grant, Mark Manson, and Gary Vaynerchuk, and why each one made the cut. How Adam Grant's “Give and Take” reshaped Travis's philosophy on relationships, giving, and long‑term success. Naval's concept of unique value and building a skill stack that creates a “market of one,” plus how that ties wealth creation to genuine happiness. Top 3 Takeaways Curate your influences with intention: the people you follow most closely should be data‑driven, non‑reactionary, and focused on truth over polarization or cheap virality. The most successful people tend to be strategic givers, not takers or strict matchers, and adopting a give‑first mindset can fundamentally change your relationships and opportunities. Long‑term leverage comes from stacking skills into a unique value proposition so you become a “market of one,” doing work that feels like play to you but looks like work to everyone else. Notable Quotes “You're basically just calling him hot, but you want to say it in a masculine way, so you're like, ‘he's just so high value.' You wanted to say sexy.” “Give and Take fundamentally shifted the way that I view relationships and the value that's given in relationships because of the givers, takers, matchers thing.” “It's not just about creating one skill set that's marketable… it's about the ultimate skill stack you create over a long enough period of time so you can create a market of one.” Connect with Travis: Instagram: https://instagram.com/travischappell Other: https://travischappell.com A Word from Our Sponsors: - Are you ready to start your own creatorjourney and make it big? Visitwww.fanvue.com today and launch yourcareer! - To learn more about Mode Mobile and its investor community, go tohttps://invest.modemobile.com/travismakesmoney -Travis Makes Money is made possible by High Level – the All-In-One Sales & Marketing Platform built for agencies, by an agency.Capture leads, nurture them, and close more deals—all from one powerful platform.Get an extended free trial at gohighlevel.com/travis Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Warm market works — but it's one of the least duplicatable strategies in network marketing. In this episode, Ray Higdon breaks down why building your team around warm market alone leaves 70–80% of your potential results on the table. Not everyone joining your team has strong relationships or influence with friends and family, and if that's the only tool you hand them, you're setting them up to fail. Ray makes the case for cold market prospecting as the most duplicatable approach in direct sales — because it's an even playing field. Every person on your team has more people they don't know than people they do. Cold market requires no funnels, no branding kits, no complex systems — just the right scripts and word tracks. Ray shares real proof: Christina Danielle became the number one recruiter in her entire company — for four to five consecutive years — using cold market messaging scripts while her company actively discouraged it. And Christie Morgan generated $100,000 in personal commissions last quarter through 100% cold market outreach, proving this method works for high-ticket offers too. If you're leading a sales team and want results that actually multiply across your organization, this episode will challenge how you think about duplication — and give you a smarter, scalable alternative. —

Ben is about to climb into a Piper Apache, which our own blog has definitively declared the official airplane of twin-engine Russian roulette, and he's doing the responsible midlife thing: writing down the flows, chair flying in his hotel room until his shoulder gives out, and showing up prepared anyway. Brian is deep in commercial checkride prep mode, synthesizing seven sources of information into cheat sheets that actually make sense to a human brain, and Ted — man flu survivor — is keeping everyone grounded as only Ted can. The topic tonight is what it actually takes to reenter the atmosphere of training after a gap: the ego check, the clipboard anxiety, the moment you realize you don't understand something and instead of walking away, you just read it again slower. Also: Neil deGrasse Tyson drops some wisdom, a five-star review nails all three hosts in one sentence, and we make the case that your private certificate is just a learner's permit for everything you're about to get wrong. Safety third. Always.Mentioned on the show:* Piper PA23 Apache: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piper_PA-23* Gary Vaynerchuk: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gary_Vaynerchuk* Blog- The Ultimate "Official Airplane Of" Guide: https://midlifepilotpodcast.com/blog/the-ultimate-official-airplane-of-guide* Brian Schiff on The Calm Cockpit podcast: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gnSCpa2weUs* Transair Flight 810 - 737, shut down the good engine: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transair_Flight_810* Beechcraft Baron 55: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beechcraft_Baron* Beechcraft Dutchess: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beechcraft_DuchessSupport the show!https://www.patreon.com/MidlifePilotPodcast

In this episode, Sean Barnes opens up about a turning point in his career back in 2013, when he was hired as the IT director of an oil and gas company and quickly realized he had been promoted for technical expertise he no longer needed to use. Drawing on lessons that resonated with him from Gary Vaynerchuk during that season, Sean walks through the foundational shifts every new executive has to make to lead effectively. He unpacks why the leap from individual contributor to leader is harder than most people anticipate, why the nature of "hard work" fundamentally changes at the executive level, and how kindness and candor work together as the foundation of long-term leadership impact.   Key Moments [00:00] Sean sets the scene: 2013, newly hired IT director, third employee at an oil and gas company [01:00] The hidden problem behind a perfect-on-paper hire [01:20] Discovering Gary Vaynerchuk and the lessons that resonated [02:16] Why your old identity works against you in leadership [02:42] Lesson one: hard work looks completely different at the executive level [03:49] Lesson two: kindness as a leadership lever, not a weakness [05:15] How kindness lets you be direct without being aggressive [06:00] Lesson three: candor and why most leaders avoid the uncomfortable conversation [06:48] A side-by-side example of kindness blended with candor in a real conversation [09:04] External pressures most employees never see or feel [10:33] The accordion effect: applying pressure, then rebuilding trust [11:17] The real work isn't the work, it's the work on yourself [11:41] Closing question: which of these are you quietly avoiding right now?   Key Takeaways The hardest work at the executive level is invisible work. Moving into leadership is not about producing more output. It is about developing people, building accountability, sitting with uncomfortable conversations, and intentionally working on your own communication and self-awareness. If you try to brute force your way through with more of what made you a great individual contributor, you will stall out. Kindness is a leadership lever, not a liability. Genuine investment in your people is what unlocks discretionary effort, and it is what makes direct feedback land as care rather than aggression. Leaders who skip the kindness piece can still get results, but those results tend to come in short, costly sprints rather than sustained performance. Candor without kindness is just noise. Most leaders avoid hard conversations not because they do not want to have them, but because they do not know how. When candor is delivered from a place of genuine care, the dynamic shifts entirely, and the people on your team become open to hearing the truth and acting on it.   Podcast Show Notes – Episode 281 | 05.11.2026 YouTube | 5.12.2026 Podbean Episode Title: What Gary Vaynerchuk Taught Sean About Leading at the Executive Level   Host: Sean Barnes Website: https://www.wolfexecutives.com   https://www.seanbarnes.com   LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/seanbarnes/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/wolfexecutives https://www.linkedin.com/company/thewayofthewolf/ LinkedIn Newsletter: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/7284600567593684993/   Twitter: https://x.com/seanbarnes https://x.com/wolfexecutives   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_seanbarnes https://www.instagram.com/wolfexecutives   TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@the_seanbarnes   Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theseanbarnes

Most people have stood up and spoken in front of a crowd at least once. But turning that into a career, or even a paycheck, is something most speakers never figure out.I brought in Zach Nadler, Co-Founder and CEO of VaynerSpeakers, because he knows exactly how this industry works, and he held nothing back.We got into what event planners actually look for, how to build a reel that opens doors, what your speaking fee should really be, and why LinkedIn might be the most underrated tool speakers are not using. If you want to get on stages and get paid to be there, this one is for you." You have to start small. You have to be willing. You also have to put the work in. Nobody's gonna come knocking at your door (with opportunities)." ~ Zach NadlerIn This Episode:02:08 How Zach went from CAA to co-founding VaynerSpeakers04:43 What makes a great speaker12:48 The assets every speaker needs to get booked14:56 Why event planners are now requesting full speech footage23:55 How to set your speaking fee26:00 How to negotiate without losing your value27:00 Why value exchange matters more than money36:32 How to book your first stages42:02 Why LinkedIn is the most underrated tool for speakersAbout Zach NadlerZach Nadler is the Co-Founder and CEO of VaynerSpeakers, which he launched in 2018 alongside Gary Vaynerchuk. Before that, he was a top sales agent at CAA, representing talent including Al Pacino, Malala Yousafzai, President Joe Biden, and Arnold Schwarzenegger. He also spent three years as Head of Programming for VeeCon, the first NFT-ticketed super conference. Over the course of his career, Zach has driven nearly $100M in sales and booked keynote speakers at close to 4,000 events.Connect with Zach IG: https://www.instagram.com/zachnadler/His business: https://www.instagram.com/vaynerspeakers/Website: https://vaynerspeakers.com/Book a 1:1 with Zach: https://intro.co/ZachNadlerWhere to find me:IG: https://www.instagram.com/jen_gottlieb/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jen_gottliebFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/JenleahgottliebWebsite: https://jengottlieb.com/My business: https://www.superconnectormedia.com/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@jen_gottlieb

What happens when a failed NHL dream becomes the foundation for building one of the fastest-growing CPA firms in North America? In this episode of LIVING THE RED LIFE, entrepreneur and finance strategist Robert Gauvreau breaks down the mindset, leadership principles, and financial systems that helped scale a multi 8-figure accounting, tax, law, and advisory firm serving entrepreneurs across North America. From being rejected by banks and underestimated as a young founder to working alongside Tony Robbins and speaking on stages with Gary Vaynerchuk and Kevin O'Leary, Robert reveals why most entrepreneurs misunderstand cash flow, taxes, and growth strategy. He shares practical insights on bookkeeping, financial reporting, tax planning, KPIs, business leadership, and building long-term wealth while scaling a company in a traditionally slow-growth industry.Key TakeawaysWhy 92% of business owners legally overpay taxesThe financial metrics every entrepreneur must track weeklyHow Robert scaled a CPA firm to nearly 200 professionalsWhy cash flow matters more than revenue growthThe leadership mindset required to build a multi 8-figure businessNotable Quotes“Start scared. Start small. Just be sure to start. The first move changes everything.”“Cash is king. It truly is.”“If you don't know your numbers, how do you know what strategy you can put in place to win the game?”“Don't spend money just to save taxes.”“Resilience isn't about never failing. It's about bouncing back and transforming every challenge into an opportunity.”Connect with Rudy Mawer:LinkedInInstagramFacebookTwitter

This week, I'm diving into a story of meeting someone you may have heard of: Gary Vaynerchuk. Gary and I met at a studio in California on the set of a reality show Apple was launching. And in the short period of time I met with Gary, five key characteristics stood out.I'd like to share them with you...YouTube link:https://youtu.be/ujnF1wgni48If you have any questions, you can reach us here:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://lifemattersfinancial.com/contact/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠If you're an agent looking for a mentor, start here:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://lifematterfinancial.com/careers/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Have an idea or topic suggestion?Talk to me:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://forms.gle/6aLkM8MSTwH4eteVA⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠#lifematters #lifeinsurance #wholelifeinsurance #agentsforlife #lifeinsuranceagent #infinitebanking

Most people don't have a motivation problem — they have a comfort zone problem. In this episode, Ray Higdon delivers a no-filter breakdown of the single biggest reason your results haven't changed: you're waiting to feel like taking action before you actually take it. And according to neuroscience, that feeling will never come. Your comfort zone isn't just a mindset issue — it's a chemical addiction wired into your brain, and it's producing your current results with stunning precision. Ray walks through the science behind why motivation always follows action and never precedes it. Drawing on how the neocortex and limbic brain interact to create the chemicals of emotion, he explains why you'll never crave going to the gym, prospecting, or building your business until you've already started doing it. More importantly, he gives you a clear, practical framework: stop waiting, start with small actions that break your pattern, and let inertia do the heavy lifting — because after 21 days of consistent movement, you'll be neurologically rewired. You'll also learn the second critical mistake most people make after getting inspired — going too hard, burning out in three days, and quitting entirely. Ray unpacks how to use inertia correctly: stop at a coffee shop instead of going straight home, commit to just showing up at the gym without a workout plan, and give yourself permission to start small. Two focused hours a day done consistently beats four burned-out hours every single time. If you're serious about getting different results, this episode is where the shift begins. —

John Corcoran is the Co-founder and CEO of Rise25, a company that connects B2B businesses with their ideal clients, referral partners, and strategic partners. He helps clients generate ROI through its done-for-you podcast service. Since 2012, John has hosted the Smart Business Revolution Podcast, interviewing hundreds of CEOs, founders, authors, and entrepreneurs, including Peter Diamandis, Adam Grant, Gary Vaynerchuk, and Marie Forleo. He is also a recovering attorney, an author, a former White House writer, and a speechwriter for the Governor of California. Over his career, John worked in Hollywood, the heart of Silicon Valley, and ran his boutique law firm in the San Francisco Bay Area, catering to small business owners and entrepreneurs. In this episode… Many business owners launch podcasts hoping to build an audience, gain visibility, or create a steady stream of content. But the real opportunity often comes from something less obvious — using the podcast as a structured way to build meaningful business relationships. What's the result when the goal is not more downloads, but better conversations? The answer is that podcasting becomes a business development tool built around access, trust, and intentional connection. Strategic podcasting expert John Corcoran explains that the strongest podcasts are not driven by downloads or celebrity guests, but by conversations with clients, referral partners, strategic partners, and people worth knowing. Rather than obsessing over vanity metrics, owners should identify the right people to invite and leverage each episode to deepen relationships while creating valuable content. John also points out that consistency, thoughtful follow-up, and getting support with production systems can keep owners focused on the conversations that actually move the business forward. In this episode of Owner's Profit Playbook, Pat Mancuso chats with John Corcoran, Co-founder and CEO of Rise25, about why owners need stronger relationships, not more downloads. John explains how to choose the right guests, use outreach strategically, and turn conversations into long-term business value. He also touches on the Dream 200 approach and how AI can support thought leadership and repurposed content without losing the human connection.

If debt is draining your finances, your relationships, and your peace of mind, this episode is for you. Ray Higdon sits down with debt relief expert Josh Valentine — a 14-year consumer finance veteran who has helped over 30,000 people resolve more than $1 billion in debt — for a no-fluff conversation about unsecured debt, why the banking system is designed to keep you in bondage, and what you can actually do about it. From credit card debt spiraling out of control to the compounding trap of minimum payments, Josh breaks down the biblical, financial, and practical dimensions of debt that most people never hear. In this session, Josh and Ray walk through how everyday people can legally reduce their monthly payments by $300–$800 or more, get a portion of their debt forgiven, and stop hemorrhaging money to interest — while protecting their credit score in the process. You'll hear a real client story from Jack, who lowered his monthly payment below what he was originally paying before enrolling in the program. Ray and Josh also cover the 1099 tax question, what debt settlement actually does to your credit, how to handle creditor calls, and why doing it yourself is rarely the smartest move. Whether you're $10,000 in or six figures under water, this episode opens the blinds on a system designed to keep you paying — and shows you there's a clear, structured path out. If you want to find out what you qualify for, book a free 10-minute call at HigdonGroup.com/ReduceNow. —

In this episode of the Building Better Humans Podcast, Glenn shares three life-changing lessons from a conversation he saw with Gary Vaynerchuk. He breaks down Gary's advice on finding what you're looking for, the importance of love being worth fighting for, and the value of competition driving innovation. Glenn also shares his own experiences with applying these principles, from avoiding negativity to pursuing his passions. This episode challenges listeners to audit their inputs, raise their standards, and lean into what makes them come alive. It's a call to action to build a life that's authentic, meaningful, and fulfilling.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Top 5 Topics:- Moving from Canada to Australia for Dental School – Easier Route or Advantageous Route?- Is Dental Specialization Still Worth It in 2026?- The Broken Dental Insurance System Is The Root Cause, Ruining Dentistry- How to Find a Life-Changing Mentor in Dental School (and Why Most Students Fail)- Time Management & Work-Life Balance as a Dental StudentQuotes & Wisdom:~05:15 (Brendan): "You don't need to put someone else's candle out to make your candle seem brighter. Just be your candle brighter... or like Gary Vaynerchuk says, you don't need to destroy someone else's building to make your building seem taller, just build a bigger building."~05:33 (Brendan): "Dentistry is a team sport."~13:43 (Brendan): "If you played basketball for 1 year and I played basketball for 3, who's most likely going to win that game?... Now compare the implant training of a General Dentist vs. Periodontist or Oral Surgeon: Who would you prefer to place implants on your mother?"~37:12 (Brendan): "Aim high for specialties, and then you could always finish lower, later, but- you can't aim low and finish high."~39:58 (Brendan): "See who kind of takes a step towards you... little mannerisms like that... Someone who calls you by your first name... genuinely wants to kind of engage with you."~43:04 (Brendan): "Be confident... don't just use people... Get mentored... but be respectful to the mentors and then also become a mentor."~49:51 (Brendan – Jim Rohn inspired): "You don't ask for less [from life], you ask to become better to match it... because life just keeps throwing shit at you."Questions:03:28 - Brendan: "Did you have to go to college first or did you go to dental school right from high school?"06:20 - Faruq: "Do I specialize? Do I stay general? ... is it worth it to specialize? Like at this point in like, as a D2 right now, it's like, is it worth it just because, I feel like people are referring less. So is that going to make me make less, make me see less patients?"13:02 - Brendan: "How many years of implant focused training did the periodontist do that you work for, compared to the general dentists you shadowed?"17:22 - Brendan: "Why did you go to Australia for dental school?"24:33 - Faruq: "Should I be doing research as well?"29:56 - Brendan: "What does your mentor think, the periodontist? What would he think about you doing GP versus going and specializing and doing the procedures he does?"34:32 - Brendan: "What are your favorite 2 specialties?"46:13 - Faruq: "How did you manage your time [in dental school]?"Now available on:- Dr. Gallagher's Podcast & YouTube Channel- Dose of Dental Podcast #226My watch in this episode = Tag Heuer Aquaracer Calibre 16 Chrono- 4.2026

In this episode of "The Messy Parts," Gary Vaynerchuk opens up to host Maryam Banikarim about self-esteem, leadership, and what he believes is a growing crisis of “late adulthood.” Gary breaks down his philosophy on kind candor vs. radical candor, why fear is the real career killer, and how over-coddling may be delaying independence for an entire generation. If you've ever felt behind, afraid to pivot, or unsure of your next move in the age of AI, this episode is for you.Subscribe to The Messy Parts today: www.youtube.com/@TheMessyPartsVisit the Rapid Response website here: https://www.rapidresponseshow.com/See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In todays episode we welcome back Cinda Allen with Idaho Wine Merchants to help us kick off Oregon Wine Month 2026! Oregon is known for making amazing wines and we taste through 6 of them today! #HappyFriday! #ItsWineTime! #CheersingWines featured this episode:2024 Chehalem Winery Pinot Gris ($20-$25 at area retailers)2024 Dobbes Family Estate Grenache Blanc ($26-$30 at area retailers)2023 Beaux Frères Chardonnay ($75-$90 at area retailers)2023 Pike Road Wines Pinot Noir ($35-$40 at area retailers)2023 Willamette Valley Vineyards Whole Cluster Pinot Noir ($24-$28 at area retailers)2025 Stoller Family Estate Pinot Noir ($20-$24 at area retailers) A HUGE thanks to our sponsors: Seasons of CDA, Pilgrim's Market and CDA Gourmet!Seasons of Coeur d'Alene: Experience the best of Coeur d'Alene's culinary scene at Seasons, where farm-to-table cuisine meets elegant ambiance. Don't miss their Wine Down Wednesday where all bottled wines are 50% off! Visit https://www.seasonsofcda.com/ for more information or call 208-664-8008 Pilgrim's Market: Check out Pilgrim's Market for an expansive selection of fine wines with wine club prices EVERY day, weekly complimentary tastings and just up the street from CDA Gourmet! Visit pilgrimsmarket.com or call 208-676-9730!Check out CDA Gourmet! Located in Midtown Coeur d'Alene, just down the street from Pilgrim's Market, CDA Gourmet offers a diverse mix of flavor enhancing products as well as the tools to make it all happen. And there's exciting news! CDA Gourmet will be celebrating their 3-year anniversary on Saturday, June 13. Visit https://www.cdagourmet.com for more information or call 208-551-2364. CDA Gourmet: Your kitchen elevatedThe Bells Up Winery Wine Word of the Week - Jory A nutrient-rich, reddish volcanic soil found in Oregon's Willamette Valley. It's famous for producing Pinot Noir with high acidity and distinct red-fruit characteristics.Bells Up Winery: Recovering attorney turned winemaker Dave Specter composes micro-boutique wines with the intensity of a French horn fanfare. Experience your own Bells Up moment with a private, never-double-booked tasting by calling 503-537-1328.Mentions: Domaine Drouhin, Philsosophy, Judy Tebow, Next Level Consulting, Cal Raleigh, Elk Cove Winery, Stan Tebow, Gary Vaynerchuk, Bill Stoller, Chemistry Wine, Social Media Marketing World, Cinder Wine, David Hoffman, Chalone Vineyards, Ridge Vineyards, Kim Voelz, K Voelz Wines, Dave Specter, Illahe Vineyards and Winery, Brad Ford. Some wines we've enjoyed this week: Zaca Mesa Z Cuvée, Mâcon-Village White Burgundy, Will Winemakers Reserve Pinot Noir and a Hierogram Chardonnay.Please find us on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/WineTimeFridays), Twitter (@VintageTweets), Instagram (@WineTimeFridays) on our YouTube Channel, https://www.youtube.com/@winetimefridays and on Threads, which is @winetimefridays. © 2026 Wine Time Fridays - All Rights Reserve

Most network marketers have been taught that building relationships before pitching is the golden rule of sales — but what if that advice is actually costing you recruits, commissions, and credibility? In this episode, Ray Higdon delivers an unpopular but powerful truth: when it comes to reaching out to strangers on social media, "build relationships first" is not just ineffective — it's dishonest. Ray breaks down why people universally prefer you get straight to the point, why problem-solving is the real engine behind every sale, and exactly what two things you must communicate when reaching out to cold market prospects online. He also shares how this approach helped one client become the #1 recruiter in her company and helped another generate $100,000 in personal commissions in under 90 days. If you're waiting for your attraction marketing to kick in while your pipeline sits dry, this episode is your wake-up call. Ray gives you a clear, actionable framework — including the three targeting methods of occupation, location, and intelligent comment — so you can stop beating around the bush and start converting cold market conversations into real income. —

Get AudioBooks for Free Best Self-improvement Motivation Gary Vaynerchuk Life Advice | Eye-Opening Speech Discover Gary Vaynerchuk's powerful life advice that inspires action. Learn mindset, hustle, and success strategies to level up your life today! ⁠We Need Your Love & Support ❤️ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Get 3 Audiobooks Free -

AI is the secret weapon entrepreneurs and content creators can no longer afford to ignore. It has quickly become essential for scaling ideas, creating content faster, and staying competitive. In this final episode of the YAPCreator Series Replay, Hala Taha dives into how artificial intelligence is reshaping content creation and entrepreneurship. You'll hear from top business and tech leaders, including Reid Hoffman, Tom Bilyeu, and Jen Gottlieb, as they explore ways to leverage AI to enhance your creative process, improve productivity, and maintain a competitive edge. In this episode, Hala will discuss:  (00:00) Introduction (01:56) Why AI Is Essential for Entrepreneurs (04:50) AI and the Rise of Solopreneurs (09:54) AI's Real Impact on the Future of Work (11:59) Using ChatGPT as a Content Assistant (15:25) How AI Is Supercharging Human Creativity (18:42) Ken Okazaki's AI Formula for Viral Hooks (20:34) Podcasting and AI Marketing Trends (25:39) Will AI Disrupt Content Creation Entirely? (31:48) Reid Hoffman on AI Agents and What's Next  Hala Taha is the host of Young and Profiting, a top 10 business and entrepreneurship podcast on Apple and Spotify. She's the founder and CEO of YAP Media, an award-winning social media and podcast production agency, as well as the YAP Media Network, where she helps renowned podcasters like Russell Brunson, Jenna Kutcher, and Neil Patel grow and monetize their shows. Through her work, Hala has become one of the most influential creator entrepreneurs in podcasting. Sponsored By: Huel - Get over $50 in savings with the Discovery Bundle from Huel. Use my exclusive code YAP15 for 15% off at huel.com/yap15. Indeed - Get a $75 sponsored job credit to boost your job's visibility at Indeed.com/profiting Shopify - Start your $1/month trial at Shopify.com/profiting. Quo - Run your business communications the smart way. Try Quo for free, plus get 20% off your first 6 months when you go to quo.com/profiting Experian - Manage and cancel your unwanted subscriptions and reduce your bills. Get started now with the Experian App and let your Big Financial Friend do the work for you. See experian.com for details. Intuit - Start paying bills the smart way, not the hard way. Learn more at QuickBooks.com/billpay AT&T Business - Power your small business with reliable connectivity from AT&T. Switch today at business.att.com.  Fabric - Protect your family with term life insurance from Fabric by Gerber Life. Apply today in just minutes at meetfabric.com/profiting  ZocDoc - Stop putting off those doctors' appointments. Find and instantly book a doctor you love today at Zocdoc.com/PROFITING  Blinkist - Turn the world's best nonfiction books into quick 15-minute reads or listens. Grab your free trial plus an exclusive 30% discount at blinkist.com/profiting   Resources Mentioned: YAP E254 with Jen Gottlieb: youngandprofiting.co/4324ayp YAP E291 with Gary Vaynerchuk: youngandprofiting.co/41DRxcd YAP E252 with Harley Finkelstein: youngandprofiting.co/4i2IYN5 YAP E230 with Ken Okazaki: youngandprofiting.co/3Ervwnx YAP E226 with Neil Patel: youngandprofiting.co/4gqjng0 YAP E316 with Kat Norton: youngandprofiting.co/40I34q4 YAP E155 with Kelly Roach: youngandprofiting.co/4h1LfrD  YAPCreator Replay E1: youngandprofiting.co/YCR-E1 YAPCreator Replay E2: youngandprofiting.co/YCR-E2 YAPCreator Replay E3: youngandprofiting.co/YCR-E3 YAPCreator Replay E4: youngandprofiting.co/YCR-E4  YAPCreator Replay E5: youngandprofiting.co/YCR-E5  Active Deals - youngandprofiting.com/deals  Key YAP Links Reviews - ratethispodcast.com/yap YouTube - youtube.com/c/YoungandProfiting Newsletter - youngandprofiting.co/newsletter  LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/htaha/ Instagram - instagram.com/yapwithhala/ Social + Podcast Services: yapmedia.com Transcripts - youngandprofiting.com/episodes-new  Entrepreneurship, Entrepreneurship Podcast, Business, Business Podcast, Self Improvement, Self-Improvement, Personal Development, Starting a Business, Strategy, Investing, Sales, Selling, Psychology, Productivity, Entrepreneurs, AI, Artificial Intelligence, Technology, Marketing, Negotiation, Money, Finance, Side Hustle, Startup, Mental Health, Career, Leadership, Mindset, Health, Growth Mindset, AI Marketing, Prompt, AI in Action, Generative AI, AI for Entrepreneurs, AI Podcast

======================== OUTPUT B: PODCAST DESCRIPTION How to Get More Leads and Sales with Instagram Reels ft. Dr. Kimberly Olson If you've been posting on Instagram but not seeing consistent leads or sales, this episode is your turning point. Ray Higdon sits down with Dr. Kimberly Olson — award-winning Instagram strategist, seven-figure entrepreneur, and creator of the bestselling #Instagram course — to break down exactly how network marketers and direct sellers can leverage Instagram Reels to grow their audience, fill their DMs with qualified prospects, and close sales with confidence. Kimberly shares her personal journey from six figures of debt to generating consistent seven-figure annual revenue, and how stepping into radical authenticity — including sharing her faith, her values, and her real story — was the catalyst that changed everything. In this power-packed training, Dr. Kimberly Olson walks you through her proven "Reel Domination" playbook, covering the five essential reel types every entrepreneur needs to be posting: educational, inspirational, social proof, high-value lead generation, and entertaining/controversial content. You'll learn how to stop the scroll with magnetic hooks, how to turn reel comments into DM conversations, and how to convert those conversations into sales using a simple one-conversation close. Whether you have zero followers or you're looking to 10x an existing audience, Kimberly's system has been proven with thousands of students — including people who went from two jobs to full-time network marketing income within a single year. You'll also get a behind-the-scenes look at Kimberly's complete #Instagram course, a 7-module mega-program with over 60 video lessons, step-by-step reel and story templates, a Trello-based content planning system, and lifetime access with ongoing updates — all designed to help you build, brand, and monetize your Instagram presence from the ground up. If you're ready to stop spinning your wheels and start getting paid consistently for the content you create, this episode — and Kimberly's training — is exactly what you need. —

Hour One of the Good Morning Football Podcast begins with a look at the Cincinnati Bengals. Hosts Jamie Erdahl, Kyle Brandt, Manti Te’o and Willie Colon weigh in on the New York Giants draft following Malik Nabers’ comment. Entrepreneur and CEO Gary Vaynerchuk wakes up with "GMFB" to discuss the New York Jets 2026 draft. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

======================== OUTPUT B: PODCAST DESCRIPTION How to Recruit Professionals Into Network Marketing (Without Begging, Chasing, or Sounding Like a Pitch Artist) | Todd Falcone Industry legend Todd Falcone — 36 years in network marketing, 17 of them building in the field — sits down with Ray Higdon to break down one of the most powerful and underutilized recruiting strategies in the profession: targeting high-caliber professionals. Todd shares why commission-based professionals like realtors, insurance agents, and financial planners are a natural fit for network marketing — they already prospect, sell, handle rejection, and take risks for a living. The result? Higher-quality conversations, faster decisions, and teammates who actually show up and produce. Ray and Todd walk through exactly how Todd developed his signature "peak interest question," why he ditched purchasing business opportunity seeker leads in favor of cold outreach to professionals, and the mindset shift that separates distributors who stay stuck talking to unqualified prospects from those who build with momentum. They also tackle the #1 reason most network marketers never take this approach — fear of judgment — and why that fear is completely unfounded when you're approaching people who are already wired for business. Todd also previews his free training at HigdonGroup.com/Professionals, a step-by-step deep dive into recruiting professionals word for word, without begging, chasing, or sounding like a pitch artist. Whether you're brand new or a seasoned builder frustrated with low-quality conversations, this episode will change how you look at every for-sale sign, insurance office, and real estate listing in your area. —

Shawn Porat is the founder and Chief Fortune Officer of OpenFortune — the media platform turning the humble fortune cookie into a high-impact PI marketing channel. With distribution across 30 countries and 300M impressions a month, OpenFortune has delivered viral wins for brands like Capital One, Duolingo, and even investor Gary Vaynerchuk — who calls it “the new Super Bowl ad.” If you think billboards are your only out-of-home option, think again. In this episode, Shawn shares the strategy, the science, and the stories behind turning a slip of paper into a marketing powerhouse. For more resources on how to dominate your market, visit us at Rankings.io. Listen to the full episode with Shawn Porat on Personal Injury Mastermind, powered by Rankings.io, below: Spotify Apple Podcasts Watch the Episodes On YouTube OpenFortune Website | LinkedIn If you like what you hear, hit subscribe. We do this every week. Buy tickets for PIMCON 2026: https://hubs.li/Q04bf9vT0  Subscribe to our newsletter: pimnewsletter.beehiiv.com Get Social! Personal Injury Mastermind (PIM) powered by Rankings.io is on Instagram | YouTube | TikTok

Jim Rome's Daily Jungle 4/22/26 LeBron has the Lakers up 2-0 over the Houston Rockets. Then, Jerry Jones brought out a President just to get the spotlight back. Today's guests include ESPN Lead NHL Analyst Ray Ferraro and the legend Gary Vaynerchuk. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

======================== OUTPUT A: YOUTUBE SEO PACKAGE 1. TARGETED KEYWORDS & MARKET DEMAND Keyword Market Demand Primary: Pinterest marketing for beginners High Secondary: how to make money on Pinterest 2026 High make money with Pinterest network marketing Medium Pinterest SEO strategy for beginners High Pinterest business account setup Medium Pinterest traffic for direct sales Medium 2. CURRENT TITLE How Beginners Are Making Money With Pinterest in 2026 3. SUGGESTED SEO TITLES Title 1 — Transformation Formula Pinterest Marketing for Beginners: From Zero to Sales in 90 Days Title 2 — Authority/List Formula Pinterest for Beginners: 5 Ways to Get Traffic & Make Sales in 2026 Title 3 — Pattern Interrupt Formula Pinterest Isn't Dead — It's How Beginners Are Making Money in 2026 4.

Two real business owners call in — and one of their stories is probably yours.   In this live call-in episode of Stay Paid, hosts Luke Acree and Josh Stike take real questions from real business owners and deliver straight-talk frameworks on building referral-based businesses, re-engaging your database, and turning everyday connections into consistent growth. Whether you're just starting to build your referral network, trying to unlock the goldmine in your existing database, or looking for the right systems to take your business to the next level — this episode gives you the blueprint.   Key topics covered: •      How to stop "paralysis by analysis" and make decisions that move your business forward •      The BNI (Business Network International) model and why it works for natural connectors •      Gary Vaynerchuk's "jab, jab, right hook" approach to referral marketing •      Why your existing database is a goldmine — and how to unlock it •      The power of client events for database re-engagement and growth •      The real ROI of Facebook and Google ads for real estate agents •      Why profitability is the only true north star for small business owners   Have a question for Luke and Josh? Submit it at remindermedia.com/ask or DM us on Instagram @staypaidpodcast   Subscribe so you never miss an episode.

Want more plays to choose from? Pre-order ⁠The Mental Strength Playbook⁠ before April 28th and get exclusive bonuses delivered instantly — including a mental strength audit and the book's introduction. Imagine being a therapist from small-town Maine who has never spoken in front of more than 20 people — and suddenly finding yourself backstage at a massive conference, about to share a stage with Gary Vee. That's exactly what happened to me. And instead of running for the exit, I ran a play. Here's what that means — and how you can run a play to solve any situation or uncomfortable emotional experience you find yourself in. Some of the things I talk about are: The story of my very first big speaking gig — sharing a stage with Gary Vaynerchuk as a therapist from Maine with zero experience on stages like that one. The "Act As If" play — what it is, why it works, and how cognitive dissonance and behavioral activation explain the science behind it. Why "Act As If" isn't the same as toxic positivity or fake-it-till-you-make-it. A completely different situation that called for a completely different play — and how the If/Then Plan saved a 3-hour workshop. The 3Ps framework — Pause, Pick, Play — and how to use it to find the right play for any situation you face. How to figure out whether your thinking, your emotions, or your actions need support — because those are three different problems that call for three different plays. Why an imperfect play you actually run beats a perfect play you never do. Related Episodes ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠206 — Why You're Stronger Than You Think (and How to See Proof of That Today)⁠ ⁠⁠232 — 5 Daily Habits To Build Unstoppable Mental StrengthConnect with the Show Connect With the Show Buy a copy of⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠13 Things Mentally Strong People Don't Do⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connect with Amy on Instagram —⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@AmyMorinAuthor⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Visit my website —⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠AmyMorinLCSW.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Sponsors MUDWTR - Get up to 43% off your entire order, plus free shipping and a free rechargeable frother when you use code STRONGER at ⁠Mudwtr.com⁠. AirDoctor — Head to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠AirDoctorPro.com⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠and use promo code STRONGER to get UP TO $300 off today! One Skin — Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠oneskin.co/STRONGER⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and use code stronger to get up to 30% off your first 3 subscription orders Fast Growing Trees — Get an additional twenty percent off better plants at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠FastGrowingTrees.com⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠using the code STRONGER at checkout Subscribe to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Mentally Stronger Premium⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for exclusive content like weekly bonus episodes, mental strength challenges, and office hours with me. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

John Corcoran is a recovering attorney, an author, and a former White House writer and speechwriter to the Governor of California. Throughout his career, John has worked in Hollywood, the heart of Silicon Valley, and run his boutique law firm in the San Francisco Bay Area, catering to small business owners and entrepreneurs. Since 2012, John has been the host of the Smart Business Revolution Podcast, where he has interviewed hundreds of CEOs, founders, authors, and entrepreneurs, including Peter Diamandis, Adam Grant, Gary Vaynerchuk, and Marie Forleo. John is also the Co-founder of Rise25, a company that connects B2B businesses with their ideal clients, referral partners, and strategic partners. They help their clients generate ROI through their done-for-you podcast service. In this episode… Many aspiring podcasters hesitate to launch, held back by fear of visibility, pressure to make a strong debut, and uncertainty around marketing and distribution. These challenges can make the process unnecessarily complex. But is launching a successful podcast really that complicated? John Corcoran, a podcasting expert and entrepreneur, shares practical strategies to move past these barriers and take action. John emphasizes that perfectionism often delays progress, and instead recommends launching with multiple episodes to build early momentum. He highlights the importance of tapping into existing networks, maintaining consistent publishing, and using platforms like LinkedIn and email to generate visibility. John also underscores the value of repurposing content into formats like clips, newsletters, and long-form assets to maximize reach. Tune in to this episode of the Smart Business Revolution Podcast as Chad Franzen interviews John Corcoran, Co-founder of Rise25, about overcoming podcast launch fears and simplifying the path to getting started. John also explores content repurposing, multichannel distribution, and leveraging podcast guesting to accelerate growth.

If you've ever felt like you need more confidence before you start selling, this episode will completely shift your perspective. In this powerful training, Ray Higdon breaks down why waiting to feel confident is actually the very thing holding you back in sales. Instead of chasing confidence, he reveals the truth that confidence is built through action, repetition, and real-world experience, not overthinking or perfectionism.   Ray dives into one of the biggest mistakes sales professionals and entrepreneurs make, spending too much time trying to "get it right" before ever having enough conversations. He emphasizes that success in sales is not about talent, but about repetitions. Through compelling examples and real stories, including someone who faced hundreds of rejections before succeeding, he shows how consistent outreach, prospecting, and conversations are the real drivers of confidence and results. If you want to improve your sales skills, close more deals, and build unshakable confidence in your sales conversations, this episode gives you a simple but powerful strategy. Stop waiting, start doing. The more people you talk to, the more confident and successful you'll become. ⸻ —

What should you say after a prospect has already seen your presentation? In this episode,   reveals the single most powerful question elite closers use to dramatically increase their closing rates. Instead of overwhelming prospects with multiple questions or jumping straight into pitching, Ray breaks down why asking "What did you like best?" is the key to uncovering real buying intent and guiding the conversation toward a sale. You'll discover why prospects who watch your presentation are already signaling interest, and how to leverage that position without becoming pushy, desperate, or salesy. Ray also explains how to handle both positive and negative responses, showing you how to stay in control of the conversation, build posture, and uncover the real problems your prospect is trying to solve. If you want to improve your sales conversations, handle objections more effectively, and close more deals with confidence, this episode gives you a practical, step-by-step sales script you can apply immediately. Learn how to expand your prospect's problem, connect it to your solution, and confidently move them toward a decision without chasing or convincing. —

What happens when you walk away from a powerful corporate brand… and realize you have to become one yourself? If you've ever felt the pull between security and purpose—this conversation will hit deeper than you expect. In this episode of Life After Corporate, Deb sits down with Maribel Lara, former marketing leader alongside Gary Vaynerchuk turned founder of Beget Love Consulting, to unpack what it really looks like to start over—with zero revenue, no safety net, and a whole new identity to build. They dive into the unfiltered realities of leaving corporate, from confidence gaps and visibility fears to rebuilding your network and learning how to attract clients on your own terms. This isn't theory—it's the emotional, strategic, and deeply human side of entrepreneurship that most people never talk about. So the real question is… are you ready to stop borrowing credibility—and finally build your own?   Connect with Deb Boulanger To Watch the Show, click HERE For Full Notes, Go to LifeAfterCorporate.com/podcast Connect with Deb on LinkedIn, and Instagram,  Read More about Life After Corporate HERE     Connect with Maribel Lara: Instagram:  @latina_swettie INstagram: @begetloveconsulting LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/maribellara Substack:  Love In Marketing | Substack    More Episodes To Enjoy! Go to: LifeAfterCorporate.com/podcast 247. Why High Performers Feel Lost After Leaving Corporate 246. The Biggest Mistake Women Make Before Quitting Corporate 245. The Visibility Fear That's Silently Killing Your Business   Tweetable Quotes from Maribel Lara: "More people are rooting for you than you realize." "We're not trying to build businesses across all of our talents; we're focused in on a few." "Humility is as important as confidence in this journey."   SUBSCRIBE & LEAVE A FIVE-STAR REVIEW and share this podcast to other growing entrepreneurs! Ready to turn insights into action? Don't just listen—join the movement! The Life After Corporate Community is where ambitious women like you connect, collaborate, and get the strategies, tools, and high-level support to grow a thriving, profitable business. Join us now and start making the powerful connections that will elevate your success! Connect with me on Instagram, LinkedIn, or checkout our website at www.lifeaftercorporatepodcast.com  

In this solo episode, host Travis Chappell breaks down the social media strategies he is actively testing in his own business to grow real, engaged audiences instead of inflated, fake numbers. Drawing from his personal wins and mistakes, as well as lessons from creator friends and mentors like Gary Vaynerchuk and Alex Hormozi, Travis lays out a practical playbook any entrepreneur can use to show up consistently online without feeling fake, overproduced, or trapped on the content treadmill. On this episode we talk about: Why buying followers, views, likes, and comments destroys your data, credibility, and long‑term growth. How to use paid boosts the right way by amplifying content that is already performing well organically. Simple content formats that actually work: “document, don't create,” direct‑to‑camera videos, podcast clips, and more. How collaborations and podcast clips can pull you out of “engagement jail” and expose you to new audiences. Why volume plus continuous improvement beats complex hook formulas and copycat “Hormozi‑style” content. Top 3 Takeaways Never buy fake growth. Purchasing followers, views, or engagement forces you to keep paying just to maintain appearances, ruins your ability to read what is truly working, and makes it obvious to anyone experienced that your audience isn't real. Play to your natural strengths and formats. Whether it is quick direct‑to‑camera riffs, documenting your day, or repurposing podcast clips, pick the style that feels authentic so you can stay consistent over years, not weeks. Pair consistency with improvement and volume. Treat every post like a lottery ticket, increase the number of “shots on goal,” and keep iterating based on honest data so your content quality rises alongside your output. Notable Quotes “Do not escape the learning part of failure with your social media content and just make up for it by boosting the video.” “Real recognizes real—you're not fooling anybody who's been around the game for any length of time.” “It has to be a combination of consistency plus improvement; otherwise you just post a thousand times and still get 300 views a video.” Connect with Travis Chappell: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/travischappell Twitter/X: https://x.com/traviscchappell Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/travischappell Other: https://travischappell.com Travis Makes Money is made possible by High Level – the all‑in‑one sales and marketing platform built for agencies, by an agency. Capture leads, nurture them, and close more deals—all from one powerful platform, and get an extended free trial at gohighlevel.com/travis. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this candid and unfiltered episode, Travis is joined by his producer Eric for a deeper conversation sparked by a viral clip from Gary Vaynerchuk. What starts as a humorous, off-the-rails discussion quickly turns into a thoughtful breakdown of criticism culture, “call-out” content, and the fine line between holding people accountable and building a brand off negativity. Travis shares his perspective on when criticism is valid, when it becomes harmful, and why focusing on your own work is ultimately the most profitable—and fulfilling—path. On this episode we talk about: The difference between constructive criticism and toxic “call-out” culture When it makes sense to publicly critique someone—and when it doesn't The dangers of building a brand around negativity and controversy Why fact-checking and integrity matter when discussing others How focusing on your own growth leads to better long-term success Top 3 Takeaways There's a big difference between disagreeing with someone and building a brand around tearing others down. If you choose to criticize publicly, you have a responsibility to be accurate, fair, and fact-based. The most sustainable path to success is focusing on creating value—not chasing attention through negativity. Notable Quotes "Some things are worth calling out—but most things don't deserve the attention you're giving them." "If your entire brand is built on exposing people, eventually you'll go looking for problems that don't exist." "Focus on your own work instead of trying to tear down people who are doing something." Connect with Travis Chappell: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/travischappell Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/travischappell Other: https://travischappell.com  Travis Makes Money is made possible by High Level – the All-In-One Sales & Marketing Platform built for agencies, by an agency.  Capture leads, nurture them, and close more deals—all from one powerful platform.  Get an extended free trial at gohighlevel.com/travis Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode,  Ray Higdon breaks down one of the biggest challenges in sales: handling money objections. Instead of defending your price or feeling pressured to justify your offer, Ray teaches a powerful mindset shift that top closers use. They don't argue about cost, they anchor value. When you deeply understand your prospect's pain and clearly connect your solution to that problem, price becomes far less of an issue and closing becomes far more natural.   Ray dives into practical sales strategies to overcome common objections like "it's too expensive," "I can get it cheaper," and "I don't have the money." He reveals how to pre-frame conversations by shaping your prospect's identity, how to confidently respond when objections arise, and why belief in your product is non-negotiable for success. He also shares a step-by-step approach to uncover whether "no money" is a real objection or just a smokescreen, helping you recover sales that most people lose.   If you're in network marketing, sales, or entrepreneurship and want to increase your close rate without sounding pushy or desperate, this episode gives you real scripts and practical techniques you can apply immediately. Learn how to guide prospects to see the true value of your offer, handle objections with confidence, and ultimately help more people say yes.   —  

In this powerful episode, Ray Higdon breaks down one of the biggest missed opportunities in sales: getting prospects on the phone. If you've ever felt like people are avoiding your calls or not responding to your messages, this episode reveals the real reason why. The truth is, prospects are not avoiding calls, they are avoiding pressure. When your messaging feels pushy or uncomfortable, prospects naturally pull away. But when you remove that pressure, you dramatically increase your chances of meaningful conversations and ultimately, more sales.   Ray walks you through practical sales strategies to help you confidently move prospects from conversation to call without resistance. You will learn when to invite someone to a call, how to position it naturally, and why timing matters, especially after they've been exposed to a presentation. He also explains the difference between reaching out to prospects versus responding to inbound leads, and how your approach should shift depending on the situation.   Most importantly, this episode gives you exact language and scripts you can use to create urgency, reduce friction, and increase your close rate. From simple phrases like "hop on a quick call" to more advanced positioning that creates scarcity and fear of missing out, Ray shows you how to guide prospects toward a decision without being pushy. If you want to close more sales, build stronger connections, and stop losing opportunities, this episode gives you the practical tools to make it happen.   —