Podcast appearances and mentions of will russell

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Best podcasts about will russell

Latest podcast episodes about will russell

DataTalks.Club
From Hackathons to Developer Advocacy - Will Russel

DataTalks.Club

Play Episode Listen Later May 26, 2025 57:10


In this podcast episode, we talked with Will Russell about From Hackathons to Developer Advocacy.About the Speaker: Will Russell is a Developer Advocate at Kestra, known for his videos on workflow orchestration. Previously, Will built open source education programs to help up and coming developers make their first contributions in open source. With a passion for developer education, Will creates technical video content and documentation that makes technologies more approachable for developers.In this episode, we sit down with Will—developer advocate, content creator, and passionate community builder. We'll hear about his unique path through tech, the lessons he's learned, and his approach to making complex topics accessible and engaging. Whether you're curious about open source, hackathons, or what it's like to bridge the gap between developers and the broader tech community, this conversation is full of insights and inspiration.

Hill-Man Morning Show Audio
Will Russell or Bird ever be surpassed?

Hill-Man Morning Show Audio

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 21, 2025 6:11


Will Russell or Bird ever be surpassed?

The Fan Weekends
The Dan Jacobs Show | Hour 3 | 03.16.24

The Fan Weekends

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 16, 2024 43:29


In hour 3 of The Dan Jacobs Show, Dan debates why Russ is unlikeable? Is it all his personality? We visit our conversation with James Merilatt in which the guys discuss the Nuggets blackouts, Russ in Pittsburgh, and the past week's weather in Denver. Will Russell have success in his next stop? Dan finishes up the show with some tips for how to prepare corn beef.

Breaking With Brett Jensen
9-12-2023: Primary Election Night

Breaking With Brett Jensen

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 13, 2023 33:52


Tune in here to a special election night edition of Breaking with Brett Jensen on WBT!  Coming to you from Mayor Vi Lyles' election headquarters, we start the program with an interview with Mark Harris, who has announced he's running for the 8th district seat in congress. Brett talks with Harris about his motivation for running + how Harris plans on addressing his baggage involving election fraud and how he thinks it will impact his campaign.  Brett then dives into Lyles' surprise endorsement of political new-come Will Russell instead of the incumbent Renee Johnson in the Democratic primary for City Council as well as the underwhelming turnout for voters in this primary election.  Also live from Lyles' headquarters at Armored Cow Brewing Brett discusses the location choice for the party + the 5th anniversary of Brett's first assignment for WBT as a reporter. We also take a look at a disappointing Week 1 performance for Bryce Young and the Carolina Panthers after they lost to the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mueller, She Wrote
Episode 34 - Full Legal Dance Card

Mueller, She Wrote

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 23, 2023 56:23


This week: Trump gets a target letter for the January 6th investigation; more witness testimony from Trump allies including Will Russell; cooperation from former Arizona Governor Doug Ducey; a subpoena for State Farm Arena video footage; continued scrutiny of the Willard War Room; Bernie Kerik in talks with special counsel; Judge Aileen Cannon set a trial date for the documents case; Trump failed to get the Manhattan hush money case moved to federal court and lost his bid to re-try the E. Jean Carroll case, and more.Do you have questions about the cases and investigations? Email hello@muellershewrote.com and put JACK in the subject line. Check out other MSW Media podcastshttps://mswmedia.com/shows/Follow AG on Twitter:Follow Mueller, She Wrote on Posthttps://twitter.com/allisongillhttps://twitter.com/MuellerSheWrotehttps://twitter.com/dailybeanspodAndrew McCabe isn't on Twitter, but you can buy his book The Threathttps://www.amazon.com/Threat-Protects-America-Terror-Trump-ebook/dp/B07HFMYQPGWe would like to know more about our listeners. Please participate in this brief surveyhttp://survey.podtrac.com/start-survey.aspx?pubid=BffJOlI7qQcF&ver=shortThis Show is Available Ad-Free And Early For Patreon and Supercast Supporters at the Justice Enforcers level and above:https://dailybeans.supercast.techOrhttps://patreon.com/thedailybeansOr when you subscribe on Apple Podcastshttps://apple.co/3YNpW3P

Countdown with Keith Olbermann
JACK SMITH IS ON THE CLOCK - 7.21.23

Countdown with Keith Olbermann

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 21, 2023 43:06 Transcription Available


COUNTDOWN WITH KEITH OLBERMANN: EPISODE 252 A-Block (1:42) SPECIAL COMMENT:  As they say at the big sports DRAFTS: Jack Smith, you are ON the clock. As soon as midnight passed on the east coast, the Special Counsel's window of warning to the recipient of the Target Letter closed. Donald Trump has had his chance to testify to the Grand Jury or demand that evidence be submitted to the Grand Jury or other witnesses be questioned BY the Grand Jury and all evidence suggests he didn't even bother to say ‘no thanks' and Smith can and will indict him at any time on god-knows-HOW-many-violations of US Code 18 Section 241 Conspiracy Against Rights (the suppression of vote counting statute, with or without violence), US Code 18 Section 371 Conspiracy To Defraud The United States, and US Code 18 Section 1512 Corruptly Obstructing An Official Proceeding – and the only question is, WHEN Smith notifies him and when Trump pauses from chain-eating cheeseburgers and threatening revolutions long enough to leak the news. On “The Simon Conway Show” in Des Moines, just getting viral last night, Trump again stochastically threatens terrorism if he's jailed, saying his supporters are 200 times more fired up than last time. And forgetting he now longer is in charge of the tanks. You will also recall on the 27th of last month when McCarthy went on CNBC and said “Can Trump win that election? Yeah he can. The question is, is he the STRONGEST to win the election? I don't know the answer” and within hours he was back on TV insisting oh yes he DID now the answer and it was Trump is stronger than Hercules and it was clear Trump had yelled at McCarthy, possibly on the phone and possibly simply by opening the window and yelling at him across the country. Politico reports Trump demanded of McCarthy “he needs to endorse me – today!”   McCarthy, who is of course WITH Trump Win, Win, or Tie, had to come up with a bullshit excuse to NOT endorse Trump. Quickly. So quickly you wouldn't believe it. To his credit he cobbled together some sophistry - that he had to remain neutral through the primaries because if he didn't, HIS relationship with HIS caucus could influence which ones of them did and didn't endorse Trump. Trump bought it but was still enraged and demanded a pound of McCarthy and now McCarthy made his fatal mistake. “The house would vote to expunge the two impeachments against the former president. And as McCarthy would communicate through aides later the same day, they would do so before August recess.” And now, Politico says, “we're told that Trump brings up the matter in EVERY CALL he has with McCarthy, prodding the speaker about WHEN he will bring expungement to the floor.” Oh and guess what. Doesn't look like McCarthy has the votes! B-Block (22:31) POSTSCRIPTS TO THE NEWS: The RFK Junior hearing. NOT GOOD, BOB. A bad idea just before you don't tell the truth about your past antisemitic and anti-vaccine comments, to remind everybody that you are on the record and under oath. And first they bought Clarence Thomas. Then they bought him good pub. (27:23) THE WORST PERSONS IN THE WORLD: Jim Jordan actually repeats the fascist bullshit that my friend Henry Aaron died from a Covid-19 vaccination. Ron DeSantis explains how you can sue Ron DeSantis. And Tucker Carlson's Videopalooza was so effective it would've gotten "The Q Anon Shaman" MORE time in prison. C-Block (34:20) FRIDAYS WITH THURBER: Two stories of Man Versus Life and why you should just leave mediocre enough alone: The fable of The Mouse Who Went To The Country, and Nine Needles.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Leadership Beyond Borders
How to take an Idea and make it into a profitable business

Leadership Beyond Borders

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 11, 2023 53:51


Many people have ideas and want to start their own businesses, but how many of these ideas become successful businesses? Pursuing an idea and trying to start and run a business can be scary because you must give up a lot. You may need to give up a well-paying job, your home, your nest egg, and your security, And this is even before you know if you will succeed. Unfortunately, the statistics say that only two out of ten startups succeed. In this episode, we explore ways to pursue your dreams without giving up your house, nest egg, or future. We explore a five-step system that helps entrepreneurs be successful.

Leadership Beyond Borders
How to take an Idea and make it into a profitable business

Leadership Beyond Borders

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 11, 2023 53:51


Many people have ideas and want to start their own businesses, but how many of these ideas become successful businesses? Pursuing an idea and trying to start and run a business can be scary because you must give up a lot. You may need to give up a well-paying job, your home, your nest egg, and your security, And this is even before you know if you will succeed. Unfortunately, the statistics say that only two out of ten startups succeed. In this episode, we explore ways to pursue your dreams without giving up your house, nest egg, or future. We explore a five-step system that helps entrepreneurs be successful.

Secrets of Success
Will Russell - Launch In 5

Secrets of Success

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 5, 2023 27:30


Bill Horan talks with Will Russell, author of LAUNCH IN 5. Will discusses why he says entrepreneurship is for the risk adverse, why those who quit their day job and go "all in" are most likely to fail, what are the 5 core steps to a successful launch, and why validation is the key to success.

Ecomm Breakthrough
Transform Your Product Launches With Will Russell's Proven 5-Step System

Ecomm Breakthrough

Play Episode Listen Later May 30, 2023 55:52


Will Russell is the Founder and CEO of Russell Marketing, an innovative digital agency focusing on e-commerce launch marketing. Russell Marketing has generated over $25M in revenue for over 300 rising entrepreneurs. In November 2022, Will launched the Russell Gives Foundation, a family organization offering grants and mentorship to 501(c)(3) partners committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Will's accolades include features in Forbes, Business Insider, Crain's New York, and Startup Nation, and in 2022, he released his first book, Launch in 5: Take Your Idea From Lightbulb Moment to Profitable Business in Record Time. In this episode… Launching new products is one of the ideal ways to grow a business and increase revenue. While a new or innovative product may be exciting, it comes with many stressors. As an upcoming entrepreneur, you may not have adequate financial backing, which could prevent you from investing in a launch campaign. So, what can you do in this instance? Business leader and product launch specialist Will Russell has systems in place to help guide you through your first product launch. Have you validated your product by simply engaging or enticing your customers? Do you know about and understand Amazon brand analytics that can determine your market opportunity? These are just a few steps in Russell's method to successfully launch products. Interested in learning more? Join host Josh Hadley in this episode of the eComm Breakthrough Podcast where he talks with the Founder and CEO of Russell Marketing, Will Russell, to discuss creating powerful marketing systems to launch new products. Together, the two discuss strategies for launching new products, how to know if your product is a winner, and understanding pain points. Plus, Will gets to talk about his first book. Resources mentioned in this episode: Josh Hadley on LinkedIn eComm Breakthrough Consulting eComm Breakthrough Podcast Email Josh: Josh@eCommBreakthrough.com Hadley Designs Hadley Designs on Amazon Will Russell on LinkedIn Russell Marketing Russell Gives Foundation Launch in 5: Take Your Idea From Lightbulb Moment to Profitable Business in Record Time by Will Russell  Special Mention(s): Kevin King Howard Thai on LinkedIn Roland Frasier on LinkedIn Michael E. Gerber on LinkedIn The E-myth Revisited: Why Most Small Businesses Don't Work and What to Do About It by Michael E. Gerber Related Episode(s): Kevin King's Wicked-Smart Tips for Building an Audience of Raving Fans Mastermind Level Strategies From a Former Top 50 Amazon Seller With Howard Thai Seven Acquisition Strategies to Scale to Eight Figures and Beyond

A New Direction
How to Take Any Idea and Make it Successful in 5 Steps

A New Direction

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 26, 2023 59:12


How to Take Any Idea and Make it Successful in 5 Steps There is no doubt that when it comes to starting a business or just a business idea, there are many challenges. The one we concern ourselves the most is money. However, before you think about money have you considered who will buy your product or service? How do you get people to know about your business before you business even begins? The fact is you need a business strategy to improve your success in the most economic, efficient, and painless way possible. Meet Will Russell founder of Russell Marketing. He has helped generate more than $20 million in revenue for 300+ companies. And he joins us on this episode of A New Direction to give you his 5 step process that will take your business idea from lightbulb moment to profitable business in record time. From his book Launch in 5. Will Russell's book, "Launch in 5: Take Your Idea from Lightbulb Moment to Profitable Business in Record Time" is a complete and total blueprint that will help you understand first if you idea should even go to market.  Then once you have done all your research, he walks you through customer acquisition.  Then How to engage your audience.  Followed by how to convert your audience into customers.  Then finally how to scale and optimize your business after launch. The truth is however none of this is going to work if you are not real clear on validating your idea.  And this is where spend most of our focus on the show.  As Will told me after the show, "validation of your idea is like a GPS, without it your either guessing how your idea will work, or just getting lucky".  The fact is you need to make sure you have done your homework before you launch.  It doesn't take that much time, but it is time well spent.  Get Launch in 5 it is truly a game changer.   Please, please, please, thank our sponsors for their financial support of A New Direction! EPIC Physical Therapy from non-athletes to professional athletes EPIC PT has the best certified therapists along with cutting edge technology to help anyone reach their physical goals.  Even if you want to just get in better condition or need a better diet plan.  EPIC Physical Therapy can help you get back to work or play.  So if you want to be EPIC then get EPIC results from EPIC Physical Therapy.  Give them a call or click on over to www.EPICpt.com and Linda Craft & Team, REALTORS for 35 years and going strong find out why by helping people transition in life... which in reality is what we do every time we move, they are known as having legendary customer service.  There is a reason why 1000's of people from all over the world choose Linda Craft & Team and keep coming back for all their home selling and buying needs and investments.  They are the locally owned company that is world renown.  Learn more by going to www.LindaCraft.com

Margin Business Digital Entrepreneurs Podcast - Tips and Tricks for Entrepreneurs
How to Successfully Launch an E-commerce Brand in 2023 @Forbes ​

Margin Business Digital Entrepreneurs Podcast - Tips and Tricks for Entrepreneurs

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 23, 2023 34:03


Will is an E-commerce Launch Marketing Expert and Philanthropist Learn more about Will https://www.linkedin.com/in/willrussellmktg/ In 2016, Will Russell started his journey in the e-commerce launch space as a crowdfunding marketing consultant. With multiple six and seven-figure launches in his first year, he quickly grew his client base and realized the need for a larger team. In 2017, he founded Russell Marketing, an innovative digital agency specializing in e-commerce launch marketing. Today, his agency has generated over $25 million in revenue for more than 300 new entrepreneurs. Will's expertise in e-commerce launch marketing has earned him features in Forbes, Business Insider, Crain's New York, and StartUp Nation. In 2021, he established the Russell Gives Foundation, a family foundation that provides grants and mentorship to 501(c)(3) partners committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion. In November 2022, Will's first book, 'Launch in 5: Take Your Idea from Lightbulb Moment to Profitable Business in Record Time,' will be published by Nicholas Brealey. Prior to product launches, Will managed launch marketing efforts for brands and websites in the media and nonprofit space, accumulating a decade of experience in launch marketing across an array of industries and businesses of all sizes. Originally from San Francisco and having spent two decades in London, Will now resides in Austin, TX, and holds a dual degree in Philosophy & Sociology from the University of Leeds. Join Will on his mission to help entrepreneurs achieve success through e-commerce launch marketing while giving back to the community. E-commerce, Launch Marketing, Crowdfunding, Digital Agency, Revenue, Philanthropy, Mentorship, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Book #EcommerceMarketing #LaunchMarketing #DigitalAgency #Philanthropy #Mentorship #DiversityEquityInclusion #booklaunch #digitalmarketing #advertisingagency #GoogleAds #FacebookAds #InstagramAds #LinkedInAds #onlinemarketing #ecommerce #localbusiness #entrepreneur #whitelabel #marketingstrategy #socialmediamanagement #SEO #startup #success

The Gee and Ursula Show
Hour 2: Senator Nobles Explains Why Kids Need More Recess

The Gee and Ursula Show

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 24, 2023 33:57


WHAT'S NEW AT 10! with Sen. T'Wina Nobles, on a bill that would guarantee 30 minutes of recess for elementary kids across the state // Will Russell have a fanbase when he retires? // SCENARIOS!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Serial Entrepreneur Show
I Have Become Comfortably Uncomfortable - with Will Russell

Serial Entrepreneur Show

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 16, 2023 43:37


What's the number one mistake new entrepreneurs make? Here to answer that all-important question is CEO, Author, and new father Will Russell of Russell Marketing. We interviewed him to talk about his new book Launch in 5: Take Your Idea from Lightbulb Moment to Profitable Business in Record Time. We left the interview intrigued, inspired, and in-the-know for how to take the seed of an idea, and launch it as a product without breaking a sweat (or the bank). Stay tuned until the end where we give you our favorite takeaways from the episode.   Get Weekly Tools to Build Your Business (for free!): The Entrepreneur's Toolkit Download guest lead magnet:  Launch in 5: Take Your Idea from Lightbulb Moment to Profitable Business in Record Time Follow Will on LinkedIn and Twitter: LinkedIn + Twitter Visit: http://launchin5book.com/ Have a story to tell? Signup here: www.serialentrepreneurshow.com 1. 4:59:17 What is Launch Marketing 2. 8:00:21 Origin Story 3. 13:13:64 The Illusion of Time Management 4. 17:34:12 Validate to Create 5. 22:01:60 Successful Launch 6. 28:49:90 Two Key Metrics 7. 37:18:71 Takeaways

The Life Of KG
Episode 127. Will Russell. The 5 step launch process.

The Life Of KG

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 13, 2023 45:11


Russell Marketing Will Russell, Founder & CEO In 2016, Will Russell entered the e-commerce launch space working as a crowdfunding marketing consultant. Multiple six and seven-figure launches that first year meant that client interest -- and the need for a larger team -- quickly grew. In 2017, he launched Russell Marketing: an innovative digital agency, specializing in e-commerce launch marketing. To-date, they have generated more than $25 million in revenue for 300+ new entrepreneurs. Will has been featured on Forbes, Business Insider, Crain's New York, StartUp Nation, and more. In 2021, Will launched the Russell Gives Foundation, a family foundation that offers grants and mentorship to 501(c)(3) partners committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion. In November 2022, Will's first book, ‘Launch in 5: Take Your Idea from Lightbulb Moment to Profitable Business in Record Time' will be published by Nicholas Brealey. Prior to product launches, Will spent his early career managing launch marketing efforts for brands and websites in the media and nonprofit space. A decade of experience in launch marketing -- across an array of industries, products, and for businesses of all sizes -- provided Will with a unique perspective on the attributes of successful launch campaigns. Originally from San Francisco, followed by two decades in London, and now in Austin, TX, Will holds a dual degree in Philosophy & Sociology from the University of Leeds. Book: https://www.amazon.com/Launch-Lightbulb-Moment-Profitable-Business/dp/1399801708 Russell Marketing: http://russellmarketing.co/ Russell Gives: https://russellgives.org/ Sponsors for February Lash + Brow Lab Combined, Demi and Rachel have over 10 years experience in the beauty sector. They have come together in the heart of Battersea to open lash+brow lab, a home for your ultimate lash and brow duo. As individuals they take their crafts very seriously - their sole aim as a partnership being to create a comfortable, uplifting experience while offering bespoke treatments to the highest of standards. Link: www.lashbrowlab.co.uk and @lashandbrowlabclapham TNB Skills Training Having owned five incredible successful Hair, Nail, and Beauty Salons between them, Sarah and Julie teamed up to create TNB Skills Training, a training academy with the goal of helping other salon owners to have increased freedom, moving away from the salon floor to have more time to spend on the things they want. Sarah and Julie promote an honest, fair, and safe environment to work in. Their aim is to promote team spirit as they help their stylists and therapists to grow and reach their full potential. Our funded apprenticeships now come with exclusive access to the High Performance Stylist Platform – learn from industry leading figures who grew their salon business to over 7 figures! Apply now quoting KGPodcast https://tnbskillstraining.co.uk/contact/ --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/thelifeofkg/message

Enterprise Podcast Network – EPN
Entrepreneurs with a “Build It and They Will Come” Mentality Are Destined to Fail

Enterprise Podcast Network – EPN

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 31, 2023 12:04


Will Russell, the CEO of Russell Marketing, specializing in e-commerce launch marketing, which has helped hundreds of entrepreneurs validate their ideas and execute successful launches joins eCommerce Radio. The post Entrepreneurs with a “Build It and They Will Come” Mentality Are Destined to Fail appeared first on Enterprise Podcast Network - EPN.

The Entrepreneurial You
Let's Talk Financial Freedom Through Real Estate

The Entrepreneurial You

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 24, 2023 38:27


Let's Talk Financial Freedom Through Real Estate It is time for another episode. I am Heneka Watkis-Porter, the host and creator of The Entrepreneurial You podcast. Welcome back to my regular listeners, and a special welcome to you if you are tuning in for the first time. Last week I spoke with Will Russell, the CEO of Russell Marketing, specializing in e-commerce launch marketing, which has helped hundreds of entrepreneurs validate their ideas and execute successful launches. This week, I am speaking with a real estate investor, broker, and coach for nearly 20 years Before I bring him on, I have to thank The Jamaica Stock Exchange. My guest on episode 300 of The Entrepreneurial You is Omni Casey. Omni has been a real estate investor, broker, and coach for nearly 20 years who has a passion for building wealth and helping others achieve financial freedom. Omni has coached hundreds of real estate investors, real estate agents and clients alike to create and execute a plan to grow their real estate business, grow their investment portfolio, or both. Omni's focus is to help every team member achieve financial freedom through real estate investing. Over the years, he has moved away from a traditional Broker role and now plays the roles of Financial Freedom Coach, Dream Advocate and Legacy Building Strategist. Give Away: One signed copy of the book The Cash-Flow Breakfast Club won by Venoo Morgan for actively engaging on Facebook during the live recording. Contact Omni:https://www.instagram.com/omnitheinvestorguy/ https://twitter.com/OmniInvestorGuy Thank you for tuning in to this episode with Omni Casey. What's the standout moment for you today? Send us your feedback at henekawatkisporter@gmail.com or on social media @henekawatkisporter. Remember to follow this podcast on your favourite podcast app or connect with me for all things Podcasting at henekawatkisporter.com According to the Scriptures: "I can do all things through him who strengthens me." Philippians 4:13 Contact Podcast Host: linktr.ee/heneka_watkis_porter --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/the-entrepreneurial-you/message

The Entrepreneurial You
Marketing Your eCommerce Business

The Entrepreneurial You

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 17, 2023 30:35


Last week I spoke with the founder and co-host of the Next Level University podcast. Early in his life, Kevin found “success”, but after a brush with suicide, he realised he wasn´t living the life he truly wanted. This week, I am speaking with someone who specializes in e-commerce launch marketing. Before I bring him on, I have to thank The Jamaica Stock Exchange. Here is a word from the JSE; after that, I will introduce my guest and get our conversation going. My guest on episode 299 of The Entrepreneurial You is Will Russell. Will is CEO of Russell Marketing, specializing in e-commerce launch marketing, which has helped hundreds of entrepreneurs validate their ideas and execute successful launches. He has been featured in Business Insider, Forbes, Crain's New York, Indiegogo, StartUp Nation and more. His new book is Launch in 5: Take Your Idea from Lightbulb Moment to Profitable Business in Record Time. Connect with Will Russell: https://www.linkedin.com/in/willrussellmktg/; https://twitter.com/willrussell87 Thank you for tuning in to this episode with Will Russell. What's the standout moment for you today? Send us your feedback at henekawatkisporter@gmail.com or on social media @henekawatkisporter. Remember to follow this podcast on your favourite podcast app or connect with me for all things Podcasting at henekawatkisporter.com Connect with Heneka Watkis-Porter: https://www.facebook.com/henekawatkisporter/ https://twitter.com/TheEntrepYou https://www.instagram.com/heneka_watkis_porter/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/henekawatkisporter/ https://youtube.com/user/Heneka2010 https://www.pinterest.com/watkisporter/ https://www.tiktok.com/@theentrepreneurialyou?_t=8WskBZHzO0T&_r=1 https://www.henekawatkisporter.com/teypodcast --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/the-entrepreneurial-you/message

Murdaugh Murders Podcast
Cup of Justice Bonus 9: The Vultures Are Circling But Will Russell Laffitte Be Found Guilty?

Murdaugh Murders Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 20, 2022 52:26


Russell Laffitte finally takes the stand, admitting that he “unintentionally” stole money on behalf of Alex Murdaugh. Will Russell's insistence that Alex tricked him resonate with the jury? Did Russell's father and sister just implicate themselves in federal crimes while trying to defend Russell? Mandy Matney, Liz Farrell and Eric Bland are together again to talk about one of the craziest trials they have ever seen. We all want to drink from the same Cup of Justice — and it starts with learning about our legal system. What questions do y'all have for us? Email info@murdaughmurderspodcast.com and we'll do our best to answer your questions in these bonus episodes. Listen to episode 56 for Alania Plyler's account of what occurred when Russell took over her conservatorship or watch it on our YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/mGUCNX-zUcw SUNscribe to our free email list to get alerts on bonus episodes, calls to action, new shows and updates. AND by sharing your email, we'll send details on exclusive content only available from our upcoming SUNScription platform - CLICK HERE to learn more: https://bit.ly/3KBMJcP And a special thank you to our sponsors: Microdose.com, VOURI, and others. Use promo code "MANDY" for a special offer! Find us on social media: https://www.facebook.com/MurdaughPod/ https://www.instagram.com/murdaughmurderspod/ Twitter.com/mandymatney YouTube.com/c/MurdaughMurders Support Our Podcast at: https://murdaughmurderspodcast.com/support-the-show Please consider sharing your support by leaving a review on Apple at the following link: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/murdaugh-murders-podcast/id1573560247 *The views expressed on the Cup of Justice bonus episodes do not constitute legal advice. Listeners desiring legal advice for any particular legal matter are urged to consult an attorney of their choosing who can provide legal advice based upon a full understanding of the facts and circumstances of their claim. The views expressed on the Cup of Justice episodes also do not express the views or opinions of Bland Richter, LLP, or its attorneys. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Cup Of Justice
Cup of Justice 9: The Vultures Are Circling But Will Russell Laffitte Be Found Guilty?

Cup Of Justice

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 20, 2022 50:26


*Originally Published As Bonus to Murdaugh Murders Podcast, November 2022. Russell Laffitte finally takes the stand, admitting that he “unintentionally” stole money on behalf of Alex Murdaugh. Will Russell's insistence that Alex tricked him resonate with the jury? Did Russell's father and sister just implicate themselves in federal crimes while trying to defend Russell? Mandy Matney, Liz Farrell and Eric Bland are together again to talk about one of the craziest trials they have ever seen. We all want to drink from the same Cup Of Justice — and it starts with learning about our legal system. What questions do y'all have for us? Email info@lunasharkmedia.com and we'll do our best to answer your questions in these bonus episodes. Listen to the show that started it all: the Murdaugh Murders Podcast wherever you get your pods. Consider joining our MMP Premium Membership community to help us SHINE THE SUNLIGHT! CLICK HERE to learn more: https://bit.ly/3BdUtOE SUNscribe to our free email list to get alerts on bonus episodes, calls to action, new shows and updates. CLICK HERE to learn more: https://bit.ly/3KBMJcP Find us on social media: Twitter.com/mandymatney - Twitter.com/elizfarrell - Twitter.com/theericbland https://www.facebook.com/cupofjustice/ YouTube Support Our Podcast: http://bit.ly/3j9DA27 Please consider sharing your support by leaving a review on Apple at the following link: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cup-of-justice/id1668668400 *The views expressed on the Cup of Justice bonus episodes do not constitute legal advice. Listeners desiring legal advice for any particular legal matter are urged to consult an attorney of their choosing who can provide legal advice based upon a full understanding of the facts and circumstances of their claim. The views expressed on the Cup of Justice episodes also do not express the views or opinions of Bland Richter, LLP, or its attorneys. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Countdown with Keith Olbermann
NO TRUMP INDICTMENT UNTIL 2023 10.20.22

Countdown with Keith Olbermann

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 20, 2022 37:59


EPISODE 58: COUNTDOWN WITH KEITH OLBERMANN A-Block (1:45) The vague and underwhelming Bloomberg report about how prosecutors "believe there is sufficient evidence to charge Trump" was surprisingly specific about one thing: the timeline is developing in such a way that a Trump indictment for Obstruction of Justice and other crimes would not happen before the week of January 2 (or, as a longshot, the week of December 26) 3:44 Bloomberg also gives away its source: the FBI agents in "the team that's part of the classified records probe." (5:00) There is an unclear claim that DOJ would not indict ONLY on Obstruction. Does that mean they DO intend to file other charges, or that if they don't file others, they won't file ANYTHING? (6:50) DOJ may also be trying to time any announcement to fit appropriately with Trump's other legal vulnerabilities, like the Eastman Coup Georgia lying-in-a-sworn-statement case that just grew in seriousness yesterday (7:26) But probably not the E. Jean Carroll rape lawsuits for which Trump was deposed yesterday (8:00) Finally I take a wild guess at the EXACT date of any Trump indictment - at least the most appropriate date for it. B-Block (12:37) EVERY DOG HAS ITS DAY: Griffin, in California (13:36) POSTSCRIPTS TO THE NEWS: The voice of the Ohio voter is heard loud and clear: "F You, Fascist!" So why aren't Dem bigwigs funding Tim Ryan? And push comes to shove in the slowly-expiring British cabinet. No: Literally. Pushing and shoving in parliament. (17:31) IN SPORTS: You may think pitching decides baseball's post-seasons, but those with more homers won both games yesterday - and 101 of the last 120. And a Christmas Album allows me to confirm the ancient story of Philadelphia fans booing Santa Claus, plus New York fans throwing snowballs at Tiny Tim's tulips (21:11) THE WORST PERSONS IN THE WORLD: Sean Hannity tells us way too much of how his dad used to beat him with a belt. He and Jim Jordan compete with Kimberly Guilfoyle actually making a joke about Nancy Pelosi and plastic surgery. Can we start a GoFundMe to get Kim a mirror? C-Block (27:00) THINGS I PROMISED NOT TO TELL: With Netflix's profits in the news, the story of the day I met with them to propose not just a streaming political show, but how they could own ALL of the TV News field in the post-cable future and all they could think about was...the necessity of putting on Italian subtitles.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

BJ & Jamie
Is Russell Ready For MNF

BJ & Jamie

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 6, 2022 4:19


Russell didn't play in the preseason because Coach Hackett wants to keep him healthy for the regular season. Will Russell be ready to play in a new offense with game time under his belt? 

Along the Narrow Way
1 Peter 3:1-7

Along the Narrow Way

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 31, 2022 46:51


Hosts: Bro. Will Russell and Master of Technology, Jimmy Miller Edited by Fisher Russell Narrated by Dustin Burdin

Along the Narrow Way
1 Peter 2:18-25

Along the Narrow Way

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 24, 2022 45:27


Hosts: Bro. Will Russell, Tec wizard. Jimmy Miller Edited by Fisher Russell Editing supervised by Dustin Burdin

Along the Narrow Way
1 Peter 2:11-17

Along the Narrow Way

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 17, 2022 55:32


Hosts: Bro. Will Russell, Jimmy Miller Edited by Dustin Burdin and Fisher Russell www.Bonobaptist.com

Information Morning Moncton from CBC Radio New Brunswick (Highlights)
Hockey Canada's "special fund" explored with sports lawyer

Information Morning Moncton from CBC Radio New Brunswick (Highlights)

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 2, 2022 9:57


Hockey Canada has been using a special fund to settle sexual assault allegations. Colleen Kitz-Goguen speaks with sports lawyer Will Russell about the fund, and what the revelations from the hearings could mean for Hockey Canada.

Information Morning Saint John from CBC Radio New Brunswick (Highlights)
Hockey Canada's "special fund" explored with sports lawyer

Information Morning Saint John from CBC Radio New Brunswick (Highlights)

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 2, 2022 9:57


Hockey Canada has been using a special fund to settle sexual assault allegations. Colleen Kitz-Goguen speaks with sports lawyer Will Russell about the fund, and what the revelations from the hearings could mean for Hockey Canada.

Information Morning Fredericton from CBC Radio New Brunswick (Highlights)
Hockey Canada's "special fund" explored with sports lawyer

Information Morning Fredericton from CBC Radio New Brunswick (Highlights)

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 2, 2022 9:57


Hockey Canada has been using a special fund to settle sexual assault allegations. Colleen Kitz-Goguen speaks with sports lawyer Will Russell about the fund, and what the revelations from the hearings could mean for Hockey Canada.

Digital Marketing Victories
Ep.16: Ecommerce Launch Marketing Best Practices - Will Russell

Digital Marketing Victories

Play Episode Play 34 sec Highlight Listen Later Jun 15, 2022 46:19 Transcription Available


About This EpisodeIn this episode, we spend some time talking about empathy in the client/agency relationship with Will Russell of Russell Marketing. Along the way he highlights how having empathy for his clients (mostly entrepreneurs launching their first product via a crowdfunding campaign) is essential to ensuring their buy-in to his agency's marketing approach. And he's had HUGE wins with that agency including launches such at: WeatherFlow TEMPEST (a cutting-edge weather station that raised $2,149,547 at launch) and COFFEEJACK (a pocket-sized barista that raised $1,610,835 at launch).This episode is for you if you are launching a brand or product on crowdfunding platforms like Indiegogo, Kickstarter, or if you want us to talk about how to create a culture of empathy among your employees and integrate that empathy into your work process.In This Episode, You Will Learn Using empathy can build stronger human relationships and be more persuasive.How to work with your clients to get them to buy into your work process.How to launch on platforms like IndieGoGo and Kickstarter with Russell Marketing's Five Step High-Profit Launch System (Validation, Audience Acquisition, Audience Engagement, Audience Conversation, Scale & Optimize).Connect With WillVisit the Russell Marketing websiteVisit the Russell Gives Foundation websiteConnect with Will on LinkedInFollow Will on TwitterResources MentionedNever Split The Difference: Negotiating As If Your Life Depended On ItCrowdfunding Calculator - How to hit your goalSocial Media Customer Service: Developing a process and planThank you for listening!If you'd like to know more about change-makers in digital marketing, celebrate their wins, and discover how they built a breaking ground career, subscribe, share and comment on the Digital Marketing Victories Podcast.

Blackletter
Perseverance and Overcoming Limitations

Blackletter

Play Episode Listen Later May 27, 2022 8:10


According to Will Russel, there is no one rule to success, so what advice can he offer to new entrepreneurs? On this episode of the Blackletter podcast, Tom Dunlap asks Will Russell what tips and tricks he has learned to succeed in business through his company Russell Marketing. In this final session of their three-part interview, Will addresses this question by sharing important takeaways he has gained throughout his career. While Will explains that there is not one fundamental rule to succeeding in entrepreneurship, he does provide helpful advice on topics that include following a path to prosperity, being a good person in business, and persevering past imaginary limitations. Listen to this episode to hear the conclusion of Will's interview on business and marketing, and catch the other interview segments available on the Blackletter podcast for more of Will's insight on marketing and business. Links:   https://russellmarketing.co/

Mitch Unfiltered
Episode 191 - Tightrope M's & Local Golfer's Dream Realized

Mitch Unfiltered

Play Episode Listen Later May 16, 2022 153:55


RUNDOWN     At the top of the show, the guys throw pot shots at eachother for mis-speaking and also announce the Unfiltered PGA Madness tournament before playing Stump the Band. After that, they cover. Three featured guests are Jason Churchill, Wing Point head pro Austin Hurt, and Spokesman-Review columnist Jim Meehan. As always, the show wraps up with the “Other Stuff” segment where the guys chat about excerpts from the new Phil biography, an emergency plane landing, and an unlikely Anthony Rendon homer.   GUESTS    Jason Churchill | Prospect Insider Mariners writer Austin Hurt | Wing Point Golf & Country Club head pro Jim Meehan | The Spokesman-Review Gonzaga writer TABLE OF CONTENTS    2:11 | Mitch got slammed on Twitter for a comment about KJR.   7:54 | Per tradition, the guys include Stump the Band in the tease segment. 31:24 | Looking at the NFL schedule isn't as fun when your team stinks.    38:36 | Will Russell get cheers or boos when he returns to Seattle in week one.  52:37 | GUEST: Jason Churchill returns to weigh in on the state of the M's including the Kelenic option and current road trip.  1:21:23 | GUEST: Head pro at Wing Point on Bianbridge Island Austin Hurt jumps aboard to share his story to becoming a PGA Championship qualifier.  1:45:15 | GUEST: Jim Meehan returns to discuss the early departure in the NCAA tourney for the Zags and what's next for the program.    2:07:10 | The show wraps up with the "Other Stuff" segment to chat about snippets from the Mickelson bio, a shocking plane landing in Florida, and an impressive home run for Anthony Rendon.   

Blackletter
The Impact of Credibility

Blackletter

Play Episode Listen Later May 13, 2022 19:15


What factors determine whether a product launch campaign will thrive on the market or fail? On this episode of the Blackletter podcast, Tom Dunlap continues his conversation with Will Russell, founder of Russell Marketing. In this second of three sessions, Will shares the two things he believes are most important when launching a product that will be successful on the market. First, he speaks about how sellers can validate the potential success of their ideas before putting their time, effort, and finances into them. Will then explains that founders should be trustworthy, transparent, and accountable to support their product launches. Furthermore, Will and Tom share their thoughts about credibility for business representation and getting people on board with a product or idea. Tune in to this episode to hear Will discuss the supporting factors for a successful product launch, the impact of credibility on business success, and the most significant business challenges he has experienced thus far. And check back in the next episode for the final installment of Will's interview, where he shares the three pieces of advice he would give to a business. Links:   https://russellmarketing.co/

credibility will russell blackletter tom dunlap
Blackletter
Five Steps to Marketing Success

Blackletter

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 29, 2022 9:53


What is the best method for achieving success in your next product launch? On this episode of the Blackletter podcast, Tom Dunlap speaks with Will Russell about the product launch strategies practiced by his company Russell Marketing. In this first session of their three part interview, Will discusses his agency's approach to launching a product and overcoming challenges that are common in the marketing business. Each product comes with one shot at a launch - but many variables which could determine its success. Fortunately, Will's five step system uses data to measure to predict potential challenges and resolve them proactively. Listen to the episode to hear more about Will's approach to digital advertising, and stay tuned, as next week Will shares his insights on what makes some crowdfunding efforts successful while others miss the mark. Links:   https://russellmarketing.co/

The Finjan Show
Faris Alami on the Finjan Show discussing Entrepreneurship with Will Russell

The Finjan Show

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 18, 2022 11:38


Faris Alami on the Finjan Show discussing Entrepreneurship with Will Russell who believes entrepreneurship equals mental health and that the best advice he has for those trying to start a business comes from Dory herself - "Just Keep Swimming."

The Lipstick League
Episode 29: Life Update and The NFL Reality Show!

The Lipstick League

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 22, 2022 58:33


Nicole and Natalie give a life update. Things have been a little meh, but can't everyone relate? Is the NFL the greatest reality show of all time? Will Russell excel Denver? Being a good human matters more now than ever before. Does religion make Carson a bad QB? How many average people would recognize Mike Trout in Target, and of course - Twitter trolls. Hopefully it's not you. *Show Notes - we recorded this before DeSean went to the Browns and Matt Ryan went to the Colts.

GO FOR 2
QB Shuffle

GO FOR 2

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 1, 2022 20:48


Over the last two years we've seen a trend in the NFL. Teams going all in on a QB to help them win a Superbowl. We see a lot of teams in the NFL with that potienal. In this episode I go over QBs who could be on the move to different teams in 2022. Listen to see who will go and who will stay. Denver Broncos - AR? Will Russell stay loyal to Seattle? Bucs plan A.T.B. (after Tom Brady)? Could the Bucs look to a former Patriot QB? DeShaun Watson ETA in Houston. Saints, Commanders, and Steelers win now? Giants, Colts, and Panthers sticking with their guy? Trey Lance and Julian Love Era has begun? --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

The Thoughtful Entrepreneur
1059 - Preparing for Successful Product Launches with Russell Marketing's Will Russell

The Thoughtful Entrepreneur

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 31, 2022 17:58


In this episode of the Thoughtful Entrepreneur, your host Josh Elledge speaks with the founder and CEO of https://russellmarketing.co/ (Russell Marketing), Will Russell.  Russell Marketing is a launch marketing agency that works with various consumer brands. They'll work on various product ventures, but most of the time they work with consumer hardware and product development.  Josh and Will explore how crowdfunding is the way that many of these ventures launch. Will shares that working with his product launch marketing team on so many different products has given them valuable insight into a variety of industries and verticals. This unique insight is part of why Russell marketing helps product-based brands achieve success – they have the experience and authority to be leaders in their space. Some of the first products Will launched were crowdfunded. He shares that it was easier back then than it is now to start from scratch. The space has become more and more complex as time goes by, and now crowdfunding and the industry itself have evolved considerably. It's really important to resolve objections and market issues before you launch. You're investing a lot when you launch a product, so you need to make the effort to really understand the market research. Why might someone not buy your product (who might otherwise normally?) You need to solve these problems first and foremost, before you launch, in order to see success.  There's considerable work involved in crowdfunding, and Will suggests you keep a few things in mind. For one thing, early traction is entirely your responsibility. The platform won't give you visibility until you get your audience invested first. Next, be completely transparent as the founder. No one knows who you are, so why should they trust you? This challenge can be addressed when you personalize your transparency to your audience. They need to know you and trust you beyond just your brand. How are you, as the founder, going to present your product to your audience? Consider these points before diving into crowdfunding.  Josh also talks about how no matter what, expect to invest in your own business's product launch. If you want to crowdfund successfully, be ready to spend money to move quickly and gather funds. On the other hand, if you don't decide to frontload your investment, it will take longer to build your buyer base. The upside to this is that you can reinvest your profits later on to build your visibility if you're trying to bootstrap.  Want to contact Will? Reach him through his website or by emailing him at will@russellmarketing.co. Want to learn more? Check out Russell Marketing at https://russellmarketing.co/ (https://russellmarketing.co/).  Check out Russell Marketing on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/russell-marketing/ (https://www.linkedin.com/company/russell-marketing/).  Check out Will Russell on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/willrussellmktg/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/willrussellmktg/).  Don't forget to subscribe to The Thoughtful Entrepreneur and thank you for listening. Tune in next time! More from UpMyInfluence: ✅ We are actively booking guests for our DAILY Entrepreneur Success Podcast.https://upmyinfluence.com/guest ( Schedule HERE). ✅ Are you a 6-figure consultant? Let us fill your sales schedule and move you to 7-figures.https://upmyinfluence.com/b2b ( Learn more here). ✅ Check out our freehttps://upmyinfluence.com/1 ( Authority Transformation Masterclass).

Stasis Pod
Stasis Pod Episode #294: Metal Meltdown

Stasis Pod

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 24, 2022 54:52


The Bee Team is back in action when they find a new Decepticon stealing a strange, rare ore from a quarry near Crown City! But what could this Saberhorn possibly want with a metal used for starships? Which Decepticons decided to have a party and not invite Steeljaw? Will Russell's sudden fixation on collecting trophies get him squished? And who's been shilling NFTs this time? Join us this week for "Metal Meltdown"!

Christoph Trappe: Business Storytelling Podcast

Will Russell of Russell Marketing joins me to discuss the topic. Join us. We cover: How to come up with ideas. How to bring the smallest version of them to market to test. How to get customer feedback. And more... Connect with Russell's company here: http://russellmarketing.co --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/ctrappe/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/ctrappe/support

Business That Matters Spotlight
16 - Launch Marketing Firms with Russell Marketing's Will Russell

Business That Matters Spotlight

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 17, 2021 36:57


In this episode, your host Warren Coughlin talks to Russell Marketing's Will Russell about combining business success and doing good in the world with foundations, launch marketing firms, and more. Check out Russell Marketing at https://russellmarketing.co/ If you're interested in being a guest on the show, apply https://warrencoughlin.com/podcast/ (HERE).

Sales for Nerds
S4N 069 Will Russell on Getting Clients as an Introvert

Sales for Nerds

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 17, 2021 54:27


Will Russell never set out to start a marketing agency, and as an introvert he wasn't excited about sales and marketing. But he knew his strengths and weaknesses, and created a spreadsheet to track his activities and their results. Almost everything he tried failed. But one tactic worked very well. Learn what he did and whether it will work for you.

Digital Marketing Gyaan
Digital Marketing Strategies for New Product Launch with Will Russell

Digital Marketing Gyaan

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 12, 2021 25:32


Launching new products into the online marketplace is one of the crucial parts for any business. How you launch can make the difference between success and failure. However, a quality product that can make an actual difference to your customers will most likely be undermined without the support of a well-conceived online launch strategy. To understand the best strategies that can be followed for a New Product Launch we had Will Russell, Founder & CEO Russell Marketing and Member of Forbes Business Council with us. In 2017, Will Russell launched Russell Marketing: an innovative digital agency, specializing in e-commerce launch marketing. To date, they have generated more than $20 million in revenue for 300+ new entrepreneurs. Will has been featured on Forbes, Business Insider, Crain's New York, StartUp Nation, and more. Want to be featured as a Guest on our Podcast channel Digital Marketing Gyaan? Fill the Form today - https://bit.ly/DMG-GuestForm

Arbitral Insights
NAFTA v USMCA: Differences, objectives and friction points a year later

Arbitral Insights

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 10, 2021 28:02


Hugo Perezcano (former head of Mexico's Trade Remedy Authority and general counsel for international trade negotiations) and David Gantz (Will Clayton Fellow for Trade and International Economics at Rice University's Baker Institute for Public Policy, Center for U.S. and Mexico) are hosted by Will Russell from our international arbitration group in Houston for a discussion on the key differences between NAFTA and the USMCA a year after its implementation. The trio discuss the USMCA's objectives, its key differences compared to NAFTA, potential friction points in the energy industry, and what we can expect for future disputes. 

How We Scaled Show
33 - Marketing Done Right with Will Russell

How We Scaled Show

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 7, 2021 27:43


In this episode, your host Jeff Brandeis speaks with Will Russell about How Marketing is Done Right.

Marketing Made Easy by Jottful
26: How to do launches that don't flop

Marketing Made Easy by Jottful

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 28, 2021 39:43


Will Russell's first business was not a success; he sold a single ebook for $9, then gave up. When he started his agency, Russell Marketing, he tried every business generation tactic he could think of in his first year; some worked, others failed miserably. Then, Will learned the secret to successful launches. His agency now helps launch other businesses and products, including multi-million-dollar crowdfunding campaigns on Indiegogo and Kickstarter. Learn how Will's team helps entrepreneurs create and scale powerful marketing systems that turn strangers into prospects, customers, and lifelong advocates.Marketing tactics discussed in this episode include:Launch strategiesBuilding marketing systemsCapturing prospects 

How Soccer Explains Leadership Podcast
How Ted Lasso Explains Leadership, Part 4 -- Season 4 Halftime Show

How Soccer Explains Leadership Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 21, 2021 50:47


In Episode 52, Paul and Phil recall some of the highlights of the first half of Season 4 and continue their conversation about the leadership genius of Ted Lasso, Coach Beard, and Nate the Great, covering Episodes 7 & 8 of the show. Specifically, they discuss:   Highlights from the interviews we had with Diego Bocanegra, Lance Key, Will Russell, and Tracy Hamm in the first half of Season 4 (2:47) Making youth soccer more accessible to all kids, not just the wealthy, across the US (5:36) Specialization in youth sports (9:10) Using soccer to prepare our kids for adulthood (17:10) The power of connections between coach and player, as with Ted's connection with Jamie Tartt (23:40) Ted apologizing to Nate the Great, and the power of saying, “I'm sorry.” (32:36) Lessons learned from Ted empowering Nate to give the pre-game speech at Everton (35:32) How the impact a coach can have on his or her players can last a lifetime in unexpected ways (40:20) The lessons learned from Ted's darts match with Rupert in Episode 9 (44:10) Resources and Links from this Episode Uncut Video of the Episode HSEL Facebook Group Phil and HSEL on Clubhouse -- @phildarke Email Phil – phil@howsoccerexplainsleadership.com The Warrior Way Ted Lasso (Apple TV)

Smart Agency Masterclass with Jason Swenk: Podcast for Digital Marketing Agencies
Can You Continue to Scale Your Agency While Staying Lean?

Smart Agency Masterclass with Jason Swenk: Podcast for Digital Marketing Agencies

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 17, 2021 16:30


Do you think that growing and scaling your agency means always going for more in every aspect? Will Russell is the founder and CEO of Russell Marketing, an agency focused on product launch marketing, crowdfunding, e-commerce, and Amazon. Through his experience with his agency, he created a five-step launch process meant to enable anyone to validate and pursue an idea in an affordable manner without taking a massive amount of risk. In this episode, he'll talk about how to prepare for the launch, why you should never ask family and friends what they think about your idea, and how he approaches the idea of scaling his agency while staying lean. 3 Golden Nuggets Pursuing an idea. There are no guarantees when it comes to ideas. If there were, major brands like Apple wouldn't launch products that fail. This is why Will's process is all about swiftly and, and affordably pursuing an idea. Lots of people have big ideas, but not everyone has the right feedback. Preferably don't lose time asking your family and friends if your idea is good. You won't know for sure until you start selling. Sometimes the market will tell you that the idea is not good, Will's system is all about preparing as much as you can and anticipate some of the possible hurdles. The five-step process. The mistakes made when pursuing a bad idea or pursuing an idea in the wrong way can be very costly. This five-step system was created to avoid those mistakes. 1. Validation, which is understanding how a product resonates in the market. 2. Build an audience, 3. Engage your audience, a key here will be resolving sales objections by trying to understand as many of those objections as possible and getting them resolved in advance of the launch, 4. Focus on audience conversion, 5. Scale and optimize. Not more but better. Something that really describes Will's philosophy and the direction he wanted to take with his agency is “the goal should not be more, the goal should be better” and how he wanted to continue to scale his business while staying lean. This applies to pretty much everything. From the number of clients you have, the number of employees you need, and the number of hours you're working to get your agency to the next level. The answer doesn't always have to be more, more, more. Sometimes we should ask ourselves how we could work better or smarter. Gusto: Today's episode is sponsored by Gusto, an all-in-one people platform for payroll, benefits, HR where you can unify your data. Gusto automatically applies your payroll taxes and directly deposits your team's paychecks, freeing you up to work on your business. Head over to gusto.com/agency to enjoy an exclusive offer for podcast listeners. Subscribe Apple | Spotify | iHeart Radio | Stitcher | Radio FM Continue to Scale Your Agency While Staying Lean With this 5-Step Process for a Successful Launch Jason: [00:00:00] What's up, agency owners? I'm excited to have another amazing guest in the masterclass. We're going to talk about the five-step launch system that you can follow for yourself or for your clients. We're going to talk about how Will's actually grown and scaled his agency while staying lean. And having a lifestyle that he's always wanted, where you have the freedom to pick and choose to do the things that you love doing rather than being forced to do everything. So let's go ahead and get into the episode. Hey, Will! Welcome to the show. Will: [00:00:39] Hey, Jason. Thank you for having me, pleasure. Jason: [00:00:42] Well, um, thanks for coming on. Uh, tell us who you are and what do you do? Will: [00:00:48] Absolutely. My name's Will Russell. I'm the founder of a launch marketing agency, Russell Marketing. We specialize in product launches, idea launches, uh, such as crowdfunding, Amazon, e-commerce, and so on. Essentially we have a five-step system that we, we bring to our clients and help them successfully launch their, their big ideas. Jason: [00:01:12] Awesome. Well, let's go ahead. And, um, you know, before we kind of jump into it, how did you start the agency and why? Will: [00:01:21] I used to… About six years ago, I, I was working at an organization and the organization relocated. That would have meant a kind of a 19-minute commute, either way for me. And that was not what I wanted to be doing. You know, my, I created this business and I wanted to always wanted to have a lifestyle or life outside of work. And so three hours every day commuting wasn't my cup of tea. So I decided if there was ever a time to pursue something myself, then, then that was it. I went ahead, just kicked it off with some freelancing work. So, if, if the business was viable, if I could start bringing in clients like that and. And it was able to, and we successfully just continue taking steps since then really. Jason: [00:02:07] Very cool. Well, let's go ahead and jump into kind of the five-step launch process. Uh, tell us a little bit about that and walk us through it. Will: [00:02:17] Absolutely. So this five-step launch process is all about swiftly and, and affordably pursuing an idea. Lots of people have big ideas. In my early work as a freelancer, I saw how costly mistakes can be when pursuing a bad idea or pursuing an idea in the wrong way. And so what I did is I created this five-step system, which if follows like a recipe, uh, should enable anyone to validate and pursue their idea in a, in an affordable manner. Without taking a massive amount of risk. I'm a pretty risk-averse person and my, my processes and my in my business, uh… reflect that. So the, the system is, as I say, five steps. We start with validation. Validation is short period, which I'm sure many of your listeners know, know well. You know, product market fit. Understanding how this product, how this idea resonates in the market. Steps two and steps three a then a curve between the validation period and the actual launch. And it's all about acquiring prospective customers and getting them excited. Getting them ready to buy. And essentially a key is resolving sales objections. If you're launching a new product, you're not going to know what those sales objections are until you actually start selling. So this prelaunch period is really about trying to understand as many of those objections as possible and getting them resolved in advance of the, of the launch. Step four is once the launch occurs, you build your prospective customer audience. Now you've got to convert them. So we're going to focus on converting them into customers. And step five in this system is scale. So most folks, when they're launching, we'll have a call launch period, and I'll go with our clients is to scale as high as possible as many units sold as much revenue, whatever that goal is… As possible during that, uh, during that footstep scale, during that pre-order period. So we'll set and done. That, that five-step system can usually take around four or five months. And coming out at the end of it, a client has, uh, early customers, early adopters, uh, engaged communities around their product and knock on wood, they'll be ready for a real ramp up on their e-commerce. Jason: [00:04:39] That's awesome. I love it. I love how simple it is and I love, um, you know, the step number two, kind of around overcoming objections. Uh, yeah. Like I totally agree with you, you can't overcome objections until you've actually tried to sell and exactly convert people, uh, to figure that out. Cause everybody, like I remember, you know, I, I did many, many companies and came up with many dumb ideas. And I remember telling people, like, hey, this is idea, what do you think? They're like, we love it. And then you get to, you know, selling it and like no one buys it. I remember doing this one thing. It's when I did a lot of triathlons. And I just thought of like, as gag gift, I was like this beer trainer. It was like a helmet with a big, uh, little, like, like a wire that hangs a beer out in front of you that you never could reach... it was the dumbest thing. Will: [00:05:37] Yeah. I mean, it's little funny, it's funny that… It's obviously, it's impossible to predict. Otherwise, you know, apple and Google wouldn't launch products that fail. You can't predict them. However, there are a lot of things you can do to really understand, uh, the potential of an idea well before you have to invest. And so a lot of folks do come to me like you might have, have with, with your idea, which was kind of, you know, kind of unusual… Jason: [00:06:07] You can say it's stupid. Will: [00:06:11] And, and… they've been told by their family and friends. Oh yeah, I would definitely buy this. But there's a great book called The Mom Test. I can't remember the author but, you know, you don't ask your family and friends. If your idea is good, you got to get it into the market and got to get that feedback. And sometimes you get told by the market your idea sucks. And that sucks. Uh, but in my opinion, it's better to find that out before you've invested thousands of dollars, tens of thousands of dollars in pursuing it. Jason: [00:06:45] Taking care of your employees has never been more important than right now. And while paydays are great, running payroll is a major pain, calculating taxes, deductions, compliance. None of it's easy, unless of course you have Gusto. Gusto is a simple online payroll and benefits built for your small business. Gusto automatically applies your payroll taxes and directly deposits your team's paychecks, freeing you up to work on your business. Plus, with Gusto's help, you can offer benefits like 401k's health insurance, workers' comp, and a lot more. And because you're a smart agency masterclass listener, you're going to get three months free once you run your first payroll. Go to gusto.com/agency. That's gusto.com/agency for three free months. Yeah, there, there was one situation where a company came to me that was starting out and they're like, hey, we're going to… We want to develop this little, this book and this little elf that sits on the shelf. And, uh, and I was like, no, that's a dumb idea. And then every Christmas I've been doing it. Will: [00:08:10] Yeah. Elf, exactly. You, you… the strangest things can unexpectedly take off. Uh, so it's an interesting business to be in launches because you do see, you see some products you think a slam dunks face some really big objections and vice versa. So it's all about, it's all about what the data's telling us. Uh, and that's what the system focuses on. Jason: [00:08:32] Exactly. Well, let's switch focus a little bit. Um, how have you been able to build a lean team and keep scaling the agency? Will: [00:08:41] Yeah, that was a particular goal of mine in the last couple of years. This year more so. You know, over the… I think most agency owners will they'll grow. And the solution to growing is okay, I need to hire more, bring in more team members. So we got to eight or nine and of last year, middle of last year. And I was having spending more time in meetings and check-ins, and I, then I, then I wanted to frankly, and, and, and what I'm… How I'm looking to live ,y life is a key guide of the business. So I didn't want to live my life in meetings with, with the team. And so I said, okay, no more hiring. What are we going to do this year to grow without hiring? And that, I think a lot of the answers aren't surprising to people when we talk about productizing your services and making everything as systematic as possible. Uh, we talk about, uh, avoiding scope creep by really understanding and allocating kind of time allowances or bandwidth allowances for each, each role in the business and which role in the system. Uh, we talk about… Having a great lead pipeline so you can pick and choose the higher value leads that come in. But as essentially too, I think you, you really set that goal hiring is such an easy solution to increasing revenue. And so while you might know, you know, the key, the key ways to avoid that and to grow while staying lean. When you actually force yourself to enact it, and you really start seeing the details and specificities for your business rather than the generic kind of best practices of doing so. Jason: [00:10:31] I hit my mute button. Will: [00:10:32] Yeah. Do you know… I listened to, I listened to Seth Godin's… the podcast you did with him a while back. I listened that recently before this show and he said something that I felt really tied into our philosophy around that. And he said, the goal should not be more, the goal should be better. And he was speaking about that with regards to the type of people you work with I think, the clients. But I think that applies to pretty much everything. You know what, whether it's the, how many hours we're working a week or the value we're providing. It's not necessarily always do more, do more, do more, but it's how can we do it better? And that's a good, uh, philosophy to work off of when we scaling, uh, leaning too. Jason: [00:11:17] Well, it's also doing it better and then doing it your way, right? I talk to so many agencies that they have goals of going, you know, like a lot of agencies on our mastermind. They go I want to go from 3 million to over eight figures. I'm like, well, why? And a lot of them have issues with saying that they just go, I don't, it's just a number. It's, it's a goal. Like, well, what if your goal was to do it better, to do it more efficiently where you actually can create more time for yourself, right? Like in the pre-show we were talking about how you work maybe 20 hours, and then you spend a lot of work on your nonprofit and it's about how can you create the right systems, have the right people- because you have to have people, um, in this business in order to be able to pick and choose and do the things that you love. Like, you know… In this business, you know, the, you have to figure out what is like Dean Jackson says, like you're the cow, all you do is produce the milk. So what is the milk? I don't need to produce the cheese. I don't need to sell the cheese. Those that's what other people can actually do. Will: [00:12:34] Yeah, absolutely. That does saying I think applies to, uh, being a generalist versus a specialist, a lot of agencies early, early on, myself included, try to do a lot of things and quickly realize you can't do that well. So focus on a couple of things that we do really well. And that is limiting when you have people coming to you saying, well, we need SEO help. Uh, we've got a lot of money to spend on SEO. I mean a lot of money sounds, sounds good in the sense that it gives me safety net protection. But we don't do SEO. So, so, and we've got to stick with that and we want to be the best that the launch system we do have. And so, yeah, I completely agree with that. Jason: [00:13:19] And I look at it as kind of, when you start out, you have to try everything and you have to figure out what are you really good at? It's kind of like, you know, in sports, you know, you got to try basketball and football and soccer and tennis, swimming, whatever it is. And then by the time you get toward the end of your high school and you're wanting to go to college, well, you have your sport. Um, that's kind of how it was with me. That's kinda how it's going with our kids. It's like try everything and then see what you really like, what you're good at, what you don't like. Do more of the good stuff. Will: [00:13:55] Yeah. And from an agency standpoint, I do remember early on one of the... The key things I was looking for is what, what marketing can, uh, or what service offering can quickly show results. Because there's especially early on, if you have no credibility and no case studies, you can have a hard time with sales. So SEO is a long-term game. It might be a long time before we have that evidence. But paid ads, which are a big piece of our launch system, I can get results tomorrow and I can have a case study tomorrow that shows that results. So that was a big piece of it. You know, what can we do to build that foundation of credibility as quickly as possible, so that did direct or choose of services. Jason: [00:14:37] Awesome. Well, cool. Well, this, this has all been amazing. Is there anything I didn't ask you that you think would benefit the audience? Will: [00:14:45] No, I guess the, the main thing I often like to leave people with is, is just to focus on the validation… Is kind of what you pointed out, Jason, why, you know. A lot of people come to me and I'm sure a lot of folks are coming to your listeners with, with ideas, with things to pursue. Uh, but understanding the why and, and validating that is the right thing to pursue saves a lot of heartache money and time in the end. And it's been a well worthwhile focus for us. So it's always something I lean on others to consider. Jason: [00:15:18] Awesome. And what's agency website people can go and check you out? Will: [00:15:22] Sure. russellmarketing.co, russellmarketing.co. Jason: [00:15:26] Awesome. Well, everyone go check that out. Russell,uh, Will, thank you for so much for coming on. And, uh, if you guys want to be surrounded by amazing agency owners that can really see the things that you're not able to see and be able to open your eyes to things you may not have heard of. So you can grow and scale faster and really get to the point where you can pick and choose to do the things you love while your agency's scaling, which is really pretty cool. I'd love to invite all of you to go to the digitalagencyelite.com. It's our exclusive mastermind for really experienced agency owners that want to be transparent and share what's working Go there now and, uh, and meet the, meet the other members there. There's a great video where the, you can check out the members, but go to digital agencyelite.com. And until next time have a Swenk day.

Product Startup
097: How to Overcome Product Buyers' Objections

Product Startup

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 13, 2021 41:54


Will Russell is the Founder of Russel Marketing, a New York marketing agency that specializes in launching new consumer product inventions. He is also a fellow writer with me for Forbes. Today Will is going to share some valuable knowledge on how inventors, startups, and small manufacturers learn to identify the main consumer buyer objections when purchasing your product, then how to overcome those objections when you launch your product to the market for the first time. Today you will hear us talk about: What are the types of buy objections when selling B2C Omnichanel product launch strategies Lots of the strategies today can be used in many sales strategies, including B2B How to create launch systems Cost, positioning, brand, technical, apathy EPISODE LINKS Will Russell / Russell Marketing Links: Website: https://russellmarketing.co/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/willrussellmktg/ The Product Startup Podcast Links: Website: https://www.ProductStartup.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ProductStartup/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ProductStartup/ Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/ProductStartup/ Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/ProductStartup/ Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/ProductStartup/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/ProductStartup YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/MakoInvent Mako Design Links: Website: https://www.makodesign.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/MakoInvent Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/MakoInvent/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/MakoDesign/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MakoInvent/ Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/MakoInvent/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/MakoInvent/ Kevin Mako Links: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Entrepreneurs/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/KevMako/ Quora: https://www.quora.com/profile/Kevin-Mako Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KevMakoPage/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/KevMako/ About: MAKO Design + Invent is the original firm providing world-class consumer product development services tailored to startups, small manufacturers, and inventors. Simply put, we are the leading one-stop-shop for developing your physical product from idea to store shelves, all in a high-quality, cost-effective, and timely manner. We operate as one powerhouse 30-person product design team spread across 4 offices to serve you (Austin, Miami, San Francisco, & Toronto). We have full-stack in-house industrial design, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, patent referral, prototyping, and manufacturing services. To assist our startup and inventor clients, in addition to above, we help with business strategy, product strategy, marketing, and sales/distribution for all consumer product categories. Also, our founder Kevin Mako hosts The Product Startup Podcast, the industry's leading hardware podcast. Check it out for tips, interviews, and best practices for hardware startups, inventors, and product developers. Click HERE to learn more about Mako Design + Invent!

How Soccer Explains Leadership Podcast
Accountability, Mindset, and Marketing with Will Russell, Founder & CEO of Russell Marketing

How Soccer Explains Leadership Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 2, 2021 64:20


In Episode 45, Will Russell, Founder & CEO of Russell Marketing and Executive Director of Russell Gives Foundation, talks with Phil about his work with Street Soccer USA, lessons he has learned from soccer and Premier League managers, success measures, his “why,” and the sacrifices needed to reach elite status. Specifically, Will discusses:   How he developed his passion for soccer and leadership, and how he got to be where he is today (1:51) His work with Street Soccer USA (3:57) Lessons he has learned from reading biographies of great managers that he has applied to his marketing work and other areas of life, including accountability and shared mission, vision, and values (7:32) Lessons he has learned from the beautiful game that he uses in his marriage and marketing business, including fixed vs. growth mindset (21:53) How different managers measure success and how he measures success in his life (33:11) Whether sacrifices are needed to reach elite levels in sports and other areas of life (41:12) Will's “why” and how he lives it out in his life (50:29) His recommendations (58:58) Resources and Links from this Episode Will on Twitter and LinkedIn Uncut Video of the Episode HSEL Facebook Group Phil and HSEL on Clubhouse -- @phildarke Contact Phil about DISC Training Jack Wilshere Goal The Five Dysfunctions of a Team: A Leadership Fable, by Patrick Lencioni Mindset: The New Psychology of Success, by Carol Dweck Wenger: My Life Lessons in Red and White, by Arsene Wenger Alex Ferguson: My Autobiography, by Sir Alex Ferguson Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones, by James Clear E-Myth Revisited: Why Most Small Businesses Don't Work and What to Do About It, by Michael E. Gerber Living Forward: A Proven Plan to Stop Drifting and Get the Life You Wanted, by Michael Hyatt and Daniel Harkavy “All or Nothing: Manchester City” (Amazon Prime) “F1: Drive to Survive” (Netflix) “All or Nothing: Tottenham Hotspur” (Amazon Prime)

Efficiency Bitch
{BALANCED} Will Russell

Efficiency Bitch

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 27, 2021 53:03


In 2016, Will Russell entered the e-commerce launch space working as a crowdfunding marketing consultant. Multiple six and seven-figure launches that first year meant that client interest -- and the need for a larger team -- quickly grew. In 2017, he transitioned the businesses into Russell Marketing: an innovative digital agency, specializing in e-commerce launch marketing.Prior to product launches, Will spent his early career managing launch marketing efforts for brands and websites in the media and nonprofit space. A decade of experience in launch marketing -- across an array of industries, products, and for businesses of all sizes -- provided Will with a unique perspective on the attributes of successful launch campaigns.    Originally from San Francisco, followed by two decades in London, and now in New York, Will holds a dual degree in Philosophy & Sociology from the University of Leeds. You can find Will at https://russellmarketing.co and on Facebook at @russellmktgSupport the show (https://paypal.me/efficiencyB)

Sportsmen's Nation - Whitetail Hunting
Land & Legacy - Leaving a Legacy With Your Recreational Property

Sportsmen's Nation - Whitetail Hunting

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 6, 2021 43:47


On this podcast, we show you a visual change to a Land & Legacy property from 30,000 ft. Will Russell of central Pennsylvania took advantage of a property plan and it shows. You can't deny the change! Take a look for yourself. Will and his family have left a positive and legacy impact on this recreational property. This farm now has diversity, whereas before it was a homogeneous, closed-canopy forest before with a few dotted food plots. However,, those days are gone! With the timber harvested as recommended, access was improved, as was the diversity of the plant communities, increased woody browse and cover. This property will never be the same!   Be sure to listen closely to this podcast, learn from Will and his relentless pursuit of quality habitat. Enjoy. Learn. Share! Land & Legacy is Powered by Simplecast

Land & Legacy - Sportsmen's Nation
Leaving a Legacy With Your Recreational Property

Land & Legacy - Sportsmen's Nation

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 6, 2021 43:47


On this podcast, we show you a visual change to a Land & Legacy property from 30,000 ft. Will Russell of central Pennsylvania took advantage of a property plan and it shows. You can't deny the change! Take a look for yourself. Will and his family have left a positive and legacy impact on this recreational property. This farm now has diversity, whereas before it was a homogeneous, closed-canopy forest before with a few dotted food plots. However,, those days are gone! With the timber harvested as recommended, access was improved, as was the diversity of the plant communities, increased woody browse and cover. This property will never be the same!   Be sure to listen closely to this podcast, learn from Will and his relentless pursuit of quality habitat. Enjoy. Learn. Share! Land & Legacy is Powered by Simplecast

Think Business with Tyler
Imposter Syndrome to Successful Business Owner - Will Russell

Think Business with Tyler

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 26, 2021 31:39


Will Russell is a marketing expert who specializes in helping entrepreneurs validate their ideas and execute successful launches. Having spent the first decade of his career managing launch marketing efforts for businesses of all sizes in the media and nonprofit space, Will has a unique perspective on the attributes of successful launch campaigns.   Will believes imposter syndrome stops people in their tracks causing many to quit before they ever achieved their greatness.   Will shares with us his techniques for beating imposter syndrome which has got him through the ups and downs during his journey of running a business. In this episode, we discuss: 2:50 – Will's story when he first got into the US and humble beginnings 5:20 – Overcoming Imposter Syndrome 9:00 – What causes failures and what Will learned from them? 12:30 – Common problems in product launches 14:40 – Will's 5-step marketing system 20:20 – Best channels to use for a product launch 27:50 – Why validating a business idea is so important Contact Will: http://russellmarketing.co http://russellgives.org https://www.linkedin.com/in/willrussellmktg/ http://twitter.com/willrussell87   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sportsmen's Nation - Whitetail Hunting
Land & Legacy - Pennsylvania Deer Management and Habitat Management

Sportsmen's Nation - Whitetail Hunting

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 8, 2020 54:34


When it comes to the hunting heritage in the state of Pennsylvania the roots run deep. Hunters flock to the woods during the firearms season in numbers that few states can compete with. The sheer amount of hunters headed to the woods creates a landscape where deer are conditioned to hunters and pressure. Nocturnal deer movement and the chance for older age class bucks are a struggle for many who wish for better hunting. Land & Legacy client Will Russell has worked hard on his property since our visit in 2019. From timber thinning, young forest openings (Bedding Thickets), edge feathering, and old field management are at the top of his list to improve the farm. By utilizing a logging operation he was able to complete much of his timber work in less than two years and the wildlife are already showing drastic improvements. With all this work being done it's provided a great opportunity for his family to enjoy. With his six year old son joining him in the stand and his dad making his first archery harvest in over 20 years its been a season to remember! Tune in this week to hear the story of how we're changing the habitat and the perspective of deer hunting in Pennsylvania! Land & Legacy is Powered by Simplecast

Land & Legacy - Sportsmen's Nation
Pennsylvania Deer Management and Habitat Management

Land & Legacy - Sportsmen's Nation

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 8, 2020 54:34


When it comes to the hunting heritage in the state of Pennsylvania the roots run deep. Hunters flock to the woods during the firearms season in numbers that few states can compete with. The sheer amount of hunters headed to the woods creates a landscape where deer are conditioned to hunters and pressure. Nocturnal deer movement and the chance for older age class bucks are a struggle for many who wish for better hunting. Land & Legacy client Will Russell has worked hard on his property since our visit in 2019. From timber thinning, young forest openings (Bedding Thickets), edge feathering, and old field management are at the top of his list to improve the farm. By utilizing a logging operation he was able to complete much of his timber work in less than two years and the wildlife are already showing drastic improvements. With all this work being done it's provided a great opportunity for his family to enjoy. WIth his six year old son joining him in the stand and his dad making his first archery harvest in over 20 years its been a season to remember! Tune in this week to hear the story of how we're changing the habitat and the perspective of deer hunting in Pennsylvania! Land & Legacy is Powered by Simplecast

Up Next In Commerce
Funny Story: Building Sheets & Giggles into a DTC Success Story

Up Next In Commerce

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 26, 2020 44:13


They say that laughter is the best medicine. For Colin McIntosh, it’s also been a pretty good business strategy. After a couple of fits and starts in business, Colin found himself with no job but quite a few domain names in his possession, all of which were pun-based. So he cycled through what he owned and formed a plan to build a company in a disruptable industry where he could make a splash and earn some market share. What he landed on was Sheets & Giggles, a direct to consumer bedsheets company with a social good component that became the most successful bedsheets company to launch on the crowd-funding site, Indiegogo. Since then, Sheets & Giggles has grown to millions of dollars in sales. On this episode of Up Next in Commerce, Colin gives the behind-the-scenes story of building Sheets & Giggles, including how he worked backward to build an email list that led to an unprecedented 45% conversion rate. Plus, Colin dives into the pros and cons of selling on Amazon, and gives an exclusive preview of some of the ad copy he’s working on to bring more humor to the Sheets & Giggles campaigns across channels.   Main Takeaways:Going Backward: In order to meet your goals, it’s sometimes useful to work backward. Define what it is that you want to achieve and then reverse engineer the steps you need to take to get there. Navigating the Amazon Waters: DTC founders agree that Amazon is simultaneously the best and worst partner you can have. There are pros and cons to working on the platform, including massive discoverability but also deep cuts into profit margin. It’s important to weigh all the pros and cons of selling on the platform and find the strategy that works best for your brand and that leaves you with more of the pros than the cons. Laughing With You, Not At You: Selling with humor is an effective strategy if you can actually get potential customers to engage. Consumers are reading less and less, so if you are going to use humorous copy, it needs to really resonate, grab the attention of the customer, and get them to keep going along the customer journey. It’s easy to be funny just for the sake of being funny, but you have to remember that the ultimate goal is to sell the product, so there needs to be a call to action.For an in-depth look at this episode, check out the full transcript below. Quotes have been edited for clarity and length.---Up Next in Commerce is brought to you by Salesforce Commerce Cloud. Respond quickly to changing customer needs with flexible Ecommerce connected to marketing, sales, and service. Deliver intelligent commerce experiences your customers can trust, across every channel. Together, we’re ready for what’s next in commerce. Learn more at salesforce.com/commerce---Transcript:Stephanie:Hey everyone, this is Stephanie Postles, Co-Founder of mission.org, and your host of Up Next In Commerce. Welcome back. Our guest today is Colin McIntosh, the Founder and CEO of Sheets & Giggles. Colin, how's it going?Colin:Pretty good. Thanks so much for having me today.Stephanie:Yeah, thanks for coming on. I was very nervous about messing that name up. I'm sure you get that a lot.Colin:MacIntosh, McIntosh. Yeah, [crosstalk 00:00:28]-Stephanie:Oh, I meant your company name.Colin:Oh, Sheets & Giggles. Yeah. No, of course. Yeah, sorry. I feel like I've gotten so used to it now, I don't even register it anymore. But yeah, you can call it S&G for short, so that way you're not laughing every time.Stephanie:There you go. I like it. So, before the show started, we were going a little bit through your background, which I think people would like to hear before we get into Sheets & Giggles. So, I'd love for you to kind of start there. How did you come to founding Sheets & Giggles, and what came before that?Colin:Well, a lot came before. It depends on how far back you want to go. I graduated from Emory University's business school back in 2012, and I started my career at the world's largest hedge fund in Connecticut, a place called Bridgewater Associates. And, the founder there, a guy named Ray Dalio, is pretty famous nowadays. And, I got fired in about five months, which was great being 22 and losing your first job in a strange state that you don't know anybody in. And then-Stephanie:What happened?Colin:Well, I was terrible at my job. So, [crosstalk 00:01:33]-Stephanie:Five months is not enough time. How did they even know?Colin:No, Bridgewater is usually... They're famous for two months or two years.Stephanie:Okay.Colin:And so, I kind of had a weird little in between stay, where after two months we were all pretty sure it wasn't going to work out, but they were like, "Ah, this should work out," and they didn't want to really pull the plug. And then, eventually I remember, they were arguing in front of me one day about... I'll never forget this. They were re-interviewing me for a different role inside of the company, and... That's how they do it. You lose your "box," and then they try to find you a new box before they totally get rid of you, because they think you're a culture fit.Stephanie:Yep.Colin:And so, they were arguing in front of me. I'll never forget, these two guys, the two managers. One said, "You know, I think Colin is a six for this role," and the other manager says, "Well, I think he's more like a seven, and I think we should hire him into it." And, they're arguing six, seven, six, seven out of 10. And then, the arbiter goes, "Look, guys. He can't get hired into the role if he's not a seven. If he's a six, we can't give him the offer." And then they agree, "Okay, he's a six-and-a-half, and we'll need to have another meeting on it." And, I just remember I raised my hand and I go, "Guys, let me do this. Today's going to be my last day at Bridgewater." I just couldn't deal with that type of [crosstalk 00:02:50]-Stephanie:Yeah, rating you.Colin:It was crazy. Yeah. And so, that was my first job experience. And, from there I became a recruiter, a third-party agency, recruiting for banks, and hedge funds, and startups. That's where I got into technology, and startups, and software. Taught myself a lot about software development and software engineering, and ended up hiring a bunch of different engineers at a bunch of different companies. And, I ended up hiring myself at one of my clients in Seattle, in a really interesting B2B software space called Application Virtualization, which was really hot in 2014; it's still pretty hot.Colin:And I ended up moving up to Seattle. And then, about a year and a half later, I got an opportunity at a company that I helped co-found with some friends called Revel R, which was a wearable tech product that got into Techstars, which is for those listening, a really famous worldwide accelerator for startups. They give you a $100,000 for 6% of your company, and put you in a room with nine other companies for three months, and give you all the training, resources, connections, and mentorship that you could possibly need.Colin:And so I dropped everything I was doing in Seattle, drove 19 hours down to Denver on a week's notice, and became a Coloradan about five years ago. And, that company... I ended up working there for about two-and-a-half years. We all got laid off at 1:00 PM on a Sunday, as startups unfortunately go. And, it was really sad. We had raised millions of dollars, and we're in Target, and Brookstone, and HSN, QVC Deals, T-Mobile stores. But, that product, unfortunately, didn't have all the legs that we thought it did. And, three weeks after I got laid off xI incorporated Sheets & Giggles, and now it's been three years since that date. And, it is now the longest I'd ever worked anywhere in my career.Stephanie:That's great. So, what is Sheets & Giggles, and how did you have the idea to start it?Colin:Well, for anyone who hasn't heard of us, it's okay; although, I will hold it against you.Stephanie:Very rude.Colin:Very rude. We sell bedsheets that are sustainable, and they're made out of a material called Lyocell, which is made from eucalyptus trees. And so, if you Google or Amazon eucalyptus sheets, we're generally the first results. Lyocell sheets is another query we rank high for. And what our sheets do is, they actually save up to 96% of the water that cotton sheets use, which is about 96%... sorry, 1,000 gallon reduction. And then, they also save in energy, they use no pesticides, no insecticides; whereas, cotton can use 16-24% of the world's insecticides just by itself, as a crop.Colin:They also biodegrade faster than cotton, they're hypoallergenic, they're zero-static, and they're naturally softer and more cooling. So, if you're a hot sleeper, they're the best possible material. The eucalyptus Lyocell is for hot sleepers. And so, it's a really wonderful product. We began manufacturing at about two a half years ago, and we now have shipped tens of thousands of orders. We raised a couple of million dollars in capital, although we are mostly revenue funded, and we grow according to our revenue. And, we are just loving life right now. We're a very socially conscious company, and it's really wonderful to be able to have fun, do good, and make money at the same time.Stephanie:That's great. So, with your company, did you see an opportunity in the market from doing research, or did you just wake up one night sweaty like "Oh, I need to build better sheets. This is [crosstalk 00:06:32]." How did that happen?Colin:So, whenever I hear founder interviews from Brooklinen, or other bedsheets companies... And, I hate to throw Brooklinen under the bus. They're a great company, and I really respect... No, I really respect what they've built. They get $100 million dollars in trailing 12 months revenue. They're a wonderful company. But, their co-founders go on these-Stephanie:However.Colin:... podcasts, then they're like, "Oh, we were staying in these hotel sheets, and we were like, 'Oh, they're so lovely. And, let me find out how expensive they were,' and we were like, 'There had to be a better way.'"Nobody starts a company because they stayed at a hotel. They saw a really good business model. They found a manufacturer who would make really good products for them at an affordable price so they could resell it a higher price, and they went from there. And that's great, and they should be proud of that.Colin:And so, that's sort of, more or less, what happened with S&G, where it was actually a business model play first. And, I'm a big... a big, big advocate of sustainability, and climate change is one of my hot buttons. I've always had a bleeding heart. I've worked at startups trying to end animal euthanasia. My last startup, the wearable tech startup I talked about, we were trying to fight sexual assault and violence. We actually sent out 60,000 emergency alerts, saved a bunch of lives, which was really a wonderful... wonderful thing that the company did. But you know, this company, I really wanted to have a sustainability mission. And so, I kind of sat down and I wrote out my perfect business model with a sustainability mission.Colin:This is a true story. I looked at all the domains that I owned, and I owned SheetsGiggles.com because I thought it'd be a funny name for bedsheets company. I have a lot of pun-based domains that I own.Stephanie:What's some other ones? I want to hear them. Any others come to mind?Colin:I've got a few really good ones, Bodcasts.com...Stephanie:Oh my god.Colin:... B-O D-C-A-S-T-S.com. I love that. I would love to do podcasts for exercise, where you don't have to watch YouTube videos, and you can just have a platform for exercise physiologists and personal trainers to do listening-only routines. I also own SunglassesHalfFull.com for a sunglass company, GiraffeCarafe.com for carafes in the shape of giraffes. I own WorkFromRome.com. Why work from home when you can work from Rome? That's a travel company for remote work. I buy a lot of domains [crosstalk 00:09:13]-Stephanie:So many companies to start, so little time.Colin:Yeah. Romanhemperor is probably my favorite one that I'll probably start one day, a CBD company.Stephanie:That's good.Colin:My nephew's name is Roman, so he'll be my little CBD mascot.Stephanie:Perfect. I like it.Colin:Yeah, I'm sure my sister will love that.Stephanie:Yeah, I think she will.Colin:Yeah. But yeah. To answer your question, a lot of them. I owned SheetsGiggles.com. I thought, "Does bedding fit my criteria?" and it fit perfectly, $12 billion U.S. market growing 10% year over year, highly fragmented, the top five players only own about 27% of the market, and it wasn't fully online at that point. It was still mostly physical retail. I kind of just put my head down, and I fell in love with this brand. That was the other thing, is I just fell involved with the idea of a funny brand in a very boring space, especially if it's a sustainable, premium product and you can still do a funny brand. That's a really hard tight rope to walk, and I really fell in love with the branding challenge.Colin:That was kind of when I put my head down in October 2017. I created a brand, Identity Map, for this pun-based bedding empire, is what I would call it to people. Me and a couple of contractors just designed a logo, and I built my own website, wrote every single word of copy myself, would stay up until four in the morning, writing, wake up at 8:00 AM, start writing again, and just totally fell in love with this weird, little company that I was creating in my bed, in my underwear. In May 2018, we did our crowdfunding campaign on Indiegogo, raised $284,000 crowdfunded, love those crowdfunders and have a very special relationship with thousands of people who brought the company to life, and it's all been history of since there.Stephanie:That's really fun. What was your experience on Indiegogo? How did you get found? Because a lot of times on those crowdfunding platforms, it seems like there's so much noise nowadays. In the early days, it was [crosstalk] to get found.Colin:Yeah.Stephanie:Now it's like, "Oh my gosh, if I put something up there, there's thousands of other people trying to raise money for something." How did you make sure that people found your potential product?Colin:Yeah, absolutely. Even in 2018, it was still a pretty difficult task. There were still thousands of projects being launched every single day. 2013, 2014 would have done prime time to do a crowdfunding campaign. That was actually when, fun fact, I'm going to brag a little bit, Brooklyn did their Kickstarter in 2013 or 2014, and they did $236,000. We did ours in 2018, $284,000.Stephanie:Hey.Colin:Yes.Stephanie:Hello.Colin:Basically, there's a few hacks for crowdfunding campaigns. If anyone out there is thinking about doing a crowdfunding campaign, generally speaking, you want to do a few things. First and foremost, you want to set a goal that you can hit on day one because their algorithms reward percentage of goals hit in a period of time. They don't reward dollars raised. You don't want to go too low because then you've set expectations for people that, "Wow, you've blown away your goal, and now I expect the world from this company," but you don't want to go too high either and have a goal that takes you the full 30 days to hit because then you won't trend. For us, for example, internally, we wanted to do $100,000. Externally, we set our goal as $50,000. We thought that we could hit that in a couple of days based on our preparation.Colin:The second thing you want to do in order to come out of the noise is prepare. A lot of people... It's kind of sad. I see them launch a crowdfunding idea for something that maybe is a really cool idea or a cool project, but they don't do any preparation whatsoever, and they don't stop the think that even if they have 1,000 Facebook friends and 30 friends and family and 500 connections on LinkedIn and whatever it is, you just got to always assume a 3% conversion rate with anything, even your friends and family. If you have 1,000 people that you think you can count on, you're talking about 30 people that are actually going to pull the trigger and give you their credit card information when you end up buying. You don't want to rely on the friends-and-family model for crowdfunding. It's just not a good way to do it.Colin:What you want to rely on is an email list. I get asked all the time, "Where do you find your email list? Do you buy it? Do you build it?" The answer is, "You build it." You want to build it and get people to give you their emails who are interested, qualified leads, who are interested in buying into the brand that you're building. What we did was we worked backwards from our goal of $100,000 and said, "Okay, $100,000 in 30 days, generally speaking with the crowdfunding math, you want to make 30% of that on day one." That's just the way the crowdfunding works, big boost in the beginning, plateau in the middle, boost at the end. You want $30,000 on day one. We knew our sheets were going to cost $70 on average, which was a really low price. I really under-priced them. We knew our average order was probably going to be 1.5 units, so $100 average order value. If $30,000 on day one at $100 average order value is the goal, that means we need 300 customers on day one.Colin:If an email list converts at 3%, then that means that we need 10,000 emails in order to get 300 customers on day one. That became our singular focus, singular goal from February through April of 2018 was gathering those 10,000 emails, doing it at an affordable price that would end up translating into a low cost of acquisition, and we ended up spending about $9,000 to gather about 11,000 emails, converted at about a 45% rate, which was really unheard of. That was the first time I was ever very, very-Stephanie:That's really high.Colin:Yeah, I was very, very excited and confident that the crowdfunding campaign was going to go well when we saw the 45% email capture rate. We ended up converting at 4.5% on our email list on day one, and we had a $45,000 day one just like clockwork. Then we [crosstalk 00:15:05].Stephanie:That's awesome.Colin:Yeah.Stephanie:I like the idea of working backwards. I think enough people don't think of, "What do I want my end result to be, and how do I make sure to get there?" Like you said, they rely on, "I have enough friends who will buy," which I've also experienced does not work. Friends and family [crosstalk] can only go so far. Yeah.Colin:People forget. People get busy. They have busy mornings. They forget. You need a big boost all at once to come out of the noise on crowdfunding. We ended up being the number two trending topic on Indiegogo.Stephanie:That's awesome. How did you go about building your email list? Because acquiring emails for the price that you did is very good. Conversions are very good. You can get a ton of emails these days, but a lot of them probably wouldn't be qualified if you don't do it the right way. What kind of tactics did you use to get good emails who are qualified buyers to make sure that they actually ended up converting when you launched?Colin:That's a great question. First and foremost, if you're going to do a crowdfunding campaign, I would recommend hiring a digital agency that specializes in crowdfunding, but I would be very careful about whom because there's a ton of sharks and predators in this industry who will take your $2,000 set up fee, and they'll promise you the moon, right? Colin:There is one agency I'd recommend, my buddy, Will Russell, he's the man, Russell Marketing in New York. And I trust him with my life, so I hired Will. I had known him tangentially through the last place I worked at. And he basically flew out the boulder. We sat down and we white boarded things out February, 2018 about our plan for the crowdfunding campaign. And basically the method was he had these emails from past campaigns that were early adopters, right? There are people who had backed Kickstarter campaigns before, and you can get lists like that in other places. Then you begin to build one, two and 3% lookalike audiences on Facebook. From those lists, you're able to advertise to other people who are likely early adopters. You build a landing page. We use kickoff labs as the software for our landing pages that hooked into our Google analytics. We did a photo shoot all in for $500 with me and all my best friends in Denver, Colorado. We were smoking cigars, drinking whiskey, having fun in bed, playing with dogs, eating pizza.Colin:Basically, whatever makes us laugh is what put on camera. And so, that was what we did in February 2018. We built those landing pages and that content with our first photo shoots, and all the copy that we wrote was just coming from my two fingers or 10. And then we just basically ask people, Hey, do you want to walk into the best price you're ever going to get on the best bedsheets you're ever going to feel? And we had three core value propositions for any crowdfunding campaign. You generally need three core differentiation propositions. One was that it's literally softer and cooler than cotton. And I led with that because I think that people are selfish and won't buy a sustainable product, if it's not better than the unsustainable version.Stephanie:Yep.Colin:Value prop number two was that it was sustainable, and value prop number three was that because I knew how all these retailers worked, and I know the margin share that Bed, Bath and Beyond takes from this category, which was about 40%, the price that you're paying is going to be traumatically lower than the price you pay for comparable luxury, sustainable options in the store. And those were our three value props and it really resonated.Stephanie:That's great. So what is your customer acquisition strategy look like now that's different than maybe what you did with Indiegogo?Colin:Now? I mean, now I have an in-house marketing team, a four person team. They're absolutely wonderful. And Sarah, our VP of marketing, is total genius, and she is someone who on the performance marketing side I think is unmatched. And I basically give her, to be completely honest. I give her free rein at this stage because a founder's skillset is fundamentally different than a CEO skillset. And I'm doing my best to transition from founder to CEO. And part of that is not micro-managing. And frankly, being okay with a much more boring job of facilitating, supporting, financing and managing versus being the creative, being the brand voice, being the copywriter, being the photographer and the videographer, and the Facebook data analyzer, and the Amazon ads creator. I can't do that anymore because it just doesn't scale. And it's also a good way to get talented people to leave when they feel like they're being micromanaged.Colin:So in terms of our actual strategies, basically, it's all direct to consumer on our website, sheetsgiggles.com and Amazon. And we've got a core channels of Facebook, Instagram, Google, and Amazon as our digital spend. We do some podcasts advertising, so definitely get in touch about that. And we also do radio advertising on Colorado Public Radio and a few other stations. And then we've tried direct mail, we tried a few other funky things. Nothing has the [inaudible] that digital tends to have.Colin:And in terms of email strategy nowadays, we actually don't email people nearly as often as we used to. In the very beginning, when we launched them Indiegogo, we'd email people maybe once a week. Now we're probably emailing people once a quarter, which is really crazy for a direct to consumer brand. Like every direct consumer brand in my inbox blows up my inbox four times a week like, buy more of our shit.Stephanie:Yeah.Colin:And so, the amount of sandal emails that I get from my sandal company is ridiculous. And so we email people only when we want them to take a very specific action. And that leads to open rates of high forties on emails, which is really, really stellar for open rates on emails. And we make sure that we use that wisely and we don't over innovate people.Stephanie:Great. So what are your favorite channels right now? Of everything that you just mentioned, is there any channel that you're maybe putting more budget into, or that you're seeing higher success with?Colin:I can find a row ad that beats Facebook, I will pull all my Facebook tomorrow, but they're definitely the highest row ads. Branded search is obviously the thing that's going to be best in the long run. So we spend a lot of time building up our brand recognition with people and our brand affinity, and then just earned media is really good too. We have a PR agency that we employ and we got covered yesterday by the Daily Beast, and we've been covered by Real Simple and Forbes and Apartment Therapy. We are Apartment Therapy's Best at 2020 picks, and a lot of other publications. We've been on today.com and Amazon gives us a lot of shout outs because of the philanthropy that we do.Colin:And so that's been really helpful to have Amazon as a big partner in our PR and in our discovery and exposure. So overall I would say Facebook and earned media are probably our two biggest ones. And then I do love radio and podcasts advertising, and I'm trying to figure out how to make that funnier for the listener. And so I'm currently recording a few new podcast ads that I think are going to be really funny and not in a really bad Geico, not funny at all way, but actual bits on the radio.Stephanie:Oh, give me a bit. What are you working with it? [crosstalk] You can practice in here. There's no judgment.Colin:Okay, great. Great. Great. So, I've got one that I think is pretty funny in a meta sort of way where I want to go on a podcast and be like, hi. Have you ever the CEO of Harry's do his thing?Stephanie:Yeah.Colin:I'm not famous, but I'm the CEO of Harry's.Stephanie:Yeah.Colin:So, I'm like, hi, I'm Collin, the CEO of Sheets & Giggles. That's probably means nothing to you, which is depressing, a little sad. We're a young company, we're based in Denver. We do some good stuff. Oh, we sell bedsheets. I should probably lead with that. God, how does the Harry CEO do this? And basically go with that. And then, somebody in the background goes 10 seconds. 10 seconds? And I'm like we sell eucalyptus bedsheets. They're sustainable, they're softer than cotton. Go buy them at sheetsgiggles.com. And that's the end of that. And then-Stephanie:That's actually catchy. I like that because a few people were like, "What is this dude going to say?" And then [crosstalk 00:24:12].Colin:And then I want to record four or five versions of that, that run on different roles. And basically, it moves from okay, they gave me a second take, I got it this time, I'm calling, CEO Sheets and Giggles, again, we sell bed sheets. I feel like that's obvious, maybe not that obvious. I don't know. If it was just called sheets without the giggles, it'd be a little more obvious. And then somebody's like, "10 seconds. And I'm like, "Oh, my God," and then get back into it again. And so, I think that those little bits and the nonsequiturs and stuff is very much our comedy and the trailing off and the tangents. And so, I really want to write a few different bits like that, that really flow with one another.Stephanie:Yeah. That's pretty great. I can't wait to hear this on radio or other podcasts as I think those will all do well. How do you-Colin:Well, you heard it here first.Stephanie:Yeah. You heard it here first everyone. This is special. Do you ever feel like selling through humor, like that could hold you back in a way because sometimes I see some brands where that's so much their angle that it gets away from the product because they get so funny where you're like, "Wait, what are you actually selling again?" So, how do you guys balance that to make sure you're still selling, but in an innovative, new way, that's setting you apart from others.Colin:It's actually a stellar question. I see that all the time when I see an Instagram brand that's just pure, pure, pure, funny without ever talking about their products in any way or ever talking about their reviews or their sustainability. It's just, "Buy our shorts because we're funny." It's like, "Dude, they're polyester shorts. I'm not going to buy your polyester shorts because you're funny."Colin:But the thing that we do, I think, that is not unique, but I think is smart is we basically let our reviews do the talking for us. So, we always say we're not serious, but the sheets are. And that's our mantra is, "We don't need to sell the sheets. Our reviews sell the sheets. Our stats sell the sheets." The amount of water we save, the pesticides and insecticides we save, we plant a tree for every order. We've got 3000 reviews on our website, 4.8 stars and we don't hide our one star and two star reviews like a lot of other consumer brands do. We have 845 reviews on Amazon as of this morning, I check every single day. I personally, as a CEO, read every single review that comes in, we have a Slack plugin that pulls every single review and puts it in front of my face. Every time we get one in live time on Amazon, we're four and a half stars on Facebook. We're 4.7 with 116 reviews, I think.Colin:And so, that type of cross channel confidence in terms of review score is really important for the consumer. And then the sustainability, the planting of a tree for every order, we give you 10% off if you donate your own old sheets to a homeless shelter, we pledge 1% of our profits, time products and equity, to local Colorado charities, we've donated $40,000 this year to Colorado COVID-19 emergency relief. The stuff that we do, I think, really speaks for itself and we don't have to really broadcast it and advertise it, even though I just obviously did. Instead, we just lead with the humor and then let people read more if they want. And truth be told, I think the most limiting thing, and you kind of touched on this, is that not everybody's a reader, especially when you're talking about Americans, no offense to... I'm a red blooded American, but we don't read.Colin:My old mentor at a toy company told me with the packaging that they made, their mantra is, "If you're asking people to read, you'll lose." And so, that's probably the biggest limiter is that a lot of our comedy is very copy heavy. A lot of other people are more visual or meme based or slapstick and video and we're much more copy heavy. And so, I like to think about us as sort of like the Seinfeld of bedding brands, which is probably the first time that's been uttered in the sense.Stephanie:Was that your Techstars YC type of thing of I'm [crosstalk 00:28:24]?Colin:We went to Techstars. They were like, "Why should we have a bedding company in Techstars?" And I think I was just like, "Why not?" And they were like, "We never thought about it like that." I was like, "You're in." But yeah, the Seinfeld of bedding companies was the way that I always thought about it. It's a brand about nothing. And by being a brand about nothing, it really is a wonderful way for us to be a brand about everything. And that was the beauty of Seinfeld, which has been my favorite TV show obviously, is that every episode was about its own little subtopic and it didn't have to have this overarching theme or story arc and that's great with us.Colin:As one day, we can donate $12,000 to the world wildlife fund to save koalas, another day we can donate 40,000 to COVID-19 relief, another day we can donate thousands of dollars to Black Lives Matter organizations, another day we can plant 20,000 trees for last year's orders. And we don't have this kind of overarching thing that we push on people. Instead, they can just discover it if they want to keep reading. And then we just try to make the copy entertaining for them to find their way through our website.Stephanie:Cool. Yeah. That a good way to explain it and yeah, it makes sense how you guys do it. So-Colin:It is limiting though. Yeah. When you're building a brand, you want 20% of people to really viscerally resonate with it and 80% of people to either be mad or react poorly to it and then that way you just don't want indifference. That's the biggest thing is I see so many direct to consumer brands that are the next shiny thing like, oh, the best apparel you'll ever buy or the best makeup or the best food or... They're all the same exact brand and it bores me to tears. The white stuff on the white walls with the white curtains and the white room. It's like, "Oh, just kill me."Stephanie:Yeah, completely agree. So, how do you encourage reviews? You were mentioning that you have a ton of reviews. How do you get people to follow through and actually take the time to give you your reviews?Colin:We, again, brand about nothing. We give to people who leave reviews free pizzas every week for no reason. It's just like, why pizza? I don't know. Pizza's good. You like pizza.Stephanie:Okay.Colin:Does it have anything to do with bedding pizza? People eat pizza in bed, I guess.Stephanie:I guess. Yeah. Not on my nice eucalyptus sheets though I'm not going to.Colin:But they wash real easy. So, it's okay if you spill on it. No, but that's how we incentivize it is we just say, "Hey, if you leave a review there's a chance that you'll get two free pizzas this week," and who doesn't like free pizza? Communists that's who. And so-Stephanie:That's good.Colin:Actually, we say capitalists that's who. And so, we do bits like that and it's stuff like that, that I think really drives people into the brand and we get people who are like, "This is insulting. I'm a capitalist." And I'm like, "It's a bit. It's just a joke about free pizza." And so that's how we incentivize it mostly. And then again, really engaging copy. The subject line is good, we have high open rates on our review request emails, we make it so you can leave the review directly in the email-Stephanie:Oh, that's a good one.Colin:We don't overpay for review software. I can't stand the stuff that's thousands of dollars a month. There's really good, affordable review software out thereStephanie:Okay. Cool. How did you think about moving on to Amazon? Because we've had a couple of [DVC] companies on here. Quite a few. It's been kind of mixed where, some were very excited about Amazon. Some were like, "Oh, I pulled it off because it kind of walked down the brand and they could end up just copying us and making a white label," and so there's been a lot of mixed thoughts around working with Amazon. So what led you to wanting to utilize their platform? Obviously they're featuring you and helping you guys. What are your thoughts around having a DVC company on Amazon?Colin:Amazon is Amazon. It's the best partner you'll ever have and the worst partner you'll ever have, and exists simultaneously in the same platform. That's why you hear this sort of debate or dichotomy amongst founders where it's like, "Do you want to go on Amazon?" And the pros, right, are that 54% of Americans. I think it got up to 60% of Americans now start a product search on Amazon. They've trained the American populace to, when they're looking for a thing, go to amazon.com. Google has lost that battle. So it's a massive channel that you really... It's hard to avoid. You have discoverability. You could have channel dominance. If you rise to the top of search returns for a high volume query, you can just rack in cash with no marketing spend whatsoever for years, until somebody tries to come beat you.Colin:It's a really solid platform. The negatives are, of course, that Amazon is extremely impersonal as a company. It's hard to get people on the phone there, although we do have account managers now. It is expensive. They take 25 to 30% margin share all in when you end up calculating all the fees from most companies, which is a really, really difficult thing for a lot of small businesses to swallow. And then you wind up paying them more to advertise on their platform to give them money when you make a sale. And so they're really a good partner in a number of ways. They do a lot of really great things for their companies, especially the small business partners, but, overall it's a love, hate relationship for sure. And you can do one thing wrong and get your whole listing pulled. And that can be really devastating too. So overall for me, it's a no brainer because if more than half of your audience is starting a product search on a specific channel, you have to be on that channel, period. End of story. Even if you're only doing it for branded searches.Stephanie:Completely agree. So earlier you were talking about working with PR firms and different efforts to bring new people, new customers, your way. How do you guys have your backend set up to be able to handle fulfillments? What does your tech stack look like to be able to handle any surges in demand?Colin:Surges in demand are actually difficult because we... forecasting demand is extremely difficult. Forecasting inventory becomes extremely difficult and then you put those two things together and you have to forecast the amount of people that you have working on your warehouse team at any point in time, which is extremely difficult. And so when it comes to surges and spikes, we use a 3PL, third party logistics provider, to ship out all of our orders, both on our website and on Amazon. We do FBM on Amazon, instead of FDA. And so we are basically able to get probably 99% of orders shipped out within a 24 hour period. But when we do have big surges and big backlogs it can slip to 72 hours.Colin:Because we are paying for that 3PL service, they have a finite amount of people that they've forecasted to work on their thousand brand partners that use that share of the warehouse space. And it's a really good way to lower the cost overall and then, from a small warehouse operation, if you're running it yourself, because you're sharing that square footage with so many other brands and you're sharing a labor with so many other brands And it's a pretty straightforward process nowadays in terms of hooking up a 3PL. In the beginning for the first six months of the company, October 2018, through March 2019, I was shipping out almost every box myself, along with a three person team in Denver, Colorado. We had our own warehouse space. We had 1,000 square feet. We were packaging. We could do maybe 250 orders a day maximum. And we were just trying to burn getting through holiday 2018 on our own.Colin:It was crazy. It was so [crosstalk] hectic. I think I shipped 3,000 boxes in a three week period at one point in time with the rest of my team, working eight hours, 10 hours a day in the warehouse and buy everybody lunch every day. And it was great. I had my customer service team and they're working with me. But yeah, it was definitely a lot easier when you can scale up and use the 3PL. I do have some companies that run their own warehouse space that actually wind up with all the headaches that it comes with and migraines that it comes with. They do wind up having a lower cost per unit in terms of fulfillment than we do, so there's certainly something to be said for that. But I think that right now we're at the 3PL stage for sure.Stephanie:Yep. That makes sense. All right. So we have not too long left, so I want to jump into the lightning round because I think you're going to have some good or funny answers. Lightning round is brought to you by Salesforce Commerce Cloud, our sponsors. They're amazing. This is where I'm going to ask you a question and you have a minute or less to answer. Are you ready?Colin:Okay, I am ready.Stephanie:The first one, what is the biggest fail that comes to mind when starting a DTC company that you experienced?Colin:Our packaging was white in the beginning.Stephanie:Were they white walls, white sheets, white, everything?Colin:Well, the inside of the packaging was purple and the outside was white and our packaging was lovely. We've got knapsacks to wrap the sheets. We've got free eye masks in every box. It's lovely, but a white exterior box sent through any postal service is going to get absolutely destroyed. And so that was our biggest fail was we had boxes just showing up, just beat the hell from FedEx and UPS. And so we moved in, I believe, mid 2019 to purple exteriors and that's allowed us to be much more efficient with our shipping and have much better customer experience.Stephanie:That's good. I can imagine getting a white box knowing that my bedding is inside it going, "Ooh."Colin:So dominant. And so to protect them, we had to put them in polymailers and in brown cardboard boxes, which was a huge waste for the first six months of the company. Then we had people call us out on it. And I was like, "You're absolutely right. This is so dumb. Why are we doing this?" And so now we just slap a label on the outside the purple box, and it's so much better. Additionally, minor thing, a major thing, minor thing. We had plastic in the packaging for the first six months. We had a little plastic sheet around the sheets, inside the knapsack to keep them safe from any water damage during transit. And we got a couple of complaints from people, really peaceful, nice messages saying, "Hey, I expect better from a sustainability company to put plastic in the packaging, even if it's recyclable." And we said, "Okay." And so we removed the plastic and we put in tissue wrap now for a final piece of protection.Colin:So there's no markings on the sheets and I'm thrilled to have eliminated that plastic. And now we've shipped out tens of thousands of orders since then with zero plastic packaging. In fact, we're the only bedding company in the world that does not vacuum seal our comforters. And they ship in the box, ready to go directly on the bed straight from the box, no [crosstalk]Stephanie:That's a good one. I hadn't even thought about that and I was wondering, are you having issues so far? But if not, more people should be doing that.Colin:Oh, we had issues. We just replace them. I mean, it costs us money. Like, FedEx will rip a box and then they'll get damaged and they'll leave it outside in the rain and it'll get waterlogged, so we definitely have that. But I think it's worth it to eliminate the amount of plastic that we're saving.Stephanie:Yeah, I like it. What's up next on your Netflix queue?Colin:Oh. I just started Ratched last night.Stephanie:How is it? It looked too scary for me. I'm a baby.Colin:It's really good. You know, I like stuff like that that's a little trippy, and I'm also a huge Marvel nerd, so I'm still waiting for the next Marvel series, but that's a Disney Plus queue, so I cannot wait for WandaVision and Falcon and the Winter Soldier and the Mandalorian is in two weeks as well, so I'm really excited for that.Stephanie:You've got your whole queue set up. I like it.Colin:Yeah, I love that stuff.Stephanie:Well, I know you said people aren't readers, but do you have anything coming up on your reading list?Colin:Yes, I just started The Everything Store.Stephanie:Oh yeah, that's a good one.Colin:And I'm surprised I haven't read it yet, actually. And then I'm trying to read things from a different cultural perspective because I'm a 30-year-old white male who mostly hangs out with other 30-year-old white males, and so I've got a book called Well Behaved Indian Women that I just started, and I'm really enjoying it. It's a totally different cultural perspective. It's so foreign to me and it's really, really great to immerse myself in that. I'm trying to think if there's anything else up next, but those are the two big ones.Stephanie:I'll have to try that out. What new E-Commerce tool are you trying out right now or having success with?Colin:Oh, it's something called Gives, and I should get a referral fee for this. So basically, it is this really cool thing we're doing to allow people after check-out to, when they buy something, donate a percentage of their order to the charity of their choosing. So we just tested it this week for Prime Day because we had our Prime Day deal on Amazon and we had a lower percentage off on our website, but you could donate another percentage of your order as well, so it actually ended up being a lower price but part of that was donated versus just going into your pocket and it's really cool.Colin:So now, our customers moving forward, and we're trying to decide if we want to do this on only special occasions or on every day type of thing. We already plant a tree for every order, now we're going to be able to let our customers donate 10% or so of their order to a cause of their choosing, which I think is a really, really, really cool thing. I just don't know if the dollars and cents work, so we're testing it out to see what that looks like.Stephanie:Awesome. Yeah, that sounds like a good implementation. All right, the last one. What one thing will have the biggest impact on E-Commerce in the next year?Colin:I mean, COVID. COVID.Stephanie:Yeah.Colin:No doubt. It's blown up E-Commerce on a five to six year type of acceleration. The amount of people that are shopping online versus in-store has just grown dramatically, and I think that we're probably in this environment for another six to nine months, until a vaccine rolls out. So I think that this trend will only continue, and I think that that's been a huge, huge driver of E-Commerce, and I think it's both good and bad, obviously. It can be good for some industries and horrific for others, so it's also a logistics issue and everybody listening out there, when you order stuff online right now, it's not the brand's fault if it takes 14 days to get to you. FedEx is trying to hire 70,000 people by Christmas and they're not going to hit that, they're going to hit like 50,000, which is still a dramatic undertaking. But the amount of packages going out right now is just overwhelming the system that we built.Stephanie:Completely agree. All right, Colin, this has been a fun interview. Where can people find out more about Sheets and Giggles and yourself?Colin:I'm a pretty private person. I do have a public Twitter, Colin D. McIntosh. Sheets and Giggles, you can google us. SheetsGiggles.com is the website, no "and" in the URL, just SheetsGiggles.com, and then we're also on Amazon if you want to search for our sheets there, Sheets and Giggles. [inaudible] the sheets. And yeah, pretty easy to find. And then our social media, SheetsGiggles, so it's just at SheetsGiggles everywhere. On Instagram, Twitter, Facebook. We're a good follow, we promise. We don't just post pictures of our products all the time and people buy them. And we just hit 10,000 followers on Instagram, which I'm really excited about. We've never paid for a single follower, so it's fun to build this organic following over time.Stephanie:Oh, that's great. Yeah. Nice work there.Colin:Thanks.Stephanie:All right, Colin. Thanks so much for coming on. This has been a blast and we'll have to have you on again in the future.Colin:Thanks so much for having me. Hopefully when I come back on next time, we're a much bigger company and everybody's like, "Oh yeah, I've heard of that brand."Stephanie:They will have heard of it. Don't you worry.Colin:I hope so.

Sh*tty Christians
Episode 38 - 2002's Best Sci Fi Fundamentalist Time Travel Movie: Time Changer

Sh*tty Christians

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 21, 2020 73:05


Zac and Michael take a trip back to 1890, where seminary professor and old white dude Russell Carlisle is trying to get his book endorsed by some other old white dudes. His quest will take him to the distant future of 2002, where he discovers just how godless and terrible things have become. Discover the dangers of FM Radio headphones, thrift store mannequins, and hot dog stealing 8 year olds. Learn the dark secret of Church Movie Night. Will Russell ever get his endorsement? Will that really be the entire plot of a feature film? There are only two ways to find out. 

F*ck You, I'm Smarter with Kelly and Lindsey
35. Russell Kerr Can't Read

F*ck You, I'm Smarter with Kelly and Lindsey

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 15, 2020 80:42


This week, Kelly and Lindsey sit down with Kelly's ex-common-law husband, actor, photographer, and storyteller Russell Kerr to talk about Flori-duh, being learning disabled, and growing up in a large Italian-American family.     Because Russell has a fear of flying, leaving the house, and people in general, the gang plays the game ''A Man Of Many Phobias'' in Psychology class.  And because he worked at a Japanese bbq restaurant right around the corner from our apt in NYC (probably because of its proximity), Kelly wants to know how much he remembers about it in Restaurant Management class.     Russell spreads atrocious rumors in Recess about Kelly's possible dalliances with a horse during a college performance of 'Much Ado About Nothing', and then disgraces his heritage when he does just so-so in Italian class, which serves him right.      We round out the day with a game of "Shakespeare Shenanigans" in English, where we are surprised to learn not all Shakespearian insults involve syphilis, and then black belt Russell quizzes us on our knowledge of Jiu-Jitsu.       Will Russell take the crown/graduation cap? Will Lindsey redeem herself after her pathetic losing streak? Will Kelly's brain even work? Listen to find out.       Find Russell on Insta : https://www.instagram.com/russellkerr/   Check out the show’s Instagram feed: www.instagram.com/kellyandlindsey Follow Kelly: instagram.com/kelly_wallacebarnowl Follow Lindsey: instagram.com/lindseygentile Show theme provided by Mike Etten: instagram.com/mike_etten/ BLACK LIVES MATTER RESOURCE CARRD: https://blacklivesmatters.carrd.co/

The Brand with Carey Guglielmo
The Brand 10-30-19: Dr. Russell and Erik Showalter

The Brand with Carey Guglielmo

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 31, 2019 26:13


In our 61st episode, Carey talked with Dr. Will Russell and Erik Showalter from Baton Rouge General Hospital. They talked about advancements in technology and adopting them into the workplace, working as a teaching hospital, and giving back to the community.

Eco D2C
02 - Executing Record Breaking Crowdfunding Campaigns with Will Russell

Eco D2C

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 14, 2019 66:25


Will Russell, CEO of Russell Marketing, takes a deep dive into testing concepts, building an audience, executing crowdfunding campaign, and how to keep momentum going after the campaign is finished.

Friends In the Corner Podcast
So Here's The Story - Funtown Mountain

Friends In the Corner Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 10, 2018 49:03


Join Dan Pauley and "Flakey Square" Evan Drysdale in a new series called "So Here's The Story." Dan and Evan share interesting stories with each other and see how they react. This week Dan tells us about the history of Funtown/Guntown Mountain and they're owner Will Russell. Check it out now on iTunes, Google Play, SoundCloud, Stitcher, and YouTube! Follow Friends In The Corner on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook: @FITCPodcast Email: friendsinthecorner@gmail.com Listen to Friends in The Corner: YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2-XQoadmHPXCUOXy5fxh6Q SoundCloud - https://soundcloud.com/fitcpodcast iTunes - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/friends-in-the-corner-podcast/id1429073304 Stitcher - https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/friends-in-the-corner-podcast Google Play - https://play.google.com/music/m/Iutthegii6c3qlnxqvscn5z4oma?t=Friends_In_the_Corner_Podcast Dan Pauley Twitter: @DanPauley14 Evan Drysdale Twitter: @FlakeySquare Sources: https://youtu.be/Vh7-S9ewoW0 http://www.topix.com/forum/city/cave-city-ky/THMU25FGCAF6T6H77/p2 https://youtu.be/t9NvfxsweWw https://thefuntownmountain.com/ https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/funtown-mountain https://www.facebook.com/Froggetts-Guntown-Mountain-320786538390811/ http://www.muddyrootsrecords.com/mr_news/article.php?nid=creepy-stuff-i-found-in-an-abandoned-theme-park#.W6OQiJNKiL5 https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/kentucky/western-theme-park-ky/ https://www.wbko.com/video?vid=487682921 http://www.never-nervous.com/2018/06/20/interview-will-russell-talks-about-his-marvelous-mystery-lebowski-fest-more/ https://www.facebook.com/pg/EverythingWillBeOKProject/about/?ref=page_internal https://www.everythingwillbeokproject.org/ https://www.bgdailynews.com/thar-s-fun-in-them-thar-mountains/article_7e8bb78d-330b-5a9c-b97f-9a44cfb5fbae.html http://www.glasgowdailytimes.com/news/deciding-guntown-mountain-s-future/article_56099a56-9ade-11e4-b197-dbd588a99d08.html https://youtu.be/9DNM_P6BRaQ Glasgow Daily Times http://www.glasgowdailytimes.com/gallery/news/timeline-guntown-to-funtown-and-back-to-guntown/collection_dc915240-2bc9-11e5-b1f6-7fd716bea18f.html http://www.glasgowdailytimes.com/news/opening-date-for-funtown-mountain-announced/article_f4d7858a-d88c-11e4-8ba2-438b38a6d40c.html Louisville Courier - Journal https://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/local/highlands-crescenthill/2015/09/10/russell-spray-paints-why-louisville-front/71994848/ https://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/local/2015/09/25/will-russell-mental-health/72633218/ https://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/crime/2015/11/17/russell-closes-why-louisville-stores/75954772/ https://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/local/2016/04/20/funtown-mountain-sold-auction/83285164/ http://www.wdrb.com/story/38307746/guntown-mountain-reopens-under-new-ownership https://www.courier-journal.com/videos/news/local/2017/07/05/%22trying-put-pieces-back-together%22-russell-speaks-out-mental-illness/103444652/ The Carpetbagger https://youtu.be/w7o4NwxpQ6I https://youtu.be/mchOd6EjMSI https://youtu.be/0RnJNp1M5Sw https://youtu.be/4enyY4f5ruc https://youtu.be/ckWv-Rf-r0M https://youtu.be/1rPdTo7UmYo

Speakin' Easy
EP41: Will Russell

Speakin' Easy

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 10, 2018 64:12


On Episode 41, Will Russell stops by and goes into incredible detail about his life. He breaks down his manic episodes that nearly cost him everything and how he got back to a positive productive space which helped him launch his mental health advocacy group called Everything Will Be OK Project. He also talks about what inspired him to co-found the Lebowski Fest, takes us on an epic ride when explaining the rise and fall of Funtown Mouintain, his love for roadside attractions and how it inspired him to start his own called The Marvelous Mystery and as ton more.  Rate us 5 stars! Catch our live podcast streams on Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/speakineasypodcast We have merch now:https://shop.spreadshirt.com/speakin-easy1/ contact: speakineasypodcast@gmail.com instagram: https://www.instagram.com/speakineasypodcast/ facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SpeakinEasyPodcast/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/SpeakinEasyky Tuck's instagram:https://www.instagram.com/dustintucker502/ Will's instagram:https://www.instagram.com/willwalk2/

twitch will russell lebowski fest
Friends In the Corner Podcast
So Here's The Story - Funtown Mountain

Friends In the Corner Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 9, 2018 49:03


Join Dan Pauley and "Flakey Square" Evan Drysdale in a new series called "So Here's The Story." Dan and Evan share interesting stories with each other and see how they react. This week Dan tells us about the history of Funtown/Guntown Mountain and they're owner Will Russell. Check it out now on iTunes, Google Play, SoundCloud, Stitcher, and YouTube! Follow Friends In The Corner on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook: @FITCPodcast Email: friendsinthecorner@gmail.com Listen to Friends in The Corner: YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2-XQoadmHPXCUOXy5fxh6Q SoundCloud - https://soundcloud.com/fitcpodcast iTunes - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/friends-in-the-corner-podcast/id1429073304 Stitcher - https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/friends-in-the-corner-podcast Google Play - https://play.google.com/music/m/Iutthegii6c3qlnxqvscn5z4oma?t=Friends_In_the_Corner_Podcast Dan Pauley Twitter: @DanPauley14 Evan Drysdale Twitter: @FlakeySquare Sources: https://youtu.be/Vh7-S9ewoW0 http://www.topix.com/forum/city/cave-city-ky/THMU25FGCAF6T6H77/p2 https://youtu.be/t9NvfxsweWw https://thefuntownmountain.com/ https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/funtown-mountain https://www.facebook.com/Froggetts-Guntown-Mountain-320786538390811/ http://www.muddyrootsrecords.com/mr_news/article.php?nid=creepy-stuff-i-found-in-an-abandoned-theme-park#.W6OQiJNKiL5 https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/kentucky/western-theme-park-ky/ https://www.wbko.com/video?vid=487682921 http://www.never-nervous.com/2018/06/20/interview-will-russell-talks-about-his-marvelous-mystery-lebowski-fest-more/ https://www.facebook.com/pg/EverythingWillBeOKProject/about/?ref=page_internal https://www.everythingwillbeokproject.org/ https://www.bgdailynews.com/thar-s-fun-in-them-thar-mountains/article_7e8bb78d-330b-5a9c-b97f-9a44cfb5fbae.html http://www.glasgowdailytimes.com/news/deciding-guntown-mountain-s-future/article_56099a56-9ade-11e4-b197-dbd588a99d08.html https://youtu.be/9DNM_P6BRaQ Glasgow Daily Times http://www.glasgowdailytimes.com/gallery/news/timeline-guntown-to-funtown-and-back-to-guntown/collection_dc915240-2bc9-11e5-b1f6-7fd716bea18f.html http://www.glasgowdailytimes.com/news/opening-date-for-funtown-mountain-announced/article_f4d7858a-d88c-11e4-8ba2-438b38a6d40c.html Louisville Courier - Journal https://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/local/highlands-crescenthill/2015/09/10/russell-spray-paints-why-louisville-front/71994848/ https://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/local/2015/09/25/will-russell-mental-health/72633218/ https://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/crime/2015/11/17/russell-closes-why-louisville-stores/75954772/ https://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/local/2016/04/20/funtown-mountain-sold-auction/83285164/ http://www.wdrb.com/story/38307746/guntown-mountain-reopens-under-new-ownership https://www.courier-journal.com/videos/news/local/2017/07/05/%22trying-put-pieces-back-together%22-russell-speaks-out-mental-illness/103444652/ The Carpetbagger https://youtu.be/w7o4NwxpQ6I https://youtu.be/mchOd6EjMSI https://youtu.be/0RnJNp1M5Sw https://youtu.be/4enyY4f5ruc https://youtu.be/ckWv-Rf-r0M https://youtu.be/1rPdTo7UmYo

ClifTones w/ JC Denison
Episode 20: Will Russell

ClifTones w/ JC Denison

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 2, 2018 73:07


Will Russell had a very public mental breakdown in 2015 and hit bottom at the top of Funtown Mountain. He suffered a prolonged and intense manic episode, very similar to one he experienced nearly 20 years before. But in between all that, he co-founded Lebowski Fest, opened the Why Louisville store, traveled the world spreading the gospel of the Dude, and gave this city some of its most vivid and memorable artistic moments. Will has come back into the creative world full force with two brand new ventures, the Everything Will Be OK Project and The Marvelous Mystery. He sat down with JC to discuss managing mental health, showing tribute to a cult classic, coming back into the public eye, and whathaveyou.... This episode is sponsored by Guestroom Records and Dauntless Distributing.

louisville jc will russell thebiglebowski lebowski fest guestroom records
Sales Funnel Radio
SFR 134: Questions Invite Revelation...

Sales Funnel Radio

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 13, 2018 22:04


Good questions get good answers. Yet, the opposite is true as well. Solving marketing problems starts with checking that your asking the right questions... I'm Steve Larsen. This is Sales Funnel Radio, and this episode is gonna just totally rock. It's pretty freaking awesome. I spent the last four years learning from the most brilliant marketers today. And now I've left my nine-to-five to take the plunge and build my million dollar business. The real question is, how will I do it without VC Funding or debt, completely from scratch. This podcast is here to give you the answer. Join me and follow along as I learn, apply and share marketing strategies to grow my online business using only today's best internet sales funnels. My name is Steve Larsen and welcome to Sales Funnel Radio. What's up guys. Hey, I'm very excited for this episode to be honest though. It's funny as I look back I officially got hired by ClickFunnels two years ago almost to the day of me recording this. Which is awesome. Super, super cool. And essentially when I look back and realize everything that's happened, and a lot of you guys come up and congratulate and stuff like that and that means a lot and I appreciate it. But what's been more powerful for me is to look back and see what I had to do personally to really start winning at the game. You know what I mean? One of my favorite things that were said in this last Funnel Hacking Live is by Myron Golden, which he just said he'd get on the show, which I'm very excited about. So when that happens obviously, anyway, super stoked about that. But he said that one of the things that he did to win is he just stayed in the game long enough to just know what the game was, you know what I mean? He stayed in the game long enough to be able to actually win at the game. And sometimes people jump in like, "This is a scam." Right? But they were in there for like three months. I've been going at it for like five, six years there, guys and been a ton of fun, really enjoyed it, specifically the Internet game anyway. Anyway, as I was kind of looking back, I've been thinking heavily along the time when we were broke. I mean we were just living paycheck to paycheck. We're literally living on loans, you know what I mean?... A lot of guys know my story, the way it started. We were getting these student loans because it was the way we were eating. And then finally I was like, "Man, I gotta make some money...." And so I started flipping real estate And there were some complexities with where I was living that weren't allowing how I was doing it. I was doing some double escrows and flipping it that way, it's tons of fun. Put out those street signs all over the place, had 300 people call me in a month and anyways, I was working my butt off. I've never really not. I just keep moving and make mistakes of commission instead of omission, you know what I mean? so I was sitting back and I was thinking through and there are these times, I guess multiple times and I'm sure that if you really have been wanting this, you've had the same thought. And I guess I'm religious and I'd be kneeling down at night praying and I'm asking God like, "Why am I struggling so much? Like, why? Why am I struggling so much? How come I haven't made it yet? Right? How come I ...?" Those are the questions I was asking and it took some internal maturing for me to sit back and realize that number one, that's a stupid question to ask. And number two, what was I doing about it? And I was active, I was in motion, I was learning like crazy. I hustled my butt off, went and joined the army so we could eat, you know. And I had a ton of fun there and learned like crazy and a lot of self discovery for sure. I certainly enjoyed my time there. Glad to finally be out of it, but glad that I did it though. Anyway, I had this guy tell me about 10 years ago, I went on a mission for my church for about two years and you know, he's a guy, we call him the mission president and he's the guy over all of us and he always taught us this one thing. And I had this come to my mind couple of weeks ago as somebody asked me, they were considering joining the Two Comma Club ex coaching program and it was at the Funnel Hacking Live event, if you know what I'm talking about, go buy your ticket for next year. Okay? It's, it's one of the best investments you'll ever make... That event solely has changed my life... There's not a doubt in my mind. I've a marketing degree and four Funnel Hacking Live events, I can tell you I've learned way more doing that, than I have in the marketing degree. Not that I'm not thankful for that either, but anyway. But I had this idea, this mission president, he reached out when I did a two year mission for my church. Because I'm talking about those guys were in the white tee shirt and ties with the name badges on bikes. I did that for two years when I was 20 years old. He always taught us that the questions invite revelation. Now I understand that from a religious context, you can understand what he's teaching there, but I want to take that out of the religious context and let you know that that's still true regardless of any area of your life. And so when I was sitting down and I was thinking the question, "Gosh, oh, why? Why is this not working?" You know, like, "Please God, how come I'm not making money here? Why are we struggling so bad? Why am I not making the cash? How come it's not coming in? I'm serving? I'm working hard?" It's funny, it's interesting, you know, hindsight 2020 And I look back and I'm like, "Oh, it's because I wasn't doing this. I wasn't doing that. I wasn't doing this, I wasn't doing that." But one of the things that I realized though is that the questions invite revelation. And that is so true for every area of my life. And rather than sit back and think the question, "How come I'm not making it?" Instead, I should totally have been asking the question, "How do I sell this better?"... You see what I'm saying? Totally different question, and the question affects the outcome. So you guys know why I like putting some dubstep on, taking some caffeine and stand in front of a whiteboard? It's because I'm standing up and most of my ideas will come during that because I'm asking a question.... But the quality of the question affects the quality of the answer and instead of me standing back, start asking yourself the questions that you're asking yourself. Become cognizant of what they are and step back and start saying to yourself, "What questions have I been asking myself?" And if you're like, "Ah, I don't know why I haven't been effective in this game. How come I'm not making money here or there?"... Those are valid questions, but is it the right one? You know what I mean? And so there was somebody I was chatting with right at the Funnel Hacking Live Event and there were like, one of the questions that they started asking was ... I'm sure some other people do this. I know that they did. Right. And I'm not making fun of the individual at all. I just think it's an important lesson. And as I looked back, it's one of the soul things that I have focused on kind of almost subconsciously. Certain times consciously and other times subconsciously. If I ask the right question, it exposes my brain to that kind of answer. Meaning, how do I sell this product better? How do I make my offer better? How do i market this in a better way? How do I get it right? And when I start asking those kinds of questions, I will get different answers. Like Steven, look at what you're asking yourself and sit back and be like, "Am I asking a question of ... Anyway, let me go back. I've already jumped around enough times. Let me go back to Funnel Hacking Live. Somebody is asking the question, "Oh man, Russell, it's $18,000 or $1,800 a month either or for this program." How many people sat back and thought, "Huh, I wonder if they would offer a discount." I had somebody reach out to me and ask me that about my program just a little bit ago. Many people do. "There's no payment plan?" No, no there's not. And here's the reason why, and this is exactly what I was trying to teach this person at Funnel Hacking Live. I was just trying to teach. Look, if I asked the question, "How do I get a discount on this? Or maybe I can collaborate with three or four other people and we'll all split the cost." What are you immediately doing? You're sitting back and you're asking yourself how can I stay in a place of poverty instead of paying for premium. That's what you're doing. And one of the things that has changed my life, and I know I've said it like a billion times, but was changing the question. And instead of me asking the question, because I've always wanted to be part of Russel's inner circle and I'm so thankful to be part of it now. I am honored to the hilt to be a part of it. But I asked myself the question, how can I afford this? Rather than, "I wonder if you would give me a discount on inner circle." No, I even worked with him, next to him. I still vox him all the time, but it's not what I am doing. I'm not sitting back asking the question. Maybe he'll just let me in. Maybe he'll just let me get inside. Maybe I can get just this little, you know, this brotherly side, open door, straight into the inner circle. Maybe I can find some kind of discount. No. Are you freaking kidding me? No. What you do is you ask the question, instead of asking, "How can I get a discount?" First of all, take that question and burn it. Second of all, ask the question, "How can I afford the most premium services on this planet?" Answer that question. Change it up... Do whatever it is that gets you in flow, a little Caffeine and dub step for me, right? Whatever gets you in flow. Go to a whiteboard or however it is you brainstorm. I encourage you to write though, there's something to that. And write out the question, "How can I afford the most premium price ever? How can I afford that?" And when you answer that question, you will be surprised. First off, nothing will come to your head for awhile, but do not move on. Let your head sit on the problem. Most people will not sit on the problem long enough to hear an answer. They won't, they won't. And instead they turn around and they start walking and go, "Oh, well I can't afford that. He didn't offer a discount. There was no payment plan." If questions invite revelation I have used this countless times in my business you guys, it's not just over in the place of religion where I was taught, it applies to everything. And so I asked myself specific questions and I do not move on when it is uncomfortable because I don't know the answer. I let my head stay there and I start asking instead and I start brainstorming, "Well maybe I could do this. No. Dang, that's not going to work. Maybe I could do this. No." And it's usually as I start to brainstorm, little ideas will come to my head like, "Wait a second, what if I did this?" And I follow that thread for a while and I follow it. "No. This part won't work with that. But you know what? This first half does. Let me take that first half, now we're working with this first half of that answer. Okay now from this point, let me ask the question again. "How do I afford the most premium services on the planet?" Okay, now I got this far, cool. Let's brainstorm, let my head sit on the problem. It's uncomfortable. I don't know the answer. Gosh, I don't know the answer. What is this answer, God?" And I'll sit there and I start thinking, and my head's going a million miles a minute. I'm finding the spot and then all of a sudden I start finding more the answer. So people are asking too many questions that are the wrong questions. Just get cognizant of what those things are. So stop asking, how do I get a discount? How do I get a payment plan? How do I do this? And here's the reason why you ask the other question, how do I afford the most premium prices on this planet? When you do that, what it forces you to do is you end up creating an asset that pays for the most premium services on this planet. So then when you actually are through experiencing that most premium experience, you are left with both the experience and the asset. If I go the other way and I start asking the question, how do I get a discount? How do we get a discount? How do I get a discount? You find a way to get a discount because that's what you're asking. You were looking for that answer, so you find it, but then when you're done with it, usually you experience a discounted experience. You have a discounted experience with the thing that you pay for and you're not left with an asset at the end of it. Change the way you're asking this. Look at a different direction. Anyway, so that's exactly what I asked myself about a month ago. I was like, "Hey, we've got this cash coming in. My funnels are doing well. I know what's wrong with them, I know I need to tweak certain things on them. How can I make the funnel better? How can I sell it better? How can I over-deliver? How can I get this in front of more people?" Those are the questions that I asked myself, but then I started asking myself the question, "How do I get in Russell's inner circle like that?" And I told you guys a few episodes ago, I told you about this, right? And I ended up walking into this hotel room and this was the biggest thing on my mind, I was just, how can I give myself a raise today? And that was the question on my mind, and guess what? I answered the question because it was the question I have in my head, not "Will Russell just let me get grandfathered into the inner circle because I sat next to him?" Stupid question. Whoever said there's no such thing as a stupid question, got Straight A's in school. That's a stupid statement. That's not true at all. There are stupid questions... That's the question that you've taken no time to try and get the answer on your own. That's a stupid question. That's the definition of it. Understand and call yourself out if you've been asking stupid questions, change the question and you will get a different answer. And it will be uncomfortable, especially if you've never done this before. And if you've been living your life in a way where it's following the patterns of poverty and you're sitting back and instead, how you know you're asking the question, "Why are things so expensive? People would spend that much money on a shirt, a pair of pants at the store?" Oh my gosh, whatever it is, whatever your thing is, people would do this instead of asking that.I'm not saying you change your personality. That's not what I'm saying at all. I'm saying change the freaking question. Start asking questions of wealth and start asking questions of good business and offer creation and delivering for the customer. And speed of cash. So that is the question I'm asking myself now. When I was standing ... And this is the whole reason I'm doing this episode, when I was standing on stage at Funnel Hacking Live and I was teaching and I'm in my zone. I love that. If there's nothing else I could do the rest of my life it would be to teach on stage is super fun. I feel like I'm really good at it and I practice it a lot and I get my flow and I help people in a way. It's a lot of fun for me anyways, and had a lot of good results for other people with it too. And so I'm sitting there and I'm teaching on stage and before I got on there, Russell said, he told me that I should stand up and I should call my shot. He said, "Dude, stand up and call your shot and say when you think this funnel that you built at the beginning of the year is actually going to get in the Two Comma Club." I was like, "You want to put a date on it?" And he's like, "Yeah, it's going to be awesome." And I was like, "Holy crap! Yes coach make it hard." So okay, "Publicly you want me to state this?" And he's like, "Yeah." I said, "Okay, all right." So what I did was I stood up and I taught my portion and you know, I loved it. Anyway, I am extremely proud of the way it went and I delivered it and it was awesome. And I knew I had connected pieces for people. And then at the end of it, he wanted me to tell everyone what kind of the results were that I've been getting. And for the last month, I'm just being totally honest with you, I've been too obsessed with the question, "How do I develop these other assets?" And so I haven't really been focusing as much on the Webinar. I'll call myself out and pull myself to the carpet there, call us up to the carpet... But, I went in, as soon as I stood on stage and without realizing what month it is I publicly told everybody that I'm going to get my funnel into the two comma club for my second ward. I got a spot already on my wall for it that I was going to do by August 1st. I was like, "Oh my gosh." After the event, I mean, literally just like a fewdays ago I was home, I didn't even think about it. Like, "Wait, August 1st, I told everyone that. What month is it? Oh my gosh. It's freaking April." Okay, April, May, June, July. I got four months. And I started thinking through backwards, like, "Hey, okay, it's here where I am for that. From here we really are like another 800 grand on this thing, ish. That's like eight, nine grand a day. I was like ... Okay, that's a lot. I've never done that before. I've made eight grand in a day several times, many times. I made nine grand, 10 grand a day, 11 grand day. So, I've done that but consistently, that's a lot, you know, and I'm excited for it. And so that is the question I'm asking myself. It is uncomfortable and I'm brainstorming. I brainstormed out four different ways that I'm going to be able to do that over the next four months and I only need one of them to hit to really get it. There are four Hail Marys. I'm super excited about it but I got to pull nine grand a freaking day in four months. I mean every day for the next four months to hit it. So I'm going to kill myself trying to get it. I think I can. And in my head is asking that question, how do I make nine grand a day, which basically for me means I need to be pitching anywhere from, you know, 80 to 90 people a day, which means they need to be getting about 300 registrants per day, I spend about $1,500 a day in ads, which is totally do-able. So that's just one method. I was thinking back like, just reversing, doing all the numbers. The problem is that when people ask the question, they don't do enough to try and answer the question on their own, out of their own head. New ideas don't come until you have literally exhausted all the current ideas you have. So as you're sitting there and you're on your whiteboard or whatever, I drastically encourage y'all have one, and write stuff by hand not just on digitally. That's something. Anyway, I don't know why, but I'm very convinced that, that is far more effective than just doing things digitally all the time for everything. I got legal pads all over the place here, but anyway, I feel like the reason people will screw this up and this method up is because they'll sit back and they'll ask the question and then do nothing to try and solve it on their own. I got books all over the place. I'm reading, I'm grabbing it. "Oh, this looks like I might have some answers for that." "Boom. I just did that this morning I'm reading some pieces of books for that." Oh, cool. Okay. Next one, boom, and I'm reading for purpose. I'm reading with the intent. I'm studying, I'm listening, I'm learning for the intent of answering the question. How do I do nine K a day? And that is what I have been focusing on. So, that's the question on my head. It is uncomfortable. I'm excited. It is a growing one... Regardless if I hit it, I know that the outcome will be better processes, better performance for myself, discovering new ways to sell things that probably people in the market aren't doing. Cash. The byproduct is that I can't think of a thing that's going to be negative as I try and solve this problem. So that's what I'm trying to say. Upgrade your problem, upgrade your question and ask the right ones. Make sure the questions you're asking are questions of wealth, not poverty. Make sure that you're trying to find ways like literally, that's what I'm saying before. I was like, "How can I afford Russell's inner circle stuff? Guys, now I went and I created an asset in the last month. It pays me like at least 15 to $30,000 a month from now besides my funnel. Boom, boom, boom, boom. Right? Crazy. Crazy. I'm so excited. That's nuts... I removed my cost of goods for this funnel there. I don't take cash. And anyway, that's a whole different thing. And I went and I have already talked about that, but that's what I asked myself. So that's what I answered. And so now it's time for me to change the question and go focus on that and I'm excited to do so. So anyway, that was an intense episode. Hey guys, thanks so much. I appreciate it. Again, this is my ... I would love again to get some reviews from you guys on iTunes. That would be super helpful and if you've had any piece of nuggets or any nugget or whatever or something like that, that's really helped you, I would love to hear about it. Whether if it's a personally or that's what you put in the review on iTunes. Or, if you just tell someone else even. I really appreciate that. I am very serious about what I'm doing here, but it's a ton of fun and really been enjoying this ride with you guys. So, anyways, thank you so much. I appreciate it. I will continue to document both my processes and methods and why I'm doing what I'm doing as I move down this path. So anyways guys, thank you so much. I appreciate it. And I will talk to you later. Thanks for listening. Please remember to rate and subscribe. Hey, you want me to speak at your next event or mastermind? Let me know what I can share. It will be most valuable by going to stevejlarsen.com and book my time now.

Square Peg Round Hole Small Business Massive Action
EP 50: New Year, New Ideas Of Action Propelling You Into 2018

Square Peg Round Hole Small Business Massive Action

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 1, 2018 40:34


On this special New Year’s Day episode Matt and Dan gather and discuss some tips from previous podcast guests designed to get your 2018 off to a roaring start! Find out what David Greenwood, Erik Wahl, Jake Thompson, Larry Winget, Matt Young, Philip Williams, Salvador Briggman, Shannon Giordano, Rick Clemons, Stan Peake and Will Russell have to say about what your small business should try in 2018! You can get in touch with Matt and Dan through the Square Peg Round Hole Podcast website, email and social media platforms: Email: sprhpodcast@gmail.com Website: sprhpodcast.com Twitter: @sprhpodcast Facebook: SPRHPodcast --- Do you want to build your business? Do you want maximum value, MASSIVE ACTION and MASSIVE RESULTS? Then join the waitlist because SPRH Podcast is creating a unique event to help you grow and scale your business! Start your day with the right positive affirmations by joining Dan’s The Success Happens Movement Facebook group. Are you taking massive action in your life? Want to share your successes and support others who are also taking massive action? Then join Matt’s Facebook group The 3% Tribe.  

Five Things
Episode 39: Lebowski Fest Founder Will Russell On Loss, Monsters, And Bowling

Five Things

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 20, 2017 47:03


Will Russell founded Lebowski Fest, a yearly celebration of the Coen Brothers’ movie that then spread nationwide. He owned two stores, Why Louisville, that sold t-shirts and other work made by local artists. Then he got a big, ambitious idea -- around the same time that his mental health started to falter. After a very public meltdown that included several arrests, a declaration of bankruptcy, Will Russell is ready to talk about his experience -- what got him there in the first place, and what got him through.

Place to Be Nation POP
Sellers Points Special: Talkin' Shop

Place to Be Nation POP

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 6, 2017 138:08


Welcome to Sellers Points, where long-time friends and comic nerds Russell and Kelley use every episode to tell you about the best in comics and comics adaptations along with their own brand of “award-winning” analysis. After some scheduling issues, the guys are back! But instead of talking Spider-Man: Homecoming, they're talkin' shop. What have Russell and Kelley been reading the last month? What's been good and worth your hard-earned dollar? What might be worth dropping? Will Russell ever crack a funny one-liner? Prepare to have your jaws left agape (literally) as Sellers Points goes through the spinner racks and deals with the issues. 

Square Peg Round Hole Small Business Massive Action
EP 015: Recognizing How Mindfulness Leads You To Business Success

Square Peg Round Hole Small Business Massive Action

Play Episode Listen Later May 1, 2017 41:22


Will Russell is digital marketing consultant, based in San Francisco, helping nonprofits and social enterprises use marketing to increase their impact. Will is also an avid believer in the power of mindset, and has spent the last few years testing countless habits and strategies in a personal and entrepreneurial quest for self-improvement. He has successfully captured some of these experiences in articles he has published on Business Insider. Will decided to take some massive action in his life when he simply decided to uproot himself from his home in the United Kingdom to move to the United States a few years back. He recalls how it didn’t always seem like it was going to work out and shares what this spontaneous exercise taught him. Will shares with us how he used mindfulness success habits throughout his journey to help him get past his down moments and times of failure to keep a positive outlook on the future and success. He shares the nitty gritty of the techniques he used when he was setting up his business and still uses to this day. He is adamant that everyone can develop a mindfulness mindset and sums his message up in a four key, easy to remember terms. As an introvert, Will shares his conference tips on how he makes large conferences attended by thousands of people less intimidating and much more manageable! You can get in touch with Will and find out more about what he does through his website or follow him on Twitter and, learn from his mindfulness habits by reading his articles on BusinessInsider.com:   Website: https://willrussellmarketing.com/free-marketing-training Twitter: @willrussellmktg Articles: Advice for people who want to quit their jobs and start a business A regular guy’s guide to mindfulness   Conference highlight 36 | 86 Entrepreneurship and Technology Conference http://3686south.com/ Nashville, TN: June 4th to June 7th, 2017   SPRH Podcast is sponsored by: Knight Dik Insurance http://www.knightdik.com/ Cumulus Global www.CumulusGlobal.com

PostApopalypse
29. Robot Rampage!

PostApopalypse

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 4, 2017 90:39


Join us with special guest (and financial researcher) George! We're going to talk about the new Ghost in the Shell movie! Will Russell return to his old (shouty) ways? Featuring Val Kilmer v Michael Keaton, the Monthly Quota, and more!

Working Class Audio
WCA #120 with Will Russell

Working Class Audio

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 3, 2017 67:36


Working Class Audio Session #120 with Will Russell!!! Will Russell is the owner and chief engineer at Electric Wilburland Studio, which is located in an old Baptist church in Newfield, NY. He has been working in audio since the age of 17, when he first started doing live sound. Will continues to mix live at regional music festivals for bands like The Horse Flies and Sim Redmond Band. His most notable tour was mixing for Rusted Root from 1994-95.  After being on the road, Will switched his focus to running Electric Wilburland full time, where he records and produces mostly local and regional artists-- and has been for 30 years. Past clients include The Samples, Madder Rose, Martin Simpson, The Horse Flies, Joe Crookston and Donna The Buffalo. He won a Grammy in 2009 for recording the album “Douga Mansa" with kora player Mamadou Diabate.  Three years ago, Will joined the staff at The Park School of Communications at Ithaca College, where he teaches audio production part time. He also teaches a handful of young engineers and interns at Electric Wilburland year-round.  Show notes Ben Bernstein Episode http://www.workingclassaudio.com/wca-055-with-ben-bernstein/ Will's Studio http://www.wilburland.com/ Kurt Cochran Go Fund Me  https://www.gofundme.com/melissaandkurt

Mr. Media Interviews by Bob Andelman
100 Scott Shuffit and Will Russell, founders, Lebowski Fest

Mr. Media Interviews by Bob Andelman

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 11, 2017 36:29


Today's Guest: Scott Shuffitt and Will Russell, co-founders, Lebowski Fest, co-authors, I'm a Lebowski, You're a Lebowski: Life, The Big Lebowski, and What Have You Order 'I'm a Lebowski, You're a Lebowski: Life, The Big Lebowski, and What Have You' by Scott Shuffitt and Will Russell, available from Amazon.com by clicking on the book cover above! There are a lot of famous uses of the word dude in pop culture. Sean Penn, as Spicoli, in Fast Times at Ridgemont High comes to mind. Or Keanu Reeves in Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure. Party on, dude, indeed. Or there’s the landscape guy I saw this morning parked at the Quickmart who had Palm Dude sloppily stenciled on the side of his pick-up truck. But none of those three rises to the level of the Dude, Jeff Bridges, star of one of the craziest, most-layered Coen Brothers films ever, The Big Lebowski. If you’re not already a fan of the 1998 movie, you want to go out and rent it when we’re done with this edition of Mr. Media. And if you’re already a Lebowski dude yourself, you’re gonna enjoy today’s guests, Will Russell and Scott Shuffitt, founders of Lebowski Fest and authors of the new book, I’m a Lebowski, You’re a Lebowski. Lebowski Fest Website • Facebook • Twitter • Instagram • Pinterest • Google+ • Order I'm A Lebowski, You're A Lebowski from Amazon.com BOB ANDELMAN/Mr. MEDIA: So I’m a late-comer to the whole Lebowski thing. A buddy of mine, Jim Doten, college friend for almost thirty years is going to call in and have some questions for you, but he’s been after me for years to see the movie and get into this. I don’t know. It just never grabbed me, but then he told me about the book. I went out. I watched the movie. I think I sort of get it, but I’m really hoping you guys can tell me how in the hell did I become a Lebowski? WILL RUSSELL: How many times have you seen it? ANDELMAN: One and a half. RUSSELL: Oh, so you need an additional one and a half times. For me, it took three. SCOTT SHUFFITT: Maybe a White Russian in there, too would help. ANDELMAN: For people who might be listening who don’t get how this became a whole big cult and a movement, what’s the basic plot to the movie? RUSSELL: It’s basically a case of mistaken identity. The main character, played by Jeff Bridges, he calls himself “The Dude,” he basically gets confused for a millionaire, and some thugs come to his house, and they urinate on his rug. And then they realize that they have the wrong guy, and all sorts of madness ensues when The Dude tries to get compensated for his rug. He runs into a band of roving nihilists, some porn stars, a kidnapping, a ransom hand-off, and he basically drinks nine or ten white Russians throughout the film to try to keep his mind limber to solve the crime. It’s basically like a Raymond Chandler-type mystery except they’ve got, instead of like the sure-footed detective, they’ve got kind of this bumbling stoner played by Jeff Bridges, and then John Goodman is his hot-headed Vietnam vet buddy. And it’s just a really funny movie. ANDELMAN: How did it become this mythological movie? It’s gone way beyond your average whodunit or comedy or even a buddy film. SHUFFITT: Man, that’s a good question. I don’t even know that I know. To the best of my knowledge, it’s just a film that a lot of people enjoy, and I think that a lot of people can relate to the characters. And I think that a lot of people want to be Dude-esque and just take it easy. It was written very, very well. It’s a really good comedy. It’s shot really well. The imagery is beautiful. So I guess you add all those things together, and we end up with what we have now, which is… Order 'The Big Lebowski' [Blu-ray], available from Amazon.com by clicking on the DVD cover above! RUSSELL: …out of control. SHUFFITT: Exactly. ANDELMAN: And Scott, how do you define “Dude-esque”? SHUFFITT: Just wanting to take it easy and relax and have a bubble bath and have a Caucasian every once in a while and enjoy the simple things in life like your rug and that sort of thing. RUSSELL: Bowling. SHUFFITT: Yeah, bowling. ANDELMAN: Bowling. Let’s talk about bowling. Where does Dick Nixon and bowling fit into all this? RUSSELL: That was actually a publicity shot that was shot in the basement of the White House, and Nixon’s PR people wanted to kind of warm Nixon up to the people, and they thought, “Hey, let’s get him bowling and that way, the common man can relate to him.” I don’t think he was actually a very good bowler. I think that was simply just a publicity shot to try to make Nixon seem a little more likable. I don’t think it worked, though. SHUFFITT: No. ANDELMAN: Looking back on history, I think you’re probably right about that. RUSSELL: I think maybe W should come out with a bowling picture. Maybe that might help things for him a little bit, you think? ANDELMAN: I think that would help you guys promote, but I don’t think it would help him any. RUSSELL: Yeah, I don’t think there’s much that can help him at this point. ANDELMAN: I want to bring in a very good friend of mine, Jim Doten. Jim has been a friend for almost thirty years. We were college freshmen together and have stayed pals, and he is the one who, for years, has been trying to turn me on to The Dude and told me about your book, and I’ve asked Jim to come in. He’s calling in from Miami, and I’ve asked him to come on. I know he’s got some questions. Jim, are you there? JIM DOTEN: I’m there. Good day to you, too, sirs. RUSSELL: Good day to you. DOTEN: You guys are my heroes here. RUSSELL: Oh, what’s a hero? C’mon now. Order 'The Big Lebowski and Philosophy: Keeping Your Mind Limber with Abiding Wisdom,' available from Amazon.com by clicking on the book cover above! DOTEN: I really enjoy what you’re doing. We get onto the website whenever we can to check it out. We’re on your mailing list. Tell me how the Lebowkski Fest came about. SHUFFITT: Actually, Will and I were selling some t-shirts at this really, really lame tattoo convention. No one was there so everybody was just bored to tears. We started going through lines from the film and before we knew it, the people next to us were going through the lines. The person across the hall was, “Hey, did you know this about The Big Lebowski?” And in that moment, we kind of realized that there was this little community, and one of us said, “If they can put on this lame tattoo convention, why can’t we put on a Lebowski convention?” We grabbed a thing of Post-It notes and took down a couple of lines, and that is basically what Lebowski Fest became and still is. RUSSELL: It was just born out of boredom. And then we realized that we weren’t alone in our obsession of this movie, and it was like this great realization. It was like oh, awesome, there’s others out there. So, yeah, we just did it as a joke. We thought maybe 20 of our friends would show up maybe, not that we had that many friends. It ended up like we had about 150 people show up from different states, and we couldn’t believe it. We just kept going with it. As a matter of luck and I think with the help of the internet, I think it’s been able to grow. Now we’ve done Lebowski Fests all over the country and even overseas. Pretty wild. ANDELMAN: Did you guys ever worry that you would be confused for Star Trek fans? RUSSELL: Yeah, we often kind of get compared to Star Trek fans with a qualifier. It’s like a Star Trek convention but not as many geeks or more bowling and more drinking. We’re cool with that. We’re all kind of nerds at heart. To obsess about anything is a little bit nerdy. They are kindred spirits, the Trekkies. DOTEN: We like to think of ourselves as cool nerds, if those two words fit together. RUSSELL: These days they do, yeah. ANDELMAN: Why do you think you took to Lebowski? Jim and I were talking last night, and I said, for me, it probably would’ve been Caddyshack, perhaps, that I would’ve had the same kind of connection. DOTEN: …or Animal House. ANDELMAN: Or Animal House, yeah. RUSSELL: Yeah, it’s strange. It’s like you can’t really describe why you fall in love with something, but when I first saw The Big Lebowski, I just thought it was okay. I didn’t really get it. And then I ended up seeing it a couple more times, and then on the third watching, it just hit me how hilarious it was. The first time you watch it you kind of get caught up in this whole who-dun-it and who peed on whose rug, and all that stuff doesn’t really matter. It’s about the characters. The dialogue is really funny and quotable. I just found myself just loving these lines and always quoting them with friends. Still to this day, it just cracks me up. I’ve seen it over a hundred times, and I can still put it in, and it’ll make me laugh out loud. DOTEN: Absolutely. When you’re having a bad day, you put on The Big Lebowski. SHUFFITT: Absolutely. DOTEN: It totally shifts your way of being. RUSSELL: Donny, Walter, and The Dude are there for ya. SHUFFITT: That’s right. DOTEN: I have a question for you all. Are you employed? SHUFFITT: What day is this? RUSSELL: We try not to work too hard. SHUFFITT: Exactly. Order 'Funko POP Movies The Big Lebowski The Dude Vinyl Figure,' available from Amazon.com by clicking on The Dude above! DOTEN: Is this full-time for ya? SHUFFITT: We do other things. I’ve had a little store in Louisville, but we do work a lot on this, getting the Lebowski Fest together. When it comes time to do one, there’s a lot of planning and stuff. We kind of spread it out. We try not to work in shifts or anything. RUSSELL: That’s right. DOTEN: Okay. Working in shifts. That’s a line, Bob. ANDELMAN: I know. I know. DOTEN: It went over his head. We got to initiate him. ANDELMAN: I have to watch another one and a half times, I guess. DOTEN: One and a half times. And then if you don’t like it, then you probably will never like it. ANDELMAN: Well, I liked it the first time. DOTEN: Oh, okay. ANDELMAN: I was sorry that I’ve wasted all these years not getting in on it. DOTEN: Not achieving.

Butterman
Butterman - Ep 7

Butterman

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 1, 2015 5:19


In episode seven, Alex interviews Sylvanvale General Manager for Client Services, Will Russell. Alex and Will chat about the future under the NDIS, Will's music taste and more.

Geek in Review Podcast
Geek in Review Podcast: Episode 89 (10-20-2013)

Geek in Review Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 20, 2013 55:02


When is collecting cards not like collecting cards? When it's on the internet! Featuring - Hearthstone beta is Russell's big news for the week - The history of the CCG and how this moves things forward. - How Blizzard is like Taco Bell (in a good way). - Will Russell stick with the PS4 or will be become a last minute XBoner?   LinksHearthstone: Heroes of WarcraftPS4 Launch TitlesXB1 Launch Titles    Subscribe on iTunes!    Follow us on twitter @GiRPodcast or shoot us an e-mail at girpodcast@gmail.com   How Blizzard is a lot like Taco Bell

The College Years
My My Marmot 3/17/05

The College Years

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 5, 2011 59:18


Jesse speaks with the founders of the Lebowski Fest, Will Russell and Scott Shuffitt. Then, author Seth Greenland talks about his book Shining City. Finally, callers call in to talk about marmots! What's a marmot, you ask? Listen to find out! Or google it.

marmot shining city will russell lebowski fest seth greenland
Survivor Fans Podcast
Heroes vs. Villains Episode 12

Survivor Fans Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later May 7, 2010 59:11


Interesting. Jerri decides that anyone who betray's their original alliance as quickly as Candice doesn't deserve to stay in the game. Do you think she forgot about her own betrayal of Courtney and Sandra so quickly? What did you think about Rupert's ploy to deceive the Villains with a lie about the HII? There's only a few days left in the game. How and when do you think Sandra will choose to use her HII? Do you think Russell was too rough on Danielle at Tribal Council when he made her cry? Will Russell's success in ousting her help him in the long run? Who do you think made the boldest moves this episode: Rupert, Jerri, Sandra, or Russell? How well does Russell score on the Top 10 Secrets of Effective Liars list at Psychology Today? Here is the merged tribe after episode 12. Yin Yang Colby, Jerri, Parvati, Rupert, Russell, and Sandra Stacy thinks they will turn on Russell next. Jo Ann agrees for now. Who is your pick for the next one to be voted out? We've got several ways you can reach us. You can call and leave a voicemail at 206-350-1547. You can record an audio comment and attach it or just type up a quick text message and send it to us via email at joannandstacyshow@gmail.com. Lastly, there's a link for comments on the web page here. You can click that link and post your thoughts out there for everyone to see. Note: Listener Feedback is due by 5pm PDT on Monday. We prefer to receive audio by Sunday since it takes longer to prepare. You get 3 minutes. Make it count by sharing your unique perspectives on the last episode and predictions for the future. The new version of Ancient Voices for this season is available in iTunes! 00:00 Date 00:04 Ancient Voices 20 by Russ Landau 00:35 Introductions 46:25 NToS 53:35 JSFL Update 58:15 Ancient Voices 20 by Russ Landau Links for Today's Show Paul's Visual Roster for Heroes vs. Villains Survivor Fans Podcast Fans group on Facebook JSFL Top 10 Secrets of Effective Liars at Psychology Today Contact Info: Voicemail: 206-350-1547 Email: joannandstacyshow@gmail.com Survivor Fans Podcast P.O. Box 2811 Orangevale, CA 95662 Enjoy, Jo Ann and Stacy

Survivor Fans Podcast
Heroes vs. Villains Episode 10

Survivor Fans Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 23, 2010 45:34


It had to get a little worse for JT before they put him out of his misery. Were you as surprised as us to see Parvati play both idols? Do you think she bought Sandra's loyalty? Who from the Heroes tribe stands the best chance of saving themselves by winning Immunity and making it to final three? Will Russell stick with the Villains after feeling betrayed by Parvati? Who do you think stands to benefit the most if Sandra flips? Do you think Russell will find another HII? Here is the merged tribe after episode 10. Yin Yang Amanda, Candice, Colby, Danielle, Jerri, Parvati, Rupert, Russell, and Sandra We both think Parvati should be the next to go. Who is your pick for the next one to be voted out? We've got several ways you can reach us. You can call and leave a voicemail at 206-350-1547. You can record an audio comment and attach it or just type up a quick text message and send it to us via email at joannandstacyshow@gmail.com. Lastly, there's a link for comments on the web page here. You can click that link and post your thoughts out there for everyone to see. Note: Listener Feedback is due by 5pm PDT on Monday. We prefer to receive audio by Sunday since it takes longer to prepare. You get 3 minutes. Make it count by sharing your unique perspectives on the last episode and predictions for the future. The new version of Ancient Voices for this season is available in iTunes! 00:00 Date 00:04 Ancient Voices 20 by Russ Landau 00:35 Introductions 31:51 NToS 38:36 JSFL Update 44:30 Ancient Voices 20 by Russ Landau Links for Today's Show Paul's Visual Roster for Heroes vs. Villains Survivor Fans Podcast Fans group on Facebook JSFL Contact Info: Voicemail: 206-350-1547 Email: joannandstacyshow@gmail.com Survivor Fans Podcast P.O. Box 2811 Orangevale, CA 95662 Enjoy, Jo Ann and Stacy

Survivor Fans Podcast
Samoa Episode 9

Survivor Fans Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 13, 2009 31:28


We did not expect they could top the last episode, but this one seems to have succeeded. From a pure gameplay perspective, Russell is heads and shoulders above his Aiga tribemates. Russell found a way to survive another week and take the Galu tribe down another notch. Do you think he stands a chance against Laura? Are they making it too easy to find the Hidden Immunity Idols? Is it possible that we might have underestimated Shambo when it comes to strategic gameplay? Will Russell be able to throw them off his tracks as he searches for his third HII? Are you impressed with Laura's ability to win two individual immunities in a row? Would you be happy if she won at this point? Here is the tribe after the ninth episode: Aiga: Brett, Dave, Jaison, John, Laura, Mick, Monica, Natalie, Russell H, Shambo We both are betting that Galu's losing streak will continue, and Laura will be the next to leave. Who do you think will be voted out next? We have several ways you can reach us. You can call and leave a voicemail at 206-350-1547. You can record an audio comment and attach it or just type up a quick text message and send it to us via email at joannandstacyshow@gmail.com. Lastly, there's a link for comments on the web page here. You can click that link and post your thoughts out there for everyone to see. The new version of Ancient Voices for this season is available in iTunes. Click the image to go to iTunes and grab a copy for 99 cents! 00:02 Date 00:05 Ancient Voices Samoa by Russ Landau 00:22 Introductions 23:55 Next Time on Survivor 27:47 JSFL Update 30:59 Ancient Voices Samoa by Russ Landau Links for Today's Show Vote for Survivor Samoa to win the People's Choice Award for Favorite Competition Show Paul's Visual Roster for Survivor Samoa Survivor Fans Podcast Fans group on Facebook JSFL Rules for Survivor Samoa JSFL Contact Info: Voicemail: 206-350-1547 Email: joannandstacyshow@gmail.com Survivor Fans Podcast P.O. Box 2811 Orangevale, CA 95662 Enjoy, Jo Ann and Stacy