#704 Have you ever wondered why some YouTube videos skyrocket while others flop? In this episode, host Kirsten Tyrrel is joined by Jake Thomas, expert YouTube title strategist and founder of Creator Hooks, to break down the psychology behind clickworthy titles and why the right 10 words could literally change your business. He explains the three core emotions that drive clicks — curiosity, fear, and desire — and how to harness them without falling into the trap of clickbait. Jake also walks us t...
Dec 05, 2025•53 min•Ep. 704
#703 Thinking about turning your passion into a franchise or buying into a proven brand? In this episode, host Brien Gearin sits down with Jami Stigliano, founder of Diva Dance — a fun, confidence-building dance concept for adults with 50+ franchise locations across North America. Jami shares how a disappointing dance class in New York City led her to create Diva Dance, grow it through partner studios and memberships, and ultimately scale via franchising. She breaks down the difference between b...
Dec 05, 2025•51 min•Ep. 703
#702 What if the future of content creation depends less on algorithms and more on real human connection? In this episode, host Brien Gearin talks with Susie Bulloch — founder of Hey Grill, Hey — about how she grew a $35 WordPress site into a thriving barbecue brand with viral recipes, national retail products, and a deeply loyal community. Susie breaks down how AI is reshaping the creator economy and why she’s pivoting toward products, community, and more “analog” experiences that algorithms ca...
Dec 04, 2025•47 min•Ep. 702
#701 What if better sleep could change your life — and build a booming business? In this episode, host Brien Gearin sits down with Alex Neist, former Arena League football quarterback and founder of Hostage Tape — the world’s largest mouth tape brand. Alex shares how poor sleep and snoring nearly derailed his health and marriage… until one life-changing discovery sparked a wildly successful e-commerce brand. He breaks down how he built Hostage Tape from scratch, why he waited to launch on Amazon...
Dec 03, 2025•57 min•Ep. 701
#700 What if the secret to building an unstoppable creative team has nothing to do with resumes — and everything to do with psychology, personality, and energy? Larry Walshe — founder of the globally renowned Larry Walshe Studios — joins host Brien Gearin to break down how he recruits and builds high-performance teams in the creative industry. Larry shares his journey from West End performer to world-class event designer serving elite clients across the globe, and reveals the unique framework he...
Dec 03, 2025•54 min•Ep. 700
#699 Bookkeeping might feel like an industry “at risk” in the age of AI — but according to returning guest Kate Johnson, it’s actually positioned for major growth! In this episode hosted by Kirsten Tyrrel, Kate shares how the accounting landscape is evolving, why AI-enabled bookkeepers will thrive, and how to ethically use new tools to speed up workflows and deliver higher-value insights. She also highlights the rising demand for fractional bookkeeping and CFO-style support, the opportunity in e...
Dec 02, 2025•35 min•Ep. 699
#698 What if your next big real estate win didn’t involve tenants, renovations, or even seeing the property in person? In this episode hosted by Kirsten Tyrrel, we’re joined by Seth Williams, founder of REtipster.com, who reveals how he built a thriving business flipping vacant land — often sight unseen. Seth shares the exact strategies he used to buy deeply discounted properties, sell them for a profit, and reinvest those gains into self-storage facilities and passive income streams. We also di...
Dec 01, 2025•56 min•Ep. 698
#697 Want to build a team that sticks with you, performs at a high level, and actually loves coming to work? Samantha Irwin — owner of Kaizen Coaching and Consulting and longtime friend of the show — returns for a deep dive into the art and science of employee retention! In this episode hosted by Brien Gearin, she shares her journey from middle-school teacher to historic hotel owner to leadership coach, revealing the people-first systems she used to build a loyal, high-performing team in a town ...
Dec 01, 2025•42 min•Ep. 697
#696 What if you could tap into an AI-powered business coach — one that’s available 24/7, never forgets a conversation, and helps you find, evaluate, and negotiate your next business acquisition? In this episode hosted by Brien Gearin, serial entrepreneur and podcast host Nik Hulewsky returns to the show to break down how he’s leveraging AI to find and buy businesses faster and smarter than ever before. Nik shares real-world examples of how AI is being used to save time, cut costs, and make bett...
Nov 30, 2025•48 min•Ep. 696
#695 What if your creative side hustle could fund your freedom and run itself while you explore the world? In this episode hosted by Kirsten Tyrrel, we’re joined by Christina Umerez, a digital nomad who built a successful Etsy print-on-demand business that now supports her travel-filled lifestyle. Christina shares how she went from custom pet portraits to simple sweatshirt designs that generate passive income on autopilot. She walks us through her step-by-step research strategy, explains why Ets...
Nov 29, 2025•53 min•Ep. 695
#694 If you think a busy restaurant automatically means a profitable one — think again! In this episode hosted by Kirsten Tyrrel, we sit down with Ryan Gromfin, aka The Restaurant Boss, who pulls back the curtain on the flawed traditional restaurant business model. From his early days as a 15-year-old working in a five-star kitchen to building and consulting for scalable restaurant empires, Ryan shares why systems — not just great food — are the real key to success. He explains how most restaura...
Nov 28, 2025•54 min•Ep. 694
#693 How did a Wall Street finance pro turn a simple gutter repair problem into New Jersey’s only white-glove gutter service? In this episode, host Brien Gearin sits down with Aleks Krylov, founder of Stern Gutters, to break down how to start a profitable gutter installation, repair, and cleaning business. Aleks shares his journey from Wall Street to home services, revealing how one frustrating homeowner experience sparked a premium, communication-driven company now serving 2,000+ customers. He ...
Nov 28, 2025•43 min•Ep. 693
#692 Unlock the science behind your success with this fascinating deep-dive into how your brain drives every result you create! In this episode, host Kirsten Tyrrel sits down with behavioral neuroscience expert and bestselling author John Assaraf, who shares how understanding the brain’s “operating system” transformed his life from troubled teen to wildly successful entrepreneur. John breaks down the mechanics of mindset, emotional regulation, habits, and rewiring — revealing why entrepreneurs g...
Nov 27, 2025•48 min•Ep. 692
#691 What if you could launch a global education platform, inspire students across continents, and reinvent your career — all at once? In this episode hosted by Brien Gearin, we’re joined by Chad Fife, founder of Revy School, an online education platform that teaches marketing, sales, and client success through real-world simulations and mentorship. Chad shares his unconventional path from corporate VP to Airbnb host and business professor, how he built Revy School to empower young professionals...
Nov 26, 2025•42 min•Ep. 691
#690 Ready for a masterclass in grit, customer service, and unconventional scaling — all from a founder who built a booming merch company from scratch? In this episode, host Brien Gearin chats with Ethan Dowie, founder of Indigo Promotions, who went from making 400+ cold calls with zero traction to landing Zappos as one of his very first clients. Ethan breaks down how he bootstrapped his business, navigated fulfillment before he had any systems, built a powerhouse customer-first team, and eventu...
Nov 26, 2025•43 min•Ep. 690
#689 Ever wondered how a simple lifelong skill can evolve into a thriving, multi-stream business? In this episode, host Kirsten Tyrell sits down with professional organizer and entrepreneur Laurie Palau, founder of Simply B Organized, to unpack her journey from corporate America to building a successful organizing brand long before Instagram or the creator economy existed. Laurie shares how she grew her business through grassroots marketing, built trust within her local community, and later expa...
Nov 25, 2025•44 min•Ep. 689
#688 What happens when a retired professional athlete dives headfirst into an industry he knows nothing about? In this episode hosted by Brien Gearin, Lee Stuart shares how he went from professional motocross rider to the founder of Rogue Lab, one of the top screen printing and branding shops in Canada. With zero experience, Lee took his last $300 to start a clothing brand, and after facing repeated setbacks with outside vendors, he built a full commercial print shop in his basement — investing ...
Nov 24, 2025•54 min•Ep. 688
#687 Want to see how AI can build a full website in minutes — and how a small startup took on giants like WordPress and Wix? On this episode, host Brien Gearin sits down with Itai Sadan, co-founder and CEO of Duda — the AI-ready website platform built specifically for web professionals. Itai shares the origin story of Duda, how the company evolved from a mobile-only builder into a full web-pro ecosystem, and why focusing exclusively on agencies helped them scale to nearly a million sites. He als...
Nov 24, 2025•43 min•Ep. 687
#686 Think selling online courses is the key to success? Think again! It’s no longer enough to just package information and hope people stick around. In this episode hosted by Kirsten Tyrrel, serial entrepreneur Ray Blakney breaks down how to turn decades of expertise into a thriving online education business. He shares why traditional course models are fading and how connection and accountability are the real keys to success in today’s AI-saturated world. You’ll learn his step-by-step framework...
Nov 23, 2025•56 min•Ep. 686
#685 Ever thought a “boring” business could be your golden ticket to freedom and flexibility? In this episode hosted by Kirsten Tyrrel, we chat with Kate Johnson, founder of Heritage Business Services, who built a thriving bookkeeping business during preschool pick-up hours. What started as a $0 side hustle turned into a profitable, scalable career — all by tapping into a skill most businesses desperately need but few entrepreneurs want to learn themselves. Kate breaks down the real path to gett...
Nov 22, 2025•50 min•Ep. 685
#684 What if the only thing standing between you and five-figure months is a better email strategy? In this episode hosted by Kirsten Tyrrel, we're joined by John Ainsworth, an expert in helping course creators skyrocket their revenue through strategic sales funnels. John shares the simple, repeatable system he uses to help clients go from $3K months to $50K and beyond — without creating more content or changing their offers. We break down exactly how to grow your email list, what to send (and w...
Nov 21, 2025•52 min•Ep. 684
#683 Thinking about buying a laundromat? This episode will completely change the way you see this “boring” business — and show you why it might be one of the most powerful cash-flow plays in America! In this conversation, host Brien Gearin sits down with Jordan Berry, founder of Laundromat Resource, to break down exactly how to buy, evaluate, and grow a profitable laundromat. Jordan shares his personal journey from pastor to laundromat owner, the painful lessons he learned from buying a “zombie ...
Nov 21, 2025•52 min•Ep. 683
#682 If you’ve ever felt misaligned with your own story, this episode will show you how to reclaim it! In this powerful conversation, host Brien Gearin sits down with transformational storytelling expert Celinne Da Costa, who helps visionary leaders step into their authentic identity and express it through story. Celinne shares her remarkable journey — from chasing the American Dream to circumnavigating the globe by couch-surfing — and how it led her to build a business guiding executives to rew...
Nov 20, 2025•56 min•Ep. 682
#681 Think you need a warehouse full of inventory to start a product-based business? Think again! In this episode hosted by Kirsten Tyrrel, we’re joined by Ryan Hogue, a 7-figure print-on-demand entrepreneur, who breaks down exactly how to build a profitable online store without ever touching inventory. Ryan shares why visibility is the real name of the game, how to do product research that actually leads to sales, and the key platforms and tools to get started — even if you're on a tight budget...
Nov 19, 2025•54 min•Ep. 681
#680 Ever wondered how creators are scaling faster than ever with AI? In this episode, host Kirsten Tyrrel sits down with Julian Goldie, an SEO agency owner turned AI-driven creator whose entire business transformed when he leaned into artificial intelligence instead of running from it. Julian shares how he went from 1,000 YouTube subscribers to nearly 300,000 by documenting his AI learning journey, building an AI clone of himself, and creating content at scale using tools like HeyGen, ElevenLab...
Nov 19, 2025•46 min•Ep. 680
#679 If you’ve been posting on social media and still not seeing growth, this conversation explains exactly why! In this episode, host Kirsten Tyrrel sits down with social media expert and former theater-kid-turned-entrepreneur, Jenna Harding, to pull back the curtain on Instagram strategy for service-based business owners. Jenna shares how she went from resisting social media to running a thriving agency and teaching entrepreneurs how to grow, nurture, and sell with intentional content. She bre...
Nov 18, 2025•50 min•Ep. 679
#678 Are you undercharging or hesitating to promote your offers because selling feels uncomfortable? In this episode hosted by Kirsten Tyrrel, sales expert Andee Hart joins us to unpack the deeper reasons why so many women entrepreneurs struggle with sales — and how to flip the script. With over 18 years of experience in Fortune 500 tech sales and now as the founder of She Sells Differently, Andee shares the most common mindset blocks that hold people back, why discounting your services can actu...
Nov 17, 2025•50 min•Ep. 678
#677 What happens when a 25-year hospitality veteran gets furloughed during COVID and finally goes all-in on the dream he’s been talking about for years? You get Catalyst Hot Dogs — a Jersey-style hot dog joint taking the DMV by storm! In this episode, host Brien Gearin sits down with founder Chris Van Jura, who shares how he launched during the pandemic with a GoFundMe, a beat-up cart discovered in a church parking lot, and an all-beef hot dog so good, it became the heart of his brand. Chris br...
Nov 17, 2025•49 min•Ep. 677
#676 Are you overcomplicating your marketing? In this episode hosted by Kirsten Tyrrel, we're joined by Alban Brooke, Head of Marketing at Buzzsprout, who helped grow the company from just 2,000 customers to over 120,000 active podcasts. Alban shares why so many marketing efforts fail — not because of bad tactics, but because of a lack of clarity around who you're speaking to and what message you're delivering. We explore the fundamentals of effective marketing, how to identify your ideal custom...
Nov 16, 2025•51 min•Ep. 676
#675 What happens when your thriving side hustle starts to plateau? In this episode hosted by Kirsten Tyrrel, we welcome back Tyler Christensen, who built a $5K/month income stream as an Amazon influencer — only to see his per-video earnings drop by 90%. Rather than walking away, Tyler made a strategic pivot. He shares how he diversified his income by incorporating YouTube, TikTok Shop, and paid sponsorships, all while reducing his workload from 20 hours a week to just five. We dive into the dif...
Nov 15, 2025•54 min•Ep. 675