When I first started using AI in my business, I was hesitant — it felt like a shortcut that might strip away my voice. But in this conversation with Corey Koehler, I learned that when you set it up the right way, AI can actually amplify your voice and make your work better — and faster. Corey shares how he went from spending hours grinding through client work and side projects to building an AI-powered system that slashed his production time, boosted his income, and gave him more time with his f...
May 26, 2025•55 min•Season 2Ep. 477
My therapist recently asked if anyone had ever talked to me about ADHD. While I've never been formally diagnosed, that question sparked a journey into understanding how our brains work—especially when running a business. That's why I was thrilled to chat with Skye Waterson, an ADHD strategist who helps entrepreneurs build "brain-friendly" systems. Skye discovered her own ADHD during her PhD studies and has since developed an approach called "Unconventional Organisation" that works with your natu...
May 19, 2025•47 min•Season 2Ep. 476
One of my favorite things to do at Disney World growing up was get on attractions and press all the buttons . They really made it feel like you were accomplishing things. Maybe that’s why I like the Stream Deck so much. I've been using Stream Decks for about five years now, starting with a 15-key model before expanding to a 32-key XL and adding two more devices to my setup. These programmable button panels have become an essential part of my workflow, helping me control everything from video pro...
May 12, 2025•21 min•Season 2Ep. 475
I solemnly swear I’ve never worked on a family vacation. Can you honestly say that? I can’t. From checking emails in Magic Kingdom to recording podcasts at the beach, I've been guilty of putting work before family time, even on vacation. After some not-so-great experiences (including a previous Disney trip that didn't go as planned), I've decided my upcoming Disney vacation with my family will be different. This time, I'm setting firm boundaries by not bringing my laptop, using devices like Bric...
May 05, 2025•22 min•Season 2Ep. 474
You’ve probably seen Rube Goldberg machines — those ridiculous setups where a marble rolls down a track, flips a switch, lights a match, and somehow makes toast. They’re fun to watch… but terrible for actually getting anything done. That’s how most automations feel when you’re first starting out: over-engineered, fragile, and hard to maintain. But real business-saving automations? They don’t need to be complicated. In fact, some of the ones that save me the most time are stupidly simple. In this...
Apr 28, 2025•21 min•Season 2Ep. 473
The last time I went on vacation, I told people I wasn’t bringing my laptop. You know what they said? “Good job! That’s great.” The proper reaction should have been, “Obviously. Why would you bring work on vacation?” But that’s not the culture we live in here in the USA. Overworking and hustling is glorified. That’s why I’m excited to talk to Maegan Megginson. Maegan is a licensed therapist and holistic business mentor who believes every solopreneur can and should take sabbaticals—not just to re...
Apr 21, 2025•58 min•Season 2Ep. 472
Remember when late-night hosts went remote during the pandemic and somehow looked worse than your average Zoom call? Even with massive budgets, their setups were rough. Meanwhile, I’ve managed to build a solo video production workflow that looks better than theirs — with no crew. In this episode, I walk through the tools and tech I use to replicate a full video studio by myself. I share how I record faster, cut editing time in half, and publish polished content — whether it’s courses, YouTube vi...
Apr 14, 2025•17 min•Season 2Ep. 471
Video is becoming an essential tool for solopreneurs, and having good camera presence can help you build trust and authority faster. But showing up well on video isn’t just about buying the right camera—it’s about understanding energy, framing, lighting, and how to create an engaging presence. I sat down with Luria Petrucci , a longtime video expert, to break down what solopreneurs need to know about looking and feeling confident on camera—without overcomplicating it. Plus, we dig into the psych...
Apr 07, 2025•1 hr 12 min•Season 2Ep. 470
I’ve been on a mission to help solopreneurs cut through friction—especially when it comes to using AI. And one major pain point? Staring at a blinking cursor, not knowing what to ask ChatGPT. If you’ve ever wasted time retyping prompts, getting inconsistent results, or forgetting what worked last time, this one’s for you. I finally built an AI swipe file—a collection of reusable prompts, templates, and context that lets me get better, faster results from tools like ChatGPT and Google Gemini. In ...
Mar 31, 2025•22 min•Season 2Ep. 469
AI isn’t just a passing trend—it’s a game-changer for solopreneurs looking to streamline and automate their businesses. Or is it? I’ve always been AI hesitant, but I’ve also been using it a lot more. So today's guest, Damien Schreurs, and I discuss how AI is shifting from simple task automation to handling cognitive work, why people struggle to accept it, and how solopreneurs can embrace AI without losing their unique touch. We also get really in the weeds with AI-powered workflows that save tim...
Mar 24, 2025•50 min•Season 2Ep. 468
What started as a rebrand for Podcast Workflows turned into a full re-evaluation of my entire business. After conversations with my mastermind group and some deep reflection, I realized I wasn’t just serving podcasters—I was helping solopreneurs create space in their businesses through automation, systems, and smart workflows. Holly guided me through a brand strategy process that helped me clarify my audience, messaging, and positioning, leading to a full personal rebrand. For all of the links m...
Mar 19, 2025•40 min•Season 2Ep. 467
Most solopreneurs already have a brand, whether they realize it or not—it's the perception people form about them based on their content, messaging, and presence. But without intentional branding, that perception is left to chance. Holly Arnett breaks down the difference between a personal brand and a business brand, the importance of branding beyond just logos and colors, and how a strong brand makes it easier to market yourself, attract the right clients, and streamline decision-making. Got so...
Mar 17, 2025•39 min•Season 2Ep. 466
I HATE feeling friction with tech that’s supposed to make my life easier. And I love my iPhone, but I feel the friction sometimes. Apple Shortcuts can help solopreneurs automate repetitive tasks and reduce that friction. Today I break down some of my favorite shortcuts to show you how I make my life easier and help you come up with ideas. Whether it’s streamlining content creation, organizing tasks, or even just cleaning up screenshots, the right shortcuts can save time and reduce friction. The ...
Mar 10, 2025•21 min•Season 2Ep. 465
I hate CRMs. I know I need one—I’m doing more coaching, getting more inbound leads, and ranking in the top three organic search results for podcast coaches on Google. But no matter how many times I’ve tried HubSpot, Zoho, or whatever the flavor of the week is, they’ve never fit into my workflow. So I did a totally normal, not weird thing: I built my own CRM. In this episode, I walk through the simple system I set up using Notion, Todoist, Make.com , and my website. I’ll share why I built it this...
Mar 03, 2025•19 min•Season 2Ep. 464
Stephen Robles is not only a Shortcuts and automation expert—he’s also built a successful YouTube channel covering Apple products, smart home tech, and (of course) Shortcuts. But he didn’t just start making random videos. He figured out how to create content that people actually want to watch. In this episode, Stephen breaks down his YouTube strategy: how he finds content ideas, how he packages videos for success, and why your title and thumbnail might be killing your views . If you’re a creator...
Feb 26, 2025•38 min•Season 2Ep. 463
I’ve been talking a lot about automation this year, and one tool that keeps coming up is Apple’s Shortcuts app. So I brought in Stephen Robles , a YouTuber and podcaster who’s been using Shortcuts since it was called Workflows before Apple bought it. We get into what Shortcuts actually does, and how you can use it to automate repetitive tasks, eliminate friction, and make your iPhone way more useful. Stephen also shares some incredible automation ideas, from formatting podcast show notes to cont...
Feb 24, 2025•33 min•Season 2Ep. 462
Leah and I might be in different stages of parenting, but we have very similar situations — 3 kids, running a business, spouse who also works. So in part 2 of our interview, we jump into the societal expectations of moms and dads, discussing the stark differences in how each is perceived. Leah shares how she navigated running a business while being a hands-on mom and the challenges of unspoken gender roles in parenting. We also discuss our own anxiety with bringing kids up today vs. when we were...
Feb 19, 2025•27 min•Season 2Ep. 461
Work-Life Balance is a myth! Or is it? In today’s conversation with Leah Remillet, we talk all about our goal as solopreneur parents to have everything – as in “AND,” not “OR.” Leah emphasizes that balance isn’t about equal time for everything but about feeling good in YOUR core areas of life. She explains her framework for achieving work-life balance through priorities, presence, and purpose and offers practical strategies like setting boundaries, system stacking, and discipline to maintain bal...
Feb 17, 2025•44 min•Season 2Ep. 460
This weekend, I completely rearranged my office—and I couldn’t be happier with the results. What started as frustration with my camera framing turned into a full workspace transformation. In this episode, I break down: - Why I moved my desk and how it improved my video setup - The changes I made to declutter and improve cable management - The unexpected number of extra USB cables and extension cords I found (seriously, where did they all come from?) - Why I finally got rid of my massive softbox ...
Feb 12, 2025•13 min•Season 2Ep. 459
Automation can feel overwhelming, but it all boils down to four simple components: triggers, actions, conditions, and timing. Once you understand these, you can start automating repetitive tasks, saving yourself hours of work and mental energy. In this episode, I break down these components with real-world examples, like home automation and business workflows, and share how you can use them to create seamless systems for your solopreneur business. Then, I’ll tell you how you can start thinking a...
Feb 10, 2025•17 min•Season 2Ep. 458
January was chaotic for me, with family time over the holidays, snow days, travel for Podfest, and a house full of sick people. Despite all that, my business kept running smoothly thanks to the systems and processes I’ve built over the years. Instead of stressing over a “lost” month, I decided to start 2025 in February, reframing my timeline and giving myself permission to adapt. This experience reinforced the importance of creating margin—not just in your weekly schedule but as a core part of y...
Feb 03, 2025•19 min•Season 2Ep. 457
“How do I know if investing in automation is worth it?” This was a question someone asked me after my talk at Podfest. And it’s a fair question. We don’t want to waste time and money on something that won’t pay off. So in today’s episode, I tell you exactly how to know if automation and delegation are worth the investment. Top Takeaways Understand Opportunity Cost : Opportunity cost is the value of what you give up when choosing one activity over another. For solopreneurs, this often means the l...
Jan 27, 2025•20 min•Season 2Ep. 456
This one might ruffle some feathers, but I’m OK with that. I think we NEED to disclose the usage of AI in creative work more. It’s less about signaling that you cheated in some way — on the contrary, I don’t think using AI is de-facto cheating. It’s about honesty, integrity, and transparency. So my policy is simple: if you use AI to write, record, or produce something, it should be disclosed in the same way affiliate links or paid promotion has to be disclosed . And today, I explore why I feel s...
Jan 20, 2025•20 min•Season 2Ep. 455
Halfway through writing nearly 24 articles for my Podcast Advent project, I started to wonder if I was wasting my time. Is this worth it? Am I writing what people actually want to read? You’ve probably fallen into the same trap: spending hours creating content, unsure if it’s resonating with anyone. It’s frustrating, exhausting, and can feel like shouting into the void. But it doesn’t have to be this way. Today, we’re exploring a few things you can try to come up with content that resonates with...
Jan 13, 2025•25 min•Season 2Ep. 454
It's time for 2025's yearly theme. While The Year of Control didn't go as planned, I'm excited to have a much better plan in place for this year's theme, The Year of Being Present. Want even more podcast content, giving you a behind the scenes look at being a busy, solopreneur parent? Sign up for my free, private podcast at casabona.org/notes Show Notes My 2025 Yearly Theme Joe's Audio Notes Why We Need to Disclose AI Usage The Brick Focus App Send your feedback at streamlinedfeedback.com (00:00...
Jan 06, 2025•33 min•Season 2Ep. 453
I knew from a young age, I wanted to play the drums. I got my first small kit when I was five and when my friends and I started a "band," heavy quotes, I played paint buckets. When I was 15 years old, I knew I needed a real kit. This is the story of how I got it, and how one man's incredible kindness had a profound effect on me. Show Notes Read the Story at Casabona.org Rate: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Podchaser Get Unstuck in 2025 ———— Streamlined Solopreneur is the podcast for solopreneurs who...
Dec 20, 2024•8 min•Season 2Ep. 452
2024 has been a transformative year for me. I learned a ton about myself and my business, and for the first time in a while I feel like I’m not flailing. I’ll have the clearest plan I’ve had in a long time in 2025 — one that’s reinforced by conversations I’ve had, not just hunches. So for the last episode of the year, I wanted to do a quick year in review where I talk about my biggest success, my biggest failure, and the lessons I learn. Plus, some feedback from last week’s episode on using AI. ...
Dec 16, 2024•23 min•Season 2Ep. 447
It’s been two years since ChatGPT went mainstream, and AI has completely transformed how we work. While I maintain some hesitancy and skepticism in using AI, it has made it’s way into my daily life for certain tasks. While I’ll tell you all about that, I also talk about why the human touch will always matter, no matter how advanced these tools get. So strap in (yes, I wrote these words without any intervention from AI) for a look into how I’ve been using AI as a solopreneur. And don’t worry — I’...
Dec 09, 2024•27 min•Season 2Ep. 446
“Build your authority” feels like advice that’s often given without a solution attached. And it’s SO important to solopreneurs, especially since social media is no longer the best place to build a proper audience. That’s why I sat down with Jessica Lackey, a business and operations strategist who’s all about helping solopreneurs like us build real authority. We talked all about what you actually need to do to build authority – from understanding who you’re talking to, to the medium you use to ge...
Dec 02, 2024•55 min•Season 2Ep. 445
In this bonus episode, I share a gratitude-inspired look at the tools and habits that have shaped my year, including my favorite apps, services, and hardware. From time-saving actions to game-changing tech, this episode offers a sneak peek into my “favorites of the year” and how they’ve helped me reclaim time and focus. Links Obsidian Blank Spaces App The Brick I'm on Bluesky Audible ChatGPT Kindle Colorsoft My iPhone Home Screen ———— Streamlined Solopreneur is the podcast for solopreneurs who w...
Nov 30, 2024•21 min
