From Nerves to AI: My Podfest 2025 Adventure

It never fails—every time I get on stage, nerves hit like clockwork. My biggest challenge? Speed. When I’m nervous, I talk fast. And I mean mach-speed fast, like auctioneer-meets-coffee-junkie fast. So, my mantra—“Breathe and slow down”—is on a loop in my head for the first minute of any speech. Once I settle, though, it feels like second nature.

This year, I had the honor of speaking at Podfest 2025, the longest-running annual podcasting conference in the world. From its humble beginnings in 2015, Podfest has grown into a powerhouse, and this year was no exception, with over 3,000 attendees showing up to soak in the knowledge. It’s led by my good friend Nick Pavlidis, the CEO of Podfest—and, apparently, a killer drummer. Who knew? Nick closed out the show on the drums, and after knowing him for six years, I had no clue he had that skill up his sleeve. Mind blown.

The event was stacked with friends, too. I ran into folks from Julie Chennel’s Digital Insiders, a mastermind I’ve been part of and coached in for over five years. Plus, I saw familiar faces from Perry Belcher’s Ignite Mastermind, another rock-solid group. These masterminds are full of people who are driven, hungry, and action-oriented—the type of people who make showing up at events like this a no-brainer. It’s about more than just learning—it’s about being around like-minded individuals who support, listen, and share.

Here’s the thing: I’ve been attending events like this for over a decade, and I’m pretty selective about which ones make it to my calendar these days. But this one? It’s officially on my must-attend list. The energy, the topics, and the caliber of speakers were incredible. And you’ll never guess what the big talks revolved around. Take a wild guess… Yep, AI.

My speech, which packed the room to standing-room-only (no big deal, right?), was all about making your podcast profitable using AI. I even built a bot to help podcasters do just that—a personalized, 30-day podcast monetization plan builder. You can check it out here: Podcast Monetization Bot. If you’re thinking of starting a podcast, make sure to use this tool. Trust me, it’ll save you hours of planning and make your path to profitability way clearer.

All in all, Podfest was a blast—full of inspiring conversations, connections with like-minded friends, and unforgettable memories. If you’re into podcasting, tech, or just leveling up your business, don’t miss it next year. I guarantee you’ll leave with fresh ideas, new friends, and maybe even a little inspiration to make AI part of your podcasting strategy. Plus, who knows? You might even discover a hidden talent—like your friend secretly being a rock star on the drums. 😉

Mastering GoHighLevel Without Losing Your Mind

Let’s be real: GoHighLevel is a beast of a platform. It’s all-in-one, insanely powerful, and can feel like trying to drink from a firehose when you’re starting out. If you’ve ever found yourself wondering where to begin—or worse, tried learning everything all at once—this article is for you.

The folks in the video shared a step-by-step method to learn GoHighLevel efficiently, and it’s gold. After years of coaching clients, they’ve figured out the right way to get you from newbie to GoHighLevel pro without the headaches.

Here’s the roadmap to GoHighLevel mastery:

1. Start with Opportunities and Pipelines

• Think of this as your customer journey blueprint. Pipelines and opportunities help you map out what should happen at each stage of your customer’s experience.

• Build these first so everything else fits into the process seamlessly.

2. Master Forms, Surveys, Quizzes, and Chat Widgets

• These are your “starting actions” for customers. Whether it’s a lead magnet form, a quiz, or someone chatting with your widget, this is how you interact with potential clients for the first time.

• Get good at these next so your pipeline starts flowing.

3. Tackle Calendars

• Calendars are crucial for booking appointments, demos, or consultations. GoHighLevel has loads of calendar options—round-robin, event, and more—so it’s worth diving deep here.

• Set up your booking system to be slick and seamless.

4. Learn Payments

• From invoices to contracts, payments are essential for converting leads into customers. Setting up your payment systems properly ensures you’re ready when someone is ready to buy.

5. Master Communication Channels

• This includes emails, text messaging, and even integrations like Facebook Messenger.

• Understanding these tools lets you communicate with your audience wherever they are, whether it’s a nurturing email campaign or a quick follow-up text.

6. Build Funnels and Websites

• By now, you’ll have all the pieces to create killer funnels and websites. Use templates to save time and ensure all your assets (forms, calendars, chat widgets, etc.) have a home.

7. Add Memberships

• Many businesses thrive on memberships, communities, and courses. After setting up your funnels and websites, you can use GoHighLevel to create engaging membership areas.

8. Dive into Automations

• Automations bring it all together. They connect actions (like a form submission) to outcomes (like adding a lead to your email list).

• This is where GoHighLevel shines, saving you hours of manual work.

9. Experiment with AI

• Once you’ve mastered the basics, sprinkle in AI for that extra edge. Conversational AI, voice AI, and other tools enhance everything you’ve built.

💡Pro Tip: Stay Organized

Write this roadmap down or save it somewhere. Don’t skip steps or try to master everything at once. Take your time with each area, and you’ll build a system that’s not just functional but also efficient.

With the right approach, GoHighLevel becomes more than just software—it’s the backbone of a smooth, scalable business. Follow the steps, stay patient, and before you know it, you’ll be running circles around your competition. It’s not about learning everything; it’s about learning the right things in the right order. Let’s make that happen.

Setting Up Your GoHighLevel SaaS Like a Pro

Building a SaaS business with GoHighLevel is like putting together a giant Lego set—once you know where each piece goes, it’s surprisingly simple. This video dives into the nitty-gritty of setting up your GoHighLevel SaaS account from scratch, focusing on the agency side of things. It’s a lot, but don’t worry—I’ve broken it down into manageable chunks.

And here’s a little secret: this is the kind of step-by-step process we usually reserve for VIP members in our programs. After setting up 1,000+ SaaS accounts, we’re sharing some of our most valuable insights with you. Take notes—this is the stuff that saves you headaches (and countless hours).

1. Understand the Agency and Sub-Accounts

• The agency account is your control center—it handles system-level functions like billing, branding, and white-label settings.

• Every client you onboard will get their own sub-account. These accounts are where you manage client-specific operations: sending emails, creating funnels, and collecting payments.

• You’ll need your own sub-account too, so you can manage your SaaS business (think: welcome emails, payment processing, and communication with leads).

2. Set Up Your Agency Profile

• Fill in your company name, contact details, and time zone in the settings.

• Add a logo, privacy policy, and terms of service to reinforce your brand.

• Don’t forget to choose a white-label domain for your SaaS. This is where clients will log in—make it unique and professional.

3. Configure Email and Domain Settings

• Create a dedicated domain (e.g., [email protected]) for system notifications.

• Add DNS records to ensure emails and system links come from your branded domain. Tools like Cloudflare or GoDaddy make this process easier.

• For better deliverability, don’t skip adding DMARC and other email authentication records.

4. Enable Reselling Features

• Turn on features like AI assistants, workflow automation, and WhatsApp integrations.

• You can mark up pricing on these add-ons to generate extra revenue, but remember to enable rebilling so you don’t foot the bill for client overuse.

5. Build Pricing Plans and Snapshots

• Use the SaaS configurator to create subscription plans with your desired pricing tiers (e.g., $97/month for basic, $297/month for premium).

• Add snapshots to your plans. Snapshots are templates pre-loaded with funnels, automations, and more, giving clients an out-of-the-box experience tailored to your niche.

6. Set Up Notifications and Security

• Turn on alerts for client activity, like wallet usage or subscription renewals, so you’re always in the loop.

• Enable security features like two-factor authentication for added peace of mind.

• Decide whether clients can cancel subscriptions on their own or need to contact you first (a great way to handle objections before losing a customer).

7. Leverage LC Phone and Integrations

• For communication, GoHighLevel’s Lead Connector Phone is a game-changer. It simplifies setup and unlocks advanced features like AI voice IVR and call tracking.

• Integrate with Stripe to manage billing, collect payments, and automate invoicing.

8. Customize and Add Value

• Use custom menu links to embed unique features, like a “Support Portal” or “Learning Resources,” into your SaaS platform.

• Explore the App Marketplace for additional tools and integrations to offer clients.

• Keep beta features enabled to stay ahead of the curve and offer cutting-edge solutions.

💡Pro Tip: Start Small, Then Scale

When setting up your SaaS, it’s easy to get carried away with all the features and customizations. Start with a single pricing plan, a basic snapshot, and just a few add-ons. As you grow and understand your clients’ needs, you can expand offerings and refine your system.

The key is building a foundation that works for you and your clients. Once that’s in place, you’ll have a SaaS business that’s efficient, scalable, and ready to generate recurring revenue.

🌐AI Breakthroughs You (Probably) Missed This Week

AI isn’t slowing down, folks—it’s out here sprinting while the rest of us are still stretching. This week brought some absolute bangers in the world of AI, from smarter tools to research that’s basically reshaping how these systems think. Let’s unpack the cool stuff and, more importantly, why it matters to you.

1. ChatGPT Gets a Personal Assistant Upgrade

OpenAI just dropped a Tasks feature in ChatGPT. Think of it as your very own (unpaid) assistant that actually listens. You can now schedule recurring tasks like:

• Delivering AI news every morning (because who doesn’t love a side of tech with their coffee?).

• Sending daily content ideas, stock updates, or even Python coding challenges.

• Suggesting weekend activities based on your vibe and local weather.

• Creating meal plans (keto? vegan? taco-only? It’s got you).

Why It’s Awesome: For marketers, this means automating the little things—daily campaign updates, brainstorming sessions, or even your own fitness reminders. Less time clicking, more time crushing it.

2. Titans and Transformer²: The Future of Smarter AI

Let’s geek out for a second. Google introduced Titans, a model that combines short-term and long-term memory. It’s basically the AI version of Marie Kondo—keeping only the important info and ditching the rest. Meanwhile, Sakana AI launched Transformer², which uses a two-pass system to figure out what “expertise” (logic, creativity, or math) a task needs before it answers.

Why You Care: These advancements mean future AI will understand and respond to your prompts even better. Imagine an AI that’s not only fast but also insanely accurate—from strategizing campaigns to tackling nuanced customer queries.

3. AI Meets News: Real-Time Updates

OpenAI and Google are cozying up to news giants like Axios and the Associated Press to feed real-time updates into their models. This means tools like ChatGPT and Google Gemini are about to get a lot more relevant.

Translation for Marketers: Creating content based on trending news or market shifts just got easier. Forget the lag—your campaigns can be as fresh as your morning bagel.

4. MatterGen: AI That Invents New Stuff

Okay, this one is wild. Microsoft dropped MatterGen, a generative AI that designs brand-new materials. Think better batteries, stronger construction materials, or even carbon capture tech.

Why It’s Cool: While it’s not directly marketing-related (unless you’re in the “saving the planet” niche), this kind of tech could fuel future product innovation. Imagine marketing the next game-changing green product. Big flex, right?

5. AI for Marketers: Free Prompt Goldmine

HubSpot’s throwing us a bone with a free guide packed with 1,000+ prompts for everything from SEO to social media strategy. Example:

• “What’s the optimal price point for our service to maximize profits and appeal to customers?”

• “Write a content brief for an infographic that highlights our unique selling proposition.”

The Takeaway: These prompts let you squeeze every ounce of potential out of tools like ChatGPT, so you’re not just winging it—you’re winning it.

6. Video Creation Just Leveled Up

Tools like Luma Labs and Runway are cranking out AI-generated video content that’s getting scarily good. From cinematic scenes to quirky prompts like a taco-eating cat (yes, really), the possibilities are endless.

Why It Matters: Short-form video is dominating. If you can generate scroll-stopping visuals without spending hours (or a fortune), you’ve got a huge edge.

7. The U.S. Government vs. AI Chips

The U.S. is putting limits on who can buy advanced AI chips (spoiler: it’s not China). While this is more of a tech policy move, it’s worth noting because chip access affects how fast AI develops globally.

AI isn’t just a tool; it’s becoming the foundation of how we work, communicate, and innovate. Whether it’s automating tasks, creating smarter campaigns, or producing jaw-dropping videos, the opportunities are massive. But here’s the kicker: the earlier you adopt, the bigger the payoff. Don’t wait—start testing, tweaking, and building now.

Cool Sh*t We Found at CES 2025

CES never disappoints, and this year? Absolute tech heaven. From AI-powered keyboards to flying cars (seriously), the show was packed with innovation that’s equal parts futuristic and mind-blowing. Here’s the rundown of the coolest gadgets we found—and a few you’ll definitely want to brag about knowing first.

1. The AI Retractable Keyboard

It’s not just a keyboard; it’s a whole vibe. This mechanical wonder comes with:

• Automatic transmission: Switch seamlessly between typing and mouse mode with a flick of your wrist.

• Built-in Linux computer: Yes, it’s basically a mini PC.

• AI hand tracking: A Raspberry Pi monitors your posture to know what you want to do next.

  Why It’s Cool: It’s like being a hacker in a movie but actually functional. Still a prototype, but it’s set to hit the market mid-year.

2. Humanlike Robots That Chat

Meet Melody from Realbtics—a humanoid robot designed for social interaction. She’s built to:

• Make you laugh, chat casually, and maybe freak you out with her lifelike face.

• Be modular, so you can design her appearance to your liking.

• Avoid the dreaded Uncanny Valley with a balance of realism and comfort.

  Why It’s Cool: Whether it’s customer service or just company, these robots bring us one step closer to living in a sci-fi novel.

3. AI-Infused Smart Glasses

Luxa’s Rayband glasses combine fashion and functionality with:

• Onboard AI: Ask it for weather updates, nearby restaurants, or just a pep talk.

• Polarized lenses: Anti-glare for sunny days.

• Rechargeable case: You’re always powered up.

  Why It’s Cool: It’s like having a digital assistant perched on your nose. And starting at $299, they’re actually affordable.

4. Motorized Carry-On Luggage

Autos unveiled a $500 carry-on that:

• Moves itself (finally, no dragging).

• Charges your phone while rolling around.

• Has a range of up to 10 km per charge.

  Why It’s Cool: Because walking through the airport is overrated, and you’ve got emails to send.

5. Bendable Monitors and Transparent TVs

LG is redefining screens:

• Bendable Monitor: Switch from flat to curved at the push of a button. Perfect for work-to-gaming transitions.

• Transparent OLED TV: It’s a literal window into the future—until you hit a button, and it turns into a full TV. Yours for a cool $60,000.

  Why It’s Cool: These aren’t just displays; they’re statements.

6. Flying Cars Are (Almost) Here

The Xang AoT combines a hybrid vehicle with an aircraft that:

• Charges in your car and flies you to scenic destinations.

• Offers semi-autonomous piloting for safety.

• Costs a jaw-dropping $300,000 for the bundle.

  Why It’s Cool: Who needs a drone when you are the drone?

7. Indoor Gardening Goes High-Tech

The Plantform Smart Garden is like having a NASA scientist in your kitchen:

• Uses aeroponics for 50% less water usage and faster growth.

• Adjusts temperature, humidity, and light for perfect veggies.

• Costs $499, including seeds and nutrients.

  Why It’s Cool: Even if you’ve killed every plant you’ve ever owned, this one’s basically foolproof.

8. A Rollable Laptop Screen

Lenovo’s ThinkBook Plus is:

• A compact 14-inch laptop that expands to 16.7 inches with a rollable vertical screen.

• Ideal for multitasking, coding, or binge-watching TikToks.

  Why It’s Cool: It’s like origami, but for productivity.

9. Neural Earbuds

Noi’s neural earbuds offer hands-free, screen-free control using micro facial gestures. Yep, your earbuds are reading your mind—or close enough.

Why It’s Cool: This tech could redefine accessibility and hands-free navigation. And let’s be honest—it just sounds badass.

10. Pocket-Sized Projectors

A true pocket projector that:

• Outputs in 720p up to 80 inches.

• Pairs directly with your phone—no clunky hardware required.

  Why It’s Cool: Big screen, no bulk. Perfect for impromptu movie nights or business presentations.

💲Deals at a Glance

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