The Cliff Ravenscraft Show

  In this episode, I take you even further down the rabbit hole of vibe coding and share what I have built in just one week using Replit and AI-assisted development. What started as curiosity quickly turned into a fully functioning software tool I am actively using in my own workflow. I walk through the evolution of my new app, PodBriefer—why I built it, how it works, and the real-world problems it solves for me as a coach working with entrepreneurs who are also content creators. I explain how the app lets me subscribe to podcasts, search the Apple Podcasts directory, store episodes locally for instant access, generate transcripts, download audio files, and analyze content without the friction I used to accept as normal. I also share how I am using custom GPTs to create deep-dive summaries, pull quotes, action items, and insights from transcripts. You will hear how I connected the app to Kindle to automatically turn podcast episodes into EPUBs, complete with cover art, show notes, transcripts, and a table of contents, so I can read, highlight, and extract notes directly into my thinking and journaling workflow. Along the way, I talk candidly about costs, tradeoffs, beta limitations, and what this kind of tool might make possible in the future, both for me and potentially for others. This episode is a behind-the-scenes look at how AI is changing the way I build, think, and work right now. Affiliate Link For Replit: If you are curious about vibe coding and want to explore Replit for yourself, visit podcastanswerman.com/replit to check it out. Next Level Mastermind or One-On-One Coaching If you are interested in the Next Level Mastermind, one-on-one coaching, or want to talk about whether any of this fits into your own creative or business journey, email me at cliff@cliffravenscraft.com.  

This episode is another audio journal. I share some of the big projects that caught my attention this week. I'm excited to be speaking at Social Media Marketing World in 2026 with a 90-minute workshop on podcasting. I also submitted a talk for PodFest Expo 2027. I share my history with payment processing as an online business owner, a recent purchase related to my obsession with e-ink e-reader devices, and my initial thoughts after my first attempt at developing my own online software. Join Us In The Next Level Mastermind If you’re listening to this and recognizing yourself in the way I’m thinking out loud here. Juggling big ideas, meaningful projects, and the desire to build something that truly matters. You might be the kind of person I created the Next Level Mastermind for. It’s a small, intentional group of experienced creators and entrepreneurs who want space to think clearly, be challenged honestly, and move forward with greater confidence and alignment. If you’re curious whether this might be the right environment for you, email me directly at cliff@cliffravenscraft.com.  

This episode of The Cliff Ravenscraft Show is an unplugged audio journal. I’m recording this one week after returning home from PodFest 2026. My voice isn’t fully back. My energy isn’t fully restored. And that’s exactly why I wanted to hit record. Rather than teach or present a framework, I wanted to bring you into the lived experience of the past few weeks. The lead-up to PodFest. The physical toll of not fully recovering before traveling. The emotional weight of reconnecting with people who have been part of my journey for nearly two decades. And the clarity that began to surface only after I came home and slowed down. Being back in rooms with people I influenced, who stood with me as we were shaping the podcasting industry, stirred something I didn’t realize I had set aside. The conversations we had reminded me why this work has mattered to me for so long. Coming home also brought reality with it. A full inbox. Dozens of follow-ups. Hundreds of new and renewed connections. And the recognition that one of the offers I brought back, Podcasting A to Z, no longer matched the people I was now in conversation with. In this episode, I share why I chose to pause group enrollment for Podcasting A to Z, what that decision clarified for me, and how one unexpected conversation led to the return of the Next Level Mastermind. This is an authentic, behind the scenes episode that provides a snapshot of a moment where recovery, discernment, and alignment are all happening at once. If anything in this episode resonates with you, I’d love to hear from you. You can email me at Cliff@CliffRavenscraft.com. I read every message and reply personally, even if it takes me a little time. Thanks for being here with me.  

For years, people have looked at my body of work and seen a lot of different podcasts, newsletters, live streams, and conversations. What they could not see was the pattern underneath it all. Today, I have clarity around and language for the system I accidentally built over the last two decades. This clarity changes how I see everything I create. In this episode, I walk through the three podcasts that are my primary focus and explain how each one plays a specific role in moving someone from discovering me for the first time, to trusting me, and then to making the decision to work with me. My Three Podcasts Podcast Answer Man The Cliff Ravenscraft Show What Are You Creating? Podcast Answer Man - The Front Door Podcast Answer Man is my top of funnel. It is where people find me because they already have a problem they want solved. They are searching: How do I start a podcast? How do I grow a podcast? How do I fix this audio issue? How do I come up with new ideas for content? How can I streamline my content creation process? That kind of search comes from someone who is already motivated to take action. Podcast Answer Man is show that is there to answer these questions and to introduce them to my world. Podcast Answer Man will feed directly into the following: My Podcasting A to Z Group Coaching Program My Paid Podcast Consulting My Digital Tutorials Affiliate Income from trusted Tool and Resource recommendations. Podcasting is a high intent market. Someone searching for answers related to podcasting is already holding a credit card emotionally, even if they have not pulled it out yet. Once they introduced to the answers I provide to their podcast related questions, they will quickly discover that I offer far more value to their entrepreneurial journey beyond just the tech. The Cliff Ravenscraft Show Builds - The Trust Builder This show isn't designed to attract cold listeners. Only one type of person searches for a show titled "The Cliff Ravenscraft Show" in a podcast directory, someone who already knows a guy named Cliff Ravenscraft exists. This podcast is my relationship engine. People who already know me through Podcast Answer Man, referrals, or social media come here to understand how I think, how I decide, and how I live inside my business. TCRS positions me as a professional business owner who specializes in business strategy and mindset, not just a technician. The Cliff Ravenscraft Show will feed directly into the following: My Business Strategy & Mindset Coaching. My Next Level Mastermind. My In Person Workshops & Events. My other Premium Offerings What Are You Creating? - My Networking Channel What Are You Creating? is my interview format podcast. Each episode features a conversation with entrepreneurs, creators, and visionaries building work aligned with their deepest passions. These stories are filled with sparks. Sparks that can ignite new possibilities for your own life and business. You may discover income streams you’ve never considered, ways to align your passions with your work, or fresh inspiration to start creating something of your own. Here are the main benefits of having your own interview format podcast. It creates a natural reason to reach out to people who would otherwise be difficult to connect with. A podcast invitation feels generous. It gives you instant access to people who already have earned trust and credibility with your ideal audience. It allows you to borrow relevance without pretending to be someone you are not. You show up as the curious, thoughtful host who creates space for meaningful conversation. It positions you as a peer in the room with leaders in your niche. It builds a relationship before it ever needs to become anything else. Trust grows through conversation long before there is any talk of collaboration or opportunity. It turns networking into something that feels human. Instead of collecting business cards, you are having real conversations. It opens doors to speaking, partnerships, referrals, and friendships that almost never come from cold outreach. It lets your voice and perspective be experienced in context, alongside respected people, which quietly builds confidence in you. It creates momentum. Each guest often leads to the next, expanding your network and your reach in a way that compounds over time. A major feature of this podcast is to grow my peer group, my referral network, and my reputation as someone who has meaningful conversations with interesting people doing important work. With this show, I don't focus on download counts, subscriber growth, or metrics. The primary outcome I'm looking for is the relationship I build with each guest. This allows me to show up fully present and curious, without an agenda. People can feel that. How It All Works Together Most people try to teach, tell their story, and interview guests all in one feed. I don't judge that approach, but I've found it confuses the audience and muddles the show's purpose. I separated them. Each show has one job. Podcast Answer Man answers the questions my ideal clients are actively searching for. The Cliff Ravenscraft Show helps people who have discovered me understand the depth of what I offer beyond the answers to their tech questions. What Are You Creating? helps me expand my peer group. This matches exactly how my highest-paid clients find me. Most discover me through podcasting help. They stay because they connect with how I think about business and mindset. They deepen their relationship with me through the conversations I have with my peers and the relationships I build. I accidentally built this over twenty years. Now I finally have language for it.  

In this episode, I share a deeply personal and wide ranging conversation I recently had with Greg Gerber, host of the Forward From 50 podcast. Greg originally came into my world more than a decade ago as a Podcasting A to Z student. Today, he hosts a show dedicated to people over fifty who know their best work is still ahead of them. The conversation became a powerful reflection on identity, ambition, reinvention, and what it means to step fully into the work you were made to do. This conversation tells the story of my journey from insurance agent to podcaster, from Podcast Answer Man to mindset and business strategist, and now into this next chapter where everything is coming together with more clarity and alignment than ever before. Key insights from this conversation Your voice and desire to communicate are not accidents. They are clues to what you are here to do. Mine started with CB radio and a toy microphone long before podcasting ever existed. Leaving a career that works is often harder than leaving one that fails. Walking away from insurance, and later from Podcast Answer Man, required trusting who I was becoming more than what I had already built. Podcasting A to Z did far more than launch shows. It revealed that most people were really looking for business clarity, confidence, and a way to create income and impact from what they already knew. The difference between a hobby and a business is not a podcast. It is having a clear ideal client, a real problem, and a way to solve it that people are willing to pay for. Your identity is not the role you played. Losing a job or retiring does not mean you lost who you are. It just means one chapter ended. Journaling is one of the fastest ways to reconnect with who you are, why you are here, and what you actually want. Desire is not something to be justified. It is something to be listened to. The 50 Things I Want exercise is a way to let that voice speak again. The people you surround yourself with either expand your vision or quietly shrink it. Choose wisely. The return of Podcast Answer Man is not nostalgia. It is a strategic move made possible by new tools, better leverage, and a deeper understanding of how I serve people best. The first fifty years of my life were preparation for the work I am doing now. Ready to start your own podcast If this episode stirred something in you and you have been thinking about starting a podcast or finally taking the one you have more seriously, I invite you to join me for my next session of Podcasting A to Z. This is my four week live coaching experience where you and I work together to turn your idea, message, and voice into real impact. You can learn more and register at PodcastingAtoZ.com  

In this episode, I share a full behind the scenes look at everything I have been working on since I made the decision to bring Podcast Answer Man and Podcasting A to Z back as a primary focus in my business. Episode 802 was the story of why this decision happened. This episode is the story of what actually happened next. Over the past month, I have been rebuilding, reconnecting, and reactivating an entire ecosystem that had been dormant for nearly a decade. In this conversation, I walk you through the real work behind the scenes. The relationships, the systems, the strategy, and the momentum that started moving the moment I committed to this direction. I talk about landing a speaking engagement at Podfest Expo and what that means for reconnecting with the podcasting community. I share how reconnecting with people like Nick Pavlidis and Rob Greenlee has already started opening doors and reconnecting relationships in the industry. I also walk through how Podcast Answer Man is now back on a true weekly publishing schedule. Every Friday at 12:01am Eastern Time, there is a new episode. I also announce that The Cliff Ravenscraft Show is now back to a weekly schedule as well. Every Monday at 12:01am Eastern Time, there will be a new episode focused on business strategy, mindset, and the behind the scenes of what I am building. I share some of the emotional responses I have already received from longtime listeners who heard the Podcast Answer Man intro music again for the first time in years. Those messages reminded me just how meaningful this work has been in people’s lives for more than two decades. I also talk about the strategic decisions I have made to support this new season, including moving the Podcast Answer Man website to PodPage, setting up new affiliate partnerships, rebuilding the Podcasting A to Z sales page, and launching a new series of live interviews called Where Are They Now featuring former Podcasting A to Z students who are still creating content more than a decade later. A big part of this episode is dedicated to the work I have been doing behind the scenes on my email list. I explain why I moved back to ConvertKit, how I am rebuilding my email sequences, and how I am creating separate paths for people who want podcasting focused content and those who want business, mindset, and entrepreneurial content. This episode is a snapshot of a turning point. It captures what it looks like when an idea becomes a commitment and when momentum starts to build. If you want the deeper story of why Podcast Answer Man came back, listen to Episode 802. If you want to understand how everything is now being built to support that decision, this episode is the next chapter. Thank you for being here and for walking with me through this season of growth and realignment. Links Mentioned In This Episode Podcast Answer Man https://PodcastAnswerMan.com Podcast Answer Man Episode 477 Why I Moved the Podcast Answer Man Website to PodPage https://PodcastAnswerMan.com/477 Podfest Expo https://PodfestExpo.com Use promo code PAM for 10 percent off tickets Podcasting A to Z https://PodcastingAtoZ.com PodPage https://PodcastAnswerMan.com/podpage ConvertKit (Kit) https://PodcastAnswerMan.com/kit Kajabi https://PodcastAnswerMan.com/kajabi What Are You Creating Podcast https://www.cliffravenscraft.com/podcasts/what-are-you-creating Free the Dream Keynote https://MindsetAnswerMan.com/free Podcasting A to Z If you have been thinking about starting a podcast or you already have one but feel stuck, this is your invitation. Podcasting A to Z is my four week live coaching program where I personally walk you through every step of launching or refining your podcast. You get direct access to me, weekly group coaching calls, and the ability to ask as many questions as you want. I will answer every single one. The next session begins January 26. If you are ready to finally put your voice into the world or take your existing podcast to a higher level, go to PodcastingAtoZ.com and join me. This is a guided experience where you have me as your coach. I would love to work with you.  

Twenty years ago, I launched my very first podcast with no idea where it would lead. What began as a hobby eventually changed the trajectory of my life, my work, and my family. It also led to the creation of Podcast Answer Man and Podcasting A to Z, two things that played a massive role in the early podcasting industry. If you’ve followed my journey for any length of time, you know that I eventually stepped away from that brand and that work. And for years, many people assumed it was gone for good. In this episode, I share the full story of why Podcast Answer Man is back, why Podcasting A to Z is returning. What led to this return The spark came during a Hot Seat inside my Green Room Mastermind. I share how a simple technical question about podcast gear led to a realization that everything that once made Podcast Answer Man unsustainable has changed. With tools like Notion and AI, what used to take hours can now be done accurately and with integrity in a fraction of the time. Combined with clearer boundaries, daily meditation, nervous system regulation, and a very different life stage, the conditions that once led to burnout no longer exist. This return is about integrating everything I’ve learned since leaving. A conversation with Stephanie Stephanie joins me in this conversation to reflect on what she has witnessed during this season of renewal. We talk about why the version of me who stepped away from Podcast Answer Man years ago had to do so in order for the version of me today to bring it back. We also explore how Podcast Answer Man has always been the easiest entry point into my world. It is how thousands of people first discovered me. From there, many went on to launch podcasts, build businesses, and eventually work with me in deeper ways through coaching, masterminds, and long-term relationships. Why this matters now This return is about bringing everything I have learned over the past two decades into a more integrated way of serving. Podcasting, business strategy, mindset, and personal growth now live together in a single ecosystem, with Podcast Answer Man once again serving as the front door. From there, there are many ways I serve today. Podcasting A to Z. Business strategy and mindset coaching. Mastermind groups. Long-term client relationships. This return reconnects all of it. Subscribe To Podcast Answer Man Podcast Answer Man returns as a weekly show focused on podcasting, gear, tools, industry insights, and listener questions. You can find Podcast Answer Man at PodcastAnswerMan.com, where you will also find links to all the major podcast apps and a place to submit your own podcasting questions. The Cliff Ravenscraft Show will continue as a weekly show. This podcast is a space for mindset, personal personal development, and deeper behind-the-scenes conversations about building meaningful work. Podcasting A to Z If you want to work with me personally and be guided step by step through launching your podcast, you can join me for my next live session of Podcasting A to Z at PodcastingAtoZ.com.  

In this episode, I share the honest moment when I reached the end of September and realized my business was not heading in the direction I wanted. I walk you through the course correction that followed, the clarity that came from a deep review of my life and work, and the renewed alignment that shaped the path forward. You’ll hear the full story behind how I realigned my business and the exact process I will now use for my quarterly reviews. Episodes Mentioned in This Conversation TCRS 514, TCRS 518, and TCRS 519 (Not as important as the following) TCRS 537 – Six Months After The Big Leap TCRS 565 – Success & Failures: What I learned from my first year after The Big Leap Journal Prompts For My Quarterly Review What story am I telling myself about who I am and the work I'm doing in the world? Does this story empower me to show up, meet a need presented in the marketplace with validated products and services, and do so in a way that feels aligned and fulfilling? Have I drifted or slipped back into a hypnotic rhythm in any of the following categories? Physical Fitness Intentional Eating Business Income and Profit Nurturing existing client relationships Planting seeds to establish and nurture new relationships Content production If drifting has occurred, what can I learn about the cause of the drift? What patterns can be observed and disrupted? For each area that needs improvement, use this strategy: Describe the current results. Create a mind map of the perfect system that created the undesired result(s). Describe the desired outcome, moving forward from here. Create a mind map of the ideal system that will achieve the desired outcome. Create a strategy to implement and track this new system. Identify any limiting beliefs, or a narrative in my mind, that may be blocking me from taking action in this new system. Year End Coaching Offer If you’d like help walking through this process in your own life and business, I currently have an offer available for those ready to realign, reset, and move forward with clarity and momentum. This offer is described at the end of the episode. Learn more and sign up here: https://www.cliffravenscraft.com/offers/Vo7qVDhe/checkout  

In this episode I talk about something I’ve seen a lot lately. People tell me they want to move forward. They want to start the thing, launch the idea, reach out to the person, publish the content, say yes to the opportunity. But they’re stuck because the unknowns feel too big and the confidence simply isn’t there. The problem is that confidence doesn’t show up at the beginning. Confidence is the reward for taking action. It only comes after you’ve stepped into something new, realized your worst fears didn’t come true, and built enough real experience to trust yourself in that environment. Even after all these years, I still feel that tension when I’m introduced to someone new. Especially when their online presence is polished, impressive, and perfectly curated. My old patterns pop up. Who am I to talk with this person? Will I bring value? Will I land with their audience? There are three important words that I share in this episode: Courage, Confidence, and Curiosity. Courage. The willingness to say yes even when the outcome is unknown. If I am courageous enough to take the step, then something interesting happens. My worst fears usually don’t come true. I learn something. I grow. And over time, with enough reps, I develop confidence. But the confidence never comes first. Recently, though, I’ve added a third ingredient. And it has been the biggest shift of all. Curiosity. Curiosity dissolves fear. It lets me walk into a new room without the burden of needing anything to happen. Instead of pressure, I enter with wonder. Why was this introduction made? What could come from this connection? What can I learn from this person? How might I serve? Is there resonance here? And if not, what clarity does that give me? Curiosity brings me back to presence. It clears the anxiety that shows up the day before a call, or the hour before it starts, or the five minutes before we go live. Curiosity lets me move forward without being attached to any particular outcome. I don’t have to prove myself. I don’t have to impress. I simply get to explore what is possible. In this episode I break down how these three ingredients work together. Courage gets you moving. Curiosity keeps you grounded. Confidence grows from experience and repetition. If you have an area in your life where you’ve been waiting for confidence before you take action, my hope is that this conversation frees you from that waiting. You won’t feel confident before you begin. You’ll feel confident because you began. I’d love to hear what this brings up for you. You can email me at Cliff@CliffRavenscraft.com. Let’s Work Together: I have a special Black Friday coaching offer. It includes three ninety-minute one-on-one coaching sessions with me, plus full access to both my Free the Dream online course and my Building an Online Business course. If you want direct support, clarity on your next steps, and momentum heading into the new year, reach out and put “Coaching Offer” in the subject line.  

In this episode I return to my Podcast Answer Man roots and share an in-depth review of my newest and most unexpected favorite piece of podcast gear. The Zoom PodTrak P4next! This tiny device delivers almost everything I rely on from the Rodecaster Pro 2 at a fraction of the size and a fraction of the cost, coming in at only $179. I'll walk you through how I discovered it, my initial skepticism, and why seeing the Zoom name made me give it a chance. I'm so glad I did. I'll share what the Zoom PodTrak P4next does, how I'm using it, why it has already earned a permanent place in my travel setup, and why I might even replace my Rodecaster Pro 2 in the studio. I recorded this episode from the front seat of my car to demonstrate how powerful this device is for portable recording. You'll hear the quality of the preamps and the impressive noise reduction capabilities in action. I talk about the power options, multitrack capability, four XLR inputs, mix-minus support, sound pads, four independently controlled headphone outputs, built in audio recorder and more. I also share the story of why this little recorder solves technical problems I have carried for years. If you have been looking for a reliable way to record multiple microphones on the road, or if you want to build a complete podcast studio that fits in a backpack, this episode will show you how simple, and inexpensive, it can be. Portable Gear Recommendations Many listeners and viewers ask for my current recommendations for a complete portable recording setup. Here's the list with affiliate links. Primary Device Zoom PodTrak P4next - https://amzn.to/4rA85fY Microphone Options Heil PR-40 - https://amzn.to/4iofavZ If you want something more portable, my long-time favorite was the Audio Technica ATR-2100. It is no longer manufactured, so my best current guess for a quality budget dynamic mic is the Rode PodMic Cardioid Dynamic Broadcast Microphone found at https://amzn.to/4rgUIBf Cables Three foot XLR mic cables - https://amzn.to/43UbqMC Stands Portable mic stand options - https://amzn.to/3MmDMJf Headphones Sony MDR-7506 - https://amzn.to/3M0apwo Replacement ear pads for the MDR-7506 - https://amzn.to/3M0gj0z Closing Thought If this episode inspires you to pick up the Zoom PodTrak P4next, I would love to hear about it. Send me an email and let me know how this episode inspired you. My email is Cliff@CliffRavenscraft.com.  

Today’s episode is something a little different. I recorded this message from the front seat of my car (my “mobile studio”) during one of those early morning creative bursts that often come during my fall routines. Before we dive in, you’ll notice the audio quality sounds a little different than my usual in-studio setup. I explain why in the intro, but the short version is this: I’ve been waking up at 4:30 a.m., heading to Planet Fitness, and spending time journaling, praying, reading, and creating from that sacred space of solitude. Sometimes inspiration hits right there in the car, and I don’t want to wait until I’m back at my desk to capture it. What follows is a message I felt deeply compelled to share. It’s about something I’ve been noticing, in myself and in other creators, as AI tools become part of our daily workflow. We’re all starting to sound the same. In this episode, I talk about: How AI-generated phrasing has become a dead giveaway in so much content. The subtle rhythms that make a piece of writing or video sound “machine-shaped.” My own experiences using ChatGPT for content creation (and where it crossed the line). Why I’m returning to more unscripted, unpolished, human communication. How we can still use AI as a thought partner without losing our authentic voice. This episode is about remembering what people really connect with: honesty, imperfection, and lived experience. I hope this message encourages you to bring your unpolished, unscripted voice back into your creative process. Until next time, I encourage you to take everything you do in life and business, and content creation, to the next level.

Today, I had an incredible conversation with Austin Armstrong, an entrepreneur, speaker, and creator whose journey perfectly embodies what it means to stop thinking like a content creator and start thinking like a business owner who creates content. Austin is the founder of Syllaby, an AI-powered video marketing platform that helps entrepreneurs and service-based business owners simplify content creation and stay consistent across every major platform. He’s also the author of the upcoming book Virality!, which unpacks two decades of lessons from his evolution as a creator, marketer, and business builder. In our conversation, we explored: How Austin went from MySpace “trains” to building multi–seven-figure businesses powered by organic content. The story behind Syllaby, and how a simple pivot in messaging saved the company. What it really means to create systems that turn followers into customers. Austin’s powerful S.T.A.R.T. Video Framework for crafting scroll-stopping, lead-generating videos. The biggest mistakes creators make when chasing virality, and what to do instead. I loved this conversation because it’s about realizing that your content should serve your mission, not the other way around. Austin’s energy, humility, and depth of experience made this an enjoyable conversation. If you’re a creator, coach, or entrepreneur looking to build something that lasts, you’re going to want to listen to this one from start to finish. The Path Forward If this episode resonated with you, I highly encourage you to pre-order Austin’s new book, Virality! It’s filled with proven frameworks, practical tools, and hard-won lessons that will help you think, act, and grow like a business owner who creates content. 👉 Pre-order Virality! on Amazon  

I’m working with a client who is a gifted communicator with years of real-world experience. He kept hearing that paid speaking is off limits unless you are already well known, can sell tickets by name alone, or have a massive audience. I knew that wasn’t the full story. So I brought in someone I trust and have known for nearly 15 years, Grant Baldwin, to walk through what actually works today for getting paid to speak without celebrity status. Grant has trained thousands of speakers and built The Speaker Lab into a respected, enduring brand, one that has ranked on the Inc. 5000 list of the fastest, growing privately held companies in the United States for five consecutive years. What This Episode Is… And Who It’s For This conversation is designed for strong communicators who are comfortable on a stage and want to translate that skill into paid opportunities. If that’s you, you’ll find a clear framework, realistic fee guidance, what event planners actually want, and the specific outreach and follow-up cadence that moves you from “aspiring” to “booked.” Core Mindset Shift: From “Be Famous” To “Solve A Specific Problem” Event planners aren’t always evaluating your follower count. They are reducing risk. They want a reliable speaker who can solve one specific problem for one specific audience and make the organizer look like a hero for choosing wisely. If Oprah or a former president is headlining, tickets sell on name alone. For the rest of us, the job is to solve a defined problem so well that attendees are grateful and organizers are relieved they chose us. The trap to avoid: “I can speak to anyone about anything.” Don’t be a buffet. Be a steakhouse. A steakhouse does one thing exceptionally well. Most buffets do many things mediocre. Your positioning must signal sharp focus, not “I do it all.” Practical implication: Choose a niche problem and audience, and let everything else in your marketing reinforce that narrow, valuable focus. The SPEAK Framework Grant Teaches (And How To Apply It) Grant uses a five-part framework. I’ll restate it with my commentary and application steps you can take immediately. S - Select a problem to solve Pick one clear problem for one identifiable audience. Validate it by confirming that organizations actually hire speakers on that topic. Avoid niche passions that no one budgets for on stage. Look for the Venn overlap between what you love, what you’re skilled at, and what event buyers pay for. Quick validators you can run this week: Make a list of real conferences or associations where your topic would fit. Start with local, state, and regional events rather than national headliners that pay six figures to celebrity keynoters. Identify a few working speakers one or two steps ahead of you as benchmarks. If no one exists in your proposed niche, that’s not a blue ocean. It’s likely a market that doesn’t buy talks on that topic. P - Prepare your talk Design a talk that offers a concrete solution to the chosen audience’s felt need. Make sure the talk aligns with what planners already hire speakers to address. Your talk is a product. It must reduce the organizer’s risk and fulfill the promise in the program description. Tip: If there’s a personal subtopic you care about that isn’t a main-stage draw, embed it as a 5 to 10 percent segment within a widely purchased theme, rather than making it the headline. This blends your passion with market reality without performing a bait-and-switch. E - Establish yourself as the expert You need a sharp, professional website and a demo video. Event planners who hire speakers will compare you to several other speakers. Your materials must look as good or better than your fee peers, because people judge books by their covers, especially under risk. You do not need to spend tens of thousands, but you do need clarity and quality. What to include: Crisp positioning: audience, problem, outcome. A talk page with titles, descriptions, and learning outcomes. Select testimonials that match your audience and topic. A short, high-quality demo reel showing stage presence and audience engagement. A - Acquire paid speaking gigs This is where most speakers falter. Do not wait passively for inquiries. Identify target events, start conversations, and follow up with discipline. Smaller events are not “lesser.” They are accessible and often pay in the $1,000 to $5,000 range for quality speakers who fit well. Those reps build momentum and referrals. A starter outreach line that works: “When will you start reviewing speakers for your [season/year] event?” You’re aligning to their process, not forcing a pitch at the wrong time. If they say, “in three months,” get explicit permission to follow up, then actually follow up in three months with a helpful, short note. They won’t expect you to do it. Showing up reliably previews how good you’ll be to work with. My added tactic: Use Facebook groups where your audience gathers to crowdsource a list of live events they already attend. Ask, “If someone wanted to fully immerse in solving [problem], what live events should they attend?” Now you have a prospect list drawn from the market itself. Then apply the outreach process above. I share the exact post volume thresholds and how I used this approach during my Free The Dream years. K - Know when to scale Speaking can be the whole business or the front end of a larger business. Some speakers aim for many gigs and fee growth. Others use speaking primarily to acquire coaching, consulting, or long-term clients worth tens of thousands, which can dwarf the fee itself. Decide your model early, then shape your targeting and topic accordingly. What To Charge When You’re Getting Started Set expectations realistically. Most speakers who are early in their professional journey charge between $1,000 and $5,000 for the first several paid gigs, with growth as reps, results, and marketing assets improve. Fees vary by industry: corporations generally pay more than nonprofits, for example. Your website, demo video, testimonials, and relevance to that organizer’s audience all factor into perceived value. If you are already collecting checks in the $10,000 to $25,000 range, you’re likely in a pond that routinely books at that level, with the credentials and references to match. Your materials and proof must stand shoulder to shoulder with other speakers priced similarly. The decision-maker is weighing risk. Your job is to make the yes feel safe. How Event Planners Think: Risk, Fit, Proof Event planners and committees are in the risk mitigation business. They need to justify why choosing you is safe. The fastest way to help them feel safe is to present tightly aligned positioning, a clear solution for their audience, relevant testimonials, and a professional demo that shows what they will see on their stage. If you’re a known quantity in their industry, you reduce risk further. Translation: Your niche experience matters. Even if you want to speak beyond your current industry later, start where you already have credibility and connections. Build momentum there, then expand. Be The Steakhouse, Not The Buffet We swapped a memorable story about a dinner in Vegas that nails this point. A top steakhouse has a short menu. It’s exceptional at one thing. Too many speakers showcase a menu of twenty topics across every domain. That spreads you thin and confuses buyers. You don’t become referable as “the person who solves X.” Choose X. Then keep saying X. Building Momentum: Breakouts, Workshops, Local and Regional Stages Keynotes are the glory slot, but many buyers hire outstanding breakout or workshop speakers they’ve never heard of. Target smaller, local, or state-level events where budgets are sensible and competition is less fierce. Use these to gather testimonials and in-industry proof. The more you speak, the more you speak. People in the seats are often the next bookers. Referrals compound. Proactive Prospecting And Follow-Up: Exactly How To Do It Most speakers fail because they wait. Here’s a workable cadence: Build a prospect list of the right-fit events. Send a short, no-pressure opener: “When will you start reviewing speakers?” Capture their answer and permission to follow up. Follow up exactly when promised with a crisp, helpful note. Keep the thread warm with brief check-ins aligned to their process, not your pitch calendar. This shows the organizer what it’s like to work with you. Reliability beats bravado. My supplement to this: Source events by asking active Facebook groups where your audience congregates which conferences they actually attend. Then research and contact those events using the cadence above. Two Viable Business Models: Fee-First vs. Lead-Gen-First Fee-first speakers optimize for the check, the travel schedule, and fee growth over time. Lead-gen-first speakers optimize for speaking to rooms filled with ideal buyers, then convert into higher lifetime value offers such as retainers, advisory, or premium programs. In some niches, a single client is worth more than the speaking fee. Choose the model that matches your goals and build your targeting and talk to support it. Host Your Own Stage To Create Reps And Proof You don’t have to wait for an invitation. Design a focused one-day workshop around your problem-audience fit, sell tickets, and put yourself on stage. This both validates your topic and produces assets, testimonials, and compelling footage for your reel. Tactical Tips, Stories, And Subtleties You Might Miss On First Listen Expectations prevent discouragement. Speaker fees range from a few hundred to hundreds of thousands. Unless your name sells tickets, start where the market is and grow. Manage expectations early so you stay persistent long enough to break through. Industry matters. Corporate, association, education, nonprofit, faith, and government markets all have different norms and ranges. Choose the pond that fits your topic, background, and goals. Marketing assets are

In this episode, I sit down with Kevin Thompson, a man who has built an extraordinary business around something most people only do out of kindness: connecting others. I’ve met plenty of people over the years who are natural connectors. They love introducing friends, clients, and peers to each other. Those introductions often lead to life-changing opportunities. But Kevin is the first person I’ve met who figured out how to turn that gift into a sustainable business model. Kevin’s story begins with more than a decade in the publishing world, where he grew his company through over 600 strategic partnerships. Along the way, he discovered how much joy he found in helping people meet and collaborate. For years, he did it freely, simply because it felt good to serve. But one introduction in particular, connecting marketing legends Perry Marshall and Brian Kurtz, planted a powerful seed. That connection eventually led to a multimillion-dollar event, and when Kevin was publicly recognized for being the bridge that made it all possible, he began wondering: What if I could make a living just doing this? For a long time, he battled with the ethics of charging for introductions. Friends even told him it wasn't something that anyone should even consider. But in 2017, a single conversation changed everything. A friend suggested he host a small, in-person gathering of the entrepreneurs he knew. Kevin couldn’t sleep that night. By 4:30 the next morning, he was making a list of everyone he wanted to invite. His enthusiasm was contagious. His wife offered to handle catering, and the first six entrepreneurs he spoke to said, “I’m in.” That August, Kevin hosted his first event at his home in Arlington, Washington, with 15 attendees who each paid $5,000 to be there. They spent time sharing openly, collaborating deeply, and forming meaningful relationships that continued long after the event ended. A month later, he hosted another group, and it filled just as quickly. What began as a simple idea soon became a thriving business. From there, Kevin developed an ongoing model, first through one-on-one connection work and later through group experiences that aligned more naturally with his gifts. Today, he helps entrepreneurs create five-, six-, and seven-figure business opportunities through authentic relationship-building, often earning revenue shares from the connections he facilitates. Throughout this conversation, Kevin and I explore not only how he did it, but the deeper mindset that made it possible, the excitement, confidence, and belief that magnetized people toward his vision. You’ll hear how he overcame doubt, learned from missteps, refined his structure, and ultimately built a business that’s as fulfilling as it is profitable. Insights Gained from This Episode The surprising way one powerful introduction can change the trajectory of your business and someone else’s. Why enthusiasm, confidence and conviction often matter more than a polished business plan when sharing a new idea. How imposter syndrome keeps many people from seeing the true value they already bring to others. The mindset shift from “I shouldn’t charge for this” to “People are happy to pay for the value I create.” The simple structure behind Kevin’s first $5,000-per-person event and why intimacy and authenticity mattered more than luxury or production. How to test new business ideas through real conversations before locking yourself into a plan. What Kevin learned from early business models that didn’t work, and how he redesigned them to fit his natural strengths. The importance of alignment: when the structure of your business supports the way you actually like to show up, everything flows easier. How relationships, built with integrity and generosity, can create long-term, recurring income. The power of turning what you naturally love to do into something that sustains your life, your purpose, and the people you serve. Where you can find Kevin Thompson Kevin’s LinkedIn Profile Kevin’s Facebook Profile The Million Dollar Relationships Podcast: Apple Podcasts - Spotify - RSS Feed If this conversation sparked something in you, if it got you thinking differently about what’s possible in your business, your relationships, or the way you earn a living, then I’d love to hear from you. Right now, I’m working closely with entrepreneurs who are ready to bring more clarity, freedom, and alignment into the way they build and run their business. Ways I have to support you: Building an Online Business Course & Coaching Program 2.5 Day In-Person Mastermind Events A personal, customized Work-Life Audit to see exactly what’s working, what’s not, and what needs to shift next… The best next step is simple. Just send me an email. Tell me a little about where you are right now and what resonated most from this episode. I read every message personally, and if it feels like I can genuinely help, we’ll set up a time to talk. You can reach me directly at Cliff@CliffRavenscraft.com. I look forward to hearing your story and exploring what’s possible together.  

Over the past few years, I've heard several people suggest that "blogging is dead." However, one of my favorite coaching clients earns her primary income from her blog and also hosts retreats and an annual conference for an entire community of food bloggers who earn an income from their blogging efforts. So I invited my client, Megan Porta, and asked her the question, "Can you still make money blogging in 2025?" Short answer: Yes. It's doable. It looks different than it did a decade ago. It requires real passion, patience, and a focus on what serves readers right now. Below are thorough show notes to meet you exactly where you are. If you want to start or revive a blog as a real income stream, these notes double as a step-by-step primer. What This Episode Covers Why blogging still pays when you pair patience with passion Megan has seen brand-new bloggers “crushing it.” The difference now is you cannot fake it. Your readers and Google both know when you do. Authenticity wins. The fastest realistic path to first income Join a quality ad network once your traffic qualifies. We name the two big players and their current thresholds. We also discuss why Google SEO and Pinterest are still the two traffic pillars that move the needle. Niching way down to win Broad “everything” blogs struggle today. Specific sub-niches serve specific people and get rewarded. Think “vegan cakes” instead of “vegan.” The love for your topic has to show up in every post. The collaboration playbook for early momentum Smart email list swaps. Contributing value inside the right Facebook groups without spamming. How one helpful post can put a niche creator “on the map” in months. Income beyond ads Digital products. Memberships. Sponsorships. How to think about affiliate income post-HCU and what still works if you are selective. Platform and tech choices that save you pain Why WordPress.org with solid hosting is still the move. Why a VPS and proactive security matter. Real-world cautionary tales about updates, backups, and malware. Key Takeaways and Insights 1) Yes, you can still get paid to blog. The bar is higher. If you bring patience and genuine expertise, you can absolutely build an income today. People starting in the last year or two are succeeding. The difference is the landscape. Authenticity and user value must drive your strategy. 2) Niche inside the niche Winning examples are laser-specific. Pick a tight segment of a larger category, then become unmistakably helpful to that reader. This is how you break through and build trust. 3) Traffic plan: SEO and Pinterest first To qualify for premium ad networks, prioritize traffic that comes from search and Pinterest. Current thresholds discussed in the episode: Mediavine at roughly 50,000 sessions per month and Raptive at roughly 100,000 pageviews per month. Build to those numbers, then let ad RPMs start compounding. 4) Collaboration without spam Use email list collaborations. Show up consistently inside large, topic-relevant Facebook groups. Earn trust by answering questions with real substance. This moves traffic quickly when your niche is dialed in. 5) Create on-topic, helpful content Google’s Helpful Content updates pushed bloggers to stay tightly aligned with user intent. Keep posts on point for your niche. Tangential personal stories and off-topic content dilute perceived expertise and can hurt discoverability. 6) Monetization mix that works in 2025 Display Ads once you hit network thresholds. This becomes semi-passive as your library grows. Digital Products as quick wins: ebooks, guides, weekly prep plans. These are simple to produce and match your audience’s immediate needs. Memberships if your audience is invested. Price points in food niches commonly range from about 5 to 20 dollars per month, often for ad-free experiences or exclusive content. Tech options include WordPress setups and hosted communities such as Circle, Skool, Slack, Discord, Mighty Networks, and niche tools like Member Kitchens. Sponsorships when you can articulate your audience’s value. Niche reach can beat raw follower counts if you understand a sponsor’s acquisition economics and lifetime value. Affiliate Income is trickier after recent updates. It can still work at higher commissions or with premium offers. Treat it as a supplemental play, not your core plan. 7) Stack the tech in your favor Choose WordPress.org for full control, proven SEO flexibility, and extensibility. Invest in good hosting. A VPS with strong uptime guarantees is worth it. Expect to pay roughly 89 to 150 dollars per month for reliability that protects your revenue. Treat security and backups as non-negotiables. Plugins and themes require regular updates. Malware exploits often come from simple neglect. Have a pro who can restore fast. This avoids losing days or weeks or years of content. Practical Playbook Phase 1. Choose a narrow niche and validate demand List ten posts your ideal reader would save today. Ensure all are tightly aligned with one outcome your niche cares about. Keep stories and extras on-topic so Google sees topical authority. Phase 2. Protect the asset Run WordPress.org on a reliable VPS and keep everything updated. Assign backups and security to a pro so you do not risk outages or data loss. Phase 3. Build a traffic engine Publish high-quality posts that answer exact questions your audience asks. Optimize for search and create Pinterest assets for each post. Aim for Mediavine or Raptive thresholds to unlock ad revenue. Phase 4. Accelerate through collaboration Join large, relevant Facebook groups. Contribute substantial answers that stand on their own. Start tasteful email list collaborations for quick, qualified traffic. Phase 5. Layer monetization Add an easy digital product that solves a specific use case. Test a simple membership once engagement is strong. Pitch sponsors when you can quantify your audience’s fit and value. About My Guest Megan Porta has been blogging since 2010 and runs Eat Blog Talk, a podcast and community that supports food bloggers who want to grow and monetize. She is a strong voice for focus, patience, and authenticity in a space that has evolved dramatically. Resources Mentioned Megan’s sites: PipAndEbby.com and EatBlogTalk.com. Megan welcomes follow-up questions at megan@eatblogtalk.com. Ad networks: Mediavine, Raptive, once you meet their traffic thresholds. Community and membership tools: Circle, Skool, Slack, Discord, Mighty Networks, Member Kitchens. Platform: WordPress.org with quality hosting and a VPS. I’m Here To Help! If you want help in building your own online business, send me a short note about your business dream and where you feel stuck. I will point you to the most useful next step, whether that is a free resource, a workshop, or coaching with me. My email is cliff@cliffravenscraft.com.  

Over and over again, I’ve witnessed the power of a single conversation. Sometimes it happens over the course of an hour or more. Other times, it happens in less than twelve minutes. That’s what you’ll hear in this episode. Recently, I joined my friend Ray Edwards during one of his live streams. We had no plan for what we would talk about. He invited me into the conversation, and within moments he asked me a simple but profound question: “Cliff, how do you discover limiting beliefs?” That question opened the door to a live demonstration of the exact process I use with my clients when we’re dismantling the lies that hold them back. In this episode, you’ll hear me walk Ray through the four steps required to completely destroy limiting beliefs: Become consciously aware of the limiting belief that’s holding you back. Determine the source of that belief so you can see it was never really yours. Create an empowering alternative belief that aligns with who you truly are. Condition that new belief until it becomes your default way of seeing and experiencing the world. With Ray, we didn’t just talk theory. We discovered four limiting beliefs in real time. Beliefs that were keeping him from stepping back into his calling of speaking and traveling. Together, we exposed them, reframed them, and replaced them with empowering alternatives. By the end of the conversation, Ray went from: “I’m embarrassed and afraid I’ll be too weak to speak.” to “I want to go. I want to speak. Let me at 'em!” And all of that happened in under twelve minutes. This is the power of awareness, truth, and presence. But we didn’t stop there. After the conversation, I took the transcript and turned it into a song. It’s what I call a Soul Song. Instead of using affirmations in a document that are easy to set aside, I now condition my empowering beliefs through music. Songs created directly from the conversations where the shift took place. You’ll hear that song in this episode as well. It’s a living reminder that even in trembling, even in weakness, there is profound strength. Here’s my hope for you as you listen: You’ll see yourself in Ray’s story. You’ll recognize the limiting beliefs that may be silently dictating your choices. You’ll realize that you don’t have to keep agreeing with them. I’ll also share with you the exact five journal questions you can use right now to uncover your own limiting beliefs and begin dismantling them. Because sometimes, one powerful conversation is all it takes to change everything. If this resonates with you and you’d like to experience a conversation like this for yourself, send me an email at Cliff@CliffRavenscraft.com with the subject line: A Single Conversation. I look forward to hearing from you. Cliff The Five Questions What is it that you want to experience in life that you are not currently experiencing? What is one or two things that you already know that you could do to get you closer to living that experience? Why have you not already done this/these things? (Each answer is an excuse (aka Limiting Belief) What is one or two things that you know you already need to stop doing that would get you closer to living that experience? Why have you not already stopped doing this/these things? (Each answer is an excuse (aka Limiting Belief) Lyrics To The Song: The Miracle Breaking Through [Verse 1]I thought the stage required perfection,A flawless voice, a steady hand.But even trembling holds a message,A deeper truth than I had planned. [Chorus]This is strength: to rise while shaking.This is power: to speak through pain.Like David Ring, like Nick before me,My brokenness becomes the flame.Even if my body falters,Even if my words are few,The bedsheet screen, the slides keep shining,And my presence still breaks through. [Verse 2]The old belief said, You’re not able,Cancel now, you can’t be strong.But every stutter is an anthem,Every tremor shines with song. [Chorus]This is strength: to rise while shaking.This is power: to speak through pain.Like David Ring, like Nick before me,My brokenness becomes the flame.Even if my body falters,Even if my words are few,The bedsheet screen, the slides keep shining,And my presence still breaks through. [Bridge]It’s not perfection that brings the freedom,It’s the courage just to be.Every tremor tells the story,Of God alive inside of me. [Final Chorus]This is strength: to rise while shaking.This is power: to speak through pain.I am not weak, I am unbroken,Every struggle speaks His name.Even if my body falters,Even if my words are few,My voice, my life, my very being Is the miracle breaking through.  

What if the most important story you’ll ever hear isn’t about someone else, but about you? In this episode, I share something deeply personal from a recent hot seat in my Green Room mastermind. I asked my peers, Pat Flynn, Leslie Samuel, Mark Mason, Ray Edwards, and Michael Stelzner, how they would describe me and the work I do in the world. Their answers were strikingly consistent: “The magic of a single conversation.” Over and over, each of them described the power of one conversation to unlock potential, to destroy limitations, to surface truth, and to realign someone’s compass to their true north. To bring this to life, I then share a conversation from a recent live stream with Niiamah. What began as a tactical question about building a podcast network unfolded into a transformational dialogue. One that shifted perspective, reignited possibility, and reminded both of us of what’s truly possible when presence meets openness. This episode isn’t about strategy or marketing. It’s about identity. It’s about the story you tell yourself about yourself. And as you’ll hear, sometimes one conversation is all it takes to rewrite that story in a way that changes everything.  

When I recorded Episode 787 back on August 11th, I was filled with anticipation. The Free The Dream Workshop was just around the corner, and I wanted to give you a sense of what was coming. Now, just a few weeks later, the event has taken place… and it’s hard to put into words just how powerful it was. In this episode, I want to take you behind the scenes and share not only my reflections but also Stephanie’s insights and the real, unfiltered experiences of the people who were in the room. Here’s what you’ll hear in this episode: The Power of Clearing the Noise You’ll hear why getting out of your normal environment, even for two days, can shake up the patterns that keep you stuck and open the door to new possibilities. Customized Breakthroughs, Not Cookie-Cutter Content Rather than following a strict agenda, we began by asking each attendee: “If you could walk away with one miraculous change this weekend, what would it be?” What happened next was nothing short of transformational. We watched each person’s intentions get met, and in some cases, completely surpassed, over the two days. Scott Blair’s Testimony Scott shared that within just a few hours, he experienced a breakthrough so profound he would have felt his entire investment was worth it even if the workshop had ended right then and there. And yet, the breakthroughs kept coming. Stephanie’s Reflections You’ll hear Stephanie talk about the moments that stood out most to her, the conversations over lunch and dinner, and even the hilarious moments with the whiteboard drawings that made perfect sense to those in the room… and absolutely none to anyone else. What We’re Changing Moving Forward This workshop confirmed several things for us: Future sessions will be capped at 10 participants to keep the experience intimate. Meals will continue to be included when group size allows, because the conversations over food were as transformative as the sessions themselves. The “state your miracle” opening exercise is here to stay. It set the tone for everything that followed. Why This Work Matters At its core, Free The Dream isn’t just about goals or business or mindset. It’s about remembering the part of you that’s still waiting to be lived… and giving it space to breathe again. My hope is that this episode stirs something in you. Maybe it’s clarity. Maybe it’s courage. Maybe it’s the reminder that your dream isn’t dead. It’s simply waiting for you to make space for it. The next Free The Dream Workshop is already on the calendar. Maybe this is your time. Register today at FreeTheDreamWorkshop.com  

I want to share two stories with you today. One from my mentor, Dan Miller, and one from my friend Freya Casey. Both have confirmed the way I see life, faith, and even death itself. Dan was told in December of 2023 that he had advanced pancreatic cancer. No treatment. No cure. Six months to live at most. His very first words to me after receiving that diagnosis? “So I have this gift…” He wrote about the conversations he was having with his wife Joanne, their kids, and grandkids. About celebrating now rather than later. About reflecting on legacy, gratitude, and even anticipating “an incredible spiritual transformation” with excitement. He wasn’t bitter. He wasn’t fearful. He wasn’t even anxious. He was fully alive. That message, and the peace behind it, lined up with what I already knew to be true at a deeper level… that real faith isn’t proven by what we say we believe, but by the peace and presence we carry when life gives us every reason to fall apart. For much of my life, I met many people, and at times, I was one of them, who claimed faith in God yet carried fear, anxiety, and worry about the smallest things. But by the time I received Dan’s text, that was no longer my reality. Dan embodied what I’ve come to know as true. He had encountered something far deeper than doctrine or dogma. He knew what it meant to live in alignment with love itself, to experience the presence of God as a living reality rather than a religious concept. And then there’s Freya. Freya has been a client and friend for over a decade. She’s a single mother of three, pregnant with her fourth, a business owner, a creator and recently diagnosed with advanced stomach cancer while pregnant. Yet when she reached out to me, she wasn’t falling apart. She was calm. Peaceful. Clear. Not because she knew the outcome. But because she wasn’t resisting reality. She was fully present, creating her reality moment by moment, choosing to trust rather than fear, to open rather than control, to soften rather than fight. Freya and I have been having many private conversations over the past few months about what she’s been walking through. One day, she decided to join me on one of my open live streams. She felt her story might encourage someone else who needed to hear it. What unfolded became yet another living example of what it looks like to trust the journey in the midst of life’s greatest trials. If you want to hear her story in her own voice, and feel the peace that carries through every word, listen to this episode. My hope is that what you hear will do more than inspire you. I hope it awakens something within you. A quiet knowing that peace really is possible, even in the middle of life’s greatest storms. With gratitude, Cliff     An Invitation: If what you hear in this episode resonates with you and you’d like to go deeper, I want to personally invite you to join us at the Free The Dream Workshop. This two-day experience is designed to help you clear the noise, uncover what’s next, and remember the part of you that’s still waiting to be lived. The next session is happening August 29–30, right here in my hometown, and for this limited time, it’s a pay-what-you-want event. That means you can even attend for free if that’s what works for you right now. (Note: The next session will be hosted in October 2025. Dates have now been confirmed!!!!   The dates are Friday and Saturday, October 17th and 18th) You can learn more and reserve your spot at FreeTheDreamWorkshop.com  

When Jordan showed up for my How May I Serve You? livestream, he came with a familiar question: "Cliff, you’ve been through big events and big stress. What have you learned about managing it?" He wasn’t asking about marketing, business models, or strategy. He was looking for relief from the kind of stress that nearly wrecked him two years ago when the weight of his first live event landed him in the hospital. And as we started talking, I realized something powerful: Jordan didn’t need a few tips on “stress management.” He was longing for something deeper, a way to live without the constant undercurrent of fear and pressure. So instead of giving him a list of strategies, I asked: “What if the goal wasn’t to manage stress… but to eliminate it altogether?” That one question changed everything. Meeting Him Where He Was Now, here’s what made this conversation unique: Jordan comes from a faith background shaped by Christianity. Jordan shared that prayer, Scripture reading, and faith in Christ bring him real peace, but it rarely lasted through the rest of his workday. I invited him, from within his own framework of faith, to carry that same experience of peace into every part of his day, not just the quiet moments of prayer and meditation. I shared how I’ve learned to live from a place of peace so steady that stress no longer drives my life. We talked about what it means to actually trust rather than control, to be present rather than endlessly managing outcomes. And I could feel the shift happening in real time. The Turning Points Here are just a few moments that landed powerfully for Jordan and that will likely land for you too: From “manage” to “eliminate”: Jordan came in seeking tips on managing stress. I asked him, "What if the goal wasn't to manage stress, but to eliminate it entirely?" That single question transformed his perspective, shifting him from seeing stress-free living as a 50/50 possibility to a 7 out of 10 on his belief scale. By the end of our conversation, he was fully convinced it was possible. Peace that doesn’t last: He admitted that prayer, Scripture, and meditation bring him real peace, but as soon as the workday starts, the peace fades. That gap between the quiet moments and the rest of life became a key focus. A faith-based model for peace: I reminded him of Jesus’ words about being anxious for nothing and the invitation to “take my yoke upon you.” He realized he had already been trying to apply this and said it helped, yet about 30% of the stress was still there. Naming the real source: When we dug deeper, Jordan saw that 90% of his stress wasn’t uncertainty about the event itself, it was self-doubt. The event would likely be fine. It was his inner critic running the show. Generating his own practices: As we talked, Jordan began suggesting his own solutions: setting reminders, scheduling check-ins, being more intentional with how he carries peace into his day. Bringing Presence into the workday: I pointed out how he feels God’s presence in the morning but then tackles the workday alone. He laughed and admitted that’s exactly what happens. and began to imagine what it would look like to stay connected throughout the day. Releasing rumination and perfectionism: We reframed mistakes as simple notes for next time rather than problems to obsess over now. He saw clearly that stressing about them wouldn’t change this event’s outcome. People-pleasing comes into view: Jordan realized a huge part of his stress came from trying to prevent negative comments and manage how others see him, something he ultimately has zero control over. The “desire” pivot: When I asked if he truly desired a stress-free life, he paused. Part of him wondered if he’d grown comfortable with chaos. That question unlocked a deeper layer of self-awareness. Ending with possibility: By the end, Jordan said he fully believed a stress-free life was possible and he was willing to explore what it would take to live that way. Why This Conversation Matters For the past five and a half years, I’ve had soul-level conversations like this behind closed doors with one-on-one clients. But when I started these How May I Serve You? livestreams, I hoped that someday, one of them might open into the same depth, so the world could see the kind of transformation that unfolds when we move beyond strategies and into the heart of what’s really going on. This conversation with Jordan became that moment.