In this AI marketing podcast [https://danchez.com/ai-marketing-podcast/] episode, Dan Sanchez and Ken Freire take a deep dive into advanced audience growth strategies for creators who already have traction. They unpack the mathematical reality of the "Audience Growth Ceiling"—where churn rate neutralizes growth—and reveal a three-pillar framework (Acquisition, Retention, and Elevation) designed to break through that plateau and scale your authority.

My Favorite AI Tools
Transparency Note: I am an independent affiliate of these tools and may earn a commission if you click the link and sign up for them at no cost to you. I also use every one of them myself.

 * Tella (AI screen recording app I record all my solo episodes with) - https://danchez.com/tella
 * High Level (My all in one marketing platform) - https://danchez.com/highlevel
 * Zencastr (Best AI podcast tool) - https://danchez.com/podtools
 * n8n (my favorite AI automation tool) - https://danchez.com/n8n

Resources Mentioned

 * Superfans by Pat Flynn - https://patflynn.com/books/superfans/ [https://www.google.com/search?q=https://patflynn.com/books/superfans/]
 * Atomic Habits by James Clear - https://jamesclear.com/atomic-habits
 * Income School (YouTube Channel) - https://www.youtube.com/c/incomeschool
 * Moz (Whiteboard Friday) - https://moz.com/blog/category/whiteboard-friday
 * Nothing is Wasted Ministries - https://www.nothingiswasted.com/

Timestamps

 * 00:00:00 - Introduction to the Audience Growth Accelerator.
 * 00:03:44 - The "Audience Growth Ceiling" and the math of churn.
 * 00:11:27 - The Three Pillars of Growth: Acquisition, Retention, and Elevation.
 * 00:12:45 - Pillar 1 (Acquisition): Paid, Owned, and Earned Media.
 * 00:27:58 - Pillar 2 (Retention): Activation, Frequency, and Depth.
 * 00:39:28 - Creating depth through books, courses, and live events.
 * 00:44:31 - Why you need "Superfans" (Pat Flynn concept).
 * 00:45:56 - Pillar 3 (Elevation): Mission, Success Tracking, and Monetization.

The Audience Growth Engine [Full Framework]

In this AI marketing podcast [https://aidrivenmarketer.com/] episode, Dan Sanchez and co-host Ken Freire address the single biggest flaw in podcasting: the lack of organic distribution. To overcome this, they introduce the "Two-Channel Rule," a strategy that pairs your long-form audio content with a specific short-form social platform to drive real growth. Dan and Ken break down why LinkedIn is often the best choice for B2B creators, how to network through comments without being spammy, and why you must treat your social profile like a high-converting landing page.

My Favorite AI Tools
Transparency Note: I am an independent affiliate of these tools and may earn a commission if you click the link and sign up for them at no cost to you.

 * Tella (AI screen recording app I record all my solo episodes with) - https://danchez.com/tella
 * High Level (My all in one marketing platform) - https://danchez.com/highlevel
 * Zencastr (Best AI podcast tool) - https://danchez.com/podtools
 * n8n (my favorite AI automation tool) - https://danchez.com/n8n

Resources Mentioned

 * Hardcore History by Dan Carlin (Mentioned as the gold standard of podcasting)
 * Substack (Discussed as a newsletter/community alternative)
 * ChatGPT - <a href="https://openai.com/">https://openai.com/</a> (Mentioned for researching influencers)
 * LinkedIn (Recommended primary channel for B2B)

Timestamps

 * 00:00 – The "One Big Downside" of Podcasting
 * 03:41 – Introducing the Two-Channel Rule
 * 09:23 – Syndication vs. Engagement: Why you can’t be everywhere
 * 15:20 – Selecting your short-form platform (Why LinkedIn wins for B2B)
 * 19:35 – Dan’s "Working the Room" strategy for LinkedIn engagement
 * 25:28 – How to identify who to engage with to grow your authority
 * 28:49 – The dangers of automating comments with AI
 * 30:50 – Optimizing your LinkedIn profile to function like a landing page

The Two-Channel Rule: A System for Growing Expert Podcasts

In this AI marketing podcast [https://aidrivenmarketer.com/] episode, Dan Sanchez and Ken Freire discuss why personal branding is the ultimate hedge against AI automation. They dismantle the common misconceptions that branding is merely about logos or "just being yourself," and instead offer a robust three-part framework—Values, Stories, and Future Self—to help marketers build genuine authority that no algorithm can replicate.

My Favorite AI Tools
Transparency Note: I am an independent affiliate of these tools and may earn a commission if you click the link and sign up for them at no cost to you. 

 * Tella (AI screen recording app I record all my solo episodes with) - https://danchez.com/tella
 * High Level (My all in one marketing platform) - https://danchez.com/highlevel
 * Zencastr (Best AI podcast tool) - https://danchez.com/podtools
 * n8n (my favorite AI automation tool) - https://danchez.com/n8n

Resources Mentioned

 * Primal Branding by Patrick Hanlon - https://amzn.to/4oVx4II
 * Start with Why by Simon Sinek - https://simonsinek.com/books/start-with-why/
 * Nothing is Wasted Podcast - https://www.nothingiswasted.com/podcast

Timestamps

 * 00:00 - Why AI can never replace the human element of a personal brand.
 * 02:49 - The two biggest lies in branding: The "Logo" Fallacy and the "Just Be Yourself" trap.
 * 07:51 - Pillar 1: Values and Beliefs (The foundation of your brand).
 * 13:50 - Pillar 2: Stories and Experiences (Why origin stories matter).
 * 18:48 - The Gary Vee Example: How stories of transformation create superfans.
 * 21:58 - Pillar 3: The Future Self Science (You are both discovered and created).
 * 27:55 - How to handle audience capture without compromising your values.
 * 33:10 - The "Stake in the Ground" strategy for building authority.

How to Build a Personal Brand AI Can't Copy

In this episode, Ken Freire sits down with digital strategist Alejandro Reyes to unpack how he walked away from a seven‑figure agency, healed from burnout, and rebuilt a lifestyle‑first coaching business that runs mostly on $5/day ads, email, and leveraged workshops. They dig into integrity as a productivity unlock, redefining “hustle” as purposeful work, and a simple path from newsletter ➜ customer ➜ client—often without sales calls.

Resources Mentioned

• Holy Hustle Podcast (Alejandro Reyes)  - Apple Podcasts

• Alejandro Reyes — Website  - https://alejandroreyes.com/

• Alejandro Reyes — Instagram  - https://www.instagram.com/alejandroreyes/

• Google’s 7‑11‑4 Rule  - https://flashhub.io/7-11-4-rule/

• Robert Cialdini — Pre‑Suasion  - https://www.influenceatwork.com/pre-suasion/

• Peter Drucker on marketing ("make selling superfluous")  - Article reference

• Alex Hormozi — $100M Offers / $100M Leads  - https://www.acquisition.com/books

• Codie (Codie) Sanchez — Contrarian Thinking  - https://www.contrarianthinking.co/

Timestamps

• 00:00 – Welcome & setup: when success steals your freedom.

• 01:24 – From Pushpay hypergrowth to an in‑demand agency in the faith space.

• 03:01 – Panic attacks, burnout, and cutting the agency in half to survive.

• 04:35 – The mindset shift: integrity with yourself and setting a hard shutdown date.

• 11:57 – Redefining “hustle”: holy, purposeful work vs. 60‑hour grind.

• 16:30 – The simple framework: build brand → audience → email list → offers.

• 23:16 – $5/day list building + low‑ticket workshops to collapse the 7‑11‑4 rule.

• 28:03 – Pre‑selling so sales become superfluous; selling high‑ticket via DMs & a “money doc.”

• 33:00 – When to use sales calls (and why founders should do a few early on).

• 37:25 – Pick your model, commit for 6–12 months, and execute with integrity.

Escaping the 7-Figure Trap: Alejandro’s Anti-Hustle Blueprint

In this AI marketing podcast [https://aidrivenmarketer.com/] episode, Dan Sanchez and co-host Ken Freire break down why podcasting remains the most powerful channel for building authority, especially when supercharged by AI. They walk through the entire production lifecycle—pre-production, production, post-production, and distribution—sharing how they use tools like Gemini and Zencastr to streamline workflows without losing the human element. Dan also reveals his "episode packaging" strategy and introduces a new tool, Smack.fm, that automates the repurposing of episodes into dozens of social media assets.

My Favorite AI Tools
Transparency Note: I am an independent affiliate of these tools and may earn a commission if you click the link and sign up for them at no cost to you.

 * Tella (AI screen recording app I record all my solo episodes with) - https://danchez.com/tella
 * High Level (My all in one marketing platform) - https://danchez.com/highlevel
 * Zencastr (Best AI podcast tool) - https://danchez.com/podtools
 * n8n (my favorite AI automation tool) - https://danchez.com/n8n

Resources Mentioned

 * Google Gemini - https://gemini.google.com/
 * Riverside - https://riverside.fm/
 * Smack - https://smack.fm/
 * Showrunner - https://showrunner.com/
 * AI-Driven Marketer Podcast Assessment - https://aidrivenmarketer.com/pod [https://www.google.com/search?q=https://aidrivenmarketer.com/pod]
 * AI-Driven Podcast Course (Free Tutorials) - https://aidrivenpodcast.com/

Timestamps

 * 00:00 - Why podcasting is the ultimate channel for authority.
 * 02:50 - Using AI in pre-production: From research to episode packaging.
 * 06:53 - Switching from Custom GPTs to Google’s Gemini Gems for thumbnails.
 * 07:57 - The Production Phase: Why human connection still trumps AI voices.
 * 12:03 - Simplifying post-production with AI editing tools like Zencastr.
 * 18:28 - Using Tella for solo episodes and screen recording.
 * 20:00 - The Distribution Playbook: Turning one episode into dozens of assets.
 * 24:23 - Automating social posts with Smack.fm.
 * 28:09 - Where to find the full documented process for free.

Scale Your Authority: Automate Podcast Distribution Without Losing Your Soul

In this AI marketing podcast [https://aidrivenmarketer.com/] episode, Dan Sanchez and Ken Freire explore why great ideas alone aren't enough to build authority—you need relationships to move markets. They unpack how podcasting acts as a "Swiss Army Knife" for networking, allowing you to connect with gatekeepers, dream clients, and industry peers. Dan and Ken provide a step-by-step guide on who to interview, how to execute genuine outreach without over-automating, and how to use AI strategically in pre-production without killing the human connection.

My Favorite AI Tools

 * Tella (AI screen recording app I record all my solo episodes with) - https://danchez.com/tella
 * High Level (My all in one marketing platform) - https://danchez.com/highlevel
 * Zencastr (Best AI podcast tool) - https://danchez.com/podtools
 * n8n (my favorite AI automation tool) - https://danchez.com/n8n

Resources Mentioned

 * Content-Based Networking by James Carberry - Book Link [https://www.google.com/search?q=https://www.amazon.com/Content-Based-Networking-Connect-Anyone-Business/dp/1544503866]
 * The Ultimate Podcast Assessment - https://aidrivenmarketer.com/pod
 * My Showrunner (Custom GPT) - https://myshowrunner.com/
 * Fathom (AI Notetaker) - https://fathom.video/ [https://www.google.com/search?q=https://fathom.video/]
 * Social Media Examiner - https://www.socialmediaexaminer.com/
 * Otter.ai - https://otter.ai/

Timestamps

 * 00:00 – Why ideas are incomplete without relationships.
 * 07:45 – Credibility by Association: Leveraging the "Oprah Effect."
 * 12:20 – The serendipity of opportunities: How knowing people leads to career leaps.
 * 18:42 – The "Dream 100" Strategy: Targeting ideal prospects and partners.
 * 25:45 – The 5-Step Framework: From building the list to the final follow-up.
 * 36:59 – The AI Warning: Why you must not use AI for outreach.
 * 38:12 – The AI Advantage: Using Custom GPTs for pre-interview research and questions.
 * 47:52 – The Follow-Up Game: Turning interviews into genuine friendships with memes and texts.

The "Dream 100" Execution Plan [Google Sheet System]

In this episode, Ken Freire and Patrick Lowndes unpack the false belief that “I’ll be grateful when I finally get a better job” and show how postponing gratitude actually postpones your spiritual growth and calling. Set in the week of Thanksgiving, they explore how gratitude in less-than-ideal roles can unlock your marketplace purpose right where you are, share Ken’s near-death story that reshaped his perspective, and offer five practical habits to cultivate gratitude in your everyday work.

Resources Mentioned

 * The Psalms (for examples of honest lament that moves into gratitude before God)
 * Frontier Operators Community where you can get encouragement and support - https://frontieroperators.com/community

Timestamps

 * 1:21 – The false belief: “I’ll be grateful when I get a better job”
   Why waiting for a dream job to be grateful quietly suffocates your Monday–Friday and delays your growth.
 * 2:21 – How postponing gratitude hinders spiritual formation
   Ken and Patrick explain how gratitude is more than a nice attitude—it's a posture that shapes how God forms us in our current roles.
 * 4:34 – Redefining gratitude in real life, not denial
   Looking at David in the Psalms, acknowledging what’s hard while also recognizing God’s active presence in mundane, repetitive work.
 * 6:28 – Ken’s tumor story & discovering gratitude for the basics
   Ken shares his near-death experience at 19, losing his voice for weeks, and how it awakened gratitude for simple things like breathing, walking, and just being alive.
 * 8:46 – Five practices to build gratitude in a job you don’t love
   Daily hidden-good prompt.
   The “gratitude ping” to a coworker or classmate.
   Rewrite-the-complaint exercise.
   The 10-second reset (and smile) when you’re irritated.
   Keeping a weekly calling-through-gratitude log.
 * 15:24 – Gratitude, optimism, and a Thanksgiving week challenge
   Why optimism can be a learned skill through gratitude, plus a challenge to be genuinely curious, caring, and grateful with family over the holiday.

Ep. 15 - How Gratitude Unlocks Your Real Calling (Even in a Job You Don’t Love)

In this AI marketing podcast [https://danchez.com/ai-marketing-podcast/] episode, Dan Sanchez and co-host Ken Freire dive into Chapter 10 of their "Own the Show" series to discuss why podcasting is the ultimate "Swiss Army Knife" of marketing tools. They break down the top 10 reasons why a podcast is essential for modern businesses, ranging from building authority and testing intellectual property to fueling a massive content flywheel and creating long-term assets. Dan and Ken explain how this single medium can solve multiple marketing problems at once, turning a simple recording into a comprehensive strategy for growth.

My Favorite AI Tools

 * Tella (AI screen recording app I record all my solo episodes with) - https://danchez.com/tella
 * High Level (My all in one marketing platform) - https://danchez.com/highlevel
 * Zencastr (Best AI podcast tool) - https://danchez.com/podtools
 * n8n (my favorite AI automation tool) - https://danchez.com/n8n

Resources Mentioned

 * James Carberry / Sweet Fish Media - https://sweetfishmedia.com/

Timestamps

 * 00:00 - Why Podcasting is the Swiss Army Knife of Marketing
 * 02:46 - Reasons 1 & 2: Building Authority and Developing IP
 * 10:42 - Reason 3: The Content Flywheel and Repurposing Power
 * 13:24 - Reasons 4 & 5: Networking, Relationships, and the "Human Edge"
 * 19:01 - Reasons 6 & 7: Market Research and Internal Team Alignment
 * 24:40 - Reason 8: Personal Growth and Skill Building
 * 27:16 - Reason 9: Discoverability and Long-Tail Distribution
 * 29:19 - Reason 10: Asset Creation and Monetization Strategies

1 Recording → 12 Assets: The AI "Waterfall" System

In this AI marketing podcast [https://danchez.com/ai-marketing-podcast/] episode, Dan Sanchez and Travis Sanchez face a major dilemma: Is it finally time to cancel ChatGPT in favor of Google's Gemini 3? After years of loyalty to OpenAI, Dan breaks down why the new Gemini 3 and "Nano Banana Pro" models might be the superior choice for marketers handling heavy research and content creation. The brothers stress-test the tools, comparing personality, image generation capabilities, and workflow integration, while deciding if they should jump ship now or wait for OpenAI's rumored December counter-attack.

My Favorite AI Tools

 * Tella (AI screen recording app I record all my solo episodes with) - https://danchez.com/tella
 * High Level (My all in one marketing platform) - https://danchez.com/highlevel
 * Zencastr (Best AI podcast tool) - https://danchez.com/podtools
 * n8n (my favorite AI automation tool) - https://danchez.com/n8n

Resources Mentioned

 * Gemini Nano Banana Pro Announcement - https://x.com/GeminiApp/status/1991524174180024538
 * Viral Post by Flowers (X) - https://x.com/flowersslop/status/1990892946821120369
 * Dan's LinkedIn Poll - https://www.linkedin.com/in/digitalmarketingdan/

Timestamps

 * 00:00 - The Crisis: Why a loyalist is considering leaving ChatGPT.
 * 01:36 - Gemini 3 Breakdown: Why it wins on research and transcripts.
 * 03:05 - The "Vibe" Check: Why ChatGPT still feels more human.
 * 11:00 - Nano Banana Pro: Creating photorealistic images (and the "Gardening Woman" test).
 * 17:40 - ChatGPT 5.1 Updates: M-dashes, instruction following, and group chats.
 * 20:48 - The Decision: Why Dan is waiting until December to pull the plug.
 * 25:04 - Everyday AI: Using bots to find "Moon Park" and 20-year-old candy memories.
 * 30:25 - Poll Results: Is the marketing world ready to switch to Google?

I Might Cancel ChatGPT (The "Workspace" Factor)

Should you start a podcast? Get the free assessment at https://aidrivenmarketer.com/pod

In this AI marketing podcast [https://aidrivenmarketer.com/] episode, Dan Sanchez and Ken Freire dive deep into the concept of developing a portfolio of ideas. Rather than throwing out standalone concepts, they emphasize the importance of clustering ideas, identifying a unifying theme, and building a structured framework that elevates authority and impact. Dan shares personal lessons from years on LinkedIn and outlines how AI tools can be leveraged to analyze, group, and package your thoughts. If you've ever felt scattered in your thought leadership, this episode is the blueprint for becoming more intentional, cohesive, and impactful with your ideas.

My Favorite AI Tools

 * Tella (AI screen recording app I record all my solo episodes with) - https://danchez.com/tella
 * High Level (My all in one marketing platform) - https://danchez.com/highlevel
 * Zencastr (Best AI podcast tool) - https://danchez.com/podtools
 * n8n (my favorite AI automation tool) - https://danchez.com/n8n

Timestamps

 * 00:00 - Dan's confession: years of scattered idea posting
 * 01:07 - The value of building a portfolio, not isolated ideas
 * 02:20 - Frameworks are collections of ideas, not one-offs
 * 03:12 - Questions to ask: what are you known for? What deserves more weight?
 * 04:45 - AI tools to cluster and analyze your ideas
 * 06:08 - Idea gaps and how podcasting can help fill them
 * 07:03 - Finding the unifying theme in your content
 * 08:53 - Real-life examples of unifying themes from Tim Ferriss, Michael Hyatt, Patrick Lencioni
 * 11:32 - Why a unifying theme takes time to build
 * 12:14 - Your theme reveals your core values
 * 13:33 - Questions to align your theme with long-term goals
 * 16:46 - Why and how to cluster ideas
 * 19:11 - Human creativity and idea generation as a superpower
 * 23:09 - When to write a book and why it's the ultimate portfolio
 * 26:52 - Book structure, chapter quality, and packaging your ideas

Would you like me to move on to Step 2 and generate possible titles for this episode?

Turn 100 Scattered Posts into 1 Book With AI

I'm just a marketer on a mission to master AI in 2026 by interviewing AI tech founders, AI leaders, and marketing practitioners who are getting great results with AI today. 

Let's master this thing together. Follow this show to join me on the journey.

#danchez

AI-Driven Marketer: Master AI Marketing To Stand Out In 2026

Solo:Scaled is the podcast for ambitious solopreneurs who want to grow a 7-figure business without building a big team. Hosted by Dan Sanchez and Ken Freire, this show explores how AI, smart systems, and lean strategy are unlocking a new era of solo success. Whether you're scaling your coaching business, consulting practice, or content brand, you'll get real talk, expert interviews, and behind-the-scenes updates on our own journey to build a powerful, profitable business—with freedom, not burnout.

Solo:Scaled

Helps leaders think differently so they can lead more effectively and live more fully.

Hosted by Fortune-100 veteran Ron Minatrea, each monthly episode blends real-life stories, practical tools, and mindset shifts that align who you are with how you lead, build trust, and sustain impact without burning out.

The Exponential Mindset Leadership Podcast

You were called to serve, not just in church, but at work. Buried Talent is a weekly podcast for Christian young professionals who feel called to meaningful impact for Christ during their 9-to-5. Each episode dismantles a false belief about faith and work, exposing the lie, replacing it with liberating biblical truth while offering a small action to activate your God-given purpose right where you are. Hosted by entrepreneur and faith-driven operators Patrick Lowndes and Ken Freire, this show helps you unbury your workplace calling and live sent on Monday just as much as Sunday.

Buried Talent

ROI University is the podcast for higher-ed marketers ready to lead meaningful change. Hosted by Rustam Irani, this solo series helps you unlock higher enrollment, deeper student connection, and the internal clarity to do your boldest work. It’s not just about tactics, it’s about becoming the kind of leader your institution needs. Get ready to raise outcomes across the board: for your students, your team, and yourself.

Dan Sanchez

Shows