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 episode, Ken Freire [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kenfreire/] sits down with Richard F. Kaufman, host of the Vertical Momentum podcast, to unpack how he built a thriving podcasting business that lets him work only 180 days a year while generating both income and influence. Richard shares his unique system for helping entrepreneurs launch and monetize their podcasts within 12 weeks — often landing sponsorships before they even publish an episode. From securing aligned sponsors and building authentic relationships to scaling with smart systems, this episode offers a blueprint for turning your podcast into a lifestyle-friendly business that supports your freedom and purpose.

Resources Mentioned

 * Vertical Momentum Podcast – https://verticalmomentumpodcast.com [https://verticalmomentumpodcast.com/]
 * Book: The Three P's of Podcasting – by Richard F. Kaufman (-no url mentioned-)

Timestamps

 * 00:00 - 02:30 – Introduction: Ken sets the stage and introduces Richard Kaufman, a veteran entrepreneur with a 180-day work year.
 * 02:30 - 04:45 – How Richard built his podcasting system and the influence-to-income model.
 * 04:45 - 07:30 – Getting sponsors before you launch — even if it’s just free swag.
 * 07:30 - 10:30 – Aligning sponsors with your values and building brand integrity.
 * 10:30 - 12:00 – Playing the long game: 5 years of no profit and mentorship from Gary Vaynerchuk.
 * 12:00 - 16:00 – The 12-week framework for launching a profitable podcast: starting with your ideal listener.
 * 16:00 - 19:00 – Equipment myths and why simplicity (and iPhones) can win.
 * 19:00 - 22:00 – Legal setup, branding, and frameworks (solo vs. interview vs. hybrid).
 * 22:00 - 25:00 – Relationship-based growth and using systems like Calendly to ensure guest engagement.
 * 25:00 - 28:00 – The 3 P’s of Podcasting: Power, Purpose, and Profit.
 * 28:00 - 30:00 – How to double dip by letting your business sponsor your podcast.
 * 30:00 - 33:30 – Overcoming fear and hitting record — mindset advice for new creators.
 * 33:30 - 34:20 – How to connect with Richard and take advantage of his free coaching offer for eBook buyers.

Podcast Your Way to a 180-Day Year

In this episode, Ken Freire [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kenfreire/] sits down with Lauren Nicole Peters, founder of The Art of Daily Sales and The Profit Salon, to unpack how solopreneurs can validate their offers in just seven days. Lauren shares her proven framework for testing and selling offers before creating them, using AI tools to streamline the process and avoid burnout. They explore common mistakes coaches make, how to find the one problem your audience will pay to solve, and how to use AI to test multiple offer angles fast. Whether you’re launching a new product or trying to refine your existing offer, this episode gives you a practical roadmap to move from idea to sales in a week.

Resources Mentioned

 * The Profit Salon - https://theprofitsalon.com/
 * Lauren Nicole Peters - https://laurennicolepeters.com/
 * Instagram: Feminine Devotion [https://www.instagram.com/femininedevotion/]
 * ChatGPT - https://openai.com/
 * Gamma App - https://gamma.app/
 * Meta Ads - https://www.facebook.com/business/ads
 * Alex Hormozi - https://www.acquisition.com/

Timestamps

 * 00:02 – Why most entrepreneurs fail to validate their offers before launching
 * 01:16 – What offer validation really means and why seven days is the sweet spot
 * 02:57 – Common mistakes coaches make when creating offers
 * 04:24 – How to identify and solve one small problem for your audience
 * 06:27 – Overthinking, mindset blocks, and how to overcome them
 * 09:45 – The seven-day framework for validating your offer fast
 * 12:04 – Using templates and AI to simplify your landing pages and messaging
 * 14:59 – Testing five different angles for one offer
 * 15:04 – How to use AI and custom GPTs to brainstorm, validate, and sell faster
 * 18:10 – What mini offers are and how they lead to higher-priced programs
 * 20:32 – Balancing free value vs. paid offers (Hormozi & Tesla examples)
 * 23:28 – How to choose the right mentor and realistic marketing model
 * 26:23 – What’s working in 2025: Mini offers outperform webinars
 * 27:57 – Building backend systems and nurturing your funnel based on your energy type
 * 30:29 – Where to find and connect with Lauren Nicole Peters

7 Days to Sales: The Fastest Way to Test Your Offer

In this episode, Ken Freire sits down with Keri Olson, a Christian mindset and business coach who made an extraordinary leap of faith. After years of building her coaching business, Keri felt called to lay it all down—and within just 67 days, she made $100,000 through affiliate marketing. In this deeply personal and faith-filled conversation, Keri shares her story of loss, surrender, and divine provision, revealing how obedience led to unexpected success and renewed purpose. From battling cancer and foreclosure to building financial freedom through automation and digital marketing, Keri's journey is a testament to resilience, faith, and the new opportunities available to solopreneurs in the age of AI.

Resources Mentioned

 * Descript – https://www.descript.com/
 * Opus Clip – https://www.opus.pro/
 * Zencastr – https://zencastr.com/
 * Amen to Daily Pay – https://amentodailypay.com/

Timestamps

 * 00:00 – 02:00: Introducing Keri Olson and her 100K-in-67-days story
 * 02:00 – 07:00: Overcoming cancer, divorce, and foreclosure
 * 07:00 – 10:00: A moment of surrender and rediscovering faith
 * 10:00 – 14:00: Laying down the coaching business and trusting God's plan
 * 15:00 – 18:30: Discovering affiliate marketing and the first steps toward success
 * 18:30 – 21:00: The big reveal—sharing her financial breakthrough with her family
 * 22:00 – 27:00: Helping others build freedom through affiliate systems and automation
 * 27:00 – 31:00: Encouragement for struggling coaches and the power of perseverance
 * 33:00 – 35:00: Favorite AI tools: Descript, Opus Clip, and automated funnels

She Scaled to $100K Solo. Here’s How.

In this episode, Ken Freire [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kenfreire/] sits down with Justin Janowski, founder of Faith to Influence, to unpack how solopreneurs, coaches, and consultants can master high-ticket sales without resorting to sleazy tactics or pressure-based strategies. Justin shares how he grew his business to $250K in his first year without ads or a big audience, using relational selling rooted in service and integrity. Together, they dive into how to reframe sales as service, overcome limiting beliefs, and create a transparent sales process that feels good for both seller and client.

Resources Mentioned

 * Faith to Influence - https://faith2influence.com/
 * Good Sales PDF (Justin’s free 10-step sales process) - https://goodsalespdf.com/
 * John Acuff (author of Soundtracks) - https://jonacuff.com/

Timestamps

 * 00:20 – Justin’s story: growing to $250K in year one without ads or a big list
 * 01:37 – Why 82% of coaches fail and the fear of sales
 * 02:16 – The illusion of progress: hiding in marketing instead of selling
 * 04:21 – Rewriting the old story of sales: from pushy to service-oriented
 * 06:57 – Doing it scared: why repetition builds sales confidence
 * 09:19 – Breaking the “one-call close” myth and the power of booking the next call
 * 12:04 – Transparent pricing and rejecting manipulative sales tactics
 * 16:05 – Justin’s 10-step sales process (pre-frame, discovery, vision, offer)
 * 22:03 – Coffee chats vs. sales calls: how to handle both with integrity
 * 23:10 – The importance of language: why “decision” works better than “investment”
 * 25:15 – Why safety and trust matter in sales conversations
 * 28:20 – The balance of assertiveness: avoiding both passivity and aggression
 * 31:30 – Practice and repetition: how to gain mastery in sales calls
 * 31:43 – Free resource: Justin’s 10-step sales process PDF
 * 33:24 – Final encouragement: there is a better way to sell with integrity

How to Sell High-Ticket Offers Without Being Pushy

In this episode, Ken Freire sits down with coach and consultant Megan Huber to uncover the power of community-driven sales. Megan shares how she built a $70K/month business not through funnels or ads, but through a Facebook group paired with a strategic DM system. She explains why relationships and trust are the real drivers of high-ticket sales today, how to avoid the most common mistakes in community-building, and how tools like GroupTrack CRM can streamline outreach without losing the human touch. This episode is packed with practical strategies for solopreneurs who want to scale through authentic connections rather than cold pitches.

Resources Mentioned

 * GroupTrack CRM - https://grouptrackcrm.com/
 * Structured Freedom, Inc. Facebook Group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/structuredfreedominc

Timestamps

 * 0:03 – 3:38: Megan’s journey and why community is the new funnel
 * 3:48 – 7:43: How Facebook groups still work in 2025 and why belonging drives sales
 * 7:55 – 13:01: The #1 mistake most coaches make when building communities
 * 13:30 – 17:17: Megan’s 3-part welcome DM system for new members
 * 17:37 – 20:23: Why traditional cold DMs don’t work anymore and the trust gap in coaching
 * 20:23 – 25:23: Using automation and GroupTrack CRM without losing authenticity
 * 25:35 – 29:12: Text vs. audio messages in DMs and adapting to client preferences
 * 29:21 – 36:00: How Megan manages DMs daily, closes sales, and improves retention
 * 36:14 – 39:42: Why clients stay for community, not just information
 * 40:00 – 44:16: Selling in the DMs: realistic price points and Facebook vs. other platforms
 * 44:29 – 46:50: Where to find Megan and final takeaways on connection-driven sales

The $70K/Month Facebook Group Funnel (Built on DMs)

In this episode, Ken Freire sits down with Sean Lemon, founder of The Digital Organizer, to uncover how disorganization fuels burnout for solopreneurs—and how the right systems can save your business and your sanity. Sean shares why having multiple tools and scattered notes leads to chaos, the four essential pillars every entrepreneur needs to master (email, files, task management, and passwords), and how AI can be a powerful ally once the fundamentals are in place. Together, they dig into practical strategies for building a sustainable, organized business so you can focus on growth instead of drowning in clutter.

Special Bonus:   
Interested in starting your own podcast go to solopodcastchallenge.com [https://solopodcastchallenge.com/]

Resources Mentioned

 * The Digital Organizer - https://thedigitalorganizer.com/
 * File Organization Guide (Free Download) - https://thedigitalorganizer.com/
 * 1Password - https://1password.com/
 * Missive (Email Client) - https://missiveapp.com/
 * Spark (Email Client) - https://sparkmailapp.com/
 * Shortwave (Email Client) - https://www.shortwave.com/
 * TextExpander - https://textexpander.com/
 * Asana - https://asana.com/
 * Google Drive - https://www.google.com/drive/

Timestamps

 * 0:03 – 2:30 | Why disorganization leads to burnout for solopreneurs
 * 2:30 – 7:30 | Signs you’re heading toward overwhelm and burnout
 * 7:30 – 11:30 | The mindset shift: organizing around clients vs. processes
 * 11:30 – 14:30 | Practical steps for building filing systems that actually work
 * 14:30 – 20:00 | Common mistakes entrepreneurs make with organization
 * 20:00 – 25:30 | The four pillars of digital organization every founder needs
 * 25:30 – 32:00 | Recommended tools for email, file management, tasks, and passwords
 * 32:00 – 39:00 | How AI supports better decision-making and project management
 * 39:00 – 44:30 | Creating repeatable systems with custom GPTs and TextExpander
 * 44:30 – 46:55 | Final takeaways: organize smarter, avoid burnout, and reclaim your time

Why Disorganized Founders Burn Out (And What to Do) w/ Shawn Lemon

In this episode, Ken Freire sits down with Andy Lehman, founder of Lehman Creations and host of Podcast Answers and Dudes and Dads, to pull back the curtain on how podcasters can actually grow their shows and turn them into profit machines. Andy shares the biggest mistakes new podcasters make, the importance of building a true community, and why engagement—not vanity metrics—is the real path to monetization. He breaks down his practical system for growing a podcast, building real fan relationships, and creating sustainable revenue streams without burning out.

Resources Mentioned

 * Lehman Creations - https://www.lehmancreations.com/
 * Podcast Answers - https://www.podcastanswers.com/
 * Dudes and Dads Podcast - https://dudesanddadspodcast.com/
 * Ecamm Live - https://www.ecamm.com/
 * Discord - https://discord.com/

Timestamps

 * 00:42 – Running two podcasts: business vs. passion projects
 * 02:00 – The #1 mistake podcasters make when trying to grow
 * 03:51 – Setting realistic expectations for audience growth
 * 06:06 – Why your first episodes will be terrible (and that’s okay)
 * 07:30 – Andy’s system for growing from 7 to 1,000 listeners
 * 08:26 – The power of building community and engaging fans
 * 09:56 – Long-form vs. short-form platforms for growth
 * 12:10 – Leveraging Instagram Lives to expand reach
 * 14:15 – When and how to funnel listeners into a community
 * 16:32 – Building true fans through authentic DMs and voice notes
 * 19:22 – How podcasts actually generate profit (beyond ads)
 * 21:16 – Value-for-value model: time, talent, and treasure
 * 23:40 – Using your podcast as your best ad for your services
 * 24:26 – Growing your podcast through Facebook groups without spamming
 * 28:06 – Mindset shifts to scale without burning out
 * 29:39 – Creating true fans who evangelize and contribute back
 * 32:18 – Where to connect with Andy and get podcast help

Andy Lehman’s Secret Playbook for Growing (and Monetizing) Your Podcast

In this episode, Dan Sanchez [https://danchez.com/] and Ken Freire [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kenfreire/] dive into the meaning of "solopreneurship" and explore its evolving definition in the era of AI. They reflect on their own journeys from intrapreneurs to solopreneurs, sharing personal stories, the challenges of scaling solo, and how AI is reshaping what a one-person business can accomplish. This launch episode lays the foundation for the podcast's mission: helping solo founders scale smarter, faster, and with more freedom.

Resources Mentioned

 * The 4-Hour Workweek by Tim Ferriss - https://tim.blog/4-hour-workweek-tools/
 * The E-Myth by Michael E. Gerber - https://www.michaelegerbercompanies.com/books/
 * ChatGPT - https://openai.com/
 * Full Focus (Michael Hyatt's company) - https://fullfocus.co/
 * Carrd (Landing Page Builder) - https://carrd.co/

Timestamps

 * 00:00 — What is a solopreneur, really?
 * 02:30 — Solopreneurs vs Entrepreneurs: The key differences
 * 04:30 — Solopreneurship as a lifestyle design choice
 * 06:30 — Influence of The 4-Hour Workweek
 * 08:00 — From intrapreneur to solopreneur
 * 11:30 — The dark side: loneliness, overwhelm, and limited skills
 * 13:00 — The E-Myth framework: technician vs manager vs entrepreneur
 * 15:00 — How AI is changing what can be automated
 * 20:00 — The path to the first solo billionaire
 * 24:00 — Making scaling fun again: staying in your genius zone
 * 30:00 — You may be solo, but you don't have to go it alone

The Solopreneur Shift: Why AI is Killing the Traditional Business Model

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.