 In this episode, Ken Freire sits down with scientist and author Elizabeth Gregor to unpack how she’s building a faith-centered science education business—from her PhD journey and early YouTube/blog experiments to publishing books, designing courses, and scaling beyond her local market. They talk about practical ways to monetize expertise (books → courses → community), what it takes to “burn the ships” responsibly, and how Elizabeth is using content + community to reach parents, students, and homeschool families nationwide.

Resources Mentioned

• Science4Christ / Chemist4Christ (website) — https://chemist4christ.com/
• Chemist4Christ “About” page — https://chemist4christ.com/sample-page/
• The Multi-Faceted Wisdom of God: 5 Chemistry Lessons to Ignite Your Faith in Christ — https://www.amazon.com/-/es/Multi-Faceted-Wisdom-God-Chemistry-Lessons/dp/B0CR6ZSKBJ
• Elizabeth Gregor on Facebook — https://www.facebook.com/Elizabeth.gregor55/

Timestamps

• 00:00–03:17 — Elizabeth’s origin story: PhD chemistry, early blog/YouTube, and the faith + science mission
• 03:18–06:14 — Turning one idea into multiple formats: book → speaking → courses
• 06:15–12:28 — “Leaving the job” + practical transition strategies for families (reduce expenses, switch roles, runway)
• 12:29–16:24 — Lean launch tactics: DIY website, ship faster, lead magnets, local vendor pop-ups as free marketing
• 16:25–18:22 — Unpopular opinion: don’t take every client—protect outcomes and your time
• 18:23–25:58 — Scaling challenge: local → national (virtual vs in-person, market shifts, social media strategy)
• 25:59–30:26 — Faith-driven entrepreneurship + turning expertise into a book (and building from the medium you enjoy)
• 30:27–35:20 — Fast Five: Skool experiment, curriculum build, August course goal, community trend, legacy of faith over fear + how to reach Elizabeth

Local Pop-Ups Got Her Paying Clients (No Ads, No Followers)

In this episode, Ken Freire sits down with Frank Ammons, founder of Exodus Business, to unpack what it really means to take calculated risks as an entrepreneur. Frank shares how belief drives behavior, why modeling success minimizes risk, and how he scaled a brand-new water filtration company to nearly $1.5M by applying a simple “zag” strategy. They also dive into blind spots in the coaching industry, the danger of chasing trends, simplifying your offer, and how to build a legacy rooted in faith, confidence, and velocity.

Resources Mentioned

• Create Your Own Ads (Frank’s training) – https://createyourownads.com/

Timestamps

• 00:01 – From “Unemployable” to Entrepreneur: Frank’s Early Risk-Taking Journey
• 04:24 – Calculated Risk, Belief, and Why Conviction Sells
• 07:12 – Modeling Success & The “Zag Method” (Including $1.5M Water Filtration Case Study)
• 13:27 – The Power of Coaching, Blind Spots & Leveraging Experience
• 15:19 – Trends, Velocity, and Avoiding Shiny Object Syndrome
• 19:20 – Getting Clients Without Money: Simple Offers, DMs & Testimonials
• 24:33 – The Fast Five: Experiments, Messaging, Million-Dollar Goals & Industry Shifts
• 28:31 – Legacy, Faith, and Building Beyond Yourself

$20/Day to Proof, Then Scale: The Exact Path He Used to Hit $1.5M

In this episode, Ken Freire sits down with Melissa Maughn, a personal branding expert and video speaking coach, to unpack her unconventional path into entrepreneurship—starting as her musician husband’s behind-the-scenes marketing partner. Melissa shares the personal and spiritual “hard reset” that led her to fully shut down her business in 2024, then rebuild in 2025 with a clearer message, healthier identity, and renewed momentum. They close with practical branding guidance for multi‑passionate entrepreneurs and a rapid-fire “Fast Five” on what she’s building next.

Resources Mentioned

• The Brand Bridge (Melissa’s podcast) – https://podcasts.apple.com/fr/podcast/the-brand-bridge-building-your-compromise-free-personal-brand/id1845632464
• The Brand Bridge (YouTube channel) – https://www.youtube.com/@themelissamaughn
• Dan Sanchez (Ken’s business partner) – https://danchez.com/
• AI-Driven Marketer (podcast ecosystem referenced by Ken) – https://danchez.com/ai-marketing-podcast/

Timestamps
• 00:49 – Melissa’s origin story: learning photography/video + helping her musician husband market on social
• 03:25 – The 2024 shutdown: relationship strain, burnout, and why she “deleted everything”
• 04:56 – Spiritual turning point: family revival, homeschooling, and pausing business as a “reset”
• 10:34 – Identity + idols: being “seen,” insecurity, and separating self-worth from business outcomes
• 13:25 – Rebuilding in 2025: action > overthinking, ego aside, and leaning into community + collaboration
• 17:56 – Marketing contrarian take: “All strategies work” — alignment matters more than guru tactics
• 23:55 – Personal branding for multi‑passionate people: start specific, earn trust, then expand
• 30:05 – What she’s focused on now: systems, client experience, capacity, and a call‑booking funnel
• 33:25 – Fast Five: content experiments, biggest focus area, building an in-person community + creative center, and legacy (“love revolution”)
• 38:09 – Where to connect: book a call + follow “The Melissa Mon” across platforms; The Brand Bridge podcast

I Almost Lost My Marriage Chasing Success (Here’s What Fixed It)

In this episode, Ken Freire sits down with Christian coach and strategist Kevin Weis to talk about building a coaching business with integrity, simplicity, and peace—especially while raising a young (and rapidly growing) family. Kevin shares the origin of his “Contrarian Way” framework—Belong → Believe → Become—and how it maps to marketing, sales, and offer design without manipulation or high-pressure tactics.

Timestamps

• 0:01–6:55 — Five kids under five + the adoption story (home births, adopting twins, loss + new baby, and faith through chaos)
• 6:55–11:54 — Kevin’s business journey (financial coaching → network marketing → brick-and-mortar fitness → marketing agency → coaching)
• 11:54–21:31 — The “Contrarian Way” framework: Belong → Believe → Become (how Jesus communicates transformation and how it maps to business)
• 21:31–31:04 — One message, one funnel (tree analogy: leaves/branches → one trunk; “all roads lead to one core invitation”)
• 31:04–40:23 — Integrity in high-ticket coaching (manipulative tactics, pricing transparency, and the 3 alignments: person/process/product)
• 40:23–49:15 — A no–sales-call sales process (content → long-form → one core video → DM → info doc; fewer refunds, higher retention)
• 50:01–54:10 — The Fast Five (experiments, what’s in flux, no goals this year, industry shift toward deeper relationships, legacy focus on faith)

Why Christian Coaches Struggle to Sell (And the Pattern Jesus Used)

In this episode, Ken Freire sits down with Shay Sparks to explore her powerful journey from salon owner to purpose-driven entrepreneur, coach, and community builder. Shay shares how healing, faith, and speaking life into others became the foundation of her work—and how those same principles now guide her approach to AI, sales, and building meaningful communities for solopreneurs and creators.

Resources Mentioned

• Maker’s Machine Inner Circle – -no url mentioned-
• Military Creator Con – https://www.militarycreatorcon.com/
• The Sha Sparks Show Podcast – https://www.theshasparksshow.com/ [https://www.theshaysparksshow.com/]
• Sha Sparks Website – https://www. [https://www.shaysparks.com/]shasparks [https://www.shasparks.com/].com/ [https://www.shaysparks.com/]

Timestamps

• 00:00–05:00 – Shay’s origin story: healing, faith, and finding her calling beyond the salon
• 05:00–07:30 – The power of speaking life and overcoming imposter syndrome
• 07:30–10:00 – What Shay’s business looks like today and working with high-level coaches
• 10:00–13:30 – Biggest myths about AI and how to use it with a “human-first” approach
• 13:30–18:30 – Serving vs. selling: integrity, journaling, and releasing attachment to outcomes
• 18:30–25:30 – The power of asking, flexible offers, and reframing sales
• 25:30–29:30 – The Maker’s Machine Inner Circle and why community matters for solopreneurs
• 29:30–37:30 – Fast Five: AI experiments, challenges, goals, industry shifts, and legacy
• 37:30–40:00 – Encouragement for discouraged entrepreneurs and how to reconnect with purpose

The Power of ASK: Close More Clients Without Selling

In this episode, Ken Freire sits down with performance coach Jon Lester to unpack his journey from high school educator to building an authentic, purpose-driven coaching business. Jon shares how listening to conviction, starting as a side hustle, and prioritizing service over sales helped him grow Relentless Pursuit 247. Together, they explore why community—not pushy tactics—has become Jon’s biggest lever for impact and growth, especially for men seeking leadership, accountability, and brotherhood.

Resources Mentioned
• Relentless Pursuit 247 (Skool Community) – https://www.skool.com/relentless-pursuit-247
• Atomic Habits by James Clear – https://jamesclear.com/atomic-habits
• The Compound Effect by Darren Hardy – https://darrenhardy.com/thecompoundeffect/


Timestamps

• 00:00–02:35 – Jon’s background in education and the calling to pursue coaching
• 02:36–04:16 – Recognizing discontent and the conviction to change paths
• 04:17–05:56 – Why Jon chose a side hustle approach instead of quitting outright
• 05:57–08:38 – Landing his first client and realizing coaching was the right path
• 08:39–10:22 – Lessons learned from rejecting pushy sales tactics
• 10:23–12:35 – Community as the biggest lever for growth and transformation
• 12:36–15:22 – Balancing free value with paid coaching offers
• 15:23–18:14 – Using 21-day challenges to build discipline, trust, and momentum
• 18:15–23:56 – Encouragement for struggling entrepreneurs and playing the long game
• 23:57–29:59 – Rapid-fire business trends, advice for kids, and where to find Jon

The 21-Day Challenge That Books Coaching Clients

In this episode, Ken Freire sits down with Guy Stinson to explore a radically counterintuitive approach to business, faith, and impact. Guy shares his journey from growing up in South Africa to building businesses and ministries rooted in wisdom, integrity, and service—challenging the hype-driven, profit-first models common today. Together, they discuss why most businesses fail, how AI is reshaping the landscape for solopreneurs, and what it means to build an expert-led business aligned with God’s purposes rather than cultural shortcuts.

Resources Mentioned

• KCBME (Kingdom Chamber of Business Ministry & Education) – https://kcbme.com [https://kcbme.com/]

Timestamps

• 00:00–04:00 – Guy’s background in South Africa and early foundations in business, faith, and equality
• 04:00–09:30 – Praying for wisdom, questioning assumptions, and seeing business as a calling
• 09:30–12:30 – Failure, closed doors, and how God forms leaders through the process
• 12:30–18:40 – Why 95% of businesses fail and the danger of operating without true knowledge
• 18:40–25:30 – AI as a disruptive force, saturation, and the “Pied Piper” warning
• 25:30–31:40 – Authenticity, trust, and speaking to the heart instead of manipulating the market
• 31:40–38:30 – Vision, Joseph leadership, and building kingdom-centered business communities
• 38:30–44:50 – Legacy, entrepreneurship as ministry, and empowering others to change lives

95% of Businesses Fail Because of This Invisible Blind Spot

In this episode, Ken Freire sits down with Stephen Powell to unpack what it really looks like to build and grow a business when life throws serious health challenges your way. Stephen shares his powerful story of surviving a near-fatal aortic dissection and stroke, how that moment reshaped his priorities, and why it led him into wealth management focused on everyday families—not just the ultra-wealthy. Together, they explore faith, family, resilience, and how solopreneurs can build meaningful businesses without sacrificing what matters most.

Resources Mentioned

• Powell Financials – https://powellfinancials.com/
• LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephen-powell-8b0a234b/
• Stephens Cell Phone #850-209-4165

Timestamps

• 00:00–02:00 - why this conversation matters for solopreneurs facing health or time constraints
• 02:00–04:30 – Stephen’s background, family life, and transition from disaster recovery to wealth management
• 04:30–07:00 – The medical crisis: stroke, aortic dissection, and surviving against the odds
• 07:00–10:00 – Processing mortality, faith, and the emotional wake-up call
• 10:00–13:00 – Reprioritizing life: family, faith, and redefining hustle culture
• 13:00–16:30 – Why talking to friends and family about finances truly matters
• 16:30–20:30 – Wealth management basics people overlook: life insurance, long-term care, and business protection
• 20:30–24:30 – Balancing health, business, and fatherhood after major surgery
• 24:30–27:30 – Practical prioritization frameworks and daily rhythms


How a Health Crisis Changed Everything About His Business

In this episode, Ken Freire sits down with Cody Lutz to unpack how giving away your best ideas—freely and publicly—can actually accelerate business growth. Cody shares his journey from nonprofit leadership to fitness coaching to fast-scaling business coaching, revealing how stewardship, courage, and a relentless focus on value helped him pivot, grow income rapidly, and build momentum on LinkedIn. The conversation dives deep into fear, identity, faith, content strategy, and why human connection will matter more—not less—in the age of AI.

Resources Mentioned

• Prosperous Coach (Rich Litvin) – https://richlitvin.com/prosperous-coach/• LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/• MyCoachCody – https://mycoachcody.com/• ChatGPT – https://openai.com/• Claude – https://www.anthropic.com/claude• YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/ Connect w/ Cody - https://www.linkedin.com/in/coachcody/

Timestamps

• 00:00–03:40 – Cody’s background: nonprofit leadership, sales, and discovering coaching • 03:41–07:30 – From fitness coaching to business coaching: the pivotal mindset shift • 07:31–10:30 – Letting go of sunk costs and making the hard pivot • 10:31–14:15 – Stewardship, faith, and aligning business with calling • 14:16–18:10 – Fear, courage, and breaking down worst-case scenarios • 18:11–24:30 – The growth strategy: volume + value and giving everything away • 24:31–33:30 – LinkedIn strategy & the ACE framework (Attention, Connection, Expertise) • 33:31–37:30 – Scaling toward 7 figures, YouTube, books, and brand building • 37:31–42:45 – AI, the future of coaching, and the rise of in-person experiences • 42:46–47:45 – Legacy, faith, fatherhood, and final reflections

This Counterintuitive Coaching Strategy Built a 6-Figure Business

In this episode, Dan Sanchez and Ken Freire sit down with entrepreneur and “chief AI officer” Jon Cheney to unpack how he used AI to go from idea → MVP → first $15K customer in days—and how that momentum turned into an eight‑figure business in under six months. Jon breaks down the mindset shift (create vs. consume), the power of “unreasonable deadlines,” and the practical AI stack he uses to validate ideas, build software, market consistently, and help companies become AI-ready.

Resources Mentioned

• ChatGPT – https://chat.openai.com/
• Grok (xAI) – https://x.ai/
• Gamma (AI pitch decks) – https://gamma.app/  
• Replit (vibe coding / app building) – https://replit.com/  
• Manus (AI agent for “doing the work”) – https://manus.im/  
• Apollo (prospecting + outreach) – https://www.apollo.io/  
• Stripe (payments) – https://stripe.com/
• Midjourney (images) – https://www.midjourney.com/  
• Canva (design) – https://www.canva.com/
• Adobe Express (AI expand/resize) – https://www.adobe.com/express/
• Runway (video AI) – https://runwayml.com/
• Zeni (AI-powered finance/CFO services) – https://www.zeni.ai/

Timestamps

• 00:02–01:45 — Intro: building a solo million+ business with AI (Jon’s 8-figure sprint)
• 01:45–06:08 — Entrepreneurship as a “game”: create vs. consume
• 06:33–15:14 — The 3 momentum moves: validate fast, build fast, set unreasonable deadlines • 15:14–26:12 — The product journey
• 26:12–33:31 — Scaling framework: awareness → lead gen → sales → fulfillment + “massive action” content
• 33:31–41:11 — Outreach vs. inbound: Apollo-assisted connections + content-driven inbound engine
• 41:11–49:24 — Jon’s AI “team”: ChatGPT Projects, Grok research, Manus agents, Replit builds, design stack  

Connect w/ Jon:  
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/cheneypiano/
Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/joncheney/

From Idea to Income in 24 Hours with AI

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.