Best Chris Swartz Podcasts (2025)

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Should Whale Clients Be Part Of Your Service Mix Right Now? 10:52

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7M ago10:52

10:52

Conventional advice from pundits says never serve "whales" in your consulting business. But what if they're wrong? (Hint: they are.) A whale model CAN work in the right circumstances, provided it’s a fit with how you like to work and you design and price them correctly. Here’s my advice on whether (and how) to add whale clients to your service mix:…

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Aligning Your Podcast With Your Business Growth with Reuben Swartz 37:36

8M ago37:36

37:36

Have you noticed that expertise podcasts—even from “celebrities”—tend to have an arc? They grow, they evolve, they might even shrink or pause for awhile and at some point they end. When Sales for Nerds host Reuben Swartz put his highly rated 100-episode podcast on hiatus with an intriguing announcement, I invited him to the show to talk about: Why …

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How To Scale From $200K (Without A Single Hire) 15:45

8M ago15:45

15:45

When you’re building a Soloist expertise business, it’s pretty common to plateau around $200K or so in revenue. Typically at that point, you’ve found your groove and can reliably hit that number—but if you want to scale beyond that, conventional wisdom screams that it’s time to hire employees. Uh, no. You’ve got plenty of faster, easier and safer c…

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Founders with Kids…Building A Paid Community with Sarah K. Peck 51:39

9M ago51:39

51:39

Maybe you’ve toyed with building a paid community as part of your business model. Or you gave it a shot and later shelved it because you just couldn’t make it work. Start-up Parent Founder Sarah K. Peck goes deep on how she built three paid communities: How she chose the initial idea that morphed into her company and multiple highly engaged (paid) …

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Now Is The Time To Flex Your Power 5:21

9M ago5:21

5:21

Are you feeling whipsawed or demoralized by the U.S. headlines lately? You’re not the only one 😉. And yet after you take a moment to confirm your values, you'll realize that now is exactly the time to flex your power: Why building our businesses is precisely what we need to grow our wealth, impact and power. Yes, power. How to think about your econ…

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When It's Time To Re*shift 7:35

11M ago7:35

7:35

As we close out 2024 (and Season 3 of The Soloist Life), it feels like the right time to revisit how we can best bring our light to the people we most want to serve: Why now is the time to lean into your personal genius. What I’m committing to for 2025 😉. What exactly is a re*shift (and why might you be ready for one)? The eight areas of life and w…

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Mindset vs. Results: Navigating Growth Over Time with Ed Gandia 31:11

12M ago31:11

31:11

When you’ve run your Soloist business long enough, you’ll see cycles: changes in the market, changes in you/your interests and situation and your bank account. Business coach Ed Gandia shares how his business, his financials and his mindset have changed over 18 years as a Soloist: Growing his first freelance business entirely by word of mouth—and t…

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Pulling Out of a Revenue Nosedive with Chris Ferdinandi 41:44

1y ago41:44

41:44

Categories: Growing Revnue + Wealth, Niching Link: https://rochellemoulton.com/soloist_podcast/pulling-out-of-a-revenue-nosedive-with-chris-ferdinandi/?utm_source=subscriber What do you do when your consistently growing revenue suddenly takes a nosedive—and your peers are feeling it too? Soloist Chris Ferdinandi walks us through the experience and …

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Experimenting With Your Business Model with Jessica Lackey 34:57

1y ago34:57

34:57

When you started your business, you probably imagined steady revenue growth under your original business model—only to discover that the only way to grow the way you want is by experimenting! Business Coach Jessica Lackey (a McKinsey and Nike alum) shares her year-by-year experience in crafting her ideal business model: How she contracted for “brid…

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Getting Your Finances Straight For A New Year 8:36

1y ago8:36

8:36

If this last year was NOT smooth sailing for your Soloist business finances, now is an ideal time to pave the way to better. There’s still time to avoid unpleasant surprises (think giant tax bills) and start streamlining your financial life before year-end: The five strategic pieces of information you want in your hands before year-end. How to thin…

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When Your Business Gives You Lemons with Jenny Blake 51:18

1y ago51:18

51:18

When you’re in the midst of an overwhelming business challenge—your revenue plummets, your audience dries up, you can’t seem to make a sale—what do you do? Award-winning author and podcaster Jenny Blake takes us through the messy middle, sharing her story of challenge, resilience and percolating without yet knowing the answer: Why her first reactio…

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Get Yourself Booked On Podcasts 17:08

1y ago17:08

17:08

Being a podcast guest pays some excellent dividends: introducing you to new audiences, practice delivering your point of view and honing your message for starters. But how do you get yourself booked? The qualities that will make you a solid, bookable podcast guest. The 5-step system to get consistent results to your podcast guesting requests. The o…

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AI Use Cases For Soloists with Heidi Araya 33:32

1y ago33:32

33:32

You’ve heard the hype about AI, but how can you tactically and strategically use it to manage and grow your Soloist business? Global AI consultant Heidi Araya—who says “experts should be experts, not task-jugglers”—gets highly specific on how we can best use AI right now: Why your most productive use of AI starts with where friction currently lies …

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Pulling Yourself Out Of A Slump 11:25

1y ago11:25

11:25

This episode is inspired by a listener question that I’ve been hearing a lot lately: how can you pull yourself out of a slump? And does a prolonged slump mean you’re not cut out to be a Soloist? The gift (and the hidden cost) of a great first year as a Soloist. Why hitting the wall—where your revenue tanks or plateaus—happens, especially with new-i…

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Embracing Neurodiversity with Diann Wingert 38:11

1y ago38:11

38:11

Does your brain seem to work differently than those around you—maybe you even went solo so you could operate at your best? Coach (and former psychotherapist) Diann Wingert shares her experience advising the neurodiverse: Neurodiversity—what it is, why it’s a spectrum and how experts look at it today (hint: don’t think of it as a disorder). Why so m…

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Why Your Voice Needs To Be Out There 9:51

1y ago9:51

9:51

If you’ve ever hesitated to put your voice “out there” because you’re not the “right” size, shape, age, race, gender, orientation, know that you’re not alone. But it’s time to step up and be heard: Why it’s harder to sashay on stage with your megaphone when you’re different from the norm in your community (and yet you’ll be more memorable when you …

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Moving Countries With Your Business with Casey Kelly-Barton 32:00

1y ago32:00

32:00

Have you ever considered moving yourself and your business to a new country? Content marketer Casey Kelly-Barton did just that and shares her challenges and opportunities as an ex-pat: Her journey to niching into the intersection of three related niches— including how niching bumped up her revenue and reduced her hours worked. Meeting the challenge…

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How Do I Make More Money As A Soloist? 11:04

1y ago11:04

11:04

Demand is feeling lighter—you’re getting fewer inquiries or buyers seem to be more price-sensitive and you’re starting to worry about the economy. What do you do next? Why it doesn’t matter what the economy is doing when you play your own game. How “Mariah” added a new revenue stream when her primary one started losing steam (and a low-risk way to …

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Mastering Live Events with David C. Baker 36:40

1y ago36:40

36:40

Thinking about hosting a live event, but not sure how to make it well-attended, profitable and worth your time? Renowned author, speaker and creative firm advisor David C. Baker lifts the curtain on his wildly successful MYOB conference and live events: The role of in-person live events in David’s expertise business model (plus a peek at the number…

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Making More and Working Less with Jonathan Stark 48:42

1+ y ago48:42

48:42

How can you work less and make more than you are right now? There is a glide path if you’re willing to experiment insists Jonathan Stark, author of Hourly Billing Is Nuts. Yes, the dynamic Business of Authority duo is baaaaaaaaack for an episode: Two experiments to try if you’re currently billing by the hour and want to explore alternatives. How to…

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Building A Values-Aligned Business with Lucy Flores 35:41

1+ y ago35:41

35:41

Is it possible to build a profitable expertise business that is 100% values-aligned and mission driven? Lucy Flores—who has built a design studio dedicated to co-creating a more just, joyful and sustainable U.S. food system—says yes, with the results to prove it: Why she niched her business into food equity right from the beginning—and how it playe…

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Turning Your “Weakness” Into Your Genius with Jeff Eamer 38:34

1+ y ago38:34

38:34

Everyone has difficulties in life—and sometimes our unique genius arises from how we deal with them. Take Psychotherapist Jeff Eamer who turned a challenging mental health diagnosis into a life of purpose: How he moved from being an award-winning ad agency wonderkind to nabbing a 3-picture Hollywood deal. Why crashing—hard—led him to get help with …

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Manage Your Energy, Not Your Time 12:25

1+ y ago12:25

12:25

What if the standard productivity advice gets it wrong? What if your performance, health and happiness are grounded in how well you manage your energy, not your time? Jim Loehr and Tony Schwartz’s The Power of Full Engagement makes an excellent case for the role of energy in performance: The four types of energy—physical, emotional, mental and spir…

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Changing Teams with Mark Treichel 31:26

1+ y ago31:26

31:26

When you’ve been on staff at an organization—especially in the lead role— transitioning to consulting can be a bit disorienting. Consultant to credit unions Mark Triechel talks about the lessons learned in his switch from regulating an industry to advising them: How to quickly morph from “retirement” into a Soloist expertise business serving your f…

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Forging Your Own Path with Kris Jennings 30:47

1+ y ago30:47

30:47

Can you build a six to seven figure Soloist business doing the opposite of what “the experts” recommend? Consultant Kris Jennings has created exactly that by forging her own path: How her “tiny, tiny” email list delivered over $1 million in revenue (and provides a vehicle to nurture key referral relationships). How she thinks about and serves her l…

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Financial Planning For Soloists with Sean Mullaney 41:02

1+ y ago41:02

41:02

You’ve got a bookkeeper, a CPA, maybe even a CFO/strategic financial resource for your business—when and where does personal financial planning fit in? Advice-only financial planner and author Sean Mullaney walks us through financial planning for Soloists: The types of financial advisors Soloists are likely to encounter—how they work and are compen…

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Podcast Preview: Wall of Silence Ep. 2 46:07

1+ y ago46:07

46:07

While we are no longer producing new Tent Talks episodes every now and then we will take the opportunity to point listeners to new projects. Tent producer and co-host Chris Marchand has just begun releasing a new podcast we wanted you to be aware of: Wall of Silence, about church abuse and mishandling in the Anglican Church in North America. This i…

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Navigating Transitions with Joe Jacobi 47:36

1+ y ago47:36

47:36

None of us are immune to transitions—it’s just that they seem start piling up at “mid-life”. Olympic gold medalist and performance coach Joe Jacobi shares his story and how you too can navigate resistance and uncertainty to pursue purpose, performance and impact: What working as part of a two-person boat teaches you about collaboration (and it’s pr…

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New Podcast Preview: The Wall of Silence with Chris Marchand 57:54

1+ y ago57:54

57:54

While we are no longer producing new Tent Talks episodes every now and then we will take the opportunity to point listeners to new projects. Tent producer and co-host Chris Marchand has just begun releasing a new podcast we wanted you to be aware of: Wall of Silence. Here is the description: In this first episode we introduce the sexual abuse case …

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Productivity For Soloists 10:48

1+ y ago10:48

10:48

A quick Amazon search shows over 50,000 productivity titles—probably because as a society, we are obsessed with being productive. But what does productivity look like for Soloists? My theory—and I’m curious for your experience—is that many Soloists approach productivity a bit differently: My own (positive) experience with the classic Getting Things…

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Building A $100 Million Business vs. Going Solo with Rob Fegan 32:49

1+ y ago32:49

32:49

When you’re focused on building a $100 million business with a co-founder, what could possibly make you peel off to become a Soloist? Consultant Rob Fegan shares how he pivoted from his first business to a highly profitable (and life-enhancing) Soloist consulting practice: Why he transitioned from co-founding and growing their potentially $100 mill…

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Acing Your First Year with Jacqui Miller 31:25

1+ y ago31:25

31:25

That first year after leaving corporate life can be tricky—do you say yes to most every opportunity or niche immediately and start saying no? Strategic communicator Jacqui Miller aced (by any measure) her first year as a Soloist and describes how she made it happen: The surprising first thing she did when leaving her corporate job to start her expe…

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Birthing (and Monetizing) Your Authority Podcast with Alastair McDermott 33:01

1+ y ago33:01

33:01

You’ve been thinking about starting a podcast (or are just not happy with how yours is converting into leads and revenue). Prolific podcaster, author and coach Alastair McDermott shares how he created and runs multiple ongoing and evergreen podcasts: Why you’ll need to start before you’re ready (and the advantages of failing faster). How you might …

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Doubling Revenue In A Single Year with Mike Ryan 34:34

1+ y ago34:34

34:34

Moving from a job in big corporate to building a soloist expertise business is a bit of an adjustment. Consultant Mike Ryan turned his sweet spot into a thriving business and last year doubled his already significant revenue—he shares his story: The transition from being a buyer to becoming the seller—and how he built his referral “machine” (hint: …

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Building A Six-Figure Advisory Business (Working 15 Hours A Week) with Erica Goode 40:50

1+ y ago40:50

40:50

Can you build a six-figure advisory business working only 15 hours a week? CPA Erica Goode has—and she describes exactly how she did it (think serious boundaries): The lessons corporate burn-out can teach you about how to construct your own business. How setting rigid boundaries on her time allows her to meet all her work + life commitments. The va…

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Lessons From A Failed Launch—Is It Time To Quit? 13:34

1+ y ago13:34

13:34

Failure can be an excellent teacher—if we’ll only let it! In this solo episode, I walk you through the lessons from a recent failed launch to answer that all-important question: Is it time to quit? Why continuing to pursue a passion project can sometimes masquerade as (business) madness. The dirty little secret almost no one who does public launche…

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Are You Doing Your Greatest Work with Dr. Amanda Crowell 45:35

1+ y ago45:35

45:35

Dr Amanda Crowell, author of “Great Work: Do What Matters Most Without Sacrificing Everything Else”, tells us how to get to the work we were most meant to do: How to get off the “productivity roller coaster of doom” to make the time for your Great Work. Why your health and happiness make your Great Work flow easier—and how to optimize for them. A f…

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Making LinkedIn Work For You with Sarah Greesonbach 41:51

2y ago41:51

41:51

LinkedIn Jedi Master (and Founder of the B2B Writing Institute) Sarah Greesonbach shares how she uses LinkedIn to grow her business and relationships--and how you can too. How Sarah managed to build two soloist businesses—one with clients and the other with students—with one LinkedIn presence. Using LinkedIn as a way to develop your point of view a…

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Become A Better Communicator In The Age of AI with Jessica Mehring 44:27

2y ago44:27

44:27

You’re committed to becoming a better communicator to help your clients more effectively—and to turbocharge your marketing. Has AI complicated or instead simplified standing out with your communications? Consultant, author and writer Jessica Mehring shares the results of her research on the impact of generative AI on communicating strategically: Wh…

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Last Word 4 with Eve Poole and Golibe Omenaka and friends 1:11:30

2y ago1:11:30

1:11:30

The start of the new season in 2024 marks the end of the current season for Tent Talks. We are bringing our podcast in to land, with a series of final thoughts from former guests, hosts and friends of the show. Join Stephen Backhouse in a series of conversations as we explore The Last Word. This final episode contains conversations with Eve Poole a…

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Will Your Body of Work Benefit From Licensing or Certification with Pamela Slim 1:00:07

2y ago1:00:07

1:00:07

You’ve built a successful consulting practice using methods, tools and frameworks you’ve developed and road-tested with clients—is it time to ratchet up your impact and revenue? Award-winning author, speaker and certification expert Pamela Slim walks through the practical and strategic considerations of scaling your IP. Pam shares her from-the-fron…

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Last Word 3 with Rachel Howell 1:42:39

2y ago1:42:39

1:42:39

The start of the new season in 2024 marks the end of the current season for Tent Talks. We are bringing our podcast in to land, with a series of final thoughts from former guests, hosts and friends of the show. Join Stephen Backhouse in a series of conversations as we explore The Last Word. Episode Three features co-host Sean McCoy in a conversatio…

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How To Know If A Mastermind Is Right For You 8:46

2y ago8:46

8:46

Choosing a mastermind may well be one of your biggest investments as a business owner—and yet the right one will repay that investment many times over. How can you decide if a mastermind is right for you? In this solo episode, I explain: The three contributing factors that will impact the success you experience with any mastermind. Why you never wa…

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Last Word 2 with Lisa Weaver Swartz and Amanda Holm Rosengren 1:33:34

2y ago1:33:34

1:33:34

The start of the new season in 2024 marks the end of the current season for Tent Talks. We are bringing our podcast in to land, with a series of final thoughts from former guests, hosts and friends of the show. Join Stephen Backhouse in a series of conversations as we explore The Last Word. Episode Two features co-host Chris Marchand offering a cod…

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Make Your Own Rules with Heather Whelpley 42:12

2y ago42:12

42:12

We tend to live by a set of unconscious rules that we’ve inherited—from our families, our culture, the media and more. But when they keep you tethered to a way of life that isn’t serving your highest good? Award-winning author, speaker and podcast host Heather Whelpley says it’s time to make your own rules. Together, we unpack: The four types of ru…

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Last Word 1 with Brad Jersak, Natasha Beckles and friends 1:49:35

2y ago1:49:35

1:49:35

The start of the new season 2024 marks the end of the current season for Tent Talks. We are bringing our podcast in to land, with a series of final thoughts from former guests, hosts and friends of the show. Join Stephen Backhouse in a series of conversations as we explore The Last Word. Episode One features Brad Jersak, Natasha Beckles and friends…

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Hosting A Purposeful Podcast with Lauren Popish 52:18

2y ago52:18

52:18

Podcasting is a proven way to increase your authority, impact and revenue—but how can you produce a podcast that consistently achieves your goals? Lauren Popish, founder of The Wave (podcast editing for women, by women), shows how to clear the obstacles keeping you from starting—or continuing to grow—a purposeful podcast. Lauren shares her story an…

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Navigating The Pit Of Despair AKA Tax Season with Shannon Weinstein 34:01

2y ago34:01

34:01

Do you cringe at the thought of tax season, wondering what ugly surprises lie in store for you? As fractional CFO to growth-minded business owners (and top podcaster) Shannon Weinstein says “You can’t hot glue and duct tape your numbers forever.” Shannon dives deep into how to set yourself up for a smooth tax season, no matter your business stage: …

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Claim Your Genius Zone 8:33

2y ago8:33

8:33

Today it’s just you and me for a special bonus episode on the cusp of a brand spanking new year. I ask you an important question: how would your life be different if you stopped working on things that drain you and directed that energy to your genius zone instead? Get re-energized and re-inspired by your business for 2024: The four “zones” of activ…

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Representation Politics: Finding the Middle with Claudine and Kuda 1:00:29

2y ago1:00:29

1:00:29

Left, Right, or in the middle? Guest host and previous guest to the Tent Sheyi Martin-Allens presents a series of conversations with black and brown friends from across the political spectrum to discuss their thoughts on having Britain's first Asian prime minister along with a government containing an increasing amount of ethnic minorities. The ser…