In this episode, I take you behind the scenes of one of the most anticipated events in the No BS world — our annual in-person retreat in Brooklyn, NY! With 60 students flying in from around the globe, I share what goes into planning an experience that’s equal parts strategic deep dive and soul-fueling celebration.

You'll hear why in-person connection is a game-changer for business growth, how the retreat is intentionally designed to unlock transformation, and yes, how I convinced a huge name and a hero of mine to come speak to our small-but-mighty community (spoiler: it involves a lot of heart and a little chutzpah).

If you’ve ever wondered what makes the No BS retreat feel like a business homecoming or you're craving a clearer path to a freedom-filled, profitable business, this one’s for you.

Tune into this episode to hear:

• Why I host 60 people at my apartment to kick things off (yes, my bedroom door is open—literally)
• The mindset shifts and strategy breakthroughs we create when we get in the room together
• The big reach we made this year that absolutely paid off
• What past attendees have said about how this retreat transformed their confidence, business, and even led to a TEDx Talk

Mentioned:

• Hillary Weiss on Instagram: @hcweiss
• Talking Shrimp
• Laura Belgray on Instagram: @laurabelgray
• The Fuller Center for Housing
• Seth Godin
• E. 145: Emily Wilkins on How Niching Down and Owning That Niche Allowed Her Business to Thrive
• E. 219: Eleanor Hancock on Making the Big Leap, Changing Everything in Their Business, and Finding the Most Valuable Piece of Any Client Project
• The dilemma of the timid trailblazer | Eleanor Hancock | TEDxBrayford Pool

Resources:

• No BS Agencies Mastery
• The Price to Freedom Calculator™
• No BS Launchpad
• No BS Agency Owners Free Facebook Group
• Start reading the first chapter of my book
• Piasilva.com

A few weeks ago, I did something that I never thought I would ever do in a million years. It was so out there that I can’t believe that it has come and gone and I did it.

What did I do? I got up on stage as the lead, and only, singer in a rock band.

Am I a singer? Hell no. 

So how on earth did I find myself signing up for the terrifying prospect of singing live in front of a room full of people?

Today I’m going to tell you why I did it and why I’m so glad that I did it not only for myself, but for my business and for all of you.

Tune into this episode to hear:

• The real gift of doing things that scare the crap out of you
• Why entrepreneurs need to push their boundaries all the time
• Why it matters to me that I walk the walk and do hard things
• What's better than doing it perfectly

Mentioned:

• When You Bank True Confidence, Anything Is Possible | TED Talk
• E. 11 - Influence, Being Your Brand, and How to Command the Attention of Any Room with Brett Lavender 

Resources:

• No BS Agencies Mastery
• The Price to Freedom Calculator™
• No BS Launchpad
• No BS Agency Owners Free Facebook Group
• Start reading the first chapter of my book
• Piasilva.com

Let’s not sugarcoat it. AI is changing everything. And yes, it’s already coming for your creative agency.

But not everyone is at risk. 

Let's talk about what you need to do in order to protect yourself from AI and any other future tech disruptions.

Tune into this episode to hear:

• What we can all learn from the rise of tools like Squarespace, Fiverr, and Canva
• How leaning in to the value of your process sets you apart 
• The key skill that AI can never replicate
• Three essential steps to future-proof your creative business

Resources:

• No BS Agencies Mastery
• The Price to Freedom Calculator™
• No BS Launchpad
• No BS Agency Owners Free Facebook Group
• Start reading the first chapter of my book
• Piasilva.com

I’m excited to share a conversation with an amazing teacher of mine, the one and only Selena Soo.

Selena is a wonderfully kind and generous person who wants to lift up others by teaching us how to better show up and forge real, rich relationships with each other. 

In this episode, we talk about the insights from her new book Rich Relationships: Create a Million-Dollar Network for Your Business.

Selena Soo is a 7-figure business mentor, who helps experts and authors reach millions with their message. Through dozens of multi-6 figure and 7-figure launches, Selena has generated over $13 million in revenue in her first 10 years of business. She has also built more than 400 affiliate and referral partnerships.

An expert in publicity, Selena has helped thousands of entrepreneurs land media, in places that include O, The Oprah Magazine, Forbes, Business Insider, and The Drew Barrymore Show.

A former New Yorker, Selena is living her dream life in sunny Puerto Rico.

Tune into this episode to hear:

• Why building real, intentional connections is more important than being at every networking event
• How investing time, creativity, and resources into relationships reaps big returns
• Three key phases to seeking and developing a rich relationship
• Simple ways to intentionally give and add value to your relationships
• Selena’s six circles of connection framework that will help you manage relationships

Learn more about Selena Soo:

• Website
• Instagram: @selena_soo
• Connect on LinkedIn
• Rich Relationships: Create a Million-Dollar Network for Your Business

Resources:

• Get the first four chapters of Rich Relationships plus bonus scripts!
• No BS Agencies Mastery
• The Price to Freedom Calculator™
• No BS Launchpad
• No BS Agency Owners Free Facebook Group
• Start reading the first chapter of my book
• Piasilva.com

When the economy is in turmoil, a lot of business owners get really scared. This is understandable!

When we don’t know what’s going to happen, fear is totally normal. And it doesn’t help that we live in a 24/7 news and social media cycle that is most likely feeding you a lot of scary news, information, and opinions.

You might be afraid that your clients are going to disappear, that your business will shrink, and that you’ll find yourself in a really dangerous place financially.

So today, I want to talk about those fears, how I would think about it, and what you can do to shield yourself for whatever turmoil might come along with a more depressed economy.

Tune into this episode to hear:

• Why pulling back and shrinking down your business is not the answer
• Two student success stories on using unexpected downtime to catapult their businesses forward
• Why the right clients are always going to be willing to invest for high-value services
• What you need to focus on right now to make sure your business weathers the storm

Resources:

• No BS Agencies Mastery
• The Price to Freedom Calculator™
• No BS Launchpad
• No BS Agency Owners Free Facebook Group
• Start reading the first chapter of my book
• Piasilva.com

What if the only thing standing between you and the business you actually want is you?

In this firecracker of an episode, I sit down with leadership coach and mindset magician Gary Montalvo, who serves up truth bombs about personal responsibility, entrepreneurial avoidance, and why waiting for Oprah (or referrals) is not a strategy.

This episode is a loving kick in the pants for every creative, coach, or small biz owner who's stuck in "busy" but not making real moves. Gary’s blend of heart, humor, and no-BS wisdom will leave you thinking way differently about your business and yourself.

About Gary Montalvo:

For almost two decades, Gary Montalvo has been a powerhouse behind business strategies and leadership programs for numerous entrepreneurs, startups and corporations. Most recently he worked with LimeLife by Alcone as the Chief Growth Officer, where he worked on the sales and recruitment strategies for the company globally.

He has delivered hundreds of speeches, workshops, and trainings to audiences internationally and is also the host of The Ownership Game Podcast. He brings a contagious authentic energy to his audiences that’s not just feel good, but practical and implementable. 

Tune into this episode to hear:

• Why ownership is the real secret to momentum
• How to stop pretending you're “confused” and start making moves
• The sneaky ways entrepreneurs avoid what really matters
• Why your monkey brain is sabotaging you—and what to do about it
• How to follow up, show up, and sell without being creepy

Learn more about Gary Montalvo:

• Website
• Instagram: @garymontalvo
• YouTube: @GaryMontalvoCoaching
• The Ownership Game Podcast

Resources:

• No BS Agencies Mastery
• The Price to Freedom Calculator™
• No BS Launchpad
• No BS Agency Owners Free Facebook Group
• Start reading the first chapter of my book
• Piasilva.com

Tell me if this sounds like you.

Your business is going okay. You’re making enough money. But you want to level up. You want to invest in yourself and your business to get there.

But you just need a little more money before you can justify the investment. 

Or maybe your business isn’t going so well. You’re struggling to find and close clients. You know you need to invest in learning the skills it takes to turn your business into a success.

But you need to land one more client before you can think about spending the money to learn those skills.

You see the contradiction, right?

These are two of the most common excuses I hear from business owners about why they can’t invest in themselves and their businesses.

Today I want to break down why so many of us hold onto the idea that we need to make the money first in order to invest in ourselves.

Tune into this episode to hear:

• Why waiting until you have “enough” money to invest in your business is keeping you stuck in survival mode
• Why the fastest path to making more money is investing in your ability to make money
• How investing real money in learning new skills makes you take action differently
• Why putting off investing in your business costs you money in the long run

Resources:

• No BS Agencies Mastery
• The Price to Freedom Calculator™
• No BS Launchpad
• No BS Agency Owners Free Facebook Group
• Start reading the first chapter of my book
• Piasilva.com

“I can’t go out and talk about my business until I figure out what my niche is.”

I hear this all the time. And don’t get me wrong, I love a niche and I think you should have one.

But the thing is, obsessing over your niche too early in your business can actually hold you back instead of helping you. If you think you have to be absolutely clear on your niche or your audience before you can put your name out there and look for business, you might be making a huge mistake that will set you back.

Niching only works when you do it the right way. Today, I’m going to explain why that is and how to do it successfully.

Tune into this episode to hear:

• Why picking a niche can totally backfire if you’re missing this one thing
• How working with different types of clients helps you find your niche 
• What you need to do to validate if a niche is the one for you

Mentioned:

• E. 145: Emily Wilkins on How Niching Down and Owning That Niche Allowed Her Business to Thrive

Resources:

• No BS Agencies Mastery
• The Price to Freedom Calculator™
• No BS Launchpad
• No BS Agency Owners Free Facebook Group
• Start reading the first chapter of my book
• Piasilva.com

You’re in the branding, design, website, or marketing business, so obviously you want a killer website and branding for yourself. How else are you going to demonstrate that you know what you’re doing and attract the right clients?

This is true.

But if you’re waiting until your website or your branding is perfect before you make any other investment in your business, you are waiting too long.

A beautiful, finished website is not a necessity for getting out there and starting to build your business and make money. Same goes for updating your website if you’re struggling with referrals and closing sales.

Today, I’m going to tell you why and what you need to focus on instead.

Tune into this episode to hear:

• Why a website is not a sales strategy
• The key elements of your business that need your energy long before your website
• Why your brand and website will actually resonate only after you’re successfully selling

Resources:

• No BS Agencies Mastery
• The Price to Freedom Calculator™
• No BS Launchpad
• No BS Agency Owners Free Facebook Group
• Start reading the first chapter of my book
• Piasilva.com

KyAlea Monma came into No BS Agencies Mastery firing on all cylinders and she has had incredible results with the actions she’s taken. She’s been a consistent example of how it is to show up for yourself, your business, and our community. It’s been truly inspiring to witness her journey and I’m excited for you to hear her story.

KyAlea Monma is a visionary strategist and brand architect, and the founder of HOKU Design Group. With over 20 years of branding expertise, a master’s in media design, and a background leading global teams, she helps founders build bold, magnetic brands rooted in their Brand DNA. Through her Master Brand framework, KyAlea empowers service-based businesses to scale with clarity, influence, and unstoppable momentum—turning ambition into action and action into legacy.

Tune into this episode to hear:

• Why and how KyAlea rebuilt her business
• The problem with niching too soon.
• How being part of the No BS community helped KyAlea define her strengths and own her unique approach
• How she found her unique voice in a crowded industry
• The changes KyAlea made to put more breathing room in her schedule

Learn more about KyAlea Monma:

• HOKU Design Group
• Connect on LinkedIn

Resources:

• No BS Agencies Mastery
• The Price to Freedom Calculator™
• No BS Launchpad
• No BS Agency Owners Free Facebook Group
• Start reading the first chapter of my book
• Piasilva.com