Most founders don’t lose money because they hired a bad agency.

They lose money because they hired wrong, scaled wrong, or expected outcomes without understanding the mechanics behind them.

In this episode of Special Ops Podcast, Emma Rainville sits down with Mitch Barham to unpack what agency ownership really looks like behind the curtain — and what founders must understand before blaming, firing, or replacing their team.

We cover:

→ Why agencies gain experience faster than in-house teams

→ The real reason most agency relationships fail

→ How to tell in 60 seconds if you're talking to a junior team

→ What questions to ask BEFORE signing a contract

→ Why scaling fast creates bigger fires (merchant accounts, inventory, middleware, cash flow)

→ The importance of clear deliverables, outcomes, and accountability

→ What happens when founders override proven strategy

Whether you’re hiring an agency, managing one, or thinking about firing one — this episode gives you the operator-level perspective most founders never hear.

Timestamps:

0:00 Intro: Why founders start blaming their agency

1:07 What owning an agency actually teaches you

3:06 Choosing the right clients (and avoiding the wrong ones)

11:36 Founder red flags & the “asshole tax”

17:54 Agency vs owning your own brand

21:32 Scaling fast: what actually breaks

24:10 What to ask before hiring an agency

27:58 Deliverables, outcomes & accountability

32:23 Final operator takeaway

🎯 Download the Hiring Agencies Checklist (FREE)

Inside the Visionary Vault, you’ll get the exact checklist referenced in this episode — designed to help you vet agencies the right way.

👉 https://specialopspodcast.com/visionary-vault

Get in Touch with Emma Rainville:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@specialopspodcast

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emma_rainville512/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emmarainvilleoperationsguru

Connect with Mitch Barham:

Mastermind: paidadsmastermind.com

Website: Barhammarketing.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beardpreneur/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@beardpreneur

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mitch-barham/

📩 Join the Visionary Vault for FREE courses, templates, and checklists to help you eliminate bottlenecks and build operational clarity: https://specialopspodcast.com/visionary-vault

#AgencyLife #StopBlamingYourAgency #DirectResponse #Ecommerce #OperationalExcellence #founderproblems #scaling #SpecialOpsPodcast

You are the bottleneck… but are you not making a decision because you're tired — or because you're waiting for perfection?

In this episode of Special Ops Podcast, Emma Rainville breaks down the real cost of indecision and why most opportunity losses in business don’t come from bad decisions… they come from the ones you never make.

We cover:

→ Why stalled decisions create “mental debt” that slows visionary thinking

→ The hidden opportunity cost of waiting (hiring delays, missed growth, lost momentum)

→ How perfection quietly kills profit

→ Why speed beats perfection in most operational decisions

→ A simple filter to decide what actually needs action today

→ PLUS: The custom brainstorming GPT inside the Visionary Vault to help you move faster

Whether you’re a scaling founder, overwhelmed CEO, or visionary drowning in “almost decided” ideas, this episode will help you clear the backlog and move forward with clarity.

Timestamps:

0:00 – Intro: You are the bottleneck

0:45 – The hidden "Decision Debt" slowing your growth

1:30 – Clarity is a result of motion, not a prerequisite

2:15 – The Early-Bird Example: Why we delay obvious wins

3:10 – The "Maybe" Trap: How hiring delays kill profit

4:05 – Perfectionism vs. Speed: Why you’re actually just tired

5:30 – Clearing the backlog and taking action

6:15 – The Visionary Vault: Custom GPT resource

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

→ Visionary Vault (FREE): https://specialopspodcast.com/visionary-vault

→ Custom Brainstorming GPT (inside the Vault)

Follow Emma Rainville for actionable insights that actually move the needle:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/emmarainville512

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@specialopspodcast

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emma_rainville512/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emmarainvilleoperationsguru

📩 Join the Visionary Vault for FREE courses, templates, and checklists to help you eliminate bottlenecks and build operational clarity:

https://specialopspodcast.com/visionary-vault

#DecisionMaking #EntrepreneurMindset #Leadership #FounderProblems #BusinessGrowth #COO #OperationalExcellence #SpecialOpsPodcast #DirectResponse #Ecommerce

OpenClaw is the agentic AI everyone's talking about, but should you actually install it?

In this episode of Special Ops Podcast, Emma Rainville sits down with Austin Armstrong to break down everything you need to know about OpenClaw (formerly ClawBot, then MultBot... yeah, it's been a wild 12 days).

→ What OpenClaw actually is and why it's blowing up

→ The real security risks nobody's talking about (prompt injection, hard drive wipes, API abuse)

→ How to set it up SAFELY using a VPS or Emergent.sh (one-click install)

→ Best practices for protecting your passwords, API keys, and bank accounts

→ PLUS: The AI.com Super Bowl announcement and why you need to grab your handle NOW

Whether you're an AI early adopter or you're skeptical about giving an AI control of your computer, this episode gives you the full breakdown so you can move forward WITHOUT getting burned.

0:00 - Intro: What is OpenClaw?

1:38 - Why the name keeps changing (ClawBot → MultBot → OpenClaw)

3:06 - The "pump the brakes" moment & security concerns

4:46 - Security risks: Prompt injection & hard drive wipes

5:50 - Safe setup: VPS, Hostinger, Telegram, WhatsApp

6:40 - Best practices for API keys, passwords & virtual cards

8:57 - Emergent.sh: The easiest one-click installation method

12:30 - AI.com Super Bowl ad breakdown

13:19 - The username land grab (grab yours NOW)

15:22 - Wrap up & Visionary Vault

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

→ Emergent.sh (one-click OpenClaw install)

→ AI.com (reserve your username)

→ Special Ops Visionary Vault (FREE): https://specialopspodcast.com/visionary-vault

Follow Emma Rainville for actionable insights that actually move the needle:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/emmarainville512

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@specialopspodcast

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emma_rainville512/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emmarainvilleoperationsguru

Connect with Austin Armstrong for breaking AI news and insights

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Owwstin/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@socialtypro

X: https://twitter.com/SocialtyPro

LinkedIn:​​ https://www.linkedin.com/in/austinarmstrong90/

📩 Join the Visionary Vault for FREE courses, templates, and checklists to help you achieve operational excellence in your business: https://specialopspodcast.com/visionary-vault

#OpenClaw #AgenticAI #AIAgents #ClawBot #MultBot #AI2025 #ArtificialIntelligence #AIAutomation #SpecialOpsPodcast #AustinArmstrong #AIcom #DirectResponse #Ecommerce

How do elite operators make split-second calls that protect millions—and still run a business on logic, not luck?

In this Special Ops best-of compilation from the London sessions, Emma Rainville and the Shockwave team reveal their personal decision-making frameworks, pricing psychology tactics, and what really drives operational clarity when the stakes are high. With stories pulled from real client crises, internal challenges, and rapid-fire ops calls, this episode gives listeners a front-row seat to the pressure-tested thinking behind 7-figure operational moves.

You’ll hear how Emma and her team simplify chaos into clear options, how they reverse-engineer desired outcomes, and the tactical processes they’ve built to manage fast decisions without collateral damage. If you've ever felt alone in making hard calls, this episode shows the invisible prep work, conversations, and mental filters high-performing operators use daily.

1. Emma’s 3-step fast-decision filter when time is tight
2. How real teams stress-test ideas in under 20 minutes
3. The difference between “what you want” and “what needs to happen”
4. Pricing psychology for eCom offers—and why $7 to $5,000 jumps don’t work
5. Segmenting your CRM by buyer behavior (and why it’s often ignored)

1. (0:00) The operator’s burden: fast, high-stakes decisions
2. (1:42) Emma’s decision-making playbook
3. (5:20) Turning theory into real-world action: Richard’s perspective
4. (8:45) The behind-the-scenes testing that enables sharp calls
5. (11:10) Pricing psychology and buyer segmentation explained
6. (14:50) Translating visionary briefs into execution-ready strategy

💡 Sign up for the Visionary Vault to access today’s free playbook:

https://specialopspodcast.com/visionary-vault

Explore Free Resources inside the Visionary Vault:

https://specialopspodcast.com/visionary-vault

Get in Touch with Emma Rainville:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@specialopspodcast

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emma_rainville512/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emmarainvilleoperationsguru

As 2025 closes out, we’ve clipped together three of the most high-impact segments of the year. From persuasion psychology and TikTok Shop monetization to retention marketing that stops churn before it starts, this episode is a tactical tour through the biggest marketing levers we saw all year. Whether you're refining your VSL, building passive retention for your mastermind, or just trying to sell water bottles on TikTok, these favorites from 2025 have all the play-by-play.

Thank you to everyone who tuned in, subscribed, shared clips, dropped reviews, or DM’d us your takeaways, you made 2025 our strongest year yet! We launched spin-offs, leveled up our production, and went deeper than ever into the tactics that actually move the needle.

And we’re just getting started. In 2026, we’re committed to pushing the standard even higher. More strategic guests, sharper playbooks, and content that earns your attention every single week. We don’t take your time lightly. So from the entire team behind Special Ops — THANK YOU!

Let’s build smarter, scale sharper, and make next year our most operationally excellent yet.

1. Copywriting psychology that flips objections into purchases
2. Using AI to generate five avatar-specific sales stories
3. TikTok Shop as a 2025 sales engine — why it’s dominating
4. Micro commitment frameworks that build "yes ladders" fast
5. Retention systems at key churn points (month 1, 3, 6, 12)
6. Monetizing as a muted personality (yes, even if you're not “camera ready”)
7. How free stuff, identity anchors, and open loops boost retention

1. (0:00) Why “no” turns to “yes”: emotional multi-angle storytelling
2. (4:41) Copywriting: The “want ___?” persuasion tactic
3. (8:03) Objection stacking & logical argument ad building
4. (11:44) TikTok Shop & short-form monetization examples
5. (14:20) Micro commitments: Open loops, NLP patterns & identity hooks
6. (18:00) Retention playbooks: passive vs. active retention
7. (21:17) Case studies: Mercedes, Kathleen, and the quiet experts
8. (25:09) Building products people never want to cancel

Explore Free Resources inside the Visionary Vault:

https://specialopspodcast.com/visionary-vault

Get in Touch with Emma Rainville:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@specialopspodcast

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emma_rainville512/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emmarainvilleoperationsguru

Get in Touch with Nick Verge:

Website: https://www.nickverge.com/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/TheNVD21

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nicholasverge/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicholas-verge-196731150

Get in Touch with Keenya Kelly:

Website: https://www.keenyakelly.com/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/keenyakelly

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/keenyakelly/

Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@keenyakelly

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/keenyakelly/

You didn’t build a business. You built yourself a job—with a title that sounds cooler than it feels. This episode is your wake-up call and your blueprint out.

Emma Rainville is joined by Richard and Tiago from Shockwave Solutions to break down the exact six-step framework used to turn overwhelmed businesses into high-profit machines. If you're tired of being the catch-all in your company, and ready to stop being the bottleneck, this episode delivers tactical clarity. From business audit checklists to triage-based prioritization, we walk through how to diagnose, discover, plan, and fix—without skipping steps and creating future fires. Whether you're scaling or just stuck, this is required listening.

We cover:

- Why most visionary entrepreneurs accidentally trap themselves in a role, not a business

- How to audit business operations by department, role, and KPI

- Diagnosing performance problems without ego (and without skipping discovery)

- Creating a business planning path that prioritizes real ROI

- Reducing operational “noise” that’s draining time, clarity, and focus

- Fixing bottlenecks using triage decision-making—not reactive chaos

Timestamps:

(0:00) The visionary trap: jobs disguised as businesses

(1:12) Six-part framework overview

(2:00) Step 1: Audit — buckets, roles, KPIs

(3:05) Step 2: Diagnose — find the root cause, not the surface-level excuse

(4:30) Step 3: Discovery — see the business in motion

(5:40) Step 4: Plan — triage to prioritize what's most impactful

(7:00) Step 5: Reduce noise — eliminate distractions, streamline inputs

(8:10) Step 6: Fix — the only time you’re allowed to fix is at the end

(9:30) The loneliness of visionary leaders — and the way out

✅ Sign up to access Six Steps to Your Profit Machine and more tools inside the Visionary Vault. We’ll never sell to you—just operational excellence.

Explore Free Resources inside the Visionary Vault:

https://specialopspodcast.com/visionary-vault

Get in Touch with Emma Rainville:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@specialopspodcast

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emma_rainville512/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emmarainvilleoperationsguru

Get in Touch with Richard:

Email: [email protected]

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-parkin-55621ba9/

Get in Touch with Tiago:

Email: [email protected]

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tiago-sanguinetti/

If you want a team that moves fast and solves problems, you need trust. And that doesn’t happen by accident.

In this high-impact episode, Emma Rainville sits down with Tiago and Richard to unpack what real team building looks like inside fast-scaling companies. Forget ropes courses—this is about building vulnerability, trust, and operational courage in your people. Whether your team is remote, hybrid, or scattered across time zones, this episode lays out the tactical ways to drive deeper connections—so your team can move fast without breaking trust.

From Slack threads to in-person intensives, we break down exactly how Emma has turned cultural friction into performance fuel. You’ll learn what works, what fails, and why the first step in building team trust might be inviting your team into your home.

We cover:

- How to create operational courage between team members

- Why team building isn’t about location—it’s about vulnerability

- Tactical formats that build trust (Slack, meetings, 16 Personalities)

- The surprising power of personal updates in weekly calls

- How to turn conflict into collaboration—even remotely

Timestamps

(0:00) Welcome & why Emma’s obsessed with team building

(1:10) Vulnerability and truth-telling in ops culture

(3:25) Emma’s open-house philosophy for team trust

(5:45) Remote connection = intentional design

(7:00) Why weekly gratitude check-ins drive empathy

(8:15) Building psychological safety inside your ops team

(9:40) Real story: how a 3-day team retreat transformed conflict

(11:00) The 16 Personalities framework (and why it works fast)

Want 101 proven team building ideas that work for remote teams? Grab the free guide inside the Visionary Vault at: https://specialopspodcast.com/visionary-vault

Explore Free Resources inside the Visionary Vault:

https://specialopspodcast.com/visionary-vault

Get in Touch with Emma Rainville:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@specialopspodcast

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emma_rainville512/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emmarainvilleoperationsguru

Get in Touch with Richard:

Email: [email protected]

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-parkin-55621ba9/

Get in Touch with Tiago:

Email: [email protected]

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tiago-sanguinetti/

Stop building your business on sticky notes. Instead build a plan that actually sticks past Q1.

This episode walks you through Emma’s WAVE framework, a one‑page annual planning system that aligns your long‑term vision, 2026 plan, and actual execution calendar. You’ll learn how to craft a written 10‑year business vision, translate it into 5‑ and 3‑year flash‑forwards, then lock in non‑negotiable yearly commitments instead of wish‑list goals. From there we define “absolute focus” so you stop chasing every shiny object, build a values‑driven company culture, and break 2026 into a quarterly execution roadmap your team can deliver. If you're a direct‑response marketer or ecommerce operator scaling up without burning out, this is your war‑room field manual.

We cover:

• Crafting a 10‑year business and life‑by‑design vision
• Turning vague revenue targets into concrete yearly commitments with clear KPIs
• Using flash‑forwards to bridge a 10‑year vision into 5‑year and 3‑year milestones
• Defining your absolute focus so opportunities don’t derail execution
• Building values‑driven company culture and hiring aligned with those values
• Breaking 2026 into a realistic Q1 execution plan

Timestamps:

• (0:00) Why you can’t 10X for 10 years and still be at every soccer game
• (1:10) Welcome to Special Ops and the WAVE planning system
• (3:00) Written vision — designing your 10‑year business and life by design
• (5:10) Five‑ and three‑year flash‑forwards and milestone math
• (7:05) Yearly commitments vs goals and setting measurable KPIs
• (9:00) Absolute focus: how to evaluate new opportunities and avoid distraction
• (10:45) Values‑driven future and hiring people who match your core values
• (12:00) Q1 execution plan, WAVE one‑page PDF, and Visionary Vault resources

Make 2026 the year you stop chasing new ideas and start executing your vision. Grab the WAVE one‑page plan, plug in your values, and use it to run your meetings, KPIs, and hiring.

Explore Free Resources inside the Visionary Vault:

https://specialopspodcast.com/visionary-vault

Get in Touch with Emma Rainville:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@specialopspodcast

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emma_rainville512/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emmarainvilleoperationsguru

The systems you trust most might be the ones silently draining revenue.

In this Special Ops episode, Emma Rainville sits down with Tiago and Richard from Shockwave to expose the hidden risks inside "working" automations. From forgotten CRM tags to catastrophic failures on revenue-critical days like New Year's Eve, this conversation breaks down the high-stakes consequences of automation neglect. You'll learn exactly how often to audit backend systems, how to prioritize checks based on revenue impact, and why every automation needs a timestamp and owner.

We cover:

- Why the butterfly effect in automation is real—and dangerous

- The difference between a functioning system and a profitable one

- SOPs vs. revenue-connected automations: how to audit each

- The $500K+ mistake from a five-year-old CRM automation

- Why your quarterly launch could trigger a total system collapse

Timestamps:

(0:00) Welcome + intro to automation breakdowns

(0:40) Why automations fail silently over time

(1:25) The legacy CRM horror story

(2:45) How often you should audit automations

(3:50) The butterfly effect in backend systems

(5:10) Real-world breakdown: New Year’s Eve automation disaster

(6:20) SOPs vs. dollar-backed flows: audit timelines

(7:10) Free SOP download for your next system audit

CTA: Download the free automation audit SOP from Richard inside the Visionary Vault. No opt-in BS. Just plug, edit, deploy.

Explore Free Resources inside the Visionary Vault:

https://specialopspodcast.com/visionary-vault

Get in Touch with Emma Rainville:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@specialopspodcast

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emma_rainville512/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emmarainvilleoperationsguru

Get in Touch with Richard:

Email: [email protected]

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-parkin-55621ba9/

Get in Touch with Tiago:

Email: [email protected]

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tiago-sanguinetti/

Retention isn't just about keeping customers—it's about removing every reason they'd ever want to leave.

In this episode of Special Ops, Emma Rainville is joined by Shockwave’s retention tactician Tiago Richard to deliver a hard-hitting, operations-first breakdown on subscription retention. Whether you're scaling supplements, masterminds, SaaS tools or monthly memberships, this episode offers direct strategies that tackle both active and passive retention—and explains why refund prevention starts before your customer asks for one.

Tiago walks through critical churn points (month 1, 3, 6, 12), refund psychology, how to align CS with retention KPIs, and what elite operators do to pre-convince their subscribers to stay. You'll also hear granular plays around pricing posture, incentive timing, and the community effect of visible cancellations.

We cover:

• The difference between active vs. passive retention—and where each one fails 
• Shockwave’s best practices for refund prevention that don’t involve discounting 
• Tactical incentives at key churn markers (month 1, 3, 6, 12) 
• Mastermind vs. supplement retention frameworks 
• Why “usage” is the biggest predictor of churn—and how to design around it 
• What makes annual subscription ops fundamentally different from monthly

Timestamps:

• (0:00) Introduction: retention starts after the sale
• (2:03) Active vs. passive retention—defined
• (5:30) Retaining masterminds vs. supplements
• (7:55) Milestone drop-offs: designing incentive triggers
• (9:15) Passive retention via community psychology
• (12:20) What to do when someone says “I want a refund”
• (14:40) Retention by habit-forming: 21-day logic
• (15:20) Why annual retention takes proactive ops
• (16:17) Outro & retention playbook drop

Sign up for the Visionary Vault to get Richard’s Retention Best Practices PDF and our operational retention checklist: https://specialopspodcast.com/visionary-vault

Explore Free Resources inside the Visionary Vault: https://specialopspodcast.com/visionary-vault

Get in Touch with Emma Rainville:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@specialopspodcast

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emma_rainville512/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emmarainvilleoperationsguru

Get in Touch with Richard:

Email: [email protected]

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-parkin-55621ba9/

Get in Touch with Tiago:

Email: [email protected]

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tiago-sanguinetti/