🎙️ Conversations Into Cash: How to Get Paid to Think with Abbi Perets

If you’ve ever caught yourself giving away high-value advice for free and wondered, “Shouldn’t I be charging for this?”—this episode is for you.

Matt sits down with writer and strategist Abbi Perets, who helps creators, freelancers, and experts turn everyday conversations into income. They dive into:

• How to structure discovery calls that lead to real work

• Why giving too much away for free is killing your business

• The shift from deliverables to strategy-first offerings

• Setting clear boundaries with clients (and family)

• And yes—why your work should actually be fun

Abbi also opens up about how parenting, burnout, and a life-altering family crisis reshaped her business philosophy—and what it really means to build a creative life on your terms.

Whether you’re early in your freelance journey or ready to raise your rates and reclaim your time, this one’s packed with insight, warmth, and practical takeaways you’ll actually use.

👉 Learn more about Abbi at successfulfreelancemom.com

What we talk about in this episode:

00:00 Introduction to Turning Conversations into Cash

01:34 Recognizing and Valuing Your Expertise

05:21 Structuring Effective Discovery Calls

07:26 Balancing Free Value and Paid Services13:08 The Importance of Fun in Business

19:36 Practical Tips for Discovery Calls

27:27 Navigating Conversations and Split Personalities

28:04 Setting Financial Goals and Client Boundaries

31:10 Structuring Profit Sharing Deals

36:28 Transitioning to a Strategy-Focused Role

43:07 Balancing Family and Work as a Freelancer

50:09 Final Thoughts and Where to Find More

Feeling overwhelmed by your creative business?

What if you could ditch the chaos and build a calm, profitable, and sustainable system that actually works for you?

In this episode, Matt sits down with Dr. Monica Rysavy—systems designer, Airtable genius, and founder of the Systematic AF Club—to unpack the powerful workflows used by 7-figure creators to track revenue, content, and engagement… all in one place.

You’ll learn:

• What a CEO Dashboard is—and why every creator needs one

• How to stop guessing and start growing with clear, trackable metrics

• Smart ways to align client work, products, and community without burnout

• Real-world examples of systems that save time and scale impact

Whether you’re flying solo or building a small team, this episode will help you think like a CEO and act with clarity. Let’s get systematic AF.

Join her email list and community! https://systematicyou.com/

What we talk about in this episode

00:00 Introduction to Building a Sustainable Creator Business

01:04 Understanding the CEO Dashboard

01:50 Tracking Metrics and Revenue

03:08 Time Management and ROI

06:00 Using Airtable for Business Automation

09:39 Leveraging Community Engagement

13:38 Reflecting on Financial Data

19:59 Balancing Client Work and Creative Projects

24:33 Aligning Services and Membership Models

25:21 Pitching and Client Strategies

26:31 Community Engagement and Pricing

27:15 Tutorials and CEO Dashboard

31:41 AI in Productivity and Systems

37:43 Content Remixing and Consistency

43:32 Future Trends and Online Communities

44:59 Systematic AF Club Overview

Feeling creatively stuck, burned out, or caught between work that pays and work that lights you up?

In this episode, Matt is joined by creator coach Hayden Flohr to unpack the stress loop killing your flow—and how to escape it.

You’ll learn how to reclaim your energy, shift limiting beliefs, and build a business that actually feels good. Expect honest stories, powerful mindset shifts, and practical tools you can use today to get back to what really matters.

What we talk about in this episode

00:00 Introduction: Overcoming Creative Burnout

01:13 The Role of Stress in Creativity

03:20 Practical Tips for Reducing Stress

08:16 The Importance of Being Presen

t13:10 Identifying and Overcoming Limiting Beliefs

15:41 Balancing Passion and Profit

22:31 Listening to Your Body's Signals

25:37 Understanding Your Body's Responses

28:11 Generative Questions and Mindset Shifts

30:06 Embracing the Woo in Entrepreneurship

35:54 The Power of Letting Go

39:21 Clarifying Your Goals

44:52 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Everyone talks about passive income, but what if the fastest way to make real money isn’t launching a course or building a product?

In this episode, I sit down with Nick Huber—entrepreneur, investor, and author of The Sweaty Startup—to explore why trading time for money might be the most underrated path to financial freedom.

We talk service businesses, scalable skills, and how doing unsexy work can lead to life-changing results. If you’re tired of waiting for your big break, this conversation will show you how to earn it.

What we talk about in this episode

00:00 The Truth About Revenue for Online Creators

01:52 The Reality of Entrepreneurship

02:52 The Value of Service Work

04:13 Starting Simple and Scaling Smart

05:41 Nick Huber's Early Entrepreneurial Journey

08:51 The Importance of Proven Business Models

17:22 Leveraging Global Talent for Business Growth

27:56 Challenges of Writing a Book

29:20 Balancing Feedback and Creativity

31:31 Writing Process and Time Management

40:10 Fear Setting and Overcoming Insecurities

43:44 Making Life Decisions for Success

49:32 Final Thoughts and the Sweaty Startup Book

Follow Nick and his businesses

www.sweatystartup.com

www.nickhuber.com

www.sweatystartupbook.com

www.somewhere.com

www.boltstorage.com

www.recostseg.com

www.adrhino.com

www.spidexx.com

www.boldseo.com

www.webrun.com

www.titanrisk.com

www.recruitjet.com

www.hubermethod.com

www.x.com/sweatystartup

www.instagram.com/sweatystartup

www.linkedin.com/in/sweatystartup

www.youtube.com/sweatystartupwww.tiktok.com/sweatystartup

www.threads.net/@sweatystartup.com

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-nick-huber-show/id1576120606

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sweaty-startup/id1445260221

Link to buy the book on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4bLazjW

Link to buy the book in the UK: https://bit.ly/422njPW

Sign up for our free 7 day "Creator Blueprint" email course: https://heycreator.com/newsletter/

I get it—my business looks chaotic from the outside. Three revenue streams, two audiences… it seems scattered. But there’s a strategy behind it.

In this episode, I’m breaking down how I’m connecting content, clients, and community into a long-term creator flywheel—and why I wouldn’t recommend this approach if you're just starting out.

I’ll share what’s working, what I’d do differently, and how I’m shifting from client-heavy work to a more sustainable, creator-led business.

If you’re building your own thing and want to see how the pieces can fit together, this one’s for you.

00:00 Introduction: The Chaos Behind My Business

00:35 The Flywheel Strategy: Connecting Content, Community, and Clients

01:11 YouTube Channel: The Top of the Funnel

01:58 Hey Creator Community: Behind the Scenes Access

04:25 Client Work: Funding the Future

06:22 High Ticket Services: A Sustainable Revenue Model

09:13 Long-Term Vision: Building a Sustainable Business

10:36 Conclusion: How It All Fits Together

In this episode of The HeyCreator Show, Matt sits down with Anne-Laure Le Cunff—author of Tiny Experiments and founder of Ness Labs—to talk about the power of small, low-risk experiments in boosting creativity and productivity.

They break down how micro-experiments can help creators avoid burnout, build momentum, and make smarter decisions.

Anne-Laure shares the behind-the-scenes of writing her newsletter, growing a thriving community, and completing her PhD in neuroscience—all while balancing her creative work.

They also dive into the writing process of her book, Tiny Experiments, and unpack real-world strategies for book promotion that don’t feel salesy.

If you’re looking for practical ways to fine-tune your habits, stay creative, and make sustainable progress in your creator journey, this episode is packed with actionable takeaways you won’t want to miss!

• Buy Tiny Experiments
• Subscribe to Maker Mind newsletter

Timestamps

00:00 Introduction to Tiny Experiments02:04 Balancing Multiple Projects05:15 Weekly Review Framework10:07 Designing Tiny Experiments14:31 The Goal of Learning21:45 The Start of a Writing Journey26:39 Crafting Content for Your Audience33:28 Starting the Ness Labs Community36:49 Cultivating a Self-Sustaining Community39:44 The Journey of Writing a Book45:37 Book Promotion Strategies48:00 Navigating the Book Writing Process59:49 What's Next for Anne-Laure?

Sign up for our free 7 day "Creator Blueprint" email course: https://heycreator.com/newsletter/

Why do so many creators get stuck—and more importantly, how do you break free? In this video, I share the biggest reason creators struggle to grow and the mindset shift that helped me move forward. If you’re feeling stuck in your creative journey, unsure of your next step, or debating a big transition, this is for you.

I’ll walk through:

✅ The common trap that holds creators back

✅ How to make strategic decisions for long-term success

✅ Practical steps to regain momentum and start creating with confidence

You’re not alone in this journey. Whether you’re pivoting your business, redefining your goals, or just looking for clarity, I hope this video helps you take that next big step.

00:00 Introduction: Embracing Big Changes

00:28 Quitting My Job and Early Challenges

01:11 Learning and Growth with Darrell Vesterfelt

02:46 Balancing Family and Career

03:36 Financial Lessons and Tax Troubles

04:23 Focusing on Creative Projects

06:43 Goals for 2025 and Beyond

09:00 Aspirations and Personal Growth

11:43 Conclusion: Join HeyCreator

Be a part of a strong community of creators and get weekly live calls to help you level up!

https://heycreator.com/community

Want to grow your YouTube channel in 2025? In this episode, I sit down with Aprilynne Alter to break down the biggest mistakes YouTubers make—and how to fix them. From optimizing your titles and thumbnails to crafting the perfect video intro, Aprilynne shares expert-level strategies to increase your clicks, retention, and engagement.

She also reveals storytelling frameworks, how to structure your content for maximum watch time, and why authenticity is the key to success in an AI-driven world.

Subscribe for more creator insights → https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZb8AYdbC9k_TXyQ3jpt2Jw

Join my newsletter for exclusive content → https://heycreator.com/newsletter/

Check out Aprilynne’s YouTube Channel → https://www.youtube.com/@AprilynneAlter

Key Takeaways:

• Packaging (Title & Thumbnail) is Everything – Your title and thumbnail set the expectation and determine whether someone clicks. The best creators think about these before scripting or filming.

• The First 5 Seconds Matter – Reinforce your title’s promise immediately. Start with “So…” or “This…” to quickly establish relevance and curiosity.

• Shorten Your Intros – Keep it under 25 seconds. People want value fast, so don’t lose them with unnecessary context.

• Think in “Promise, Progress, Payoff” – Every section of your video should set up curiosity (Promise), provide insight (Progress), and deliver value (Payoff).

• Consistency in Format & Experience – If you’re mixing formats (tutorials, interviews, vlogs), make sure they provide a consistent experience to your audience.

• Authenticity Wins in an AI World – Viewers crave real humans, real stories, and unscripted moments. Don’t over-polish—lean into personality, mistakes, and humor.

• Your Outro Should Have Purpose – Don’t just sign off—guide your audience to the next step (watch another video, subscribe, join a community, etc.).

Timestamps & Chapters:

00:00 Intro

01:30 Biggest Mistake Creators Make: Packaging (Title & Thumbnail)

07:01 Why You Need to Think About Titles/Thumbnails First

10:11 When to Prioritize Quality vs. Just Publishing Videos

12:50 The First 5 Seconds Rule: Hooking Viewers Instantly

13:57 How to Start a Video: The “So” or “This” Hack

20:05 Shorten Your Intros! Keep it Under 25 Seconds

22:38 The Power of “Promise, Progress, Payoff” Storytelling

27:48 How to Improve Engagement & Retention

29:24 The Best Way to End a YouTube Video

34:53 Should You Separate Your Podcast from Your Main Channel?

41:30 The Biggest YouTube Trends for 2025 (Storytelling & Authenticity)

46:15 Why AI Won’t Replace Real Creators & How to Stand Out

49:04 Aprilynne’s YouTube Journey & Growing a Sustainable Business

55:28 High-Ticket Communities vs. Consulting: The Future of Creator Businesses

1:02:24 Final Thoughts & Where to Find Aprilynne

Next Steps:

Subscribe for more creator insights → https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZb8AYdbC9k_TXyQ3jpt2Jw

Join my newsletter for exclusive content → https://heycreator.com/newsletter/

Check out Aprilynne’s YouTube Channel → https://www.youtube.com/@AprilynneAlter

Think you need a huge audience to land brand deals? Think again! In this episode, Justin Moore, creator of Sponsor Magnet and founder of Creator Wizard, shares actionable strategies for landing sponsorships, standing out with brands, and building revenue—no matter your follower count. Don’t miss it!

🧲 Get Sponsor Magnet today!

📧 Join Justin's Creator Wizard newsletter

00:00 - Introduction

Discover why follower count isn’t everything in sponsorships and meet Justin Moore, creator of Sponsor Magnet.

01:20 - Debunking the Follower Myth

Justin explains why you don’t need a massive audience to land sponsorships.

04:30 - Common Mistakes in Sponsorships

Why traditional pitching methods fail and how to stand out.

08:15 - The Sponsorship Continuum Framework

Justin introduces a roadmap for creators at any stage to secure brand deals.

13:00 - Real-Life Examples of Niche Success

Case studies of creators thriving with small but engaged audiences.

18:40 - Building a Sponsorship Pitching Habit

How consistency and proactive outreach can unlock opportunities.

24:00 - The R.O.P.E. Method for Pitching

Justin’s step-by-step formula for crafting compelling pitches.

31:30 - How to Find the Right Contact at Brands

Tips for identifying decision-makers and ensuring your pitch lands with the right person.

36:45 - Tools for Managing Sponsorships

Justin shares his Notion template and other tips for staying organized.

42:15 - Justin’s Creator Journey and Business Model

How Justin evolved his business to support creators through coaching and resources.

49:30 - Adapting to Platform Changes

Insights on staying ahead of shifts in content trends and algorithms.

54:00 - Sponsor Magnet: The Ultimate Guide

Learn about Justin’s book and why it’s a must-read for creators.

57:40 - Closing Thoughts

Justin’s advice for creators aiming to build sustainable, successful businesses.

Get Jonathan's new book, The Obvious Choice at your favorite bookseller. Learn more here.

0:00 – Introduction
1:47 – Self-Publishing vs Traditional
3:19 – Finding Your Niche for Success
6:49 – The Power of a Back Catalog
11:25 – Self-Publishing vs. Traditional Publishing
16:09 – The Content Hamster Wheel Myth
19:11 – Focus on Real-World Impact
23:15 – The Games of Influence vs. Business
42:25 – The Four-Step Content Creation Framework
53:05 – Thought Leadership vs. Influencership
1:01:11 – Final Thoughts & How to Connect with Jon