One of my clients recently watched me explain the AI systems running behind her marketing. Her response? "I don't understand a word of what you just said, but thank you."

Honestly, best review I've ever received.

In this episode I'm pulling back the curtain on how I actually run McKee Creative. One strategist, eight AI agents, and a system I built from my home office in the Whitsundays that monitors rankings, writes content, watches ad performance, and keeps everything connected.

My clients don't interact with any of it. Most barely know it exists. They just see the results.

I'm also being straight about what building this actually took. Months of things breaking, agents confidently getting things wrong, and a lot of muttering at my screen. The gap between using AI casually and having it do real work inside a business is enormous. I think you deserve to know that.

If your marketing feels scattered, if you've got five dashboards but no real answers, if your email list is gathering dust and your SEO was done 18 months ago and left to starve, this one's for you.

_________________________________

Subscribe for weekly conversations with entrepreneurs, marketers, and people building something real.

The Jo Show is hosted by Jo McKee, founder of McKee Creative — Australia's all-in-one marketing partner for small business owners.

🌐 mckeecreative.store

_________________________________

CONTACT JO:

Feedback → give feedback to Jo: [email protected]

Apply to be a guest on The Jo Show → https://mckeecreative.store/the-jo-show-guest-application/

_________________________________

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 "I don't understand a word of what you just said"

01:30 The scattered marketing problem most product businesses know too well

02:55 How one person runs all of it (meet the AI team)

04:57 The AI credibility problem and why building this was genuinely hard

07:00 What working with me actually looks like, made concrete

08:30 Joined up marketing and why small businesses never normally get it

09:45 Wrap

Michael Yeung went from veterinary surgeon to burning out on a highway at 80 miles per hour. That crash was the wake-up call that changed everything.

Now he works with founders across 14 countries — helping them stop being the bottleneck in their business so they can travel, switch off, and scale without burning out.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why 2 hours of deep work beats 10 hours of reactive task-switching (the research is compelling)
• The 'Freedom Flywheel' — a simple operating model that compounds your output over time
• Why most founders think they need more tools, but actually need something else entirely
• What 'broken systems break good people' really means for delegation
• The 6-stage client journey framework you need before you can delegate anything
• How AI-enabled assistants are replacing traditional VAs — and what that means for your business

Free resource — Michael's End-to-End Client Journey Framework:

Get Michael Yeung’s Playbook at https://mypolaris.io

Connect with Michael:

• Website: mypolaris.io
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@realmichaelyeung
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelyeunghk/

— — —

About The Jo Show

Honest conversations with business owners who are doing the work. Hosted by Jo McKee, founder of McKee Creative — a digital marketing agency based in the Whitsundays, Queensland.

New episodes every Wednesday (AEST). Subscribe so you don't miss one.

Subscribe for more: https://www.youtube.com/@the_jo_show

______________

CONTACT JO:

Feedback → give feedback to Jo: [email protected]

Apply to be a guest on The Jo Show →

https://mckeecreative.store/the-jo-show-guest-application/

Full-time engineer. Former professional football player. New dad. And he's building an online business after hours — using AI, affiliate marketing, and systems that work while he sleeps.

John Prather joins Jo on The Jo Show to share the exact playbook he uses to run a side hustle in the hours between 5pm and 10pm — without burning out, without quitting his job, and without a huge budget to start.

In this episode:

• Why "time management" is the wrong goal — and what to do instead

• The first thing John built to start generating leads (and why it works even if you have zero audience)

• The AI tools he actually uses (and the ones he doesn't bother with)

• How to decide what to automate vs. what needs your human touch

• The mindset shift that changed everything — and what professional football taught him about rejection in business

• The quick-fire round: best AI tool, biggest myth, side hustle advice in 10 seconds

John's free guide — Plug & Profit:

→ https://bit.ly/plugprofitguide

Contained within this guide you’ll discover why now is the best time to start your automated online business, how to leverage simple digital tools, and the key steps to create a steady income that works for you—no experience needed.

Find John:

🌐 johnprather1.com (http://johnprather1.com/)

📱 @johnprather_1 on all platforms

───

Subscribe for weekly conversations with entrepreneurs, marketers, and people building something real.

The Jo Show is hosted by Jo McKee, founder of McKee Creative — Australia's all-in-one marketing partner for small business owners.

🌐 mckeecreative.store

───

#sidehustle #onlinebusiness #AItools #entrepreneurship #smallbusiness #thejoshow

───

⏱️ Timestamps

0:00 "Schedule your priorities, not your time"

0:11 Meet John — engineer, pro footballer, new dad, side hustler

0:42 The 5-to-9 rule that changed everything

1:38 Stop managing your time. Start managing this instead.

2:40 "I don't have time" — what John actually says to that

3:37 The one AI tool that runs his business while he sleeps

5:09 The exact tools he uses (names, no fluff)

6:55 Never used AI for business? Start here.

7:39 The lead magnet strategy that fills your list for free

11:37 What to automate — and what to never hand to AI

13:41 When AI gets it wrong (and how to fix it fast)

15:12 The mindset that made all of this possible

17:46 Building systems vs. just working harder

19:57 The belief about money he had to unlearn

22:18 When nothing's working — how John troubleshoots

23:49 ⚡️ Quick-fire round

26:36 How to find John + free guide

What happens when a 30-year PR veteran walks into a luxury consignment store — and ends up buying the whole business?

Beth McRae runs two completely different businesses: The McRae Agency (PR and marketing) and High Society Resale Boutique in Scottsdale, Arizona. She bought the boutique because she was a loyal customer who couldn't bear to see it close down.

In this episode, Beth shares how she balances both businesses, why blogs outperform product pages for ad returns, how she turned Instagram and TikTok Lives into weekly community events, and why her team "doesn't even need her" anymore.

Whether you're running one business or thinking about starting a second, this conversation will change how you think about marketing, delegation, and following what you love.

Subscribe for more: https://www.youtube.com/@the_jo_show

______________

CONTACT JO:

Feedback → give feedback to Jo: [email protected]

Apply to be a guest on The Jo Show → https://mckeecreative.store/the-jo-show-guest-application/

CONNECT WITH BETH:

LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/beth-mcrae-mba-3914522/

The McRae Agency → https://themcraeagency.com

High Society Resale Boutique → https://highsocietyresale.com

📋 CHAPTERS

00:00 — "That's how you end up owning a women's clothing store"

00:11 — Meet Beth McRae: PR veteran turned boutique owner

00:47 — How Beth accidentally bought a boutique

03:27 — The transition from customer to owner

04:32 — Starting from scratch with no retail experience

06:36 — Building the marketing flywheel: blogs, email, social, SEO

08:10 — Why blog posts outperform product pages for ad ROAS

09:57 — Instagram and TikTok Lives as weekly events

12:35 — Building a team that doesn't need you

13:51 — Balancing two completely different businesses

17:20 — Customer service philosophy and "falling on the sword"

19:20 — Luxury consignment meets sustainability

21:03 — What Beth would tell her younger self

24:35 — The smile philosophy: choosing kindness in business

27:29 — Wrap up

#luxury consignment #PR agency #women in business #boutique owner #ecommerce marketing #small business podcast #scottsdale arizona # resale boutique #marketing flywheel #blog marketing #instagram live strategy #tiktok live selling #delegation tips #running two businesses #the jo show #jomckee #bethmcrae #sustainable fashion #content marketing

Cassie Dagostino built a rug empire from a Brooklyn apartment during COVID — now she's in Urban Outfitters and nobody found her through Instagram.

We get into why social media was a dead end, how SEO actually moves product, and what happens when you stop performing for the algorithm and start building for the customer who's ready to buy.

______________

CONTACT JO:

Feedback → give feedback to Jo: [email protected]

Apply to be a guest on The Jo Show → https://mckeecreative.store/the-jo-show-guest-application/

CONNECT WITH CASSIE

LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/cassiedagostino/

Website → https://shop-jubi.com/

______________

SHOW SPONSOR

Get done-for-you, profitable marketing systems from Jo's business, McKee Creative → https://mckeecreative.store

Jo McKee is a marketing strategist and founder of McKee Creative

Jo works with small business owners and ecommerce brands to bring them solid, compounding revenue growth.

______________

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 I sold my first 8-foot rug

00:33  Starting a rug business as a COVID hobby with zero plan

02:29  Making rugs in a tiny Brooklyn apartment

03:46  The first Etsy sale that changed everything

04:18 How did this person find me I can't believe they trust me

05:44 Why social media was the wrong move and what worked instead

06:50 Finding where your customers actually are not where you assume

07:42 I had to learn I was not even my target audience

08:38 From handmade hobby to stocked in Urban Outfitters

10:36  Is partnering with big retail actually worth it

11:47 Should the founder be the face of the brand

14:12 What ethical production means when it is not just a label

16:07  The hardest moment building Jubi

18:55 Managing the mental load of running a product business

20:42 Using AI to take the emotion out of difficult customer emails

21:42 Advice if you are 3 months in and wondering if it is worth it

22:55 Quick fire worst advice the $500 restart and what grandma thinks

26:49 Watch next

Brianna Sylver was halfway through writing her first book when her publisher went bankrupt.

Most people would've quit.

She hired her book coach independently, found a new publisher, and launched Leading Through Free Fall to a Top 5 Amazon spot and a Forbes "essential reads" list.

We get into the real mechanics of how she runs a 20-year consulting business serving Fortune 500 companies … and what small business owners can steal from her playbook.

We cover:

→ How she closes 80-85% of proposals (and the scoping process behind it)

→ Why LinkedIn is a 10-year nurture game, not a quick win

→ The "bitch fest" that completely rebuilt her team culture

→ A simple framework for getting unstuck when everything feels like it's falling apart

→ Why resistance in your business is actually a gift

If you're a business owner stuck in the messy middle — exhausted, doubting yourself, wondering whether to keep going — this one's for you.

Subscribe for more: https://www.youtube.com/@the_jo_show

______________

CONTACT JO:

Feedback → give feedback to Jo: [email protected]

Apply to be a guest on The Jo Show → https://mckeecreative.store/the-jo-show-guest-application/

CONNECT WITH BRIANNA

LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/briannasylver/

Website → https://www.sylverconsulting.com

Read the free chapter of Leading Through Free Fall → https://leadingthroughfreefall.com/chapter1

Buy “Leading Through Free Fall” on Amazon → https://www.amazon.com/dp/1774585952

______________

SHOW SPONSOR

Get done-for-you, profitable marketing systems from Jo's business, McKee Creative → https://mckeecreative.store

Jo McKee is a marketing strategist and founder of McKee Creative

Jo works with small business owners and ecommerce brands to bring them solid, compounding revenue growth.

______________

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 When things get real ...

03:24 What's working in marketing, right now.

07:01 Business building to suit your unique strengths - being a bit silly can work!

09:47 Big-time payoff: why long term perspective matters in client acquisition

22:20 The unexpected superpower Brianna brings to every aspect

27:39 Building a Thriving Team Culture

35:22 Why resistance is a key signal for growth

41:48 Getting Unstuck: The (super-effective) Creative Action Pathway

45:40 Up next ...

What happens when a marketing strategist and a hypnotherapist walk into a podcast?

This episode with Stephanie Rother turned into something I didn't expect — a genuine example of holistic marketing. Not the woo-woo kind. The practical kind where your mindset, energy, and strategy actually have to work together.

We cover:

→ How to create laser-focused marketing (hint: forget the made-up avatar)

→ A LIVE hypnotherapy session to boost energy and creativity (yes, I did it on camera)

→ Why you need to get the blinders off if you're serious about growth

→ The power of happy accidents in business

If you're a small business owner who's tired, overwhelmed, or stuck in marketing paralysis — this one's for you.

Subscribe for more: https://www.youtube.com/@the_jo_show

______________

CONTACT JO:

Feedback → give feedback to Jo: [email protected]

Apply to be a guest on The Jo Show → https://mckeecreative.store/the-jo-show-guest-application/

CONNECT WITH STEPHANIE

LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephanierother/

______________

SHOW SPONSOR

Get done-for-you, profitable marketing systems from McKee Creative → https://mckeecreative.store

Jo McKee is a marketing strategist and founder of McKee Creative. Jo works with small business owners and ecommerce brands to bring them solid, compounding revenue growth.

Software developer Julian Smit runs his company from a barn and built Studio J to escape the subscription trap.

This conversation gets into why most businesses use AI backwards, what's actually working in marketing right now, and how to build a business that fits you instead of forcing yourself into someone else's template.

You'll learn:

• Why "we need AI" without a plan is killing businesses (and the 2-step prompt that fixes it)
• How to turn a complex product into one simple idea customers actually understand
• The marketing channels that work when everyone's burned out on tactics
• Why one real conversation beats 10 social posts
• How Julian escaped $850/month SaaS bills and built software you own forever

Chapters:

00:00 Why most businesses are using AI backwards

01:21 Running a company from a barn: what actually matters 03:13 What's working now (hint: it's not what you think) 07:10 Workshop: turning Studio J from "technical mess" into one clear sentence

17:24 The subscription trap – and how to escape it

19:59 Why taking responsibility is harder than it looks

20:44 "Personal brand" is bullshit – here's what reputation actually means

This episode will change how you think about building business. If you're tired of fitting yourself into systems that don't work for you, watch this.

____________________

Ready to tie your ads, SEO, and email into a system that actually drives ROI? Book a strategy session: https://mckeecreative.store

More from The Jo Show:

Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@the_jo_show

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-jo-show/id1854651668

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0NBa1vL4acdxjAQkwkPoCu

Apply to be a guest on The Jo Show → https://mckeecreative.store/the-jo-show-guest-application/

Connect with Julian Smit: 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julian-smit-marketing/

Studio J: https://studio-j.app/

____________________

#smallbusiness #marketingstrategy #AIforBusiness #entrepreneurship #subscriptions #businessgrowth

SLEEP MORE. WIN.

Radia Carr hit #1 in global sales while sleeping 8 hours a night and working out twice a day.

In this episode, she breaks down why most high performers burn out unnecessarily, the three habits she sees in every leader who sustains success, and why refusing to give feedback is the most selfish thing a leader can do.

Plus: why she still gets imposter syndrome and what she'd tell her younger self.

____________________

CONTACT JO:

Feedback → give feedback to Jo: [email protected]

Apply to be a guest on The Jo Show → https://mckeecreative.store/the-jo-show-guest-application/

CONNECT WITH RADIA

LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/radiajcarr/

Radia Carr → https://radiacarr.com/

____________________

SHOW SPONSOR

Get done-for-you, profitable marketing systems from McKee Creative → https://mckeecreative.store

____________________

TIMSTAMPS

00:00 Introduction and Background

03:09  The Myth of "More Hours = More Success"

05:59 3 Habits Every High Performer Shares

08:47 Routines and Their Misconceptions

11:34 Why Self-Leadership Comes First

14:11 How to Set a Vision Your Team Will Follow

17:05 Why Avoiding Feedback is Selfish

20:15 Executive Presence: It's Simpler Than You Think

22:49 I Still Get Imposter Syndrome

25:39 The Future of Leadership

31:06 Next episodes

Allison Harrison started her law firm at 27 with just $3,000 and a laptop. Now she's doubling revenue year-over-year by building a business that reflects exactly who she is: no hiding, no corporate cosplay, just radical authenticity.

In this episode, learn how embracing her identity as a queer business owner became her competitive advantage, why TikTok transformed her team culture (not just her marketing), and the two simple rules that actually grow businesses: be loud and show up.

If you're tired of pretending to be someone else to succeed, this one's for you.

See below for timestamps, links, and to give feedback or send questions to Jo.

🎯 Topics: Authentic marketing | LGBTQ+ entrepreneurship | Law firm growth | Building company culture | Social media strategy

________________________________________________________________

CONTACT JO:

Feedback → give feedback to Jo: [email protected]

Apply to be a guest on The Jo Show → https://mckeecreative.store/the-jo-show-guest-application/

CONNECT WITH ALLISON

LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/alharrisonlaw/

TikTok → @alh_law

AHL Law Group →  https://www.alhlaw.com/

________________________________________________________________

SHOW SPONSOR

Get done-for-you, profitable marketing systems from Jo’s business, McKee Creative → https://mckeecreative.store

________________________________________________________________

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 From $3K and a Laptop: How She Built a Law Firm from Nothing

02:28 The TikTok Strategy That Built Team Culture (Not Just Clients)

04:47 What Breaks When You Scale Fast (And How to Fix It)

06:47 Coming Out as a Queer Business Owner: The Turning Point

09:22 The Clients Who Found Her Because She Stopped Hiding

11:47 Why Jeans Beat Suits: Creating the Most Approachable Law Firm

14:29 LinkedIn for Referrals, TikTok for Clients: Platform Strategy That Works

16:14 The Moment She Realized She Was "Old Enough" to Lead

18:02 Beyond the Firm: Advocacy Work That Shapes Her Business

19:48 Building What She's Proud Of: Culture, Safety, and Growth