The Jo Show

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.

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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/

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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.

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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

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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

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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.

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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

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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/

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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.

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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/

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#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.

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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/

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SHOW SPONSOR

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

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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

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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/

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SHOW SPONSOR

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

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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

Sarah Campbell from Studio3 Creative shares how she went from agency burnout to building a collaborative, strategy-first creative agency that supports women-led brands.

From asking her boss to fire her so she could join a Canadian entrepreneur program, to navigating the harsh lessons of year two (hello, financial reality check), Sarah doesn’t hold back.

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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 SARAH 

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

Studio3 Creative → https://studio3creative.ca/

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SHOW SPONSOR

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

In this episode I’m speaking with Paul Zelizer, founder of the Awarepreneurs podcast (longest running social entrepreneur podcast in the world) and a long-time coach to over 30,000 purpose-driven entrepreneurs.

Paul helps mission-driven startups and impact businesses create scalable business models, grow high-performing teams, and raise growth capital.

We talk about why so many capable people feel out of step with conventional business advice, how to stop forcing yourself into models that were never designed for you, and how to build a business that is truly successful for People, Profit and the Planet.

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

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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 PAUL 

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

Awarepreneurs Podcast → https://www.awarepreneurs.com/podcast

Social Entrepreneur Coaching Website → https://www.paulzelizer.com/

New Mexico is open for business: https://www.sic.state.nm.us/

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SHOW SPONSOR

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

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TIMESTAMPS

00:00 The Purpose of Business in Society

03:21 Transitioning from Nonprofit to Social Entrepreneurship

06:25 The Evolution of Consumer Awareness

09:26 Overcoming Doubts in Entrepreneurship

11:58 Real-World Examples of Entrepreneurial Success

14:59 Lessons Learned from Founders

18:03 Understanding the Problem vs. the Solution

21:03 The Power of Social Entrepreneurship

26:03 Navigating Humanity's Challenges

27:57 The Value-Driven Entrepreneur

30:30 Social Entrepreneurship: Unique Challenges

34:46 Building Trust in Social Enterprises

39:17 Finding Community and Support

41:51 Measuring Success Beyond Profit

46:51 Passion and Purpose in Business

If you run a small business — especially in a regional area — this episode will change the way you think about opportunity.

Today I’m speaking with Bronwyn Reid, multi-award-winning founder of 4T Consultants, who has spent decades helping small businesses win work with major companies, build capability, and stay resilient through the toughest conditions.

Bronwyn is here to share what small businesses need to know to not just survive… but grow.

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

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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 BRONWYN 

4T Consultants → https://4t.com.au/

LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/bronwynreid/ "Small Business, Big Impact" FREE ebook offer → https://speakerlinq.com/bronwynreid/the-jo-show-small-business-big-impact-book-offer

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SHOW SPONSOR

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

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TIMESTAMPS

00:00 Introduction to Regional Business Success

02:51 The Journey of 4T Consultants

05:45 Strengths of Regional Businesses

08:54 Misconceptions About Winning Contracts

11:26 The Impact of Awards on Business

14:26 Purpose and Resilience in Business

17:15 Learning from Mistakes

20:15 Advice for Small Business Owners

23:03 Overcoming Challenges in Business

25:45 The Importance of Risk Management

28:36 Final Thoughts and Encouragement

Zak Ali, US GM of Finder.com, didn’t take the traditional career path by getting a college degree. However, his full-stack marketing skills and ability to keep pace with change makes him an effective leader.

Zak shares ways that small businesses owners can keep their brands visible in an era of AI search.

Thank you for joining us. Check out our sponsors in the description below.

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

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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 ZAK

LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/zak-ali44/

X → https://x.com/_zakali

BlueSky → https://bsky.app/profile/zakali.bsky.social

Zak’s “Will AI Search Make You Throw Away Your SEO Playbooks?” on Forbes→ https://www.forbes.com/councils/forbesbusinessdevelopmentcouncil/2025/11/20/will-ai-search-make-you-throw-away-your-seo-playbooks/

OTHER LINKS

After the show we were talking about Zak’s wife, Cassie’s, handmade Rug Store and it’s gorgeous so I’m sharing there here too … check it out → shop-jubi.com

Claude’s “Keep Thinking” campaign → https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FDNkDBNR7AM

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TIMESTAMPS

00:00 Zach Ali's Unconventional Career Path

02:47 The Evolution of SEO and Marketing

05:49 Small Business Opportunities in the Digital Age

08:58 The Importance of Authenticity in Content Creation

12:03 Adapting to Change: Skills for the Future

14:45 The Role of AI in Marketing

17:33 Building Trust Through Video Content

20:33 Navigating the New Marketing Landscape

23:32 Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs

26:37 Final Thoughts and Future Outlook