The Start Out Savvy Podcast

AI is not replacing you.

But the business owner who knows how to use it properly?
She’s moving faster.

In this episode of the Start Out Savvy Podcast, I sit down with AI strategist Anita Mac for a real conversation about how to use AI in business without becoming robotic, generic, or lazy.

This is not a “10 prompts to go viral” chat.

It’s about:

• Using AI for strategy, not just content
• Building custom GPTs that actually save you time
• Leveraging AI to map your value ladder and spot revenue gaps
• Improving client experience with smarter systems
• Training ChatGPT to sound like you, not like the internet

We also talk about the fear around AI, the myths, and why it should never replace your thinking, your judgment, or your expertise.

Used properly, AI becomes your thinking partner.
Used badly, it makes you look like everyone else.

If you’re an established service-based business owner who wants to work smarter, tighten your systems, and stay ahead without losing your authenticity, this episode will shift how you see AI.

No fluff.
No fear.
Just smarter business.

Connect with Anita:

Find her on Instagram here

AI is everywhere right now.

It’s fast. It’s powerful. It’s overwhelming.
And if you’re not careful? It can make you sound like every other generic robot on the internet.

In this solo episode, I’m breaking down the real talk on AI for business owners, no hype, no fear-mongering, no “AI will rot your brain” drama.

We’re talking about:

• How to actually use AI to streamline your business (without outsourcing your thinking)

• Why knowing your end goal before opening ChatGPT matters

• The biggest mistake I see business owners making with AI content

• How AI can help you make more money, and where it absolutely won’t

• The uncomfortable truth about action: AI can’t sell for you

• How to future-proof your business (and your clients) in an AI-driven world

• Why your industry (and your clients’ industries) might be at risk

I’m also sharing real examples from behind the scenes at Start Out Savvy - what we’ve tried, what we ditched, what actually saves time, and how I’m using AI for deep research, marketing, and strategic planning in 2026.

If you’re a driven, service-based business owner who wants to leverage AI without losing authenticity (or revenue), this one’s for you.And if pricing is the real issue in your business?
AI can’t magically fix that either - but it can give you clarity.

If you’re a service-based business owner and you want to sense-check your pricing properly, run your numbers, and stop guessing - check out SAMI, my AI Pricing Strategist

SAMI helps you run your current pricing through a strategic emotion free lens based on your goals, your current prices and she will tell you what they really should be

Get SAMI for just $97 NZD here

Don't forget to come give us a follow on the IG here

Are you secretly hoping NZ Super will “just work out”?

Hate to break it to you… but this episode might be the wake-up call you didn’t know you needed.

In this honest, no-fluff conversation, I’m joined by Maria Temnyuk from Diamond Property & Wealth, a New Zealand financial advisor specialising in investments, property and KiwiSaver.

We’re talking about what’s really happening with retirement in NZ, and why waiting until “later” to invest could cost you more than you think.

Inside this episode, we cover:

• Why NZ Super alone won’t fund a comfortable retirement

• The scary stats most Kiwis don’t know about retirement income

• What investing actually is (and what it’s not)

• The power of compound interest (aka money making money babies )

• Why consistency beats trying to time the market

• The biggest investing mistake people make (hint: it’s not what you think)

• How to start , even if you feel behind

• Why women are often better investors than men

• Business owners: how to balance paying yourself, investing, and growing your business

Maria shares practical, grounded advice , not hype, not TikTok stock tips, but real-world strategy based on what she sees every day working with Kiwi families.

If you’ve ever said:

• “I’ll start investing once the mortgage is paid off.”

• “I’m too late.”

• “KiwiSaver will probably be enough.”

• “I make good money, I’ll figure it out later.”

This is your nudge to stop winging it.

Because retirement isn’t a someday problem.
It’s a strategy problem.

Maria offers:

• A free 30-minute discovery call

• A 2-hour strategy consultation where she models your trajectory and next steps

You’ll find her links below.

If this episode hits home, share it with your partner, your bestie, or the friend who “doesn’t want to think about retirement yet.”

Future You will be glad you did.

Ready to take action?Follow Maria on IG here

Check out her website here

February is our Money & Marketing Series, and this solo episode is a real talk about money.

Your business can look successful and still be terrible at building real wealth.

In this episode, I break down:

• The difference between cashflow, profit, and wealth

• Why being busy (or even profitable) doesn’t always mean you’re financially safe

• The most common money blind spots in established businesses

• How pricing quietly determines whether you can actually pay yourself

If your business disappeared tomorrow, what would you be left with?

This episode will help you rethink how money moves through your business, and what needs to change if you want more security, less stress, and long-term options.

If you’re not sure your pricing supports the income and life you want, SAMI our AI Pricing Strategist is here to help.

SAMI pressure-tests your pricing, highlights cashflow gaps, and guides you through what needs to change so your business can actually fund your future.

Sense-check your pricing with SAMI here

It will be THE best $97 NZD you spend on your business (and life) all year.

Don't forget to come follow us on IG here

February is our Money & Marketing Series.
Because great marketing means nothing if it’s not making you money.

This is Episode 2 of the Marketing segment, where we cut through the fluff and talk about what actually works, and what’s quietly costing you time, energy, and cash.

Posting more isn’t your problem.
Boosting posts isn’t the solution.
And “hoping for the best” definitely isn’t a strategy.

In this episode, marketing strategist Carrie McIntosh (WHY Digital) and I get brutally honest about why your marketing isn’t working and share the foundational fixes you need to make before throwing more time or money at it.

We unpack:

• Why marketing without strategy is just expensive guessing

• The data you should actually be looking at (and why most people avoid it)

• What makes a landing page convert , and why most don’t

• The smartest way to spend your marketing budget as a service business

• Why good marketing starts way before ads or content calendars

If you want marketing that converts , not just looks good on Instagram, this episode is your wake-up call.

Get Carrie's FREE Marketing Goals EPIC checklist here

Go follow Carrie here

February is our Money & Marketing Series, and this solo episode is your marketing reality check.

Aka your check in with your own marketing foundations.

If you’re posting, emailing, showing up, and still wondering why people aren’t buying — this is why.

Marketing isn’t just social media, ads, or hitting “publish” on your website. It’s how people find you, trust you, and decide to buy.

In this episode, I cover:

• Why posting more isn’t the answer

• The most common marketing traps business owners fall into

• Why foundations matter more than platforms

• How to use data (not vibes) to make better marketing decisions

• Where marketing effort quietly turns into wasted time and money

If you don’t know who you’re for, what you’re selling, or where you’re sending people, no amount of content will fix that.

This episode will help you simplify your marketing, stop copying what everyone else is doing, and start making decisions that actually lead to sales.

🎧 Next episode: I’m bringing in a marketing expert to go deeper on strategy, data, and spend.

If you want marketing support then check out people I recommend:

SM Marketing: Sarah Lilly MediaAds, Funnels: WHY Digital

Copywriting: Dirty Copy

Confidence isn’t something you download or template.

In this episode, we’re talking about confidence.

Where it actually comes from and why it’s built through action, repetition, and trust, not motivation or mindset hacks.

We’ll cover how confidence grows in business, why waiting to “feel ready” keeps you stuck, and how doing the work changes how you show up.

If you want real, grounded confidence that lasts, this is how it's done.

Come stalk us on the IG ⁠here⁠

Ready for a new accountant? Book a free chat ⁠here⁠

Trying to run a business without clarity is like driving in the fog.

In this episode, we’re talking about clarity.

Knowing where you’re going, why you’re going there, and how to make decisions without constantly second-guessing yourself.

Foggy thinking leads to off-road detours.

We’ll cover how lack of clarity shows up in money, pricing, and planning, and why everything feels easier once the fog lifts.

If you want direction instead of drift in 2026 , this episode will hit home.

Come stalk us on the IG ⁠here⁠

Ready for a new accountant? Book a free chat ⁠here⁠

Profit looks good on paper. Cash flow keeps the car running!

In this episode, we’re unpacking what cash flow actually is, why it’s one of the most important parts of your business, and how to tighten it up without micromanaging every dollar.

We’ll cover common cash flow blind spots, why income alone doesn’t equal stability, and the small shifts that create more control and ease.

If you want your business to feel calmer and more predictable, start here.

Come stalk us on the IG ⁠here⁠

Ready for a new accountant? Book a free chat ⁠here⁠

You don’t stumble into mastery , you train for it.

In this episode, we’re talking about mastery and why running a business is more like training for an Olympic event than winging it as you go.

Peak performance doesn’t happen by accident.

We’ll cover why consistency beats intensity, how skill-building compounds over time, and why treating your business like something you train for changes everything.

If you want to operate at a higher level, this is how you do it

Come stalk us on the IG ⁠here⁠

Ready for a new accountant? Book a free chat ⁠here⁠