Season 4, Episode #3: Al Kushner – Author of The AI LinkedIn Advantage
Al Kushner, author of The AI LinkedIn Advantage, is helping professionals and entrepreneurs transform their LinkedIn presence with the power of artificial intelligence. With decades of experience in networking and outreach, Al blends tried-and-true LinkedIn strategies with cutting-edge AI tools to help business owners scale their influence, connect with ideal clients, and stand out in a crowded digital space.
Episode #137: John Medina Buys Houses – John Medina
John Medina of John Medina Buys Houses: From Plumbing to Property Powerhouse Meet John Medina, founder of John Medina Buys Houses, a Los Angeles-based home-buying company that specializes in stress-free real estate transactions. A former plumbing contractor with over two decades of experience, John made a bold leap into real estate in 2013—and has since flipped more than 70 properties. On Episode 137 of Clicks & Bricks, John shares how persistence, smart marketing, and an unwavering entrepreneurial mindset helped him build a thriving business in one of the most competitive markets in the country. Whether you’re in real estate, small business, or just need some tough-love motivation, John’s story is a crash course in taking risks, adapting fast, and never giving up. Top 5 Takeaways from the Episode: Career Pivot with Purpose: John transitioned from a 21-year plumbing career to full-time house flipping after buying his first rental in a down market. Pandemic Pivot Payoff: COVID-19 initially slowed business—but by adjusting his strategy, John ended up thriving in the 2020-2021 real estate boom. Marketing Mastery: He spends $5,000–$7,000 per contract using SEO, PPC, and Facebook ads, proving digital-first marketing works—even in real estate. Eyes on Market Corrections: John doesn’t gamble on rising prices—instead, he plans for the market to plateau and buys based on today’s comps. Ongoing Education Wins: A self-taught entrepreneur, John invests heavily in masterminds, daily team learning, and leadership development. Melissa’s story is a masterclass in mindset, visibility, and keeping it real through the hardest of times. Watch the full episode and learn how to navigate adversity and thrive: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X2H535pm6Yc Memorable Quote: If you want something, don’t stop until you get it. Want to be a Guest on our Show? Apply Now Connect with John Facebook Linkedin Instagram X-twitter
Episode #8: Scott Eddy
Tania Khazaal (Tanya the Herbalist), CEO of Your Life Tania Khazaal—better known as Tanya the Herbalist—is a coach, creator, and community builder helping people reclaim health, purpose, and agency. After witnessing her mother’s decline on pharmaceuticals, Tania dove into herbalism, rebuilt her own well-being, and transformed a tea side-hustle into a seven-figure, mission-driven brand. Today, through CEO of Your Life and her She’s Empowered community, she champions faith, emotional resilience, and practical daily habits that create lasting change. In this episode, Tania shares how she shifted from corporate life and basement tea packing to digital products, courses, and coaching—while keeping her compass set on faith, family, and service. Her framework centers on four pillars (inner world/spirituality, lifestyle & well-being, relationships, and vision/legacy) and a deceptively simple cadence: 18 minutes a day. Top Takeaways From crisis to calling: Her mother’s health battle sparked a deep dive into herbalism and holistic healing, leading to a purpose-led business. Product → platform: Moving from physical teas to ebooks, funnels, and courses unlocked scale and financial freedom. Four-pillar operating system: Inner world (faith), health, relationships, and vision—progress across all four creates durable happiness. Relationships matter: She spotlights estrangement as a “silent epidemic” and teaches emotional regulation over cut-off culture. 18 minutes a day: Small, daily commitments compound to ~100 hours/year—enough to change your health, business, and life. Ready to be the CEO of your life? Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=42QHMV4EYW0 (search: “Clicks and Bricks Tanya the Herbalist”) Memorable Quote: “You can literally change your entire life in 10 years with 18 minutes a day.” Want to be a Guest on our Show? Apply Now Connect with Tania Linkedin Instagram Facebook
Episode #161: Foundations First Marketing – Michelle
Guest Profile: Michelle Tresemer of Foundations First Marketing — Cutting the Fluff and Fixing Your Marketing Meet Michelle Tresemer, Founder of Foundations First MarketingMichelle Tresemer is on a mission to fix broken marketing strategies by asking one simple question: Why? Based in Seattle and dominating the West Coast alongside her San Diego-based partner, Michelle has helped over 120 companies across four continents build marketing strategies that are rooted in logic, intent, and measurable outcomes. Her honest, no-fluff approach challenges traditional marketing agencies and empowers business owners to stop wasting money on tactics that don’t align with their goals. Top 5 Takeaways from Michelle’s Episode: If your marketing feels “gross,” you’re doing it wrong. Marketing should energize you, not drain you — focus on methods that align with your strengths and target audience. Always ask why before starting a campaign. Spending money without a clear intent leads to poor results — Michelle proves that successful marketing starts with purpose. Stop posting just because a consultant told you to. Your marketing strategy should be custom to your business, not based on trends or peer pressure. Consistency across all platforms matters. Your invoice, homepage, and social profiles should all look and feel like the same brand — even your thank-you page! Marketing is evolving beyond “digital.” Michelle believes the future of marketing blends traditional, digital, and immersive (like AR/VR) — and she’s ready for it. Watch the full episode on YouTube and rethink how you market your business: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_zRysa-Pc5U Memorable Quote: “If deep down when someone says ‘marketing’ you feel like it’s a dirty word — you’re doing it wrong.” Want to be a Guest on our Show? Apply Now Connect with Michelle Linkedin Globe
Episode #290: Lisa Williams
Lisa Williams is the founder of It’s Simply Digital, a marketing agency that helps solopreneurs, micro companies, and small businesses cut through complexity and grow. Her story—through adversity, reinvention, and a pandemic pivot—shows why mindset and consistent action power real results.
Episode #258: Alyson Shane
Alyson Shane, Starling Social — Building Trust-First Marketing That Actually Delivers Alyson Shane is a writer-turned-digital marketer and the founder and president of Starling Social, a boutique agency focused on content marketing, social media, PPC, and ads strategy. After publishing online since the GeoCities era and earning a degree in rhetoric, Alyson built a team (7–8 strong) that pairs persuasive writing with transparent, process-driven execution. She matters because she champions client ownership, clarity, and measurable results in a noisy agency landscape. Top 5 Takeaways from the Episode: Content-first, channel-agnostic: Starling Social creates across blogs, newsletters, web copy, social posts, and ads—wherever content moves the needle. Process + transparency win: Real reporting, itemized invoices, and clear scopes are non-negotiable; clients should always see where budgets go. Own your assets: Ad accounts and content should live in the client’s accounts, not the agency’s—so performance data and creative don’t get held hostage. Vetting agencies: Look for verifiable testimonials tied to outcomes (e.g., admissions up, leads increased), ask about process, and demand regular reporting. Career arc with backbone: From a stifling accounting job to freelancing beyond her 9–5 and launching in 2014, Alyson built Starling Social by insisting on autonomy, accountability, and better client experiences. Watch the full episode now on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=leBOGZwDVMY Memorable Quote: “I want all of my clients to have their own accounts so they can go in and look at it anytime.” Want to be a Guest on our Show? Apply Now
Episode #224: Lane – Marion Relationship Marketing
Lane — Marion Relationship Marketing Lane is the co-founder of Marion Relationship Marketing, a digital marketing agency serving small businesses from Austin, Texas and beyond. A third-generation product of small business grit, he pairs over a decade in the industry with a no-nonsense, client-first approach—built on transparency, measurable results, and authority-driven marketing. Growing up in a family-run preschool and daycare, Lane learned early how owners survive downturns, stretch budgets, and keep the lights on. That perspective drives his agency’s “client bill of rights,” month-to-month partnerships, and relentless focus on proving ROI—so business owners can stop chasing clients and get back to serving them. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pI3TjddL9q0 5 Key Takeaways from this Episode: Niche to win: speak to one ideal client at a time—specific pain points beat generic messages every day. Build authority, not hype: stack reviews (including video), case studies, and clear promises (access/ownership, month-to-month, real-time reporting). Prove value fast: early touchpoints matter—show live ad screenshots, call recordings, and tracked conversions to connect spend to results. Content is your compounding asset: list your 10 most-asked questions, Google them, then publish better answers—repeat. Treat ad spend like a scalpel, not a sledgehammer: segment campaigns by service, protect brand terms, and avoid broad-match budget leaks. Watch the full interview now on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pI3TjddL9q0 Memorable Quote: “We do not sell diamonds—we sell an experience of the private jeweler.” Want to be a Guest on our Show? Apply Now Connect with Lane Linkedin
Episode #222: Evan Weber – PublisherFinders.com & Experience Advertisin
Evan Weber (PublisherFinders.com & Experience Advertising): Ads That Click, Affiliates That Scale Evan Weber is a 20+ year digital marketing veteran who’s helped 300+ brands win with paid media, affiliate programs, and conversion rate optimization. On Clicks & Bricks, he breaks down why compelling headlines, smart tools, and residual revenue models separate the hobbyists from the operators. Evan recently launched PublisherFinders.com, a SaaS that helps companies find and recruit high-quality affiliates, bloggers, and partners—born from his decades of hands-on experience. Why he matters: Evan’s track record spans eCommerce, B2B, and B2C, and his playbook is relentlessly practical: tighten your ads, test your landing pages, add the right widgets, and retarget everywhere (with sane budgets). If you’re building a tool, an affiliate program, or just trying to make paid traffic pay, this episode is a clinic. Top 5 Takeaways from the Episode: Headlines drive cost-per-click. More clickable ad headlines push CPC down—always test multiple variations and let the platforms show you the winners. Optimize the landing page, not just the ad. A/B test headlines, CTAs, and imagery; pair it with behavior tracking (think session recordings/heatmaps) to remove friction. Retarget on every platform—lightly. Run low daily budgets across Facebook/Instagram, YouTube, Google, Pinterest, TikTok, and web display to stay visible without overspending. Affiliate strategy: chase residuals. B2B/SaaS affiliate programs with monthly commissions create true “semi-passive” revenue; one-time eCom payouts rarely do. Build tools, not just campaigns. Subscription software solves real problems and compounds revenue—spec it tightly, avoid scope creep, and combine vetted dev teams with strong product leadership. Watch the full episode now on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DLM9s7P0YQ8 Memorable Quote: “We’re only getting started, baby.” Want to be a Guest on our Show? Apply Now Connect with Evan Linkedin Globe Phone-alt
Episode #194: Erica Lenard – Founder of Erica Lenard Consulting
Tania Khazaal (Tanya the Herbalist), CEO of Your Life Tania Khazaal—better known as Tanya the Herbalist—is a coach, creator, and community builder helping people reclaim health, purpose, and agency. After witnessing her mother’s decline on pharmaceuticals, Tania dove into herbalism, rebuilt her own well-being, and transformed a tea side-hustle into a seven-figure, mission-driven brand. Today, through CEO of Your Life and her She’s Empowered community, she champions faith, emotional resilience, and practical daily habits that create lasting change. In this episode, Tania shares how she shifted from corporate life and basement tea packing to digital products, courses, and coaching—while keeping her compass set on faith, family, and service. Her framework centers on four pillars (inner world/spirituality, lifestyle & well-being, relationships, and vision/legacy) and a deceptively simple cadence: 18 minutes a day. Top Takeaways From crisis to calling: Her mother’s health battle sparked a deep dive into herbalism and holistic healing, leading to a purpose-led business. Product → platform: Moving from physical teas to ebooks, funnels, and courses unlocked scale and financial freedom. Four-pillar operating system: Inner world (faith), health, relationships, and vision—progress across all four creates durable happiness. Relationships matter: She spotlights estrangement as a “silent epidemic” and teaches emotional regulation over cut-off culture. 18 minutes a day: Small, daily commitments compound to ~100 hours/year—enough to change your health, business, and life. Ready to be the CEO of your life? Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=42QHMV4EYW0 (search: “Clicks and Bricks Tanya the Herbalist”) Memorable Quote: “You can literally change your entire life in 10 years with 18 minutes a day.” Want to be a Guest on our Show? Apply Now Connect with Tania Linkedin Instagram Facebook
Episode #145: Funnel Utopia – Desmond
From Hustle to High-Ticket Funnels: Desmond Nanor of Expert Funnel Incubator Shares His Entrepreneur Journey Desmond Nanor is the co-founder of Expert Funnel Incubator and a powerhouse digital marketer helping transformational authors turn their expertise into high-ticket coaching businesses. Born into a hardworking immigrant family, Desmond skipped the traditional college route and built a six-figure marketing brand before turning 24—all fueled by grit, gratitude, and the desire to live life on his own terms. In Episode 145 of Clicks & Bricks, Desmond shares his real, raw story—from buying Tai Lopez’s course with his first paycheck to generating tens of thousands in affiliate revenue, to launching a company that helps experts master organic marketing on Facebook. His path is proof that self-education, persistence, and simplicity win in the long game of entrepreneurship. Top Takeaways from Desmond’s Episode: Gratitude is a mindset multiplier: Desmond stays grounded by remembering how lucky he is just to be in the U.S.—thanks to his mom winning a visa lottery. Start simple, stay focused: Desmond’s early failures taught him to cut complexity and focus on one clear business model. The riches are in the niches: Serving transformational authors—not just any author—allowed him to sharpen his messaging, offers, and close rates. Fix yourself, fix your business: “You don’t have business problems. You have personal problems that manifest in your business.” Embrace the future: Desmond urges entrepreneurs to stay ahead of the curve with AI tools, Web 3.0, and other disruptive technologies. Ready to hear how Desmond turned his hustle into a marketing machine? Watch the full episode here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lUSr_yYellk Memorable Quote: “Revenue first. Build the business later.” Want to be a Guest on our Show? Apply Now Connect with Desmond Linkedin Globe Instagram