The Jeff Bullas Show

Gloria Chou [https://www.instagram.com/gloriachoupr] is an award-winning PR strategist and host of the top-rated Small Business PR Podcast [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/small-business-pr/id1588143586]. Known for her untraditional yet proven approach to PR which makes visibility and access to media accessible for anyone, Gloria helps BIPOC and female founders get featured organically in top-tier media without needing PR connections or a large following. Her strategies have earned small businesses in nearly every industry niche over a billion organic views and features in outlets like the New York Times, Oprah’s Favorite Things, Vogue, and Forbes, without any pay-to-play. A former U.S. Diplomat turned small business advocate, Gloria has been on 100 podcasts and was named "Pitch Writing Expert of the Year" in 2021 as part of the Influential Businesswomen Awards, and a Forbes Next 1000 honoree [https://www.forbes.com/profile/gloria-chou/]. Here's what you will learn * You don’t need PR connections or a big following to get featured in top media — you can learn to pitch yourself effectively using Gloria’s CPR method. * AI tools like Perplexity [http://perplexity.ai/] and Google Alerts can help you quickly find the right journalists and trending topics to pitch. * Journalists don’t want a sales pitch — they want timely, relevant stories backed by insights, trends, or data. * Earned media from credible outlets builds long-term SEO and authority — way more powerful than churning out AI-generated blog content. * Taking PR in-house is affordable, effective, and puts you in control of your story — no expensive agencies or gatekeepers needed.

John Worthington, serial entrepreneur and CEO of Sircles [https://sircles.com/], has cracked the code on equity crowdfunding, raising over $6.8M without giving up control to VCs. His unique “Riding the Escalator” strategy turns investors into users, advocates, and key drivers of organic growth—creating a self-sustaining cycle that has positioned Sircles (His latest venture) as one of the most successful crowdfunded startups in tech. Sircles is disrupting the traditional review space by replacing ratings and anonymous feedback with trusted recommendations from real connections. By leveraging a novel crowdfunding model—what he calls “Riding the Escalator”—he has built a self-sustaining cycle where investors become users, advocates, and key drivers of organic growth. This strategy has raised over $6.8 million, positioning Sircles as one of the most successful crowdfunded startups in the tech sector. What you will learn * How to turn everyday users into loyal investors who also drive organic growth. * A step-by-step approach to raising funding through equity crowdfunding, even without VC backing. * How to build a startup community by partnering with niche influencers who actually convert. * Why Sircles’ “no negativity” design could be a game-changer in the trust economy—and what you can learn from it. * How AI is quietly powering product development and user support behind the scenes of emerging tech startups.

Gabe Lullo is the CEO of Alleyoop [https://alleyoop.io/], a sales development agency working with industry giants such as ZoomInfo, Salesloft, and Adobe. He has trained over 8,000 salespeople across diverse businesses and, during his tenure at Alleyoop, he has personally hired and managed more than 1,500 SDRs. With over two decades of experience in sales, marketing, and executive recruitment, his strategies have significantly driven Alleyoop’s growth and shaped its corporate culture. Beyond his career accomplishments, Gabe graduated from the Barney School of Business at the University of Hartford and his leadership ethos is rooted in cultivating environments that prioritize both professional development and individual success. What you will learn * Why great salespeople don’t always sound like salespeople—and how authenticity wins. * How AI tools are being used in sales for real-time call scoring, objection handling, and personalized prospect research. * Why content + cold calls is the winning combo in modern sales (and why email is losing power). * How LinkedIn content builds social proof—and what not to do when connecting with potential clients. * How Gabe built a successful sales agency by spotting a gap in lead generation and training SDRs with AI-powered support.

Kevin Surace [https://www.kevinsurace.com/] is a Silicon Valley innovator, serial entrepreneur, CEO, TV personality and EDUTAINER. Kevin has been featured by Businessweek, Time, Fortune, Forbes, CNN, ABC, MSNBC, FOX News, and has keynoted hundreds of events, from INC5000 to TED to the US Congress. He was INC Magazines’ Entrepreneur of the Year, a CNBC top Innovator of the Decade, World Economic Forum Tech Pioneer, Chair of Silicon Valley Forum, Planet Forward Innovator of the Year nominee, featured for 5 years on TechTV’s Silicon Spin, and inducted into RIT’s Innovation Hall of Fame. While he has a technical background with 93 worldwide patents, he is known as a highly dynamic speaker who is a true entertainer. He has led pioneering work on the first cellular data smartphone (AirCommunicator), the first plastic multichip semiconductor packages, the first human-like AI virtual assistant (Portico), soundproof drywall, high R-value windows, AI-driven building management technology, Generative AI for QA, supply-chain multivariate auctions, and the window/energy retrofits of the Empire State Building and NY Stock Exchange. What you will learn Here are the top five things your audience will learn from this podcast episode, written in short, easy-to-understand sentences with a curiosity-driven tone: * How Kevin Surace helped invent the first human-like AI virtual assistant—and how that work led to Siri and Alexa. * Why digital twins are about to become your always-on productivity partners (and yes, they can attend Zoom calls for you). * How AI is already replacing entire jobs in software testing—and what roles are truly safe from automation. * Why AI is shaking up creative industries like music, writing, and filmmaking—and how you can still stand out. * What the future of work looks like when humanoid robots, voice clones, and AI editors become part of daily life.

Over the past three decades, Matthew Stafford has successfully built several businesses across various industries, including Concrete, Brick and Mortar Locations, POD, and Software-based ventures. Matthew, the Managing Partner of Build Grow Scale and an equity owner of some in-house eCommerce brands, has mentored thousands of store owners through paid eCommerce groups and live events. His experience has also allowed him to help hundreds of ecommerce brands scale past the million-dollar mark - with many hitting the $10 million mark. To top it off, he's been speaking on stages about eCommerce optimization for the past seven years! Before COVID-19, BGS hosted the largest yearly eCommerce-focused event in North America - BGS LIVE. What you will learn * How optimizing your eCommerce site can double your revenue without increasing traffic. * Why asking customers what almost stopped them from buying can unlock major sales growth. * How simple changes to checkout forms can reduce abandoned carts and boost conversions. * Why AI is reshaping traffic strategies and what it means for your eCommerce business. * How top eCommerce brands use customer experience to drive repeat sales and long-term success.