496. The Storytelling Secret Most Filmmakers Miss with James Harrington

499. Stay Three Steps Ahead of Your Competitors with Liz Slade

When COVID wiped out her entire client base overnight, Liz Slade didn't fold—she reinvented two businesses and went on to transform an entire industry with better video. In this episode, she shares how she escaped the race to the bottom, stayed ahead of the copycats nipping at her heels, and finally found the courage to launch her own podcast after sitting on a fully built studio for three years. It's a candid, funny, and genuinely useful conversation about quality, bravery, and getting out of your own head. Key Takeaways * Quality is your moat. Taking the time to do the work well is what separates you from the bottom feeders racing to the cheapest price. * Staying ahead is a habit, not a happy accident. Liz constantly researches, invests, and innovates before competitors even notice what she's up to. * Bravery beats readiness. Liz sat on a $20k studio for three years before a hard deadline finally pushed her to hit record. * Your past clients are a treasure trove. A simple 15-minute catch-up call surfaces why people hire you—and where your next job is hiding. About Liz Slade Liz Slade, founder of CI Marketing, host of The Visual Marketing Podcast, and someone who's built businesses across marketing, photography, production, and even the lift technology industry. Liz is passionate about authentic storytelling, human-centered marketing, and helping businesses create content that actually connects with people. In This Episode * [00:00] Welcome to the show! * [03:01] Meet Liz Slade * [06:43] Podcasting * [16:57] Real Estate * [20:50] Using AI * [33:01] Talk To Your Clients * [37:20] Connect with Liz * [39:08] Outro Quotes "Get out of your own head and get in the head of your customers." — Liz Slade "The key is to stay three steps ahead of everybody else. If you can keep doing that, they'll never keep up." — Liz Slade "AI is only as good as the human inputs and the human direction that you give it." — Liz Slade "Just talk to your people who've already given you money. They hold a treasure trove of information." — Ryan Koral "It's not that scary once you start." — Liz Slade Guest Links Follow The Visual Marketing Podcast [https://www.thevisualmarketingpodcast.com/]CI Marketing — @CIMarketing on Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, and TikTok Links Find out more about the Studio Sherpas Mastermind [https://studiosherpas.com/mastermind] Join the Grow Your Video Business Facebook Group [https://www.facebook.com/groups/growyourvideobusiness] Follow Ryan Koral on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/ryankoral/] Follow Grow Your Video Business on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/growyourvideobusiness/] Get your Early Bird tickets for the Onward Summit [https://www.studiosherpas.com/onward] Join the Studio Sherpas newsletter [https://www.studiosherpas.com/newsletter]

498. Build Systems That Beat Blank-Page Syndrome with Eric Braker

Eric Braker of Twin Pine Creative is about a year and a half into building his creative agency with his brother—and like a lot of us, he's stuck doing every single job at once. In this coaching-style conversation, I help him get clear on his bigger vision and walk through practical systems for taming post-production chaos, using AI to beat blank-page syndrome, and bringing on contractors without losing his style. We also get into why I'm intentionally getting my own business "skinny" this year, and why that might be one of the smartest moves you can make too. Key Takeaways * You don't escape "freelancer with a logo" mode by working harder—you escape it by getting clear on your vision and the one or two things only you should be doing. * A simple post-shoot voice memo, paired with transcripts dropped into Claude, can wipe out blank-page syndrome and get your editor inside your head. * Loom videos beat text feedback every time—your editor needs to hear your passion (and your frustration), not just read notes. * Getting "skinny" and nimble frees you up to pivot, protect your profit, and only hire when you truly need to. About Eric Braker Eric Braker is the founder of Twin Pine Creative, an outdoor content agency fueled by his award-winning production company, Braker Bros Productions. Based in Fort Collins, CO, Eric helps mission-driven brands and environmental organizations tell stories that connect people to nature — with work that has screened in over 800 theaters worldwide and reached an audience of more than 55,000. His latest film, Chasing Lions, follows wildlife trackers in the American Southwest working to protect mountain lions in their natural habitat. In This Episode [00:00] Welcome to the show! [03:00] Meet Eric Braker [07:04] Twin Pine Creative [09:43] 3 Year Goal [21:01] Having Systems In Place [23:19] Making Voice Memos [26:37] Using AI To Refine Notes [28:45] Editing Framework [44:21] Connect with Eric [47:42] Outro Quotes "I feel like I was just a freelancer with a logo year one." — Eric Braker "I was working so hard so that I wouldn't have to work so hard." — Ryan Koral "I own a business, but really the business owned me." — Ryan Koral "I want to go until it's like we must make this hire, versus it'd be pretty cool to make this hire." — Ryan Koral "There's probably a lot of 17, 18 year old kids out there quietly listening who are learning how to chase and build their dream life because of it." — Eric Braker Guest Links Follow Eric's agency - Twin Pine Creative [https://www.twinpine.work/] Follow Braker Bros on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/brakerbros/] | Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/brakerbros/] Links Find out more about the Studio Sherpas Mastermind [https://studiosherpas.com/mastermind] Join the Grow Your Video Business Facebook Group [https://www.facebook.com/groups/growyourvideobusiness] Follow Ryan Koral on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/ryankoral/] Follow Grow Your Video Business on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/growyourvideobusiness/] Get your Early Bird tickets for the Onward Summit [https://www.studiosherpas.com/onward] Join the Studio Sherpas newsletter [https://www.studiosherpas.com/newsletter]

497. How Getting Skinny Saved My Studio Over 10K a Month

After 22 years in business, I hit that all-too-familiar wall where I'd fallen out of love with the whole thing again. In this solo episode, I get honest about the self-imposed deadline I gave myself to quit, the 160-mile Camino pilgrimage that made me question all of it, and the decision to get my business "skinny" so I could finally make moves I'd been too stuck to make. If you've ever felt buried under the parts of your business you never signed up for, this one's for you. Key Takeaways * Falling out of love with your business is usually a signal you're spending too much time on the work you dislike—not proof you're in the wrong work. * Selling stops feeling gross the moment you actually believe what you offer matters to someone's life or business, whether or not they hire you. * Cutting expenses to get "skinny" (sharing studio rent, trimming roles) freed up roughly $10K a month and gave me room to be nimble again. * You can't control the outcome—only what you do today—and there's a lot of freedom in laying down the weight that was never yours to carry. In This Episode * [00:00] Welcome to the show! * [02:09] Loving What You Do * [06:07] Frustrations In Business * [07:52] Business Is A Journey * [19:56] Ryan's Book * [25:53] Trimming Down * [33:26] Onward Summit * [34:10] Newsletter * [35:38] Outro Quotes "So much of what I teach is do work that you care about, but the thing that gets in the way is when I end up doing the things in the business that I don't like doing." — Ryan Koral "All I'm responsible for is right here today. I can only control the things that I can control. I cannot control the outcome." — Ryan Koral "Getting skinny is allowing us to make choices we couldn't make in the past, because we were just stuck. I'm enjoying being nimble." — Ryan Koral "I still feel called to this work of storytelling. I feel more called now than before. So my work's not done." — Ryan Koral "To live a good life: pay attention, be astonished, and tell about it." — Mary Oliver (shared on the trail by Mark Manry) Links Find out more about the Studio Sherpas Mastermind [https://studiosherpas.com/mastermind] Join the Grow Your Video Business Facebook Group [https://www.facebook.com/groups/growyourvideobusiness] Follow Ryan Koral on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/ryankoral/] Follow Grow Your Video Business on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/growyourvideobusiness/] Get your Early Bird tickets for the Onward Summit [https://www.studiosherpas.com/onward] Join the Studio Sherpas newsletter [https://www.studiosherpas.com/newsletter]

496. The Storytelling Secret Most Filmmakers Miss with James Harrington

In this episode I sit down with my friend James Harrington, founder of the Ugandan Water Project, for a conversation that's way more about your business than you'd guess from the title. We dig into the art of storytelling that actually moves people to act, why the most relatable character in any story is rarely the obvious one, and how to figure out where excellence really pays off. It's part craft, part business strategy, and part permission slip to stop doing everything perfectly. Key Takeaways * The obvious character (the founder, the hero) is often the least relatable—look for the Monica or the Peggy who your audience actually sees themselves in * Visuals that carry the message without sound, and a willingness to disrupt the typical setup, are what make stories stick * "Big picture excellence is knowing where to invest your excellence"—not doing everything to a perfect ten * Protecting creative margin and downtime isn't a luxury; it's how you stay present, curious, and able to do your best work About James Harrington Passion, grit, and irreverence for the status quo - This unorthodox trio marks James Harrington's style, strategy, and tactics for mobilizing you to take on the impossible problems around you and transform your world. James is the founder of the Ugandan Water Project where he and his team leverage innovation and disruption to battle the water crisis in Uganda. Over the past 18 years, he has led his team to fund and implement more than 2,000 water projects serving more than 750,000 people. Additionally, they have launched AquaTrust - a water service enterprise; and his team is supporting the Ugandan Ministry of Water & environment to implement a cloud-based digital asset platform to manage all water sources serving 50 million Ugandans. Together, with the help of people just like you, James is leading efforts to ensure that all Ugandans have access to safe drinking water – Today, Tomorrow, and Forever. In This Episode * [00:00] Welcome to the show! * [05:09] Meet James Harrington * [05:55] Uganda Water Project * [16:52] Doing Video for Non-Profits * [18:41] Get Different Angles * [28:41] Where Is The Pumpkin Pie? * [32:26] Hiring Someone Else * [36:16] What Is Truly Productive * [42:56] Connect with James * [44:14] Outro Quotes "There's a version of me that I'm trying to meet, and I think I'll find her in Kenya." — James Harrington (sharing the opening line of a fundraising letter he helped craft) "Often the obvious characters are not the relatable characters." — James Harrington "Big picture excellence is knowing where to invest your excellence." — James Harrington "Don't just practice till you get it right—practice till you can't get it wrong." — James Harrington "Pay attention, be astonished, and tell about it." — Ryan Koral (quoting poet Mary Oliver) Guest Links Visit the Ugandan Water Project [https://ugandanwaterproject.com/] Links Find out more about the Studio Sherpas Mastermind [https://studiosherpas.com/mastermind] Join the Grow Your Video Business Facebook Group [https://www.facebook.com/groups/growyourvideobusiness] Follow Ryan Koral on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/ryankoral/] Follow Grow Your Video Business on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/growyourvideobusiness/] Get your Early Bird tickets for the Onward Summit [https://www.studiosherpas.com/onward] Join the Studio Sherpas newsletter [https://www.studiosherpas.com/newsletter]

495. Matter More So You Can Hustle for Attention Less with Jay Acunzo

Most video business owners are stuck chasing reach when what actually grows a business is resonance. In this episode, storytelling and speaking strategist Jay Acunzo joins me to break down why mattering more to the right people beats marketing to everyone, and how to communicate with enough conviction that clients seek you out instead of the other way around. If you're tired of competing on price and ready to become your market's favorite, this conversation will shift how you show up. Key Takeaways * Resonance beats reach. People don't take action because you reached them, they take action because they actually care. * Jay's 6-part "dialogue outline" walks a client from "how does this help me?" all the way to "I'm in, how do I start?" * Don't try to be different from your competitors. Aim to be refreshing to your specific market instead. * Get into your client's journey early as their "running buddy" rather than waiting at the finish line to capture demand. About Jay Acunzo Jay Acunzo is a public speaking and storytelling advisor trusted by bestselling authors, TED speakers, seven-figure coaches, and brands like Mailchimp, Wistia, and Salesforce. Before starting his advisory firm, Jay was a digital media strategist at Google and head of content for 3 organizations, including HubSpot. He's directed documentaries, hosted podcasts, and created award-winning content for innovative startups and Fortune 500 brands. Today, Jay teaches business leaders how to communicate with greater clarity, influence, and resonance. In This Episode * [00:00] Welcome to the show! * [06:35] Meet Jay Acunzo * [12:46] Mediocre Content * [21:02] What Defines A Successful Business * [25:39] Stop Chasing * [28:57] Winning Clients * [44:03] Be Different Or Be Refreshing * [45:33] Influence The Space * [50:15] Communicate With Influence * [53:21] Connect with Jay * [53:54] Outro Quotes "Reach is how many see it, but resonance is how much they care." —Jay Acunzo "Don't market more, matter more. If you matter more, you need to hustle for attention less." —Jay Acunzo "Don't be the best, be their favorite." —Jay Acunzo "Nobody's waking up thinking, 'I gotta call Ryan.' It is our job to tell the people." —Ryan Koral "You've been a commodity waiting around for some kind of gift." —Jay Acunzo Guest Links Follow Jay Acunzo online [https://jayacunzo.com/] Links Find out more about the Studio Sherpas Mastermind [https://studiosherpas.com/mastermind] Join the Grow Your Video Business Facebook Group [https://www.facebook.com/groups/growyourvideobusiness] Follow Ryan Koral on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/ryankoral/] Follow Grow Your Video Business on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/growyourvideobusiness/] Get your Early Bird tickets for the Onward Summit [https://www.studiosherpas.com/onward] Join the Studio Sherpas newsletter [https://www.studiosherpas.com/newsletter]