Grow Your Video Business with Ryan Koral

Jaksot

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  507. Write This Before You Make Your First Hire with David Hoyt 14.09.2026 41min

  David Hoyt spent nineteen years working alongside John Maxwell before landing at The Table Group, Patrick Lencioni's consulting firm, where he now helps leaders master the disciplines of organizational health. In this conversation he breaks down why politics, confusion, and misalignment show up in every organization whether you invite them or not — and what small-team owners can actually do about it. We also get into hiring for behavior instead of skill, why your first leadership move is admitting you've been getting it wrong, and the question David asked me that I couldn't answer about my own team. Key Takeaways You have to be smart and healthy. Being world-class at the craft is table stakes. The moment you're running an organization — even a two-person one — leadership becomes the job. Ask people what they want. PPF conversations (personal, professional, financial) surface the fact that your people almost certainly want something different than you do. Vulnerability starts at the top. If you've been leading badly, saying so out loud is the first real step. Then baby steps, not a total overhaul. Interview for behavior, not just skill. Humble, hungry, and people smart is the floor. Editing chops won't save a bad culture fit. About David Hoyt David Hoyt brings over 25 years of experience in leading people and organizations. He is driven to see organizations create healthy cultures and teams where individuals can thrive. Prior to partnering with The Table Group, David had the privilege of serving as an executive leader with John Maxwell for 19 years. As part of Maxwell's inner circle, he ran a significant portion of John's business interests and served as President of The John Maxwell Company. David works with CEOs and executive teams to help them master the disciplines of Organizational Health to consistently and effectively apply the concepts captured in all of Patrick Lencioni's books. In This Episode [00:00] Welcome to the show! [03:18] Meet David Hoyt [07:59] Abundance Mindset [10:30] Coaching [22:36] Leadership [26:59] Vulnerability [28:24] Time Blocking [30:25] Discipline [35:48] Becoming A Healthy Leader [37:09] Hiring The Right Person [39:45] Connect with David [40:42] Outro   Quotes "We naturally assume people want what we want. And until we slow down and ask them what they actually want, we'll lead them that way." — David Hoyt "Politics, confusion, misalignment. Those happen naturally. So as a leader, big or small team doesn't matter, a big part of the job is going to battle against those things." — David Hoyt "Everybody wants to interview for the smart side, like the editing skills. What too many people don't interview for is the behavioral piece." — David Hoyt "I don't get very high or very low anymore. It all comes down to discipline." — David Hoyt "I need to block some time to think differently than I'm able to think day in and day out in the rat race of running your business." — David Hoyt Guest Links Check out The Table Group Consulting: tablegroupconsulting.com Contact David Hoyt at [email protected] Links Find out more about the Studio Sherpas Mastermind Join the Grow Your Video Business Facebook Group  Follow Ryan Koral on Instagram Follow Grow Your Video Business on Instagram Join us on Onward Summit Join the Studio Sherpas newsletter
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  506. Your Mission Is More Important Than Your Mug with Andrew Cardy 07.09.2026 51min

  Andrew Cardy spent nine years building a video company with his wife, sold it to a marketing agency in 2023, and walked away in 2025 to figure out what he actually wanted to build next. Now he's got a video business, a nonprofit collective, and a personal brand, and no idea how to talk about any of it online without diluting the others. So we turned this into a coaching session about the thing most of us get wrong: waiting until the mess is cleaned up before we let anyone see it. Key Takeaways You don't need three brands. You need one front door. A personal site can be the home base that points people to whatever project fits them, no more choose-the-right-business-card panic. Your mission matters more than your mug. The logo, the website, the lighting, the camera, none of that is what's stopping you. Showing up as yourself is the cheapest, most underused marketing you own. Talk about it before it's finished. Building in public invites collaborators, donors, and clients you'd never have found by launching in secret. One weekly piece of content can feed everything. Ryan's newsletter becomes a blog, a 7–10 minute YouTube video, and a couple of shorts, one sitting, five assets. About Andrew Cardy Andrew Cardy has been a creative professional for over 20 years. His favorite part of this work has always been helping people learn the value and power of their unique stories. He has worked as a solopreneur, at a nonprofit, a church, a VP in a marketing agency, and in a little company he started with his wife. He's thankful to have worked with brands and businesses of all shapes and sizes, both nationally and internationally. Now, he's excited to be building some new collaborative brands with fellow filmmakers, growing a  collective of creative professionals serving global missionaries, and being amazed at his daughter's shot composition skills. In This Episode [00:00] Welcome to the show! [05:02] Meet Andrew Cardy [13:24] 1 Year Goal [17:31] Having Multiple Brands [23:04] Showing Up Online [24:31] "Know, Like, And Trust" [30:20] Just Do The Thing [37:29] Invitation To Collaboration [46:51] Maximizing Your Content [48:37] Connect with Andrew [50:27] Outro Quotes "Your mission is more important than your mug." — Ryan Koral "Nobody cares about the things that we're thinking about over and over and over in our heads. So let's just share where we're at, talk through the mess, let people come along for the journey." — Ryan Koral "I love making spaces where people thrive. I build the sandbox, I'll put some sand in there, and then you bring the toys." — Andrew Cardy "There's no other Andrew Cardy in the world. Your story is the strategy." — Ryan Koral "Anavah is a Hebrew word that means rightly filling the place God has made you to fill." — Andrew Cardy Guest Links Check out Andrew Cardy's websiteFollow Andrew Cardy on LinkedIn Links Find out more about the Studio Sherpas Mastermind Join the Grow Your Video Business Facebook Group  Follow Ryan Koral on Instagram Follow Grow Your Video Business on Instagram Join us on Onward Summit Join the Studio Sherpas newsletter  
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  505. A Monthly Half Day Rewired Her Whole Business with Lindsey Weigle 31.08.2026 47min

  Lindsey Weigle has spent twelve years helping business owners navigate transition, and she recently took her own advice by narrowing Blue Water Advisory down to one thing instead of trying to be everything to everybody. In this conversation she shares the monthly reflection practice she's run for four years, why our brains sabotage big goals before we even start, and the zero-based approach she now uses for her business and her calendar. We also get into what happens when you outsource your thinking to a machine and why she's not in a hurry to do it. Key Takeaways Saying a goal out loud gives your body the same chemical hit as accomplishing it, which is exactly why declarations feel great and rarely stick Your business, health, and personal life all pull from the same time budget, so reviewing them separately guarantees you'll keep ping-ponging between crises Willpower works like a tank you can actually grow, and small consistent changes are what expand it Reflection on your own hits a ceiling fast, you need someone who knows you well enough to push back on what you're telling yourself About Lindsey Weigle Lindsey Weigle is an executive coach and co-founder of Blue Water Advisory, a leadership development and succession consulting firm. With a focus on training, executive coaching, and organizational growth, Lindsey helps business owners and leaders stop managing the life they have and start creating the life they want. She has a gift for asking the right questions — helping clients uncover the problems they can't yet see and find the clarity to move forward with confidence. In This Episode [00:00] Welcome to the show! [03:00] Meet Lindsey Weigle [11:18] Prioritizing And Reflection [16:21] Five Percent Changes [24:36] The Zero Budget [28:38] Having A Coach [35:41] Critical Thinking and AI [45:38] Connect with Lindsey [46:06] Outro Quotes "Am I creating the life that I want, or am I managing the life that I've got?" — Lindsey Weigle "Oftentimes we're just rearranging furniture on our back patio. I don't like it over here, I don't like it over here, as opposed to taking a step back and saying, do I like my patio furniture?" — Lindsey Weigle "We never say I'm going to drink more water, we say I'm going to lose ten pounds. We never say I'm going to start journaling every day, we say I'm going to write a book." — Lindsey Weigle "If what I was doing was going to get me there, it would have by now." — Lindsey Weigle "We need to ensure we are not outsourcing our critical thinking to machines." — Lindsey Weigle "You create the destiny you lean towards." — Lindsey Weigle Guest Links Follow Lindsey Weigle on LinkedIn Links Find out more about the Studio Sherpas Mastermind Join the Grow Your Video Business Facebook Group  Follow Ryan Koral on Instagram Follow Grow Your Video Business on Instagram Join us on Onward Summit Join the Studio Sherpas newsletter  
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  504. The First Hire That Gives You Your Life Back with Ricky Norris 24.08.2026 53min

  Ricky Norris spent a decade shooting documentaries overseas before trading the airports for a San Diego studio, a wife, and three daughters. Now he's running Kilometer Zero and wrestling with the thing nobody warns you about in film school — that you're not just a filmmaker, you're a business of one, and nobody handed you the manual. In this conversation we dig into why a wide net catches the wrong clients, who to hire first when you're finally ready to stop being an island, and how to structure a week so the work stops following you to the dinner table. Key Takeaways A wide net isn't a strategy. When you'll take any project that pays, you end up with a patchwork of unrelated businesses instead of one real one — and no clear reason for anyone to choose you. Your first hire probably isn't creative. Admin, calendar, inbox, and fit calls buy back more hours than another editor, and those hours are what let you work on the business. One plus one should equal three. Hiring isn't subtracting salary from revenue — done right, the accountability and capacity should multiply what the business can actually produce. You'll never reach the bottom of the list. There's always another email, another marketing task, another lunch you could book. Time blocking and daily themes beat reacting to whatever hits the inbox. In this episode [00:00] Welcome to the show! [06:08] Meet Ricky Norris [08:31] Ricky's Story [16:51] Handling Multiple Roles [22:31] Tailoring Your Business [24:36] One Man Band [36:26] Building Client Relationships [38:11] Event Booths [42:07] Finding Balance In The Work [52:04] Connect with Ricky [52:52] Outro   Quotes "Everybody thinks their problems are unique to them — in work, in marriage, in family and life. And when you pop that bubble, everything decompresses." — Ricky Norris "It's a really big net, and none of the right fish are going in, because it's too wide." — Ricky Norris "There's no HR company. You are your HR company." — Ricky Norris "If I'm starting to hire my first employee, it's not going to be a shooter or an editor. It's going to be somebody that's going to help me on the administrative side." — Ryan Koral "Don't let the next three hours be dictated by what comes into your email." — Ryan Koral  Guest Links Check out Ricky's website  Links Find out more about the Studio Sherpas Mastermind Join the Grow Your Video Business Facebook Group  Follow Ryan Koral on Instagram Follow Grow Your Video Business on Instagram Join us on Onward Summit Join the Studio Sherpas newsletter
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  503. Why Being a Goofball Wins You More Clients with Mark Ostach 17.08.2026 55min

  Mark Ostach is back on the show, and this one wanders in the best way. We get into why our attention spans are measurably shrinking, why he's "pro-presence" instead of anti-tech, and how showing up as your actual, unpolished self does more for your business than another funnel ever will. Then Mark makes a case for treating events and in-person rooms as a real line item in your marketing budget — with a couple of examples that'll make you rethink where your ad dollars are going. Key Takeaways Presence is a business skill now, not just a life skill. Mark's Law says our attention spans drop by two seconds every decade since 2000 — and that "life lagging" shows up in how slowly you do everything, including your work. Know like and trust starts with know. The behind-the-scenes, slightly goofy stuff you're afraid to post is exactly what makes people want to work with you — and it repels the clients who were never a fit anyway. Budget for rooms, not just algorithms. Figure out what an average client is worth, decide what you'd pay to land one, then spend that on getting in front of actual humans instead of hoping the feed cooperates. You don't have to be on social to build a profitable business. Posting feels productive. Knocking on doors, buying someone lunch, and showing up at the event is productive. Quotes "I'm not anti-tech. I love my phone, I use it often, probably sometimes too much. But I'm pro-presence." — Mark Ostach "We've made the funnels and all of the things so much harder for people to buy from us, because we're not showing up as our real selves." — Ryan Koral "Be where your people are, get in the room with the people you aspire to be like, and that'll pay dividends for years to come." — Mark Ostach "How much would I pay for a $17,000 client? I'd spend a thousand dollars every day of the week." — Ryan Koral "You need to believe in your work as much as she did — not because you want the picture, but because you believe someone needs what you have." — Mark Ostach (recounting speaker coach Bill Hampton) In this episode [00:00] Welcome to the show! [04:04] Meet Mark Ostach [07:48] "If You Really Knew Me" [12:01] Generative Dialogue [21:47] Life-Lagging [31:12] Authenticity [35:10] Be Where The People Are [41:12] Marketing [53:17] Connect with Mark [54:19] Outro Guest Links Check out Mark Ostach's website  Links Find out more about the Studio Sherpas Mastermind Join the Grow Your Video Business Facebook Group  Follow Ryan Koral on Instagram Follow Grow Your Video Business on Instagram Join us on Onward Summit Join the Studio Sherpas newsletter Books Mentioned Mark Ostach's Book is now available for pre-order on Amazon The Gift of Connection: Reclaiming Presence In the Age of Distraction  
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  502. Stop Giving Away Your Best Ideas for Free with Tara Turkington 10.08.2026 50min

  Tara Turkington has spent a decade building a photography business, and now she's eyeing the jump into video — but she's stuck on the same things that trip up almost everyone: no portfolio, no contracts, and a recent client who walked off with her ideas. So I coached her live on the show. We get into pricing your expertise instead of giving it away, what a discovery call should actually accomplish, and why the portfolio problem is way smaller than it feels. Key Takeaways Free ideas don't get valued. If you're brainstorming concepts before a contract exists, you're doing unpaid consulting — and clients treat it that way. Charge for the thinking. A paid discovery workshop reframes you from vendor to strategic partner before a single frame gets shot. Contracts aren't just for paid work. Free projects and trade deals need them more, not less, because that's where expectations get fuzzy fast. Your first portfolio piece is hiding in your current client list. You're already on their sets. Ask for access, sign an agreement, make the thing. About Tara Turkington Tara is a born-and-raised Michigander, based in Détroit, Michigan. Her photography journey started unexpectedly in 2016 while she was finishing her first year of law school and raising her, now, eleven year old daughter. After a spontaneous trip to Colombia, Tara shared photos online that caught the attention of an established photographer, who invited her to shoot behind-the-scenes content for ABC's The Bachelor's, contestants. Once those images hit social media, opportunities started rolling in—from brands and businesses to municipalities and individuals. Somewhere along the way, Tara realized photography was what truly lit her up, so she took a leap of faith, left law school, and never looked back. Now Tara spends her days meeting incredible people, capturing meaningful moments, and helping clients bring their ideas to life. No two days are the same—and she loves it that way. In This Episode [00:00] Welcome to the show! [04:02] Meet Tara Turkington [11:37] One Man Show [18:10] Emotional Buyers [25:21] Creative Directing [26:37] Contracts And Intellectual Property [37:41] Building A Team [39:28] Ways To Build a Portfolio [48:33] Connect with Tara [49:13] Outro Quotes "People who pay, pay attention." — Ryan Koral "As soon as I put a $2,500 price tag on the workshop, now it's like, okay, we believe Ryan — they really want it to work because they've already invested money." — Ryan Koral "So I think where I went wrong is I basically gave a workshop for free." — Tara Turkington "I don't think you need three projects. You do one that's kind of good, then the next one is going to be kind of gooder." — Ryan Koral "I'm still thinking with 2016 mind, and it's like — you have a literal decade of experience." — Tara Turkington Guest Links Check out Tara's portfolio at taraturkingtonllc.com Follow Tara on IG Links Find out more about the Studio Sherpas Mastermind Join the Grow Your Video Business Facebook Group  Follow Ryan Koral on Instagram Follow Grow Your Video Business on Instagram Join us on Onward Summit Join the Studio Sherpas newsletter
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  501. She Cut the Channel Eating 80% of Her Time with Laura Higgins 03.08.2026 1t 11min

  Laura Higgins spent a year pouring 80% of her time into a YouTube channel that generated about 5% of her results. So she killed it — and her business immediately had a record month. In this conversation, she breaks down how she thinks about content verticals, why the funnel isn't a line anymore, and the two-call sales process that took her from $40k to $120k a month in three months. We also get into why being vanilla is the fastest way to make content nobody cares about. Key Takeaways Audit your channels like line items. If a platform is eating your time and not producing, cut it — even if everyone says you should be there. Every content vertical needs a job. Short-form for attention, long-form for trust, and one consistent conversion point. Not eight. A fit call doesn't need a salesperson. Someone warm and friendly on your team can qualify leads, protect your calendar, and shift the whole energy of the sale. You don't need 500 episodes to have content that sells. Five to seven recorded answers to common questions will do the job. About Laura Higgins Laura Higgins is a leading creative business coach, 7-figure entrepreneur, and cult-brand builder. She's the founder of The Next Level Club and host of the top-ranked podcast My Business Playbook, helping thousands of creatives scale with clarity, confidence, and freedom. Known for her bold thinking and relatable style, Laura makes business feel fun, human, and wildly profitable. In This Episode [00:00:00] Welcome to the show! [00:06:19] Meet Laura Higgins [00:10:48] Enjoying Work In Your Business [00:18:29] Filming Content [00:35:31] Show Up As Yourself [00:38:53] Funnels [00:46:33] Sales Calls [01:08:14] Connect with Laura [01:10:29] Outro Quotes "I am spending 80% of my time on a channel that yields 5% of our results, if that. If this were any other area of the business, we would be cutting this." — Laura Higgins "Too many of us are afraid of being disliked, that we actually forego being loved by the right people." — Laura Higgins "It shifts it from rather than being a beggar, we become a chooser." — Laura Higgins "As AI usage goes up, the need and the desire for connection with humans is going to also go up." — Laura Higgins "I would not be in this mastermind having paid you thousands and thousands of dollars if you didn't have the podcast." — Ryan Koral, quoting a mastermind member Guest Links Follow Laura Higgins on IG and YouTube Links Find out more about the Studio Sherpas Mastermind Join the Grow Your Video Business Facebook Group  Follow Ryan Koral on Instagram Follow Grow Your Video Business on Instagram Join us on Onward Summit Join the Studio Sherpas newsletter
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  500. Being Authentic Cost Me Money and I'd Do It Again with Ryan Koral 27.07.2026 38min

  Ten years. 500 episodes. In this solo celebration episode, I go back to how this whole thing started — a course launch, a Pat Flynn binge, and a production team begging me to stop selling jobs — and get honest about the seasons I nearly walked away. Plus video messages from people in this community that absolutely wrecked me. Key Takeaways The gear trap is real. Wanting to sound like Pat Flynn almost delayed the show indefinitely — start with what you've got and iterate from there. Consistency beats wiring. Quick-start entrepreneurs are built to pivot, and sticking with one thing for a decade compounds in ways you can't see at month six. The podcast paid back in learning and relationships long before it paid back in revenue — free access to experts who'd normally charge thousands. Authenticity has a price tag. Slower growth, smaller numbers, and a business you can actually stand behind.  In This Episode [00:00] Welcome to the show! [01:20] Celebrating 500 Episodes [02:02] The History of GYVB Podcast [16:44] Benefits of Doing a Podcast [23:22] GYVB Testimonials [35:13] Things Born From The Podcast [37:21] Outro Quotes "Start a show. Just start talking about the thing that you care about. Show up, and then iterate."  "I said I want to sound like Pat Flynn. That can be a trap, because then the mic's really expensive, so I'll wait until I can afford it and then I'll start my show." "Being authentic, at least how I'm wired, comes at a cost."  "Sure, we sold a lot of courses and helped a lot of people figure out their profit margin and all the nerdy stuff. But the relationships have been truly a treasure."  "While everyone else is talking about cameras and gear and TikTok, you spent 500 episodes helping filmmakers actually build businesses." — Travis, Minneapolis video production company Links Find out more about the Studio Sherpas Mastermind Join the Grow Your Video Business Facebook Group  Follow Ryan Koral on Instagram Follow Grow Your Video Business on Instagram Join the Studio Sherpas newsletter
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  499. Stay Three Steps Ahead of Your Competitors with Liz Slade 20.07.2026 40min

  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 CI Marketing — @CIMarketing on Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, and TikTok Links Find out more about the Studio Sherpas Mastermind Join the Grow Your Video Business Facebook Group  Follow Ryan Koral on Instagram Follow Grow Your Video Business on Instagram Get your Early Bird tickets for the Onward Summit Join the Studio Sherpas newsletter  
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  498. Build Systems That Beat Blank-Page Syndrome with Eric Braker 13.07.2026 48min

  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 Follow Braker Bros on Instagram | Facebook Links Find out more about the Studio Sherpas Mastermind Join the Grow Your Video Business Facebook Group  Follow Ryan Koral on Instagram Follow Grow Your Video Business on Instagram Get your Early Bird tickets for the Onward Summit Join the Studio Sherpas newsletter
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  497. How Getting Skinny Saved My Studio Over 10K a Month 06.07.2026 36min

  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 Join the Grow Your Video Business Facebook Group  Follow Ryan Koral on Instagram Follow Grow Your Video Business on Instagram Get your Early Bird tickets for the Onward Summit Join the Studio Sherpas newsletter
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  496. The Storytelling Secret Most Filmmakers Miss with James Harrington 29.06.2026 45min

  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 Links Find out more about the Studio Sherpas Mastermind Join the Grow Your Video Business Facebook Group  Follow Ryan Koral on Instagram Follow Grow Your Video Business on Instagram Get your Early Bird tickets for the Onward Summit Join the Studio Sherpas newsletter
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  495. Matter More So You Can Hustle for Attention Less with Jay Acunzo 22.06.2026 54min

  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 Links Find out more about the Studio Sherpas Mastermind Join the Grow Your Video Business Facebook Group  Follow Ryan Koral on Instagram Follow Grow Your Video Business on Instagram Get your Early Bird tickets for the Onward Summit Join the Studio Sherpas newsletter
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  494. How He Built a Profitable Video Business From Rock Bottom with Andrew Nycz 15.06.2026 37min

  Andrew Nycz went from rock bottom to running a thriving video production business in South Florida—and his story is proof you really can rebuild from just about anything. In this episode, he shares how he validated a brand-new podcast offer with cheap Facebook ads before signing his first studio lease, why hiring editors was the smartest first move he made, and how he keeps a remote team that feels more like family. It's part business strategy, part comeback story, and all heart. Key Takeaways Test demand before you commit. Andrew ran $5/day ads for his podcast offer before signing a lease—proving the interest was there without the risk. Editors are the easiest first hire. Pulling editing off his plate freed Andrew up to focus on production, sales, and marketing. Great hiring is really about leadership. Patience, clear SOPs, and letting people inside your head turn a new editor into a great one. A fresh start can change everything. Moving to Florida and getting sober rebuilt Andrew's life and reignited his passion for video. About Andrew Nycz Andrew Nycz is a filmmaker and founder of Nycz Productions, a South Florida–based media company helping brands, entrepreneurs, and organizations scale through strategic video and storytelling. With a background in documentary filmmaking and digital marketing, Andrew blends cinematic storytelling with performance-driven content systems designed to drive real growth. Originally from New Jersey, Andrew made the move to Florida in pursuit of change—building his career from the ground up through persistence, discipline, and a commitment to mastering his craft. That journey continues to shape the way he shows up today: as both a creator and a strategic partner to the clients he works with. He has been proudly married to his wife Jennifer for 8 years, and together they are raising their two children, Layla and Daxton—who remain his greatest source of purpose and motivation. Andrew specializes in building full-scale content ecosystems, from podcast production and short-form distribution to brand stories and long-form narrative content. He has worked with brands, medical organizations, and high-level entrepreneurs to transform their message into scalable media engines—turning attention into authority, and authority into revenue. In This Episode [00:00] Welcome to the show! [05:33] Meet Andrew Nycz [19:11] Owning A Studio [27:17] Hiring To Scale [28:55] Standard Operating Procedures [31:50] Training An Editor Well [34:46] Using AI Notes [35:33] Connect with Andrew [36:24] Outro Quotes "Rags to nothing to something—and it's all possible with the camera." — Andrew Nycz "If you're not having fun, you're not doing it right." — Andrew Nycz "Change is the only constant in life." — Andrew Nycz "You can have it all. You just have to figure it out." — Andrew Nycz, recounting advice from his coach "You're living testimony that you can do hard things and overcome massive obstacles." — Ryan Koral Guest Links Follow Nycz Productions on Instagram Links Find out more about the Studio Sherpas Mastermind Join the Grow Your Video Business Facebook Group  Follow Ryan Koral on Instagram Follow Grow Your Video Business on Instagram Get your Early Bird tickets for the Onward Summit Join the Studio Sherpas newsletter
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  493. How AI Saved a Project the Budget Almost Killed with Jason Moore 08.06.2026 49min

  AI filmmaker and 14-time author Jason Moore joins me to unpack how artificial intelligence has reshaped the way he tells stories — without stripping out the creativity behind them. We get into a real client project that only became possible because of AI, his three guiding principles for using it well, and how he handles the inevitable wave of online critics. If you're curious (or a little nervous) about where AI fits into your video business, this conversation's for you. Key Takeaways AI works best as a collaborator, not a vending machine — the more of yourself you bring to it, the better the output. Some projects only exist because AI makes them affordable. In those cases, nobody actually loses a job that was never in the budget to begin with. Every big tech shift — Photoshop, CGI in Jurassic Park, even self-checkout — displaced some work while creating new opportunities for the people who adapted. Jason's "soul test": if you don't bring your own creativity and judgment, you get soulless results. The human stays in the driver's seat. About Jason Moore Jason is the author of 14 books on topics ranging from creativity and design to artificial intelligence. His most recent release, AI and the Church: A Clear Guide for the Curious and Courageous, is an Amazon bestseller that has sparked more than 150 national training engagements. In film and television, Jason has collaborated with Hollywood producers and created book trailers for New York Times bestselling authors including Arianna Huffington, Seth Godin, Robert Greene, Ryan Holiday, and Marc Ecko. A graduate of The Modern College of Design, Jason now returns to his alma mater as an adjunct instructor, alongside his work as a sought-after keynote speaker and trainer whose career bridges the worlds of creative production, ministry, and emerging technology. In This Episode [00:00] Welcome to the show! [05:58] Meet Jason Moore [12:06] AI Video Content [16:22] AI Video Package [27:47] Using AI Morally [38:23] Example Projects [48:35] Outro  Quotes "AI should be a 'do it with you' tool, not a 'do it for you' tool." — Jason Moore "You have a soul and AI doesn't. If you don't bring enough of your soul to your interaction with AI, you get really soulless outputs." — Jason Moore "I'm a human first, business owner second." — Ryan Koral "When the option exists, we're going to help more people tell stories in more compelling ways than we could in the past." — Jason Moore Guest Links Follow Jason Moore on Instagram | Facebook | X Links Find out more about the Studio Sherpas Mastermind Join the Grow Your Video Business Facebook Group  Follow Ryan Koral on Instagram Follow Grow Your Video Business on Instagram Get your Early Bird tickets for the Onward Summit Join the Studio Sherpas newsletter
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  492. The Paid Workshop That Wins Bigger Clients with Evans Wilson 29.05.2026 49min

  In this live coaching episode, I sit down with Evans Wilson of Zenith Creative, who's spent years running his video business as a side hustle alongside a full-time corporate job. We dig into the real reasons he's stuck on pricing and growth, and I walk him through a paid discovery workshop strategy I've used more than 50 times to win bigger clients and build instant trust. We also get into the future of video in an AI world and why storytelling is still your edge. Key Takeaways A paid discovery workshop reframes you from "vendor pitching services" to "strategist worth investing in"—and clients stop ghosting meetings the moment money's on the table. Sell the result and the roadmap, not the meeting itself. Nobody's excited to buy another Zoom call. Apply the workshop fee to a package booked within 60 days to make it an easy yes for newer clients. AI is changing production fast, but storytelling, pacing, and trust are still the things you get hired for. About Evans Wilson Evans Wilson is the founder of Zenith Creative, a video production company he's run for nearly nine years alongside an 18-year corporate career as the solo in-house videographer for a large energy company. With help from his wife and a handful of trusted freelancers, he's built Zenith into a thriving business while quietly living the "double life" so many video creators know well. These days his focus is on growing Zenith, where he primarily serves construction and industrial services companies—though he's always happy to stray from that niche when the right project comes along. In This Episode [00:00] Welcome to the show! [06:37] Meet Evans Wilson [11:36] Finances [18:32] The Video Blueprint Method [21:24] Selling Workshops [37:14] How the Content Market Changes [38:47] AI Content [47:56] Connect with Evans [48:21] Outro   Quotes "People who pay, pay attention." — Ryan Koral "What you want to sell is the results." — Ryan Koral "Get to the heart of the story, get to the soul of the brand, and then start thinking about how you roll it out into other content." — Ryan Koral "It's the worst it's gonna be right now—but the challenge is always, are you a good storyteller?" — Ryan Koral (on AI video) "The only thing stopping me is me, not them." — Evans Wilson Guest Links Find Zenith Creative onlineFollow Evans Wilson on Instagram Links Find out more about the Studio Sherpas Mastermind Join the Grow Your Video Business Facebook Group  Follow Ryan Koral on Instagram Follow Grow Your Video Business on Instagram Join the Studio Sherpas newsletter
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  491. The Pricing Trap That's Quietly Killing Your Business with Zack Thompson 25.05.2026 43min

  In this episode, I sit down with Zack Thompson, co-founder of Bumpy Road Productions, for a live coaching session on pricing, packaging, and positioning. Zack's growing a sketch comedy series offer for brands, and we dig into why his current price points are leaving serious money on the table. If you've ever struggled to charge what your work is actually worth, this one's for you. Key Takeaways Your base package needs to be profitable on its own—don't price the entry tier hoping clients upgrade to your premium offer Charge for value, not crew size; a one-person shoot and a five-person shoot shouldn't be a $2K difference One specific, numbers-driven testimonial from a recognizable client is worth more than a hundred generic "they're great" reviews Build three simple packages with clear differentiation in scope and cadence rather than stuffing everything into the top tier About Zack Thompson Zack Thompson is the co-founder of Bumpy Road Productions. Majored in Film at Rochester Institute of Technology, then worked in outdoor documentary television for 5 years. Now he runs his own production company with his brother Jake. Recently completed a feature-length sports documentary, "Northmen Way, A Lacrosse Story". With Bumpy Road they have done all forms of client video work, specializing in comedy-driven video. Quotes "I'm done in the days of throwing a low ball price just to get a job and then kicking myself afterwards." — Zack Thompson "When you start to talk about the potential value, it becomes way easier to justify spending fill in the blank." — Ryan Koral "Just be careful on how you build those packages—make the base one that if you only ever sold it, you'd be all set." — Ryan Koral Guest Links Follow @bumpyroadproductions on Instagram and Facebook Links Find out more about the Studio Sherpas Mastermind Join the Grow Your Video Business Facebook Group  Follow Ryan Koral on Instagram Follow Grow Your Video Business on Instagram Join the Studio Sherpas newsletter
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  490. Why Your Story Is the Strategy with Lynn Friesth 18.05.2026 39min

  Lynn Friesth spent 41 years at John Deere before stepping into what he calls an "encore career" — and now he helps other retiring professionals do the same. In this conversation, we dig into why story is the most underrated strategy in any business, how to draw real moments out of people who don't think they have a story, and the surprising market opportunity for filmmakers willing to serve the 65-and-older crowd. Plus, Lynn shares why "not done yet" might be the most powerful mindset shift you can make at any age. Key Takeaways Your story isn't just nice-to-have content — it's the thing that makes clients choose you over everyone else with similar skills Polished doesn't beat real anymore; the unscripted moments are what actually connect with viewers Retiring professionals are a massive, underserved market for filmmakers — they have the wisdom, the budget, and the need Testimonial videos from past colleagues and clients are way more believable than anything you could say about yourself About Lynn Friesth Lynn coached high-achieving executives 55+ to reinvent their identity, leverage their expertise, and create meaningful income—without getting lost in the noise of endless options. With his unique Human Wisdom + AI Toolkit approach, powered by LynnAI, they combine your hard-earned experience with the leverage of modern tools—helping you design an Encore Career that's both impactful and sustainable. Results he helped clients achieve: Turn decades of corporate leadership into a thriving advisory business Replace a corporate salary with a flexible, meaningful consulting practice Launch a personal brand that attracted clients in under 6 weeks In This Episode   [00:00] Welcome to the show! [05:08] Meet Lynn Friesth [09:35] The Five Stages of Manhood [18:04] Don't Overcomplicate Things [18:59] Being Real [24:34] Ask Questions [33:40] Lynn AI [35:47] Lynn's Book [36:57] Connect with Lynn [38:47] Outro   Quotes "Don't just drift into your encore life. Get started and design what you want to do. Don't drift, just design." - Lynn Friesth  "Your story is what's gonna make you different than the person next to you. Your story is gonna be the thing that's gonna make people want to work with you or not." - Ryan Koral  "I always tried to have a really tight script and follow it. But then I found out the most views I got were a couple of podcasts where I just riffed and stumbled over words and wasn't very polished at all — but I was real." - Lynn Friesth "Often high achievers want to talk about what should I be doing, when in fact what they really need to find out is who do I want to be." - Lynn Friesth Guest Links Check out Lynn's Website  Not sure what's next after corporate life? Meet Lynn AI — Lynn's virtual coaching assistant. He'll help you find your purpose, build your brand, and create a life of impact.  Links Find out more about the Studio Sherpas Mastermind Join the Grow Your Video Business Facebook Group  Follow Ryan Koral on Instagram Follow Grow Your Video Business on Instagram Join the Studio Sherpas newsletter
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  489. The Hidden Hours That Are Killing Your Profit with Derick Fischer 11.05.2026 36min

  In this episode, I sat down with filmmaker Derick Fischer of Fishbowl Media for a live, no-script coaching session. After getting laid off from his corporate TV gig last November, Derick is officially making the leap from side hustle to full-time business owner—and he was honest about the messy middle of that transition. We unpacked his pricing, the systems he's missing, and the specific tools he can plug in this week to start filling his pipeline. Key Takeaways Your hourly rate is probably a fantasy until you track every hour. Music searches, call sheets, revisions—those "little" tasks add up to thousands of dollars in unpaid time per project. Cold outreach still works, but it shouldn't be manual anymore. Tools like BotDog and Perplexity can build your prospect list and start conversations while you're focused on shoots and edits. Lead with a low-ticket offer, not a video package. Free virtual tours, paid workshops, or strategy sessions get clients in the door before you ever pitch the bigger project. A weekly sales block on your calendar is non-negotiable. Without it, you're back on the roller coaster the second a big project wraps. In This Episode [00:00] Welcome to the show! [05:16] Meet Derick Fischer [07:49] Coaching Session [10:01] Biggest Frustration in the Business [12:08] With the End In Mind [17:20] Evaluating Cost In Jobs [20:52] Perplexity AI [24:36] Botdog AI [30:30] Having Systems In Place [35:21] Connect with Derick [35:57] Outro Quotes "If those costs are not being passed over to a client, you're giving away your time and you're giving away $1,500 worth of your skills." — Ryan Koral "You will forever be on the roller coaster, trying to find new client after new client, but without a system in place, you're just making life a lot harder for yourself." — Ryan Koral "Find the things that can run in the background, especially as a solopreneur, when you are the one responsible for everything." — Ryan Koral Links Find out more about the Studio Sherpas Mastermind Join the Grow Your Video Business Facebook Group  Follow Ryan Koral on Instagram Follow Grow Your Video Business on Instagram Join the Studio Sherpas newsletter  
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  488. Stop Pitching and Start Proving Your Worth with Park Howell 04.05.2026 34min

  Park Howell, the world's most industrious storyteller, joins Ryan to break down why most brand stories fall flat—and the simple framework that fixes it. From making the pronoun shift from "me" to "you" to walking Ryan through a live ABT exercise on the podcast itself, Park shows exactly how to stop pitching and start proving your worth to the right audience. Key Takeaways Your story isn't about what you make—it's about what you make happen in your audience's life The And, But, Therefore (ABT) framework is the DNA of every story that actually lands Niching down works like a tractor beam—when you get specific, the right clients get pulled in Copy your homepage into ChatGPT and ask it to rewrite using Park's ABT framework for an instant shift About Park Howell Park Howell is known as The World's Most Industrious Storyteller having grown purpose-driven brands by as much as 600 percent. He is an EMMY Award-Winning, 40+ year veteran of the advertising industry and hosts the popular weekly Business of Story podcast, authored Brand Bewitchery, and co-authored The Narrative Gym for Business. Park recently launched the StoryCycle Genie™ to help business leaders craft a lucrative brand story strategy in minutes, not months. He is sought after internationally to help executives excel through the stories they tell. In This Episode [00:00] Welcome to the show! [05:34] Meet Park Howell [07:22] Story [11:16] Hero of the Story [14:06] Story Cycle System [16:02] And, But, Therefore... [25:32] Niching Down [32:04] Connect with Park [33:06] Outro Quotes "Your story is not about what you make, but what you make happen in people's lives." — Park Howell "You are not the center of your story. Your audience is." — Park Howell "We are all intuitive storytellers, but we really need to be intentional storytellers using frameworks that we know that work." — Park Howell "When you niche down to be that very specific supplier for a very specific audience, you're going to get other business outside of that niche, but it becomes like a tractor beam that sucks them into the Life Star." — Park Howell "Artificial intelligence is the worst brand name ever. If you really know how to use it and collaborate with it, it becomes artful intelligence that actually augments your intelligence." — Park Howell Guest Links Follow Park Howell on Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | LinkedIn Get your brand story strategy using StoryCycle Genie™ Links Find out more about the Studio Sherpas Mastermind Join the Grow Your Video Business Facebook Group  Follow Ryan Koral on Instagram Follow Grow Your Video Business on Instagram Join the Studio Sherpas newsletter