Make More Money without Selling Your Soul

Hosted by Polly Lavarello

Business Entrepreneurship Education

Website RSS feed

Episodes

185

Latest episode

Jun 2026

Language

About the show

I am Polly Lavarello, an evergreen marketing expert, and welcome to Make More Money without Selling Your Soul. If you are a coach, consultant, or an online service provider, then this podcast is perfect for you. On this podcast, you can expect to learn how to make money in your business with sales AND look after your wellbeing at the same time. So sit back, get comfortable, and enjoy the show.

Listen to episodes

60 recent

June 11, 202626 min

Behind the Scenes of a Brand-New Funnel

In this episode, I’m taking you behind the scenes of a brand new mini offer funnel that became profitable straight out of the gate. Yes, the data is early, and yes, that is exactly why I wanted to talk about it now, because this is the bit most people skip over when they share their shiny “look what worked” stories.I’m sharing what I’m tracking, what I’m not touching yet, and why testing is such a huge part of building funnels that actually work. From ad angles and opt-in pages to lead quality, checkout tweaks and keeping ego out of the driver’s seat, this is a very real look at how I make decisions when a funnel is still finding its feet.Highlights:(01:35) - Why funnels need traffic, not endless Instagram obedience (04:25) - Marketing is a relationship, not a one-and-done task (07:41) - The mistake business owners make when something does not instantly convert (11:31) - What the first five days of ad data actually revealed (14:59) - Why the ADHD angle is winning, but I’m not niching down there (21:57) - How I decide where the ad budget goes nextTo find out more:WebsiteInstagram(FREE) THE CUSHY WORK WEEK PLAYBOOKThis podcast is proudly produced by Wavemakers Audio

June 4, 202627 min

The Truth About Mini Offers: What Made Me Money (And What Didn't)

In this episode, I’m breaking down the good, the bad and the slightly chaotic reality of the mini offers I’ve run since 2021.Mini offers can absolutely work, but only when they’re built at the right time, for the right reason, and with a clear path into the rest of your business. Otherwise, they can quickly become a very pretty distraction.I’m sharing the lessons behind More Bang Less Buck, 10 Days to Speedy Sales, the Mini Offer System and my newest funnel, Cushy CEO.We’re talking passive income, positioning, bundles, AI, scalable offers and why you really do need to reverse engineer from your core offer first, rather than building a tiny course and hoping it magically knows where to go.Highlights:(02:19) - Why mini offers are everywhere right now, and where they can go wrong(04:21) - The first mini offer that brought in sales while I was out walking(07:51) - When a “passive” offer becomes anything but passive(11:18) - The mini offer that became the most profitable one so far(18:23) - Why timing matters so much when selling a mini offer about mini offers(23:42) - Why your core offer needs to come before your mini offerTo find out more:WebsiteInstagram(FREE) THE CUSHY WORK WEEK PLAYBOOKThis podcast is proudly produced by Wavemakers Audio

May 28, 202618 min

Is Your Identity Holding You Hostage In Your Business?

In this episode, I’m talking about the sneaky ways our identity can quietly keep our business stuck, even when we know exactly what would move the needle. From funnels to speaking gigs to ads, the thing we resist is often the thing that could create the most freedom.I also share a client conversation that properly blew my mind, why “I’ll do it when…” is usually a very expensive sentence, and why one small leveraged move this week can matter far more than another lap around the same old to-do list.Highlights:(02:04) - Why mindset and strategy really do need each other(04:10) - The two types of business owners Polly sees again and again(06:12) - When “permission to play” changes everything(08:36) - The danger of waiting until you feel ready(11:45) - Choosing the one leveraged move that could shift your year(15:38) - Why messy action beats staying safely stuckTo find out more:WebsiteInstagram(FREE) THE CUSHY WORK WEEK PLAYBOOKThis podcast is proudly produced by Wavemakers Audio

May 21, 202620 min

You Don't Need A 5AM Start, Do This Instead

In this episode, I’m talking about how to better leverage the time you already have, without forcing yourself into a 5am routine, adding more hours to your day or pretending that burnout is a badge of honour. Because the most profitable, sustainable businesses are not built by doing everything. They are built by being intentional about what actually matters.I share the time audit exercise I use with my one-to-one clients, why so many business owners are not using their time the way they think they are, and how the Cushy Work Week can help you reflect, plan and prioritise without spiralling. We talk data, sales activities, leverage, calendar leaks, rest, neurodiversity and why your life needs to go in the diary before your business does.Highlights:(01:12) - Why you do not need a 5am start to grow your business(02:04) - The time audit exercise that surprises every client(04:15) - Why structure matters, even when you love freedom(06:48) - How to make planning feel enjoyable instead of like a chore(11:06) - The difference between money-now and money-later activities(16:30) - Why your life goes in the calendar before your workTo find out more:WebsiteInstagram(FREE) THE CUSHY WORK WEEK PLAYBOOKThis podcast is proudly produced by Wavemakers Audio

May 14, 202639 min

Thinking About Hosting a Retreat? Listen to This First with Emma Jennings

In this episode, I’m joined by Emma Jennings, retreat coach and founder of Find Your Bliss Retreats.After a 22-year career in advertising and sales, Emma now helps coaches, wellness professionals and anyone wanting to create transformational retreats, even if they’re starting from scratch with no audience, no experience and no clue where to begin.We talk about how to turn a retreat vision into a powerful, profitable experience that supports deep client transformation and sustainable business growth.Emma shares what most people miss when planning retreats, from pricing and sales to legal requirements, insurance, ads and hidden costs, and why a retreat can be so much more than a beautiful venue and a hopeful Instagram post.Highlights:(02:25) - Emma introduces Find Your Bliss Retreats and her sales background(06:42) - The fear that stops so many people from hosting their first retreat(08:04) - How breathwork helped Emma finally take action(13:00) - Selling out three retreats in eight months(15:00) - The legal and insurance details most retreat hosts miss(27:30) - Why passion matters, but a clear sales plan matters tooWant to find out more; Join her FREE 3-Day Retreat Launch Bootcamp from 27th–29th May 2026, from 7–8pm BST, where you'll learn exactly what’s needed to successfully launch your first retreat and make it profitable. https://findyourblissretreats.com/retreatlaunchbootcampEmma’s links:WebsiteInstagramTo find out more:WebsiteInstagram(FREE) THE CUSHY WORK WEEK PLAYBOOKThis podcast is proudly produced by Wavemakers Audio

May 7, 202618 min

How to Set Yourself Up for an Ease-Filled, Profitable Summer

In this episode, I’m picking up from last week’s conversation about taking August off and getting into the practical bit: how your business can keep making sales without you being glued to your phone, filming reels from a sun lounger or hunting for flattering angles in full daylight. Honestly, no one needs that kind of pressure.I’m talking about mini offers, simple ads, smart positioning and why summer does not have to mean choosing between constant content or a completely quiet business. When your offer ecosystem is set up properly, you can stay visible, warm up future buyers and make sales while still having an actual life. Which, frankly, is the whole point.Highlights:(01:04) - Why this episode fills in the strategy gaps from last week(02:19) - The third option between constant content and a quiet business(03:27) - Why mini offers can nurture clients without a sales call(05:48) - How to think about ad spend as leverage, not a gamble(08:28) - Testing your mini offer with your warm audience first(13:28) - The mistake that makes mini offers feel totally disconnectedTo find out more:WebsiteInstagram(FREE) THE CUSHY WORK WEEK PLAYBOOKThis podcast is proudly produced by Wavemakers Audio

April 30, 202629 min

How I Take August Off Without My Clients Or Cashflow Suffering

In this episode, I’m talking about how I take the whole of August off, and no, it is not because I have magically become a zen goddess with a colour-coded calendar and zero inbox drama.It is because I have built my business to support the life I actually want.I share the real reasons this matters to me, from burnout and long Covid to grief, parenting and finally deciding that rest is not a reward for good behaviour. It is part of the strategy.We talk boundaries, clients, systems, VA support, and why your business should not need you switched on every minute to keep working.Highlights:(04:56) - Why freedom means nothing until you define it for yourself(08:45) - The hidden cost of building a business on shaky foundations(12:50) - When burnout, long Covid and grief changed everything(18:56) - Why I refuse to save my life for “one day”(21:18) - How I set client expectations before taking August off(24:26) - The systems and support that keep the business movingTo find out more:WebsiteInstagram(FREE) THE CUSHY WORK WEEK PLAYBOOKThis podcast is proudly produced by Wavemakers Audio

April 23, 202640 min

Why Writing a Book Is a Portal to Your Next Chapter With Nicola Humber

In this episode, I’m joined by Nicola Humber, author of Heal Your Inner Good Girl, UNBOUND, Unbound Writing and The Abundant Author Playbook. Nicola is also the founder of The Unbound Press, a soul-led publishing imprint for unbound women, and host of The Unbound Writer’s Club podcast.We talk about what it means to stop living by other people’s rules and start creating from a place that feels true. Nicola shares how leaving her ‘proper’ job in finance led her to retrain as a coach and hypnotherapist, and how that leap of faith shaped the work she now does helping women write the book their Unbound Self is calling them to write. This is such a thoughtful conversation about creativity, identity and why writing a book can change far more than your business.Highlights: (02:09) - Nicola shares how The Unbound Press was born and what makes it different (04:15) - What being unbound really means, and how writing can change your life (09:57) - The moment Nicola realised publishing was part of her bigger path (13:23) - Why rushing a book, or outsourcing it to AI, can miss the whole point (22:03) - How becoming an abundant author changes the way you share your work (37:11) - Why that nudge to write a book might be there for a reasonConnect with Nicola:Free Guide: The 3 things I wish I knew before I wrote my most transformational bookDiscover your Abundant Author Archetype Assessment WebsiteInstagramTo find out more:WebsiteInstagram(FREE) THE CUSHY WORK WEEK PLAYBOOKThis podcast is proudly produced by Wavemakers Audio

April 16, 202624 min

The Million Eye Balls Test - Is Your Business Ready?

What if loads more people suddenly found you, would your business actually be ready for them? In this episode, I'm getting honest about why visibility is not the magic fix people think it is. More eyes on your work can absolutely create momentum, but only when your foundations are doing their job and making it obvious how you help.I talk about the difference between being interesting and being the clear choice. From podcast guesting to social media growth, I share why positioning, methodology and a simple offer journey matter so much more than chasing attention for attention's sake.Highlights: (01:31) - Going viral sounds fabulous, but it can expose the cracks fast (04:18) - Why brilliant people still get ignored when their foundations are fuzzy (07:09) - The big mistake experts make when they sound clever but lose the listener (12:54) - How the right podcast guest turns attention into real demand (16:16) - Visibility amplifies what is already there, it does not fix what is missing (19:07) - The real growth order, foundations first, then visibility, then scaleJoin the FREE training: https://pollylavarello.lpages.co/live-workshop-april-2026/To find out more:WebsiteInstagram(FREE) THE CUSHY WORK WEEK PLAYBOOKThis podcast is proudly produced by Wavemakers Audio

April 9, 202622 min

When Being Gentle With Yourself Has A Limit

In this episode, I’m sharing a very honest look at what this winter was really like for me, mentally, physically and emotionally. I talk about the season I was in, the ways I let myself retreat too far, and the moment I realised that being gentle with myself had quietly tipped into something that was no longer serving me.I also get into the wake-up calls that pushed me to make a change, from my daughter’s birthday card to my own health, energy and habits. This one is personal, reflective and full of small but powerful reminders that looking after yourself does not have to be extreme to matter, but it does have to be honest.Highlights: (05:40) - The birthday card that made me see how far I had drifted (08:03) - Why my body felt like it had become unfamiliar territory (11:27) - The hard truth, I was pushing myself like I was still in my twenties (14:04) - Why doing nothing was not the kindness I thought it was (16:23) - The small changes I’m making to feel stronger again (21:07) - Why I’m sharing this redemption arc out loudTo find out more:WebsiteInstagram(FREE) THE CUSHY WORK WEEK PLAYBOOKThis podcast is proudly produced by Wavemakers Audio