The Ryan Sullivan Show

Hosted by Ryan R. Sullivan

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200

Latest episode

Jun 2026

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About the show

The Ryan Sullivan Show is an audio and video podcast dedicated to helping you start, launch, and grow your podcast and audience. Our guest episodes range from celebrities like Rob Dyrdek to HBO producers, business moguls, and content creators. Subscribe and follow on your favorite platform to catch our weekly episodes. To listen, watch and discover more, visit www.podcastprinciples.com

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60 recent

June 15, 202610 min

3 Ways to Make Money from Any Podcast in Any Niche

🎬 Ready to record your first video? Steal my free script and title ideas below.https://mailchi.mp/podcastprinciples.com/scriptEveryone talks about monetizing a podcast, but most people are chasing the hardest path first.In this episode, I’m breaking down the three main ways podcasts make money, from traditional sponsorships to affiliate deals to the one I think is the simplest and most useful for most business owners: using the show to build trust and sell what you already do. I also get into why downloads are not the whole game, why niche audiences can still create real revenue, and why your podcast should make it easier for the right people to take the next step with you.📌 Jump In Here:0:00 - The three ways podcasts make money0:36 - Why sponsorships are harder than most people think2:15 - The hidden middleman in sponsorship deals3:00 - Why bigger podcasts often move beyond traditional sponsors4:00 - How affiliate deals work for smaller or niche shows5:53 - The easiest monetization path: selling you7:00 - How a podcast builds trust before the sale8:03 - The free framework for creating better episode titles__________________________________________________👉 RIA Marketing Plan: https://youtu.be/SpPmemMPhmo?si=2xoFUpCtRvdzp27j👉 Start Your Podcast Today: https://calendly.com/podcastprinciples/discover🎤 Podcast Links - https://linktr.ee/sullybop▶️ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sullybop/recent-activity/📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sullybop/▶️ Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/sullybop

June 8, 202614 min

The Problem Isn’t You, It’s Your Funnel — Steal My System for Marketing Any Online Business on Any Platform

🎬 Ready to record your first video? Steal my free script and title ideas below.https://mailchi.mp/podcastprinciples.com/scriptA content strategy should do more than get views. It should move people from awareness, to trust, to actually wanting to work with you.In this episode, I’m breaking down the simple three-stage funnel I use to sell services online: top of funnel, middle of funnel, and bottom of funnel.The big mistake most people make is treating every piece of content like it should sell. It shouldn’t. Some content gets attention. Some builds trust. Some creates clients. Once you know the job of each stage, content gets a lot less random. Download Script Science in the show notes to get 20+ content ideas and scripts you can use to build this into your own business. 📌 Jump In Here: 0:00 - Why content strategy can make or break an online business0:47 - The three stages every content funnel needs1:37 - Top of funnel: creating awareness without selling3:00 - How to figure out what gets attention on your platform5:13 - Middle of funnel: turning attention into connection7:24 - Why you can’t just copy someone else’s middle-of-funnel content8:30 - Bottom of funnel: where content turns into booked calls and clients11:44 - The three mistakes that break most content strategies12:31 - Why Ryan recommends building the strategy from a podcast or video format14:19 - Using Script Science to create content faster__________________________________________________👉 RIA Marketing Plan: https://youtu.be/SpPmemMPhmo?si=2xoFUpCtRvdzp27j👉 Start Your Podcast Today: https://calendly.com/podcastprinciples/discover🎤 Podcast Links - https://linktr.ee/sullybop▶️ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sullybop/recent-activity/📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sullybop/▶️ Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/sullybop

June 1, 20261 hr 0 min

"I built a podcast empire in my garage,” - How I Did It, What Went Wrong, and Lessons After 8 Yearsast empire in my garage,” - How I Did It, What Went Wrong, and Lessons After 8 Years

🎬 Ready to record your first video? Steal my free script and title ideas below.https://mailchi.mp/podcastprinciples.com/scriptI’ve been podcasting for 8 years, but I’ve never really sat down and told the full story of how I got here. This episode is my raw, uncut conversation with Dan Goldberg on the Digging for Gold podcast.We talk about how I went from working as a mechanic and recording in my parents’ garage to building Podcast Principles, working with over 200 clients, hiring a team, going broke more than once, and figuring out the business one step at a time.We also get into the reality of entrepreneurship, why most people misunderstand what it takes to build a podcast, the difference between influencer shows and business podcasts, and why networking has been one of the biggest drivers of everything I’ve built.📌 Jump In Here:0:00 - The story I’ve never fully told before1:04 - How I first got into podcasting6:06 - Going from mechanic to freelance podcast work8:46 - The fake sales call that landed my first client12:14 - Becoming the face of someone else’s company16:37 - Starting Podcast Principles20:24 - The reality behind entrepreneurship27:07 - Why podcasting has to be learned by doing31:12 - Influencer podcasts vs. business podcasts36:40 - Staying consistent for hundreds of episodes40:17 - Matching passion with what the market actually needs45:40 - How LinkedIn helped build the business48:28 - Networking where your actual audience is56:15 - My simplest advice for anyone thinking about podcasting__________________________________________________👉 RIA Marketing Plan: https://youtu.be/SpPmemMPhmo?si=2xoFUpCtRvdzp27j👉 Start Your Podcast Today: https://calendly.com/podcastprinciples/discover🎤 Podcast Links - https://linktr.ee/sullybop▶️ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sullybop/recent-activity/📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sullybop/▶️ Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/sullybop

May 25, 202615 min

I Launched 200 Podcasts. Here’s What Actually Makes Money.

🎬 Ready to record your first video? Steal my free script and title ideas below.https://mailchi.mp/podcastprinciples.com/scriptAfter 6 years and more than 200 podcast launches, I’ve learned that the scoreboard most people watch is usually the wrong one.A show can look huge and still underperform. Another can look tiny from the outside and quietly become one of the best marketing assets in the business.In this episode, I’m breaking down the numbers, the surprises, and the patterns I’ve seen across three very different podcasts. Because once you see what actually moves the needle, it changes how you think about podcasting completely.📌 Jump In Here:0:00 - 6 years, 200 podcasts, and the results1:10 - The celebrity podcast breakdown4:01 - What fame does and does not do for a show5:05 - The niche podcast that quietly drove revenue7:05 - Why business podcasts can outperform media podcasts7:50 - Ryan’s own podcast strategy9:17 - Turning viewers into email subscribers10:47 - The ROI behind the podcast12:04 - Why recording still needs a framework12:33 - Script Science and the first-episode CTA__________________________________________________👉 RIA Marketing Plan: https://youtu.be/SpPmemMPhmo?si=2xoFUpCtRvdzp27j👉 Start Your Podcast Today: https://calendly.com/podcastprinciples/discover🎤 Podcast Links - https://linktr.ee/sullybop▶️ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sullybop/recent-activity/📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sullybop/▶️ Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/sullybop

May 18, 202610 min

How to Sell ANY Service Online When You Have 0 Followers

🎬 Ready to record your first video? Steal my free script and title ideas below. https://mailchi.mp/podcastprinciples.com/scriptFollowers don’t pay you. Clients do.I’m breaking down why follower count is one of the worst metrics to track if you actually want to make money from your content. Instead of chasing attention, I’m showing you the sales and marketing numbers that actually matter, how to use your best past clients to shape your positioning, and why specificity is what turns content into leads.If you’re a service business owner creating content online, this is the shift that makes everything simpler: stop trying to attract everyone and start creating for the people most likely to buy.📌 Jump In Here:0:00 - Why followers are the wrong metric1:05 - Why big audiences don’t always mean big money1:47 - The system you need instead2:05 - Why specificity sells3:25 - Clear positioning creates clear next steps4:03 - Marketing metrics to track5:04 - Sales metrics every service business needs6:09 - How to identify your best-fit clients7:19 - Turning client situations into content8:13 - How Script Science helps you create client-attracting content__________________________________________________👉 RIA Marketing Plan: https://youtu.be/SpPmemMPhmo?si=2xoFUpCtRvdzp27j👉 Start Your Podcast Today: https://calendly.com/podcastprinciples/discover🎤 Podcast Links - https://linktr.ee/sullybop▶️ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sullybop/recent-activity/📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sullybop/▶️ Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/sullybop

May 11, 202652 min

Is Podcasting Worth It? The $20M Investor’s Uncut Truth, featuring Mustafa Ladha

🎬 Ready to record your first video? Steal my free script and title ideas below. https://mailchi.mp/podcastprinciples.com/scriptIf you’ve ever thought about starting your own podcast, this episode is for you. I sat down with Mustafa, founder of MyFinJourney, to break down what it actually looks like to build a podcast as a busy business owner.Mustafa has helped investors earn more than $20 million in passive real estate distributions, but this conversation is not about real estate. It’s about the podcast he built, why he started it, what he wanted it to do, and whether it has been worth the time, money, and effort.We talk about podcast saturation, imposter syndrome, choosing a format that actually fits your personality, building a team, staying consistent, and why the goal of a podcast does not always need to be direct monetization. We also get into how podcasting can create trust, credibility, better conversations, speaking opportunities, and long-term business value, even when the ROI is not obvious in the first year.If you’re a founder, advisor, investor, or business owner who has been waiting for the “right time” to start a podcast, this episode gives you a grounded look at what it really takes and why starting messy may be better than waiting forever.📌 Jump In Here:0:00 - Should you start a podcast?1:30 - Why Mustafa started My Fin Journey4:23 - Starting in a saturated market11:01 - Choosing the right podcast format17:12 - Who should not start a podcast yet20:47 - Audience size vs. audience value26:34 - Managing the podcast production32:09 - Building trust and credibility43:04 - Why Mustafa hired Podcast Principles53:06 - Was it worth it?__________________________________________________👉 RIA Marketing Plan: https://youtu.be/SpPmemMPhmo?si=2xoFUpCtRvdzp27j👉 Start Your Podcast Today: https://calendly.com/podcastprinciples/discover🎤 Podcast Links - https://linktr.ee/sullybop▶️ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sullybop/recent-activity/📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sullybop/▶️ Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/sullybop

May 4, 202640 min

Digital Marketing for Financial Advisors: Exact Playbook to Stop Guessing and Start Generating Clients Online

🎬 Ready to record your first video? Steal my free script and title ideas below.https://mailchi.mp/podcastprinciples.com/scriptFinancial advisors love to ask if podcasting is too saturated. But financial advising is saturated. Social media is saturated.That can’t be the reason you don’t start. In this episode, I talk about how advisors can use podcasting, LinkedIn, and AI to build trust, start more conversations, and create a marketing system they actually own.Because podcasting is not magic. AI is not magic. Posting is not magic. But conversations still convert.📌 Jump In Here:0:00 - Why saturation is the wrong question1:41 - Should advisors start a podcast?3:17 - The 3 podcast formats to test5:04 - Why AI cannot replace real conversations6:52 - How Ryan uses AI for podcast prep11:19 - Can podcasting generate leads?18:10 - Building marketing you actually own25:47 - What advisors need to start creating content__________________________________________________👉 RIA Marketing Plan: https://youtu.be/SpPmemMPhmo?si=2xoFUpCtRvdzp27j👉 Start Your Podcast Today: https://calendly.com/podcastprinciples/discover🎤 Podcast Links - https://linktr.ee/sullybop▶️ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sullybop/recent-activity/📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sullybop/▶️ Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/sullybop

April 28, 202628 min

YouTube Shorts Strategy: Everything You Need to Know and Nothing You Don’t

🎬 Ready to record your first video? Steal my free script and title ideas below. https://mailchi.mp/podcastprinciples.com/script YouTube Shorts are not about becoming a YouTuber. They’re about making the advice I’m already giving easier to find. In this episode, I’m talking with Jack about why short-form video can work so well for business owners, especially if you’re already answering client questions, recording podcasts, taking Zoom calls, or showing up on other people’s shows. We break down how Shorts can keep getting views long after you post them, why LinkedIn is still only one small corner of the internet, and how to start creating clips without scripting every word or turning your content into a corporate ad. We also get into the practical side of this: batching content, repurposing what you’re already doing, dealing with compliance, and why logos and hard CTAs usually hurt more than they help. The big takeaway is simple: if you’re already making short-form content, there’s almost no reason not to put it on YouTube too. 📌 Jump In Here: 0:00 - Why YouTube Shorts matter 1:12 - Shorts that keep getting views 2:43 - Content as a compounding asset 3:32 - How to start making Shorts 4:03 - Batching once a month 5:36 - Repurposing podcasts and guest spots 7:08 - Recording the advice you already give 8:33 - Using questions to create clips 11:46 - The compliance question 13:35 - Turning transcripts into scripts 16:59 - Speaking compliance’s language 18:01 - Should you use logos? 21:12 - CTAs in short-form content 24:08 - How Shorts fit into the bigger funnel 25:56 - YouTube as a reach amplifier 27:22 - Content creation as a skill 28:57 - Script Science and getting started __________________________________________________ 👉 RIA Marketing Plan: https://youtu.be/SpPmemMPhmo?si=2xoFUpCtRvdzp27j 👉 Start Your Podcast Today: https://calendly.com/podcastprinciples/discover 🎤 Podcast Links - https://linktr.ee/sullybop ▶️ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sullybop/recent-activity/ 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sullybop/ ▶️ Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/sullybop

April 20, 202610 min

Exposing the Diary of a CEO: How Steven Bartlett Tricked Us into thinking He’s Successful

🎬 Ready to record your first video? Steal my free script and title ideas below. https://mailchi.mp/podcastprinciples.com/script Diary of a CEO might look like a business podcast on the surface, but I think it’s really something very different. In this episode, I break down the biggest contradictions behind Steven Bartlett’s brand, from the gap between the show’s title and its actual content to the way vulnerability, authority, and influence get packaged for mass appeal. I also get into the difference between content that feels profound and content that’s actually useful, and why some of the biggest podcasts in the world may be built more to keep your attention than to help you take action. 📌 Jump In Here: 0:00 - Steven Bartlett critique begins 0:33 - Irony #1: It’s not really about being a CEO 3:04 - Irony #2: It feels deep, but lacks takeaways 6:01 - Irony #3: Honesty, vulnerability, and ad controversies 8:26 - Is the podcast actually helping you? 9:35 - More podcast guru breakdowns coming next __________________________________________________ 👉 RIA Marketing Plan: https://youtu.be/SpPmemMPhmo?si=2xoFUpCtRvdzp27j 👉 Start Your Podcast Today: https://calendly.com/podcastprinciples/discover 🎤 Podcast Links - https://linktr.ee/sullybop ▶️ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sullybop/recent-activity/ 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sullybop/ ▶️ Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/sullybop

April 13, 20269 min

This is How Many Podcast Downloads You Need to Make Money

🎬 Ready to record your first video? Steal my free script and title ideas below. https://mailchi.mp/podcastprinciples.com/script I think one of the biggest podcast myths out there is that you need huge download numbers before you can make any money. In this episode, I break down what actually matters, why sponsors are not always the best path, and how niche podcasts can generate real revenue with a much smaller audience. I also get into why downloads alone do not tell the full story and why building an owned audience matters so much if you want your podcast to become a real business asset. 📌 Jump In Here: 0:00 - How many downloads do you really need? 0:44 - The truth about sponsorship numbers 2:25 - Why niche podcasts can make more money 4:03 - Why downloads alone are misleading 6:09 - The real ways podcasts generate revenue 7:17 - Script Science and wrap-up __________________________________________________ 👉 RIA Marketing Plan: https://youtu.be/SpPmemMPhmo?si=2xoFUpCtRvdzp27j 👉 Start Your Podcast Today: https://calendly.com/podcastprinciples/discover 🎤 Podcast Links - https://linktr.ee/sullybop ▶️ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sullybop/recent-activity/ 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sullybop/ ▶️ Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/sullybop