The Side Hustle Show 714: My 2025 Progress Report: What Worked, What Didn’t, and What’s Next?
Uncover insights on podcasting and YouTube monetization strategies, along with AI's role in content production. Discover lessons learned from personal growth experiments and health reads, including reflections on family travel and transformative fitness challenges. Explore innovative tactics for audience growth and the impact of failing ad experiments. Plus, hear about creating engaging video content and Nick's kids' exciting YouTube venture. Tune in for valuable takeaways and future plans!
46:47
Email List Growth Slowed
- Email subscriber growth slowed and even declined as website referrals dropped.
- Paid co-registration and partnerships can add subscribers but revenue attribution remains unclear.
Test Multiple List Acquisition Channels
- Use creator networks, group partnerships, and discovery platforms to acquire engaged subscribers.
- Test cost-per-subscriber channels like Kit and Refind and measure engagement, not just raw signups.
Use Episode-Specific Lead Magnets
- Create episode-specific lead magnets tied to show content to convert listeners into subscribers.
- Use practical assets (worksheets, research files, selectors) to attract qualified signups.
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Intro
00:00 • 17sec
Podcast performance and production changes
00:17 • 2min
Show notes and hiring for YouTube intros
02:41 • 58sec
YouTube strategy and ad plans
03:38 • 1min
Audience acquisition and top episodes
04:47 • 2min
YouTube content types and performance
06:24 • 4min
Building an AI script generator
10:02 • 2min
Ad break
12:11 • 2min
Website traffic decline and search changes
14:34 • 3min
Paid search experiment failure
17:05 • 2min
Email list growth experiments
19:05 • 4min
Workshops, webinars, and teaching offers
22:50 • 2min
Digital product and BC Stack results
24:24 • 1min
Local events, book sales, and Amazon reach
25:36 • 2min
Facebook content monetization test
27:59 • 3min
Conference takeaways and AI agents
30:55 • 3min
Time audit and family travel balance
33:50 • 54sec
Kids' YouTube project and learning
34:44 • 2min
Pull-up challenge and resistance training
36:16 • 2min
Health reads and Outlive insights
38:16 • 2min
Narrative nonfiction reading list
40:15 • 5min
Outro
45:43 • 39sec
#33
• Mentioned in 298 episodes
Die with Zero
Bill Perkins
Die with Zero presents a provocative philosophy and practical guide on how to get the most out of your money and your life.
Bill Perkins argues against over-saving and under-living, advocating for investing in experiences early and maximizing positive life experiences.
The book introduces concepts like 'time-bucketing,' 'net worth curve,' and 'fulfillment curve' to help readers optimize their life stages and make the most of their resources.
Drawing from his own life experiences and insights from psychological science and behavioral finance, Perkins makes a compelling case for living large and accumulating memorable experiences rather than wealth.
#2161
• Mentioned in 20 episodes
American Kingpin
The Epic Hunt for the Criminal Mastermind Behind the Silk Road
Nick Bilton
American Kingpin tells the story of Ross Ulbricht, a libertarian-leaning programmer who built the Silk Road, an online marketplace for drugs and other illicit goods on the dark web.
The book details Ulbricht's transformation from a college dropout to the mastermind behind a billion-dollar drug empire, and his eventual capture by law enforcement.
The narrative is filled with twists and turns, including the involvement of crooked FBI agents, murder-for-hire plots, and the complex interplay between technology, libertarian ideology, and law enforcement.
#1798
• Mentioned in 24 episodes
The River of Doubt
Candice Millard
Candice Millard's "The River of Doubt" recounts Theodore Roosevelt's perilous journey down the uncharted River of Doubt in the Amazon.
The book details the physical and mental hardships faced by Roosevelt and his team, highlighting their resilience and determination in the face of adversity.
Millard masterfully weaves together historical accounts, personal diaries, and scientific research to create a gripping narrative.
The expedition's challenges and near-death experiences underscore Roosevelt's adventurous spirit and his ability to overcome obstacles.
The book offers a fascinating glimpse into a pivotal moment in Roosevelt's life and the exploration of the Amazon.
#5602
• Mentioned in 9 episodes
Side Hustle
Drew Golden
In 'Side Hustle,' Drew Golden crafts a thrilling mystery centered around FBI agent Wynn Cabot, who has dyslexia.
Despite his condition, Cabot's unique perspective proves beneficial in solving a series of intricate crimes, including bank safe deposit box heists and money laundering, which are intertwined with murder.
The novel explores Cabot's abilities and challenges as he navigates these complex cases.
#4878
• Mentioned in 10 episodes
The Lost City of Z
a tale of deadly obsession in the Amazon
David Grann
James Gray
The book recounts the story of Percy Fawcett, a British explorer who vanished in the Amazon jungle in 1925 while searching for a fabled city he called 'Z'.
David Grann delves into Fawcett's expeditions, using previously unseen diaries and correspondence to reconstruct the events leading up to Fawcett's disappearance.
The narrative is a mix of biography, detective story, and adventure tale, highlighting the dangers and mysteries of the Amazon jungle and the obsessive nature of Fawcett's quest.
Grann's own journey into the jungle to uncover the truth adds an additional layer of suspense and personal risk to the story.
#4228
• Mentioned in 11 episodes
Undaunted Courage
Meriwether Lewis, Thomas Jefferson, and the Opening of the American West
Stephen E. Ambrose
This book chronicles the epic 1803-06 journey of Lewis and Clark across the continent and back, highlighting the roles of Thomas Jefferson, Meriwether Lewis, and William Clark.
It combines high adventure, politics, suspense, drama, and diplomacy, providing a vivid backdrop of the expedition through previously unknown information about weather, terrain, and medical knowledge of the time.
The narrative includes the interactions with Native American tribes, the scientific discoveries, and the personal tragedies that marked the journey.
Ambrose's work brings alive the colorful characters and the historical context, making this scholarly work as engaging as a novel.
#4388
• Mentioned in 11 episodes
The Wide, Wide Sea
Hampton Sides
#32319
• Mentioned in 2 episodes
Gold Diggers
Sanjena Sathian
Gold Diggers by Sanjena Sathian is a captivating novel that delves into the life of Neil Narayan, an Indian-American teenager struggling with his identity and family expectations in suburban Atlanta.
The story takes a magical turn when Neil discovers an ancient potion made from stolen gold, which supposedly transfers the ambition of its original owners.
As Neil becomes entangled in this world, he confronts themes of success, guilt, and redemption, offering a nuanced exploration of the immigrant experience and the American Dream.
#1968
• Mentioned in 22 episodes
The Wager
David Grann
The Wager by David Grann tells the gripping story of the HMS Wager, a British warship that met its tragic end during the War of Jenkins' Ear. The book delves into the harrowing experiences of the survivors who endured months of isolation on a desolate island, facing hunger, illness, and interactions with indigenous inhabitants.
After constructing a makeshift vessel, the survivors embarked on a perilous journey to Brazil and Chile, only to return to England with conflicting stories of mutiny, treachery, and murder.
Grann's narrative explores the nature of truth and the power of stories, using firsthand accounts to recreate the events and their historical significance.
The book also examines the broader context of British imperialism and the moral compromises made by the crew and the empire.
#18827
• Mentioned in 3 episodes
$1,000 100 Ways
Nick Loper
$1,000 100 Ways is a guide to generating income through various side hustles.
It provides 100 different ideas for entrepreneurs to explore, each with the potential to earn $1,000 or more.
The book covers a wide range of business models, including service-based businesses, e-commerce, and online marketing.
It emphasizes the importance of identifying one's skills and passions and leveraging them to create a profitable side hustle.
The book also offers practical advice on managing time, finances, and marketing.
#12886
• Mentioned in 4 episodes
Island of the Lost
Bailey Black
The Island of the Lost is the final book in the Neverland Novels series by Bailey Black.
It offers a darker, more mature take on the classic Peter Pan story, with characters aged up and morally complex themes.
The story follows the protagonist as she tries to return to Neverland, dealing with confusing emotions and treacherous alliances.
#37
• Mentioned in 277 episodes
Outlive
The Science and Art of Longevity
Peter Attia
Bill Gifford
In this book, Dr. Peter Attia draws on the latest science to deliver innovative nutritional interventions, techniques for optimizing exercise and sleep, and tools for addressing emotional and mental health.
The book aims to replace the outdated medical framework with a personalized, proactive strategy for longevity, focusing on creating the best individual plan for long-term health.
It covers topics such as the limitations of cholesterol tests, underdiagnosed liver conditions, the importance of exercise, and the integration of overall health with relational health.
What's working, what's not, and where Side Hustle Nation is headed next?
I'm pulling back the curtain on my 2025 annual progress report, sharing insights from a year of podcasting, YouTube experiments, business challenges, and personal growth.
Tune in to Episode 714 of the Side Hustle Show to learn:
- what's working (and what's not) in podcast and YouTube monetization
- how AI is streamlining content production
- lessons from a year of health experiments and personal reading
Full Show Notes: My 2025 Progress Report: What Worked, What Didn’t, and What’s Next?
New to the Show? Get your personalized money-making playlist here!
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About The Side Hustle Show
This is the entrepreneurship podcast you can actually apply!
The award-winning small business show covers the best side hustles and side hustle ideas. We share how to start a business and make money online and offline, including online business, side gigs, freelancing, marketing, sales funnels, investing, and much more.
Join 100,000+ listeners and get legit business ideas and passive income strategies straight to your earbuds. No BS, just actionable tips on how to start and grow your side hustle.
Hosted by Nick Loper of Side Hustle Nation.