Built in Public

Explore the art of handling trolls and negative comments with confidence. Discover how trolls can signal your visibility is increasing and why a balance of love and hate can fuel your growth. Learn how controversy can enhance engagement and why preemptive hooks are essential for attracting attention. Courtney shares effective mental strategies for not taking negativity personally and highlights common pitfalls creators face when dealing with critics. Embrace the trolls as a sign of relevance and courage on your journey!

Lucas M. Ferrer-Cardona, MD, a board-certified vascular surgeon and co-host of the Life of Flow Podcast, dives into the art of building a personal brand without social media. He shares insights from Naval Ravikant on leveraging media for opportunity and autonomy. The conversation touches on the importance of creating unique positioning to enhance value, the significance of ownership over institutional roles, and how podcasting can act as a gateway to influential connections. Lucas emphasizes starting small, delegating tasks, and the profound impact of supportive partnerships.

This week, I’m joined by Dr. Ruby Patterson, NASA scientist turned founder, consulting powerhouse, and the mind behind some of the most creative “cheat codes” you’ve ever heard. Ruby blends brilliance and play in a way that makes success feel both strategic and deeply human, and in this episode, she breaks down the mindset and manifestation formula that changed the entire trajectory of her career.We talk about how she used a simple bucket list to unlock rooms she “had no business being in,” why panels became her secret networking Trojan horse, and how scripting, clarity, and talking about your dreams out loud can completely shift your life. Ruby also shares the confidence hacks she used to survive NASA, meet astronauts, build a new business from scratch, and step into her most aligned identity!If you’ve been craving more courage, more clarity, or a smarter way to meet the people who can change your life, this episode is the permission slip and blueprint you’ve been waiting for. Ruby’s story will make you laugh, make you think, and show you exactly how powerful you become when you stop hiding your desires and start gamifying them!!02:10 The confidence gap between who you are and who you want to be06:42 The panel strategy Ruby used to meet anyone she admired11:00 How to get senior leaders to pay attention (without chasing)14:55 Why your dreams need to be spoken out loud18:20 Gamifying your goals: the NASA bucket list story25:40 Networking without pressure, and why audience size doesn’t matter31:15 Scripting in the car: the manifestation technique that works38:22 How Ruby used creative projects as Trojan horses for high-level access44:10 What scientists (and everyone) misunderstand about personal branding51:30 Making your expertise approachable, the “smart eighth grader rule”About Dr. Ruby PattersonDr. Ruby V. Patterson is a planetary geologist, former NASA Mars Geochemist, and the founder of Crisium Group, where she leads groundbreaking work in lunar helium-3 mining and space resource utilization. Named the 2024 Emerging Space Leader by the International Astronautical Federation, Ruby brings a rare mix of scientific rigor, creative thinking, and fearless career strategy to every room she walks into.Ruby earned her Ph.D. in Geology from the University of Houston, after contributing to both lunar and Martian science operations at NASA’s Johnson Space Center. She supported the Curiosity rover science team, designed astronaut tools for lunar surface missions, and helped develop lunar regolith simulants used in Artemis-era exploration. Her published research on Artemis III sample-return strategy has directly shaped NASA’s current geologic planning for the South Pole-Aitken Basin.Beyond NASA, Ruby has advised multiple aerospace startups on lunar surface conditions, authored technical industry reports, and served as U.S. Lead of Research & Development for the Iceland Space Agency. She has championed NASA funding on Capitol Hill, led an all-female research expedition to Iceland’s volcanic zones, and now spearheads helium-3 prospecting efforts at The Extraterrestrial Mining Company, work with implications for clean energy and next-generation computing.Ruby is also a founding board member of the International Lunar Resource Prospecting Consortium and the creator of an all-female mastermind supporting women in the space industry. Today, she blends her scientific expertise with consulting, creative strategy, and public speaking, helping leaders in tech and space think bigger, move smarter, and access the opportunities they’re truly meant for.Connect with Ruby:
📱Instagram: @rubythespacegeologist💼 LinkedIn: Dr. Ruby Patterson🎙️Podcast: Hotter Weirder Smarter PodcastStay connected with me📧 Contact: courtney@smoothmedia.co👍 Instagram: @courtlynnjohnson 💼 LinkedIn: Courtney Johnson🎶 TikTok: @courtney..johnson

This week on Slay The Gatekeeper, I’m joined by Joel Monteleone, dating coach, speaker, and creator of Hot Takes, Hot Dates, the wildly fun, emotionally intelligent singles experience taking Austin by storm! Joel blends emotional intelligence coaching with edgy, practical, and often hilarious dating strategy. In this episode, he shares the patterns keeping people single, the lies we tell ourselves about “bad dating cities,” and why responsibility, not victimhood, is the real cheat code to love and being loved.We talk about avoiding self-sabotage, building attraction through polarity, rewiring beliefs about rejection, and how vulnerability and alignment are the foundation of every healthy partnership. Joel also shares his most counterintuitive dating hot takes, why connection isn’t supposed to be so serious, and the mindset shifts that turn modern dating from chaos into opportunity.If you’ve been attracting the same partners on repeat, feeling stuck on the apps, or wanting a more empowered approach to love, this episode will challenge your assumptions, make you laugh, and give you tools you can use tonight.01:22 Wanting change vs. acting like it06:10 Problematic dating cheat codes & why we unconsciously repeat patterns11:00 The obsession trap14:55 Don’t be a victim - ownership as the #1 dating cheat code18:45 Where to actually meet high-quality partners (and why “the proper” isn’t it)22:40 “Pay for your friends”26:05 Be hot and make your bag30:50 Why modern self-development culture killed fun (and how Joel brings it back)34:55 Polarity 101: how masculine/feminine energy shapes attraction48:10 tatistics don’t apply to youAbout Joel MonteleoneJoel Monteleone is a dating coach, speaker, and the creator of Hot Takes, Hot Dates, a bold new offline experience helping singles ditch the awkwardness and rediscover connection through comedy, play, and emotional intelligence. With a background in EI coaching, Joel specializes in helping high-achieving men and women break out of victim stories, build authentic confidence, and create relationships rooted in clarity, intentionality, and fun.Connect with Joel:
📱Instagram: @joel_monteleone💼 LinkedIn: Joel Monteleone📱Instagram: @hottakeshotdates🎫 Get your ticket: posh.vip/e/hot-takes-hot-dates-austins-most-fun-singles-eventStay connected with me📧 Contact: courtney@smoothmedia.co👍 Instagram: @courtlynnjohnson 💼 LinkedIn: Courtney Johnson🎶 TikTok: @courtney..johnson

This week on Slay The Gatekeeper, I’m joined by Anne Mahlum, founder of Solidcore, builder of a 100+ studio empire, and the force behind one of the most iconic nine-figure exits in boutique fitness.Before scaling Solidcore into a nationwide powerhouse, Anne founded Back on My Feet, a nonprofit that empowers individuals experiencing homelessness through running, structure, and community. Years later, she took a completely different idea: a Pilates-inspired concept she discovered by accident, and turned it into a category-defining brand she eventually sold for $98.4 million.In this episode, Anne breaks down the cheat codes that shaped her life and career: why having a Plan B is really just planning to fail, how to build a culture people rise to meet, what separates high performers from excuse-makers, and how she built a company that eventually ran without her, giving her the leverage to negotiate the exit on her terms.This conversation is direct, unfiltered, and loaded with founder wisdom. If you’re building something big, leading a team, or trying to level up your resilience, this episode will show you what going all in actually looks like.02:30 Finding purpose in unexpected places05:45 The Pilates class that sparked solidcore08:10 Identifying your unfair advantage11:25 The first-to-market window that changed everything18:40 Building culture through standards, not slogans22:05 Money literacy: why information isn’t the problem27:20 Turning down $75K to stay all-in32:15 Why EQ matters more than experience36:50 Letting go: building a company that outlasts you‼️🔗 Resources Mentioned• Rich Dad Poor Dad – Robert Kiyosaki• How to Win Friends & Influence People – Dale Carnegie• You Are a Badass at Making Money – Jen Sincero• Tony Robbins (Date With Destiny, plus his free content)• The Moneywise Podcast• Content by Sam ParrAbout Anne MahlumAnne Mahlum is an entrepreneur and female motivational speaker who's passionate about empowering people to live life on their own terms. The beginning of Anne’s entrepreneurial journey is nothing short of extraordinary. In 2007, she found herself running by a homeless shelter in Philadelphia, and had the foresight to realize that running and community could be the catalyst to truly change lives. She engaged the shelter to start a running club, which she quickly transformed into a national non-profit called Back on My Feet. The organization, now with an $8M annual budget, uses running as a vehicle to help those experiencing homelessness become empowered to change their lives. Under Anne’s leadership as CEO, she grew the organization to 14 cities. Since its inception, Back on My Feet has helped thousands of individuals achieve employment and more self-sufficient living. But Anne didn’t stop there. She created success again when she founded pilates-inspired [solidcore] in 2013. As its founder and CEO, she grew it into one of the country’s most successful fitness companies in less than a decade by raising more than $200M through private equity to scale it to more than 115 locations across the U.S.The company currently has thousands of employees and hundreds of thousands of clients across 30 states, including former First Lady Michelle Obama Anne successfully exited [solidcore] in April 2023 and shared millions with her employees after the sale.Connect with Anne:
📱 Instagram: @annemahlum💼 LinkedIn: Anne Mahlum🌐 solidcore.coStay connected with me📧 Contact: courtney@smoothmedia.co👍 Instagram: @courtlynnjohnson 💼 LinkedIn: Courtney Johnson🎶 TikTok: @courtney..johnson

This week on Slay The Gatekeeper, I sit down with Bill Perkins, investor, author of Die With Zero, and one of the most interesting thinkers on risk, courage, and intentional living.Bill has spent decades around millionaires, billionaires, and people who take massive bets in life and business. In this conversation, he shares the success pattern he sees over and over again at the top: agency, speed, and the courage to move.We talk about why ideas fail, how ego keeps people small, and why most adults fear looking foolish more than they fear wasting their entire life. Bill also shares the “minimize regret” framework he uses to make big decisions, the habit ultra-successful people rely on to stay in motion, and why he thinks you should spend money when the memory value is highest, not when your bank account looks the best.If you’ve ever found yourself stuck, overthinking, or dipping your toe instead of going all in, this conversation is a wake-up call to bet on yourself while you still have time left on the clock.02:10 The success pattern Bill sees in every millionaire: agency, speed, and action04:40 Why ideas fail: the people who win are the ones who move08:05 Toe-dippers vs. all-in people — the courage gap10:45 Ego risk: the real reason people stay small14:20 Bill’s “future self” test for making hard decisions17:55 Starting from zero: what Bill would do at 25 with $50024:30 Why people secretly love failure (and how it validates their own fear)33:50 Thinking about death as a tool for intentional living53:05 Memory dividends: spend money when the value is highest59:20 The fear of wasting your life vs. the fear of running out of moneyAbout Bill PerkinsBill Perkins is an investor, entrepreneur, and author best known for his book Die With Zero and his unconventional approach to money, risk, and fulfillment. Nicknamed the “Natural Gas King” and “Cowboy of Wall Street,” Bill built his career trading energy markets and is the founder and managing partner of Skylar Capital.He’s also backed and built companies across tech and media, including SkyFi and SynMax, and has produced several feature films. Beyond business, Bill is heavily involved in philanthropy and lives in Texas with his wife, Lara, and his daughters, Skye and Brisa.Connect with Bill:
📱 Instagram: @billperkins📘 Die With Zero: diewithzerobook.com🌐 SkyFi: skyfi.com/Stay connected with me📧 Contact: courtney@smoothmedia.co👍 Instagram: @courtlynnjohnson 💼 LinkedIn: Courtney Johnson🎶 TikTok: @courtney..johnson

This week’s guest, Lara Acosta, is a LinkedIn strategist and creator who’s built multiple six-figure businesses through organic content and an innovative email-first funnel. She shares how storytelling and simple posts outperform complex ones, urging creators to use personal anecdotes to build credibility. Lara discusses her successful LinkedIn-to-email conversion strategy, the importance of a consistent posting rhythm, and why relatability trumps authority. Plus, she emphasizes focusing on one effective strategy to avoid distraction and achieve real growth.

This week on Slay The Gatekeeper, I’m joined by Andrew Adams, speaker, coach, and self-mastery teacher, whose story of recovery and rebirth will stop you in your tracks.After spending 12 years in addiction, Andrew rebuilt his entire life from the inside out. Today, he helps others do the same, guiding people to break patterns, let go of attachments, and find peace within themselves.In this episode, Andrew shares the 5 cheat codes that helped him move from survival to self-mastery. We talk about how to spot the real source of your pain instead of just treating symptoms, how to shift your relationship with control, and why emotional intelligence is the difference between chaos and calm.This conversation goes way deeper than surface-level healing or “feel good” advice. It’s honest, raw, and full of truth. If you’ve ever caught yourself in the same loop, feeling like change is out of reach, this episode will remind you how much power you actually hold.01:04 The moment that sparked Andrew’s transformation04:20 “The pattern is not the problem”: looking beneath the surface09:10 How awareness shifts more than willpower ever can13:45 Cravings as clues and what they reveal about your inner world18:30 The illusion of control and learning to let go23:05 Redefining emotional intelligence (and why monks might have it easy)28:40 “Pain is sacred”: finding purpose in the hard seasons34:15 Love as a healing frequency39:20 Power × Purpose = Prosperity: the formula for a full lifeAbout Andrew AdamsAndrew Adams is a high-impact speaker and self-mastery coach who helps people reconnect with their power through awareness, healing, and emotional intelligence. After overcoming more than a decade of addiction, he now teaches others how to turn pain into purpose and live from the frequency of love.Connect with Andrew:
📱 Instagram: Andrew Adams💼 LinkedIn: Andrew Adams Stay connected with me📧 Contact: courtney@smoothmedia.co👍 Instagram: @courtlynnjohnson 💼 LinkedIn: Courtney Johnson🎶 TikTok: @courtney..johnson

In this week’s episode, I sit down with Chris Lee, world-renowned transformational coach, speaker, and author, to talk about the profound inner work behind success, abundance, and self-mastery.Chris has spent over 25 years transforming the lives of thousands of people worldwide through his workshops, coaching, and media appearances, teaching people how to live an abundant, prosperous life. He’s known for his direct yet compassionate approach that gets to the root of limiting beliefs and rewires your mindset for radical change.We talk about the difference between having all the information (thanks ChatGPT) and transformation, why motivation alone isn’t enough, and how to break free from the victim mindset that keeps you playing small. Chris shares the habits, hacks, and perspective shifts that have shaped top performers, from redefining self-worth to mastering your self-talk and holding yourself (and others) to the highest standard.If you’ve ever felt like you know what to do but can’t seem to do it... this conversation will completely change how you see yourself and your potential 🤞03:05 The fear of “no”, and why you should ask anyway08:40 What makes transformational coaching different from motivation18:50 Information ≠ Transformation, why knowing isn’t doing25:40 Healing your neural pathways and reprogramming your beliefs33:00 The $100K personal development budget that changed everything40:10 Ditch the drainers for dreamers and build a growth-minded circle47:25 Feedback as a superpower for unstoppable growth54:30 From victim to creator, reclaiming your power1:03:10 The language shift that changes everything: “I have to” → “I choose to”1:14:40 Living your dream now, not laterAbout Chris LeeChris Lee is a transformational trainer, coach, and speaker with over 25 years of experience leading workshops and seminars around the world. He has trained thousands of people through his signature programs, helping them create extraordinary results in business, relationships, and life.He is the author of the bestseller Dile Yes! Ala VIDA, and the creator of The Torch Workshop, a leadership seminar for teens offered globally. Chris has led corporate trainings for organizations such as Coca-Cola, Unilever, Amgen, Procter & Gamble, and Miss America, and has been featured across Univision and Telemundo.He is also a recurring guest on The School of Greatness podcast with Lewis Howes and continues to inspire audiences worldwide through his transformational work and speaking engagements.Connect with Chris:
📱 Instagram: @chrisleemotivatorStay connected with me📧 Contact: courtney@smoothmedia.co 👍 Instagram: @courtlynnjohnson 💼 LinkedIn: Courtney Johnson🎶 TikTok: @courtney..johnson

This week's episode features Jacqueline Snyder, designer, business strategist, and CEO and founder of The Product Boss. This conversation pulls back the curtain on how entrepreneurs turn creative ideas into brands that scale.Jacqueline has helped over 2,000 founders launch product-based businesses, from small-batch makers to celebrity lines worn by Kim Kardashian, Carrie Underwood, and Gwen Stefani. She shares the cheat codes behind building a profitable brand: the habits that create momentum, the “Known For” method to choose your hero product, and the power of testing ideas before investing a cent.We also dive into how consistency compounds growth, why people want to be told what to buy, and how investing in yourself changes everything. If you’ve been sitting on an idea or second-guessing your next move, this conversation will light the fire to get started. Action takers are money makers! 💸04:24 Consistency is what scales you08:11 How to start a product-based business the smart way09:22 The “Known For” method: how to pick your hero product10:19 Inside celebrity brands: Jessica Alba, Gwen Stefani, and the power of authenticity13:07 Why ideas fail, and how action takers turn creativity into cash15:16 Test and Try: how to validate your product idea with $019:47 Bootcamps & challenges that actually convert28:08 Tell people what to buy (and why it always works)29:18 Investing in yourself and lifting your ceilingAbout JacquelineJacqueline Snyder, the visionary CEO and founder of The Product Boss, brings over two decades of expertise to the world of product-based businesses. As a first-generation American, she achieved global success with her own product business, Cuffs Couture, dressing celebrities like Kim Kardashian and Carrie Underwood and selling in 60+ stores worldwide, generating over $100k in its first year through using a multi-sales channel approach. Combining her personal accomplishments with her background in fashion design, Jacqueline has guided over 2,000 fashion brands to success through one-on-one consulting. Known as the product-based business expert, she has generated over $10 million in course sales and helped over 80,000 product business owners surpass their goals. The Product Boss was also recognized as the 466th fastest-growing company in America by Inc 5000 and her podcast, The Product Boss Podcast, is among the Top 10 Apple Marketing Podcasts.Connect with Jacqueline:
📱 Instagram: @theproductboss🎙️ Podcast: The Product Boss: Business Coaching for Product-Based Female Entrepreneurs🌐 Website: theproductboss.comStay connected with me👍 Instagram: @courtlynnjohnson 💼 LinkedIn: Courtney Johnson🎶 TikTok: @courtney..johnson