The Smart Passive Income Online Business And Blogging Podcast

AL #020 We all want to automate ourselves out of the day-to-day of running a business. I get that. But trust is the one thing we never want to sacrifice for efficiency. Every single one of our sales depends on it! So is it possible to build real trust through an automated email sequence? That's what I'm helping Paulina Cossette with on today's AskLiz episode! I'll share the exact emails I'd send out, how I'd sequence them, how I'd avoid coming off as salesy, and the extra content I'd create to flesh out this strategy. But I'll also steer some of you away from applying anything like this just yet. If you tune in, you'll be able to gauge whether your business is ready for this level of automation. And if it's not, you'll get an idea of how to get there! Enjoy, and please keep sending your business questions in at SpeakPipe.com/LizWilcox! Show notes and more at SmartPassiveIncome.com/al020.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-in

#951 When I took over SPI, Pat told me that one of the secrets to his success was staying curious. And that's actually a great approach to entrepreneurship! With "play" as my word of the year for 2026, curiosity keeps things interesting. But it does a lot more than that when you use it to fuel business experimentation. Like, $500,000 more, as you'll hear in today's awesome session with Sam Vander Wielen! She's built an incredible brand around her legal expertise and is now the go-to resource for entrepreneurs looking to protect their businesses. Sam not only shares essential insights on setting up your business for legal peace of mind, but also gives us a behind-the-scenes look at how webinars are transforming her launches! You definitely don't want to miss this one if you're anything like me. Because y'all, someone was already threatening to sue us within the first two months of me buying SPI! So listen in to avoid these risks yourself! Show notes and more at SmartPassiveIncome.com/session951.See Privacy Pol

MM #002 Have you ever crunched the numbers on a traditional job and realized it would never get you to the lifestyle you want? Like, sometimes the math just ain't mathing. If you're like many of us, that's how you found your way to online entrepreneurship! But how do you go from a dream of building your own thing to "making it" for real? To explore this question, I knew my friend Nadalie Bardo would have to join me. She's just the best! Nadalie has absolutely been one of the most consistent and resilient people I've met in the online business space over the last ten years, even though it hasn't always been smooth sailing for her! Today, you'll learn more about Nadalie's journey from a PR job to becoming the go-to Pinterest marketing expert. She'll share her incredible insights on creating your first products and building a business around your desired lifestyle. Enjoy! Show notes and more at SmartPassiveIncome.com/mm002.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://a

Al #019 If you lean into having fun running your business, you'll see results. That's why "playful" has been my word of the year for 2026. And maybe one of the best examples of how I've applied this mindset is my Christmas in July sale. While this is something I do every year over on LizWilcox.com, I knew I wanted to try something new and different this time around. And it all started with a waitlist, which is the part people ask me about the most. If you listen in on today's session, you'll hear how limiting access to this flash sale actually helped me reach my goals faster. In fact, the bulk of the purchases I was looking for came in before the sale itself even went live! So join me for this episode to get in on the fun and make more sales. And please keep sending your business questions in at SpeakPipe.com/LizWilcox! Show notes and more at SmartPassiveIncome.com/al019.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

#950 Right now, you likely have the smallest audience you'll ever have. And while I hope you're constantly getting more followers, ask yourself: Why are you starting your business with a product that needs lots of customers to be successful? Run the numbers. Unless you're getting thousands of sales, a $10 ebook or $50 course won't change your life. That's why you have to listen in on today's incredible session with my friend John Meese! No joke. If you're tired of working for scraps despite being an expert with plenty of value to offer, you need to get into group coaching! John will tell you all about it and hook you up with amazing strategies to have you booked and busy fast! And the best part is you don't need a big audience to get going. In fact, John's clients frequently earn over $10K with only five students enrolled in their programs. Tune in to start! Show notes and more at SmartPassiveIncome.com/session950.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.c

Most entrepreneurship advice assumes you already have clarity around what you want to pursue. But that's not the starting point for most people. Like many, you might get stuck before you even find a business idea that excites you. That's why I knew I had to talk to Ryan as soon as possible. And it turns out that this conversation is the perfect way to kick off my new Monday Members series! You see, Ryan is debating whether the SPI Community is worth it for him anymore. His business isn't where he wants it to be, despite being in mastermind groups for years and building valuable connections. And I'm not here to change his mind! Ryan and I have an open and honest chat about what is and isn't working for him. We dive into his business and what SPI can do to support him, and come up with some valuable ideas. If you've been spinning your wheels without getting anywhere, tune in! Show notes and more at SmartPassiveIncome.com/mm001.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at http

AL #018 Re-engaging cold subscribers is super doable! Today, I'll share a 14-day strategy to help you do just that. But here's the thing. Building an engaged email list starts with not being afraid to lose subscribers who aren't meant for your business! So if you've been struggling with cold leads, listen in on this AskLiz session for the fix! To answer a question from Nadalie Bardo of YourPinCoach.com, the tactic I'll share today is all about being upfront to re-engage the people who actually want to stick around with you. It's also a great way to get a bunch of unsubscribes! That's right. We're letting some people go today. If you tune in, you'll learn why that helps your brand level up! Don't miss this session, and please keep sending me your business questions at SpeakPipe.com/LizWilcox! Show notes and more at SmartPassiveIncome.com/al018.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Hey, it's Pat here! Even before selling SPI, logging into Liz's community for an online event was absolutely eye-opening for me. The vibe in there was just something else. It blew me away! Immediately, it was clear to me that that's how I wanted the SPI Community to feel. And who better to make it happen than Liz herself? Now, as she leads our people into the new era of SPI, I wanted to chat with a couple of her longtime superfans to have them share their excitement for this next chapter. Listen in because I'm joined by Allan Ngo of DigitalSolopreneur.com and Melquea Smith of PrettyKittyPaintings.com for two very special interviews! Today, Allan and Melquea give us their insights on what it's like to grow alongside Liz. They discuss their biggest wins so far and why they're doubling down on community for business support, accountability, and sustainable success! Tune in! Show notes and more at SmartPassiveIncome.com/session949.This episode was sponsored by Coveron. One scam can cost you everything. Protect yo

AL #017 There's a fear among email marketers that adding videos to newsletters hurts deliverability. While there's some truth to that, we still have powerful workarounds at our disposal. If anything, videos can enhance your reach and engagement when used the right way! In today's AskLiz session, I'll walk you through the best practices that can help your emails and videos get delivered and seen. To make it easy, I'll cover the two most important metrics you need to consider before sending anything out. In fact, if you build your newsletter around these two factors, you don't need to worry about any of the itty-bitty rules you might be breaking in the deliverability realm. You'll still make it to people's inboxes because you're giving Google, Yahoo, and the lot exactly what they want! So join me for this session to find out more, and please continue sending in your business questions at SpeakPipe.com/LizWilcox! Show notes at SmartPassiveIncome.com/al017.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and Calif

#948 Big business moves are scary. Something like, say, taking over a brand synonymous with one of online entrepreneurship's greatest pioneers might seem risky. But here's the thing. Even if you never rock the boat, change is still coming. The most dangerous position is assuming you can do your thing forever without the inevitable shifts affecting you! So how do you stay ahead of the curve and get the timing right on big opportunities? Today, I sit down with Pat and Matt to discuss this as we look back at some of the biggest moves of our lives. Of course, with the strongest reactions to the SPI sale having come in, we also dive into the positive and negative feedback we've received. And let me tell you, neither one of us knew what to expect going into the big announcement! But now it's time to extract and share the lessons we've learned! Show notes and more at SmartPassiveIncome.com/session948.This episode was sponsored by Coveron. One scam can cost you everything. Protect yourself now. The first 100 users ge

AL #016 I'm always asked about how I launched my very first digital product when I was still living in an RV. In fact, I didn't even have an internet connection back then! So how the heck did a travel blogger who hadn't traveled yet win big with a book release for an audience of three hundred people? First, shout-out to Lowe's for having the best free Wi-Fi in their parking lots! At the time, I couldn't have launched anything without figuring out how to work on the margins of life. So listen in on today's AskLiz session and let me take you back to 2017 for a look at my first steps and sales as an online entrepreneur! I'll share why I leaned into collaboration from the start and how the opportunities that came as a result were complete game-changers for my business! Tune in and enjoy! Show notes and more at SmartPassiveIncome.com/al016.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

#947 Following Pat over the years has influenced and reshaped my business in a big way. That's why today's episode is a special one! I'm sharing the top lessons that have stuck with me both as a follower and fan of SPI and as someone who's gotten to see how Pat works behind the scenes. So, listen in because these last few months leading up to me taking over the company have been absolute game-changers for how I operate! But that's not all. Today, I'm also bringing on a member of our community to discuss Pat's influence over the years! Desmond Spann of RhymeMasters is a freestyle rapper and educator who's been following SPI for almost a decade. Tune in to hear his awesome insights on being an initiator and staying consistent in true Pat Flynn fashion! From putting service first to authenticity and transparency, we pay tribute to the values that SPI is still running on and building on Pat's legacy! Show notes and more at https://SmartPassiveIncome.com/session947.This episode was sponsored by Coveron. One scam c

AL #015 Today's short and sweet session of AskLiz cuts straight to the point. That's because we can sometimes get stuck on problems that aren't actually problematic at all! April Roga, whose question I'm answering, wants to attract women entrepreneurs around her mission. But not wanting anyone to feel excluded, she's afraid to niche down in her branding. Listen. We have to stop worrying about only targeting specific audiences, especially if we haven't even built a solid following yet. I say this with love, but you won't please anyone by trying to please everyone! So listen in on this episode because my straightforward advice on attracting your ideal superfans is very easy to implement. In fact, you won't have to do much at all to find the right people for your brand! And if you'd like me to answer your business question in an upcoming session, let me know what you're dealing with at SpeakPipe.com/LizWilcox! Show notes and more at SmartPassiveIncome.com/al015.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and

#946 For a while, Smart Passive Income was synonymous with my name. Essentially, the whole business was built around the Pat Flynn personal brand. But now that I sold the company, it's interesting to look back at the key decisions that turned SPI into an asset someone would actually want to buy. And for that, I have my friend and business partner Matt Gartland to thank! He's the numbers mastermind who turned the brand I had duct-taped together into something that has grown well beyond my original vision. So join Matt and me for this session to get a look at the big sale from a spreadsheet perspective! We'll cover why and how we made sure the company was "built to sell," even though exiting SPI was never a goal for us. From building an in-house team to creating stable recurring revenue, Matt and I share a full look at the steps that led up to this moment! Show notes and more at SmartPassiveIncome.com/session946.This episode was sponsored by Coveron. One scam can cost you everything. Protect yourself now. The f

AL #014 At SPI, we're Team WIN. That stands for What's Important Now because time and focus are our top resources. So what's moving the needle most for you? Karen Whooley, whose question I'm answering today, is ready to leave Instagram. She's doubling down on the top driver of sales for her crochet brand. That, of course, is her newsletter! But I don't want her just losing Instagram followers. Instead, we need to convert as many of them as possible into email list subscribers before bowing out. Listen in on today's AskLiz session because the strategies I share apply to anyone looking to move fans from social media to an email list. If that's not you, it should be! I walk Karen through a final week of posts designed to attract newsletter signups. I'm discussing live streams, carousel posts, special bundles, and more to help her step into the next chapter of her business without leaving fans behind! Show notes and more at SmartPassiveIncome.com/al014. And don't forget to send in your questions at SpeakPipe.com/

Hey, it's Liz! Listen in to get to know me better and find out what's next for SPI!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

I'm nervous and excited about this one. So here's the big news: I sold the company. Liz Wilcox, our incredible Director of Community and CEO for the last six months, is the new owner of SPI! So what will the next era of our brand, podcast, and community look like? And where does this leave me? The truth is, I've been straddling two ladders for too long. Even with Deep Pocket Monster having a massive impact on families and children, something I've always cared strongly about, I kept holding on to SPI. Then Liz helped our community thrive like never before in just a few short months, and I realized I could finally let go. So please listen in on today's episode because this is not me saying goodbye for good! We'll get a bit emotional, but we'll also share our big plans and goals to help you understand what's next. Tune in, and thank you for making our journey possible! Show notes and more at SmartPassiveIncome.com/session945.This episode was sponsored by Coveron. One scam can cost you everything. Protect yoursel

AL #013 Building and maintaining an engaged community doesn't have to be complicated. In fact, you don't need to do much to get the ball rolling with your people. If you've been overthinking how to connect with your audience, listen in on this AskLiz session for two easy tricks that work wonders! Today, I'm replying to Anita Sandoval, who needs simple and repeatable tactics to stay focused and move the needle for her brand. The first strategy I share is to ask simple yes-or-no questions in your emails or social posts to activate your readers. This is a surprising way to get in-depth replies! I also dive into an easy way to get more mileage out of your newsletters. Creating audio or video versions of your emails can help your audience see and hear you, building trust faster! Tune in to find out why and how these tactics work, and don't forget to send in your questions at SpeakPipe.com/LizWilcox! Show notes and more at SmartPassiveIncome.com/al013.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California P

Don't buy into the myth that you need a massive audience to start earning revenue through sponsorships! With brands willing to pay a premium for targeted reach, your niche following could be a big asset! But you can't just wait for offers to come your way. The truth is you're unlikely to be discovered without taking action and actively pursuing the right deals! You can start by listening in on today's incredible interview with the absolute brand partnership master, Justin Moore! From timeless tactics to strategies getting huge results in 2026, this session has it all! So how do you get your foot in the door with the companies you love and would actually want to support? Join us for this episode to access Justin's insights on landing long-term deals like a pro! Show notes and more at SmartPassiveIncome.com/session944.This episode was sponsored by Coveron. One scam can cost you everything. Protect yourself now. The first 100 users get 20% off with code smart20 at Coveron.com/smart20.See Privacy Policy at https:

AL #012 Building on-camera confidence and the consistency to post daily is like having a superpower. And that's exactly where many of our short-form video challenge participants are at right now! But what if you've built up a solid posting streak and still haven't gone viral? Do you double down and hope for the best or switch tactics? If this sounds like what you're going through, listen in on this AskLiz session! Today, I'm helping Brandon from Goodbye TOO Good Guy figure out what to do next. And first, I want you and Brandon to stop relying on going viral. For most of us, it'll never happen. But that doesn't mean we can't still build hugely successful businesses! If you tune in, you'll hear my advice for how to create content fast and pair it with other growth opportunities to level up your brand. All this without waiting for algorithm magic to happen! Show notes and more at SmartPassiveIncome.com/al012. And send in your online business questions at SpeakPipe.com/LizWilcox to be featured on the show!See Pri