The Smart Passive Income Online Business and Blogging Podcast

Pat Flynn

Co-hosts Pat Flynn and Liz Wilcox reveal all of their online business and blogging strategies, income sources and killer marketing tips and tricks so you can be ahead of the curve with your online business. Discover how you can create multiple passive income streams that work for you so that you can have the time and freedom to do what you love, whether it's traveling the world, or just living comfortably at home. Since 2008, Pat Flynn has been supporting his family with his many online businesses, and he's been openly sharing his wins, his losses, and all the lessons in between with the community of energetic but humble entrepreneurs who follow him. Liz Wilcox, the Fresh Princess of Email Marketing, has built a multi-six-figure business from a $9 offer — without ads — and brings her no-nonsense expertise in email marketing, community building, and authentic audience connection to every episode. You'll learn about building authority online, email marketing, building a team and outsourcing, content marketing, podcasting, search engine optimization, niche sites, social media strategies, how to get more traffic, creating online courses, affiliate marketing, and productivity tips so that you create something amazing without burning yourself out. It's a mix of interviews with special guests, along with co-hosts shows from Pat and Liz you're not going to want to miss. Hit subscribe, and get ready to change your life.

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Today · 13 min
Is It Time to Stop Building on Social Media?
AL #011 Social media is not the end-all, be-all in audience building. You know me, I'm always down with OPP. Jumping on other people's platforms is one of my top strategies to pop up, serve, and get new leads! And that's a great place to start for Julie Kleinhans of Reshape and Recover, who's submitted the topic for today's AskLiz session! Julie is worried that people in her weight loss niche might shy away from publicly engaging with her posts. So how do we get creative with our growth when traditional advice doesn't seem to work? Listen in on today's episode because I share how you and Julie can reach people right where they're already gathering online! But in our age of oversharing, I also want to help Julie get over the feeling that her topic is off-limits. I share valuable tips about learning a niche's language to overcome common objections. Enjoy! Show notes and more at SmartPassiveIncome.com/al011. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
#942
Wednesday · 45 min
SPI 942: Stop Struggling to Create. Go Live Instead! with Doc Rock
#942 Sloptimization. That's what I call using AI to write scripts or perfect your videos to the point where your entire personality is gone. Even though the tech is still new, people are already tired of it. Nobody wants to watch that kind of stuff! That said, if you're not creating videos for your brand, you're getting left behind. So how do you remove friction and take consistent action to hit publish often enough? Today's chat with my friend Doc Rock from Ecamm will open your eyes to what's possible! But first, you have to let go of the idea of perfection. No fancy equipment or editing needed to stand out! In fact, you likely already have everything you need to get started. Second, you should seriously consider going live to fix your content strategy in one fell swoop! The tips we get from Doc on that are where it's at. Listen in! Show notes and more at SmartPassiveIncome.com/session942. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
August 7 · 13 min
Can I Level-up My Brand by Doing Less?
AL #010 You can't read the label from inside the jar. That's why getting an outside perspective on growing your brand is often the missing ingredient that makes all the difference! On today's AskLiz session, Sandra De Freitas wants me to do just that. The mind-blowing part is Sandra's been helping people build engaged communities since freaking 2005! So why isn't she a household name yet? Listen in because the same unproductive patterns might be holding you back! As I've told Sandra, the number one thing to look out for is doing too much. So what are the tasks that don't move the needle? That's where I'd start subtracting. I also share the top metric I obsess over and use to guide my growth, my email signature trick that lands me on new podcasts all the time, the tripwire offer tactic that converts on the spot, and more! Enjoy, and keep sending your questions in at SpeakPipe.com/LizWilcox! Show notes and more at SmartPassiveIncome.com/al010. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
#941
August 5 · 29 min
SPI 941: Your Next Big Move Should Be In-Person Events
#941 If you're growing an audience of superfans, it's important to give them a place of belonging. And here's the thing. They belong together! That's why Liz and I are diving straight into the topic of live events today to help you serve your people! Our recent trip to Kit's Craft + Commerce conference was a new reminder of just how much in-person meetups can do for a brand and its followers. And of course, I have my growing Card Party events that are now attracting something like ten thousand attendees each! But that's not where your mind should be at to start! Liz and I want to help you find the minimum viable and valuable live event for your audience. That can be something as low-lift as a coffee shop meetup or co-working space hangout. No matter the size of your get-together, you can still change lives and uplevel your brand. Listen in to hear our best tips! Show notes and more at SmartPassiveIncome.com/session941. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
July 31 · 9 min
Can Virtual Summit Collabs Help Me Promote My List?
Al #009 If you've tuned in to last week's AskLiz session, you know I'm big on partnerships as the number one way to grow your email list and brand. Today's episode is very much meant to drive that point home with an interesting collaboration idea coming from Allan Ngo of DigitalSolopreneur.com! If you have a talk lined up at a virtual summit, can you partner up with some of the other speakers for win-win cross-promotion? I absolutely love this line of thought! But how do you pull it off without appearing self-interested or sleazy? Listen in on this quick session for my thoughts on how I would approach a virtual summit opportunity like this! I'll share the exact DM I'd send out proposing no-brainer partnerships and the top ways to leverage this kind of networking for targeted growth. Enjoy, and please keep sending your questions in at SpeakPipe.com/LizWilcox! Show notes and more at SmartPassiveIncome.com/al009. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
#940
July 29 · 23 min
SPI 940: Daily Posts vs. Growth Without Social
#940 Liz and I are going head-to-head today and comparing our very different audience growth approaches! As you know, I'm all about posting daily. Especially since I've seen huge success creating Shorts for YouTube. After all, two million subscribers with just fifteen minutes of work per day is pretty good! Liz, on the other hand, is much more of a stealth operator. Her targeted growth is based on finding the right collaborators for strategies like lead magnet swaps, virtual speaking, and podcast guesting. She values her email list way more than any follower count! And the truth is, both of these approaches could work. That's why you should join us for this session to uncover and choose the growth tactic that resonates the most with you! So how do you build consistency to post every day? Alternatively, how do you network across to build your audience brick-by-brick? Tune in to find out! Show notes and more at SmartPassiveIncome.com/session940. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
July 24 · 18 min
Are Partnerships Better for Growth than Posting Daily?
AL #008 Just post more! That's the most common piece of advice new creators get flooded with while trying to grow an email list. Here's the thing, though. You'll get there eventually, especially if you post daily. But why not be smart about your growth right from the get-go? Listen in on today's AskLiz session for a chat on the highest-leverage tactics that can get you more subscribers without extra content creation! Because, y'all, I'm no Pat Flynn. I'm very sporadic on socials and still managed to grow my email list without spending a dime on ads. The secret? Strategic partnerships! Today, I'll walk you through the top ways to network and partner up with other creators for win-win growth. From freebie swaps to co-creating products, I've used every single one of these opportunities to level up my business. So tune in to set yourself up for new growth! And thank you, Melissa, from HelloPrimeLife.com, for submitting today's question! Show notes and more at SmartPassiveIncome.com/al008. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
#939
July 22 · 38 min
SPI 939: The Easiest Passive Income Gig for Creators Is on Amazon with Kathleen Kobel
#939 Wow. You're in for a special episode because we're talking about a still mostly untapped opportunity that has to be the easiest passive income you can earn online right now! The best part is that the barrier to entry is so low that you can start generating revenue whenever! So listen in to hear today's guest, Kathleen Kobel, share an inside look at her incredible success posting videos to Amazon. That's right. This opportunity is all about creating short, one- to two-minute product reviews to help shoppers make a purchase decision. On your end, you don't have to have your face on camera or do a bunch of editing! You also don't need to put in any work to promote your videos. The Amazon Influencer Program will get eyeballs on your content by default! This is something you can dip your toes in or even go full-time with, so don't miss out! Show notes and more at SmartPassiveIncome.com/session939. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
July 17 · 9 min
How Do I Repurpose My Live Streams?
AL #007 Live streams are a powerful way to grow and connect with your audience. But how do you take it a step further and turn your lives into evergreen content? More importantly, how do you do it without creating a whole bunch more work for yourself? Done right, a single stream can be repurposed into weeks of valuable posts. That's why I always say you have to begin with the end in mind! For my tips on how to do just that, listen in on today's AskLiz session. I'll share the Ecamm Live trick you should use to create Shorts and long-form videos in one go, and I'll help you map out your streams in advance for easy-to-clip highlights. If you've been struggling to post often enough, this might be the missing piece of the puzzle for you. Don't miss out! And for more AskLiz, don't forget to send in your online business questions at SpeakPipe.com/LizWilcox! Show notes and more at SmartPassiveIncome.com/al007. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
#938
July 15 · 40 min
SPI 938: AskPat Is Back! (For a Moment)
#938 Learning comes from the action you take, not the research you do! That's the theme of today's special episode, where I answer your questions on everything from content creation to live events. If you've been struggling to post consistently, been wondering if selling merch is right for your brand, or want to know when it's time for your first hire, listen in! Our incredible Director of Community, Liz Wilcox, is joining me for this throwback to the AskPat days. And that's exactly where we start. I'll share why I couldn't be more excited to have Liz coming on as my co-host after flying solo for so many years, but there's much more to take away from this session! I discuss finding and focusing on an MVPC, your minimum viable piece of content, to beat perfectionism and procrastination. I also share a look at the massive growth of my Card Party conventions and why bringing people together live is the most rewarding thing you can do as a creator. Tune in! Show notes and more at SmartPassiveIncome.com/session938. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
July 10 · 11 min
Why Do Some Memberships Last While Others Fizzle Out?
AL #006 Paid membership communities don’t have to fizzle out after a year or two. But how do you maintain engagement and attract new members to keep things fresh and profitable? Join me for today's AskLiz episode to hear my top community experience tips. With my Email Marketing Membership going strong for over six years and the SPI Community also turning six, I have many insights to share to help you thrive and keep bringing people together! I'll tell you how I create content for my members consistently, without burning out. I'll also discuss why I rely on events as much as I do for engagement boosts and new growth. And because bringing new people into your community is one of the best ways to maintain excitement, I'll go over how I sell my membership year after year. So don't miss out! For more, visit our show notes page at SmartPassiveIncome.com/al006 and keep sending your online business questions in at SpeakPipe.com/LizWilcox! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
#937
July 8 · 44 min
SPI 937: Why Personal Brands Are Winning in 2026 with Chandler Bolt
#937 Today's guest has built and scaled a business up to eight figures before he even started an Instagram account. But now, this anti-personal-brand guy is changing his mind and putting himself out there. The question is, why now? What's changed, and what is the risk of running a faceless company in 2026? Listen in on this interview with Chandler Bolt of selfpublishing.com to find out! In this session, Chandler shares his journey from bestselling author to massively successful entrepreneur who helps thousands of writers publish their books. As you'll hear, Chandler's all about delivering results at scale. And that's where building a personal brand comes in, as he's now supercharging his business with the kind of main character energy that stands out in the age of AI. We also discuss the importance of finding business partnerships, the three traits that help you create deep connections, publishing books to build authority, and building a team around your vision! Show note and more at SmartPassiveIncome.com/session937. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
July 3 · 13 min
60% Growth in 60 Days? How?!
AL #005 You can't just launch something awesome, mention it once, and expect people to buy into it. If you want a chance to serve, you have to sell! These last sixty days, we've taken the SPI Community to the ultimate level and grown by a whopping 68%! That's bananas! But even though building a learning experience around Pat's Superfans System was a game-changer, we still had to get the word out there. So, how did we attract and retain hundreds of new members? Y'all, listen in on today's AskLiz episode because I'm spilling the beans about every step in our big marketing push! I came in as the new SPI Director of Community at just the right time to boost Pat's original vision. I'll share our tripwire sales page strategy, why we're using trials and limited-time offers to beat subscription fatigue, how we're showing up every day to deliver on our marketing promises, and more! Show notes and a special 50% off SPI Community discount at SmartPassiveIncome.com/al005. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
#936
July 1 · 34 min
SPI 936: The Three Teens Building a Creator Empire with The Wild Adventure Girls
#936 I've been on YouTube since 2009, and after today's chat with three teenage creators, I'm blown away by the big moves the next generation is making to fully take over this platform! The Wild Adventure Girls are 16, 17, and 18. Across multiple channels, they're turning absolute chaos into millions of subscribers and a legit content empire! You don't want to miss this session because Angelina, Annabella, and Scarlett give us an inside look at how they build superfans with everything from short-form videos to video-first podcasting! We dig into exactly what it takes to build a creator business. You'll hear how the girls balance school and content creation, plan and develop their productions, handle negative comments, and leverage sponsorships and merch to monetize. We also chat about growing beyond YouTube and the responsibility that comes with inspiring young audiences. Listen in on this episode for a big dose of motivation! Show notes and more at SmartPassiveIncome.com/session936. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
June 26 · 7 min
Can I Use Low-Lift Collabs to Grow My Audience?
AL #004 Regularly collaborating with other creators is a shortcut to audience growth. But what if you're already doing a lot and don't want to add a ton of extra work to your plate? For quick and easy collabs, listen in on today's AskLiz session to get my top three strategies! These low-lift opportunities are the ideal place to start if you're looking to reach new people and give your brand a quick boost! Join me, Liz Wilcox, for a chat on bringing back roundup-style posts, co-hosting live sessions with little to no prep, and swapping lead magnets with other creators in your niche. You'll also hear real examples of how I'm using these strategies in my own business to take action and expand my reach. So don't miss out! 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/al004. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
#935
June 24 · 32 min
SPI 935: How to Stop Quitting on Day One with Roger Coles
#935 Why do some people get all excited about starting a challenge that can change their lives, only to quit after the very first day? What are the factors pushing others forward to consistent wins? In both cases, one key element might be fear. But here's the thing. We can let fear stop us from taking action, or use the exact same mental state to keep going! That's one of the many takeaways from today's conversation with Roger Coles of My Social Designer. Liz Wilcox and I knew we had to find out what makes Roger tick after seeing how well he did in our 30-day short-form video challenge. For one, his combination of discipline and playfulness is a perfect example of what it takes to stand out online and build a creator business in 2026. From content strategy and workflow shortcuts to mindset shifts and building lucrative relationships with big brands, this chat is a goldmine. Enjoy! Show notes and more at SmartPassiveIncome.com/session935. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
June 19 · 6 min
Will These New Lead Magnet Ideas Grow My Email List?
AL #003 Whatever niche you're in, growing your email list is still one of the best things you can do to grow and future-proof your brand. But how do you get more subscribers? Many creators and entrepreneurs use digital freebies to reward sign-ups. These lead magnets often come in the form of downloadable PDFs, mini-courses, discounts, and so on. That said, you may find that the common resources and ideas that get shared online don't work in your niche. If that's the situation you're in, listen in on this quick AskLiz session to stop overthinking your freebies. Today, I'll share my top uncommon and underappreciated lead magnet suggestions to help you take action fast! In case you haven't been tuning in lately, you'll definitely want to join me, Liz Wilcox, for these bite-sized Friday episodes on everything entrepreneurship and lifestyle design. And if you'd like to hear my take on what you're dealing with, send me your questions at SpeakPipe.com/LizWilcox! Show notes and more at SmartPassiveIncome.com/al003. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
#934
June 17 · 32 min
SPI 934: 18 Years Since Being Let Go
#934 It's been eighteen years since I got fired from my architecture job and started my entrepreneurship journey. That one moment led to something completely unexpected! You see, when you put yourself out there and share your story, you never know who's listening on the other end. But where do you start? Listening in on today's episode to get a leg up would help! I'll first share the mindset shift I had when I turned 40. This is a big one because it freed me up to go all-in on my Pokémon content when people were making fun of me. Billions of views later, I never want to go back to trying to please everyone. I'll also discuss the importance of live-streaming and in-person events for building relatability, how I turn failures into wins, how I became a New York Times bestselling author, and why I study K-pop groups for next-level marketing ideas. Thank you for tuning in! Show notes and more at SmartPassiveIncome.com/session934. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
June 12 · 11 min
Are Huge Sales Pages Worth It or Just Too Much?
AL #002 We've all seen the massive sales pages many high-level entrepreneurs swear by. But if you're a beginner, putting something like that together can be daunting enough to stop you from taking action altogether. So, do you really need all that to sell your first products? Instead, what's the shortest sales page you can get away with? And also, how much is too much copy? Join me, Liz Wilcox, for this second session of AskLiz to find out! Today, I'm breaking down the exact scenarios when minimal sales pages can work wonders for you. I'll also explain why and when you'll want to put in the extra effort and write more copy to uplevel your conversions. From getting the job done in under four hundred words to brushing up against short-story territory, I’ve got you covered! So listen in and let me know what you're dealing with at SpeakPipe.com/LizWilcox to have your questions answered in an upcoming episode. Show notes and more at SmartPassiveIncome.com/al002. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
#933
June 10 · 31 min
SPI 933: When Automation Does & Does Not Make Sense
#933 I'm noticing a dangerous pattern for entrepreneurs, and AI is making things much worse! You see, there's nothing wrong with the traditional scaling advice of removing yourself as a bottleneck in your business. But there's also an automation and hiring trap destroying brands left and right! Over the years, I've seen and fallen for the dark side of delegating everything. That's why you should join me for this session to learn about common pitfalls to avoid as you begin to scale! I'll share the duties you should definitely automate or delegate as soon as possible. But more importantly, I'll walk you through my Human Scale Matrix to uncover the tasks your business thrives on. You should never hand these over to anyone else, so tune in to get this vital framework! Don't miss this episode because scaling isn't about removing yourself from your business. It's about removing yourself from the right parts of your business while doubling down on the parts that only you can do! Show notes and more at SmartPassiveIncome.com/session933. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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