Portfolio Career Podcast

LinkedIn strategist and community builder Molly Godfrey shares how she's generated $5M for clients using LinkedIn. She shares what types of posts actually work, how to think about top vs. bottom of funnel content, and why consistency (not perfection) is the key to building a business and brand on the platform. Enjoy!

Nicole Kelner shares how a Substack post about finding quiet in NYC became a Rizzoli book deal called Quietest Places in New York City. You will learn more about the book and the ideas in it, in this episode. You will also learn about Nicole built a habit-tracking app called Free Time recently too. She is taking action on her ideas and you can too!

Are you looking to be more self-employed or self-funded? Listen to this episode where I talk about how my portfolio career has evolved over the last six months of working on my own. I am currently kind of paralell pathing two similar work streams. You will learn about the two, three month chapters and how things feel more durable and compounding now compared to a few months ago. Hosting events, connecting with friends, and loose ties have all been helpful too. Thank you for being part of this journey! Excited for you to build and grow your Portfolio Career!

I cohosted the first-ever Community Led Growth Conference (CLG) with Zach Hawtof on Friday March 13th. On Monday March 16th, we chatted about it in this podcast episode. We talked about how the conference came together in two months, how it was sold-out, our programming choices, and how a few serendipitous things came together for the conference to happen. The conference was a big success and we wanted to share all about it in case you want to host something like this!

Avital Knoller is the Head of Ecosystem at Orchid Security. In this episode, she shares her 10 years of hard-won community building wisdom. You will learn about growing Wiz's community to a Google-acquisition exit, B2B community building, and why she believes we're in the golden age of community building.

Miri Buckland never planned to be a Founder, until a Stanford class project turned into Landing, a social app that grew to over a million downloads without spending a dollar on marketing. After six years of pivots, community building, and ultimately shutting it down, she's back at zero-to-one with Extra, a new email app launching this spring. We talk community-led growth, committing to the pivot, and why every launch is a starting line, not a finish line.

In this episode, I talk with Justin Moore, the author of Sponsor Magnet, about how creators can successfully land and manage brand sponsorships. Justin shares insights from his experience running sponsorship challenges and coaching creators, emphasizing that mindset, particularly overcoming money-related fears and childhood financial baggage, is often a bigger barrier than the tactical side of pitching. You will also learn about Justin's "ARC" framework for structuring sponsorship packages, the value of multi-format content strategies, and how to position yourself as a consultant-like partner to brands rather than just a vendor. We also discuss Justin's upcoming "anti-conference" called Sponsor Games, designed to make creator education more hands-on and community-driven.

What does community-led growth look like? A group of founders, marketers, and community builders unpack community-led growth from every angle: why human connection beats performance marketing, how communities create multiple business entry points, and why earning organic growth is slow but worth it. Zach Hawtof, the Founder of Tightknit, and I cohosted this podcast mixer in advance of the Community-Led Growth conference in March in NYC. If you are interested in CLG, we hope this conversation is helpful!

Simi Shah, the Founder of South Asian Trailblazers, shares how she turned a pandemic-era podcast into a thriving community with live podcast events. Simi shares how she also discovered her "reverse product-market fit” with her agency when people asked her for media strategy advice. You will also learn about personal branding fundamentals, why storytelling is ultimately about empathy and human connection, and about the Chief of Staff role, as Simi is a former Chief of Staff. Excited for you to build and grow your Portfolio Career!

Alex Chung, Founding Head of Growth at Goodword, shares her approach to building meaningful professional relationships. She discusses the power of follow-up and follow-through, how she connected with entrepreneur Andy Dunn by offering value first, and why being "a little unhinged" is sometimes necessary to make things happen. Alex also talks about her role blending marketing, sales, and community-building at an AI-powered relationship management startup, and why shared interests, like running, can be a more authentic way to strengthen connections than just grabbing coffee. Excited for you to build and grow your Portfolio Career!

Lisa Skye is the Founder of SkyeCo and is a prolific community builder. In this episode, she shares her unconventional path from BNI chapter President, to WeWork early employee, to launching SkyeCo, a structured networking community for mostly for business owners. Lisa discusses the outsized impact of being "dangerously consistent” and the benefits of consistently showing up in networking groups. Whether you're a founder looking to grow your network or someone curious about intentional community building, you will listen this episode with Lisa!

Rebekah Rombom shares how she transitioned from a nearly decade-long role at Flatiron School to building a fractional executive practice—not by design, but by staying busy with consulting until she realized she didn't need a traditional job. Rebekah emphasizes two powerful principles: clearly articulating what you actually want (so people can help you get there), and consistently doing what you say you'll do (which remains surprisingly rare). For anyone considering fractional work, she offers practical insights on being self-directed by showing up ready to onboard yourself and delivering impact without hand-holding. Key takeaway: You can design your life, most barriers are self-imposed, and authentic clarity about your priorities opens more doors than you'd expect. Excited for you to build and grow your Portfolio Career!

Chris Schembra, the Founder of 7:47 Club, reveals how he's built a thriving solopreneur business over 10+ years by doing less, not more. Learn why focus equals growth, how asking one simple gratitude question to 808 founders led to a new podcast and eventually new business, and why thoughtful LinkedIn comments generate better leads than posting your own content. Chris also shares practical insights on relationship building, the three roles every entrepreneur must balance, and why saying no is the ultimate growth strategy for solopreneurs. Excited for you to build and grow your Portfolio Career!

In this episode, David breaks down the key insights from Justin Moore's book Sponsor Magnet: How to Attract, Price, and Execute Your Dream Brand Partnerships. You will learn practical frameworks for securing brand partnerships and sponsorships, including the ROPE method for crafting compelling pitches (Relevant, Organic, Provide Proof, Easy to Execute) and the ARC framework for understanding brand objectives (Awareness, Repurposing, Conversion). David shares how to think like a consultant rather than just a creator, tie your pitches to existing brand campaigns, and build win-win-win partnerships that benefit you, the brand, and your audience. These principles will help you approach sponsorships more strategically. Excited for you to build and grow your Portfolio Career!

Will Mannon and David Nebinski reflect on their whirlwind tour bringing the online community magic to in-person events across 13 events in 13 cities in late 2025 during the Internet Serendipity World Tour powered by Circle. They share what worked (local co-hosts, creator marketing partnerships, the structure of the facilitated events), what was tough (holiday timing and marketing timing) and how they might do things differently in the future. This episode is essential listening for anyone planning large-scale events, 0-1 community building, or is deeply interested in the intersection of online and offline connection. Excited for you to build and grow your Portfolio Career!

Host David Nebinski gathers friends around a table to reflect on recent changes and transformations. What begins as a celebration of David's recent career leap, leaving his job and building confidence through action, the episode evolves into a deeper conversation about navigating life's biggest uncertainties. The group explores accountability partnerships, the power of reframing change as something to celebrate rather than fear, and how experiences with loss can awaken both presence and responsibility. A raw, honest discussion about taking control where you can and accepting what you cannot. Excited for you to build and grow your Portfolio Career!

Are you looking to know what is like to find work you want to do? Paul Millerd is the author of The Pathless Path and Good Work. In this episode, he talks about the art of staying in the game without chasing metrics, how to think about work without letting it define your identity, and a framework for designing dream projects that actually fit your life. You will also learn about podcasting on your own terms, curiosity conversations, and the importance of creating a new narrative when thinking about leaving a job. Excited for you to build and grow your Portfolio Career!

Carly Valancy, the Founder of The Reach Out Party, believes that you should take more agency over the people who are in your life. In this episode, she shares practical strategies for reaching out to people you admire and building sustainable connection habits. She thinks that networking doesn't have to feel icky when you do it your way. In this episode, you will also learn about the successful Anti-Networking Party that she recently hosted in New York City. You will also learn the highs and lows of hosting events. Excited for you to build and grow your Portfolio Career!

What is your definition of leadership? In this episode, Stephen Shedletzky also known as "Shed" shared his definition of leadership and asked for feedback from other people attending this Podcast Mixer event. You will hear about whether leaders are necessary, challenge conventional definitions of leadership, and discuss the balance between charisma and quiet leadership. If you are interested in leadership, this episode is for you. Excited for you to build and grow your Portfolio Career!

Ashwini Anburajan shares her journey from Chief Revenue Officer to CEO at Obi, a rideshare aggregator app. In this live episode recorded in New York City, Ashwini discusses the critical first 90 days of her new role, why the company pivoted before, and the challenges of scaling a startup. She also reveals why she's hiring a Chief of Staff , so that she can focus on revenue growth and product development. Whether you're interested in startup leadership transitions, transportation tech, or Chief of Staff roles, this conversation offers practical insights on career growth and company building.

Rina and David candidly discuss their parallel career transitions and the unexpected ways they've supported each other through the uncertainty. Rina shares her journey from leaving her first 9-to-5 role to launching a daily TikTok practice that unexpectedly built community and income. Together, they explore the difference between chasing opportunities that fall into your lap versus pursuing the dreams that truly scare you, the power of accountability partnerships during transitions, and why doing the thing you've been putting off might be exactly what you need. If you're navigating a career change and feeling alone, this conversation will remind you that transitions take time and you don't have to do it alone.

Erica Akitani-Bob is currently the Chief of Staff at All Places. This is not her first Chief of Staff role. In this episode, you will learn about how she got her current role, advice for job seekers, how she adds value in the role, and how she tries to understand the scope of projects. This episode was recorded at an event in NYC. During the episode, you will questions from people attending the event. If you are looking for a Chief of Staff role or how to become a better one, this episode is for you!

Will Mannon and I have a shared passion for bringing like-minded people together in-person. The conversations can be incredible and wildly generative. Will was the Cofounder of Write of Passage, a popular online writing school. Through the course, he hosted a bunch of in-person meetups. In 2025, he cofounded another company called Act Two. Connected to this company, he hosted a bunch of meetups around the world during the summer of 2025. After partnering on an event in Brooklyn, we decided to partner together on the Internet Serendipity World Tour powered by Circle in late 2025. Learn about how and where we are bringing in-person events and connection around the world in 2025!

Al Simon shares his journey from selling his prior company, Elude, to launching The Lab, a creative agency helping pre-seed and seed-stage founders with pitch decks and fundraising. Al discusses the power of network building, his philosophy on staying in touch with people, and why 90% of his 90+ clients came through word of mouth. The conversation also touches on his passion for travel, focusing on happiness, and his upcoming non-alcoholic beer brand. Excited for you to build and grow your Portfolio Career!

Morgan Brady, the Director of Community at Inc. and Fast Company, shares insights from her 10+ years building communities for entrepreneurs. She discusses the power of text message retention, hosting a 10-event road show, and why creating pre-conference connections helps introverts thrive at larger events. Morgan reveals her strategies for convincing busy founders that community is worth their time and emphasizes that transformative relationships, not just business connections, are what make community building meaningful. Excited for you to build and grow your Portfolio Career!

Zach Hughes, a Partner at Ascendancy, shares how he built a business around strategic relationship-building. From leaving consulting after reading "The 4-Hour Workweek" to creating "winfinity" partnerships where everyone wins, Zach reveals practical strategies for leveraging relationships to accelerate your career. In this episode, you will learn about why business success ultimately comes down to relationships and story, how to "punch above your weight" through warm introductions, and starting small with 5 key relationships to improve the strength of your network. Excited for you to build and grow your Portfolio Career!

Are you looking to level-up your events? Here are seven ways that I usually apply to my events. Hosting events has changed my life and hopefully these ways and tips help you and your events!

Yael Shemer was a community builder before she cofounded TULU. In this episode, she shares how she built her real estate tech startup from three buildings to over 400 globally in seven years. She discusses pivoting from B2C to B2B and managing the chaos of rapid scaling. You will also learn about her unconventional journey from environmental activist and waitress to tech founder, learning to leverage her authenticity and community organizing skills as strengths rather than viewing them as limitations.

Two weeks after leaving his job, David and close friends have an honest conversation about navigating career transitions in real-time. From job search struggles to unexpected opportunities, this candid discussion captures the reality of being "funemployed" while friends brainstorm potential business ideas like event design and authenticity consulting.Whether you're in transition or considering a change, this episode offers real insights about embracing uncertainty and finding support during life's biggest shifts.

After 4+ years as a community builder at the Chief of Staff Network, David opens up about transitioning to an advisor role. Taylor Harrington interviews him about helping build the membership-based community business mainly through events and content. His role focused on growth and member experience. David shares the emotional complexity of leaving something you're known for and how he is thinking about what is next. If you are a community builder, looking to work in the field, or thinking about a work transition, this episode is for you.

In this episode, you will learn from Charlotte Jackson, Co-founder of the Candid card deck, Substack writer, and transitions coach, about transforming conversations through better questions. Charlotte explains why "What's the dream?" works better than "What do you do?" You will learn her “pebble vs. boulder" approach to asking specific, disarming questions that invite genuine responses rather than rehearsed answers. You will also learn about finding conversational "trailheads" and how intentional questions can deepen relationships and self-understanding. Excited for you to build and grow your Portfolio Career!

Misha Glouberman has turned his passion for bringing people together into a thriving consulting business, helping organizations transform their conferences, retreats, and gatherings into meaningful connection experiences. In this conversation, Misha shares how he evolved from co-creating the popular Toronto lecture series Trampoline Hall to building a full-time career improving corporate events. He reveals his four-step framework for successful events (starting with having a clear goal), explains practical techniques like helping attendees find their conversation partners, and discusses why most event organizers focus on entertainment instead of connection. Misha also opens up about overcoming the common aversion to sales that many community-focused professionals face. If you are looking to have a career in events and community building, this episode is for you!

What happens when you apply corporate strategic planning to your own life? After 12 years in finance and burning out at a high-growth startup, Michelle "Mimi" Casazza created her own strategic framework to design her dream portfolio career. What started as a two-month sailing gig turned into four years of building multiple revenue streams as a CFO consultant and executive coach. Mimi shares her "Matria Life Chart" approach to transitioning from corporate burnout to purposeful portfolio living. Whether you're stuck in corporate or already building a portfolio career, this episode shows how strategic thinking can help you design a life you actually want to live.

When Kevin Zych left his corporate job three years ago to become a full-time live event illustrator, he had just enough proof of concept from brand sponsorships to believe he could make it work.In this episode, Kevin shares his unconventional path from English major to Zen monk to professional street artist, revealing how he built a creative career around "reportage illustration". He discusses the practical realities of going full-time creative without a plan, why he believes art creates human connection, and how his time as a Zen monastic shaped his philosophy of embracing risk and immediacy in both art and career decisions and much more.

Bart Dziedzic and Max Zucker from MrBeast's strategy team share how they went from investment banking to working at one of the world's biggest YouTube channel and media company. In this episode, you will learn their unconventional networking strategies, how LinkedIn is underrated, and the importance of adding value before asking for anything. You will also learn about community building, the creator economy's anti-establishment culture, and why 1,000 true fans beat 10 million passive followers. If you are looking into working at creator companies or transform their career through authentic relationship building, this episode is for you!

Are you looking to start your own thing? Listen to this episode with Tish Dignam about her journey from corporate to entrepreneurship. Tish emphasizes the importance of adopting a business owner mindset, including marketing, operations, and product development. Tish also highlights her emergent strategy for business growth, using AI tools like ChatGPT for introspection and market segmentation. She also shares her success with TikTok, which has generated significant inbound leads. Tish's business has evolved from brand marketing coaching to clarity coaching, driven by client referrals and her ability to help founders communicate effectively. If you are looking to start your own service-based business, this episode is for you!

In a world that often feels chaotic and uncertain, how do we discover what truly matters? In this Hot Pod event episode, you will hear stories about people have been finding meaning through learning, community, service, and more. Whether you're navigating a major life transition or simply seeking deeper satisfaction, this conversation offers insights and ideas for you to hopefully find more meaning.

Are you looking to make work more enjoyable and meaningful? Listen to this episode with Bree Groff, the author of "Today Was Fun.” In this episode, you will hear Bree share her seven rules for better days. Bree advocates for being a "meets expectations employee and an exceeds expectations human," focusing ambition on relationships and personal fulfillment rather than solely on work success. In addition to some moments of personal stories, this episode concludes with Groff's daily journal prompt: asking "Was today fun?" and identifying one moment of joy, even on difficult days, as a way to actively seek and appreciate the happiness available in everyday life. Excited for you to build and grow your Portfolio Career!

Are you looking into better understand yourself and the world around you? Listen to this new episode Mari Andrew about her new book, "How To Be A Living Thing," which explores lessons from animals. Mari discusses her cat Sunny, who taught her about unconditional love and autonomy. She highlights the sensitivity and emotional intelligence of horses, which mirror human emotions. Mari also reflects on rats, likening them to our societal shadows. She emphasizes the importance of embodiment and intuition, drawing parallels between human and animal behavior. She also touches on the connection between pregnancy and creativity, advocating for a devotion to embodiment. Here we go with Mari!Read Mari's book

Hosting good events is a life hack. You can meet incredible people, build your network, have fun, etc! In this episode, I detailed 7 tips for hosting a great event. After that, I shared about the events I have hosted since 2022 and what I have learned from them. Excited for you to build and grow your portfolio career! Happy hosting!

Are you looking to better understand yourself and take agency of your own life more? Lawrence Yeo, in his new book called The Inner Compass, suggests to follow your inner compass more. In this episode, you learn about how to navigate the tension between certainty and curiosity when facing uncertain decision, why removing societal conditioning is essential for finding contentment, viewing uncertainty as an asset rather than a liability, and the benefits of journaling. Excited for you to build and grow your Portfolio Career!You can pre-order the book, The Inner Compass, here!

Are you looking to stand out when building your business? Listen to this new episode with Phil and Xandie. You will learn about how Phil developed his unique selling point to clients by talking to them. You will learn about how Xandie decided to start her business and got her initial customers. You will also learn about the importance of relationships and building relationships when building your business. Excited for you to build and grow your Portfolio Career!

Jenny Rothenberg, Cofounder of Smooth Media, shares real strategies behind sustainable creator monetization. We dive into content-market fit—creating content your audience actually wants rather than chasing viral moments—and why events might be the most underutilized monetization strategy for creators today. Whether you're looking to monetize for the first time or diversify your income streams, this conversation offers actionable insights you can implement immediately.

Are you looking to date? Listen to this Podcast Mixer episode where three people share their stories, experiences, and interests on dating. There is a common theme around the importance of friendship and maintaining a friendship while dating. If you are interested in dating, this episode is for you!

Are you looking to date or find a partner? If so, how are you thinking about it? Ben Von Wong has created a dating framework to help him think about dating. In this episode, you will learn about the framework and the reasons why he created it. You will also learn about the importance of friendship and clear communication in dating.