THE 505 PODCAST

Meet Your All·in·One Creator Store (Stan)
https://join.stan.store/the505podcast

Meet Your All·in·One Creator Store (Stan)
https://join.stan.store/the505podcast

What’s up Rock Nation. Today we’re joined by Alex Costa, one of the biggest men’s lifestyle creators in the world and the founder of Forte Series, now in over 800 Target stores. Before the millions of followers and the retail deals, Alex was filming videos in his bedroom while working at Google. Then he bet on himself. In this episode, we break down why he quit a stable job, how he built real confidence through reps, why most creators quit too early, and what it actually takes to turn a personal brand into a real company.

Check out Alex here:
https://www.youtube.com/ ⁨@alexcosta⁩ 
https://www.instagram.com/alexcosta/

Timestamps
0:00 – Intro
1:03 – Paid To Be You waitlist
1:18 – Alex’s rise + why hair care first
2:01 – Finding his niche in men’s hair
3:37 – Launching Forte before it was perfect
4:38 – Selling 10,000 units in six weeks
5:24 – Speed vs perfection in business
8:27 – Working at YouTube & learning from creators
11:15 - Stan Store
12:07 - What brands get wrong
15:31 – The year everything changed (2017 momentum)
16:26 – The $100K cushion rule before quitting Google
17:47 – The emotional night he quit
19:51 – Advice for going full-time as a creator
22:34 – Early Instagram strategy (self-timer to hiring a photographer)
24:20 – “It’s okay to be cringe” moment
27:18 – His mission: being a big brother to his audience
29:14 – The loneliness problem men are facing
30:05 – Military school failure → discipline → resilience
33:08 – Confidence = stacking skills, not hype
36:22 – First money lessons & avoiding lifestyle creep
39:02 – Target launch announcement
41:32 – How the Target opportunity started
44:04 – Practicing the Target pitch for weeks
45:11 – What retailers actually care about (reach + new customers)
46:36 – The reality of getting into Target (cash flow + inventory risk)
47:16 – Taking a personal loan to fund the first purchase order
47:55 – Unit per store per week & retail pressure
48:31 – Retail data tracking & store-by-store performance
50:12 – Managing retail expectations vs DTC freedom
52:08 – Balancing brand identity with mass retail
54:33 – Scaling operations without breaking culture
57:10 – Pressure of representing your name on shelves
59:42 – Inventory risk & sleepless founder nights
1:02:18 – Leading a team while still being the face
1:04:47 – Creator leverage vs traditional brands
1:07:26 – When growth starts feeling heavy
1:09:58 – Identity shift: creator → operator
1:12:14 – Burnout signals & mental resets
1:14:52 – Why most founders underestimate stress
1:17:31 – Playing the long game in business
1:19:48 – Momentum comes from consistency, not hype
1:22:05 – Scaling without losing creative instinct
1:24:36 – Separating ego from business decisions
1:27:18 – What success actually feels like
1:30:02 – Money, meaning, and responsibility
1:32:41 – Legacy vs lifestyle
1:35:20 – Building something that outlives you
1:37:58 – Advice to creators building physical products
1:40:14 – Confidence through reps, not validation
1:42:27 – Final thoughts on risk and embarrassment
1:44:10 – If he could go back and tell himself one thing
1:45:32 – Closing reflections

If you liked this episode please send it to a friend and take a screenshot for your story! And as always, we'd love to hear from you guys on what you'd like to hear us talk about or potential guests we should have on.

DM US ON IG: (Our DM's are always open!)
Bfiggy: https://www.instagram.com/bfiggy/
Kostas: https://www.instagram.com/kostasg95/

Sign up for the Paid To Be You Waitlist here:
https://the505podcast.courses/waitlistpaidtobeyou

Let's talk about how to blow up your Personal Brand in 2026

Timestamps:
0:00 – Intro
0:18 – Paid to Be You Waitlist
0:33 – Interest over Viral
5:04 – Fewer Platforms, More Focus
8:04 – Go Long Form
12:04 – Influence over Views
22:28 – 3S + 2F Framework
33:35 – You have to post daily
38:02 – Short and long form strategy
43:01 – Repurpose Everything
45:15 – Retention Wins
53:04 – Pick Your POV
56:04 – Always CTA
57:43 – Pick an Enemy

If you liked this episode please send it to a friend and take a screenshot for your story! And as always, we'd love to hear from you guys on what you'd like to hear us talk about or potential guests we should have on.

DM US ON IG: (Our DM's are always open!)
Bfiggy: https://www.instagram.com/bfiggy/
Kostas: https://www.instagram.com/kostasg95/

Get The Paid Offer Playbook here:
https://the505podcast.courses/paidofferplaybook

Collab with Artlist and get 2 extra months for free here:
https://artlist.io/artlist-70446?artlist_aid=the505podcast_2970&utm_source=affiliate_p&utm_medium=the505podcast_2970&utm_campaign=the505podcast_2970

What’s up Rock Nation! Today we’re joined by Matt, a creator who’s built over $5 million using nothing but organic LinkedIn content. No ads, no virality, no fluff. While most people chase views, Matt built a system that turns conversations into clients.

In this episode, we break down why LinkedIn is the most honest platform on the internet, how to sell without feeling salesy, why vanity metrics don’t matter, and how to turn your personal brand into a real business.

Check out Matt here:
https://www.youtube.com/@matthewlakajev
https://www.instagram.com/matthewlakajev/

SUSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER: https://the505podcast.ac-page.com/rock-report

Kostas' Lightroom Presets
https://www.kostasgarcia.com/store-1/p/kglightroompresetsgreece

COP THE BFIGGY "ESSENTIALS" SFX PACK HERE:
https://courses.the505podcast.com/BFIGGYSFXPACK

Timestamps:
0:00 - Intro
0:57 - Paid Offer Playbook
1:08 - Making your first sale on LinkedIn
1:57 - How to navigate LinkedIn DMs without being salesy
3:58 - Why empty views and vanity metrics don’t matter
8:45 - Posting content that’s too broad vs too specific
11:04 - Artlist
11:47 - Should you ever make broader content for reach?
14:11 - Balancing personal brand content vs sales content
16:39 - Authority is about knowledge, not followers
19:33 - DM protocols for booking meetings
24:50 - Crafting a winning offer once your niche is clear
30:34 - Don’t reinvent the wheel with your offer
31:52 - Coachella, music, and side tangents
32:52 - Content’s real purpose: starting conversations
36:16 - Talking to your audience to find better offers
42:56 - Using AI without losing your voice
44:47 - The “slop” problem on LinkedIn content
45:30 - Trust, lived experience, and AI-written content
49:29 - Offer viability + trust
54:23 - Growing a newsletter from LinkedIn
58:43 - Lead magnets vs committing to a newsletter
1:00:45 - Email sequences and selling without selling
1:02:26 - Australia has the best coffee in the world
1:03:29 - Coffee culture, Aussies, and Bali
1:05:24 - Lead magnets vs story-based emails
1:06:30 - Why most newsletters fail
1:08:01 - Email as a pen-pal relationship
1:08:58 - What actually drives real revenue on LinkedIn
1:15:33 - Repurposing video content for LinkedIn
1:18:36 - Paid To Be You
1:23:36 - LinkedIn content strategy examples
1:24:32 - Tools, DMs, and automation limitations
1:26:08 - Where DMs fit into lead magnets
1:27:42 - Why LinkedIn feels overwhelming to add
1:31:44 - Live streaming, fandom, and creator scale
1:37:26 - Podcasts expose who people really are
1:41:32 - Reducing noise, focus, and nervous system regulation
1:47:09 - “Hiding the broccoli in the cake”
1:55:09 - Final mindset shifts and closing reflections
If you liked this episode please send it to a friend and take a screenshot for your story! And as always, we'd love to hear from you guys on what you'd like to hear us talk about or potential guests we should have on.

DM US ON IG: (Our DM's are always open!)
Bfiggy: https://www.instagram.com/bfiggy/
Kostas: https://www.instagram.com/kostasg95/

TikTok:
Bfiggy: https://www.tiktok.com/bfiggy/
Kostas: https://www.tiktok.com/kostasgarcia/

Get The Paid Offer Playbook here:
https://the505podcast.courses/paidofferplaybook

Collab with Artlist and get 2 extra months for free here:
https://artlist.io/artlist-70446?artlist_aid=the505podcast_2970&utm_source=affiliate_p&utm_medium=the505podcast_2970&utm_campaign=the505podcast_2970

What's up Rock Nation! Today we're joined by Marcus, founder of Minted New York, a brand that went from side project to full-blown fashion business built entirely in public. Zero investors, no shortcuts. Just documenting the journey and betting on himself before he felt ready. Marcus has built his brand on one core principle: respect for the time and effort people put into earning the money they spend on your product.

In this episode, we break down why documenting beats perfection, why entrepreneurship is never easy even when you're winning, how integrity builds a brand people actually care about, and what it takes to build something real without waiting for permission. Let's get into it.

Check out Marcus here:
https://www.youtube.com/ ⁨@marcusmilione1⁩ 
https://www.instagram.com/marcusmilione/

SUSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER: https://the505podcast.ac-page.com/rock-report

Kostas' Lightroom Presets
https://www.kostasgarcia.com/store-1/p/kglightroompresetsgreece

COP THE BFIGGY "ESSENTIALS" SFX PACK HERE:
https://courses.the505podcast.com/BFIGGYSFXPACK

Timestamps:
0:00 – Intro
1:12 – Paid Offer Playbook
1:26 – Getting started before the money makes sense
3:13 – Early belief vs external validation
5:26 – Running a brand with no safety net
7:48 – Cash flow stress and staying in the game
10:43 – Bootstrapping realities and investor pressure
14:01 – Artlist
15:10 – Content as leverage not just creativity
16:49 – Talking to camera vs polished production
20:30 – Finding formats that don’t burn you out
23:35 – Consistency beats novelty
25:20 – When content finally compounds
27:17 – Endurance over overnight success
28:21 – Running as a metaphor for business
30:53 – Long timelines nobody talks about
32:02 – Training patience and discipline
34:50 – Reflecting on growth without losing momentum
36:41 – Luck vs work and acknowledging both
39:51 – Increasing surface area for luck
42:13 – Posting volume and probability
44:55 – Creating opportunities before they appear
46:32 – Saucony Collab
49:38 – Brand alignment over quick wins
52:32 – Saying no to the wrong partnerships
53:22 – Capital isn’t evil but terms matter
56:55 – Why bad money kills good businesses
58:32 – Credit cards cash flow traps
1:01:09 – Paying everything off and staying liquid
1:04:29 – Negotiating manufacturer terms
1:06:22 – Relationships as leverage
1:07:38 – Stress nobody sees
1:09:10 – Running accounts down to survive
1:14:04 – Why most people quit too early
1:18:26 – Momentum comes after commitment
1:20:17 – Playing the long game on purpose
1:21:55 – Building something you can live with
1:29:29 – Looking back at what’s been built
1:33:53 – The After Party

If you liked this episode please send it to a friend and take a screenshot for your story! And as always, we'd love to hear from you guys on what you'd like to hear us talk about or potential guests we should have on.

DM US ON IG: (Our DM's are always open!)
Bfiggy: https://www.instagram.com/bfiggy/
Kostas: https://www.instagram.com/kostasg95/

TikTok:
Bfiggy: https://www.tiktok.com/bfiggy/
Kostas: https://www.tiktok.com/kostasgarcia/

Get The Paid Offer Playbook here:
https://the505podcast.courses/paidofferplaybook

What’s up Rock Nation! Today we’re joined by Jun Yuh, one of the most disciplined personal brand builders on the internet.

After posting every day for over six years, Jun has built an audience of 8+ million and turned his content into a multi million dollar business without a big team or high production. His attract nurture convert framework is the foundation behind content that builds real trust and real revenue.

In this episode, we break down how Jun thinks about content, why consistency is really a systems problem, why followers matter more than people think, and what it actually takes to win in today’s creator economy.

Check out Jun here:
https://www.youtube.com/ ⁨@jun_yuh⁩ 
https://www.instagram.com/jun_yuh/

SUSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER: https://the505podcast.ac-page.com/rock-report

Kostas' Lightroom Presets
https://www.kostasgarcia.com/store-1/p/kglightroompresetsgreece

COP THE BFIGGY "ESSENTIALS" SFX PACK HERE:
https://courses.the505podcast.com/BFIGGYSFXPACK

Timestamps:
0:00 – Intro
1:04 – Paid Offer Playbook
1:27 – Consistency Is a System, Not a Personality Trait
2:34 – Why Most Creators Fail Without a Backend Process
4:21 – The Creator Vision Framework Explained
6:29 – How to Study Content Without Copying
8:35 – Breaking Down Winning Formats (Not Just Hooks)
10:26 – Why Niching Down Is Overrated
12:22 – “You Are the Niche” (What That Actually Means)
14:44 – Is It Too Late to Start Creating in 2026?
16:16 – Low-Effort Content That Still Wins
17:21 – How to Batch Content Without Burning Out
18:24 – Repositioning Without Losing Your Audience
21:16 – The 4 Content Missions Every Post Should Have
24:40 – How to Build Authority Without Being an Expert
26:20 – Formats That Are Working Right Now
34:15 – Trial Reels
38:48 – Why Flopping Is a Requirement for Growth
40:37 – Detaching Emotion From Performance Metrics
44:44 – When Losing Followers Is the Right Move
47:44 – Monetizing Before You’re Ready
49:24 – Why Audience Beats Revenue Early On
50:34 – Building Offers That Compound Over Time
52:33 – Selling Without Constantly Pitching
53:56 – The Long Game of Creator Businesses
55:37 – Making Money Without Chasing Virality
58:22 – Sustainable Growth vs Short-Term Wins
1:01:15 – How to Measure Real Creator Success
1:03:32 – When to Ignore the Algorithm
1:06:23 – Creative Plateaus & Breakthrough Cycles
1:08:36 – Protecting Confidence in Down Seasons
1:10:55 – The Mental Model That Keeps You Consistent
1:16:17 – Letting Go of Old Identities
1:17:56 – Building in Public Without Burning Bridges
1:19:15 – Integrating A.I.
1:21:37 – Using AI to Clarify, Not Replace, Your Voice
1:25:29 – The Future of Creator Skill Stacks
1:27:13 – Why Taste Matters More Than Talent
1:28:18 – Confidence Comes After Action
1:29:54 – Overcoming imposter syndrome
1:31:24 – Rewriting the Story You Tell Yourself
1:38:38 – Playing the Longest Game Possible
1:40:47 – What Success Actually Feels Like
1:42:21 – The After Party

If you liked this episode please send it to a friend and take a screenshot for your story! And as always, we'd love to hear from you guys on what you'd like to hear us talk about or potential guests we should have on.

DM US ON IG: (Our DM's are always open!)
Bfiggy: https://www.instagram.com/bfiggy/
Kostas: https://www.instagram.com/kostasg95/

TikTok:
Bfiggy: https://www.tiktok.com/bfiggy/
Kostas: https://www.tiktok.com/kostasgarcia/