THE 505 PODCAST

• 184. How to Build a Premium Brand (without luck) ft. Ross Mackay

  The 10 Minute Personal Brand Kickstart (FREE): https://the505podcast.courses/personalbrandkickstartWhat’s up Rock Nation! Today we’re joined by Ross McKay, second-time founder, brand architect, and the mind behind Cadence, the $2 sports drink built like a luxury brand.Ross previously built Daring Foods into a nine-figure company, and now he’s moving faster, smarter, and with way more edge. In this episode, he shares how to build a brand that people brag about, why speed beats capital, and what it really takes to scale from startup to shelves in Target, Walmart, and GNC.We get into why most founders focus on the wrong metrics, how to stand out in crowded categories, and why Ross thinks distribution doesn’t matter, velocity does. You’ll also hear how he hires, how he sets boundaries, and why the secret to Cadence’s success is obsession-level execution.Check out Ross here:https://www.youtube.com/ ⁨@RossMackay1⁩  https://www.instagram.com/rossmackay/https://www.instagram.com/cadence/SUSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER: https://the505podcast.ac-page.com/rock-reportKostas' Lightroom Presetshttps://www.kostasgarcia.com/store-1/p/kglightroompresetsgreeceCOP THE BFIGGY "ESSENTIALS" SFX PACK HERE: https://courses.the505podcast.com/BFIGGYSFXPACKTimestamps: 0:00 – Intro1:14 – What Ross Is Doing Differently This Time2:50 – The Power of Saying No3:54 – Raising $150M and Losing Control4:37 – How He Kept Control at Cadence6:40 – Why He Only Raises From People He Likes7:28 – Branding That Breaks Through the Noise11:00 – Brand or Product: What Comes First?12:20 – 600 Runners Showed Up for Day One14:04 – Personal Brand Kickstart14:29 – How Ross & George Launched With $240K16:42 – Beverage vs Powder: Why They Went Hard Mode18:57 – The Exact Moment They Knew It Was Working21:11 – The Secret to Getting Repeat Customers22:53 – How Cadence Became a Fridge Trophy26:13 – Making Money at $2.50 a Can27:54 – Competing With Gatorade (Not Hipster Brands)28:44 – Why Store Count Is a Vanity Metric30:28 – Ross’s Speed Strategy for Beating Big Brands31:37 – Can You Stay Fast While Scaling?34:03 – His First Hires & Who He Looks For35:32 – Where His Relentless Drive Comes From37:43 – Building a Billion-Dollar Brand With Boundaries41:06 – Never Too High, Never Too Low41:56 – How Cadence Is Built to Scale Fast44:30 – The Real Game Behind Shelf Placement46:04 – What Happens When You Flop in Retail47:52 – Using Sales Data to Break Into Big Stores50:05 – His Pitch to Take Over Retail51:49 – Why Cadence Isn’t Just a Trendy Brand52:30 – Going Head-to-Head With Beverage Giants54:01 – How He Gets Retailers to Say Yes55:16 – Outselling 50 Brands at GNC56:22 – Why Every Retailer Gets a Unique Offer58:55 – The $2 Luxury Philosophy1:01:55 – What Your Fridge Says About You1:03:29 – How Ross Obsesses Over the Consumer1:07:20 – Why Cadence Doesn’t White Label Anything1:08:43 – This Can Is Their Best Marketing Tool1:13:28 – The Truth About Distribution Obsession1:15:51 – The Only KPI That Matters in Retail1:17:57 – You’ll Never Beat Big Brands on Capital1:21:41 – How He Makes Million-Dollar Decisions Fast1:23:52 – Speed vs Scale: Keeping the Culture Intact1:26:29 – How He Handles Pressure in High Stakes1:28:24 – Why Ross Is Gunning for a Billion in Revenue1:30:08 – Leading When Everything’s on Fire1:32:03 – Real Talk for Founders Building from Scratch1:33:06 – Post Pod DebriefIf 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/

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• 183. This is Boring But It’ll 10x Your Personal Brand in 2026 ft. Dan Koe

  Meet Your All·in·One Creator Store (Stan)https://join.stan.store/the505podcastThe 10 Minute Personal Brand Kickstart (FREE): https://the505podcast.courses/personalbrandkickstartWhat’s up Rock Nation! Today we’re joined by Dan Koe - writer, philosopher, and one of the clearest thinkers in the creator economy. Dan helps creators escape burnout, build deeper personal brands, and turn their lived experiences into real leverage.In this episode, Dan breaks down why 2026 is the perfect moment to build a creator business, why 1,000 true fans beats 25,000 followers, and how to design a brand people subscribe to - not just scroll past. We also cover how to know what actually moves the needle, how to monetize without chasing virality, and why creators need better filters, not more ideas.If you want to grow with intention, make money without the chaos, and build a personal brand that compounds for years, this one’s for you.Check out Dan here:https://www.youtube.com/ ⁨@DanKoeTalks⁩  https://www.instagram.com/thedankoe/Dan's A.I. Prompts:https://docs.google.com/document/d/1YQ9c0vO2AWh9CBW6XuFdq488mxri5oo63dwujyjsf5U/edit?usp=sharingSUSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER: https://the505podcast.ac-page.com/rock-reportKostas' Lightroom Presetshttps://www.kostasgarcia.com/store-1/p/kglightroompresetsgreeceCOP THE BFIGGY "ESSENTIALS" SFX PACK HERE: https://courses.the505podcast.com/BFIGGYSFXPACKTimestamps: 0:00 – Intro1:16 – Work Less, Earn More3:04 – How to Reach 4-Hour Workdays4:29 – Moonlighting & 9–5 Reality8:02 – Knowing You’re Working on the Right Things10:57 – First Steps to Build a Personal Brand15:31 – Stan Store16:44 – “You Are the Niche”21:11 – Dan’s Early Posting Strategy24:47 – For People Who Don’t Feel Interesting27:57 – The Sam Sulek Effect30:22 – Personal Brand Kickstart30:46 – Read More to Think Better34:54 – Dan’s Writing Routine37:13 – Repackaging Ideas39:54 – Using Lived Experience48:49 – Best Place to Sell Digital Products54:38 – Sell Now or Build First?55:59 – Why Newsletters Matter1:03:23 – Dan’s Newsletter Platform1:04:17 – Make Your Newsletter Valuable1:07:48 – You Need Better Filters, Not More Ideas1:10:38 – The Hunting Trip Realization1:13:35 – What Makes Content Go Viral1:17:19 – Dan’s Biggest Needle Mover1:19:35 – Escaping Cheap Dopamine1:20:50 – Seth Godin Example1:24:45 – How Dan Uses AI1:29:22 – Learning Better Prompting1:34:20 – Saving & Organizing Prompts1:35:33 – Building Eden Lessons1:38:50 – When to Pivot1:39:52 – War Mode vs Monk Mode1:44:55 – Book Recs1:46:58 – Psychology Recs1:54:46 – Post Pod DebriefIf 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/

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• 182. If You're a Creator, You Must Start a Business in 2026 ft. Ali Abdaal

  Meet Your All·in·One Creator Store (Stan)https://join.stan.store/the505podcastCheck out Artlist's 2026 A.I. report here:https://artlist.io/blog/trend-report-2026/?artlist_aid=%E2%80%8Bthe505podcast_2970&utm_source=affiliate_p&utm_medium=%E2%80%8B%E2%80%8Bthe505podcast_2970&utm_campaign=%E2%80%8B%E2%80%8Bthe505podcast_2970The 10 Minute Personal Brand Kickstart (FREE): https://the505podcast.courses/personalbrandkickstartWhat’s up Rock Nation! Today we’re joined by Ali Abdaal - Doctor-turned-creator, author, and one of the internets most insightful voices when it comes to building a business that serves your life… not the other way around. Ali has spent the last few years helping thousands of people create profitable lifestyle businesses while avoiding burnout and breaking free from the “grind culture” trap.In this episode, Ali breaks down why 2026 is the best year ever to launch a lifestyle business, how to charge high-ticket without imposter syndrome, and why creators need to stop chasing massive audiences and start focusing on validated offers, lead generation, and conversations that convert. He also talks about investing over $100K into mentorship, the game-changing lessons he learned from masterminds, and why the “build an audience first” approach is officially outdated.If you want to learn how to make real money as a creator, build a business around the life you actually want, and escape the trap of low-ticket offers and content treadmill burnout, this episode is for you.Check out Ali here:https://www.youtube.com/ ⁨@aliabdaal⁩  https://www.instagram.com/aliabdaal/SUSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER: https://the505podcast.ac-page.com/rock-reportKostas' Lightroom Presetshttps://www.kostasgarcia.com/store-1/p/kglightroompresetsgreeceCOP THE BFIGGY "ESSENTIALS" SFX PACK HERE: https://courses.the505podcast.com/BFIGGYSFXPACKTimestamps: 0:00 – Intro1:15 – What a Lifestyle Business Actually Is2:26 – Why “Freedom” Matters More Than Flexing3:53 – The Biggest Pitfalls When Starting a Lifestyle Business5:55 – Why Selling High-Ticket Is Easier Than Low-Ticket8:50 – Overcoming Imposter Syndrome Around Pricing12:18 – Why Mindset Courses Don’t Sell (and What People Really Want)13:48 – Stan15:15 – How to Start a $100K Lifestyle Business in 30 Days18:24 – How to Talk to Your Audience to Validate Your Offer20:54 – The Power of Zoom Calls, Polls, Surveys, and Beta Groups23:16 – What Ali Learned from $100K+ Mentorships25:36 – The Google Doc Sales Strategy That Replaced His Sales Team26:09 – Cold DMs, B2B, LinkedIn, and Secret Side Hustles26:35 – Why Investing in Yourself Outperforms Investing in the S&P33:59 – Artlist35:55 – The Difference Between “Vibes Work” and “Revenue Work”36:53 – Was Ali Burnt Out as a Doctor?38:04 – What Daniel Priestley Taught Ali About Lead Gen42:23 – Why Everything Is Downstream of Lead Generation44:59 – How to Qualify Leads for High-Ticket Offers48:31 – Why Young Creators Struggle: No Skills, No Direction50:25 – How to Choose a Profitable Niche in Underserved Markets52:58 – How to Build an Offer with Tangible Outcomes55:48 – Why Businesses Think About Money Differently Than Individuals57:34 – Productivity as a Vehicle, Not the Promise1:06:29 – The Freedom Formula: Your 100 Discretionary Hours1:08:36 – Assets, Passive Income, and the Path to Financial Freedom1:12:21 – Why a Lifestyle Business Beats the Startup Grind1:14:14 – If You Won the Lottery, What Would You Still Do?1:16:02 – The 12-Person Rule and Why “The Desert” Kills Companies1:19:47 – Why Ali Keeps Returning to a 12-Person Team1:20:48 – Why Ignoring Daniel Priestley Always Backfires1:22:12 – Qualifying Leads: Who Ali Rejects and Why1:23:41 – What Makes Someone “High-Ticket Ready”1:25:51 – How to Learn High-Income Skills Fast (Even with No Experience)1:26:46 – How a Hair Salon Niche Turned into a $10M+ Business1:29:58 – Why Picking the Right Client is Everything1:32:20 – Why You Don’t Need a Massive Audience to Make Money1:35:48 – Personal Brand Kickstart Breakdown1:46:12 – Post Pod Debrief (PPD)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/

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• 181. 100 Years of Personal Brand Knowledge in 56 Min

  The 10 Minute Personal Brand Kickstart (FREE): https://the505podcast.courses/personalbrandkickstartCheck out Artlist's Biggest Sale of the Year:https://artlist.io/artlist-70446/?artlist_aid=the505podcast_2970&utm_source=affiliate_p&utm_medium=the505podcast_2970&utm_campaign=the505podcast_2970What’s up, Rock Nation! It's been 4 years since we started the show, and today we wanted to revisit a few of a our favorite moments that have reshaped the way we think about creating a personal brand. Let us know which moment is your favorite in the comments!SUSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER: https://the505podcast.ac-page.com/rock-reportJoin our Discord! https://discord.gg/xgEAzkqAvsKostas' Lightroom Presetshttps://www.kostasgarcia.com/store-1/p/kglightroompresetsgreeceCOP THE BFIGGY "ESSENTIALS" SFX PACK HERE: https://courses.the505podcast.com/BFIGGYSFXPACKTimestamps: 0:00 - Intro0:21 - Seth Godin6:15 - Gary Vee11:19 - Chris Do14:11 - Artlist16:07 - Everything is Risky18:58 - Caleb Ralston28:06 - Oren John35:05 - Daniel Priestly43:09 - Erica Mallet50:07 - Sabri SubiIf 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/

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• 180. You're Not Ready for the Next Phase of Personal Branding ft. Dan Churchill

  The 10 Minute Personal Brand Kickstart (FREE): https://the505podcast.courses/personalbrandkickstartWhat’s up Rock Nation! Today we’re joined by Dan Churchill - professional chef, author, and entrepreneur whose mission is to change the world through food. He’s built a brand that goes far beyond social media by combining storytelling, discipline, and business acumen.In this episode, Dan breaks down how to turn a viral moment into a long-term brand that actually lasts. We talk about finding your North Star, building momentum, and why creators need to start thinking like business owners, not influencers. Dan also shares how he’s leveraged partnerships with brands like Apple and BPN, the mindset behind turning one-off deals into long-term relationships, and how he uses content as a vehicle for his purpose, not the product itself.If you want to learn how to build a brand that stands the test of time, make smarter business moves, and create content that connects deeper than just 60 seconds on TikTok, this episode is for you.Check out Dan here:https://www.youtube.com/ ⁨@danchurchillcooks⁩  https://www.instagram.com/dan_churchill/SUSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER: https://the505podcast.ac-page.com/rock-reportJoin our Discord! https://discord.gg/xgEAzkqAvsKostas' Lightroom Presetshttps://www.kostasgarcia.com/store-1/p/kglightroompresetsgreeceCOP THE BFIGGY "ESSENTIALS" SFX PACK HERE: https://courses.the505podcast.com/BFIGGYSFXPACKTimestamps: 0:00 – Intro1:12 – Falling in Love with Consistency over Virality3:24 – Defining Discipline as a Creator5:49 – Finding Your North Star and Staying Consistent9:04 – How Dan Defines His North Star in Content11:47 – Personal Brand Kickstart12:11 – Building Momentum After a Win16:59 – The Power of Alma and Momentum on TikTok23:13 – Biggest Mistakes Creators Make with Brand Deals27:26 – Tall Poppy Syndrome & Moving to America31:41 – Balancing Self-Promotion & Authenticity33:09 – Being Aspirational vs Relatable36:00 – Dan’s Daily Nutrition & Training Routine38:15 – High Rocks Training & Full-Day of Eating40:15 – Cooking vs Eating Out & Staying Disciplined42:41 – Marathon Stories & Gut Health Fails45:22 – Meal Prep Sunday & The Power of Preparation47:26 – Investing Back Into Your Content Production50:14 – Building Trust & Community Through YouTube53:27 – Lessons from Executive Tables & Advisory Roles55:47 – Turning One-Off Deals into Long-Term Partnerships59:32 – Biggest Mistakes in Early Brand Partnerships1:00:09 – When to Say No to a Brand Deal1:05:21 – Equity Deals and Choosing the Right Brands1:09:45 – Redefining Success on Social Media1:13:12 – Leveraging MasterChef without Being Defined by It1:15:52 – Behind the Scenes of Reality TV & Contracts1:16:57 – Navigating Post-Show Opportunities1:20:21 – Lessons from Nick Bare & BPN Athletics1:22:17 – How Dan Approaches Partnerships with Friends1:25:44 – Building Businesses with Friends the Right Way1:27:17 – Final Advice for Creators Building a Brand1:29:03 – Post Pod DebriefIf 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/

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