Agency

Dain Walker
  • 4.6 (9)
  • BUSINESS
  • UPDATED FORTNIGHTLY

In 2018, I was broke, 200k in debt, and working an unfulfilling job. I started a content creation agency and scaled it from 1 freelancer to a team of 30+ in just 4 short years. Now I run Australia’s fastest-growing agency: rivyl. As a guy who runs an agency working with global brands and celebrities, I decided to start interviewing people who take Agency over their lives. To unpack what entrepreneurs do to get ahead in business and life. My goal is to unearth the tactics, mindset, and motives that make high performers tick so you can get a leg up and take Agency with whatever you’re doing.

  1. 19 HRS AGO

    #109 - Debunking Myths About Your Brain From A Harvard Scientist | Tessa Forshaw

    In this episode, we sit down with Tessa Forshaw, a Cognitive Scientist and Lecturer at Stanford, to dismantle the biggest myths surrounding creativity and innovation. Tessa explains why the idea of being "Right Brained" or "Left Brained" is scientifically false  and reveals that creativity is not a personality trait, but a cognitive muscle that can be trained.We go deep on the biology of innovation: why your brain naturally resists new ideas to save metabolic energy , and how to use "Metacognition" (thinking about your thinking) to override these biological defaults. Tessa also breaks down the "Aerodynamics of Creativity"—a framework using Lift, Gravity, and Thrust to ensure your ideas don't just float away, but actually land.We also explore the dangerous comfort of AI, the risk of "Cognitive Atrophy" , and why the future belongs to those who can blend deep expertise with broad curiosity (The T-Shaped Person). This is a masterclass on the mechanics of the human mind and how to architect a business that innovates on command. (00:00:00) Trailer (00:01:21) The "Lone Genius" Myth (00:02:27) The "Mucker" Method: Edison’s Secret To Innovation (00:06:20) Debunking The "Right Brain vs. Left Brain" Theory (00:11:14) Why Your Brain Is Biologically Wired To Be Lazy (00:16:36) The Decline Of Creativity In Adulthood (00:23:07) The Aerodynamics Of Creativity: Lift, Gravity, Thrust (00:29:07) Exercises To Trigger Divergent Thinking (00:35:01) The Cognitive Biases That Kill Innovation (00:49:10) Cognitive Reframing: The Costco Analogy (00:56:52) The "Default Mode Network" And Why You Need To Wander (01:04:09) Designing Constraints For Creative Teams (01:12:33) Hiring For "T-Shaped" People With Obsessions (01:18:54) Metacognition: The Ultimate Leadership Skill (01:29:27) AI And The Risk Of "Cognitive Atrophy" (01:45:33) Why Relationships Predict Success More Than Intelligence (01:50:07) The Impact Of AI On Creative Variability Book Rivyl in for a free 30-minute call, here: http://l.rivyl.com/JUPbkj Level up your agency with Wix Studio today: https://www.wix.com/studio

    2h 1m

  2. 6 FEB

    #108 - The New Operating System For Building A Media Empire | Sam Gaudet

    In this episode, we sit down with Sam Gaudet, the Creative Director and "Architect" behind Dan Martell’s media empire. Sam explains how they scaled from a modest 10k following to over 8.8 million followers across platforms by treating content creation not as art, but as a manufacturing process. We deconstruct the specific infrastructure required to scale a personal brand: from the "H.E.I.T. Framework" for perfect scripting to the "Lake Method" of distribution that outperforms the traditional waterfall strategy. Sam also breaks down the concept of "Artifacts", how to extract the founder's taste into tangible assets so the team can execute without constant approval. We also go deep on the psychology of retention, why "modeling" is better than "innovating" for 70% of your content, and the specific "View-to-Follower" ratio you must track to ensure you aren't just getting views, but building an asset you own. Book Rivyl in for a free 30-minute call, here: http://l.rivyl.com/JUPbkj Level up your agency with Wix Studio today: https://www.wix.com/studio (00:00:00) Intro(00:00:17) The Architect Behind 8.8 Million Followers(00:04:43) Delaying Gratification: The Porsche Story(00:11:39) The First Step To Personal Branding(00:15:20) Why You Must Give Away Your Best Secrets(00:19:33) Defining Your "Frustrated Fred" (ICP)(00:26:44) Identifying The Psychological Blockers(00:33:34) Overcoming The "I Don't Have Experience" Trap(00:39:46) The H.E.I.L. Framework For Viral Scripts(00:45:12) Why Topic Selection Outweighs Editing Quality(00:51:22) Balancing Core, Casual, and New Audiences(00:56:26) The Timeline Of Success: 10k to 8.8M(01:03:02) Scaling The Team: Moving From Doer To Leader(01:09:49) Creating "Artifacts" To Scale Your Taste(01:14:27) The Protocol For Giving (And Receiving) Feedback(01:22:42) Setting Goals That Stretch The Team Correctly(01:32:01) The "Model, Make, Multiply" System(01:41:02) The 70-20-10 Rule For Content Innovation(01:57:28) Building The Production Conveyor Belt(02:06:38) The "Lake Method" vs. Waterfall Distribution(02:16:03) How To Spot Trends Before They Happen(02:22:58) What Taking "Agency" Really Means

    2h 29m

  3. 30 JAN

    #107 - The New Media Era: The Shift To Personal Branding | Dan Martell & Taki Moore

    In this episode, we sit down with Dan Martell and Taki Moore to dismantle the old playbook of corporate marketing. They argue that we are living through a "silent crash" of trust, in which the era of the faceless corporation is ending, and the age of the founder-led media company has begun. We explore why most business owners are still playing "amateur" by treating content as a lottery ticket rather than a compounding asset. Dan and Taki break down the philosophy behind building a media infrastructure that you actually own, rather than indefinitely renting attention from the algorithms. We go deep on the psychology of influence: why "expertise" can sometimes be a liability, how to design creative workflows that scale beyond the founder, and the specific mental models required to turn a personal brand into a defensive moat for your business. Book Rivyl in for a free 30-minute call, here: http://l.rivyl.com/JUPbkj Level up your agency with Wix Studio today: https://www.wix.com/studio (00:00:00) Trailer (00:00:08) The Shift To Founder-Led Media (00:04:48) Building An Asset vs. Renting Attention (00:11:40) Why Success Can Make You Boring (00:15:14) Balancing Growth Audiences vs. Core Fans (00:21:06) Choosing Your Content Philosophy (00:26:37) Developing A Unique Content Style (00:35:10) Sourcing Ideas From Your Customers (00:38:09) Building A Media Team From Scratch (00:46:48) Investing In Your Creative Infrastructure (00:51:53) Turning Your Team Into Creators (00:58:47) Aligning Remote Creative Teams (01:02:24) The Difference Between Attention And Trust (01:06:41) How To Monetize Influence Correctly (01:15:33) The Universal Framework For Storytelling (01:21:48) Advanced Communication Skills (01:24:21) Overcoming The Fear Of Posting (01:29:30) The Strategy Of Outlasting The Competition

    1h 32m

  4. 23 JAN

    #106 - The Content Strategy Mistakes That Are Costing You | James Smith

    James Smith is one of the internet’s most unapologetic voices on fitness and modern culture. Known for cutting through online noise with blunt honesty, James has built a global audience by challenging misinformation, calling out performative success, and prioritising action over aesthetics. In this episode, he unpacks content creation, monetisation, virality, and personal responsibility offering a grounded perspective on what it actually takes to build influence, credibility, and a meaningful personal brand in today’s digital landscape. Book Rivyl in for a free 30-minute call, here: http://l.rivyl.com/JUPbkj Level up your agency with Wix Studio today: https://www.wix.com/studio (00:00) Introduction(09:12) Calling Out Internet B******t(21:30) From Overweight to Unapologetic(33:40) Why Hot Takes Cut Through(47:10) Views vs Conversions(1:00:29) Monetisation Without Killing the Magic(1:12:45) Niches, Scale, and Thinking Bigger(1:25:30) Engineering Virality(1:38:20) The Reps No One Sees(1:49:20) Why You Can't Outsource Authenticity(2:04:31) Building Influence Through Obsession(2:17:40) Taking Agency Over Your Life

    2h 23m

  5. 16 JAN

    #105 - Why You Can't Buy True Fans | Priscilla Hajiantoni

    Priscilla Hajiantoni is the founder of Bangn Body, a wellness brand built from personal experience and deep audience connection. In this episode, Priscilla shares the realities of growing a brand in public, navigating burnout, and evolving as both a founder and leader. The conversation explores discipline over motivation, long-term brand integrity, and what it takes to sustain success without losing clarity, confidence, or personal alignment. Book Rivyl in for a free 30-minute call, here: http://l.rivyl.com/JUPbkj Level up your agency with Wix Studio today: https://www.wix.com/studio (00:00) Introduction (07:02) Building a Brand From Personal Need (15:18) The Reality of Early Momentum (23:46) Learning Business in Public (32:11) Discipline Over Motivation (40:29) When the Brand Becomes Bigger Than You (49:07) Navigating Burnout and Emotional Weight (58:34) Rebuilding Confidence and Clarity (1:07:22) Brand Integrity and Long-Term Thinking (1:16:04) Leadership Team and Letting Go (1:27:41) Redefining Success Beyond Numbers (1:37:12) Advice for Founders Starting From Scratch

    1h 47m

  6. 9 JAN

    #104 - The Brutal Reason Most Startups Actually Fail | Steve Grace

    Steve Grace is a founder and media operator who views failure as an unavoidable companion to meaningful work. In this episode, Steve unpacks how repeated setbacks shaped his thinking, decision-making, and definition of success. Rather than treating failure as something to overcome, the conversation explores how it functions as information, constraint, and filter. The episode is a grounded reflection on endurance, identity, and staying committed long after results fail to arrive. Book Rivyl in for a free 30-minute call, here: http://l.rivyl.com/JUPbkj Level up your agency with Wix Studio today: https://www.wix.com/studio (00:00) Redefining Failure in Business (07:02) Early Mistakes and Better Risks (15:34) Detaching Self-Worth From Outcomes (24:18) Building Through Uncertain Periods (33:06) Discipline When Efforts Go Unrewarded (41:52) Accepting Failure Despite Best Efforts (50:27) Revenue Experiments and Protecting Trust (59:41) Using Past Mistakes as Constraints (1:09:08) The Internal Toll of Delayed Success (1:18:42) Shifting Success From Status to Alignment (1:28:31) Turning Theory Into Hard-Won Insights (1:37:12) Endurance as the Ultimate Differentiator

    1h 45m

  7. 19/12/2025

    #103 - Chasing Uncharted Waves In Frozen Corners of The Earth | Spencer Frost

    Spencer Frost is a filmmaker and creative director known for producing documentary projects in extreme and unconventional environments. In this episode, Spencer unpacks the philosophy behind chasing uncharted ideas, detailing how a remote surf film off the Russian coastline evolved into a globally recognised documentary. The conversation explores creative risk, long-term vision, and the human cost of committing fully to an idea when certainty, safety, and control are all absent. Book Rivyl in for a free 30-minute call, here: http://l.rivyl.com/JUPbkj Level up your agency with Wix Studio today: https://www.wix.com/studio (00:00) Introduction(06:14) Chasing Uncharted Waves(14:02) From Low-Budget Film to Global Vision(21:36) Funding the Impossible(29:48) Planning for Chaos(37:25) When the World Changes Overnight(45:04) Frozen Accounts and Survival Logistics(52:18) Trusting Strangers in Extreme Conditions(59:42) Filming at the Edge of the World(1:07:18) Letting the Story Evolve(1:14:46) What the Film Changed(1:28:32) Creative Risk and Brotherhood

    1h 36m

  8. 12/12/2025

    #102 - Why “Switching Off” Makes You More Successful | Cameron Grant

    Cameron Grant is the co-founder of Unyoked, the pioneering nature escape company redefining how modern humans disconnect and restore. After leaving a demanding career in banking, Cameron built Unyoked with a single mission: help people switch off to switch on. Blending science-based design, minimalism, and deep respect for the natural world, he has scaled Unyoked globally, from Australia to Europe while collaborating with cultural icons and shaping a movement around meaningful rest, creativity, and immersion in nature. Book Rivyl in for a free 30-minute call, here: http://l.rivyl.com/JUPbkj Level up your agency with Wix Studio today: https://www.wix.com/studio (00:00) Introduction: Rewriting the Rules of Busyness(04:12) Burning the Suit(10:01) The Genesis of Unyoked(17:34) Designing an Instrument of Nature(24:12) Rituals & Analogue Experiences(30:47) Simplicity, Design & Longevity(38:04) Early Pushback & Traction(45:55) Taking on Airbnb(53:15) McConaughey Partnership(1:00:01) Expanding to Europe(1:08:42) Regulations & Red Tape(1:15:28) The Future & Agency

    1h 24m
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Ratings & Reviews

4.6
out of 5
9 Ratings

About

In 2018, I was broke, 200k in debt, and working an unfulfilling job. I started a content creation agency and scaled it from 1 freelancer to a team of 30+ in just 4 short years. Now I run Australia’s fastest-growing agency: rivyl. As a guy who runs an agency working with global brands and celebrities, I decided to start interviewing people who take Agency over their lives. To unpack what entrepreneurs do to get ahead in business and life. My goal is to unearth the tactics, mindset, and motives that make high performers tick so you can get a leg up and take Agency with whatever you’re doing.

Information

  • Creator
    Dain Walker
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    111
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Dain Walker
  • Show Website
    Agency

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