The Digital Systems Operator

Raya

A podcast for founders, coaches, and consultants who want systems that scale — without chaos. Hosted by Raya, a Digital Systems Architect and Kajabi expert, this podcast breaks down the backend of a high-performance online business: clean operations, intelligent digital ecosystems, content workflows, automation, launches, and the CEO habits that keep your business running even when you’re offline. Each episode gives you the strategic clarity AND the operational precision to move from scattered… to scalable. Whether you’re building your first offer, scaling your course ecosystem, or tightening your operations so you can finally breathe — this is where your system gets smarter, cleaner, and more profitable. This is for founders who value structure, momentum, and excellence. Welcome to your new operating system. Work with me: www.wethrivebydesign.com

  1. 5 DAYS AGO

    Let's Talk About Kajabi's Price Hike (And Why I'm Recommending Wix Now)

    Kajabi just raised their prices, and it's forcing many pre-revenue coaches to make tough decisions. In this episode, I share why I'm now recommending Wix as a more affordable alternative for course creators just starting out, plus strategies for existing Kajabi users who are deeply invested in the platform. If you're feeling the pinch from the latest price hike, this episode is for you. Episode Overview The recent Kajabi price increases have created a challenging situation for pre-revenue coaches and new course creators. In this candid episode, I discuss the trend I've been seeing with clients canceling their subscriptions, my theory on why Kajabi is making these changes, and practical alternatives for coaches at different stages of their business. What We Cover: The Kajabi Price Hike Reality ⏱️ 0:00 Basic plan increased by $30/month (from $149 to $179) Growth plan up $50/month Pro plan jumped from $399 to $499 New fees: 2% charge on PayPal and third-party payment processors Why This Hurts Pre-Revenue Coaches ⏱️ 3:15 The impact on coaches just starting their online business Why timing matters when you're building your brand Real stories from clients who've had to fold their websites My Theory: Kajabi's Strategic Shift ⏱️ 7:30 Why I believe Kajabi is intentionally filtering out pre-revenue users The support burden of lower-tier customers How their homepage now features only established entrepreneurs The Wix Alternative ⏱️ 12:45 Why Wix is an underrated option for course creators Features you might not know about: Wix Programs, Groups, paywalled blogs Pricing: $300-500/year vs. Kajabi's $2,148+/year Real example: A six-figure client considering the switch If You're Staying on Kajabi ⏱️ 16:20 How to maximize your subscription value Utilizing unlimited products on the Pro plan Increasing customer lifetime value to offset costs Making use of underutilized features like private podcasts If You're Planning to Leave ⏱️ 19:00 Stop building new infrastructure in Kajabi NOW Don't use Kajabi's email marketing if you're migrating Export your website and take screenshots before canceling Understanding what data you'll lose in migration Alternative Tech Stack Considerations ⏱️ 20:30 Kit (ConvertKit), Klaviyo, or MailChimp for email marketing Why you need to plan your exit strategy early The importance of owning your data Key Takeaways: ✅ If you're pre-revenue, consider starting with Wix ($35/month) instead of Kajabi ($179/month minimum) ✅ If you're already on Kajabi and making money, maximize every feature to justify the cost ✅ Plan your migration strategy BEFORE you need it - don't build new funnels in a platform you're leaving ✅ Always export and backup your content before canceling any platform Resources Mentioned: Wix Course platform alternative (no affiliate link) Kajabi Payments Built-in payment processing Kit (ConvertKit) Email marketing alternative Klaviyo Email marketing alternative MailChimp Email marketing alternative About the Host: Raya is a Digital Systems Operator and Kajabi expert who specializes in lifecycle marketing, funnels, and helping coaches and consultants build their digital presence. She works with various course platforms and ecosystems to help entrepreneurs launch and scale their online businesses. Connect: 🌐 Website: www.wethrivebydeisgn.com 📧 For help with lifecycle marketing, funnels, and course launches

    22 min
  2. 15 JAN

    Content Repurposing for Coaches and Educators: Turn One Video Into a Week of Content

    This is my first live episode of 2026! If you want the full breakdown I mentioned, I’ve linked the step-by-step content repurposing guide here: https://www.wethrivebydesign.com/post/content-repurposing-tutorial In this episode, I talk openly about content creation, digital systems, and why I believe every coach or educator should understand how their content actually supports their business. This conversation was sparked while I was creating a content tutorial for a client, and it turned into a real-time reflection on authority, consistency, and the role of organic content in building trust over time. I share insights from a recent discovery call about course launches and hype-driven marketing, and why long-term positioning, clarity, and intentional calls to action matter—especially for coaches, educators, and B2B brands. We also talk about a common but important question I hear all the time: “How does content actually make money?” This episode is part journal, part teaching, and part thinking out loud. It’s about showing up consistently, sharing what you know, and building systems that support your work long-term—without pressure, burnout, or pretending to be someone you’re not. If you’re a coach, educator, or thought leader navigating content, authority, and alignment in 2026, this episode is for you. If you found this episode helpful, make sure to follow or subscribe so you don’t miss future conversations. You can find more resources and my work at wethrivebydesign.com.

    24 min
  3. 13/11/2025

    The Beginner-Friendly Funnel Blueprint You Wish Someone Explained Sooner

    In today’s episode, I break down funnels in the simplest, most human way possible — no jargon, no pressure, no sleazy strategies. If you’re an online coach, consultant, educator, or digital expert wanting to bring your work into the online world, this episode is going to feel like a deep exhale. I’m walking you through: 🌴 What a funnel actually is — in normal human words No tech overwhelm. No fancy diagrams. Just: How people find you → how you build trust → how they eventually buy. 🌊 Why opt-ins matter And why the goal isn’t to “collect emails”… but to build a relationship inside someone’s inbox. ✉️ What really happens after someone joins your list I explain the nurturing phase, what keeps people subscribed, what loses them, and how to create content that warms your audience toward your paid offers. 🔥 Behavior-based automations (explained simply) You’ll learn things like: What counts as “engagement” How to tag people based on clicks When to segment or send someone into a new sequence Why “did they open?” tells you way more than you think 💛 The rule I swear by: Provide value first Not everyone agrees with this, but inside The Content Beach, we build trust. We don’t pressure. We don’t rush. We don’t throw “BUY NOW” in someone’s face at first contact. 📣 Bonus tip: How to run high-volume campaigns (like Black Friday or launches) without annoying your entire email list — using “exclude me from this promo” logic.

    16 min
  4. 11/11/2025

    Testing, Tweaking, Thriving: My Latest Platform Experiments (Wix or Kajabi)

    In this episode, I share what I’m testing behind the scenes as I audit my digital ecosystem. With Kajabi sunsetting the Experts directory, I’m using this moment to explore alternatives and refine my setup: Wix for creative control and merch, WordPress + Elementor for design flexibility (with caveats), and ActiveCampaign for advanced automation and lead scoring. Timestamps 00:00 — Welcome (yes, I went live twice today) 00:40 — What Kajabi Experts sunsetting means for creators 01:30 — Why I stayed on Kajabi until now 03:00 — WordPress + Elementor vs Kajabi vs Wix 04:40 — What’s improved in Wix since I last used it 05:20 — Merch, automations, and creative control on Wix 06:00 — The gap in Kajabi: advanced automation & lead scoring 07:10 — Why I’m testing ActiveCampaign next 07:50 — Why visual freedom matters for personal brands 09:30 — Pricing psychology: premium users vs accessible stacks 10:40 — Affiliate note & what I’ll test next 11:20 — Closing: testing, tweaking, thriving Mentioned Wix — creative control, built-in automations, native merch Kajabi — all-in-one platform for courses and sites ActiveCampaign — advanced automations & lead scoring We Thrive by Design — my digital strategy studio “I don’t stay loyal to tools that limit growth. I test, tweak, and rebuild so the system serves the strategy.” Work with me Want to future-proof your digital ecosystem? Visit www.wethrivebydesign.com and I’ll map your next, smarter stack.

    12 min
  5. The Ground Is Moving: Kajabi, Contra, and Building in Real Time

    22/10/2025

    The Ground Is Moving: Kajabi, Contra, and Building in Real Time

    In this one-take episode of The Content Beach, Raya unpacks the recent changes in Kajabi—from new pricing tiers coming in January 2026 to the retirement of the Kajabi Experts directory and migration to Contra. If you’re a course creator, coach, or consultant who relies on Kajabi for delivery or lead flow, this episode helps you respond calmly and strategically, without losing momentum. KEY TAKEAWAYS Kajabi pricing: New tiers are scheduled to take effect in January 2026—plan upgrades, migrations, and client conversations ahead of time. Experts directory → Contra: Kajabi has shifted the Experts marketplace to Contra, changing where and how service providers connect with clients. Avoid single-platform dependence: If your leads live on one platform, you’re exposed to sudden changes. Diversify gently (website SEO, LinkedIn, referral systems). Mindset & operations: Stability comes from simple, repeatable marketing actions and a clear system for outreach, not from chasing every platform tweak. QUOTE-WORTHY “When you anchor your lead generation into one platform and that platform disappears, what’s left for you?” “There’s a paradise on the other side of change — but you need the stamina to walk through the terrain first.”   WHO THIS EPISODE IS FOR Course creators, coaches, consultants, and small teams using Kajabi who want steady systems, not chaos — especially if you’re navigating pricing changes and marketplace shifts. Need a stable Kajabi system (and a team that can run it)? Book a Kajabi Systems Review via Work with Me — We Thrive By Design: https://www.wethrivebydesign.com   DISCLAIMER This show is an independent production and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Kajabi LLC.   ABOUT THE HOST Raya is a Digital Strategy Architect and founder of We Thrive By Design, helping creators and businesses build structured, scalable systems on Kajabi.

    15 min
  6. 30/07/2025

    The Creator’s Dilemma: What to Share for Free and What to Save for Paid

    After weeks of overthinking the podcast name and nearly slipping into podfade, I’m back — and we’re diving into the raw truth about content creation. Why do we spiral when no one’s watching? What should you give away for free? And how do you stay authentic without softening your edges? In this solo, unscripted (but weirdly clear) episode, I unpack: Why creating free content can feel heavy — and what to do about it The difference between teaching the what vs. the how How to share generously without giving it all away What to do when your voice doesn’t sound “polished” enough for your clients A behind-the-scenes glimpse at the battle between my ‘unhinged’ and ‘hinged’ podcast identities If you’ve been questioning your content, this episode is your reminder to show up — not perfectly, but powerfully. Mentioned in this Episode: The concept of “Teach the what, charge for the how” Using YouTube, podcasts, and reels as slow-burn authority builders Creating content as a soul-aligned practice, not just a strategy Quotable Moments: “If you round off your edges, you’re not you anymore.” “Not everyone is drinking Coke when they see the ad — but they remember it.” “You’re not behind. You’re just realigning.” 💡 For Coaches, Creators & Consultants: This one’s especially for you if you're trying to move from client calls to content authority — without losing your voice or vibe along the way.

    23 min

Trailers

About

A podcast for founders, coaches, and consultants who want systems that scale — without chaos. Hosted by Raya, a Digital Systems Architect and Kajabi expert, this podcast breaks down the backend of a high-performance online business: clean operations, intelligent digital ecosystems, content workflows, automation, launches, and the CEO habits that keep your business running even when you’re offline. Each episode gives you the strategic clarity AND the operational precision to move from scattered… to scalable. Whether you’re building your first offer, scaling your course ecosystem, or tightening your operations so you can finally breathe — this is where your system gets smarter, cleaner, and more profitable. This is for founders who value structure, momentum, and excellence. Welcome to your new operating system. Work with me: www.wethrivebydesign.com