Inside the Speakeasy Podcast - Your Key to Hidden Strategies & Success Stories from Top Entrepreneurs

Speakeasy Mastermind
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Welcome to Inside the Speakeasy—the entrepreneur podcast that hands you the keys to rooms most never get access to. Hosted by Eric Berman, this show is for founders, startup builders, marketers, and empire-minded creators who are done with surface-level noise and ready to unlock the hidden strategies, pivotal success stories, and raw truths behind elite business growth. This is your key to the real game—the unfiltered conversations happening behind closed doors, at mastermind retreats, in late-night deal rooms, and during the “what the hell do I do now?” breakdowns that never make it to LinkedIn. You’ll hear from the scrappiest, boldest, most unreasonably driven entrepreneurs in the U.S.—the ones who are scaling to 7–8 figures, failing forward, innovating under pressure, and rewriting the rules of success while no one’s watching.No recycled advice. No fake “10X hacks.” Just what’s actually working right now—from people actually doing it. Because let’s be honest: You’re doing well. You’re sharp. But deep down… you know you’re still playing small. So stop chasing comfort. You’re not here for safe. You’re here to evolve. This is Inside the Speakeasy. And once you’re in… You don’t go back.

  1. Sales Without the Sleaze: How to Close More Deals by Doing Less

    4D AGO

    Sales Without the Sleaze: How to Close More Deals by Doing Less

    You're probably leaving money on the table, and you don't even know it. Jen Schneider, the Savvy Sales Strategist, has seen it happen over and over: entrepreneurs who are successful despite themselves, with no real system holding it all together. In this conversation, she pulls back the curtain on what's actually breaking your sales process, from the follow-ups you're not doing to the clients you should have fired months ago. This isn't about pitch-slapping strangers or always-be-closing tactics, but curiosity, clarity, and building systems that let you scale without becoming the bottleneck. Jen breaks down the 7-7-7 rule, the art of going for no, and why the first person to talk actually loses. If you've ever felt like sales is sleazy or you're just not good at it, this episode will change your mind. Because the truth is that you can learn it. You just need the right script, the right system, and the confidence to ask for what you're worth, and when you pair that with Go High Level, the AI-driven business operating system trusted by over 2 million businesses to automate, scale, and create real leverage, you’re not just improving your sales process, you’re building a business that actually works for you; visit gohighlevel.com/speakeasy-mastermind-promo to get an exclusive 30-day trial. Key Timestamps: [00:00:00] Introduction [00:01:25] From corporate sales to scalable systems [00:03:24] What corporate sales training misses [00:11:19] Pre-qualifying questions that save time [00:14:11] NBAT framework: Needs, Budget, Authority, Timing [00:16:06] Microwaves vs ovens: Not all buyers are ready [00:17:39] The 7-7-7 rule for consistent outreach [00:21:16] Upstream vs downstream partnerships [00:27:51] Ghost emoji & abandoned workflows [00:30:05] Sales without sleaze [00:32:44] Under-promise, then deliver [00:36:53] The founder is the bottleneck [00:38:33] Where AI actually helps sales [00:40:46] You’re not bad at sales, you need a script Memorable Quotes: "People don't want to be sold. They want to buy." [00:08:22] – Jen Schneider "People are like microwaves or ovens. They're either going to make a decision very quickly, or they have to bake for a while." [00:16:07] – Jen Schneider Links Mentioned: Go High Level: https://www.gohighlevel.com/speakeasy-mastermind-promo Connect with Jen Schneider: Website: https://savvysalesstrategist.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thejenschneider/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thejenschneider LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thejenschneider/ Connect with Eric Berman: Website: https://speakeasymastermind.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/speakeasymastermind/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/speakeasymastermind/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericberman/ Produced by Evolved Podcasting: https://www.evolvedpodcasting.com Support the show

    47 min
  2. Most Entrepreneurs Avoid This ONE PRACTICE That Could Save Them

    APR 28

    Most Entrepreneurs Avoid This ONE PRACTICE That Could Save Them

    Most entrepreneurs are addicted to one frequency: achievement. They build, they scale, they hustle. But when the trigger hits, when someone screws them over, or the kids won't stop making messes, or the deal falls through, they react. And that reaction costs them. Whitney Kell knows what it's like to go from zero to psycho in 30 seconds flat. And she knows how to stop it. Through meditation, breath work, and what she calls "the sober second," Whitney has learned to tune her frequency so clearly. This isn't about sitting cross-legged and humming, but knowing your energy so well that you stop letting other people's chaos become your crisis. It's about the five-minute practice that changes your brain, the triggers that reveal your childhood wounds, and the one question that makes doctors walk out of the room. This episode of Inside the Speakeasy Podcast is brought to you by Go High Level, the AI-driven business operating system trusted by over 2 million businesses to automate, scale, and create real leverage, so once you’ve learned to stabilize your own frequency, you can do the same for your business at https://www.gohighlevel.com/speakeasy-mastermind-promo and get an exclusive 30-day trial as a listener. Key Timestamps: [00:00:00] Introduction [00:07:29] Live coaching: rating life across key areas [00:12:38] Why meditation unlocks high performance [00:14:13] The “sober second” before reaction [00:18:37] Using awareness to spot misaligned people [00:23:46] Triggering others to reveal truth [00:26:55] Entrepreneurs addicted to achievement [00:28:08] The five-minute stillness challenge [00:33:44] Learning to trust the void [00:35:45] Triggered book + Hoffman Institute experience [00:39:12] The 90-second rule before decisions [42:12:00] Should masterminds include spirituality? Memorable Quotes: "The deeper you want to build your empire, the deeper you want to dig your soul connection." [00:13:46] – Whitney Kell "And the one thing that that's allowed me to do is not need other people to validate me. I've gotten to a place where I know myself. So whether you tell me I'm cute or ugly, that's more of a reflection of you." [00:14:00] – Whitney Kell Links Mentioned: Go High Level: https://www.gohighlevel.com/speakeasy-mastermind-promo Connect with Whitney Kell: Website: https://whitneykell.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whitneykell2/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/whitney.kell Twitter/X: https://x.com/kell_whitn48465 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/whitneykell/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@whitneykell Connect with Eric Berman: Website: https://speakeasymastermind.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/speakeasymastermind/ Facebook: https://www.instagram.com/speakeasymastermind/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericberman/ Produced by Evolved Podcasting:https://www.evolvedpodcasting.com Support the show

    45 min
  3. The 12-Month Content Loop: How to Turn One Media Hit Into a Year of Sales

    APR 21

    The 12-Month Content Loop: How to Turn One Media Hit Into a Year of Sales

    Beth Nydick stood backstage after appearing on national television, waiting for the massive influx of business she assumed would follow. It didn't. Despite a resume featuring 25 years as a network TV producer for NBC and Paramount, a bestselling book, and appearances on The Oprah Winfrey Show and The Drew Barrymore Show, she discovered that exposure alone does not build a business. Visibility, while great for the ego, does not automatically equal revenue. To solve this, she built a strategic system designed to turn media placements into long-term authority and income. Now a media strategist and mogul, she works with high-level brands to shift their focus from mere marketing to media messaging—a shift that prioritizes how an audience feels over simple statistics. And if you’re interested in leveraging platforms like Go High Level to automate follow-up, capture demand, and turn visibility into scalable, compounding growth just visit gohighlevel.com/speakeasy-mastermind-promo for an exclusive 30-day trial as a listener of the Inside the Speakeasy podcast. Key Timestamps: [00:00:00] Introduction [00:05:47] Beth’s journey: NBC to Tonight Show [00:07:30] Tom Hanks story + celebrity insights [00:09:36] Who really runs TV shows [00:12:15] Pitching local news (start here) [00:15:22] The media ladder truth [00:17:50] One placement, 12 months of content [00:20:00] Why media messaging fails [00:22:09] Stop chasing big podcasts [00:23:35] Interviews as silent sales [00:26:52] The first 30-second hook [00:27:56] Why visibility doesn’t convert [00:32:18] “Why not me?” mindset shift [00:36:44] You save you, not media Memorable Quotes: "I have to tell you; the smaller podcasts have better engagement. I've gotten better results from being on a podcast that has 500 downloads because 500 people are listening, versus you have 300,000 downloads and no one's really listening." [00:2 1:31] – Beth Nydick "Why can't I be the one? So it's funny you say that because most of my testimonials are actually about this thought process and less about what we did because it really allows you space and possibility of creating whatever you want next if there's not anything in the way." [00:32:55] – Beth Nydick Links Mentioned: Go High Level: http://www.gohighlevel.com/speakeasy-mastermind-promo Connect with Beth Nydick: Website: https://www.bethnydick.com Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/bethnydick Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bethRitternydick/ LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/bethnydick  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@bethnydick Connect with Eric Berman: Website: https://speakeasymastermind.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/speakeasymastermind/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/speakeasymastermind/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericberman/ Produced by Evolved Podcasting: https://www.evolvedpodcasting.com Support the show

    39 min
  4. From 25 Different Apps to One Command Central

    APR 14

    From 25 Different Apps to One Command Central

    Most business owners are drowning in 10, 15, even 25 different software platforms just to run their daily operations. They're logging into separate systems for CRM, scheduling, follow-ups, and payments while their competitors are capturing leads at 1:30 AM with AI employees that never sleep. Lisza Crisalle has spent over two decades helping high-achieving entrepreneurs escape this chaos. She's witnessed financial advisors still scheduling appointments by calling each other, watched prospects get frustrated when follow-ups fall through the cracks, and seen businesses lose deals simply because no one answered the phone after hours. The cost of staying stuck in 2009 systems while operating in 2026 isn't just inefficiency, but also competitive suicide. That’s exactly why platforms like Go High Level have become mission-critical, bringing everything under one roof with AI-driven automation so businesses can finally replace scattered tools with a single, streamlined operating system built to capture, nurture, and convert every opportunity in real time. Visit gohighlevel.com/speakeasy-mastermind-promo for an exclusive 30-day trial as a listener of the Inside the Speakeasy podcast. Key Timestamps: [00:00:00] Introduction [00:02:20] The evolution from one shopping cart to automation mastery [00:07:54] Why GoHighLevel is winning the all-in-one battle [00:14:38] The shocking reality of manual business operations in 2026 [00:21:26] Advanced AI prospecting that researches you [00:25:11] The competitive advantage early adopters are gaining [00:27:35] Hidden GoHighLevel features most users ignore Memorable Quotes: "We call it our all-in-one command central. It's literally running your business from one place." [00:08:16] – Lisza Crisalle "If you have a business and you're not adopting or adapting in with AI, you are going to be left in the dust because your competitors are going to have a huge competitive advantage." [00:25:37] – Lisza Crisalle Links Mentioned: Go High Level: http://www.gohighlevel.com/speakeasy-mastermind-promo Connect with Lisza Crisalle: Website: https://whatworksacademy.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/liszalcrisalle/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/liszalcrisalle LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/liszalcrisalle/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@WhatWorksAcademy-WWA Connect with Eric Berman: Website: https://speakeasymastermind.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/speakeasymastermind/ Facebook: https://www.instagram.com/speakeasymastermind/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericberman/ Produced by Evolved Podcasting: www.evolvedpodcasting.com Support the show

    33 min
  5. The Multi-Unit Queen's Blueprint for Building Community Over Followers

    APR 7

    The Multi-Unit Queen's Blueprint for Building Community Over Followers

    Sonia Ramirez has cracked something most entrepreneurs miss entirely. With under 15,000 total followers across all platforms, she's generating 50,000 to 65,000 views every 30 days while her male peers with 100K+ followers struggle to match her engagement rates. The secret isn't in the numbers. As a Latina real estate developer who's exited over 100 projects in Southern California's brutal market, Sonia discovered that documentation beats curation every time. Her approach to building parasocial relationships through authentic storytelling has created a community that doesn't just follow her but root for her success and invest in her projects. But the real power move? How she's leveraged partnerships and positioning to land book deals, speaking opportunities, and documentary features while staying true to her "Multi-Unit Queen" brand. This is bout building a business that works for you, and not just social media tactics, and that’s exactly the kind of leverage-driven approach powered by Go High Level, the AI-driven operating system helping modern founders automate, scale, and turn attention into real business growth. Visit https://www.gohighlevel.com/speakeasy-mastermind-promo for an exclusive 30-day trial as a listener of the Inside the Speakeasy podcast. Key Timestamps: [00:00:00] Introduction [00:02:09] It’s not too late to pivot!  [00:05:29] Creating community culture in your tribe [00:06:59] The mentor who changed everything [00:07:49] 3 Pillars of running the Multi-Unit Queen [00:09:38] Birth of the "Multi-Unit Queen" [00:10:29] Are you going to be the face of your brand?  [00:12:01] Why engagement beats followers [00:14:19] Documentation vs. curation [00:21:12] Choosing the right partnerships [00:26:21] Breaking limits in male-dominated spaces [00:31:39] Why women avoid masterminds Memorable Quotes: "As women, we think we have to be in a silo. We have to do it on our own. Not understanding that there's a whole community, a whole world of women out here waiting for you to come be part of these different groups because we need your voice." [00:31:36] – Sonia Ramirez "If you're in the room, it's because you were supposed to be there. You didn't fake your way in there. You're supposed to be there. And whether that's to learn, to lead, that's up to you, right? But never question where Gus has put you." [00:26:04] – Sonia Ramirez Links Mentioned: Go High Level: http://www.gohighlevel.com/speakeasy-mastermind-promo Connect with Sonia Ramirez: Website: https://multiunitqueen.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/multiunitqueen Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SoniaOllin YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@multiunitqueen Connect with Eric Berman: Website: https://speakeasymastermind.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/speakeasymastermind/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/speakeasymastermind/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericberman/ Produced by Evolved Podcasting: https://www.evolvedpodcasting.com Support the show

    37 min
  6. AI Sales Systems Replaces An Entire Call Center

    MAR 31

    AI Sales Systems Replaces An Entire Call Center

    Kevin Jacobson Jr. built AI sales systems that turned 600,000 dead leads into $1.3 million in revenue within 30 days. His clients are replacing entire call centers, eliminating setter churn, and watching their sales teams close more deals with less burnout. But here's the tension most founders miss: they're drowning in AI tools while their real bottlenecks remain untouched. Kevin reveals the four critical areas where AI creates actual leverage: qualification, segmentation, nurture, and follow-up, and why most entrepreneurs are solving the wrong problems entirely. This isn't about adding more technology to your stack, but a surgical precision in stopping the revenue bleeding that's keeping your sales team trapped in busy work instead of closing deals. And it’s exactly the kind of leverage made possible by platforms like Go High Level, the AI-driven business operating system powering over 2 million businesses to automate, scale, and turn smarter systems into real, measurable growth. Visit gohighlevel.com/speakeasy-mastermind-promo for an exclusive 30-day trial as a listener of the Inside the Speakeasy podcast. Key Timestamps: [00:00:00] Introduction [00:04:42] From Verizon top performer to AI sales systems [00:07:44] Where are entrepreneurs going wrong?  [00:09:52] Key areas to automate in your business [00:17:12] Voice AI closing $5K deals [00:25:00] AI nurture vs setters [00:28:52] $150M lender: 1,700 AI-booked calls [00:36:00] Where to start with AI sales Memorable Quotes: "Tech people build tech that works, sales people build tech that converts." [00:19:52] – Kevin Jacobson Jr "Don't get caught up in all the hype. Just focus on where you're at right now and what's going to buy back time or increase revenue. And don't get distracted by shiny object syndrome." [00:35:59] – Kevin Jacobson Jr Links Mentioned: Go High Level: http://www.gohighlevel.com/speakeasy-mastermind-promo Connect with Kevin Jacobson Jr: Website: https://www.levrg.ai/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kfed100 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kjacobsonjr Connect with Eric Berman: Website: https://speakeasymastermind.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/speakeasymastermind/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/speakeasymastermind/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericberman/ Produced by Evolved Podcasting: https://www.evolvedpodcasting.com Support the show

    38 min
  7. Scaling Secrets: From Personal Burnout to Operational Security

    MAR 17

    Scaling Secrets: From Personal Burnout to Operational Security

    This special compilation episode addresses the silent epidemic most entrepreneurs face: burnout. By pulling the most impactful insights from Joy Houston’s and Alex Snider’s original episodes, we dive deep into the moment success starts to feel like a prison. Joy shares the raw reality of hitting a million-dollar win only to be met with an exhausting "what’s next" culture—a cycle of ingratitude that leads to physical and emotional depletion rather than fulfillment. Alex also reveals the critical difference between delegation and abdication, explaining why most founders accidentally choose a path that creates more chaos, not less. From the structural necessity of operational security to the surprising power of "Thrive Weeks," this vault episode exposes the hidden costs of grinding without systems and the importance of strategic time off to stay passionate about your mission. And as the conversation makes clear, building a business that scales without burning out requires the right infrastructure, which is exactly why platforms like Go High Level have become the operating system trusted by millions of businesses to automate, streamline, and create real leverage. Visit https://www.gohighlevel.com/speakeasy-mastermind-promo for an exclusive 30-day trial as a listener of the Inside the Speakeasy podcast. Key Timestamps: [00:00:00] Introduction [00:52:00] Joy Houston’s burnout turning point [10:17:00] Delegation vs. abdication [10:18:00] The Thrive Week scaling strategy Memorable Quotes: "Abdication is not delegation. Just giving someone a task and or a responsibility or whatever, and then setting them free isn't delegation. That's abdication." [00:07:36] – Joy Houston "Processes are also really important for scale, and also really important for operational security and redundancy that if somebody leaves, they don't leave with all that knowledge, and now we don't know how to do that part of the business." [00:09:19] – Joy Houston Links Mentioned: Go High Level: https://www.gohighlevel.com/speakeasy-mastermind-promo Listen to “Learn The System That's Making Entrepreneurs Rich Without the Burnout” with Joy Houston on these platforms:  Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/learn-the-system-thats-making-entrepreneurs-rich/id1810107121?i=1000750106874  Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/53gWCfirSG3fYPHZvAZAdZ?si=63c2ece849664008  YouTube: https://youtu.be/uZ0Sy4X8EhA?si=UXeGCM83EqumLtX4  Listen to “How Founders Can Smartly Shift from Managing Chaos to Leading with Clarity” with Alex Snider on these platforms: Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-founders-can-smartly-shift-from-managing-chaos/id1810107121?i=1000746827023  Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1a0MWheZ35dUoMHLbASZ21?si=c33ba123fc654e54  YouTube: https://youtu.be/W1QPwJVA5zs?si=uhHrfU1e6vWmTBar  Connect with Joy Houston: Instagram: https://ww Support the show

    13 min
  8. The IP Mistake Entrepreneurs Make that Will Cost You Millions of Dollars

    MAR 10

    The IP Mistake Entrepreneurs Make that Will Cost You Millions of Dollars

    Entrepreneurs often assume they can handle IP later. Rich Goldstein has watched this assumption destroy hundreds of million-dollar opportunities. After securing over 2,500 patents, he's seen the same brutal pattern: founders who wait just one day too long lose everything they could have protected forever. The stakes aren't just about stopping copycats. When done right, IP strategy can multiply your exit valuation by 100x. When done wrong, it can make your entire business worthless to acquirers. Rich breaks down the non-negotiable deadlines, the trademark traps that cost six figures to fix, and why AI is leading entrepreneurs straight into patent disasters. It’s a critical conversation for founders building real leverage in their companies especially in a world where tools like Go High Level, the AI-driven business operating system trusted by over 2 million businesses, are helping entrepreneurs automate, scale, and build companies that actually work for them.  Visit gohighlevel.com/speakeasy-mastermind-promo to claim your exclusive 30-day trial. Key Timestamps: 0:00:00 Introduction  0:02:26 Mindset and misconceptions about IP Law 0:03:31 What to focus on with IP?  0:07:46 Avoid the high costs of not getting your trademarks registered  0:11:15 Different patents and protecting your products  0:12:57 When can a software become patentable? 0:15:15 Physical products and patents  0:18:02 The misconception about copyright  0:25:22 When is an information product trademark-able?  0:30:15 Formulations and patents 0:32:39 Understanding licensing  0:33:39 The patenting mistake not everyone knows 0:36:07 The whole point of the patenting system  0:39:18 Rich and his legendary parties  0:45:45 IP strategy and building your business with the end in mind. Memorable Quotes: "When it comes to trademarks, it's not just about whether the identical thing exists. It's about likelihood of confusion." [00:05:26] – Rich Goldstein "The biggest return on IP investment comes at exit. You can get a hundred time return on IP investment when you get to exit." [00:45:34] – Rich Goldstein Links Mentioned: Go High Level: http://www.gohighlevel.com/speakeasy-mastermind-promo Connect with Rich Goldstein: Website: https://www.goldsteinpatentlaw.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/richgoldstein LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richardwgoldstein/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@patentquestion750 Connect with Eric Berman: Website: https://speakeasymastermind.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/speakeasymastermind/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/speakeasymastermind/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericberman/ Produced by Evolved Podcasting: www.evolvedpodcasting.com Support the show

    47 min
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About

Welcome to Inside the Speakeasy—the entrepreneur podcast that hands you the keys to rooms most never get access to. Hosted by Eric Berman, this show is for founders, startup builders, marketers, and empire-minded creators who are done with surface-level noise and ready to unlock the hidden strategies, pivotal success stories, and raw truths behind elite business growth. This is your key to the real game—the unfiltered conversations happening behind closed doors, at mastermind retreats, in late-night deal rooms, and during the “what the hell do I do now?” breakdowns that never make it to LinkedIn. You’ll hear from the scrappiest, boldest, most unreasonably driven entrepreneurs in the U.S.—the ones who are scaling to 7–8 figures, failing forward, innovating under pressure, and rewriting the rules of success while no one’s watching.No recycled advice. No fake “10X hacks.” Just what’s actually working right now—from people actually doing it. Because let’s be honest: You’re doing well. You’re sharp. But deep down… you know you’re still playing small. So stop chasing comfort. You’re not here for safe. You’re here to evolve. This is Inside the Speakeasy. And once you’re in… You don’t go back.

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