Agency

Dain Walker
  • 5.0 (5)
  • BUSINESS
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY

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. 5D AGO

    #120 - The Things You Must Never Let AI Control | Joe Stolte

    In this episode, we sit down with six-time founder Joe Stolte to explore the reality of AI adoption and why refusing to adapt will ultimately bankrupt your business. After achieving four successful startup exits, Joe realised most entrepreneurs treat AI as a shiny distraction. Joe breaks down the mechanics of the AI Maturity Ladder, revealing why he uses incentives and intensive two-day workshops to demand real behaviour change from his teams. We dive deep into business longevity, why companies stuck between $1M and $5M are one storm away from collapse, and why surviving requires a strategic pivot to a new operating model.If you are struggling with the ego of learning AI from scratch, or trying to scale without adding more headcount, this episode provides the exact framework you need. (00:00) - Introduction (04:13) - The 5 Levels of AI Business Maturity (11:02) - Why You Must Demand 3x Output From Your Team (20:00) - The 48-Hour AI Training Manual (31:12) - Why Resumes Have Expired: Hiring Elite Talent With AI (34:21) - Exposing the "Tool Collector" vs. The "Architect" (44:08) - The 3 Things You Must Never Automate (52:31) - Meta-Prompting: Having AI Build Your Systems (58:23) - The G.R.I.T. Prompting Framework Explained (01:02:53) - Stop Building Hacks, Start Building Systems (01:28:56) - The 5 Elements of an Automated Agency System (01:39:05) - Capture, Catalog, Convert: Building a Media Factory (01:56:36) - The Plumit of Agency Retainers (02:07:26) - How CEO Ego and Status Will Bankrupt You (02:10:40) - Taking Agency & Building a Legacy Access Joe’s AI Instagram Chat Bot here: https://dmjoe.comBook 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 16m

  2. APR 24

    #119 - The Brutal Truth About Scaling The Diary Of A CEO | Grace Miller

    Grace Miller, Head of Experimentation and Failure for Steven Bartlett and The Diary Of A CEO gives the honest truths and secrets of how Steven Bartlett’s business empire was created. Grace talks to us on stripping away the "paper walls" and fake industry rules about production that hold brands back. In an unfiltered conversation, Grace explains how true longevity comes from the raw honesty of ruthless experimentation and challenging the status quo, not conforming to aesthetic assumptions. Is failure really the key to success? 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) Trailer (01:55) Introduction. The Early Days of DOAC (09:14) Defining the "A-Player" & The Culture Test (13:20) The Power of Polite Disagreement (29:44) Reframing Failure (48:27) Hacking YouTube (54:43) Tearing Down "Paper Walls" (01:00:24) Untraining Your Staff to Force Innovation (01:02:19) Building a Culture of Recognition (01:22:18) Podcasts, Why You Must Delete Bad Episodes (01:28:09) The Art of Hosting, Knowing When to Shut Up (01:51:03) What "High Agency" Actually Means

    1h 54m

  3. APR 17

    #118 - The "Founder's Trap": Why You Probably Shouldn't Be The CEO | Josh Sparks

    In this episode, we sit down with Josh Sparks, former CEO of Thom Browne New York, advisor for Deus Ex Machina, and ex-managing director for Anthropologie E-Commerce to decode the harsh realities of scaling a business. The skills and hustle required to launch a brand are rarely the same as those needed to sustain it, and most founders fall into the "Founder's Trap" by confusing ego with elite operational leadership. Josh unpacks the profound difference between building a true brand and just sticking a "label" on a product, why relying on discounts and performance marketing is a race to the bottom, and why sacrificing short-term profit for the illusion of growth will eventually bankrupt you. We explore his raw, vulnerable failure at Thrive, the "New Guy Rule" for auditing your own company, and why the real money is always made in the last 4% of execution. If you are a founder struggling to scale, feeling the crushing weight of imposter syndrome, or trying to transition into a true Chief Executive Officer, this masterclass provides the exact operating system you need to increase your enterprise value. The Founder's Playbook: • The Identity Shift: Why "mindset" crumbles under pressure, and why you must undergo a total identity shift to become the leader your company actually needs. • Brand vs. Label: The brutal truth about marketing: if you have to constantly bribe customers with discounts and paid ads, you don't have a brand, you have a label. • The Profit Delusion: Why using high-interest debt to mask a broken business model is fatal, and why rapid growth only amplifies your mistakes. • The "New Guy" Rule: The zero-based thinking framework used by elite retailers to creatively destroy and rebuild their own business models every 90 days. • The Final 4%: Why most founders abandon projects at 95%, and why the ultimate competitive advantage lies in executing the final 2-4%. (edited)  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) Introduction: The Evolution of a Founder to CEO (00:01:54) Why It's Never Been Harder to Build a Legacy Brand (00:04:45) Founder vs. CEO: The Paradox of Leadership (00:08:08) The "Founder's Trap": Identity Shift vs. Mindset (00:12:48) Recognizing the Symptoms of a Fragile Business (00:17:03) The Reality of Imposter Syndrome and Self-Doubt (00:24:46) Josh's Vulnerable Story: The Failure of "Thrive" (00:27:31) Why Most Business "Pivots" Are Just Hail Marys (00:31:43) The Venture Capital Secret: Why Failing is Valuable (00:35:50) Stop Deceiving Yourself: Hustle Does Not Equal Productivity (00:41:59) The 4% Rule: Why the Real Money is Made at 100% Execution (00:48:12) The Rainforest Metaphor: Growth, Maintenance, and Destruction (00:54:51) The "Antifragile" Strategy of Urban Outfitters (00:58:20) The Only Sustainable Rate of Growth is Organic Brand Demand (01:01:51) Brand vs. Label: The Brutal Truth About E-Commerce Valuations (01:07:40) Lifestyle Branding: The Deus Ex Machina Masterclass (01:13:59) How to Successfully Delegate and Create Executive Alignment (01:18:35) Creative Destruction: Firing Your Old Identity (01:22:02) The "New Guy Rule": How to Ruthlessly Audit Your Company (01:25:48) Why Scaling Fast Will Actually Destroy Your Business (01:31:23) Brand is Not Vanity: The Scaffolding of Enterprise Value (01:36:43) The Profit Delusion: Why Debt Can't Fix a Broken Business (01:45:31) Taking Agency: How to Step Into the CEO Role

    1h 54m

  4. APR 10

    #117 - The Cost of Conviction: Building a Fashion Label With Purpose | Cathryn Wills

    In this episode, we sit down with Cathryn Wills to explore the profound personal and professional growth required to leave the corporate machine and build a legacy brand from scratch. After a 12-year career climbing to Managing Director of Mimco, Cathryn realised her success felt like "Groundhog Day." She walked away from it all to find true purpose.Cathryn breaks down the launch of Sans Beast, revealing why she ignored private equity advice and invested over $500,000 of her own money to maintain absolute agency over her brand's ethics. We dive deep into the mechanics of brand longevity, why chasing rapid hyper-growth is a trap that will destroy your company, and why building a brand with true value requires you to intentionally alienate the masses.If you are navigating a massive career transition, struggling with the "ego" of entrepreneurship, or trying to build a business rooted in uncompromising integrity, this masterclass is your ultimate blueprint.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) Introduction: Leaving the Corporate Machine for Purpose(00:01:49) The Founder Transition: Walking Away from the CEO Title(00:06:51) Conviction Over Cash: Why True Integrity Costs Money(00:09:27) Exposing "Ethical Washing" in the Leather Industry(00:14:34) The Loneliness of Entrepreneurship and Rebuilding Identity(00:18:12) Why a Clear Brand Purpose Cuts Through the Market(00:23:45) The Minimal Viable Audience: Why You MUST Alienate People(00:25:41) The Sustainability Myth and Radical Brand Transparency(00:31:24) Making Your First $1,000 Before Chasing Investment(00:36:11) Longevity vs. Hype: Why Rapid Scaling is Dangerous(00:44:17) Stop Chasing "Newness": The Importance of Signature Products(00:49:36) The Power of Saying NO to Customer Demands (Shoes & Expansion)(00:51:42) Why White-Labeling Products from Overseas Ruins Integrity(00:54:19) "Product is Queen": Mastering Raw Materials and Aesthetic Design(01:00:21) Treating Manufacturers as Community Partners, Not Vendors(01:02:45) Ground-Level Sourcing: Exploring Cactus Leather in Mexico(01:12:45) How Visual Storytelling and Model Selection Builds Community(01:23:42) Staying True to Your Brand's Identity in a Noisy Market(01:28:18) Why the "Digital Product Passport" Will Change E-Commerce(01:31:12) The Future of Retail: Purpose, Content, and Community Building(01:36:23) What "Taking Agency" Truly Means for a Purpose-Driven Founder

    1h 38m

  5. APR 3

    #116 - The Psychology of Success: How To Rewire Your Identity | Calvin Coyles

    In this episode, we sit down with Calvin Coyles to decode the inner psychology of elite founders. Moving past traditional business strategy, Calvin unpacks the profound impact of Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) and how the labels you attach to your identity are secretly dictating your company's growth.Calvin explains the confronting reality that 95% of your neurological connections are formed by age 30. He reveals how founders unknowingly trap themselves in a "well-rehearsed past," and why you will inevitably hit a nervous system ceiling long before you hit a financial one.If you are a founder feeling misaligned, burnt out, or trapped by your own limiting beliefs, this masterclass provides the exact psychological frameworks to upgrade your mental operating system. 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 (00:01:33) What is NLP? Rewiring the Brain for Success (00:04:39) How the Brain Deletes, Distorts, and Generalizes Reality (00:11:17) Internalizing Transformation: Be the Guide, Not the Hero (00:16:12) The “I Am” Trap: Reframing Your Core Identity (00:21:05) The Neuroscience of Personality: Breaking the 30-Year Lock (00:26:54) The 3 Developmental Cycles: Imprint, Modeling, and Socialization (00:31:22) Internal Alignment: How to Stop Driving with the Handbrake On (00:35:55) The Goldilocks Zone: Challenge vs. Capability (00:40:58) The Harvard Study: Financial Stress and the 15% IQ Drop (00:45:21) The Nervous System Ceiling: Why Founders Burn Out (00:52:10) The W.I.L.D. Method: Crafting a Compelling Vision (01:02:05) Grafting Habits: Redirecting “Addictive” Tendencies (01:14:30) The 5 Switches of Alignment: Beliefs, Emotions, Focus, Behaviors, Values (01:26:20) The Psychology of Agency: Are You the Kite or the Wind? (01:32:40) Visualization and the “Mastermind” Hack (01:38:15) Reframing Failure: Feedback and Skill Acquisition (01:44:20) The Ultimate Fear: Squandered Potential

    1h 49m

  6. MAR 27

    #115 - Your Audience Doesn't Want Your Ads Anymore | Nathan Perdriau

    Most founders are still playing a game that stopped working years ago.They think better targeting, better funnels, or more spend will fix their ads. But the reality is harsher, competition is higher than ever, algorithms are smarter than ever, and 99% of ads simply don’t work anymore.In this episode, Nathan breaks down the new playbook, why creative volume is replacing traditional strategy, how AI is reshaping content, and why the only real advantage left is building trust through brand, positioning, and human connection.This isn’t about tweaking your ads.It’s about rebuilding your entire growth strategy.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 (00:04:50) Arbitrage vs. Brand, Why Performance Marketing Changed (00:09:23) The AI UGC Threat, A $300M Run Rate in 5 Months (00:16:02) The Future of E-Commerce, All Human vs. All AI (00:20:02) The Trust Stack, Certainty, Credibility, and Connection (00:24:05) Applying B2B Sales Psychology to E-Commerce (00:27:35) How to Borrow Credibility When You Have None (00:35:28) Why You MUST Alienate Customers to Scale (00:42:01) Why Organic Content is the Ultimate Ad Strategy (00:46:22) Posting 12 Reels a Day, The High-Volume Playbook (00:54:39) The 4% Rule, Why Most of Your Ads Will Fail (01:01:34) Meta vs. Google, The Ultimate Omnichannel Strategy (01:16:56) Meta’s “Andromeda” Algorithm Explained (01:34:02) The “Concept” Framework, Angle, Offer, Persona (01:49:35) What Taking Agency Truly Means for Founders

    1h 52m

  7. MAR 20

    #114 - How To Radically Change A 133-Year-Old Legacy Brand Without Destroying It | Michael Breckler

    In this episode, we sit down with Michael Breckler, CEO of Betts Shoes, to deconstruct the reality of turning around a retail empire and pulling himself back from the brink of personal collapse.Michael inherited a 133-year-old, 5th-generation family business staring down $12 million in debt. He had to make ruthless decisions to keep the company alive. He unpacks his exact turnaround blueprint: shrinking his store network, slashing his product line in half, and investing heavily in a total rebrand at a time when cash was incredibly tight.Beyond the boardroom, Michael opens up about the immense pressure of his family's legacy. He shares his personal journey of crumbling under the weight of expectations and how he used extreme accountability, cold therapy, and an unconventional "meditation" technique to rebuild his mind and take total control of his life.If you are a founder navigating a business crisis, struggling with "work-life balance," or looking to transform an obsessive personality into a superpower, this episode is your ultimate survival guide. 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) Introduction: Rescuing a 133-Year-Old Family Business (00:02:06) The First 90 Days: Inheriting $12,000,000 in Bad Debt (00:05:36) The Danger of Building a Price-Led Discount Brand (00:08:24) Profit Margins: The Pros and Cons of Vertical Integration (00:13:59) "Chop Off The Arm": Knowing When to Close Retail Stores (00:23:20) How to Fix a Toxic Company Culture Fast (00:33:11) The Burden of Legacy: Crumbling Under Founder Pressure (00:39:33) Hitting Rock Bottom & The "Graveyard Meditation" (00:45:39) Rebuilding Self-Worth and Mastering Cold Therapy (00:48:53) How to Channel an Addictive Personality into Success (00:51:43) The Myth of "Work-Life Balance" for Entrepreneurs (00:58:12) The Turnaround Strategy: How to Audit Your Own Business (01:04:36) The Rebrand Paradox: Investing in Brand While in Debt (01:14:58) Shrinking to Grow: Why We Cut Our Product Lines in Half (01:21:54) Leadership: The Difference Between Delegation and Micromanagement (01:25:40) What "Taking Agency" Truly Means for Founders

    1h 27m

  8. MAR 13

    #113 - The New SEO Blueprint: Ranking In The Era Of AI Search | Harry Sanders

    In this episode, we sit down with Harry Sanders, Founder of StudioHawk, to deconstruct where the internet is heading and how to build your brand's SEO strategy. Going from homeless and couch-surfing at 17 to building one of the largest dedicated SEO agencies in the world, Harry has an unparalleled understanding of brand visibility, algorithms, and business resilience. He breaks down the massive shift from traditional Google "searching" (browsing a library) to AI "asking" (consulting a librarian). He reveals the exact blueprint to ensure AI models like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Claude recommend your business to customers. We strip away the confusing jargon and dive deep into SEO fundamentals. Harry reveals his simple 3-part framework for ranking, how to build "Topical Authority" to outrank massive corporate giants, and why creating unique data is the only way to survive in an era of AI-generated content.Whether you are trying to understand the future of digital marketing, looking to convert traffic into actual revenue, or want to hear how hitting rock bottom built an unbreakable founder mindset, this masterclass is your ultimate playbook. 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(00:01:45) The AI Search Shift: "Library" vs. "Librarian"(00:07:39) Stop Chasing Clicks: Why Website Traffic is a Vanity Metric(00:11:21) Google's Ultimate Advantage in the AI Era(00:17:21) The Psychology of AI Search & The "IKEA Effect"(00:21:32) Digital Authority vs. Topical Authority(00:23:51) The 3-Part SEO Framework to Get Seen by Algorithms(00:25:46) The "RAIDS" PR Strategy to Build Massive Brand Visibility(00:32:04) Why Traditional Keyword SEO is Dead (Focus on Topics)(00:35:44) The "Unique Data" Strategy to Force Algorithms to Pick You(00:40:22) Step-by-Step SEO Blueprint for Service & E-Commerce Brands(00:52:55) Rapid Fire SEO Strategy: Finding Niche Topics That Rank(01:03:27) The Authority Loophole: How Big Brands Abused Google(01:10:01) Why Using AI to Write Blog Posts Will Destroy Your Rankings(01:16:11) How AI is Destroying the Traditional Marketing Funnel(01:23:18) The New Trust Metric: Where Consumers Actually Go to Buy(01:26:25) "Brutal Patience": The Secret to Compounding Business Growth(01:29:30) Building an Elite Team(01:43:39) What "Taking Agency" Truly Means for Founders

    1h 46m
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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
    122
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Dain Walker
  • Show Website
    Agency

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