Hacks and Hobbies with Junaid Ahmed

Junaid Ahmed
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  • SELF-IMPROVEMENT
  • UPDATED SEMIWEEKLY

This is more than a podcast — it’s a space for dreamers, builders, and creators who believe that passions aren’t just pastimes… they’re the seeds of purpose and profit. Each episode uncovers real stories, practical strategies, and powerful lessons to help you build confidence, authority, and success. From hobbies to business breakthroughs, discover how your passion can become your purpose — and your legacy. 🎙 Wanna be a guest? Apply on PodMatch: https://www.podmatch.com/member/hacksandhobbies 📖 Junaid’s book Home Studio: https://homestudiobook.com 🔗 LI: https://linkedin.com/in/superjunaid

  1. 3D AGO

    How to Retire from Your Business Without Killing Its Growth (AI, Startups & the “Gray Hair” Advantage)

    What if you could build a company you never have to run again—yet it keeps growing, thriving, and changing lives? In this episode of Hacks and Hobbies, Junaid sits down with entrepreneur, investor and mentor Steven Endacott, who sold his travel and insurance businesses (including Holiday Taxis for $60M) and then chose a new game: helping the next generation of founders build AI-powered companies he never has to operate. Steven reveals the model behind his incubator, where experienced “gray hairs” and young AI natives build disruptive B2B products together. He breaks down how to find people you can actually trust, how to structure equity so it doesn’t trap you later, and why most founders get “replacing themselves” completely wrong. If you’ve ever dreamed of stepping back from the day-to-day without stepping away from impact, this conversation is your blueprint. In this episode, you’ll discover: How Steven sold his companies and rewired his identity from operator to chairman The powerful model pairing “gray hair” experience with young AI talent Why you should never lock in all your co-founder equity on day one How to find, test, and keep the right people in high-speed startups Why most AI opportunities are B2B, not B2C—and how to think like a real disruptor Timestamps [00:00] The setup: building a business you never have to run again [01:59] Selling Holiday Taxis for $60M and choosing a new game [02:40] The Newer River model: gray hairs, young AI grads, and shared equity [04:32] Engines vs cars: how to actually win with AI in business [06:57] Who can you really trust? Building teams that move ultra fast [09:26] The biggest mistake founders make when replacing themselves [11:11] Why most AI startups fail—and how Steven recycles top talent Guest Links www.steveendacott.co.uk www.lifesecho.co.uk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    18 min

  2. 5D AGO

    How Scott Durham Quit $10/hr & Built a 6‑Figure House Flipping Machine (Without HGTV Fairy Dust)

    Most people watch house flips on TV. Scott Durham figured out how to own the deal in real life. In this episode, Junaid sits down with real estate investor and coach Scott Durham, who went from a $10/hour hotel job to flipping houses and building a repeatable system for wealth. Scott pulls back the curtain on his first flip, how he almost priced himself out of his own deals, and the simple math he still uses today to know—within seconds—if a property is worth the risk. If you’ve ever binged HGTV, scrolled past “before and after” photos on Instagram, or told yourself “I just need to learn a bit more before I start,” this conversation will hit hard. Scott exposes the real numbers behind TV flips, why “research without action is just entertainment,” and how ordinary people with no construction background can step into real estate with the right mentors, community, and mindset. In this episode, you’ll learn: How Scott went from hotel front desk to top agent to profitable flipper The exact back‑of‑the‑napkin formula he uses to spot real deals fast Why overthinking and underestimating costs both kill beginners—and how to avoid both Creative ways to fund your first flip, even if you don’t have the cash The mindset + community shifts that turn a one‑off flip into a real business Timestamps 00:00 – From $10/hour hotel job to real estate insider 03:39 – The first flip: clueless with contractors, $50k in profit 07:08 – What HGTV never shows you: the real costs of flipping 11:10 – The simple formula Scott uses to know if a deal is worth it 16:00 – “I don’t have the money” – funding flips with other people’s cash 20:29 – Surviving fear, 2008 scars, and the mental game of real estate 27:20 – Scott’s one piece of advice if you’re on the edge of your first deal Guest Links – Scott Durham Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/real.scottdurham Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    32 min

  3. JAN 28 · BONUS

    How to Productize Your Expertise, Build Learning Assets & Scale Without Burnout

    If your book, course, or expertise is sitting on a shelf, this episode is for you. Junaid sits down with learning strategist Parchelle Tashi, founder of The Author’s Leverage, to unpack how authors, coaches, and experts can turn years of experience into powerful, scalable learning assets that create income, impact, and freedom. They dive into how to productize your expertise, choose the right format (course, membership, licensing, B2B, enterprise, or experiences), and design learning that people actually use—not just binge once and forget. You’ll also hear Parchelle’s concept of “stickiness” for digital learning, the Learning Leverage Loop, and how to build systems that make your IP live far beyond one-to-one delivery. You’ll learn: How to productize what’s in your head into step-by-step assets that others can implement The framework for choosing between B2C, B2B, B2E, and live experiences as profit paths The Five I’s learning journey and how to meet your audience where they really are Why community and feedback loops are the real engine of sustainable growth Practical tools (like Notion and Go High Level) to deliver “sticky” learning and keep clients engaged Timestamps 00:00 – The problem with “delivery mode”Why experts burn out and why scaling your knowledge requires a mindset shift. 02:30 – What it really means to productize your expertiseTurning your method into a simple, repeatable process others can execute. 05:25 – The Leverage Plays: B2C, B2B, B2E & experiencesHow Parchelle maps all the profit paths hiding inside your existing body of work. 08:40 – The Five I’s: designing a true learning journeyFrom introduction to innovation—and finding where your audience is “screaming” the most. 13:20 – The Learning Leverage LoopA continuous system of evaluating, strategizing, creating, and staying in community. 16:40 – Making your content “sticky,” not forgettableHow to design digital assets people return to, use with their coach, and feel accountable for. 21:30 – Tools, systems & your first small step todayWhy Parchelle loves Notion and Go High Level—and what to do this week if you’re sitting on years of untapped expertise. Guest Links Website:  https://www.theauthorsleverage.com/ LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/parchelle/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    29 min

  4. JAN 26

    The Secret System Authors Use To Turn Their Books Into Profitable Learning Experiences

    Most online courses fail not because the expert isn’t brilliant, but because the learning experience is broken. In this conversation, former high school math teacher turned video producer and learning architect Parchelle Tashi, founder of The Author’s Leverage, reveals how she helps authors, coaches, and consultants transform their books and intellectual property into high-impact, profitable learning assets. Parchelle shares the real story behind leaving the classroom, building a production career up and down the East Coast, and finally discovering the “full circle” intersection of curriculum design, media, and scalable products. She breaks down why most courses don’t stick, the biggest mistake experts make when they teach online, and how to design learning that actually changes people — without stuffing everything you know into another 8-hour video course. 5 Key Takeaways Why simply turning your book into a video course almost always fails your audience The “burrito test” for knowing when your course is overstuffed and doomed to overwhelm learners How to design learning experiences that fit your audience’s real life, not just their screen time The leverage model: using one focused learning asset to open doors to institutions, workshops, and licensing deals A real success story: how a former federal prosecutor turned her interview skills into a scalable digital workbook used by colleges Timestamps 00:00 – From high school math teacher to founder of The Author’s Leverage 03:01 – The doubts, the coach, and the decision to go “all in” on production and entrepreneurship 06:48 – Why most online courses don’t work (and what a real learning “experience” feels like) 09:01 – The #1 mistake experts make when turning their expertise into a course 12:27 – The true vision behind The Author’s Leverage: impacting the world through lived wisdom 14:56 – Case study: transforming 20 years as a federal prosecutor into a scalable digital asset 17:46 – Rapid fire: dream photography location, favourite non-tech teaching tool, and the show that fuels Parchelle’s creativity Guest Links – Parchelle Tashi Website:  https://www.theauthorsleverage.com/ LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/parchelle/ Instagram: @parchelleosh / @theauthorsleverage Featured Work: The Author’s Leverage learning assets & client case studies Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    25 min

  5. JAN 21 · BONUS

    How High-Performing Men Can Win at Home Without Losing in Business

    You can build an empire and still lose everything that matters. In this raw and practical conversation, high-performance men’s coach Mitchell Osmond returns to reveal why so many successful entrepreneurs are secretly failing at home — and how to flip the script without sacrificing their ambition. Mitchell breaks down the three pillars every driven man must master: marriage & key relationships, fitness, and mindset. He explains why delegation at home is not laziness but leadership, how to treat your time as your most valuable currency, and why your kids don’t need your words — they need your example. If you’ve ever felt like a hero at work and a stranger at home, this episode is your blueprint to change that. 5 Big Takeaways You don’t have to choose between success at work and success at home — that’s a lie most high performers have quietly accepted. Marriage, fitness, and mindset are the three pillars Mitchell uses to help men reclaim their home life without burning their careers down. Delegation at home is buying back time, energy, and capacity, not just outsourcing chores. It’s how you get 120 minutes out of a 60‑minute hour. Time is the only currency you spend without knowing the remaining balance — and most men are squandering it on tasks that drain, not give life. You are the blueprint for your children. They don’t become what you tell them; they become what you model, day after day. Timestamps 00:00 – Why high-performing men are losing at home 01:13 – The 3 pillars: marriage, fitness, and mindset explained 03:56 – Delegation at home: how to “buy back” your time and energy 08:04 – Pride, ego, and the real reason men won’t ask for help 12:41 – The Time & Energy Audit: a simple tool that changes everything 16:30 – “You give your family the scraps”: a brutal wake-up call 17:14 – You are the blueprint: breaking generational cycles for your kids Guest Links – Mitchell Osmond Website: https://www.dadnationco.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dadnationco/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    28 min

  6. JAN 19

    How Hitting Rock Bottom Turned a Burned-Out Executive into a World-Class Dad & Leader

    What if your biggest success story begins at your lowest point? In this raw and deeply honest conversation, leadership consultant and Dad Nation founder Mitchell Osmond shares how he went from a depressed, addicted, $100k-in-debt ex-executive on the brink of divorce… to rebuilding his marriage, paying off all his debt, losing 60 pounds, and becoming the man his family actually wants to follow. We break down the moment everything snapped on the living room couch, the haunting question he heard at a stranger’s funeral, and the exact inner work and community he used to rewrite his story. If you’ve ever felt like a high performer at work but a failure at home, this episode will challenge how you define success—and give you a blueprint to start again. You’ll learn: How a brutal fight over money became Mitchell’s rock-bottom turning point The single funeral question that forced him to confront his legacy Why high-achieving men win at work but quietly lose at home The “eulogy exercise” to redefine success as a husband and father How to design your “best three years” and reverse-engineer it into daily actions Timestamps 00:00 – From senior leader to rock bottom: Mitchell’s introduction and hidden collapse behind the title 01:08 – The fight that nearly ended his marriage: Depression, debt, addiction, and feeling powerless at home 03:40 – The funeral that changed everything: “Are you living a life worthy of imitation?” 06:50 – Rewriting the story: Paying off $100k, losing 60 lbs, rebuilding his marriage, launching Dad Nation 08:13 – Why high performers fail at home: Masculinity, metrics, and the trap of only chasing visible wins 10:20 – The Eulogy Exercise: How to define the legacy you actually want your family to speak about 16:48 – “Best three years” & legacy ladders: A practical framework to reclaim time, health, and presence Guest Links Website: https://dadnationco.com Instagram: https://instagram.com/dadnationco Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    30 min

  7. JAN 14 · BONUS

    How Car Dealerships Go Viral on TikTok (Without Feeling Cringe)

    What if selling cars had nothing to do with cars—and everything to do with your face on camera? In this episode, Junaid sits down with Ina Coveney, founder of Auto Social Consulting and the creator behind Auto Social Gal, to dismantle every excuse dealerships and local businesses use to avoid short-form video. Ina reveals why you shouldn’t try to be an “influencer,” why copying trends is actually the smartest move you can make, and how a simple 30-day content sprint can completely change the way your community sees you. Whether you run a dealership, a coaching business, a restaurant, or any local service, this conversation will change how you think about Instagram Reels, TikTok, and building a personal brand inside a bigger company. If you’ve ever felt stuck, camera-shy, or skeptical about social media “ROI,” this is your playbook. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why original content is overrated and how to ethically “steal” trends for your brand The mindset shift from “influencer” to “creator” that unlocks consistent posting A 30-day content strategy that actually works for busy salespeople and owners The exact tool stack Ina uses (and why CapCut is a non-negotiable) How to build a powerful personal brand inside a company without getting fired Timestamps 00:00 – Why dealerships are losing online (and don’t even know it yet) 01:23 – The biggest mistake local businesses make with content 06:19 – “You’re not an influencer”: The mindset shift that changes everything 09:58 – Ina’s 30-day content plan for real-world businesses 16:05 – The tools Ina actually uses: CapCut, captions, and killing the “ums” 19:56 – The hook formula: text vs visual hooks (and what really works) 23:11 – “Our customers aren’t on TikTok…” and other costly lies dealerships believe Guest Links – Ina Coveney Company: Auto Social Consulting (automotive social media consulting for dealerships) Instagram: @autosocialgal TikTok: @autosocialgal 5 Key Takeaways Trends are a shortcut, not cheating – TikTok and Instagram are built for remixing; using popular sounds and formats is how you win, not how you “copy.” Post daily or don’t pretend you’re serious – One piece of content a week is a “summer project,” not a growth strategy; aim for at least one video a day. Your feed trains your algorithm – What you watch tells TikTok/Instagram who your audience is; consume content from your niche to get your content in front of the right people. CapCut is a game changer – Auto-removing filler words and breaths creates fast, addictive videos that keep attention and boost retention. You’re not selling the product; you’re selling you – Social doesn’t exist to sell the car today; it exists to build trust, familiarity, and brand so the buyer walks in already on your side. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    37 min

  8. JAN 12

    How Ina Coveney Turned a Podcast Talk into a Six-Figure Automotive Social Media Empire

    What if the niche you were meant to dominate is the one you never planned to enter? In this episode of Hacks and Hobbies, Junaid sits down with Ina Coveney, marketing strategist, social media trainer, and founder of Auto Social Consulting, to unpack how a single conference talk for podcasters pulled her into the automotive industry—and why car dealerships across the U.S. are now relying on her to go viral and sell more cars. Ina reveals how she went from “I don’t belong here” in a room full of dealers, to becoming the go‑to strategist for dealership social media, using organic content, trend-based videos, and a community-first mindset. She shares the exact mindset shift that flipped everything, the TikTok trend that exploded for a client, and how podcasting and relationships—not follower counts—built her business. This is a masterclass in turning small audiences and random opportunities into life-changing momentum. In this episode, you’ll learn: How a chance encounter at Podfest turned Ina into an automotive social media authority The mindset shift she used to turn “wrong room” anxiety into her biggest business breakthrough Why dealerships don’t need superstars or massive followings to sell cars on social media The viral “wiggle room” TikTok concept that put a local dealership in front of tens of thousands of people How Ina balances personal branding and dealership values so content goes viral without selling out your integrity Timestamps 00:00 – How a podcaster walked into the wrong room and found her life’s niche 01:40 – From online marketing to automotive: the mastermind moment that changed everything 05:45 – The first dealership client: one question, one table, one “I can help” 10:10 – Conferences, community, and how podcasting quietly builds empires 15:05 – Going viral without superstars: the “wiggle room” video and 50,000 views 18:30 – Where dealerships draw the line: staying on-brand while chasing trends 22:10 – Dream cars, dream guests, and why content creation is now a way of life Where to reach Our Guest https://goatforreal216.cominstagram/tiktok: @autosocialgal Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    32 min
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About

This is more than a podcast — it’s a space for dreamers, builders, and creators who believe that passions aren’t just pastimes… they’re the seeds of purpose and profit. Each episode uncovers real stories, practical strategies, and powerful lessons to help you build confidence, authority, and success. From hobbies to business breakthroughs, discover how your passion can become your purpose — and your legacy. 🎙 Wanna be a guest? Apply on PodMatch: https://www.podmatch.com/member/hacksandhobbies 📖 Junaid’s book Home Studio: https://homestudiobook.com 🔗 LI: https://linkedin.com/in/superjunaid

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