Taking The Leap

Naja Faysal and Diana Melgar
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  • Entrepreneurship
  • Updated Biweekly

Taking the Leap is a podcast that follows Naja Faysal and Diana Melgar as they document their journey into entrepreneurship. Each episode offers a candid look at what it’s really like to start and grow a business as a couple—from overcoming fear to navigating challenges and celebrating milestones. It’s made for aspiring founders, creatives, and anyone ready to take a risk on their dreams.

Episodes

  1. Apr 29

    How to Not Be Cringe | Naja Faysal & Diana Melgar, Parrots Lab Media

    In this episode, Naja Faysal and Diana Melgar talk about something a lot of people struggle with but few admit openly… being afraid to show up on camera. They break down why it is so important to stop worrying about looking “cringe” and start creating anyway. If you are trying to grow your content, your personal brand, or your business, this mindset shift is everything. Showing your face, sharing your voice, and putting yourself out there is uncomfortable at first, but that is exactly where growth starts. Naja and Diana share how they personally got over that fear, how they trained themselves to feel more natural on camera, and what helped them build confidence over time. They also talk about the reality that everyone starts somewhere. No one is perfect at the beginning. They dive into the idea that criticism often comes from people who are not willing to take that same leap. When you are trying something new and putting yourself out there, you are already ahead of most people. This episode is also a look into their journey as the founders of Parrots Lab Media, how they are building their brand together, and what it is like growing a business as a married couple. If you have been holding back from creating content because of fear or overthinking, this conversation will push you to just start, stay authentic, and go for it.

    1h 3m

  2. 12/29/2025

    Why Most Law Firm Marketing Fails (And the Smarter Strategy That Works by Naja and Diana

    In this episode of the ParrotsLab podcast, Naja and Diana break down what actually works in modern marketing for law firms and service-based businesses and why the traditional “brute force” ad approach often fails. They explore the difference between short-term, expensive lead chasing and a smarter long-term strategy built on trust, visibility, and real relationships with the community. The conversation covers: Why most law firm marketing relies on inefficient, high-cost advertising The two-branch strategy ParrotsLab uses instead: lead generation + brand trust How giveaways, lead magnets, and email lists create warm leads over time Why valuable emails beat aggressive sales messaging How content builds “know, like, and trust” before clients ever need a lawyer The role of long-form and short-form video in personal branding Why relatability matters just as much as expertise Practical insights on CAC (Customer Acquisition Cost) and LTV (Lifetime Value) How business owners can evaluate marketing agencies without getting scammed A realistic, human approach to sales built on preparation, credibility, and listening They also touch on entrepreneurship, imposter syndrome, learning financial systems like QuickBooks, and why empowering business owners with knowledge is just as important as selling services. This episode is for: Lawyers and law firms Entrepreneurs and service-based business owners Anyone curious about ethical, long-term marketing strategies

    28 min

  3. 12/27/2025

    Naja Faysal & Dyiana on Getting HATE and Not Quitting

    The video is an episode of the "Taking the Leap" podcast, featuring Diana and Naja. The main topic of the episode is dealing with hateful messages and cyberbullying that the hosts have recently started receiving as content creators. Key points discussed: Receiving Hate: The hosts, Diana and Naja, acknowledge that receiving hateful messages, or "haters," has been a part of their journey. Naja states that he saw the negative responses while checking comments on ads they were running on the Meta ad platform. The comments included mocking their videos, making fun of them, and suggesting their service is a scam or spam.Perspective on Haters: The hosts view hateful comments as an indication that they are "moving the needle," reaching people, and making an impact. They note that even the most successful people have haters. They believe that people who write hate often hide behind a screen. Naja observed that the profiles of the haters often showed that they were not doing anything worthwhile with their lives.The Emotional Impact: While the logical brain expects and rationalizes the hate, there is a residual feeling that can be hurtful, demoralizing, and can make people feel like quitting. Naja admitted that even though he knew he should expect it, the negative experience shut down his day.Advice for Content Creators: The hosts advise that hateful comments are to be expected and welcomed. For the younger generation creating content, receiving the first wave of hateful messages can be devastating, leading to quitting. The hosts encourage people to double down during this moment, as it signifies that they are making a dent and affecting people.Action Over Ideas: The hosts emphasize that action is "so much better and so much more valuable than ideas". People may have a million suggestions, but the person putting in the action should let the haters hate, as it helps them develop thicker skin and motivates them.Constructive Criticism: They clarify that they welcome and crave constructive criticism. They are constantly iterating and improving their content based on feedback, which can come from constructive comments or platform analytics like click-through rate and watch time.Podcast Format: The hosts decide to focus on having a single-minded topic for every episode and aim for a run time of no more than 30 minutes.Positive Intentions: The hosts aim to keep "good vibes" and spread positivity, wanting to add value to others' lives.

    18 min

  4. 12/09/2025

    The Long Game of Marketing: Why 'Slow and Steady' ALWAYS Wins!

    We launched our first ad campaign last week—and the results surprised us (well, kind of). We tested AI-generated videos against real human-to-camera content to see what actually connects with people. Spoiler: one clearly outperformed the other. But beyond just the numbers, this episode digs into what we're learning about hooks, problem-solution frameworks, and why most marketing advice skips over the messy trial-and-error part. We also talk about why we joined BNI (Business Network International), what it's like building a referral-based sales team as a small business, and how showing up on camera—even when it feels awkward—creates trust faster than almost anything else. If you're running a business and trying to figure out content, ads, or just how to stop feeling like a robot on camera, this one's for you. What we cover: AI vs. human video ads: which one actually worked (and why)The three core components of an effective adHow we structure our content creation process (Sunday = creation day)What BNI is and why it's been a game-changer for referralsWhy we can't "save" your business—and what marketing agencies can actually doThe long game mindset: why marketing isn't a get-rich-quick scheme About Parrots Lab: We're a digital marketing and content creation studio that helps businesses show up online with intention. From video editing and social ads to full marketing strategy, we work with everyone from beginners to entrepreneurs ready to dominate their market. Want to work with us? Book a call: https://parrotslab.com

    43 min

  5. 12/03/2025

    Forget Websites | Build an Audience Instead

    This video provides essential `business tips` for any `entrepreneur`, challenging the common assumption about needing a website. The discussion highlights the importance of a clear `business strategy` and strong `sales` skills to truly understand `how to make money` from your online reach. Discover how to effectively convert audience attention into real financial gain.

    59 min

  6. 10/02/2025

    DIANA MELGAR's SHOCKING Decision to Leave Everything for Peace Corps

    In this episode, Diana opens up about her life-changing experience serving in Africa with the Peace Corps. She shares how stepping out of her comfort zone brought challenges, adventure, and a new perspective on life, service, and community. 🎙️ You’ll discover: Why she chose the Peace Corps and what the mission meant to her The real challenges of living and serving abroad Memorable stories of people, culture, and impact during her time in Africa How the experience continues to shape her values, family, and career today If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to serve in the Peace Corps or dreamed of exploring Africa, Diana’s journey will leave you inspired and motivated to make your own impact. 👉 Like, comment, and subscribe for more stories of courage, service, and transformation. #PeaceCorps #AfricaJourney #Podcast

    56 min

  7. 07/08/2025

    This Conversation Changed Everything for My Client!

    We're a couple running a content studio in the Inland Empire, and this week taught us something huge: you don't need thousands of views to land real clients.In this episode:How a 150-view video led to a $50K client opportunityMy first time editing (spoiler: 3 hours for our first clips)Why we're creating business content in the IE when nobody else isThe real reason Gary Vee records everythingWe're documenting our journey building Aspire Lab - no scripts, no fake wins, just the real process of growing a business together.New episodes every week where we share what we learned, what worked, and what totally didn't.🎙️ Recorded at our Inland Empire studio📍 Helping local businesses create content that matters💡 Because sometimes one view really is enough#inlandempire #businesspodcast #contentcreation #entrepreneurship #buildinpublic

    33 min

  8. 05/08/2025

    We Built What You Need

    You’re wearing too many hats—and marketing shouldn’t be one of them. In this episode, we take you behind the scenes of how we turned a dusty garage into a full-blown content studio designed for founders like you: ambitious, busy, and done trying to figure out marketing on your own.We talk about:1. Transforming our garage into a professional-grade content studio—DIY, grit, and late nights.2. Starting from scratch with limited resources and zero design experience.3. The emotional rollercoaster of launching a business as a married couple.4. Wearing too many hats—the reality of being an entrepreneur trying to juggle everything.5. Why most business owners lack visibility and don’t have time for consistent content.6. The gap we saw in the market—and how it inspired us to build a done-for-you content studio.7. Our mission to make marketing easier for business owners with small teams.8. Creating momentum without perfection—done is better than perfect.9. Building in public—why we’re sharing our journey episode by episode.10. Early wins, messy lessons, and staying present as we scale this dream into something bigger.Timestamps:00:00 – Transforming our garage into a professional-grade content studio 05:00 – Starting from scratch with limited resources and no design experience 10:00 – The emotional rollercoaster of launching a business as a married couple 15:00 – Wearing too many hats – the reality of entrepreneurs 20:00 – Why most business owners lack visibility and marketing consistency 25:00 – The gap we saw in the market and the studio we built in response 30:00 – Making marketing easier for small teams with done-for-you content 35:00 – Creating momentum without chasing perfection 40:00 – Building in public – why we’re documenting everything 45:00 – Early wins, messy lessons, and staying present while we scale

    45 min

  9. 04/25/2025

    TAKING THE LEAP: Our Journey into Business (NEW PODCAST)

    Welcome to the very first episode of Taking the Leap — a raw, honest podcast where my wife and I document our journey into entrepreneurship. In this episode, we talk about how fear almost stopped us, what finally pushed us to act, and what we’ve learned in our first 3 years running a business. No fluff, just the real deal. If you’ve ever thought about starting your own business, this is for you. Timestamps 00:00 – Why we started this podcast 01:20 – The fear that holds most people back 03:10 – Why we called it Taking the Leap 05:00 – Our backstory as a couple and co-founders 08:45 – Year 1: What went wrong 13:30 – What we wish we knew before starting 20:10 – How we divide roles in the business 27:50 – The mental side of being your own boss 34:15 – Marriage + business: What’s helped us 41:00 – Big lessons from Year 2 48:30 – What’s next for us

    53 min
  • 9 Episodes

About

Taking the Leap is a podcast that follows Naja Faysal and Diana Melgar as they document their journey into entrepreneurship. Each episode offers a candid look at what it’s really like to start and grow a business as a couple—from overcoming fear to navigating challenges and celebrating milestones. It’s made for aspiring founders, creatives, and anyone ready to take a risk on their dreams.

Information

  • Creator
    Naja Faysal and Diana Melgar
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    9
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Naja Faysal and Diana Melgar
  • Show Website
    Taking The Leap