I got scammed online. Or is it a scam?

I wanted to buy something for the office and tried to avoid Chinese websites.
Found a local website, chatted with them on WhatsApp, placed my order, and waited.

A few days later, I received a message from AliExpress.
Apparently, I bought from a dropshipping website that charged me almost four times what the product costs on AliExpress.

I feel cheated.

Scam? Cool or not? Let me know.

In today’s Storyletter:
• How to use podcasts to build relationships
• Get with the program: Building in Public
• Fun stuff: weekend music and trailers

Key learning

If every metric we measure is numbers, AI can replace us.
But if one of our metrics is building networks and meaningful relationships, you’ll scale the right way.

One of my favorite marketing tools is podcasting.
To be more specific, it’s getting on the right podcasts and sharing knowledge.

But one thing I always notice is that people misunderstand the concept, or the reason why podcasting is such a powerful tool.
It’s a chance to put your brand in front of someone else’s audience.
It’s a great way to create content while building authority.
But more than anything, it’s about building relationships.

In a recent podcast, I asked my client to come prepared, to listen to a few relevant episodes.
When the episode started, we made sure he thanked the host and gave him a shoutout on his own channels to his audience.
After the show, they kept talking, and something clicked.
They’re now planning the next episode and even a webinar for the host’s community.

So simple. So easy. Yet most people go on shows, talk, talk, talk, but never listen or acknowledge the hard work the hosts put in.

Another great thing about podcasting is that we can reach out to former guests, tell them we were both featured, and make a connection.
No need to sell or push. Just say hello, share what you loved, and offer help or collaboration.

So, are you ready to build relationships over the next few months?
Ready to leverage podcasting?

Building in public

I’m committed, to myself.
I know, it sounds a bit odd, but hear me out.

Over the past week, I’ve started to onboard a team to help me with uploading content and video editing at scale. I’ve made the plan, organized all my previous videos, filed the content whether shorts or blogs, and it’s time to go.

Next week, we’ll start working on my updated website. We begin with a new color scheme, home page, lead magnet, and a few other upgrades. The next step will be to structure the full content plan.

We all know that feeling when we missed out. We should have started earlier, we should have bought Bitcoin, or we should have started writing, posting, or vlogging years ago.

I might have missed out on all those opportunities, but I’m here now. Ready to take on this challenge, and I hope you’ll hold me accountable.

The goal?
Using my show The Business Storyteller and this newsletter, I want to help more people scale their businesses while creating more content than ever before.

Episode 3 just recorded.

Travel update:
At the end of November, I’ll be flying to Chicago and New York to meet clients. If you’re around, ping me. Happy to chat or meet.

Commitment starts small, but it’s what keeps everything moving.

Just for Fun

The Fun Library

🎧 Music
This week’s newsletter was created while listening to Deep Focus

listen

🎬 Wave of AI While Dancing
This mind-bending experimental short film is only two minutes long, but I really enjoyed it

watch

🍿 Resurrection
This trailer looks out of this world. Launching December 12^th

see

Resources

📺 How to win the SEO game and AI search in 2025 - Full episode here

💡 The Business Storytelling Guide - A complete guide on how to implement storytelling to improve your business quickly. Available here 

📕 My Amazon best-selling book F*ck The Slides - How to Create a Winning Pitch. Available here: Kindle/Print/Audio

📺 My YOUTUBE Channel: Interviews, tips and some fun content Available here