The $10M Crypto Mistake That Led to Podcast Success | Erwin McManus DSH #916

Summary

Digital Social Hour Podcast Episode Summary Episode: The $10M Crypto Mistake That Led to Podcast Success | Erwin McManus DSH #916
Release Date: November 23, 2024
Host: Sean Kelly

---

Introduction

In episode #916 of the Digital Social Hour podcast, host Sean Kelly engages in a profound and candid conversation with guest Erwin McManus. This episode delves into Erwin's tumultuous journey through the cryptocurrency market, his subsequent venture into podcasting, and the personal transformations that accompanied these professional endeavors. The discussion not only highlights the challenges and setbacks encountered but also underscores the resilience and adaptability required to pivot successfully in the ever-evolving digital landscape.

---

Sean Kelly’s Podcasting Journey

Sean Kelly opens up about the exponential growth of his podcasting platform. Initially reliant on paid advertisements to gain traction, Sean transitioned to a content-driven growth strategy. Over two years, he ambitiously recorded 1,200 episodes, averaging 60 episodes per month and posting six times daily. This intensive schedule provided ample opportunities for viral content, significantly expanding his audience base.

“Years ago, I used to run a lot of paid ads, but lately, the growth has been through the podcast. I filmed 1200 episodes in two years... I got a lot of chances to go viral.”
— Sean Kelly at 02:14

This strategic shift underscores the importance of consistency and volume in content creation, allowing for diverse topics and guest appearances that cater to a wide array of listener interests.

---

Personal Growth and Transformation

A central theme of the episode is Erwin McManus’s personal evolution. Initially an atheist grappling with an unhealthy spiritual mindset, Erwin found solace and purpose through his podcasting journey. The process of interviewing various guests catalyzed his transformation, leading him to embrace a belief in a higher power.

“When I started this show, I was actually atheist and I was in a really unhealthy, in a bad spiritual mindset as well... I've had so many growths.”
— Sean Kelly at 03:04

Erwin shares that through these conversations, he not only improved his spiritual well-being but also experienced significant physical health benefits, such as enhanced immunity and overall wellness.

---

Navigating Controversial Topics and Censorship

The podcast addresses the complexities of discussing politically sensitive topics in today’s digital environment. Sean Kelly recounts instances where his content was censored or led to platform bans, particularly when tackling subjects like Big Pharma.

“I had Tulsi Gabbard on the show... there's certain things that are censored, whether it's politics. I've had on a lot of guests speak against Big Pharma and I've had YouTube strikes on my channel as a result of that.”
— Sean Kelly at 05:26

Despite these challenges, Sean remains undeterred, advocating for open dialogue while navigating the fine line to avoid being banned across platforms. He emphasizes the importance of featuring diverse viewpoints to foster balanced discussions.

“I'll have on both sides. So I'm very open... Mark Cuban even tweeted it out today. It's got 20 million views.”
— Sean Kelly at 08:10

---

Podcasting Strategy and Advice

Sean Kelly shares valuable insights for aspiring podcasters and social media influencers. His key strategies revolve around collaboration, consistency, and high-quality content production.

1. Collaboration: By adding guests as collaborators and tagging their business pages, Sean leverages their existing audiences to boost his own reach.

   “On all my clips, I add the guest as a collaborator and their Business pages. So I'm able to grow quick because I'm also using their audience to grow.”
   — Sean Kelly at 24:26

2. Quality Editing and Hooks: Emphasizing the importance of the first three seconds of any clip, Sean advises creating compelling hooks to capture viewers' attention immediately.

   “The most important thing with the clips is the first three seconds, the hook, because people are going to not watch the video if that's not interesting.”
   — Sean Kelly at 24:26

3. Consistent Posting: Maintaining a rigorous posting schedule is crucial for sustained growth. Sean advocates for posting multiple episodes weekly and ensures his content remains relevant by aligning with current trends, such as political discourse during election periods.

   “Start off with a bold statement in all your clips, something to keep people watching... post every day.”
   — Sean Kelly at 24:26

---

Future Goals and Vision

Looking ahead, Sean Kelly aspires to surpass Joe Rogan’s prolific podcasting record of 2,400 episodes within the next three years. This ambitious goal reflects his dedication to content creation and his desire to establish a dominant presence in the podcasting arena.

“I want to pass Rogan in episodes, so that's why I film a lot... That's a goal of mine in the next three years.”
— Sean Kelly at 22:36

On a personal front, Sean expresses his excitement about starting a family, anticipating marriage and the joys of parenthood in the near future.

“I want a family of kids, get married next year. I'm really excited for that chapter.”
— Sean Kelly at 23:15

---

Handling Negativity and Building a Support System

Sean Kelly candidly discusses the impact of negative feedback and trolling, especially after pivoting towards political content. To mitigate these challenges, he adheres to the 80/20 rule in his podcasts—spending 20% of the conversation time speaking and 80% allowing guests to share. This approach minimizes personal exposure to hate, as criticism often targets the guest rather than the host.

“I talk 20% and the guest talks 80%. So normally, if there was hate, they would fall on the guest.”
— Sean Kelly at 31:04

Furthermore, Sean emphasizes the importance of maintaining a close-knit support system. Having a handful of trusted individuals provides him with a reliable sounding board, ensuring that external negativity does not destabilize his personal and professional life.

“I keep it on one hand. Guys I could trust with my bank account, my life. I know they'll be there for me no matter what.”
— Sean Kelly at 32:36

---

Conclusion

This episode of the Digital Social Hour offers a deep dive into the intersections of personal adversity, strategic content creation, and the quest for spiritual fulfillment. Sean Kelly and Erwin McManus provide listeners with a narrative of resilience, highlighting how setbacks can serve as catalysts for meaningful transformation. The conversation not only serves as an inspiration for aspiring podcasters and entrepreneurs but also underscores the importance of authenticity, adaptability, and a supportive community in navigating the complexities of the digital age.

---

Notable Quotes

• Sean Kelly at 02:14:
  “I filmed 1200 episodes in two years. I do about 60 episodes a month and I'm posting six times a day, so I got a lot of chances to go viral.”

• Sean Kelly at 03:04:
  “When I started this show, I was actually atheist and I was in a really unhealthy, in a bad spiritual mindset as well. So I've just had so many growths.”

• Sean Kelly at 05:26:
  “I've had on a lot of guests speak against Big Pharma and I've had YouTube strikes on my channel as a result of that.”

• Sean Kelly at 08:10:
  “I'll have on both sides. So I'm very open... It's got 20 million views.”

• Sean Kelly at 24:26:
  “The most important thing with the clips is the first three seconds, the hook, because people are going to not watch the video if that's not interesting.”

• Sean Kelly at 22:36:
  “I want to pass Rogan in episodes, so that's why I film a lot.”

• Sean Kelly at 31:04:
  “So normally, if there was hate, they would fall on the guest.”

• Sean Kelly at 32:36:
  “Guys I could trust with my bank account, my life. I know they'll be there for me no matter what.”

---

This comprehensive summary encapsulates the essence of episode #916, providing readers with an insightful overview of the discussions and takeaways without needing to listen to the full episode.

Transcript

[Activia Spokesperson]

When your gut feels off, your whole day can feel off. Activia probiotic yogurts and dailies are a quick, easy and tasty way to up your gut health game every day. They're deliciously smooth and creamy and packed with billions of live and active probiotics. Your gut is where it all begins. So start with Activia. Enjoying Activia twice a day for two weeks as part of a balanced diet and healthy lifestyle can help reduce the frequency of minor digestive discomfort.

[Walmart Spokesperson]

Want to shop Walmart? Black Friday deals first. Walmart plus members get early access to our hottest deals. Join now and get 50 off a one year annual membership. Shop Black Friday deals first with Walmart plus see [e-mail] have you ever had.

[Host]

An interview where someone said something that totally caught you off guard and at first you felt like, I don't know if this is accurate or true or right, and then it changed your mind?

[Sean Kelly]

There's been a ton lately. Politics is hot on the show, so.

[Host]

Politics?

[Sean Kelly]

Yeah. We don't have to talk about that now.

[Host]

No, no, I'm going. I kind of want to know, well, what are some of the things that have stood out to you?

[Sean Kelly]

Yeah, well, we're in la, so I gotta be.

[Host]

You know, we have armed security that will help you out of the city. So, you know, hey, would you guys welcome Sean Kelly. Sean, first of all, I just gotta just, you know, shout out your swag.

[Sean Kelly]

Thank you.

[Host]

It's pretty amazing. The character on your hoodie looks like you.

[Sean Kelly]

Yeah, it is.

[Host]

And a younger version.

[Sean Kelly]

Yeah, you could say that.

[Host]

No. All right, so I met you when I went to Las Vegas. You invited me on your podcast, Digital Social Hour. It was an incredible experience and I just want to begin here. You have 11.3 million followers on Instagram. We're close. All right, you're ahead by 11 million. How did the journey begin to develop that kind of footprint in the social media space?

[Sean Kelly]

Yeah, well, I used to run a lot of paid ads, so years ago, that's how I grew. But lately the growth has been through the podcast. So I filmed 1200 episodes in two years. I do about 60 episodes a month and I'm posting six times a day, so I got a lot of chances to go viral. Wow.

[Host]

Anybody come in here thinking you're working too hard? Because that's over, right? That's over. You've had over 1200 interviews.

[Sean Kelly]

Yeah, 1200.

[Host]

That's amazing. So I have to ask you, all right, I mean, I know that our interview was like one of your favorites. So let's just put that one aside. Okay. And what were some of the most interesting interviews that you've experienced?

[Sean Kelly]

There's been so many. And I've had massive personal growth from the podcast. When I started this show, I was actually atheist and I was in a really unhealthy, in a bad spiritual mindset as well. So I've just had so many growths. So on the spiritual side, I'd say Mateus Destefano was a good one. Robert Edward Grant, Billy Carson, yourself, physically, Gary Breca changed my health. I used to get sick every single month, and I haven't been sick in two years now since I started. And then business wise, there's been so many. I've had on quite a few billionaires. Grant Cardone was good. Tai Lopez, all those guys. It's just been amazing to just grow from the podcast.

[Host]

And that's so good. When I was first connected with you, someone told me, there's this guy named Sean Kelly. He's really brilliant. He's an atheist, and which is why I wanted to go on your podcast. And I love making connections with people who are really bright, but also feel like very thoughtful and open. And that was my experience with you. Very, very much so. There are some people who are atheists and they don't care, and other people are atheists and they just don't know. And I think it's interesting because I don't know if you could be a good interviewer if you didn't keep your mind open to every possibility. Have you ever had an interview where someone said something that totally caught you off guard and at first you felt like, I don't know if this is accurate or true or right. And then it changed your mind.

[Sean Kelly]

Yeah, I mean, there's been a ton lately. Politics is hot on the show, so that's been kind of interesting. But politics? Yeah, we don't have to talk about that now.

[Host]

No, no, I'm going. I kind of want to know. I mean, Brendan Bouchard talked about. Anyway, so let's talk about politics. What are some of the things that have stood out to you? Just speak freely.

[Sean Kelly]

Yeah, well, we're in la, so I gotta be, you know.

[Host]

Yes, it's true, but we have. We have armed security that will help you out of the city. So just say whatever you want to say because life is short.

[Sean Kelly]

Well, I'll just speak on this. I had Tulsi Gabbard on the show.

[Host]

Okay.

[Sean Kelly]

And my TikTok got banned.

[Host]

Really?

[Sean Kelly]

Yeah.

[Host]

That really happens.

[Sean Kelly]

It really happens. So there's certain things that are censored, whether it's politics. I've had on a lot of guests speak against Big Pharma and I've had YouTube strikes on my channel as a result of that. And it's just something you got to deal with as a content creator.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Ryan Reynolds here for I guess my 100th mint commercial. No, no, no, no, no, no, don't. No, no, no. I mean, honestly, when I started this, I thought I only have to do like four of these. I mean, it's unlimited to Premium Wireless for $15 a month. How are there still people paying two or three times that much? Sorry, I shouldn't be victim blaming. Here, give it a [e-mail] save whenever you're ready.

[Activia Spokesperson]

$45 upfront payment equivalent to $15 per month.

[Shutterfly Spokesperson]

New customers on first three month plan only.

[Activia Spokesperson]

Taxes and fees, extra speed slower above 40 gigabytes. CD tails.

[Opill Spokesperson]

This episode is brought to you by Opill, the first over the counter daily birth control pill available in the U.S. opill is FDA approved, full prescription strength and estrogen free. Plus there's no prescription needed. Finally, the days of needing a prescription for birth control are over. Opill is available online and at most major retailers. Take control of your health and reproductive journey with opill Birth control in your control use code birth control for 25% off your first month of [e-mail].

[Host]

So there's a. Well, it's not even subtle.

[Sean Kelly]

No, it's not. I mean, they'll literally tell you. They'll show you the video, tell you the reason, and you're banned.

[Host]

Wow. So you know that there's almost a compliance that's implied for whatever we talk about in social media. And if you don't align with the expected narrative, you're going to get banned.

[Sean Kelly]

Yeah, with certain platforms for sure.

[Host]

So does that make you want to talk about those things less or more?

[Sean Kelly]

I'm very curious. So I dive even more into it. But at a certain point, you can't get too into it or else you'll end up like Alex Jones and you're banned everywhere.

[Host]

So. And we know that our nation leads the way globally for free speech and that our government would certainly never try to limit us from asking questions and having dissenting perspectives. But have you found a way around that?

[Sean Kelly]

So the cool thing about my show is I'll have on both sides. Okay. I had on a gentleman two days ago. It's going super viral today. I'm getting blasted everywhere. His Name was David Pakman, and he's a super liberal guy, so I had him on the whole show. He just roasted me, basically.

[Host]

But that doesn't get banned, does it?

[Sean Kelly]

That did not get banned.

[Host]

No. Right. Because anything liberal does not get banned.

[Sean Kelly]

But, yeah, it's blowing up. Mark Cuban even tweeted it out today. It's got 20 million views. So I'll have on both sides. So I'm very open, you know, so.

[Host]

Have you thought about. Okay, so the far left isn't going to get banned. Anything to the right of the middle is going to get banned. So why don't you have them both on at the same time? A debate, just a conversation.

[Sean Kelly]

I'm down.

[Host]

I'm down because I think that might be some way to avoid getting banned on TikTok and other social media platforms. And you're creating an environment for brilliant conversation.

[Sean Kelly]

I'd love that. I think debate in the right setting is very valuable, actually.

[Host]

I think we're onto something. How many would enjoy something like that? Because with your level of influence, the number of people who are listening to your voice are paying attention to the things you're paying attention to, you could really create a tipping point for our own culture to begin to have conversations together that are so necessary.

[Sean Kelly]

No, I agree. It's. A lot of people ask me how to get more views, but even just 500 views, that's this room right here. So with millions of views, it's even more and more impactful. For sure. I agree with that.

[Host]

I love that you just told me before we came on that our show, I guess one of the clips had over a million views.

[Sean Kelly]

Yeah.

[Host]

Which clip was that?

[Sean Kelly]

It was about your near death experience. Thank you for being vulnerable on the show. I think that's important. Some guests come off really closed off, but you were very open. Open about battling that disease. So thank you.

[Host]

Oh, thank you. What I noticed when I was there is that it seems so easy for you. I mean, do you get nervous before you do a podcast?

[Sean Kelly]

Sometimes. I think it's human nature to be a little nervous with certain guests. But on paper, I shouldn't even be good at podcasting because I'm an introvert. I had agoraphobia. I have autism. I have all these conditions. I grew up with a lot of childhood trauma. So you could either use that as an excuse or you can just learn from it, address that trauma and heal and move on.

[Host]

I love that. By the way, if there's a consistent theme throughout the day, is that every successful person who's been up here is really dysfunctional. I think being somewhat unexpected is a great advantage in a world where everyone tries to be expected. And so I feel like maybe one of the great gifts that you receive without knowing it is that you were born outside of the box.

[Sean Kelly]

Yeah, just be yourself. My whole life up until college, I was pretending to be someone I wasn't, and it was just not fulfilling, you know? And growing up pretty atheist was a lonely road. I'd say looking back on it now.

[Host]

Where do you think you are now in that journey, if I could ask?

[Sean Kelly]

I definitely believe in something. I mean, there's a higher power for sure.

[Host]

We're going to have some wonderful conversations, and I am just so excited, and I'm glad we're beginning it here and because interestingly enough, there's this guy that's had, like a tremendous influence on my life, and his name is Jesus, and he. A lot of people think that what Jesus would say is, if you found the truth, you're in the best position. But that's actually not what he says.

[Shutterfly Spokesperson]

He says the holiday season officially starts when you get that first card in the mail. Shutterfly makes it easy to add more meaning to the everyday with hundreds of holiday card designs that can be personalized in seconds with your favorite photos from this year. Select your greeting, customize the color, and even add little extras like personalized foil to make a holiday card that really shines. Enjoy 40% off with code. Smile [e-mail] and send something meaningful this year. See Cite for more details.

[Host]

If you are seeking the truth, you're in the best position. And being a seeker is the ideal posture to God. And a huge problem with religion is that people convince themselves they've already found everything, so they lose. The highest value of spirituality is openness, curiosity to be a seeker. So ironically, Sean, someone here could actually believe in God and be further away from God than you, who are open and searching for God.

[Sean Kelly]

That's crazy to think about.

[Host]

So tell us a little bit. All right. I feel like you're a little bit of an enigma. 11 million people follow you, but I wonder how many people know you. What were some of the key moments in your life that have shaped you? Before you went public, before you had the digital social hour? What were some of the things that brought you to that point?

[Sean Kelly]

Yeah, I grew up watching Rogan a lot, so that definitely played a role in why I wanted to become a podcaster. And I also failed at podcasting. Five years ago, I started a show a complete Flop. It Was terrible. So I had that chip on my shoulder, I think, to want to get back into it and succeed. And just starting the show, I was in a pretty dark place. So even though I had financial wealth, I had just sold a company.

[Host]

Tell us about that. Take a step backwards for us.

[Sean Kelly]

Right? So I was a crypto nerd. I made good money with crypto, and I had a crypto company, which I.

[Host]

Actually made money on crypto.

[Sean Kelly]

I made and lost money on crypto.

[Host]

Okay, okay, okay. So thank you for the honesty.

[Sean Kelly]

Gotta be honest, most people lose money in crypto, so just gotta state that. And I lost a ton. So I had all this money at age 25. I could have retired, but I actually felt probably the worst I've ever felt. So it was a weird dynamic. I had no purpose at that time, and I ended up losing all the money right before I started the show. So it was over $10 million, which I lost in crypto. Wow.

[Host]

So there was a point where you had 10 million in crypto.

[Sean Kelly]

Yeah. Then there was a few big bankruptcies that happened, like Celsius, FTX. And combine that with crypto just going down 80, 90%, I lost all that. So then shortly after that, started the podcast and was just having conversations that led to me kind of finding purpose in life, and that's where I'm at now.

[Host]

Do you remember your first podcast?

[Sean Kelly]

I do. I'm not sure if this is the right setting for it.

[Host]

Oh, it really, really is, but I can. I'm feeling it. I feel like I know where you're going, but go ahead, tell us.

[Sean Kelly]

It was an onlyfans girl.

[Host]

Was that for a personal ambition or for a podcast interview?

[Sean Kelly]

She's. She's a barber. She sits on your lap while she cuts your hair.

[Host]

That's quite impressive.

[Sean Kelly]

That's why I had her on.

[Host]

Did she cut your hair while she was doing the show?

[Sean Kelly]

No, my girl wouldn't let me.

[Host]

All right, so how many views did that first podcast have?

[Sean Kelly]

20 million.

[Host]

If you're looking for takeaways. And here's someone literally said to me, no one can figure out how sean went from 0 to 20 or 30 million. Now we know. And so I'm just curious, what was your second interview? How do you follow an Olifans barber and have 20 million followers and know that the next person is basically a throwaway?

[Sean Kelly]

I don't remember the second one.

[Host]

Yeah, I knew it. I knew it. Oh, all right. So somewhere along the way, as you began gaining momentum, because you had a lot of momentum, but imagine it was hard to hold onto it for a bit.

[Sean Kelly]

Yeah. I couldn't find another girl like her, so.

[Host]

Yeah, you could have found an OnlyFans chef. There's just so many ways you could have gone. But what was the first significant interview where it took some courage or it was unexpected that you would ask that person, they would say yes.

[Sean Kelly]

The first one I remember being really nervous for this one was Howie Mandela. So I actually flew out here for that one. It was my first time traveling, and it was really early on in the show. We weren't that big yet, so he kind of took a chance on me. So that was the first breakthrough. I'd say Howie Mandel.

[Host]

And he has a lot of phobias, right?

[Sean Kelly]

Yeah. He's a germaphobe, so you're not allowed to give handshakes or touch him.

[Host]

That's what I thought. So did you go to his house?

[Sean Kelly]

He has a studio out here.

[Host]

And is it all white?

[Sean Kelly]

Yeah, it's super clean.

[Host]

I thought so. And because our building is all white, and so I think I understand the backdrop thinking, but. So when you interviewed Howie Mandel, how did you decide what was the critical question you had to ask him?

[Sean Kelly]

Yeah, so that's another reason I think the show does well is I ask questions. Normally they haven't been asked. Hopefully I did that on our episode, and that's because I watch, like 5 to 10 of their previous interviews, and I read their books, and I use AI to come up with some interesting questions. So I just take the time to prepare. But that was a tough one because a lot of celebrities are PR trained, so you kind of have to break them. So I didn't really feel like it turned into a podcast until like, an hour in, honestly.

[Host]

Yeah, I think it's interesting because asking questions is a. I think a greater art form than answering questions, because you can prepare for answering questions if you have a good group of people who can grill you with good questions. But I think asking questions takes a level of interest and curiosity that most people don't have.

[Sean Kelly]

Yeah, I think it's learnable, though, because if you look back on my first few episodes, I was terrible. So you could definitely get better through repetition, but it's definitely something that is tough to just have right off the bat.

[Host]

I can tell you, when I went on your show, I expected the conversation to go in one direction, and it went a completely different direction. And I kept thinking to myself, I didn't know we were going this way. I wonder if we're ever going to go that way, and then we were done. And I thought that was a really interesting experience for me, because a lot of times when you do interviews, you've heard the questions a thousand times before. You can almost know ahead of time where it's going and what's going to happen. And so you don't even necessarily have to turn on that part of your brain that has to think in a fresh and new way. And you did have an ability just to take it someplace that was unexpected. And I think the difference for me was you actually seemed interested. And not only do I think that that's a skill set and a talent, but it's actually a gift you give people, because when you interview someone and you communicate to them that you're actually interested in their story, interested in their life, interested in what they have to share, you're actually giving that person so much value and saying that what you bring actually matters to me.

[Sean Kelly]

Yeah, I definitely learn a lot from the guests personally, but I also think in terms of how can I use their message and help other people? So that's how I frame my questions, and that's how I upload the content as well. Even with Ali Webb, who came on this morning, I thought we were going to talk about dry bar building, a $250 million business, but we were talking about all the trauma she's been through and with her kids and with failed marriages, and it was just a really impactful episode.

[Host]

And by the way, Allie, I thought your conversation with Aaron today was extraordinary. It was really, really beautiful. And I was sitting there listening, thinking about our Mind Shift podcast, and I realized, oh, wow, I'm the liability. And the way you guys interacted, the way the chemistry, the energy was just really, really beautiful. It was really wonderful. Sean, I want to ask you about your Future, because you're 25, you made 10 million, you lost 10 million, which puts you in a rare group of people that can lose 10 million. So I want you to know, because I had a time in my life where I lost a few million somewhere between 6 and 10. It was hard to. And I got a little depressed, and I couldn't eat for a little while, and I lost so much weight. I looked awesome. And I remember I had this thought, wow, I'm in a rare group. Very few people can lose $10 million. So rather than seeing it as, look what a dismal failure you are, I put it in a different category. Look what a unique human being you are. You get a story very few people have, and you've reinvented yourself along the way. You've added new skill sets. You now have this massive platform. But I want to ask you about your future because I sense that you're still a person who's in the middle of your journey. You're still trying to figure out the fullness of who you are and what you want to accomplish in your life. Tell us a little bit about, like, what are some of your dreams? If you could just have an ideal future or create some of the things that you long for most. What does that look like?

[Sean Kelly]

Yeah, great question. I want to pass Rogan in episodes, so that's why I film a lot. That's the main reason now he's at 2400. He has the world record. So that's a goal of mine in the next three years.

[Host]

Who has the world record?

[Sean Kelly]

Joe Rogan.

[Host]

Of course he does.

[Sean Kelly]

He got a 15 year head start.

[Host]

Yeah. And he has 2400.

[Sean Kelly]

2400 episodes.

[Host]

So you're already halfway there.

[Sean Kelly]

Halfway there.

[Host]

So if you actually just started putting some effort in and giving up things like sleep, you could really. You could accomplish that.

[Sean Kelly]

I went through that phase. I'm not giving up sleep anymore, though. I got an eight sleep mattress. It tracks all my sleep now.

[Host]

Oh, wow.

[Sean Kelly]

Yeah, I love my sleep now, but no, I want a family of kids, get married next year. I'm really excited for that chapter.

[Host]

Getting married next year.

[Sean Kelly]

Yeah.

[Host]

Congratulations.

[Sean Kelly]

Thank you.

[Host]

Wonderful.

[Sean Kelly]

Yeah. But, yeah, so I'm. I probably have 1/10 of net worth I had when I lost all that money right now, but I'm the happiest and most fulfilled I've ever been, which is crazy. And I think a large part of that. Yeah, I think a large part of that is definitely the podcast and just inspiring people, educating people, meeting people, learning. So much information. So I love the journey I'm at. We'll see where I'm at in three to five years.

[Host]

That's beautiful. All right, how many of you, I'm just kind of curious, would love to increase your social media presence? I'm just kind of curious how many of that's important to you. Some of you would be like, what? Social media? But that's most of the room, actually. So could you take a few minutes and just mentor the room, Talk to us? If we want to build our brand, if we want to expand our influence, our voice, where would you tell us to begin and what are some steps you'd give us along the way?

[Sean Kelly]

Definitely collaboration. So on all my clips, I add the guest as a collaborator and their Business pages. So I'm able to grow quick because I'm also using their audience to grow. You need really good editors. And the most important thing with the clips is the first three seconds, the hook, because people are going to not watch the video if that's not interesting. So start off with a bold statement in all your clips, something to keep people watching. And you just need to get the reps in. You're not going to get views right off the bat. I got. So the thing with that OnlyFans girl is I planned that out. It wasn't by chance. I knew I had to start my podcast with a bang, with something unique, so that's why I had her on first.

[Host]

Bang could mean so many different things.

[Sean Kelly]

So just be strategic with who you're collabing with and post every day. I mean, I see people doing one podcast a week, which is fine, but you won't have the level of growth that people that post every day have.

[Host]

All right, so maybe I'm unclear. How many podcasts do you post a week?

[Sean Kelly]

21.

[Host]

Okay, you post 21 podcasts a week. What is the average length of each podcast?

[Sean Kelly]

30 to 45 minutes.

[Host]

Anybody really good at math? And if you're posting 21 podcasts a week, how many hours a week do you spend filming?

[Sean Kelly]

I do 10 to 15 episodes a week, so about 10 to 15 hours.

[Host]

Is it all in one day or two days?

[Sean Kelly]

Or two days? Sometimes three days.

[Host]

You just do them back to back to back to back?

[Sean Kelly]

Yeah, I like to stack my days. That way, the rest of the week, I could focus on the other aspects of the business.

[Host]

That's why you kicked me out right after. Like, because you didn't have time to.

[Sean Kelly]

Say hello, there was another guest after you.

[Host]

Yeah, yeah, I felt that, you know, it was like when it was speed dating, but I got the rejections. Like, boom, I'm out, you know, and.

[Sean Kelly]

That'S a change I've made recently. So I used to do 30 minute blocks, but now I block out an hour because I want to spend time before and after with the guests, because that's where the value is.

[Host]

So do you ever take time to, like, have coffee or dinner with your guests?

[Sean Kelly]

Yeah, so I just made that change too. Once or twice a week. I'll go out to dinner with the guests too, because I used to just.

[Host]

I would love to take you out to there.

[Sean Kelly]

Yeah, next time we will.

[Host]

No, it's so, so good. All right, so post a lot of content. Maybe not quite as much as you're posting.

[Sean Kelly]

Yeah, probably not six a day, but aim for one a day to start and see if you can handle that. Have really good editors. My editors are all in the US I don't cheap out on other countries because there's a language barrier when they're clipping up the content and they won't catch on to certain things that will go viral.

[Host]

Do you post at the exact same time every day?

[Sean Kelly]

There's peak hours. Everyone's different. You can look at your analytics. Mine are in the Morning on YouTube is the best time, and on Instagram, it's the afternoon.

[Host]

And if you're posting every day, does that reduce the number of views they get?

[Sean Kelly]

Yeah, but it's worth it because once one video goes viral, it's not relevant off your followers. 90% of the views will come from non followers, so I'm willing to take that chance.

[Host]

So you're just throwing a lot of hooks out into the ocean and catching as many fish and not knowing which one's going to actually go viral.

[Sean Kelly]

I follow the trend. So politics is hot, like we mentioned earlier. So I'm doing a lot of those videos the next month until the election, and then we'll see what's next.

[Host]

Okay, so going back to politics and. No. How many interviews do you think you've had with people in the political arena?

[Sean Kelly]

About 30 right now, but I'm doing 20 next week at this Republican event. Okay. It'll be 50 soon.

[Host]

50. All right. You guys want to know, like, I just want to know, like, we're not going to hold you to this. From all your interviews and interactions, do you have a sense of where the election is going? Uh, I mean, we're just having fun.

[Sean Kelly]

Yeah.

[Host]

No, no one's really listening. Okay. This isn't being filmed, and it's not gonna be edited and sent across the world, so don't worry about it. And actually will be.

[Sean Kelly]

But we know which way is Cali going. We know which way.

[Host]

So, yeah, you don't have to worry about California.

[Sean Kelly]

Yeah, I think Trump's gonna win, though.

[Host]

Wow. Very interesting. Very interesting.

[Sean Kelly]

And that's just based off there's markets where you could place bets. Real money behind the bet. So he's favored to win by 5% right now.

[Host]

Yeah. It's funny, most people look at polls. I also look at Vegas.

[Sean Kelly]

Yeah, numbers don't lie in Vegas, money.

[Host]

Is more honest than politics. And so when you look where people are putting the money, you have a much clearer view of people's values. That is really fascinating. And. And from your interviews, I Didn't know we were going in this direction, but we both said we're going to go any direction we're going to go. What do you think are the really critical issues that people are concerned about?

[Sean Kelly]

Based off my interviews, probably the border, the immigrants, healthcare, always the abortion stuff as well, and taxes a little bit. But the border, I feel like, is the one. And the tariffs, I feel like people are talking about those a lot.

[Host]

That's fascinating. Now, tariffs, that could go both ways, right? Because Trump has said he would do. He would create tariffs. And of course, we know Biden Harris also have.

[Sean Kelly]

I'm scared of this word because this is why I'm going viral right now. The tariff word. People are destroying me.

[Host]

Oh, really?

[Sean Kelly]

Yeah. Okay.

[Host]

When we say tariffs, we mean something different than whatever gets banned. And, yeah, it's not that word. No, not that word. No, no. You should never be banned for having a conversation.

[Sean Kelly]

Yeah. So I look at all the hate comments and I don't let it affect me, which is great, because years ago I would have, but I'm at such a great place now where it doesn't really, you know, scare me or anything. I'm still willing to have conversations.

[Host]

That's actually a really good question. As you were growing and building a voice, was there a season where the negative comments were really getting to you? Did you ever feel incredibly affected by the negativity and the trolls and the attacks you might get?

[Sean Kelly]

I was able to isolate myself pretty well because I have an 8020 rule on the podcast, so I talk 20% and the guest talks 80%. So normally, if there was hate, they would fall on the guest. But since I jumped into politics, I am starting to get some hate. But it's fine. You know, politics is a very dividing thing, so I'm okay with it.

[Host]

I'm sure we will get some kind of feedback for this. And when Aaron and I do the Mind Shift podcast, it's amazing what statement will create intense emotional reactions. And I always find it's fascinating because sometimes we'll say, people let me know how disappointed they are in me. And I think, well, you weren't disappointed up to five minutes ago. Like, I was kind of, like, awesome to you up to, like, now. But this one statement has disqualified every good thing I ever did before. And that's one of the reasons I've had to, like, really, in my own mind, remind myself, don't let the people who don't know you. Don't let their compliments make you arrogant, and don't let their insults make you insecure. You worry about the people who are close to you. And if the people who know you are telling you you're a jerk, then you're a jerk. And if the people who know you are telling you we trust you, then you're trustworthy. Those are the people that you really need to pay attention to. Do you have a small group of people in your life that you use as sounding board even as you create these different podcasts and have these different conversations?

[Sean Kelly]

Yeah, very small. I keep it on one hand. And when I was living a fake Persona, I tried to have as many friends as possible. I thought that was what I should be doing in school and college and stuff. And that's just not the right way to approach friendship. So now I keep it on one hand. Guys I could trust with my bank account, my life. I know they'll be there for me no matter what.

[Host]

Sean, I know that this was an unexpected event for you, and it really happened very spontaneously because he didn't really remember, because, you know, as he was ushering me out of the room for the next podcast, and I took a moment and I said, sean, we have an event called the Arena. I would love for you to come as one of our guests. And you said, sure.

[Sean Kelly]

I did. Once. You told me back there, I remembered, but because I filmed so many episodes, I'm just.

[Host]

I know. And one of the things I've learned is that when you're around a person that's really unique, if you have an opportunity to invite them into your world, just take it. All they can do is say no, and you'll be okay. But I wanted to thank you that even though we only had those 30 minutes of encounters, that you said yes, and that you took the time to come out of your way and to be here with us in the Arena. We're really, really grateful. Can you guys thank Sean Kelly? Expl.