Podcast
Right About Now - Legendary Business Advice
Hosted by The Radcast Network · EN
The #1 Marketing & Business Show on Apple Podcasts
Welcome to Right About Now, where real American business gets a megaphone—and the B.S. gets the boot.
Hosted by marketing disrupter Ryan Alford, entrepreneur, founder, and the guy brands call when they want attention, this show slices through the noise with uncensored insights, hard-earned wisdom, and straight-up truths from the frontlines of business.
Every week, you’ll get two punchy Guest episodes where Ryan talks with legendary business founders, trending authors, and industry titans about what it takes to build a business and some of the most cutting edge tools and services available.
Forget the LinkedIn fluff. This is for doers, builders, and dreamers who want results, not recycled soundbites.
Business the way it really works. Real people. Real wins. Real screw-ups.
No MBA required. Just guts, hustle, and a sense of humor.
Subscribe, listen, and get Right About Now.
Because business isn’t broken—it’s just been boring & stale. Until now.
195episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Building a $25M Business From the Attention Economy with Dan Novaes
2d ago00:30:23Summary readyMode Mobile co-founder and CEO Dan Novaes joins Ryan Alford for a conversation about entrepreneurship, business pivots and turning smartphone activity into income. Dan shares how his instinct for finding overlooked opportunities took him from selling Pokémon cards as a kid to building a multimillion-dollar international electronics business before he finished college.Ryan and Dan unpack the creation of Mode Mobile, its growth from less than $100,000 in revenue to more than $25 million by 2022, and the development of an operating system that rewards people for everyday mobile activity. Dan explains why consumer attention becomes significantly more valuable when paired with action and how that relationship creates measurable value for users, advertisers and technology partners.The conversation also explores launching the EarnPhone, the challenges of entering the hardware business, the danger of pursuing growth at all costs and why Dan views the ability to pivot as his greatest entrepreneurial skill.TOPICS COVERED• Dan Novaes’ early entrepreneurial ventures • Building a $2 million business during college • The creation and growth of Mode Mobile • How EarnPhone and EarnOS work • Smartphone habits and the attention economy • How brands value consumer attention and action • Knowing when to pivot a business model • Hardware, software and licensing partnerships • Profitable growth versus growth at all costs • Mode Mobile’s future and potential IPO plansCONNECT WITH DAN NOVAESMode Mobile: https://www.modemobile.com/EarnPhone: https://www.modephone.com/Mode Mobile Investment Information: https://invest.modemobile.com/Dan Novaes on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielnovaesMode Mobile on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/modemobile/CONNECT WITH RYAN ALFORDRight About Now: https://www.ryanisright.com/Instagram and LinkedIn:@ryanalfordYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@RightAboutNowwithRyanAlford
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How One Book Generated $7M in Sales | Selfpublishing.com with Chandler Bolt
6d ago00:23:35Summary readyChandler Bolt, founder and CEO of SelfPublishing.com, joins Ryan Alford for a tactical conversation about writing, publishing, and using a book to grow a business. Chandler shares the eight milestones his team uses to move authors from an idea to a finished launch and explains the four Ps behind a book that connects with the right reader.Ryan pushes on the questions entrepreneurs actually care about: how much publishing costs, how long the process takes, whether self-publishing beats traditional publishing, and what kind of ROI a book can realistically create. Chandler explains how the right book can generate leads, strengthen sales conversations, increase referrals, train customers and teams, and continue producing value years after publication.The conversation also challenges the obsession with bestseller lists and makes the case that for a business owner, revenue, authority and impact are far more important metrics of success.TOPICS COVERED• Self-publishing vs. traditional publishing • Chandler Bolt’s eight publishing milestones • The MORE writing method • The four Ps of positioning a book • Publishing costs, time and ROI • Using books to generate leads and close sales • Books as authority and credibility assets • Print books vs. ebooks • Why business outcomes matter more than bestseller listsCONNECT WITH CHANDLER BOLTSelfPublishing.com: https://selfpublishing.com/Episode Offer / Consultation: https://selfpublishing.com/writeaboutnowInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/realchandlerbolt/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chandlerbolt/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ChandlerBoltOfficialCONNECT WITH RYAN ALFORDRight About Now: https://www.ryanisright.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ryanalford/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-alford/
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Earn Attention, Don’t Steal It: Steve Pratt on Creative Bravery and Better Marketing
1w ago00:28:53Summary readySteve Pratt joins Ryan Alford to explain why brands can no longer force people to pay attention. As the author of Earn It and co-founder of Pacific Content, Steve has spent decades studying what makes audiences willingly choose, remember and return to content.The conversation explores why traditional advertising metrics often reward weak marketing, how short-term thinking undermines long-term growth and why valuable content should feel like a genuine gift to its audience. Steve shares his framework for creative bravery and explains how brands can connect their expertise to content people would consume even if the company name disappeared.Ryan and Steve also discuss niche audiences, branded podcasts and the difference between paying for impressions and paying to generate an actual sample. This episode offers a practical strategy for marketers, founders and creators trying to stand out without becoming another interruption.Topics CoveredSteve Pratt’s career in television, music and podcastingThe creation of Pacific ContentWhy the traditional media and advertising model brokeEarning attention in an unlimited-content economyCreative bravery and memorable marketingConnecting audience value to business outcomesWhy sales-driven content destroys trustMarketing to prospects who are not ready to buySuper-serving an underserved audienceDesigning a distinctive content formatPromoting content to smaller, qualified audiencesCost per sample versus traditional CPMBuilding an audience that chooses to returnConnect With Steve PrattSteve Pratt: https://www.stevepratt.com/Earn It book page: https://www.stevepratt.com/bookBuy Earn It on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Earn-Unconventional-Strategies-Brave-Marketers/dp/177458476XSteve on LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/steveprattcaThe Creativity Business: https://creativitybusiness.substack.com/Connect With Ryan AlfordRight About Now: https://www.ryanisright.com/Ryan Alford: https://www.ryanalford.com/Ryan on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ryanalford/
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Build Wealth the Boring Way: Passive Income, Trust and Better Leads With Dani Lynn Robison
2w ago00:28:59Summary readyDani Lynn Robison joins Ryan Alford to explain why lasting wealth is usually built through consistent, repetitive decisions instead of exciting short-term opportunities. From working as a musician on cruise ships to building Freedom Family Investments and Oodles of Leads, Dani’s career has been shaped by learning where her strengths create the most value.She explains why many aspiring landlords eventually become passive investors, how clear communication earns investor trust and why entrepreneurs should resist expanding into businesses they do not want to operate. Dani and Ryan also explore customer retention, lead nurturing and the long-term value businesses lose by constantly chasing new prospects.The conversation closes with a practical discussion about passive real estate, artificial intelligence and building financial freedom without abandoning the work that gives your life purpose.Topics CoveredFinding opportunity outside your original careerMentorship, consistency and following proven systemsFear of failure versus fear of successBuilding teams with true leadersPassive real estate and professionally managed investmentsTrust, transparency and investor communicationThe danger of chasing every new opportunityVertical integration versus building around core strengthsLead generation for home-service businessesNurturing existing leads and customersBuilding lifetime customer valueAI as a business tool instead of a replacement for human judgmentConnect With Dani Lynn RobisonFreedom Family Investments: https://freedomfamilyinvestments.com/Book a conversation: https://chatwithfreedom.com/Dani on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/danilynnrobison/Dani on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danilynnrobisonOodles of Leads: https://oodlesofleads.com/Connect With Ryan Alford https://www.ryanisright.com/ https://www.ryanalford.com/ https://www.instagram.com/ryanalford/
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How to Turn AI Into Real Business Value | Liat Ben-Zur
2w ago00:21:34Summary readyLiat Ben-Zur, author of The Bias Advantage, joins Ryan Alford for a direct conversation about why artificial intelligence is exposing fragile leadership, broken workflows and unclear accountability. Drawing on her experience leading technology transformations at Microsoft, Philips and Qualcomm, Liat explains why most unsuccessful AI initiatives are organizational failures rather than technology failures.Together, Ryan and Liat examine the difference between adopting AI and creating measurable business value. Liat outlines how leaders can begin with valuable problems, redesign workflows, establish clear ownership, build guardrails and stop experiments that fail to produce results.The conversation also explores why judgment, ethical clarity, adaptability and the ability to recognize missing context will define effective leadership in an AI-driven world.TOPICS COVEREDWhy AI initiatives fail to generate business valueThe organizational problems technology cannot solveMeasuring outcomes instead of AI usageCreating accountability across every business functionRedesigning workflows around artificial intelligenceKnowing when to stop an AI experimentWhy judgment is becoming the new leadership advantageHow AI exposes outdated talent and decision-making modelsThe risks of incomplete or biased training dataWhy leaders must remain accountable for machine-generated decisionsUnconventional leadership in the AI eraThe ideas and frameworks inside The Bias AdvantageCONNECT WITH LIAT BEN-ZURWebsite:https://liatbenzur.com/The Bias Advantage:https://liatbenzur.com/thebiasadvantage/LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/lbenzurCONNECT WITH RYAN ALFORD AND RIGHT ABOUT NOWRight About Now:https://www.ryanisright.com/Apple Podcasts:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/right-about-now-legendary-business-advice/id1346054199Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/show/0gy9HkTiwpAAgu1DFyIW9hYouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@RightAboutNowwithRyanAlfordRyan Alford:https://www.ryanalford.com/Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/ryanalford/
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The Science of Going Viral: Why Storytelling Beats Algorithms and AI
3w ago00:32:34Summary readyGoing viral once can be luck, but doing it repeatedly requires a system. Brendan Kane, founder of Hook Point and author of The Guide to Going Viral, joins Ryan Alford to reveal the creative research, storytelling formats and retention principles behind consistently successful social media content.Drawing on his experience with global brands, celebrities and more than 5,000 content tests, Brendan explains why proven formats outperform trends, hacks and endless posting. Ryan and Brendan also explore personal branding, the opportunity available to niche businesses and why AI-generated content will not succeed without strong human judgment and storytelling fundamentals.Listeners will leave with a practical framework for creating content that attracts attention, reaches beyond a narrow audience and supports meaningful business growth.TOPICS COVEREDThe difference between accidental and repeatable viralityWhy storytelling formats outperform social media hacksWhat Brendan learned from testing 5,000 content variationsAudience retention and algorithmic distributionMaking niche content accessible to a wider audienceBuilding a portable personal brandAI’s role in social media and content creationSelecting sustainable formats that prevent creator burnoutCONNECT WITH BRENDAN KANEOfficial website: https://brendanjkane.com/Hook Point: https://hookpoint.com/The Guide to Going Viral: https://brendanjkane.com/the-guide-to-going-viral/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brendankane/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brendanjkane/CONNECT WITH RYAN ALFORDRight About Now: https://www.ryanisright.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ryanalford/
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The Mental Performance Framework for High-Pressure Decisions
3w ago00:15:01Summary readyEvan Marks joins Ryan Alford on Right About Now for a conversation about mental performance, emotional awareness, and making better decisions under pressure. Evan explains why emotions should be treated as information rather than ignored and how creating mental space allows people to consciously choose their next behavior.Ryan and Evan examine why people often wait for confidence or motivation before taking action, even though behavior usually changes before feelings do. They discuss how repetition, consistency, and intentional choices create momentum and gradually build greater confidence and self-trust.The episode also covers aggressive patience, procrastination, resilience, emotional reactions, and how small improvements compound over time. Evan shares practical ways athletes, executives, traders, and business owners can slow down mentally, reduce interference, and perform closer to their full potential.Through M1 Performance Group, Evan works with high performers on focus, resilience, decision-making, and execution in demanding environments.Topics CoveredMental performance under pressureEmotions as dataCreating space before respondingBehavior versus feelingsRepetition and neurological habitsConsistency and confidenceMotivation versus momentumAggressive patienceProcrastination and fearIntentionality and executionPerformance equals potential minus interferenceRyan Alford and Evan Marks on conscious behaviorLinksEvan Markshttps://www.linkedin.com/in/evanmarks-m1/https://www.instagram.com/emarks72/M1 Performance Grouphttps://m1performancegroup.com/https://www.linkedin.com/company/m1-performance-group/Ryan Alford / Right About Nowhttps://www.ryanisright.com/https://www.instagram.com/ryanalford/
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Most Businesses Should Never Raise Venture Capital | Navin Goyal
4w ago00:16:01Summary readyNavin Goyal joins Ryan Alford to discuss the realities of venture capital and why most companies may be better served by staying scrappy instead of immediately pursuing outside investment. As a physician, entrepreneur, and co-founder of Loud Capital, Navin has experienced funding from both the founder and investor sides of the table. Ryan and Navin explore active capital, the execution gap that appears after funding, and how experienced operators can help companies grow while using less money. They also discuss the pressure that comes with institutional investment, the cost of giving away equity, and why raising capital should never be confused with building a successful company. Navin also explains how AI can help leadership teams organize private company data, identify the activities producing real value, and eliminate distractions that consume time without moving the business forward. The episode offers a grounded framework for founders deciding whether investment will truly accelerate the company or simply create more pressure. Topics coveredWho should and should not pursue venture capitalThe difference between money and strategic supportReducing capital needs through better executionFounder accountability and adaptabilityThe risks of unrealistic growth expectationsGiving away equity versus remaining independentLeadership teams and flexible executivesAI-powered company assessmentsBuilding business value instead of staying busyRyan Alford and Navin Goyal on disciplined entrepreneurshipLinksNavin Goyalhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/navingoyalmd/Loud Capital https://loudcapital.com/Ryan Alford / Right About Now https://www.ryanisright.com/ https://www.instagram.com/ryanalford/
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How Brands Turn Customers Into Their Best Marketers | Luke Yarnton
Jul 1400:28:33Summary readyLuke Yarnton joins Ryan Alford to discuss why the future of influencer marketing belongs to customers—not celebrities. As co-founder of The Rave, Luke shares how brands are identifying influential customers already purchasing their products and turning them into long-term ambassadors through authentic relationships and community building. Ryan and Luke explore how micro and nano influencers outperform traditional celebrity campaigns, why trust matters more than follower count, and how affiliate marketing, referrals, and customer communities are reshaping brand growth. The conversation also covers practical strategies businesses can use to activate existing customers and create sustainable word-of-mouth marketing. Topics CoveredThe evolution of influencer marketingAmbassador marketingCustomer advocacyMicro and nano influencersAffiliate marketingCommunity buildingReferral strategiesAuthentic brand partnershipsCustomer acquisitionRyan Alford and Luke Yarnton discuss modern marketing
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The Legal Tax Moves That Help Rich People Get Richer | Mark J. Kohler
Jul 1000:26:34Summary readyMark J. Kohler joins Ryan Alford on Right About Now to talk about how entrepreneurs, side hustlers, and small business owners can think differently about taxes and wealth. As a tax attorney, CPA, author, and educator, Mark explains why the tax code is not just something to fear once a year, but a tool business owners can learn to use legally and strategically.Ryan and Mark cover the difference between earning more money and keeping more money, including how side hustles, rental properties, 1099 income, and business expenses can create real advantages when handled correctly. Mark also shares why business owners need to stop fully delegating their tax strategy and instead become the CEO of their own tax team.The episode also dives into family payroll, family board meetings, Roth IRAs, self-directed IRAs, crypto, and how small business owners can involve their families while building wealth. It is a practical, high-energy conversation about taking ownership of your money, understanding the rules, and using the same strategies wealthy people study every year.Topics CoveredWhy small business owners overpay in taxesHow the tax code motivates wealth-building behaviorSide hustles as a gateway to tax strategyWhy business owners need better bookkeepingWhat your accountant may not be telling youFamily payroll and paying your kids through the businessRoth IRAs, crypto, and self-directed retirement accountsHow to build a tax team instead of outsourcing everythingRyan Alford and Mark J. Kohler on ownership, discipline, and wealthLinks Right About Now / Ryan Alfordhttps://www.ryanisright.com/https://www.ryanalford.com/https://www.instagram.com/ryanalford/Mark J. Kohlerhttps://markjkohler.com/https://www.instagram.com/markjkohler/https://www.youtube.com/@markjkohlerhttps://mainstreetbusinesspodcast.com/https://directedira.com/Episode Timestamps00:00 – Stop Blaming the Rich & Own Your Destiny00:32 – Introduction: Welcome to Right About Now with Ryan Alford00:53 – Introducing Main Street Tax Attorney Mark J. Kohler01:31 – Mark's Journey from Lemonade Stands to the 1%02:31 – Why Taxes Are Law (And Why the "Big Dogs" Afford It)03:29 – The Side Hustle Revolution & Building Wealth04:42 – The 1099 Golden Ticket: Write-Offs You're Missing05:32 – Demystifying Tax Brackets & Effective Tax Rates06:09 – Real Estate & Depreciation Strategies (The Trump Tax Anomaly)07:29 – Tax Strategies the Rich Geek Out On (Roth IRAs & HSAs)08:50 – Understanding the True Purpose of the Tax Code09:58 – Oil & Gas Tax Credits Explained11:17 – The #1 Thing Small Business Owners Must Stop Doing12:35 – Being the CEO of Your Own Tax Team13:05 – Treat Your Side Hustle Like a Real Business14:07 – Tracking Expenses: Stop Delegating, Start Documenting14:51 – Integrating Family: How to Form a Family Board & Family Office16:17 – Putting Your Kids on the Payroll Tax-Free18:44 – Why Your Current Accountant Might Fight New Tax Strategies20:57 – Mark’s Take on the Crypto Bus & XRP21:38 – The Difference Between a Financial Advisor and an Investment Advisor23:32 – What Fuels Success & The Ultimate Goal of the American Dream25:05 – Where to Find Mark J. Kohler's Resources & Network26:17 – Closing Thoughts: Information Doesn't Change Lives, Execution Does
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