Podcast Summary: The Russell Brunson Show – “Russell Answers 10 New Questions LIVE...”
Date: July 20, 2017
Host: Russell Brunson
Podcast: The Russell Brunson Show (YAP Media)

Episode Overview

In this lively, bonus Q&A episode of The Russell Brunson Show, Russell answers 10 questions submitted by his Instagram followers. Ranging from marketing tactics and client engagement to personal development, productivity hacks, and balancing business with giving back, Russell gives actionable advice, anecdotes, and motivational insight. With his characteristic energy and straightforward language, he tackles real-world problems entrepreneurs face, referencing industry legends, memorable case studies, and his own journey building ClickFunnels.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Scaling a "Sensitive" Product (Linda from Sydney [07:43])

• Challenge: Scaling her online constipation program and natural tea when customers are embarrassed to talk about their problem.
• Russell’s Advice:
  • Leverage humor and a “shareable” angle, referencing the Harmon Brothers’ creative viral ads (e.g., Squatty Potty, Poo~Pourri).
  • Create engaging, tongue-in-cheek content that’s fun to share and doesn't make someone reveal their personal issue.
  • Example: Telling stories, using puppets (as Harmon Brothers did), or showing kids, “puppy dogs, or something different.”
  • Key Quote:

    “...if you can figure out a way to create videos and content that are interesting or intriguing that people want to share, and it’s not so much telling on them that they’re doing it, right—that’s what you’ve got to start thinking through.” —Russell [11:32]

2. Getting Into a Productive “Hackathon” State (Jerem Atkinson [13:18])

• Challenge: How does Russell get into the zone for marathon funnel-building sessions?
• Russell’s Advice:
  • Control your physical and mental state—think “NZT time” (from the movie Limitless).
  • Use music (“Seven Nation Army” is his go-to), physical movement, and, if you like, caffeine to trigger a new energy level.
  • Create a ritual that signals to your brain that it’s time to perform.
  • Reference: Full explanation in Russell’s “NZT Time” podcast episode.
  • Key Quote:

    “Music changes state. So for me, my song is ‘Seven Nation Army,’ and I crank it up...I’m trying to like, change my state so I can focus...” —Russell [15:21]

3. Mindset for Success & Finding the Right Clients (Marcos [18:43])

• Challenge: How does Russell condition his mindset for success, especially when struggling to get motivated about current clients?
• Russell’s Advice:
  • Motivation and mindset are most powerful when you genuinely love your clients and what you do.
  • If you’re unmotivated, your current clients might not energize you—identify your “dream clients” and reorient your business towards serving them.
  • Affirmations can help, but passion for your people is even more vital.
  • Key Quote:

    “For me, the times that my motivation was down, it was 100% tied to the fact that I wasn’t in love with the clients I was serving.” —Russell [20:34]

4. Warming Up Cold Leads for Real Estate Agents (Joe Gilletti [25:50])

• Challenge: Agents getting cold responses from leads who submitted forms.
• Russell’s Advice:
  • Respond within 3–5 minutes with a personalized video text message using the client’s name and referencing their application—pattern interrupt.
  • When calling them, do some quick research (social media) and mention something personal to lower sales barriers.
  • Reference: A strategy borrowed from Alex Hormozi (notable for gym lead conversions).
  • Key Quote:

    “The fastest ways: a video text message...like, totally as a pattern interrupt. And number two is coming to the call armed with some information so that you have something to talk about to break their pattern.” —Russell [28:50]

5. #1 Mistake ClickFunnels Users Make (Matt Crane [34:15])

• Challenge: What’s the most common mistake clickfunnels users make and how to avoid it?
• Russell’s Advice:
  • People either focus only on the “science” (structure/mechanics) or the “art” (message/story) of funnels, but true success requires both.
  • Understand your customer deeply—the art of communication is as critical as funnel structure.
  • Team up with people who complement your own strengths (creative vs. analytical).
  • Key Quote:

    “DotCom Secrets is the science of how to build a funnel, and Expert Secrets is the art. You have to have both.” —Russell [37:00]

6. Using Calls-to-Action on Auto-Webinar Confirmation Pages (Social Smart Penguin [41:34])

• Challenge: On an auto-webinar, should you include a secondary call-to-action on the confirmation page?
• Russell’s Advice:
  • Rule #1: Don’t automate a webinar until you’ve done it live repeatedly (at least until $1M in sales).
  • For auto-webinars, start every 10 or 15 minutes to boost registration and attendance rates.
  • Use the confirmation page to pre-frame and excite people about the webinar (not sell something else); delay the “trial offer” to an email or page about 48 hours later.
  • Reference: Robert Cialdini’s Pre-suasion for more on the power of pre-framing.
  • Key Quote:

    “Do it live over and over and over until you master your message. ...after you’ve made a million dollars with it, then you have my permission to make it automated.” —Russell [43:53]
    “On an auto webinar ... just go straight to webinar, don’t derail them.” —Russell [47:00]

7. How to Stay Focused as a “Hyper-Buyer” (Mark Lumiere [50:33])

• Challenge: Bought every product/training—how to focus and implement rather than get overwhelmed?
• Russell’s Advice:
  • Implement before moving on; be a “hyper-implementer,” not just a “hyper-buyer.”
  • Understand where you are in your business growth (Zero to $1M? $1M to $10M? $10M+?) and only buy/apply what fits your current stage.
  • Put on blinders, pick one thing, and don’t move to the next until it’s launched and producing results.
  • Key Quote:

    “What’s more important than being a hyper buyer is being a hyper implementer.” —Russell [51:30]

8. Balancing Business Success and Giving Back (Trent Evans [56:20])

• Challenge: How to balance running a business and giving back to causes/charities, and what pitfalls to avoid?
• Russell’s Advice:
  • Personally tithes 10% of post-profit income—quietly and consistently.
  • Advocates tithing time (personal service/projects) in addition to money.
  • Be careful not to use “giving” as a marketing gimmick (feels “dirty”).
  • Keep philanthropic giving from threatening business viability—business must be profitable first.
  • Key Quote:

    “In your business, you need to be as greedy as humanly possible so you can get all the money out, and then you can be as charitable as you want with the money.” —Russell, paraphrasing a Shark Tank investor [58:45]

9. Live vs. Recorded Content—Which to Use? (Chris Green [62:06])

• Challenge: How to decide between live and pre-recorded content?
• Russell’s Advice:
  • There’s no single formula; test different forms (“throw crap on the wall and see what sticks”).
  • Try everything—lives, memes, edited videos, etc.—then double down on what gets traction.
  • Everyone should start with daily Facebook Lives to discover what resonates with their audience.
  • Key Quote:

    “We just throw a bunch of crap out there and you see what sticks, what works, what gets traction...what does, you do more of that, what doesn’t, you do less.” —Russell [63:20]

10. Funnels for E-commerce and White Labeling (Natasha [66:00])

• Challenge: How to get social media traffic into a funnel when you’re selling a mix of home décor and clothing via a white label/dropship model?
• Russell’s Advice:
  • Since your margins are small, build a front-end funnel with a high-margin “hero product” to acquire customers, then direct buyers to your wider store.
  • Example: Use a “two for one” or highly attractive deal to attract buyers (as grocery stores do), then encourage further browsing post-purchase.
  • Avoid driving ad traffic directly to a generic store—focus on a specific funnel to get them in the door profitably first.
  • Key Quote:

    “Every e-commerce store should have a front-end funnel...create a front-end funnel with the goal of being profitable through paid ads. ...Then send them to your store on the back end.”—Russell [67:54]

Notable & Memorable Moments

• Russell’s Faux “Cult” Joke: “It’s a cult. No, wait, it’s a way of life... that guy over there did work. Yes. Culture Thursday. It’s culture.” [06:13]
• “NZT Time” Reference: Drawing inspiration from Limitless to describe hitting hyper-productivity. [14:10]
• On Not Being a “Headache Buyer”: “Buying everything and then learning everything doesn’t do anything, right?” [51:01]
• Meta-Motivation: Russell’s own morning Voxer messages: “Yeah, baby, it’s Monday, let’s build some funnels!” [19:35]
• On Live Versus Automation: Only automate after you prove your webinar message by doing it live “over and over and over.”

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Scaling “Embarrassing” Products (Linda): 07:43–13:18
• Getting into Funnel Hackathon State (Jerem): 13:18–18:43
• Success Mindset & Right Clients (Marcos): 18:43–25:50
• Warming Up Cold Leads (Joe): 25:50–34:15
• Most Common Funnel Mistake (Matt): 34:15–41:34
• Auto-Webinar Confirmation Page Strategy (Social Penguin): 41:34–50:33
• Staying Focused as a Hyper-Buyer (Mark): 50:33–56:20
• Business vs. Charitable Giving (Trent): 56:20–62:06
• Live vs. Recorded Content (Chris): 62:06–66:00
• Funnels for E-commerce with White Label (Natasha): 66:00–end

Conclusion

This episode is a rapid-fire masterclass in practical marketing, entrepreneurship, and personal growth. Russell balances strategic advice with hands-on tactics and plenty of real-world stories—while never taking himself too seriously. Whether you’re struggling with product shame, webinar follow-ups, client apathy, or simply staring at a wall of courses to implement, Russell’s advice can help you get unstuck and keep moving forward.

Favorite Quotes Recap:

• “What’s more important than being a hyper buyer is being a hyper implementer.” (51:30)
• “Do it live over and over and over until you master your message.” (43:53)
• “Every e-commerce store should have a front-end funnel...” (67:54)
• “We just throw a bunch of crap out there and you see what sticks...” (63:20)

For links to resources and previous shows:
Check out dropthemicshow.com for video responses, transcripts, and more.

Listen to this episode if you’re looking for candid, actionable marketing advice, entrepreneurial motivation, and plenty of Russell’s signature energy and humor.