Episode Overview

Podcast: What Are You Made Of?
Host: Mike "C-Roc" Ciorrocco
Guest: Katelyn Rhoades
Episode: Visibility Pays: How Katelyn Rhoades Turned Social Media Into Multiple Revenue Streams
Date: February 26, 2026

In this episode, Mike “C-Roc” Ciorrocco sits down with Katelyn Rhoades, the founder of Influence Studio and host of the Call Her Creator podcast. Katelyn shares her journey from a challenging upbringing to building multiple revenue streams via social media. The discussion focuses on resilience, entrepreneurship, personal branding, and the tactical and emotional sides of growing a business—and a family—while staying authentic.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Origins of Resilience and Entrepreneurial Spirit

[00:55]

• Katelyn credits her resilience to her turbulent childhood and a single mother who "did the best that she could," leading Katelyn to work from the age of 14.
• Notable hardship: selling her clothes in college to afford groceries, working multiple jobs, striving for internships, and a belief that "no one's going to come save you."

  "If you want a different life, you gotta do something different." — Katelyn [01:39]

The Importance of Persistence and Not Taking Rejection Personally

[02:49-04:23]

• Mike and Katelyn discuss how people often quit just before succeeding, emphasizing the need for large networks and an “attraction model.”
• Rejection is a numbers game; don’t take no’s personally.

  “You gotta create a great experience, but if they say no, you move on. Next person up.” — Mike [03:27]

Family Dynamics: Tough Upbringings and Parenting Philosophy

[04:46-06:48]

• Both hosts reflect on breaking cycles from their upbringings.
• Mike discusses "constructive chaos" as a parenting tool, not wanting his children to have things too easy so they’re prepared for the real world.

  "I'm okay with my son hating me for a season; when he goes out to the world, he's gonna be prepared." — Mike [05:52]

Work-Life Balance and Hustle Culture

[07:05-10:32]

• Katelyn shares the challenge of balancing entrepreneurship with motherhood, noting that relentless hustle can undermine time with family.
• Both stress the importance of scheduling everything, including self-care and “money walks.”

  "I live by the calendar." — Katelyn [10:19] "If it's not on the calendar, I don't do it." — Mike [11:03]

Launching the Agency & Scaling Up

[12:27-16:46]

• Katelyn began her agency while still in a corporate job, starting with friends and family as clients. Instagram Reels played a decisive role in accelerating her visibility and lead flow.
• The transition to full-time came after 90 days of consistency and enough income.
• On hiring: started with a full-time employee (rather than a contractor) after setting up SOPs for easy onboarding.

  “I had to be working ON the business, not just IN the business.” — Katelyn [15:35]

Content Consistency and Becoming Top-of-Mind

[17:08-17:47]

• The key to proactive client acquisition: "Never ever missed a day of posting about social media marketing."
• Consistent calls to action backed her growth.

Pricing Evolution and Recognizing Your Value

[17:58-18:47]

• Katelyn’s first packages were $600/month for social media management; now the same starts at $2,500.
• Undervaluing is common early on, but with a team and increased expertise, charging appropriate rates is crucial.

  "I’m the poster girl for undervaluing—now, I’m not!" — Katelyn [18:00]

Influencer Marketing: Opportunities & Boundaries

[19:51-22:56]

• Growth on Instagram brought brand partnership offers. Early deals were product/service exchanges; now, Katelyn commands up to $10,000 for a package of posts.

  "I had to post two reels and two stories, and I got paid $10,000 to do that." — Katelyn [21:17]

• She’s selective about brands ("I will never post about adult intimacy products no matter the offer"), emphasizing staying aligned with her values and professional persona.

  "That’s basically what they call selling your soul, you know." — Mike [23:09]

Hard Lessons in Business

[24:19-27:12]

• Don’t take business outcomes personally—losing clients doesn't mean being disliked.
• Over-hustling led to an autoimmune diagnosis; balance is vital.
• Be careful with hiring: "higher, slow, fire, fast" after keeping a misaligned team member too long.

  “No one's going to love your brand the way you do.” — Katelyn [25:32]

The Power and Purpose of Podcasting

[27:24-29:24]

• Katelyn: Podcasting is both a personal outlet and a business driver; shares leadership lessons, builds trust, fosters community, and deepens client relationships.
• Unique segments like "weekly scroll" deliver industry updates and funnel listeners to her membership offers.

  "Being able to talk about things outside business has been therapeutic for me." — Katelyn [27:36] "The networking from podcasting… has been the most important thing." — Mike [29:24]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "Ordinary people can build extraordinary lives if they're willing to show up and do the work." — Katelyn [02:34]
• "If you’re too soft, you don’t want to raise little babies that think life’s handed to them." — Katelyn [06:15]
• "My mother-in-law invited us to lunch. I said, send a calendar invite!" — Katelyn [11:05]
• "You can probably make money doing what you’re really, really good at." — Katelyn [23:54]
• "I'd rather build slow the right way than quick and have it come crashing down." — Mike [23:58]
• "No one’s going to love your brand the way you do." — Katelyn [25:32]

Important Timestamps

• 00:55 – Katelyn’s story of resilience and early hardship
• 04:03 – Discussing persistence and handling rejection in business
• 06:07 – Mike’s philosophy on “constructive chaos” in parenting
• 10:19 – The life-changing effect of rigid calendar management
• 12:32 – How Katelyn started her agency (from side hustle to full-time)
• 15:35 – Scaling with first full-time hires and onboarding
• 17:08 – Social media posting consistency & content strategy
• 18:00 – First pricing ($600/mo) vs. current pricing ($2,500/mo+)
• 21:17 – Influencer marketing: $10,000 for a campaign
• 24:19 – Hardest business lessons learned (not personal, balance, hiring)
• 27:24 – How podcasting has served as both therapy and business development

Where to Find Katelyn Rhoades

• Website: influencestudio.com (spelled ENFLUENCEstudio.com)
• Podcast: Call Her Creator (Apple, Spotify, all platforms)

Final Takeaway

Katelyn’s entrepreneurial journey is rich with lessons on resilience, authenticity, and intentional growth. From monetizing visibility to building a powerful brand and a fulfilling life, her story is an inspiring blueprint for anyone looking to turn their skills and challenges into multi-channel success.