Explore every episode of the podcast Sell the Damn Service

Taylor Lane and I get into what actually makes a service offer clear enough for strangers to find you, trust you, and buy. We get into positioning around one specific result, building proof that backs up your offer, and structuring your service so you can handle more clients when your marketing starts working. If referrals have carried your business this far, this episode will show you what needs to change when you want more control over who finds you and what they hire you for.

I chat with Sandra van der Lee about why selling your highest-ticket offer to a cold audience usually makes no sense, and where the real money can show up after someone has already worked with you. We get into backdoor offers, client LTV, premium experiences, and how to decide what your best clients should be invited into next. If you're a service provider trying to grow beyond one signature offer, this conversation will make you look at your existing clients very differently.

I chat with Tangie Nadimi about human design, visibility, and what happens when the audience you've built starts shaping how freely you show up online. We get into "new account energy," why starting fresh can change the way you create content, and how to stop handing strangers so much authority over what you say.

This one's for the service provider who's ready to be weirder, more direct, and a lot less interested in explaining every damn thing.

I forgot to send my cart-close emails and still brought in $42K in contracted revenue from seven new Sold Out Services clients. I’m breaking down the full campaign, including 180 registrants, a 60% live show-up rate, 37 emails, 12% list growth, conversion rates, support costs, and what actually drove the sales. If you want a real look at the math behind a service launch, this is the postmortem.

Your next level might not need another strategy. It might need a different version of you.

In this episode, Samantha Jaras and I talk about the identity shifts that come with growing a service business: delegating work you could still do yourself, stepping into leadership, building better systems, and deciding what actually belongs on your plate.

We also get into the danger of copying someone else’s version of success and why sometimes the business isn’t broken. You’ve just outgrown the version of you who built it.

Service providers are hitting a ceiling because their offers cost too much to deliver, their value is hard to measure, and their lead generation is too scattere

In this replay of the State of the Damn Service event, I break down data from 104 service providers, including revenue trends, delivery margins, productization, and the lead sources working in 2026. You'll hear where service providers are losing profit, what is driving stronger client acquisition, and how to build more capacity before adding more clients.

I pulled the data from 104 service providers to see what's actually happening inside service businesses right now. I'm sharing the patterns I'm seeing, what's working in 2026, and why I'm betting on the "one-to-medium" business model for service providers who want more clients and higher revenue while staying close to the work.

I rebuilt Sold Out Services around one question: what actually helps clients get better results?

In this episode, Lauren Dewey and I unpack the learning science, curriculum decisions, data, boundaries, and client experience shifts behind the new version of the program.

Your clients might already be telling you exactly what they want next, but are you actually listening?

In this episode, we’re unpacking the hidden gaps in your offers, client experience, and follow-up that could be costing you both impact and income. You’ll learn how to spot the opportunities hiding in plain sight, stop making assumptions, and create natural ways for happy clients to keep working with you. Because selling more isn’t always pushy. Sometimes, it’s simply better service.

Your systems aren’t the problem. Your undefined client experience is.

In this episode, I’m breaking down why ClickUp, Asana, Airtable, automations, and templates still won’t work if your service isn’t productized first. You’ll learn how a clear promise, scope, delivery process, and client journey make your systems simpler, scalable, and actually usable.

To celebrate the first year of Sell the Damn Service, my friend Emily Mathis is taking over as host. We're looking back at the decisions, systems, and lessons that shaped the show, plus how the podcast has influenced more than $60,000 in client revenue in less than a year.

I found 444 warm leads hiding in my business. Here's how I'm tracking, nurturing, and converting them into consistent high-ticket revenue, without relying on more referrals or more content.

I sent 30 emails and generated over $22K—without going live, running ads, or launching on social media. Here's every metric, lesson, and surprise from my latest email-only launch.

After more than a decade in online business, one lesson keeps proving itself over and over again: simple scales.

In this conversation with Steph Crowder, we unpack why so many entrepreneurs get stuck chasing new strategies, offers, and shiny objects when the real growth often comes from doubling down on what already works. We also talk about the emotional side of scaling, building businesses around the life you actually want, and why "boring" might be the most profitable business strategy you've never considered. If you're ready to stop reinventing your business every six months, this episode is for you.

What if you don't need more leads—you just need a better way to activate the relationships you already have?

In this episode, I'm sharing how I rebuilt my business with four conversations, why your existing network is your biggest untapped asset, and how to turn warm connections into consistent revenue.

Most service providers are about to fall into the trap of creating low-value digital offers just to chase revenue—without realizing it's the quickest way to cannibalize their business and sabotage their growth. This Halloween, avoid being the grave digger of your own success with ineffective, Franken-offer suites that confuse your audience and dilute your authority.In this episode, Emylee pulls back the curtain on why chasing viral launches or low-priced challenges is rarely your path to sustainable scaling. She dives into the real reasons behind the failure of these tactics—namely, the damage they do to your high-ticket reputation and the chaos they create in your offers and audience. You'll discover the hidden dangers of productizing your bespoke services and why the middle ground—creating scalable, valuable, and clearly defined offers—is your most powerful growth lever.We break down:

• Why low-ticket offers can do more harm than good to a service-based business
• The critical importance of aligning your offers with your authority, audience, and capacity
• How to build a productized service that scales without sacrificing your expertise or your sanity
• The flawed belief that you need to commodify your high-level results into tiny, less effective offers
• Practical strategies for restructuring your service and messaging to attract premium clients and increase your impact

Here’s why this matters: continuing to chase quick hits with underpriced offers not only stalls your growth but pushes away your ideal clients, leaving you stuck in feast-or-famine cycles. The opportunity? Reframe your entire business model to be scalable, repeatable, and aligned with your true capacity—ensuring you get paid what you're worth while enjoying the freedom and impact you've always wanted.This episode is for the service provider tired of feeling overwhelmed by fractured offers, confused audiences, and the false promise that “more” equals “better.” If you want to stop digging your own grave and start building a solid, scalable foundation, this is your wake-up call. Trust me—your future self will thank you.Ready to ditch the Franken-offers and build an authority-driven, scalable service model? Hit play now—your next level is waiting.

Most service providers are stuck thinking scaling means going bigger on one-to-one. Emylee exposes why that’s a trap— and the counterintuitive truth about building a scalable, stress-free business. She didn’t just talk her way to millions with one-to-many offers; she nearly burnt out trying to keep up. Now, she reveals her proven Dead Framework for transforming a chaotic, burnout-ridden service biz into a streamlined, scalable powerhouse—without sacrificing results or client relationships.

In this behind-the-scenes episode, Emylee shares what's been happening in her business over the last few months—from redesigning her website and refreshing her brand presence to testing new visibility strategies and completely rebuilding Sold Out Services. She breaks down what's working, what's not (looking at you, LinkedIn), and how she's making decisions based on alignment, results, and sustainability rather than what she thinks she should be doing. Plus, she gives an inside look at the new SOS framework, why simplicity creates better results, and the lessons she's learning about authority, visibility, and staying in your own lane as your business evolves.

You're getting referrals—but are your emails actually helping you book more clients? In this solo takeover guest episode, email strategist Jocelyn Montemarano breaks down the biggest email mistakes service providers make and why most newsletters fail to convert high-ticket buyers. You'll learn the specific types of emails that build trust, overcome objections, and help potential clients see your service as a must-have—not a nice-to-have. If you want your email list to become a consistent source of clients (instead of just subscribers), this episode is for you.

In this episode, Emylee breaks down why that feedback doesn’t automatically mean you need a cheaper or lower-ticket offer. She shares why the loudest leads are often not your best buyers, how watered-down offers dilute your authority, and what to focus on instead if you want sustainable growth. This is your reminder to stop building for unready clients and start doubling down on the people already getting incredible results from your work.

In this episode, I’m joined by Rachael to talk about the difference between automation that actually supports your business… and automation that just creates more complexity.

We get into productizing service delivery, building systems that free up more time for client work (not less), the trap of over-customization, AI note takers, ClickUp experiments, and why you cannot automate your way into nothing ever going wrong.

Plus: boundaries, slow nomad life, and designing a business that actually supports the way you want to live.

In this episode, I’m breaking down why vague testimonials are not enough anymore and how tracking client outcomes changes everything about your positioning, messaging, delivery, and authority. I walk through the exact types of baseline metrics, confidence questions, and follow-up data you should be collecting inside your client experience so you can better understand the real impact of your work (and communicate it way more effectively).

In this episode, I’m breaking down why “not hitting consistent revenue” looks different at every stage of business and why the solution isn’t one-size-fits-all. From early-stage client hunting to refining offers, raising prices, and deciding between premium positioning or agency growth, we’re talking about the actual levers to pull for your next revenue milestone.

This episode turned into a very real conversation about AI, systems, discernment, and what actually makes a service business scalable. Ruth and I got into the difference between using AI strategically versus creating more noise, why most agencies still don’t have real systems in place, and what happens when founders outsource thinking instead of building better processes.

Passive selling requires active marketing, and if you're a one-to-one service provider, you're probably building the wrong machine. This episode breaks down why low-ticket funnels quietly cannibalize your premium offers, what actually bridges a revenue gap without spinning up a content empire, and the gentle pivot framework for scaling without torching what's already working. If you've ever wondered whether you need a course or a funnel to grow, this is your answer.

I chat with Heather Crabtree from HeatherCrabtree.com about what happens to your business identity when life forces a full stop -- cancer, grief, burnout, starting over. She breaks down her Build to Flow framework and the four business seasons (expansion, integration, contraction, recalibration) that the online space refuses to normalize. For seasoned service providers who are tired of a growth model that was never built around real life.

Your positioning isn't blurry because you haven't found the right words yet. It's blurry because you haven't identified the one result you're actually built to deliver. I walk you through the Authority Anchor framework: how to find your constant (the signature way you create results, regardless of container), how to use it to clean up an offer suite that's been cannibalizing itself, and the single question I ask every client before we touch anything else. If your messaging, pricing, or referrals aren't landing the way they should, this is the episode to start with.

I chat with Sasha Lewis of Anicio Creative about why so many service providers are building brands around personality gimmicks instead of positioning that actually converts. She breaks down the difference between embodiment and alienation in branding, and why category ownership beats niche-chasing every time. If you've been DIY-ing your brand and wondering why it's not landing with the right clients, this one's for you.

Your positioning isn't broken because your niche is too small -- it's broken because it's too wide. This episode breaks down why "close but not quite" clients keep finding you, and how to audit your who, what, and without to send a signal that pulls in the exact clients you built this for. For service providers who are tired of discovery calls that are technically fine but clearly off.

Your messaging isn't landing because you're following frameworks instead of building propaganda. Learn why the "imagine this" statements and benefit-stacking that worked in 2020 now repel sophisticated buyers—and how to craft copy around a common enemy that creates real buy-in. If your sales pages sound like everyone else's, it's time to stop pussyfooting around and say what you actually stand for.

Your price isn't too high — it's out of alignment with what your positioning is actually promising. This episode breaks down the two-directional mismatch that creates hesitation, ghosted proposals, and "let me think about it" from warm leads, with real examples from the service providers you probably see yourself in. If your calls are going well but not closing, your business is telling you something specific — and it's not to lower your rates.

I chat with Jen Green from Jen Green Marketing about why funnels still work — and why most service providers have automated the humanity right out of theirs. She breaks down how to diagnose what's actually broken before blaming the offer, plus why slow traffic sources like blogging and Pinterest are making a comeback for good reason. For service providers who are tired of chasing volume and ready to build something that compounds.

Prospects going ghost after your proposal isn't a follow-up problem — it's a conversation problem. Learn the three things that have to happen before any proposal leaves your hands, and why a productized service makes ghosting almost structurally impossible. For service providers who are tired of losing warm leads to silence.

I chat with Brooke Busi from Brooke Builds Wealth about why most adults are managing money with a middle school education — and what it actually costs us. She breaks down how to build a real relationship with money through simple systems, percentage budgets, and the emotional rewiring that has to happen first. For service providers who are great at making money but ready to stop letting their expenses run the show.

Discovery calls are booking but no one's buying — and it's not your energy, your price, or your pitch. Learn why pitching before diagnosing is the silent conversion killer and the one question that flips the dynamic. For service providers whose sales calls feel circular, exhausting, or just... stuck.

Discover how transparency, owning mistakes, and building community can be your secret superpowers in business. Join Emylee as she talks with Chris Arruda, a former musician turned digital strategist, as he reveals how vulnerability and authentic networking fuel growth faster than flashy ads. Learn how to craft a client experience rooted in transparency, turning mistakes into learning opportunities and clients into raving fans. This episode challenges the status quo, encouraging service-based entrepreneurs to ditch perfectionism and embrace real human connection for exponential growth. Ready to rethink your approach and let authenticity lead the way? Hit play now — the game has changed.

I raised the price of Sold Out Services mid-launch after my mastermind told me the messaging was outpacing the investment level. This is the full debrief on one year of refining a single offer: four price points, three support structures, and the mid-launch pivot that collapsed two tiers into one. If you're a service provider tweaking pricing, scope, or messaging inside an existing container, this is your permission slip to stop rebuilding and start refining.

Emylee is joined by Megan Wall, the Hot Girl CFO, as she reveals how embracing boldness and authenticity can transform your service-based business into a luxury brand. Discover her secrets to creating unforgettable client experiences through personalized touches and strategic automation. This episode is your guide to standing out with personality and professionalism in a crowded market.

In this episode, we uncover the secrets to transforming your bespoke services into a scalable, sellable system without losing your unique touch. Discover how to leverage client data to create a magnetic offer that sells itself, while avoiding common pitfalls in productization. Perfect for service-based business owners ready to scale smarter and serve more, this episode provides the mindset shifts and strategies needed to build a business that works for you, not the other way around. Tune in to learn how to attract the right clients and elevate your brand authority.

In this episode, Emylee talks with Chelsea Quint, about how to transform your service business by productizing your offerings, allowing you to scale while maintaining a personal touch. Discover why relying solely on referrals can limit growth and how a data-driven marketing approach can consistently attract ideal clients. Chelsea explains how to craft a visibility system that resonates with your audience's experiences, creating genuine engagement without the need for hype. Perfect for service-based business owners seeking sustainable growth, this episode reveals how to simplify your marketing and turn your client experience into a magnet for organic growth.

If you’re a service provider who feels like your business has hit a weird ceiling, this training is for you.In this workshop, I break down the Authority Anchor framework: the positioning statement that makes your service instantly clear, easier to sell, and far easier to scale.Because most service businesses don’t struggle with talent… they struggle with clarity.When your positioning is vague, everything gets harder:• Prospects sit on the fence• Referrals slow down• You end up customizing every project just to close the deal• And suddenly scaling your service feels impossibleInside this training, I show you how to fix that.You’ll learn:

• The 5-component Authority Anchor framework
• How to define the one result your service should be known for
• Why productizing your service becomes dramatically easier once your positioning is clear
• How your Authority Anchor impacts your content, referrals, pricing, and client experienceThis is the exact framework I teach inside Sold Out Services, and it’s the foundation for building a service business that scales without abandoning one-on-one work.If you love services but want more capacity, more clarity, and more profit per client, this is where to start.The launch bonus mentioned expires at 9 PM Central on March 19th, so be sure to get your booty inside at soldoutservices.com/enroll.

In this episode Emylee unlocks the secrets to amplifying your business visibility with Melanie Benson's proven strategies. Discover how intentional content and guest appearances can transform your audience's perception and attract high-quality clients. This episode is packed with actionable insights to refine your content ecosystem and elevate your personal brand, making it a must-listen for service providers ready to stand out and succeed.

In this episode, Emylee unveils the true essence of "done with you" services, challenging the misconception that they equate to group programs. She introduces Sold Out Services, a 12-month program designed to transform service-based businesses through strategic support, automation, and the unique "Authority Anchor" approach. Discover how to reclaim your time, scale your business, and attract premium clients with a structured, asynchronous support system that goes beyond traditional coaching models. Perfect for service providers ready to elevate their impact and streamline their operations.

In this episode, Emylee and Cristy dive into a heartfelt conversation about the unexpected ways music and media from the past continue to resonate today. They share personal anecdotes about Garth Brooks and the cultural impact of his music, reflecting on how themes from the 90s remain relevant. The discussion transitions into a candid exploration of social media's influence on mental health and the importance of setting boundaries. Emylee and Cristy also touch on the joys of rediscovering simpler times, like childhood memories without the constant presence of technology. This episode is a thoughtful blend of nostalgia, personal growth, and the pursuit of balance in a digital age.

In this episode, Emylee delves into the nuanced differences between bespoke services and white glove experiences, exploring how service providers often confuse the two. She discusses the importance of productizing services to enhance client experiences without losing the personal touch. Emylee shares insights on how productization can free up time, allowing service providers to focus on delivering exceptional results and maintaining high-touch client relationships. Tune in to discover how to balance customization with efficiency and elevate your service offerings.

In this episode, Emylee and Maggie Patterson dive into the realities of running a service-based business, debunking myths about passive income and the pressures of scaling. They share candid insights on maintaining a sustainable business model, the importance of genuine client relationships, and the pitfalls of chasing trends in the online world. Whether you're a seasoned entrepreneur or just starting out, this conversation offers valuable perspectives on finding balance and success in the service industry.

In this episode, Emylee dives into the challenges faced by service providers who are at capacity but eager to increase their revenue without compromising the quality of their work. Emylee shares insights on how to navigate the pressure of scaling a business while maintaining high standards, and explores alternative strategies to expand income streams. She emphasizes the importance of understanding your true business goals and offers practical advice on auditing current client packages to ensure they align with your growth objectives. Tune in to discover how to create a sustainable business model that supports your financial aspirations without overwhelming your resources.

In this episode, Emylee and Shaina dive into their plans for 2026, sharing insights on personal growth, business strategies, and the importance of aligning one's work with personal values. Shaina reveals her exciting new venture, a podcast called "Spaceholder Haven," aimed at helping spaceholders prioritize self-care and resilience. The conversation touches on the challenges of scaling a business, the significance of consistency, and the personal journeys that shape their professional paths. With candid discussions on financial goals, client relationships, and the evolving landscape of entrepreneurship, this episode offers a thoughtful exploration of what it means to grow both personally and professionally.

In this episode Emylee addresses the challenges service providers face when they reach their revenue and capacity limits. She discusses the common shift from one-on-one services to membership models and the issues that arise from this transition. Emylee suggests alternative strategies, like strategic advisory and consultancy, to help service providers grow sustainably. Listen in for practical advice on how to effectively bridge revenue gaps and enhance your business model.

What if the goal of your business isn’t to scale into an agency, but to get paid well to do the work you actually love?

In this episode, Eva Couto from Flying Colors Creative and I talk about staying in your craft, resisting the pressure to build like a corporation, and designing a service business that actually fits your life. We get into custom work, pricing, systems, boundaries, and why most service providers don’t need more offers, they need better ones.

If you’re tired of being told that pulling yourself out of delivery is the only way to grow, this conversation will feel like a deep exhale.