In this episode of The Lead Jen Podcast, I sit down with Alexa Curtis—former Radio Disney host, podcaster, and founder of Chief Swag Officer, the #1 brand for customizable mic flags and covers.

Alexa shares her incredible entrepreneurial journey, from starting a fashion blog at age 12 to hosting a national radio show and now running a successful business that helps creators and brands visually stand out. We dive into what she learned behind the mic at Disney, how to be intentional when interviewing guests, and why a polished, branded presence matters so much in podcasting.

We also talk about something a lot of creators face: platform dependency.

Alexa opens up about losing her Etsy store overnight, which brought her sales to a halt. I shared a similar story—losing a TikTok account with over 200,000 followers—and how that experience shifted my approach to audience growth and lead generation.

If you’re building a brand or business, you’ll want to hear why owning your audience through your podcast, website, and email list is non-negotiable—and how podcasting can become your most powerful lead generation tool.

This episode is packed with insights, lessons, and a serious reality check about what it really takes to build a brand that lasts.

If you’re ready to maximize your podcast’s potential and PROTECT your brand + business this episode is a must-listen!

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Follow Alexa & Chief Swag!

https://www.instagram.com/alexa_curtis?igsh=MXM3aTZmcmZrY28xYg==

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Also feel free to reach out to me if you're looking to start, grow, or rebrand your podcast!

ALL my consult calls are FREE!

hookmediaproductions@gmail.com

My mic is cool right? ESPECIALLY for your business and brand building.

Shop here : https://chiefswagofficer.com/CHIEFJENNIFER

CODE: CHIEFJENNIFER

Software I Recommend :

https://libsyn.com/

https://riverside.fm/

You can check out Hook Media Productions HERE :

https://www.hookmediaproductions.com

www.instagram.com/hook_media_productions/

I have TONS of sponsorship experience working with both small local sponsors and multi-million dollar brands like Ghostbed and Liquid I.V.

The biggest lesson?

Sponsors care about ROI and audience alignment. It’s not about size—it’s about strategy.

In this episode, I’m diving into realistic and effective ways to monetize your podcast—whether you're just starting or ready to level up.

The first real opportunity to generate income?

It’s through lead generation.

I break down how I use podcasting to drive traffic to products, build email lists, and grow social media engagement that actually converts.

Then, I get into sponsorships—and I’m keeping it real. I share my personal experience working with both small local deals and multi-million dollar brands like Ghostbed and Liquid I.V. The biggest lesson? Sponsors care about ROI and audience alignment. It’s not about size—it’s about strategy.

I also reveal creative ways to secure sponsorship-style deals without trading money—like inviting CEOs or marketing execs on the podcast, featuring products naturally in episodes, and repurposing content that includes subtle product placement.

One of my favorite monetization strategies? Affiliate marketing. It’s low-risk and high-reward when done right. Throughout this episode, I emphasize the importance of audience trust and choosing brand partners that actually make sense for your niche. If you're running a women’s health show, you won’t hear me recommending an ice cream sponsor—same goes for business podcasts promoting baseball gear.

This episode is your no-fluff guide to making money with your podcast the SMART way.

If you’re ready to maximize your podcast’s potential and turn it into a client-generating machine, this episode is a must-listen! __________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________

Also feel free to reach out to me if you're looking to start, grow, or rebrand your podcast!

ALL my consult calls are FREE!

hookmediaproductions@gmail.com

Software I Recommend :

https://libsyn.com/

https://riverside.fm/

You can check out Hook Media Productions HERE :

https://www.hookmediaproductions.com

www.instagram.com/hook_media_productions/

If you’re a business owner or personal brand looking to use your podcast as a powerful lead-generation tool, this episode is packed with actionable insights to help you level up.

In this episode, I am joined by business coach of NextLevelUniversity, speaker, and podcast host Alan Lazaros to discuss how entrepreneurs and personal brands can leverage podcasting to generate leads and grow their businesses.

Alan shares his journey from corporate tech—to building a successful coaching business and podcast empire with Next Level University, which has released over 2,000 episodes. He introduces his Passion → Purpose → Profit framework, explaining why aligning your business with your passion is key to sustainable success.

Alan also breaks down his Flywheel Method for business and content growth, emphasizing the importance of consistently creating, sharing experiences, and building authentic relationships.

The conversation highlights why social media is non-negotiable for business growth, even if you don’t love it. Alan stresses that you don’t need to be at the "top of the mountain" to help others—you just need to be a step ahead.

🔹 Key Takeaways:

The Passion → Purpose → Profit model for long-term business success

Alan’s Flywheel Method for creating authority and generating leads

Why social media presence is essential for podcast and business growth

How consistency compounds over time

If you’re ready to maximize your podcast’s potential and turn it into a client-generating machine, this episode is a must-listen! __________________________________________________________________________ PODCAST EPISODE REFERENCES

Check out Alan & Next Level University HERE

https://www.nextleveluniverse.com/

__________________________________________________________________________

Also feel free to reach out to me if you're looking to start, grow, or rebrand your podcast!

ALL my consult calls are FREE!

hookmediaproductions@gmail.com

Software I Recommend :

https://libsyn.com/

https://riverside.fm/

You can check out Hook Media Productions HERE :

https://www.hookmediaproductions.com/

www.instagram.com/hook_media_productions/