Affiliate Marketing & Side Hustles on the Doug.Show

I talk about online courses, what makes them useful or questionable, and how creators earn money. Then, I get off track and rant about AI and slop. Chapters (00:00:32) - Are Online Courses a Scam? (00:01:36) - Spotting Scammy Sales Tactics (00:04:06) - What People Really Want to Learn (00:08:31) - Experience, Expertise, and Brand Deals (00:11:07) - Where Influencers Actually Make Money (00:13:36) - Was Doug a Scammer? (00:15:59) - Teaching Through Project Management (00:19:43) - Make Money Online Meets Real Estate (00:23:14) - Influencer Income Versus the Hype (00:28:37) - Ethical Courses and AI Content (00:32:30) - So, Are Online Courses a Scam?

I chat with Chris Pantelli, the founder of Linkify and Total Authority, about using AI inside a business. Chris says they started with early AI writing tools, then moved heavily into Claude, ChatGPT, and Grok for coding, analysis, automation, and content workflows. He describes building custom internal tools with AI for pitch operations, journalist data, transcript analysis, and other tasks. Linkifi Total Authority Total Authority on YouTube Chapters (00:00:06) - Welcome Back and AI Agency Pivot (00:03:07) - Early AI Experiments (00:07:24) - Internal Tools Go Custom (00:11:20) - Rebuilding Websites with Claude (00:17:43) - CMS Options for Content Teams (00:22:09) - Small Tools, Big Impact (00:25:17) - Why AI Visibility Matters (00:28:24) - How AI Search Finds Experts (00:30:45) - Building Real Authority (00:36:22) - What Breaks AI Visibility (00:39:58) - Staying Ahead with Automation (00:42:36) - Total Authority YouTube Insights (00:44:54) - Best AI Tools by Task (00:50:08) - Where to Find Chris

I talk about what real passive income, and a few things that aren't. It's just my opinion, of course, and not financial, legal, or tax advice. Then, I talk about my stand up comedy class. Contact me. Ask Questions! Send me an email here: feedback@doug.show Leave a voicemail: (406) 813-0613 Chapters (00:00:00) - intro (00:00:21) - Passive Income Defined (00:08:19) - Real Estate Reality Check (00:12:53) - SaaS and Simple Tools (00:15:30) - Index Funds Win (00:21:30) - Why Dividends Lag (00:25:56) - Stand-Up Showcase Prep (00:32:36) - Open Mic Lessons (00:39:06) - WordPress Migration Update

Elliott and I geek out on personal finance, saving, and early retirement. Not financial or legal advice, talk to professionals. Connect with Elliott Zelinskas BuilderClub.ai YouTube Instagram X Contact me. Ask Questions! Send me an email here: feedback@doug.show Leave a voicemail: (406) 813-0613 nichesiteproject.com 00:00 Personal Finance Kickoff 01:06 Early Money Lessons 03:53 First Investing Wins 07:29 Accounts and Simple Portfolio 10:22 Work Versus Jobbing 17:03 Spending Money Struggles Chapters (00:00:00) - Personal Finance Kickoff (00:01:06) - Early Money Lessons (00:03:53) - First Investing Wins (00:07:29) - Accounts and Simple Portfolio (00:10:22) - Work Versus Jobbing (00:17:03) - Spending Money Struggles

Elliott joins me for an update on 2026 and why it’s never been a better time to build an online business. He was the guest on episode 610 and things have been going great. Connect with Elliott Zelinskas BuilderClub.ai YouTube Instagram X Contact me. Ask Questions! Send me an email here: feedback@doug.show Leave a voicemail: (406) 813-0613 nichesiteproject.com 00:00 Welcome Back Elliot 00:51 From Teacher to Builder 02:35 Career Products Framework 04:39 Focus and Revenue Milestones 07:48 Churn and Market Demand 12:31 Marketing Channels That Work 20:09 Start Simple With AI 24:17 Own Your Platform and Next Steps

I talk about an AI project I might work on, upcoming episodes, and the silliness of getting rich quickly. Contact me. Ask Questions! Send me an email here: feedback@doug.show Leave a voicemail: (406) 813-0613 Join My Email list 00:00 Show Updates Intro 00:34 AI Curiosity and Burnout 02:08 Elliot Interview Preview 03:28 Chris Linkify and PR 04:51 AI Tools and Data Limits 09:40 Ditching WordPress Plans 21:21 Amazon Influencer Callout 25:12 Anti Spam AI Video Wrap

I talk to Ben, a successful entrepreneur with a SaaS making about $20k+ per month, about how my wife and I retired early. Check out the last episode with Ben if you missed it. Disclaimer: None of the content is advice for Ben or you or anyone. These are just stories. So go to your own professionals for advice if needed. Connect with Ben Bozzay DNS Filtering / Device Management company: https://www.techlockdown.com/ iPhone monitoring app for parents: https://livingroomapp.com/ https://bbozzay.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/benbozzay Contact me. Ask Questions! Send me an email here: feedback@doug.show Leave a voicemail: (406) 813-0613 Join My Email list 00:00 Intro: FIRE & Entrepreneurship 02:29 The 4 Percent Rule 05:03 Track Spending Basics 09:07 Accounts Taxes and Exits 29:40 Selling Your Agency 35:44 Valuation and Multiples 41:35 Housing Plans and Mortgages 48:09 Retirement Number and Wrap Up

I talk to Ben Bozzay, founder of Tech Lockdown, and co-founder of LivingRoom, and his Saas journey. He started dabbling early, and even found his early success with content websites. We get into a ton of details and Ben shares a lot about his journey. Connect with Ben Bozzay DNS Filtering / Device Management company: https://www.techlockdown.com/ iPhone monitoring app for parents: https://livingroomapp.com/ https://bbozzay.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/benbozzay Contact me. Ask Questions! Send me an email here: feedback@doug.show Leave a voicemail: (406) 813-0613 Join My Email list 00:00 Intro 01:13 MRR and Products 06:11 Early Hustles and College 16:59 SEO Freelancing to Cybersecurity 28:24 Corporate Success Unhappy 31:11 COVID Habits Side Project 36:14 Paid Membership Layoff Leap 49:58 AI Copycats Growth Wrap

So what do I actually use AI for? Only a couple things. I’m way to skeptical to accept advice based on morons from reddit. However, you can obviously focus on things that AI can do well. Have suggestions about what I can vibe code? We’re talking a personal tool, not a saas or anything like that. If you have an idea, please let me know. Contact me. Ask Questions! Send me an email here: feedback@doug.show Leave a voicemail: (406) 813-0613 Join My Email list 00:00 AI Skeptic Origins 02:52 Tool Not Crutch 03:55 Writing Aid Workflows 09:49 Debate Partner Pitfalls 17:03 Summaries And Organization 21:33 Learning And Project Planning 26:13 Personal Tools And Amp Update

I talk about finishing projects and dealing with distractions. Is AI Ruining Guitar (on AJ De Vera’s YouTube channel) Contact me. Ask Questions! Send me an email here: feedback@doug.show Leave a voicemail: (406) 813-0613 Join My Email list 00:00 Welcome and Productivity Theme 00:23 Guitar Goals and Distractions 02:08 Business Focus Analogy 04:50 Finishing Projects Mindset 09:43 Clarify Goals and Cut Options 15:56 Define Done Exit Criteria 20:54 Amp Mishaps and Wrap Up

I talk to Paul about how he covers AI and teaches on his youtube channel. Follow Paul: https://www.youtube.com/@PaulJLipsky https://pauljlipsky.com/ Contact me. Ask Questions! Send me an email here: feedback@doug.show Leave a voicemail: (406) 813-0613 Join My Email list 00:00 Welcome and AI Focus 01:18 Skepticism and AI Hype 02:56 Data Poisoning Amp Story 07:35 AI YouTube Saturation Myth 11:41 Tracking News with X Agents 17:25 Titles Formats and Viewing Habits 24:02 Bubble Talk Vibe Coding Wrap

I talk to Paul Lipsky about pivoting his channel on YouTube and growing like crazy! It’s part one of two. Next time we talk about AI specifically. Follow Paul: https://www.youtube.com/@PaulJLipsky https://pauljlipsky.com/ Contact me. Ask Questions! Send me an email here: feedback@doug.show Leave a voicemail: (406) 813-0613 Join My Email list 00:00 Meet Paul and the Pivot 03:23 From Ecommerce to AI 10:10 AI Aha and Tool Choices 14:15 Monetization and Topic Strategy 20:53 Avoiding AI Hype 24:22 ChatGPT Voice Workflow 26:48 Publishing Rhythm 32:43 Monetization Choices

I talk about the pitfalls of over optimizing and why “good enough” is good enough. I prefer good enough most of the time. Contact me. Ask Questions! Send me an email here: feedback@doug.show Leave a voicemail: (406) 813-0613 Join My Email list 00:00 Welcome and Topic 02:12 Semi Retired Creator Life 03:11 Camp FI and Monetization 04:55 Productivity Obsession Origins 07:11 Metrics and Fun Balance 09:18 Eight Over Optimizing Traps 11:05 AI Outline Fail and Gear 15:53 Trade Offs Not Perfection 18:52 Tool Switching Overhead 23:23 Keep It Simple 24:00 Analysis Paralysis 24:38 Good Enough and Choice 30:16 Hobbies and Product Research 37:11 Maintenance and Opportunity Cost 42:24 Manual First Then Automate 46:16 Wrap Up and Whats Next

I talk about tokenmaxxing, backlash against AI, how I actually use AI, and echo chambers. Contact me. Ask Questions! Send me an email here: feedback@doug.show Leave a voicemail: (406) 813-0613 Join My Email list 00:00 AI Backlash Update 01:26 New Mic Gear Test 03:31 Walmart Pulls Back 05:35 How Doug Uses AI 07:59 Copywriter Pushback 10:52 Poisoning Search Results 14:54 Echo Chambers and Hype 17:58 Sandbox Escape Scare 20:26 Creativity and Copyright 23:58 Avoiding Negativity Trap 29:23 Wrap Up and Next Steps

I got to chat with a Guitar YouTuber that I really enjoy, AJ De Vera. He’s a talented guitarist and song writer, plus he’s a fellow Filipino. We chat about starting on YouTube, planning videos, and of course, guitars! We have a similar taste in music and influences. We talked for another 30 minutes after we finished up with the recording and identified a few other commonalities. Connect with AJ YouTube Spotify: Villain Heart The Dark Horses Contact me. Ask Questions! Send me an email here: feedback@doug.show Leave a voicemail: (406) 813-0613 Join My Email list

I talk with Justin Peters about how his hobby podcast led to co-founding SimplePod Studios with his brother, including their team setup, early clients, pricing and package evolution, and why they focus on high-ROI finance-adjacent creators. We also get into his sabbatical and FI journey, what it takes to produce an episode consistently, keeping the agency as a lifestyle business, and how he sees platforms and video trending. ​Connect with Justin Peters SimplePod Studios Podcast Playbook FI Minded – Financial Independence Without the Extremes Doug’s appearance on FI Minded Contact me. Ask Questions! Send me an email here: feedback@doug.show Leave a voicemail: (406) 813-0613 Join My Email list 00:00 Meet Justin Peters 00:57 SimplePod Origin Story 05:49 Sabbatical to Podcasting 17:56 Agency Growth and Niching 31:40 Anatomy of One Episode 34:30 Consistency Over Perfection 39:46 Co-Founder Communication Rules 49:13 Industry Trends

I talk about pizza, beer, and FB Marketplace tales and tips. Contact me. Ask Questions! Send me an email here: feedback@doug.show Leave a voicemail: (406) 813-0613 Join My Email list 00:00 Welcome and Topics 00:48 Marketplace Camera Sale 02:32 Georgie Health Update 03:46 Pizza Obsession Returns 07:29 Gear and Grill Experiments 10:04 Pizza Boom Meets Business 24:21 Marketplace Pricing Tactics 43:47 Listings Tips and Wrap Up

I chat with my friend, Cody Berman, about retiring as soon as possible. It’s basically talking through the ideas in his book, Retire By 30 . Contact me. Ask Questions! Send me an email here: feedback@doug.show Leave a voicemail: (406) 813-0613 Join My Email list 00:00 Meet Cody and the Book 02:33 Quitting Corporate for FI 10:35 Side Hustle Framework and Lessons 19:19 Nest Egg vs Cash Flow FI 23:27 Finding Deals Today 25:10 Designing Your Ideal Life 28:37 Spending Tests and Buying Time 42:44 Side Hustles and Final Wrap

I got a new studio camera (Canon R8). I’m planning getting rid of some of the old gear so I’m hopeful I can move it on facebook marketplace. Contact me. Ask Questions! Send me an email here: feedback@doug.show Leave a voicemail: (406) 813-0613 Join My Email list 00:00 Studio Gear Upgrade Dilemma 01:23 New Canon R8 Camera 04:30 Lenses Over Bodies Mindset 09:27 4K Workflow Hits Mac Mini 21:04 Selling Gear on Marketplace 31:00 Wrap Up and Next Interviews