STARTUP or SHUTUP! : Startup Playbook for Founders & Creators
by Colin Fraley | Founder & Startup Playbook Coach
Business growth and go-to-market strategies for creators, startup founders, and indie builders. STARTUP or SHUTUP! is the zero-fluff entrepreneurship podcast where host Colin Fraley trades highlight reels for real playbooks: how guests found their first customers and fans, validated product-market fit (PMF), built repeatable go-to-market (GTM) motions, and scaled revenue without the guru noise. Each episode breaks down what actually worked—customer acquisition, audience growth, pricing and packaging, sales systems, partnerships, sponsorships, community funding, and launching offers that convert. You’ll hear the wins, the face-plants, and the “SHUTUP!” moment when the strategy clicks and momentum finally shows up. If you’re a creator, influencer, DJ, artist, party promoter, indie founder, tech builder, or investor looking for practical business growth tactics, th
Episodes
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Building Community as a Creator | PKFire on Parties & Entrepreneurship
Founder interviews meet creator economy strategy. In this deep dive, PK Fire reveals how they transitioned from software engineering to building a thriving event and community business—and how that founder mindset applies to launching any venture. Learn the business validation techniques behind...
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Silent Retreats: A Path to Clarity
Jason VanDevere shares his experience with silent retreats and how they have shaped his perspective and goals. He discusses the impact of silent retreats on his clarity, goal-setting, and overall happiness, emphasizing the shift from self-focused goals to others-focused goals. Takeaways Silent...
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Empathy is Best for Business
The conversation emphasizes the importance of cultivating empathy and understanding others' perspectives, highlighting its impact on various aspects of business and life. Takeaways Cultivate empathy Understanding others' perspectives Chapters 00:00 Cultivating Empathy for Success
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How to Make Money with Carol Tice
The conversation delves into the challenges of overcoming self-doubt and ageism in the online business world, highlighting the journey of empowerment and resilience. Takeaways Overcoming self-doubt Empowering older professionals Chapters 00:00 Overcoming Self-Doubt and Ageism in Online Business
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Nail Salon Rapid Fire!
A rapid-fire interview with a nail technician covering personal preferences, industry trends, and elevator pitch for her salon. Takeaways Nail technician preferences Industry trends Elevator pitch for salon Chapters 00:00 Personal Preferences and Rapid Questions
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How to Use Instagram to Grow Business
The conversation delves into the use of social media for marketing and brand promotion, highlighting the impact of Instagram on booking success. It also explores the role of happy clients as promoters and the influence of community in client engagement. Takeaways Social media as a marketing tool...
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How to Start a Nail Business in Chicago | NBN Nails | Owner Nasjali Cruz
Thinking about how to start a nail business in Chicago? In this episode, Owner Nasjali Cruz of NBN Nails (NBN Chicago) breaks down exactly how she built a bookings-driven studio in Lakeview—covering Gel-X, structured gel, acrylic, pricing strategy, policies that prevent no-shows, marketing that...
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How to Become an Investor | Andrew Ackerman
🚀 Startup founders, side-hustlers, and builders: this episode features Andrew Ackerman—entrepreneur, author, and startup strategist—breaking down what actually moves the needle from idea → execution → traction. We talk about startup success, entrepreneur mindset, business strategy…
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How to Start a Fractional Human Resource Startup | Sproutwise | Abby Gates
Founder and People Ops leader Abby Gates (Sproutwise) joins Startup or Shutup! with host Colin Fraley to show early-stage teams how to hire their first employees, build a 10-day onboarding plan, and turn values into an operating system that scales. We cover fractional HR vs. project support,...
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How to Build a Paid Community | Fired to Entrepreneur | Carol Tice
In this powerful episode, host Colin Fraley sits down with Carol Tice, an award-winning business journalist turned online entrepreneur, to unpack how getting fired became the best thing that ever happened to her. Carol shares how she transformed her career setback into a multimillion-dollar…
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How to Be a Serial Entrepreneur | Rob Finlay
Rob Finlay is a serial entrepreneur, investor, and bestselling author of Beyond the Building and Hey, Dad…, a life-advice book inspired by his journey as a father of four. Over the past 25+ years, he’s built and successfully exited four companies, pioneered debt optimization strategies in...
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How to Pivot from Real Estate to Launching a Tech Company | Offa | Ken Barton
In this episode of Startup or Shutup!, host Colin Fraley sits down with Ken Barton — a former Chicago volleyball teammate turned real estate investor and now tech founder of Offa, the Seed-stage app connecting investors to off-market properties faster (think Tinder for real estate deals). Ken...
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How to Start a Virtual Executive Assistant Agency | Renee Hastings
Entrepreneurs waste countless hours doing everything themselves — but delegation is the real growth hack. In this episode of Startup or Shutup!, host Colin Fraley sits down with Renee Hastings, CEO of Executive Help Now! and host of Renee Speaks, to uncover how she scaled a virtual assistance...
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How to Start a Public Relations Company | Melissa Jackson
In this episode of Startup or Shutup!, host Colin Fraley sits down with Melinda Jackson, founder of Melinda Jackson Public Relations, to talk about building a PR agency rooted in authenticity, earned media, and organic storytelling. From her upbringing in North Carolina, to breaking into the...
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How to Start a Nightlife Production Company in Chicago | Luxeria Productions | Dinora Alvarez
How Dinora Built Luxuria: Chicago Nightlife, Beauty Business & Trans Latina Entrepreneurship What does it take to build a nightlife empire rooted in beauty, identity, and community? In this episode of Startup or Shutup!, Colin sits down with Dinora — a trans Latina powerhouse, professional...
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How to Become a Travel Agent & Build a Travel Tour Company | Chubbit & Vyvem | Vincent Wong
In this episode of Startup or Shutup!, host Colin (@NurseColin) sits down with global travel entrepreneur Vincent Wong — founder of Chubit Travel and VYVEM Tours — to unpack his inspiring journey from Brooklyn to Colombia. Vincent shares how he turned his personal passion for travel into a...
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How to Become a DJ, Play for Beyonce, & Spin for Boiler Room | DJ CoolMomWallace
In this electrifying episode of Startup or Shutup, Nurse Colin sits down with DJ, rapper, performance artist, and FUTUREHOOD co-founder CoolMomWallace—a Chicago-based creative force known for turning dance floors into portals. Fresh off his Boiler Room Chicago set (which Colin attended live),...
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How to Go Viral on TikTok | Marissa Wilkenson
When life falls apart, could sharing your story online help you heal — and help others do the same? In this powerful episode of Startup or Shutup, host Nurse Colin sits down with Marissa Wilkenson (@Rizz326), a small-town girl from Quincy, Michigan, who transformed her heartbreak into hope by...
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How to Become a Super Star Content Creator After Being a Public Servant | Milo
What does it take to go from politics to platform — and turn followers into financial freedom? In this episode, Nurse Colin sits down with Milo, a former politician turned unapologetically bold content creator. They dive into his journey from campaigning to creating, how he built multiple income...
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How to Start a Podcast | Poison Touch Advice Hour Podcast | Jay Munoz
Guest: Jay Muñoz Thinking about starting a podcast? 🎙 In this first episode of Startup or Shutup, host Colin Fraley interviews experienced podcaster Jay Muñoz (host of Poison Touch Advice Hour and Baby Daddies) to walk through exactly how to launch your first podcast. Jay shares practical tips…
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About this show
Business growth and go-to-market strategies for creators, startup founders, and indie builders. STARTUP or SHUTUP! is the zero-fluff entrepreneurship podcast where host Colin Fraley trades highlight reels for real playbooks: how guests found their first customers and fans, validated product-market fit (PMF), built repeatable go-to-market (GTM) motions, and scaled revenue without the guru noise.
Each episode breaks down what actually worked—customer acquisition, audience growth, pricing and packaging, sales systems, partnerships, sponsorships, community funding, and launching offers that convert. You’ll hear the wins, the face-plants, and the “SHUTUP!” moment when the strategy clicks and momentum finally shows up. If you’re a creator, influencer, DJ, artist, party promoter, indie founder, tech builder, or investor looking for practical business growth tactics, th
Hosted by
Colin Fraley | Founder & Startup Playbook Coach
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