loader from loading.io

Episode 112 – Marketing that Builds Trust with Sarah Stahl

Call The Damn Leads

Release Date: 10/30/2025

Episode 140 – Leadership, Values & the Hero’s Journey with David Aferiat show art Episode 140 – Leadership, Values & the Hero’s Journey with David Aferiat

Call The Damn Leads

David Aferiat – Co-Founder (Exited FinTech), Executive Coach, Leadership Strategist, The Avid Group     Episode Summary In Episode 140, Drewbie sits down with David Aferiat, a seasoned entrepreneur who spent 20 years building and scaling a FinTech software company before successfully exiting—and now helps founders and leadership teams navigate growth, culture, and scale without breaking themselves in the process. David shares the behind-the-scenes reality of landing massive enterprise deals with companies like E*TRADE, TD Ameritrade, Schwab, and Interactive Brokers—and why...

info_outline Episode 139 — How To Build a Multi-Six-Figure Brand With One Life-Changing Cold Call With Ethan Dowie show art Episode 139 — How To Build a Multi-Six-Figure Brand With One Life-Changing Cold Call With Ethan Dowie

Call The Damn Leads

In this episode of Call The Damn Leads, I sit down with my guy Ethan Dowie, founder of Indigo and one of the sharpest minds in the branded-merch game. Ethan didn’t come into the industry with experience, money, or a fancy network… he came in with a cell phone, a notebook, and the willingness to make 500 cold calls. And on call #496, everything changed. That single outreach — one conversation with a buyer at Zappos — turned into hundreds of thousands of dollars in orders and opened the door to a multi-six-figure merch company built on systems, relationships, and high-touch service....

info_outline Episode 138 – Kill the Ego, Start the Conversation & Stop Pitch-Slapping with Lidia Axe show art Episode 138 – Kill the Ego, Start the Conversation & Stop Pitch-Slapping with Lidia Axe

Call The Damn Leads

Lidia Axe – Business Coach for Solopreneurs, Sales Mindset Strategist, Author, Host of “Conversations That Convert” In this episode, Drewbie is joined by the fiery, hilarious, and deeply insightful Lidia Axe, a former corporate director turned business coach who helps solopreneurs overcome the mindset blocks stopping them from selling with confidence. Lidia shares her transformational sales story—how a kids club turned into a boutique gift shop, and how her passion for the products helped her understand one of the most important principles in sales: 👉 If you deeply believe in the...

info_outline Episode 137 – Understanding Customers Through Psychology with Dr. Chris Gray show art Episode 137 – Understanding Customers Through Psychology with Dr. Chris Gray

Call The Damn Leads

Dr. Chris Gray – Consumer Psychologist, Founder of The Bycologist, Behavioral Marketing Expert In this episode, Drewbie sits down with world-renowned consumer psychologist Dr. Chris Gray, whose three decades of experience in marketing, psychology, and behavioral science have helped brands decode how customers actually think, feel, and buy. Dr. Gray shares an unbelievable story from early in his career—a sales meeting gone wrong that turned into one of the most transformative projects of his life. What began as a devastating rejection ended with multimillion-dollar partnerships, a...

info_outline Episode 136 – Build Real Relationships and Business with Melanie Gorman show art Episode 136 – Build Real Relationships and Business with Melanie Gorman

Call The Damn Leads

In this episode, Drewbie welcomes the brilliant and authentic Melanie Gorman, a trained mental health therapist turned powerhouse sales strategist and business builder. Melanie shares her unconventional path—from therapist and bartender to selling for John Gray (Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus) and eventually launching her own company, Crownsville Media. She breaks down how relationship psychology gives you an unfair edge in sales, why authenticity dissolves pressure, and how slowing the conversation creates more sales opportunities—not fewer. Melanie dives into the real fears...

info_outline Episode 135 – How to Launch a High-Impact Podcast with Virginia Elder show art Episode 135 – How to Launch a High-Impact Podcast with Virginia Elder

Call The Damn Leads

In this episode, Drewbie sits down with podcast strategist and agency owner Virginia Elder, whose entire career in podcasting started by accident—thanks to debt, diapers, and financial podcasts that gave her hope during tough times. Virginia shares how she paid off $80,000 of debt on a modest household income, started a financial podcast to fill a gap she saw in the market, and unexpectedly built a thriving podcast production agency serving financial professionals, coaches, and business owners. From how to use a podcast to land clients, stay top-of-mind, build authority, and create...

info_outline Episode 134 — How Swyvvl Empowers Real Estate Agents with Chad Link show art Episode 134 — How Swyvvl Empowers Real Estate Agents with Chad Link

Call The Damn Leads

In this week’s Call The Damn Leads, I sit down with Chad Link, real estate veteran and co-founder of Swÿvvl.com — a revolutionary new platform built to disrupt the traditional real estate industry. Chad’s been in the business for nearly two decades, training hundreds of agents and helping more than a thousand clients buy and sell homes. After seeing firsthand how much money was being siphoned off by giant real estate tech platforms like Zillow, Redfin, and Realtor.com, he decided to build a better way — one that gives power (and money) back to agents, buyers, and sellers. In this...

info_outline Episode 133 – Stand Out, Get Seen & Stay Consistent with Audrey “The Tech Diva” Wiggins show art Episode 133 – Stand Out, Get Seen & Stay Consistent with Audrey “The Tech Diva” Wiggins

Call The Damn Leads

Audrey Wiggins – “The Tech Diva” Digital Marketing Strategist • Show Host • Brand Builder Episode Summary In Episode 133, Drewbie sits down with digital marketing powerhouse Audrey “The Tech Diva” Wiggins to break down what it really takes to stand out, get noticed, and stay consistent in a crowded online marketplace. From how the iconic nickname Tech Diva was born, to why so many entrepreneurs still look unprofessional online in 2025, Audrey brings wisdom, humor, and straight talk to the conversation. Together, Drewbie and Audrey unpack branding fundamentals, content creation,...

info_outline Episode 132 — How to Win with Content, Consistency, and AI with Keith Kakadia show art Episode 132 — How to Win with Content, Consistency, and AI with Keith Kakadia

Call The Damn Leads

In this episode of Call The Damn Leads, I sit down with Keith Kakadia, the founder and CEO of Socially In, one of the top social media agencies in the country. With more than 14 years in sales and digital marketing, Keith’s built a powerhouse team that helps brands dominate online — all while staying true to the fundamentals of human connection. We dig deep into what really works in modern sales and social media. From losing a $60,000 deal over one extra page in a proposal to mastering AI tools and automations that streamline client relationships, Keith shares the hard lessons and smart...

info_outline Episode 131 – How to Convert More Leads Today with Chris Smith show art Episode 131 – How to Convert More Leads Today with Chris Smith

Call The Damn Leads

In this explosive episode, Drewbie sits down with world-class salesman and internationally bestselling author Chris Smith, creator of The Conversion Code, to break down the true science of sales and why most people overcomplicate what should be simple. Chris shares his outrageous first week selling for boy-band mogul Lou Pearlman, what he learned from boiler room “Wolf of Wall Street” environments, and how he turned those fundamental lessons into a multi-7-figure career, award-winning companies, and one of the most respected sales frameworks in the world. From sales psychology to KPIs,...

info_outline
 
More Episodes

Sales pros love to hate on marketing… and marketers love to remind salespeople they don’t know everything either. But what happens when someone like Sarah Stahl bridges that gap? You get the kind of results that turn a zero-visibility treehouse resort into a seven-figure revenue machine with 93% occupancy in just one year.

Sarah brings 15+ years of marketing experience and breaks down how sales professionals can harness influencer marketing, AI, and social platforms to stand out in crowded markets, build trust faster, and create a consistent pipeline of leads that are already warmed up before the sales call.

From the 95–5 rule to why comments beat posts on LinkedIn, Sarah and I dig into practical strategies salespeople can use right now to win more business without burning themselves out.

 

 

🔥 Episode Highlights

  • From Startup to $1M+ Revenue: How Sarah scaled a treehouse resort using influencer marketing instead of paid ads.

  • The Power of Storytelling: Why stories sell better than facts — and how one quirky detail (golf carts!) became the resort’s brand differentiator.

  • Influencer-Driven Conversions: How influencer trust cuts sales cycles from 20–30 touchpoints down to less than 7.

  • Platform Strategy: Why you shouldn’t try to be everywhere — and how to choose the right platform for your audience.

  • LinkedIn Growth Hack: How Sarah used AI to model her content on top-performing posts, tripling her visibility in months.

  • Why Comments Matter More Than Posts: Her secret to driving 10x engagement on LinkedIn without posting more.

  • The Role of Controversy: How sharing bold opinions (without being toxic) accelerates reach and attracts ideal clients.

  • AI + Your Voice: The exact way Sarah trains ChatGPT to speak in her tone and create authentic content.

  • The Airbnb Myth: Why relying solely on Airbnb or “rented land” platforms is a recipe for disaster in short-term rentals (and how this lesson applies to every industry).

 

💡 Key Takeaways

  • Trust is currency. Consumers trust people more than brands. Let others tell your story for you.

  • Don’t rent your brand. Platforms like Airbnb (or Instagram alone) are rented land. Build your own.

  • Content consistency compounds. Most of your audience isn’t ready to buy now — but they’ll remember you when they are.

  • Engagement > Posts. Comments and conversations drive more visibility than publishing alone.

  • AI is a tool, not a replacement. Use ChatGPT to speed up ideas, refine your voice, and cut the fluff — but always add your perspective.

  • Pick your platform wisely. Sales pros don’t need TikTok dances. Go where your audience already spends time.

  • Controversy sparks connection. Thoughtful, bold takes cut through noise and drive real conversations.

 

🔗 How to Connect with Sarah Stahl

🌐 Website: sarahstahl.com
💼 LinkedIn: Sarah Stahl

 

📣 Call to Action

Sarah proved that when you align sales and marketing, focus on trust, and leverage the right tools, you can create explosive growth without burning your budget.

👉 If this episode lit a fire for you, share it on social media, tag Sarah and me, and send it to a friend in sales or marketing who needs to hear this message.

And if you’ve got your own story to tell, I’d love to feature you. Pitch your story at callthedamnleads.com/podcast.

 

🎯 Call to Action

Call The Damn Leads

"By sales professionals, for sales professionals - Tales of your wildest sales stories and tactics to succeed in your sales career across various industries."

Join Drewbie Wilson, a sales veteran with over 20 years of experience, as he brings you insider stories, humor, and actionable strategies to excel in your sales journey.

Your weekly dose of:

  • Wild Sales Stories: Engaging tales of real-life sales adventures.

  • Proven Tactics: Actionable strategies to boost your sales game.

  • Humor: A fun and energetic perspective on the world of sales.

  • Expert Insights: Learn from seasoned professionals in various industries.

Don't miss out on the insights, humor, and strategies that can take your sales career to new heights! Sales professionals, entrepreneurs, and small business owners striving to enhance their sales, marketing, and personal growth to achieve financial success and time freedom.

If you'd like to be a guest on our show please leave your contact information and a brief message selling us on what makes your story worth sharing!

https://callthedamnleads.com/pages/podcast