Scams, Cash, and Fake Friendships with Lauren Gordon

Karla Singson sits down with Hannah Blancas, a brand visibility strategist, for a conversation about how introverts and extroverts approach business differently and how both can succeed. Hannah’s work focuses on helping entrepreneurs build visibility without burning out, especially those who do not feel comfortable being loud online. From her years of coaching, she has seen how introverts often wait until they have carefully crafted their message before showing up, while extroverts thrive by gaining momentum and staying visible even when things are not perfect. Both approaches can work when you know how to lean into your natural strengths. In this episode, you will learn: The surprising advantages introverts have when it comes to building genuine trust with clients Why extroverts gain traction through visibility while introverts win through depth and strategy Practical tips for networking, even if small talk feels uncomfortable How one thoughtful compliment can leave a lasting impression Why listening well is one of the most powerful business skills The mindset shift introverts need to stop hiding and start leading with confidence The most intriguing part is Hannah’s belief that introverts are not at a disadvantage at all. Their depth, intentionality, and ability to connect one-on-one may be the exact qualities that allow them to stand out in a noisy digital world. Karla and Hannah also share personal stories, from lighthearted chicken wing compliments to chance encounters at the gym, to show that visibility is not about being flashy but about showing up in ways that feel true to who you are. If you have ever felt that business success is only for the loudest person in the room, this conversation will challenge that idea. You will leave with practical tools to network, grow your visibility, and use your personality type as an advantage rather than a limitation. Connect with Hannah Blancas: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hannahblancas Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hannah.blancas.2024 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hannah-blancas YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/HannahBlancas Ready to discover how to show up online as an introvert or extrovert? This episode will show you how to turn your...

13 Okt 49min

Karla Singson sits down with John Cooper, founder of Social Heartistry, for a conversation about how he's completely disrupting the dating industry with his heart-led approach to authentic connection. John's journey from art director to dating coach led to a radical realization: most dating advice is keeping people stuck in cycles of strategy and scripts instead of genuine connection. After working as head coach with Matthew Hussey and running workshops worldwide, John decided to challenge the entire industry with his "Social Heartistry" methodology. In this episode, you'll discover: Why John moved away from traditional pickup-style dating coaching methods How he's disrupting the industry with heart-led authenticity over transactional approaches His controversial take on why most dating advice isn't actually helping people find love The creative principles from his art background that revolutionized his dating coaching His new Social Heartistry Academy designed to help Gen Z build real social confidence beyond dating apps How the same principles that transform dating also apply to sales and business relationships The most intriguing part? John believes the future of dating lies in dropping the scripts entirely and connecting through spontaneity, resonance, and genuine service to others. Karla and John dive deep into what's broken about current dating culture, why authenticity beats strategy every time, and how John's artistic approach is creating real transformations for people seeking meaningful relationships. If you're tired of dating advice that feels inauthentic or curious about a completely different approach to finding love, this conversation will challenge everything you think you know about modern dating.   Ready to Experience Dating Differently? If John's heart-led approach to dating resonated with you, dive deeper into Social Heartistry. Connect with John Cooper: Website: https://www.socialheartistry.com Social Heartistry Academy: https://www.skool.com/socialheartistry/about?ref=ba70e4e583e44b319005b8935 Instagram: @thejohncooper    Ready to disrupt your own dating life? John's approach might just be the authentic connection breakthrough you've been searching for. Stop following scripts and start following your heart. Remember, everything here is none of your business

29 Sep 56min

Hey everyone! Today I'm sitting down with two of my closest friends here in Playa del Carmen for a conversation that hits different.  We're talking about something most entrepreneurs struggle with but rarely discuss openly: the difference between self-confidence and self-esteem. Meet Ray Blakney, a Filipino-American entrepreneur, and his wife Laura Ramirez Blakney, a Mexican-born language educator. Over the past 18 years, they've built over 20 profitable companies, sold 4 of them, and taken multiple to multi-seven-figure success, including their global language-learning platform Live Lingua. Their newest venture, Online School Builders, helps experts turn their knowledge into thriving online schools. What We Talked About: Ray shares a mentor's definition that completely shifted his perspective: self-confidence is believing you can do anything; self-esteem is believing you don't have to.  When scammers destroyed his business, his high self-confidence couldn't save him from an identity crisis. We dive into what depression actually looked like for both of them, how Laura's cultural approach helped pull Ray through his darkest moments, and why high-powered executives have the exact same self-doubts as everyone else (they just act anyway). Plus, we explore their "wisdom to wealth" philosophy and how they help experienced professionals turn their knowledge into profitable schools. My Favorite Insight: Laura's approach to supporting Ray wasn't just cultural, it was strategic. She reminded him he was more than his business success, gave him space to process, then literally created action plans on giant sticky notes to pull his intellectual side back online. This conversation reminded me why I love talking about the non-business side of business. Success isn't just about confidence. It's about knowing you're worthy even when everything falls apart.   Connect with Ray & Laura: Website: onlineschoolbuilders.com  Free workshops and community access available Join their newsletter for practical courses from 7 and 8-figure school builders Thanks to Proximity Outsourcing for sponsoring this episode! If you need to outsource your tedious tasks so you can focus on what matters, visit proximityoutsourcing.com See you in two weeks for another episode of None of Your Business!   P.S. - If you know an expert who should turn their knowledge into a school, send them Ray and Laura's way. You'll be doing everyone a favor.

15 Sep 1h 3min

What happens when the children of the country’s most powerful families flaunt ₱700,000 dinners and designer bags online—while ordinary Filipinos wade through floods? In this episode of None of Your Business, Karla Singson sits down with journalist and PR professional Jesse Boga to unpack the cultural, political, and media machine behind the rise of these “influencers.”Together, they ask: Why can’t some wealthy people stop oversharing their excess? With all their money, why do they skip basic PR training? How did we get to a point where flaunting wealth became influence? Why does society admire inherited privilege instead of real value-creators? And is a revolution what it will take to finally fix this broken system? As honest taxpayers, how do we feel about all these questionable sources of wealth from "government contractors"? This is not your typical conversation on wealth and power. This is a raw look at how media, corruption, and blind aspiration collide, and why Filipinos deserve better role models. If you’ve ever wondered why we follow people who don’t truly serve us, or what it would take to redirect admiration toward real builders and leaders, this episode will leave you fired up and thinking differently. Listen now, and let’s talk about the uncomfortable truths behind the glitter.For comments and further discussion, comment to this episode, or connect with Karla here: Karla's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karlastefan/Karla's Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/karlasingson.official

8 Sep 1h 11min

Today's episode feels like the perfect follow-up to my recent solo episode about toxic Filipino money mindsets. Because apparently every culture has their own messy relationship with money, and entrepreneurs? We're no exception. I'm sitting down with Cameron Williams, CEO and founder of Kynli Consulting, who has 12 years in the accounting industry and has helped hundreds of marketing agencies save over $2 million in taxes. Cameron's on a mission to impact 300 marketing agencies by 2030, and today we're diving into the stupid spending decisions entrepreneurs make (yes, including some of my own embarrassing confessions). What We Talked About: We dive deep into why entrepreneurs want opposite things (scaling fast while hoarding cash), the shocking difference between cash flow and profit (spoiler: they're NOT the same), and how the comparison trap makes us think we're failing when we're actually winning. Cameron breaks down when to hire what. Plus, my rant about spiritual entrepreneurs who think tracking numbers kills their vibe, and why lifestyle creep destroys businesses faster than bad marketing. My Favorite Quote: "You can have all the faith, but you can't be doing no work. You can't do all the work and have no faith. You gotta do both." This conversation really opened my eyes to why I used to say "I'm better at making more money than cutting back". And how that mindset, while not wrong, needed better strategy behind it.   Connect with Cameron: Website: kynliconsulting.com Facebook: Cameron Williams (daily valuable content!) Email: cameron@kynliconsulting.com YouTube: Kynli Consulting If you're tired of feeling confused about your business finances or wondering why you're making good money but still feel broke, Cameron's your guy. He's like having a big brother who actually understands numbers and won't judge your past money mistakes. See you next Monday for another episode of None of Your Business! P.S. - If this episode made you realize you need help with your finances, don't wait. Your future self will thank you. My online businesses run on Mercury! The best fintech solution built by startup Founders to take the pains of banking out of operating your online business. Claim your account here and get a $250 BONUS: https://mercury.com/r/proximity-solutions-llc

1 Sep 52min

Growing Up Filipino: Toxic Money Mindsets We Need to Leave Behind Hey everyone! Today I'm going solo to talk about something really close to my heart—those toxic Filipino money mindsets we grew up with that are still messing with our adult lives, our businesses, and even our relationships. This episode was inspired by a viral thread I posted about setting boundaries with money, specifically how I made it publicly clear that I don't lend money to anyone. Yes, not even my siblings (unless it's a real emergency). And the responses were... interesting. What We're Unpacking Today: I'm diving deep into five toxic Filipino money behaviors that are keeping us financially stuck—from the crushing pressure OFWs face to send money home at their own expense, to that weird culture where birthday celebrants are expected to pay for everyone else's meal. We'll explore how shame-based spending, fatalistic attitudes toward money, and unspoken family obligations create cycles of financial dependency that hurt everyone involved. Plus, I'm sharing some personal stories from my own journey as a former family breadwinner and why I had to set some hard boundaries. My Personal Take: I've been the family breadwinner. I've experienced the pressure, the guilt, and the financial hardship of putting everyone else first. But I've also learned that helping others shouldn't come at the expense of your own financial security—because if you get sick or lose your job, will those same people be able to help you?   This episode is especially for my fellow Filipino entrepreneurs, OFWs, and anyone trying to balance family obligations with building personal wealth. If this resonates with you, I'd love to hear your thoughts! Connect with me: Newsletter: karlasingson.com Facebook: Karla Singson DM me your stories—I read every single one See you next Monday for another episode of None of Your Business! If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with someone who needs to hear this message. Breaking generational cycles starts with honest conversations.

18 Aug 26min

What does it look like to actually heal through the body? Most of the time people don't even touch into their body—they're just in their head and that's how they're living. Today, I sit down with trauma coach, spiritual mentor, and author Gabriella Cacciatore to explore how entrepreneurs might be unconsciously running their businesses from unprocessed trauma. Gabriella is the author of "Unbroken," a raw memoir about surviving childhood sexual abuse, remembering repressed trauma, and healing through the body. She helps survivors connect to their truth through somatic work, nervous system regulation, and emotional integration. Her work is raw, real, and rooted in deep lived experience—she's not here to sugarcoat healing. What We Talked About How to ground yourself using your five senses in everyday moments The terrifying yet liberating experience of repressed memories surfacing Why entrepreneurs often run businesses from a nervous system stuck in survival mode Simple workplace practices for processing emotions (including color-association exercises) The difference between talking about trauma and truly embodying the healing process How to rebuild self-trust when you've lost it through small, consistent promises The connection between spiritual awakening and trauma healing Why "healing is not from a healer, healing is from yourself" About Gabriella's Book "Unbroken" Launching August 18th, "Unbroken" takes readers through trauma, healing, and reclamation in three parts. It's for anyone who's experienced trauma and feels like they can't come out of it—showing that there is life, hope, and joy after trauma. Support Gabriella's Book through GoFundMe https://gofund.me/0adff36b Connect with Gabriella Instagram: @gabcacc Website: GabriellaCacciatore.com (coming soon) Big thanks to our sponsors Proximity Outsourcing and Huckleberry Consulting for making this episode possible! If you enjoyed this episode, leave us a review. And if there's a non-business topic you'd like me to cover, reach out—just tell me why you find it interesting and promise it's not business talk. See you next week, and remember—everything here is none of your business.     Note: This episode contains discussions of childhood trauma and sexual abuse that some listeners may find sensitive. Listener discretion is advised.

28 Jul 42min

This is not your typical budgeting episode. I’m not here to lecture you about lattes. Instead, I’m sharing how mindful spending—yep, just being a little more intentional with your money—led to massive shifts in my mental clarity, emotional stability, and even how I run my business. After a chaotic move back to Mexico (we still haven’t unpacked everything ), some surprising expenses, and a lot of internal debates with my old impulsive shopper self, I’ve finally found a new groove. In this episode, I’ll walk you through what changed, how it happened, and why I think you might want to give this mindful money thing a try. In this episode, we talk about: How I hit my record month in June 2025 and what helped The surprising connection between less clutter and sharper decisions My personal challenge: 90 days without Amazon Why walking out of the store is sometimes the biggest flex The internal tug-of-war between "you deserve this" and "be smart about it" Paying off a $10,000 surprise debt—without panicking Why mindful spending = more power, not less freedom What changed when I started asking: “Will I love this forever?” Want to share your mindful money wins or past shopping regrets? I’d love to hear them. DM me or reply to my stories on IG: @karlastefan Join Pocket Proximity Beta – Hire 12 kinds of remote professionals for only 20 hours/month https://proximityoutsourcing.com/pocket-proximity/ Master Strategic Upselling That Builds Trust & Drives Growth   https://strategic-upsell-workshop.netlify.app/

30 Jun 28min