Young and Profiting with Hala Taha (Entrepreneurship, Sales, Marketing)

When New York Times bestselling author and entrepreneur Rory Vaden wanted to get better at public speaking, he went out and spoke 304 times… for free. It was perhaps the best investment he could have made in himself and his abilities. In this episode, Rory will explain how to communicate effectively and show off your authentic self while building trust.  In this episode, Hala and Rory will discuss...

When Adam Schafer launched Mind Pump, the fitness space on social media was flooded with fake success and viral fame. But he chose loyalty over hype by helping a few people deeply, replying to every DM, and turning down quick brand deals to protect his audience's trust. That approach built Mind Pump into a multi-million-dollar business, with brands now lining up to work with them. In this episode,...

At a pool party, little Lori Harder got up on the diving board only to hear her peers chanting “Whale!” And just like that, she went from a bubbly child to one who hid because of her body. Refusing to accept that her size was genetic, she threw herself into the world of fitness. Through relentless hard work, she became a 3-time fitness world champion, gracing the covers of fitness magazines. But s...

27 years ago, entrepreneur Dean Graziosi had to max out his credit cards and spend over $200,000 just to get his product on TV. Today, AI can help you launch a business in a matter of hours, for the cost of a few cups of coffee. In the sixth and final episode of the YAPCreator Series, Hala explores how AI is revolutionizing content creation and entrepreneurship. She also dives into practical AI st...

Adam Schafer’s childhood was marked by poverty, the tragic loss of his father, and the presence of an abusive stepfather. At just 15 years old, he became an entrepreneur, mowing lawns to afford the life he wanted. By  21, he was already leading a team of fitness trainers despite having less experience. Years later, he co-founded Mind Pump Media, transforming it from a side project into a multi-mil...

Morgan Housel made his first investment at 18, putting $1,000 into a certificate of deposit at his local bank. When he started earning interest on that saving, he was hooked. He dove into books on finance, investing, and wealth building, eventually becoming a financial columnist for The Motley Fool and The Wall Street Journal. In today’s episode, Morgan shares why he thinks personal finance is mor...

Morgan Housel once looked back at his twenties as a carefree, simple time, living in a beautiful apartment with his wife. But she quickly reminded him how anxious he truly was. His nostalgia had erased the uncertainty he once felt, just like how investors look back at past market growth and assume success was inevitable. In this episode, Morgan explains why the past is never as clear as we remembe...

Sahil Bloom felt empty despite crushing his career and financial goals. His health, relationships, and well-being were crumbling, until one conversation made him realize that at his current pace, he might see his parents only 15 more times before they passed. This realization hit like a punch in the gut. Within 45 days, Sahil quit his job, sold his house, and moved across the country. Free from co...

If you’ve ever felt like your content just isn’t sticking, you might not be speaking your audience’s language. But figuring out what resonates isn’t a guessing game. There are real strategies to find what connects, cut what doesn’t, and adjust on the fly. In this episode of the YAPCreator Series, presented by OpusClip, Hala Taha breaks down why analyzing audience behavior is critical. She also sha...

Starting as an early AI enthusiast during his Stanford days, Reid Hoffman was eager to explore the potential of artificial intelligence, but the technology wasn’t ready, so he shifted his focus. Years later, inspired by conversations with top tech innovators, he recognized AI’s potential and seized the moment. He became a founding investor in OpenAI and later co-founded Inflection AI. In this epis...

Donald Miller once lost all of his life savings to a bad investment. But after he decided to start taking 100% ownership of his life and business, everything changed. In this episode, Donald is back on YAP to focus on how to grow a small business! Donald will explain why we should think of our business as an airplane and why most small businesses today are failing. He will also break down how we c...

Despite having a strong product idea, Reid Hoffman’s first startup collapsed, forcing him to return investors’ capital. This tough experience reshaped his approach to entrepreneurship. By embracing failure, iterating quickly, and adapting relentlessly, he went on to become a leader at PayPal and later, the co-founder of LinkedIn. In this episode, Reid shares the concept of blitzscaling, which prio...

Heather Monahan was at the top of her career when she was blindsided and fired after 14 years as Chief Revenue Officer. Instead of letting it define her, she walked away with her head held high and rebuilt her life on her own terms. Heather turned her setback into a springboard for success, becoming a bestselling author, keynote speaker, and confidence expert. In this episode, Heather shares her t...

When Hala started podcasting, everyone told her it was too late to enter the market. But today, she is known as the Podcast Princess. With creativity and great content, anyone can build a powerful brand and make an impact. While the endless opportunities to create and connect can feel overwhelming, there are proven strategies to help you get started and stand out from the crowd. In episode four of...

From kindergarten through university, teachers always called on Matt Abrahams first because his last name came first alphabetically. This forced him to think on his feet regularly and, over time, shaped him into a master of spontaneous communication. In this episode, Matt shares practical tips for speaking confidently on the spot as an entrepreneur, managing anxiety, and mastering techniques for e...

As a bestselling author and leading voice on human behavior, Daniel Pink has spent years studying the emotions that shape our lives. But there’s one feeling that seems universally taboo: regret. In a world that often embraces a ‘no regrets’ mantra, Daniel Pink sees things differently. He believes regret can be a powerful guide—a spotlight revealing our true values and priorities. In this episode,...

On her son’s prom night, Mel Robbins fussed over details that didn’t matter. Her daughter grabbed her arm and said, “Let them. Let them run in the rain. Let them eat where they want. Let them.” Those two simple words hit Mel like a ton of bricks and completely changed how she thinks about control. In this episode, Mel shares some of the pivotal moments that shaped her career, her innovative strate...

As a senior in college and an All-American athlete, Lewis Howes had it all, until he received some life-changing news. The night before a big football game, Lewis’s father got into a car accident that left him in a traumatic coma. When his dad could no longer guide him, Lewis started seeking new mentors. He began reaching out to highly accomplished people asking for the stories of their success. T...

Staying motivated as a content creator is no easy feat. Despite balancing a corporate job and a podcast, Hala Taha made the most of her limited free time to grow a LinkedIn following of 60,000 in just one year. Today, she’s a top LinkedIn voice with over 260,000 followers. In the third episode of the YAP Creator Series, Hala unpacks powerful strategies for consistently creating content without bur...

After his senior thesis film at USC flopped, Tom Bilyeu abandoned his dream of becoming a filmmaker. As he worked low-paying jobs and relied on his fiancée for financial support, he found himself spiraling into depression and struggling with a lack of purpose. But then, he immersed himself in personal development and brain plasticity research, discovering that effort and learning were the keys to...

After graduating from college in 2016, 22-year-old Tori Dunlap started an entry-level job in corporate marketing. But she set herself a goal: figure out a way to make $100,000 by the age of 25. She reached that goal three years later and quit her job. In doing so, she realized how money and personal finance are tools you can use to shape your life into something that you love. In this episode, Tor...

When Dave Meyer graduated in 2009, the job market was bleak. Inspired by a friend who found success buying a single-family home, he decided to give real estate a shot. Although Dave was unable to qualify for a loan on his waiter’s salary, he managed to secure his first property using creative financing. He continued to spend his spare time managing his properties until his tech startup failed in 2...

Eager to use his spare time productively, Nick Loper started his first side hustle, ShoeSniper.com. Throughout the decade he spent running the footwear comparison site, he consistently experimented with other income streams, including freelancing, affiliate marketing, and self-publishing. But when his business hit one of its lowest points, Nick found himself asking, “What do I truly want to be kno...

From launching a comparison shopping site for shoes to creating a directory of virtual assistants, Nick Loper is the king of side hustles. Although he started out during the early days of the internet, when there were fewer resources and less user-friendly tools, he figured it out and kept experimenting. Nick tried many different side hustles, earning lessons from each one and refining his approac...

At seven years old, Dr. Jeff Spencer made a promise to himself to become an Olympian. Despite struggling financially, he achieved that dream at 21, representing the USA in cycling at the 1972 Olympics. But that was just the beginning. Today, Jeff is one of the most sought-after performance coaches in the world, having mentored icons like Tiger Woods, Sir Richard Branson, and Bono. In this episode,...