Crush the Rush™: The Life-First CEO Podcast
You didn’t leave corporate just to build another 24/7 job.
Hosted by Holly Haynes—business strategist, former Fortune 500 executive, and creator of Crush the Rush™—this top-rated podcast helps female entrepreneurs and small business owners design life-first business strategies that create freedom, profit, and sustainability without the burnout.
Each week, Holly shares practical business planning tools, behind-the-scenes lessons, and honest conversations about what it really takes to scale sustainably in a fast-changing online world. From simplifying your systems and using AI intentionally to building a supportive team and protecting your time, every episode helps you work less, think bigger, and grow smarter.
Because success isn’t about doing more—it’s about doing what matters, on your terms.
Tune in every Monday for your strategic pep talk, and start building a business that works with your life, not against it.
Crush the Rush™: The Life-First CEO Podcast
582 - Turn Your Podcast into a Revenue Engine: Funnels, Systems, and Strategy - A Brainstorming Session with Kylee Chandler
What does it look like to make your podcast the cornerstone of your business instead of an afterthought? Today, I’m sitting down with Kylee Chandler—podcast strategist, growth expert, and creator of the Podcast Growth Toolkit. Kylee has spent nearly a decade helping shows like Online Marketing Made Easy with Amy Porterfield and Don’t Keep Your Day Job with Kathy Heller grow to millions of downloads. She knows what it takes to build a show that doesn’t just get listens—it builds a business.
We talk about what it really means to build a life-first business around your podcast, why the “saturated podcast market” is a total myth, and how to turn your episodes into lead-generating, revenue-driving systems. Kylee shares the method she uses to create podcast-first funnels, how she’s built her own show from the ground up, and what trends to watch for in 2026. Whether you’re launching your first show or ready to grow strategically, this conversation will help you rethink what’s possible when you lead with connection, consistency, and purpose.
Today you’ll hear:
- 02:05 – How Kylee and I define a “life-first business” and what it looks like in practice
- 04:40 – The boundaries and structure that helped Kylee build her business from day one
- 07:15 – Why the podcasting space isn’t too crowded—and what the numbers really say
- 09:20 – When a podcast becomes more than just content: the connection that drives growth
- 12:10 – How networking through your show can create unexpected relationships and opportunities
- 15:00 – What it actually looks like to build a business without relying on social media
- 18:25 – The system I use to turn one podcast episode into 17+ pieces of content every week
- 19:58 – Inside Kylee’s Podcast-First Funnel and how to repurpose your top-performing episodes
- 23:40 – 2026 podcast trends: bundles, newsletters, SEO, and authenticity over automation
- 27:20 – How “hand-raise” emails are creating real engagement and personal connection
- 30:05 – Why monetizing your own offers is the new wave of podcast growth
- 32:00 – The one mistake new podcasters make and how to avoid it
- 33:15 – Why batching content creates better flow and more profitable episodes
- 35:00 – The business tools we both swear by for organization and growth
- 36:50 – How motherhood shapes our approach to entrepreneurship and freedom
CONNECT WITH KYLEE:
Website: Www.podcastmarketinghub.com
Instagram: @kyleejchandler
FREE Resources:
Podcast Project Management Training: podcastmarketinghub.com/holly
Podcast Growth Toolkit: http://www.podcastmarketinghub.com/toolkit
🔗 LINKS MENTIONED:
🌟 Explore Intensives → www.hollymariehaynes.com/intensive
🎧 Anti-Social School™ → www.hollymariehaynes.com/antisocial
🌎 Website → www.hollymariehaynes.com
📲 Instagram → @thehollymariehaynes
💬 Loved this episode?
Comment below with your biggest takeaway, share it with a business friend, and don’t forget to screenshot and tag me so I can cheer you on!
