

Money Lab
Money Lab
The Money Lab Podcast with Matt Giovanisci is a lo-fi show where Matt shares his real-world experiences running a successful online education business. With over 20 years of experience building Swim University from the ground up, Matt talks through his strategies, personal insights, and tactics for online entrepreneurs looking to create profitable lifestyle businesses. Each solo episode dives deep into content creation, email marketing, product development, and productivity, backed by his own successes and failures.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Dec 8, 2025 • 40min
My Principles
Discover a unique set of personal principles that drive creativity and happiness. Embrace autonomy by refusing to work for others and enjoy greater control over your income. Explore the 'less but better' philosophy, linking minimalism to productivity. Learn how prioritizing fun can transform your work and life. Engage with ideas that encourage questioning norms and experimenting boldly. Finally, find balance by focusing on strengths and avoiding spreading yourself too thin in life.

Dec 7, 2025 • 28min
My Goal Setting System
The discussion opens with a listener's email about goal setting, sparking insights on short-term versus long-term objectives. Matt shares his personal mission to retire by 50, driven by a competitive edge to outperform his own goals. Emphasizing the importance of SMART goals, he argues for achievable targets to prevent burnout. The conversation reveals a focus on optimizing existing projects instead of starting new ones, along with strategies for enhancing revenue per customer. Consistency, systems, and scaling are highlighted as keys to financial independence.

Dec 6, 2025 • 44min
2026 WordPress Article Improvements
In a quest for article excellence, a multi-day project is underway focused on visual design and structure. Innovative SOPs for ideation and publishing are being crafted to streamline workflow. AI tools like Claude help create drafts, enhancing the writing process. Improvements in code workflow with LocalWP centralize development, and dummy-proof breakout boxes simplify formatting. There's a shift from tags to expansive categories for better navigation. The checklist emphasizes measuring article usefulness, paving the way for a more efficient publishing system.

Dec 5, 2025 • 42min
I Analyzed 3 Years of Reels and Here’s What I Learned
Dive into a fascinating analysis of three years of YouTube Shorts, leveraging AI to uncover top-performing content. Explore the process of collecting data, crafting irresistible hooks, and structuring scripts for maximum viewer retention. Discover the power of curiosity gaps and how numbered lists enhance engagement. Learn effective ending strategies to keep viewers coming back for more, and why subtle product mentions beat traditional ads. This insights-packed journey reveals how to blend structure with personality for captivating content.

Dec 4, 2025 • 37min
The Art of Having Fun (While Making Art)
Discover the importance of infusing fun into creativity while balancing business goals. Matt reflects on past attempts at humor in his work, the challenges of customer expectations, and how stress can hamper playful content. He explores innovative brainstorming methods and emphasizes collaboration, even involving family in the creative process. The idea of 'fun runs' for filming adds spontaneity to video production. Ultimately, he aims to prioritize enjoyment and quality over speed, inviting listeners to join him on this experimental journey.

Dec 3, 2025 • 44min
My New Old Side Project
This podcast dives into the balance of focus and fun in creativity. The host contrasts two books, sharing how one impacts his life choices. He discusses how his reliable business, Swim University, doesn't spark joy like his homebrewing hobby. A memorable trip to a beer festival reignited his passion for fun and connection. He plans to start making homebrewing videos again, aiming to inspire others. With a focus on simplicity and enjoyment, he hopes to revive the joy of brewing while fostering friendships and creativity.

Dec 2, 2025 • 38min
One Focused Task Per Day
A former boss's advice shapes a strategy of focusing on one meaningful task each day. The host contrasts this with hustle culture, emphasizing consistency over chaos. He shares personal stories, including a tough day where just one focused task was accomplished. The podcast explores slow productivity, the real focus of a CEO, and how simplifying projects can lead to clarity. Tips include identifying impactful tasks, leveraging AI for bonus work, and setting monthly goals. It's all about doing less but achieving more.

Dec 1, 2025 • 22min
Revisiting Slow Productivity
Dive into the intriguing concept of Slow Productivity, inspired by Cal Newport's book. Explore the three core principles: doing fewer things, working at a natural pace, and prioritizing quality. Discover how to evaluate tasks by deciding whether to do them yourself, outsource, or eliminate them. Learn about the benefits of focusing on one or two tasks daily and how slowing down can enhance quality. Matt shares his personal journey of simplifying his work and the big wins from outsourcing tasks, making a strong case for this productive approach.

Nov 30, 2025 • 56min
Systems! 4
Discover how building effective systems can streamline your business operations. Matt shares his journey of simplifying his company to three core functions: promotion, sales, and delivery. He illustrates a three-part business flywheel that generates word-of-mouth growth. Learn the importance of documenting systems for consistent team execution and how to create organized email SOPs. With insightful tips on enhancing productivity through Asana workflows and AI-driven templates, Matt emphasizes that effective systems can significantly boost creativity and efficiency in both business and personal life.

Nov 29, 2025 • 43min
SEO Article Design
Discover a fresh SEO strategy focused on consistency and iterative improvement. The concept of 'article design' is introduced, likening it to visual templates. Learn how to produce articles quickly while prioritizing user queries and engagement. With a six-step workflow, Matt advocates for skimmable formats and incorporating multimedia elements. By integrating FAQs throughout and emphasizing key takeaways, you can create frictionless articles that keep readers hooked. The commitment to refining this approach highlights an exciting new direction in content creation.


