

Slay The Gatekeeper
Courtney Johnson
Courtney Johnson is un-Gatkeeping the Gatekept through a series of Cheat Codes. Topics include marketing, mindset, personal brand, and self-growth.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jan 7, 2025 • 31min
Ungatekeeping Local News w/ Lauren Petrowski
Lauren Petrowski, a news media expert, shares her extensive knowledge on leveraging local news to amplify business visibility. She discusses effective pitching techniques and the importance of engaging content, particularly for TV. Petrowski reveals how small business owners can navigate media outreach and build advantageous relationships with local outlets. Furthermore, she emphasizes the power of multi-threading in business outreach and offers valuable insights on preparing for on-air appearances, instilling confidence in one's expertise.

Dec 24, 2024 • 42min
Un-Gatekeeping Brand Gifting with Nancy Kaatz
Stop paying for your stuff! If you’re an influencer, a thought leader, or honestly have any kind of public presence, you could be getting free sh*t left and right. And Nancy Kaatz is here to tell us exactly how we can start.
In this episode, Nancy and I dig into what you could be getting, how to link and start affiliate programs, how to contact brands directly, and how to stop overthinking and start posting. Plus, we’re sharing some of the craziest stuff we’ve seen other creators get for free. If you want to start getting free stuff from brands you use every day, this episode is for you.
What’s in this episode:
[00:00] Intro
[01:48] Why you should be linking literally everything
[04:35] Why it’s time for you to apply for Amazon’s affiliate program
[09:58] How and where you should be contacting brands
[19:43] How to stop being overthinking and just get to creating
[24:50] Why you should be tagging any and all brands shown in your content
[30:46] Some of the wildest stuff we’ve seen people get for free
Sign up for my next LinkedIn Cohort, starting Jan 6 (through Jan 27!)
Connect with Nancy Kaatz
Follow Nancy on TikTok
Join Content Creation 101 Live
Follow Nancy on Instagram
Connect with Courtney
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Dec 17, 2024 • 23min
Ungatekeeping My LinkedIn Course
Dive into the transformative journey of a LinkedIn course designed to elevate personal branding and networking. Discover the course's week-by-week structure and hear inspiring testimonials from alumni who have landed opportunities post-completion. Uncover common misconceptions and how this cohort differs from typical LinkedIn advice. If you've been curious about enhancing your LinkedIn presence, this breakdown reveals everything you need to know to kickstart your professional growth!

Dec 10, 2024 • 44min
Ungatekeeping Venture Capital with Kate McAndrew
How do you unlock the elusive world of venture capital and make sure you’re putting your best foot forward as a founder? It’s more than just having a great idea or a slick pitch deck. It’s about being able to express your authentic self honestly and openly to investors – and yes, having a LinkedIn profile helps.
In this episode, Kate McAndrew is here to ungatekeep the VC world, sharing insights on cofounder splits, due diligence, and what funders really want to see. Plus, we get into self-care with high ROI, the power of branding through feminine archetypes, and why it’s sometimes necessary to say “no.” Ready to decode the VC game? Let’s go!
What’s in this episode:
[00:00] Intro
[01:27] Why cofounders shouldn’t necessarily have equal splits
[02:40] What due diligence looks like in VC funding (and how your LinkedIn profile factors in)
[08:00] Why refusing to have a LinkedIn profile is an outdated perspective
[11:51] What VC funders are actually looking for in a founder
[15:00] The Goddess Guide to Branding and the feminine archetypes it lays out for companies and start-ups
[25:18] Why self-care is crucial and finding self-care with the best ROI for you
[32:51] Reframing and getting comfortable with saying “no”
[39:39] Why Kate doesn’t get out of bed for less than a billion dollars
Hang out with me and get access to everything you need to crush it in your career on my Patreon. Join now for access to dozens of tutorials, tips, resources, and subscriber-only podcasts for only $10 a month!
Connect with Kate McAndrew
Connect with Kate on LinkedIn
Visit the Baukunst website
Get the Goddess Guide to Branding
Connect with Courtney
Courses
Newsletter
TikTok
Linkedin
Instagram
Twitter
YouTube

Dec 3, 2024 • 35min
Un-Gatekeeping How to Build Community with Your Customers with Michael Rangel of Novo
Michael Rangel, co-founder of Novo, a fintech platform for small businesses, shares his journey of building community and transparency in entrepreneurship. He emphasizes that business success hinges on customer investment rather than just a good product. Michael discusses the invaluable lessons learned from rejection and failure, highlighting the need to embrace discomfort for growth. He also stresses the importance of setting aside ego to foster genuine relationships and a strong company culture that ultimately drives mutual success.

Nov 26, 2024 • 23min
Q & A: ADHD Hacks, Non-Negotiables, and My Hot Career Takes
Dive into some practical hacks for ADHD to help boost productivity and conquer cringe when sharing online. Learn effective strategies for navigating career transitions and why getting laid off could be a blessing in disguise. The conversation also focuses on how to maintain consistency on social media without the pressure of perfection. Plus, discover tips for embracing imperfection in content creation and overcoming procrastination. This engaging exchange is packed with relatable insights and actionable advice!

Nov 19, 2024 • 44min
Un-Gatekeeping Personal Finance with Michela Allocca
This episode is all about money, baby, and in particular, how to keep and use that money wisely. Because when it comes to using our money mindfully, it’s not about restriction. It’s about saying “yes” to purchases with intention and in a way that brings value to your life.
Michela Allocca of Break Your Budget is here to share her top five personal finance cheat codes. From her thoughts on shopping, to where to find high quality (and reasonably priced) products, to her top career tips, this is an episode you can’t miss.
What’s in this episode:
[00:00] Intro
[01:44] Why shopping is NOT a hobby
[06:46] How to curate products and purchases mindfully
[11:30] Some of the things you shouldn't spend money on
[16:12] The types of things you SHOULD be spending money on (and where you can find those things)
[25:16] How to save money on everyday items and routines
[33:13] Why you’re wasting your time searching for your dream job
[36:57] What task tracking is and how it can catapult you to success
Hang out with me and get access to everything you need to crush it in your career on my Patreon. Join now for access to dozens of tutorials, tips, resources, and subscriber-only podcasts for only $10 a month!
Connect with Michela
Connect with Michela on LinkedIn
Follow Michela on Instagram
Visit the Break Your Budget website
Connect with Courtney
Courses
Newsletter
TikTok
Linkedin
Instagram
Twitter
YouTube

Nov 12, 2024 • 39min
Un-Gatekeeping Self-Publishing with Ellen Polk
Everyone you know wants to write a book… But how do you actually do that?
In this episode, I’m joined by Ellen Polk to actually break down the pieces of self-publishing (and a little trad publishing too.)
We’re covering why you probably have enough content for a draft already, how you can still have a team in self-publishing, why traditional publishing isn’t necessarily a smaller investment, and at the end of the day, how you actually get your ROI from a book you’ve written. Let’s get started!
What’s in this episode:
[00:00] Intro
[00:20] Make managing your taxes simpler and less expensive
[02:23] An introduction to Ellen and her company, Sage House Editorial
[04:39] Why, if you make content, you already have enough material for a book draft
[12:35] Why self-publishing doesn’t mean doing everything alone
[15:43] Breaking down how self-publishing vs traditional publishing works (including their similarities)
[21:09] How to think about the ROI of it all
[26:55] How getting clear on the problem you’re solving with your content and your book
Join Collective and make managing and filing your taxes so much simpler (and less expensive!)
Connect with Ellen Polk
Connect with Ellen on LinkedIn
Follow Sage House Publishing on Instagram
Visit Sage House Publishing website
Connect with Courtney
Courses
Newsletter
TikTok
Linkedin
Instagram
Twitter
YouTube

10 snips
Nov 5, 2024 • 43min
Un-Gatekeeping Personal Brand with Donavan Barrett
Donavan Barrett, a content creator and expert in audience building, shares his insights on crafting engaging content. He explains how to break free from the fear of being seen and encourages experimentation in content creation. A key point is the importance of understanding your audience rather than obsessing over algorithms. Donavan highlights tactics for leveraging other brands and advocates for creating authentic connections through personal storytelling, helping listeners enhance their personal brands effectively.

Oct 29, 2024 • 51min
Un-Gatekeeping Influencer Marketing
Unlock the secrets of influencer marketing with expert tips to boost your brand partnerships. Discover the importance of authenticity, emotional intelligence, and cold outreach in negotiations. Learn how to optimize your social media presence and engage audiences creatively, even with unconventional themes. Delve into the significance of building networks and valuing your worth in a competitive landscape. Uncover diverse partnership opportunities across various industries, proving success doesn’t depend on follower count.