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Dear Bri: Community Strategy, Fiascos, and Drama

Bri Leever, Community Consultant, Strategist, and Founder at Ember.

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Welcome to Dear Bri, an advice column for community conundrums, fiascos, and drama! In each episode, host and community strategist Bri Leever invites a guest community expert to respond to an anonymous letter from a real-life community creator in distress. From online community-building mishaps to community engagement tactics gone awry, this podcast delivers relatable stories and sound community strategy for navigating the chaos of digital communities—all with empathy, expertise, and a touch ...
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The Level Up Creators podcast is for digital creators ready to take their business to the next level. You'll learn valuable strategies and hear engaging stories from industry pros and digital creators who have walked the path of scaling up. Whether you're tired of tap dancing for the algorithm or seeking to build real wealth - without the burnout - this podcast offers proven methods and practical advice to help you elevate your business, on your terms. Join us!
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You want to start a podcast, but you’re unsure where to start. You need advice on how to grow or monetize your show, and stop being so scared that it won’t work! I can help by showing you what mistakes NOT TO MAKE and much more. Subscribe to the show and soak in the 18+ years of podcasting experience from Podcaster Hall of Fame Inductee Dave Jackson.
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In the second episode of this two-part Solo Series, we’re hearing from Hungry for Good Advice. Our letter today deals with  a community creator who's looking for some tips to set up their community platform right the first time. Over the last five years, Bri has partnered with dozens of clients and community members to select the right community pl…
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Filler words. We all know them, we all use them, and let’s be real, they’re annoying. You might think it’s just you fumbling through a sentence with a bunch of ‘uhs’ and ‘ums’, but guess what? We’re all in the same boat, paddling away from clarity and straight into the sea of confusion. In this episode, I dig into the strategies to kick those pesky…
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🎙️ Hiring Smart from the Start: Build a Team That Lets You Step Away | Madi Waggoner on Level Up Creators If your calendar is maxed, your inbox is a dumpster fire, and burnout is knocking at the door—this one’s for you. In this episode of the Level Up Creators Podcast, Amanda Northcutt sits down with Madi Waggoner, founder of Building Remote, to ta…
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In the first episode of this two-part Solo Series, we’re hearing from Studio Dreamer. Our letter today deals with a community creator who is ready to build a proper home for their paid community but is unsure which all-in-one platform best suits their community goals. This is one of the most common questions Bri gets from clients. In fact, over the…
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Ozzy Osbourne's recent passing has got me feeling all sorts of ways. I mean, who didn’t grow up jamming to ‘Crazy Train’ or wishing we could be half as cool as him? This isn’t just about mourning a rock legend; it’s about learning from the antics of a guy who built an empire on being unapologetically himself. So today, I’m diving deep into 15 lesso…
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In this episode, we’re hearing from Stuck in Community Time Out. Our letter deals with a community builder who presented some negative feedback, along with ideas for improvement in someone else's community, but was shut down by the founder. To better help Stuck in Community Time Out, I invited Lindsay Rothfeld as my guest expert. From scaling ambas…
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Traci DeForge is here to her knowledge about podcasting for your business without feeling like a total salesy weirdo. She’s busting the myth that you need 10,000 downloads to make a buck—seriously, you can start monetizing with just 1,500 listeners. We talk about how to weave your podcast into your business strategy without sounding like a used car…
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In this episode of the Level Up Creators Podcast, Amanda sits down with Dustin Riechmann, founder of Seven Figure Leap, to unpack how subject matter experts can build wildly successful businesses by leveraging one of the most powerful—and underutilized—marketing channels: niche podcast guesting. Dustin shares his nonlinear path from engineering to …
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In this episode, we’re hearing from Anonymously Anxious About Anonymity. Our letter today deals with a community builder who has seen firsthand how opening a community to anonymous posts can go downhill fast, and wants to know if it's possible to do so without that outcome. To better help Anonymously Anxious, Amanda Northcutt, the CEO of Level Up C…
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Are Spotify and YouTube poisoning podcasting? I keep hearing how "What used to work in the past - doesn't work anymore? Well I disagree. Making great content that resonates with your audience has been around since the early days of radio, and if it make them FEEL something, you've got something that is golden. Giant companies always put profit over…
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In this episode, we’re hearing from Burnt Out and Bound by Dependency. Our letter today deals with the exhausting dynamic where you're the one person everyone is dependent upon for value in the community, and how to shift away from that. To better help Burnt Out and Bound by Dependency, I invited Pia Silva as my guest expert. She's the founder of t…
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Juggling podcasting and personal life can feel like trying to balance on a three-legged stool while juggling flaming torches. In this episode, I look into the not-so-secret ingredients for maintaining a healthy work-life balance as a podcaster. We kick things off with a hard-hitting question: what happens when your love for podcasting starts to mes…
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In this episode of the Level Up Creators podcast, Amanda Northcutt sits down with community strategist Bri Leever to dig into what really drives long-term retention and recurring revenue in paid communities. If you're a coach, consultant, or subject matter expert thinking about launching a membership or building community into your product ecosyste…
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In this episode, we’re hearing from The Jealous Host. Our letter today deals with a community builder stuck in a comparison spiral, whose insecurities are taking the wheel and making them feel like they're competing with community members and other communities, and falling short. To better help The Jealous Host, I invited Charmaine Jennings as my g…
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In this month's "Question of the Month," I wanted to explore the discrepancy between Spotify's perceived dominance and the actual listening habits of podcasters. Despite frequent headlines touting Spotify as the number one streaming platform, my personal statistics and community feedback tell a different story. By surveying my audience about their …
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In this episode, we’re hearing from Community Creator at the Crossroads. Our letter today deals with someone who's proven the concept for their community but is overwhelmed with what comes next and how to build something truly sustainable and scalable. To better help Community Creator at the Crossroads, I invited Jac White as my guest because she's…
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So, today I'm diving into the mess that can be podcast burnout. You know, that moment when your favorite hobby morphs into a job you dread? Yeah, we’ve all been there. We're chatting about big names like Marc Maron and others who decided to call it quits and how that’s not just okay, but totally legit. Spoiler alert: sometimes stepping back is the …
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In this episode of the Level Up Creators Podcast, Amanda Northcutt sits down with Jonathan Feniak—attorney, entrepreneur, and founder of LLCAttorney.com—to demystify the legal side of entrepreneurship. If you’re a thought leader, coach, or creator building a personal brand, this conversation is packed with essential legal strategies to help you pro…
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In this episode, we’re hearing from Overwhelmed on the Delegation Struggle Bus. Our letter today deals with figuring out how to get the right type of help to make sure your community will thrive even when you're not there. To better help Overwhelmed on the Delegation Struggle Bus, I invited Kristen Pavle as my guest expert. She is a relational desi…
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Ever wonder why some podcasts spread like wildfire while others wither on the vine? Well, it turns out that a whopping 60 to 80% of podcasts are discovered through good old-fashioned word of mouth. Yeah, that means if your podcast isn’t getting shared, there’s a reason. So, what’s the secret sauce that makes people hit that share button? In this ep…
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This week on Dear Bri, we hear from Seeking Community Connection, and they’re in the middle of one of the most universal dilemmas in online community management: how to foster peer-to-peer connection and learning. To solve this community conundrum, Bri invited community strategist and business coach Diana Davis, founder of Recess for Creatives. Wit…
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Today we start with the news of Marc Maron retiring his podcast, and a possible shake up at the New Media Show (two shows with 16+ years). So who will fill their space you? Bri Leever is a community building strategist at Ember Consulting and host of the show "Dear Bri." I saw her present at a webinar put on by Hearbeat (my favorite community tool)…
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In this episode of Level Up Creators, Amanda Northcutt sits down with Kristina Flynn, a storytelling expert who helps entrepreneurs, executives, and creatives confidently own their story, explain their unique value, and get paid for their expertise—without playing small. After battling crippling anxiety that kept her silent for years, Kristina deve…
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In this episode, we’re hearing from Ready to Retreat. Their letter explores how to deepen connection in a thriving online community through an in-person retreat. To better support them, I invited Eric Plantenberg as my guest expert. He’s a client, friend, and mentor—and the founder of the deeply transformative Abundant Living Retreat. I’ve been to …
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Adding YouTube to your podcasting game? Well, grab a seat because Thomas Umstadt Jr. is here to share what works and what doesn't. We’re talking about the nitty-gritty of taking your audio-only podcast and slapping it onto the video platform that everyone and their grandma seems to be on. Thomas recounts his journey from simple audiograms to full-b…
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In this episode, we’re hearing from Wavering But Hopeful. Our letter today deals with the very tough reality of deciding whether to continue putting in the effort to keep your community going or to close the doors when it feels like there’re more times when it isn’t working. To better help Wavering But Hopeful, I invited Salome Schillack as my gues…
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Today, we are talking about keeping your audience listening after they press play. This starts with an opening hook. To have hooks that grab your audience and make them want to hear your episode, there are some common characteristics: Relevance: A good hook connects directly to the theme or topic of your episode. It should hint at what’s to come wi…
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In this episode of Level Up Creators, Amanda Northcutt sits down with Dan Cumberland, an AI consultant, creator, and serial entrepreneur who’s helping entrepreneurs and creators integrate AI while staying true to their authentic voice. Through the MRR Accelerator, Dan is transforming his consulting work into a scalable, recurring revenue model—help…
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In this episode, we’re hearing from Community Newbie. Our letter today deals with how overwhelming it can be to enter the world of community-building without really knowing where to begin. To better help Community Newbie, I invited Marjorie Anderson as my guest expert. She is the Director of Community for Exos and the Principal Strategist at Commun…
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What if I told you that most interviews are mind-numbingly boring, and you're probably doing them wrong? Today I interview Tracy Johnson, and after decades in radio and working with countless shows, he's written a book, Mic Drop Moments, that shares the secrets to transforming mediocre conversations into absolute "Didya Hear That?!" moments. In thi…
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In this episode, we’re hearing from Curious in Colorado. Our letter today deals with knowing whether jumping onto the community train is worthwhile by understanding the future of community building. To better help Curious in Colorado, I invited Zach Hawtof, Co-Founder, Community Manager, and CEO at Tightknit, as my guest expert. He is someone who h…
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Money, money, money! Yeah, I know, we’re all rolling our eyes thinking, "Ugh, not another boring finance chat!" But hold onto your wallets, because this isn’t your grandpa’s finance talk. Our buddy Ray Edwards, a top-notch copywriter, shares a jaw-dropping story about how he made a cool million but ended up in bankruptcy—wait, what? How does that h…
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In this episode of Level Up Creators, Amanda sits down with Therese Miclot, an executive leadership consultant with decades of experience working with Fortune 500 companies in tech, banking, retail, and media. Through the MRR Accelerator, Therese’s building a scalable, recurring revenue-driven leadership development program—helping organizations cr…
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Normally, I try to stay positive and encouraging. Maybe I still am, as I encourage you not to fall for these Podcast Tools (often based on AI) that promise great success and wealth without doing any work. Here are some of the things this company (who will remain nameless) promised: A chart-topping podcast in minutes You don't even need a microphone…
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Ever find yourself staring at a blank screen, just waiting for the podcast gods to drop some divine inspiration in your lap? Yeah, me too. But don’t worry, we’re exploring the world of podcast ideas today! I asked you, the wonderful listeners, how you come up with your brilliant episode topics, and trust me, some of the answers are pure gold. From …
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Data is like your podcasting superpower, folks! If you want to grow your show, you gotta get your hands on the right stats. Seriously, knowing what’s working and what’s not can save you from wasting your time. We dive into the nitty-gritty of how to collect and use data from places like Apple and Spotify to figure out your audience and their habits…
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So, let’s dive into the wild world of podcasts on YouTube, shall we? This episode is all about the big question: should your podcast even be on YouTube? Spoiler alert: I don’t have a definitive answer, but I’m armed with some juicy facts to help you figure it out. I tackle the age-old debate between audio and video, and you'll learn that while YouT…
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🔥 Welcome back to the Level Up Creators Podcast! In this episode, Amanda Northcutt sits down with returning guest Sam Vander Wielen—attorney turned entrepreneur, legal educator, and author of the soon-to-be iconic book “When I Start My Business, I’ll Be Happy.” Sam gets brutally honest about the real journey behind building a multi 7-figure busines…
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Are you using AI? Or better yet, which AI tool are you using? That's the big question we’re tackling today! We listen to fellow podcasters to find out about their favorite tools and whether they save time or make things messier. Spoiler alert: Sometimes, it feels like we’re just swapping one headache for another! Plus, I just got back from Podcast …
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You can totally monetize a podcast even if your audience is smaller and niche. It's like having a tiny but super passionate fan club instead of a massive crowd that’s half-asleep. Today, we’re chatting with Ray Arnett from aroundthelayout.com, who lives, eats, and breathes the world of model railroads. He’s got some wild ideas about partnerships th…
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In this episode of Level Up Creators, Amanda Northcutt sits down with @LironSegev , a 1.1M+ subscriber YouTuber, speaker, and brand deal strategist who’s spent years helping creators and companies scale their YouTube presence. But here’s what’s next: Liron is overhauling his YouTube growth consulting business inside the MRR Accelerator, turning it …
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Today, we’re exploring the world of partnerships versus sponsorships with the fabulous Stephanie Thompson. The key takeaway? Partnerships are better at growing your show. Forget just pocketing cash for a shout-out; we’re talking about meaningful connections that can actually grow your audience. Stephanie explains how she snagged partners before she…
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Molly Ruland stops by to explain how she started a branded podcast that brought in so many clients from season one that she had to pause it. For Molly, it is all about starting and building relationships with her guests. By conducting targeted outreach, she added 500 marketing people to her LinkedIn network, improving the relevance of her feed. Whe…
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🔥Want to escape the feast-and-famine cycle and build predictable, scalable income? In this special episode of Level Up Creators, our Head of Revenue, Natalie Williams, takes over hosting duties to interview Amanda Northcutt, CEO of Level Up Creators (LUC) and lead consultant for the MRR Accelerator. The MRR Accelerator is a 7-month program designed…
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After a lot of feedback on the first episode about podcast newsletters, I wanted to answer more questions, and this time I brought Paul Gowder to help. We’ll discuss what tools to use and what content to include. If you really want to skip this whole newsletter thing, we've got some backup plans for you, too. Paul not only has wisdom about newslett…
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I ask my audience what their top pet peeves are just drive them nuts. We're spilling the beans on all the annoying things that make us want to tear our hair out while listening. We've got it all covered from podcasters who take forever to get to the good stuff to the dreaded mid-sentence ads that pop up like uninvited guests at a party. We also cha…
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In this episode of the Level Up Creators podcast, Amanda Northcutt interviews Barbara Mighdoll, a former tech marketing executive turned entrepreneur and content creator. Barbara shares her journey of transitioning from a corporate career to becoming a full-time creator, the challenges she faced, and the strategies she employed to build her brand, …
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Forget social media; if you want to drive traffic, newsletters are where it’s at. Seriously, I’ve been crunching the numbers and guess what? My newsletter is pulling in way more visitors than my half-hearted attempts at tweeting or posting on Facebook. Yeah, shocking, I know. It’s like trying to catch a fish with a toothpick when you could just use…
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We're diving into the wild world of podcasting and pulling some juicy lessons from the legendary Saturday Night Live as it hits the big 5-0. Seriously, SNL didn’t just survive; it thrived, and we’re here to steal some of that magic for our own shows. From knowing your audience to embracing the weirdness, there’s a treasure trove of insights that ca…
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In this episode of the Level Up Creators podcast, Amanda Northcutt interviews Iggy Odighizuwa @theboardroompodcast , founder of Charlie AI, who shares his journey from personal trainer to entrepreneur and thought leader in AI and digital marketing. Iggy discusses the importance of combining human touch with AI capabilities, the challenges of scalin…
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