In this conversation, I sit down with Mike Skiff and ask a simple question:

How would you describe what you feel most called to create?

His answer came quickly.

“Divinely inspired greatness.”

From there, we explored the long arc of his journey. From growing up with a vision of becoming a teacher, to entering the military, to developing leadership under pressure, and eventually stepping into the world of business ownership.

Mike shares what it was like to transition from the structure of military life into the uncertainty of entrepreneurship. We talk about the mindset shifts required to move from an environment of built-in trust and clear expectations into a world where you must create your own path, your own discipline, and your own results.

One of the most powerful themes in this conversation is the tension between planning and execution. Mike talks about the tendency to over-prepare, and the importance of acting on what he calls the “80 percent solution.” That idea alone has the power to unlock momentum for so many people who feel stuck waiting for clarity before they move.

We also explore what it looks like to build a business that aligns with the life you actually want to live. Mike shares how he moved from a franchise model into creating his own productized service, helping local businesses generate leads through search and AI-driven discovery.

This is a conversation about leadership, identity, execution, and the courage to move forward before everything feels fully figured out.

If you’re navigating your own path as a creator, a solopreneur, or someone who feels called to build something meaningful, there is a lot here for you.

• Mike’s business: https://getchais.com
• Mike’s personal site: https://mikeskiff.com
• Mike’s podcast: https://themikeskiffshow.com
• Mike’s LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelskiff

In this episode, I sit down with Brian and Liz Deacle, the creators behind It’s a Drama and NZ Ahead. This conversation is a real-time look at what it means to build something without having it all figured out. We talk about their journey from running a traditional business to experimenting with blogging, courses, dropshipping, and eventually finding alignment in a completely unexpected way.

What stands out most is the shift that happened when they stopped trying to force income and started creating from a place of genuine interest and experience. From there, everything began to take shape.

We explore the evolution of their work, how their podcast and content naturally led to a thriving membership community, and what they’ve learned about trust, pressure, and the long game of building something meaningful.

This is a conversation about creation as a lived process. If I were to sum up the episode in one line: This is what it sounds like when people stop trying to manufacture a path and start recognizing the one that’s already forming underneath them.

And that’s what makes it compelling.

• It’s a Drama Website - https://itsadrama.com
• It’s a Drama Podcast - https://itsadrama.com/podcast
• It’s a Drama YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@itsadrama
• NZ Ahead Website - https://nzahead.com
• NZ Ahead Podcast - https://nzahead.com/podcast
• NZ Ahead YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@nzahead
• Liz’s Travel Bog Diaries Book - https://amzn.to/3Q5uCmg
• Liz’s Book on Grief “You Won't Just Cry When They Die” - https://elizabethdeacle.com

In this conversation, I sit down with Jackie Ulmer, someone who has been building businesses online since the early days of the internet and continues to evolve how she shows up in the world today. We talk about her journey from network marketing to content creation, coaching, and YouTube, and the patterns that have stayed consistent through every season.

One of the biggest takeaways for me is her belief that we don’t get our goals, we get our habits. This is a conversation about following curiosity, starting before you feel ready, and allowing your life and business to change as you do. Jackie also shares how her current season has shifted her perspective on success, pace, and what really matters.

• Jackie Ulmer’s Website: https://peakperformancehabits.com
• Jackie’s YouTube Channel (Lower Toxic Life): https://www.youtube.com/@lowertoxiclife
• Next Level Mastermind: http://NextLevelMastermind.info

I’ve had thousands of conversations over the years. Today I am sharing a conversation with someone who has shifted how I think about every conversation I’ll have going forward.

In this episode, I sit down with Lauren Ready, and we explore what it looks like to lead with curiosity instead of assumption. We talk about her journey from journalism into documentary filmmaking, the leadership lessons she’s learned along the way, and the simple but powerful framework she created in her book Ask Like a Leader.

As someone who coaches and facilitates mastermind groups, I found myself reflecting on how often I think I understand what someone is saying before I’ve truly explored it. This conversation reminded me what becomes possible when we slow down, stay curious a little longer, and allow deeper truth to emerge.

Links Mentioned in This Episode

• Ask Like a Leader by Lauren Ready: https://amzn.to/3PvcbYc
• Lauren Ready (contact and speaking inquiries): https://laurenready.com

In this conversation, I sat down with Emily Perry, someone who first discovered podcasting years ago and decided to use it as a way to share a message she deeply cares about. What started as an idea she wasn’t quite ready to release eventually became something much more focused and consistent. Today, Emily hosts a podcast devoted entirely to A Course in Miracles, and over time, it has become the primary way people discover her work and enter into her community.

We talked about what it really looks like to stay committed to something over the long term. Emily shared how her podcast evolved from high production expectations to a much simpler, more sustainable approach, and why consistency has mattered far more than perfection. We also explored how choosing a narrowly focused topic has worked in her favor, allowing her to serve a specific audience deeply rather than trying to reach everyone.

This is a conversation about devotion to a message, the discipline of showing up regularly, and what happens when you build something steadily over time with a willingness to keep going and serve the people who are already listening.

• Circle of Atonement: https://circleofa.org
• Exploring A Course in Miracles (Podcast): https://circleofa.org/podcast

If you’re building something meaningful in your life or business, and you’re ready for deeper conversations about what you’re creating and where it’s all going, I’d love to invite you into the Next Level Mastermind.

This is a space for people who are already in motion. People who care about the work they’re doing and want to think more intentionally about how they’re building it and who they’re becoming in the process.

If that resonates, reach out and start a conversation. My email is Cliff@CliffRavenscraft.com

In this conversation, I sat down with Debra Prinzing, founder of the Slow Flowers movement and host of the Slow Flowers Podcast. Debra has been showing up consistently for more than a decade, producing hundreds of episodes while building something much bigger than a podcast. What began as a book and a simple idea grew into a recognizable movement, a trusted media platform, and a membership-based community that supports flower farmers, florists, and creatives across the industry.

We talked about how she coined the phrase “Slow Flowers,” how that idea took on a life of its own, and what it’s looked like to stay committed to it over time. Debra shared the evolution from content creation to building an ecosystem. A directory turned into a membership community. A podcast became a central voice for a movement. Along the way, she’s navigated questions around monetization, visibility, and staying relevant as the landscape continues to change.

This is a conversation about playing the long game. About trusting your voice. About allowing what you create to grow beyond what you originally imagined. And about what happens when you keep showing up, year after year, long after most people would have walked away.

• Slow Flowers: https://www.slowflowers.com
• Slow Flowers Podcast: https://www.slowflowerspodcast.com
• Debra on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/slowflowerssociety
• Debra’s Book (The Flower Farmers): https://www.slowflowerssociety.com/product-page/the-flower-farmers-inspiration-advice-from-expert-growers

If you’re building something meaningful in your life or business, and you’re craving deeper conversations about what you’re creating and where it’s all going, I’d love to invite you into the Next Level Mastermind.

This is a space for entrepreneurs who are already in motion. People who care about the work they’re doing and want to think more intentionally about how they’re building it.

If that resonates, email me today and let’s have a conversation about it. Cliff@CliffRavenscraft.com

In this conversation, I sat down with Randy Wilburn, someone who has been consistently creating in the podcasting space for more than a decade. Randy shares how his journey moved from personal expression and curiosity into building a highly intentional, niche podcast centered around a specific geographic region.

We explored how his show, I Am Northwest Arkansas, has become a platform for storytelling, connection, and community. Randy talks about the power of consistency, the long-term ripple effects of sharing your voice, and how creating something meaningful over time can open doors you never could have planned for. This is a conversation about trusting the process, embracing your voice, and recognizing that what you’re creating has the potential to impact far more people than you may ever realize.

If you’re building something meaningful and want to surround yourself with other people who are thinking at a high level about their work, their life, and their next season of growth, I’d love to invite you into the Next Level Mastermind.

Just reach out and let me know you’re interested, and we’ll start a conversation. My email is Cliff@CliffRavenscraft.com

In this conversation, I sat down with Jason Cabassi, someone I had the privilege of helping launch into podcasting back in 2011. Since then, Jason has gone on to produce more than a thousand episodes and build an entire podcast network centered around the shows he loves.

We talked about how it all started with a fan podcast for The Walking Dead, the unexpected opportunities that followed, and how a simple curiosity-driven approach opened doors to interviews, live events, and long-term creative work.

What stood out most in this conversation is what it actually looks like to sustain something over time. Jason shares the reality of turning podcasting from a hobby into a full-time career, the role community has played in his journey, and the challenges that come with growth, especially around marketing and monetization.

This is a conversation about longevity, creative fulfillment, and what happens after the early excitement wears off and you’re still showing up years later, continuing to build something meaningful.

• Podcastica Network: https://podcastica.com
• Podcast Answer Man About Stephen Bartlett’s Advice: https://podcastanswerman.com/478

If you’re building something meaningful and want to surround yourself with other people who are thinking at a high level about their work, their life, and their next season of growth, I’d love to invite you into the Next Level Mastermind. Just reach out and let me know you’re interested, and we’ll start a conversation. My email is Cliff@CliffRavenscraft.com