Episodes

  • I Left My Dream Behind And Built A Business... | Alex Canavan

    I Left My Dream Behind And Built A Business... | Alex Canavan
    Jun 23 2026
    What if your biggest advantage isn't where you live, but who you're willing to meet? Most people think they need to move to a major city to build a successful business, media company, or personal brand. Alex Canavan proved otherwise. In this episode of The Visibility Podcast, Lauren Cobello sits down with Alex Canavan, founder of the CNY Women's Network and host of the Cultivate Podcast, to discuss entrepreneurship, networking, community building, media, visibility, personal branding, and how she built one of the most influential women's business platforms in Upstate New York. Alex shares her journey from competitive dancer to MAC makeup artist, entrepreneur, event founder, podcast host, and media company owner. She explains how a single pitch at age 23 led to the creation of the CNY Women's Summit, which eventually evolved into a thriving media and events business. CHAPTERS 0:00 From Dancer To Entrepreneur 4:04 Becoming A MAC Makeup Artist 7:16 The Pitch That Started Everything 10:37 Why Small Markets Win 15:20 Overcoming Imposter Syndrome 20:15 Why She Started A Podcast 24:12 The Rebrand That Changed Everything 31:35 Building A Community From Scratch 37:17 The Power Of Experiential Marketing 47:59 What's Next For Alex Canavan? WHAT YOU'LL LEARN 💡 How Alex built a media company without a media background 🎙️ Why podcasting accelerated her growth 🤝 The networking strategy that opened doors 🚀 How to build a business in a small market 🔥 Why visibility creates opportunity 📈 The power of relationship-driven growth 💭 How to overcome imposter syndrome 🎯 Why asking is one of the most underrated skills in business 🏆 The secret to building a strong community ✨ How experiential marketing drives engagement 👤 GUEST Alex Canavan: https://www.instagram.com/alexcanavan.co/ 📸 Follow the Host Lauren on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lauren_cobello/ 🎧 LISTEN TO THE PODCAST 🍏 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/visibility-with-lauren-cobello/id1896846267 🎵 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/033pkSbweTnun0mAfwDemS?si=c183d4f69dec402b SEO KEYWORDS Alex Canavan, Alex Canavan podcast, CNY Women's Network, Cultivate Podcast, Lauren Cobello Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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    51 mins
  • You Got Featured In Forbes… Now What? | Peter Roth

    You Got Featured In Forbes… Now What? | Peter Roth
    Jun 16 2026
    What if “visibility” is not just about getting attention, but protecting your reputation before the market judges you? In this episode of the Visibility Podcast, host Lauren Cobello sits down with Peter Roth, entrepreneur, founder of Scalify and The Host of the Podcast "The Formula with Peter Roth" for a brutally honest conversation about business, reputation, personal branding, call centers, sales, podcasting, and what it really takes to build something that lasts. Peter opens up about his wild path from owning a martini lounge and cigar bar to accidentally becoming an HVAC expert, building and selling businesses, losing nearly a quarter million dollars trying to figure out call centers, and eventually turning that struggle into a company. Chapters 0:00 Meet Peter Roth 3:33 Entrepreneurs Are Crazy 7:23 The Glass Balls Theory 9:39 Why Call Centers Feel Shady 14:55 Outbound Vs. Inbound 21:05 What Actually Closes Deals 25:01 The CEO As The Brand 29:07 Why Most Podcasts Fail 44:08 Fake Visibility 52:33 Peter’s 3-Year Exit Plan What You’ll Learn 🔥 Why Peter protects reputation more than money 🧠 How he lost almost $250K trying to crack call centers 📞 Why most businesses waste leads before sales even start 💼 Why sales training can beat branding in home services 🎙️ Why most business podcasts fail before they ever work 👀 How visibility can make even “shady” industries feel trustworthy ⚡ Why fake followers can help or hurt depending on how they’re used 🚀 How to start every podcast question with a viral hook 🏗️ Why not every CEO needs a personal brand 💰 How Peter is building toward a 3-year exit 👤 GUEST Peter Roth: https://www.instagram.com/officialpeterroth/ Scalify: https://www.scalifyco.com/ 📸 Follow the Host Lauren on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lauren_cobello/ 🎧 LISTEN TO THE PODCAST 🍏 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/visibility-with-lauren-cobello/id1896846267 🎵 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/033pkSbweTnun0mAfwDemS?si=c183d4f69dec402b #PeterRoth #LaurenCobello #VisibilityPodcast #Scalify #TheFormulaPodcast #Entrepreneurship #BusinessPodcast #PersonalBranding Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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    59 mins
  • The Internet's Biggest Magician Reveals His Playbook | Pete A. Sciarrino

    The Internet's Biggest Magician Reveals His Playbook | Pete A. Sciarrino
    Jun 9 2026
    Pete A. Sciarrino started doing magic at 5 years old. Years later, he was posting videos online without even showing his face. Just his hands, a deck of cards, and a simple goal: get better every day. Now he has over 30 million followers across social media. In this podcast, host Lauren Cobello sits down with Pete A. Sciarrino to break down how he went from shy kid magician to one of the biggest magic creators online. Pete talks about blowing up during COVID, hitting 1 million followers in just a few months, landing Coca-Cola as his first brand deal at 19, and learning why consistency beats every “algorithm hack” people chase. Pete shares how creators actually grow, why most people quit too early, how to stand out in a crowded space, what brands look for, and why collaboration matters more than competition. He also talks about moving to Las Vegas, building a creator network, filming content nonstop, and why long-form YouTube is his next big move. What You’ll Learn 🎩 How Pete A. Sciarrino turned magic into a massive online brand 📱 Why consistency matters more than hashtags or posting tricks 🔥 How one viral video led to millions of followers 💼 What creators need to know before signing brand deals 🧠 Why hooks matter if you want people to stop scrolling 🤝 How collaboration can grow your career faster than competition 🎥 Why short-form success does not always translate to long-form ⚡ How to study what works and apply it to your own niche 🚀 Why showing up every day increases your chances of getting lucky 👀 How to stand out when everyone is posting content 👤 GUEST Pete A Sciarrino: https://www.instagram.com/pasmagic/ https://linktr.ee/pasmagic http://www.youtube.com/@pasmagic. 📸 Follow the Host Lauren on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lauren_cobello/ 🎧 LISTEN TO THE PODCAST 🍏 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/visibility-with-lauren-cobello/id1896846267 🎵 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/033pkSbweTnun0mAfwDemS?si=c183d4f69dec402b Chapters 0:00 The Magic Behind 30 Million Followers 1:13 Meet Pete A. Sciarrino 2:12 Starting Magic At 5 Years Old 3:44 His First Viral Moment 4:58 The Truth About Going Viral 6:00 TikTok Changed Everything 7:18 Why Creators Quit Too Early 9:51 Landing Coca-Cola At 19 12:07 Protecting Yourself In Brand Deals 14:12 Pete Performs A Mind-Blowing Trick 17:08 Why Long-Form YouTube Is Next 19:37 Strategy, Luck, And Consistency 21:23 Staying Humble With Millions Of Followers 22:40 The DM That Changed His Vegas Network 28:03 Inside His Content Creation Process 29:05 Collaboration Over Competition 33:57 Why His Magic Content Stands Out 36:37 Dream Brands And Athlete Collabs 41:07 How To Stand Out Online Today SEO Hashtags #PeteASciarrino #LaurenCobello #VisibilityPodcast #PastMagic #PeteTheMagician #Magic Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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    42 mins
  • He Climbed Mount Kilimanjaro… Without Legs?!

    He Climbed Mount Kilimanjaro… Without Legs?!
    Jun 2 2026
    How do you find the courage to be visible when the world expects you to stay hidden? In this powerful episode, we sit down with Spencer West, a world-renowned speaker, author, and content creator who has redefined what is possible for the disabled community and beyond. Spencer shares the raw details of his journey, from being born with a rare genetic disorder and losing his legs at a young age to climbing the 19,340-foot summit of Mount Kilimanjaro on his hands. We dive deep into his new book, Breaking Free: Stop Following Expectations and Start Following Yourself, exploring how he navigated the challenges of bullying, coming out as gay, and finding his authentic voice in a world that often focuses only on his physical appearance. Throughout the conversation, Spencer offers profound insights on setting boundaries, the importance of humor, and how to transition from living a life based on others' expectations to one filled with joy and purpose. Whether you feel stuck in your career, your relationships, or your personal growth, Spencer’s story is a masterclass in resilience and the power of simply trying. 📘 Get the book here: https://www.spencer2thewest.com/books CHAPTERS 0:00 Intro and meeting Spencer West 3:15 Spencer’s childhood and medical journey 7:40 The power of parental mindset and independence 10:20 Overcoming bullying and finding community 13:50 The intersection of disability and identity 17:15 Coming out and finding confidence 21:00 Using humor to break the tension 24:45 Going viral on TikTok and social media growth 28:30 Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro on his hands 32:50 Lessons learned on the mountain 36:15 Dealing with public perception and boundaries 40:00 Opening for Demi Lovato and career highlights 43:30 How to break free and find your joy 46:58 Conclusion and where to buy the book WHAT YOU’LL LEARN 🚀 Why visibility can feel powerful and exhausting at the same time 🧠 How Spencer West turned judgment into purpose without pretending it was easy ⚡ Why being “inspiring” can become its own kind of pressure 🔓 The mindset shift that helped him stop living by other people’s expectations 😂 How humor helped him take control of uncomfortable moments 🛑 Why boundaries matter when strangers feel entitled to your story ⛰️ What climbing Mount Kilimanjaro taught him about help, pride, and purpose 📱 How one viral TikTok came after 10 years of real work ✨ Why finding joy might be the first step to finding yourself 📘 The hidden lesson behind Spencer’s book Breaking Free 👤 GUEST Spencer West: https://www.instagram.com/spencer2thewest/ 📸 Follow the Host Lauren on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lauren_cobello/ 🎧 LISTEN TO THE PODCAST 🍏 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/visibility-with-lauren-cobello/id1896846267 🎵 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/033pkSbweTnun0mAfwDemS?si=c183d4f69dec402b #SpencerWest #BreakingFree #DisabilityAwareness #SelfAcceptance #Mindset #MentalHealth #LGBTQ #Inspiration #MtKilimanjaro #PersonalGrowth Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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    47 mins