Young and Profiting with Hala Taha (Entrepreneurship, Sales, Marketing)

Mindset matters just as much as communication skills when speaking under pressure. Up to 85% of people report feeling nervous in high-stakes communication situations, but Stanford communication expert Matt Abrahams teaches that confident communicators aren't born; they're trained. In this episode, Matt shares practical strategies to manage communication anxiety so entrepreneurs, leaders, and professionals can think faster and speak smarter in every business conversation.

In this episode, Hala and Matt will discuss:

(00:00) Introduction

(01:43) Navigating the Fear of Spontaneous Speaking

(07:36) The Key to Better Small Talk

(10:46) Why Mediocrity Improves Communication

(14:04) The 6 Steps to Thinking Faster, Talking Smarter

(16:22) Managing Anxiety in High-Stakes Conversations

(25:21) The Right Balance Between Listening and Talking

(30:22) Simple Structures for Speaking on the Spot

(37:14) The Impact of Using Fewer Words

(40:56) Reading the Room and Winning Negotiations

(45:53) Networking Without Awkward Small Talk

(51:36) The Communication Habits That Build Confidence

Matt Abrahams is a lecturer at the Stanford Graduate School of Business, where he teaches Strategic Communication and Effective Virtual Presenting. He is the author of Speaking Up Without Freaking Out and Think Faster, Talk Smarter, and hosts the popular Think Fast, Talk Smart podcast. Matt has helped individuals deliver impactful presentations, from IPO roadshows to Nobel Prize speeches, TED Talks, and World Economic Forum sessions. He also consults for the United Nations and advises Fortune 100 companies.

Sponsored By:

Indeed - Get a $75 sponsored job credit to boost your job's visibility at Indeed.com/profiting

Shopify - Start your $1/month trial at Shopify.com/profiting.

Northwest Registered Agent - Get a complete business identity with Northwest. Visit northwestregisteredagent.com/YAPFree and start using free resources to build something amazing.

Mindstone - Master practical AI skills without the complexity with Mindstone’s AI Competency Programme. Head to experience.mindstone.com/yap and get 10% off.

AT&T - Stay connected with reliable, secure internet built for entrepreneurs. Switch to AT&T Business at business.att.com.

Quince - Make your summer wardrobe feel easier. Go to Quince.com/profiting for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too.

Resources Mentioned:

Matt’s Book, Think Faster, Talk Smarter: bit.ly/MA-TFTS

Matt’s Book, Speaking Up Without Freaking Out: bit.ly/MA-SpeakingUp

Matt’s Podcast, Think Fast, Talk Smart: bit.ly/TFTS-applepodcasts

Matt’s Website: mattabrahams.com/

Matt’s YouTube: youtube.com/@ThinkFastTalkSmart

Active Deals - youngandprofiting.com/deals

Key YAP Links

Reviews - ratethispodcast.com/yap

YouTube - youtube.com/c/YoungandProfiting

Newsletter - youngandprofiting.co/newsletter

LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/htaha/

Instagram - instagram.com/yapwithhala/

Social + Podcast Services: yapmedia.com

Transcripts - youngandprofiting.com/episodes-new

Entrepreneurship, Entrepreneurship Podcast, Business, Business Podcast, Self Improvement, Self-Improvement, Personal Development, Starting a Business, Strategy, Investing, Sales, Selling, Psychology, Productivity, Entrepreneurs, AI, Artificial Intelligence, Technology, Marketing, Negotiation, Money, Finance, Side Hustle, Startup, Mental Health, Career, Leadership, Mindset, Health, Growth Mindset, Positivity, Human Nature, Human Psychology, Critical Thinking, Robert Greene, Chris Voss, Robert Cialdini

Scott Hickle built Throne Science around a startup idea most investors thought was too unconventional: a device that transforms your toilet into a health tracker, monitoring your health as effortlessly as a smartwatch. After nearly 100 investor rejections, he and his team kept refining the product, driven by a mission to detect early signs of diseases like colorectal cancer before symptoms appear. That persistence helped them raise $4 million in seed funding. In this episode, Scott shares how entrepreneurs can validate unconventional products, raise capital despite rejection, and build demand in a market consumers don't yet understand.

In this episode, Hala and Scott will discuss:

(00:00) Introduction

(01:27) How Throne’s Smart Toilet Device Works

(07:56) Throne’s Mission to Detect Cancer Early

(17:22) Launching Throne in a New Product Category

(23:55) Pivoting Away From a Failed Nurse-Staffing Startup

(32:27) How Scott Raised Millions After Pivoting

(42:35) Marketing a Product Customers Don’t Understand Yet

(49:46) Lessons From Scott’s Costliest Business Mistakes

(1:00:03) Throne Science’s SWOT Analysis

(1:08:37) Smart Toilet Costs, Pricing, and Margins

(1:13:14) Building a Mission-Driven Hardware Startup

Scott Hickle is the co-founder and CEO of Throne Science, a health technology company building a device that attaches to a toilet and tracks gut health, hydration, bathroom habits, and prostate health. Before Throne, Scott and his co-founder, Tim, built a nurse-staffing marketplace called Pineway before pivoting into consumer health hardware. Throne’s long-term mission is to develop technology that can help detect early signs of colon cancer, bladder cancer, and other cancers of the lower gastrointestinal and urinary tracts.

Sponsored By:

Indeed - Get a $75 sponsored job credit to boost your job's visibility at Indeed.com/profiting

Shopify - Start your $1/month trial at Shopify.com/profiting.

Northwest Registered Agent - Get a complete business identity with Northwest. Visit northwestregisteredagent.com/YAPFree and start using free resources to build something amazing.

Mindstone - Master practical AI skills without the complexity with Mindstone’s AI Competency Programme. Head to experience.mindstone.com/yap and get 10% off.

AT&T - Stay connected with reliable, secure internet built for entrepreneurs. Switch to AT&T Business at business.att.com.

Quince - Make your summer wardrobe feel easier. Go to Quince.com/profiting for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too.

Resources Mentioned:

Scott’s Company, Throne Science: thronescience.com

Scott’s LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/scotthickle

Scott’s Instagram: instagram.com/scotthickle/

Scott’s Twitter: x.com/ScottHickle

Active Deals - youngandprofiting.com/deals

Key YAP Links

Reviews - ratethispodcast.com/yap

YouTube - youtube.com/c/YoungandProfiting

Newsletter - youngandprofiting.co/newsletter

LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/htaha/

Instagram - instagram.com/yapwithhala/

Social + Podcast Services: yapmedia.com

Transcripts - youngandprofiting.com/episodes-new

Entrepreneurship, Entrepreneurship Podcast, Business, Business Podcast, Self Improvement, Self-Improvement, Personal Development, Starting a Business, Strategy, Investing, Sales, Selling, Psychology, Productivity, Entrepreneurs, AI, Artificial Intelligence, Technology, Marketing, Negotiation, Money, Finance, Side Hustle, Startup, Mental Health, Career, Leadership, Mindset, Health, Growth Mindset, Passive Income, Online Business, Solopreneur, Networking

Having generated over $2.5 billion in product sales, hosted nearly 200 infomercials, and built a multimillion-dollar online business, Forbes Riley has spent decades mastering the psychology of getting people to say "yes," earning her the title "Queen of Pitch." In this episode, Forbes shares the Ultimate Pitch Formula that helped her make billions, teaching entrepreneurs how to confidently communicate their value, build instant credibility, and win people over in seconds.

In this episode, Hala and Forbes will discuss:

(00:00) Introduction

(01:10) Pitching Mistakes That Keep Entrepreneurs Broke

(08:42) How to Speak With Confidence and Credibility

(27:23) The Elevator Pitch That Opens Powerful Doors

(33:34) Forbes’ Pitch Formula and Storytelling Secrets

(41:48) The Difference Between Selling and Pitching

(48:01) How to Build Real Confidence Before You Pitch

(1:02:35) The Power of Writing Down Your Goals

(1:12:15) Creating the Best First Impression

(1:15:22) Why Demonstrating Value Drives Up Sales

(1:30:23) How Childhood Struggles Shaped Forbes’ Success

Forbes Riley is an entrepreneur, author, communication expert, and sales strategist. Known as the “Queen of Pitch,” she has hosted 197 national infomercials, and her work has generated more than $2.5 billion in product sales. Her new book, Pitch Secrets A to Z, helps readers strengthen their confidence, messaging, persuasion, and negotiation skills so they can get more people to say yes.

Sponsored By:

Indeed - Get a $75 sponsored job credit to boost your job's visibility at Indeed.com/profiting

Shopify - Start your $1/month trial at Shopify.com/profiting.

Northwest Registered Agent - Get a complete business identity with Northwest. Visit northwestregisteredagent.com/YAPFree and start using free resources to build something amazing.

Mindstone - Master practical AI skills without the complexity with Mindstone’s AI Competency Programme. Head to experience.mindstone.com/yap and get 10% off.

AT&T - Stay connected with reliable, secure internet built for entrepreneurs. Switch to AT&T Business at business.att.com.

Quince - Make your summer wardrobe feel easier. Go to Quince.com/profiting for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too.

Resources Mentioned:

Forbes’s Book, Pitch Secrets A to Z: bit.ly/PitchSecret Forbes’s Free Weekly Training: pitchsecretstraining.com Forbes’s Website: forbesriley.com Forbes’s Instagram: instagram.com/forbes_rileyForbes’s YouTube: youtube.com/forbesriley

Active Deals - youngandprofiting.com/deals

Key YAP Links

Reviews - ratethispodcast.com/yap

YouTube - youtube.com/c/YoungandProfiting

Newsletter - youngandprofiting.co/newsletter

LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/htaha/

Instagram - instagram.com/yapwithhala/

Social + Podcast Services: yapmedia.com

Transcripts - youngandprofiting.com/episodes-new

Entrepreneurship, Entrepreneurship Podcast, Business, Business Podcast, Self Improvement, Self-Improvement, Personal Development, Starting a Business, Strategy, Investing, Sales, Selling, Psychology, Productivity, Entrepreneurs, AI, Artificial Intelligence, Technology, Marketing, Negotiation, Money, Finance, Side Hustle, Startup, Mental Health, Career, Leadership, Mindset, Health, Growth Mindset, Economics, E-commerce, Ecommerce, Prospecting, Inbound, Value Selling, Account Management, Sales Strategies, Business Growth, Scale, Scaling, Sales Podcast

Ryan Holiday's approach to leadership was shaped through patience and years of unglamorous work. After dropping out of college at 19, he apprenticed under bestselling author Robert Greene, learning writing, research, persuasion, and human nature before becoming the marketing director of American Apparel at just 21. Those experiences laid the foundation for his rise as a bestselling author and one of the world's leading voices on Stoicism. In this episode, Ryan shares how Stoicism can help entrepreneurs strengthen leadership skills, sharpen decision-making, and maintain a resilient mindset during tough times.

In this episode, Hala and Ryan will discuss:

(00:00) Introduction

(01:32) Robert Greene’s Influence on Ryan’s Career

(09:52) Provocative Marketing Lessons From American Apparel

(18:18) Ryan’s Path Into Stoic Philosophy

(19:44) The Stoic Approach to Life and Business

(27:13) The Four Stoic Virtues for Personal Development

(32:21) Mastering Clear Decision-Making Under Pressure

(38:18) The Dangers of Ego in Leadership

(40:34) How Stoicism Drives Productivity

(41:52) Building Ethical Habits and Leadership Skills

(50:41) Stoic Habits for Profiting in Life

Ryan Holiday is a bestselling author, entrepreneur, media strategist, and one of the leading modern voices bringing Stoic philosophy to mainstream audiences. He served as director of marketing at American Apparel before founding his creative agency, Brass Check. Ryan’s books, including The Obstacle Is the Way and The Daily Stoic, have sold more than 2 million copies in 30 languages. His work helps leaders and creatives apply Stoic principles to overcome challenges.

Sponsored By:

Indeed - Get a $75 sponsored job credit to boost your job's visibility at Indeed.com/profiting

Shopify - Start your $1/month trial at Shopify.com/profiting.

Northwest Registered Agent - Get a complete business identity with Northwest. Visit northwestregisteredagent.com/YAPFree and start using free resources to build something amazing.

Mindstone - Master practical AI skills without the complexity with Mindstone’s AI Competency Programme. Head to experience.mindstone.com/yap and get 10% off.

AT&T - Stay connected with reliable, secure internet built for entrepreneurs. Switch to AT&T Business at business.att.com.

Quince - Make your summer wardrobe feel easier. Go to Quince.com/profiting for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too.

Resources Mentioned:

Ryan’s Book, Trust Me, I'm Lying: bit.ly/TrustMeLying

Ryan’s Book, Right Thing, Right Now: bit.ly/RightThingNow

Ryan’s Podcast, The Daily Stoic: bit.ly/DailyStoicPod

Active Deals - youngandprofiting.com/deals

Key YAP Links

Reviews - ratethispodcast.com/yap

YouTube - youtube.com/c/YoungandProfiting

Newsletter - youngandprofiting.co/newsletter

LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/htaha/

Instagram - instagram.com/yapwithhala/

Social + Podcast Services: yapmedia.com

Transcripts - youngandprofiting.com/episodes-new

Entrepreneurship, Entrepreneurship Podcast, Business, Business Podcast, Self Improvement, Self-Improvement, Personal Development, Starting a Business, Strategy, Investing, Sales, Selling, Psychology, Productivity, Entrepreneurs, AI, Artificial Intelligence, Technology, Marketing, Negotiation, Money, Finance, Side Hustle, Startup, Mental Health, Career, Leadership, Mindset, Health, Growth Mindset, Networking, Goal Setting, Strategic Planning, Time Management, Team Building

Starting a business was never part of Luna Aziz's plan. After struggling with low milk supply as a new mom, she began experimenting with her own herbal formulations and sharing them on Etsy. She had no investors, no marketing budget, and no plan beyond helping other moms. Then one customer's recommendation in a Facebook breastfeeding group generated dozens of orders overnight, turning her side hustle into Legendairy Milk, a $50 million wellness brand. In this episode, Luna shares how entrepreneurs can build a trusted consumer brand through education and community, choose the right sales channels, and scale without losing customer relationships.

In this episode, Hala and Luna will discuss:

(00:00) Introduction

(01:23) Bootstrapping Legendairy Milk With $750

(11:30) Growing a Community Before Selling Products

(14:18) Scaling to $50M Through Organic Marketing

(19:13) The Real Cost of Building a Supplement Company

(34:18) Legendairy Milk’s Sales and Distribution Strategies

(50:45) Building a Leadership Team That Scales

(54:55) Lessons From Luna’s Biggest Business Mistakes

(1:03:58) SWOT Analysis of a $50M Business

(1:09:53) How to Build a Supplement Brand From Scratch

Luna Aziz is the founder and CEO of Legendairy Milk, a women’s wellness supplement brand headquartered in Austin, Texas. She bootstrapped the company from a $750 startup and grew it into a $50 million brand with approximately 70% of the U.S. lactation supplement market. Luna was named one of Inc.’s 2026 Female Founders 500 for expanding the brand from pregnancy and postpartum support into broader women’s wellness.

Sponsored By:

Indeed - Get a $75 sponsored job credit to boost your job's visibility at Indeed.com/profiting

Shopify - Start your $1/month trial at Shopify.com/profiting.

Northwest Registered Agent - Get a complete business identity with Northwest. Visit northwestregisteredagent.com/YAPFree and start using free resources to build something amazing.

Mindstone - Master practical AI skills without the complexity with Mindstone’s AI Competency Programme. Head to experience.mindstone.com/yap and get 10% off.

AT&T - Stay connected with reliable, secure internet built for entrepreneurs. Switch to AT&T Business at business.att.com.

Quince - Make your summer wardrobe feel easier. Go to Quince.com/profiting for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too.

Resources Mentioned:

Luna’s Company: Legendairy Milk: legendairymilk.com

Luna’s LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/lunaaziz

Luna’s Instagram: instagram.com/itslunaaziz

Luna’s TikTok: tiktok.com/@itslunaaziz

Active Deals - youngandprofiting.com/deals

Key YAP Links

Reviews - ratethispodcast.com/yap

YouTube - youtube.com/c/YoungandProfiting

Newsletter - youngandprofiting.co/newsletter

LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/htaha/

Instagram - instagram.com/yapwithhala/

Social + Podcast Services: yapmedia.com

Transcripts - youngandprofiting.com/episodes-new

Entrepreneurship, Entrepreneurship Podcast, Business, Business Podcast, Self Improvement, Self-Improvement, Personal Development, Starting a Business, Strategy, Investing, Sales, Selling, Psychology, Productivity, Entrepreneurs, AI, Artificial Intelligence, Technology, Marketing, Negotiation, Money, Finance, Side Hustle, Startup, Mental Health, Career, Leadership, Mindset, Health, Growth Mindset, Passive Income, Online Business, Solopreneur, Networking