Special guest Linsey Cohen, a managing partner at Chicago-based law firm Golden Ratner, provides expert insights based on her 25 years of deal-making experience. The hosts, Brian Balduf, Brad Balduf, and Matt Croke, discuss Linsey's journey into law, her specialization in transactional real estate, and her approach to client relationships. The conversation highlights common misconceptions about attorneys, the importance of legal counsel for entrepreneurs as their businesses grow, and the value of a lawyer understanding a client's business. Linsey emphasizes her role as a dealmaker, not a deal-breaker, and the firm's commitment to building trust and providing comprehensive services to early-stage to middle-market companies across various legal areas.

Linsey Cohen is a highly experienced and bright managing partner at Gould & Ratner, a Chicago-based law firm. With "more than 25 years of dealmaking experience," her clientele includes "national brands, investors, developers with interest throughout the US," who depend on her ability to "navigate complex transactions with confidence."

• Early Aspirations:

• Blank Slate Approach:

• Unique Starting Point:

Cohen credits her early mentors with instilling crucial qualities that she now exhibits as a mentor herself: "patience, open-mindedness, empathy." She appreciated their willingness to answer her frequent questions, recognizing her lack of experience. This highlights the importance of supportive guidance for new professionals.

A central theme of the discussion is the dynamic and often misunderstood relationship between attorneys and entrepreneurs.

• Beyond "Cannot Do":

• Facilitating Deals:

• Understanding Business Context:

• Early Consultation is Key:

• Importance of Written Agreements:

• When to Seek Professional Legal Help:

• Balancing Optimism with Reality:

• The "Worst Thing That Could Happen":

• Trust and Reliability:

• Dispelling "Churn":

• Valuing Relationships Over Billable Minutes:

• Intellectual Product:

• Ongoing Legal Changes:

• Every Deal is Unique:

• Legal Expertise Beyond the Obvious:

• Full-Service Offering:

• Client Focus:

• Network for Niche Needs:

• Understanding the Business:

• Direct Engagement with Decision Makers:

• Size and Reach:

• Reaching Out:

The podcast emphasizes that a strong attorney-client relationship is built on trust, clear communication, and a shared understanding of business goals and risks. Linsey Cohen's insights highlight the evolving role of legal counsel from mere "deal breakers" to strategic "dealmakers," indispensable partners for entrepreneurs navigating the complexities of starting, growing, and operating a business.

The hosts, Brian and Brad Balduf, along with their host Matt Croke and producer Amber, discuss their strategies for growing viewership and subscribers. They cover four key areas: self-promotion, ad spending, interviewing guests, and appearing on other podcasts. The discussion also touches upon the technical challenges of producing the show, the importance of consistency, and their approach to monetization through advertising and potential premium content, all while sharing their own trial-and-error experiences.

The hosts outline four primary strategies they are employing to drive viewership and subscribers, emphasizing that success takes time and consistent effort.

• Self-Promotion (Grassroots Marketing):

• Paid Advertising (Google Ads Experimentation):

• Guest Interviews (Subject Matter Experts & Unique Perspectives):

• Guest Spots on Other Podcasts (Cross-Promotion):

The podcast is still in an "incubator stage" (4:17), constantly trialing and developing its "product." (4:24)

• Technical Setup for Remote Guests:

• Editing and Consistency (Amber's Role):

• Consistency is paramount:

• Editing Process:

• Team Collaboration:

III. Monetization and Challenges

The ultimate goal for the podcast is monetization, though they acknowledge this could take a long time.

• Revenue Streams:

• • Advertising Revenue:

  • Paid Subscriptions/Premium Content:

• Challenges:

• • Content Uniqueness:

  • Patience for Growth:

IV. Vision and Future Outlook

The CEO Bros are committed to the long-term development of their podcast as a business.

• Continuous Learning and Adaptation:

• Introducing "Point-Counterpoint" Segment:.

• Continued Engagement with Audience:

Conclusion: The CEO Bros After Hours podcast is approaching its evolution as a business with a clear, albeit developing, strategy. They understand the importance of consistent content, diversified growth tactics (self-promotion, paid ads, guesting, and guest interviews), and long-term monetization goals through advertising and potential premium content. Despite humorous challenges like Brian's brand critiques, the team demonstrates a commitment to quality production and a willingness to adapt and learn on their entrepreneurial podcasting journey.

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