In this episode of the Work at Home Rockstar Podcast, Tim Melanson chats with Bart Merrell — international entrepreneur, speaker, and the creator of Monetize Your Mindset and Side Hustle Samurai. Bart brings over 30 years of self-employment experience and shares his powerful mindset of turning anything — good, bad, or ugly — into a money-making opportunity. From launching Japan’s first commercial bungee jump to contracting with his prosthetist after a life-altering amputation, Bart proves that the secret to financial stability lies in monetizing what you already know. This is a masterclass in resourcefulness, mindset, and side hustle success.
👉 Grab Bart’s free list of 25 Successful Side Hustles for 2025 at offer1.bartmerrell.com/25for25
Bart Merrell is an international entrepreneur, author, and the voice behind Monetize Your Mindset. A lifelong side hustler, Bart’s journey began in unexpected places — from pursuing a career with the FBI to pushing people off bungee towers in Japan. He teaches people how to identify the side hustle that's already within them, using their life experience and existing knowledge to build financial security. Whether through dog training, business consulting, or his YouTube channel Beyond Limbs, Bart’s mission is to help others think like entrepreneurs — and act on it.
Learn more about Bart at bartmerrell.com
Website: https://bartmerrell.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bart.merrell
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bart-merrell-2440148
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BartMerrell-SideHustleSamurai
Website: https://workathomerockstar.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/workathomerockstar
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/workathomerockstar
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/timmelanson
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@WorkAtHomeRockStarPodcast
Twitter: https://twitter.com/workathomestar
[00:00] Intro – Meet Bart Merrell, the Side Hustle Samurai
[01:00] Monetizing adversity: Bart’s story of turning an amputation into opportunity
[05:15] From FBI dreams to bungee jumps in Japan
[08:40] Life lessons from being self-employed for over 30 years
[11:22] The missed million-dollar opportunity that still stings
[15:10] The power of mentors — and why poker didn’t pan out
[20:30] How tools like AI are changing the game for entrepreneurs
[26:00] Breaking down fear and taking the first step
[32:45] Guest Solo: Bart’s current projects & evergreen side hustle offer
[35:10] Final thoughts and how to connect with Bart
Episode Summary
In this episode of the Work at Home Rockstar Podcast, Tim chats with Eric Dingler, founder of In Transit Studios and creator of the Team Engine program. Eric shares how he went from pastoring a church to running a fully remote digital marketing agency while traveling the world with his wife and four kids. He opens up about the financial challenges they faced, how honesty and teamwork helped them recover, and the systems he uses to lead a global team across multiple time zones.
Whether you’re looking to start a simple service business or scale a remote team, Eric delivers actionable advice and stories to help you build a business that fits your lifestyle.
Who is Eric Dingler?
Eric Dingler is the founder of In Transit Studios, a digital marketing agency helping local businesses grow through clear, strategy-driven marketing. With 29 years of leadership experience and a passion for remote team building, Eric helps entrepreneurs create systems to lead better and market smarter — no matter where they are in the world. He’s also the creator of the Team Engine framework, a 90-day accelerator that helps business owners hire, delegate, and grow with confidence.
Connect with Eric Dingler:
Website: https://ericdingler.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericdingler/
Host Contact Details:
Website: https://workathomerockstar.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/workathomerockstar
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/workathomerockstar
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/timmelanson
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@WorkAtHomeRockStarPodcast
Twitter: https://twitter.com/workathomestar
⏱ In this Episode:
00:00 From full-time travel to UK immigration plans
03:31 Big financial mistake: hiding struggles from your spouse
08:40 How honesty and teamwork saved their business
12:00 Building a remote team: Bulgaria, India, El Salvador, Ukraine
14:35 Starting a business to fund an adoption
16:50 ROD2 hiring system: Recruit, Onboard, Delegate, Direct
20:00 Tips for hiring through Upwork and filtering candidates
23:55 How to onboard new team members without stopping the workflow
25:48 Marketing lessons from global travel
28:45 Local SEO: how to start a simple service-based business
32:01 Predictable sales and re-engagement systems
35:45 Guest Solo: Team Engine program for hiring and leadership
Episode Summary
In this episode of the Work at Home Rockstar Podcast, Tim chats with Jeff Walker, legendary online entrepreneur and the creator of the Product Launch Formula. Jeff shares how he went from a stay-at-home dad to generating over $100 million in sales — and empowering his clients to generate over $1 billion through launches. From early struggles with sales to pioneering the online marketing space, Jeff walks us through how mastering launches, building an email list, and leaning into authenticity helped him grow a thriving business.
Whether you’re just getting started or ready to level up your game, this episode is filled with inspiring stories, tactical advice, and timeless principles that still work today.
Who is Jeff Walker?
Jeff Walker is the creator of the Product Launch Formula, a groundbreaking system used by thousands of entrepreneurs to launch products, grow businesses, and scale revenue. With a legacy spanning nearly 30 years in the online business world, Jeff has helped high-profile names like Tony Robbins and Brendon Burchard while also empowering everyday entrepreneurs to quit their jobs and build sustainable income from home. He’s the author of the New York Times best-selling book Launch and the CEO of Internet Alchemy.
Connect with Jeff Walker:
Website: https://productlaunchformula.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JeffWalkerFan
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeffwalkerco/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffwalkerco/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/productlaunch
Host Contact Details:
Website: https://workathomerockstar.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/workathomerockstar
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/workathomerockstar
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/timmelanson
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@WorkAtHomeRockStarPodcast
Twitter: https://twitter.com/workathomestar
00:00 Introduction to the Work at Home Rockstar Podcast
00:32 Jeff Walker's Journey: From Stay-at-Home Dad to Online Business Success
04:39 The Evolution of Email Marketing
11:26 Challenges and Triumphs: Overcoming Business Setbacks
19:44 Building and Engaging Your Audience
21:57 Creating an Effective Opt-In Page
22:14 Driving Traffic to Your Lead Magnet
24:16 The Importance of Congruence in Lead Magnets
26:08 Delivering Value Without Overwhelming
28:02 The Power of Sequences in Marketing
33:50 Jeff's Journey and Insights
40:53 The Future of Jeff's Business and AI
42:01 Where to Learn More About Product Launch Formula
43:26 Jeff's Favorite Rock Stars
Episode Summary:
In this episode of the Work at Home Rockstar Podcast, Tim chats with Dan Brisse, co-founder of Granite Towers Equity Group and former X Games gold medalist. Dan shares his inspiring journey from living on peanut butter and jelly sandwiches to becoming a top urban snowboarder and successful real estate investor. He opens up about the mindset shift that helped him transition from a high-risk, high-reward athletic career to building sustainable wealth through multifamily real estate. This episode is packed with wisdom on financial literacy, passive income, and the importance of long-term strategy.
Who is Dan Brisse?
Dan Brisse is the Co-Founder and Managing Partner at Granite Towers Equity Group. A former professional snowboarder and six-time X Games competitor, Dan transitioned from extreme sports to real estate investing after witnessing the financial struggles of peers in his industry. Now, he helps investors build multiple streams of passive income through multifamily apartment investments. Dan is also co-host of the "Keeping It Real-Estate" podcast and co-author of the book 4 Steps to Successful Passive Investing.
Connect with Dan Brisse:
Website: https://www.granitetowersequitygroup.com
Free E-book: https://www.granitetowersequitygroup.com/free-e-book
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/danbrisse
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/danbrisse
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dan-brisse-442b791b8
Connect with Tim Melanson:
Website: https://workathomerockstar.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/workathomerockstar
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/workathomerockstar
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/timmelanson
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@WorkAtHomeRockStarPodcast
Twitter: https://twitter.com/workathomestar
Timestamps:
00:28 – Dan's journey to professional snowboarding
04:27 – Transitioning from snowboarding to real estate
06:20 – Building financial literacy
11:55 – Learning from investment mistakes
22:51 – Buying quality assets and understanding depreciation
24:13 – The importance of passive income
25:55 – Building the right team
31:20 – Creating cash flow and overcoming fear
39:27 – The power of continuous improvement