# Building an AI agency from scratch - Episode 2

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/build-with-ai-6407453/building-an-ai-agency-from-scratch-episode-2
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/build-with-ai-6407453/building-an-ai-agency-from-scratch-episode-2.md
Podcast: [Build With AI](https://stenobird.com/podcast/build-with-ai-6407453)
Published: 2026-09-01T00:15:00+00:00
Episode link: https://share.transistor.fm/s/9d4c6a82
Audio file: https://media.transistor.fm/9d4c6a82/014cd89e.mp3
Processing state: not_requested
JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/build-with-ai-6407453/episodes/building-an-ai-agency-from-scratch-episode-2
Duration seconds: 2759

## Resource

Get $100 of free Hyperagent credits with any paid plan when you use this link: https://hyperagent.com/Corey100 Join AI Operator Academy: https://www.skool.com/aioperatoracademy/about I got in the trenches for real this time - cold calling 25+ tree service companies with no website, door knocking on decision makers, and testing two different offers (a free website build vs. a free mini AI assessment) to see which one actually converts to a booked sales call first. You'll hear the rejections, the pivots to my script, and the exact numbers behind how many conversations it took to land two sales calls for episode three. Timestamps: 00:00 - Recap of Episode 1's lead list 01:52 - Hyper Agent sponsor shoutout 02:13 - The two offers: free website vs. free AI assessment 02:37 - Cold calling begins - dead numbers and voicemails 03:03 - First real conversation: Katu Tree Experts 04:35 - Crafting the free-website voicemail script 05:53 - Bentley Stump Grinding hangs up 06:56 - Pivoting the cold call opening line 09:15 - Getting cursed out on a cold call 09:57 - SNK Tree Service: a live, warm lead 12:13 - Pitching $500 against the $2,000 she already paid 14:40 - Tearing apart the $2,000 "vibe-coded" website 16:01 - More voicemails and no-shows 21:12 - Running low on leads: sourcing 100 more prospects 24:03 - Door knocking: the anti-AI home builder 26:40 - Turning a hostile gatekeeper into a booked call 29:33 - Door knocking: the new insurance agency 36:00 - Explaining the paid AI assessment offer 36:45 - Day six numbers: cold calls vs. door knocks 37:50 - Where to learn the full playbook FIND ME ON SOCIAL X/Twitter: https://x.com/coreyganim Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coreyganim/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/coreyganim/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@coreyganim

## Actions

- request_transcript: `POST https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/build-with-ai-6407453/episodes/building-an-ai-agency-from-scratch-episode-2/transcription-requests` — Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode.
- read_markdown: `GET https://stenobird.com/podcast/build-with-ai-6407453/building-an-ai-agency-from-scratch-episode-2.md` — Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource.

A page view does not enqueue transcription. Agents should invoke `request_transcript` explicitly when they need this episode processed.

## Transcript

Full transcripts are not published on public pages unless there is a clear rights basis.