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Episodes
Tales from those on the front lines of dealing with clients. Tales of difficult clients, complex situations, relationship management - and how massive client management problems were solved, and what they learned. Largely those running agencies, but all across different professional services.
Episodes
Dec 18, 2025
Dec 18, 2025
30 min
Today, Greg Digneo, Founder of Content Guppy, shares a Client Horror Story that proves some people really are as wild as they seem.
In the early 2000s, Greg and a friend launched a solar panel company with no prior experience. To their surprise, two of their university professors became their first customers, and the money they earned from those projects was more than they had ever handled since graduation.
Their third client, however, was a different story. At their first meeting, he proudly bragged about suing a flooring company to get his floors done for free—a red flag they overlooked in their excitement to keep the profits rolling. They went ahead and installed the panels, unaware of the chaos that would follow.
For the next 17 years, the client repeatedly contacted them, threatening lawsuits over various issues. Eventually, Greg and his friend stopped engaging—only to later learn the man had been arrested for impersonating a police officer.
This is just the beginning of the story. Watch the full episode to hear how Greg and his partner navigated years of bizarre threats and what they learned about trusting their instincts when red flags appear.
Dec 11, 2025
Dec 11, 2025
44 min
Kate Viana, Founder of Viana Communications, shares a Client Horror Story like no other.
In 2021, after leaving a nonprofit to strike out on her own, Kate was thrilled when a Texas-based client reached out. She began by improving their website—despite having little experience and doing it for free—before transitioning into consulting work.
Eager to expand her expertise, Kate offered to visit the organization in person. What she discovered was shocking. At her very first dinner meeting, leaders openly backstabbed each other and spread negativity. Survey responses later confirmed what she had witnessed: a toxic, abusive workplace. During a site visit, Kate saw it firsthand when the executive director screamed at employees in front of her.
Still committed, Kate compiled a detailed report outlining her observations. Instead of appreciation, she was abruptly let go. Months later, when the organization demanded access to the website and files she had created, Kate requested payment before handing anything over. That's when things spiraled.
The executive director launched a campaign of harassment—bombarding Kate with emails, calls, texts, and even social media attacks. She went as far as contacting her new employers to berate her.
Tune in to hear how Kate endured this ordeal and the changes she made to protect herself and her business moving forward.
Dec 4, 2025
Dec 4, 2025
34 min
Today, Aleks Krylov, President of Stern Gutters, shares a Client Horror Story that dragged on for months.
In October of last year, a retired woman contacted his team to install gutter protection at her home. By the first week of November, the installation was complete, and the final bill was charged.
Just days later, Aleks began receiving emails and phone calls from the client claiming the technician had caused damage—breaking a patio lamp and chipping paint beneath the gutters. The technician firmly denied the allegations, noting he hadn’t even accessed those areas and that such damage was physically impossible.
When the client realized her credit card had been charged for the balance, she became furious and demanded a full refund. Taking it further, she filed a dispute with the bank. Aleks responded with all the required documentation and ultimately won the case. After that, the customer went completely silent.
Six months later, in April, the client’s husband finally reached out, offering to be home after Memorial Day to resolve the matter. Aleks and his team handled the situation, and on June 3rd, the project was officially closed.
Tune in to hear how Aleks navigated this long ordeal—and the lessons he learned about patience, persistence, and professionalism along the way.
Morgan Friedman
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Nov 27, 2025
Nov 27, 2025
37 min
Today's horror story is a little different—it focuses not on a client, but on our speaker himself: Ron Reich, Founder of RLB Training & Development.
Years ago, while working at an HR consulting firm, Ron received a surprising call from someone in Dallas who told him he was "the opposite of what he said he was." Odd as it sounded, the call turned out to be life-changing—the man was offering Ron an opportunity to become a trainer and facilitator at Toshiba, a dream role he had long aspired to.
Soon after, Ron was tasked with leading a five-day product knowledge sales training class. While he excelled at the training aspect, his lack of product knowledge quickly showed. By day three, two attendees walked out, and Ron was later berated by his boss's boss for being unprepared.
The painful experience became a defining lesson for him: no matter how skilled you are, preparation is everything. Tune in to hear how Ron turned this low point into a cornerstone of his growth as a leader and trainer.
Nov 20, 2025
Nov 20, 2025
32 min
In today's Client Horror Stories episode, Wes Towers, founder of Uplift360, shares a time when his good intentions as a leader took an unexpected turn.
After years of working closely with one of his team leaders, Wes noticed the employee had grown bored and uninspired in their role. Wanting to reignite their passion, he brought in a bold new project they'd never tackled before: building a niche dating website. Excited for the challenge, the team leader eagerly accepted.
But just weeks into the project, everything unraveled—the team leader suddenly quit, leaving Wes to finish the work. Overnight, he was forced to shoulder the entire project alone, navigating steep challenges and unexpected roadblocks.
Wes's story is a powerful reminder of the risks—and rewards—of pushing for growth. Tune in to see how he turned this setback into a lesson in resilience and leadership, and why sometimes the toughest challenges spark the greatest breakthroughs.