The Nathan Barry Show
- Episodes
- 155
- Released
- weekly
- Latest episode
- Nov 12, 2026
About the podcast
As the CEO of Kit, Nathan Barry has a front row seat to what’s working in the most successful creator businesses. On The Nathan Barry Show, he interviews top creators and dives into the inner workings of their businesses in his live coaching sessions. You get unique insight into how creator businesses work and what you can do to increase results in your own business. One of the things Nathan is passionate about is helping you create leverage. Creator Flywheels let you create many copies of yourself so you don’t get bogged down with the little things in your business. Flywheels will help you reach a place where you can focus on revenue instead of busywork. Tune in weekly for new episodes with ideas and tips for growing your business. You’ll hear discussions around building an audience, earning a living as a creator, and Nathan’s insights on scaling a software company to $100M. Learn how to get more results with less effort and: Grow faster over time. Work less hard over time. Make more money over time.
Episodes 155
If I Wanted to 10x My Revenue in 2027, I’d Do This | Matt Trinetti | 154
Growing a membership from $500,000 a year to $5 million comes down to five specific things. In this episode, I map them out on the board using Matt Trinetti’s membership as an example. Matt is the cofounder of …
Show notes
Growing a membership from $500,000 a year to $5 million comes down to five specific things. In this episode, I map them out on the board using Matt Trinetti’s membership as an example.
Matt is the cofounder of London Writers’ Salon, where 1,000 writers gather every weekday to write together in silence. They’re on track for $750,000 this year, and Matt wants to grow from 2,000 members to 20,000.
In this episode, I give him the exact blueprint for how to get there. Up on the board, we get into why mission and vision come before any growth tactic, how to track your funnel and conversion rate at every step, why retention is one of the biggest levers in a recurring revenue business, and how to package your products so people know exactly which plan is right for them.
If you run a membership or any subscription business, I think you'll get a lot out of this conversation.
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
01:37 London Writers' Salon by the numbers
02:06 Three membership tiers and the Residency
04:28 The goal of $5 million and 20,000 members
05:42 Why a revenue goal felt uncomfortable for Matt
06:30 Why profit is permission to do it again tomorrow
07:19 The five keys to scaling a membership
07:43 London Writers' Salon's mission
08:59 Why creative health will become a category
10:45 Turning your mission into a vision with numbers
11:26 How Kit sets its mission and vision
13:11 Why your vision has to be big enough for your team
17:09 Why Kit tracks counterbalancing goals
18:36 How Writers' Hour started in the pandemic
21:36 Why you need to obsess over your funnel
21:52 Why a membership is really a SaaS business
23:07 Mapping the membership funnel
25:18 Matt's 27% trial conversion rate
27:05 Why all traffic is not created equal
27:52 Why a 5,000-person event barely converts
28:39 How Kit gets three more upgrades a day
30:27 Upselling without making members feel sold to
32:58 Why retention is everything
33:23 User churn vs revenue churn
34:46 Why cohorts change your churn numbers
36:33 Why retention is the biggest lever you have
38:06 What cancellation surveys miss
38:37 Why every membership needs a pause option
41:04 Getting on calls with members who cancel
42:01 Should you add new products?
44:22 Why every product decision goes through the funnel
46:03 How renaming a plan "hobbyist" changed what people bought
47:01 Why Silver and Gold don't tell people anything
50:15 When to launch a separate product
53:04 How adding more can lower perceived value
53:55 The $499 annual accelerator idea
55:51 Why you need to measure 30-day churn
58:17 LTV to CAC, the number that tells you when to scale
1:01:28 How every metric feeds into LTV to CAC
1:04:01 How to calculate customer acquisition cost
1:06:12 Matt's three big takeaways
1:07:24 Final thoughtsIf you enjoyed this episode, please like and subscribe, share it with your friends, and leave a review. I read every single one.
Learn more about the podcast: https://nathanbarry.com/show
Follow Nathan:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nathanbarry
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathanbarry
X: https://twitter.com/nathanbarry
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thenathanbarryshow
Website: https://nathanbarry.com
Kit: https://kit.comFollow Matt:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mtrinetti
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-trinetti
Newsletter: https://seekingwithmatt.substack.comFeatured in this episode:
Kit: https://www.kit.com
London Writers' Salon: https://londonwriterssalon.com
Circle: https://circle.so
The Ladders of Wealth: https://laddersofwealth.comHighlights:
06:30 Profit is permission to do it again tomorrow
27:52 The 5,000-person writing event that barely converts
38:37 Why a pause button could save your members
53:55 Why I'd sell a $499/year membership instead of $49/month
58:17 The one number that tells you when to scaleHow to Grow and Monetize a Newsletter in 2027 (Full Strategy) | Chenell Basilio | 153
As the founder of an email marketing platform, you’d think my newsletter would be dialed in. But it turns out there's a lot I could be doing better. I think that's true for most creators, who get so caught up …
Show notes
As the founder of an email marketing platform, you’d think my newsletter would be dialed in. But it turns out there's a lot I could be doing better. I think that's true for most creators, who get so caught up in growth hacks that their list slowly dies out or hits a plateau they can't get past.
Chenell Basilio reverse engineers how the biggest newsletters grow and took her own newsletter, Growth in Reverse, to 21,000 subscribers in just 10 months. In this episode, Chenell walks me through the 5 levers behind newsletter growth, including how to make your content insanely valuable, how to build momentum with tactics like quizzes, and the one lever she sees hardly anyone using. Then she applies all of it to my own newsletter, from the headline on my site to how I share podcast episodes, and it turns out I have some work to do.
If you're trying to grow your newsletter and want a total masterclass in how to do it, this is the episode for you.
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
01:37 Why growth tactics are only 1 of 5 levers
02:03 How Chenell hit 21,000 subscribers in 10 months
03:29 Why going deeper than everyone else stands out
04:40 Lever 1: Insanely valuable content
06:24 6 ways to make content insanely valuable
08:34 Mario Gabriele's S-1 breakdowns
10:11 Making readers the smartest person in the room
12:40 Why you should get on calls with your readers
13:28 Lever 2: Positioning
13:55 How a food waste app became The ADHD Weasel
16:05 Why positioning changes over time
18:54 How to find readers to talk to
20:28 How reader calls shaped Sam Vander Wielen's bundle
21:19 Lever 3: Building momentum
21:56 Why you should pick one platform
22:15 Why quizzes are working so well
26:21 The quiz that 9X'd The ADHD Weasel's growth
27:16 How to get noticed by creators you admire
28:46 Building a quiz for The Ladders of Wealth
29:47 Lead magnets that don't need new content
30:39 Using AI skills as lead magnets
32:01 Why you should post more on social
35:05 How to mine your best content
38:34 Why it's okay to repeat your best stories
39:43 Lever 4: Conversion
41:55 Chenell's spicy take on Linktree
43:35 How Dru Riley got a landing page to 40%
45:55 Why the wrong views won't convert
48:27 How Pat Walls positioned Starter Story's paid product
50:54 Lever 5: The one hardly anyone is doing
51:39 Why you need an "almost there" page
53:24 What makes a great welcome email
55:52 How to surprise new subscribers
58:21 Doing what bigger creators can't
1:02:12 Why you should subscribe to your own newsletter
1:03:55 Chenell audits Nathan's newsletter
1:06:38 The bar for Nathan's newsletter content
1:09:20 Splitting the podcast into its own email
1:11:36 Turning the book launch into content
1:13:44 Chenell reads Nathan's homepage headline
1:16:36 Sharing your success without bragging
1:18:42 Promoting the newsletter inside episodes
1:22:56 Fixing Nathan's conversion points
1:26:14 The hidden cost of double opt-in
1:29:49 How newsletters monetize
1:31:46 Why Packy McCormick's sponsored deep dives work
1:33:19 Group coaching and high-ticket offers
1:36:00 The pricing sweet spot for memberships
1:37:26 When paid newsletters work
1:40:48 How to price a paid newsletter
1:43:57 Final thoughtsIf you enjoyed this episode, please like and subscribe, share it with your friends, and leave a review. I read every single one.
Learn more about the podcast: https://nathanbarry.com/show
Follow Nathan:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nathanbarry
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathanbarry
X: https://twitter.com/nathanbarry
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thenathanbarryshow
Website: https://nathanbarry.com
Kit: https://kit.comFollow Chenell:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chenellco
X: https://x.com/chenellco
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chenellco
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@growthinreverse
Website: https://growthinreverse.comFeatured in this episode:
Kit: https://www.kit.com
Growth In Reverse: https://growthinreverse.com
Newsletter scorecard: https://growthinreverse.com/scorecard
The Generalist: https://www.generalist.com
The ADHD Weasel: https://adhdweasel.substack.com
Trends.vc: https://trends.vc
Starter Story: https://www.starterstory.com
The Ladders of Wealth: https://laddersofwealth.comHighlights:
06:24 The 6 ways to make content insanely valuable
26:37 The quiz that 9X'd The ADHD Weasel's daily growth
50:54 The growth lever almost no one is using
1:13:44 Chenell roasts Nathan's newsletter
1:31:46 How Packy McCormick gets paid 5 to 10X for sponsored deep divesThe Newsletter Is Dead. Here’s How To Survive AI Agents | Dan Shipper | 152
What happens to your newsletter when the first thing to read it isn't a person, but an AI agent? For anyone who has built a business on email, that shift is coming a lot faster than most of us expect.I sat down …
Show notes
What happens to your newsletter when the first thing to read it isn't a person, but an AI agent? For anyone who has built a business on email, that shift is coming a lot faster than most of us expect.
I sat down with Dan Shipper, co-founder and CEO of Every, a company that writes about AI, builds AI software, and gets to test the models before they're released. Dan has interviewed Sam Altman and is one of the people closest to the cutting edge that I know.
We get into how good AI has become at using your computer, why Dan thinks the newsletter as we know it is dead, why OpenAI or Anthropic will likely build a new kind of inbox, and the one number his team is chasing right now that they might stop chasing soon. Dan also shares why, despite all the change, he's so optimistic about where this is going.
If email sits at the heart of your business, I think you'll get a lot out of this conversation.
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
01:22 The AI workflow every creator should set up
02:43 How Dan writes by talking to his AI
04:21 Why computer use is suddenly so good
05:12 How an agent reordered Dan's 8,000-word story
07:31 Turning an editor's taste into an AI skill
09:44 How to build a skill without writing it yourself
10:49 Using evals to make your skills better over time
12:45 Should you go deep on one AI platform?
15:29 Nathan's AI workflow for following up after events
18:24 Why Dan is so optimistic about AI
20:55 The three stages of adapting to new technology
23:59 Ambition in the age of AI
25:30 Why creators should stay diversified
26:01 Building an app for your audience in a weekend
27:08 Why every creator can now have a feed
29:08 How Dan uses custom feeds to run Every
31:06 Everyone can now work like Ryan Holiday
32:08 Why AI curation hasn't caught up with creation
32:51 Frontier alerts and writing for each reader
34:29 Why Every is hiring more engineers than ever
37:02 Why Dan says the newsletter is dead
40:21 When your open rate drops to zero
41:05 Seth Godin and being missed when you don't publish
42:27 Why OpenAI and Claude will build a new inbox
43:43 What actually replaces email?
46:26 How Dan is positioning Every for what's next
47:25 Why Every may stop chasing email signups
48:35 Pushing content through MCP servers
49:52 What creators should do to get ready
51:59 Why quality matters more than ever
54:00 What a high-quality audience has done for Dan
55:21 Why Nathan is underusing his AI tools
56:44 The Eight Levels of AI
58:02 How Every makes money
58:53 Splitting Every into frontier and product teams
1:01:56 Pirates vs architects
1:02:41 Kit's App Store and the cost of experiments
1:03:54 How Every launches experiments it won't support
1:06:04 Dan's hot take on AI and jobs
1:07:23 What Andrew Carnegie's story teaches us
1:08:07 What Dan is reading right now
1:10:24 Where to start with Every
1:11:05 Final thoughtsIf you enjoyed this episode, please like and subscribe, share it with your friends, and leave a review. I read every single one.
Learn more about the podcast: https://nathanbarry.com/show
Follow Nathan:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nathanbarry
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathanbarry
X: https://twitter.com/nathanbarry
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thenathanbarryshow
Website: https://nathanbarry.com
Kit: https://kit.comFollow Dan:
X: https://x.com/danshipper
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danshipper
Website: https://danshipper.com
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@EveryInc/videosFeatured in this episode:
Kit: https://www.kit.com
Every: https://every.to
How Codex Happened: https://every.to/p/how-codex-happened
The Eight Levels of AI Adoption: https://every.to/guides/the-eight-levels-of-ai-adoption
After Automation: https://every.to/chain-of-thought/after-automationHighlights:
02:43 Why Dan writes by talking out loud to his AI
08:35 Turning 40,000 copy edits into a "Kate pass"
21:17 The agency rupture everyone feels with AI
37:29 Why the newsletter as we know it is dead
47:25 The one number Every might stop chasingWhy Community Beats Followers (And How to Build One) | Jayson Gaignard | 151
Do you want to know how to get into rooms with people who are several levels above you?Jayson Gaignard is the reason about 50 of my favorite entrepreneur friends are in my life. He’s the founder of Mastermind …
Show notes
Do you want to know how to get into rooms with people who are several levels above you?
Jayson Gaignard is the reason about 50 of my favorite entrepreneur friends are in my life. He’s the founder of Mastermind Talks, an invite-only community for entrepreneurs, and the author of Community Made, which breaks down exactly how to build those key relationships yourself.
In this episode, Jayson shares how to find your people, invest in them, and ask for help. We get into how to host your own event when you can’t get an invite, the three ways to get access to people above your level, and why “How can I help?” is the wrong question to ask.
If you want to build relationships with people you admire, this is the episode to watch.
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
01:23 How Jayson connected Nathan to 50 entrepreneur friends
02:15 Why Jayson wasn't always a super connector
02:57 The loneliness that led to Mastermind Dinners
04:14 Never beg for a seat when you can build your own table
05:29 Why the host gets the most status in the room
06:14 Lower-lift ways to bring people together
06:49 How Summit Series started with a ski trip
08:57 Start with the easiest yes
09:28 The anchor tenant strategy
10:27 Nathan's author mastermind with James Clear
11:06 Partnering to host the room
12:35 Organizing a team to play above your level
13:21 Will Guidara's gratitude for being invited
14:51 Buying access and the speed of relationships
15:43 Money, moxie, and service
15:58 Andrew Wilkinson's $57,000 lunch with Bill Ackman
17:58 Moxie and the power of cold emails
19:30 The man who stood up Mark Zuckerberg
20:45 Nathan chickens out of meeting his heroes
22:55 Eight seconds of courage
24:02 Leaving energy vs. lingering energy
24:47 Nathan's 45-second intro to Chris Brogan
25:44 How a quick hello led to a call with Steven Bartlett
27:06 Why you shouldn't put people on a pedestal
27:53 Abundance vs. scarcity when meeting people
29:47 Service and Ryan Holiday's apprenticeship
31:20 Why Benjamin Graham told Warren Buffett he was overpriced
31:58 Why "How can I help?" is the wrong question
32:18 How Jayson built a relationship with Shep Gordon
33:12 How to offer help that's actually specific
36:00 The relationships that weigh you down
38:55 Why all relationships go dormant naturally
39:45 Why entrepreneurs and creators feel isolated
41:17 Craft + Commerce as an annual pilgrimage
42:35 Conferences vs. masterminds vs. communities
46:00 Conversations that normally take years
48:00 Do great work and your network will find you
49:55 How great work raises your hit rate
51:54 Why you're not ready for Diary of a CEO
53:35 Putting in the reps on camera
54:28 Ramit Sethi's advice on media training
56:39 Increasing your surface area of luck
59:38 Jayson's friends-only email updates
1:02:06 The email that saved MMT in 2020
1:04:59 Who to include on your update list
1:05:50 Nathan's missing annual review
1:07:22 The 90-minute quarterly update
1:08:17 A fan base vs. a community
1:09:59 Curating like the bouncer at the club
1:10:36 Kit's triads and MMT's MM3s
1:15:00 People come for content, stay for community
1:15:47 The ask, give, praise model
1:18:26 How praise reinforces the value of the network
1:21:02 Praise cards mailed 90 days later
1:24:18 Why the book is called Community Made
1:27:06 Final thoughtsIf you enjoyed this episode, please like and subscribe, share it with your friends, and leave a review. I read every single one.
Learn more about the podcast: https://nathanbarry.com/show
Follow Nathan:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nathanbarry
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathanbarry
X: https://twitter.com/nathanbarry
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thenathanbarryshow
Website: https://nathanbarry.com
Kit: https://kit.comFollow Jayson:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jaysongaignard
X: https://x.com/jaysongaignard
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaysongaignard
Website: https://www.jaysongaignard.comFeatured in this episode:
Kit: https://www.kit.com
MMT: https://mmt.community
Community Made: https://communitymade.comHighlights:
02:22 Jayson had two people at his bachelor party
24:02 Leaving energy vs. lingering energy
49:55 Why great work changes your hit rate on everything
1:02:06 The friends-only email that saved MMT
1:21:02 The praise cards Jayson mails out 90 days laterAI Can't Copy This: Why Every Creator Needs an Origin Story in 2026 | Philip McKernan | 150
The story you leave out of your content could be the reason someone connects with your work.I sat down with Philip McKernan, author of One Last Talk, who has helped Olympians and World Cup athletes and …
Show notes
The story you leave out of your content could be the reason someone connects with your work.
I sat down with Philip McKernan, author of One Last Talk, who has helped Olympians and World Cup athletes and consulted with the US Army and the Pentagon. We get into why your origin story matters, how to recognise the gifts you undervalue, and why the fear that drives success can eventually become exhausting. Philip walks me through his framework connecting story, gift, and impact, then coaches me live through my discomfort with promoting my upcoming book. A simple drawing exercise leads to a challenge I wasn’t expecting about who I’m letting down by holding back.
If you’re building a personal brand but feel uncomfortable sharing your story or promoting your work, I think you’ll get a lot out of this conversation.
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
02:00 The business pitch that needed a personal story
07:00 Philip’s own origin story
11:00 Helping an athlete reconnect with his purpose
17:00 Finding the gift you overlook
21:00 When fear-driven ambition becomes exhausting
24:00 Why I’m not afraid of my business disappearing
34:00 Buying a castle when business was down 95%
38:00 Building a better relationship with yourself
40:00 Why asking for help feels uncomfortable
43:00 Philip coaches me through a drawing exercise
47:00 The challenge I wasn’t expecting
54:00 Why being visible can feel frightening
57:00 An exercise to uncover your story
1:03:00 Understanding what your happiest days reveal
1:09:00 Learning from your darkest days
1:16:00 How sharing your story creates connection
1:18:00 Final thoughts and where to find PhilipIf you enjoyed this episode, please like and subscribe, share it with your friends, and leave a review. I read every single one.
Learn more about the podcast: https://nathanbarry.com/show
Follow Nathan:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nathanbarry
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathanbarry
X: https://twitter.com/nathanbarry
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thenathanbarryshow
Website: https://nathanbarry.com
Kit: https://kit.comFollow Philip:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/philip_mckernan/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/philip-mckernan
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@philipmckernan
Website: https://philipmckernan.comFeatured in this episode:
Kit: https://kit.com
One Last Talk: https://onelasttalk.com
The Ladders of Wealth: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Ladders-of-Wealth/Nathan-Barry/9798893312393Highlights:
02:00 The business pitch that needed a personal story
21:00 When fear-driven ambition becomes exhausting
43:00 Philip coaches me live
47:00 Why we undervalue our own work
57:00 An exercise to uncover your storyThe #1 Way to Grow Your Audience in 2026 | Domonkos Eross | 149
Most creators try to grow by posting more. More content, more platforms, more hours. But the biggest creators and thought leaders grow in a very different way, and most of it happens behind the scenes.I sat …
Show notes
Most creators try to grow by posting more. More content, more platforms, more hours. But the biggest creators and thought leaders grow in a very different way, and most of it happens behind the scenes.
I sat down with Domonkos "Doma" Eross, founder of Flowin, a creative agency for thought leaders, to talk about what actually drives audience growth right now. We get into his seven strategic steps to succeed as a thought leader, why creator partnerships are the number one source of growth in the creator economy, and Doma’s outreach technique for landing dream clients.
If you've ever wanted to know the systems the biggest creators use to consistently grow their audiences, I think you'll get a lot out of this conversation.
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
01:33 How Doma started working with thought leaders
03:03 Why direct outreach works
03:33 The Manchester United cold email
05:05 Why a well-packaged pitch gets attention
06:49 Using credibility to get past the first filter
08:06 How office hours turned into clients
09:13 Leaving energy vs lingering energy
10:13 Why curiosity beats a target list
11:59 How your network compounds
12:54 The seven steps to succeed as a thought leader
13:18 Step 1: Develop exceptional knowledge first
14:17 Step 2: Define your mission and theory of change
16:19 Step 3: Build an ecosystem strategy
18:21 Matching your ecosystem to how you make money
19:51 Step 4: Turn your ideas into the right content
21:18 Protecting clients from the wrong projects
22:38 Step 5: Build the right team
23:12 Why team size and influence don't correlate
24:55 How James Clear decides what to work on
26:32 Building a team around impact
28:26 The most surprising role on a thought leader's team
30:53 What thought leaders know about saying no
32:17 Focus on your craft and outsource the rest
33:22 Step 6: Creator partnerships, the #1 source of growth
35:14 Why Creator Network works better than list swaps
37:19 How partnerships work at a smaller scale
39:00 How much growth Creator Network drives
40:27 Why partnerships are a win-win
41:22 Set up partnerships before your podcast episode airs
44:27 Why the creator economy isn't competitive
46:32 What Doma has learned from his clients
47:57 Step 7: Build and perfect your organic channels
48:13 Why your newsletter is the only channel you own
49:56 Building a newsletter that sounds like you
53:05 The three phases of a book launch
54:15 Teasing your book in your newsletter
55:26 Why you need to book podcasts months ahead
56:08 The concentrated strike approach
56:34 How to pitch the biggest podcasts
58:48 Which podcasts actually sell books
59:50 The people behind podcast bookings
1:01:36 Using a live event to launch a book
1:03:37 How Doma runs Flowin
1:05:08 Why Doma doesn't want to scale
1:06:40 Final thoughtsIf you enjoyed this episode, please like and subscribe, share it with your friends, and leave a review. I read every single one.
Learn more about the podcast: https://nathanbarry.com/show
Follow Nathan:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nathanbarry
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathanbarry
X: https://twitter.com/nathanbarry
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thenathanbarryshow
Website: https://nathanbarry.com
Kit: https://kit.comFollow Doma:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/domonkoseross
Website: https://flowin.consultingFeatured in this episode:
Kit: https://www.kit.com
Flowin: https://flowin.consultingHighlights:
03:33 The Manchester United cold email
13:18 Why thought leadership is the result, not the goal
24:55 How James Clear decides what to work on
33:22 The #1 source of growth in the creator economy
53:05 The three phases of a book launchHow to Build an Unforgettable Personal Brand | Chris Do | 148
Personal brand has become one of the biggest buzzwords in the creator world. Creators everywhere are launching offers, building funnels, and posting consistently, yet very few are creating something people …
Show notes
Personal brand has become one of the biggest buzzwords in the creator world. Creators everywhere are launching offers, building funnels, and posting consistently, yet very few are creating something people actually remember.
I sat down with Chris Do, Emmy award-winning designer and founder of The Futur, to talk about what it really takes to build a personal brand that stands out. We get into why most creators end up serviceable but forgettable, why branding comes down to differentiation, and the three-part framework behind brands people obsess over. Chris also shares why the real work of personal branding happens internally, how to find your voice phrase, and the trust triangle that decides who audiences believe. Partway through, he turns the interview around and starts coaching me, and we go much deeper than I expected.
If you're building a personal brand and wondering why it isn't resonating yet, I think you'll get a lot out of this conversation.
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
01:39 What it means to un-bland yourself
02:48 Why branding is all about differentiation
03:04 Why Apple has a brand and Dell doesn't
04:31 How status and identity drive what we buy
07:29 How Target built a brand
10:42 How Kit positions its brand
11:44 Moving from features to meaning
14:11 Why most personal brands are really marketing funnels
16:11 Why personal brand work is internal
16:26 How we lose who we really are
19:04 Chris starts asking the questions
20:24 How getting sick at 24 changed Nathan's identity
21:51 Why we tie our identity to what we do
23:03 Who are you outside of your work?
23:36 Why you are the gift
25:51 How Chris answers "who are you?"
26:36 The difference between design and art
28:45 Why being true to yourself comes first
29:45 Nathan's mission
32:24 Why Chris moved from commercial work to content
33:36 Why your brand needs to stand against something
35:44 Finding your keyword and your nemesis
37:03 Why the best heroes have great enemies
40:39 The three-part personal brand framework
41:49 Chris's own brand triangle
42:33 Workshopping Nathan's personal brand
43:30 Separating who you are from your company
44:44 The story behind Chris's mission
47:25 Why all strategy is autobiographical
48:13 Nathan on feeling like a burden
49:29 Nathan's story about his stepdad
53:49 Chris's read on Nathan's story
56:36 Finding Nathan's rallying cry
59:28 Learning to accept help
1:01:26 Why we trust people who aren't perfect online
1:02:00 The trust triangle
1:04:52 How to find your voice phrase
1:08:21 Final thoughtsIf you enjoyed this episode, please like and subscribe, share it with your friends, and leave a review. I read every single one.
Learn more about the podcast: https://nathanbarry.com/show
Follow Nathan:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nathanbarry
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathanbarry
X: https://twitter.com/nathanbarry
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thenathanbarryshow
Website: https://nathanbarry.com
Kit: https://kit.comFollow Chris:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thechrisdo
X: https://x.com/thechrisdo
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thechrisdo
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thefutur
Website: https://thefutur.comFeatured in this episode:
Kit: https://www.kit.com
The Futur: https://thefutur.comHighlights:
03:04 Why Apple has a brand and Dell doesn't
14:11 Why most personal brands are really marketing funnels
40:39 The three-part framework behind Bryan Johnson's brand
49:14 Chris turns the interview around
1:05:17 How to find your voice phraseForget Courses, Sell This in 2026 To Make 7 Figures | Jasmine Star | 147
The online business world is changing. People have more information than ever at their fingertips, and the business models that many creators started out selling aren't converting the way they used to.I sat …
Show notes
The online business world is changing. People have more information than ever at their fingertips, and the business models that many creators started out selling aren't converting the way they used to.
I sat down with Jasmine Star to talk about why traditional courses and memberships are becoming harder to sell, and the new hybrid offer model she now teaches her clients. We get into how to build offers around specific customer results, how to find out what people will actually pay for before you build, and Jasmine’s four-step framework for building a consistent $10K/month business. She also shares how she delivers high-touch coaching at scale, and the best ways to build trust with your audience in today’s “trust recession”.
If you’re building an online business and wondering what types of offers still work in today’s crowded online space, I think you’ll get a lot out of this conversation.
Timestamps:
00:00 Intro
01:18 Jasmine’s first digital offer
04:00 How her $197 course made $255K
04:40 Why she built a membership
06:22 The problem with traditional memberships
08:28 Building Social Curator
10:27 The creator economy after 2020
12:07 Why courses and memberships stopped working
13:12 The hybrid offer
16:40 How to price an offer
20:02 Turning coaching into a scalable offer
22:27 Who the offer is for
24:28 The 90-day $10K offer
26:30 The $4K Freedom Formula
29:32 How to keep clients accountable
33:50 Why asynchronous coaching works
35:36 Scaling coaching to hundreds of clients
39:25 How to market the offer
44:01 Using webinars to sell
47:13 Why long-form content is coming back
50:04 Measuring content performance
52:43 How Jasmine met Nathan
53:41 How to get high-value clients
55:29 Creating an offer people will pay for
59:55 Finding the right audience
1:00:49 Getting your messaging right
1:04:26 Finding your customer's pain point
1:06:10 Using DMs to build trust
1:09:38 Building a personal brand
1:11:48 Final thoughtsIf you enjoyed this episode, please like and subscribe, share it with your friends, and leave a review. I read every single one.
Learn more about the podcast: https://nathanbarry.com/show
Follow Nathan:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nathanbarry
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathanbarry
X: https://twitter.com/nathanbarry
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thenathanbarryshow
Website: https://nathanbarry.com
Kit: https://kit.comFollow Jasmine:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jasminestar
Website: https://www.jasminestar.com
X: https://x.com/jasminestar
LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/jasmine-star
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@officialjasminestarFeatured in this episode:
Kit: https://www.kit.com
Social Curator: https://www.socialcurator.comHighlights:
03:38 How Jasmine made $255,000 in five days
12:07 Why courses are no longer enough
17:31 How to find what people will actually pay for
33:50 People already have the information
36:15 Why Jasmine’s ROI guarantee isn't a money-back guarantee$300M+ Founder: What Nobody Tells You Before Selling Your Business | Ankur Nagpal | 146
Should you sell your business, or build it to own forever? Ankur Nagpal sold Teachable for $250 million and Carry for $76 million. I bootstrapped Kit and turned down a $200 million acquisition offer from …
Show notes
Should you sell your business, or build it to own forever? Ankur Nagpal sold Teachable for $250 million and Carry for $76 million. I bootstrapped Kit and turned down a $200 million acquisition offer from Spotify. We took very different paths as founders.
I sat down with Ankur to break down why we made those choices and how they've played out. We get into the key considerations for selling a company vs. building it to own forever, why raising venture capital can quietly trap founders into a specific kind of business, and the hiring and go-to-market tactics Ankur used to build two companies from scratch.
Ankur also shares how founders can use the QSBS tax break to keep millions more from an exit.
If you've ever thought about selling your business, or you're trying to decide whether to bootstrap or raise venture capital, this is the episode to listen to before you make that call.
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
01:37 Teachable's Story
03:39 Why Ankur Sold Teachable
04:47 Nathan's Approach to Building
07:16 Building to Sell vs. Building to Keep
08:34 Carry's Story
09:30 Understanding QSBS Tax Benefits
16:06 Being Bought vs. Having to Sell
16:40 Why Raise Capital for Carry?
18:25 Bootstrapping vs. VC
22:54 Lessons for Second-Time Founders
26:10 Ankur's Next Chapter: USVC
28:36 Recruiting Great Talent
32:24 Our Contrarian Beliefs
34:50 Go-to-Market Strategies
39:18 Ankur's AI Content Strategy
46:25 Staying Focused
48:58 Content Workflows
59:16 Product Market Fit Evolution
01:02:08 Closing ThoughtsIf you enjoyed this episode, please like and subscribe, share it with your friends, and leave a review. I read every single one.
Learn more about the podcast: https://nathanbarry.com/show
Follow Nathan:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nathanbarry
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathanbarry
X: https://twitter.com/nathanbarry
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thenathanbarryshow
Website: https://nathanbarry.com
Kit: https://kit.comFollow Ankur:
X: https://twitter.com/ankurnagpal
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ankurnagpal
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ankurnaFeatured in this episode:
Teachable: https://teachable.com
Carry: https://carry.comHighlights:
03:00 The Perfect Exit?
10:40 QSBS Tax Benefits For Founders
18:30 Bootstrapped vs. VC: Which is Higher Status?
23:20 Product Market Fit for Second-Time Founders
32:20 Our Contrarian Beliefs$100M YouTube Lawyer Reveals How to Protect Your Channel in 2026 | Tyler Chou | 145
What does it take to turn a YouTube channel into a valuable, sellable business? That's what I wanted to explore with this week’s guest, Tyler Chou (aka The Creators' Attorney). Having spent 20 years as an …
Show notes
What does it take to turn a YouTube channel into a valuable, sellable business? That's what I wanted to explore with this week’s guest, Tyler Chou (aka The Creators' Attorney).
Having spent 20 years as an entertainment attorney at giants like Disney and BuzzFeed, Tyler now represents some of YouTube's biggest channels, helping them navigate exits and build sustainable enterprises.
In this episode, Tyler pulls back the curtain on the legal mistakes creators often make, the crucial steps to take to protect your assets, and why sometimes, a creator doesn't need to sell at all - they just need a sabbatical. Tyler shares insights on how to build a business that can eventually sell for 8 or 9 figures, and what investors are really looking for beyond just views.
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
01:09 Private equity looks to buy YouTube channels
03:52 Creator burnout
04:52 Protecting your IP and avoiding mistakes
08:20 Diversifying revenue beyond AdSense and brand deals
10:43 Avoiding misclassification lawsuits
12:46 The problem with reaction channels
17:45 Why buyers love recurring revenue and technical products
23:11 The power of artificial scarcity
28:20 How to make your brand less dependent on the creator
37:48 Should creators sell their business?
43:49 You might need a sabbatical, not an exit
45:00 How to protect yourself from predatory buyers
51:08 Hiring operators to run products
54:19 The power of angel investors on your cap table
56:29 The value of books for creators
1:11:08 Building a network of channels
1:14:10 Where to find TylerIf you enjoyed this episode, please like and subscribe, share it with your friends, and leave a review. I read every single one.
Learn more about the podcast: https://nathanbarry.com/show
Follow Nathan:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nathanbarry
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathanbarry
X: https://twitter.com/nathanbarry
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thenathanbarryshow
Website: https://nathanbarry.com
Kit: https://kit.comFollow Tyler:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheCreatorsAttorney
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thecreatorsattorney
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecreatorsattorneyFeatured in this episode:
Kit: https://www.kit.comHighlights:
01:38 - Why private equity is buying YouTube channels
07:50 - The power of building independent revenue streams
12:58 - Why reaction channels are worthless to buyers
38:00 - The surprising downsides of taking an exit
59:20 - The power of books for creator credibilityHow to ACTUALLY Sell a Creator Business | Pat Flynn & Liz Wilcox | 144
What does it actually take to sell a creator business? That’s what I wanted to get into with Pat Flynn and Liz Wilcox, who sat down with me to share some big news. After 18 years of building Smart Passive …
Show notes
What does it actually take to sell a creator business? That’s what I wanted to get into with Pat Flynn and Liz Wilcox, who sat down with me to share some big news. After 18 years of building Smart Passive Income, Pat has officially sold the business - and Liz is the new owner.
In this episode, Pat and Liz take us through the entire process, from why Pat decided it was time to let go, to how they valued and structured the deal, why Liz was the right person to take over, and how they planned the transition to make sure the audience felt supported. We also get into what makes a creator business sellable, including building systems, community, recurring revenue, and a brand that can thrive beyond its founder.
If you're building a creator business and want to understand how to make it more valuable, transferable, and ultimately sellable, I think you'll get a lot out of this conversation.
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
01:15 Pat's big announcement
02:48 Liz's journey to acquiring SPI
04:30 How SPI became a sellable business
06:27 Pat's massive success with Pokemon
08:21 The impact of SPI's community
10:47 Why Pat let go of SPI
12:38 Prioritizing community over profit
14:10 The financial aspects of the deal
16:15 The future of Smart Passive Income: Team WIN
18:30 What makes a business sellable
20:00 Merging Liz's brand into SPI
21:23 10x is easier than 2x
22:50 The challenge of selling a personal brand
24:50 The intentional transition processIf you enjoyed this episode, please like and subscribe, share it with your friends, and leave a review. I read every single one.
Learn more about the podcast: https://nathanbarry.com/show
Follow Nathan:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nathanbarry
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathanbarry
X: https://twitter.com/nathanbarry
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thenathanbarryshow
Website: https://nathanbarry.com
Kit: https://kit.comFollow Pat:
X: https://twitter.com/PatFlynn
Website: https://patflynn.com
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@patflynn
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/patflynnFollow Liz:
Website: https://www.lizwilcox.com
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thelizwilcox
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/liz-wilcox-58740b1b0Featured in this episode:
Kit: https://www.kit.com
Smart Passive Income: https://www.smartpassiveincome.com
Built to Sell: https://builtosell.com
Will It Fly?: https://patflynn.com/book/will-it-fly
The Virtual Campground: https://thevirtualcampground.comHighlights:
01:15 - The big announcement
07:12 - Liz's personal mission for SPI
14:32 - The Pokémon channel's incredible growth
25:27 - The profound impact of communities
35:40 - Negotiating and structuring a business saleHow the Author of Atomic Habits ACTUALLY Makes Money | James Clear | 143
When James Clear last spoke on the Craft & Commerce stage, Atomic Habits hadn't even been released. Now, it's sold over 30 million copies worldwide. I was delighted to welcome James back to the same stage 8 …
Show notes
When James Clear last spoke on the Craft & Commerce stage, Atomic Habits hadn't even been released. Now, it's sold over 30 million copies worldwide.
I was delighted to welcome James back to the same stage 8 years later to unpack what he’s learned from creating one of the bestselling books of the last decade. In this conversation, James shares his insights on how to create a timeless product, how he built an email list of over 4 million subscribers, and the revolutionary publishing model he’s building with Authors Equity.
James also answers burning questions from the audience on simplifying complex ideas, building lasting entrepreneurial friendships, protecting your identity as a creator in public, and James’s personal mission in life.
If you’ve ever wondered what goes into creating a bestselling book, I think you’ll get a lot out of this episode.
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
01:07 Expectations for Atomic Habits' success
02:54 Selling 30M+ copies
04:48 Timeless marketing principles
07:18 Positioning for long-term book sales
09:39 Building the world's largest single-author newsletter
12:44 Current effective growth tactics
14:01 Cross-pollinating platforms for growth
16:51 The vision behind Authors Equity
20:51 The Atomic Habits tipping point
23:09 Why books are an underrated business model
24:48 Simplifying complex ideas
27:54 Cultivating lasting entrepreneur friendships
31:33 Protecting your identity as a public creator
35:30 Why choose traditional publishing over self-publishing?
39:17 Mining for stories and metaphors
43:24 What makes Authors Equity different?
48:50 Daily habits for rebuilding momentum
51:50 James’s life mission
54:24 Authors Equity: working with self-published authors
58:05 James's parting thoughts: 10-year and 1-hour timeframesIf you enjoyed this episode, please like and subscribe, share it with your friends, and leave a review. I read every single one.
Learn more about the podcast: https://nathanbarry.com/show
Follow Nathan:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nathanbarry
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathanbarry
X: https://twitter.com/nathanbarry
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thenathanbarryshow
Website: https://nathanbarry.com
Kit: https://kit.comFollow James:
Website: https://jamesclear.com
Newsletter: https://jamesclear.com/3-2-1
X: https://twitter.com/jamesclear
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesclear
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jamesclearFeatured in this episode:
Kit: https://www.kit.com
Atomic Habits: https://jamesclear.com/atomic-habits
Authors Equity: https://www.authorsequity.comHighlights:
02:10 - James's initial expectations for Atomic Habits
09:39 - How James built the world's largest single-author newsletter
23:09 - Why books are an underrated business model
48:50 - James’s daily habits for rebuilding momentum
51:50 - James’s life missionChapters (21)
How to Turn Your Creator Business Into an Empire | Ben Greenfield | 142
Many creators dream of building an empire, but how many actually pull it off while still making time for family and personal passions?That's what I wanted to dig into with Ben Greenfield. He’s been podcasting …
Show notes
Many creators dream of building an empire, but how many actually pull it off while still making time for family and personal passions?
That's what I wanted to dig into with Ben Greenfield. He’s been podcasting since 2008 and has built a massive personal brand around health and wellness. But what really fascinated me is how he's leveraged that brand to launch not just one, but two other businesses that are scaling to entirely different levels: a supplements company and a revolutionary health tech platform.
I sat down with Ben to break down his entire revenue pie, his strategies for growing multiple companies, and how he keeps his personal brand from becoming the bottleneck in his rapidly expanding empire.
If you've built a creator business and are wondering what it would take to turn it into something much bigger, I think you'll get a lot from this episode.
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
01:12 The early days of podcasting
03:00 Early revenue and online ventures
04:15 The lightbulb moment: Scaling IP online
05:59 Mapping out Ben Greenfield Life revenue
06:33 Audience and platform scale
07:31 Podcast revenue breakdown
09:18 Coaching and its growth potential
11:03 Life Network and Life Market
12:16 Total personal brand revenue breakdown
13:19 Integrated ad packages and whitelisting
16:09 Affiliate revenue and long-term partnerships
17:27 Team structure for Ben Greenfield Life
20:29 Lessons for scaling content businesses
22:45 Lifestyle design and work-life balance
23:52 Launching Kion
28:44 Disentangling personal brand from Kion
31:32 Leveraging brand for launch, then scaling independently
35:44 The new venture
39:55 Life OS's rapid growth and scale
42:47 The power of recurring revenue models
44:31 Intentional scaling beyond personal brand
47:47 Building an empire vs. a lifestyle business
49:30 Ben's daily lifestyle and routine
52:16 Wrap-up and where to find BenIf you enjoyed this episode, please like and subscribe, share it with your friends, and leave a review. I read every single one.
Learn more about the podcast: https://nathanbarry.com/show
Follow Nathan:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nathanbarry
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathanbarry
X: https://twitter.com/nathanbarry
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thenathanbarryshow
Website: https://nathanbarry.com
Kit: https://kit.comFollow Ben:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@bengreenfieldlife
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bengreenfieldfitness
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bengreenfield
Website: https://bengreenfieldlife.comFeatured in this episode:
Kit: https://www.kit.com
Boundless: https://shopbengreenfieldlife.com/products/boundless-updated-revised
Kion: https://getkion.comHighlights:
04:15 - The lightbulb moment: Scaling IP online
12:16 - Total personal brand revenue breakdown
20:29 - Lessons for scaling content businesses
31:29 - Don't let your brand be the bottleneck
47:47 - How to build both empire and lifestyle businessesThe $10 Offer That Made $750,000 | Shawn Blanc | 141
I recently sat down with Shawn Blanc, a creator I've known for years, to talk about what it takes to keep reinventing yourself and your business over a long career. Shawn has spent the last 15 years building …
Show notes
I recently sat down with Shawn Blanc, a creator I've known for years, to talk about what it takes to keep reinventing yourself and your business over a long career.
Shawn has spent the last 15 years building and evolving his business, from an ebook and sponsorships to his flagship Focus Course, masterminds, retreats, and eventually a completely new direction.
In this episode we discuss what Shawn calls “the burden of opportunity”, how to decide which opportunities are worth pursuing, and what happens when you realize the thing holding your business back might actually be you. Shawn also shares how he knew it was time to move on from the business that had built his career, and how that decision ultimately led to one of the biggest breakthroughs his business has ever had.
If you're building a creator business and thinking about what the next version of it should look like, you'll get a lot out of this conversation.
Timestamps:
01:13 Early Days: From Apple Blogger to Product Creator
04:35 First Product Launch
13:00 The "Bling Ding": $100K in a Week
20:37 The Burden of Opportunity: How to Say No
30:00 Business Stagnation
35:45 The Power of Community
45:40 The Pivot
51:00 The Big Breakthrough
55:10 Biggest LessonsIf you enjoyed this episode, please like and subscribe, share it with your friends, and leave a review. I read every single one.
Learn more about the podcast: https://nathanbarry.com/show
Follow Nathan:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nathanbarry
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathanbarry
X: https://twitter.com/nathanbarry
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thenathanbarryshow
Website: https://nathanbarry.comFollow Shawn:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shawnblanc
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shawnblanc
X: https://twitter.com/shawnblanc
Website: https://shawnblanc.netFeatured in this episode:
The Focus Course: https://special.thefocuscourse.comHighlights:
20:37 The Burden of Opportunity: How to Say No
45:40 The Pivot
51:00 The Big Breakthrough$1M CEO: How to ACTUALLY Sell Online Courses in 2026 | Sam Vander Wielen | 140
Are online courses really dead? I recently sat down with attorney-turned-entrepreneur Sam Vander Wielen to discuss her latest course launch that generated over half a million dollars in just four days.In this …
Show notes
Are online courses really dead? I recently sat down with attorney-turned-entrepreneur Sam Vander Wielen to discuss her latest course launch that generated over half a million dollars in just four days.
In this episode, Sam shares the exact strategies she uses to consistently achieve massive success with her webinars and online courses, proving that these methods are far from "dead" in today's creator economy.
We also discuss the power of personalized customer interactions, Sam’s genius email list strategy that keeps her audience engaged and growing, and how she tackles the challenges of AI while maintaining an authentic and profitable brand.
If you have a course or are thinking of building one, you need to watch this entire episode.
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction: Courses, Launches, & AI
01:20 Breaking Down a $500k Launch
02:49 Consistent Revenue Beyond Launches
04:48 Refilming with Kit Studios
06:17 Webinar Sign-ups & Email List Growth
14:00 The Weekly Lead Magnet Newsletter Strategy
20:30 The Unscalable Strategy: Personalized Videos
25:00 Unreasonable Hospitality & Handwritten Notes
31:00 The Impact of Podcasting on Business Growth
35:00 Order Bumps: Adding $100k to a Launch
36:00 AI and the Legal Industry
41:00 Financial Splurges: Cars & Property
44:00 Investing in Your TeamIf you enjoyed this episode, please like and subscribe, share it with your friends, and leave a review. I read every single one.
Learn more about the podcast: https://nathanbarry.com/show
Follow Nathan:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nathanbarry
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathanbarry
X: https://twitter.com/nathanbarry
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thenathanbarryshow
Website: https://nathanbarry.com
Kit: https://kit.comFollow Sam:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/samvanderwielen
Website: https://www.samvanderwielen.com
Podcast: https://www.samvanderwielen.com/podcast
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samvanderwielenFeatured in this episode:
Kit: https://www.kit.com
Typeform: https://www.typeform.com
Sam's book: https://www.samvanderwielen.com/bookHighlights:
01:20 Breaking Down a $500k Launch
14:00 Newsletter Strategy
20:30 The Power of Personalized VideosForget Courses, Launch This In 2026 To Double Your Revenue | Layla Pomper | 139
What does it take to build a $1.5M business with only a 20,000-person email list and a YouTube channel? I sat down with Layla Pomper, the founder of ProcessDriven, who has done exactly that. Layla built her …
Show notes
What does it take to build a $1.5M business with only a 20,000-person email list and a YouTube channel? I sat down with Layla Pomper, the founder of ProcessDriven, who has done exactly that. Layla built her business to 150,000 YouTube subscribers teaching small business owners how to systemize their operations. What I found particularly insightful was her journey from services to courses, and back to a hybrid model that's now allowed her to triple her income. She shares what she's seeing many creators miss, her unique approach to sales calls, and the "one weird trick" that made all the difference in her business. If you have a course or are thinking of building one, you need to watch this entire episode.
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
01:16 Layla's revenue ceiling with courses
02:47 Layla's original course model
04:32 How Layla added services to break through the ceiling
06:45 Pricing model of Layla's services
08:15 Explanation of Layla's pricing structure
11:00 Layla's counterintuitive sales strategy
14:08 Key metrics Layla tracks in her business
17:13 Finding and fixing bottlenecks
20:44 The power of a small, engaged email list
23:19 Revenue per subscriber analysis
25:26 Simplifying complex business models
32:46 The best of products and services combined
40:15 Turning client questions into YouTube content
49:00 The value of customer conversations in services
57:24 The tailored productized service structure
1:01:36 Mistakes when adding services
1:03:07 The critical mistake of undercharging
1:04:09 Layla's lead generation strategy
1:07:08 YouTube content strategy and calls to actionIf you enjoyed this episode, please like and subscribe, share it with your friends, and leave a review. I read every single one.
Learn more about the podcast: https://nathanbarry.com/show
Follow Nathan:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nathanbarry
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathanbarry
X: https://twitter.com/nathanbarry
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thenathanbarryshow
Website: https://nathanbarry.com
Kit: https://kit.comFollow Layla:
Website: https://www.processdriven.co
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LaylaPomper
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laylapomperFeatured in this episode:
Kit: https://www.kit.com
The Goal: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11128.The_Goal
Built to Sell: https://builtosell.com
SCORE: https://www.score.orgHighlights:
01:29 – Breaking through the infamous revenue ceiling
12:07 – The powerful impact of listening in sales
30:30 – The circularity of business growth
43:10 – Creating content by answering real questions
55:18 – Giving customers what they actually wantHow To Stand Out as a Writer in the Age of AI (2026) | David Perell | 138
My conversation with David Perell, host of the "How I Write" podcast and a truly prolific creator, took my understanding to a whole new level. He's one of the few people who has consistently challenged my …
Show notes
My conversation with David Perell, host of the "How I Write" podcast and a truly prolific creator, took my understanding to a whole new level. He's one of the few people who has consistently challenged my thinking on how we communicate ideas effectively. In this episode, I dove deep with David into critical questions like: Does writing still hold its weight in today's crowded digital landscape? What specific elements should creators prioritize to make their words resonate? And importantly, how do you stand out when everyone else is shouting? David shares his incredible insights into the craft of writing, the power of observation, and his unique philosophy on identifying and leveraging "currents" to amplify your message. This was easily one of my favorite conversations on the show.
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
01:15 Obsessed with the Craft of Writing
02:45 The "Bit" as a Writing Concept
05:10 Why People Struggle with Writing
07:11 From Seeking Attention to Having Something to Say
10:40 The Discipline of Public Writing
13:58 Capturing and Curating Ideas
20:05 Riding Internet Currents
26:50 Identifying and Leveraging Currents
32:10 Tying Timeless Ideas to Timely Moments
39:15 Uncorrelated Sources of Inspiration
45:36 The "How I Write" Podcast
47:20 Production Value and Set Design
1:00:40 YouTube Growth and Packaging
1:04:40 The Guest Maximization Strategy
1:10:00 Creating "The Modern World" Series
1:16:00 The Modern Pollution of Man-Made Environment
1:19:30 Interplay of the Creator Economy and the Modern World
1:22:15 Creating the World You Want to Live In
1:29:26 Using Art and History to Hone Taste
1:34:00 The Soul-Stirring Work
1:35:40 Where to Find David
If you enjoyed this episode, please like and subscribe, share it with your friends, and leave a review. I read every single one.
Learn more about the podcast: https://nathanbarry.com/show
Follow Nathan:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nathanbarry
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathanbarry
X: https://twitter.com/nathanbarry
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thenathanbarryshow
Website: https://nathanbarry.com
Kit: https://www.kit.com
Follow David:
X: https://twitter.com/david_perell
Website: https://www.perell.com
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DavidPerellChannel
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidperell
Featured in this episode:
Kit: https://www.kit.com
Modern World (YouTube Channel): https://www.youtube.com/@TheModernWorld
Building a Second Brain: https://www.buildingasecondbrain.com
The Artist's Way: https://juliacameronlive.com/books/the-artists-way
Highlights:
01:15 – The obsession with writing as a craft.
20:05 – Understanding and leveraging internet "currents" for content.
40:30 – Why consuming uncorrelated content elevates your work.
59:20 – The art of deep communication in interviewing.
1:29:26 – Cultivating taste by actively discerning what you love and hate.
I Asked a Speaking Coach to Roast My Biggest Speech | Mike Pacchione | 137
I recently sat down with my speaking coach, Mike Pacchione, for this totally unprecedented episode where we dissect, minute by minute, my full keynote speech from this year's Craft + Commerce conference. We’re …
Show notes
I recently sat down with my speaking coach, Mike Pacchione, for this totally unprecedented episode where we dissect, minute by minute, my full keynote speech from this year's Craft + Commerce conference. We’re not holding anything back. Mike points out my flaws, celebrates my strengths, and reveals all the chaos that happens backstage that the audience never sees. If you've ever delivered a product launch, feared public speaking, or just want to understand the art of a compelling presentation, you'll learn so much from our candid conversation.
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
01:03 Breaking Down the Keynote
02:22 The Chaos Before the Stage
04:02 The Missing Walk-Out Music
07:44 The "Be a Zero" Concept
09:47 Avoiding Speaker Voice
13:17 Building Tension and Specificity
19:19 The Stephen Colbert Joke
20:52 The Dad's Wisdom Story
28:16 The Challenge of Technical Terms
34:03 Debating Product Announcement Timing
40:35 The Elusive Applause Moment
48:29 Katie's Spotlighting an Audience Member
53:05 The Landing Page Humiliation Slide
01:01:00 The New York City Event Space Announcement
01:07:07 The Closing and Audience Reaction
01:12:00 Rehearsal Techniques and Speaker NotesIf you enjoyed this episode, please like and subscribe, share it with your friends, and leave a review. I read every single one.
Learn more about the podcast: https://nathanbarry.com/show
Follow Nathan:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nathanbarry
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathanbarry
X: https://twitter.com/nathanbarry
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thenathanbarryshow
Website: https://nathanbarry.com
Kit: https://kit.comFollow Mike:
Freebie: https://bestspeech.co/nathan
Website: https://bestspeech.co
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mpacchione
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mpacc
X: https://x.com/mpaccFeatured in this episode:
Kit: https://www.kit.com
John Koenig - The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows: https://www.youtube.com/user/johnkoenig
The State Change Method - Wes Kao: https://weskao.com
The Happiness Project - Gretchen Rubin: https://gretchenrubin.com/books/the-happiness-project
Tim Urban TED Talk: https://www.ted.com/talks/tim_urban_inside_the_mind_of_a_master_procrastinator
Framer: https://www.framer.comHighlights:
01:03 – Mike critiques my keynote opening
11:50 – The secret behind my opening pause
25:06 – How real-world stories prove product value
31:09 – The unexpected success of a borrowed joke
53:10 – The power of a critical feedback slide#1 Speaking Coach Explains How to Master Speaking (In Just 58 Minutes) | Mike Pacchione | 136
I've always brought Mike Pacchione in to coach every speaker at my Craft + Commerce conferences, including myself, because he has an uncanny ability to help people transform their talks from good to truly …
Show notes
I've always brought Mike Pacchione in to coach every speaker at my Craft + Commerce conferences, including myself, because he has an uncanny ability to help people transform their talks from good to truly great. Mike's number one goal? For the audience to forget it's even a speech. In our conversation, Mike unpacks his framework for crafting compelling stories, why you should almost never tell them in chronological order, and his genius TED acronym for tension, editing for emotional impact, and the right details. He also shares invaluable insights on designing an ending that resonates and even how to strategically use humor (especially if you're not naturally funny). This episode is packed with lessons I've learned firsthand from Mike over the years.
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
02:00 Making the audience forget it's a speech
04:06 Setting the room up for success
06:14 The power of stories in speeches
08:39 Story selection and placement
10:42 Why you don't need to tell stories in order
11:11 Mike's TED acronym for storytelling: Tension
14:55 Editing for emotional impact
20:02 Crafting an engaging middle of a speech
22:57 Asking questions to build tension
24:37 Describing people in vivid detail (loglines)
30:48 Crafting a powerful ending
33:09 The "one more thing" strategy
40:07 Controlling the emotional arc of a talk
40:50 Using humor effectively
44:09 The power of awkward silence and tension
45:53 Cueing the audience for laughs and applause
48:14 Leading the audience with your emotions
50:57 Mike's take on using AI for speeches
55:24 How to work with Mike Pacchione
56:47 Mike's free resourceIf you enjoyed this episode, please like and subscribe, share it with your friends, and leave a review. I read every single one.
Learn more about the podcast: https://nathanbarry.com/show
Follow Nathan:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nathanbarry
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathanbarry
X: https://twitter.com/nathanbarry
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thenathanbarryshow
Website: https://nathanbarry.com
Kit: https://www.kit.comFollow Mike:
Freebie: https://bestspeech.co/nathan
Website: https://bestspeech.co
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mpacchione
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mpacc
X: https://x.com/mpaccFeatured in this episode:
Kit: https://www.kit.com
Duarte: https://www.duarte.com
Atomic Habits: https://jamesclear.com/atomic-habits
WP Engine: https://wpengine.com
ConvertKit: https://convertkit.comHighlights:
02:01 – Getting the audience to forget it's a speech
15:30 – Ending your story in the middle for maximum impact
26:06 – Sarah: The person who eats quinoa for a cheat meal
37:05 – Why you should never end your talk on Q&A
53:02 – The point of a speech is to make an emotional connectionFrom Zero to $1M Before 30 - My Exact System | Mallory Rowan | 135
How do you build significant wealth in a way that feels sustainable and joyful, rather than sacrificing your mental and physical health? That's what I explored in my conversation with Mallory Rowan, who …
Show notes
How do you build significant wealth in a way that feels sustainable and joyful, rather than sacrificing your mental and physical health? That's what I explored in my conversation with Mallory Rowan, who achieved a million-dollar net worth by age 29, but not without first hitting a wall of burnout at 22. Her story isn't just about financial metrics; it's a testament to redefining success and building a life where financial freedom supports personal well-being. I was particularly struck by her "Six Solutions Theory" and how she challenges the conventional wisdom about ambition versus balance. Join me as Mallory shares her unique approach to turning profit into compounding assets and creating a business that serves her life, not the other way around.
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
01:06 Burnout at 22: Ignoring the whispers
03:59 The toxic cycle of business, health, and happiness
07:22 When you realize the limit keeps moving
10:14 The collision of creativity and finances
13:17 Rebuilding after burnout
18:03 The difference between revenue and profit
21:02 Making investing goals exciting
27:26 Getting specific about building wealth
30:45 The cottage purchase and creative financing
32:02 Active income and first down payment
34:03 The million dollars invested goal
41:17 Why net worth goals matter more
52:27 Having it all: Ambition and avoiding burnout
55:28 Why behind the goal: The Toddler Test
57:38 The categories: non-negotiables, nice-to-haves, experiments
01:00:04 How a nest egg enables lighter living and creativity
If you enjoyed this episode, please like and subscribe, share it with your friends, and leave a review. I read every single one.
Learn more about the podcast: https://nathanbarry.com/show
Follow Nathan:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nathanbarry
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathanbarry
X: https://twitter.com/nathanbarry
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thenathanbarryshow
Website: https://nathanbarry.com
Kit: https://www.kit.com
Follow Mallory:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/malloryrowan
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theinbetweenersco
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@malloryrowan
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/malloryrowan?originalSubdomain=ca
Website: https://malloryrowan.com
Featured in this episode:
Kit: https://www.kit.com
Highlights:
01:06 – Ignoring the whispers before burnout screams
15:00 – Strategically building "boredom" into your business model
25:21 – The "Thumbnailing" approach to problem-solving
41:17 – Why net worth goals offer true financial freedom
01:00:04 – How a solid nest egg allows for lighter, more playful business decisions
Chapters
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How I Went From $0 To 6 figures on Instagram (67-Minute Masterclass) | Gannon Meyer | 134
How do actually make meaningful money on Instagram? That's what I wanted to find out when I sat down with Gannon Meyer. He's figured out how to turn social media attention into actual revenue. My guest today …
Show notes
How do actually make meaningful money on Instagram? That's what I wanted to find out when I sat down with Gannon Meyer. He's figured out how to turn social media attention into actual revenue. My guest today, Gannon, went from living with his girlfriend's mom to building a thriving business in just 12 months, and he credits a huge part of that transformation to what he shares in our conversation. We dive deep into his "free, segment, upsell" framework for converting Instagram followers into paying customers, and I even get a direct critique of my own content strategy. If you're looking to monetize your audience on Instagram, you won't want to miss Gannon's insights.
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
01:14 Converting Instagram attention into revenue
03:33 Client examples and creator income levels
06:47 The "Free, Segment, Upsell" funnel framework
08:39 Using open-ended questions for better segmentation
10:50 How ManyChat and AI interpret responses
13:12 Real-world example: Adrian's camera business
15:52 Good vs. bad open-ended questions
18:18 Crafting a CTA for your free content
22:00 Storytelling frameworks for strong retention
30:07 Maximizing engagement with Instagram Stories
33:22 The impact of CTAs on Instagram reach
35:01 Why comments are crucial for discoverability
44:19 The truth about views vs. revenue
47:55 Deep diving into solving problems for revenue
51:08 How Gannon's 'whiteboard' videos attract clients
53:22 Gannon's life transformation in 12 months
58:50 The realization: being willing to be wrong in public
1:04:15 The power of putting yourself out thereIf you enjoyed this episode, please like and subscribe, share it with your friends, and leave a review. I read every single one.
Learn more about the podcast: https://nathanbarry.com/show
Follow Nathan:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nathanbarry
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathanbarry
X: https://twitter.com/nathanbarry
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thenathanbarryshow
Website: https://nathanbarry.com
Kit: https://www.kit.comFollow Gannon:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gannon.meyer
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@gannonmeyer
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gannonmeyerFeatured in this episode:
Kit: https://www.kit.comHighlights:
01:30 Gannon's approach to helping people sell their products
16:17 How to ask open-ended questions effectively
30:57 The PSA story framework for Instagram
46:12 Why high views don't always equal high revenue
59:57 The power of being willing to be wrong in publicChapters
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Million Dollar Founder Explains How To Avoid Burnout In 2026 | Steve Kamb | 133
Why did this founder fire himself from his own company? That's what I wanted to find out when I sat down with Steve Kamb, founder of Nerd Fitness. We've known each other for a long time, and I've watched him …
Show notes
Why did this founder fire himself from his own company? That's what I wanted to find out when I sat down with Steve Kamb, founder of Nerd Fitness. We've known each other for a long time, and I've watched him build an incredible audience and business. But then, to my surprise, he "fired" himself – twice! Steve shares the surprising truth about chasing growth, the pitfalls of wearing the wrong hat in your own business, and how he rediscovered his passion for writing. His journey is a powerful reminder that sometimes, the true path to fulfillment means stepping away from the very thing you've so diligently built.
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
01:10 Firing myself (twice!) from Nerd Fitness
05:37 The five years I spent in the wrong seat
07:20 The "If you're not growing, you're shrinking" myth
10:37 How I realized writing is what lights me up
12:55 When to double down on strengths vs. fix weaknesses
18:19 The curated "all I do is win" internet vs. real life
20:20 Sharing my failures: cancer, Google changing, divorce
23:09 The overwhelming positive response to vulnerability
24:06 How my book was born and evolved
30:17 My visit to the Museum of Failure
33:55 My PACT framework: Pause, Accept, Change, Try
40:22 Everything old is new again in content
49:00 The value of Craft + Commerce and community
56:14 Longevity in creative work: falling in love with the craft
1:02:43 How to Try Again: Where to find the book
If you enjoyed this episode, please like and subscribe, share it with your friends, and leave a review. I read every single one.
Learn more about the podcast: https://nathanbarry.com/show
Follow Nathan:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nathanbarry
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathanbarry
X: https://twitter.com/nathanbarry
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thenathanbarryshow
Website: https://nathanbarry.com
Kit: https://www.kit.com
Follow Steve:
How To Try Again (Book): https://howtotryagain.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stevekamb
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevekamb
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/stevekamb
Nerd Fitness: https://www.nerdfitness.com
Featured in this episode:
Kit: https://www.kit.com
How to Try Again: https://howtotryagain.com
Nerd Fitness: https://www.nerdfitness.com
The Museum of Failure: https://failuremuseum.com
Chapters
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Business Expert: The Secret Power of IP To Grow Your Business | Mo Bunnell | 132
Codifying your knowledge into intellectual property (IP) is a crucial step for scaling any business, but what my guest Mo Bunnell shared in this episode completely changed my perspective on how to do it and the …
Show notes
Codifying your knowledge into intellectual property (IP) is a crucial step for scaling any business, but what my guest Mo Bunnell shared in this episode completely changed my perspective on how to do it and the incredible impact it can have. Mo, author of Give to Grow and founder of the Bundle Idea Group, has built an astonishing career training professionals at some of the world's most prestigious organizations. He walked me through the evolution of his IP, from humble beginnings to the sophisticated materials he uses today to secure multi-six-figure contracts. This isn't something he typically breaks down publicly, and I was genuinely surprised by the tangible examples and actionable steps he provided for transforming a service-based business into an IP-driven powerhouse.
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
02:29 Codifying your system in a weekend
05:07 From intuition to framework: creating IP
08:00 The evolution of training materials
11:20 Essential elements of effective IP
18:30 The economics of B2B and corporate clients
21:00 How to get your first pilot clients
26:00 Overcoming B2B objections
29:00 Translating B2C IP to B2B corporate world
31:00 Identifying high-leverage industries and roles
34:00 Lowering the bar on perfection for B2B
37:00 Lead magnets for decision-makers vs. users
41:40 Advanced lead magnet strategies
45:20 The power of public workshops
49:40 Scaling beyond yourself: travel and certification
52:45 Michael Hyatt's Business Accelerator growth
56:00 The annuity effect of corporate training
If you enjoyed this episode, please like and subscribe, share it with your friends, and leave a review. I read every single one.
Learn more about the podcast: https://nathanbarry.com/show
Follow Nathan:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nathanbarry
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathanbarry
X: https://twitter.com/nathanbarry
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thenathanbarryshow
Website: https://nathanbarry.com
Kit: https://www.kit.com
Follow Mo:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mobunnell
Bunnell Idea Group: https://bunnellideagroup.com
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCd0dvX8kfxF_MMz6IZT17kw
Give to Grow: https://bunnellideagroup.com/givetogrow
Featured in this episode:
Kit: https://www.kit.com
The Snowball System: How to Win More Business and Turn Customers into Raving Fans: https://www.amazon.com/Snowball-System-Business-Customers-Raving/dp/1640950343
Unreasonable Hospitality: https://www.amazon.com/Unreasonable-Hospitality-Remarkable-Giving-People/dp/0593418193
Highlights:
01:04 – How Mo started codifying his IP
04:08 – The power of IP to scale a business
11:22 – Four components of world-class IP
18:49 – The "this changes everything" B2B opportunity
37:04 – Lead magnets for buyers versus users
43:09 – James Clear's strategic review request
56:00 – The annuity model of B2B corporate training
Chapters
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Russell Brunson: How To Build a Mass Movement | 131
I’ve always been fascinated by how some companies manage to create not just customers, but passionate communities who become true advocates. My guest today, Russell Brunson, has mastered this, building …
Show notes
I’ve always been fascinated by how some companies manage to create not just customers, but passionate communities who become true advocates. My guest today, Russell Brunson, has mastered this, building ClickFunnels to a staggering 100,000+ users *without any outside funding*. In our conversation, Russell broke down the exact framework he used to achieve this, a framework born from studying thousands of successful movements across history, politics, and even religion. If you've ever wondered how to inspire loyalty that goes beyond a simple transaction and transforms your audience into a committed tribe, this episode reveals the secrets to building a movement, not just a business.
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
02:16 Studying Successful Movements
03:30 From Educator to Movement Leader
04:58 The Three Core Elements of a Movement
06:25 The Attractive Character (The Guide)
07:05 The New Opportunity (Not Just an Improvement)
09:24 The Future-Based Cause
12:12 Universal Principles in Movements
13:17 The Power of Positioning
18:47 Crafting the New Opportunity
27:12 The Importance of Customer Alignment
28:16 Cutting Through the Noise with Your Message
33:23 The Power of Customer Stories
35:12 Why General Messaging Can Be More Powerful
46:17 Milestones and Awards for Motivation
50:50 Creating Belief and Encouraging Progress
52:33 Scaling with Progressive Achievement
59:55 Where to Learn More from Russell BrunsonIf you enjoyed this episode, please like and subscribe, share it with your friends, and leave a review. I read every single one.
Learn more about the podcast: https://nathanbarry.com/show
Follow Nathan:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nathanbarry
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathanbarry
X: https://twitter.com/nathanbarry
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thenathanbarryshow
Website: https://nathanbarry.com
Kit: https://www.kit.comFollow Russell:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/russellbrunson
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2qUDKqTsz00csykCYgdLuA
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/russellbrunson
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/russbrunson
X: https://x.com/russellbrunson
Website: https://russellbrunson.comFeatured in this episode:
Kit: https://www.kit.com
Expert Secrets: https://expertsecrets.com
ClickFunnels: https://www.clickfunnels.comHighlights:
06:09 – Every Movement Needs a Guide
11:00 – The Power of a Future-Based Cause
24:50 – The Importance of Actively Choosing Your Dream Customer
47:50 – The Two Comma Club: Gamifying Entrepreneurial Success
57:20 – Why People Care More About a Plaque Than MoneyChapters
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How To Actually Break Free From Your Limiting Beliefs (Nir Eyal) | 130
Can you truly break through your own limitations and achieve what seems impossible? Today, I sit down with my friend Nir Eyal, the author of three bestselling books, including his latest, *Beyond Belief*, which …
Show notes
Can you truly break through your own limitations and achieve what seems impossible? Today, I sit down with my friend Nir Eyal, the author of three bestselling books, including his latest, *Beyond Belief*, which just hit the New York Times bestseller list. Nir recently blew my mind when he told me he doesn't "believe in jet lag" after flying from Europe to Asia, and that was just the appetizer for our conversation. In his typical science-backed style, Nir reveals the surprising research behind why some people persist where others quit, and how our beliefs—not always our circumstances—are often the key to unlocking our full potential. He shares practical, data-driven strategies I'm already applying in my own life and creative work, and I think you will too.
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
01:26 Belief and Placebos
05:25 Why Placebo Effect is Getting Stronger
06:59 When Pain is Not Suffering
10:10 Hypnosedation and Unlocking Potential
15:35 Applying Beliefs to Creative Process
19:10 Chasing Happiness vs. Decreasing Suffering
21:47 Why Positive Thinking Can Be Harmful
26:34 Applying Belief-Shifting to Relationships
31:03 Changing Your Mind and Beliefs
35:35 Belief Problems, Not People Problems
37:25 High Expectations, Low Control Leads to Burnout
40:03 Internal vs. External Locus of Control
44:27 The Rat Experiment and Persistence
47:47 What's Next for Nir Eyal
If you enjoyed this episode, please like and subscribe, share it with your friends, and leave a review. I read every single one.
Learn more about the podcast: https://nathanbarry.com/show
Follow Nathan:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nathanbarry
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathanbarry
X: https://twitter.com/nathanbarry
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thenathanbarryshow
Website: https://nathanbarry.com
Kit: https://www.kit.com
Follow Nir:
Website: https://www.nirandfar.com
X: https://twitter.com/nireyal
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nireyal
Beyond Belief: https://www.nirandfar.com/beyondbelief
Featured in this episode:
Kit: https://www.kit.com
Beyond Belief: https://www.nirandfar.com/beyondbelief
Highlights:
01:31 – How belief separates suffering from symptoms
06:17 – Why I don't want to hear about side effects
15:06 – How I stopped suffering in my creative process
25:29 – Visualizing how to deal with discomfort
30:39 – Who I become when I hold onto a belief
38:40 – Formula for burnout: high expectations, low control
44:45 – How a change in belief increased a rat's persistence
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James Clear: How To Actually Make It As An Author In 2026 | 129
What actually makes a bestseller? My two guests this episode, James Clear, author of Atomic Habits, which has sold over 30 million copies worldwide and is the best-selling book of the last decade, knows a thing …
Show notes
What actually makes a bestseller? My two guests this episode, James Clear, author of Atomic Habits, which has sold over 30 million copies worldwide and is the best-selling book of the last decade, knows a thing or two about it. I also sit down with Madeline McIntosh, CEO of Penguin Random House US, where she's overseen the publication of over 1000 books. Together, James and Madeline have co-founded Authors Equity, a publishing model that completely inverts how authors are typically paid and how books are brought to market. In our conversation, they break down everything you need to know about publishing today, what works, what's broken, and how they're revolutionizing the industry with a win-win approach for authors.
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
01:21 Publishing transformations Madeline has witnessed
02:59 Madeline's motivation for founding Author's Equity
05:14 The Author's Equity model compared to traditional publishing
09:20 Why the author's equity model is beneficial
14:03 The power of aligned incentives
18:22 Author pain points solved by Author's Equity
21:00 Selecting custom teams for each book
24:45 Author's Equity's willingness to learn from authors
28:22 Self-published authors joining Author's Equity
31:07 Who Author's Equity is not for
34:00 The win-win philosophy of Author's Equity
36:05 Crafting books that sell for years
39:00 The importance of building an audience as a nonfiction author
41:40 The timeless desire and new vessel for delivering information
46:00 Getting your best work in front of readers
50:08 What makes books keep selling in year two and beyond
53:10 Leveraging seasonal buying and promotional efforts
55:22 The New York Times Bestseller list: commercial vs. psychological
1:00:30 The most accurate bestseller list
1:02:10 Reaching out to Author's EquityIf you enjoyed this episode, please like and subscribe, share it with your friends, and leave a review. I read every single one.
Learn more about the podcast: https://nathanbarry.com/show
Follow Nathan:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nathanbarry
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathanbarry
X: https://twitter.com/nathanbarry
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thenathanbarryshow
Website: https://nathanbarry.com
Kit: https://kit.com/?utm_campaign=29661554-nathan_barry_show&utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=podcast&utm_term=nathanbarryshow&utm_content=youtube_descriptionFollow James:
Website: https://jamesclear.com
X: https://twitter.com/JamesClear
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jamesclear
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesclearFollow Madeline:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/madelinemcintosh
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/madmciFeatured in this episode:
Kit: https://www.kit.com
Authors Equity: https://authorsequity.com/
Atomic Habits: https://jamesclear.com/atomic-habitsHighlights:
01:21 – Publishing before the internet and email
09:20 – Authors no longer have to choose
21:00 – Hand-selecting custom teams for each book
31:07 – Avoiding books with a short shelf life
47:03 – Value in the push and pull of ideas
50:28 – The book has to sell itself
1:00:30 – The most accurate bestseller listHow to Build a Million Dollar Creator Business (Masterclass) | Grant Baldwin & Bryan Harris | 128
How do you break through that elusive $1 million revenue ceiling in a creator business? That's the question I dove into with two incredible founders on this episode: Grant Baldwin of The Speaker Lab and Bryan …
Show notes
How do you break through that elusive $1 million revenue ceiling in a creator business? That's the question I dove into with two incredible founders on this episode: Grant Baldwin of The Speaker Lab and Bryan Harris of Growth Tools. Both have scaled their businesses far beyond that mark, not with flashy tactics, but by building fundamentally great businesses. We chat about the counter-intuitive strategies that got them there, why simplifying your offer is often the fastest path to growth, and how tracking actual customer outcomes is a superpower that most businesses ignore. It's a candid conversation about the foundational shifts that unlock real, sustainable growth.
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
02:27 Building a business without being the "dancing monkey"
06:40 The million-dollar ceiling for creators
12:01 Bryan's first million: simplifying to one core product
16:21 Overvaluing sales and marketing vs. a great offer
22:04 The "steakhouse vs. buffet" analogy for niche
26:58 The shift in the creator economy with AI
31:47 The future of SaaS and the role of relationships
37:13 Bryan's shocking AI experience saving thousands
42:33 Navigating the opportunities and concerns of AI
48:08 The problem with tracking success rate
53:29 Less information, shorter path, higher success rate coaching
01:00:07 The importance of product and rallying a team
01:06:52 The near-death experience of a refund-based guarantee
01:13:51 Bryan's mistake: stopping getting your hands dirty too soon
01:21:40 Grant's decision to wind down his businessIf you enjoyed this episode, please like and subscribe, share it with your friends, and leave a review. I read every single one.
Learn more about the podcast: https://nathanbarry.com/show
Follow Nathan:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nathanbarry
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathanbarry
X: https://twitter.com/nathanbarry
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thenathanbarryshow
Website: https://nathanbarry.com
Kit: https://kit.comFollow Bryan:
Website: https://growthtools.com/nathan
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/harrisbryannashFollow Grant:
Website: https://grantbaldwin.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gbaldwin
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/grant-baldwinFeatured in this episode:
Kit: https://www.kit.com
Rework: https://basecamp.com/books/rework
Stop Guessing: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/59388878-stop-guessing
Wealth, Riches, and Money: https://www.amazon.com/Wealth-Riches-Money-Kingdom-Principles/dp/0984183864Highlights:
06:10 What's the outcome if I stay on this path?
12:01 SImplifying to one core product made everything easier.
15:47 A great offer makes sales and marketing easier.
31:12 When AI solutions are fundamentally 10x better.
39:09 People's number one competitor is quitting.
01:01:09 Track your outcomes to be in the top 0.01%.
01:13:51 You need to keep your hands dirty as a founder.Chapters
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Unreasonable Hospitality: The Secret to an Audience That Never Leaves | Will Guidara & Brian Canlis | 127
What's the secrets to unreasonable hospitality? That's what I wanted to find out when I sat down with Will Guidara and Brian Canlis. Will spent over a decade running Eleven Madison Park, the restaurant voted …
Show notes
What's the secrets to unreasonable hospitality? That's what I wanted to find out when I sat down with Will Guidara and Brian Canlis. Will spent over a decade running Eleven Madison Park, the restaurant voted number one in the world, and Brian is the force behind Canlis in Seattle, one of the most respected fine dining institutions in the country. Their insights on hospitality extend far beyond the restaurant world, and I was particularly struck by how they've systematically approached building meaningful connections, both online and off. Their approach to "unreasonable hospitality" has completely reshaped how I think about every customer touchpoint in my own business, and there are so many actionable ideas here for any creator or entrepreneur.
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
01:07 How Will and Brian started working together
03:07 The first big project they worked on
04:47 Brian's "friend internship" and meeting his wife
05:56 Brian's career running Canlis
08:26 The vision for their current business
14:16 Shifting from consulting to creative studio
16:18 The broad applicability of hospitality
30:53 Chewy's pattern recognition and customer experience
35:16 "What would have to be true?" for seemingly impossible goals
45:40 Mapping every tiny guest interaction
54:19 The value of "fresh eyes" and notebook feedback
1:07:47 Why doing the "right thing" matters long-term
1:09:15 The 95/5 rule for managing resources
1:11:49 Opportunities to elevate the Kit platform experience
1:15:16 Making powerful tools accessible and fun
1:18:18 Celebrating user milestones and personalized momentsIf you enjoyed this episode, please like and subscribe, share it with your friends, and leave a review. I read every single one.
Learn more about the podcast: https://nathanbarry.com/show
Follow Nathan:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nathanbarry
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathanbarry
X: https://twitter.com/nathanbarry
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thenathanbarryshow
Website: https://nathanbarry.com
Kit: https://kit.comFollow Will:
Website: https://unreasonablehospitality.com
The Field Guide: https://uhthefieldguide.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wguidara
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/willguidaraFollow Brian:
Website: https://unreasonablehospitality.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bcanlis
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brian-canlis-2820122a6Featured in this episode:
Kit: https://www.kit.com
Unreasonable Hospitality: https://unreasonablehospitality.com
Unreasonable Hospitality Field Guide: https://uhthefieldguide.comChapters
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Inside a 1M+ Subscriber Newsletter (My Exact Strategy) | Sean Devlin | 126
He's running a newsletter with over a million subscribers and an engagement rate that turns traditional wisdom on its head. Sean Devlin, a veteran in the newsletter space, pulled back the curtain to reveal the …
Show notes
He's running a newsletter with over a million subscribers and an engagement rate that turns traditional wisdom on its head. Sean Devlin, a veteran in the newsletter space, pulled back the curtain to reveal the strategies behind his success. Having scaled "Nice News" to over 800,000 subscribers before its acquisition by Encyclopedia Britannica, and currently running "All Healthy" with an astounding 1.3 million subscribers and a 52% open rate, Sean is doing something different. He shares his unconventional approach to content, monetization, and growth that prioritizes reader value and long-term relationships over short-term metrics. If you're building an audience and want them to genuinely look forward to your emails, this episode is packed with actionable insights you won't want to miss.
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
01:01 The power of habit-forming newsletter sections
02:47 Why creators get email formats wrong
04:09 The long-term perspective on engagement metrics
06:40 Balancing clickbait with true value
07:19 Achieving high open rates with a massive list
09:46 Monetization through seamless sponsorships
18:01 The art of increasing sponsorship rates
20:56 Taking responsibility for advertiser performance
22:14 Newsletter design and structure essentials
27:10 Leveraging lead magnets and quizzes for acquisition
30:51 Optimizing for subscriber payback period
38:38 The content creation flywheel
45:30 The overlooked importance of newsletter design
47:27 Crafting an engaging newsletter opening
51:11 Fixing underperforming emailsIf you enjoyed this episode, please like and subscribe, share it with your friends, and leave a review. I read every single one.
Learn more about the podcast: https://nathanbarry.com/show
Follow Nathan:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nathanbarry
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathanbarry
X: https://twitter.com/nathanbarry
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thenathanbarryshow
Website: https://nathanbarry.com
Kit: https://kit.comFollow Sean:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/seancdevlin
All Healthy: https://www.allhealthy.comFeatured in this episode:
Kit: https://www.kit.com
Feedly: https://feedly.com
Airtable: https://www.airtable.com
Midjourney: https://www.midjourney.com
Spark Loop: https://www.sparkloop.appHighlights:
01:01 – Designing sections for reader habit formation
07:19 – Maintaining 50%+ open rates with 1.3M subscribers
09:46 – Integrating sponsorships seamlessly within content
15:01 – Iterating on flexible pricing for sponsors
22:14 – Importance of visual design in newsletter trust
30:51 – Reducing subscriber payback period strategies
45:30 – Why newsletter design is a critical hot takeChapters
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I Met 16 Of The World’s Smartest Authors (Their Best Advice) | Nathan Barry | 125
What does it take to truly master book marketing and author growth in today’s crowded landscape? Nathan Barry and James Clear co-hosted an exclusive mastermind bringing together 16 of the world's top …
Show notes
What does it take to truly master book marketing and author growth in today’s crowded landscape? Nathan Barry and James Clear co-hosted an exclusive mastermind bringing together 16 of the world's top non-fiction authors in Nashville. This episode pulls back the curtain on the cutting-edge strategies discussed: from leveraging Instagram trial reels for new audiences, to the surprising power of paid "tiny offers" over free lead magnets, and even the meticulous, 80-hour prep work behind viral podcast appearances. Discover how these literary titans are staying ahead, the unscalable tactics that drive massive success, and the mindset required to play at the highest levels of the author game.
Timestamps:
00:00 Intro: Book Marketing Secrets from Top Authors
04:50 Unscalable Tactics for Book Launches
08:26 The Power of "Tiny Offers" Over Lead Magnets
11:58 Instagram Story Strategy: The Power of Three
15:47 Leveraging Old Content for Viral Success
19:07 Micro Podcast Tours for Book Promotion
23:10 The Audiobook Debate: Does Listening Count as Reading?
28:40 The 80-Hour Podcast Prep Phenomenon
34:04 Authenticity vs. Meticulous Preparation in Content
38:30 AI Checkpoints for Authentic Content Creation
41:00 Scaling Speaking Fees Strategically
45:30 Madeline Macintosh: CEO of Authors Equity
49:00 Email Marketing and the Kit Flywheel for Book Sales
52:45 Leveraging Local Indie Bookstores for Sales
56:10 The Grind Behind Every Bestseller
1:01:00 Building Your Own Mastermind Community
1:06:50 The Power of Creating Your Own RoomIf you enjoyed this episode, please like and subscribe, share it with your friends, and leave a review. I read every single one.
Learn more about the podcast: https://nathanbarry.com/show
Follow Nathan:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nathanbarry
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathanbarry
X: https://twitter.com/nathanbarry
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thenathanbarryshow
Website: https://nathanbarry.com
Kit: https://kit.comFollow Haley:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/haleyjani
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/haley-janicek
Follow Chelsea:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chelseahahn
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chelseainboiseFeatured in this episode:
Kit: https://www.kit.com
Unreasonable Hospitality: https://www.unreasonablehospitality.com
Atomic Habits: https://jamesclear.com/atomic-habits
The Five Types of Wealth: https://sahilbloom.com/5-types-of-wealth
Diary of a CEO: https://www.stevenbartlett.com/podcast
Authors Equity: https://www.authorsequity.com
Southall Farm: https://www.southalltn.com
A Gentleman in Moscow: https://www.amor-towler.com/a-gentleman-in-moscowChapters
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