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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 Introduction01:23 How Jayson connected Nathan to 50 entrepreneur friends02:15 Why Jayson wasn't always a super connector02:57 The loneliness that led to Mastermind Dinners04:14 Never beg for a seat when you can build your own table05:29 Why the host gets the most status in the room06:14 Lower-lift ways to bring people together06:49 How Summit Series started with a ski trip08:57 Start with the easiest yes09:28 The anchor tenant strategy10:27 Nathan's author mastermind with James Clear11:06 Partnering to host the room12:35 Organizing a team to play above your level13:21 Will Guidara's gratitude for being invited14:51 Buying access and the speed of relationships15:43 Money, moxie, and service15:58 Andrew Wilkinson's $57,000 lunch with Bill Ackman17:58 Moxie and the power of cold emails19:30 The man who stood up Mark Zuckerberg20:45 Nathan chickens out of meeting his heroes22:55 Eight seconds of courage24:02 Leaving energy vs. lingering energy24:47 Nathan's 45-second intro to Chris Brogan25:44 How a quick hello led to a call with Steven Bartlett27:06 Why you shouldn't put people on a pedestal27:53 Abundance vs. scarcity when meeting people29:47 Service and Ryan Holiday's apprenticeship31:20 Why Benjamin Graham told Warren Buffett he was overpriced31:58 Why "How can I help?" is the wrong question32:18 How Jayson built a relationship with Shep Gordon33:12 How to offer help that's actually specific36:00 The relationships that weigh you down38:55 Why all relationships go dormant naturally39:45 Why entrepreneurs and creators feel isolated41:17 Craft + Commerce as an annual pilgrimage42:35 Conferences vs. masterminds vs. communities46:00 Conversations that normally take years48:00 Do great work and your network will find you49:55 How great work raises your hit rate51:54 Why you're not ready for Diary of a CEO53:35 Putting in the reps on camera54:28 Ramit Sethi's advice on media training56:39 Increasing your surface area of luck59:38 Jayson's friends-only email updates1:02:06 The email that saved MMT in 20201:04:59 Who to include on your update list1:05:50 Nathan's missing annual review1:07:22 The 90-minute quarterly update1:08:17 A fan base vs. a community1:09:59 Curating like the bouncer at the club1:10:36 Kit's triads and MMT's MM3s1:15:00 People come for content, stay for community1:15:47 The ask, give, praise model1:18:26 How praise reinforces the value of the network1:21:02 Praise cards mailed 90 days later1:24:18 Why the book is called Community Made1:27:06 Final thoughts 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/nathanbarryLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathanbarryX: https://twitter.com/nathanbarryYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thenathanbarryshowWebsite: https://nathanbarry.comKit: https://kit.com Follow Jayson:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jaysongaignardX: https://x.com/jaysongaignardLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaysongaignardWebsite: https://www.jaysongaignard.com Featured in this episode:Kit: https://www.kit.comMMT: https://mmt.communityCommunity Made: https://communitymade.com Highlights:02:22 Jayson had two people at his bachelor party24:02 Leaving energy vs. lingering energy49:55 Why great work changes your hit rate on everything1:02:06 The friends-only email that saved MMT1:21:02 The praise cards Jayson mails out 90 days later

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 Introduction02:00 The business pitch that needed a personal story07:00 Philip’s own origin story11:00 Helping an athlete reconnect with his purpose17:00 Finding the gift you overlook21:00 When fear-driven ambition becomes exhausting24:00 Why I’m not afraid of my business disappearing34:00 Buying a castle when business was down 95%38:00 Building a better relationship with yourself40:00 Why asking for help feels uncomfortable43:00 Philip coaches me through a drawing exercise47:00 The challenge I wasn’t expecting54:00 Why being visible can feel frightening57:00 An exercise to uncover your story1:03:00 Understanding what your happiest days reveal1:09:00 Learning from your darkest days1:16:00 How sharing your story creates connection1:18:00 Final thoughts and where to find Philip 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/nathanbarryLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathanbarryX: https://twitter.com/nathanbarryYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thenathanbarryshowWebsite: https://nathanbarry.comKit: https://kit.com Follow Philip:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/philip_mckernan/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/philip-mckernanYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@philipmckernanWebsite: https://philipmckernan.com Featured in this episode:Kit: https://kit.comOne Last Talk: https://onelasttalk.comThe Ladders of Wealth: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Ladders-of-Wealth/Nathan-Barry/9798893312393 Highlights:02:00 The business pitch that needed a personal story21:00 When fear-driven ambition becomes exhausting43:00 Philip coaches me live47:00 Why we undervalue our own work57:00 An exercise to uncover your story

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 Introduction01:33 How Doma started working with thought leaders03:03 Why direct outreach works03:33 The Manchester United cold email05:05 Why a well-packaged pitch gets attention06:49 Using credibility to get past the first filter08:06 How office hours turned into clients09:13 Leaving energy vs lingering energy10:13 Why curiosity beats a target list11:59 How your network compounds12:54 The seven steps to succeed as a thought leader13:18 Step 1: Develop exceptional knowledge first14:17 Step 2: Define your mission and theory of change16:19 Step 3: Build an ecosystem strategy18:21 Matching your ecosystem to how you make money19:51 Step 4: Turn your ideas into the right content21:18 Protecting clients from the wrong projects22:38 Step 5: Build the right team23:12 Why team size and influence don't correlate24:55 How James Clear decides what to work on26:32 Building a team around impact28:26 The most surprising role on a thought leader's team30:53 What thought leaders know about saying no32:17 Focus on your craft and outsource the rest33:22 Step 6: Creator partnerships, the #1 source of growth35:14 Why Creator Network works better than list swaps37:19 How partnerships work at a smaller scale39:00 How much growth Creator Network drives40:27 Why partnerships are a win-win41:22 Set up partnerships before your podcast episode airs44:27 Why the creator economy isn't competitive46:32 What Doma has learned from his clients47:57 Step 7: Build and perfect your organic channels48:13 Why your newsletter is the only channel you own49:56 Building a newsletter that sounds like you53:05 The three phases of a book launch54:15 Teasing your book in your newsletter55:26 Why you need to book podcasts months ahead56:08 The concentrated strike approach56:34 How to pitch the biggest podcasts58:48 Which podcasts actually sell books59:50 The people behind podcast bookings1:01:36 Using a live event to launch a book1:03:37 How Doma runs Flowin1:05:08 Why Doma doesn't want to scale1:06:40 Final thoughts 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/nathanbarryLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathanbarryX: https://twitter.com/nathanbarryYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thenathanbarryshowWebsite: https://nathanbarry.comKit: https://kit.com Follow Doma:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/domonkoserossWebsite: https://flowin.consulting Featured in this episode:Kit: https://www.kit.comFlowin: https://flowin.consulting Highlights:03:33 The Manchester United cold email13:18 Why thought leadership is the result, not the goal24:55 How James Clear decides what to work on33:22 The #1 source of growth in the creator economy53:05 The three phases of a book launch

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 Introduction01:39 What it means to un-bland yourself02:48 Why branding is all about differentiation03:04 Why Apple has a brand and Dell doesn't04:31 How status and identity drive what we buy07:29 How Target built a brand10:42 How Kit positions its brand11:44 Moving from features to meaning14:11 Why most personal brands are really marketing funnels16:11 Why personal brand work is internal16:26 How we lose who we really are19:04 Chris starts asking the questions20:24 How getting sick at 24 changed Nathan's identity21:51 Why we tie our identity to what we do23:03 Who are you outside of your work?23:36 Why you are the gift25:51 How Chris answers "who are you?"26:36 The difference between design and art28:45 Why being true to yourself comes first29:45 Nathan's mission32:24 Why Chris moved from commercial work to content33:36 Why your brand needs to stand against something35:44 Finding your keyword and your nemesis37:03 Why the best heroes have great enemies40:39 The three-part personal brand framework41:49 Chris's own brand triangle42:33 Workshopping Nathan's personal brand43:30 Separating who you are from your company44:44 The story behind Chris's mission47:25 Why all strategy is autobiographical48:13 Nathan on feeling like a burden49:29 Nathan's story about his stepdad53:49 Chris's read on Nathan's story56:36 Finding Nathan's rallying cry59:28 Learning to accept help1:01:26 Why we trust people who aren't perfect online1:02:00 The trust triangle1:04:52 How to find your voice phrase1:08:21 Final thoughts 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/nathanbarryLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathanbarryX: https://twitter.com/nathanbarryYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thenathanbarryshowWebsite: https://nathanbarry.comKit: https://kit.com Follow Chris:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thechrisdoX: https://x.com/thechrisdoLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thechrisdoYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thefuturWebsite: https://thefutur.com Featured in this episode:Kit: https://www.kit.comThe Futur: https://thefutur.com Highlights:03:04 Why Apple has a brand and Dell doesn't14:11 Why most personal brands are really marketing funnels40:39 The three-part framework behind Bryan Johnson's brand49:14 Chris turns the interview around1:05:17 How to find your voice phrase

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 Intro01:18 Jasmine’s first digital offer04:00 How her $197 course made $255K04:40 Why she built a membership06:22 The problem with traditional memberships08:28 Building Social Curator10:27 The creator economy after 202012:07 Why courses and memberships stopped working13:12 The hybrid offer16:40 How to price an offer20:02 Turning coaching into a scalable offer22:27 Who the offer is for24:28 The 90-day $10K offer26:30 The $4K Freedom Formula29:32 How to keep clients accountable33:50 Why asynchronous coaching works35:36 Scaling coaching to hundreds of clients39:25 How to market the offer44:01 Using webinars to sell47:13 Why long-form content is coming back50:04 Measuring content performance52:43 How Jasmine met Nathan53:41 How to get high-value clients55:29 Creating an offer people will pay for59:55 Finding the right audience1:00:49 Getting your messaging right1:04:26 Finding your customer's pain point1:06:10 Using DMs to build trust1:09:38 Building a personal brand1:11:48 Final thoughts 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/nathanbarryLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathanbarryX: https://twitter.com/nathanbarryYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thenathanbarryshowWebsite: https://nathanbarry.comKit: https://kit.com Follow Jasmine:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jasminestarWebsite: https://www.jasminestar.comX: https://x.com/jasminestarLinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/jasmine-starYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@officialjasminestar Featured in this episode:Kit: https://www.kit.comSocial Curator: https://www.socialcurator.com Highlights:03:38 How Jasmine made $255,000 in five days12:07 Why courses are no longer enough17:31 How to find what people will actually pay for33:50 People already have the information36:15 Why Jasmine’s ROI guarantee isn't a money-back guarantee

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 Introduction01:37 Teachable's Story03:39 Why Ankur Sold Teachable04:47 Nathan's Approach to Building07:16 Building to Sell vs. Building to Keep08:34 Carry's Story09:30 Understanding QSBS Tax Benefits16:06 Being Bought vs. Having to Sell16:40 Why Raise Capital for Carry?18:25 Bootstrapping vs. VC22:54 Lessons for Second-Time Founders26:10 Ankur's Next Chapter: USVC28:36 Recruiting Great Talent32:24 Our Contrarian Beliefs34:50 Go-to-Market Strategies39:18 Ankur's AI Content Strategy46:25 Staying Focused48:58 Content Workflows59:16 Product Market Fit Evolution01:02:08 Closing Thoughts 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/nathanbarryLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathanbarryX: https://twitter.com/nathanbarryYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thenathanbarryshowWebsite: https://nathanbarry.comKit: https://kit.com Follow Ankur:X: https://twitter.com/ankurnagpalLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ankurnagpalInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/ankurna Featured in this episode:Teachable: https://teachable.comCarry: https://carry.com Highlights:03:00 The Perfect Exit?10:40 QSBS Tax Benefits For Founders18:30 Bootstrapped vs. VC: Which is Higher Status?23:20 Product Market Fit for Second-Time Founders32:20 Our Contrarian Beliefs

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 Introduction01:09 Private equity looks to buy YouTube channels03:52 Creator burnout04:52 Protecting your IP and avoiding mistakes08:20 Diversifying revenue beyond AdSense and brand deals10:43 Avoiding misclassification lawsuits12:46 The problem with reaction channels17:45 Why buyers love recurring revenue and technical products23:11 The power of artificial scarcity28:20 How to make your brand less dependent on the creator37:48 Should creators sell their business?43:49 You might need a sabbatical, not an exit45:00 How to protect yourself from predatory buyers51:08 Hiring operators to run products54:19 The power of angel investors on your cap table56:29 The value of books for creators1:11:08 Building a network of channels1:14:10 Where to find Tyler 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/nathanbarryLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathanbarryX: https://twitter.com/nathanbarryYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thenathanbarryshowWebsite: https://nathanbarry.comKit: https://kit.com Follow Tyler:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheCreatorsAttorneyLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thecreatorsattorneyInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecreatorsattorney Featured in this episode:Kit: https://www.kit.com Highlights:01:38 - Why private equity is buying YouTube channels07:50 - The power of building independent revenue streams12:58 - Why reaction channels are worthless to buyers38:00 - The surprising downsides of taking an exit59:20 - The power of books for creator credibility

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 Introduction01:15 Pat's big announcement02:48 Liz's journey to acquiring SPI04:30 How SPI became a sellable business06:27 Pat's massive success with Pokemon08:21 The impact of SPI's community10:47 Why Pat let go of SPI12:38 Prioritizing community over profit14:10 The financial aspects of the deal16:15 The future of Smart Passive Income: Team WIN18:30 What makes a business sellable20:00 Merging Liz's brand into SPI21:23 10x is easier than 2x22:50 The challenge of selling a personal brand24:50 The intentional transition process 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/nathanbarryLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathanbarryX: https://twitter.com/nathanbarryYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thenathanbarryshowWebsite: https://nathanbarry.comKit: https://kit.com Follow Pat:X: https://twitter.com/PatFlynnWebsite: https://patflynn.comYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@patflynnLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/patflynn Follow Liz:Website: https://www.lizwilcox.comYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thelizwilcoxLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/liz-wilcox-58740b1b0 Featured in this episode:Kit: https://www.kit.comSmart Passive Income: https://www.smartpassiveincome.comBuilt to Sell: https://builtosell.comWill It Fly?: https://patflynn.com/book/will-it-flyThe Virtual Campground: https://thevirtualcampground.com Highlights:01:15 - The big announcement07:12 - Liz's personal mission for SPI14:32 - The Pokémon channel's incredible growth25:27 - The profound impact of communities35:40 - Negotiating and structuring a business sale

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 Introduction01:07 Expectations for Atomic Habits' success02:54 Selling 30M+ copies04:48 Timeless marketing principles07:18 Positioning for long-term book sales09:39 Building the world's largest single-author newsletter12:44 Current effective growth tactics14:01 Cross-pollinating platforms for growth16:51 The vision behind Authors Equity20:51 The Atomic Habits tipping point23:09 Why books are an underrated business model24:48 Simplifying complex ideas27:54 Cultivating lasting entrepreneur friendships31:33 Protecting your identity as a public creator35:30 Why choose traditional publishing over self-publishing?39:17 Mining for stories and metaphors43:24 What makes Authors Equity different?48:50 Daily habits for rebuilding momentum51:50 James’s life mission54:24 Authors Equity: working with self-published authors58:05 James's parting thoughts: 10-year and 1-hour timeframes 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/nathanbarryLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathanbarryX: https://twitter.com/nathanbarryYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thenathanbarryshowWebsite: https://nathanbarry.comKit: https://kit.com Follow James:Website: https://jamesclear.comNewsletter: https://jamesclear.com/3-2-1X: https://twitter.com/jamesclearLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesclearInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/jamesclear Featured in this episode:Kit: https://www.kit.comAtomic Habits: https://jamesclear.com/atomic-habitsAuthors Equity: https://www.authorsequity.com Highlights:02:10 - James's initial expectations for Atomic Habits09:39 - How James built the world's largest single-author newsletter23:09 - Why books are an underrated business model48:50 - James’s daily habits for rebuilding momentum51:50 - James’s life mission

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 Introduction01:12 The early days of podcasting03:00 Early revenue and online ventures04:15 The lightbulb moment: Scaling IP online05:59 Mapping out Ben Greenfield Life revenue06:33 Audience and platform scale07:31 Podcast revenue breakdown09:18 Coaching and its growth potential11:03 Life Network and Life Market12:16 Total personal brand revenue breakdown13:19 Integrated ad packages and whitelisting16:09 Affiliate revenue and long-term partnerships17:27 Team structure for Ben Greenfield Life20:29 Lessons for scaling content businesses22:45 Lifestyle design and work-life balance23:52 Launching Kion28:44 Disentangling personal brand from Kion31:32 Leveraging brand for launch, then scaling independently35:44 The new venture39:55 Life OS's rapid growth and scale42:47 The power of recurring revenue models44:31 Intentional scaling beyond personal brand47:47 Building an empire vs. a lifestyle business49:30 Ben's daily lifestyle and routine52:16 Wrap-up and where to find Ben 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/nathanbarryLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathanbarryX: https://twitter.com/nathanbarryYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thenathanbarryshowWebsite: https://nathanbarry.comKit: https://kit.com Follow Ben:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@bengreenfieldlifeInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/bengreenfieldfitnessLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bengreenfieldWebsite: https://bengreenfieldlife.com Featured in this episode:Kit: https://www.kit.comBoundless: https://shopbengreenfieldlife.com/products/boundless-updated-revisedKion: https://getkion.com Highlights:04:15 - The lightbulb moment: Scaling IP online12:16 - Total personal brand revenue breakdown20:29 - Lessons for scaling content businesses31:29 - Don't let your brand be the bottleneck47:47 - How to build both empire and lifestyle businesses

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 Creator04:35 First Product Launch13:00 The "Bling Ding": $100K in a Week20:37 The Burden of Opportunity: How to Say No30:00 Business Stagnation35:45 The Power of Community45:40 The Pivot51:00 The Big Breakthrough55:10 Biggest Lessons 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/nathanbarryLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathanbarryX: https://twitter.com/nathanbarryYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thenathanbarryshowWebsite: https://nathanbarry.com Follow Shawn:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shawnblancLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shawnblancX: https://twitter.com/shawnblancWebsite: https://shawnblanc.net Featured in this episode:The Focus Course: https://special.thefocuscourse.com Highlights:20:37 The Burden of Opportunity: How to Say No45:40 The Pivot51:00 The Big Breakthrough

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, & AI01:20 Breaking Down a $500k Launch02:49 Consistent Revenue Beyond Launches04:48 Refilming with Kit Studios06:17 Webinar Sign-ups & Email List Growth14:00 The Weekly Lead Magnet Newsletter Strategy20:30 The Unscalable Strategy: Personalized Videos25:00 Unreasonable Hospitality & Handwritten Notes31:00 The Impact of Podcasting on Business Growth35:00 Order Bumps: Adding $100k to a Launch36:00 AI and the Legal Industry41:00 Financial Splurges: Cars & Property44:00 Investing in Your Team 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/nathanbarryLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathanbarryX: https://twitter.com/nathanbarryYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thenathanbarryshowWebsite: https://nathanbarry.comKit: https://kit.com Follow Sam:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/samvanderwielenWebsite: https://www.samvanderwielen.comPodcast: https://www.samvanderwielen.com/podcastLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samvanderwielen Featured in this episode:Kit: https://www.kit.comTypeform: https://www.typeform.comSam's book: https://www.samvanderwielen.com/book Highlights:01:20 Breaking Down a $500k Launch14:00 Newsletter Strategy20:30 The Power of Personalized Videos

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 Introduction01:16 Layla's revenue ceiling with courses02:47 Layla's original course model04:32 How Layla added services to break through the ceiling06:45 Pricing model of Layla's services08:15 Explanation of Layla's pricing structure11:00 Layla's counterintuitive sales strategy14:08 Key metrics Layla tracks in her business17:13 Finding and fixing bottlenecks20:44 The power of a small, engaged email list23:19 Revenue per subscriber analysis25:26 Simplifying complex business models32:46 The best of products and services combined40:15 Turning client questions into YouTube content49:00 The value of customer conversations in services57:24 The tailored productized service structure1:01:36 Mistakes when adding services1:03:07 The critical mistake of undercharging1:04:09 Layla's lead generation strategy1:07:08 YouTube content strategy and calls to action 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/nathanbarryLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathanbarryX: https://twitter.com/nathanbarryYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thenathanbarryshowWebsite: https://nathanbarry.comKit: https://kit.com Follow Layla:Website: https://www.processdriven.coYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LaylaPomperLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laylapomper Featured in this episode:Kit: https://www.kit.comThe Goal: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11128.The_GoalBuilt to Sell: https://builtosell.comSCORE: https://www.score.org Highlights:01:29 – Breaking through the infamous revenue ceiling12:07 – The powerful impact of listening in sales30:30 – The circularity of business growth43:10 – Creating content by answering real questions55:18 – Giving customers what they actually want

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 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 Introduction01:03 Breaking Down the Keynote02:22 The Chaos Before the Stage04:02 The Missing Walk-Out Music07:44 The "Be a Zero" Concept09:47 Avoiding Speaker Voice13:17 Building Tension and Specificity19:19 The Stephen Colbert Joke20:52 The Dad's Wisdom Story28:16 The Challenge of Technical Terms34:03 Debating Product Announcement Timing40:35 The Elusive Applause Moment48:29 Katie's Spotlighting an Audience Member53:05 The Landing Page Humiliation Slide01:01:00 The New York City Event Space Announcement01:07:07 The Closing and Audience Reaction01:12:00 Rehearsal Techniques and Speaker Notes 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/showFollow Nathan:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nathanbarryLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathanbarryX: https://twitter.com/nathanbarryYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thenathanbarryshowWebsite: https://nathanbarry.comKit: https://kit.com Follow Mike:Freebie: https://bestspeech.co/nathanWebsite: https://bestspeech.coLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mpacchioneInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mpaccX: https://x.com/mpacc Featured in this episode:Kit: https://www.kit.comJohn Koenig - The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows: https://www.youtube.com/user/johnkoenigThe State Change Method - Wes Kao: https://weskao.comThe Happiness Project - Gretchen Rubin: https://gretchenrubin.com/books/the-happiness-projectTim Urban TED Talk: https://www.ted.com/talks/tim_urban_inside_the_mind_of_a_master_procrastinatorFramer: https://www.framer.com Highlights:01:03 – Mike critiques my keynote opening11:50 – The secret behind my opening pause25:06 – How real-world stories prove product value31:09 – The unexpected success of a borrowed joke53:10 – The power of a critical feedback slide