The Nathan Barry Show

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 Introduction01:21 Publishing transformations Madeline has witnessed02:59 Madeline's motivation for founding Author's Equity05:14 The Author's Equity model compared to traditional publishing09:20 Why the author's equity model is beneficial14:03 The power of aligned incentives18:22 Author pain points solved by Author's Equity21:00 Selecting custom teams for each book24:45 Author's Equity's willingness to learn from authors28:22 Self-published authors joining Author's Equity31:07 Who Author's Equity is not for34:00 The win-win philosophy of Author's Equity36:05 Crafting books that sell for years39:00 The importance of building an audience as a nonfiction author41:40 The timeless desire and new vessel for delivering information46:00 Getting your best work in front of readers50:08 What makes books keep selling in year two and beyond53:10 Leveraging seasonal buying and promotional efforts55:22 The New York Times Bestseller list: commercial vs. psychological1:00:30 The most accurate bestseller list1:02:10 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/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/?utm_campaign=29661554-nathan_barry_show&utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=podcast&utm_term=nathanbarryshow&utm_content=youtube_descriptionFollow James:Website: https://jamesclear.comX: https://twitter.com/JamesClearInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/jamesclearLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesclearFollow Madeline:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/madelinemcintoshInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/madmciFeatured in this episode:Kit: https://www.kit.comAuthors Equity: https://authorsequity.com/Atomic Habits: https://jamesclear.com/atomic-habitsHighlights:01:21 – Publishing before the internet and email09:20 – Authors no longer have to choose21:00 – Hand-selecting custom teams for each book31:07 – Avoiding books with a short shelf life47:03 – Value in the push and pull of ideas50:28 – The book has to sell itself1:00:30 – The most accurate bestseller list

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 Introduction02:27 Building a business without being the "dancing monkey"06:40 The million-dollar ceiling for creators12:01 Bryan's first million: simplifying to one core product16:21 Overvaluing sales and marketing vs. a great offer22:04 The "steakhouse vs. buffet" analogy for niche26:58 The shift in the creator economy with AI31:47 The future of SaaS and the role of relationships37:13 Bryan's shocking AI experience saving thousands42:33 Navigating the opportunities and concerns of AI48:08 The problem with tracking success rate53:29 Less information, shorter path, higher success rate coaching01:00:07 The importance of product and rallying a team01:06:52 The near-death experience of a refund-based guarantee01:13:51 Bryan's mistake: stopping getting your hands dirty too soon01:21:40 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/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.comFollow Bryan:Website: https://growthtools.com/nathanLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/harrisbryannashFollow Grant:Website: https://grantbaldwin.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/gbaldwinLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/grant-baldwinFeatured in this episode:Kit: https://www.kit.comRework: https://basecamp.com/books/reworkStop Guessing: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/59388878-stop-guessingWealth, 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.

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 Introduction01:07 How Will and Brian started working together03:07 The first big project they worked on04:47 Brian's "friend internship" and meeting his wife05:56 Brian's career running Canlis08:26 The vision for their current business14:16 Shifting from consulting to creative studio16:18 The broad applicability of hospitality30:53 Chewy's pattern recognition and customer experience35:16 "What would have to be true?" for seemingly impossible goals45:40 Mapping every tiny guest interaction54:19 The value of "fresh eyes" and notebook feedback1:07:47 Why doing the "right thing" matters long-term1:09:15 The 95/5 rule for managing resources1:11:49 Opportunities to elevate the Kit platform experience1:15:16 Making powerful tools accessible and fun1:18:18 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/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.comFollow Will:Website: https://unreasonablehospitality.comThe Field Guide: https://uhthefieldguide.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/wguidaraLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/willguidaraFollow Brian:Website: https://unreasonablehospitality.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/bcanlisLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brian-canlis-2820122a6Featured in this episode:Kit: https://www.kit.comUnreasonable Hospitality: https://unreasonablehospitality.comUnreasonable Hospitality Field Guide: https://uhthefieldguide.com

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 Introduction01:01 The power of habit-forming newsletter sections02:47 Why creators get email formats wrong04:09 The long-term perspective on engagement metrics06:40 Balancing clickbait with true value07:19 Achieving high open rates with a massive list09:46 Monetization through seamless sponsorships18:01 The art of increasing sponsorship rates20:56 Taking responsibility for advertiser performance22:14 Newsletter design and structure essentials27:10 Leveraging lead magnets and quizzes for acquisition30:51 Optimizing for subscriber payback period38:38 The content creation flywheel45:30 The overlooked importance of newsletter design47:27 Crafting an engaging newsletter opening51:11 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/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.comFollow Sean:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/seancdevlinAll Healthy: https://www.allhealthy.comFeatured in this episode:Kit: https://www.kit.comFeedly: https://feedly.comAirtable: https://www.airtable.comMidjourney: https://www.midjourney.comSpark Loop: https://www.sparkloop.appHighlights:01:01 – Designing sections for reader habit formation07:19 – Maintaining 50%+ open rates with 1.3M subscribers09:46 – Integrating sponsorships seamlessly within content15:01 – Iterating on flexible pricing for sponsors22:14 – Importance of visual design in newsletter trust30:51 – Reducing subscriber payback period strategies45:30 – Why newsletter design is a critical hot take

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 Authors04:50 Unscalable Tactics for Book Launches08:26 The Power of "Tiny Offers" Over Lead Magnets11:58 Instagram Story Strategy: The Power of Three15:47 Leveraging Old Content for Viral Success19:07 Micro Podcast Tours for Book Promotion23:10 The Audiobook Debate: Does Listening Count as Reading?28:40 The 80-Hour Podcast Prep Phenomenon34:04 Authenticity vs. Meticulous Preparation in Content38:30 AI Checkpoints for Authentic Content Creation41:00 Scaling Speaking Fees Strategically45:30 Madeline Macintosh: CEO of Authors Equity49:00 Email Marketing and the Kit Flywheel for Book Sales52:45 Leveraging Local Indie Bookstores for Sales56:10 The Grind Behind Every Bestseller1:01:00 Building Your Own Mastermind Community1:06:50 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/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.comFollow Haley:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/haleyjaniLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/haley-janicekFollow Chelsea:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chelseahahnInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/chelseainboiseFeatured in this episode:Kit: https://www.kit.comUnreasonable Hospitality: https://www.unreasonablehospitality.comAtomic Habits: https://jamesclear.com/atomic-habitsThe Five Types of Wealth: https://sahilbloom.com/5-types-of-wealthDiary of a CEO: https://www.stevenbartlett.com/podcastAuthors Equity: https://www.authorsequity.comSouthall Farm: https://www.southalltn.comA Gentleman in Moscow: https://www.amor-towler.com/a-gentleman-in-moscow