The Nathan Barry Show

The secret to building a content machine that reaches millions, all without spending a dime on ads? According to Ryan Holiday, it starts with making content people actually want to consume. In this live interview from Austin, Texas, Ryan pulls back the curtain on how Daily Stoic went from an obscure philosophy discussed only in academia to a global phenomenon. From cultivating an audience one platform at a time to transforming a single piece of content into a multi-platform strategy, discover the counterintuitive lessons from a master of timeless ideas and modern media. This isn't just about stoicism; it's a masterclass in building a resilient, impactful career designed to stand the test of time.

Timestamps:
00:00 Building a timeless content machine
02:17 Why ditch every ad and pivot to content?
06:07 The power of algorithms and meeting your audience where they are
08:27 Creating content you genuinely want to make
10:49 The Marathon video and turning experiences into content
13:26 Crafting a content flywheel that actually works
16:46 How a team translates one piece of content across mediums
20:09 What is a "pseudo event" and why do you need one?
24:21 From ghost town to content goldmine
28:47 Expanding your "set" beyond the studio
32:50 The value of "certification" in content creation
34:54 Lessons from Ghost Town Living's organic growth
39:46 How content creation impacts your life and thinking
42:36 Embracing different mediums, no matter your personal preference
45:11 Writing as a lagging indicator of deep work and research
47:53 Why AI can't replace the human touch in deep work
51:38 The process behind "Conspiracy": a narrative nonfiction deep dive
55:08 Parenting for wisdom: cultivating curiosity and deep dives
1:01:11 Navigating demand when starting out
1:05:06 Balancing art and commerce for long-term impact
1:08:52 The freedom of a profitable business
1:11:58 The ongoing challenge of discipline

If you enjoyed this episode, please like and subscribe, share it with your friends, and leave a review. I read every single one.

In this episode, I sit down with Dan Putt, my coach for the last six years, to explore the journey of building a company and the personal transformation that comes with it.

We reflect on Kit's growth to over $50 million ARR and discuss the significant shifts in my leadership style, particularly moving from consensus-driven decision-making to confident clarity.

Dan and I dive into the importance of identifying and separating reversible from one-way decisions, the power of embracing uncertainty, and the profound impact of connecting with your core "why."

Viewers will gain insights into fostering personal growth, navigating leadership challenges, and building a mission-driven company that truly matters.

Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
02:10 Early bootcamp and Kit's growth
04:02 Nathan at 29 vs. now
06:15 Evolution of decision-making
08:20 The "way that works" philosophy
10:15 The difference between right and best decisions
12:10 Coinbase's decision-making framework
14:40 Clarity on decision timelines
16:20 Defining options and decision-makers
21:00 Impact of leadership on results
22:55 Reconciling consensus and decisive leadership
25:30 Building the muscle of making decisions
28:40 Responsibility for positives and negatives
30:10 Taking your seat as a leader
32:45 The clarity of the boundary
35:20 The single-axis fallacy
37:40 The unchanging "why"
43:10 The physics of money and audience
46:00 Equipping people with tools and training
49:00 Recentering on the mission
51:00 Giving work real meaning

If you enjoyed this episode, please like and subscribe, share it with your friends, and leave a review. I read every single one.

In this episode, I sit down with Rob Jentsch, an education leader and consultant, to discuss his mission of providing remarkable education to more students globally.

We dive deep into his journey from volunteer work in El Salvador to becoming a high school teacher, and then into management consulting, all driven by a desire to improve educational outcomes.

Rob shares his current business model, which balances high-ticket consulting with a passion for serving smaller, impactful organizations. We explore strategies for him to scale his impact, build an online presence, productize his services, and optimize his time through a powerful "flywheel" approach, all while maintaining his commitment to his family and personal well-being.

Viewers will learn about user-centered design in curriculum, effective strategies for growing an online audience, and how to balance purpose-driven work with business growth.

Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
02:10 Rob's transformational experience
04:09 Obsession with high-quality education access
12:40 Rob's business journey and desire for change
14:40 Shifting from workaholism to more time with family
16:01 Current business revenue and growth
26:40 Productizing services to scale impact
29:27 Standardizing offers and cohort-based learning
32:45 The challenge of onboarding superintendents
36:58 Setting boundaries for optimal impact
41:40 The power of high standards and belief
44:10 Fueling content from client insights
46:12 Choosing LinkedIn as the primary platform
54:15 Creating a feedback loop for content
56:29 The art of reposting successful content
58:30 Promotion strategies: comments, partners, email lists
1:01:05 The virtuous cycle of the flywheel
1:03:00 Iterating and measuring the flywheel
1:05:00 Key takeaways and future plans
1:07:05 The power of sequential skill-building

If you enjoyed this episode, please like and subscribe, share it with your friends, and leave a review. I read every single one.

In this episode, I sit down with Bill Burnett & Dave Evans, Stanford Design Professors and best-selling authors, to discuss how they've helped millions rethink their careers and purpose through their "Design Your Life" framework.

We dive into the surprising journey developing their best-selling book, the core principles of "design thinking" applied to life, and the critical role of understanding human needs.

Later, we get tactical, breaking down their ambitious goal to reach 10 million people with their new book, "How to Live a Meaningful Life," and explore effective strategies for leveraging communities, media, and digital platforms for impactful book promotion.

Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
02:00 Two essential ingredients for a meaningful life
04:23 What we do at Stanford
07:28 Coaching is a trend
10:13 Why plans don't work for life design
12:22 There is more aliveness in you than one life
15:41 From FOMO to JOMO
19:45 How to prototype your life choices
24:00 How to choose when there are too many opportunities
28:28 From Star Wars toys to Apple
32:20 From Mechanical Engineer to Electronic Arts
36:11 Making your life a beautiful experience
39:09 The simplicity of building a meaningful life
42:06 Responding to a deep longing
46:11 Leadership and authenticity
48:41 Goal for the new book
53:23 Lessons from wildly successful books
57:00 Inspirations for book promotion
1:01:46 The flywheel of reviews
1:05:13 Unfair advantages in book promotion
1:10:51 Connecting with students and educators
1:16:30 The power of mass media

If you enjoyed this episode, please like and subscribe, share it with your friends, and leave a review. I read every single one.

In this episode, I sit down with Nicole Burke, founder of Gardenary, to unpack her dynamic strategy for building a 7-figure brand primarily through short-form visual content.

Nicole shares exactly how she leverages Instagram to generate millions of views and drive revenue, all while embracing her identity as a business owner who leverages social media, not just an influencer.

We dive deep into her content methodology, breaking down the essential categories of reels—entertain, educate, showcase, and invite—and how each contributes to a robust growth and sales funnel.

Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
02:11 Growing a Service Business with Instagram
04:08 Scaling a Garden Design Business
06:26 Transitioning to Digital and Diversifying Revenue
08:24 The Showcasing Strategy: Content Creators & Authenticity
10:04 Breaking Down Gardenary: Education, E-commerce, & Certification
12:57 The Instagram Storefront Analogy
16:26 Leveraging Algorithms: The Share Button's Power
19:07 Educational Content: Answering FAQs & Tracking Saves
22:31 Showcase Content: Inspiring with Results & Aspiration
26:00 The "Invite": Making the Ask Effectively
28:01 The Magic of Automation: From Comments to Conversions
32:26 Free Ad Experimentation with Organic Content
36:20 Crafting Engaging Content: Relatable Pain Points & Humor
41:17 Nicole's Metrics for Content Success
45:10 Instagram's Content Funnel: Reels, Posts, Carousels, Stories
52:19 Stories for Direct Sales & Community Engagement
56:51 Six Types of Videos Anyone Can Make
1:02:13 The Face-to-Camera Hack: Conquering the Fear
1:06:51 The Power of Documentary-Style Video

If you enjoyed this episode, please like and subscribe, share it with your friends, and leave a review. I read every single one.