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 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 Equity
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://kit.com/?utm_campaign=29661554-nathan_barry_show&utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=podcast&utm_term=nathanbarryshow&utm_content=youtube_description
Follow James:
Website: https://jamesclear.com
X: https://twitter.com/JamesClear
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jamesclear
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesclear
Follow Madeline:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/madelinemcintosh
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/madmci
Featured in this episode:
Kit: https://www.kit.com
Authors Equity: https://authorsequity.com/
Atomic Habits: https://jamesclear.com/atomic-habits
Highlights:
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 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 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 business
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://kit.com
Follow Bryan:
Website: https://growthtools.com/nathan
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/harrisbryannash
Follow Grant:
Website: https://grantbaldwin.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gbaldwin
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/grant-baldwin
Featured 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/0984183864
Highlights:
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 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 moments
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://kit.com
Follow Will:
Website: https://unreasonablehospitality.com
The Field Guide: https://uhthefieldguide.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wguidara
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/willguidara
Follow Brian:
Website: https://unreasonablehospitality.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bcanlis
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brian-canlis-2820122a6
Featured in this episode:
Kit: https://www.kit.com
Unreasonable Hospitality: https://unreasonablehospitality.com
Unreasonable 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 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 emails
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://kit.com
Follow Sean:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/seancdevlin
All Healthy: https://www.allhealthy.com
Featured 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.app
Highlights:
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 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 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 Room
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://kit.com
Follow 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/chelseainboise
Featured 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-moscow