In this rare, intimate conversation, Jan Schlichtmann — the famed attorney behind A Civil Action — joins Carl Taylor to discuss the philosophical and emotional legacy of his landmark case in Woburn, Massachusetts.

But this is not another rehash of courtroom strategy. Instead, we explore the inner life of a lawyer who risked everything in pursuit of justice, and who continues to grapple with the moral and cultural questions that case raised — not just about law, but about America.

We talk about:

• Why litigation is rarely the best option for those confronting legal issues. 
• The emotional cost of the law. 
• The need for justice in our legal system. 
• Whether the legal system can still serve moral ends
• His evolving view of fame, legacy, and human dignity
• Why storytelling matters more than ever in the age of AI

If you care about justice, narrative, and the human spirit behind the law, this is a conversation you don’t want to miss.

Learn more about building your own authority assets and fighting marketing sludge by visiting us at BooksForExperts.com.

In a world of experts, be the authority.

Subscribe for more brutally honest insights on how to build a brand that lasts.)

How does a lawyer build a multi-million dollar firm from a home mortgage and a dream? In this episode, Carl sits down with Terry Lyons, one of New Jersey's most innovative family law attorneys, to deconstruct the anti-sludge playbook she used to build a nationally recognized enterprise.

Discover the counterintuitive strategies that became her engine for growth, from launching the state's first legal app to creating unique staff titles like "Captain of First Impressions." This is a masterclass in rejecting commoditization, understanding the deep psychology of your clients, and building a powerful, values-driven culture that wins.

Learn more about building your own authority assets and fighting marketing sludge by visiting us at BooksForExperts.com.

In a world of experts, be the authority.

Subscribe for more brutally honest insights on how to build a brand that lasts.)

If your like most law firms, your monthly legal marketing retainer isn't an investment; it's a tax. In this episode, Books for Experts founder Carl Taylor helps you perform an audited accounting of the "Sludge Tax"—the devastating financial, operational, and reputational costs your law firm pays for its reliance on outdated SEO and PPC.

Discover the true price of "renting" visibility, how low-value clients poison your referral pool and burn out your best staff, and why every dollar spent on sludge is a dollar stolen from your legacy. This is the clear-eyed analysis you need to stop paying the tax and start building permanent, unshakeable authority in the new AI referral economy.

Learn more about building your own authority assets and fighting marketing sludge by visiting us at BooksForExperts.com.

In a world of experts, be the authority.

Subscribe for more brutally honest insights on how to build a brand that lasts.)

The game has changed. Traditional SEO and PPC are failing law firms, and a new referral economy is being built by AI. In this pivotal episode, Carl Taylor pivots the Authority Philosophy podcast to focus exclusively on the strategy you need to win the next decade: Authority Intelligence Optimization (AIO).

Carl pulls back the curtain on building an AIO agency from scratch after sixteen years in litigation, sharing the real-world wins (getting cited by Google AI, landing articles in the New Jersey Law Journal and Law360) and the frustrations (getting banned from LinkedIn).

This is a must-listen for any lawyer who wants to stop renting attention and start building real, human authority. Learn why the future of referrals belongs to AI and how to position your firm to thrive.

Learn more about building your own authority assets and fighting marketing sludge by visiting us at BooksForExperts.com.

In a world of experts, be the authority.

Subscribe for more brutally honest insights on how to build a brand that lasts.)

For many professionals, the biggest obstacle isn't the market or the competition—it's the fear of claiming their own expertise. We suffer from the fear that we're a fraud, and we wait for permission from others to lead. In this episode, Carl Taylor argues that the only permission you truly need is your own.

Drawing on stories about unconventional dentists, legendary baseball player Ted Williams, and his own 16-year career as a lawyer, Carl breaks down how to leave "the bunker," overcome the fear of what your colleagues think, and build a business that is a true, authentic reflection of you.

Learn more about building your authority at 

https://www.booksforexperts.com.

Learn more about building your own authority assets and fighting marketing sludge by visiting us at BooksForExperts.com.

In a world of experts, be the authority.

Subscribe for more brutally honest insights on how to build a brand that lasts.)

Is your business a job, or is it a legacy? In this episode of Authority Philosophy, Carl Taylor tackles the concept of legacy and mortality, arguing that professionals must think beyond their own careers to build something truly scalable and lasting. Drawing on lessons from his personal mentors, Ray Kroc, and his own 16 years as a lawyer, Carl makes the case that a defined Authority Philosophy is the key to creating repeatable systems. These systems not only attract better clients but can be used to train your team, creating a cohesive culture and a valuable business that can flourish and be sold, ensuring your life's work outlives you.

Learn more about building your own authority assets and fighting marketing sludge by visiting us at BooksForExperts.com.

In a world of experts, be the authority.

Subscribe for more brutally honest insights on how to build a brand that lasts.)

What happens when the platform you're using to build your business decides to ban you without explanation? For Books for Experts founder Carl Taylor, this wasn't a crisis—it was a critical lesson. In this episode, Carl shares the frustrating, Kafkaesque story of being permanently kicked off LinkedIn and why it was the best thing that could have happened to his business.

He explores the strategic difference between building a brand on "rented land" like social media versus creating permanent authority on "owned land" like your own website, podcast, or book. This is a must-listen for any professional who wants to build a future-proof, resilient brand.

In this episode, you will learn:

• The Danger of "Rented Land": Why building your brand on a platform you don't control is a high-risk strategy that can backfire without warning.
• The "Build Your Own Table" Principle: The importance of creating your own podcast, blog, or book as a "home base" that you own completely, giving you the freedom to speak authentically.
• The Authority Paradox: Why building your own platform and assets makes you a more desirable guest and contributor on other people's platforms.
• Niching Down to Level Up: How a laser-focused philosophy is the key to attracting premium, high-loyalty clients and dominating a market.

Learn more about building your own authority assets and fighting marketing sludge at BooksForExperts.com.

In a world of experts, be the authority.

Learn more about building your own authority assets and fighting marketing sludge by visiting us at BooksForExperts.com.

In a world of experts, be the authority.

Subscribe for more brutally honest insights on how to build a brand that lasts.)

Why do most legal marketing efforts fail? For 16-year legal veteran Carl Taylor, the answer is simple: a deep-seated fear of what colleagues will think. This fear pushes professionals into a "hermit crab shell," forcing them to adopt the same bland, ineffective "sludge" marketing as everyone else.

In this episode of Authority Philosophy, Carl makes a powerful case that true authority isn't built by earning the begrudging approval of peers, but by having the courage to repel the wrong clients, take a definitive stance, and build lasting, narrative-rich authority assets—like books—that are designed to earn trust with both humans and the AI that is reshaping our world.

In this episode, you will learn:

• The "Great Work" Myth: Why simply doing great work is no longer enough to build a thriving practice in a noisy, digital-first world.
• The Lighthouse vs. The Message in a Bottle: A powerful metaphor explaining the difference between a fleeting blog post and a permanent, authority-building book.
• Marketing to Machines: An urgent look at how AI is already judging professionals based on the quality and depth of their digital footprint, making high-quality authority assets more critical than ever.
• The Authority Flywheel: How putting yourself out there with articles, speeches, and books creates a self-reinforcing cycle of momentum that attracts better clients, earns genuine respect, and silences the critics.

Learn more about building your own authority assets and fighting marketing sludge at BooksForExperts.com.

In a world of experts, be the authority.

Learn more about building your own authority assets and fighting marketing sludge by visiting us at BooksForExperts.com.

In a world of experts, be the authority.

Subscribe for more brutally honest insights on how to build a brand that lasts.)

In this episode, Books for Experts Founder Carl Taylor dismantles the quick-fix tactics that dominate professional marketing — buying awards, paying for referrals, and chasing SEO rankings. He calls it the “sludge mountain,” a trap that erodes trust and authority. Instead, Carl shares how professionals can build lasting influence through genuine narrative, personal storytelling, and authority assets like books. Learn why controlling your own narrative is the most powerful marketing move you’ll ever make. 

Learn more about building your own authority assets and fighting marketing sludge by visiting us at BooksForExperts.com.

In a world of experts, be the authority.

Subscribe for more brutally honest insights on how to build a brand that lasts.)

Full Transcript, Resources, and Email Signup: Authority Philosophy Podcast #1

AI is changing the way information spreads, and in the chaos, authority has never been more important. In this first episode of the Authority Philosophy Podcast, Books for Experts founder Carl Taylor lays out why "expertise" is no longer enough, how to define your own Authority Philosophy, and why building permanent authority assets beats chasing the latest content trend.

Whether you're a lawyer, consultant, or any professional tired of blending into the noise, this is where your authority journey starts.

Learn more about building your own authority assets and fighting marketing sludge by visiting us at BooksForExperts.com.

In a world of experts, be the authority.

Subscribe for more brutally honest insights on how to build a brand that lasts.)