Season 3, episode 17 is here!

In this episode, I sit down with my old school friend Stuart Thompson, who now runs a long-standing gym here in Northern Ireland.

We talk about what it really takes to build a business over nearly a decade - not just systems and social media, but relationships, energy, and knowing your limits. We also cover fitness, creativity, confidence, and turning up consistently even when no one’s watching.

This is an honest, practical, and surprisingly relevant chat, whether you run a gym, write online, or are just trying to build something for the long haul.

What we covered:

- How Stuart’s gym actually started

- The underrated power of handwritten notes

- Why not growing up sporty helped nurture Stuart’s story

- Why confidence comes from reps (in fitness and in writing)

- What it’s like running a people business as an introvert

- Why asking for reviews is awkward but necessary

- Why sticking around matters

Make sure to check out Cross Functional Fitness before you go!

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thedavidmcilroy.substack.com/subscribe

Season 3, episode 16 is here!

In this week’s episode, Parker Worth and I chat about his journey from being a high school dropout to becoming a successful creator living in Brazil.

Parker discusses the importance of storytelling in building a personal brand and the challenges of navigating the ever-changing landscape of online content creation, and emphasises the need for creators to build relationships and trust with their audience, write real-life stories that convert, and understand their audience’s pain points.

What we cover:

- Parker Worth’s journey from electrician to creator in Brazil.

- The significance of storytelling in personal branding.

- How to navigate the challenges of the online creator landscape.

- Why building relationships and trust with your audience is crucial.

- How using personal stories can lead to higher engagement.

- Why understanding audience pain points is essential for content creation.

- Why embracing fear can lead to significant personal and professional growth.

Make sure to subscribe to Parker’s newsletter before you go!

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thedavidmcilroy.substack.com/subscribe

Season 3, episode 15 is here!

In this solo episode, I share my thoughts on the critical importance of incorporating video and audio content into a creator’s strategy for 2026 and beyond.

I walk you through how online platforms favour video, the engagement benefits of live video, and the monetisation opportunities it presents, as well as the community-building aspect of going live, the authenticity it fosters, and the compounding effects of creating video content in general.

In this episode, I break down why:

- Incorporating video and audio is becoming essential for audience growth

- Live video can significantly increase engagement rates

- Platforms prioritise video content over text-based content

- Going live can help convert followers into subscribers

- Video content enhances personal branding and authority

- Live video creates a sense of community among viewers

- Authenticity in live video builds trust with the audience

- Starting to go live now can future-proof your content strategy

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thedavidmcilroy.substack.com/subscribe

Season 3, episode 14 is here!

In this solo episode, I walk through exactly how to build a creator presence from absolute scratch with no fancy equipment, no complex strategy, just clarity and consistency.

This is for anyone who feels like the smallest voice in the room but wants to create something real online.

In this episode:

- Why your personal brand is actually about how people feel when they encounter you, and how that feeling is what makes readers stick around long after they discover your work

- The five traps that kill most creator journeys before they start

- My recommendation to commit to one platform for six months minimum before spreading yourself thin across the internet

- How to craft the one simple promise that becomes your positioning - a single sentence that tells people exactly who you help and what you do for them within five seconds of landing on your profile

- The power of predictable touchpoints and why readers follow creators the same way they follow their favorite TV shows

- Why confidence comes after consistency, not before it, and how showing up for 3 to 12 months with minimal response is actually part of the process, not a sign you should quit

- The recurring format strategy that eliminates decision fatigue and builds loyalty through repetition, turning your weekly presence into something your audience genuinely misses when it’s not there

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thedavidmcilroy.substack.com/subscribe

Season 3, episode 13 is here!

I recently went live with Taylin John Simmonds to talk about the honest reality of making money as a writer, and afterwards I thought to myself, “Hey, this would make a great podcast episode!”, et voilà!

Taylin’s currently testing ghostwriting on Substack in public, shared his coldest cold email stats, and explained why books might be the worst way to make a living (but still worth doing).

What we covered:

- Why Taylin sent 10,000 cold emails for Substack ghostwriting clients and what happened next (he’s running the entire experiment in public to see if it’s actually viable)

- The credential commoditisation theory he’s been sitting on for six months (spoiler: it’s about why your programmer friends can’t find jobs)

- LinkedIn ghostwriting as the most lucrative platform right now, with clients paying $1,000-$5,000/month, and why Substack might be different

- The Mark Manson approach to writing books: test your chapters as blog posts first, let virality validate your ideas, and only use titles that have already proven themselves

- How to write about whatever you want while still serving your audience - the bridge technique that lets you sneak consciousness development into business content

- Why opening with mundane stories (lawnmowers, coffee steam, chopping onions) connects better than dramatic tales of spirit quests in Peru

- The painful pattern of spending six months building products nobody wants versus testing ideas in public after just a week or two

Make sure to subscribe to Taylin’s publication before you go!

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thedavidmcilroy.substack.com/subscribe

Season 3, episode 12 is here!

This solo episode is a relaxed, open conversation about reviewing your 2025 creative work and getting intentional about 2026.

It’s part reflection, part behind-the-scenes, part gentle push to simplify your process and double down on what genuinely works.

What I’ve covered:

- How to honestly review your 2025 wins, losses and “busywork” so you don’t drag dead weight into the new year.

- Why I’m cutting weekly roundups after nearly 100 editions and what that kind of ruthless pruning makes space for.

- The three pillars I’m betting on in 2026: audience growth, income expansion and personal brand depth.

- Specific strategies I’ll be leaning on next year, from collaborations to live sessions to experimenting with new formats.

- A wider look at income generation beyond paid subs, including digital products, sponsorships and coaching.

- Why your voice, your quirks and your personal stories matter more than ever in the AI era.

- An invitation to keep the process fun, simple and human while building a creator life that feels genuinely yours.

And if you’re interested in working with me 1-to-1, just apply here.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thedavidmcilroy.substack.com/subscribe

Season 3, episode 11 is here!

In this episode, Jari Roomer and I explore how to meaningfully grow a creator business by developing and selling digital courses (with particular focus on mini-courses).

If you’re interested in growing your income in 2026 through semi-passive means, this is a great one for you!

Also make sure to claim your spot on Tuesday’s FREE live training session before you go!

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thedavidmcilroy.substack.com/subscribe

Season 3, episode 10 is here!

In this extra-special chat with my wife, Christine McIlroy, we peel back how our life together has intertwined with our creative work, the shifts we’ve navigated in solopreneurship, and how partnership can both challenge and fuel your writing career in surprising ways.

What we covered:

- Why going the extra mile for clients is a total game-changer as a solopreneur

- What it’s like when you partner in life and in creative purpose, and how sharing a “why” deepens what you publish.

- Our journey building businesses in parallel, and how we support each other along the way

- The tension between routine and inspiration: how to stay grounded when you work together but also stay individually creative.

- What happens when life milestones (moving, family, change) intersect with your writing career - not in polished form, but in real-time.

- Why transparency about process matters: how being open about failure, rewriting, and hustle builds trust with readers.

- The unseen work behind launching offers, courses, or publications: how support systems, tools, and trade-offs play a role.

- Our best mistakes, our biggest learnings, and how ‘doing the work together’ has changed what we believe about freedom, creativity and sustainability.

Make sure to check out Christine’s work before you go!

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thedavidmcilroy.substack.com/subscribe

Season 3, episode 9 is here!

In this episode, Taylin John Simmonds and I talk about what it really takes to build a creative business from scratch without losing your sense of purpose or burning out.

Teaching music, ghostwriting at 3am, building an online brand that supports a life of freedom… we cover it all. This is an honest, practical conversation packed with insights for anyone trying to make writing work long term.

What we covered:

- The unlikely path from musician and teacher to full-time online creator

- Why success isn’t about becoming a better writer, but about stacking the right complementary skills

- How to build confidence when your identity hasn’t yet caught up with your success

- What it really means to find your niche and why lifestyle is a valid form of positioning

- The most useful way to think about AI (as a creative assistant, not a replacement)

- Why long-form content builds trust faster than any viral post ever could

- The one piece of advice that will change how you think about progress and patience

Make sure to subscribe to Taylin’s publication before you go!

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thedavidmcilroy.substack.com/subscribe

Season 3, episode 8 is here!

In this episode, Walter Rhein and I dive deep into the world of fantasy writing - where stories begin, how they evolve, and why imagination still matters in an increasingly practical world.

Worldbuilding, villains, the power of silliness - this conversation explores what makes great fantasy resonate and how writers can keep the spark of creativity alive as they grow older.

What we covered:

- The real connection between nature, folklore, and the fantasy worlds we create

- How mythology from different cultures shapes modern fantasy storytelling

- Why dialogue and shorter stories are powerful tools for testing your ideas and growing faster as a writer

- The difference between good and lazy worldbuilding, and why overplanning kills creativity

- What makes a truly great villain, and why the best ones make you question yourself

- How writing with (and for) children can reignite your sense of wonder and play

- Practical advice for new writers on starting a fantasy novel, finding momentum, and making writing fun again

Make sure to subscribe to Walter’s publication before you go!

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thedavidmcilroy.substack.com/subscribe