In this episode, I sit down with Jay Clouse, founder of Creator Science and one of the top thinkers in the creator economy, to talk about how to build sustainable memberships, price high-ticket offers, and stay ahead of AI disruption.

We dig into Jay’s insights from 250+ creator interviews, the future of online courses, and how group coaching programs quietly outperform larger audiences.

Jay shares the onboarding system behind his high-retention membership, how he scaled his Lab community, and why trust, not attention, is the metric that matters most in 2024.

If you want to grow a stable, high-leverage creator business, this is a masterclass.

Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
01:20 Why AI is going to disrupt course creators
03:42 Hyper-personalized learning vs static curriculum
07:11 What to build next if courses are dying
10:47 Rethinking memberships and peer-to-peer communities
17:21 Pricing for renewal instead of first-year sales
22:04 Why he removed the member cap
25:30 Objective criteria for curating communities
27:00 Who earns the most per follower
30:39 Done-for-you vs group coaching vs DIY
34:32 Building sticky products that actually retain
39:04 The onboarding system behind Jay’s community
46:57 Keeping members engaged after 6 months
50:54 Building habit loops and true community
54:20 Why in-person events are now a priority
58:03 Being authentic when you’re always “on”
01:00:53 Don’t optimize for attention—optimize for trust
01:02:28 Where to follow Jay

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

Follow Jay:
Website: https://www.creatorscience.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jayclouse
X: https://twitter.com/jayclouse
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@jay
Podcast: https://www.creatorscience.com/podcast

Featured in this episode:
Creator Science: https://www.creatorscience.com
The Lab: https://join.creatorscience.com
Kit: https://www.kit.com

In this episode, I sit down with Jefferson Fisher—trial lawyer, bestselling author, and communication expert with over 12 million followers—to map out a clear, balanced path to $10 million a year in revenue.

We dive into Jefferson’s wide range of business assets including his podcast, newsletter, book, speaking, AI product, and fast-growing membership.

Then we break down exactly what to prioritize, how to build the right team, and what he needs to stop doing to scale without burning out.

Whether you’re a fast-growing creator or a business owner looking for leverage and balance, this is a blueprint.

Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
01:08 Jefferson’s growth from zero to 6M Instagram followers
03:22 Mapping all his revenue channels
06:08 His speaking fees, membership size, and podcast numbers
09:28 Balancing business growth with family time
13:24 The hidden cost of daily content creation
18:25 How batching could change Jefferson’s life
22:32 The power of speaking as leverage
25:31 Planning for $10M while staying present at home
30:34 The surprising value of Jefferson’s DMs
36:04 Why the membership is the biggest opportunity
42:17 Automating conversions with his newsletter
47:44 Building a team to scale
53:19 The role Jefferson should hire next
57:08 Balancing brand vision with freedom
01:04:11 Why we’re pausing the course idea (for now)
01:11:03 Wrapping with Jefferson’s biggest takeaways

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

Follow Jefferson:
Website: https://www.jeffersonfisher.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jefferson_fisher
X: https://twitter.com/jefferson_fishr
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@jeffersonfisher
The Next Conversation (book): https://www.jeffersonfisher.com/book

Featured in this episode:
The Next Conversation (book): https://www.thenextconversation.com
Jefferson Fisher: https://www.jeffersonfisher.com
Jefferson’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jefferson_fisher
Civility (his company): https://www.jeffersonfisher.com
Kit: https://www.kit.com

In this episode, I sit down with Tim Grahl to map out how he broke through a 3-year business plateau and scaled his education company from $695K to over $2M.

We unpack how Tim made the leap by completely rebuilding his business model, delivering better outcomes for students, and building a variable-cost team that scales with revenue.

He also shares how he ran 600+ customer interviews, built a coaching program around accountability, and used YouTube and SparkLoop to drive steady growth.

If you’re stuck at a growth ceiling, this episode is a blueprint for getting unstuck.

Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
01:13 Breaking through the $1M ceiling
03:12 Revenue history from 2021 to 2024
06:37 The wake-up call promotion
08:00 600 customer interviews in 18 months
12:24 The mindset shift that changed everything
13:03 Why Tim rebuilt the entire business model
17:55 Forecasts vs. goals
20:36 Profit margin and personal runway
23:15 Why most courses don’t deliver transformation
25:18 How Story Grid’s coaching model works
30:08 Team structure and mentor compensation
34:10 Pricing strategy and program design
35:18 Using SparkLoop and YouTube to grow leads
38:02 Tim’s content process and YouTube habits
43:07 The emotional dip before the breakthrough
47:18 Burnout, self-doubt, and freight train focus
51:22 Why building a team unlocked freedom
57:11 Hiring mindset and building lean
01:00:12 The path from 2M to 5M and beyond
01:03:40 The power of product-market fit

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

Follow Tim:
Website: https://www.storygrid.com
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@storygrid
X: https://x.com/storygrid
Tim’s latest book: https://www.storygrid.com/product/the-shithead

Featured in this episode:
Story Grid: https://www.storygrid.com
The Shithead (book): https://www.storygrid.com/product/the-shithead
SparkLoop: https://www.sparkloop.app
Kit: https://www.kit.com

In this episode, I sit down with Anne-Laure Le Cunff, neuroscientist, creator, and author of Tiny Experiments, to explore how mindful productivity and scientific thinking can unlock calm, sustainable growth.

We talk about how Anne-Laure built a $250K business while finishing her PhD, her process for designing mental health systems, and why most creators burn out by obsessing over goals.

She shares how tiny experiments, not big plans, led to her success—and why every creator should learn to reflect, quit intentionally, and listen to stress as a signal.

If you want to grow without burning out, this is a masterclass.

Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
01:12 Why tiny experiments beat big goals
03:15 Action vs reflection for creator growth
06:05 Quitting YouTube—and why it was the right choice
10:16 Helping your team feel safe to fail
14:07 Designing your own experiment formula
19:13 Breaking the cycle of goal obsession
22:42 The “maximize brain” and how to avoid it
32:22 How Anne-Laure earned $250K working part time
38:00 The business flywheel hidden inside her $49 community
46:57 Building systems for mental health
53:20 Good stress vs bad stress
58:00 Her simple content repurposing system
01:00:49 Final advice for goal-setters

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

Follow Anne-Laure:
Website: https://www.nesslabs.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/neuranne
X: https://x.com/neuranne
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@neuranne

Featured in this episode:
Tiny Experiments (book): https://nesslabs.com/book
Ness Labs: https://www.nestlabs.com
Kit: https://www.kit.com

In this episode, I sit down with Jefferson Fisher, a trial attorney turned content creator with 6 million Instagram followers, to break down how he built one of the fastest-growing personal brands on social media while running a thriving law firm.

We dive into Jefferson’s content strategy, how he holds attention in 3 seconds, and the exact process behind his viral car videos. Jefferson also shares why attention spans are shrinking, what most creators get wrong in their first 3 seconds, and how he turned daily 40-minute sessions into millions of views and a bestselling book.

If you want to build a magnetic personal brand while staying authentic, this is a masterclass.

Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
01:10 Gaining 100,000 followers a day
03:30 How Jefferson built a viral content style
06:02 The first million-view video
09:10 The full content process from idea to post
12:30 How Jefferson hooks viewers in 3 seconds
15:18 The most important metric for content success
18:17 Building trust and impact with short form
22:01 Optimizing content structure and retention
25:46 How social content transformed Jefferson’s law practice
33:30 How his social presence influences legal cases
39:23 How Jefferson balances practice with content
42:21 Maintaining authenticity across all platforms
46:00 Inside Jefferson’s podcast strategy
53:44 Book launch lessons and viral drivers

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

Follow Jefferson:
Website: https://www.jeffersonfisher.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jefferson_fisher
X: https://twitter.com/jefferson_fishr
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@jeffersonfisher
The Next Conversation (book): https://www.jeffersonfisher.com/book

Featured in this episode:
The Next Conversation (book): https://www.jeffersonfisher.com/book
Kit: https://www.kit.com

In this episode, I sit down with Dan Martell—bestselling author of Buy Back Your Time and investor in over 50 companies—to break down the mindset and systems founders need to scale without burning out.

We dive into Dan’s Buyback Loop, his process for delegating and training a team, and how creators can turn a single piece of content into millions of impressions.

Dan also shares why most entrepreneurs hire in the wrong order, how to build systems that run without you, and how he’s using keynotes and content to grow his coaching and education business.

If you want more freedom while growing faster, this is a masterclass.

Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
00:05 Why Dan went all in on content
03:32 From marketing department to media company
10:50 Dan’s 3-part Buyback Loop
14:30 How Dan offloads and trains his team
22:00 The Buyback Ladder: audit, transfer, fill
33:37 The Replacement Ladder (who to hire first)
42:51 How Dan makes money while offline
50:03 Behind Dan’s education and coaching business
53:44 Dan’s full media strategy
57:42 Final advice for creators going pro

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

Follow Dan:
Website: https://www.danmartell.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/danmartell
X: https://twitter.com/danmartell
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@danmartell
Buy Back Your Time (book): https://www.buybackyourtime.com

Featured in this episode:
Buy Back Your Time (book): https://www.buybackyourtime.com
Kit: https://www.kit.com

#danmartell #buybackyourtime #businessgrowth

Justin Jackson is the co-founder of Transistor, one of the most beloved podcast hosting platforms for creators. In this coaching episode, we map out the next stage of Justin’s journey—from product founder to thought leader—with a focus on building an audience, growing influence, and creating high-leverage content that compounds.

We talk about what changes when you're the face of a SaaS company, how to get more leverage from existing content, and the unique growth opportunities for creators running software businesses.

Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
01:42 Becoming the face of Transistor
05:17 Why Justin stopped sharing behind-the-scenes
08:29 Building a creator identity outside the product
13:52 Which ideas deserve your voice?
17:35 Strategy for launching an email course
22:46 What SaaS founders can learn from creators
26:01 Writing frameworks and newsletter clarity
31:49 Audience trust and high-leverage content
36:42 The long game of thought leadership
41:00 Building in public (the right way)
51:58 Balancing company growth and personal visibility
58:36 Final thoughts on building in public and longevity
01:06:40 What Justin’s learned from years of audience-first business

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

Learn more about The Nathan Barry Show: 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

Follow Justin:
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/justinjackson.ca
X: https://twitter.com/mijustin
LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/justinijackson
Website: https://justinjackson.ca
Transistor: https://transistor.fm

Featured in this episode:
Transistor: https://transistor.fm
Kit: https://kit.com

Today I’m joined by Monique Volz, founder of Ambitious Kitchen, to explore how she built a thriving food blog into a 7-figure business—with a lean team, kids at home, and a strong sense of purpose.

We dive into the evolution of her brand, her best-performing growth channels, the funnel that sells her digital product on autopilot, and what the future of food content looks like with AI and SEO shifts.

Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
01:06 Launching Ambitious Kitchen in 2011
03:00 First income from ads and sponsored posts
05:58 When she knew it could be full-time
06:22 What changed with Pinterest & Instagram
10:00 Email funnel strategy using Grocer’s List
14:02 Plans to build a food media company beyond herself
21:50 TikTok vs. Instagram for discovery
25:34 Inside her full-time team and contractors
31:08 Scaling with kids and working in focused blocks
42:56 SEO, AI, and where food content is going

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

Learn more about the podcast: https://nathanbarry.com/show

Follow Monique:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ambitiouskitchen
Website: https://www.ambitiouskitchen.com
Grocer’s List: https://www.ambitiouskitchen.com/grocers-list/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AmbitiousKitchen

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

Featured in this episode:
Ambitious Kitchen: https://www.ambitiouskitchen.com
The Ambitious Kitchen Cookbook: https://www.ambitiouskitchen.com/cookbook/
Kit: https://www.kit.com
Raptive: https://raptive.com/
Food52: https://food52.com/
The Every Girl: https://theeverygirl.com/
The Every Mom: https://theeverymom.com/
5 Types Of Wealth: https://www.the5typesofwealth.com/

#ambitiouskitchen #foodblogger #entrepreneur

Independent film producer Daren Smith is raising $10 million to produce ten movies over the next four years—and he’s doing it without flying 200 days a year or building a massive audience.

In this coaching episode, Nathan helps Daren design two high-leverage flywheels to reach high-net-worth investors while maintaining full control of his time.

You’ll learn how to craft a targeted outbound system, build a niche inbound engine with just 200 subscribers, and use systems thinking to raise millions without sacrificing your life.

If you're raising capital, scaling creator income, or just want to get more done with less stress, this episode is for you.

Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
01:26 Meet Daren Smith: Film Producer & Author
02:33 Why Writing Books Helped Him Raise Money
06:30 Behind the Scenes of Producing a Feature Film
10:29 Designing the $10M Film Fund Strategy
13:14 Building a Fundraising Flywheel Without Burning Out
15:03 Mapping the Outbound Sales Flywheel
24:39 Measuring Flywheel Progress Weekly
30:24 Avoiding the “Flywheel Stall” Trap
34:39 Inbound Content Flywheel for Film Investors
39:33 The Power of Niche, High-Intent Content
42:55 Segmenting Investors vs Fans vs Filmmakers
45:10 Using Conversations to Generate Content
47:19 Tying Together Inbound and Outbound
54:12 Using Content for Cold Outreach
58:50 What Daren’s Doing Next

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

Follow Daren:
Website: https://www.craftsmanfilms.co
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/darentsmith
X: https://twitter.com/theycallmeds

Featured in this episode:
Craftsman Films: https://www.craftsmanfilms.co
RightMessage: https://rightmessage.com
Kit: https://www.kit.com
Fathom: https://fathom.video
Grain: https://grain.com
Creator Flywheels: https://www.creatorflywheels.com

Today I’m joined by Dustin Riechmann, founder of Seven Figure Leap, who reveals how podcast guesting became the engine behind his seven figure business.

We dive deep into his journey from traffic engineer to thriving entrepreneur, and break down the exact framework that helped him scale his income and impact.

You’ll learn how Dustin replaced traditional marketing with podcast guesting, why big shows aren’t the secret to growth, and how to turn interviews into clients with his 5 Ps system.

This episode is a must-listen for service providers, coaches, and creators ready to build authority, land high-ticket clients, and drive sales through relationships—not ads.

Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
01:13 Meet Dustin Riechmann
03:51 From Meat Sticks to Marketing
08:00 Why Small Podcasts Outperform Big Ones
10:26 A $100K Marketing Shortcut
13:40 Inside Dustin’s $1M Business
15:06 Offers, Pricing, and Scaling
18:20 The 5 Ps Framework for Podcast Guesting
21:19 What Most People Get Wrong
26:01 The Warm Pitch Everyone Gets Wrong
30:55 How to Perform in the Interview
32:55 The Best Type of Call to Action
35:01 The Guest List Strategy That Prints Money
40:03 Live Coaching: Optimizing Nathan’s CTA
43:18 The $3M Scaling Plan
49:10 Why He’s Not Launching a Course
52:25 Systems, Peace, and Focused Growth
55:00 The Power of Referrals and Partners

If you enjoyed this episode, please like and subscribe, share it with your friends, and leave us a review. We 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

Follow Dustin:
Website: https://7figureleap.com/playbook
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dustinriechmann
Instagram: https://instagram.com/7figureleapcoach

Featured in this episode:
Seven Figure Leap: https://7figureleap.com
FireCreek Snacks: https://www.firecreeksnacks.com
Create & Sell (Nathan's newsletter): https://nathanbarry.com