The Nathan Barry Show

What happens to your newsletter when the first thing to read it isn't a person, but an AI agent? For anyone who has built a business on email, that shift is coming a lot faster than most of us expect.I sat down with Dan Shipper, co-founder and CEO of Every, a company that writes about AI, builds AI software, and gets to test the models before they're released. Dan has interviewed Sam Altman and is one of the people closest to the cutting edge that I know. We get into how good AI has become at using your computer, why Dan thinks the newsletter as we know it is dead, why OpenAI or Anthropic will likely build a new kind of inbox, and the one number his team is chasing right now that they might stop chasing soon. Dan also shares why, despite all the change, he's so optimistic about where this is going.If email sits at the heart of your business, I think you'll get a lot out of this conversation.Timestamps:00:00 Introduction01:22 The AI workflow every creator should set up02:43 How Dan writes by talking to his AI04:21 Why computer use is suddenly so good05:12 How an agent reordered Dan's 8,000-word story07:31 Turning an editor's taste into an AI skill09:44 How to build a skill without writing it yourself10:49 Using evals to make your skills better over time12:45 Should you go deep on one AI platform?15:29 Nathan's AI workflow for following up after events18:24 Why Dan is so optimistic about AI20:55 The three stages of adapting to new technology23:59 Ambition in the age of AI25:30 Why creators should stay diversified26:01 Building an app for your audience in a weekend27:08 Why every creator can now have a feed29:08 How Dan uses custom feeds to run Every31:06 Everyone can now work like Ryan Holiday32:08 Why AI curation hasn't caught up with creation32:51 Frontier alerts and writing for each reader34:29 Why Every is hiring more engineers than ever37:02 Why Dan says the newsletter is dead40:21 When your open rate drops to zero41:05 Seth Godin and being missed when you don't publish42:27 Why OpenAI and Claude will build a new inbox43:43 What actually replaces email?46:26 How Dan is positioning Every for what's next47:25 Why Every may stop chasing email signups48:35 Pushing content through MCP servers49:52 What creators should do to get ready51:59 Why quality matters more than ever54:00 What a high-quality audience has done for Dan55:21 Why Nathan is underusing his AI tools56:44 The Eight Levels of AI58:02 How Every makes money58:53 Splitting Every into frontier and product teams1:01:56 Pirates vs architects1:02:41 Kit's App Store and the cost of experiments1:03:54 How Every launches experiments it won't support1:06:04 Dan's hot take on AI and jobs1:07:23 What Andrew Carnegie's story teaches us1:08:07 What Dan is reading right now1:10:24 Where to start with Every1:11:05 Final thoughtsIf 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/showFollow Nathan:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nathanbarryLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathanbarryX: https://twitter.com/nathanbarryYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thenathanbarryshowWebsite: https://nathanbarry.comKit: https://kit.comFollow Dan:X: https://x.com/danshipperLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danshipperWebsite: https://danshipper.comYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@EveryInc/videosFeatured in this episode:Kit: https://www.kit.comEvery: https://every.toHow Codex Happened: https://every.to/p/how-codex-happenedThe Eight Levels of AI Adoption: https://every.to/guides/the-eight-levels-of-ai-adoptionAfter Automation: https://every.to/chain-of-thought/after-automationHighlights:02:43 Why Dan writes by talking out loud to his AI08:35 Turning 40,000 copy edits into a "Kate pass"21:17 The agency rupture everyone feels with AI37:29 Why the newsletter as we know it is dead47:25 The one number Every might stop chasing

Do you want to know how to get into rooms with people who are several levels above you?Jayson Gaignard is the reason about 50 of my favorite entrepreneur friends are in my life. He’s the founder of Mastermind Talks, an invite-only community for entrepreneurs, and the author of Community Made, which breaks down exactly how to build those key relationships yourself.In this episode, Jayson shares how to find your people, invest in them, and ask for help. We get into how to host your own event when you can’t get an invite, the three ways to get access to people above your level, and why “How can I help?” is the wrong question to ask.If you want to build relationships with people you admire, this is the episode to watch.Timestamps:00:00 Introduction01:23 How Jayson connected Nathan to 50 entrepreneur friends02:15 Why Jayson wasn't always a super connector02:57 The loneliness that led to Mastermind Dinners04:14 Never beg for a seat when you can build your own table05:29 Why the host gets the most status in the room06:14 Lower-lift ways to bring people together06:49 How Summit Series started with a ski trip08:57 Start with the easiest yes09:28 The anchor tenant strategy10:27 Nathan's author mastermind with James Clear11:06 Partnering to host the room12:35 Organizing a team to play above your level13:21 Will Guidara's gratitude for being invited14:51 Buying access and the speed of relationships15:43 Money, moxie, and service15:58 Andrew Wilkinson's $57,000 lunch with Bill Ackman17:58 Moxie and the power of cold emails19:30 The man who stood up Mark Zuckerberg20:45 Nathan chickens out of meeting his heroes22:55 Eight seconds of courage24:02 Leaving energy vs. lingering energy24:47 Nathan's 45-second intro to Chris Brogan25:44 How a quick hello led to a call with Steven Bartlett27:06 Why you shouldn't put people on a pedestal27:53 Abundance vs. scarcity when meeting people29:47 Service and Ryan Holiday's apprenticeship31:20 Why Benjamin Graham told Warren Buffett he was overpriced31:58 Why "How can I help?" is the wrong question32:18 How Jayson built a relationship with Shep Gordon33:12 How to offer help that's actually specific36:00 The relationships that weigh you down38:55 Why all relationships go dormant naturally39:45 Why entrepreneurs and creators feel isolated41:17 Craft + Commerce as an annual pilgrimage42:35 Conferences vs. masterminds vs. communities46:00 Conversations that normally take years48:00 Do great work and your network will find you49:55 How great work raises your hit rate51:54 Why you're not ready for Diary of a CEO53:35 Putting in the reps on camera54:28 Ramit Sethi's advice on media training56:39 Increasing your surface area of luck59:38 Jayson's friends-only email updates1:02:06 The email that saved MMT in 20201:04:59 Who to include on your update list1:05:50 Nathan's missing annual review1:07:22 The 90-minute quarterly update1:08:17 A fan base vs. a community1:09:59 Curating like the bouncer at the club1:10:36 Kit's triads and MMT's MM3s1:15:00 People come for content, stay for community1:15:47 The ask, give, praise model1:18:26 How praise reinforces the value of the network1:21:02 Praise cards mailed 90 days later1:24:18 Why the book is called Community Made1:27:06 Final thoughtsIf 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/showFollow Nathan:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nathanbarryLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathanbarryX: https://twitter.com/nathanbarryYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thenathanbarryshowWebsite: https://nathanbarry.comKit: https://kit.comFollow Jayson:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jaysongaignardX: https://x.com/jaysongaignardLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaysongaignardWebsite: https://www.jaysongaignard.comFeatured in this episode:Kit: https://www.kit.comMMT: https://mmt.communityCommunity Made: https://communitymade.comHighlights:02:22 Jayson had two people at his bachelor party24:02 Leaving energy vs. lingering energy49:55 Why great work changes your hit rate on everything1:02:06 The friends-only email that saved MMT1:21:02 The praise cards Jayson mails out 90 days later

The story you leave out of your content could be the reason someone connects with your work.I sat down with Philip McKernan, author of One Last Talk, who has helped Olympians and World Cup athletes and consulted with the US Army and the Pentagon. We get into why your origin story matters, how to recognise the gifts you undervalue, and why the fear that drives success can eventually become exhausting. Philip walks me through his framework connecting story, gift, and impact, then coaches me live through my discomfort with promoting my upcoming book. A simple drawing exercise leads to a challenge I wasn’t expecting about who I’m letting down by holding back.If you’re building a personal brand but feel uncomfortable sharing your story or promoting your work, I think you’ll get a lot out of this conversation.Timestamps:00:00 Introduction02:00 The business pitch that needed a personal story07:00 Philip’s own origin story11:00 Helping an athlete reconnect with his purpose17:00 Finding the gift you overlook21:00 When fear-driven ambition becomes exhausting24:00 Why I’m not afraid of my business disappearing34:00 Buying a castle when business was down 95%38:00 Building a better relationship with yourself40:00 Why asking for help feels uncomfortable43:00 Philip coaches me through a drawing exercise47:00 The challenge I wasn’t expecting54:00 Why being visible can feel frightening57:00 An exercise to uncover your story1:03:00 Understanding what your happiest days reveal1:09:00 Learning from your darkest days1:16:00 How sharing your story creates connection1:18:00 Final thoughts and where to find PhilipIf 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/showFollow Nathan:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nathanbarryLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathanbarryX: https://twitter.com/nathanbarryYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thenathanbarryshowWebsite: https://nathanbarry.comKit: https://kit.comFollow Philip:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/philip_mckernan/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/philip-mckernanYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@philipmckernanWebsite: https://philipmckernan.comFeatured in this episode:Kit: https://kit.comOne Last Talk: https://onelasttalk.comThe Ladders of Wealth: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Ladders-of-Wealth/Nathan-Barry/9798893312393Highlights:02:00 The business pitch that needed a personal story21:00 When fear-driven ambition becomes exhausting43:00 Philip coaches me live47:00 Why we undervalue our own work57:00 An exercise to uncover your story

Most creators try to grow by posting more. More content, more platforms, more hours. But the biggest creators and thought leaders grow in a very different way, and most of it happens behind the scenes.I sat down with Domonkos "Doma" Eross, founder of Flowin, a creative agency for thought leaders, to talk about what actually drives audience growth right now. We get into his seven strategic steps to succeed as a thought leader, why creator partnerships are the number one source of growth in the creator economy, and Doma’s outreach technique for landing dream clients.If you've ever wanted to know the systems the biggest creators use to consistently grow their audiences, I think you'll get a lot out of this conversation.Timestamps:00:00 Introduction01:33 How Doma started working with thought leaders03:03 Why direct outreach works03:33 The Manchester United cold email05:05 Why a well-packaged pitch gets attention06:49 Using credibility to get past the first filter08:06 How office hours turned into clients09:13 Leaving energy vs lingering energy10:13 Why curiosity beats a target list11:59 How your network compounds12:54 The seven steps to succeed as a thought leader13:18 Step 1: Develop exceptional knowledge first14:17 Step 2: Define your mission and theory of change16:19 Step 3: Build an ecosystem strategy18:21 Matching your ecosystem to how you make money19:51 Step 4: Turn your ideas into the right content21:18 Protecting clients from the wrong projects22:38 Step 5: Build the right team23:12 Why team size and influence don't correlate24:55 How James Clear decides what to work on26:32 Building a team around impact28:26 The most surprising role on a thought leader's team30:53 What thought leaders know about saying no32:17 Focus on your craft and outsource the rest33:22 Step 6: Creator partnerships, the #1 source of growth35:14 Why Creator Network works better than list swaps37:19 How partnerships work at a smaller scale39:00 How much growth Creator Network drives40:27 Why partnerships are a win-win41:22 Set up partnerships before your podcast episode airs44:27 Why the creator economy isn't competitive46:32 What Doma has learned from his clients47:57 Step 7: Build and perfect your organic channels48:13 Why your newsletter is the only channel you own49:56 Building a newsletter that sounds like you53:05 The three phases of a book launch54:15 Teasing your book in your newsletter55:26 Why you need to book podcasts months ahead56:08 The concentrated strike approach56:34 How to pitch the biggest podcasts58:48 Which podcasts actually sell books59:50 The people behind podcast bookings1:01:36 Using a live event to launch a book1:03:37 How Doma runs Flowin1:05:08 Why Doma doesn't want to scale1:06:40 Final thoughtsIf 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/showFollow Nathan:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nathanbarryLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathanbarryX: https://twitter.com/nathanbarryYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thenathanbarryshowWebsite: https://nathanbarry.comKit: https://kit.comFollow Doma:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/domonkoserossWebsite: https://flowin.consultingFeatured in this episode:Kit: https://www.kit.comFlowin: https://flowin.consultingHighlights:03:33 The Manchester United cold email13:18 Why thought leadership is the result, not the goal24:55 How James Clear decides what to work on33:22 The #1 source of growth in the creator economy53:05 The three phases of a book launch

Personal brand has become one of the biggest buzzwords in the creator world. Creators everywhere are launching offers, building funnels, and posting consistently, yet very few are creating something people actually remember.I sat down with Chris Do, Emmy award-winning designer and founder of The Futur, to talk about what it really takes to build a personal brand that stands out. We get into why most creators end up serviceable but forgettable, why branding comes down to differentiation, and the three-part framework behind brands people obsess over. Chris also shares why the real work of personal branding happens internally, how to find your voice phrase, and the trust triangle that decides who audiences believe. Partway through, he turns the interview around and starts coaching me, and we go much deeper than I expected.If you're building a personal brand and wondering why it isn't resonating yet, I think you'll get a lot out of this conversation.Timestamps:00:00 Introduction01:39 What it means to un-bland yourself02:48 Why branding is all about differentiation03:04 Why Apple has a brand and Dell doesn't04:31 How status and identity drive what we buy07:29 How Target built a brand10:42 How Kit positions its brand11:44 Moving from features to meaning14:11 Why most personal brands are really marketing funnels16:11 Why personal brand work is internal16:26 How we lose who we really are19:04 Chris starts asking the questions20:24 How getting sick at 24 changed Nathan's identity21:51 Why we tie our identity to what we do23:03 Who are you outside of your work?23:36 Why you are the gift25:51 How Chris answers "who are you?"26:36 The difference between design and art28:45 Why being true to yourself comes first29:45 Nathan's mission32:24 Why Chris moved from commercial work to content33:36 Why your brand needs to stand against something35:44 Finding your keyword and your nemesis37:03 Why the best heroes have great enemies40:39 The three-part personal brand framework41:49 Chris's own brand triangle42:33 Workshopping Nathan's personal brand43:30 Separating who you are from your company44:44 The story behind Chris's mission47:25 Why all strategy is autobiographical48:13 Nathan on feeling like a burden49:29 Nathan's story about his stepdad53:49 Chris's read on Nathan's story56:36 Finding Nathan's rallying cry59:28 Learning to accept help1:01:26 Why we trust people who aren't perfect online1:02:00 The trust triangle1:04:52 How to find your voice phrase1:08:21 Final thoughtsIf 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/showFollow Nathan:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nathanbarryLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathanbarryX: https://twitter.com/nathanbarryYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thenathanbarryshowWebsite: https://nathanbarry.comKit: https://kit.comFollow Chris:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thechrisdoX: https://x.com/thechrisdoLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thechrisdoYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thefuturWebsite: https://thefutur.comFeatured in this episode:Kit: https://www.kit.comThe Futur: https://thefutur.comHighlights:03:04 Why Apple has a brand and Dell doesn't14:11 Why most personal brands are really marketing funnels40:39 The three-part framework behind Bryan Johnson's brand49:14 Chris turns the interview around1:05:17 How to find your voice phrase