Discover
Before The Bestseller
Before The Bestseller
Author: Alex Strathdee
Subscribed: 10Played: 466Subscribe
Share
© 2025 Before The Bestseller
Description
This show is for book lovers and creators who want to go behind the scenes with their favorite authors to hear about how they were able to not just write a book but create a movement.
215 Episodes
Reverse
In this episode, we're back with Nir Eyal, speaker, behavioral design expert, and bestselling author of Hooked and Indistractable. Nir takes us through his journey from self-publishing to achieving success as a traditionally published author. He reveals the strategies that helped him build a strong audience, such as creating engaging content, gathering early feedback, and fostering a loyal community. Nir highlights the importance of engaging with readers early on and shares how his innovative...
In this episode, we welcome Nir Eyal, a renowned author, speaker, and expert in the field of behavioral design. His curiosity about how people form habits and make decisions shaped his writing, particularly in his books Hooked and Indistractable. Hooked explores the psychology behind building habit-forming products, while Indistractable dives into the root causes of distraction, offering practical tools to help people regain focus and manage their habits. Nir delves into powerful insights o...
In this episode, Pascal Bornet, award-winning AI and automation expert, keynote speaker, influencer, and best-selling author, shares how he became successful in his field and built a strong personal brand. His book, Irreplaceable: The Rise of Human-AI Collaboration, has sold over 4,000 copies within just six weeks of its release, with a goal of reaching 20,000 to 25,000 copies in the next year. Pascal frequently shares articles, updates, and insights on LinkedIn about AI, automation, and the...
Today, we’re diving into the captivating world where humanity meets artificial intelligence with award-winning AI & Automation Expert, Keynote Speaker, Influencer and Best-Selling Author with over two million followers, Pascal Bornet. Join us as we chat with thought leader Pascal, who unpacks his groundbreaking book, Irreplaceable. We explore how AI is reshaping our world and what it means for our uniquely human abilities. From genuine creativity and critical thinking to social authentic...
In this episode, we’re back with Chris Benetti, founder of Smart Author Media and host of the Smart Author podcast, for a deep dive into book marketing strategies and the evolving landscape of selling books. Chris highlights the importance of understanding customer needs and adapting marketing approaches, particularly emphasizing the effectiveness of Amazon ads for straightforward book sales. He also mentions the potential of TikTok Shop ads, though they require a lot of creative effort. We t...
In this episode, we’re thrilled to welcome Chris Benetti, founder of Smart Author Media and host of the Smart Author podcast, who has sold over 40,000 books and invested nearly a million dollars in advertising, collaborating with industry leaders like Ryan Deiss, the author of Get Scalable. We dive deep into Chris's insights on crafting nonfiction books that resonate with readers and convert them into leads. We talk about strategies like conducting an "ask campaign" to gather valuable insigh...
We’re back with another episode of our Friday Sessions featuring Laura Russom, Director of Author Success. Today, we have the pleasure of introducing Kat Finnerty, author of Never Let a Good Disaster Go to Waste: Making Sense of a Life of Absurdity, A Memoir. Kat shares her inspiring journey of writing her memoir, encapsulating struggles like personal betrayal and the complexities of book marketing. In this session, we take a closer look at how Amazon ads function and the typical hurdles aut...
Today, we’re featuring a special episode from one of our Friday Sessions with Laura Russom, our Director of Author Success to share valuable insights from our years of experience in the community. This session aims to equip authors with essential tools and deepen their understanding of the publishing industry! We’re excited to welcome three amazing authors: Brooke Bussard, MD, author of Chew On This: Bite-Sized Stories about Nutrition; Nathan Tanner, who wrote The Unconquerable Leader: Maste...
Today we welcome Elaine Boddy, a UK-based author renowned for her expertise in sourdough baking, having authored three books: Whole Grain Sourdough at Home, The Sourdough Whisperer, and Easy Everyday Sourdough Bread Baking. With her fourth book, The Sourdough Bible, coming out in late 2024, Elaine is on a mission to make sourdough baking simpler and more accessible for everyone. Her journey began in 2013 with a food blog, sharing her passion for Middle Eastern dishes and her baking adventure...
This week, we welcome back Michael Drew to our show. He is a seasoned expert on book lists and is known for his deep knowledge and insights into the world of best-seller rankings. Michael frequently shares his expertise on how various lists operate and their impact on the book industry. Michael dives into the recent discontinuation of the Wall Street Journal’s best-seller list, thoroughly exploring the reasons behind it and what it means for the industry. Losing the list has hit bookstores, ...
In today’s episode, we are joined by Laura Russom, from our team in Advanced Amazon Ads. Laura brings a wealth of experience from her previous role in indie publishing, where she honed her skills in paid advertising. We explore why it’s crucial to start your marketing strategy at least six months before your book's release. Our discussion covers practical tips for validating demand with tools like Google Trends and social media, understanding and narrowing down your target audience, and desig...
In this episode, we’re thrilled to chat with AJ as we uncover his book,Great on Their Behalf: Why School Boards Fail, How Yours Can Become Effective. AJ shares his journey from a concerned parent to a seasoned school board member and author. He discusses the crucial lessons he learned about effective governance and how they extend beyond school boards to other types of organizations. AJ highlights key concepts from his book, setting specific, measurable goals that align with desired student o...
Today’s episode features an interview with Brian Sachetta, author of Get Out of Your Head. We explore Brian’s personal journey with anxiety and the transformative experiences that inspired his groundbreaking book. Brian opens up about his struggles with anxiety starting at age 18 and how years of dedicated research shaped the strategies outlined in his book. He offers a fascinating look at how the landscape of anxiety information has evolved since 2008, contrasting the scarcity of resources i...
In this episode, we delve into the success of Areté: Activate Your Heroic Potential, which has sold 50,000 copies within just six months. We touch on the marketing strategies and Brian’s decision-making process that contributed to the book’s achievement. Brian shares valuable insights on trusting one's instincts and making bold choices, reflecting on his journey and the importance of quality and self-trust in the publishing world. Our conversation also highlights the concept of "planting see...
We dive into the world of Brian Johnson, Founder & CEO of Heroic Public Benefit Corporation and author of Areté: Activate Your Heroic Potential. He’s 50% Philosopher + 50% CEO and 101% committed to helping create a world in which 51% of humanity is flourishing by the year 2051. He's even got it tattooed on his arm. As a philosopher and educator, he has helped millions of people from around the world, trained over 10,000 Heroic Coaches from more than 100 countries, and developed a transfor...
In today’s episode, I have the pleasure of speaking with Karen Morris, author of A Year Without The Grocery Store. This engaging short read explores her journey in mastering home preparedness and equipping herself for any situation, with strategies for maintaining readiness that are particularly compelling. As a mother and wife, you'll find the book both practical and inspiring. I highly recommend tuning in to learn how Karen expertly balances demanding tasks—such as one-on-one outreach with ...
If you're in the business world, there’s a good chance that you’ve heard of the book Radical Candor by Kim Scott. She’s also the writer behind Radical Respect. In this episode, we delve into the intricacies of all the major aspects such as her approach to writing her books, her strategic thinking on marketing, and her methods for sustaining book promotion momentum. These are amazing and pivotal books that stand out as essential reads, offering profound perspectives on leadership, management, ...
On this week’s episode, we welcome Ryan Estrada, an artist, author, and adventurer who co-wrote the Banned Book Club, a fascinating graphic novel detailing his wife's experience in the 1980s of reading banned books in South Korea. We covered a lot of ground in our conversation: how to market your book to multiple demographics and audiences, finding passionate supporters or readers, maintaining momentum, and post-viral book marketing. Ryan shares plenty of valuable advice and memorable one-lin...
Our guest for today is a good friend of mine, Scott Lorenz, with an amazing history and expertise as a book publicist. Scott also serves as the President of Westwind Communications, a distinguished public relations and marketing agency that specializes in providing strategic PR and marketing services tailored to professionals such as Doctors, Lawyers, Authors, Startups, and Entrepreneurs. He has successfully managed publicity campaigns for books authored by CEOs, Navy SEALS, Homemakers, Fitne...
In today's episode we welcome back Michael Drew a close friend of mine and a significantly towering figure in the realm of publishing, with a rich background having worked in different roles in traditional publishing, including Bard Press. Michael has has been instrumental and helped many famous authors launch successful books, such as T. Harv Ecker and Marshall Goldsmith. His expertise far exceeds mine and many other sources I consult for information. We explore the intricate landscape of b...



