The Nathan Barry Show

What does it take to build a million-subscriber YouTube channel, launch a best-selling book, and then walk away from it all for over a year? Noah Kagan, founder of AppSumo, joins Nathan to candidly discuss his journey from full-throttle content creation to a deliberate pause. Noah shares the unexpected internal and external pressures that came with his meteoric rise on YouTube, the strategic decisions that led to viral success, and why, despite achieving his goals, he ultimately stepped back. This conversation offers a rare glimpse into the mindset of a creator who prioritized personal fulfillment over endless growth, and how that decision reshaped his approach to content, business, and life.
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
02:26 The decision to go all-in on YouTube
05:15 Noah's internal motivations for content creation
07:38 Building the YouTube "dream team"
10:14 The early content strategy and challenges
13:17 The pivotal "Knocking on Doors" video
16:45 The cost of rapid growth and Noah's burnout
19:10 The successful content pillars uncovered
22:18 The meticulous planning behind viral videos
25:34 Seeking timeless wisdom: interviewing the wealthy
28:22 Noah's biggest regret with the channel
30:58 Finding repeatable content formats
33:55 Identifying your unique content edge
37:25 The appeal of raw, unpolished content
40:31 The impact of fatherhood on content creation
43:10 Noah's vision for future content creation
45:47 The value of a public presence for business
48:29 The challenge of building internal influencers
51:04 Brainstorming content ideas for Kit
54:20 The power of high-caliber speakers
57:38 Content that ties directly to your business
1:00:27 Noah's current content philosophy
1:02:40 On Twitter: counterintuitive long stories
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
Kit: https://kit.com
Follow Noah:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/noahkagan
X: https://twitter.com/noahkagan
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/noahkagan
Website: https://noahkagan.com
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/AppSumo
AppSumo: https://appsumo.com

Featured in this episode:
Kit: https://www.kit.com
AppSumo: https://appsumo.com
Clickables: https://www.clickableshq.com
Million Dollar Weekend: https://www.amazon.com/Million-Dollar-Weekend-Money-Freedom/dp/0593796593

Highlights:
02:15 – Questioning the "Why" of Content Creation
08:29 – The Shift from Public Validation to Inner Contentment
12:29 – The Audience Cares About Entertainment, Not You
17:08 – The Challenge of Following a Viral Hit
23:25 – Repeating What Works: The Kinko's Founder Interview
36:00 – The Value of Raw, Unpolished Content
53:08 – Using Conferences for High-Value Content

What does it take to build a profitable, impactful business while empowering more than 100,000 women? Julia Taylor, founder of GeekPack, shares her incredible journey from the intelligence community to building a thriving company with a mission to reach a million women by 2030. In this episode, Julia unveils her "embedded partnerships framework" – a potent strategy that's catapulted 70% of her revenue this year alone by fostering deep, meaningful collaborations with major brands like Verizon and TikTok. Discover how strategic alignment, win-win-win scenarios, custom integrations, co-creation, and robust impact reporting are key to scaling your business and making a true difference.
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
02:51 From Intelligence to Entrepreneurship
06:23 The Confidence Transfer of Digital Skills
09:12 What is GeekPack's Current Business & Mission?
12:07 Point 1: Partnership Alignment
15:19 Point 2: Win-Win-Win Framework
17:09 Point 3: Custom Integration & Ecosystem
21:04 Point 4: Co-creation and Delivery
24:06 Point 5: Measurement and Momentum
27:17 Scaling with In-Person Events
30:20 CEO KPI: Public Mission Statements
34:02 The Sales Process & Team Empowerment
36:06 Hiring for Personality & Mission Alignment
40:51 The B2B and B2C Flywheel
44:17 Overcoming Bottlenecks: Time and Team
48:29 Building a Talent Bench
52:16 Audience Growth Strategies
56:45 Your Role in Social Content Creation
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
Kit: https://kit.com
Follow Julia:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliathegeek
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/julia_the_geek
Website: https://geekpack.com

Featured in this episode:
Kit: https://www.kit.com
Small Business Digital Ready (Verizon): https://www.verizon.com/about/responsibility/small-business-digital-ready
Make: https://www.make.com/en
Relay: https://www.relayfi.com
SparkLoop: https://www.sparkloop.app

Highlights:
02:00 – Unpacking the Intelligence Community Past
08:00 – The Power of Inspect Tools Confidence
13:11 – Verizon and Geographic/Demographic Alignment
22:00 – How Impact Reports Drive Momentum
32:40 – Nathan's "Four Times a Month" Realization
41:30 – Why Predictable Revenue Fuels Creativity
54:10 – SparkLoop's Impact on Engaged Subscribers

Chris Hutchins, host of the wildly popular All the Hacks podcast, joins us to crack the code on podcast growth. Most creators dream of building a brand, attracting millions of listeners, and monetizing their passion, but Chris has actually done it, transforming his podcast into a powerhouse through meticulous optimization. If you've ever wondered how successful podcasts truly scale beyond the initial buzz, or how to inject startup-level strategic thinking into your creative venture, this episode is a masterclass. Chris reveals the behind-the-scenes tactics that catapulted his show to millions of downloads, sharing the unconventional strategies that maximize reach and impact.
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
07:08 The Underrated Power of Networking
11:09 Leveraging Your Inner Circle for Connections
15:08 Crafting Pitches That Stand Out
20:00 The Value of Deep Expertise
23:44 Podcast Growth: Beyond the Numbers
28:07 Gauging Podcast Potential with Overcast Ads
32:20 Strategic Guesting on Other Podcasts
37:57 The Art of Asking to Be a Host
42:04 Maximizing Value in Podcast Collaborations
46:19 The Untapped Potential of Post-Roll Ads
51:00 Subsidizing Growth for Maximum Scale
54:15 Reinvestment and Strategic Retreats
58:24 Optimizing for Leverage, Not Just Revenue
1:01:52 Gaming the Podcast Charts
1:08:14 Essential Personal Finance Hacks
1:10:00 The Ultimate Hotel Upgrade Hack
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
Kit: https://kit.com
Follow Chris:
Website: https://allthehacks.com
X: https://x.com/hutchins
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrishutchins
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chrishutchins
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@chris-hutchins

Featured in this episode:
Kit: https://www.kit.com
All the Hacks: https://allthehacks.com

Highlights:
02:22 Shifting from Entrepreneur to Creator Identity
08:31 The Power Move of Ending a Conversation
12:12 Networking by Adding Value to an Inner Circle
26:35 Podcast Downloads vs. YouTube Views: Engagement Matters
34:04 Treating Your Creator Business Like a Startup
45:15 The Strategy of Buying Post-Roll Ads
1:08:29 Why You Should Never Leave Cash in a Checking Account

What does it take to scale a business to a multi-million dollar enterprise and beyond, all while maintaining profitability and a thriving culture? Chandler Bolt, founder of selfpublishing.com sits down in his bustling office to reveal the crucial shifts and strategic insights that propelled his company from the initial million-dollar milestone to hitting the ambitious $10 million mark and charting a course for even greater heights.
From turning business into a game complete with scoreboards and "green days" to mastering product-market fit and the art of "reverse selling" in hiring, Chandler shares the unconventional wisdom he's gained on his journey. This episode is packed with candid advice for entrepreneurs at every stage, exploring the often-overlooked distinctions between revenue and profit, the true cost of growth, and the surprising benefits of in-person collaboration in an increasingly remote world.
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
07:11 The three most important metrics & activities
14:26 Is the first million the hardest?
21:07 Profit over revenue for scaling
27:18 Three ways to grow a business
32:00 Reverse selling to attract top talent
37:29 Offboarding team members gracefully
43:24 The power of implementing strong processes
49:50 The need for scalable customer acquisition at $10M+
55:23 The shift to an in-person culture
01:00:30 Remote vs. in-person debate
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
Kit: https://kit.com
Follow Chandler:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ChandlerBoltOfficial
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/realchandlerbolt
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@realchandlerbolt
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chandlerbolt
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chandler.bolt1
Website: https://www.selfpublishing.com
Book a call with Chandler’s team: http://selfpublishing.com/work-with-us

Featured in this episode:
Kit: https://www.kit.com
Self Publishing: https://www.selfpublishing.com

Steering a company from nascent idea to multi-million dollar revenue is rarely a smooth ride. Often, it's a journey fraught with uncertainty, tough decisions, and the internal battles no one sees. For Nathan, the guiding hand through much of this journey has been his coach, Dan Putt. As a co-founder of Reboot, Dan has spent years working with leaders and executives, helping them navigate growth without losing themselves in the process. In this episode, Dan shares not only his unique coaching philosophy - which emphasizes a deep, inside-out understanding of oneself, but also practical tools and frameworks that address common founder sticking points like imposter syndrome, the fear of conflict, and the allure of the "magic bullet" solution. Get ready to rethink your approach to leadership and personal development.
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
02:23 Dan's coaching philosophy
04:36 The Greek God CEO and imposter syndrome
07:11 The "have to" versus "get to" reframe
10:00 What problems say about identity
12:56 Listening to understand: Beyond the words
15:46 Inside-out leadership development
18:31 The challenge of competitive responses
21:52 Journaling for self-discovery
25:21 Practical tips for consistent journaling
28:11 Getting clear on what you truly want
30:26 The "loyal soldier" concept
33:53 How personal traits drive ambition
38:39 The shift from "need" to "want"
41:43 Conflict as progress and care
45:34 Tools for navigating conflict
50:47 The "net" framework for communication
52:23 Avoiding problems vs. facing them
55:29 The temptation of the "magic bullet"
59:08 Feeling the fear without dwelling
1:01:21 The tantruming toddler metaphor for anxiety
1:03:00 Leading with curiosity, not fear
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
Kit: https://kit.com
Follow Dan:
Website: https://danputt.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danputt
X: https://twitter.com/danputt
Company Website: https://reboot.io
Featured in this episode:
Kit: https://www.kit.com
Reboot.io: https://reboot.io
The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron: https://juliacameronlive.com/books/the-artists-way
750words.com: https://750words.com
The Obstacle Is the Way by Ryan Holiday: https://ryanholiday.com/books/the-obstacle-is-the-way
Extreme Ownership by Jocko Willink: https://echelonfront.com/Extreme-Ownership

Highlights:
02:47 Understanding the spectrum of coaching approaches
08:24 The danger of linking self-worth to problems
13:44 The wisdom found at the emotional level
23:25 The clarifying power of daily journaling
34:05 How the "loyal soldier" shapes our drives
45:51 Why true care often requires conflict
53:49 Facing uncomfortable feelings builds resilience
1:01:05 Approaching anxiety like a tantruming child
1:03:54 Shifting from fear to wonder for better leadership