Before The Bestseller

Today we welcome back Commander Mark Divine, a man who has led Navy SEALs, built multimillion-dollar training companies, and sold hundreds of thousands of books, to unpack the real story of what it takes to write and market a bestseller. Mark is not only a retired SEAL Commander but also the founder of SEALFit and Unbeatable Mind, programs that combine elite physical training with mindfulness, breathwork, and visualization. His books, including 8 Weeks to SEALFit, The Way of the SEAL, Staring Down the Wolf, and Unbeatable Mind, have earned...

Today, Commander Mark Divine joins us with a rare blend of grit and clarity. He is the author of Unbeatable Mind, a field-tested guide to building calm, focus, and purpose under pressure, a self-published success with seven-figure earnings and an estimated 300,000 to 400,000 copies sold. A former Navy SEAL Commander and New York Times bestselling author, Mark holds a PhD in Global Leadership and Change from Pepperdine, co-founded SEALFIT, Unbeatable Mind, and Coronado Brewing Company, and has trained teams at Google, Nike, SpaceX, Boeing, Harvard, the Olympics, and YPO. He also taught leadership as an adjunct...

Our guest for today’s episode is Blake Erickson, someone whose story of grit and growth is as inspiring as it is practical. From starting in door-to-door sales at 21 and leading teams that generated over $30M in revenue, to becoming a multimillionaire by 25, Blake has proven what’s possible when focus meets ambition. In 2024, he co-founded Scaling.com with Dr. Benjamin Hardy and together they wrote The Science of Scaling, a playbook for achieving exponential growth. More than the milestones, what defines Blake is his passion for turning his own success into a road...

We’re back with our very special guest, Tom O’Neill, investigative journalist and author of the bestselling book Chaos: Charles Manson, the CIA, and the Secret History of the Sixties. After more than twenty years of relentless reporting, Tom’s work reshaped one of America’s most infamous stories and became a publishing phenomenon, selling over 750,000 copies worldwide and putting him on track to cross the one-million mark.

In this episode, Tom opens up about the marketing journey behind Chaos and how it went from a decades-long investigation to a book that stayed o...

Today we have a very special guest, and not the kind of guest we usually feature. Tom O’Neill is an investigative journalist who never set out to write a book at all. But what began as a short magazine assignment about the Manson murders turned into a 20-year obsession that became his bestselling book Chaos: Charles Manson, the CIA, and the Secret History of the Sixties.

Tom is an award-winning journalist whose work has appeared in Premiere, New York, The Village Voice, and Details. With Chaos, he went far beyond the well-known st...

We are back with Mike Paton, co-author of Process! and Get a Grip in the Traction Library. Mike has spent over 15 years helping leadership teams run stronger, more efficient businesses through the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS). Alongside Gino Wickman and Lisa González, his books have reached tens of thousands of readers worldwide. Process! alone has 75,000 to 85,000 copies in the wild.

In this episode, Paton breaks down how he took Process! from first release to widespread readership. From leveraging EOS Worldwide’s platform and a strategic publishing partnership with BenBella Books, to...

What does it really take to build a business that runs without you? In today’s episode, we sit down with Mike Paton, EOS expert, speaker, and co-author of Process!, to unpack the systems behind sustainable growth.

Mike Paton is the co-author of Get a Grip and Process!, two cornerstone titles in the Traction Library that help entrepreneurial teams simplify and scale through systems. Beyond his writing, Paton has spent the last 17 years guiding leaders around the world as an EOS Implementer®, keynote speaker, and host of the top-rated pod...

Today we're excited to welcome Navid Nazemian, best-selling author of Mastering Executive Transitions: The Definitive Guide. He is a speaker on leadership and career topics, and an executive coach affiliated with groups like 100 Coaches Agency and Hult Ashridge. Navid draws on 25+ years of global leadership to help executives navigate high-stakes transitions and deliver lasting impact. Recognized as the world’s #1 Coach by CEO Today for three consecutive years, he has supported senior leaders across top firms including BP, Coca-Cola, TikTok, Shell, and SAP.

In this episode, Navid shares the hard-won insights behind his bo...

We’re back with bestselling author Jim Murphy, author of Inner Excellence and The Best Possible Life. As a high-performance coach to world champions, CEOs, and elite athletes, Jim brings over 15 years of experience helping people live and lead with purpose. His book Inner Excellence, now translated into 27 languages, has quietly become a global success, rooted in years of research, real-world coaching, and a relentless commitment to inner growth.

In this episode, Jim shares the full story behind the moment his book went viral when NFL star A.J. Brown was sp...

Today’s guest is someone who’s helped some of the world’s top performers not just succeed, but grow into stronger, more grounded people. Jim Murphy is the author of the best-selling book Inner Excellence, a mindset and system he’s shared with professional athletes, CEOs, and world champions around the globe. His work is all about training the heart for peak performance under pressure and finding deep joy, peace, and purpose in the process.

A former professional baseball player turned high-performance coach, Jim wrote Inner Excellence after five years of deep research...

It’s our pleasure to welcome back Brendan Kane, bestselling author of 1 Million Followers, Hook Point, and now The Guide to Going Viral. Brendan has worked with some of the biggest names in entertainment and business, including Taylor Swift, Rihanna, Katie Couric, MTV, Paramount, and IKEA. But his strategies aren’t just for celebrities or major companies. He’s also helped everyday creators, entrepreneurs, and authors grow real audiences from the ground up, including those starting with no social media presence at all. Brendan is back with us again for a breakd...

What does it really take to go viral? In this episode, we’re joined by Brendan Kane, bestselling author of One Million Followers, The Hook Point, and now The Guide to Going Viral. Brendan is the behind-the-scenes strategist for some of the world’s biggest brands and celebrities, including Taylor Swift, Rihanna, IKEA, Vice, and Sketchers. He once gained over one million followers in 100 countries in just 30 days and has helped clients turn zero visibility into global attention.

In this conversation, Brendan breaks down the myth that virality is just...

Today marks the final episode of Before the Bestseller, our 18-part series where we’ve broken down the entire audiobook into focused, actionable chapters for nonfiction authors. If you've made it this far, you're not just dreaming about sharing your book with the world—you’re committed to doing it right. This final chapter is all about turning everything you’ve learned into a clear, personalized book marketing blueprint.

We’ll walk you through how to take inventory of your assets, set realistic goals for each marketing tool, and build a week-by-week strategy, whether you’re months ou...

We’re down to the final stretch. In episode 17 of our 18-part series, Before the Bestseller, we’re diving into two topics that get a lot of attention in the publishing world: traditional PR and what it really means to make a bestseller list. As we near the end of this audiobook journey, this chapter pulls back the curtain on some of the final, more public-facing tools authors often consider.

Some authors found their way into media coverage by paying attention to what was already being talked about and figuring out how their book could genu...

We’re back with episode 16 of our 18-part series, where we're putting the entire book Before the Bestseller up on our podcast for you to listen to. We’re just a couple of episodes away from the final chapter, and we hope you’ve been making great progress since you first started listening. In this episode, we’re talking about building a launch team for your book. This is the part where we start figuring out what that process actually looks like and how to make it work.

Putting together a launch team can feel a little...

Today we’re on Episode 15 of our 18-part series Before the Bestseller, and we’re digging into a topic that can quietly make or break your book’s reach: gatekeepers. These are the people your readers already trust—think podcasters, bloggers, authors, and professionals—and earning their support can take your book much further than trying to do it all yourself.

This episode unpacks what it really takes to connect with the right people—without spamming or cold pitching. We explore ways to build genuine relationships, offer value in unexpected ways, and stay consistent with outreach acr...

We’re back with episode 14 of our Before the Bestseller book series, where we dive into one of the most creative parts of the book, the section where we talk about bold, outside-the-box marketing moves. This is for the moments when standard strategies just don’t cut it and you're ready to try something a little more daring.

We’ll explore how some bestselling authors turned unexpected tactics into powerful book-selling engines, marketing ideas that don’t follow traditional book promotion paths. Think car washes, thank-you pages, handwritten notes, rubber chickens (yes, really), and how speaking...

Today, we’re diving into episode 13 of our 18-part series Before the Bestseller, where we’re putting the entire audiobook up on our podcast for the dedicated listeners who make this possible. This episode focuses on one of the hardest things for authors to gather over time: ratings and reviews.

We dive deep into the practical details of why Amazon ratings matter so much, the difference between star ratings, written reviews, and editorial reviews, and debunk the myth of the “magic 100 ratings.” You’ll hear clear strategies for how to ask readers for reviews without pressure...

Welcome back to the Bite-Sized Book Marketing Masterclass — a special 18-episode series where I break down the key insights from my latest book! We’re now on Episode 12, which covers Chapters 33 and 34 of Before the Bestseller.

Some authors build launch plans. Others just start handing out books. In this episode, we look at two very different approaches that helped nonfiction authors gain serious traction without relying on ads, algorithms, or a massive platform.

You’ll hear stories from authors who gave away thousands of copies by hand and others who landed bulk buys from c...

What happens when your podcast interviews actually move the needle on book sales? In episode 11 of our 18-part book series, we dig into how to land better podcast guest spots and make them count. From targeting the right shows to crafting a pitch that actually gets noticed, you’ll get a behind-the-scenes look at how authors can turn interviews into real traction.

You’ll also hear how to avoid wasting time on the wrong podcasts, why host credibility matters more than audience size, and how being a great guest goes way beyond sharing your bio. We’ll talk a...

We’re in the second half of the book series and continue our journey through Before the Bestseller, focusing on one of the trickier parts of book marketing: organic social media.

In this episode, we explore how several nonfiction authors have approached social media in very different ways. These are real case studies—authors who built audiences without running ads, chasing trends, or turning into full-time creators. Each found a method that matched their voice, bandwidth, and goals.

One author posts once a week and leans heavily into psychology and intentionality. Another posts mult...

Welcome back to Chapter 30 and Episode 9 of the book, Before the Bestseller,  where we break down the audiobook and dive deeper into what it takes to successfully launch a nonfiction book. From high-visibility platforms to behind-the-scenes approaches, this episode opens the door to tactics beyond the basics and paid methods that could truly make a difference. 

In this episode, we unpack a handful of lesser-discussed strategies nonfiction authors use to get their books seen, shared, and sometimes, stocked in places you might not expect.

We dig into things like BookBub Featured Deals, smart wa...

In Episode 8 of the Before the Bestseller book series, we dive deep into Chapter 29, your go-to blueprint for running high-performing Meta (Facebook) ads for nonfiction authors.

Despite big shifts in privacy policies and targeting limitations, Meta ads remain a powerful force for book marketing when used strategically. This episode distills insights from our own chief marketing scientist, Laura Russom (formerly head of paid media at a major publishing house), to help you cut through the noise.

You'll discover creative targeting tactics for niche audiences, how to turn Facebook clicks into Amazon visibility, and...

Amazon is where nonfiction books break out, take off, or quietly disappear—and understanding why can give your book a serious edge. In this episode, we go deep into the world of Amazon ads and unpack the invisible mechanics behind one of the most powerful discovery tools in publishing. What actually happens when someone searches for a book like yours? How does Amazon decide whose book to show, and what role do things like keywords, past sales, and even off-Amazon traffic play in that decision?

We’ll break down the essentials of how Amazon ads work—from the au...

Most authors try to sell their book from day one. But what if the smartest move you could make was giving it away—for free? 

In this episode of Before the Bestseller Book Series, we explore one of the most underused and misunderstood tools in the book marketing playbook: free reader seeding. This isn’t about mass giveaways with no purpose—it’s about getting your book into the hands of real readers, inside real communities, and building organic momentum from the ground up. I share the story of my first book launch back in 2018—how it taug...

In this episode of Before the Bestseller, we walk through exactly how to use your email list to build momentum, create consistent engagement, and convert attention into actual book sales. If you're launching a nonfiction book, your email list isn’t optional—it’s the foundation of your marketing strategy.

This is Chapter 25 of the audiobook, episode 5 of our book series, and it’s all about turning your list into a launch engine. Whether you’re starting from scratch or reactivating a list that’s gone quiet, we cover what to send, when to send it, and how...

In this episode, we wrap up Part 2 of the book, Before The Bestseller, by exploring one of the most underrated book marketing strategies: knowing exactly who your book is for and how to reach them. We dive deep into how to define your ideal reader and build clear, actionable reader personas that go beyond vague categories—think specific, targeted groups that truly resonate with your message.

You’ll learn how to identify and learn from your author twin—a writer in your niche who’s already reaching the audience you want. We also walk through how to d...

In this episode of Before the Bestseller Podcast Series, we dive into one of the most underestimated keys to sustainable book marketing: building a team. Whether you’re juggling social media, podcast pitching, newsletter writing, or event outreach—trying to do it all yourself is a fast track to burnout. From hiring international virtual assistants to collaborating with expert marketers, you'll learn who to bring on board, how to find them, and what tasks you should never be doing alone again. We even explore how to leverage AI like ChatGPT to fill in the gaps.

If y...

Welcome back to our 18-episode bite-sized book marketing series! In this episode, we’re diving into part 2 of the book Before The Bestseller, covering chapters 14 through 19, and breaking down exactly how to make your book marketing easier, smarter, and actually worth your time. 

You’ll learn:

Welcome to the Bite-Sized Book Marketing Masterclass — a special 18-episode series where I break down the key insights from my latest book!

Over the next 18 episodes, you'll get practical, proven strategies from everything I've learned — marketing books, spending over $10 million on campaigns, and working with hundreds of authors over the past six years. Each episode delivers a short, powerful takeaway — covering what to do, what to avoid, and how to give your book its best chance to thrive.

In this episode, we’ll dive into:

Chris Jordan is back on the show, and as always, he’s bringing fresh perspectives on how to navigate the shifting landscape of LinkedIn and digital content. Chris is a Content Strategist & Ghostwriter for B2B Founders who’s worked alongside some of the most influential thought leaders out there, including Lewis Howes, Daymond John, Dr. Benjamin Hardy, Julia Carlson, Ben Nemtin, and many others. In this episode, we unpack the dynamics behind content performance on LinkedIn in 2025, exploring why low engagement doesn’t always mean low impact. Chris shares insights into how silent lurkers might actually be you...

We're excited to welcome back a familiar voice to the show, as Chris Jordan returns to share even more insights and strategies with us. Chris has worked with some of the biggest thought leaders in the industry, including Lewis Howes, Daymond John, Dr. Benjamin Hardy, Julia Carlson, Ben Nemtin, Brandon Turner, and many more. As a Content Strategist, speaker, and podcast producer, he’s helped shape the strategies behind some of the most successful brands and individuals out there. We’re thrilled to have him back to dive even deeper into the world of content, strategy, and pers...

In this episode, we’re back with Catherine Duncan as she shares her unique journey through the ups and downs of book promotion. From navigating social media and securing podcast appearances to landing coveted TV spots and organizing book signings, Catherine’s approach to marketing her book is refreshingly authentic and packed with valuable insights.

Catherine is an Integrative Spiritual Consultant, Holistic Healer, and Resiliency Trainer, as well as the author of Everyday Awakening. The book offers practical tools for finding peace and purpose in a chaotic world, drawing from Catherine’s expertise in min...

In this episode, we sit down with Catherine Duncan, a board-certified chaplain, spiritual director, and author of Everyday Awakening. Catherine shares her powerful journey from surviving childhood cancer to becoming a compassionate chaplain and healer. We dive deep into the spiritual practices and life lessons Catherine has learned while helping thousands of people through their end-of-life experiences, revealing profound insights about life, love, and death.

From the peace people find at the end of life to the chilling encounters with dark energy, Catherine opens up about the spiritual lessons she’s gained through he...

In this episode, we dive into the journey of Eric Jorgenson, entrepreneur, author, and thought leader, as he discusses his work behind The Almanack of Naval Ravikant—a book that has captivated readers worldwide, selling over 1 million copies in various formats and languages. Eric shares insights from his own experience, whether it's about making complex ideas more accessible or balancing business with personal growth.

We chat about some unconventional strategies that contributed to the book’s success, from viral marketing to the power of word of mouth. We also explore the challenges and bene...

Today, we're joined by Eric Jorgensen, a writer, entrepreneur, and the author of The Almanack of Naval Ravikant. Eric has a unique ability to take complex ideas and turn them into practical insights on business, personal development, and the power of curating valuable knowledge. In this conversation, we explore Eric’s journey—from the ideas that first inspired him to how he evolved into a writer and creator. He shares how powerful concepts like leverage and happiness have shaped both his personal and professional life, and how these ideas continue to guide his business decisions. We a...

In this episode, we’re catching up with Garrett Gunderson as he shares his journey to becoming a successful author, having sold over half a million copies of his books like Killing Sacred Cows, What Would the Rockefellers Do?, and Money Unmasked. He opens up about what helped him get there, including the importance of building solid relationships with industry pros, using personal connections, and putting together a smart marketing plan. Garrett also talks about the challenges of creating amazing content and how to get the word ou...

In this episode, we sit down with Garrett Gunderson to explore the myths and misconceptions that often hold people back when it comes to money and financial freedom. Garrett, a financial expert and entrepreneur who became a multimillionaire by the age of twenty-six, is the author of Killing Sacred Cows: Overcoming the Financial Myths That Are Destroying Your Prosperity and co-author of Curriculum for Wealth. As the founder of Wealth Factory, Garrett has made it his mission to help people rethink conventional financial advice and take a more personalized approach to...

Today we're doing something a bit different from our usual episodes. Throughout the week, I have conversations with many authors, and I thought it would be valuable to share some of those discussions with you. You might hear something that sparks a new idea or something that resonates with your own journey. This way, you'll get a glimpse into the real-life strategies authors are using to market their nonfiction books. These episodes will typically be 15 to 30 minutes—short, but packed with valuable takeaways you’ll want to take note of.

For this episode, we’re joined by Dr. Sc...

In this episode, we dive into the world of book marketing with Brad Stulberg, bestselling author of Master of Change and The Practice of Groundedness. Brad takes us through his journey from a management consultant to a successful writer, sharing the game-changing marketing strategies that helped him sell over 100,000 copies of his books. Whether you're just starting out or looking to take your author career to the next level, Brad reveals actionable tips for building a loyal audience, navigating social media, and maintaining momentum long after your book launch.

Brad opens up about...