As the CEO of Kit, Nathan Barry has a front row seat to what’s working in the most successful creator businesses.
On The Nathan Barry Show, he interviews top...
How I Used Instagram to Build a $7,000,000 Airbnb Business | 059
In this episode, Isaac French shares how he grew from 5,000 Instagram followers to selling his Texas micro resort for $7 million, just 18 months after opening.Isaac reveals his strategy for leveraging online audiences to support hospitality projects - converting social media followers into guests, email subscribers into customers, and content into major media coverage. He details his journey from restoring a historic train car in Idaho to creating destination properties that attract visitors from 40 states.Learn his methods for crafting viral stories, building valuable email lists, and why combining online influence with physical experiences creates exponential results.Timestamps:00:00 Introduction01:10 Building Family Businesses10:58 Airbnb Account Suspension12:20 Growing from 5K to 150K Followers in 15 Months22:24 How to Combine Online Marketing with Physical Business26:29 Using Design to Stand Out in Business33:05 Business Lessons from Steve Jobs and Apple40:50 How One Twitter Thread Got 20M Views44:00 The Art of Writing Viral Content48:14 Best Practices for Reposting Content49:13 How to Convert Social Media Followers to Email Subscribers51:31 Creating Successful Short Form Video Content56:01 Why Transparency Builds Trust01:00:17 Using Content Creation to Fund Business Growth01:07:59 Closing ThoughtsIf 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 Isaac:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/isaacfrench_ Website: https://www.isaacjfrench.com X: https://twitter.com/isaacfrench_ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/isaacjfrench Featured in this episode:Live Oak Lake: https://liveoaklake.com Hans Lorei: https://www.instagram.com/hansloreidesign Sam Parr: https://twitter.com/theSamParr James Clear: https://jamesclear.com Al Doan: https://twitter.com/drbillnye Brent Underwood: https://twitter.com/underwoodbrent The Cliffs at Hocking Hills: https://thecliffs.house Highlights:01:17 The Motel Patel Cartel13:27 Creators on a Journey29:46 Power of Good Taste35:13 Lord of the Rings Quality Anecdote46:10 How Nick Huber Engineers Viral Tweets52:54 Getting a Deal Done with a Non-Monetary Value01:00:16 Digital/Physical World Flywheel
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1:10:42
My Advice for Creator Businesses in 2025 (Q&A) | 058
In this episode, Haley Janicek from the Kit team joins me for our new Q&A format to explore building community, creating content, and growing your business in the creator economy.First, we explore the power of in-person connections through our experiences with Kit Studios and Craft + Commerce, discussing how community accelerates growth. Then we tackle your questions about AI in content creation, balancing revenue streams, and transitioning to full-time creation.You'll learn practical strategies for building your minimum viable brand, leveraging AI tools authentically, and creating sustainable growth - whether you're starting out or scaling up your creator business.Timestamps:00:00 Introduction01:33 Behind the Scenes at Kit with Haley Janicek02:26 Building Kit Studios: From Idea to Reality in 27 Days08:11 Kit Studios Expansion: New Location Coming in February08:47 Why In-Person Creator Communities Matter10:36 What Creators Can Learn from Taylor Swift's Success13:19 How Events Transform Creator Businesses18:40 Inside Craft and Commerce: The Creator Conference19:47 The Strategic Selfie Method for Networking23:09 Why In-Person Events Beat Online Networking24:56 Craft & Commerce 2025: Event Details27:35 Starting the Q&A Session28:18 Using AI for Authentic Content Creation32:28 Where the Creator Economy is Heading in 202533:48 How to Choose the Right Business Strategy35:11 Preventing Creator Burnout While Growing36:41 Growing a Creator Business with a Full-Time Job39:07 Transitioning from Expert to Full-Time Creator43:21 Balancing Profit with Positive Impact45:58 The Journey to Building a $43M Company48:49 Closing ThoughtsIf 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 Haley:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/haleyjani LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/haley-janicek X: https://twitter.com/haleyjanicek Featured in this episode:Kit: https://kit.com Craft and Commerce: https://conference.kit.com FinCon: https://finconexpo.com Tim Grahl: https://www.linkedin.com/in/timgrahl Eras Tour: https://www.taylorswift.com/events Village Impact: https://villageimpact.com Jen Hatmaker: https://jenhatmaker.com Mom 2.0: https://mom2summit.com John Meese: https://johnmeese.com Sahil Bloom: https://sahilbloom.com Michael Hyatt: https://michaelhyatt.com Amy Porterfield: https://www.amyporterfield.com James Clear: https://jamesclear.com Kirsten Grove: https://www.instagram.com/simplygrove Happy Happy Houseplant: https://happyhappyhouseplant.com ChatGPT: https://www.openai.com/chatgpt Claude: https://www.anthropic.com Google Notebook LM: https://notebooklm.google Highlights:11:23 Taylor Swift as a Creator14:23 The Value of Community26:40 Craft & Commerce29:39 Navigating AI Tools as a Creator35:53 Creator Flywheels39:21 Personal Branding Advice46:24 Starting a Creator Business
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51:27
How I Built a $375,000 Business Working 15 Hours per Week (Full Guide) | 057
Today I'm joined by Corina Holden, who turned her fashion blog into a $375,000/year business with a mix of digital products, subscription software, and a proven system that helps women build confident wardrobes.Corina breaks down how she built multiple revenue streams through Meta ads, Pinterest, and automated systems - sharing how she's grown with 35% profit margins while raising five kids.Then I work with her to map out a path to $250K in take-home pay with less hands-on time, transitioning from her current 15-20 hour workweeks to a more automated business that can run while she's away.You'll get both tactical marketing insights and high-level strategy: from testing ad creative and leveraging Pinterest to creating Creator Flywheels that let you scale without sacrificing family time or freedom.Timestamps:00:00 Introduction01:16 How to Build a $2 Million Creator Business02:39 Finding Your Customer Pain Points03:55 Starting a Blog That Makes Money05:21 First Digital Product Launch06:51 Meta Ads Strategy for Digital Products15:26 Email Welcome Sequence Strategy24:06 Creator Business Revenue Growth Analysis31:56 Building Recurring Revenue with Software35:36 Balancing Business Growth with Family Life36:09 Setting Profit Margin Goals37:07 SaaS Product Customer Analysis38:50 Digital Products vs Software Revenue Models39:33 Growing Software Sales as a Creator40:50 How to Simplify Subscription Pricing46:44 Business Partnership Strategy for Creators49:20 Pinterest Marketing Strategy51:15 Creating High-Quality Blog Content52:34 Building a Pinterest Marketing System57:20 Scaling Meta Ads Successfully58:01 Niche vs Broad Market Strategy01:04:51 Closing ThoughtsIf 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 Corina:X: https://twitter.com/nowthaticando Website: https://nowthaticando.com  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/frumpfighters Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nowthaticando Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/frumpfighters LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/corinaholden Featured in this episode:Frump Fighters: https://www.frumpfighters.com Todd Herman (90 Day Year): https://www.toddherman.com Kit: https://www.kit.com E-Myth Revisited (Book): https://www.emyth.com Highlights:02:00 Teaching High-Value Skills and Niche Pursuits05:21 The Power of Leverage58:35 Scaling Strategies01:02:15 Decision-Making Frameworks01:07:31 Corina's Flywheel
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1:11:11
How to Turn Your Passion Into a Creator Business ($1Million+) | 056
Today, I have a slightly different episode for you. I’m joining Tiago Forte on stage at his Second Brain Summit to discuss all things creator economy and audience monetization.I reveal my top strategies for starting out as a creator, how to grow the right audience, and how to monetize that audience.Tiago and I also take some of your questions from our audience, so there’s definitely something in this episode for everyone. I hope you find this episode valuable and inspiring.Timestamps:00:00 Introduction00:28 Building a Meaningful Audience03:23 The Power of a Niche Audience04:02 Insights from Successful Creators07:35 Monetizing Attention09:45 Challenges and Strategies for Creators12:33 How Celebrities Are Monetizing Attention19:16 The Business Of Being a Creator & Email Lists22:35 What IS A Creator?26:58 Overcoming Plateaus in Growth29:10 Balancing External and Internal Focus in Business31:34 Advice for Beginner Creators33:49 The 90-9-1 Rule: From Consumer to Creator41:45 Choosing the Right Platform for Your Content51:08 The Four C's Framework53:33 Conclusion and Final ThoughtsIf 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 Tiago:Website: https://fortelabs.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TiagoForte Twitter: https://x.com/fortelabs LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tiagoforte Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fortelabsco Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fortelabs Follow Nathan:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nathanbarry LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathanbarry Twitter: https://x.com/nathanbarry Website: https://nathanbarry.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thenathanbarryshow Featured in this episode:Kit: https://kit.com Missouri Quilt Company: https://www.missouriquiltco.com Lex: https://lex.page Theory Of Constraints: https://fortelabs.com/blog/theory-of-constraints-101 Highlights:04:10 Creator Economy Has a Thriving Middle Class09:51 Turning Attention into Equity14:58 Creators as Entrepreneurs26:51 Breaking Growth Myths32:55 Nathan's 90-9-1 Rule for Sharing and Monetizing Knowledge43:32 Refining Ideas46:45 Finding Your Niche
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54:05
Inside Mark Manson's $2,500,000 Creator Business - Full Breakdown | 055
Today I’m joined by Mark Manson, author of 'The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck', shares his journey from broke blogger to selling over 16 million copies of his best-selling book.In this episode, Mark reveals how he's navigating the creator economy - from managing traditional media during the pandemic to launching ambitious new projects in documentary-style video and interactive self-help courses.You'll learn how to build multiple revenue streams while staying true to your creative vision, plus get a behind-the-scenes look at his collaboration with Will Smith.Timestamps:00:00 Mark Manson on Building a $17M Book Business01:10 How Mark Manson Started Blogging in 200703:22 How Facebook's News Feed Led to Millions of Readers05:42 From Blogger to Bestselling Author: The Subtle Art of Not Giving a Fck Journey15:43 Why Mark Manson Left Hollywood After His Movie Deal17:53 Why Mark Manson Switched from Writing to YouTube19:57 Mark Manson's Current Business Revenue Breakdown21:32 Creator Sponsorships and Brand Deals37:04 Building an Online Course and Community Platform38:52 Investing Book Money into Creator Business40:01 Timeline for Launching an Online Course in 202449:13 Planning Creator Business Revenue Strategy50:37 Why YouTube Will Replace Television52:55 Creating High Production Value YouTube Content56:11 MrBeast's Business Model and Organization Issues01:04:25 Behind the Scenes of Writing Will Smith's Biography01:08:10 Closing ThoughtsIf 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/ X: https://youtube.com/@thenathanbarryshow/ Website: https://nathanbarry.com/ Follow Mark:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/markmanson/ X: https://twitter.com/iammarkmanson/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@IAmMarkManson/ Website: https://markmanson.net/ Featured in this episode:Mark Manson: https://markmanson.net/ The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck (Book): https://markmanson.net/books/subtle-art/ Universal Studios: https://www.universalstudios.com/ MrBeast: https://www.youtube.com/@MrBeast/ Casey Neistat: https://www.youtube.com/@casey/ Four Hour Work Week (Book): https://tim.blog/tim-ferriss-books/#the-4-hour-workweek/ Harper Collins: https://www.harpercollins.com/ Will Smith: https://www.instagram.com/willsmith/ Andrew Schulz: https://www.theandrewschulz.com/ Highlights:12:13 Authors and Fame38:14 Setting Clear Constraints39:48 Launch Fast, Then Perfect56:13 Building Connected Content Channels
As the CEO of Kit, Nathan Barry has a front row seat to what’s working in the most successful creator businesses.
On The Nathan Barry Show, he interviews top creators and dives into the inner workings of their businesses in his live coaching sessions.
You get unique insight into how creator businesses work and what you can do to increase results in your own business.
One of the things Nathan is passionate about is helping you create leverage.
Creator Flywheels let you create many copies of yourself so you don’t get bogged down with the little things in your business. Flywheels will help you reach a place where you can focus on revenue instead of busywork.
Tune in weekly for new episodes with ideas and tips for growing your business. You’ll hear discussions around building an audience, earning a living as a creator, and Nathan’s insights on scaling a software company to $100M.
Learn how to get more results with less effort and:
Grow faster over time.
Work less hard over time.
Make more money over time.