The Nathan Barry Show

How do you actually become a successful long-term creator? Chase Reeves, a multi-talented creator ranging from musician to designer to coach, joins Nathan Barry to explore the unexpected ingredients for long-term success. Chase unpacks his unique journey, from pirated Photoshop to crafting captivating content, revealing how developing "taste" isn't just about technical skills, but a deep, soulful curiosity. This episode takes a dive into the critical balance between external validation and internal drive, why "actual" people connect with authenticity, and how embracing a little chaos might just be the secret sauce for innovation and genuine impact. Get ready to rethink how you approach your craft and cultivate a career that truly resonates.
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
02:18 Intentionality and the exploration of feeling
05:37 How Chase developed taste and his approach to making things
09:24 The internet rewards performance, not integration
12:54 How to sustain long-term growth and avoid burnout
16:53 Connecting with your audience and understanding their needs
20:47 Being playful and holding things loosely
24:00 How small groups and men's work create healing through witness
27:31 The cure for addiction is intimacy
31:05 The difference between feeling good and being good
34:10 The role of curiosity in building taste
37:25 How to make a living while pursuing creative passions
41:40 The power of saying "no" to opportunities
44:25 Why creators need to protect their mental health
47:20 Finding your unique voice in a crowded world
50:10 Building a sustainable creative practice
01:10:02 Embracing discomfort as a path to innovation
01:20:30 Final thoughts on being a successful long-term creator
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 Chase:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chasewreeves
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@chasereeves
Website: https://chasereeves.co
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chasereeves
Featured in this episode:
Kit: https://www.kit.com
Troubadour: https://www.troubadourgoods.com
Redwood Outdoor Sauna: https://www.redwoodoutdoors.com/
Cold Plunge: https://thecoldplunge.com/
Wandered: https://www.wandrd.com/
Pact: https://pact.com/
Studio Neat: https://www.studioneat.com/
Highlights:
01:51 – Musicians to content creators is an underused path
06:26 – Your nervous system matters in business
09:03 – Taste is higher than capabilities in the beginning
12:00 – Make something that's an exact copy
15:18 – Deep sense of insecurity fuels learning
19:50 – The internet rewards performance, not integration
27:31 – The cure for addiction is intimacy

How do you live an energized life—not just physically, but mentally, emotionally, and spiritually? Simon Alexander Ong, author of the bestselling book "Energize," joins Nathan in a captivating conversation that unpacks the profound difference between simply managing time and mastering energy. Simon, whose journey from the high-stakes world of finance to a renowned speaker and coach, offers a unique perspective on consistency over intensity, the power of gratitude, and why detaching from outcomes is the secret to sustained creativity and joy. This episode is a must-listen for creators and leaders striving to avoid burnout, cultivate a positive mindset, and harness their inner force to achieve their biggest goals.
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
01:14 From finance to fulfillment
06:05 From comparison to inspiration
12:00 Mission, purpose, and seeing life as a game
16:16 Wisdom begins with knowing yourself
22:36 Finding stillness and inner rest
28:10 The emotional side of action
34:00 The power of loosening up
41:40 Shifting from control to connection
46:00 The four dimensions of energy
50:11 Seasonal approach to energy
54:26 Inspiration from outside your industry
58:30 Leveraging novelty for marketing
1:04:19 Question storming for deeper insights
1:08:26 Leading with proud energy
1:12:30 Expressing gratitude verbally
1:18:18 Energetic decision-making
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 Simon:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/simonalexanderong
X: https://twitter.com/SimonAlexanderO
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/simonalexandero
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@simonalexandero
Website: https://simonalexanderong.com

Featured in this episode:
Kit: https://www.kit.com
The Aughts Hotel: https://aughts.co
Adam Grant: https://www.adamgrant.com
Basecamp: https://basecamp.com

Highlights:
06:05 From comparison to inspiration
16:16 Wisdom begins with knowing yourself
34:00 The power of loosening up
46:00 The four dimensions of energy
58:30 Leveraging novelty for marketing
1:12:30 Expressing gratitude verbally

She helped grow a YouTube channel from 100,000 to 14 million subscribers in just four years, all while balancing a suite of other successful podcasts and media ventures? Grace Miller, Head of Failure and Experimentation at Flight Story, the powerhouse behind "The Diary of a CEO" and other massive shows, shares her unique insights. In this episode, Grace pulls back the curtain on the world of high-stakes content creation, revealing the ingenious experiments and surprising failures that have fueled their meteoric rise. If you're obsessed with crafting great content and eager to understand the nuanced mechanics of YouTube growth, this conversation offers an unparalleled look into how one of the industry's leading teams navigates the ever-evolving digital landscape.
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
02:00 The Scale of Diary of a CEO & Flight Story
04:40 When Doubling Content Backfired
08:01 Why Multiple YouTube Channels?
13:00 Measuring YouTube Experiments
15:37 Underutilized YouTube Features
21:55 The Power of YouTube Chapters
26:06 Anatomy of a Successful Experiment
29:20 The Localization & Dub Experiment
35:45 Designing Effective Experiments
37:33 Core Metrics for YouTube Growth
40:08 Tactics for Returning Viewers
47:20 The Culture of Failure and Learning
51:40 YouTube vs. Podcast Content
54:26 Embracing Failure Personally
59:00 The Value of Action Over Inaction
1:03:00 Fostering a Culture of Experimentation
1:11:57 AI in Content Creation
1:16:17 The Future of the Creator Economy
1:20:24 Targeting the Right Audience, Not Just All Audiences
1:25:21 Grace's Personal Experimentation Journey
1:28:31 Lead vs. Lagging Indicators for Growth
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 Grace:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/graceexperiments
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/grace-miller-linked-in

Featured in this episode:
Kit: https://www.kit.com
Highlights:
04:40 When Doubling Content Backfired
08:01 Why Multiple YouTube Channels?
13:00 Measuring YouTube Experiments
15:37 Underutilized YouTube Features
21:55 The Power of YouTube Chapters

Most people chase a single number, believing it holds the key to lasting happiness and an end to their worries. But what happens when you hit that number, or even exceed it, and find yourself staring into an emotional abyss? This week on The Nathan Barry Show, we sit down with Mike Brown, a former Navy fighter pilot who built and sold an eight-figure oil and gas company. He achieved what many dream of – supercars, a beautiful home, and immense wealth. Yet, he still found himself losing peace and $1.5 million in a failing venture, prompting a profound shift in his definition of "rich." Join us as Mike shares his powerful journey from external validation to true freedom, revealing why our pursuit of wealth often misses the point entirely.
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
02:10 Mike sells his supercars and updates his values
03:55 Embracing the "buy the ticket, take the ride" philosophy
06:20 From Navy fighter pilot to oil and gas entrepreneur
08:45 Finding a new definition of wealth: freedom
15:58 Shifting from outcome goals to process goals
20:55 Understanding dirty vs. clean fuel for motivation
31:05 External validation and the never-ending treadmill
36:30 The power of clean fuel: purpose and service
41:15 How money serves two purposes
44:10 The value of experiences over material possessions
48:30 The spectrum of dirty and clean fuel
52:30 When greatness comes at a cost
57:25 Mechanical and emotional fixes for financial fear
1:05:40 Maximizing return on happiness: experimental spending
1:08:00 The highest leverage investments for entrepreneurs
1:10:45 The invaluable cost of peace and personal growth
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 Mike:
Website: https://berichnow.com
Newsletter: https://unbreakablewealth.com/newsletter
Instagram: https://instagram.com/mbrown.co
X: https://x.com/mbrown_co
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@mbrown_co
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikebrownactual
Featured in this episode:
Kit: https://www.kit.com
Highlights:
02:37 – How Your Bank Account & Calendar Show Your Values
08:00 – Hitting Rock Bottom for a New Foundation
16:00 – The Power of Process Goals Over Outcome Goals
23:32 – Why Angel Investing Can Be "Dirty Fuel"
37:35 – The Joy and Fulfillment of Serving Others
44:50 – Maximizing "Return on Happiness"

What does it take to grow a SaaS business from $1 million to $5 million annual recurring revenue when your revenue has plateaued? Michael Sliwinski, founder of the productivity app Nozbe, joins Nathan Barry to diagnose the core issues his business faces and map out a clear path forward. Michael, who flew all the way from Europe for this conversation, dives into the challenges of competing in a crowded market, the impact of a product rebuild, and the search for a compelling new positioning. This episode is a masterclass in auditing your business, identifying roadblocks, and strategizing for breakthrough growth, especially for founders navigating a competitive landscape and aiming for their next big milestone.
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
01:05 Michael's journey to Nozbe
02:51 From side hustle to $1 million ARR
04:47 The Japan growth explosion
06:17 Rebuilding Nozbe from scratch
10:14 Competing with industry giants
12:58 Breaking down business metrics and building blocks
19:07 Understanding max MRR and the S-curve
22:42 The flatlining awareness and traffic
25:02 Expansion and multi-seat customers
29:43 Legacy customers on the old vs. new Nozbe
30:52 Strong customer retention and low churn
37:25 Key metrics and dashboard visibility
39:46 Accountability through weekly revenue meetings
42:07 The effectiveness of current content strategies
46:27 Partnership success with a productivity consultant
51:09 Direct sales for partners
53:01 Reframing positioning for growth
56:19 The core promise of Nozbe: The tool teams actually use
59:43 The "boulder pushing" analogy
1:02:18 Strategy for identifying and incentivizing new partners
1:11:34 Tapping into true fans for new partner leads
1:14:57 Michael's reflections and next steps
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/?utm_campaign=29661554-nathan_barry_show&utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=podcast&utm_term=nathanbarryshow&utm_content=youtube_description
Follow Michael:
X: https://twitter.com/msliwinski
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michaelsliwinski
Mastodon: https://social.nozbe.com/@michael
Nozbe: https://nozbe.com
Featured in this episode:
Kit: https://www.kit.com
Nozbe: https://nozbe.com

Highlights:
02:17 – ZDNet feature blew up Nozbe
05:13 – iPad app success in Japan
09:27 – Impact and the $5M goal
11:54 – Customer loyalty despite competitors
22:15 – Demo meetings and their conversion rates
32:27 – Customers prepaid until 2040
57:33 – Why simpler is better for teams