The Published Creator Podcast

Rodney Washington

The Published Creator podcast is dedicated to helping authors, artists, coaches & content creators turn their books and book ideas into monetizable offers & thriving brands. Rodney Washington is a Creative Marketing Strategist, Author, Publisher, Educator & Coach. 

  1. 1d ago

    How I Made My First $1,200 From an Offer I Hadn't Created Yet

    Got questions, ideas, thoughts on the episode? Send us a Text *Secure a seat for the next Content to Cashflow Co-Working Session*  https://buy.stripe.com/aFa14nfJJ0cSg3AggYcZa0S In this episode of this podcast, I share how I made almost $1,200 selling a course that didn't exist. No modules. No fancy funnel. No elaborate landing page. No months spent recording videos, creating worksheets or trying to make everything perfect. Eleven people gave me money for something I hadn't created yet. And looking back, the $1,200 wasn't really the important part. *The important part was what that $1,200 proved.* It proved that I had identified a person I could help, a problem they wanted solved, and a result they were willing to pay me to help them achieve. In other words... *I validated the idea before I made it.* And that little experiment eventually generated thousands of dollars, multiple cohorts of satisfied clients, and fundamentally changed the way I think about creating books, courses, programs, and offers. And here's why I'm sharing this with you. Because I see far too many creators doing the exact opposite. They spend hundreds—sometimes thousands—of dollars on software, funnels, landing pages, courses, coaches, and programs. They spend months creating the thing. Then they finally put it in front of people... *And discover nobody wants it.* So today, I want to tell you the story of how I made that first $1,200. More importantly, I want to show you the ridiculously simple process behind it, and how you can use the same principle to figure out what your audience might actually pay you for before you spend months building it. Because before you build the funnel... *You need to build the proof.* Anna Kallschmidt - https://www.youtube.com/@UCiYBPG_dhZx9oSGRwWI1rIg The Unwritten Rules of Work Skool Community - https://www.skool.com/unwrittenrules/about 📅 NEW VIDEO EVERY WEEK 🔔 Subscribe and turn on notifications. Join me for next cohort of the Content to Cashflow Live Co-Working Session 👥 FOLLOW RODNEY on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thepublishedcreator/ 👥 FOLLOW RODNEY on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rodneylwashington/ 🎧 Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-published-creator-podcast/id1648069127 🎵 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5O8gjKARRRI3kAqlvBTIRO 👨🏾‍🏫 Published Creator Skool Community: https://www.skool.com/thepublishedcreator-2767

  2. Aug 6

    Turn Your Book Into a Movement (Not Just an Amazon Listing) | Featuring Aleta Hodge

    Got questions, ideas, thoughts on the episode? Send us a Text Most authors believe the journey ends when the book is published. Aleta Hodge proves it can actually begin there. In this episode, Rodney Washington sits down with author, historian, playwright, and cultural preservationist Aleta Hodge to discuss the newly updated Second Edition of Indiana Avenue: Life and Musical Journey from 1915 to 2015. Together, they explore why books shouldn't exist in isolation and how authors can build thriving communities, immersive experiences, educational opportunities, and lasting impact around the work they create. Whether you're an author, coach, speaker, educator, or creator, you'll discover practical ideas for transforming your expertise into something much larger than a book. Episode HighlightsIn this conversation: • Aleta shares how childhood curiosity led her to preserve the history of Indiana Avenue. • Why interviewing people directly creates richer, more authentic stories. • The inspiration behind writing about Noble Sissle and preserving overlooked history. • Why updating a published book can be a powerful strategy. • Creating the Indiana Avenue Jazz Experience Community. • Why authors should think beyond book launches. • How community creates long-term opportunities. • The importance of listening to readers. • Why experiences create deeper impact than products alone. • Building an ecosystem instead of simply selling books. Memorable Quotes"The book is only one part of the experience." "Don't just publish your book. Build a community around it." "Your book is the doorway—not the destination." "Listen to your audience. They'll tell you what comes next.""History deserves to be experienced, not just read." Resources Mentioned 📖 Indiana Avenue: Life and Musical Journey from 1915 to 2015 (Second Edition) 📖 The Robust Life and Music of Noble Sissle, Sr. 🎷 Indiana Avenue Jazz Experience Community 🎤 The Published Creator Podcast on YouTube 📖 Preview of my forthcoming book The Authorpreneur Decision 🎤 5 Costly Mistakes Stopping You From Turning Your Content Into a Paid Offer, a Book, or Both Masterclass

  3. Jul 13

    The NEW Way to Build Authority in 2026 (Hint: It's Bigger Than a Book)

    Got questions, ideas, thoughts on the episode? Send us a Text What if everything you've been taught about building authority is incomplete? For years, we've been told to write a book, launch a podcast, grow a following, and post more content. While those are all valuable strategies, they aren't what creates authority. In this episode, I share a powerful breakthrough I experienced from attending David Shands' Podcast Summit in Atlanta and explain why the future of authority isn't about creating more content. It's about building an ecosystem around your message. You'll discover why your book isn't the destination; it's the catalyst, and how the most successful creators build trust, influence, and opportunities by thinking beyond individual platforms. Whether you're an author, coach, consultant, speaker, entrepreneur, or creator, this episode will challenge the way you think about personal branding, authority, and the future of your business. In This Episode You'll Learn:  Why expertise alone is no longer enough to build authority  The biggest shift Rodney experienced after attending David Shands' Podcast Summit  Why "What got you here won't get you there" is essential for every entrepreneur  The difference between creating content and building an authority ecosystem  Why your book should be the beginning of your business, not the end goal  The simple mindset shift that creates opportunities before your book is even published  How to stop thinking like a content creator and start building like an authority Key Takeaway Your authority isn't your book. Your authority isn't your podcast. Your authority isn't your follower count. Your authority is the trust you've earned by consistently helping people move from where they are to where they want to be. Everything else is simply the delivery system. 📖 Complimentary Preview: The Authorpreneur Decision If this episode resonated with you, I'd love to invite you to download a complimentary preview of my forthcoming book, The Authorpreneur Decision. Inside, you'll discover why building a successful author business begins long before your book is published and how to transform your expertise into an authority ecosystem that creates influence, opportunities, impact, and income. Download your complimentary preview: 👉 http://authordecision.com/ Connect with Rodney Washington 🌐 Published Creator Skool Community 📚 Published & Thriving YouTube Channel 📱 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thepublishedcreator  If you enjoyed this episode... Please subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with another creator who's ready to build an authority that's bigger than a book.

  4. Jun 4

    Most Authors Have This Completely Backwards (but you won't be one of them)

    Got questions, ideas, thoughts on the episode? Send us a Text Most authors believe the opportunity comes after the book is published. More sales. More clients. More speaking engagements. More visibility. But what if that's the wrong way to think about it? In this episode, Rodney Washington sits down with Paige Stapleton and Brian Stark, co-founders of Authentic Marketing, for a powerful conversation about why your book should never be viewed as the finish line. Together, they explore why so many authors, coaches, consultants, speakers, and creators are sitting on valuable intellectual property they're not fully leveraging—and how a book can become the entry point into a much larger ecosystem of opportunities. You'll discover: • Why your marketing isn't about convincing people—it's about listening • How conversations become your most valuable source of content and messaging • Why the real money often comes from the relationships a book creates, not the book itself • How to stop hiding behind your book and start building visibility around your message • The difference between building a product and building an ecosystem • Practical ways to turn one book into content, community, speaking opportunities, consulting engagements, and additional revenue streams If you're writing a book, thinking about writing a book, or wondering how to create more opportunities from the one you've already published, this conversation will challenge the way you think about authorship, marketing, and monetization. Because your book isn't the business. It's the doorway. Connect with other Published Creators on my Skool Community: https://www.skool.com/thepublishedcreator-2767/about Apply for a Complimentary Authorpreneur Readiness Assessment: https://author-ecosystem-builder.lovable.app/ Access a preview from my forthcoming book, The Authorpreneur Decision Paige and Brian create a gift for listeners of the podcast called: The Authentic Content Multiplier™ https://authenticmarketing.ai/rodney How to Turn One Core Idea Into Weeks of Content, Conversations, and Client Opportunities, Without Constantly Starting From Scratch. Subscribe to The Published Creator Podcast for more conversations on publishing, authority building, podcast guesting, and creating profitable opportunities around your expertise.

  5. May 1

    She Skipped Writing a Book… and Built THIS Instead (Genius Move)

    Got questions, ideas, thoughts on the episode? Send us a Text 🚀 Want help mapping YOUR idea into income? Book a Monetize Your Book Before You Publish Mapping Session, and let’s break it down together To get started, join me inside the Published Creator community where we do this live:  👉 https://www.skool.com/thepublishedcreator-2767 Episode Description: Most creators think the next step is writing a book. But what if that’s the slowest—and least profitable—way to monetize your ideas? In this episode of the Published Creator Podcast, I sit down with Raissa Silva, founder of Outsmart Your Toxic Boss, who chose a completely different path… Instead of writing a book, she turned her expertise into a card game, and built an experience people can play, share, and talk about. Inside this conversation, we break down:  Why books aren’t always the best starting point How to turn your ideas into experiential products The real reason most creators struggle to monetize  How to validate your idea before you create it Why feedback > perfection when building anything  The concept of “shapeshifting authorship” (this will change how you think about content) If you’ve been sitting on a book idea… this might completely shift your strategy. 🎯 Connect with Raissa: 👥 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/raissa-silva/ Kickstarter Waitlist: https://www.outsmartyourtoxicboss.com/see-the-game 🔁 Subscribe for more: If you’re a coach, creator, or expert who wants to turn your content into real revenue—not just content for content’s sake— this show is for you. 📅 NEW VIDEO EVERY WEEK ON YOUTUBE 🔔 Subscribe and turn on notifications. 👥 FOLLOW RODNEY on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thepublishedcreator/ 👥 FOLLOW RODNEY on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rodneylwashington/

  6. Mar 20

    Stop Writing Books That Don’t Sell (Do This Instead)

    Got questions, ideas, thoughts on the episode? Send us a Text If you’re writing a book right now… you might want to pause. Because the reason most books don’t sell has nothing to do with the writing—and everything to do with what you’re building around it. In this episode, Rodney Washington breaks down why your book isn’t the business… and what you need to build before you publish if you actually want influence, income, and opportunities. 🎯 WHAT YOU’LL LEARN Why publishing your book is NOT the finish line The biggest mistake most self-published authors make Why Amazon is a fulfillment platform—not your marketing strategy How to stop writing in isolation and start building demand The Published Creator Flywheel (visibility → audience → offers → book → opportunities) How to validate your ideas before your book is finished Why authority, not your manuscript, is what drives sales ⚙️ THE CORE SHIFT Most people follow this path: Write the book → Publish → Hope people buy Authorpreneurs do this instead: Build visibility → Attract audience → Create offers → Then publish 👉 The book becomes a result—not the starting point 🔥 READY TO APPLY THIS? If this episode clicked for you, don’t stop at understanding it. *Join my next Authorpreneur Decision Live Masterclass* I’ll help you map your idea into an authority platform and show you how to turn your content into a book and a business. 👉 Register here: https://publishedandthriving.com/authorpreneurmasterclass 👥 CONNECT & GO DEEPER 👉 Join the Published Creator Skool Community 🔗 https://www.skool.com/thepublishedcreator-2767/about 👉 Subscribe on YouTube for more episodes 🔗  @thepublishedcreator   🔥 KEY TAKEAWAY If you don’t have authority… You don’t have a book problem. You have a visibility, audience, and positioning problem. 📌 FINAL INVITATION Don’t just write a book. Build something that makes the book inevitable… valuable… and profitable.

  7. Feb 25

    Online Courses Are Failing… Here’s What Smart Experts Are Building Instead

    Got questions, ideas, thoughts on the episode? Send us a Text If you’re an author, coach, speaker, or expert, you’ve probably been told your next step is to “build an online course.” We're often told: 👉 “Build an online course.” 👉 “Create passive income.” 👉 “Record modules and scale.” But what happens when people buy… and never finish? In this conversation, I sit down with Executive Learning Producer Parchelle Osumaré to unpack why traditional online courses are struggling — and what smart experts are building instead. This isn’t about information anymore. It’s about transformation. Parchelle has helped hundreds of authors, coaches, and organizations turn their intellectual property into immersive learning experiences that actually move people — and generate real impact and income. If you have expertise, a book, or a message you want to monetize, this episode will fundamentally change how you think about packaging what you know. 🎯 In This Episode, You’ll Discover: ✔ Why course completion rates are collapsing ✔ The real reason people buy educational products ✔ Why more content does NOT equal more results ✔ How to design learning experiences people actually finish ✔ The role of community, cohorts, and facilitation ✔ How to build an ecosystem around your expertise ✔ What to create instead of another self-paced course 👤 About Parchelle Osumaré Parchelle is an Executive Learning Producer and Founder of The Author’s Leverage. They specialize in helping experts transform their knowledge into premium learning assets, including private podcasts, interactive frameworks, facilitated cohorts, and strategic educational experiences. Connect with Parchelle on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/parchelle/ 🚀 Ready to Turn Your Expertise Into Real Income & Impact? Take the FREE Authorpreneur Readiness Assessment 👉 https://forms.gle/aPVR5cV7RzG4KNnAA Discover your next best step to build a book, offer, or experience that actually sells. 🔔 Subscribe for More If you’re an author, coach, speaker, or content creator who wants to build a business around your ideas — not just sell information — subscribe for weekly insights on publishing, positioning, and monetization. 🎧 Listen on Podcast Platforms (Search “Published Creator Podcast” on your favorite platform)

  8. Feb 18

    Why Most Authors Never Make Real Money From Their Book

    Got questions, ideas, thoughts on the episode? Send us a Text Uncover where you are and what your next step should be as an Authorpreneur by taking the 👉 Authorpreneur Readiness Assessment Most authors believe the path to making money from their book is selling more copies. It’s not. The authors who build thriving businesses from their books focus on something deeper. They get clear on their WHY. Your WHY determines who buys from you, what opportunities find you, and whether your book becomes a one-time project… or a lifelong asset that fuels your brand, income, and impact. In this video, I break down why clarity on your WHY is the real foundation of building a book that attracts clients, collaborators, and opportunities beyond book sales. If you're writing a book, or thinking about writing one, this may be the most important decision you make. In this episode, you'll learn: • Why selling more book copies is not the real goal • The hidden reason most authors never monetize their book • How your WHY determines your income potential as an author • Why clarity attracts clients, collaborators, and opportunities • How to position your book as the foundation of a thriving ecosystem This is for you if: • You’re writing your first book • You’ve published a book but aren’t seeing meaningful income • You’re a coach, creator, or expert with a message • You want to build a business around your book • You want to become an Authorpreneur, not just an author Learn how to turn your book into clients, income, and opportunities. New videos weekly: Subscribe to my YouTube channel for more videos on building a thriving book-based business: Connect with Rodney Washington 👉 On Instagram 👉Join my free Published Creators Skool Community https://www.skool.com/thepublishedcreator-2767/about Authorpreneur Strategist | Founder of Published & Thriving Helping creators turn books into thriving brands and ecosystems

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About

The Published Creator podcast is dedicated to helping authors, artists, coaches & content creators turn their books and book ideas into monetizable offers & thriving brands. Rodney Washington is a Creative Marketing Strategist, Author, Publisher, Educator & Coach. 

Information

  • Creator
    Rodney Washington
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    82
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Published Creator Podcast
  • Show Website
    The Published Creator Podcast