Before The Bestseller

Alex Strathdee
  • 4.9 (149)
  • Books
  • Updated Weekly

This show is for book lovers and creators who want to go behind the scenes with their favorite authors to hear about how they were able to not just write a book but create a movement. 

  1. 6d ago

    BTB184: Steven Pressfield: The War of Art, The Arcadian, and a Lifetime of Writing Books

    Today we welcome a very special guest and one of my favorite authors for a long time, Steven Pressfield, author of more than twenty books spanning fiction and nonfiction, including The War of Art, which has sold more than a million copies worldwide and has become a foundational book for writers, entrepreneurs, artists, and creators. He is also the acclaimed author of Gates of Fire, The Legend of Bagger Vance, Turning Pro, Do the Work, The Warrior Ethos, Nobody Wants to Read Your Sh*t, and many others. Widely regarded as a master of historical fiction, his work has earned a place on the required reading list at West Point and the recommended reading list of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. His work has also reached audiences well beyond the literary world, earning him a featured appearance on Oprah and a readership that cuts across industries, disciplines, and generations. His latest novel, The Arcadian, continues a body of work shaped by decades of storytelling and creative practice. In this episode, Steven reflects on the thirty-year journey that preceded his first published book and the lessons that emerged from decades of rejection, uncertainty, and persistence. We explore the concept of Resistance from The War of Art, the emotional realities of creative work, the difference between amateurs and professionals, the challenge of self-validation, and why he still faces the same internal battle every time he sits down to write. Along the way, he shares what finally changed when The Legend of Bagger Vance broke through, why perseverance matters more than talent, the inspiration behind The Arcadian, and the philosophy that continues to guide his work decades into his career. If you've ever felt the pull to do almost anything other than the one thing you know you should be doing, tune in because this conversation with Steven Pressfield is one of the more grounded and clear-eyed looks at the creative life you're likely to find. Subscribe to Steven's weekly writing newsletter at stevenpressfield.com Make sure to follow @steven_pressfield on Instagram.  Check out his new book, The Arcadian here: https://a.co/d/03YobKj0 Explore all of Steven’s books here: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B000AQ8R8Q?ingress=0&visitId=d84a9904-f7ce-400a-8292-17d9d655e6c2&ref_=aufs_ap_ahdr_dsk_ab — Subscribe and leave a review. Your support helps more people discover the show, the author and their books.  — Get the popular weekly book marketing 3-2-1 and get access to our $299 Amazon Ads course when you subscribe to our newsletter here:  https://getshelflife.com/category/newsletter/ Head to our new website for more content and updates.: www.getshelflife.com If you're interested in connecting further or have any questions, feel free to email me at Alex@getshelflife.com

    33 min

  2. Jun 1

    BTB183: Millions of Books Sold: Eric Ries on The Lean Startup, Incorruptible, Book Launches, and Reader-Driven Growth

    We're back with Eric Ries, entrepreneur, startup thinker, and author of the bestselling books The Lean Startup and Incorruptible. With millions of books sold and ideas that have influenced founders, executives, and organizations around the world, Eric joins us again to share how he approached building not just successful books, but movements around ideas. In this episode, we explore how Eric applied startup principles to book publishing, audience building, and idea development long before The Lean Startup became a bestseller. We discuss testing ideas through talks and feedback loops, treating readers as customers, building communities around a message, the lessons he learned from traditional publishing, his record-setting Kickstarter campaign for The Leader's Guide, and why saying "yes" to small opportunities helped create momentum. Eric also shares his perspective on books as tools for creating legitimacy around ideas, the difference between audience size and audience connection, and why practice often matters far more than people realize. Tune in to hear how Eric Ries turned an idea into a movement and why reaching more readers often starts with serving the ones already paying attention.  Go to www.incorruptible.com to discover more about the book and access the limited-time pre-order bonuses.  Visit your local bookstore to pick up a copy of Eric’s books and support independent booksellers. Check out Eric’s books on Amazon here: Incorruptible - https://a.co/d/0cWIpo70 — Subscribe and leave a review. Your support helps more people discover the show, the author and their books.  — Get the popular weekly book marketing 3-2-1 and get access to our $299 Amazon Ads course when you subscribe to our newsletter here:  https://getshelflife.com/category/newsletter/ Head to our new website for more content and updates.: www.getshelflife.com If you're interested in connecting further or have any questions, feel free to email me at Alex@getshelflife.com

    29 min

  3. May 25

    BTB182: Eric Ries | The Lean Startup, Incorruptible, and the Hidden Decisions Behind Lasting Success

    Today, we’re honored to have entrepreneur, creator of the Lean Startup movement, and author of the international bestseller The Lean Startup, Eric Ries, on Before the Bestseller. His work changed how founders think about building companies by replacing assumptions with experimentation, validated learning, and building what customers actually want. We talked about Eric’s unexpected path from teaching himself programming as a kid and landing his first publishing opportunity as a teenager, to building startups and eventually writing one of the most influential business books of the last decade. We explored how The Lean Startup emerged from questioning conventional startup advice, why validated learning matters more than activity, and how founders and authors can think through one of the hardest decisions in any creative or business journey: when to pivot and when to persevere. We also shifted into Eric’s newest book, Incorruptible, where we discussed why organizations drift away from their original mission, how incentives quietly shape decisions over time, and what founders, consumers, and builders can do to create systems worth trusting in the long run. Tune in to hear how Eric thinks about testing ideas, knowing when to pivot, and building books, companies, and systems that can grow without losing what made them work in the first place.  Go to www.incorruptible.com to discover more about the book and access the limited-time pre-order bonuses.  Visit your local bookstore to pick up a copy of Eric’s books and support independent booksellers. Check out Eric’s books on Amazon here: The Lean Startup - https://a.co/d/0bwLP7TI Incorruptible - https://a.co/d/0cWIpo70 — Subscribe and leave a review. Your support helps more people discover the show, the author and their books.  — Get the popular weekly book marketing 3-2-1 and get access to our $299 Amazon Ads course when you subscribe to our newsletter here:  https://getshelflife.com/category/newsletter/ Head to our new website for more content and updates.: www.getshelflife.com If you're interested in connecting further or have any questions, feel free to email me at Alex@getshelflife.com

    33 min

  4. May 11

    BTB181: The Rise of Reader Experience in the AI Publishing Era with Niche Press CEO, Nicole Gebhardt

    We’re back with Nicole Gebhardt, publishing strategist and CEO of Niche Press, for a conversation about what publishing looks like in a world shaped by AI, shifting reader behavior, and shorter attention spans. Nicole has helped entrepreneurs, experts, and business owners turn books into long term brand and business assets, and in this episode, she breaks down why the books people buy and finish today are fundamentally different from the books that worked even a few years ago. We talked about why “how-to” books are becoming easier to replace, why storytelling is becoming more important than ever, and how authors can design a reader experience that keeps people emotionally invested from beginning to end. Nicole also shared insights on Michael Hague’s storytelling framework, the difference between a reader’s outer and inner journey, how AI can quietly push authors toward the wrong book idea, and why the smartest marketing decisions happen before the first chapter is even written. The conversation also explored identity transformation, strategic positioning, influencer relationships, and how great books naturally create opportunities for speaking, referrals, and long term business growth. If your book is meant to last longer than the current trend cycle, tune in to this episode. Check out www.nicheleaders.com to learn more or take the assessment.  — Subscribe and leave a review. Your support helps more people discover the show, the author and their books.  — Get the popular weekly book marketing 3-2-1 and get access to our $299 Amazon Ads course when you subscribe to our newsletter here:  https://getshelflife.com/category/newsletter/ Head to our new website for more content and updates.: www.getshelflife.com If you're interested in connecting further or have any questions, feel free to email me at Alex@getshelflife.com

    25 min

  5. May 4

    BTB180: The 5% Rule: From Book Idea to Business Strategy | Nicole Gebhardt (CEO, Niche Press)

    Today we welcome Nicole Gebhart, CEO of Niche Press, where she has worked with hundreds of business leaders, advisors, and experts to help them clarify what they want to be known for and turn that into a book that actually drives opportunity. With a background leading communications strategy at Caterpillar Inc. and years of consulting experience, she brings a structured, strategic lens to publishing. In this episode of Before the Bestseller, Nicole breaks down what it really means to treat a book as a business asset rather than a standalone product. We get into why the “wrong book” can quietly limit your growth, how different publishing strategies like signature, pep talk, and niche books each serve a specific role, and why most people approach writing from the past instead of where they want to go. Nicole shares how books should connect to your offers, brand, and long term business model, not just book sales, along with how to think in terms of frameworks, client conversion, and positioning yourself in the top tier of your niche. We also touch on what it looks like to fix a misaligned book, why owning your publishing rights matters, and how the right strategy can turn a book into a consistent source of opportunities. Tune in to hear how to turn a book into something that actually builds your business instead of just sitting on a shelf. Check out www.nicheleaders.com to learn more or take the assessment.  — Subscribe and leave a review. Your support helps more people discover the show, the author and their books.  — Get the popular weekly book marketing 3-2-1 and get access to our $299 Amazon Ads course when you subscribe to our newsletter here:  https://getshelflife.com/category/newsletter/ Head to our new website for more content and updates.: www.getshelflife.com If you're interested in connecting further or have any questions, feel free to email me at Alex@getshelflife.com

    28 min

  6. Apr 27

    BTB179: From Zero to 1,500 Followers: Marshall Karp & Danny Corcoran on Authenticity, Social Media, and Reader Connection

    Marshall Karp, #1 New York Times bestselling author, TV and screenwriter, documentarian, and playwright, returns to Before the Bestseller alongside Danny Corcoran, a former NYPD detective whose 24 years on the job now inform the realism behind Karp’s fiction. Working with James Patterson, Karp cocreated and cowrote the NYPD Red series before continuing it on his own starting with NYPD Red 7: The Murder Sorority. He’s also the author of Snowstorm in August and the critically acclaimed Lomax and Biggs series, along with his latest novel Don't Tell Me How to Die. They talk through how real police work translates into fiction, from the small details that make scenes believable to the psychological layers behind both victims and criminals. The conversation moves into how they’ve built a direct relationship with readers through social media, focusing on authenticity over promotion, why showing the person behind the book works better than selling the book itself, and how long-term engagement, reader feedback, and word of mouth shaped the launch of Don’t Tell Me How to Die. Tune in for a grounded look at turning real-world experience into story, building genuine reader relationships, and why authentic connection consistently outperforms traditional marketing. Want to dive into Marshall’s books? Start here: NYPD Red: https://a.co/d/09lC3z9I Don’t Tell Me How To Die: https://a.co/d/0gL51BJY Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B001JPC3FA?ingress=0&visitId=d530e726-cae4-45c8-a85f-1ff330502842&ref_=aufs_ap_ahdr_dsk_ab Want to learn more from Marshall and follow his work? Check him out here: Website: www.karpkills.com Instagram: @marshallkarpauthor https://www.instagram.com/marshallkarpauthor/ TikTok: Marshall Karp https://www.tiktok.com/@marshallkarp LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marshall-karp-041251108/ For great writing advice — Subscribe and leave a review. Your support helps more people discover the show, the author and their books.  — Get the popular weekly book marketing 3-2-1 and get access to our $299 Amazon Ads course when you subscribe to our newsletter here:  https://getshelflife.com/category/newsletter/ Head to our new website for more content and updates.: www.getshelflife.com If you're interested in connecting further or have any questions, feel free to email me at Alex@getshelflife.com

    1 hr

  7. Apr 20

    BTB178: Inside the Mind of Marshall Karp: Crafting Crime, Humor, and Heart from NYPD Red to Don't Tell Me How to Die

    Today’s guest is someone whose career spans advertising, Hollywood, and bestselling fiction. Marshall Karp is a #1 New York Times bestselling author known for his work on the NYPD Red series with James Patterson, along with his own novels including Don't Tell Me How to Die and the Lomax and Biggs Mysteries. Before writing novels, he built a successful career in advertising and later transitioned into screenwriting, where one of his scripts became the film Just Looking, directed by Jason Alexander. The film went on to air on major platforms like HBO and Netflix and was later recognized as a classic independent film, with Marshall and Jason touring and promoting it across the country. He gradually moved toward writing, building toward a long-term goal of becoming a full-time storyteller. In this episode, Marshall breaks down how his stories come together, starting with character and why knowing them inside out changes how the entire story unfolds. He shares how books like Don't Tell Me How to Die took shape, the risks he took stepping outside his usual genre, and what made it resonate with readers. He also offers practical advice for writers, from building discipline and doing the work consistently to understanding your audience and writing stories that truly hold attention. Along the way, he talks through what he learned from studying consumer behavior in advertising and how those insights carry over into storytelling. We also get a behind-the-scenes look at how working with James Patterson really works, and the storytelling principles that came out of that collaboration. Tune in to hear Marshall Karp unpack how he thinks as a writer, how his characters come to life, and how his books are built behind the scenes. -- Want to dive into Marshall’s books? Start here: NYPD Red: https://a.co/d/09lC3z9I Don’t Tell Me How To Die: https://a.co/d/0gL51BJY Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B001JPC3FA?ingress=0&visitId=d530e726-cae4-45c8-a85f-1ff330502842&ref_=aufs_ap_ahdr_dsk_ab -- Want to learn more from Marshall and follow his work? Check him out here: Website: www.karpkills.com Instagram: @marshallkarpauthor https://www.instagram.com/marshallkarpauthor/ TikTok: Marshall Karp https://www.tiktok.com/@marshallkarp — Subscribe and leave a review. Your support helps more people discover the show, the author and their books.  — Get the popular weekly book marketing 3-2-1 and get access to our $299 Amazon Ads course when you subscribe to our newsletter here:  https://getshelflife.com/category/newsletter/ Head to our new website for more content and updates.: www.getshelflife.com If you're interested in connecting further or have any questions, feel free to email me at Alex@getshelflife.com

    1h 10m

  8. Apr 13

    BTB177: 100,000+ Copies Sold — Nonfiction Book Marketing, Author Platform & Promotion Strategies with Naomi Oreskes

    This week, we’re back with Naomi Oreskes, a scientific historian and Harvard professor, and co-author of Merchants of Doubt and The Big Myth, to talk about what it really takes to turn rigorous academic research into a book that reaches hundreds of thousands of readers. With a background that spans geology, climate science, and decades of teaching, Naomi has built her work around making complex scientific ideas understandable without losing their depth. As a result, her books have reached hundreds of thousands of readers and continue to shape how people think about science, truth, and the world around them. In this episode, we unpack how she approaches writing for a broader audience by thinking of it less as writing and more as speaking to a real person. That mindset carries through everything, from how Merchants of Doubt was written to how it was shared. Instead of relying on one big moment, the book gained traction through consistent, deliberate effort by saying yes to every opportunity, traveling to places most authors overlook, and meeting readers where they are. We also get into how that same approach evolved with The Big Myth, where podcasts, op-eds, and timely conversations became a bigger part of the strategy. Along the way, we talk about staying connected to current events, maintaining scientific integrity, and simplifying complex ideas in a way that people can actually follow without losing what makes them true. Tune in to this episode with Naomi Oreskes to see what separates books that come and go from those that continue to matter long after they’re published and why Merchants of Doubt and The Big Myth don’t just stay relevant, but become essential reading for anyone trying to make sense of misinformation, scientific claims, and the world around them. If you want to explore more of Naomi Oreskes’ work, research, and writing, you can check out her platform below or pick up one of her books. Reckoning Science (https://reckoningscience.org/author/naomi/) Naomi’s science platform with weekly posts (co-created with Sasha Kirov) You can get a copy Merchants of Doubt, and Naomi’s books on these platforms:  Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/p/books/merchants-of-doubt-how-a-handful-of-scientists-obscured-the-truth-on-issues-from-tobacco-smoke-to-climate-change-erik-m-conway/013961483cb5e746?ean=9781608193943&next=t Amazon: https://a.co/d/08u9qrz7 → Available on Bookshop, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other retailers Publications she writes for: The New York Times The Washington Post Los Angeles Times Science Magazine British Medical Journal Undark — Subscribe and leave a review. Your support helps more people discover the show, the author and their books.  — Get the popular weekly book marketing 3-2-1 and get access to our $299 Amazon Ads course when you subscribe to our newsletter here:  https://getshelflife.com/category/newsletter/ Head to our new website for more content and updates.: www.getshelflife.com If you're interested in connecting further or have any questions, feel free to email me at Alex@getshelflife.com

    34 min
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4.9
out of 5
149 Ratings

About

This show is for book lovers and creators who want to go behind the scenes with their favorite authors to hear about how they were able to not just write a book but create a movement. 

Information

  • Creator
    Alex Strathdee
  • Years Active
    2018 - 2026
  • Episodes
    236
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Before The Bestseller
  • Show Website
    Before The Bestseller

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