The Expert Method

Ian Gatzke
  • 5.0 (3)
  • Entrepreneurship

The Expert Method is a podcast about learning from people who have spent years developing their knowledge, skills, and expertise. Hosted by Ian Gatzke, the show features conversations with authors, entrepreneurs, coaches, and experts from a wide range of fields. Each conversation explores the experiences that shaped their thinking, the lessons they've learned along the way, and the ideas that can help us better understand ourselves, our work, and the world around us. We explore everything from entrepreneurship and personal development to psychology, philosophy, and the questions that shape how we live. The conversations are driven by genuine curiosity, thoughtful questions, and a desire to learn. The goal is simple: to discover valuable ideas and find ways to put what we learn into practice.

  1. 16h ago

    How to Turn a Great Idea Into a Real Business

    A great idea is only the beginning. The real challenge is turning that vision into a business that can actually execute, grow, and operate without depending on you to do everything. In this episode of The Expert Method, Ian Gatzke sits down with Derek Fredrickson, founder of The COO Solution, to explore the difference between the visionary who creates the future and the operator who makes it real. They unpack why so many entrepreneurs become bottlenecks in their own businesses, how to build systems that create consistent results, and why learning to let go might be one of the most important skills a founder can develop. Derek also shares a practical framework for measuring how independent your business has become, starting with stepping away for six hours and eventually building toward six months. If you're building a business and starting to realize that your own involvement might be limiting its growth, this conversation will give you a different way to think about your role as the founder. =============== Derek’s Links: - Website: https://thecoosolution.com/ - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/derekfredrickson - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/derekfredrickson - Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thecoosolution =============== Download the Program Execution System Toolkit: https://implementgpts.com/pestoolkit =============== - My LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ian-gatzke - Schedule Free Blueprinting Call: https://api.leadconnectorhq.com/widget/bookings/implement-ai-blueprinting =============== Highlights: 0:00 Episode Highlight 0:54 Visionaries Create, Operators Execute 4:09 When the Founder Becomes the Bottleneck 7:53 Should You Still Be Doing This? 12:25 Buy Back Your Time 15:27 Delegate Outcomes, Not Tasks 17:26 Do It For, With, Then By Them 20:48 Build a Process-Driven Business 23:08 Fix the Process Before the Person 29:10 Stop Documenting Everything Yourself 33:14 The Craft and Art of Sales 34:49 Separate Yourself From the Business 42:41 Define Your North Star 45:23 Build a Business You Can Leave

  2. 2d ago

    How to See What Others Miss

    Most people spend their lives becoming experts in one field. But what if the ability to see what others miss comes from learning to think across many different disciplines? Charlie Sheppard has spent over 40 years studying human behavior, leadership, organizational culture, and the patterns behind exceptional performance. His approach is built on what he calls infinite curiosity: the willingness to explore unfamiliar ideas, challenge existing assumptions, and recognize connections that others overlook. In this conversation with Ian Gatzke, Charlie explains how his work led him to develop 750 distinctions and 1,500 questions across roughly 40 domains of knowledge. What started as a project to teach artificial intelligence how to ask better questions became the foundation for a book exploring how humans can expand their own thinking. They explore why specialization can create blind spots, how curiosity helps us recognize patterns, and why asking better questions may be one of the most valuable skills we can develop. The conversation also moves into human intuition, the difference between our constructed and expanded selves, and Charlie's belief that some aspects of human experience may remain difficult for AI to replicate. At its core, this episode explores a compelling question: What becomes possible when we learn to notice the distinctions that other people don't see? =============== Charlie’s Links: - Website: https://www.sheppardpartners.com - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charliesheppard - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/energyadvantagethe - Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SheppardPartners - X: https://x.com/sheppardpartner - YT Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@sheppardpartners Pre-order Seeing What Others Miss: https://www.amazon.com/Seeing-What-Others-Miss-Patterns-ebook/dp/B0HQFZYDZ1 Other Books by Charlie: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B0F2W7FJ5N/allbooks =============== Download the Program Execution System Toolkit: https://implementgpts.com/pestoolkit =============== - My LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ian-gatzke/ - Schedule Free Blueprinting Call: https://api.leadconnectorhq.com/widget/bookings/implement-ai-blueprinting =============== Highlights: 0:00 Episode Highlight 1:35 Learn to See Patterns Faster 8:23 More Domains, Better Thinking 11:28 Stay Curious Across Disciplines 13:08 Train Your Intuition 18:06 The Constructed Self 25:23 Access the Expanded Self 28:41 Reconnect Through Love 32:49 Rethinking Cancer Treatment 35:56 What Humans Still Have Over AI 36:12 Teaching AI to Ask Better Questions 41:02 A Word for Human Oneness

  3. 5d ago

    How to Tell Fear From Intuition

    How do you know when your gut is warning you that something is wrong, versus when fear is simply trying to keep you comfortable? That distinction matters, especially when you're building a business, making difficult decisions, or trying to become someone you've never been before. In this episode of The Expert Method, Ian Gatzke sits down with Amy Sanders to explore the relationship between fear, intuition, identity, and personal growth. Amy explains why doing something new can feel wrong even when it's aligned with what you want, and how learning to recognize your internal signals can help you move forward with greater self-trust. They also unpack Amy's Default Identity Loop, a framework for understanding how the meanings we attach to experiences reinforce subconscious patterns and shape who we believe ourselves to be. From imposter syndrome and self-doubt to the role of faith and taking action without certainty, the conversation explores what it actually takes to move beyond old patterns and create a new sense of identity. Because sometimes the thing holding you back isn't a lack of ability. It's an old version of yourself trying to keep you safe. =============== Amy’s Links: - Website: https://amysanders.co - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/itsamysanders - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/its.amysanders - Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amysanderscoaching - YT Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@its.amysanders Unblocked: See It. Shift It. Become Magnetic. https://amysanders.co/book The Unblocked Woman Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/3Ad4HEpa8lumyiGC4VlPv4 =============== Download the Program Execution System Toolkit: https://implementgpts.com/pestoolkit =============== - My LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ian-gatzke - Schedule Free Blueprinting Call: https://api.leadconnectorhq.com/widget/bookings/implement-ai-blueprinting =============== Highlights: 0:00 Episode Highlight 1:47 Fear vs. Intuition 5:01 The Cave You Fear Holds the Treasure 6:34 Build Evidence for a New Identity 11:02 Notice the Patterns Keeping You Stuck 14:12 The Default Identity Loop 18:20 Shift Into the Aligned Loop 20:10 Become Who You Already Know You Can Be 25:03 Growth Feels Uncomfortable 28:32 Faith Requires Action 31:56 Learn to Trust Your Intuition 35:47 When Your Faith Gets Tested 39:58 You Can

  4. Nov 5

    Why Working Harder Is Keeping You Stuck

    What if the work ethic that helped you build your business is the same thing keeping you from building the life you actually want? For nearly three years, Rob Tracz worked 15-hour days, seven days a week. His business was growing, his clients were getting results, and from the outside, everything looked successful. But behind the scenes, his personal life was falling apart. Rob calls this "robot mode" — the state of becoming so focused on productivity, efficiency, and achievement that you lose sight of what you're actually working toward. In this episode of The Expert Method, Ian Gatzke sits down with Rob to explore why working harder isn't always the answer, how relentless ambition can turn into burnout, and why slowing down might be one of the most important things an entrepreneur can learn to do. They explore Rob's Prime Performance Process, the principles behind building sustainable momentum, and the importance of creating space to reflect on what you actually want from your life. Along the way, they discuss how to recognize when you're operating on autopilot, why speed without direction becomes a distraction, how to prioritize what matters over what's urgent, and how to develop the self-awareness and confidence to make decisions that align with the person you want to become. This conversation is about more than avoiding burnout. It's about learning how to build a successful business without losing yourself in the process. =============== Coach Rob’s Links: - Website: https://robtracz.com - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robtracz - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/robtracz - YT Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@survivingthesidehustle-g3i Surviving the Side Hustle Podcast: https://survivingthesidehustle.riverside.com =============== Download the Program Execution System Toolkit: https://implementgpts.com/pestoolkit =============== - My LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ian-gatzke/ - Schedule Free Blueprinting Call: https://api.leadconnectorhq.com/widget/bookings/implement-ai-blueprinting =============== Highlights: 0:00 Episode Highlight 2:06 When Hard Work Keeps You Stuck 6:33 The Cost of Robot Mode 10:20 Rebuild Momentum From the Inside 13:37 The Principles of Momentum 20:21 Get Clear on Who You’re Becoming 23:14 Let Go of the Old Identity 25:22 Prioritize What Matters Long Term 30:31 Create Space to Hear Yourself 34:10 Stop Optimizing Only for Money 36:49 Build Trust Through Decisions 44:49 Slow Down

  5. Nov 3

    Why Experts Struggle to Explain What They Know

    The more deeply you understand something, the harder it can become to explain it. When you've spent years developing expertise, the steps that once required conscious effort become second nature. You forget what it's like to be a beginner. And that creates a problem when you're trying to teach what you know, explain what you do, or help other people understand your ideas. In this episode of The Expert Method, Ian Gatzke sits down with Jeremy Doran, author of NeuroConversant Leadership, to explore why experts struggle to communicate their knowledge and what it actually takes to make complex ideas easier to understand. Jeremy also shares how something as simple as sending questions before a meeting can change who participates, and why asking better questions is often more productive than trying harder to convince someone you're right. Whether you're a founder explaining your business, a coach teaching your methodology, or a leader trying to get your team on the same page, this conversation challenges a common assumption: being good at something doesn't automatically make you good at communicating it. =============== Jeremy’s Links: - Website: https://neuroconversantleadership.com - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremydoranspeaks - Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/NeuroConversant-Leadership/61586846506729 - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeremydoranspeaks - YT Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@NeuroConversantLeadership NeuroConversant Leadership Podcast: https://neuroconversantleadership.com/neuroconversant-leadership-podcast =============== Download the Program Execution System Toolkit: https://implementgpts.com/pestoolkit =============== - My LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ian-gatzke/ - Schedule Free Blueprinting Call: https://api.leadconnectorhq.com/widget/bookings/implement-ai-blueprinting =============== Highlights: 0:00 Episode Highlight 1:31 Why Expertise Gets Harder to Explain 3:13 Teach Through Stories 5:07 Make Stories Memorable and Relatable 8:46 Make the Audience the Focus 10:49 Know What They Need to Hear 12:51 Big Picture vs. Details 17:59 People Process Information Differently 20:06 Introverts and Extroverts at Work 23:52 Fix the Communication System 25:49 Build Better Meetings 31:03 Stop Making Assumptions

  6. Oct 31

    How to Turn Your Expertise Into a Book People Actually Want to Read

    You can spend decades developing expertise and still struggle to answer one question: What should your book actually be about? In this episode of The Expert Method, Ian Gatzke sits down with ghostwriter and author Richard Lowe to explore how experts can turn years of knowledge, experience, and personal stories into a book people actually want to read. Richard explains why the best book is rarely someone's entire life story, and how he uses in-depth interviews to uncover the experiences, lessons, and ideas that deserve to be told. His process comes down to finding the intersection of three things: what matters to the author, what matters to the audience, and what is marketable. The conversation also explores the deeper craft of storytelling, including how to identify the central thread of a story, create compelling characters, introduce conflict, and write endings that make the entire journey worthwhile. Ian and Richard also discuss the role of AI in writing, why AI-generated books often fall short, and how experienced writers can use AI as a tool without sacrificing the human perspective that makes their work valuable. Whether you're a coach, consultant, entrepreneur, or aspiring author, this conversation offers a different way to think about turning what you know into something other people genuinely want to read. =============== Richard’s Links: - Website: https://thewritingking.com - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richardlowejr - Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheWritingKingRichard - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thewritingking - X: https://x.com/thewritingking - YT Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@ThewritingkingRichard Richard’s Books: https://thewritingking.com/hub/library =============== Download the Program Execution System Toolkit: https://implementgpts.com/pestoolkit =============== - My LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ian-gatzke/ - Schedule Free Blueprinting Call: https://api.leadconnectorhq.com/widget/bookings/implement-ai-blueprinting =============== Highlights: 0:00 Episode Highlight 1:31 Find the Book Inside Your Expertise 4:47 Find the Thread Through Your Life 6:28 What Makes a Story Worth Telling 8:42 Build Around the Three-Act Journey 12:50 Fiction and Nonfiction Are Different Crafts 15:52 Write From the Character’s World 21:11 What Makes an Ending Work 25:37 Stories Need Characters and Surprise 29:59 Why Information Alone Isn’t Enough 34:31 Why AI Still Needs Human Judgment 35:52 Where Great Book Ideas Come From 40:34 Be Nice to Each Other

  7. Oct 29

    How to Build Authority Without Chasing a Bigger Audience

    A bigger audience doesn't automatically mean more authority. So what actually makes people recognize, trust, and value your expertise? In this episode of The Expert Method, Ian Gatzke sits down with Matty Dalrymple, author, podcaster, and consultant, to explore why building real authority has less to do with reaching as many people as possible and more to do with developing meaningful relationships with the right people. They discuss why niching down makes your expertise more valuable, how a service-first mindset creates opportunities that traditional audience-building strategies often miss, and why the relationships you build through podcasting can be worth far more than the exposure itself. They also explore what makes expertise stand out in a world increasingly saturated with AI-generated content. Matty explains why personal stories, lived experiences, and unique ways of communicating ideas are becoming essential for experts who want their work to resonate. If you're a coach, consultant, author, or expert building a business around what you know, this conversation offers a different way to think about growing your influence: stop trying to reach everyone and start becoming genuinely valuable to the people you're best positioned to serve. =============== Matty’s Links: - Website: https://mattydalrymple.com - Website: https://www.theindyauthor.com - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matty-dalrymple - Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/matty.dalrymple - Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheIndyAuthor - X: https://x.com/MattyDalrymple - X: https://x.com/TheIndyAuthor - YT Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@mattydalrymple The Indy Author Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/c/TheIndyAuthorPodcast Matty’s Books: https://www.theindyauthor.com/books-overview =============== Download the Program Execution System Toolkit: https://implementgpts.com/pestoolkit =============== - My LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ian-gatzke/ - Schedule Free Blueprinting Call: https://api.leadconnectorhq.com/widget/bookings/implement-ai-blueprinting =============== Highlights: 0:00 Episode Highlight 1:36 Quality Beats Audience Size 3:27 What Authority Really Means 7:37 Serve People With Relevance 11:31 Shift Into a Service Mindset 13:59 Relationships Compound Over Time 18:03 Use Your Unique Lens 20:16 Make Your Expertise Personal 24:23 Stories Make Expertise Stick 26:11 Know the Audience You’re Serving 32:27 Start by Listening 36:24 A Rising Tide Raises All Ships

  8. Oct 27

    Nobody Cares About Your Life Story

    Most people think telling their story means starting at the beginning and sharing everything. Dr. Rhonda Lawson argues that’s exactly why so many stories fail to connect. In this conversation, Ian and Rhonda unpack what actually makes a personal story matter to another person: a clear message, a meaningful struggle, and a reason for the audience to care. They explore why effective storytelling starts with the reader, how to identify the real “mountain” in your story, why vulnerability and accountability make a story more powerful, and how to brainstorm and outline your book without getting stuck trying to be perfect. Whether you want to write a memoir, publish a book, or simply tell your story more effectively in your content, this episode will help you make your experience resonate. =============== Dr. Lawson’s Links: - Website: https://www.mtwimagesolutions.com - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-rhonda-lawson-7258b1 - Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MTWImageSltns - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meettheworldimagesolutions - TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@drrhondal - YT Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@meettheworldimagesolutions Dr. Lawson’s Books: https://doctorchristiane.com/books =============== Download the Program Execution System Toolkit: https://implementgpts.com/pestoolkit =============== - My LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ian-gatzke/ - Schedule Free Blueprinting Call: https://api.leadconnectorhq.com/widget/bookings/implement-ai-blueprinting =============== Highlights: 0:00 Episode Highlight 1:29 Why Nobody Cares About Your Story 3:46 Start With What’s In It for Them 5:23 Build Around One Core Message 9:34 Memory Isn’t Always Reality 11:48 Give Yourself Permission to Be Imperfect 13:52 Share the Failures Too 15:11 Take Accountability for the Mistakes 19:09 Cut What Doesn’t Serve the Story 22:27 Put the Reader First 27:13 Are You Ready to Meet the World?

See All (101)

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

The Expert Method is a podcast about learning from people who have spent years developing their knowledge, skills, and expertise. Hosted by Ian Gatzke, the show features conversations with authors, entrepreneurs, coaches, and experts from a wide range of fields. Each conversation explores the experiences that shaped their thinking, the lessons they've learned along the way, and the ideas that can help us better understand ourselves, our work, and the world around us. We explore everything from entrepreneurship and personal development to psychology, philosophy, and the questions that shape how we live. The conversations are driven by genuine curiosity, thoughtful questions, and a desire to learn. The goal is simple: to discover valuable ideas and find ways to put what we learn into practice.

Information

  • Creator
    Ian Gatzke
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    101
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Ian Gatzke
  • Show Website
    The Expert Method