Publish & Prosper

Matt Briel & Lauren Vassallo
  • 4.6 (21)
  • BOOKS
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Where publishing, technology, and marketing collide. Brought to you by Lulu.com. 

  1. 6D AGO

    What Authors and Creators Can Learn From Each Other

    In this episode, Matt & Lauren reflect on their recent trips to two dramatically different events: London Book Fair and Sponsor Games. One is an international event attended by over 33,000 publishing industry professionals from around the world; the other is an intimate, interactive gathering of content entrepreneurs dedicated to learning how to secure brand deals and sponsorships. Attending these two events back-to-back highlighted the overlap and discrepancies between two types of creative audiences, so we’re asking the questions: 🤔 What can authors learn from content creators/entrepreneurs? 💡 What can content creators learn from authors?  🫱🏻‍🫲🏽 What does it look like when someone is taking the best from both worlds?  Listen wherever you get your podcasts, or watch the video episode on YouTube! Dive Deeper 💡 Learn More About These Events Publishers Weekly’s LBF Recap | A ‘Buzzy and Busy’ Fair Sponsor GamesMomentumIBPA Publishing UniversityLulu’s 2026 Event Schedule💡 Learn More About These Creators The Maker’s Table with Jeff Sieh and Katie FawkesKatie CrossAustin L. Church💡 Listen to These Episodes Ep #63 | Beyond the Algorithm: Relationship Marketing for Authors & Publishers [Video: Live from London Book Fair 2025]Ep #86 | Maximizing Your First Impression in the Attention EconomyEp #111 | Plot Twist: Indie Authors are Landing More Traditional Publishing Deals than Ever 💀 Can’t wait for our next episode? Check out our Resources page for links to our blog, our YouTube channel, and more. 💀 Find us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn at luludotcom! 💀 Email us at podcast@lulu.com 💀 Sign up for our mailing list.

    57 min

  2. MAR 25

    Rethinking Print and Fulfillment with Emily Bair

    In this episode, Matt sits down with Emily Bair, Lulu’s VP of Business Development to explore how brands, publishers, and creators are using print products. Emily shares her insights on topics like:  Why more businesses are revisiting and rethinking print productsThe “aha moments” when print-on-demand solutions clickWhat authors and creators can learn from these larger brands and businessesListen now wherever you get your podcasts, or watch the video episode on YouTube! Dive Deeper 💡 Connect with Emily on LinkedIn 💡 Learn more about Lulu’s Enterprise Business Solutions 💡 Listen to These Episodes Ep #80 | Scaling Up: What to Know About Bulk Book PrintingEp #97 | How Print-On-Demand is Fueling the Resurgence of MagazinesEp #102 | What the Publishing Industry Should Learn from Heated Rivalry💡 Read These Blog Posts 5 Ways Large Organizations Can Benefit from Lulu's Book SolutionsDigital Printing for Traditional PublishersHow to Create Print-On-Demand Magazines for Your Business Sound Bites From This Episode 🎙️ [6:00] “Some of these larger, like, Fortune 1000 companies, and some of the bigger brands, also are seeing a renaissance in print in and of itself… It's starting to become now one of like, the main channels that they're using to break the noise in the space as well.” 🎙️ [16:46] “Right now when it seems like AI, it's just accelerated everybody's path to market. If you're not, you know, a first mover in certain things, like, that can be a big deal. That can be a make or break moment for you. So having more speed and more flexibility, I think, is super important right now.” 🎙️[9:14] “It's funny, earlier you said, you know, this, this whole shift to digital, but it's, it's somewhat ironical that, you know, it's a shift to digital to go back to analog.” 💡 Ironical → The irony of pointing out someone else’s derivations while also making up your own words (as coined by Matt) 🎙️ [26:26] “We've also had larger organizations, like that do, like, electricianal... like recertifications and things like that.” “Electricianal. Is that a word now?” “I made it up.” 💡Electricianal → Of or relating to the work, practice, and training all electricians do (as coined by Emily)  💀 Can’t wait for our next episode? Check out our Resources page for links to our blog, our YouTube channel, and more. 💀 Find us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn at luludotcom! 💀 Email us at podcast@lulu.com 💀 Sign up for our mailing list.

    39 min

  3. MAR 18

    Plot Twist: Indie Authors are Landing More Traditional Publishing Deals than Ever

    In this episode, Matt & Lauren explore the rapidly rising trend in indie authors signing major traditional publishing deals. The real plot twist? These days the authors are the ones with the negotiating power and leverage. We talk through: 🔮 How media influences publishing trends 💡 Outdated self-publishing stigmas (and what publishers are actually interested in) 🤔 Why indie authors would want to secure a publishing deal And answer a few key questions to help indie authors interested in securing traditional publishing deals! Listen wherever you get your podcasts, or watch the video episode on YouTube. Dive Deeper 💡 Listen to These Episodes Ep #36 | The Indie Author’s Guide to Self-Publishing vs. Traditional PublishingEp #65 | How to Copyright the Copy That You WroteEp #71 | International Book Rights for Indie Authors💡 Explore These Resources Wall Street Journal (Paywalled) | Interview with Hugh HoweyWired (Archive) | Interview with Hugh HoweyPublishers Weekly | Book Deals Feed Sound Bites From This Episode 🎙️ “This is an opportunity for you to have a team of people that are helping you with your brand expansion, or with getting you in front of new audiences or licensing your, your foreign rights or your media rights and handling all that for you.” 🎙️ “The point is, you have leverage and you can use that to get a more flexible contract and something that works better for you.” 🎙️ “Anytime you can break norm, anytime you can affect, you know, some mundane, archaic practice that's been in place for hundreds of years? Do it. And this is just another example of that. And whether you want to chalk that up to they're just a business and they're following the dollars, who cares? There’s evolution happening.” 💀 Can’t wait for our next episode? Check out our Resources page for links to our blog, our YouTube channel, and more. 💀 Find us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn at luludotcom! 💀 Email us at podcast@lulu.com 💀 Sign up for our mailing list.

    57 min

  4. MAR 11

    Why Print is the Missing Piece in Your Creator Ecosystem

    In this episode, Lauren & Matt have a conversation exploring why print needs to be part of your creator strategy. We consider the current state of digital content, influenced by algorithms and AI, and how content entrepreneurs can use print books to better establish their brand longevity and legacy (and, of course, to make money).  Listen wherever you get your podcasts, or watch the video episode on YouTube! Dive Deeper 💡 Listen to These Episodes Ep #33 | Books You Can Create Using Your Existing ContentEp #58 | Creative Ways to Use Print-On-Demand to Support Your BusinessEp #79 | How Justin Moore Sold Over 1,000 Books in 90 Days💡 Read These Blog Posts Creators’ Guide to Monetizing Your ContentTurning Your Content Into a Book: A Step-by-Step Guide for Creators💡 Watch These Videos How to Launch a Print Subscription6 Unique Ways to Use Print-on-Demand Ep #105 [Video] | Are You Selling Books or Selling with Books? Sound Bites From This Episode 🎙️ [8:34] “How do you make that content last? How do you make it tangible? And how do you use it to reach people in a way that isn't going to immediately disappear?” 🎙️ [33:47] “'I’ve yet to ever receive a book or a piece of printed content or something where I was as quick to toss it as I am 90% of the emails that come into my inbox every day.” 🎙️ [51:21] “I think, honestly, in an age where everybody's attached to devices, the obvious play is to do something different. And that's print.” 💀 Can’t wait for our next episode? Check out our Resources page for links to our blog, our YouTube channel, and more. 💀 Find us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn at luludotcom! 💀 Email us at podcast@lulu.com 💀 Sign up for our mailing list.

    53 min

  5. MAR 4

    Choosing Your Direct Sales Strategy

    In this episode, Matt & Lauren explore three different ways creators can get started selling direct, and the tools you’ll need along the way! Learn about: 💡 Using direct assisted platforms like Books.by to build a website for you 💰 Selling on marketplaces like Etsy for a hybrid sales approach 📚 Connecting Lulu Direct to your site for true direct-to-consumer sales 🧰 Stocking your toolkit with some of our favorite sales and marketing solutions Listen wherever you get your podcasts, or watch the video episode on YouTube!  Dive Deeper 💡 Explore These Resources Learn More About Lulu DirectLearn More About Books.by and Stck.meBuy Matt’s Book Profit-on-Demand💡 Listen to These Episodes Ep #31 | Your 7-Step Guide to Building an Online BookstoreEp #70 | How Does Selling Direct Actually Work?Ep #96 | Building a Landing Page for Your Book💡 Read These Blog Posts Choosing the Right Direct-to-Consumer Solution for Selling Your BooksShopify vs. Wix vs. WooCommerce: Which Ecommerce Platform is Right for Your Book?Licensing Your Foreign Book Rights with DropCap Marketplace💡 Watch These Videos Direct Sales PlaylistHow to Get Started with Direct Sales Sound Bites From This Episode 🎙️ [4:47] “So for those of you that are interested in selling direct, but you don't have the time or the experience, or you just want to give it a quick try and you don't want to invest too much in it… These direct assisted platforms, I think, are really great for that.” 🎙️ [23:41] “There's no better way to control the customer experience from beginning to end and grow your business and capture all that data.” 🎙️ [38:23] “If your goal is long term growth and scalability, that should be a factor that you consider while you're deciding on your solutions.” 💀 Can’t wait for our next episode? Check out our Resources page for links to our blog, our YouTube channel, and more. 💀 Find us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn at luludotcom! 💀 Email us at podcast@lulu.com 💀 Sign up for our mailing list.

    54 min

  6. FEB 25

    Developing Publishing Technology with Lulu’s CTO Christoph Kepper

    In this episode, Lauren sits down with Lulu’s Chief Technology Officer Christoph Kepper! Christoph shares his insights into what makes Lulu a publishing technology powerhouse, and his vision of an accessible, sustainable future for publishing. Listen wherever you get your podcasts, or watch the video episode on YouTube! Dive Deeper 💡 Explore These Resources Learn more about Wikimedia and Pedia PressLearn more about Lulu’s Order Import tool💡 Listen to These Episodes Ep #62 | Sustainability in Publishing: Reducing Waste One Print Book at a TimeEp #102 | What the Publishing Industry Should Learn from Heated Rivalry Ep #106 | Building Your Book Business Using Lulu’s Print APIs Sound Bites From This Episode 🎙️ [13:19] “I always say ideas are cheap, you know? Because having a good idea is not a problem. Executing and getting it to that stage where it's really working well takes so much more effort.” 🎙️ [17:03] “It's not the latest technology that Ingram uses. And I thought there were a few things that we could do better. And so we did them at Lulu." 🎙️ [35:32] “That's where also the notion of Lulu being a tech company is valid, because we are much less of a publishing company than traditional publishing companies or publishing companies at all. We are just providing some infrastructure for authors, for publishers, for whoever wants to use our services.” 💀 Can’t wait for our next episode? Check out our Resources page for links to our blog, our YouTube channel, and more. 💀 Find us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn at luludotcom! 💀 Email us at podcast@lulu.com 💀 Sign up for our mailing list.

    45 min

  7. FEB 18

    Scaling for Success with Automated Book Fulfillment Solutions

    Manual fulfillment works…until it doesn’t. In this episode, Matt & Lauren break down the risks and realities of manually packing and shipping orders, signs it’s time to update your existing solutions, and the backend automations that can help you successfully scale with your growing sales.  Listen wherever you get your podcasts, or watch the video episode on YouTube! Dive Deeper 💡 Explore These Resources Learn More About Lulu’s Sales & Fulfillment Options💡 Listen to These Episodes Ep #32 | Your 7-Step Guide to Building an Online BookstoreEp #80 | Scaling Up: What to Know About Bulk Book PrintingEp #106 | Building Your Book Business Using Lulu’s Print APIs💡 Read These Blog Posts Simplify Selling Books with Lulu’s Order Import ToolPOD Solutions for Growing BusinessesDirect Sales Basics for Selling Your Book with LuluChoosing the Right Direct-to-Consumer Solution for Selling Your Books💡 Watch These Videos How to Get Started with Direct SalesDistributing Your Book With Lulu: What You Need to Know  Sound Bites From This Episode 🎙️ [9:00] “You also want to be prepared for those one-off situations, I can handle this as is right now, but if there's any unexpected spike or roadblock that's going to throw off the whole system, you need to have a plan in place for how to manage that and how to handle that.” 🎙️ [31:20] “Small problems become big problems if you let them.” 🎙️ [44:01] “Being able to open up over 150 new markets, you know, overnight with virtually no money up front and just a little bit of your time? Like, that is – there's no faster way to scale a business like that.” 💀 Can’t wait for our next episode? Check out our Resources page for links to our blog, our YouTube channel, and more. 💀 Find us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn at luludotcom! 💀 Email us at podcast@lulu.com 💀 Sign up for our mailing list.

    49 min

  8. FEB 11

    Building Your Book Business Using Lulu’s Print APIs

    In this episode, Lauren & Matt discuss how entrepreneurs are using Lulu’s suite of APIs to build brand-first book businesses. We break down how savvy creators can use API integrations to automate, personalize, and scale their printing and fulfillment, and why you may want to do the same. Listen wherever you get your podcasts, or watch the video episode on YouTube! Dive Deeper 💡 Explore These Resources Learn More About Lulu’s APIsLulu’s API Knowledge BaseDevelopers PageThe Pathless Path by Paul Millard 💡 Listen to These Episodes Ep #61 | Creating a Custom Book Business Using Lulu's Print APIEp #70 | How Does Selling Direct Actually Work?💡 Read These Blog Posts Scaling Your Business with Custom Books Using the Print APIChoosing the Right Direct-to-Consumer Solution for Selling Your BooksPersonalization at Scale: How Lulu’s API Enables Customized Printing💡 Watch These Videos Selling Direct with a Print APIWebinar | The Business of Books:  How To Use Lulu's Print API To Scale Your Business Sound Bites From This Episode 🎙️ [2:58] “Right now, it's easier than ever to take something like our suite of APIs that are open to, you know, open source and create some really cool front end for like, personalized books. And then we just handle all of the fulfillment. It makes everything super easy.” 🎙️ [14:37] “We give you all the tools you need. You have to go build your sandcastle in the sandbox by yourself.” 🎙️ [37:24] “The APIs’ best and built for three things: automation, personalization, and scalability.”  💀 Can’t wait for our next episode? Check out our Resources page for links to our blog, our YouTube channel, and more. 💀 Find us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn at luludotcom! 💀 Email us at podcast@lulu.com 💀 Sign up for our mailing list.

    54 min
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4.6
out of 5
21 Ratings

About

Where publishing, technology, and marketing collide. Brought to you by Lulu.com. 

Information

  • Creator
    Matt Briel & Lauren Vassallo
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    114
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Publish & Prosper
  • Show Website
    Publish & Prosper

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