The Expert Method

Ian Gatzke
  • 5.0 (2)
  • Entrepreneurship

The Expert Method is a podcast for people who turn knowledge into transformation. Hosted by Ian Gatzke, the show features thoughtful conversations with experts, authors, coaches, consultants, and thought leaders about how they think, teach, build, and create results. Each episode goes beneath surface-level advice to uncover the methods, beliefs, hard-earned lessons, and execution realities behind work that actually helps people change, grow, and follow through. The show is designed for experts and knowledge-based founders who care about building offers, programs, and ideas that create real outcomes — not just more information.

  1. 1d ago

    Why You Know What to Do and Still Don’t Do It

    You know what you need to do. You’ve set the goal. You understand the strategy. You may even have a clear plan for getting there. So why do you still struggle to take action? In this episode of The Expert Method, Ian sits down with licensed therapist, coach, author, and host of Unblocked, Jessica Smarro, to unpack what actually happens between knowing what to do and following through. Jessica explains why inaction is often less about discipline or information and more about what’s happening underneath the behavior. They explore the idea of “underfeeling,” why the goals we chase are not always connected to what we truly want, and how our thoughts shape the emotions, actions, and results we create. They also break down Jessica’s STEER model — Situation, Thought, Emotion, Action, Result — and how it can be used to identify the beliefs driving your behavior, challenge limiting thought patterns, and intentionally create new ones that better support the person you want to become. If you’ve ever wondered why you can have the strategy, the ambition, and the information — and still feel stuck — this conversation offers a different place to look. =============== Jessica’s Links: - Website: https://jessicasmarro.com - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessicasmarro - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jessicasmarro - Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jessicasmarro - YT Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@JessicaSmarro In Pursuit: Go After What You Want – Alive, Aligned, and Fully You: https://www.amazon.com/Pursuit-After-Alive-Aligned-Fully-ebook/dp/B0FR2QK8XP =============== 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 0:19 Why Knowing Isn’t Enough 1:32 Find What You Actually Want 3:31 Get Clear on Your Real Why 6:12 Focus on Who Before How 10:13 Build Beliefs You Can Actually Believe 15:03 Become Aware of Your Thoughts 17:25 The STEER Model 20:29 Trace Results Back to Thoughts 23:09 Practice Better Thoughts 26:46 Find the Beliefs Blocking You 32:08 Your Thoughts Drive Your Results 35:51 Reframe Imposter Syndrome 37:56 Choose Thoughts That Serve You 44:18 Why We Fear Our Own Potential 48:55 Bring the Who Into the Goal 53:03 You Matter 54:30 Episode Takeaway

  2. 3d ago

    How to Become a Leader People Actually Want to Follow

    A title can put you in charge. It can’t make people trust you — and it definitely can’t make them want to follow you. In this episode of The Expert Method, Ian sits down with Mark Andrew, author of Leading Through the Heat, to break down what leadership looks like when the stakes are real. Drawing on his experience in the fire service, Mark explains why the best leaders earn trust long before they receive the title — through competence, ownership, consistency, and the way they treat the people around them. They explore why micromanagement kills morale, how great leaders provide clear direction without controlling every decision, why taking responsibility when things go wrong builds trust, and what separates someone who manages people from someone people genuinely want to follow. They also discuss the responsibility leaders have to set the standard themselves, develop the people beneath them, have difficult conversations when necessary, and create an environment where people feel trusted enough to contribute their own ideas. If you’re building a team, stepping into leadership for the first time, or trying to become the kind of leader people actually want to work with, this conversation offers a practical look at what earning that trust requires. =============== Mark’s Links: - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-andrew-a4351a184 - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/markdbnfire Leading Through the Heat: https://www.amazon.com/Leading-Through-Heat-Mark-Andrew/dp/196982610X =============== 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 0:22 Trust Is Built Before the Title 2:20 Earn Leadership Before Promotion 4:25 Trust Your Team’s Expertise 6:10 Take Responsibility When Things Go Wrong 8:41 Give Clear Direction 10:55 Set the Strategy, Let Them Choose Tactics 12:48 Micromanagement Kills Ownership 14:23 People Want to Feel Valued 16:09 Why Leaders Micromanage 18:49 Accountability Builds Trust 23:06 Leadership Is More Than Management 31:44 Promotion Shouldn’t Change Who You Are 34:24 Lead From the Front 40:34 Care About Your Team

  3. 6d ago

    Why Full Restaurants Still Lose Money

    A full dining room doesn’t necessarily mean a profitable restaurant. In this episode of The Expert Method, Ian Gatzke sits down with Jim Taylor of Benchmark Sixty to unpack the economics behind restaurant profitability—and why some operators can be busy every night and still struggle to make the model work. Jim explains why restaurant owners have to think of themselves as running a business that happens to serve food, rather than a passion project that happens to be a business. They explore how labor, operating hours, pricing, menu complexity, customer behavior, and increasingly thin margins can turn what looks like a successful restaurant into an unprofitable one. They also get into why opening fewer hours can sometimes produce more profit, why “industry standard” benchmarks can mislead independent operators, and how restaurants can use their own data to make better decisions. The conversation also moves beyond the numbers into hospitality: how matching the service model to the profit model matters, why customer loyalty compounds over time, and how simple gestures—like strategically using a restaurant’s promo budget—can simultaneously create memorable experiences and drive more revenue. If you run a restaurant, work in hospitality, or simply enjoy understanding the business mechanics behind the places you eat, this conversation offers a different way to think about what actually makes a restaurant sustainable. =============== Jim’s Links: - Website: https://benchmarksixty.com - LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/jimtaylor60 - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jtaylor250/ =============== 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 0:25 Why Restaurants Fail 2:54 Build a Business, Not Just a Restaurant 5:35 The Margin for Error Is Shrinking 7:33 Use Data to Make Better Decisions 10:42 Stop Chasing Industry Averages 13:15 Why Being Open Less Can Make More 14:46 How a Full Restaurant Loses Money 16:49 Match Hospitality to the Business Model 19:33 The Middle Market Is Getting Squeezed 22:58 Loyalty Is Built Through Hospitality 26:43 Use Promotions to Create More Revenue 29:48 Small Gestures Create Big Returns 32:44 Think Differently About the Business 33:26 Episode Takeaway

  4. Sep 10

    How to Get Your Business Recommended by AI

    AI is becoming a new layer of discovery. People are no longer just searching Google for businesses to hire — they’re asking tools like ChatGPT who they should work with. So what makes AI recommend one business over another? In this episode of The Expert Method, Ian Gatzke sits down with Wes Towers of Uplift 360 to explore what businesses can do to become more visible, trustworthy, and recommendable in an AI-driven world. Wes breaks down why specificity matters, how consistent messaging helps both people and AI understand what your business actually does, and why real-world proof like case studies, reviews, client outcomes, and third-party mentions is becoming increasingly valuable. They also explore why generic AI-generated content is unlikely to build real authority, why traditional lead magnets are losing value, how publishing useful content can help train large language models about your business, and the story of a consultant who landed a $140,000 project after being recommended through ChatGPT. If you’re trying to understand how search, content marketing, trust, and AI recommendations are starting to converge, this conversation offers a practical look at what may matter most: clarity, specificity, proof, and a reputation that exists beyond your own marketing. =============== Wes’ Links: - Website: https://uplift360.com.au - LinkedIn: https://au.linkedin.com/in/westowers The Simple Manifesto: https://www.amazon.com.au/Simple-Manifesto-Marketing-Principl/dp/0994367600 =============== 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 1:33 Why Trust Is Eroding Online 4:24 Build Trust Through Authenticity 8:42 Make the Founder the Brand 11:38 Turn Customers Into Marketing 14:03 Why the Lead Funnel Is Breaking 16:27 Train AI About Your Business 20:59 What Replaces the Lead Magnet 24:41 Everything Starts With the Customer 25:53 Why Niching Down Matters 30:49 How AI Chooses Who to Recommend 33:15 Brand Mentions Build Authority 36:25 Answer the Questions People Ask 38:36 Just Be Clear 38:59 Episode Takeaway

  5. Sep 8

    How to Start When You Don’t Know What to Do

    What do you do when you know you need to move forward—but you have no idea what the right next step is? In this episode of The Expert Method, Ian Gatzke sits down with Mitesh Jani to explore what Mitesh calls the power of reckless beginnings: the idea that clarity rarely comes before action. More often, the first step simply needs to create enough momentum for the second one to become visible. They unpack why we put so much pressure on making the “right” first decision, how overplanning can keep us stuck, and why intuition, curiosity, and experimentation can be more useful than a perfect plan when you’re at the beginning of something new. The conversation also explores how to become more attuned to intuition, why silence and presence can create space for better ideas, how self-doubt and imposter syndrome connect to self-image, and why recurring obstacles may be signals pointing toward the work you need to do next. If you’ve been waiting for certainty before taking action, this conversation is a reminder that you may not need more clarity first. You may just need to start. =============== Mitesh’s Links: - Website: https://www.selfworth.ca - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/selfworth.ca The Process: Six Mechanics of Achievement: https://www.amazon.com/Process-Six-Mechanics-Achievement-ebook/dp/B0GTWWLJ5W =============== 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 0:22 How to Start Without a Plan 1:17 The Power of Reckless Beginnings 3:41 The First Step Only Needs a Second 5:56 Why We Overthink the Beginning 8:46 Let Intuition Take the Wheel 11:54 Logic Comes After Momentum 15:22 Act on the Hunch 19:44 Trust the Dots to Connect 24:38 Where Intuition Comes From 29:26 Create More Space for Insight 33:48 Imposter Syndrome Is Self-Image 38:19 Let Obstacles Show You the Way 41:32 Build a Practice of Intuition 44:00 Make Space for Silence 47:23 Start Small, Start Now 47:46 Episode Takeaway

  6. Sep 5

    Why Great Books Fail to Find Readers

    A great book can still fail if it never reaches the right reader. In this episode of The Expert Method, Ian sits down with author, ghostwriter, and publisher Lana McAra to unpack why quality alone is not enough to make a book successful. Lana has written and ghostwritten more than 50 books with over one million copies sold, and her experience has shown her that one of the biggest factors in a book’s success is clarity around exactly who it is for. They explore why authors should start thinking about their audience before the book is finished, how “priming the pump” can create demand before launch, and why getting more specific with your niche often makes a book—and a business—stronger rather than smaller. The conversation also covers how writing can expose gaps in your own thinking, how to identify the clients or readers you are best suited to serve, why authors should focus on delivering what the reader needs instead of protecting information, and the idea of giving away the knowledge while selling access and implementation. If you are an author, coach, consultant, or expert building a business around what you know, this conversation is a practical look at how clearer positioning, deeper audience understanding, and stronger execution can help your ideas reach the people they are actually meant to serve. =============== Lana’s Links: - Website: https://lanamcara.com - Website: https://www.vendelapublishing.com - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lanamcara - Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lanamcarapage Lana’s Books: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B0BL8SKS9T/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 0:37 Why Good Books Don’t Sell 1:58 Know Your Target Reader 3:30 Start With the Outcome 5:46 Market the Book Before It’s Done 7:57 Make the Reader Say “This Is for Me” 12:08 Write for the Reader’s Level 14:34 Let the Book Clarify the Business 17:00 Give Readers What They Need 22:03 Why Niching Down Works 29:10 Find the Clients You Serve Best 33:34 Ask Better Discovery Questions 35:03 Put the Reader First 37:29 Give Away the Information 39:50 Just Get Started

  7. Sep 3

    Learning More Won’t Make You Better

    Most people don’t have an information problem. They have an execution problem. You can read more books, listen to more podcasts, buy another course, or use AI to generate another plan—but none of it matters if you never put what you learn into practice. In this episode, Ian sits down with Damon Lembi, author of The Learn It All Leader, to explore what actually turns learning into growth. They unpack why confidence comes after the reps, how to move through imposter syndrome, why failure is often just feedback, and what it takes to keep learning without using learning as a form of procrastination. They also discuss how AI is changing the future of work, why judgment and curiosity matter more as technology improves, and what employees and entrepreneurs can do to stay valuable instead of waiting for the world to happen to them. =============== Damon’s Links: - Website: https://www.thelearnitallleader.com - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/damonlembi - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/damonlembi - YT Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@TheLearnItAllPodcast The Learn-It-All Leader: Mindset, Traits and Tools: https://www.amazon.com/Learn-All-Leader-Mindset-Traits-ebook/dp/B0BZXKR784 =============== 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 0:46 Learning Without Doing Is Treason 2:43 Stop Learning and Start Doing 4:31 Confidence Comes From Reps 6:30 Use Nerves as a Signal 8:29 Turn Learning Into Action 11:44 How to Handle Imposter Syndrome 14:12 Practice What Feels Difficult 17:06 Failure Only Exists If You Quit 21:14 Find Problems Worth Solving 24:09 Do Work You Care About 26:45 Use AI to Get Better Feedback 29:27 Build Skills AI Can’t Replace 31:47 Make Yourself More Valuable 35:27 Leadership Requires Learning Agility 38:39 Test the Market Before You Build 42:55 Leaders Are Always in the Making

  8. Sep 1

    What Keeps You From Changing?

    Most of us know at least one thing we want to change. The harder part is actually changing it. In this episode of The Expert Method, Ian sits down with Karin Velická to explore why understanding what needs to change often isn’t enough—and how our nervous system, emotions, and attachment to what feels familiar can keep us stuck in patterns we consciously want to leave behind. Karin breaks down why lasting change often starts with smaller steps than we expect, how building consistency can create trust in ourselves, and what nervous system regulation actually looks like in practice. They also explore self-compassion during difficult periods, the difference between external success and internal fulfillment, and why becoming more authentic may require questioning the expectations we’ve inherited from family, culture, and society. If you know what you want to change but keep finding yourself pulled back toward the familiar, this conversation offers a different way to understand what might be happening underneath the surface. =============== Karin’s Links: - Website: https://www.velickakarin.com - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/velicka-karin - Instagram: http://instagram.com/velicka.karin Dear Me Letters: https://www.amazon.com/Dear-Me-Letters-Karin-Velick%C3%A1/dp/B0GKPCW6PY =============== 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 0:27 Why Change Feels So Hard 3:53 Familiar Hell Feels Safer 5:56 Build Trust Through Small Steps 7:28 Understand Your Nervous System 12:51 Regulate Before You React 16:41 Ground Yourself in the Present 18:50 Practice Self-Compassion 22:12 Reward Progress, Not Perfection 25:19 What to Do in a Downward Spiral 29:36 What Low Moments Can Teach You 31:46 Success Without Fulfillment 37:45 Authenticity Starts With Honesty 42:15 Remember Your Purpose 45:38 What Creates Fulfillment 49:19 Regulate Your Nervous System

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5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

The Expert Method is a podcast for people who turn knowledge into transformation. Hosted by Ian Gatzke, the show features thoughtful conversations with experts, authors, coaches, consultants, and thought leaders about how they think, teach, build, and create results. Each episode goes beneath surface-level advice to uncover the methods, beliefs, hard-earned lessons, and execution realities behind work that actually helps people change, grow, and follow through. The show is designed for experts and knowledge-based founders who care about building offers, programs, and ideas that create real outcomes — not just more information.

Information

  • Creator
    Ian Gatzke
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    77
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Ian Gatzke
  • Show Website
    The Expert Method