Publish & Prosper

Hosted by Matt Briel & Lauren Vassallo

Entrepreneurship Arts Books

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Episodes

124

Latest episode

Jun 2026

Language

EN-US

About the show

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

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60 recent

June 10, 2026Episode 12357 min

Making Your Books Accessible to Every Reader

In this episode, Lauren and guest host Paul, Lulu’s Sr. Marketing Manager, examine an often overlooked element of indie publishing: making your book accessible to all potential readers.Accessibility isn’t just a performative buzzword; it’s a smart strategy to help you reach new readers, connect with existing fans, increase your discoverability, and future-proof your content.Listen, watch, or read along with the episode transcript (accessibility!) to learn more about:💡 Why accessibility matters to authors💰 Why accessibility matters to readers📚 Multi-format publishing, from ebooks and audiobooks to large print editions and dyslexia-friendly fonts📝 How supplemental content can help support readersDive Deeper💡 Explore These ResourcesPew Research Center | Americans still opt for print books over digital or audio versionsDyslexie FontEveryone Can Be a ReaderCase Study on Justin Moore💡 Listen to These EpisodesEp #90 | How to Get Your Book Into LibrariesEp #94 | Crafting a Content Strategy That Actually WorksEp #120 | Print Books Still Aren’t Dead💡 Read These Blog PostsThe European Accessibility Act and Your EbooksWhich Font Should I Use for My Book?Sound Bites From This Episode🎙️ [4:00] “One of the best ways for any content creator of any format, books, video, podcasts, anything, to earn an audience is to find their niche. And when you get into your niche, you don't want to then exclude a portion of those people.”🎙️ [26:56] “It's different between I've written a book to have written a book, versus I've written a book to share information. And if your goal is the latter, which it really, really should be, you got to make it available and accessible in the ways that people want it and actively absorb it.”🎙️ [36:35] “The point of all of this, the TL;DR of this entire episode, is whatever it takes to get as many books into the hands of as many people as possible.”💀 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.

June 3, 2026Episode 12257 min

Rebuilding After Amazon Bans Your Books

In this episode, Lauren & Matt shine a light on a nightmare that keeps many indie authors awake at night: an unceremonious account suspension from Amazon. What do you do when you’re forced to rebuild your author brand from the ground up? How will leaving Amazon impact your audience, your discoverability, and your promotional efforts? Is there anything you can do to safeguard yourself from unexpected excommunication? Listen wherever you get your podcasts, or watch the video episode on YouTube!Dive Deeper💡 Listen to These EpisodesEp #16 | The Indie Author's Guide to Thriving Without AmazonEp #56 | The Indie Author's Guide to Going Wide With Your Book DistributionEp #118 | How to Get Your Readers to Sell Your Book for YouEp #119 | Marketing Your Book to Humans by Optimizing for Robots💡 Read These Blog PostsAmazon Isn’t the Only Option: Going Wide to Diversify Your Book SalesThe Independent Author's Guide to Thriving Without Amazon💡 Watch These VideosHow to Stop Selling on Amazon (and Still Make Money)How to Get Started with Direct Sales Sound Bites From This Episode🎙️ [7:59] “The unfortunate reality of this is that a lot of people are in that boat, and a lot of people don't learn that, to get out of that, that sinking ship until it's already halfway sunk.”🎙️ [22:19] “It's unfortunate if you're in this situation and this was the catalyst or the spark that gets you to take action and start going wide, or finding new places to sell your content, or build that direct connection that you've been wanting to do for the last couple of years, and you know it's the right thing to do. But, I think the important thing here is that you, you get started.”💀 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.

May 27, 2026Episode 12156 min

Designing a Workflow to Support Your Growing Author Brand

In this episode, Matt & Lauren reveal the workflows the Lulu team has been refining for years, built to grow, scale, and streamline content marketing. Whether you’re writing your next book, producing a podcast episode, or scheduling a simple social media post, reframing your approach makes your work easier and gives you back time to do more of what you love. Listen as we break it down into these steps: 1️⃣ Creation2️⃣ Production3️⃣ Distribution 4️⃣ Marketing5️⃣ Sales6️⃣ Fulfillment7️⃣ InsightOr watch the episode on YouTube!Dive Deeper💡 Listen to These EpisodesEp #94 | Crafting a Content Strategy That Actually Works Ep #107 | Scaling for Success with Automated Book Fulfillment SolutionsEp #119 | Marketing Your Book to Humans by Optimizing for Robots💡 Creator News Live with Zac BrownSound Bites From This Episode🎙️ [2:23] “There's nothing worse than, like, getting into something because you love it. Whether it's writing or podcasting or blogging or creating Instagram content , whatever it is. You got into this because you genuinely love this and enjoy doing it. And somewhere along the line, you've made a business out of it. And now the thing that you originally loved doing, that got you here in the first place, is the thing that you have the least amount of time for, or it's become a chore.”🎙️ [22:53] “These seven things, this is almost like basically, you could design a checklist of these seven things around each project, or each piece of content you're doing. And then, more importantly, you kind of frame your workweek around this.”🎙️ [51:14] “Think about the thing that you just detest doing. That you, I mean, you create the biggest bottleneck for yourself because you don't want to do it. We all have that one thing… And that's probably where your biggest bottleneck is. So that's where I would start.”💀 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.

May 20, 2026Episode 12054 min

Print Books Still Aren’t Dead

In this episode, Lauren & Matt gleefully share data from a recent Pew Research Center report confirming what we already knew: print books are alive and well. We unpack the survey results and what they mean for us, indie authors, and the publishing industry as a whole.Listen wherever you get your podcasts, or watch the video episode on YouTube!Dive Deeper💡 Pew Research Center | Americans still opt for print books over digital or audio versions💡 Print Still Owns the Room and Pew Research Agrees With [Matt]💡 Listen to These EpisodesEp #109 | Choosing Your Direct Sales StrategyEp #110 | Why Print is the Missing Piece in Your Creator EcosystemEp #118 | How to Get Your Readers to Sell Your Book for YouSound Bites From This Episode🎙️ [4:17] – “For all those that are continually beating that drum, or find it weird that I'm anti-ebook, in your face.”🎙️ [16:32] – “I would hope by now anybody that's listened to more than a couple of these episodes, that you've understood that whether or not Lauren and I worked for Lulu, we would still be talking about books, print books, how authors can sell more books. Our whole existence at times, especially from a professional level, revolves around helping authors sell more books.”🎙️ [35:16] – “You should be tapping into this market of print book readers and buyers. 100% if you're not already, you should. But more importantly, if you're not selling direct yet, that's really where all of this comes together. That's the four way stop, the convergence of where all of these things will meet in the middle and form, like the ultimate sort of book sales experience for you and your readers.”💀 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.

May 13, 2026Episode 11957 min

Marketing Your Book to Humans by Optimizing for Robots

In this episode, Matt & Lauren examine the ways book marketing has changed in an AI and algorithm-driven world. We identify a few of the biggest shifts we’ve seen, like prioritizing trust signals over keywords, and share our insights into:😱 Common mistakes we see authors & creators making🤩 Proactive moves we see authors & creators making🤔 Things you can do right now to better position your strategyListen wherever you get your podcasts, or watch the video episode on YouTube!Dive Deeper💡 Explore These ResourcesLulu Blog | Discoverability in the Age of AI Search💡 Listen to These EpisodesEp #68 | Maximizing Your Chances of Discoverability in Generative AI SearchEp #78 | How to Use Generative AI to Sell More BooksEp #86 | Maximizing Your First Impression in the Attention EconomySound Bites From This Episode🎙️ [18:39] “The more evergreen content that you have out there, the more content that you put out there that will stand the test of time and again prove that you are human, that you write for humans, that your content speaks and relates to humans, the better off you're going to be.”🎙️ [51:45] “We are not saying write content that is targeted towards the robots. We're saying write content that is targeted towards humans, because that's what the robots are looking for.”💀 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.

May 6, 2026Episode 11858 min

How to Get Your Readers to Sell Your Book for You

In this episode, Lauren & Matt share strategies for how to get your readers and fans to help sell your books for you! We break down the importance of building a dedicated audience around your brand, review the different ways authors and entrepreneurs mobilize their fans, and offer up tips for putting these ideas into action. Listen wherever you get your podcasts, or watch the video episode on YouTube!Dive Deeper💡 Explore These ResourcesCosmopolitan | Bring Back Men Who YearnLulu Blog | How to Turn Casual Followers into Dedicated Super FansLulu U | How to Build a Community of True Fans 💡 Listen to These EpisodesEp #15 | Can You Really Support Your Business With Just 1,000 True Fans?Ep #24 | How to Turn Your Casual Fans into Super FansEp #86 | Maximizing Your First Impression in the Attention EconomySound Bites From This Episode🎙️ [11:45] “But I think that all of that advice and all that strategy and all that how to, really actually just boils down to: you have to give your audience a reason to care about you and a reason to want to talk about you.”🎙️ [31:20] “And that's where I think micro-influencers are really useful. Not in the traditional way that we think of influencer marketing, but that building relationships through relationships kind of marketing.”🎙️ [55:32] “Building that ecosystem is extremely important. Nobody wants to do this on their own. It's not easy. And so when you can build yourself a little army, I think that just exponentially increases your success rate.”💀 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.

April 29, 2026Episode 1171 hr 6 min

The Anatomy of a Good Print Book

In this episode, Matt & Lauren break down the elements of a print book. We review exterior and interior design choices, explain how different elements fit together, examine variance in print copies, and share tips for how to avoid confusion between your digital designs and print book. Dive in from the beginning for a complete crash course in print book design, or skip ahead to learn about:[7:00] – Exterior Book Design (Trim Size, Binding Type, Cover Finish)[18:11] – Interior Book Design (Paper Types, Ink Types)[26:01] – Print Variants [33:08] – Fitting Design Elements Together[37:49] – Designing for Print vs. Digital[43:43] – Understanding Print Variance[53:55] – Being Proactive with Your Book Design[1:03:58] – Episode Wrap UpTo maximize your print book mastery, we recommend watching this episode on YouTube!Dive Deeper💡 Explore These ResourcesLulu’s Pricing CalculatorCheck Out Matt’s Book! 💡 Listen to These EpisodesEp #72 | Build Your Own Book: Design Choices for Print BooksEp #93 | Tales from the Scrypt: Self-Publishing Horror Stories (and How to Survive Them)💡 Read These Blog PostsThe Anatomy of a BookHow Books Are Made: From PDF to Printed & Bound5 Visual Indicators Your Book Is Self-Published💡 Watch The Life of a Book💀 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.

April 22, 2026Episode 11647 min

Alchemising Traditional Publishing with Fanfiction

In this episode, Lauren successfully cons Matt into talking about fanfiction again. This time we explore the recent shift in the way traditional publishing approaches fanfiction, and the new trend of openly acquiring popular fanfiction like Manacled and All the Young Dudes. Learn more about the legality of publishing fanfiction, how these practices have changed in the last few years, and what we think this says about the future of the publishing industry. Listen wherever you get your podcasts, or watch the video episode on YouTube!Dive Deeper💡 Explore These ResourcesNPR | 3 Harry Potter fan fiction authors are coming to a bookstore near youWired | Lots of People Make Money on Fanfic. Just Not the AuthorsBustle | SenLinYu Reveals How 'Alchemised' & Their Fanfic, 'Manacled,' Came To Be 💡 Listen to These EpisodesEp #65 | How to Copyright the Copy That You WroteEp #77 | Lauren Finally Gets to Talk About FanfictionEp #111 | Plot Twist: Indie Authors are Landing More Traditional Publishing Deals than Ever💡 Read These Blog PostsWhat Is Fanfiction and Why Does It Matter?Sound Bites From This Episode🎙️ [11:44] “Never have I wanted to jump out of this seat so badly in the two years that we've done this.” – Matt🎙️ [39:55] “I just think it's all indicative of this bigger sign that, that publishing is moving in this direction of more and more – like, they're looking to indie creators for proven value, for proven audience, for like, we're not taking a risk on unknown, on people that don't have an audience base, people that don't have any kind of proof of concept whatsoever.” – Lauren💀 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.

April 15, 2026Episode 11559 min

Hiring the Best Freelancers for Your Book

In this episode, Matt & Lauren share strategies for how to find, research, and hire the best possible freelancers to help you bring your book to life. Whether you need help with editing, formatting, designing, or marketing, these guidelines can help you assemble your dream team for long-term publishing success! We talk through steps like: Understanding different types of freelancers The three best places to start your search (and research)Narrowing your pool of applicants to a shortlist of top candidatesListen wherever you get your podcasts, or watch the video episode on YouTube!Dive Deeper💡 Explore These ResourcesLulu’s Trusted Partners & ProsEditorial Freelancers AssociationFiverr💡 Listen to These EpisodesEp #8 | Self-Publishing is a Team SportEp #20 | Do You Need to Hire Professional Editors for Your Book?Ep #93 | Tales from the Scrypt: Self-Publishing Horror Stories (and How to Survive Them)💡 Read These Blog PostsBuild Your Publishing TeamHow to Choose an Editor💡 Watch These VideosTypes of Book Editing and How to Get Them DoneHow to Build Your Publishing Dream TeamWebinar | Take Your Story to the Next Level with Experts from Lulu and Fiverr 💀 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.

April 8, 2026Episode 11456 min

How Book Distribution Works

Whether you’re traditionally published or self-published, the mechanics behind distributing your book to online and brick-and-mortar bookstores are the same. But for indie authors doing it on their own, it’s imperative that you get the details just right. So in this episode, Lauren & Matt embark on an exciting adventure through the retail distribution cycle! We talk through: 🔑 Understanding the key players in the distribution game📚 The 4 most important stages from book publication to bookstore shelf🎯 What indie authors need to do to set their book up for success Listen wherever you get your podcasts, or watch the video episode on YouTube!Dive Deeper💡 Listen to These EpisodesEp #37 | How to Get Your Book Into Indie BookstoresEp #59 | Mastering Book Metadata to Maximize Market ReachEp #68 | Maximizing Your Chances of Discoverability in Generative AI SearchEp #90 | How to Get Your Book Into Libraries💡 Read These Blog PostsWhat the Hell Is Metadata?Genres, BISAC Subject Codes, and YouHow Retail Book Distribution Actually Works💡 Explore These Resources from the Lulu Knowledge BaseGlobal Distribution: The BasicsMandatory Print Book Distribution RequirementsCommon Retail Distribution Rejection Reasons💀 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.