The Amazing Authorities Podcast

Episode: Podcast Power, Paid Promotions, and Integrity: Tyler Foley on Building a Bestseller Brand and Speaking Empire

Host: Mitch Carson
Guest: Sean Tyler Foley
Date: December 12, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode features Sean Tyler Foley, accomplished speaker and author of "The Power to Speak Naked." Tyler joins host Mitch Carson to unveil the inside track on transforming a self-published book into a Wall Street Journal bestseller, leveraging podcasts to build authority, and the business of paid promotions—wrapped in a candid discussion on what it really takes to build a speaking empire with integrity.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Role of Integrity in Business and Life

• Discussion of Personal Responsibility and Integrity ([01:02]–[01:22]):
  • Tyler shares why integrity is “your credit card to life”—the foundational trait behind business success.

    “You’re only as good as your word. And if you can’t follow through with your word, what… Why even bother giving it? …The most critical skill to master… is just have the integrity to do the thing you said you’re going to do.”
    — Tyler ([01:22])

  • Mitch jokes about “the I word” (integrity) being tough but essential, underscoring the importance of keeping one’s commitments as a standard for business relationships.

2. Becoming a Bestselling Author: Strategy & Realities

• Self-Publishing Struggles & Breakthroughs ([02:33]–[06:30]):
  • Tyler recounts how initial self-publishing only led to a brief Amazon bestseller burst, but little long-term traction.
  • Speaking gigs, including a breakout moment filling in on Les Brown’s stage, caught the attention of a future publisher.
• Leveraging Podcast Guest Appearances ([04:00]–[06:30]):
  • Tyler used Pod Match to appear on 400+ podcasts over four years, generating over 200 million social media impressions and 300,000+ verified downloads.
  • Key to bestseller momentum was ensuring every podcast appearance funneled listeners to book downloads and sales.

    “I found that the podcasts really made the biggest difference… [when] you really fine tune the messaging.”
    — Tyler ([05:36])

• Technicalities of Bestseller Lists ([06:30]–[07:25]):
  • Tyler breaks down the quirks of Amazon vs. Wall Street Journal bestsellers. For Amazon, hitting the #1 spot can be transient; for Wall Street Journal, sustained, verified purchases matter.
• The Paid Promotion Engine ([07:25]–[13:26]):
  • A key strategy for WSJ list: Paid book promotions via reputable services introduced by industry insiders.
  • Tyler specifically credits Davin Michaels’ subscription service that blasts chosen books to 12,000+ active readers, priming sales in a staggered campaign.

    “I bought my way onto the list. But I had made the money to do that from the sales from my own royalties pushing through Pod Match…”
    — Tyler ([08:26])

  • The process involved slashing the ebook price to $1, converting exposure to verified sales, and leveraging resulting social proof (reviews, speaking invitations).

3. ROI and The Real Payoff of Bestseller Status

• Returns from Paid Promotion ([12:57]–[13:44]):
  • The upfront promotional cost nearly broke even at first; true ROI arrived with the snowball effect: increased speaking fees, bulk book sales on the speaking circuit, and high-profile event invitations.

    “Now I’m using Sean Tyler Foley, bestselling author… Now all of a sudden it matters. So I was able to get a lot more speaking and more high-profile speaking gigs.”
    — Tyler ([13:44])

4. The Speaking Empire: Book as “Peacock Feathers”

• Why a Book is Essential for Speakers ([17:04]–[17:42]):
  • Both agree: A book is a credential, a “must” for securing significant speaking engagements (“If you were to be taken seriously as a speaker, you must credentialize” — Mitch).
• Products Beyond the Book ([17:42]–[18:20]):
  • Podcasts, downloadable resources, and training/mastery programs maximize authority and monetization.
    • Example: "Podcast Guest Mastery," born out of podcast collaboration, illustrates how content ideas can turn into new products.

5. Book Content & Origin Story

• Behind "The Power to Speak Naked" ([18:20]–[19:41]):
  • Tyler’s book offers practical workshop advice for nervous speakers, distilled from years of recorded training seminars.
  • The title’s origin: Aimed at helping blue-collar supervisors become confident communicators during safety meetings.

    “It was super easy for me because I actually spoke the book… compiled it into what would be close to the presentation from the seminar.”
    — Tyler ([18:49])

• Speaking Topics ([19:41]–[20:58]):
  • "Speaking on speaking" is his headline topic, plus niche expertise in industrial safety communication.

6. Tyler’s Journey to Professional Speaking

• From Childhood Stage to Keynote Stages ([21:05]–[23:06]):
  • Started performing at age six; naturally gravitated to public roles in various careers.
  • Speaking became a profession through a blend of unique experiences and mentorship by industry icons like Gail Kingsbury.

    “We’ve all got our roundabout… I started, I was a child performer… it just progressed into there.”
    — Tyler ([21:05])

7. Supporting Local Bookstores & Author Affiliates

• Book Distribution & Social Impact ([24:29]–[27:03]):
  • Recommends bookshop.org as the best place to buy his (or anyone’s) book, as it supports local bookstores, grants funds to struggling shops, and even allows authors to earn affiliate commissions.

    “Instead of enriching a man who's flying phallic rockets into space, you're helping your local brick and mortar mom and pop bookstore.”
    — Tyler ([24:47]) “If for like me, I get my royalty from my publisher, but I also get a royalty when people buy it off of bookshop.org so I'm double dipping with my bookshop.org subscription…”
    — Tyler ([26:18])

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Integrity:
  “I think it’s your credit card to life. … If you can’t follow through…why even bother giving it?” — Tyler ([01:22])

• On Podcast Power:
  “Pod Match… I’ve been on over 400 podcasts in the last four years…that was a real key tool for me…” — Tyler ([05:06])

• On Paid Promotions:
  “I bought my way onto the list. But I had made the money to do that from the sales from my own royalties…” — Tyler ([08:26])

• On Bookshop.org:
  “Bookshop.org is just a wonderful organization that is supporting your local mom and pop shop…” — Tyler ([24:36])

• On Building Momentum:
  “As soon as… I’m using Sean Tyler Foley, best selling author…and I have it on two different sources… So I was able to get a lot more speaking and more high-profile gigs…” — Tyler ([13:44])

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [01:02] – What Integrity Means for Business and Life
• [02:33] – Tyler’s Self-Publishing Journey & the Value of Speaking Engagements
• [05:06] – How Podcasts Fueled Tyler’s Book Sales
• [06:30] – The Difference Between Amazon & Wall Street Journal Bestseller Status
• [07:25] – Paid Book Promotion Mechanics and ROI
• [13:44] – How Bestseller Status Leads to Speaking Gigs and Real Revenue
• [17:04] – Why a Book is a Speaker’s Ultimate Credential
• [18:20] – Behind “The Power to Speak Naked” and Other Products
• [21:05] – Tyler’s Path from Child Performer to Top Speaker
• [24:29] – Why Bookshop.org is a Win for Authors and Communities

Conclusion

Tyler Foley’s episode is a goldmine for authors, speakers, and entrepreneurs seeking to build genuine authority. The blueprint? Combine relentless podcast exposure, strategic paid promotions, and a strong bedrock of personal integrity—with a special nod to supporting local bookstores and leveraging every speaking opportunity into both impact and income.

Find Tyler’s book: bookshop.org (“The Power to Speak Naked”)

Host: Mitch Carson

Next step: Consider how you can use podcasts and strategic partnerships to build your own platform—and don’t forget the power of showing up with integrity.