Podcast
Undisputed Authority
Hosted by Liam Curley · EN
How does an invisible expert become an Undisputed Authority?
Each episode tells the story of how one expert became THE voice in their field.
It's a deep investigation into how they developed insight, packaged IP, gathered a community, and built their business model.
I read their books and articles, watch their keynotes, and listen to their podcasts to find the threads.
Then we sit down for a conversation to fill in the gaps.
This is not your standard interview style podcast.
It's a narrative built from dozens of sources that reveal the real story of how they built business.
I'm gathering strategies and patterns that you can apply to your expertise-driven business.
11episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Chris Do
3w ago01:09:42Tap to summarizeChris Do is the founder of The Futur, an education business with 2.79 million YouTube subscribers.But he didn't start there. He spent two decades running Blind, an Emmy-winning motion graphics studio working with Nike, Google, Microsoft and the NFL. At its peak, Blind was the kind of business most designers spend their careers trying to build.So why did he walk away from it? And once he made the call, why did it take five years before the new business worked?That's the story I'm telling in Episode 11 of Undisputed Authority.Get the 10 Patterns of Disruptive WisdomThere are 10 specific behavioural patterns that consistently separate authorities from equally talented experts who remain invisible.Get the free 10-part email series where I break down those 10 patterns → liamcurley.co.uk/subscribeResources:Website: https://thefutur.com/YouTube: The FuturLinkedIn: Chris DoSources used in this episode:The Right Questions with James VictoreMarc Gutman on Baby Got BackstoryHao Tran on Vietnam InnovatorsChris Do on The FuturJay Clouse on Creator ScienceMorgan Housel on Quiet CompoundingUndisputed Authority with Ryan HawkUndisputed Authority with Rory SutherlandUndisputed Authority with Marty NeumeierUndisputed Authority with Ryan DeissAbout Liam CurleyLiam Curley helps experts identify what makes them uniquely valuable, then develop the positioning, frameworks, and insights that differentiate them from everyone else in their field. These are people who lead businesses where their expertise is the product.Work with Liam: liamcurley.co.ukLinkedIn: linkedin.com/liamcurley33
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Jonathan Baker
May 1100:47:19Tap to summarizeJonathan Baker co-founded Monday Night Brewing in 2011, then spent almost a decade building it into an award-winning Atlanta craft brewery with taprooms across four states.But at the height of that success, he stepped away to join his father David, who runs a 7-figure, one-person advisory firm in the creative services industry. David's a high-profile authority in the niche, working under the personal brand of "David C. Baker".When Jonathan joins David, it's not as an employee. He's coming in as an equal. So how does a son build his own authority inside a niche where his father already owns the name?That's the story I'm telling in Episode 10 of Undisputed Authority.Get the 10 Patterns of Disruptive WisdomThere are 10 specific behavioural patterns that consistently separate authorities from equally talented experts who remain invisible.Get the free 10-part email series where I break down those 10 patterns → liamcurley.co.uk/subscribeChapters:[00:00] Intro[01:07] Chapter 1 - Monday Night Brewing[14:23] Chapter 2 - The menu of projects[30:10] Chapter 3 - Scaling the operationResources:Website: https://punctuation.com/Sources used in this episode:Creative Mornings LiveMighty RoarThe Emma Stratton ShowUndisputed Authority - David C. BakerUndisputed Authority - Carl RichardsAbout Liam CurleyLiam Curley helps experts identify what makes them uniquely valuable, then develop the positioning, frameworks, and insights that differentiate them from everyone else in their field. These are people who lead businesses where their expertise is the product.Work with Liam: liamcurley.co.ukLinkedIn: linkedin.com/liamcurley33
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David C. Baker
Apr 1400:42:51Tap to summarizeAcross three decades, David C. Baker has become the leading authority on positioning and lead generation in the creative services space. That stature is driven by a phenomenal body of work.He has several books, one of which, The Business of Expertise, is in my opinion the best book you'll find on positioning. And his podcast with Blair Enns, 2 Bobs, is the most listened to podcast in the space.But he built that body of work at a time when there was less competing content. People were more likely to read emails, and readers determined what showed up in their feed rather than social media companies.If David was starting today, would his deep and thoughtful content style rise to the top in a crowded marketplace of, mostly, shallow, easy-to-consume clickbait?That's the question I'm asking in Episode 9 of Undisputed Authority.Get the 10 Patterns of Disruptive WisdomThere are 10 specific behavioural patterns that consistently separate authorities from equally talented experts who remain invisible.Get the free 10-part email series where I break down those 10 patterns → liamcurley.co.uk/subscribeChapters:[00:00] Intro[00:54] Chapter 1 - Borrow[17:07] Chapter 2 - Insight, not content[30:29] Chapter 3 - Mind Your Own BusinessResources:Website: https://punctuation.com/Books: Financial Management of a Marketing Firm, The Business of Expertise, Secret Tradecraft of Elite Advisors, Selling your Professional Service FirmPodcast: 2BobsSources used in this episode:2BobsRecognised Authority PodcastConsulting SuccessSharpSpringThe Visible ExpertThe Soloist LifeAbout Liam CurleyLiam Curley helps experts identify what makes them uniquely valuable, then develop the positioning, frameworks, and insights that differentiate them from everyone else in their field. These are people who lead businesses where their expertise is the product.Work with Liam: liamcurley.co.ukLinkedIn: linkedin.com/liamcurley33
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Marty Neumeier
Mar 1600:45:07Tap to summarizeMarty Neumeier is one of the world's most influential voices on brand. His book 'The Brand Gap' has sold more than 500,000 copies, and when Google wanted to create the Dictionary of Brand, they commissioned Marty.But before he worked in brand, Marty ran an award-winning software packaging design agency. At the peak of its success, he launched a magazine called Critique and poured his agency's resources into funding it. After 5 years of losing money, he had to shut it down. And when a recession hit in the early 2000s, he had to close down his agency, too.And yet, launching the magazine was the best business decision that Marty ever made.Get the 10 Patterns of Disruptive WisdomThere are 10 specific behavioural patterns that consistently separate authorities from equally talented experts who remain invisible.Get the free 10-part email series where I break down those 10 patterns → liamcurley.co.uk/subscribeChapters:[00:00] Intro[01:11] Chapter 1 - Where The Money Is[10:10] Chapter 2 - Not Specialised Enough[26:30] Chapter 3 - CritiqueResources:Website: https://www.martyneumeier.com/Books mentioned: The Brand Gap, Zag, Brand A-ZLinkedIn: Marty NeumeierSources used in the episode:The Creative Shit ShowThe Futur with Chris DoBrand Design Masters with Philip VanDusenEveryone Hates Marketers with Louis GrenierBehind The Brand The Sleeping Barber Marketing PodcastThe 2pt5Just a Chat WithAbout Liam CurleyLiam Curley helps experts identify what makes them uniquely valuable, then develop the positioning, frameworks, and insights that differentiate them from everyone else in their field. These are people who lead businesses where their expertise is the product.Work with Liam: liamcurley.co.ukLinkedIn: linkedin.com/liamcurley33
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Rory Sutherland
Feb 1600:39:13Tap to summarizeRory Sutherland is one of the most influential voices in advertising.He's a best-selling author, a sought after keynote speaker, and his views on advertising psychology regularly find an audience of millions.For almost 40 years, Rory has worked at Ogilvy, one of the world's most prestigious advertising agencies.But it wasn't his status at Ogilvy that turned a respected ad man into an undisputed authority. It's his method of finding and articulating ideas that others overlook. And that method is available to anyone.So how did he do it?That's the story I'm telling in Episode 7 of Undisputed Authority.Get the 10 Patterns of Disruptive WisdomThere are 10 specific behavioural patterns that consistently separate authorities from equally talented experts who remain invisible.Get the free 10-part email series where I break down those 10 patterns → liamcurley.co.uk/subscribeChapters:[00:00] Intro[00:58] Chapter 1 - The R&D Lab[15:40] Chapter 2 - Fat Tailed[29:28] Chapter 3 - Noticing what others only seeResources:Book: Alchemy: The Surprising Power of Ideas That Don't Make SenseSources used in the episode:Jake Humphreys on The Room Where it HappenedScratch: CMO InterviewsPatrick O’Shaughnessy on Invest Like The BestThe Louis Theroux Podcast Darren LeeTED Talk, Life Lessons of an Ad ManInfinite Loops PodcastOne One OneContentUKAbout Undisputed AuthorityEach episode tells the story of how one expert became THE voice in their field – through deep research, conversation, and a three-chapter narrative structure. Not hacks. Strategies and patterns you can apply to your expertise-driven business. About Liam CurleyLiam Curley helps experts identify what makes them uniquely valuable, then develop the positioning, frameworks, and insights that differentiate them from everyone else in their field. These are people who lead businesses where their expertise is the product.Work with Liam: liamcurley.co.ukLinkedIn: linkedin.com/liamcurley33
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Dorie Clark
Feb 200:33:36Tap to summarizeIn 2006, Dorie Clark was a consultant working with local clients in the Boston area. She didn't have a national platform, unfair advantages, or, to start with, differentiated positioning.Fast forward to today, Dorie runs a high-margin 7-figure, 1-person business. She's also a best-selling author, a writer for Harvard Business Review, and has taught at Duke and Columbia for over a decade.So, how did she do it?Dorie figured out how to navigate 'the Dip'. When she wasn't making progress, when other people weren't noticing her work, and other consultants would have quit - she figured out a way to get through.That's the story I'm telling in Episode 6 of Undisputed Authority.Get the 10 Patterns of Disruptive WisdomThere are 10 specific behavioural patterns that consistently separate authorities from equally talented experts who remain invisible.Get the free 10-part email series where I break down those 10 patterns → liamcurley.co.uk/subscribeChapters: [00:00] Intro[01:03] Chapter 1 - 500 Articles[17:16] Chapter 2 - The Dip[25:33] Chapter 3 - The Academic EdgeResources:Website: https://dorieclark.com/Books: https://dorieclark.com/books/Sources used in the episode:The Nathan Barry ShowTerry RiceThe Anxious Achiever with Morra Aarons-MeleSuswati BasuFree Time with Jenny BlakeHow to be a Better HumanDorie at the Alan Weiss Million Dollar ConventionAbout Undisputed AuthorityEach episode tells the story of how one expert became THE voice in their field – through deep research, conversation, and a three-chapter narrative structure. Not hacks. Strategies and patterns you can apply to your expertise-driven business. About Liam CurleyLiam Curley helps experts identify what makes them uniquely valuable, then develop the positioning, frameworks, and insights that differentiate them from everyone else in their field. These are people who lead businesses where their expertise is the product.Work with Liam: liamcurley.co.ukLinkedIn: linkedin.com/liamcurley33
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Ryan Hawk
Jan 1900:36:41Tap to summarizeRyan Hawk launched The Learning Leader Show in 2015, an interview style podcast with no social media presence, email list, or prior podcasting experience.Today, that show is the basis for a phenomenal business, best-selling books, and a leadership development programme delivered to Fortune 500 companies.What exactly did Ryan do so differently that led to these outcomes? He conducted his professional development in public.Get the 10 Patterns of Disruptive WisdomThere are 10 specific behavioural patterns that consistently separate authorities from equally talented experts who remain invisible.Get the free 10-part email series where I break down those 10 patterns → liamcurley.co.uk/subscribeChapters: [00:00] Intro[01:00] Chapter 1 - Cold Start[13:44] Chapter 2 - Doors Open[24:23] Chapter 3 - Optimising for cool thingsResources:Website: https://learningleader.com/Books: Welcome to Management, The Pursuit of Excellence, and The Score that Matters.Podcast: The Learning Leader ShowSources used in the episode:Game Changers podcast with Molly FletcherThe Learning Leader Show with Ryan HawkCreator ScienceHow to be awesome at your job podcastUncensored CMOCharlie Munger’s USC Law Commencement SpeechAbout Undisputed AuthorityEach episode tells the story of how one expert became THE voice in their field – through deep research, conversation, and a three-chapter narrative structure. Not hacks. Strategies and patterns you can apply to your expertise-driven business. About Liam CurleyLiam Curley helps experts identify what makes them uniquely valuable, then develop the positioning, frameworks, and insights that differentiate them from everyone else in their field. These are people who lead businesses where their expertise is the product.Work with Liam: liamcurley.co.ukLinkedIn: linkedin.com/liamcurley33
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Nancy Duarte
Jan 700:33:03Tap to summarizeNancy and her husband Mark started their business in their apartment in 1988 with no formal business training, no design training, and no public presenting experience.And yet together, they built the world's leading firm specialising in strategic communication, Duarte Inc.Nancy became THE undisputed authority on storytelling and presentations. Her TED talk has 3.7 million views, and her books are foundational texts in the field.How did she achieve all this? She focused on the one thing that moved the needle, not the many that nudge it.Get the 10 Patterns of Disruptive WisdomThere are 10 specific behavioural patterns that consistently separate authorities from equally talented experts who remain invisible.Get the free 10-part email series where I break down those 10 patterns → liamcurley.co.uk/subscribeChapters: [00:00] Intro[00:51] Chapter 1 - An 18 Month Window of Opportunity[14:39] Chapter 2 - Moving Upstream[22:23] Chapter 3 - G-Force GrowthResources:Duarte Inc. website: duarte.comBooks: Slide:ology, Resonate, Illuminate, DataStoryTED Talk: The Secret Structure of Great TalksSources used in the episode:Alice HeimanConsulting SuccessLenny's NewsletterNancy's LinkedInAmantha ImberLearning Leader ShowCharlie RoseAbout Undisputed AuthorityEach episode tells the story of how one expert became THE voice in their field – through deep research, conversation, and a three-chapter narrative structure. Not hacks. Strategies and patterns you can apply to your expertise-driven business. About Liam CurleyLiam Curley helps expert consultants and entrepreneurs build authority through content strategy and thought leadership. He identifies the unique, counterintuitive insights that set experts apart and helps them develop the defining body of work that cements their place at the top of their field.Work with Liam: liamcurley.co.ukLinkedIn: linkedin.com/liamcurley33
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Ryan Deiss
Dec 2300:32:16Tap to summarizeRyan Deiss is one of the godfathers of internet marketing. He co-founded DigitalMarketer, one of the largest marketing education platforms in the world, and used that platform to launch The Scalable Company.He launched The Scalable Company with an existing audience, a validated problem, and a solution people loved – and the business almost failed.Get the 10 Patterns of Disruptive WisdomThere are 10 specific behavioural patterns that consistently separate authorities from equally talented experts who remain invisible.Get the free 10-part email series where I break down those 10 patterns → liamcurley.co.uk/subscribeChapters: [00:00] Intro[01:19] Chapter 1 - Good Marketing Is Everything, Until It's not.[07:39] Chapter 2 - The Idea Resonates, The Offer Does Not[17:44] Chapter 3 - Building The Machine Resources: The Scalable Company website: scalable.coBook: Get ScalableDigitalMarketer: digitalmarketer.comSources used in the episode:Self-Publishing School podcastThe Rise Up Kings PodcastLearning Leader Show with Ryan HawkBilly Broas interviewSmart Author with Chris BenettiAbout Undisputed AuthorityEach episode tells the story of how one expert became THE voice in their field – through deep research, conversation, and a three-chapter narrative structure. Not hacks. Strategies and patterns you can apply to your expertise-driven business. About Liam CurleyLiam Curley helps expert consultants and entrepreneurs build authority through content strategy and thought leadership. He identifies the unique, counterintuitive insights that set experts apart and helps them develop the defining body of work that cements their place at the top of their field.Work with Liam: liamcurley.co.ukLinkedIn: linkedin.com/liamcurley33
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Blair Enns
Dec 1000:36:49Tap to summarizeBlair Enns is a consultant and author who helps creative firms win business without pitching. He's the founder of Win Without Pitching, author of The Win Without Pitching Manifesto, Pricing Creativity, The Four Conversations and co-host of The 2Bobs podcast.He's known for challenging the conventional sales process in the creative industry and building a luxury brand through scarce, high-quality work.In this episode, you'll discover:The meeting where Blair declined to pitch (with his boss sitting next to him)How he made the positioning claim before he had the methodologyWhat "Oops" meant when David C. Baker emailed two days before his own seminarThe blog post Blair was most nervous to publish—then people mounted it on their wallsWhy he got sick four times on three continents and what it forced him to changeHow a friend's offhand comment ("your clients will never read those books") led to a $1M productWhy one book costs $320 and another costs $30What Blair means by "the method you scale is the method you commodify"Why not being "so good" at most content types on the lead generation ladder is a strengthGet the 10 Patterns of Disruptive WisdomThere are 10 specific behavioural patterns that consistently separate authorities from equally talented experts who remain invisible.Get the free 10-part email series where I break down those 10 patterns → liamcurley.co.uk/subscribeChapters: [00:00] Intro [01:21] Chapter 1 - Win Without Pitching[09:34] Chapter 2 - Manifesto[22:32] Chapter 3 - Get CreativeResources: Win Without Pitching website: winwithoutpitching.comBooks: The Four Conversations, Pricing Creativity, The Win Without Pitching ManifestoPodcast: 2BobsSources used in the episode:Kamp VuurThe Agency CollectiveAnneli HanssonDesign DominationThe Futur2BobsConsulting SuccessModern Sales - B2B SellingRise25 (Smart Business Revolution)Cal Newport, TedX TysonTalk about TalkAbout Undisputed AuthorityEach episode tells the story of how one expert became THE voice in their field – through deep research, conversation, and a three-chapter narrative structure. Not hacks. Strategies and patterns you can apply to your expertise-driven business. About Liam CurleyLiam Curley helps expert consultants and entrepreneurs build authority through content strategy and thought leadership. He identifies the unique, counterintuitive insights that set experts apart and helps them develop the defining body of work that cements their place at the top of their field.Work with Liam: liamcurley.co.ukLinkedIn: linkedin.com/liamcurley33
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