The 22 Lions Podcast: AI, Self-Publishing & Book Empire Secrets

This episode teaches authors a practical, repeatable strategy: publish small, highly-targeted companion editions that intentionally link to each other on Amazon and in author funnels to create compounding discoverability and higher conversion rates. You’ll learn which companion formats work best (workbooks, checklists, translations, short audio previews, and low-content planners), how to structure titles and descriptions so Amazon surfaces related editions, and a lightweight production workflow that uses AI for drafts, affordable narration tests, and POD proofs. Designed for indie authors, ghostwriters, and small publishers, the approach is low-cost, ethical, and scalable—ideal for growing royalties and reader touchpoints across formats without stretching your team. By the end you’ll have a one-page rollout plan to publish a lead magnet companion, a paid short, and an audio teaser that feed each other and lift your main book’s discoverability.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-22-lions-podcast-ai-self-publishing-book-empire-secrets--7016918/support.

Most authors publish one format and wait for sales. This episode flips that script with a practical, step-by-step plan to productize a single manuscript into a 3-product format ladder that converts browsers into repeat buyers. In 480 seconds you’ll get a clear framework: price and package the core eBook for discovery, design a value-added paperback edition with a companion workbook, and launch an audio+workbook bundle that powers higher-priced funnels and course upsells. I walk through concrete production steps (KDP and Ingram choices, ACX narration options, workbook layout), launch and listing tactics to preserve discoverability, and simple pricing tests to measure lift. Includes a real midlist nonfiction example that doubled revenue per buyer after adding an audio bundle and workbook. Ends with an immediate three-step action plan you can start today and a direct CTA to book a publishing audit with the 22 Lions team.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-22-lions-podcast-ai-self-publishing-book-empire-secrets--7016918/support.

Many authors outsource or use AI yet worry their ‘voice’ disappears. This episode gives a practical, ethically sound, 3-step workflow to preserve your signature author voice when using AI assistants or working with ghostwriters. You’ll learn how to capture distinctive voice signals from existing work, build a lightweight style kit that trains AI or guides collaborators, and run three fast micro-checks that catch drift before publication. The goal: keep scale and speed without sounding generic, avoid misrepresentation about AI’s role, and protect reader trust. Actionable, tool-agnostic, and designed so you can implement the workflow in hours—not weeks—this episode is perfect for indie authors, small publishers, and ghostwriters who need reliable consistency across series, multi-author projects, or rapid production schedules.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-22-lions-podcast-ai-self-publishing-book-empire-secrets--7016918/support.

This episode teaches a practical microlearning playbook authors can implement in a single production sprint. You’ll learn how to identify teachable chapter slices, script 5-minute audio lessons, produce low-cost audio/video versions using AI-assisted narration and simple recording setups, and package those lessons as paid upsells, course bundles, or subscription micro-content. The episode lays out numbered, production-friendly steps for formatting, pricing, and distributing through KDP extras, author email funnels, Gumroad/Podia, and audiobook snippets that feed ad campaigns. A compact case study of a 22 Lions author demonstrates realistic lift in conversion and ARPU from a single title. By the end you’ll have an immediate three-step action plan to publish your first microlesson in under 48 hours and a clear path to scale the same process across your backlist.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-22-lions-podcast-ai-self-publishing-book-empire-secrets--7016918/support.

In this tightly focused 8-minute episode Dan Desmarques gives authors a practical, repeatable 5-step cover testing system that combines AI-driven concept generation, low-cost external CTR validation, and Amazon A/B experiments to pick a higher-converting cover fast. You’ll get concrete thresholds for sample size and budget, a prioritized checklist for mockups that respect genre norms, and a simple statistical decision rule so you don’t chase noise. Dan walks through a real-world case where an indie nonfiction title raised clicks 42% and translated to a lasting sales lift after replacing the cover. This episode ends with an immediate 48-hour action plan you can deploy today and a clear offer for done-for-you cover testing through 22 Lions publishing services.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-22-lions-podcast-ai-self-publishing-book-empire-secrets--7016918/support.

This episode teaches authors to prioritize audio as the product and marketing engine, not just a repackaging step. You’ll get a tight, step-by-step workflow for planning an audio-first manuscript, producing a high-converting audiobook on a budget, and converting listeners into buyers and subscribers. I walk through narrator choices (human vs high-quality AI), chapter-sample teasers, distribution via ACX and direct audio clips, and how to reuse short voice assets for ads, podcast episodes, and email sequences. The goal: finish production fast, create repeatable promo clips, and funnel listeners back to your KDP pages and mailing list. Real, measurable actions you can start today and complete inside one production cycle—no fluff, just the exact tactics successful 22 Lions authors use to monetize voice-first content and scale reader lifetime value.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-22-lions-podcast-ai-self-publishing-book-empire-secrets--7016918/support.

Many authors focus on rankings and page reads while leaving money on the table through poor format, pricing, or distribution choices. In this focused 8-minute monologue Dan Desmarques walks you through a practical 3-step system to triangulate royalties across KDP (ebook/print), IngramSpark (wide print/distribution), and ACX (audiobook) so every format contributes maximum net income. You'll get clear rules for when to use KDP Select vs wide distribution, how to set price ladders that protect margin across channels, and how to calculate per-sale net revenue after printing costs, delivery fees, and distribution splits. The episode includes a short real-world example with numbers, an immediate one-page action checklist you can complete today, and a closing CTA to get a tailored royalties audit from 22 Lions’ publishing services.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-22-lions-podcast-ai-self-publishing-book-empire-secrets--7016918/support.

You wrote a book — now make it sell in other languages and markets without waiting for a big publisher to discover you. In this episode Dan Desmarques walks a precise, step-by-step fast-start for authors who want to license translations, publish localized editions via KDP/Ingram, and create bundled international product pages that drive revenue. You’ll get five concrete actions: evaluate rights potential, prepare clean exportable files and a localization checklist, find vetted translators and agents, craft a pitch template for foreign publishers and rights buyers, and set up localized KDP/Ingram listings with pricing and metadata that convert. Dan shares a short anonymized case: a nonfiction author who added three localized editions and increased annual revenue while protecting brand quality. This episode is practical, feasible, and focused on real publisher-safe steps — no hype, just the exact moves to start selling rights and editions in weeks.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-22-lions-podcast-ai-self-publishing-book-empire-secrets--7016918/support.

Many authors write one book and hope the next will sell itself. This episode flips that script: a practical, numbered framework to design a series that increases per-reader revenue and reduces launch friction. In eight minutes you'll get a clear three-part system—series architecture (entry points, series length, and reading arcs), release cadence and funnel mapping (pre-order, lead magnets, email sequences, and repackaging), and monetization layers (audiobook timing, boxed bundles, courses, and foreign rights). I walk through a concrete example of a nonfiction micro-series that boosted average revenue per buyer by 60% within two quarters, plus the exact first action you can take today. Ethical AI prompts, KDP-friendly formatting tips, and where a publishing services partner can accelerate you are included. Finish with one immediate task and a direct CTA to 22 Lions publishing services for hands-on implementation.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-22-lions-podcast-ai-self-publishing-book-empire-secrets--7016918/support.

This episode walks authors through a tactical, step-by-step system to turn a single book into a serialized audio product and a set of sellable micro-ebooks—without writing a whole new manuscript. You’ll get a clear 5-step workflow: select and chunk content, choose AI or human narration, produce weekly audio episodes, format micro-ebooks for KDP and storefronts, and stitch sales funnels that drive repeat purchases and email signups. I share a real example of a 40k-word business book repackaged into ten 20–30 minute audio episodes and five 10-page micro-guides that lifted average revenue per buyer by 60% in six months. The episode emphasizes quality controls, rights and metadata, pricing psychology, and a quick production checklist you can follow this week. Ideal for nonfiction and serialized fiction authors who want recurring cadence, more touchpoints, and higher ARPU from one core asset.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-22-lions-podcast-ai-self-publishing-book-empire-secrets--7016918/support.

This episode breaks down a repeatable, low-cost strategy for indie authors: mining high-engagement newsletter threads, Substack essays, and long-form social posts to create short, tightly themed micro-books that act as discovery engines for your author funnel. Dan and Aria explain why clusters (3–6 short titles linked by theme) outperform standalone releases for search and recommendation algorithms, how to repurpose existing content ethically, and the simplest publishing workflow from edit to KDP + audiobook teaser. You’ll get a practical 3-step framework you can apply this week — topic selection, modular editing for book-length, and staggered launch sequencing — plus sample metadata and pricing tactics that minimize risk. The episode is aimed at authors who want scalable productization of their ideas without burning time on full-length manuscripts.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-22-lions-podcast-ai-self-publishing-book-empire-secrets--7016918/support.

This episode teaches indie authors a repeatable, low-friction micro‑funnel that turns short, free mini‑guides into paid preorders and launch sales without heavy ad spends. Leo and Aria unpack the components (mini‑guide opt‑ins, 2–3‑email nurture sequences, 60–90s audiobook/audio teaser clips, and a limited micro‑preorder offer) and why each element moves readers down the funnel. You’ll hear one compact case study, the three most common mistakes authors make when building these funnels, and a concrete three‑step framework you can implement this week. Designed for a 10‑minute, news‑recap format, the episode blends tactical how‑to with two quick publishing news bites that affect funnels and email deliverability. By the end you’ll have a clear, ethical blueprint to pre‑seed demand, gather reviews, and convert engaged readers into paid customers during launch windows.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-22-lions-podcast-ai-self-publishing-book-empire-secrets--7016918/support.

This episode teaches a compact, repeatable launch model authors can use without paid ads: a serialized short-read release (micro-novella or nonfiction short) distributed for free or through newsletter drip, paired with a podcast-style audiobook teaser—one narrated chapter released as audio to hook listeners and drive KDP/Audible conversions. Dan and Aria break down why short serialized content lowers friction, how an audiobook teaser raises perceived value, and the ethical AI tools and production shortcuts that make this feasible on a budget. You’ll get a concrete 3-step action plan to launch in 2–4 weeks, practical metrics to track (open-to-convert, teaser listen-to-buy rate, review acquisition), and checks to avoid quality and metadata mistakes. Perfect for indie authors, ghostwriters, and small publishers who want repeatable, low-cost launch funnels that scale across catalogs.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-22-lions-podcast-ai-self-publishing-book-empire-secrets--7016918/support.

Turn readers into active promoters: this episode shows indie authors a practical, low-budget system—what we call the "Book Club Engine"—that packages a discussion guide, serialized email discussion prompts, and lightweight community hooks (email, Discord, or Facebook group) to create sustained reader engagement, higher reviews, and recurring sales. Dan and Aria break down why clubs and conversation loops lift algorithmic signals on Amazon and Audible, then deliver a compact 3-step tactical framework authors can implement in an afternoon without extra production costs. We cover how to draft a club-friendly backmatter, a 6-email serialized discussion drip, and simple incentives that drive members to leave honest reviews, share clips, and opt into your funnel. Ideal for fiction and narrative nonfiction series, this episode emphasizes ethical, low-friction tactics that respect KDP rules and reader experience.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-22-lions-podcast-ai-self-publishing-book-empire-secrets--7016918/support.