Best Alice Robb Podcasts (2025)

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Episode 469 - Rebrand Right with Rachel Fairley & Sarah Robb 39:53

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2h ago39:53

39:53

'If you haven't diagnosed where the problem lies in the first place, how do you know which lever to pull?' If your idea of a rebrand is a new colour palette and an updated logo, think again. Too often, superficial design changes don't just fail to deliver growth, they actively damage the brands they were intended to bolster. Rachel Fairley and Sara…

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Episode 468 - Another Door with Eleanor Tweddell 38:24

4d ago38:24

38:24

'That's all we've got as well in this age of AI… we have to put heart and soul into what we create.' When someone cheerfully tells you that when one door closes another door opens in the midst of the rawness of redundancy, you'd be forgiven for wanting to punch them. Eleanor Tweddell certainly did. But then she made a conscious decision to 'lean in…

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Episode 467 - Smart Conflict with Alice Driscoll & Louise van Haarst 37:33

16d ago37:33

37:33

'The absence of healthy conflict is a large part of why people will leave jobs, because it's not where the growth happens.' How do you feel about hard conversations at work? Our approaches to conflict are often less than smart. Whether your tendency is towards avoidance or aggression, unless you're actively rejecting 'enforced harmony' for an envir…

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Episode 466 - Behind the scenes at the Frankfurt Book Fair 22:18

19d ago22:18

22:18

Fresh (if you can call it that) from the Frankfurter Buchmesse 2025, I'm here this week with a candid look at what we and other publishers were talking about over those three hectic days - global sales, routes to market, Amazon and its new algorithm, AI, digital library platforms, translation rights and the evolution of metadata - and what all of t…

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Episode 465 - Don't Be Yourself with Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic 37:22

26d ago37:22

37:22

'At some point, the right to be you ends and your obligation to others begins.' 'Just be yourself.' It's the most uncontroversial advice in the world, right? Wrong, says Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic. He's a man who likes to pick fights with universally accepted truths, because of course they're almost always more nuanced than we like to think. In his ne…

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Episode 464 - Writing and community with Parul Bavishi 36:07

1M ago36:07

36:07

'At the lowest end of what a business book could be is, yes, it's a calling card... [But] what if your book was transformational?' Parul Bavishi - editor, former literary scout, co-founder of the London Writers' Salon and host of the Writers' Hour podcast - knows something about the realities of writing and the power of creative community. Writing …

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Ep 463 - Getting booked as a speaker with Maria Franzoni 26:58

1M ago26:58

26:58

' Nobody cares about you until you show that you understand their problem, their situation, and you care about them.' As a former international speaker bureau owner, Maria Franzoni knows exactly what it takes to become a highly sought-after (and well-paid) speaker. In this week's conversation, she reveals what speaker bookers are really looking for…

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From Bantam Books to Bestsellers: Literary Agent Jane Dystel on Paperbacks, Proposals, and Publishing Trends 36:14

1M ago36:14

36:14

Jane Dystel, has been a literary agent since 1986, and, as the president of Dystel, Goderich & Bourret, represents bestselling writers like Colleen Hoover and Samantha Young. Jane spoke to us about what she looks for in a new writer; why she sometimes advises her clients not to take the biggest advance; and what she reads for fun.…

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Episode 462 - Perfecting your pitch with James Spackman 32:59

2M ago32:59

32:59

'You need to kind of kick off this persuasive chain reaction and enlist people to the cause of your book.' In the book trade, James Spackman is known as 'The Pitch Doctor'. From an illustrious start to his career in the post room at Bloomsbury to sales, marketing and agency roles at Hachette, Osprey and now The bks Agency, his passion has always be…

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From Ghostwriting to Fiction: A Conversation with Ada Calhoun, Bestselling Author 39:02

2M ago39:02

39:02

Ada Calhoun is the bestselling author of several nonfiction books and now her first novel, Crush. She told us about what she’s learned about structure from writing- ghostwriting- over 30 books; how she avoids the “fallow field mode” that some writers (e.g. Alice and Julie) experience between books; and the feedback that helped her make Also a Poet …

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Episode 461 - The Disruptors with Sally Percy 31:46

2M ago31:46

31:46

When she started her first job reporting on farming, trying to work out how to move into interior design, Sally Percy had no idea she'd forge such an extraordinarily successful careeer as a business journalist and author. But the lessons she learned in her earliest days - how to write so a five-year-old child could understand, how to write to word …

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Gatekeepers to Goldmines: Inside the World of Literary Agents 31:24

2M ago31:24

31:24

Julie Satow and Alice Robb sit down with Laura McGrath, the author of Middlemen to tell the surprising story of how literary agents went from magazine brokers to the most powerful figures in American publishing. Through archival sleuthing, vivid fieldwork, and data that brings catalogs and auction-room drama to life, this episode traces pivotal mom…

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Episode 460 - Shaking things up 34:43

2M ago34:43

34:43

People who write business books - at least, business books worth reading - tend to think a little differently. This 'Best Bits' episode features a formidable line-up of disruptors, each of whom brings a very personal toolkit for unsettling the status quo, in work and in life. Challenging the system often starts by asking awkward questions and you'l…

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The Speaking Circuit: A Conversation with Speakers’ Bureau Founder Christie Hinrichs of Authors Unbound 45:41

2M ago45:41

45:41

Have you ever wondered about speakers' bureaus and how they work? Or wondered whether they might make sense for you? Speakers' bureaus can be controversial, with some authors adamant that they are not worth the cost, while others are big believers in the benefit of increased visibility. Join Alice and Julie as they talk with Christie Hinrichs, the …

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From Manhattan to Milan: An Interview with Allison Malecha, Director of Foreign Rights 41:43

2M ago41:43

41:43

For our inaugural episode of Season 2 of How Books Work, Julie and Alice delve into the obtuse world of foreign rights, perhaps one of the least understood aspects of the publishing industry. Did you know, for instance, that half of all books published in Germany are translations, while only 3% of US publications are? Or that UK publishers are now …

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Unveiling the Secrets of Book Publishing: Real Talk with Anna Sproul-Latimer 49:06

3M ago49:06

49:06

Join hosts Julie Satow and Alice Robb as they talk with Anna Sproul-Latimer, founding partner and president of Neon Literary. A literary agent who has sold multiple New York Times bestsellers, and brokered major book-to-film deals, Anna dishes on recent posts from her popular Substack, “How to Glow in the Dark,” including one controversially titled…

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Episode 459 - Beyond Belief with Mike Porteous 32:19

4M ago32:19

32:19

'I see confidence as something that's rooted in how we feel before any words, something which touches on sensations.' What do you think of when you think of sports coaching? Elite lean performance machines preparing to break records? Mike Porteous has competed and coached at elite level as a triathlete, but he believes that coaxing new swimmers fro…

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Episode 458 - Healing-Centred book launch with Kerry Tottingham 30:16

5M ago30:16

30:16

"How do you want your book to make people feel? Start with the feeling and then work your way backwards." When you're all about creativity, social justice and empowering individuals to transform pain into positive action, how do you design a book launch that reflects that? Kerry Tottingham rejected the warm white wine option for a radically differe…

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Episode 457 - The Work We Need with Hilary Cottam 31:42

5M ago31:42

31:42

What does a good working life look like in the 21st century? Dr Hilary Cottam, OBE has spent the last five years exploring this question through collaborative workshops she calls 'imagininings', involving all sectors of the post-industrial workforce from gravediggers to consultants. The same resonant themes kept emerging: the need for work that pay…

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Episode 456 - We Need New Leaders with Charlotte Otter 25:35

5M ago25:35

25:35

'Every time I interviewed somebody, I said, is there anyone you think I should talk to? And so it had a network effect for me. My network grew with these generous, amazing, thoughtful people.' Writing a novel can be lonely; writing a thesis can be demanding; writing a business book can be a team effort. Charlotte Otter's done all of these, with a s…

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Episode 455 - Best business books with Todd Sattersten 36:05

6M ago36:05

36:05

' I think reading a book is sometimes like... you've slowed things down. You're in this present moment, working on this very particular thing. And I think we want more of that in our lives.' What makes a business book worth reading - or publishing? If you've ever felt overwhelmed by the sheer volume (and, let's be honest, variable quality) of busin…

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Episode 454 - From spark to flame 12:15

6M ago12:15

12:15

'Creativity needs oxygen just as much as fire does.' What does it take to turn a spark of inspiration into a sustained creative fire? This week's episode is a reflection on the art of making fire, from striking the first spark with flint and steel to nurturing the ember with just the right balance of oxygen and fuel, and how that process sheds ligh…

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Episode 453 - The business of being a writer with Jane Friedman 32:17

6M ago32:17

32:17

'The foundations of how authors build visibility, build a readership... while the tools change, the principles don't.' Jane Friedman has been commentating on the business of books for many years, and her classic The Business of Being a Writer has demystified the industry for thousands of authors. So on the release of its second edition it seems a g…

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Episode 452 - Creative Velocity with Leslie Grandy 35:14

6M ago35:14

35:14

Leslie Grandy always wanted to be 'creative', but after discovering that she 'sucked' as a child at piano, painting, drama, dancing and so on she decided (to the relief of her teachers) that it simply wasn't for her. Until she realized, in her corporate career working with visionary leaders like Steve Jobs, that creativity can also be defined as 't…

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Episode 451 - Collaborating with AI with Georgia Kirke 34:34

6M ago34:34

34:34

'If you just want a machine to write all of this stuff and put your name on it and say it's yours, I don't know what the motivation is. I don't know what results you think it could bring.' What does it look like to use AI in creative activities practically, ethically, and in a human-centred way? One answer to that question might be Cliobooks.ai, th…

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Episode 450 - The one about conversations 30:48

7M ago30:48

30:48

'It's not a presentation or a business card. It's a conversation.' This Best Bits episode is a love letter to intentional conversations – the ones that unlock insight, build cohesion, shape identity and, ultimately, bring books into the world. As I looked back over the last few episodes, what stood out was how often my guests spoke about dialogue i…

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Episode 449 - The origin of the series 15:50

8M ago15:50

15:50

'I didn't just want to do a sort of 'me-too' series just for the sake of it. I wanted to have a series concept that I could really get excited about and which would stand out in quite a crowded marketplace as offering something different.' This week, we're flipping the script a bit. Normally, I'd be bringing you an engaging conversation with a busi…

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Episode 448 - Gen Z career tales with Drs Schuster & Oxley 37:04

8M ago37:04

37:04

' We've invented a new genre, at least that's very modestly what we would like to believe. We're calling it Professional Advice Narrative Tales, and we'll leave you to figure out that acronym.' For the new generation entering the workplace, reading a traditional business book has all the appeal of a colonoscopy. So longtime colleagues and collabora…

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Episode 447 - The 2025 LBF edit 29:36

8M ago29:36

29:36

'[Olympia's] gorgeous vaulted glass roof feels kind of like a metaphor for the fair itself. Rooted in history, but always looking upwards and outwards.' Something a bit different today: join me for a deep dive into a publisher's experience of London Book Fair 2025. I have been to a LOT of book fairs, but this one was a little different. I'm explori…

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Episode 446 - Book publicity with Marissa Eigenbrood 39:44

8M ago39:44

39:44

'This is all a web that's woven together, and how it all works is really important. You can't just do one piece of it. And a great partner is someone who understands that this is a marathon, not a sprint.' You think writing a book is hard? Well, ok, yes it is, but it comes as a nasty shock for most authors to realize that writing the damn thing isn…

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Episode 445 - Both/And Thinking with Wendy Smith 33:32

9M ago33:32

33:32

'When I first started, people were like, "Don't say the word paradox... don't say it because they won't get it." And now people are like, "Oh my goodness, I need this."' When it's a case of scarce resources - as it always seems to be, right? - our default thinking is Either/Or. Either I spend time on this project, or I prioritise my family. Either …

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Episode 444 - Writing as a team sport with Petra Molthan-Hill 31:19

9M ago31:19

31:19

' I really like to read other people's ideas and then add my own ideas... you start with the brainstorming together and say, so what could be in here?' Petra Molthan-Hill is a professor of Sustainable Management and Education for Sustainable Development at Nottingham Business School, and a prolific academic writer. But when it came to The Handbook …

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Episode 443 - Now We're Talking with Sarah Rozenthuler 29:19

9M ago29:19

29:19

'I have learned to have a different relationship with resistance... when we're actually really on track with things, resistance comes up.' Sarah Rozenthuler is no stranger to the art of conversation at work. With over two decades of experience as a business psychologist, she's seen both how energizing high-quality conversation can be, and also how …

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Episode 442 - Creating Glue with John Dore 32:00

9M ago32:00

32:00

'How do you make a strategy a story? The best leaders and the best communicators do that. They turn something that's functional and rational into something that's a story.' John Dore, head of London Business School's Senior Executive Program and founder of Wave Your Arms, wants you to reimagine your idea of 'glue': as the magic ingredient that hold…

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Episode 441 - Building on answers with Claire Pedrick 28:58

9M ago28:58

28:58

If you know anything at all about coaching, you know that it's all about asking questions, right? Well, yes, and also: that's not the full story. Claire Pedrick and Lucia Baldelli sat down together to write a book on how to move from 'really good' to 'even better' coach, but they quickly realised that mastery is less about what the coach does or sa…

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Episode 440 - Self-discovery, clarity and growth 21:02

10M ago21:02

21:02

'Writing isn't just about creating content; it's about creating ourselves.' It's another Best Bits episode, and the theme that really stood out to me as I looked back over the last few episodes was one that you'll have met here before if you're a regular listener: it's the power of writing not just as a means of communication, but as a tool for sel…

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Episode 439 - The Sky is No Limit with Per Wimmer 34:30

10M ago34:30

34:30

'That's my goal here is to hopefully provide an inspirational story that can be a catalyst for the reader to go out and do amazing things.' Per Wimmer has spent his life soaring to new heights, metaphorically in global finance and quite literally as an astronaut. It's a fascinating mix, but the two spheres have more in common than you might think. …

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Episode 438 - The truth about passive income with Kate Toon 34:32

10M ago34:32

34:32

"I used to say, wouldn't it be great if I could work like a normal person and do 40 hours a week? And the realization comes that you do have 40 hours, it's just not in the same week." Passive income—it's the dream, right? Earning money while you sleep, basking in the golden glow of financial freedom. Sadly, it's not quite that simple. Award-winning…

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Episode 437 - Design not decisions: new New Year thinking 27:27

10M ago27:27

27:27

'Don't let AI set your vision. But harness AI to help you execute your vision.' For me, the start of a new year always brings a sense of potential. It's a chance to make changes. But I'm old enough to know that resolutions are easy to make and hard to keep - these days I'm all about design rather than decisions. This year, more than any other I can…

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Episode 436 - Marketing for Introverts with Jenny Procter 32:10

11M ago32:10

32:10

'It's that place of, you know, because it's your business and your livelihood, having to say, "Come and buy my thing because I'm great. I'm great at it. Look at me, look at all these great things I can do for my clients." And oh my goodness, that's difficult.' Jenny Proctor is living proof that you don't need to shout to get the right kind of atten…

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Episode 435 - Double Your Price with David Falzani 32:36

11M ago32:36

32:36

'[And this is} the rationale and the motivation for the book. It's about, well, how do we spread this? How do we do some good with it? How do we improve the economy? How do we make businesses more effective?' David Falzani has spent decades building and growing businesses, and now, as a Professor of Practice, helping others to do the same. And thro…

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Episode 434 - Learning to promote a book with Lucy Ryan 31:46

12M ago31:46

31:46

'The writing is joyful, more or less. It's painful, but it's also joyful. The marketing of it is much harder.' Dr Lucy Ryan's book Revolting Women touched a nerve worldwide: many women can relate all too well to the perfect storm of challenges facing midlife women at work, and everyone has an opinion on it. Which took a bit of getting used to. In t…

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Episode 433 - Writing for Busy Readers with Todd Rogers 34:52

12M ago34:52

34:52

'The TLDR, the too-long-didn't-read of the whole thing, is that everybody's skimming. So we need to write in a way that makes it easy for skimmers if we want to achieve our goals as writers.' Todd Rogers has been using behavioural science for good for many years, from strengthening democracy to increasing student attendance, so his kids were somewh…

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Episode 432 - Ruthlessly Caring with Amy Walters Cohen 31:01

12M ago31:01

31:01

'Ruthlessness exists on a continuum, caring exists on a continuum, and it's about being in the sweet spots of both of those, not overplaying either one, or underplaying either one.' Amy Walters Cohen is the author of Ruthlessly Caring: And Other Paradoxical Mindsets Leaders Need to Be Future Fit, which was named overall Business Book of the Year in…

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Episode 431 - The Power of Culture with Laura Hamill 35:42

1y ago35:42

35:42

'Mom, why don't you just write it like you talk to me?' When Laura Hamill set out to write a book about the subject she knew best - the subject she'd spent years researching in theory and practice - she naturally drew on all the studies, statistics and evidence she'd gathered together to support her argument. Turns out, that's not what the reader n…

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Episode 430 - Human & artificial intelligence in writing 36:37

1y ago36:37

36:37

'As we lean into artificial intelligence across every sector of business and life, how do we ensure that we're delegating the right things and keeping responsibility for the right things? And specifically, how do books and writing play into that?' In this best bits episode, I'm exploring the role of writing in human intelligence in a world where it…

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Episode 429 - Do Start with Dan Kieran 34:28

1y ago34:28

34:28

'They think the goal is to have the book, but no, the goal is to become the person it takes to write your book.' Dan Kieran is a publishing legend: as a co-founder of Unbound he revolutionizing the industry by empowering authors and readers. He learned a lot about himself and about setting up a business along the way, and he brought all that togeth…

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Episode 428 - getAbstract at the Frankfurt Book Fair 30:06

1y ago30:06

30:06

'I think we are living in a renaissance of the book... AI is changing how we are looking at trusted knowledge.' getAbstract is one of the leading corporate learning platforms, and it's based on books. The founders met with a lot of resistance from publishers in the early days, but their vision of making the knowledge in books discoverable and actio…

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Navigating Media with Anne Dickerson: From Manuscript to Mainstream 51:13

1y ago51:13

51:13

Anne Dickerson, CEO of the communications training firm 15 Minutes Group, helps authors like Maggie Haberman and Christine Blasey Ford prepare for high-profile interviews on radio and TV. In this episode, she tells us about the biggest challenges authors face when it comes time to pitching their books. (Distilling years of work into a two-minute so…

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Episode 427 - Coaching for Performance with Tiffany Gaskell 27:42

1y ago27:42

27:42

"As she was coached during a 15-minutes conversation, she put down each of those worries and at the end of it she was standing there in her full potential and I was like, wow, that's amazing. I want to learn how to do that." If there's a foundational text of executive coaching it's Coaching for Performance by Sir John Whitmore, first published in 1…