Best James McCall Podcasts (2025)

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The 3 Sales Emails You Can’t Skip During a Launch 12:42

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8h ago12:42

12:42

In this episode, I’m diving into one of the most important (and often overlooked) parts of a successful launch: the emails you send while your cart is open. If you want more sales, more engagement, and fewer crickets during your launch, these emails matter more than you think. I break down the three essential sales emails I believe every launch nee…

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Andrew Michael Hurley 34:50

2h ago34:50

34:50

Author Andrew Michael Hurley discusses his latest novel, Saltwash, a haunting tale of two terminally ill men whose paths cross in a run-down seaside town. Drawn into an unexpected reunion, they are forced to confront questions about life, death, and the meaning of mortality. Andrew reflects on the three works that inspired its creation, which were:…

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How to Write Emails People Actually Want to Read with Laura Belgray 53:27

7d ago53:27

53:27

In this episode, I sit down with the brilliant Laura Belgray—renowned copywriter and founder of Talking Shrimp—to talk all things email marketing. We dive into why your email list is still one of the most powerful tools you can have as a business owner and how to write emails people actually want to open and read. Laura shares her journey into copy…

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7 Essential Steps to Launch Your First Online Business in 2026 11:22

11d ago11:22

11:22

In this episode, I walk you through exactly how I would start an online business from zero in 2026. Whether you’re just thinking about launching your first offer or feeling overwhelmed by all the “build it all at once” advice, this episode simplifies everything into a clear, step-by-step process that actually works. I break down the seven essential…

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Salman Rushdie 34:22

11d ago34:22

34:22

Sir Salman Rushdie speaks to Take Four Books about his new collection of short fiction and together with presenter James Crawford they explore its connections to three other literary works. Arguably one of the world’s most celebrated authors, the publication of Sir Salman's second novel in 1981 announced the arrival of a phenomenal talent. Midnight…

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8 Proven Ways to Grow Your Audience Without Spending a penny 17:49

18d ago17:49

17:49

In this episode, I share with you eight proven, no-cost strategies to grow your audience - without spending money on ads. I believe that with consistency and creativity, you don’t need a big budget to build reach. I walk you through actionable tactics: from podcast guesting and public speaking, to creative lead magnets and AI-optimized content. If …

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Jo Nesbø 28:29

18d ago28:29

28:29

Presenter James Crawford speaks to bestselling crime writer and Norwegian novelist Jo Nesbø about his book, Wolf Hour - a standalone thriller set in Minneapolis, where a dysfunctional detective, Bob Oz, investigates the attempted murder of a crooked gun dealer. The three books that inspired Jo while writing Wolf Hour were: Hunger by Knut Hamsun (18…

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The Truth About Failed Launches: The 5-Step Process to Recover From a Bad Launch 15:40

25d ago15:40

15:40

In this episode, I’m diving into a topic that every course creator, coach, and online business owner will face at some point: a launch that didn’t go to plan. After 20 years in marketing, I’ve had my fair share of launches that felt disappointing. But here’s what I know to be true—a failed launch isn’t the end. It’s data. It’s information. It’s an …

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Alexander McCall Smith 32:47

27d ago32:47

32:47

International bestseller Sir Alexander McCall Smith joines James Crawford to discuss The Private Side of Friendship, and shares the literary works that influenced it. After the acclaim of his his The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series, Sandy has written over a hundred books, selling tens of millions of copies in English alone – not to mention th…

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Marketing in 2026: The Five Essential Shifts to Stay Ahead 20:05

1M ago20:05

20:05

In today’s solo episode, I break down the five key shifts we all need to make to successfully market and sell our online businesses in 2026. The online space has changed dramatically, and what worked a few years ago simply isn’t enough anymore. I share what I’m doing in my own business, what I’m seeing across the industry, and the practical steps y…

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Karl Ove Knausgaard 31:26

1M ago31:26

31:26

Karl Ove Knausgaard speaks to Take Four Books about his new novel The School Of Night and together with presenter James Crawford they explore its connections to three other texts. The School of Night follows the character of Kristian Hadeland, a young photography student who's seething with ambition and contempt. Newly arrived in London, Kristian f…

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Create Irresistible Offers: 5 Triggers to Turn Interest into Enrolments 17:07

1M ago17:07

17:07

In this episode I walk you through the five key conversion triggers that I use (and recommend) when launching an online course, membership or coaching offer. I explain what each trigger is, how I implement it, why it works, and what you’ll want in place for it to succeed. Key Take-away These triggers aren’t sneaky gimmicks—they’re built on human de…

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Olga Ravn 32:00

1M ago32:00

32:00

Award-winning Danish author Olga Ravn speaks to Take Four Books about her new novel The Wax Child and together with presenter James Crawford they explore its connections to three other texts. The Wax Child, translated by Martin Aitken, takes readers to 17th century Denmark, fictionalising the true story of a group of women in the town of Aalborg wh…

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The Open House Strategy: A Smarter Way to Sell Your Membership 15:41

2M ago15:41

15:41

In this episode I walk you through the Open House Strategy — how to use it to effectively boost your membership enrolments by giving prospects an experience of your membership rather than just a “free trial”. I explain how this differs from typical free trials, how you implement it, why it works and what you need in place for it to succeed. Then I …

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Katherine Rundell 28:33

2M ago28:33

28:33

Award-winning author Katherine Rundell discusses The Poisoned King, the second instalment in her acclaimed children’s fantasy series, Impossible Creatures. In this latest adventure, protagonist Christopher journeys back to the magical archipelago - a realm where dragons, unicorns, griffons, mermaids, and much more, all roam free. But this time, he’…

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How to Choose the Right Launch Strategy for Your Offer 17:05

2M ago17:05

17:05

In this episode, I dive into why having a well-planned launch is essential when I’m rolling out an online product or service. I explain how a launch isn’t just “putting something live,” but is, in fact, a marketing campaign in itself—one that must align the experience of the launch with what I’m selling. I introduce the Audience-Offer Launch Matrix…

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Quick Update: What’s Next for the Podcast & Me 9:17

2M ago9:17

9:17

In this very short episode, I’m pulling back the curtain on something new and exciting I’m launching my YouTube channel! I share why now felt like the right time to add YouTube into my content strategy, what’s been holding me back until now, and how I’m approaching it differently this time. You’ll also get a sneak peek at the types of videos I’ll b…

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Chris Kraus 28:44

2M ago28:44

28:44

Presenter James Crawford welcomes American writer, filmmaker, and art critic Chris Kraus to Take Four Books to discuss her latest novel 'The Four Spent the Day Together'. This marks Kraus’ fifth semi-autobiographical novel, following the success of 'I Love Dick', which was adapted into a major television series. The Four Spent the Day Together blen…

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How to Succeed in the Online Space in 2026: Lessons from Mike Morrison at Retain 20:42

2M ago20:42

20:42

In this episode of the Your Dream Business Podcast, I share key insights from my time at the Retain conference in Newcastle, where I heard Mike Morrison’s keynote on membership and online business trends. I dive into why relying on just one revenue stream or marketing channel can put your business at risk, and I walk you through strategies for buil…

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Philippa Gregory 32:51

2M ago32:51

32:51

Celebrated historical novelist Phillipa Gregory speaks to James Crawford about her latest novel Boleyn Traitor and explores its connections to three other works of literature. Philippa’s intimate portrayals of the machinations of the Tudor court have made her a bestseller and a household name. In her latest dive in to 16th Century England, she retu…

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Behind the Scenes: An Honest Look at My Most Recent Launch 31:56

3M ago31:56

31:56

In this episode of Your Dream Business Podcast, I’m letting you right into the backstage of my recent launch for the Grow Launch Sell program. I share what went on in the bootcamp and masterclasses I ran, and I walk you through both the wins and the challenges I faced. I also break down the numbers — from ad spend to email stats to conversion rates…

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John Banville 28:03

3M ago28:03

28:03

Booker Prize winning Irish author John Banville speaks about his new novel Venetian Vespers and together with presenter James Crawford they explore its connections to three other works of literary art. Set in the year 1899, Venetian Vespers is told from the perspective of the unfortunate Evelyn Dolman, a self-confessed hack-writer who marries Laura…

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Unlock the Power of Speaking: Insights from Lauren Davis 50:50

3M ago50:50

50:50

In this episode of Your Dream Business Podcast, host Teresa Heath‑Wareing talks with Lauren Davis, a marketing & brand consultant, about how public speaking can boost your business. Lauren shares her journey into speaking, offers a framework for deciding whether to say “yes” to unpaid gigs, compares keynotes vs. workshops, and shows how to make the…

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Your Secret Weapon for Sales: Case Studies & Testimonials That Convert 22:12

3M ago22:12

22:12

In this episode of Your Dream Business, I talk about why case studies and testimonials are more than just nice extras — they’re essential for building trust and showing what my business can really do. I share my TRUST method — Tell the problem, Roadblock, Uncover what they did, Show the results, Transformation, to help you gather rich, meaningful s…

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William Boyd 29:57

3M ago29:57

29:57

Booker shortlisted writer William Boyd speaks to Take Four Books this week about his new spy novel, The Predicament, and together with presenter James Crawford, and the crime writer Louise Welsh, they explore its connections to three other literary works. In his new novel, which is the second in a trilogy, travel writer turned accidental spy, Gabri…

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From Bankruptcy to Seven Figures: Real Stories & Strategies 38:48

3M ago38:48

38:48

In this episode, Darnyelle and I get real about what it takes to build a business that feels good inside, not just looks good on the outside. We talk about everything from scraping by (yes, including bankruptcy) to shifting money beliefs, setting up systems that don’t burn you out, and what success really means when you're living it your way. If yo…

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Graham Norton 28:35

3M ago28:35

28:35

BAFTA Award-winning broadcaster and novelist Graham Norton discusses Frankie, his fifth novel, which centres on the life of an apparently unremarkable Irish woman in her eighties as she recounts her story to a young carer. Graham Norton shares the three key literary influences that helped shape the novel: Elizabeth Bowen’s The Last September (1929)…

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Behind the Scenes: Designing a Launch That Works for YOU 22:59

3M ago22:59

22:59

In this episode, I walk you through four powerful launch strategies - webinars, bootcamps, open houses, and paid workshops and explore the importance of aligning a launch with your business’s unique needs. The centerpiece is the case study of Louise Miller’s Make It Happen Club, where she and I designed the bespoke "Quiet Action, Big Impact" launch…

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Ian McEwan 33:26

4M ago33:26

33:26

Booker prize winning author, Ian McEwan, speaks to Take Four Books, about his new novel, What We Can Know, and explores its connections to three other literary works. What We Can Know is set almost a hundred years in the future in a Britain much of which is now underwater, and it follows the character of Tom Metcalfe, a scholar of the University of…

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Transitioning in the Spotlight: Navigating Hate and Living Authentically with Jaxon Feeley 49:33

4M ago49:33

49:33

WHY THIS EPISODE MATTERS This isn’t just a story -it's a guidebook for anyone feeling misunderstood, overwhelmed, or afraid to be themselves. Whether you're leading a brand, building community—or just trying to wake up as the truest version of yourself—Jax’s journey is a beacon of strength, clarity, and purpose. In this episode, I chat with Jaxon F…

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3 Proven Ways to Grow Your Audience Fast 26:27

4M ago26:27

26:27

In this episode, I explore why audience growth is the lifeblood of scalable success. I illustrate this with the remarkable example of Alex Hormozi—whose “$100 M Money Models” launch drew over 1 million registrants and delivered tens of millions in revenue. From there, I introduce three powerful strategies—collaborations, summits, and bundles—and sh…