Don't Write That Book
Mike Michalowicz
The "Don’t Write That Book" podcast serves as your guide to crafting your bestseller and embracing your role as an author. Your hosts, Mike Michalowicz and AJ Harper, act as your personal experts, steering you through the intricacies of writing and publishing. Mike and AJ demystify all aspects of creating and releasing your book, offering insights drawn from their own journeys. This podcast will be your safeguard against writing THAT book.
- 58 minutes 44 secondsThe Big Book-Launch Debrief
In this episode, Mike breaks down all the data he’s managed to collect so far since publishing The Money Habit in January 2026. He updates AJ on bulk buys, individual orders, how he ran orders through third-party systems like Porchlight, and how pre-sales added up, and more. He’ll lay out whether they met or missed his team’s expectations. If you’re into juicy data, this is the week you won’t want to miss!
Be sure to visit https://dwtbpodcast.com for more information and add your name to start receiving their newsletter. If you’d like to support this show, rate, subscribe, and leave a review on your podcast app.
Books/Resources Mentioned:
Nir Eyal, Hooked
Mike’s Monday Night Reading (Audio)
Connect with AJ & Mike:
AJ Harper, website
AJ’s Socials:
Mike Michalowicz, website
Mike’s Socials:
2 April 2026, 9:00 am - 55 minutes 11 secondsHow to be Profitable as an Author
In this episode, Mike and AJ debunk the weird myth that persists that authors can’t make a profit from writing a must-read. What’s the ROI on writing a prescriptive nonfiction book? Sure, there’s parlaying your book sales into speaking gigs, but this week our duo lays out ways that authors can increase their sales and generate real income. The ideas might surprise you! (And you’ll learn our duo’s desert island books, too.)
Be sure to visit https://dwtbpodcast.com for more information and add your name to start receiving their newsletter. If you’d like to support this show, rate, subscribe, and leave a review on your podcast app.
Books/Resources Mentioned:
Vickie Lanthier, High Agency Human
Connect with AJ & Mike:
AJ Harper, website
AJ’s Socials:
Mike Michalowicz, website
Mike’s Socials:
26 March 2026, 9:00 am - 48 minutes 11 secondsPlanning Your Launch 3 – 6 Months Out
In this episode, Mike and AJ discuss what authors who don’t have the luxury of a long launch runway can do so they’re not ready to take a long walk off a short pier by publishing day! Our seasoned pros offer guidance on what authors should skip, and where they should focus their time and attention to maximize their launches without sacrificing their sanity.
Be sure to visit https://dwtbpodcast.com for more information and add your name to start receiving their newsletter. If you’d like to support this show, rate, subscribe, and leave a review on your podcast app.
Books/Resources Mentioned:
Vickie Lanthier, High Agency Human
Connect with AJ & Mike:
AJ Harper, website
AJ’s Socials:
Mike Michalowicz, website
Mike’s Socials:
19 March 2026, 9:00 am - 1 hour 1 minutePlanning Your Launch 12 – 18 Months Out
In this episode, AJ and Mike discuss all the ways authors can maximize a longer runway for their book launch. They discuss big asks, relationship building, why pre-orders matter and everything in between. A year to half a year may seem like too much time, but our duo explains how that time will fly by – and how to manage that time so authors have the best launch they can.
Be sure to visit https://dwtbpodcast.com for more information and add your name to start receiving their newsletter. If you’d like to support this show, rate, subscribe, and leave a review on your podcast app.
Books/Resources Mentioned:
The Dysregulated Kid, Dr. Roseann Capanna-Hodge
Connect with AJ & Mike:
AJ Harper, website
AJ’s Socials:
Mike Michalowicz, website
Mike’s Socials:
12 March 2026, 9:00 am - 38 minutes 37 secondsFinishing Your Book when Life Gets in the Way
In this episode, Mike and AJ share times in their authorship careers when life came hard and interrupted their flow. What steps do they take to keep “in the book” and keep it as a priority? Each shares moments that tested them and what concrete actions they took to persevere. AJ includes her “writing prescription” for when you want to walk away.
Be sure to visit https://dwtbpodcast.com for more information and add your name to start receiving their newsletter. If you’d like to support this show, rate, subscribe, and leave a review on your podcast app.
Books/Resources Mentioned:
My Favorite Murder, Episode 501 (Explicit content warning!)
Connect with AJ & Mike:
AJ Harper, website
AJ’s Socials:
Mike Michalowicz, website
Mike’s Socials:
5 March 2026, 10:00 am - 47 minutes 13 secondsNew Publishing Path Decision Points
In this episode, Mike and AJ hold nothing back and give their listeners every question they should ask themselves when deciding their publishing path. And the sooner an author asks themselves some of the biggies, the less wasted time, heartbreak, and struggle down the road. It’s not as simple as you may think, and you may be surprised by the alternatives our duo shares!
Be sure to visit https://dwtbpodcast.com for more information and add your name to start receiving their newsletter. If you’d like to support this show, rate, subscribe, and leave a review on your podcast app.
Books/Resources Mentioned:
Joyspan, Dr. Kerry Burnight
AJ’s Writing Sprint Marathon sign up (Free!)
Connect with AJ & Mike:
AJ Harper, website
AJ’s Socials:
Mike Michalowicz, website
Mike’s Socials:
26 February 2026, 10:00 am - 49 minutes 48 secondsDeliver on the Promise
In this episode, Mike and AJ talk about the one thing your must-read book better do: deliver on its promise. It isn’t about making pie-in-the-sky promises but understanding your reader and what their chief concerns truly are. It’s about checking in along the way to offer tiny wins. And for the rest, you’ll have to tune in and give this week a listen!
Be sure to visit https://dwtbpodcast.com for more information and add your name to start receiving their newsletter. If you’d like to support this show, rate, subscribe, and leave a review on your podcast app.
Books/Resources Mentioned:
I Will Teach You to be Rich, Ramit Sethi
Too Much, Terri Cole
The Book of Alchemy, by Suleika Jaouad
Reset, Dan Heath
Take Breaks, Work Better, John Briggs
Time Freedom, Brian Herriot
AJ’s Writing Sprint Marathon sign up (Free!)Connect with AJ & Mike:
AJ Harper, website
AJ’s Socials:
Mike Michalowicz, website
Mike’s Socials:
19 February 2026, 10:00 am - 55 minutes 9 secondsPublishing Pitfalls
In this episode, AJ and Mike discuss potential pitfalls in the publishing process. They’ll share experiences they wish they could do over or avoid completely, like having too large a first print run and inviting strangers into your home to talk about their big book idea when they’re secretly nude yogis. (It turned out okay, but yikes!) This is definitely an episode you won’t want to miss!
Be sure to visit https://dwtbpodcast.com for more information and add your name to start receiving their newsletter. If you’d like to support this show, rate, subscribe and leave a review on your podcast app.
Books/Resources Mentioned:
Stig Severinsen, deep sea swimmer
Defy, by Dr. Sunita Sah
High Agency Human, by Vickie Lanthier
Connect with AJ & Mike:
AJ Harper, website
AJ’s Socials:
Mike Michalowicz, website
Mike’s Socials:
12 February 2026, 10:00 am - 50 minutes 5 secondsHow to Leverage Readings for Book Sales
In this episode, AJ and Mike discuss an area of promotion often associated with fiction authors, but one they know absolutely helps authors of prescriptive nonfiction: public readings! Listeners will learn how to create a reading, how to promote it, and how to use that opportunity to increase book sales and readership. And speaking of, you’re coming to Mike’s Monday Night Reading, aren’t you? Check the show notes to register for the free event (and see how it’s done by a pro!).
Be sure to visit https://dwtbpodcast.com for more information and add your name to start receiving their newsletter. If you’d like to support this show, rate, subscribe and leave a review on your podcast app.
Books/Resources Mentioned:
Mike’s upcoming Monday Night Reading, where he’ll read selections from The Money Habit.
Connect with AJ & Mike:
AJ Harper, website
AJ’s Socials:
Mike Michalowicz, website
Mike’s Socials:
5 February 2026, 10:00 am - 1 hour 9 minutesBehind the Scenes, The Money Habit
Happy Money Habit Release Week! In this episode, AJ and Mike celebrate the release of their new book. Mike updates listeners on launch week activities, what the marketing team has been up to behind the scenes, and how listeners can apply some of the steps to their own launches. There’s even some deep book geekery in how you can print run for your physical copy. Ultimately, it’s a celebration of the hard work our duo put in and a recommitment to providing real relief for their readers.
Be sure to visit https://dwtbpodcast.com for more information and add your name to start receiving their newsletter. If you’d like to support this show, rate, subscribe, and leave a review on your podcast app.
Books/Resources Mentioned:
Mike’s upcoming Monday Night Reading, where he’ll read selections from The Money Habit.
Connect with AJ & Mike:
AJ Harper, website
AJ’s Socials:
Mike Michalowicz, website
Mike’s Socials:
29 January 2026, 10:00 am - 48 minutes 14 secondsThe First Draft: Structure v. Freedom
In this episode, Mike and AJ discuss the importance of structure when writing a prescription nonfiction book or even a creative nonfiction book, like a memoir. They’re prepared for all the pushback new authors have with respect to a structured outline and solid fundamentals, and will even explain how creating your book's scaffolding allows for creative freedom.
Be sure to visit https://dwtbpodcast.com for more information and add your name to start receiving their newsletter. If you’d like to support this show, rate, subscribe, and leave a review on your podcast app.
Books/Resources Mentioned:
E-Myth, by Michael E Gerber
Connect with AJ & Mike:
AJ Harper, website
AJ’s Socials:
Mike Michalowicz, website
Mike’s Socials:
22 January 2026, 10:00 am - More Episodes? Get the App