Snack Break: Novelist Emma Straub

Dan is looking for a little inspiration himself, so he called in a ringer: novelist, bookstore owner and all-around overachiever Emma Straub. She talks about how she knows when an idea is worth a year-plus of her life, what she learned about the writing game from her dad Peter Straub's good buddy Stephen King, and the hardest part of running two Brooklyn bookstores. Spoiler, it's not the books. Emma's hilarious new book American Fantasy hits shelves April 7th. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Andrew McCarthy was the guy you wanted to be in the 80s or at least hang out with. Pretty in Pink. Weekend at Bernie’s. The man was everywhere. But somewhere along the way, he traded Hollywood for travel writing. Then one day he looked up and realized he hadn’t seen his friends in years. Which set him off on a 10,000-mile journey to reconnect. He talks about it all in his new book Who Needs Friends? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Award-winning author and International Thriller Writers executive director Kimberly Howe pulls back the curtain on how to break into the booming $21 billion thriller genre. From crafting the perfect 30-second pitch to finding your writing routine, Kim shares the insider secrets that separate published authors from aspiring ones. Plus, get the scoop on ThrillerFest,  the ultimate "summer camp for writers" coming to New York City May 5–9. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jing Gao grew up in Sichuan, bounced through Canada, landed in Shanghai, and revolutionized the hot sauce aisle at Walmart. Her brand, Fly By Jing, went from a Kickstarter she was terrified to launch to a 10x business overnight thanks to a New York Times article she didn't even know she was being interviewed for. Along the way, she ran underground supper clubs, trained under one of China's top chefs, and made a convincing argument that chili crisp goes on vanilla ice cream.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Where do ideas come from? Michael Petry of Golden West Boots has a few thoughts on that and what to do if you get arrested in Vietnam with a suitcase full of one-of-a-kind Prada samples. In this well-heeled snack break, he shares what he's learned from working with some of the biggest names in fashion, like Ralph Lauren.  And yes, there's a discount code https://goldenwestboots.com Code: ENT10 for 10% off  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What do Cinnabon, Hooters, and AG1 have in common? Today's guest has been in the C-suite of all of them and somehow made it make sense. The head of AG1 sits down with Dan to talk about building brands that last and why she took a step down the corporate ladder to eventually rocket up it. Plus, she covers why trusting your team helps create viral moments. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dan spoke to David Thurston, Founder, CEO, and Creative Director of Danger Jones, for a webinar he did for Entrepreneur+. Not about hair (obviously) but about why putting your face on your brand is the scariest and smartest thing you can do. Plus, Dan reads and responds to some listener comments. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Morning Brew co-founder Alex Lieberman joins How Success Happens for a fun, fast-paced masterclass in going from side-hustle newsletter to full-blown media brand. Alex shares how he grew Morning Brew from a scrappy startup into a scaled business, the mindset shifts that allowed for greater growth, and the systems that kept the rocket ship steady. He and host Dan Bova dig into how to keep innovating, why expert support at every level is a superpower, and the practical steps you can take to unlock your next chapter of growth.With the business tax filing deadlines are approaching quickly, with many returns due March 16, 2026, understanding what has changed and acting on it with the right guidance may be one of the most practical decisions a solopreneur makes this year. Learn more about filing your taxes with Intuit TurboTax, visit https://turbotax.com/business Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ken Grossman, founder of Sierra Nevada, was brewing beer before craft beer was a thing.  Back when your neighbors thought it was weird, not artisanal. Now he's built one of the most beloved beer brands in America, and he sits down with Dan to share what's kept Sierra Nevada alive and thriving while countless others have gone flat.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jaclyn Leibl-Cote is the third-gen CEO of Collette, a century-old travel company taking people around the world. Growing up in the family business sounds glamorous until you get absolutely roasted on a 360 review. Jaclyn shares what it actually took to become the leader people wanted to follow. Plus, Dan reads a listener's email! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices