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The Read Magnet® Podcast
Read Magnet ® is the podcast for message-led creators, coaches, and thought leaders who ready to write their book, and want to do it with strategy and soul.
Hosted by book coach, ghostwriter, and founder of The Luminous Press, Cate Butler Ross, each episode explores what it really takes to bring a powerful message to the page, whether you’re writing it yourself or partnering with a pro.
From behind-the-scenes publishing insights to soulful conversations with authors, creatives, and industry insiders, you’ll learn how to shape the book that only you can write, and how you can use it to grow your authority, create real impact, and become a siren-call to the people you’re here to help.
The Read Magnet® Podcast
How Alexia Leachman Wrote an Authority Book That Had Nothing to Do With Her Business — And Sparked a Global Following
Join my free Make your book Inevitable microclass www.theluminous.media/microclass
✍️ Episode Summary
What if the book you're meant to write feels totally off-brand?
When Alexia Leachman wrote her first book, she was a business coach working with alpha male CEOs. The book? A guide to overcoming extreme fear of childbirth. It had nothing to do with her brand — and everything to do with what she knew people needed.
What happened next surprised even her.
That one “off-topic” book turned into a bestselling podcast, a suite of digital products, global training programmes, and a worldwide audience who now recognise her as a thought leader in the space.
In this episode, Alexia shares how writing the book she had to write — not the one that made sense — unlocked her most impactful work.
🔑 In This Conversation:
- Why your “off-brand” book might be the most powerful thing you write
- How a flood of DMs sparked a 108,000-word manuscript written during maternity leave
- The podcast strategy that helped her test content and build a loyal audience
- How she turned one niche book into a whole new business branch
- Why niche books often outperform broader ones when it comes to resonance
- The tools she used to write a book (and white paper) in under 60 days
- The balance between structure, flow, and letting ideas come through you
- How AI can help authors — without compromising voice or originality
- What happened when she claimed the title of “world expert” — and backed it up with a book
💬 Standout Quotes:
“I was a business coach working with men. What was I doing writing about birth? But I had to write it.”
“I treated the podcast like a live draft — it helped me refine the book and build an audience.”
“That one book unlocked a body of work I never could have predicted.”
“The book that doesn’t fit your brand might be the one that reveals what you’re really here to do.”
🔗 Explore More from Alexia:
- Website: head-trash.com
- Books: Fearless Birthing, Clear Your Head Trash, and more
- Podcasts: Fear Free Childbirth & The Head Trash Show