202: The 8 Steps Behind One of the World’s Top Podcasts | Tony D'Urso

Winning podcasters—and high performers of all stripes—aren’t built on luck or Hollywood backing. They’re built on resilience, vision, and a relentless drive to keep learning and trying. In this energizing episode, Damon sits down with Tony Durso, business strategist, bestselling author, and host of one of the world’s biggest podcasts, to uncover what it really takes to go from zero to 50 million downloads with no radio experience and no big media machine. Tony shares his “Vision Map” eight-step framework for driving toward any goal—plus down-to-earth stories, tactical advice, and lessons learned from interviewing elite entrepreneurs and industry icons. 

From why your purpose matters more than your paycheck, to tactical social media strategies, to the real secret that separates high performers from hopefuls, this episode is packed with actionable tools for anyone wanting to build something meaningful—be it a business, a podcast, or a life-changing pivot. Tony shares his mistakes, his European relationship-first mindset, and why writing down your vision might be the most powerful move you’ll ever make. To top it all off, hear how Tony pivoted from nonfiction to writing a hit fiction series—and why he believes picking up a novel might just be the recharge you need as a leader. 

In this episode, you’ll learn: 

• How Tony Durso grew his podcast to 50 million downloads without a corporate media engine 
• Why resilience (never quitting) is the true secret to long-term success 
• The eight-step “Vision Map” framework for turning dreams into reality 
• Why purpose—and not money—is the foundation of passion projects and sustainable careers 
• What Tony learned from interviewing hundreds of millionaires and billionaires 
• Tactical social media advice for maximizing your impact and avoiding common mistakes 
• The surprising value of fiction for leader creativity, relaxation, and perspective shifts 

Timestamps: 

00:00 – Tony Durso on the real mark of success: Never quitting 

01:14 – How Tony built a podcast empire from scratch 

04:22 – The art of leveraging big-name guests for audience growth 

05:09 – Tony’s #1 lesson from elite entrepreneurs: perseverance 

07:33 – The critical role of passion in lasting podcasting (and business) success 

09:44 – Why purpose should come before profit 

13:04 – Tony’s “Vision Map” framework and how it works 

16:51 – Tony’s original podcasting vision—and how he wrote it into being 

19:47 – Finding your true purpose (and why money should stay out of it) 

23:35 – The chocolate soufflé analogy: why knowing “the words” isn’t enough 

24:49 – Turning goals into actionable long-term objectives 

28:23 – Which Vision Map steps matter most in hard times 

29:13 – Eight steps to achievement—and why doing is everything 

36:00 – Tony’s pivot to fiction: the Ion of Atlantis series 

41:49 – Why fiction matters for leaders (creativity, downtime, and more) 

45:18 – On discipline, character, and Tony’s favorite fictional hero 

47:24 – Tony’s top piece of advice for today’s leaders and podcasters 

49:59 – Where to connect with Tony (website, social, and more) 

About Tony Durso 

Tony Durso is an author, business strategist, and the host of The Tony Durso Show—one of the largest podcasts in the world, with over 50 million downloads. After decades in corporate sales, marketing, and PR, Tony built his entire media presence from scratch, booking elite entrepreneurs, authors, and business icons as guests. He’s the creator of the “Vision Map” framework and bestselling author of nonfiction and fiction books, including the acclaimed