Meet Tony & Kristen, the "power couple" team at the helm.
On January 1, 2000, Tony Laidig launched Expert Media Group as a one-man operation, just a basic PC on a small table in the corner of his tiny dining room.
Since then, we’ve leveled up: we’ve grown, evolved our brand, and expanded into a global team of expert instructors.
In 2022, co-founder Kristen Laidig led a full-scale rebrand, transforming the company into what you see today: Expert Media Academy.
Tony Laidig
Senior Instructor
& Founder
Tony Laidig is the founder of Expert Media Academy and also known as The Public Domain Expert,
but what he really does is help creators like you unlock limitless potential through AI and public domain content...
without the overwhelm.
He's been experimenting with AI writing and art tools since before they were cool (back in 2018), and over the last
18+ years, he designed more than 600 book covers, including several that landed on the New York Times Best-Seller list.
His goal? To make creativity more accessible, more profitable, and way more fun!
If you’ve ever felt stuck trying to figure out how to create books, products, or art that actually stand out,
Tony has probably built a course or strategy to help. He's taught over 2,000 course modules covering everything from
publishing and book design to AI-generated art, children’s books, video content, and beyond.
And while he loves teaching and creating, he also lives what he teaches... traveling the country in an RV with his wife
and business partner Kristen and their two cats, making art, writing, and capturing inspiration with my camera wherever we roam.
Kristen Laidig
Lead Instructor
& Co-Founder
Kristen Laidig is a serial entrepreneur who after receiving her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Glassblowing
(of all things... which she personally considers a fancy, expensive paper weight), she transformed her lifelong
passion for writing and art into a thriving career.
Since 2003, she's been dedicated to helping authors and entrepreneurs create impactful books that not only
enhance their businesses, but also establish them as successful authorpreneurs. Through her internationally
recognized brand, The Book Ninja®, she empowered countless writers before selling the brand in 2019 to
another accomplished authorpreneur.
She is also a Certified Play Expert and a Certified Master Retailer with ASTRA (American Specialty
Toy Retailing Association) and in 2022, she further expanded her expertise by earning her Certified Crystal
Practitioner and Advanced Crystal Master certifications from the Hibiscus Moon Crystal Academy. She's
currently pursuing her Gemologist Certification (and rumor has it a hot air balloon pilot's license), as she's
always aspiring to master more skills.
In addition to her personal ventures, Kristen plays a key role in the behind-the-scenes management of
Expert Media Academy. (She's basically the mastermind behind everything marketing, sales, and customer
support around here.)
As if that's not enough, she also co-manages and creates art and products for Magickal Bear, the metaphysical
business she runs with her husband, Tony.
While living on the road in their RV with their two furry feline "supervisors," she loves to explore new places,
sell at various events, and lead workshops... all while embracing a lifestyle of adventure, education, and entrepreneurship.
Daniel Hall
Marketing Expert
Daniel Hall is a Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestselling author, a trailblazing online marketer,
and a serial entrepreneur with a knack for turning ideas into profitable ventures.
As the mastermind behind the Real Fast series of training programs and host of the Real Fast Results podcast,
Daniel delivers rapid-fire, actionable strategies designed to accelerate success.
Daniel is also the co-creator of AI Generator Gold our premium AI content creation program designed to help members
reach influencers and create passive income streams.
With a passion for book publishing, online marketing, and business growth, his dynamic teaching style and real-world expertise
inspire authors and entrepreneurs to transform their knowledge into thriving enterprises.
When he's not working, you’ll find him biking through the picturesque streets of Celebration, FL, or enjoying magical moments
at Disney with his amazing wife, Lanette, and their beloved family and friends.
Course Contributions:
AI Generator Gold
Natalie Marie Collins
Alignment Expert
Natalie Marie Collins is a visionary entrepreneur, author, and coach dedicated to helping others build businesses and lives
that flow with ease and alignment.
After 13 years in the corporate grind, she broke free to chart her own path, starting as a Virtual Assistant and quickly
mastering the art of online business, including branding, marketing, digital product creation, sales funnel optimization, and more!
Now, as a Human Design Business Coach Natalie helps her clients unlock their natural rhythms and align their energy with success.
She also plays a pivotal role as Head Coach, Expert Instructor, and Support Desk Lead here at Expert Media Academy, where she
guides members like YOU through the twists and turns of digital business with clarity and confidence.
Her passion for simplifying and systemizing success also shines through in her books, where she shares insights to help others build
businesses that support their best lives.
Through her coaching, writing, and leadership, Natalie weaves together business strategy, personal growth, and creative expression...
empowering you to thrive with purpose and ease!
Course Contributions:
Manifest Your Magical Life
The MasterClass Modules: How You're Designed to Make Money
Kaci Brown
Business Strategies Expert
Kaci Brown is a dynamic business strategist, entrepreneur, and coach who specializes in transforming purpose-driven ideas into
profitable business strategies. Now also serving as an Expert Instructor in Business Strategy at Expert Media Academy, Kaci brings
real-world experience from coaching hundreds of business owners and crafting strategies that meet entrepreneurs where they are and
take them where they want to go.
Leveraging her background in relationship marketing, Kaci helps creative entrepreneurs turn their mission into scalable, profitable
businesses that create a ripple effect of positive change. Kaci’s expertise has been recognized industry-wide. She was one of the
select few chosen to coach in ClickFunnels™ founder Russell Brunson’s elite Two Comma Club program, guiding business owners toward
seven-figure success while instilling her signature abundance mindset.
Kaci is also an engaging speaker and podcast host, known for her passion to help purpose-driven leaders cut through the noise and build
businesses aligned with their values. Through her popular podcast and numerous training appearances, she emphasizes building genuine trust
that can turn one-time buyers into loyal “brand evangelists”, and shows that clarity and alignment (not endless hustle) are the keys to
sustainable growth. Entrepreneurs who have felt stuck or overwhelmed often credit Kaci for helping them find focus and momentum by
simplifying their processes and aligning their business with what matters most.
Kaci’s personal life reflects the values she brings to her work. An unapologetic optimist and proud mom of four, she has intentionally
built her own business to support her family life. You might find her brainstorming a million-dollar strategy for a client over an
almond-milk latte and she always leads by example with the abundance mindset and genuine enthusiasm she instills in others. Her blend of
strategic expertise and heartfelt mentorship inspires entrepreneurs to achieve success on their own terms while living a fulfilled,
impact-driven life.
Course Contributions:
The MasterClass Modules: One-Hour Cash Machine
Meet Your Expert Instructor
Stacey Hall is an acclaimed international speaker and sales & marketing mentor best known for her ground-breaking
“Go for Yes” social media marketing program, which has helped thousands of entrepreneurs attract more sales, customer
satisfaction, and success. As the founder of Success with Stacey Hall and a recognized TEDx presenter, she is
on a mission to help creative entrepreneurs, from authors and artists to product creators, connect authentically with
their ideal audiences, solve their problems, and leave a lasting legacy.
In her book Selling from Your Comfort Zone, Stacey challenges the myth that you must push past your comfort zone
or compromise your values to excel in sales. She explains that your comfort zone can actually be a “power zone”... a
place of alignment that leads to genuine sales, personal satisfaction, and sustainable success.
Shifting away from pushy sales tactics, Stacey teaches a more meaningful approach to business. She provides a simple
formula for building authentic connections through problem-solving, all while staying aligned with your calling, true
self, and the value of what you offer.
By adopting Stacey’s alignment-based approach, her students gain more confidence, energy, and courage to reach their goals,
and they remain flexible and resilient in the face of challenges.
As an Expert Instructor at Expert Media Academy, Stacey is dedicated to helping our members embrace sales as an act of service.
Her down-to-earth coaching style makes marketing feel less like a chore and more like a creative adventure, empowering you to
succeed on your own terms!
Course Contributions:
The MasterClass Modules: Turn Comfort into Cash!
Felicia Slattery
Communications Expert
Felicia Slattery has been lighting up stages and screens for over two decades, showing experts and entrepreneurs how to transform
their ideas into clear, compelling messages that truly connect. As an internationally acclaimed communication consultant, keynote
speaker, and author of multiple Amazon #1 bestsellers, including the game-changing Kill the Elevator Speech, Felicia knows
exactly what it takes to turn awkward small talk into powerful relationships (and paying clients).
With two master’s degrees, one in Communication and another in Adult Education, Felicia pairs sharp academic chops with real-world
experience earned from delivering over 9,000 presentations worldwide. She’s taught students at the University of Tennessee how to
conquer stage fright and ace their speeches, and guided entrepreneurs in 81 countries to craft Signature Speeches™ that open doors
and close deals.
You might have seen her featured in Success Magazine, Inc., or chatting on CNN, BBC, NBC, FOX, ABC, and just about every major network.
Named a Top 50 Social Media Influencer, she’s as comfortable in front of a camera as she is cooking plant-based feasts. She’s even
a published cookbook author and award-winning home cook!
Felicia’s known for her infectious humor, down-to-earth style, and genuine passion for helping people find their voice. Whether she’s
coaching TEDx hopefuls, teaching university students, or delivering high-energy workshops on building real connections in a digital world,
Felicia makes communication feel easy, human, and—dare we say—fun.
When she’s not speaking, writing, or teaching, you’ll likely find her experimenting with new recipes, cheering on her family and two daughters'
budding careers, or planning her next adventure (preferably somewhere with fabulous food).
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