Today’s guest is a seasoned sales & marketing leader, podcasting thought leader, coach & consultant. Trent Anderson is the Head of Podcast Publisher Partnerships at Podchaser and currently hosts an internal podcast, although he previously hosted the Norton Norris Podcast. Trent discusses how to be a great podcast guest, what goes into designing a successful podcast, and the basics of podcast networks. Trent also shares what he would do to get on The Joe Rogan Experience if he had unlimited time and resources. Takeaways: To find the right podcast to appear as a guest on, consider the content, context, audience, and reach. Content means the topic of the show. Context is the POV of the show and host. Audience refers to the type of people listening to the show, including their level of understanding of the show’s topic. Reach is how many of those audience members listen to the podcast. When creating a new podcast around a specific topic, look at how other shows are covering that topic and then find a new perspective. For example, if most shows discuss the theories around X, consider starting a show that provides practical applications of X. If you are creating and hosting a show that promises to give the audience tactical advice about applying X, make sure each episode leaves the audience with at least one thing they can learn and implement. Great podcast guests have their own perspectives on their given areas of expertise and are prepared to share that on the shows they appear on. Without a clearly thought-out point of view, guests tend to share very surface-level content and fail to stand out. Don’t worry about appealing to the total addressable market with your podcast, especially if it’s a branded podcast. By having a clear point of view as the host, your show will delight the people that agree with it and repel those who don’t. Being a good podcast host takes a lot of preparation in order to have an engaging and valuable conversation with a guest. For some hosts, this preparation can become too repetitive and is a leading cause of podfade. Before launching a podcast or guesting on podcasts, invest time into understanding your audience on a deep level. If they listen to podcasts, what are they trying to get out of listening to those podcasts? Education? Entertainment? News? Podcast networks come in all sizes from as few as two shows to as many as two hundred different shows. The main purpose of a podcast network is to negotiate advertising deals with large advertisers for multiple shows at once.  Quote of the Show:“You become interesting by being interested in something.” -  Trent AndersonLinks: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/growthtrent/  Twitter: https://twitter.com/TrentAnders0n  Company website: https://www.podchaser.com/  Shout Outs: Nicolas Cole Dickie Bush Never Split The Difference by Christopher Voss The Gray Man by Mark Greaney Akira The Don Can’t Hurt Me by David Goggins Mike Nussbaum Ways to Tune In: Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/12f108ea-018f-44a6-8bb0-9444e9cbf3cc  Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/creating-the-greatest-show/id1638399900 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1B7OnWCGoxBRzH2rbkEFIf  Google Podcast: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkLnBvZGJlYW4uY29tL2NyZWF0aW5ndGhlZ3JlYXRlc3RzaG93L2ZlZWQueG1s Podchaser: https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/creating-the-greatest-show-4823789  YouTube: https://youtu.be/3-bNGJ-lSuI Creating The Greatest Show is produced and sponsored by Ringmaster, on a mission to create connections through B2B podcasts. Learn more at https://ringmaster.com/

Today’s guest is an entrepreneur, sales leader & thought leader. Nicholas Thickett is the Managing Partner at Alignd and the Co-Host of The B2B Power Hour. Nicholas shares the important role stories play in learning, how to find the right guests to provide value to your audience, and the basics of running a successful live show.Takeaways: It’s easier to learn soft skills in fields like sales and marketing using tacit knowledge picked up by listening to and mimicking those around us. With the move to remote work, there are fewer opportunities to interact with and learn from others.  Podcasting provides a way for people to learn more about a field by hearing stories in interviews with their peers and industry experts. It’s more impactful for people to hear experiences and advice with the context provided by the stories behind them. Stories are better for teaching because the ideas within the story are able to go beyond a person’s logic and reach their emotional core. By absorbing stories, audiences are able to feel, to a degree, what it was like to live through that experience. Try to discover the small steps and incremental changes that your guest has used to succeed. These are the tips that your audience will most helpful because they are feasible and attainable.  Pick guests that you and your audience actually want to learn from. Don’t invite people because of their large reputation if they don’t have any real knowledge to impart. It’s better to politely decline to interview a guest than it is to waste your time and theirs. Use a prep call before recording the full interview with a guest to gauge if you have any chemistry with them and if they have valuable information for your audience. Without connecting with the guest, the conversation will suffer and have little value. When launching a live show, start building your audience by inviting five to twenty handpicked people to join the show. These people should be asking the same questions you ask on the show. Being handpicked, they are more likely to engage authentically. Quote of the Show:“Podcasting is one of the few ways in the remote world that we can open up.” - Nicholas ThickettLinks: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicholasthickett/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/NThickett Company website: https://getalignd.co/ Podcast: https://podcast.b2bpowerhour.com/ Shout Outs: Jen Allen Morgan Smith Justin Simon Ways to Tune In: Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/12f108ea-018f-44a6-8bb0-9444e9cbf3cc  Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/creating-the-greatest-show/id1638399900 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1B7OnWCGoxBRzH2rbkEFIf  Google Podcast: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkLnBvZGJlYW4uY29tL2NyZWF0aW5ndGhlZ3JlYXRlc3RzaG93L2ZlZWQueG1s Podchaser: https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/creating-the-greatest-show-4823789  YouTube: https://youtu.be/N1Xg2EEZbcs  Creating The Greatest Show is produced and sponsored by Ringmaster, on a mission to create connections through B2B podcasts. Learn more at https://ringmaster.com/ 

Not every podcast comes about as a result of a calculated effort to grow sales. In some cases, rich natural conversations become so valuable that recording them is a no-brainer. Even without intensive effort to grow and promote, you can create a listening experience that is irresistible to tune into. Find out how to create a value-filled podcast from Melissa Moody, the CMO of Gated and the Host of both Finding Focus and 2 Pizza Marketing. Melissa shares her accidental path into the podcasting world and how she prevents burnout with her shows while managing other objectives. Takeaways:  It’s easy to get overwhelmed with the ever-growing to-do list that comes with self-producing a podcast. Staying focused on the ‘why’ behind your podcast will provide clarity on what tasks are critical and which are nice-to-haves.  Avoid ‘pod fade’ by pacing yourself. If you don’t have the resources, consider limiting your podcast to only audio rather than both video and audio, swapping paid tools for free tools when possible, and deciding the right level of editing you can manage. Podcasting is a marathon, not a sprint.  For your podcast’s first few episodes, focus on accessible guests, rather than reaching for high-level executives with limited time. Utilize your existing network and branch out from there or when you have more time and energy to dedicate to guest outreach. If podcasting is more of a side hustle than a primary focus of your role, having a co-host can help divide the workload in half. To keep the podcast consistent, find a structure that works for both of you and split up tasks like outreach, recording, editing, etc. Don’t be afraid of pauses in the show. A good host may take a moment to absorb the guest’s point and return a related question, rather than glossing over and pitching a new question off the scripted list.  If monetizing your podcast with host-read ads, make it enjoyable for the audience. Select products you actually enjoy and convey your genuine support in the ad. A canned ad before your show starts or one that interrupts the flow can drive listeners away.  Podcasts won’t always create a clear ROI, but they help with content creation and awareness in other quantifiable ways.  One way to promote your podcast is by using testimonials from listeners who have successfully implemented tactics they learned from the show.  Quote of the Show:“The other value for me besides just the conversations themselves is obviously the networking. One of the huge benefits for the host is you build this absolutely incredible network.” - Melissa MoodyLinks: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissammoody/   Twitter: https://twitter.com/2PizzaMarketer   Gated website: https://www.gated.com/   Personal website: https://www.melissammoody.com/  Finding Focus Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/finding-focus-protecting-your-attention-in-a-noisy/id1635153064 2 Pizza Marketing Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/2-pizza-marketing-a-podcast-for-small-team-marketers/id1643386802  Ways to Tune In: Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/12f108ea-018f-44a6-8bb0-9444e9cbf3cc  Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/creating-the-greatest-show/id1638399900 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1B7OnWCGoxBRzH2rbkEFIf  Google Podcast: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkLnBvZGJlYW4uY29tL2NyZWF0aW5ndGhlZ3JlYXRlc3RzaG93L2ZlZWQueG1s Podchaser: https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/creating-the-greatest-show-4823789  YouTube: https://youtu.be/iSr3Li0on-o  Creating The Greatest Show is produced and sponsored by Ringmaster, on a mission to create connections through B2B podcasts. Learn more at https://ringmaster.com/ 

Brilliant minds don’t always make for a great podcast. Good discussion and empathetic guests appeal to an audience better than improperly conveyed information. Learn how to improve from someone with a graduate-level education in counseling psychology, years of experience and training in the counseling profession, and experience pivoting his knowledge to apply to his podcast. Listen in to hear from social entrepreneur and founder of Awarepreneurs, Paul Zelizer. In today’s episode, you will learn how to discover the right guests, nurture the right connections, and find the balance between overly coached conversations and tangential discussions. You will also hear how to engage your audience using empathy and overall, create the greatest podcast.Takeaways: Find the right guests and prepare them to have extraordinary dialogues. Take the time for a prep call to build rapport with the guest, tell them about your audience, and explain the type of dialogue you want to have, whether it’s precise, loose, or a mix of the two. You can have two brilliant people on a podcast with a poor relationship or two average people with a great relationship. The latter is superior. Build a rapport with your guest, even if you only have five or ten minutes to talk before hitting record. Find a way to describe your audience to your podcast guest, so they can adapt their information and conversation to appeal to them. Be able to explain what the audience cares about, what they want to learn, and why they listen to your show.  Build relationships with PR and podcast booking agencies, these agencies get paid by their clients to get them on shows that have their niche audiences. It may take time, but the effort pays off in the form of referrals for the ideal guests.  Find the balance between overly stiff conversation and unstructured tangential speaking. If the guest turns into a college lecturer, the listener may tune out, but the same outcome can happen if the guest breaks into too many side discussions with no relation.  If your guest starts to speak as though they have been overly coached, don't be afraid to interrupt them to improve the interactivity of the conversation. Generally, podcast listeners prefer a "good combination of relationality" rather than a TED Talk style speech.  Podcasting allows the host and the guests to be invited into the space between listeners' ears. It is the most intimate form of mass communication so you need to make it relational, you need to incorporate real-life context into the conversation. Quote of the Show:“Emotional intelligence is more predictive to your success in business than your technical skills” - Paul ZelizerShoutouts:The Nurse Keith Show with Keith Carlson https://nursekeith.com/the-nurse-keith-show/ Links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulzelizer/  Twitter: https://twitter.com/PaulZelizer  Company website: https://www.paulzelizer.com/  Company website: https://www.awarepreneurs.com/  Ways to Tune In: Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/12f108ea-018f-44a6-8bb0-9444e9cbf3cc  Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/creating-the-greatest-show/id1638399900 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1B7OnWCGoxBRzH2rbkEFIf  Google Podcast: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkLnBvZGJlYW4uY29tL2NyZWF0aW5ndGhlZ3JlYXRlc3RzaG93L2ZlZWQueG1s Podchaser: https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/creating-the-greatest-show-4823789  YouTube: https://youtu.be/Pn5UbAkRnGs Creating The Greatest Show is produced and sponsored by Ringmaster, on a mission to create connections through B2B podcasts. Learn more at https://ringmaster.com/ 

Our next guest is an entrepreneur, writer, creator, and marketer that has been podcasting since 2017. Jeremy Shere hosts both The B2B Content Show and The Pod Shop and is the Founder & CEO of Connversa. Jeremy shares why your show needs a strong point of view to stick out, the case for having a podcast prep call, and how to guide a podcast conversation. Takeaways: As the host of an interview podcast, you should know that it takes time and lots of practice to learn the “art of the interview”. Consider your own limitations and perspective when beginning each conversation so it can have a natural flow and feel less scripted. The best podcasts are able to stick out because they have a strong and distinct point of view on a particular topic or field. That perspective which the show is built around elevates it beyond the sea of podcasts that are simply two people discussing an idea. Don’t make appearing on your podcast feel like a chore for your guest by sending them a form to fill out. A prep call between the guest and host is a much more personal way to get prepared before the podcast recording. An effective prep call should be friendly and relaxed but also have a pinch of structure. You should discuss the idea you want to start the show with, but don’t go too far into it on the prep, save the good stuff for the recording! As the host, your goal on the prep call is to build rapport with your guests and ensure they’re prepared and comfortable with coming on the show. Without scripting the whole show, you can discuss where you and the guest would like the conversation to go. Podcast hosts need to listen to both the literal words their guests are saying as well as the flow of the conversation and how it is unfolding. Hosts have to know when a tangent is worth going down and when they need to pull their guests back to the topic at hand. It’s OK to disagree with your guest, but make sure you do it respectfully and organically. If you come prepared with “gotcha” questions, the podcast will become contentious and you’ll lose any chance of building a strong relationship with your guest. Quote of the Show:“ I think every podcast host will admit they used to suck at it and now they've gotten better if they've kept up with it.” - Jeremy ShereConnect with Jeremy: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremy-shere-7640934/  Connversa website: https://connversa.com/  Connversa Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/connversapodcasting/reels/  The B2B Content Show: https://www.b2bcontentshow.com/  The PodShop: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2028786  Shout Outs:  Natasha Miller Mark Evans Ways to Tune In: Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/12f108ea-018f-44a6-8bb0-9444e9cbf3cc  Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/creating-the-greatest-show/id1638399900 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1B7OnWCGoxBRzH2rbkEFIf  Google Podcast: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkLnBvZGJlYW4uY29tL2NyZWF0aW5ndGhlZ3JlYXRlc3RzaG93L2ZlZWQueG1s Podchaser: https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/creating-the-greatest-show-4823789  YouTube: https://youtu.be/h42EXRLEnzM Creating The Greatest Show is produced and sponsored by Ringmaster, on a mission to create connections through B2B podcasts. Learn more at https://ringmaster.com/

This episode’s guest is an international marketing leader and podcasting visionary. Jennifer Han is the Chief Marketing Officer at Ausha and she previously hosted Culinariste. Jennifer shares insights into how podcast hosts can optimize their podcast for maximum impact and engagement to create successful podcasts that resonate with their audience and build a loyal following. Jennifer also delves into the stages of the podcast Listener Journey model.Takeaways: Podcast listening apps are the first point of contact with your listeners, and you need to optimize how your podcast appears in-app to get them to press play. This means making sure your cover art stands out and using keywords in your title and description to make it easier for listeners to find your podcast. There are four funnel stages in the podcast Listener Journey model: 1. Discovery, 2. Activation, 3. Play, and 4. Love. Adding chapters to your podcast can help make the listening experience more dynamic and can be used to enrich the experience for your listeners. By dividing your episode into chapters, you can make it easier for listeners to find the information they're interested in. Show listeners who you are by creating short-form content from your podcast for “snacking content” that helps them connect with you. This can include photos, videos, gifs, music, etc. to increase how engaging the podcast clip is. Leverage your communities to cross-promote your podcast and build your listenership. This means reaching out to other bloggers, podcasters, and influencers in your niche and asking them to promote your podcast to their audience. Optimize every step of the listener journey to get them to love your podcast and become loyal listeners. This means focusing on each stage of the funnel and making sure you're doing everything you can to keep your listeners engaged and interested. Quote of the Show:“My mantra about podcasting is you have to be obsessed by your listeners.” - Jennifer HanLinks: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/han-jennifer/  Twitter: https://twitter.com/HanJennifer1  Company website: https://www.ausha.co/  Listener Journey Model: https://www.ausha.co/resources/listener-journey-three-steps-to-really-make-your-podcast-take-off/  Chapters: 00:00 - Intro 01:48 - Obsess Over Your Podcast Listeners 8:26 - The Listener Journey Model 12:18 - 1st Stage: Podcast Discoverability 26:32 - 2nd Stage: Activation 32:42 - 3rd Stage: Play 40:55 - 4th Stage: Love 44:54 - Where to Connect with Jennifer Ways to Tune In: Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/12f108ea-018f-44a6-8bb0-9444e9cbf3cc  Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/creating-the-greatest-show/id1638399900 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1B7OnWCGoxBRzH2rbkEFIf  Google Podcast: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkLnBvZGJlYW4uY29tL2NyZWF0aW5ndGhlZ3JlYXRlc3RzaG93L2ZlZWQueG1s Podchaser: https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/creating-the-greatest-show-4823789  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YDmgvUq6rKs  Creating The Greatest Show is produced and sponsored by Ringmaster, on a mission to create connections through B2B podcasts. Learn more at https://ringmaster.com/ 

Get ready to learn from a Sponsorship Coach and YouTube content creator that has launched hundreds of campaigns with clients like Walmart, Hasbro, Disney, Cheetos, Tabasco, and many more. Justin Moore is the Host of Creator Debates and the Founder of Creator Wizard. Justin shares how to solve boring podcast introductions, why creators need to design shows that re-energize them, and how to negotiate sponsorships for your podcast even without a single listen.Takeaways: Don’t start your podcast by asking your guests to introduce themselves or tell the audience about themselves. This makes kills the energy and creates boring content, especially when the show starts with the guest giving a canned answer.  By skipping the boring intro, you get into the meat of the conversation much faster which helps you deliver on your promise of value to the audience.  When designing your podcast, create something that can remain inherently novel, for the audience and yourself. For example, Creator Debates features two guests debating each side of an idea that is moderated by the host, who also picks the topics. Before thinking about sponsors for your podcast, determine your show’s unique selling proposition. Think about the unique value you’re bringing to your audience and think about the unique value you can bring to potential partners. When negotiating with sponsors, podcasters need to consider the sponsor’s BATNA (Best Alternative To A Negotiated Agreement). For example, if the brand doesn’t choose you, where will they go next? If you're niched down well, there won’t be a long list.  When you secure a sponsorship, your role is more than just talking about a brand on your podcast. You are serving the brand to help them accomplish an internal objective. You can secure sponsorships even if your show has zero downloads. Instead of pitching brands that you’ll talk about them on your podcast, point to the quality of your podcast and content and pitch that to brands as your portfolio of what you can do for them. Quote of the Show:“From a listener's perspective, we're always craving novelty.” - Justin MooreJustin’s Links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justinnmoore/  Twitter: https://twitter.com/justinmooretfam  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/creatorwizard/  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CreatorWizard/featured  Creator Wizard website: https://www.creatorwizard.com/  Ways to Tune In: Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/12f108ea-018f-44a6-8bb0-9444e9cbf3cc  Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/creating-the-greatest-show/id1638399900 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1B7OnWCGoxBRzH2rbkEFIf  Google Podcast: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkLnBvZGJlYW4uY29tL2NyZWF0aW5ndGhlZ3JlYXRlc3RzaG93L2ZlZWQueG1s Podchaser: https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/creating-the-greatest-show-4823789  YouTube: https://youtu.be/GNzp3cu8v6w  Creating The Greatest Show is produced and sponsored by Ringmaster, on a mission to create connections through B2B podcasts. Learn more at https://ringmaster.com/

Get ready to learn from an award-winning podcaster and serial entrepreneur that is revolutionizing the audio and video experience of podcasts for both creators and consumers. She has been both the host and guest on thousands of podcast episodes. Melinda Wittstock is the Host of Wings of Inspired Business and Founder & CEO of Podopolo. Melinda shares what makes for the best interview podcasts, how to ask great questions, and a glimpse of the future of both podcasting and the way people communicate through social media. Takeaways: Be clear on the purpose behind starting your podcast. For example, Melinda launched Wings of Inspired Business to make a difference by creating an ecosystem to highlight and connect with fellow female entrepreneurs. The best interviews feel just like conversations where the host asks a question they care about and are genuinely interested in the guest’s answer. It’s a great sign when the host is curious and learning from the guest right alongside the audience. If the host is actively listening to their guest, they’re going to ask a great follow-up question. Many times, the best follow-up questions are “tell me more about…”, “how did that make you feel”, or “why did that happen”. Podcast hosts should avoid being too performative in the way they ask their questions. Their focus should be bringing out the guest and a great indicator that they’re not doing this is when the questions are longer than the answers. Asking open-ended questions like why, what, or how will lead to much better answers than asking yes or no questions, such as, “did you…”. This requires active listening from the host. Get obsessed with the topic, not your format. Podcasters should focus on allowing the conversation to unfold naturally not hitting every question on their script. For example, if a guest shares a personal story, don’t just ask them the next scripted question.  If a guest is providing extremely scripted answers and seems overly polished, try using some eliciting questions to get beneath the surface. Asking about something you know is incorrect will trigger them to correct you. Asking about their childhood can lead to a more authentic conversation. Quote of the Show:“The best interviewers really are great listeners” - Melinda WittstockLinks: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melindawittstock/  Twitter: https://twitter.com/MelindaWings  Podopolo website: https://podopolo.com/  Download Podopolo on iOS: https://apps.apple.com/app/podopolo-podcast-radio-player/id1557923680  Download Podopolo on Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.podopolo.app&pli=1  Personal website: https://melindawittstock.com/  Wings of Inspired Business: https://podopolo.com/podcast/wings-of-inspired-business-227060  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/podopolo/  Ways to Tune In: Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/12f108ea-018f-44a6-8bb0-9444e9cbf3cc  Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/creating-the-greatest-show/id1638399900 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1B7OnWCGoxBRzH2rbkEFIf  Google Podcast: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkLnBvZGJlYW4uY29tL2NyZWF0aW5ndGhlZ3JlYXRlc3RzaG93L2ZlZWQueG1s Podchaser: https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/creating-the-greatest-show-4823789  Podopolo: https://podopolo.com/podcast/5748062  YouTube: https://youtu.be/SHGhnMe9sHs Creating The Greatest Show is produced and sponsored by Ringmaster, on a mission to create connections through B2B podcasts. Learn more at https://ringmaster.com/ 

This special guest is a marketer, community leader, and expert in creating and growing communities that can fuel your company’s growth. Joel Primack is the Host of The Community-Led Growth Show, an advisor to Charla, and the former Social & Community Specialist at Lattice. Joel shares how he prepares both himself and his guest before the recording, why releasing your podcast in seasons can help you as a host, and great touch points to re-engage with your guests after recording.Takeaways: For guests that are recording their first podcast, it’s very natural for them to feel nervous, so make sure to accommodate them as best you can to help them feel more comfortable.  Podcast hosts have a duty to invite a diverse group of people to come on their show and share their experiences. To do this, the host needs to be intentional about it all the way through the process, from selecting the guests to pronouncing their names correctly. Splitting up your podcast into seasons can be a good way to give yourself time for self-care, especially when hosting the podcast is not part of your full-time job. Capping the number of episodes per season also gives you more time to focus on each guest. When inviting high-profile people or companies to guest on your show, don’t be surprised if they ask you to work with their PR team. PR teams can help you prepare by sharing which subjects are taboo. Sometimes they will ask to review the episode before it airs. If you ask the same question in every episode and if that question asks for a list of things or multiple aspects, it can be great to have your guest write out bullet points for the topics they want to discuss.  As a podcast host, part of the role you play is to be a gatekeeper for your audience. This means that you are responsible for providing your audience with valuable content and filtering out the fluff.  A great extra touch point after recording with a guest is to send them a screen recording of you searching their name on a podcast platform and showing them that the content they recorded with you is now actually available everywhere for everyone to hear. Quote of the Show:“I want to make sure that they're comfortable and confident going into the recording” - Joel PrimackLinks: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joel-primack/ Lattice website: https://lattice.com  Charla website: https://www.charla.cc/  The Community-Led Growth Show on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-community-led-growth-show/id1613073085  The Community-Led Growth Show on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7eQhR01Fs098yMZ5qXtvjC?si=836c025bb326482e  The Community-Led Growth Show on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheCommunityLedGrowthShow  Revenue Era Sign Up: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeSEAGP7IfjBTuXcI2ARqJFlOrqOQWpUWXr-VbxuSjISAHwJw/viewform  Ways to Tune In: Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/12f108ea-018f-44a6-8bb0-9444e9cbf3cc  Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/creating-the-greatest-show/id1638399900 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1B7OnWCGoxBRzH2rbkEFIf  Google Podcast: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkLnBvZGJlYW4uY29tL2NyZWF0aW5ndGhlZ3JlYXRlc3RzaG93L2ZlZWQueG1s Podchaser: https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/creating-the-greatest-show-4823789  YouTube: https://youtu.be/cTwQLdsQm3M  Creating The Greatest Show is produced and sponsored by Ringmaster, on a mission to create connections through B2B podcasts. Learn more at https://ringmaster.com/

Today’s guest has been an influential part of the podcasting community that has been podcasting since 2004 and was inducted into the Podcast Hall of Fame in 2017. They have also recorded thousands of podcast episodes as both a guest and host. Rob Greenlee is the Co-Host of The New Media Show and the SVP of Podcast Content and Partnerships at Podbean. Rob delves into the roles and responsibilities of a podcast host, how to tell the underlying story of your podcast, and what lies ahead for podcasting as a medium.Takeaways: Podcast growth is reaching the maturity stage within the US with year-over-year listenership growth increasing by 2-4% over the past few years. Podcast adoption is growing much faster outside of the US currently and presents a great opportunity. There are two types of podcasters. Indie podcasters create their show from a place of passion and handle the production themselves. “Procasters” host shows that are like traditional radio in that they are the talent that gets assigned to a pre-designed show To be a successful podcast host, you need to represent someone that your audience can trust. Now, more than ever, people are looking for people they can trust and they are loyal to the trustworthy people they find, so make sure your audience can trust you. Podcast hosts need to build their relationship with their audience and that requires attention, focus, and participation. Of course, this is easier said than done, but it is still important to take every chance to encourage audience participation.  When hosting an interview podcast, think about the underlying story that you are telling your audience through every episode. To develop the connective “red thread” of your podcast, interview guests that can share their expertise on a part of that story. The typical duration of the most popular podcasts is between 30-45 minutes. However, there are outliers on either side of that range. The real downside of creating a short podcast is that it’s harder to provide value with a very short podcast. A longer podcast means that you can space out advertisements and sponsor messages to avoid a block of ads for listeners. Podcast listeners are less tolerant of over-commercialized media and inserting too many ads could be a turnoff for listeners. Quote of the Show:“As a podcast host, the role that you need to play in the market now is to build trust.” - Rob GreenleeShout Outs: The Sporkful: https://www.sporkful.com/ Links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robgreenlee/  Twitter: https://twitter.com/robgreenlee  Personal website: https://robgreenlee.com/ Company website: https://www.podbean.com/  The New Media Show: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/new-media-show-video/id392545647  Ways to Tune In: Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/12f108ea-018f-44a6-8bb0-9444e9cbf3cc  Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/creating-the-greatest-show/id1638399900 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1B7OnWCGoxBRzH2rbkEFIf  Google Podcast: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkLnBvZGJlYW4uY29tL2NyZWF0aW5ndGhlZ3JlYXRlc3RzaG93L2ZlZWQueG1s Podchaser: https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/creating-the-greatest-show-4823789  YouTube: https://youtu.be/TlIeHoDstg4 Creating The Greatest Show is produced and sponsored by Ringmaster, on a mission to create connections through B2B podcasts. Learn more at https://ringmaster.com/