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What if rejection wasn’t something to fear—but a skill to build? In this episode of A Productive Conversation, I chat with Alice Draper, founder of Hustling Writers and host of My Rejection Story. Alice has helped clients land interviews on hundreds of top podcasts and is on a mission to demystify the power of rejection, especially for creatives and entrepreneurs.

We explore what it means to navigate self-rejection, build visibility in an increasingly noisy world, and pitch yourself without compromising your voice. As someone who’s been on both sides of the podcast pitch, Alice shares refreshing insights that go beyond the usual tips and templates.

Six Discussion Points

• How Alice went from freelance journalist to podcast publicity expert (accidentally)
• Why self-rejection is the most insidious form of rejection—and how to combat it
• The link between imposter syndrome and visibility for marginalized voices
• Journaling as a path to resilience, awareness, and action
• How community can be your greatest hack for rejection resistance
• What makes a strong podcast pitch—and why vulnerability is essential

Three Connection Points

• Hustling Writers
• Listen to My Rejection Story
• Check out Alice's appearance on This Changes Everything

This conversation reminded me that rejection isn’t a sign of failure—it’s a signal that you’re putting yourself out there. Alice’s perspective on vulnerability, rejection, and authentic outreach is something I think more creators and professionals need to hear, especially in an era obsessed with shortcuts and surface-level connection.

If this episode resonated, I’m exploring ideas like these more deeply in my upcoming book, Productiveness. You can follow along as it takes shape at mikevardy.com/productiveness.