My Worst Interview Ever

Since the day that I met her, the voice on my wife's phone has been that of a burly Australian man, rather than Siri. I don't know that he has a name, but I've always been kind of jealous of him...speaking all sultry-like to Noel as she drives.

Anyway, Joshua C. Liston has a super-cool Australian accent that makes me jealous too. But Joshua also has an unbelievable worst interview that you just have to hear to believe. Truly, it's fantastic.

Joshua C. Liston calls himself a Terminator fan, a wannabe polymath, and a anti-guru of sorts. He is from Australia and hosts several podcasts of his own—including Deadly Arnold 2.0, On the Bubble, and The Podcasters' Survival Guide.

SHOW NOTES:

0:38 - Joshua is in the middle of Australia...a long, long way away from Tim (in Illinois).

1:18 - Unfortunately, the words Joshua uses in his bio are much too big for Tim to understand.

2:59 - An "affected" celebrity guest who unknowingly turned his video camera on during the Skype interview. It's an amazing story.

7:08 - Tim and Joshua are on opposite sides of the planet, connecting and recording on RINGR. Try it out for yourself for free.

8:03 - The importance of being 100% invested and interested in your interview guest.

9:29 - What does the guest selection process look like for Joshua? (Hint: it requires a lot of reading!)

11:01 - Positive reinforcement when he was in high school helped Joshua learn that his natural curiosity should be nurtured rather than stifled.

15:31 - Connect with Joshua and listen to his podcasts here.

I never really started to feel like I was old until recently. I'm rapidly approaching 40, which is the age I remember my parents being when I thought they were old. College students call me "sir" now. And my joints hurt for days after playing volleyball.

Our guest today didn't help matters when he told me that--as a kid--he used to listen to me on the radio. One one hand, that's awesome. On the other hand, seriously?! How ancient must I be to have grown adults now telling me stuff like that? Ugh. At least Anthony is doing awesome things and has a fun "worst interview ever" story to share.

Anthony Witt is the founder and creator of The Champion Entrepreneur, providing valuable information and resources to help his clients become the champion that they know deep down inside that they are. Anthony not only has a podcast and blog, but also offers mastermind classes and many other resources.

SHOW NOTES: 0:37 - Anthony makes Tim feel super old. 1:29 - Mastermind classes are the primary focus for Anthony these days, but there's plenty more to his company, The Champion Entrepreneur. 2:12 - Anthony has two "worst interviews ever" for us...including one where he literally had NO idea what his guest was saying. 5:58 - A combative guest who actually taught Anthony something. 7:55 - Get a free, 30-day trial of RINGR right now. 8:42 - Anthony's #1 tip for a successful interview is... 10:30 - How to be an effective spokesperson for your audience while you're interviewing a guest. 11:31 - Tim catches Anthony off guard with a question about the moment his life changed forever. 14:31 - Connect with Anthony at The Champion Entrepreneur...or on social media @aleewitt.

When I lived in Chicago, I became friends with a guy named Manny who operated a halfway house of sorts for men who had just been released from prison. Manny was from South America, and he frequently would say to people, "I went to Yale." However, in the Spanish language, the letter J is often pronounced like a Y. So, what Manny was really saying was, "I went to jail." Which he did.

Our guest today, Vasavi Kumar, doesn't need a linguistic trick in order to tell people she's an Ivy Leaguer. Primarily because she actually is. She has also battled bi-polar disorder for much of her life, and a conversation about that struggle led to her worst interview ever.

Vasavi Kumar is a little bit of everything: Best selling author, speaker, vegetarian chef and former radio host. Vasavi is also Ivy League educated and a certified Accomplishment Coach.

SHOW NOTES:

1:10 - Vasavi is super-accomplished AND is an accomplishment coach.

2:49 - The show is called "My Worst Interview Ever," but Vasavi's is a "Most Insulting Interview Ever."

5:51 - Tim and Vasavi are connecting and recording via RINGR. Get a free 30-day trial.

6:47 - How has battling bi-polar disorder impacted Vasavi's career as an accomplishment coach?

8:35 - What famous person would Vasavi most like to work with or help coach?

10:15 - Two people had a profound impact on Vasavi's outlook on life.

13:12 - Connect with Vasavi online and check out her free video training at her website.

"People are like teabags. You find out what's really inside them when you put them in hot water."

I have no idea who first said that, but it's one of my all-time favorite sayings. When life is going well, it's easy to appear calm, cool and collected. However, when things begin to fall apart, that task is infinitely more difficult. In a nutshell: how we handle the bad stuff in our past directly impacts the quality of our future.

Heather Ann Havenwood is the kind of person who makes lemonade out of lemons. A soured business relationship could have destroyed her. But, instead, it made her stronger...and ultimately led her to build something bigger and better than she ever imagined.

Heather is an author, digital marketer and sales coach who was named one of the "Top 50 Must Follow Women Entrepreneur's for 2017" by The Huffington Post. She is also known as "Chief Sexy Boss" for her Amazon best-seller "Sexy Boss™ How Female Entrepreneurship is Changing the Rule Book and Beating the Big Boys."

SHOW NOTES:

0:59 - Heather feels the pressure after a big honor from The Huffington Post.

1:35 - What does someone with the nickname "Chief SexyBoss" actually do for a living?

3:37 - The worst interview ever for Heather was like pulling teeth. Not literally, but close.

9:52 - RINGR is available free for 30 days. Start your trial now.

10:25 - Heather has some fantastic advice for learning how to be a great interviewer.

12:50 - December 5, 2005 changed Heather's life forever as her former business partner took everything they had created and left. It's an amazing story with powerful takeaways.

15:47 - Get in touch with Heather and find her book online by checking out her website.

Back in 2014, at the very first Podcast Movement, I met Daniel J Lewis. I was new to the podcast world, new to my business, and standing alone at the RINGR booth trying to meet as many people as possible. Daniel asked a ton of technical questions about RINGR that I didn't really know the answers to. Partly because I'm not a technical guy. Partly because we didn't have an actual product at the time...just an idea for one.

It wasn't until after our initial conversation that I learned just how influential Daniel was/is in the podcasting world. And as it turns out, he's a super nice guy too! We met for coffee near his home in Northern Kentucky once and have kept in touch at conferences and via email ever since. However, with a new baby in the Lewis household, I'm guessing our correspondence might drop off just a tad.

Daniel J Lewis is an award-winning podcaster AND helps others launch and improve their own podcasts. He designs websites; offers one-on-one consulting; speaks on technology, social media, and theology; and Daniel hosts a network of award-nominated shows of his own.

SHOW NOTES:

1:34 - Daniel does a lot of stuff, but mainly helps podcasters improve their existing podcasts through his company, Podcasters' Society.

2:30 - The worst interview ever for Daniel was really freaking long. And unfocused. Obviously.

4:48 - It's no surprise, but Daniel has some immediate tips for being a great interviewer and getting the most out of your guest.

6:40 - Get a free 30-day trial of RINGR right now.

7:00 - Daniel and his wife are having a baby. Is he ready? (Hint: no.)

9:33 - A number of years ago, Daniel's world started to collapse. He hated his job. Had a broken engagement. Battled depression. And now?

13:04 - Daniel has a ton of resources available for podcasters (and aspiring podcasters) at his website, The Audacity to Podcast.

From the time I was in high school, I have loved creative job titles. In fact, while I was drawing floor plans for home builders in our area (at 17 years old), I called myself a Custom Residential Designer. (Apparently, calling yourself an architect without the degree or license is illegal!) But, I digress.

Apple uses "Genius." Quicken Loans has a "VP of Misc. Stuff." Matrix Group calls its CEO the "Chief Troublemaker." Our guest today, Holly Worton, has a pretty cool title too...and a fun "worst interview ever" to go with it.

Holly Worton is a "business mindset alchemist," helping women entrepreneurs discover what their big business vision looks like and how it fits into their ideal lifestyle. Holly is also an author, speaker, blogger and host of "The Business Mindset" podcast.

SHOW NOTES:

0:18 - Holly's title is so freaking cool...and so is her job.

1:52 - Sometime's it can be cute to hear a guest's kids or pets in the background. And sometimes...

6:40 - Be sure to check out RINGR. It's how Tim and Holly connected and recorded the show.

7:19 - Learn how to prevent interviews like Holly's from happening to you in the future.

9:28 - Who would Holly's dream interview be with?

10:49 - An encouragement from a friend when she was just 20 years old changed Holly's life forever.

13:31 - Learn more about Holly's books, podcasts, blogs and more at her website.

As a kid, before I ever dreamed of being in broadcasting, I love listening to my grandpa tell stories of his days in radio. He worked overnights in Detroit for a time and, every morning before signing off at 5 or 6am, he would play my grandma a love song. It sounded super romantic. However, knowing how much my grandma enjoyed sleep, I'd be surprised if she was ever awake to hear the dedications. But, regardless, the stories were fantastic.

Though not nearly old enough to be my grandfather (or maybe even father), Rob Greenlee has some amazing stories. To say he invented podcasting is probably a stretch, but he was "podcasting" well before it was ever a thing (seriously), and he has made his life's work around the medium for almost two decades now. I can assure you, his stories (and takeaways) are definitely worth staying awake for.

Rob is the Head of Podcast Content at Spreaker and the Adore Podcast Network. He is also a podcaster, co-hosting "The New Media Show" audio & video podcast as well as the "Spreaker Live Show." Prior to Spreaker, Rob was the Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer at PodcastOne.

SHOW NOTES:

0:36 - Rob has been in podcasting since before it existed. His history is fascinating!

3:39 - The worst interviews are the ones that never show up.

5:22 - What guest never called that Rob really wished would have?

6:54 - RINGR is being used to record our conversation. Check it out here.

7:31 - Rob has a few tips and tricks for getting a great interview.

10:25 - What moment changed Rob's life forever?

11:52 - What was the most irresponsible thing(s) Rob was doing before becoming a dad?

12:47 - Connect with Rob online on Twitter, via email or through his website.

The say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. Which in some cases is absolutely true. Unfortunately, imitation can also be plagiarism, copyright or patent infringement, or just plain old laziness. It's two sides of the same coin, I suppose.

Having been in the space since the beginning, Dave Jackson knows a lot of podcasts. He knows a lot of podcasters. And he knows--pretty much instantly--when a podcasting legend is being blatantly ripped off by someone else. That realization during an interview one day ultimately led to a confrontation...and Dave's worst interview ever.

Dave Jackson has been podcasting since 2005 and—through his School of Podcasting—he has helped hundreds of people launch their own. Dave has a handful of other online podcasting tools and websites…and his personal podcast has had more than one million downloads over the years.

SHOW NOTES:

0:57 - Who is Dave Jackson and what does he do all day?

2:24 - Dave's worst interview ever he was the guest on...and the questions all sounded verrrrry familiar.

5:35 - How do you know when to bail on an interview? Do you ever?

7:14 - Tim and Dave are using RINGR to connect. Tim in his studio. Dave on his computer's built-in mic. Check out a free 30-day trial here.

7:49 - Would Dave being playing music in bars today if it weren't for podcasting?

8:56 - Dave's brief stint as a grocery bagger (which he got fired from) taught him a valuable lesson...and changed his life forever.

11:02 - How do you go from wanting to start your own show to actually starting your own show?

12:29 - Be sure to connect with Dave and School of Podcasting through their website.

I spent 17 years working in, primarily, Christian radio. I had a lot of fun and probably pushed the envelope more than most do on these types of stations, though we admittedly had to operate in a much smaller "box" than most. From topics to language to attitudes, my shows lived in a uber-conservative landscape.

Dave Kirby and I met while working at one of these stations during a fundraiser to help feed and educate needy kids in Africa. So, when I asked Dave to be on the podcast, I (foolishly) expected a safe, conservative story. Not boring, mind you...but vanilla, for sure. Thankfully, Dave's story caught me very off guard.

Dave Kirby recently started the company "My Virtual Team"and is the host of the "One Simple Thing" podcast…currently with more than 600 episodes under his belt. Each guest Dave interviews tries to provide ONE thing that can help his listeners change themselves, their careers, or their world for the better.

SHOW NOTES:

1:43 - Dave is taking a short break from podcasting and has started a new company called "My Virtual Team." It's super cool.

3:26 - This is, hands down, the most surprised I have ever been doing an interview. What a fantastic/awkward worst interview ever!

6:44 - Dave adds to the fun with a bonus interview story about the band Train.

7:30 - Tim and Dave are using RINGR to connect and record. Try it for free here.

8:07 - Is there any way to avoid what happened to Dave? He has a few thoughts.

9:44 - If Dave could interview anyone in the world--living or dead--who would it be?

11:40 - The moment in life where Dave changed forever? Becoming a dad.

13:34 - Make sure to email Dave, check out his podcast, and learn more about My Virtual Team.

From the time I was in junior high, I had a "side hustle," though that term hadn't been invented yet. First it was a paper route. Then a job at a shoe store. Then I turned my love for architecture into a drafting business. My high school actually paid me to skip study hall to go draw floor plans of the various buildings in our district.

In college, I picked up radio...and then voiceover and production gigs...and, most recently, public address jobs at sporting events. It's actually a pretty sweet deal to get paid for your hobbies. Which certainly can't be said for golf or fishing.

Dan Franks can relate. From building websites to podcast creation, Dan has frequently supplemented his job as a CPA with something technology-related. And then in 2014, Dan Franks turned his "side hustle" into Podcast Movement...the biggest, baddest podcasting conference in the world. He's such a show off.

Dan Franks is the co-founder of Podcast Movement, a conference for podcasters, by podcasters which expects 2,000 attendees at PM17 in Anaheim this year. Dan is also the business manager at Midroll, which helps great advertisers meet great podcasts.

SHOW NOTES:

1:27 - What do Dan's days at Midroll and Podcast Movement consist of?

3:01 - Dan's worst interview ever was so bad, that it never even occurred!

8:31 - To record crystal-clear, long-distance interviews...check out RINGR for free.

9:34 - How do you optimize your workflow without coming across as a robot or impersonal?

12:07 - Learn how building websites in middle school turned Dan into the person he is today.

13:12 - The differences between a creator and a consumer.

14:55 - Connect with Dan online by going to his website. And don't forget to signup for Podcast Movement!