A podcast makes it easier for me to network. And networking is probably my favorite part of business!

I go to multiple networking events each month, and host my own events, and my podcast is such a key part of it. Podcasts turn that awkward hello into a real relationship because I invite them onto my show to really get to know them!

Want to learn how? Listen to this episode! This is why I think every business owner should have a podcast!

What we get into:

• The one line I use to book guests in under a minute
• Why it's not salesy, it's just the fastest way to build a real connection
• How I grew Espresso Podcast Production from zero network in a new city, mid-2020, with cold invites
• Why I started Employee to Boss to meet people, not to get downloads
• Facebook groups then, Threads now — where I find guests today
• Give and trade: it's not about clients, it's about who they know
• Why guesting will never beat the leverage of hosting your own show
• Employee to Boss vs. Podcast Cafe: different goals, same playbook

JOIN: The Podcast Cafe Community a private, application-only community for podcasters who already have a show and are done guessing alone. Apply here: https://www.espressopodcastproduction.com/community

Connect with me, Hayleigh Hayhurst:

Apply to work with us: https://hello.dubsado.com/public/form/view/6521a4cc8fdeed003a859a44

Steal my Podcast Launch Checklist for free: ⁠https://www.espressopodcastproduction.com/checklist

Website: ⁠https://www.espressopodcastproduction.com/

⁠Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/espressopodcastproduction/⁠

YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@EspressoPodcastProduction

Rebecca had already helped hundreds of families through adoption before she ever hit record on a podcast. She wasn't short on expertise, credibility, or things to say. What held her back for years wasn't the content. It was not knowing what to do with the file once she stopped recording.

In this episode, I talked with Rebecca, an adoption consultant and the host of The Adoption Roadmap Podcast, about what it actually took to launch a podcast inside a niche, sensitive industry, and how she built it to work for her business instead of existing next to it. If you run a business in a specialized or high-trust space and you're weighing whether a podcast is worth the lift, this is the episode to hear how she made that decision and what she'd tell you about doing it.

JOIN: The Podcast Cafe Community a private, application-only community for podcasters who already have a show and are done guessing alone. Apply here: https://www.espressopodcastproduction.com/community

In This Episode

• Why the delay wasn't about confidence or content. It was the technical side, and how a single free step-by-step course finally got her unstuck
• The deliberate call she made not to compete with the adoption stories that were already everywhere, and to build her show around tactical advice instead
• How she scoped the show to fit her actual bandwidth: a simple, budget setup (one mic, one camera, ring lights, headphones) rather than waiting for a bigger production before starting
• How the podcast connects directly to her business, RG Adoption Consulting, and her sister company, Our Chosen Child, rather than living as a separate content project
• Why she's explicit that the podcast is doing two jobs at once: building authority and trust in a space where trust is the entire sale, and generating real business
• How she manages guest trust in a topic this sensitive, sending questions in advance and checking what's off-limits, including what she does when a guest wants an episode pulled after it's already recorded
• The reality check every business owner considering a podcast should hear: reach is the hardest part, even in a focused niche, and her first three episodes are still her most downloaded

About Rebecca

Rebecca is an adoption consultant and the founder of RG Adoption Consulting, where she's helped facilitate over 500 domestic adoptions for hopeful parents across the United States. She's also the founder of Our Chosen Child, the marketing arm of the adoption world, helping families build adoption profiles and helping agencies market their programs. She launched The Adoption Roadmap Podcast to give adoptive families the tactical, sometimes taboo, conversations that generic adoption content doesn't cover, and to build her business's authority at the same time.

Connect with Rebecca: https://www.rgadoptionconsulting.com

Connect with me, Hayleigh Hayhurst:

Apply to work with us: https://hello.dubsado.com/public/form/view/6521a4cc8fdeed003a859a44

Join The Podcast Cafe Community: https://www.espressopodcastproduction.com/community

Steal my Podcast Launch Checklist for free: ⁠https://www.espressopodcastproduction.com/checklist

Website: ⁠https://www.espressopodcastproduction.com/

⁠Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/espressopodcastproduction/⁠

YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@EspressoPodcastProduction

I edit and grow podcasts full-time, and there are three tools I genuinely cannot live without. If you're DIY-ing your show or picking your stack, start here.

I share:

• My ranking editing tool, and why I ditched Adobe Audition for it
• The RSS feed I'm now pushing most clients toward (it's not the free one)
• Why I switched off Riverside for my recording platform, and where I landed
• My hot take on Zoom for podcasting: hard no

Conversations like this is exactly what we cover in The Podcast Cafe Community.

JOIN: The Podcast Cafe Community a private, application-only community for podcasters who already have a show and are done guessing alone. Apply here: https://www.espressopodcastproduction.com/community

Connect with me, Hayleigh Hayhurst:

Apply to work with us: https://hello.dubsado.com/public/form/view/6521a4cc8fdeed003a859a44

Steal my Podcast Launch Checklist for free: ⁠https://www.espressopodcastproduction.com/checklist

Website: ⁠https://www.espressopodcastproduction.com/

⁠Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/espressopodcastproduction/⁠

YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@EspressoPodcastProduction

Some podcasts are built with spreadsheets and strategy sessions.

Amanda's was built at 2am, on her phone, in the middle of a breakup.

No mic. No plan. No idea anyone would ever listen.

And then it went viral.

In this episode of Podcast Café, I'm sitting down with Amanda Marks, the creator behind SoloInSeattle, a podcast that started as a personal journal and quietly became a community. We talk about what it actually looks like to build a show without rules, why she disappeared for a year after her first eight episodes, and how Season 3 ("Lonely at the Top") came to life in a golf simulator room in downtown Seattle.

If you've ever wondered whether you need a perfect setup before you start, this one's for you.

JOIN: The Podcast Cafe Community a private, application-only community for podcasters who already have a show and are done guessing alone. Apply here: https://www.espressopodcastproduction.com/community

About Amanda

Amanda Marks is the creator of Solo in Seattle, a podcast and brand built around the experience of showing up in life, in business, and in relationships as your fullest self. What started as a late-night voice journal after a decade-long relationship ended has grown into a platform with listeners across the US, a series of community-driven workshops, and a Season 3 that tackles the loneliness that comes with building something real. She holds a master's degree in counseling and uses that foundation to hold space, facilitate workshops, and create conversations that go places most people are afraid to take them.

Solo in Seattle on Instagram: @solo_inseattle

Connect with me, Hayleigh Hayhurst:

Apply to work with us: https://hello.dubsado.com/public/form/view/6521a4cc8fdeed003a859a44

Join The Podcast Cafe Community: https://www.espressopodcastproduction.com/community

Steal my Podcast Launch Checklist for free: ⁠https://www.espressopodcastproduction.com/checklist

Website: ⁠https://www.espressopodcastproduction.com/

⁠Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/espressopodcastproduction/⁠

YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@EspressoPodcastProduction

This is a live recording from Podcasters NW, the largest networking group for podcasters in Seattle.About this episode: A woman going through a breakup who put her phone on her chest, hit record, and released eight raw, unedited episodes back to back. No plan, no strategy, no idea it would go viral.That's how Amanda Marks started Solo in Seattle. In this live conversation, we get into what happens after that: how she decided what stayed private and what didn't, how she built an entire network in Seattle by texting people directly instead of waiting on the algorithm, and how a podcast that started as processing a breakup became the foundation for paid workshops and a real brand.This one was recorded live at Podcasters NW — the largest in-person podcasting and creator networking community in the Pacific Northwest. If you've ever wanted a room full of people who actually get what it's like to make a show, this is it.In this episode:How Amanda's first season happened with zero plan, and why the rawness is exactly what made it resonateWhere she actually draws the line between vulnerable and too vulnerable nowWhy she thinks oversharing isn't the risk most podcasters assume it isHow she built her Seattle network through direct texts and DMs instead of relying on an algorithm, and how that "defrosted the Seattle freeze"How the podcast became the foundation for her Solo in Seattle WorkshopsHer answer to what's actually missing in the podcast space right now (it's not better equipment)Connect with Amanda: https://www.instagram.com/solo_inseattle/Join us at the next Podcasters NW event on September 16 at The Fishbowl in Lower Queen Anne — this one's on niche podcasting, with Hayleigh of Cork & Fizz and Justin of The Repertoire. It's free to join! https://luma.com/oz7hx6p6Apply to work with us: https://hello.dubsado.com/public/form/view/6521a4cc8fdeed003a859a44Steal my Podcast Launch Checklist for free: ⁠https://www.espressopodcastproduction.com/checklistWebsite: ⁠https://www.espressopodcastproduction.com/⁠Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/espressopodcastproduction/⁠YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@EspressoPodcastProduction⁠My favorite podcast tool, Descript: https://www.descript.com/?lmref=KkInCQProduced by Espresso Podcast Production: ⁠https://www.espressopodcastproduction.com

Podcasting didn't just help Wendy Valentine grow her business—it helped her rebuild her life.

After navigating divorce, chronic illness, financial hardship, and becoming an empty nester all at once, Wendy found herself asking a question so many women in midlife face: Now what? What started as a desire to share her story soon became The Midlife Makeover Show, a podcast that has grown into a global platform, a thriving business, and even led to a traditional book deal.

In this episode of Podcast Café, I'm sitting down with Wendy Valentine to talk about building a podcast that grows alongside you. We dive into why she chose not to niche down despite all the conventional advice, how her podcast became the foundation of her business, and why treating your show as an ecosystem—not just a content channel—can completely change the opportunities it creates.

If you're building a podcast—or dreaming about starting one—this conversation is packed with practical strategies and a refreshing reminder that there are no rules except creating a show you'll still love making years from now.

JOIN: The Podcast Cafe Community a private, application-only community for podcasters who already have a show and are done guessing alone. Apply here: https://www.espressopodcastproduction.com/community

About Wendy

Wendy Valentine is the host of The Midlife Makeover Show, a top-ranked podcast inspiring women to embrace change and create their next chapter with confidence. After completely rebuilding her life following divorce, chronic illness, financial struggles, and major personal loss, Wendy turned her experiences into a platform dedicated to helping women navigate midlife with purpose. Today, she's also the author of Women Waking Up, a speaker, entrepreneur, and coach who uses her podcast as the centerpiece of a business that reaches listeners around the world—proving that your voice can become one of your most valuable business assets.

Connect with Wendy:

Website: https://wendyvalentine.com/

Podcast: https://wendyvalentine.com/podcast/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hellowendyvalentine/

Substack: https://wendyvalentine.substack.com/

Connect with me, Hayleigh Hayhurst:

Apply to work with us: https://hello.dubsado.com/public/form/view/6521a4cc8fdeed003a859a44

Steal my Podcast Launch Checklist for free: ⁠https://www.espressopodcastproduction.com/checklist

Website: ⁠https://www.espressopodcastproduction.com/

⁠Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/espressopodcastproduction/⁠

YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@EspressoPodcastProduction

This one's special. I bullied my mom into starting a podcast a few years ago, and now I'm turning the mic on her. Meet Diane Hayhurst!! My mom, my biggest supporter, and a podcaster herself.

Diane co-hosts Promoting and Protecting Naturopathy with my Aunt Julie, an ANMA podcast I produce and edit, going on three years strong. She also flew up from Las Vegas for my Podcasters NW event and was, by far, the star of the show. So I made her sit down and talk podcasting with me.

JOIN: The Podcast Cafe Community a private, application-only community for podcasters who already have a show and are done guessing alone. Apply here: https://www.espressopodcastproduction.com/community

What we get into

• How I got my mom to start a podcast for its her business
• A smart idea on how to promote your podcast
• The time someone recognized her voice on the phone and she felt like a celebrity for a hot second
• Why guests who tell a story beat guests who pitch a product, every time
• Why every podcast host needs to actually listen to podcasts
• How long an episode should be, and why "it depends" is the right answer
• Her biggest podcast pet peeve

More about Podcasters NW! Learn more here: https://www.instagram.com/podcastersnw

Listen to Promoting and Protecting Naturopathy: https://www.anma.org/podcast

Connect with me, Hayleigh Hayhurst:

Apply to work with us: https://hello.dubsado.com/public/form/view/6521a4cc8fdeed003a859a44

Steal my Podcast Launch Checklist for free: ⁠https://www.espressopodcastproduction.com/checklist

Website: ⁠https://www.espressopodcastproduction.com/

⁠Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/espressopodcastproduction/⁠

YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@EspressoPodcastProduction

Alex Alexander never planned to become a friendship expert.

She was a luxury wedding planner. Then a food blogger. Then, somewhere between hosting friends on the floor of her tiny apartment and answering questions about how she had built such a strong community, she realized people weren't asking about the food....they were asking about friendship.

In this episode of Podcast Café, I'm sitting down with Alex Alexander, host of Friendship IRL, to talk about the podcast she never expected to create and the body of work that has grown from simply following the conversations people kept asking her to have. We talk about why friendship might not actually be as hard as we've been told, how her podcast led to an unexpected book deal just days before she planned to self-publish, and why you truly never know who is listening.

We also get into the pressure to be an "expert," the surprising impact of publishing consistently even when life forces everything else to slow down, and why the person in your headphones might be more accessible than you think.

If you've ever wondered whether your voice, your ideas, or your podcast are reaching anyone, this one's for you.

JOIN: The Podcast Cafe Community a private, application-only community for podcasters who already have a show and are done guessing alone. Apply here: https://www.espressopodcastproduction.com/community

About Alex

Alex Alexander is the host of Friendship IRL, a podcast exploring the realities of friendship, connection, and community. After burning out from a career as a luxury wedding planner, Alex began sharing her thoughts on bringing people together—and quickly realized the conversations people wanted most weren't about entertaining, but about how to build and maintain meaningful friendships. Today, through her podcast, writing, and speaking, Alex shares frameworks, stories, and conversations that challenge the way we've been taught to think about friendship. Her work reaches listeners around the world and has even led to an unexpected traditional book deal after an editor discovered her podcast and listened to 30 episodes before reaching out.

Connect with Alex:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/itsalexalexander/

Website: https://alexalexander.com/

Podcast: https://alexalexander.com/friendship-irl-podcast-home/

Connect with me, Hayleigh Hayhurst:

Apply to work with us: https://hello.dubsado.com/public/form/view/6521a4cc8fdeed003a859a44

JOIN: The Podcast Cafe Community a private, application-only community for podcasters who already have a show and are done guessing alone. Apply here: https://www.espressopodcastproduction.com/community

Steal my Podcast Launch Checklist for free: ⁠https://www.espressopodcastproduction.com/checklist

Website: ⁠https://www.espressopodcastproduction.com/

⁠Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/espressopodcastproduction/⁠

YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@EspressoPodcastProduction

This is a live recording from Podcasters NW, the largest networking group for podcasters in Seattle.

About this episode: A journalist who never sends questions in advance. A memoirist who reads your entire book before she'll talk to you. And me, who shows up with curiosity and basically no prep because I'm also producing 25 other shows.

I put these three approaches in a room together on purpose. Because podcasting is not one size fits all.

We got into interview techniques, how to tell a story in every podcast episode, and how we roll with the punches during interviews (even the ones that don't go the way we imagined)/

This one was recorded live at Podcasters NW — the largest in-person podcasting and creator networking community in the Pacific Northwest. If you've ever wanted a room full of people who actually get what it's like to make a show, this is it.

In this episode:

• Three completely different interview philosophies — journalist, memoirist, and "curiosity-first"

• What to do live, in the moment, when a guest goes off-script or shuts down on you
• The exact moment that makes a podcast host say "I love my job"
• The awkward reality of an interview going not the way you were hoping
• How to actually land a dream guest (it took one of us a full year and a second ask)
• The line we each have for when an interview just doesn't make the cut

Join us at the next Podcasters NW event on July 22. It's free to join! https://july22podcastersnw.eventbrite.com

This month's event was sponsored by Armoire — use code PODCAST2026 for a free month of clothing rental.

Connect with Ronit: https://ronitplank.com

Connect with Erica: https://publicola.com

Connect with me, Hayleigh Hayhurst:

Apply to work with us: https://hello.dubsado.com/public/form/view/6521a4cc8fdeed003a859a44

Steal my Podcast Launch Checklist for free: ⁠https://www.espressopodcastproduction.com/checklist

Website: ⁠https://www.espressopodcastproduction.com/

⁠Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/espressopodcastproduction/⁠

YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@EspressoPodcastProduction

⁠

My favorite podcast tool, Descript: https://www.descript.com/?lmref=KkInCQ

Produced by Espresso Podcast Production: ⁠https://www.espressopodcastproduction.com

This week I'm bringing you part one of a two-part conversation, recorded live in Boise at Kit's Craft + Commerce conference. I sat down with my business bestie Jillian Minter, a business and money coach, to break down our biggest takeaways from the weekend.

Listen to part 2 here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/quantum-wealth-money-mindset-manifestation-business/id1871569964?i=1000774154738

In this episode, we get into:

• What it was like being surrounded by every kind of creator imaginable — podcasters, YouTubers, authors, food bloggers, and more
• Why "it all works" when it comes to picking your content avenue, and how energy and belief play into that
• The podcast monetization workshop that taught me a hard lesson about knowing your audience's level (and meeting people where they actually are, not where you assume they are)
• Why AI tools are genuinely useful — but only if you're using them with a plan, not just to push out more content
• The "act like a client in your own business" exercise that every business owner needs to try

Jillian and I see this conference through two completely different lenses — podcasting and money/mindset — so we decided to split the conversation across both of our shows.

Catch part two over on Jillian's podcast, Quantum Wealth, where we get into confidence, networking styles, and the new Kit features we're both obsessed with.

🎧 Listen to part two on Quantum Wealth: https://jillianminter.com/quantum-wealth-manifestation-podcast/

Connect with me, Hayleigh Hayhurst:

Apply to work with us: https://hello.dubsado.com/public/form/view/6521a4cc8fdeed003a859a44

Steal my Podcast Launch Checklist for free: ⁠https://www.espressopodcastproduction.com/checklist

Website: ⁠https://www.espressopodcastproduction.com/

⁠Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/espressopodcastproduction/⁠

YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@EspressoPodcastProduction

⁠

My favorite podcast tool, Descript: https://www.descript.com/?lmref=KkInCQ

Produced by Espresso Podcast Production: ⁠https://www.espressopodcastproduction.com