The Interview Connections Podcast | Podcast Guesting Agency for Coaches

What if the difference between a forgettable podcast interview and one the host can’t wait to promote came down to what you do before you ever hit record? In this episode, I’m joined by Julie Riga, who interviewed me on her show just last week. Our conversation was so good I knew I had to bring her expertise to you.

Julie Riga is a leadership keynote speaker, executive coach, ICF certified coach, and TEDx speaker with more than 20 years of leadership experience in the pharmaceutical industry, including Johnson & Johnson, Novartis, and Bayer. Through her signature keynote, Before I Lead, she helps leaders build the presence, judgment, and trust that technology cannot replace. She’s also the host of The Stay on the Course Podcast and the creator of Before I Speak, a weekly program that helps people become confident, engaging communicators on stages, podcasts, and beyond.

In this episode, we cover:

• Julie’s origin story, from webmaster to corporate trainer to speaker, and how a coaching session led to a document called “Before I Speak” (and why Ramon Ray told her to buy the URL)
• Why practice is the fastest path to feeling comfortable on any stage or mic
• The #1 thing every podcast guest needs before an interview: know your thought leadership and walk in ready to say what you speak on
• Why the best interviews are co-created, and the question Julie asks every guest on her pre-call to help shape the episode title
• Why pre-calls are worth your time, and how mine with Julie changed the whole energy of our interview
• Why some episodes never get published (and why I can’t guarantee a host will air a boring interview)
• “Edutainment”: using humor, stand-up comedy techniques, and storytelling so your audience actually remembers what you said
• How to build a story vault of go-to stories so you’re never telling a story for the first time on air
• Why podcast interviews are the training ground for television

Resources mentioned:

• JulieRiga.com — find the Before I Speak program (under Programs) and Julie’s podcast. Before I Speak meets Mondays at 7 p.m. Eastern with rolling admission.
• Listen to my interview on Julie’s podcast: https://open.spotify.com/episode/7g7fCsYqzhS6Isxcg4EaDH
• Connect with Julie on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julieriga/

Being a great guest starts long before you hit record, and it starts with getting booked on the right shows. Join me at the free Podcast Guesting Masterclass to learn how to land interviews on podcasts your ideal clients are already listening to. Register here: interviewconnections.com/masterclass-2026

Jessica sits down with Adrienne Wilkerson, CEO of Beacon Media and Marketing, to talk about one of the most overlooked aspects of business growth: tracking your data. They dive into a real client story that exposed the gap between "marketing says we're driving leads" and "sales says nobody's picking up the phone." This episode is essential listening for podcast guests who want to know if their appearances are actually working.

On Niching Down

• A specific niche makes your marketing dollar go farther
• Your messaging becomes clearer when you know exactly who you serve
• Unexpected benefit: deeper connection with clients when you understand their world intimately
• Going national forced Adrienne's team to move from "small business" (too broad) to "behavioral health" (specific enough to dominate)

On The Gap Between Marketing & Sales

• Marketing reports 50 leads generated. Sales says they got 1 client. Something's broken.
• The disconnect isn't always a marketing problem—it's usually a systems/operations problem
• Example: Owner can't answer phone because she's in patient sessions. Leads go cold in 3+ days instead of the required 3-5 minutes
• In addiction recovery, that missed call window could mean months or years before someone finds courage to call again

On Tracking Your Data (The Core Message)

• If you don't know your website traffic in the last 30 days, you don't know if podcast guesting is working
• You need to track the ratio/cycle: when traffic goes up, how long before bookings go up?
• Too much data overwhelms. Simplify to 3-5 key metrics (top of funnel, middle, bottom)
• Correlation matters: spend more on ads in June, see results in August/September—that's the cycle you need to know

On Lead Response Time

• Behavioral health/addiction recovery: must respond in 3-5 minutes or leads go cold
• Larger clinics: need dedicated intake team, but if they're on 20+ minute calls with one person, you still miss new calls
• Small clinics: the owner wants to grow but can't be front desk + therapist simultaneously
• Solutions exist, but you have to see the data to know what to fix

On Niching's Business Impact

• Smaller marketing budget against huge pools (all small businesses) = waste
• Smaller marketing budget against specific pools (behavioral health) = domination
• Having lived experience in the industry (Adrienne's dad was a therapist) opens doors and builds trust fast

• On the data gap: "Marketing over here going, we're doing a great job! We're driving lots of leads. And then you've got your intake team over here going, 'Crickets.'"
• On courage and timing: "The courage it took to make that call only lasts so long. And if we miss that one window because we couldn't answer the phone, it could be years, months before they're back at a place where they have the courage to make that call again."
• On tracking results: "If you don't know how many unique visitors have hit your website in the last 30 days, how do you know if the website traffic is increasing when you start guesting on podcasts? You don't."
• On understanding cycles: "If my traffic goes up, how long is it before my bookings start going up? Understanding those ratios—because there's always a ratio."

Adrienne Wilkerson

Co-Founder & CEO of Beacon Media and Marketing

Beacon Media and Marketing was founded in Anchorage, Alaska in 2012 and now serves mental health and behavioral health companies across North America. They specialize in marketing strategy, paid advertising, lead tracking, and systems optimization for healthcare providers.

Her Background:

• Grew up with a therapist father; worked in his practice
• Understands the unique pain points of behavioral health businesses (90+ day insurance payment cycles, intake bottlenecks, call response urgency)
• 14+ years building marketing systems that connect leads to conversions

Find Beacon Media and Marketing:

• Website: beaconmm.com
• LinkedIn: Adrienne Wilkerson (active in marketing/data conversations)

Referenced in Episode:

• Anonymous Health (Bob's story about addiction recovery call attempts)
• Google Analytics (for tracking website traffic)
• Kevin St. Clergy (previous IC podcast episode on "blind blaming")

• Niching down as a business strategy
• The difference between marketing-generated leads and sales-closed clients
• Lead response time requirements in behavioral health
• Operational bottlenecks vs. marketing problems
• Tracking key data points without overwhelm
• Understanding the cycle between traffic spike and booking increase
• Systems solutions for small vs. large behavioral health clinics
• How podcast guesting results actually show up in your metrics
• Building credibility through lived industry experience

This episode speaks directly to you: if you're guesting on podcasts to grow your coaching or service business, you must know your baseline website traffic, lead count, and conversion rate before you start. Then track them monthly. That's how you'll know which podcasts are actually moving the needle.

Stop Being the Best-Kept Secret in Your Industry

Join Jessica Rhodes for a FREE 3-Day Masterclass on how to use strategic podcast appearances to build a predictable, authority-based client acquisition system for your coaching business.

LIVE DATES: Monday, October 19-21 at 12PM ET

Day 1: Positioning

What to say so podcast hosts say, "I need this person on my show!"

Day 2: Monetization

Where to send listeners so you actually get clients from podcast guesting

Day 3: Repurposing

What to do with your podcast interviews so you multiply your visibility and reach 10X more people with every podcast you do

• The exact framework for a Podcast One Sheet that makes hosts say YES
• The mindset hack that unlocks massive abundance for your podcast guesting journey
• Why podcast guesting is the #1 client acquisition strategy for coaches
• The biggest mistakes to avoid when inviting listeners to connect with you online
• One simple tool to turn one podcast into 30 days of daily content

This masterclass is for coaches, consultants, and business owners who know that when the right people hear you speak, you get clients.

This is NOT for you if you're looking for a "get rich quick" hack.

Reserve Your Spot Now → (Limited spots available!)

Jess sits down with long-time friend and business coach Kami Guildner to talk about what it means to be a "movement maker" and the power of stepping into bigger visibility. They discuss Jess's new 10x goal for Interview Connections, including her plans for a live event (Interview Connections Live), energy work and inner alignment, building community through events and podcasting, and lessons from Kami's 12 years of hosting the Extraordinary Women Ignite conference.

On Movement Making

• Movement makers are people who know their work will create real change and refuse to play small
• Alignment from the inside out—who you're being through the process—matters as much as what you're doing
• Women's wisdom and visibility create a ripple effect of impact that goes beyond individual business success

On Scaling & The 10x Goal

• Jess is 10x-ing Interview Connections with her business coach's guidance
• New initiatives include Interview Connections Live (a regional, one-day workshop event) launching in fall in New England
• Live events create community in ways that digital doesn't—people are craving in-person connection

On Inner Work & Energy

• Nourishing your vessel is equally important as business action-taking
• Energy work, proper nutrition, movement, and practices like Reiki support the clarity needed for big visions
• Horses as mirrors for grounding and accessing inner wisdom (Kami's unique approach with her Movement Maker Mastermind clients)

On Live Events

• Size matters: 100-person conferences allow for deeper connections without overwhelming new attendees
• Kami's Extraordinary Women Ignite is about 40% repeat clients, 60% new attendees—a strong business driver
• Podcast booths at conferences amplify reach (Kami's pivot from 60-second snippets to full 10-minute interviews for easier publishing)

On Podcasting as a Business Tool

• Podcasting builds relationships with people you've never met and shortens the sales cycle
• Listeners who binge your podcast content feel they already know you
• Guest podcasting + hosting your own podcast work synergistically
• Real conversations can't be replicated by AI—this is why both podcasting and live events matter

• On alignment: "When women get in full alignment with their purpose, it creates not only impact from what they're doing, but who they're being through that process."
• On inner work: "If you're 10x-ing your business, what are you doing to keep your vessel clear and clean? We have to nourish our bodies with the right foods, energy work, and movements."
• On movement making: "Someone who knows what they're doing is going to really create a difference for a group of people, and they're stepping up in ways where they're not going to play small anymore."
• On podcasting: "It's the best way to build relationships with people you don't know, because you get to go into deeper conversation with people."

Kami Guildner

Business coach for high-vibe women entrepreneurs • Connector • Storyteller

Kami works with Movement Maker women entrepreneurs who have built successful businesses and are scaling to multiple six-figures and beyond, stepping into their next level of visibility, influence, and revenue.

Her Impact:

• Hosts Extraordinary Women Radio podcast (9 years, ranked in top 1.5%)
• Runs Extraordinary Women Ignite conference (12 years, 100 women, Colorado)
• Leads Movement Maker Mastermind (year-long program with horses-based retreats)
• Trained in Reiki and healing touch (30+ years); integrates energy work and horses into her coaching

Find Kami Online:

• Website: KamiGuildner.com
• Conference: KamiGuildner.com/ignite
• Podcast: Extraordinary Women Radio

In This Episode:

• Interview Connections Live (upcoming regional workshop events)
• JJ Virgin's Mindshare Summit (San Diego, late September) — Interview Connections is the exclusive podcast booking agency
• Katie Brinkley (podcast professional featured in Kami's conference podcast booth)

• Movement making and purposeful scaling
• Jess's 10x goal and new initiatives
• Energy work, inner alignment, and Reiki with horses
• Building community through live events vs. conferences
• The power of podcasting for relationship building and business growth
• Event planning tips and tools
• Small vs. large conference dynamics
• Podcast guesting as a visibility and sales strategy

Master the #1 Authority Growth System for Coaches in 2026

Join Jessica Rhodes for a FREE 4-Part Live Masterclass on how to use strategic podcast appearances to build a predictable, authority-based client acquisition system for your coaching business. Reserve Your Spot Now at https://interviewconnections.com/masterclass-2026/

Episode Overview

Discover the #1 thing podcast guests can do to convert listeners into dream clients—a simple strategy that the majority of podcast guests are getting wrong. Learn why your end-of-interview call-to-action is your golden opportunity to transform listeners into high-ticket coaching clients.

Host: Jessica Rhodes, Founder & CEO, Interview Connections

Topic: Converting Podcast Listeners Into Coaching Clients Through Strategic Calls-to-Action

Key Takeaways

1. The Host Question "How Can Our Listeners Connect With You?" Is Your Conversion Moment

• This closing question is NOT just a polite formality—it's your cue to offer a valuable free gift
• Most podcast guests miss this critical opportunity by defaulting to: "Find me on Instagram, visit my website, check out my LinkedIn"
• When you recognize this as your conversion moment, you can direct listeners toward becoming your client

The Pitfall Most Guests Fall Into

• Answering the host's question in a scattered, unfocused way
• Directing listeners to multiple platforms without a clear next step
• Telling people what social media you're on instead of what action you want them to take
• Losing the opportunity because listeners don't know where to go or what to do

2. The Strategy That Converts: One Clear, Valuable Free Gift

Prepare ONE compelling free offer to give at the end of every interview

• Don't list your various options—choose the one free gift that creates the most value
• Direct 100% of your listeners to the same place (not scattered across multiple platforms)

The Free Gift Should Be:

• Valuable enough to entice listeners to take immediate action
• Clearly connected to their pain point or goal
• Easy to access (one URL, one clear step)
• Positioned as the starting point of their journey toward becoming your client

Why This Works

• Listeners get clarity on what to do next
• You capture their information and get them into your funnel
• The gift demonstrates your expertise and value
• It naturally positions you as the solution to their problem

3. The Numbers: How Podcast Interviews Drive Client Acquisition

Interview Connections by the Numbers

• Founded in 2013 to enable Jessica to be a stay-at-home mom (her dad was the first client)
• Over 50,000 podcast interviews booked
• Thousands of coaches, consultants, and experts helped build their businesses
• The strategy works—when executed correctly

The Real Opportunity

• Podcast appearances are one of the highest-ROI lead-generation channels for coaches
• But most coaches don't maximize the conversion because they get the call-to-action wrong
• One strategic change—a clear, valuable free gift instead of scattered social links—can dramatically increase your client pipeline

The Mindset Shift Required

Move from answering the host's question to leveraging it

• Old mindset: "The host is asking me a polite closing question—I'll just answer it"
• New mindset: "This is my biggest conversion opportunity on the entire show—I need to make it count"

Call to Action

Free Podcast Guesting Masterclass

Ready to turn podcast interviews into dream coaching clients?

Reserve your spot now:

• Visit: interviewconnections.com/masterclass
• Learn the proven system used by 1000s of coaches, consultants, and experts
• Discover how to convert more podcast listeners into your dream clients

Topics Covered

• Podcast guesting strategy for coaches
• Lead generation from podcast appearances
• The power of an effective end-of-interview call-to-action
• How to structure a free gift that compels listeners to take action
• Converting podcast listeners into high-ticket coaching clients
• Building an effective offer funnel from podcast guest appearances
• The 13-year evolution of Interview Connections and podcast booking

Resources

• Interview Connections Website: interviewconnections.com
• Free Masterclass: interviewconnections.com/masterclass

Episode Overview

In this PodSwap episode, Jessica Rhodes sits down with Hersh Rephun, a branding strategist who helps founders, CEOs, and thought leaders ensure their work is interpreted correctly from the moment it's encountered. Hersh is the founder of Yes Brand Builders, host of Yes Brand and Truth Tastes Funny podcasts, and author of Selling the Truth.

Learn what podcast hosts are actually looking for when they evaluate you as a guest, why your positioning matters before you ever step on a mic, and how to craft a first impression that converts listeners into dream clients.

Key Stat: Podcast hosts receive 5-10 pitches per day. What makes yours stand out? It's not what you think.

Understanding Your First Impression (0:08 - 1:10)

Your first impression isn't just the moment someone meets you—it's everywhere they encounter you. On your website, in your social media bio, in your email signature. Hersh defines it as a comprehensive thing that includes all the work you've done and how the marketplace perceives you at any given moment.

The Real Pitfall: Two Approaches That Backfire (1:12 - 2:31)

Many experts make one of two mistakes:

1. The Everything Approach: Listing everything you do with hyphens and hoping people find what they need. Result? A confused first impression with no clear signal.
2. The One-Thing Approach: Narrowing down to just one thing. Result? You get lumped in with every other person doing that one thing.

The solution: Integrate multiple aspects into something that stands out, rather than taking things away.

What Podcast Hosts Actually Look For (3:28 - 7:40)

Hosts receive 5-10 pitches per day. When they evaluate a potential guest, Hersh typically goes to the website first—it's usually the thing you've invested the most thought into. He's looking for "friction"—something that stands out and intrigues.

The Three Types of Positioning Problems (8:23 - 10:05)

Hersh identifies three positioning challenges:

1. Interpretive Friction: Nobody understands what you do. Your explanation is so convoluted that people switch off. Example: "It has to do with the solar system and lights, and then everything switches..."

2. Interpretive Compression: You're so simple or generic that you blend in with everyone else. Example: "I'm a dentist." (Same as every other dentist.)

3. Emerging in a Category of One: You're so unique and specialized that you're game-changing. Example: "I invented a pain-free root canal with no anesthesia." (Now people listen.)

Finding the Positioning Sweet Spot (10:26 - 12:39)

Your goal: Create a first impression that:

✅ Intrigues your audience enough to make them curious

✅ Is clear enough that they understand you

✅ Isn't so complex that they get tired trying to understand

✅ Isn't so simple that they've heard it a million times

Hersh's personal example: "I work with interesting people who are tired of explaining themselves."

This statement opens doors to deeper conversation ("How? Why interesting people? Why tired?") without being confusing or dismissive.

Story Needs a Purpose, Not Just Chronology (13:09 - 15:12)

Many people confuse story with just listing events: "When I was 15 this happened, when I was 17 that happened, now I do this."

Real storytelling requires conceptual completion—explaining the meaning and the "why" behind what happened to you. When you just list events, the audience has to piece it together, and they may only remember fragments.

The Host's Job Isn't Just to Interview (15:12 - 17:23)

Hersh's business evolved from execution-focused work (PR, copywriting, creative direction) to something deeper: helping clients clarify their positioning upstream. He realized the real problem wasn't distribution or amplification—it was confusion on the audience's part.

His "Authority Alignment" process helps you:

• Establish your signal clearly
• Strategize your positioning
• Organize your ecosystem so your message stays consistent across all platforms

The goal: Ensure the interpretation the audience makes in those first 3 seconds is exactly what you intend.

Real-World Example: How One Psychologist Repositioned Herself (18:05 - 22:15)

The Challenge: Kirsten Harrison is a trauma psychologist who wrote a book about a relationship with a formerly homeless, trans client. When pitching to media, she kept getting positioned as "trauma expert"—limiting her to trauma-focused outlets.

The Real Story: After working with Hersh, they discovered the true thread through her entire career was community—how to build and integrate people into communities in healthy ways. It's not just about trauma; it's about belonging.

The Result: Kirsten now gets booked as a community-focused thinker, opening doors to public interest media, speaking engagements, and community-building events—rather than just trauma psychology conversations.

The Lesson: "You can't read the label from inside the bottle." An outside expert can see positioning that's invisible when you're living it.

Who Should Work With Hersh (22:28 - 24:03)

His ideal clients are:

• Established and successful, mid-career (regardless of age)
• Advanced in their accomplishments
• Pivoting to something new
• Evolving into something the marketplace hasn't caught up with yet
• Taking their expertise and applying it to new mediums (books, speaking, coaching)

He works through focused, intentional engagements—not long-term retainers (unless it's a large operation).

Key Takeaways

🎯 Your first impression is everything you've built and everywhere you show up—make sure it's cohesive

🎯 Avoid positioning extremes: not so complex that people give up, not so simple that you disappear

🎯 Intrigue is intentional—your positioning should invite curiosity, not provide complete closure

🎯 You need a consistent signal, not just one elevator pitch

🎯 Story requires meaning, not just chronology—explain the "why" behind what happened

🎯 Misalignment upstream creates kinks throughout your entire funnel (podcasts, sales, speaking)

🎯 An outside perspective is invaluable—you can't see your own positioning clearly

Memorable Quotes

"I work with interesting people who are tired of explaining themselves." - Hersh Rephun

"You can't read the label from inside the bottle." - Jessica Rhodes

"If it's exhausting, I'm not going to think about it. If it's so simple that I've heard it a million times, I'm not going to think about it. The idea is you want to intrigue the audience." - Hersh Rephun

"A story isn't just chronological events—it's the conceptual experience." - Hersh Rephun

Call to Action

Ready to nail your first impression before you ever pitch a podcast host?

Join Jessica's FREE Podcast Guesting Masterclass and learn:

• How to identify the real thread through your work (like Kirsten did)
• How to create positioning that intrigues hosts
• How to craft messaging that converts listeners into dream clients

Reserve your spot at: interviewconnections.com/masterclass

Resources Mentioned

• Yes Brand Builders: yesbrandbuilders.com
• Hersh's Email: [email protected]
• Hersh's Podcasts: Yes Brand & Truth Tastes Funny
• Hersh's Book: Selling the Truth
• Interview Connections: interviewconnections.com
• Podcast Guesting Masterclass: interviewconnections.com/masterclass

Discover the current state of video in podcasting—how many shows are recording with video, how many are publishing it, and what this means for your podcast guesting strategy.

Host: Jessica Rhodes, Founder & CEO, Interview Connections

Topic: Video Adoption in Podcast Recording

Recording with Video: ~100%

• In Jessica's experience, virtually every podcast she appears on is recording with video
• Common platforms: Riverside, Zencastr, Zoom, Streamyard
• Reason: Enables hosts and guests to see each other, read body language, and capture content for clipping

Publishing Video to YouTube: ~60-65%

• While most podcasts record video, only about 65% of podcasts actively upload full video interviews to YouTube
• This represents the actual publishing of videos, not just recording capability

Growing YouTube Audiences: Much Smaller Percentage

• Of the podcasts publishing to YouTube, only a fraction have truly engaged YouTube audiences
• Not all YouTube views accurately reflect a show's actual listener base

Strategy 1: YouTube as a Primary Platform

• Podcasters who treat YouTube as a full growth channel
• Create intro/trailer videos, optimize titles for views
• Invest intentional strategy in building a dedicated YouTube audience
• Actively grow views and engagement on the platform

Strategy 2: YouTube as a Video Host

• Many podcasters use YouTube simply as a repository for video files
• Purpose: Enable repurposing of interviews into short-form clips
• Workflow: Upload video to YouTube → grab the link → use tools like Opus to create social media clips
• Not focused on YouTube audience growth

Important Reality: YouTube view counts ≠ actual podcast audience size

Your guest appearance reaches listeners across:

• Spotify (most popular audio platform)
• Apple Podcasts
• Direct MP3 players on podcast host websites
• Other audio platforms

Key Insight: Most of a podcast's actual audience is listening via audio platforms, not watching YouTube videos.

2013: 100% audio-only podcasts

→ 2026: Most podcasts recording with video

Direction: Upward trend toward video adoption, but primarily for quality and content repurposing rather than YouTube audience building.

Ready to learn how to turn podcast interviews into dream coaching clients?

Reserve your spot now:

• Visit: interviewconnections.com/masterclass

• Current state of video in podcasting
• Recording with video vs. publishing video
• How podcasters use YouTube
• Where your actual podcast audience listens
• 13-year trend of video adoption in podcasting

• Interview Connections Website: interviewconnections.com
• Free Masterclass: interviewconnections.com/masterclass
• Show: Interview https://interviewconnections.com/podcast/
• Mentioned Tools: Riverside, Zencastr, Zoom, Streamyard, Opus
• Interview Connections Opus Affiliate Link: https://interviewconnections.com/Opus

Episode Summary

In this behind-the-scenes episode, Jessica Rhodes pulls back the curtain on her personal coaching relationship with Samantha Ruberto, her energy coach and mentor. Discover how intentional energy work and inner awareness can literally transform your business, relationships, and life. Samantha shares her spiritual awakening story, the power of "soul surgery" coaching, and how Jessica went from grief and overwhelm to closing $7K in sales and sponsoring a major summit—all within 48 hours of investing in her inner work.

How They Met & The Power of Energetic Connection [0:00–7:00]

• Jessica and Samantha connected in Melanie Ann Lair's AFE Next Mastermind (2024)
• The invisible, energetic pull between certain people
• Why people magnetize to you based on how you make them feel, not just what you say

Samantha's Spiritual Awakening Story [2:00–6:10]

• At 26, Samantha had a spiritual awakening (looked like a midlife crisis from the outside)
• She was climbing society's ladder in real estate but realized she wasn't happy despite checking all the boxes
• The power of tuning out the outside world and listening to your inner voice

The Grief Work & "Soul Surgery" Coaching [8:00–17:00]

• Jess's business partnership with Margy ended; they separated their company
• Managing grief while staying friends and maintaining respect
• Samantha's approach to emotional work: reaching the energetics of a situation (the root)
• Instead of "blowing up" the relationship, they reshaped the energy to honor the love and growth

The 48-Hour Shift [15:00–17:00]

• After one coaching session with Samantha and committing to her Soul Surgery program, Jess:
• Committed to sponsoring JJ Virgin's Mindshare Summit
• Closed $7K+ in sales (multiple client sign-ups)
• How inner work directly impacts your magnetic energy in business

Intentions, Manifesting & Handling Life's Curveballs [18:00–22:00]

• Real-life example: Jess set an intention to be "surprised"—couch arrived 10 min early
• The two roads: react with frustration OR handle it with grace
• When you trust the process, you surf through life's challenges with presence
• Samantha's 12-year track record: inner work consistently leads to a better life

Awareness Is the Game Changer [23:00–27:00]

• It's not just mindset, somatic work, or nervous system regulation—it's all together
• Where attention goes, energy flows (Dr. Joe Dispenza)
• Building your awareness muscle to combat ego and negative thinking patterns
• 95% of our thoughts are subconscious and programmed to keep us "safe"
• This often leads to self-sabotage; rewiring the unconscious mind is where transformation happens

How to Work With Samantha [27:00–End]

• Two programs available:

1. The Glow Up — foundational program to enter Samantha's world (101 of the work)
2. Soul Surgery — one-to-one mentorship (deeper transformation)

• Find her on Instagram: @samantharuberto (or search: Samantha Ruberto)

✨ Energy is everything. People don't just hear your words; they feel your energy. Magnetizing clients starts with inner work.

✨ Awareness is the first step. Notice how interactions make you feel: expansive or contracted? This awareness is transformational.

✨ Inner work = outer results. Jess's business breakthrough followed immediately after committing to coaching her inner world.

✨ Grief doesn't have to be messy. With the right support, you can navigate relationship shifts with love, respect, and grace.

✨ Your unconscious runs the show. 95% of thoughts are subconscious; rewiring these patterns dissolves self-sabotage and unlocks your potential.

"People can feel your energy, they'll just be magnetized to you once they hear you speak."

— Jessica Rhodes

"Awareness and paying attention is the first step in transformation."

— Samantha Ruberto

"It's not just what you're saying, it's how you make people feel. That's what magnetizes people to want to work with you."

— Jessica Rhodes

"When you truly love being you—through genuine inner work—your energy emits the most radiant glow and attracts everything meant for you."

— Samantha Ruberto

Samantha Ruberto

Energy Coach | Somatic Practitioner | Mindset Coach | Soul Surgery Mentor

📍 Find Samantha:

• Instagram: @samantharuberto
• Programs: The Glow Up | Soul Surgery (one-to-one mentorship)
• Link in bio for all offerings

• JJ Virgin's Mindshare Summit (mentioned as Interview Connections sponsorship)
• Dr. Joe Dispenza (referenced for: "Where attention goes, energy flows")
• Melanie Ann Lair's AFE Next Mastermind

Ready to Master Podcast Guesting? Join Jessica Rhodes in the Podcast Guesting Masterclass to learn how to land interviews on podcasts your ideal clients are already listening to. Register here: interviewconnections.com/masterclass-2026

Coaches: If you resonated with Samantha's message about energy, presence, and magnetizing clients through inner work, connect with her on Instagram. The combination of strategy (like podcast guesting) + inner alignment (like energy coaching) is the formula for sustainable business growth.

For your podcast guesting strategy, don't forget: people book guests based on energy and connection. Work on being the most aligned, present version of yourself, and your podcast opportunities will follow.

Learn the two most important things podcast hosts are looking for when considering guests and how to position yourself to get more podcast interviews for your coaching business.

Host: Jessica Rhodes, Founder & CEO, Interview Connections

Topic: Standing Out to Podcast Hosts

• Podcast hosts receive constant pitches from subject matter experts seeking audience visibility
• Your value must be relevant to their specific audience, not generic or broad
• Your topics need to be niched down and specialized enough that the connection is clear
• The host and audience must immediately see how your expertise serves their listeners

• Stories are the differentiator in a crowded pitch landscape
• The most effective guest pitch combines compelling personal stories + valuable information
• Example: Valasta (supplement company)
• Founder cured his cancer naturally using the ingredients in their supplement
• This personal story paired with product value creates a compelling interview
• Result: Business growth driven by global podcast guesting visibility

Value + Compelling Personal Story = Podcast Host Interest

When you effectively communicate both elements, podcast hosts will actively want to interview you.

Ready to learn how to turn podcast interviews into dream coaching clients? Reserve your spot now! Visit: interviewconnections.com/masterclass

• Podcast guest positioning
• Standing out in a crowded pitching landscape
• How to craft a compelling guest pitch
• Turning podcast visibility into business growth

• Interview Connections Website: interviewconnections.com
• Free Masterclass: interviewconnections.com/masterclass
• Show: https://interviewconnections.com/podcast/

What if your podcast episodes could become a book in less than 90 days, without writing a single word? In this episode, I'm pulling back the curtain on exactly how I'm doing that, and the tool and the woman behind it.

Sheila Slick is a business leader with over 25 years of experience in education, technology, and entrepreneurship, and the author and founder of Five Milestones. She built PodToBook.ai (a software that takes your podcast episodes and transforms your spoken word into a manuscript) and I am literally one of her customers. With the Mindshare Summit coming up in September, I needed a book to bring to the booth, and I needed it fast. This is the story of how I got it done.

In this episode, we cover:

• Why I needed a new book in under 90 days and how PodToBook.ai made it possible
• How the software works: upload your episodes, get a manuscript (Sheila spent 600+ hours building it to use only your spoken word, not generated content from the internet)
• Why the output is a manuscript, not a finished book and what that 20% gap looks like to close
• The step-by-step path from manuscript to published: formatting for Kindle vs. print, Amazon KDP, print-on-demand, and cover design
• Why podcast hosts are increasingly saying yes to guests who have a book
• What to do if you're not a podcaster — Sheila also offers a done-for-you interview service to get your book started from scratch
• How to start with the end in mind: are you writing to get clients, land stages, or grow your audience?

Resources mentioned:

PodToBook.ai — upload your podcast episodes and get a manuscript fast.

5Milestones.com — done-for-you and done-with-you publishing support, from manuscript to Amazon.

Connect with Sheila on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sheilaslick/

A book is one of the most powerful tools a podcast guest can bring to an interview — and getting booked on the right shows is how you get that book in front of the right people. Join me at the free Podcast Guesting Masterclass to learn how to land interviews on podcasts your ideal clients are already listening to. Register here: interviewconnections.com/masterclass-2026

In this solo episode, Jessica Rhodes addresses a common question from Interview Connections clients: how often should you post about your podcast appearances? Discover the strategic reasons to post when you're booked, when you're recording, and when your episode goes live and why visibility is essential to growing your coaching business. Jessica also discusses the "upper limit problem" and why the voice in your head telling you to hold back might actually be limiting your growth and impact.

✅ Post at Three Strategic Moments:

• When you first get booked on a podcast
• The day of the recording (to share the excitement)
• When the episode is published

✅ Visibility Attracts Opportunities

One Interview Connections client, Christina L. Woods, landed a speaking opportunity at a retreat simply by posting about her podcast bookings. The retreat organizer saw her posts and reached out.

✅ Show Appreciation to Hosts

By tagging and sharing about the podcast with your audience, you're creating a two-way street—not just gaining access to their audience, but also introducing your community to their show.

✅ Overcome the Upper Limit Problem

That nagging voice telling you "this is too spammy" or "I'm being too much"? That's what Gay Hendricks calls the upper limit problem (your mind trying to hold you back as you expand). It's often a projection of others' insecurities, not a reflection of reality.

✅ Your Audience is Rooting for You

When you share your podcast appearances with excitement and authenticity, you're not being annoying. You're sharing value. Your audience wants to see you succeed.

📚 The Big Leap by Gay Hendricks

A transformational read on overcoming self-imposed limits and the "upper limit problem." Perfect for entrepreneurs questioning their visibility.

Ready to learn how to turn podcast interviews into dream coaching clients?

Reserve your spot in Jessica's FREE Podcast Guesting Masterclass:

• 🔗 Link: interviewconnections.com/masterclass