How To Be A Memorable Podcast's Guest

Being a podcast guest isn't just an opportunity; it's a platform to amplify your expertise, connect with a targeted audience, and elevate your personal brand. Imagine sharing your insights with a passionate community, building valuable relationships with industry leaders, and generating high-quality content for your own marketing arsenal.

As a podcast guest, you'll gain unparalleled exposure, boost your credibility as a thought leader, and attract new followers and clients. Plus, you'll have the chance to learn from experienced hosts, refine your communication skills, and create content that resonates with your ideal audience.

But before accepting an invitation, learn how to tell your story, and it's easy, trust me.

Crafting a Compelling Response to "Tell Us About Your Journey"

If you're invited to be a guest, you'll likely be asked to share your career journey. This seemingly simple question can be a powerful tool for connecting with your audience and leaving a lasting impression.

Here are four frameworks to help you craft a compelling response:

Framework 1: Mission Driven

This framework is well-suited for non-profit and education professionals. It emphasizes your passion for making a difference and your commitment to a cause.

• Step 1: Recognizing a Need: Start by explaining how you identified a need or problem in your field. This demonstrates your empathy and awareness of the challenges faced by others.
• Step 2: Finding Like-Minded Individuals: Share how you connected with others who shared your passion and vision. This highlights the importance of collaboration and teamwork.
• Step 3: Making an Impact: Discuss the positive impact you've made through your work. This could include specific examples of projects you've led or initiatives you've launched.
• Step 4: Ongoing Efforts: Explain how you continue to address the need or problem you initially identified. This shows your dedication and commitment to your mission.
• Step 5: Call to Action: Encourage the audience to get involved in your cause or support your work. This is a great way to inspire action and leave a lasting impression.

Example:

"Growing up in a low-income neighborhood, I witnessed firsthand the challenges faced by underprivileged students. Inspired by my own experiences, I founded a non-profit organization dedicated to providing educational opportunities to underserved youth. We've partnered with schools to offer after-school tutoring, STEM programs, and college readiness workshops. Through our efforts, we've helped countless students achieve their dreams. I'm committed to continuing this work and expanding our reach to even more communities."

Framework 2: Connection Driven

This framework works well for professionals of broader organizations. It focuses on the relationships you've built and the impact of your community.

• Step 1: Shared Experience: Begin by sharing a personal story about a time when you felt isolated or alone. This helps the audience relate to your experience and understand the power of connection.
• Step 2: Finding Your Tribe: Explain how you found a community of like-minded individuals who shared your interests and passions. This demonstrates the importance of finding your tribe and building strong relationships.
• Step 3: Mutual Support: Highlight the ways in which you've supported and helped others within your community. This showcases your generosity and willingness to help others.
• Step 4: Collective Growth: Discuss how the community has grown and evolved over time. This demonstrates the power of collaboration and the positive impact of community-driven initiatives.
• Step 5: Future Vision: Conclude by sharing your vision for the future of the community and how you plan to continue to foster connection and support. This inspires the audience and encourages them to get involved.

Example:

"When I first started my career, I felt lost and overwhelmed. I joined a professional networking group where I met amazing people who offered guidance and support. Over time, I became more involved in the community, organizing events and mentoring new members. Through these connections, I've landed incredible job opportunities and built lifelong friendships. Today, I'm passionate about helping others find their own tribe and thrive in their careers."

Framework 3: Authority Driven

This framework is ideal for professionals in leadership positions, such as CEOs, solopreneurs, and consultants. It focuses on your accomplishments and expertise, positioning you as an authority in your field.

• Step 1: Humble Beginnings: Start by sharing a relatable story about a time when you were stuck or facing a challenge. This helps establish a connection with the audience and demonstrates that you've been in their shoes.
• Step 2: Overcoming Obstacles: Talk about the obstacles you faced and the failures you experienced. This builds trust and shows that you're not afraid to be vulnerable.
• Step 3: Breakthrough Moment: Highlight a pivotal moment in your career when you had a breakthrough or a significant achievement. This is your opportunity to showcase your expertise and accomplishments.
• Step 4: Current Success: Briefly summarize your current position and what you've achieved. This reinforces your authority and credibility.
• Step 5: Future Vision: Conclude by sharing your vision for the future. This demonstrates your ambition and inspires the audience.

Example:

"I started my career as a software engineer, working long hours and feeling stuck in a monotonous routine. I realized I needed more, so I started a side project. It failed miserably, but I learned valuable lessons from the experience. Determined to succeed, I pivoted my focus to user experience design. With hard work and dedication, I eventually became the head of product design at a leading tech company. Today, I'm passionate about empowering the next generation of designers, and I'm excited about the future of human-centered design."

Framework 4: The Hero's Journey

For your backstory, my favorite framework is the narrative structure of The Hero's Journey by Joseph Campbell. I like this framework because it highlights the role of allies (mentors, friends, cofounders ...), enemies and obstacles in your journey. This approach also involves sharing your journey from childhood to the present, highlighting the experiences that have shaped who you are and your WHY (your purpose or life mission).

Good videos explaining the Hero’s Journey

https://youtu.be/d1Zxt28ff-E?

https://youtu.be/GNPcefZKmZ0?

https://youtu.be/DwnxYXOTy94?

The Hero's Journey is particularly effective in engaging the audience on an emotional level. Between two experts, the one who resonates with the emotional brain (or heart) of the customer is often the one who secures the deal.?

The Hero's Journey Framework for storytelling your journey.?

1. Early Life & The Spark

???- Briefly describe your early life and childhood.

???- Share the significant event or moment that sparked a change in your life and inspired you to embark on a new journey.

2. Initial Struggles

???- Share any initial doubts, fears, or obstacles that held you back from taking on this new challenge.

???- Introduce any influential figures or mentors who guided you and helped you move forward.

3. Committing to the Journey

???- Describe the moment when you fully committed to your new path.

???- Highlight the first significant step you took towards your goal and the initial challenges you faced.

4. Navigating Challenges

???- Share the key obstacles you faced along the way and the people who supported or opposed you.

???- Describe a major challenge or crisis that tested your resolve and how you prepared to face it.

5. The Turning Point

???- Narrate the climax of your journey, the most difficult moment, and share how you overcame this challenge.

???- Explain what you learned from it and the rewards or achievements you gained.

6. Integration & Impact

???- Share the journey back to your ordinary world or a new phase of life, highlighting any new challenges or adjustments.

???- Describe how your experiences and lessons have impacted your life and the lives of those around you.

???- Explain how you have used your newfound strength or wisdom to help others.

To help you develop your story, consider the following questions:

1. What was the most significant turning point in your early life that set you on this journey?

2. Who were the key mentors or influencers that helped you overcome your initial struggles?

3. What was the biggest challenge you faced when you committed to your journey?

4. Who were your key allies and what were the major obstacles you encountered while navigating challenges?

5. What was the most difficult moment during your journey's climax, and what did you learn from it?

6. How have your experiences and lessons positively impacted your life and the lives of others?

You can of course adapt the Hero's Journey framework only to your entrepreneurial journey. The best presentation you can find is the one of Philippe MéDA / Innovation Copilots :

BONUS

Crafting Compelling Punchlines

In the world of podcasts, a well-crafted punchline can leave a lasting impression on your audience. Whether you're a first-time guest, the ability to deliver a punchline that sticks can elevate your message and make your content more memorable.

Here's a framework to help you craft punchlines:

Step 1: Differentiate

Start by using a differentiation phrase to set the stage for your main point. This could be a rhetorical question, a surprising statement, or a contrast to a common misconception. Here are some examples:

• Rhetorical question: "Have you ever wondered why..."
• Surprising statement: "The truth is, most people are wrong about..."
• Contrast: "While many believe that [common belief], the reality is..."

Step 2: Build Anticipation

Use a drum-roll phrase to create anticipation and excitement for your main point. This could be a simple phrase like "Here's the thing" or a more dramatic one like "Drumroll, please!" Here are some examples:

• Simple drum-roll: "Here's the thing..."
• Dramatic drum-roll: "If you only take one thing away from this conversation, it's this..."

Step 3: Deliver the Punchline

Now it's time to deliver your main point with impact. Use a strong, declarative statement that leaves no room for doubt. Here are some examples:

• Strong statement: "I firmly believe that [big idea]."
• Declarative statement: "The future of [industry] lies in [big idea]."

Step 4: Drive It Home

Finally, use a case study, metaphor, or story to illustrate your main point and make it more relatable. This will help your audience understand and remember your message. Here are some examples:

• Case study: "Here's a real-life example of how [big idea] has transformed [industry]."
• Metaphor: "Think of [big idea] like a [common metaphor]."
• Story: "Here's how this plays out in the real world..."

Additional Tips

• Practice your delivery. The more you practice, the more confident you'll feel when delivering your punchline.
• Keep it concise. A punchline should be short and to the point.
• Use strong language. Use vivid language and strong verbs to make your punchline more impactful.
• End on a high note. Leave your audience wanting more with a powerful and memorable punchline.

Beyond the bonus framework

While this bonus framework provides a solid foundation for crafting punchlines, there are other techniques you can consider:

• Use humor: A well-placed joke or pun can make your punchline even more memorable.
• Use repetition: Repeating key words or phrases can help your audience retain your message.
• Use vivid imagery: Paint a picture with your words to create a lasting impression.
• Use emotion: Evoke strong emotions in your audience to make your punchline more powerful.

Example:

Let's say you're discussing the importance of lifelong learning. Here's how you could use the framework to craft a punchline:

1. Differentiate: "Many people believe that learning stops after graduation."
2. Build Anticipation: "But here's the thing..."
3. Deliver the Punchline: "Lifelong learning is not just a buzzword; it's a necessity in today's rapidly changing world."
4. Drive It Home: "Think about it: the most successful people are constantly learning and growing. They're never satisfied with the status quo."