The Art of the Ask: Insider Strategies for Securing Big-Name Interviews

Ever wondered how the top podcasts reel in those big-name guests? Let's pull back the curtain on one of podcasting's greatest mysteries and examine the surprisingly straightforward tactic of making the ask—but not just any ask. In today's episode, I peel back layers of misconceptions and share personal, behind-the-scenes strategies on landing interviews with industry leaders. It's not about having the largest audience or the fattest wallet; it's about the mutual value exchange and the courage to approach individuals who are making waves. We delve into the importance of doing your homework on potential guests, crafting a personalized invitation, and why an authentic interest in their story trumps numbers every time.

This conversation is more than just a guide; it's an empowering push towards connecting with the people you admire. From the nuances of timing your request to crafting a message that resonates, we cover how to earn the privilege to extend that all-important invite. Learn why seeking guests who are passionate about leaving behind a legacy can be far more rewarding than chasing celebrity status. By the end of our talk, you'll be equipped with the confidence to reach out to the movers and shakers in your field, creating engaging, meaningful content that resonates with both your guest and your audience. Join me as we navigate the art of the ask and transform your podcast from good to exceptional.

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:00

Okay. People often ask me how do you get high-level people on your podcast, like, how do you get people to come to your podcast? And my answer is I ask them. That's it. Of course, there's a way to ask, when to ask, how to ask, and I would like to say you can ask when you have the right to ask. Okay, and what I mean by that is. What I mean by that is, you can ask people when you have the right to ask.

Speaker 1: 0:32

So, when you want cool people to come to your show and that you've been looking up to, what you need to do is know them. You need to know them, you need to be following them, you need to know what they're about. So when you are facing them, you actually know them, you know what to ask, you know exactly where you want to go with the episode. You've been observing that person. You just know who they are, what they do, what they are working on, what they're about, and then you can have them on your show and you can actually introduce them to people. That is the most important. So if you want someone that you have been following and you're loving to come to your show, first, you have to actually have the right of passage of knowing them, and when you know them and when you've been following their work and you know what they do and what they're about and you approach them, in that I know you and I think we should talk about this, you know, I would love to have you Then you're on the right of passage and when someone comes and reads the message that you sent them in inviting them to your show and you are just showing that you know them, then they are more likely to come because they're okay, it's not just a spammy person that is messaging to everyone to invite them on their show. They actually know me and they know exactly what they want to talk about. So that's the first, very important you know, you have to know them. You have to know why you want them, what you want to ask from them, why you want them on your show, and you have to let them know what it is that you want to talk about when you approach them. The second thing is is they actually have to do and have to have the courage to speak to these people? That's a whole other ballgame, because when you believe that if people say yes do you, they say yes to you because you have deserved to actually talk to this person, regardless of your numbers.

Speaker 1: 2:24

I know a lot of people are getting their heads about how many downloads or listeners they have, or they have to have the X amount before they invite bigger people on the show. I don't believe in that. I don't believe in that and I don't align with people who care about the listeners. I don't align with people who just like, hey, I'm only coming unless there's a million listeners. If that's what you want, okay, then it's a no-go for me. Then obviously I'm not at that level. Or you want to seek out those opportunities, then it's a no-go for me because it's not gonna work. I don't have a one million listeners or some people are very calculated, like, even if it's someone that you know and you approach them and you're very calculated, so how much do you offer for me to come? Well, okay, then it's not, it's a no-go, right? So if they care about your numbers and they care about the listeners and they care about how much you pay them to come, then it's a no-go. I mean, at least for me. It might be for you, like you have the budget or sponsors, whatever to get these people on the show, but I feel like, especially podcasting, it's like we are here. It's a mutual exchange giving them exposure, putting them on social media, putting them on YouTube, putting them on fucking every podcasting platform. So whenever someone is looking up their names, they can find the episode and they can connect them further. So people are building legacy and taking more shows and practicing to speak and wanting to be better and wanting to be out there. That is their motivation. Okay, and your motivation is you get to talk to cool people and you get to, you know, hang out with cool people and ask your questions that you always had to these people. That's your motivation. And, of course, bring value to the audience, to the listeners, right To bring the people that you think they want to hear.

Speaker 1: 4:17

So, but when someone says yes to you, okay, when someone says yes to you and it's a high level person, that you oh, my god, like I love this person, I read their books, like I've been listening to them forever and I'm like, oh, I wanted to book them for the longest time. And they say yes to you and they don't ask about your numbers and I don't care, like how many clients I'm gonna sign for me. They don't ask that, but they just, okay, let's do it, say yes and they come. They say yes to you because they see what's in it for them beyond numbers and beyond listeners. Okay, and they chat that it's a legit podcast, that you've been doing this, you know repeatedly, not just the one-off thing, but they say yes to you, say yes to you because you deserve to speak to that person and that's like a whole nother psychology of the podcasters. You know, because, especially if you are someone, especially if you are someone who want to have quote-unquote the high level guest, you know the rock stars of your industry coming to your show and asking, asking them questions or having discussions with them. So if people say yes to you, it's because you earned it, you have your right. So I don't want you or anyone thinking that they don't deserve to have someone be at your shows because they are just like, whatever you know, insert limitation, okay. So that's how you get people on your show.

Speaker 1: 5:50

I don't personally like to have people that I don't research myself, okay. So if I get inquiries from people, which I do by email as well, people email me or, like these podcasting agencies, email me like I have a guest for you. It's great, you know. Okay, let me be the judge of that, let me be the judge of that. So I'm always like, okay, if you want to come or if I have inquiries on people coming, I want to know why. What is it that they do? Do I love it? Am I aligned with it? Is it interesting for me? Is the topic interesting for me? You know, I always research the person that I have.

Speaker 1: 6:28

If I get inquiry or if I want someone that I, personally, I want to have, then I'm always, you know, I know why. I know why you know, and I have listened to Dami especially enough, or been exposed to their work enough so that I know what to do with them. Okay, so I want you to. And then when I know what to do with them, I have all the rights to talk to them. Of course I know them right. So it's not even like deservingness, it's more like, of course I know exactly what to ask them. I know. If they were in front of me, I know what I would ask them. So it's really up to you guys. You know it's really up to you guys. But I think that's how you do it right. You know, that's how you get high level, high level, quote-unquote, high level people or guest on your show.

Speaker 1: 7:24

I hope that this was helpful. If you want me to go into like details on, like, how do you do that, like what exactly I say in my messaging, what do I say? Like all those things I will. I am putting together a program, preferably end of March, on intentional visibility and on how do we, how do we actually act on creating our own visibility online. Stay tuned for that. You know it's called intentional visibility. It's gonna come out in March and I would be happy to kind of actually show you within the framework of the program. So more on that later. But if you know that you are in for intentional visibility, drop me a message and I can give you more info. Okay, good luck. I'll see you guys very soon. Bye.