The Interview Connections Podcast | Podcast Guesting Agency for Coaches

At 19, Lauren V. Davis said yes to helping build a record store from scratch. Sixteen years later, after floods, a divorce, and walking away from the business she loved, her personal brand is what carried her forward. In this episode, Lauren and I talk about why people buy from people, why you already have a personal brand (whether you’ve worked on it or not), and the five steps to make it work harder for your business.Lauren V. Davis is the founder of Lauren Davis Creative, where she helps experts establish memorable personal brands, confident sales, and aligned, sustainable offers. She built a nonprofit serving 1,000 business owners and operators, and owned a popular brick-and-mortar record store for 16 years. She’s been featured in Reader’s Digest and HuffPost and is the host of the Real Personal Branding Podcast (where I was recently a guest!).In this episode, we cover:How Lauren went from a 19-year-old helping build an empty storefront to running a record store with lines out the door at every eventSurviving a flood that destroyed 70% of their inventory, and how community trust (and gift cards) kept the store aliveWhy customers were more connected to the founders’ story and values than to the products on the shelvesWhy Lauren kept building her personal brand alongside the store, and how that saved her when she stepped awayThe one sentence from Nick Unsworth at Life on Fire that had me launching a Jessica Rhodes business page that same dayWhy “build your personal brand” can feel like one more item on the to-do list, and Lauren’s permission slip to take a deep breathLauren’s five steps: Can people find you? How will they experience you? How will you build a relationship? Are your systems and processes ready? Is it referable and repeatable?Why sustainability (and slow growth) is sexyResources mentioned:The Real Personal Branding Podcast, hosted by Lauren V. DavisConnect with Lauren on all social platforms: @ldaviscreativeLauren Davis Creative: laurendaviscreative.comA strong personal brand gets people talking about you when you’re not in the room, and podcast interviews are one of the fastest ways to get your story in front of the right audience. 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

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 micThe #1 thing every podcast guest needs before an interview: know your thought leadership and walk in ready to say what you speak onWhy the best interviews are co-created, and the question Julie asks every guest on her pre-call to help shape the episode titleWhy pre-calls are worth your time, and how mine with Julie changed the whole energy of our interviewWhy 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 saidHow to build a story vault of go-to stories so you’re never telling a story for the first time on airWhy podcast interviews are the training ground for televisionResources 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/7g7fCsYqzhS6Isxcg4EaDHConnect 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

Episode SummaryJessica 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.Key TakeawaysOn Niching DownA specific niche makes your marketing dollar go fartherYour messaging becomes clearer when you know exactly who you serveUnexpected benefit: deeper connection with clients when you understand their world intimatelyGoing national forced Adrienne's team to move from "small business" (too broad) to "behavioral health" (specific enough to dominate)On The Gap Between Marketing & SalesMarketing 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 problemExample: Owner can't answer phone because she's in patient sessions. Leads go cold in 3+ days instead of the required 3-5 minutesIn addiction recovery, that missed call window could mean months or years before someone finds courage to call againOn 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 workingYou 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 knowOn Lead Response TimeBehavioral health/addiction recovery: must respond in 3-5 minutes or leads go coldLarger clinics: need dedicated intake team, but if they're on 20+ minute calls with one person, you still miss new callsSmall clinics: the owner wants to grow but can't be front desk + therapist simultaneouslySolutions exist, but you have to see the data to know what to fixOn Niching's Business ImpactSmaller marketing budget against huge pools (all small businesses) = wasteSmaller marketing budget against specific pools (behavioral health) = dominationHaving lived experience in the industry (Adrienne's dad was a therapist) opens doors and builds trust fastHighlights & QuotesOn 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."Guest InformationAdrienne WilkersonCo-Founder & CEO of Beacon Media and MarketingBeacon 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 practiceUnderstands 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 conversionsResources & LinksFind 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")Topics CoveredNiching down as a business strategyThe difference between marketing-generated leads and sales-closed clientsLead response time requirements in behavioral healthOperational bottlenecks vs. marketing problemsTracking key data points without overwhelmUnderstanding the cycle between traffic spike and booking increaseSystems solutions for small vs. large behavioral health clinicsHow podcast guesting results actually show up in your metricsBuilding credibility through lived industry experienceFor Podcast Guests ListeningThis 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.Ready to Get on Podcasts? 🎙️Stop Being the Best-Kept Secret in Your IndustryJoin 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 ETWhat You'll Learn:Day 1: PositioningWhat to say so podcast hosts say, "I need this person on my show!"Day 2: MonetizationWhere to send listeners so you actually get clients from podcast guestingDay 3: RepurposingWhat to do with your podcast interviews so you multiply your visibility and reach 10X more people with every podcast you doWhat You'll Get When You Attend Live:The exact framework for a Podcast One Sheet that makes hosts say YESThe mindset hack that unlocks massive abundance for your podcast guesting journeyWhy podcast guesting is the #1 client acquisition strategy for coachesThe biggest mistakes to avoid when inviting listeners to connect with you onlineOne simple tool to turn one podcast into 30 days of daily contentWho This Is For: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!)

Episode SummaryJess 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.Key TakeawaysOn Movement MakingMovement makers are people who know their work will create real change and refuse to play smallAlignment from the inside out—who you're being through the process—matters as much as what you're doingWomen's wisdom and visibility create a ripple effect of impact that goes beyond individual business successOn Scaling & The 10x GoalJess is 10x-ing Interview Connections with her business coach's guidanceNew initiatives include Interview Connections Live (a regional, one-day workshop event) launching in fall in New EnglandLive events create community in ways that digital doesn't—people are craving in-person connectionOn Inner Work & EnergyNourishing your vessel is equally important as business action-takingEnergy work, proper nutrition, movement, and practices like Reiki support the clarity needed for big visionsHorses as mirrors for grounding and accessing inner wisdom (Kami's unique approach with her Movement Maker Mastermind clients)On Live EventsSize matters: 100-person conferences allow for deeper connections without overwhelming new attendeesKami's Extraordinary Women Ignite is about 40% repeat clients, 60% new attendees—a strong business driverPodcast 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 ToolPodcasting builds relationships with people you've never met and shortens the sales cycleListeners who binge your podcast content feel they already know youGuest podcasting + hosting your own podcast work synergisticallyReal conversations can't be replicated by AI—this is why both podcasting and live events matterHighlights & QuotesOn 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."Guest InformationKami GuildnerBusiness coach for high-vibe women entrepreneurs • Connector • StorytellerKami 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 coachingResources & LinksFind 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 agencyKatie Brinkley (podcast professional featured in Kami's conference podcast booth)Topics CoveredMovement making and purposeful scalingJess's 10x goal and new initiativesEnergy work, inner alignment, and Reiki with horsesBuilding community through live events vs. conferencesThe power of podcasting for relationship building and business growthEvent planning tips and toolsSmall vs. large conference dynamicsPodcast guesting as a visibility and sales strategyReady to Get on Podcasts? Master the #1 Authority Growth System for Coaches in 2026Join 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 OverviewDiscover 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-ActionKey Takeaways1. The Host Question "How Can Our Listeners Connect With You?" Is Your Conversion MomentThis closing question is NOT just a polite formality—it's your cue to offer a valuable free giftMost 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 clientThe Pitfall Most Guests Fall IntoAnswering the host's question in a scattered, unfocused wayDirecting listeners to multiple platforms without a clear next stepTelling people what social media you're on instead of what action you want them to takeLosing the opportunity because listeners don't know where to go or what to do2. The Strategy That Converts: One Clear, Valuable Free GiftPrepare ONE compelling free offer to give at the end of every interviewDon't list your various options—choose the one free gift that creates the most valueDirect 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 actionClearly connected to their pain point or goalEasy to access (one URL, one clear step)Positioned as the starting point of their journey toward becoming your clientWhy This WorksListeners get clarity on what to do nextYou capture their information and get them into your funnelThe gift demonstrates your expertise and valueIt naturally positions you as the solution to their problem3. The Numbers: How Podcast Interviews Drive Client AcquisitionInterview Connections by the NumbersFounded in 2013 to enable Jessica to be a stay-at-home mom (her dad was the first client)Over 50,000 podcast interviews bookedThousands of coaches, consultants, and experts helped build their businessesThe strategy works—when executed correctlyThe Real OpportunityPodcast appearances are one of the highest-ROI lead-generation channels for coachesBut most coaches don't maximize the conversion because they get the call-to-action wrongOne strategic change—a clear, valuable free gift instead of scattered social links—can dramatically increase your client pipelineThe Mindset Shift RequiredMove from answering the host's question to leveraging itOld 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 ActionFree Podcast Guesting MasterclassReady 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 expertsDiscover how to convert more podcast listeners into your dream clientsTopics CoveredPodcast guesting strategy for coachesLead generation from podcast appearancesThe power of an effective end-of-interview call-to-actionHow to structure a free gift that compels listeners to take actionConverting podcast listeners into high-ticket coaching clientsBuilding an effective offer funnel from podcast guest appearancesThe 13-year evolution of Interview Connections and podcast bookingResourcesInterview Connections Website: interviewconnections.com Free Masterclass: interviewconnections.com/masterclass