Have you ever started listening to a podcast and thought, "Why does this matter?" Or maybe even, "How is this relevant?"

Picture this: the host kicks off with, “Tell me about yourself.” What follows is a meandering journey through the guest’s favorite childhood cartoons and a random story about how Toucan Sam from Fruit Loops cereal inspired them to take up sailing.

Sound familiar? 😅 We've all been there!

That first question is crucial. It sets the tone for the entire podcast, shaping the experience for both your guest and your listeners.

Don't waste it.

Wes Kao, co-founder of Maven, hits the nail on the head in her article, “Start your story right before you get eaten by the bear.” She warns of “backstory creep”—a slow flood of unnecessary details that can turn a gripping story into a snooze-fest. And once listeners zone out, it's hard to get them back.

Here’s the key: Backstory can be useful, but not all backstory matters. Instead, look for a unique, unexpected detail about your guest that aligns with your audience. This keeps both the guest and listeners intrigued from the get-go.

So, skip the "Tell me about yourself" routine. Dive into something fresh, engaging, and relevant.

Your guest will appreciate it—and your audience will, too! 🎧

Till next time!

Eric Rutherford

P.S. How You Can Work with Me:

If you are trying to learn more about podcasting specifics and what it can look like for your company, a 1:1 strategy session would be the best option.

​Grab your 1:1 Strategy Call here and walk away with answers to all of your podcast questions instead of spending weeks of time researching and wondering if what ChatGPT says is true about podcasting.

OR

If you know you want to launch a podcast for your company or you have already launched one and want to outsource production, reply back and we will talk through what next steps look like.

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