Category Design Episodes

Too many thought leaders and founders treat podcast guesting like a megaphone. Only chasing bigger shows, more downloads, and maximum exposure. But exposure isn't the goal. Business is. Host Tom Schwab sits down with Interview Valet Success Strategist Kristen Nolan to unpack the mindset shift that changes everything: borrowed trust. When you show up on a podcast, you're stepping into a relationship the host has already built. The question is whether you'll make noise or become a magnet. ...

The Brand Trifecta That Turns Noise Into Conversions. Why clarity always comes before conversation with brand architect and author of Muting the Megaphone, Kate DiLeo. With AI, we all have more tools, automations, and content than ever before. But more volume doesn’t equal more trust. With host Tom Schwab, Kate explains her Brand Trifecta - tagline, value proposition, and differentiators – and how getting those three elements right helps the right buyers self-select. Because your clarity m...

In this special solo episode, Interview Valet founder Tom Schwab reads his new minibook, From Megaphone to Magnet: The HOW for Creator Capitalists, a practical companion to the bestselling Creator Capitalist by Christopher Lochhead and Eddie Yoon. Tom breaks down why broadcasting your message to everyone is the wrong strategy, and how strategic podcast interviews serve as the most powerful and most overlooked vehicle for building reputation capital and relationship capital. From context and c...

AI allows us to generate average content at scale. So staying average may be the most dangerous place to be. Barry LaBov, author of The Power of Differentiation, joins host Tom Schwab to explore what makes you truly different. Not louder, not trendier, but genuinely distinct. Barry says your differentiation is likely already there, you just need to discover it, honor it, and celebrate it. Whether you're building a brand, growing a business, or showing up as a podcast guest, this conversation ...

AI isn't rewarding noise, it's rewarding signal. Andreas Voniatis, who built his first machine learning model in 2019 and founder of Artios.io, joins Tom Schwab to break down how AI search (GEO) is fundamentally different from traditional SEO. Generic, rehashed content won't get you recommended. Proprietary research, real conversations, and original insights will. Discover why podcast interviews are uniquely positioned to feed AI the kind of content it's looking for, how to become visible, an...

What if being boldly different isn't a risk, but your biggest competitive advantage? Guerrilla marketing legend Rick Bennett, the mind behind some of Silicon Valley's most audacious campaigns for Oracle and Salesforce, shares why playing it safe is the riskiest move you can make. With host Tom Schwab, Rick shares how bold, category-defining messaging — built on what only you can say — is exactly what separates forgettable podcast guests from unforgettable ones. From hijacking conferences t...

Are you building authority or just making noise? AI advisor, and podcast and marketing veteran, Matt Halloran shares how LinkedIn, podcasting, and AI are converging into a single powerful filter. The filter that determines who gets seen, heard, and hired. Matt breaks down why your LinkedIn profile must pass the authority test, how AI is indexing your content across every platform, and why smart content reuse beats creating more. Whether you're a speaker, leader, or entrepreneur, this episode ...

What if standing out on podcasts isn’t about being better but about owning a category? Co-authors of The Category Creation Formula and original voice behind Play Bigger, Mike Damphousse and Kevin Maney, break down how category design actually works in practice. Talking with host Tom Schwab, they discuss why product-market fit is backward thinking and how leaders can craft a point of view that makes them unforgettable. Plus, Mike & Kevin share the proven formula and why becoming a category of ...

Author of Do It! Marketing David Newman unpacks the powerful idea of market eminence, the ability to become the first, most trusted choice in your category without shouting for attention. Drawing from David’s new book with host Tom Schwab, the conversation explores how professionals can rise above AI-generated noise by shifting from “how-to” content to leadership-driven, belief-shaping ideas. David shares actionable frameworks, contrarian thinking, and three clarifying questions you can use i...

PR strategist and thought leadership expert Trevor Young unpacks what it really takes to dominate your category without chasing empty hype. Talking with host Tom Schwab, Trevor introduces his Rolling Thunder strategy, a long-game approach to visibility built on consistency, credibility, and trust rather than one-off “big splash” moments. Tom and Trevor dig deep into the distinction between earned authority and manufactured influence, challenging the obsession with follower counts, virality, a...

Journalist and ghostwriter Katrina Kirsch explains why clarity rarely comes from writing and almost always comes from speaking. Katrina, who has helped craft many of Category Pirates’ bestselling mini books, explains that most leaders think best out loud, not on the page. With host Tom Schwab, she shares how verbal communication unlocks stronger ideas, clearer frameworks, and more authentic points of view, and why mini books have become such an effective way to package expertise for today’s busy...

What happens when the godfather of category design returns with a bold new playbook for the post-AI world? Legendary thinker Christopher Lochhead joins us in this milestone 100th episode to explore the radical shift reshaping business, creativity, and marketing: the rise of the Creator Capitalist. For seventy years, the "knowledge economy" rewarded people for what they knew. But in the age of AI, existing knowledge is free and ubiquitous. The winners will be those who create net new value. Wi...

How do you stand out as a trusted authority in an age where AI can generate anything, but not everything feels real? Drew McLellan, CEO of Agency Management Institute and host of Build a Better Agency, explores how AI is reshaping the way agencies attract and serve clients. With over 500 podcast episodes and decades of experience coaching agency owners, Drew shares with host Tom Schwab why authentic human connection is still the ultimate competitive advantage. They discuss how podcasting buil...

What if the biggest reason your marketing isn’t working has nothing to do with your price, your pitch, or even your product? Al Ramadan, co-founder of Play Bigger and co-author of the groundbreaking book Play Bigger: How Pirates, Dreamers, and Innovators Create and Dominate Markets, talks with Tom Schwab about the existing marketing trap. The mistake of competing for attention in crowded, established markets instead of creating and owning a new category. Al shares how he’s helped companies ge...

If you’ve ever felt like you didn’t fit the mold (and had no desire to), this episode with Iron Mike Steadman, Peak Performance Coach and Category Designer for Underdogs and Misfits, is for you. His conversation with host Tom Schwab will inspire you to turn that difference into your greatest business advantage. A Naval Academy graduate, Marine combat veteran, and founder of The Misfits and the Frontline Voices podcast, Mike is on a mission to help military veterans, underdogs, and unapologeti...

This conversation is the answer to everyone’s question, “Is this a good podcast for me?” This groundbreaking conversation with Luke Belbina, co-founder of Pod Engine, shares a long-overdue innovation in podcast marketing with host Tom Schwab: The Podcast Authority Score. For years, podcast guesting has felt like guesswork, relying on incomplete or misleading metrics like download numbers. But now, with the power of AI and real-world podcast data, that’s about to change. Luke and Tom discuss w...

Pablo Gonzalez, widely known as Pablo the Connector, talks with host Tom Schwab about what it really means to lead in today’s business landscape. They explore a pivotal question: Are you building a company, or are you designing a category? If you're focused solely on competing, you'll always be stuck in someone else's sandbox. But if you choose to create a new category, you play your own game on your own terms. Pablo shares how he's transformed the art of conversation into a scalable business...

In a crowded and noisy marketplace, the story you tell determines whether you’re seen as indispensable or easily replaceable. John Rougeux, founder of Flag and Frontier and leading voice in the field of category design, explores how your...

What if your biggest business challenge isn’t your product or service, but the category it lives in, or doesn’t? This week we hear from Kevin Maney, co-author of Play Bigger and founding partner of Category Design Advisors, with a...

If you’ve ever felt like marketing is just a numbers game - throwing money at ads and hoping something sticks - this episode with Eddie Yoon will change your mind. The co-creator of Category Pirates and co-author of Superconsumers from Harvard...

What if everything you've been told about digital marketing is actually hurting your business? In this eye-opening conversation, Tom Schwab sits down with Bill Troy, co-founder of Polaris Institute and author of Click Sand: How Online Marketing Will...

One of the biggest obstacles business owners face today is obscurity. In a climate where everyone is vying for attention and we’re all saturated with noise, how are brands successfully standing out in a crowded marketplace? Host Tom Schwab talks...

There are probably more untruths about podcast guesting than there are truths about podcast guesting. After reading Paul Colligan’s Podcast Guest Manifesto, Interview Valet founder Tom Schwab had to sit down and dive into the thought-provoking...