Episodes

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 ...

What’s the real secret to long-term success in podcasting, and in business and life? Founder of the Morning Coach and host of nearly 6,000 daily episodes over 20 years, JB Glossinger says that it’s consistency. It isn’t theory; it’s decades of hard-earned experience. Talking with host Tom Schwab, JB breaks down how consistency builds trust, keeps your message fresh, and creates meaningful connections, even on days you don’t feel like showing up. Whether you’ve done one interview or a thousand...

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...

CEO of Podfest Multimedia Expo and Authority Ghostwriting, Nick Pavlidis, shares one of the most underutilized strategies for authors and thought leaders: the podcast book tour. Drawing from his work behind the scenes with bestselling authors and his firsthand role in helping host Tom Schwab bring his own book to life, Nick explains why trust is the true currency of business and how consistent conversations scale authority far more effectively than isolated content. Together, they explore how...

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...

Interview Valet founder Tom Schwab and Marketing Manager Tiffany Meenk sit down to examine podcast and marketing trends in 2026. Rather than making conventional “predictions,” Tom and Tiffany examine the data, the industry signals, and the on-the-ground experiences from hundreds of Interview Valet clients to outline where podcast-driven marketing is undeniably heading. They unpack the dramatic transition from keyword-driven marketing to conversation-driven discovery, fueled by AI platforms no...

Every December, marketers make bold predictions about what’s coming next. Very few ever come back to admit whether they were right or completely wrong. Host Tom Schwab is joined by Interview Valet’s Marketing Manager, Tiffany Meenk, to do exactly that. Together, they revisit the eight predictions they made a year ago about marketing, podcasting, and business growth, and grade themselves honestly on how 2025 actually unfolded. From the dominance of AI in marketing, to why collaborative cont...

What if the question you've been asking yourself is too small? Jason Jaggard, author of Beyond High Performance and founder of Novus Global, discusses the mindset shift that separates high performers from “meta performers”. With host Tom Schwab, Jason challenges one of the most common ambitions in business and life: becoming “the best.” Instead, he urges leaders, athletes, entrepreneurs, and creators to ask a far more powerful question: What am I truly capable of? You’ll also hear a timely...

What if dominating your market had nothing to do with shouting louder, and everything to do with serving deeper? Sean Garner, marketing agency leader, breaks down what modern marketing really requires today. Spoiler: It isn’t more tactics, more noise, or more hustle. It’s clarity, strategy, and a system that turns every podcast interview into a high-leverage marketing asset. With host Tom Schwab, Sean pulls back the curtain on his Marketing Domination Framework, explaining why most business o...

What if your next podcast interview wasn’t just another conversation, but the moment your ideal clients start to trust, remember, and genuinely connect with you? Interview Valet Senior Client Account Manager Liz Brooks talks with host Tom Schwab to unpack the branding fundamentals every guest needs before hitting record. Together, they explore why your brand is far more than your logo, color palette, or fonts. It’s the promise you make, and the experience you consistently deliver across every...

If you’re an author or aspire to become one, this episode is a masterclass in turning your words into long-term wealth. Award-winning screenwriter, film and television executive producer, and author Aurora Winter shares her wisdom that could save you years of frustration and put your book on the fast track to profitability. Drawing from her experience writing ten books, ghostwriting for high-level leaders, and helping entrepreneurs craft seven-figure messages, Aurora explains why most authors...

Too many podcast guests treat podcast interview marketing like a 30-day challenge, expecting quick wins, instant leads, and viral results. Interview Valet’s Chief Operating Officer, Jessica Morgan, and Tom Schwab pull back the curtain on what it really takes to turn podcast interviews into predictable, long-term results. Revealing that the sprint mentality is what’s holding you back. They discuss the warning signs that you’re stuck in sprint mode, the importance of consistency over intensity,...

Most leaders think the work is done once they book the interview. But if you’re just showing up and talking, you’re leaving the real results on the table. Private media strategist to Fortune 500 CEOs and founder of Hidden Entrepreneur, Josh Cary, explains why podcast guesting isn’t about filling airtime. Talking with host Tom Schwab, he shares how intentionally shaping your message, your presence, and your positioning will drive listeners to lean in, connect, and take action. Josh reveals the...

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...

If you’re still marketing like it’s the year 2000, this episode is your wake-up call. Host Tom Schwab sits down with Interview Valet’s Marketing Manager, Tiffany Meenk, to unpack why the strategies that built brands in the early 2000s will bury them in 2025. Together, they explore what it means to market in a post-SEO, AI-accelerated world, one where trust trumps attention, and relationships outperform reach. From the death of keywords and vanity metrics to the rise of trust-based, human-driv...

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 everything you’ve been taught about selling is wrong? The world’s number one authority on trust-based selling, Ari Galper, challenges the traditional numbers game approach to sales. Talking with host Tom Schwab, he shares his belief that we’re living in a trust recession, where prospects are skeptical, sales funnels are broken, and chasing leads only erodes credibility. Together, they unpack why the old-school funnel fails and introduce a revolutionary alternative - The Sales Cylinder...

What if your most powerful asset as a consultant, coach, or professional service provider wasn’t your expertise, credentials, or case studies - but your intuition? Samantha Hartley, of Enlightened Marketing, flips the script on how to stay indispensable in the age of AI during this conversation with host Tom Schwab. Drawing from her popular newsletter, Samantha explains why gut instinct, discernment, and lived experience are the real differentiators that no algorithm can replicate. She and To...

Tech pioneer, leadership coach, and host of the Pull The Chute podcast, Jeff Sesol, and host Tom Schwab talk about what happens when innovation moves faster than our ability to process it. From building FreeDrive in the 90s, one of the earliest online file storage companies, to coaching leaders and hosting a top podcast, Jeff has seen firsthand how disruption reshapes the way we work and live. Together, they explore how AI is transforming productivity and relationships, why human thinking and...

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...

This special edition episode gives you exclusive access to a presentation that most people won’t get to hear outside the event. Straight from the stage of The Build A Better Agency Summit, Tom Schwab shares how you can make ChatGPT your best referral source. In this talk, Tom reveals how AI has become one of the strongest new drivers of referrals, and how thought leaders, consultants, and professional service experts can position themselves to take advantage of it. You’ll hear his journey of ...

You landed a podcast interview but do you really want it? Often guests want to land a show without first considering if it will drive the results they are looking for. Too often, guests show up, share in their expertise, and walk away with no leads, no traction, and no ROI. The problem isn’t the podcast itself; it’s that they didn’t get the right interview, only the one that was offered. Host Tom Schwab talks with Interview Valet’s Senior Client Account Manager and PR expert Liz Brooks about ...

If the thought of networking events makes you cringe, you’re not alone. Senior Account Manager and Podcast Strategist at Interview Valet, Kristen Nolan, talks about reimagining how real connections are built in today’s digital world. With that, Kristen introduces the idea of “Anti-Networking”, a smarter, more scalable way to grow your influence and authority without the awkward small talk or stacks of business cards. Instead of spending evenings at lackluster events, podcast interviews allow ...