IAM2756 – How to Stand Out as a Podcast Guest

The Shift from Promotion to Audience Service

A fundamental misconception among many podcast guests is the belief that an appearance should serve primarily as a self-promotional vehicle. In reality, the most impactful guests are those who prioritize serving the audience over pitching their own offers. Achieving this requires a deep understanding of the show’s mission and why it was created, allowing the guest to align their expertise with the specific value the host intends to deliver. By focusing on providing clarity rather than a sales pitch, guests build a higher level of trust that naturally leads to opportunities in the future.

Leveraging Narrative and Practicality for Impact

The most successful guests communicate through stories rather than abstract theory, acknowledging that narrative is far more engaging and memorable for a listener. This storytelling must be balanced with the delivery of practical, actionable takeaways—often referred to as “hacks”—that the audience can implement immediately within their lives or organizations. This combination of emotional engagement through story and immediate utility through practical advice ensures the guest’s message resonates long after the episode concludes.

The Strategic Value of Host Advocacy

Beyond the content itself, elite guests master the subtle art of making the host look good. This involves being cognizant of the podcast's format and time constraints while engaging in a way that elevates the host’s platform. By supporting the host's narrative and providing high-quality, professional responses, the guest reinforces the show's credibility. Ultimately, the goal is not just to stand out, but to deliver such immense value that the appearance becomes a seamless, high-quality experience for both the production team and the end listener.

• Blue Star Franchise: bluestarfranchise.com
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• Is franchising right for you? Check this out to see: bluestarfranchise.com/assessment
• Franchise CEO (A CBNation Site – coming soon) – franchiseceo.co

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Transcription:

Gresham Harkless 00:00
Now, I've been the host on a lot of podcasts, over 1,600 of them. I've been a guest on hundreds of podcasts as well too. And one of the things that I learned about being a great podcast guest is it's not about promoting yourself, even though that might be the draw and the reason that you're hoping to get on a podcast. It's actually about serving the audience. And from what I've seen and experienced, the best guests do 4 things extremely well.

If you're building something meaningful, you're in the right place. This is the I Am CEO Podcast. I'm Gresh, and for over a decade, I've had the honor and the privilege of learning directly from CEOs, entrepreneurs, and business owners just like you on how to build. After recording more than 1,600 episodes, one thing has become clear: success isn't about following someone else's blueprint.. And as I like to say on the show, if you run your own race, you can't lose. Even when you feel the journey should be a straight and linear path, what I've come to find out is success is a lot more like a plate of spaghetti. So in this special segment and episode, I'm starting to curate and share some CEO hacks and CEO nuggets that I've been dying to share, drawn from thousands of episodes with phenomenal guests that have provided awesome value on the show, but also my 10 years of business experience as well too. These lessons are designed to strengthen the foundational principles that every business is built on and guided by a simple equation that we always go back to with our content: visibility plus resources times connections equals success. This is practical wisdom you can apply almost immediately. So be sure to check out the show notes for more resources and next steps on how to level up. And of course, enjoy this special episode of the I Am CEO Podcast.

Gresham Harkless 01:47
Now, I've been the host on a lot of podcasts, over 1,600 of them. I've been a guest on hundreds of podcasts as well too. And one of the things that I learned about being a great podcast guest is it's not about promoting yourself, even though that might be the draw and the reason that you're hoping to get on a podcast. It's actually about serving the audience. And from what I've seen and experienced, the best guests do 4 things extremely well. If you're building something meaningful, you're in the right place. This is the IMCO Podcast. I'm Gresh, and for over a decade, I've had the honor and the privilege of learning directly from CEOs, entrepreneurs, and business owners just like you on how to build. After recording more than 1,600 episodes, one thing has become clear: success isn't about following someone else's blueprint.. And as I like to say on the show, if you run your own race, you can't lose. Even when you feel the journey should be a straight and linear path, what I've come to find out is success is a lot more like a plate of spaghetti. So in this special segment and episode, I'm starting to curate and share some CEO hacks and CEO nuggets that I've been dying to share, drawn from thousands of episodes with phenomenal guests that have provided awesome value on the show, but also my 10 years of business experience as well too. These lessons are designed to strengthen the foundational principles that every business is built on and guided by a simple equation that we always go back to with our content: visibility plus resources times connections equals success. This is practical wisdom you can apply almost immediately. So be sure to check out the show notes for more resources and next steps on how to level up. And of course, enjoy this special episode of the IMCO Podcast. Now, I've been the host on a lot of podcasts, over 1,600 of them. I've been a guest on hundreds of podcasts as well too. And one of the things that I learned about being a great podcast guest is it's not about promoting yourself, even though that might be the draw and the reason that you're hoping to get on a podcast. It's actually about serving the audience. And from what I've seen and experienced, the best guests do 4 things extremely well. Number 1, they understand the show. They have an idea, they've listened to the host, they maybe connected with the host. They have a great understanding on not just what the show is, but why the show was created and what value they can ultimately bring. They answer questions with stories, not theory. Now, of course, you have to be very cognizant of the podcast, how much time you have, what and how you're going to answer, but understand, like I always say, stories take the cake. Number 3, they give practical takeaways. These are things that I like to call the hacks, the things that you can implement right now today to level up within your organization or level up within your life. These guests are able to give you those practical things that you can implement right then and right there. And while it might be a tall task for people like me, Number 4, they make the host look good. So here's the big CEO nugget that you want to take away. If you want to stand out as a guest, you don't just pitch your offer. Deliver clarity and realize the opportunities will come later.