All Things Podcast, with Christine Baird, Ep #99

On this episode of The Coming Clean Podcast, we have podcast maven, producer Christine Baird. Christine went from being in corporate insurance sales to becoming the producer of the School of Greatness podcast. She was able to take that podcast from under 1 million downloads to over 80 million downloads! She is the CEO and president of Worthfull Media, and she is a co-host of Think Like a Producer. I’m excited to have her share her journey with us today. Listen in to hear more.

You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in...

The importance of worth [08:33]
The most common theme for success [19:48]
How to build rapport and create a safe space [25:19]
Common mistakes most podcasters make [30:02]
How to become a master podcaster [34:43]
How do we prepare for a good interview? [49:05]

Christine before podcasts

Christine Baird started her career like many others. She went to college, got a degree, and worked a stable job in a cubicle. In 2013, a friend sent her an episode of the Rich Roll, which hooked her to podcasts. From there, she started finding new self-development, wellness, entrepreneurship shows and would listen to them non-stop. In 2014 Christine decided she was done with the office and would move into podcasts.

Christine was influenced by podcasters like Lewis Howes and Rich Roll. She heard people tell their stories with their own voice, in a long-form format, where they were allowed to be intimate and vulnerable. An intimacy unlocks when you turn on these microphones, and you’re completely present with another person. As humans, when we tell the stories of our lives in a safe place, where we know that people who are listening want to hear it, we start to share the wisdom.

Encouraging intimate conversations

It’s essential to make time before the cameras start rolling to connect. Build genuine connections and welcome people to your space. Before the cameras start rolling, ask if there are any off-limit topics. Asking permission shows the guest that you’re in their corner. That’s something Christine learned from Lewis Howes. Asking these sorts of questions helps the guests be more comfortable when Lewis would dig deep because they knew he was a safe place. We’re all human, and we want to be safe, respected, and loved.

A great way to learn how to respect a guest before they come for the interview is to research. Spend a couple of hours digging through someone’s old social media posts or reading their book. Learn how they got to where they are today, beyond the glossy surface. Even if you’re already familiar with the topic, look beyond that and learn about the person. That will welcome the guest and help them feel comfortable because you know who they are as a person.

Learning how to podcast well

Ideally, before you even launch your show, you’ve done five to 10 episodes with just good friends. You may never release those, but it’s good practice. Another thing outside of the actual practice is to practice listening in every conversation. Start practicing being an intentional, focused, compassionate listener in every relationship in your life. Practice being a good listener, practice being empathetic, practice listening to what’s not being said, and you will have a revelatory experience.

Resources & People Mentioned

Connect with Christine Baird

Connect With Peter O. Estévez

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