Creating The Greatest Show Ringmaster

Our special guest today is Mike Montague, a professional podcaster, speaker, writer, & game show host at Playful Humans and VP of Community Engagement at Sandler. Mike shares his insights on podcasting, emphasizing the importance of 'tent poles' - knowing the beginning, middle, and end of the show. These tent poles allow for flexibility and improvisation while ensuring the podcast is structured and engaging. Mike also discusses the importance of listening in interviews, preparation, and making content audience-centric. He details his experiences hosting the How to Succeed Podcast and his passion project, the Playful Humans Podcast.

Takeaways:
Although a certain level of spontaneity is necessary, make sure that you are prepared with a clear agenda and direction for your podcast; this includes doing preliminary research on your guest if applicable.Having a clear structure, and implementing 'tent poles' or clear markers for the beginning, middle, and end of your podcast helps you stay organized while also allowing for flexibility and spontaneity.Be responsive and adaptive to the conversation flow. It's okay to deviate from your script and follow the flow of the conversation, as it can yield more authentic and engaging discussions.Incorporate entertainment and education: A successful podcast often educates its listeners while simultaneously keeping them entertained. While both host and guests are important, prioritizing the value you provide for your audience should be paramount.
Quote of the Show:
“I'm kind of an improv guy. I like to do it live. I like to see what happens. Mistakes are okay, I'm not trying to create this polished interview that is perfect. I want it to be a little messy.” - Mike Montague
Links:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikedmontague Personal website: https://mikemontague.com Playful Humans website: https://playfulhumans.com Sandler Training website: https://www.sandler.com The Playful Humans Podcast: https://podcast.playfulhumans.com The How to Succeed Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-to-succeed-podcast/id1097591566 
Ways to Tune In:
Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/12f108ea-018f-44a6-8bb0-9444e9cbf3cc Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/creating-the-greatest-show/id1638399900Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1B7OnWCGoxBRzH2rbkEFIf Google Podcast: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkLnBvZGJlYW4uY29tL2NyZWF0aW5ndGhlZ3JlYXRlc3RzaG93L2ZlZWQueG1sPodchaser: https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/creating-the-greatest-show-4823789 YouTube: https://youtu.be/oOrnMG8Ar7kCreating The Greatest Show is produced and sponsored by Ringmaster, on a mission to create connections through B2B podcasts. Learn more at https://ringmaster.com/ 

Our special guest today is Lindsay McGuire, the Associate Director of Content & Campaigns at Goldcast and host of the event series Donuts & Demand. Join Lindsay and our host Casey Cheshire as they delve into strategies such as polls and giveaways to increase audience engagement and the importance of creating content that caters to the audience's interests. Lindsay highlights her love for the 'surprise and delight' elements of live events, noting that these are key in retaining audience attention. She also cautions on the importance of carrying out 'tech-checks' before the event and shares several horror stories from past live event mishaps. Lindsay talks about embracing unpredictability and being transparent with the audience as key to successful live event hosting. They also discuss the content strategy after event participation, specifically for marketing purposes.
 
Takeaways:
Make Use of Polls: Utilize polls to not only engage your audience but also to get valuable feedback, which you can use to improve your content or serve your audience better.Regular Tech Checks: Perform regular tech checks before going live to avoid disruptions. The purpose of the tech check is not only to test equipment but also to ensure everyone's familiar with the platform being used.Be Interactive & Strategic: Plan to make your live event or show exciting and interactive. This includes thinking about how to engage your audience, planning surprises, and considering how to phase key moments.Practice Makes Perfect: The more live events you do, the more comfortable and professional you will become. Expect things to go wrong and when they do, stay positive and maintain an authentic and relatable persona.Importance of Engagement: Quality of engagement is more important than quantity. Even if the audience is small, if they are highly engaged then you're on the right track. It opens the door for relationship-building with the audience.Plan Your Content: Be strategic in your planning. Consider your audience and aim to provide what they want to see or hear rather than pushing content you assume they'll like.Be Real and Authentic: Show authenticity and realness in your shows. This helps to create a deeper connection with your audience and makes you relatable which in turn increases engagement.
Quote of the Show:
“You can be less polished and perfect and a little more relatable. We want those authentic and personal moments.” - Lindsay McGuire
Links:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/McGuireWrites LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lindsayladeroute Website: https://www.goldcast.io 
Ways to Tune In:
Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/12f108ea-018f-44a6-8bb0-9444e9cbf3cc Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/creating-the-greatest-show/id1638399900Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1B7OnWCGoxBRzH2rbkEFIf Google Podcast: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkLnBvZGJlYW4uY29tL2NyZWF0aW5ndGhlZ3JlYXRlc3RzaG93L2ZlZWQueG1sPodchaser: https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/creating-the-greatest-show-4823789 YouTube: https://youtu.be/URahHYi2HE4 Creating The Greatest Show is produced and sponsored by Ringmaster, on a mission to create connections through B2B podcasts. Learn more at https://ringmaster.com/ 

Our special guest today is Travis Lachner, CEO and Creative Director of Beast Node and host of The B2Beast Podcast. Join Travis and our host Casey Cheshire as they delve into the art of podcasting, emphasizing the importance of making shows entertaining as well as informative. Travis shares insights about preparing guests for interviews, creating engaging segments, and utilizing podcast episodes as effective B2B sales tools. He also discusses memorable strategies he has used to make his podcasts enjoyable and engaging, such as integrating games and unboxing sessions into the shows, whilst still keeping a professional front and maintaining a business-focused conversation. Travis encourages organic conversations over heavily scripted ones and highlights the importance of deeply researching guests for successful interactions.

Takeaways:
Prepare your podcast script meticulously, including aspects like speaker names, sectors, and contents. The script acts as a roadmap that gives the conversations and dialogues a clear sense of direction.For each podcast, have clearly outlined segments such as an intro, main interview, and a fun closing element. This provides a solid structure for your conversations and helps keep your audience engaged throughout the episode. When interviewing guests for your podcast, put the spotlight on the guest. Devote more time to extracting and showcasing their expertise and experiences rather than dominating the conversation yourself.When it comes to prepping your guests, stick to offering a summary of the segments that will be covered during the interview. Avoid providing them with a list of specific questions as it can lead to rehearsed answers and an unengaging conversation.Consider integrating segment-based strategies in your podcast. For example, a closing game segment can add an element of excitement and fun, improving audience retention.Master the art of conducting a post-show conversation or "green room" chat. This casual chit-chat after the main interview can open doors for further conversations and establish deeper relationships with your guests.If the objective of your podcast show is to generate leads or make sales, use the opportunity to gently introduce your services or products during the post-show chat. Rather than making it sound like a sales pitch, express it in a way that illustrates how your services/products could offer value to the guest.
Quote of the Show:
“The best shows that are succeeding, sustaining, and generating positive ROI have at least some element of entertainment attached to it.” - Travis Lachner
Links:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/travislachner Website: https://thebeastnode.com 
Ways to Tune In:
Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/12f108ea-018f-44a6-8bb0-9444e9cbf3cc Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/creating-the-greatest-show/id1638399900Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1B7OnWCGoxBRzH2rbkEFIf Google Podcast: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkLnBvZGJlYW4uY29tL2NyZWF0aW5ndGhlZ3JlYXRlc3RzaG93L2ZlZWQueG1sPodchaser: https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/creating-the-greatest-show-4823789 YouTube: https://youtu.be/xCBZoCfRnkYCreating The Greatest Show is produced and sponsored by Ringmaster, on a mission to create connections through B2B podcasts. Learn more at https://ringmaster.com/ 

In this episode, Casey chats with Lindsay Tjepkema, CEO and Co-Founder of Casted, a podcast and video marketing platform built for B2B marketers. They discuss the importance of human connection in podcasting, the influence of AI, and the relevance of high-quality metrics in knowing your audience. Lindsay emphasizes the importance of an authentic and audience-focused approach in podcasting, rather than focusing on the host or guest. She also shares some of the challenges and opportunities for creating quality content, and her views on promotions, seasons, and sponsorships in podcasts.
 
Takeaways:
Look for ways to educate your audience. Use your podcast as a medium to enlighten your audience about relevant and interesting topics.Remember that human connection is a basic business need. Even though technology and automation might streamline processes, the need for human interaction is fundamental and should not be overlooked.Keep your audience as the top priority. Use your role as the host not to serve your own interests, but to provide value and serve your listeners.Constantly evaluate your podcast's performance. Always ask yourself: what does a successful podcast look like to you? Use this vision to shape your podcast's current strategies and future growth.Taking product discussions into the podcast should be done strategically. Ensure that it adds value to your listeners rather than sounding like an overt promotional activity.Be passionate about authentic brand building. Strive to convey the true essence of your brand in every podcast episode you create.Strive to connect on a human level with your guests. This not only improves the quality of conversation but also makes your audience feel more engaged.
Quote of the Show:
“The brands that get it right and have the most loyal following are the ones that prioritize getting creative about human connection.” - Lindsay Tjepkema
Links:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/LindsayTjepkema LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lindsaytjepkema Website: https://www.casted.us The Casted Podcast: https://podcast.casted.us 
Ways to Tune In:
Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/12f108ea-018f-44a6-8bb0-9444e9cbf3cc Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/creating-the-greatest-show/id1638399900Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1B7OnWCGoxBRzH2rbkEFIf Google Podcast: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkLnBvZGJlYW4uY29tL2NyZWF0aW5ndGhlZ3JlYXRlc3RzaG93L2ZlZWQueG1sPodchaser: https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/creating-the-greatest-show-4823789 YouTube: https://youtu.be/vn1XWhOuys0Creating The Greatest Show is produced and sponsored by Ringmaster, on a mission to create connections through B2B podcasts. Learn more at https://ringmaster.com/ 

Our special guest today is Dr. mOe Anderson (Monica "mOe" (Frazier) Anderson, DDS, DBA, FICD), the host of The Perpetual mOetion Podcast. In this episode, she shares her experiences as a podcaster and a passionate public speaker. She highlights the importance of having quality, open-minded podcast guests who provide value and empower people. Dr. Anderson stresses that her objective is to educate listeners and give them tangible takeaways for personal transformation. A notable strategy she uses is to prepare questions that explore the journey of her guests, leading to revelations about their experiences and thought processes. Dr. Anderson also discusses the challenges she faces, such as time management and the growing numbers of people trying to profit from podcasters, and shares her goals for the future of her show.

Takeaways:
Diversify your guest list: Regularly invite individuals from different backgrounds, industries, and perspectives to be guests on your show. This enriches the conversations and makes your show more interesting to a broader audience.Prepare thoroughly for each guest: Before you speak with your guests, thoroughly vet them and prepare for the interview. This helps to create a more engaging conversation and allows you to ask deeper and more insightful questions.Consider adding visual components to your podcast: With the increasing popularity of video content, consider integrating video components into your podcasts. This can expand your audience and increase engagement. Look for authenticity in your guests: Prioritize guests who are open, genuine, and willing to share meaningful information, not just promote their products or services. This contributes to the overall value of your podcast. Embrace humility in your podcasting journey: Remember that even as the host, there's always something new to learn from your guests. Set aside any ego and approach each conversation with curiosity and a desire to learn.Be selective in accepting guest pitches: Avoid guests who offer basic, cookie-cutter advice and those who are primarily focused on self-promotion. Instead, prioritize individuals who have unique insights and fresh perspectives to offer your audience.Leverage your podcasting network: Make the most of your relationships with past guests by seeking their recommendations for future interviewees. This can help maintain the quality and diversity of your guest pipeline.
Quote of the Show:
“I want to educate people. I want them to have some transformation, something to take away. So I look for quality guests who are really about empowering people.” - Monica Anderson

Links:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/drmoeanderson LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drmoeanderson Personal Website: https://drmoeanderson.com Perpetual mOetion With Dr mOe Anderson: https://podfollow.com/perpetual-moetion-with-dr-moe-anderson Book Link: https://www.amazon.com/Monica-F-Anderson/e/B000APL3J2?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1702664159&sr=8-1 
Ways to Tune In:
Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/12f108ea-018f-44a6-8bb0-9444e9cbf3cc Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/creating-the-greatest-show/id1638399900Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1B7OnWCGoxBRzH2rbkEFIf Google Podcast: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkLnBvZGJlYW4uY29tL2NyZWF0aW5ndGhlZ3JlYXRlc3RzaG93L2ZlZWQueG1sPodchaser: https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/creating-the-greatest-show-4823789 YouTube: https://youtu.be/po3pY5u9PzMCreating The Greatest Show is produced and sponsored by Ringmaster, on a mission to create connections through B2B podcasts. Learn more at https://ringmaster.com/ 

Today, we have a special guest—a business leader, serial entrepreneur, and passionate storyteller. Meet Anna Ratala, the Founder & CEO of Zvook, a cutting-edge podcast advertising platform designed for the modern marketer. Zvook, inspired by storytellers and driven by AI, enables brands to effortlessly discover relevant podcasts and book host-read ads with a few clicks—no sales calls or budget minimums required. Additionally, Anna hosts the Found(H)er Mind Podcast, offering an audio journal insight into the journey of a startup founder and the behind-the-scenes of building a venture-backed business.

Takeaways:
Be authentic and passionate about your journey or topic. Don't overly tailor content to the audience; let them gather around your genuine passion. Keep the podcast conversational, making listeners feel like they're part of an engaging discussion.Choose guests wisely, especially in the beginning. Opt for those comfortable with podcasts to ease into a conversational flow. Prioritize a relaxed atmosphere; practice with friends if needed. When recording, forget about the "record" button—be genuine to yourself, overcoming the initial fear of being on air.In podcasts, authenticity matters more than scripted perfection; let your genuine voice and personality come through for a more engaging and relatable experience.Create a safe space for yourself and your guests to be genuine, fostering a truly engaging and authentic atmosphere. Your authenticity sets the tone for your guests to feel comfortable and be themselves.People dislike bad and poorly targeted ads, not ads in general. Focus on creating authentic, well-targeted ads that tell compelling stories about products and services. In modern advertising, authenticity matters—shift from hard selling to creating emotional connections and experiences that resonate with your audience.Harness the power of influence and word of mouth. People trust recommendations, whether from friends or familiar influencers like podcast hosts. Building a genuine connection fosters a sense of familiarity, making your brand more relatable and appealing.Boost your podcast's reach by advertising on similar podcasts. This approach is effective as you're not pushing sales; instead, you're leveraging the existing podcast-listening habit. Listeners are more likely to check out a recommended podcast within the same genre, creating a seamless and successful promotional strategy.
Quote of the Show:
“People don't hate ads, they hate bad and poorly targeted ads.” - Anna Ratala
Links:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AnnaRatala LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annaratala Website: https://www.linkedin.com/company/zvook-co The Found(H)er Mind Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/found-h-er-mind/id1657616833 
Ways to Tune In:
Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/12f108ea-018f-44a6-8bb0-9444e9cbf3cc Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/creating-the-greatest-show/id1638399900Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1B7OnWCGoxBRzH2rbkEFIf Google Podcast: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkLnBvZGJlYW4uY29tL2NyZWF0aW5ndGhlZ3JlYXRlc3RzaG93L2ZlZWQueG1sPodchaser: https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/creating-the-greatest-show-4823789 YouTube: https://youtu.be/h5CEp6Q6C-MCreating The Greatest Show is produced and sponsored by Ringmaster, on a mission to create connections through B2B podcasts. Learn more at https://ringmaster.com/