In this episode of Taking the Lead, Justin Brown engages Christina Brady, SVP of Sales at Spekit, in a candid conversation. They discuss the art of podcasting, outlining the importance of personal stories and the power of non-linear journeys. Christina emphasizes the value of unique narratives, highlighting how they form the backbone of their show.
Justin and Christina also touch on the necessity of enjoying the process. They discuss the monotony of asking the same questions and the need to look forward to every episode. Justin shares his excitement about crafting unique intros for each episode, setting the stage for the conversation to unfold.
Lastly, they explore the importance of evoking strong emotions in listeners. Christina underscores the goal of leaving listeners with a significant feeling, whether it’s joy, motivation, or even frustration. They also discuss the importance of making the guest feel like they’ve had a great conversation. The episode ends with a discussion on the evolution of podcast setups, emphasizing that perfection is not necessary for producing great content.
Featured Guest
Name: Christina Brady
What she does: Host of Taking The Lead, SVP of Sales at Spekit
Company: Spekit
Noteworthy: Christina Brady, a theater and film acting alumna, has transitioned into a thought leader in sales and revenue, hosting the Taking the Lead podcast.
Key Insights
The Art of Guest Selection
Christina shares her inbound and outbound strategy for guest selection on her podcast. She receives numerous referrals and seeks out potential guests, particularly female leaders in interesting companies. However, she emphasizes the importance of maintaining the show’s focus, sometimes having to decline guests who may not align with the B2B SaaS landscape that the show targets. This insight reveals the strategic thought that goes into creating a successful podcast.
The Importance of Enjoying the Process
In their conversation, Justin and Christina stress the importance of enjoying the podcasting process. They discuss the monotony of asking the same questions and the need to look forward to every episode. Justin shares his excitement about crafting unique intros for each episode, setting the stage for the conversation to unfold. This insight underscores the need for passion and enthusiasm in podcasting.
Evoking Strong Emotions
Christina underscores the goal of leaving listeners with a significant feeling, whether it’s joy, motivation, or even frustration. She also emphasizes the importance of making the guest feel like they’ve had a great conversation. This insight highlights the emotional aspect of podcasting and its role in creating engaging content.
Episode Highlights
The Evolution of Podcast Setup
Christina shares her journey of evolving her podcast setup. From recording in her office closet to her current setup, she has continuously improved her environment to enhance the quality of her podcast. She discusses the importance of having a good microphone, headphones, and camera and the need to adjust the setup based on the recording technology used.
“It’s been ridiculous. The first time that I ever recorded anything I did it in the closet of my office because I was so scared of the ambient noise from this window that I was like, I have to be in the closet. And that was weird and echoing, and it didn’t work. And then I was in an office, and then I took my desk, and I faced this window. It had wonderful lighting, but then behind me was a lackluster bed.”
The Art of Steering the Conversation
Christina discusses the challenges of steering the conversation during a podcast. She highlights the need to balance between letting the guest share their story and ensuring that the conversation stays on track. She also emphasizes the importance of extracting thought leadership from the guest.
“I quickly realized that I was also gonna have to be on the backend while I’m participating in these conversations, thinking to myself, how much time are we at? Where do we have to go? What else do I wanna make sure that I’m getting out of this episode? And sometimes, you have guests that are a little bit more shy, and they’re a little bit less talkative, and they don’t necessarily dive in and circle around every answer.”
The Importance of Consistency
Justin and Christina discuss the struggle of maintaining consistency in podcasting. They highlight the importance of being consistent in producing and releasing episodes to keep the audience engaged.
“It’s been two years, and over that two-year timeframe, it wasn’t just this needs to be perfect out of the gates, episode one. There’s been this slow but gradual, great build to get to the point of where you are today. […] I think it’s important for people to hear that again, you don’t have to be perfect outta the gates, and these things come with time.”
The Power of Emotions in Podcasting
Christina emphasizes the goal of leaving listeners with a significant feeling, whether it’s joy, motivation, or even frustration. She also discusses the importance of making the guest feel like they’ve had a great conversation.
“That thing could be like anger or frustration. Maybe you hear something that really takes you off. We’ve got a couple of episodes where the content leans to particular viewpoints. And we go really, really hard. But am I making the listeners feel something big and meaningful, and is the guest leaving feeling like, wow, I just had a great conversation.”
