“How many more of these do we have to do?”

I knew we had a problem the moment I got that question in a meeting.

We had just launched a company podcast under one premise — that our co-founder should host the show because he was a former finance leader who would be chatting with other finance leaders.

But after three recordings, he was wondering what the endgame was.

We had a couple of options. We could try to re-explain the value and importance of showing up consistently for the long haul. Or we could find a new host.

And that’s how I found myself hosting The Role Forward as Mosaic’s content lead.

At the time, I was uncomfortable with the whole idea. I had all kinds of excuses not to do it in my head.

I’ve always “just” been a writer. Public speaking was never my thing (let alone being on camera). I had no background in finance, so who would take me seriously as the host?

And yet, two years later, here I am still hosting the company podcast.

Looking back, there’s one major lesson — that the person who should host your podcast is the one who will keep it consistent.

Showing up is, first and foremost, the difference between podcast success and failure. Get through a handful of episodes, and you’re already in the top 25% of shows. And when you’re committed to the long game, you’ll find success.

If you’re like me and feel like you have no business taking the reigns of the company podcast, remember that the only real qualification you need is a willingness to learn.

Show up and be genuinely curious about your guest. Ask deep questions and step out of the way. Shine a spotlight on them and let them show off their expertise. Listen closely and ask follow-up questions.

You don’t need to be a subject matter expert to host the company podcast. You just need to be yourself, own your level of knowledge, and push forward.

It’s worked out for me, and I hope it’ll work for you, too.

— Joe Michalowski

Featured content

Kick the candy bar content

In this debut episode of Content Head, I dig into the importance of making your marketing efforts as sustainable as possible. Consistency isn’t always flashy, but putting in the work of serving your customers day after day is what makes all the difference. And your marketing strategies should work with you (not against you) in making that possible.

I can think of at least a few projects in my experience that have had limited success because of a bout of perfectionism that delayed delivery. Trying to make everything look, sound, and feel perfect is a noble goal. But this statement from Dallion is a good reminder that done is often better than perfect. Yes, push to do the best work possible. But your work is more valuable out in the world than it is behind the scenes getting that little extra polish from the team. Set a high bar — but keep shipping.

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One last thing…

Hope you’ve enjoyed this inaugural edition of the Marketers in Demand newsletter. We’re excited to bring you a new one every other week. But before we go, I’d love it if you’d subscribe to our newest show, Content Head. Each episode will give you a quick-hitting lesson I’ve learned while leading content for Mosaic, a B2B SaaS company.

Thanks for reading. See you for the next one.

— Joe Michalowski

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