How to Keep Your Podcast Rolling ... Even in a Crisis
Sat Feb 07 2026
What keeps the podcast machine rolling when ice storms, guest rejections, and burnout threaten your production? How to book better guests, maintain your standards, and plan for resets in this episode of Big Podcast Playbook ...
Big Ideas in This Episode
Reject generic pitches; stand out and win guests I got rejected by Seth Godin ... Why to never start interviews with "Tell me about yourself" Ditch TikTok-style guest audio Steal Hollywood's high-output secret Reset your podcast brand Don't let your audience trap you forever Why You Should Listen
How to book A-list podcast guests—even if you have zero connections (and why begging publicists is killing your growth) Steal the ultra-rare "pre-interview research secret" that makes guests desperate to say yes (and spill their best secrets on your show) The deadliest mistake 99% of podcasters make with guest outreach ... and how to write irresistible pitches that cut straight through the noise The trick that lets you sidestep gatekeepers, leapfrog industry hierarchies, and go directly to the talent YOU want (instead of settling for scraps) Why "Dear Sir, I recently listened to…" makes you invisible ... and the exact wording to become an unforgettable host A psychological hack ripped from 90s direct mail that can snag you top experts, even when money isn't enough How rejection can be secretly more valuable than landing a big name ... and the story you can use to beat your competitors Discover the sneaky way to set standards so high, even so-called "influencers" have to up their game to be on YOUR podcast The "Aunt Mildred on Zoom" disaster: why lenient audio standards are killing your show's growth—and how to make every guest perform like a pro The forbidden rule: When (and why) to say NO to famous guests ... so you can build jealous demand and take full control of your microphone The unseen release discipline secret that separates billion-dollar brands from podfade nobodies—even during disaster, chaos, or epic hangovers How to "batch" your recordings and create unstoppable podcast momentum ... even on a shoestring schedule (lazy but lethal) The real reason being "over-prepared" will DESTROY your interviews (and how Mike Tyson's punch-in-the-face rule can set you free) The "season arc" masterplan that keeps listeners glued, destroys boredom, and creates fans willing to beg for the next episode How to time the perfect podcast reset ... so you never get trapped in a format you hate (and keep your freedom, fame, and audience envy forever) Episode Timestamps
[05:00] The "thousand-dollar letter" gambit: How David Hooper tried to win Seth Godin's attention with an outlandish donation—and why it spectacularly backfired [07:11] Why "Tell me about yourself" is a rookie podcast mistake ... and what happens when you give stars an open mic about their latest thing [09:18] The embarrassing truth: How A-list internet influencers show up unprepared for major radio (and what you must demand from your guests!) [12:38] The harsh audience reality: Why begging for last-minute guests and winging episodes will destroy your podcast following [14:38] The "Mike Tyson rule" of interviewing ... what happens when your perfect game plan gets wrecked by one unexpected guest response [18:00] Reset or risk irrelevance: The strategy David Hooper used to shake up his entire podcast and why every show needs a periodic restart [22:19] The chilling influencer trap: How one top podcaster became prisoner to her conspiracy-hungry audience—and the jaw-dropping story behind a single makeup photo You want these links ...
Subscribe to Big Podcast Playbook See Big Podcast AMP for personalized podcast growth assistance The Newsletter for Podcasters
Big Podcast Insider - Weekly Podcasting Newsletter
Big Podcast Insider is a weekly newsletter on podcasting. If you like the content of this episode, you can subscribe here – it's free and you can unsubscribe at any time with a single click.
Want more help growing your podcast audience?
Big Podcast Extra - Podcasting Tips Big Podcast AMP (Audio Monetization Program)
Click the icon below to listen.
More
What keeps the podcast machine rolling when ice storms, guest rejections, and burnout threaten your production? How to book better guests, maintain your standards, and plan for resets in this episode of Big Podcast Playbook ... Big Ideas in This Episode Reject generic pitches; stand out and win guests I got rejected by Seth Godin ... Why to never start interviews with "Tell me about yourself" Ditch TikTok-style guest audio Steal Hollywood's high-output secret Reset your podcast brand Don't let your audience trap you forever Why You Should Listen How to book A-list podcast guests—even if you have zero connections (and why begging publicists is killing your growth) Steal the ultra-rare "pre-interview research secret" that makes guests desperate to say yes (and spill their best secrets on your show) The deadliest mistake 99% of podcasters make with guest outreach ... and how to write irresistible pitches that cut straight through the noise The trick that lets you sidestep gatekeepers, leapfrog industry hierarchies, and go directly to the talent YOU want (instead of settling for scraps) Why "Dear Sir, I recently listened to…" makes you invisible ... and the exact wording to become an unforgettable host A psychological hack ripped from 90s direct mail that can snag you top experts, even when money isn't enough How rejection can be secretly more valuable than landing a big name ... and the story you can use to beat your competitors Discover the sneaky way to set standards so high, even so-called "influencers" have to up their game to be on YOUR podcast The "Aunt Mildred on Zoom" disaster: why lenient audio standards are killing your show's growth—and how to make every guest perform like a pro The forbidden rule: When (and why) to say NO to famous guests ... so you can build jealous demand and take full control of your microphone The unseen release discipline secret that separates billion-dollar brands from podfade nobodies—even during disaster, chaos, or epic hangovers How to "batch" your recordings and create unstoppable podcast momentum ... even on a shoestring schedule (lazy but lethal) The real reason being "over-prepared" will DESTROY your interviews (and how Mike Tyson's punch-in-the-face rule can set you free) The "season arc" masterplan that keeps listeners glued, destroys boredom, and creates fans willing to beg for the next episode How to time the perfect podcast reset ... so you never get trapped in a format you hate (and keep your freedom, fame, and audience envy forever) Episode Timestamps [05:00] The "thousand-dollar letter" gambit: How David Hooper tried to win Seth Godin's attention with an outlandish donation—and why it spectacularly backfired [07:11] Why "Tell me about yourself" is a rookie podcast mistake ... and what happens when you give stars an open mic about their latest thing [09:18] The embarrassing truth: How A-list internet influencers show up unprepared for major radio (and what you must demand from your guests!) [12:38] The harsh audience reality: Why begging for last-minute guests and winging episodes will destroy your podcast following [14:38] The "Mike Tyson rule" of interviewing ... what happens when your perfect game plan gets wrecked by one unexpected guest response [18:00] Reset or risk irrelevance: The strategy David Hooper used to shake up his entire podcast and why every show needs a periodic restart [22:19] The chilling influencer trap: How one top podcaster became prisoner to her conspiracy-hungry audience—and the jaw-dropping story behind a single makeup photo You want these links ... Subscribe to Big Podcast Playbook See Big Podcast AMP for personalized podcast growth assistance The Newsletter for Podcasters Big Podcast Insider - Weekly Podcasting Newsletter Big Podcast Insider is a weekly newsletter on podcasting. If you like the content of this episode, you can subscribe here – it's free and you can unsubscribe at any time with a single click. Want more help growing your podcast audience? Big Podcast Extra - Podcasting Tips Big Podcast AMP (Audio Monetization Program) Click the icon below to listen.