An Old Friend Got Me Guesting on Podcasts

Alright, so we’re doing this.

I’m building a consulting company. The “for real” kind. I bought the domain, got a website built, set up the socials, and started working through the classic early-stage checklist that makes you feel productive… even when you’re low-key wondering if you’re just rearranging deck chairs.

You know the phase: lots of setup, lots of optimism, and just enough uncertainty to keep you humble.

And then something unexpected happened.

A Small Business Expo and a Name I Couldn’t Ignore

During this early build-out stage, I went to a local small business expo. Nothing fancy, just one of those events where you grab a badge, pretend you’re not awkward at networking, and tell yourself you’re “building relationships.”

Before I went, I was browsing the workshops and speakers list, and I saw a name that stopped me cold.

Normally, a name is a name. You keep scrolling.

But this name? The kind of name you don’t just recognize, you know. Because the guy I’m thinking of… his family is basically the only one in the country with that name. It’s not a “maybe.” It’s a “no way.”

Sure enough, it was him: a friend from grade school.

And of course, because the universe has a weird sense of humor, he now runs a business helping people get booked as guests on podcasts.

So… Podcast Guesting Became a Thing

Up until that point, I was doing what most of us do when we start a company:

• Build a brand presence
• Work on some lead gen strategy
• Try to figure out what actually gets attention without feeling like a used car salesman

But after reconnecting with him, podcast guesting went from “that sounds interesting” to “wait… this might actually work.”

Not as a gimmick. As a real channel.

And the more I looked into it, the more it made sense, especially for what I do and who I help.

The Easiest Way I Found to Get Booked: Facebook Groups

Now, don’t roll your eyes, mine almost got stuck back there too.

But Facebook ended up being the easiest platform I found for getting onto shows. There are tons of podcast guest booking groups where hosts post what they’re looking for and guests raise their hands.

It’s messy. Sometimes chaotic. Occasionally spammy. But it works.

And I quickly realized something: the service Marked Closed Won scratches a real itch in the market. People want help with sales, follow-up, process, and turning “interested” into “paid.”

They might not always say it that cleanly, but the pain is there.

Why Podcast Guesting Has Been a Sneaky-Good Move

I started guesting on podcasts in the entrepreneurship, sales, marketing space, anywhere the audience might be building, selling, or scaling.

And if I’m being honest, I didn’t expect it to be as useful as it’s been.

Here’s why it works:

1) It forces you to sharpen your pitch (in real time)

You can practice your “elevator pitch” all day. But when a host hits you with an ad hoc question like:

“So what do you actually do?”

…you don’t get to hide behind a rehearsed script.

You have to explain it clearly, quickly, and like a human. That’s a skill, and podcasts give you reps.

I’ve found it’s one of the best ways to iron out the kinks in your message, because the questions are familiar enough to prep for… but unpredictable enough to keep you honest.

2) It’s a legit lead source (without feeling gross)

Podcast listeners are opting in. They’re choosing to spend time with you. That alone makes the relationship different than a cold ad or a random LinkedIn DM.

Some guests come from it directly. Others show up weeks later like:

“Hey, I heard you on that podcast…”

Which is always a little surreal and a little awesome.

3) It opens the door to collaboration and referrals

This part surprised me the most.

Podcast hosts tend to be builders. Connectors. People with networks.

One good conversation can turn into:

• another show appearance
• a referral
• a partnership
• or just a solid relationship with someone who’s running in a similar direction

And when you’re building something from scratch, those relationships matter more than most people realize.

The Bigger Lesson (That I Keep Relearning)

If there’s a theme here, it’s this:

You can plan your marketing… but you can’t always plan your momentum.

Sometimes the thing that moves the needle isn’t the strategy you obsessed over for weeks. It’s a chance conversation. A weird coincidence. A familiar name on a workshop list.

And the only way you catch those moments is by showing up.

Going to the expo wasn’t some master plan. It was just me getting out of the house and doing the work. But it reminded me of something I’m trying to build this whole company around:

Progress favors motion.

So I’m going to keep moving, podcasts, outreach, refining the message, serving clients, making mistakes, fixing them, and getting better.

Because that’s the real game anyway.