Hi Reader!

Yesterday, I attended a podcasting “town hall” led by Alex Sanfilippo—and let’s just say… the conversation got real.

There were platform leaders, long-time industry pros, editors, and service providers all in one (virtual) room talking about a growing issue: AI-generated podcast guest pitches.

Not just a few here and there—dozens of companies scraping emails directly from podcast RSS feeds and selling access to inboxes for ~$215/month. Some people are receiving 10-20 AI generated guest pitches in their inbox PER DAY.

If you’ve been getting emails that feel… off… templated… overly polished but strangely irrelevant…that always seem to mention something from the last episode you published...

Yeah, it's AI and these RSS feed scraping companies are a problem 💯

Here’s what I recommend you do immediately:

1) Hide your email in your RSS feed​
Check your podcast host settings. Some platforms do this automatically (Podbean✅ Buzzsprout ✅ & Captivate ✅), others don’t (Libsyn 😭). If your email is public via your RSS feed, you’re an easy target.

2) Control your guesting process​
Personally, I’ve stopped engaging with inbox pitches altogether.

I do all of my guesting work inside PodMatch—finding shows I want to be on and guests I want to feature. You’ll feel less alone—and a lot more in control.

And if I really want to reach someone?
I’ll send a direct message on LinkedIn. (Which is your reminder—if we’re not connected yet, let’s fix that 🙂)

📣 You're invited! – Attract Premium Clients Through Your Podcast

I’m hosting a live webinar on May 20th at 1 pm CST 📆

If you aren't yet feeling traction (growing your email list or booking calls) from your podcast, well obviously this webinar was crafted just for you.

AND...If you're already attracting clients or feel like you have a system in place... Consider attending anway. Every time I attend someone else's training like this, I walk away with:

• One tweak I hadn’t considered
• One reminder I needed
• One idea that moves things forward

That’s what this session is designed to do. 👉 Register here​

How to Use Podcasting to Attract Premium Clients How to position your show What content attracts better-fit listeners How to build a conversion path How to create a podcasting system that is sustainable Register Now

Plus, if you want to make it even more powerful…bring a friend. Who do you know who should be there? Perhaps a business owner bestie, podcast host-should-be, or a fellow podcast host?

Send this note:

Just copy & paste. I won't tell. Attending together + the promise of accountability? Irresistible.

🎙 Fresh Episode: Behind the Scenes of a Business Acquisition + Podcast Transition

This week’s episode is a fascinating look at something most podcast hosts never think about:

What happens when you buy a business… and inherit the podcast along with it?

I sat down with Jen Fizer, the new CEO of MKBCFO (formerly Mills Knows Bills), to talk through exactly that. Mills was the face of the brand, the voice of the podcast, and the personality behind everything.

So when Jen bought the CFO practice, they both knew this couldn't be a short paper swap & handshake. It had to be intentional, gradual, and transparent.

This episode is the real behind-the-scenes look at a podcast takeover If you’ve ever considered: Buying out a competitor Expanding through acquisition Or building something that could eventually be sold 🎧 Listen here

Inside the episode, we unpack:

• How they slowly integrated Jen into content before the acquisition was finalized
• What it looks like to transition audience trust—not just ownership
• The strategic decisions behind maintaining continuity while evolving the brand

And beyond the MKB transaction…Jen also shares her experience acquiring other businesses (including coffee shops!) and what she looks for when evaluating opportunities.

**And BTW, check out Jen's podcast page! She's doing the exact recommended step we talked about above - force your guest bookings through a platform (PodMatch, duh) like she's doing. You could probably even copy the formatting of this webpage!

📚 If a Book Is on Your Radar…

If writing a book is anywhere on your 2026 or 2027 plan, I want to point you toward someone I trust deeply in this space.

​Lynn Smargis, creator of Publishing for Professionals, approaches writing the same way I approach podcasting: As a strategic business asset—not a creative side project.

Her work focuses on helping professionals:

• Clarify the purpose behind their book
• Structure it to support authority and client growth
• Avoid the common traps that waste time and momentum

No fluff. No shortcuts. No “just write and hope it works.”

She’s also my ghostwriter for my upcoming book, so yes—I’m putting my full trust behind that recommendation.

If you want your book to actually do something for your business, she’s the person to know.

👉 Check out Publishing for Professionals Trust, you want her newsletter!

What's interesting to watch right now in the podcast industry...

On one hand, we have more tools than ever—AI, automation, scaling systems.

On the other hand, we’re seeing how quickly things can become noisy, impersonal, and inefficient if you’re not intentional. The same is true in business.

The people who win aren’t the ones doing more.

They’re the ones who are more deliberate. More focused & more strategic about where their time and attention go.

That’s what I want for you—especially when it comes to your podcast.

And speaking of podcasts…I’m coming up on Episode 100 of Podcasting for Financial Professionals—quickly.

I’ve got a few ideas for how to make that episode meaningful, but I’m curious: What would you do?

Or what have you seen done well? Have a cool idea you'd like to share?

Hit reply and tell me—I’d love to incorporate something fun, useful, and unexpected.

Cheers 🥂

​

🔹 P.S.

P.S. If your podcast feels like effort—but not yet a true business asset—the Podcast Conversion Lab™ is where we change that.

We align your messaging, structure, and systems so your podcast supports lead generation, authority, and growth.

Reply LAB or book a Podcast Clarity Call™ to explore what that looks like for you.