PR strategist and thought leadership expert Trevor Young unpacks what it really takes to dominate your category without chasing empty hype. Talking with host Tom Schwab, Trevor introduces his Rolling Thunder strategy, a long-game approach to visibility built on consistency, credibility, and trust rather than one-off "big splash" moments.

Tom and Trevor dig deep into the distinction between earned authority and manufactured influence, challenging the obsession with follower counts, virality, and shortcuts. They discuss why being talked about by the right people matters far more than being followed by the wrong ones, how niche podcasts and smaller stages often lead to bigger opportunities, and why credibility must come before conversions, especially in a world driven by short attention spans and AI-powered discovery.

Timestamps From This Episode:

[02:30] The Rolling Thunder Strategy

[07:07] Earned authority vs. manufactured influence

[13:51] Know-Like-Trust and beyond

[20:00] Credibility before conversions

[26:04] Visibility in the age of AI search

Resources From This Episode:

TrevorYoung.me/earn/

TrevorYoung.me/rolling-thunder-strategy

InterviewValet.com

CEO of Podfest Multimedia Expo and Authority Ghostwriting, Nick Pavlidis, shares one of the most underutilized strategies for authors and thought leaders: the podcast book tour.

Drawing from his work behind the scenes with bestselling authors and his firsthand role in helping host Tom Schwab bring his own book to life, Nick explains why trust is the true currency of business and how consistent conversations scale authority far more effectively than isolated content. Together, they explore how podcasting creates intimacy, accelerates credibility, and transforms interviews into long-term assets that support both book launches and business growth.

Nick shares how he has leveraged podcast guesting to grow his ghostwriting business, build deep partnerships with publishers, and step into leadership as CEO of Podfest. The conversation goes beyond tactics into strategy, showing how audio turns books from informational products into relational experiences, and why authors, coaches, and consultants who rely solely on writing miss a critical opportunity.

Timestamps From This Episode:

[06:25] Trust as currency for business growth.

[16:06] Service vs Product: Trust in professional services.

[21:41] How The Millennial Whisperer book led to consulting opportunities and business growth.

[30:03] AI & technology's impact on trust.

Resources From This Episode:

Nick@AuthorityGhostwriting.com

AuthorityGhostwriting.com

PodfestExpo.com

InterviewValet.com

Journalist and ghostwriter Katrina Kirsch explains why clarity rarely comes from writing and almost always comes from speaking. Katrina, who has helped craft many of Category Pirates' bestselling mini books, explains that most leaders think best out loud, not on the page. With host Tom Schwab, she shares how verbal communication unlocks stronger ideas, clearer frameworks, and more authentic points of view, and why mini books have become such an effective way to package expertise for today's busy audience.

Tom and Katrina explore how active listening, thoughtful questioning, and structured conversations transform raw thinking into compelling thought leadership. Katrina also explains why many founders already have a book's worth of intellectual capital; they need a process to extract and organize it. From defining a point of view to turning conversations into content that attracts clients, this episode reframes how entrepreneurs should approach content creation.

The takeaway is simple - stop trying to write your way to clarity. Talk it out first, then turn those spoken insights into a powerful mini-book or authority platform.

Timestamps From This Episode:

[03:33] The challenge of writing vs speaking.

[10:31] Defining and creating mini books.

[16:03] The importance of a strong point of view.

[23:36] The curse of knowledge and fresh perspective.

[26:43] AI's role in content creation.

Resources From This Episode:

Linkedin.com/in/katrina-kirsch/

KatrinaKirsch.com

InterviewValet.com

Interview Valet founder Tom Schwab and Marketing Manager Tiffany Meenk sit down to examine podcast and marketing trends in 2026. Rather than making conventional "predictions," Tom and Tiffany examine the data, the industry signals, and the on-the-ground experiences from hundreds of Interview Valet clients to outline where podcast-driven marketing is undeniably heading.

They unpack the dramatic transition from keyword-driven marketing to conversation-driven discovery, fueled by AI platforms now prioritizing credibility, context, and consistency over SEO tricks and funnel hacks. The discussion highlights why authority has become the dominant currency in 2026, why AI-filtered leads convert at exponentially higher rates, and how podcast interviews are emerging as a primary referral source precisely because they surface genuine expertise rather than superficial popularity.

If you want to understand how podcast guesting will drive real impact in 2026 - beyond vanity metrics, outdated SEO strategies, or big-show ego boosts - this conversation is an essential strategic briefing.

Timestamps From This Episode:

[04:52] The decline of the 'attention game.'

[07:32] Why influencers are losing trust and relevance.

[10:05] Why flywheels are replacing funnels.

[18:54] How niche podcast appearances outperform viral moments.

[21:51] Regulatory crackdowns and compliance in marketing.

Resources From This Episode:

InterviewValet.com

PodcastInterviewMarketing.com

Every December, marketers make bold predictions about what's coming next. Very few ever come back to admit whether they were right or completely wrong.

Host Tom Schwab is joined by Interview Valet's Marketing Manager, Tiffany Meenk, to do exactly that. Together, they revisit the eight predictions they made a year ago about marketing, podcasting, and business growth, and grade themselves honestly on how 2025 actually unfolded.

From the dominance of AI in marketing, to why collaborative content is outperforming solo content, and why the shift from the attention economy to the trust economy is no longer theoretical.

Their conversation challenges common assumptions around efficiency, authenticity, and planning. Was doing more actually better? Did efficiency help or hurt effectiveness? And why rigid annual marketing plans are giving way to agile, quarterly "lightning strike" strategies.

Timestamps From This Episode

[01:07] Prediction 1: AI Will Dominate Marketing and Search

[02:26] Prediction 2: The Rise of LMO (Language Machine Optimization)

[05:50] Prediction 3: Collaborative Content Will Outperform Solo Content

[08:40] Prediction 4: Video Content Will Explode, Especially Short-Form Clips

[13:35] Prediction 5: Shift from Attention Economy to Trust Economy

[17:01] Prediction 6: Authenticity Will Outperform Perfection

[20:04] Prediction 7: From Abundance to Efficiency

[24:52] Prediction 8: Strategic Quarterly Campaign Planning

Resources From This Episode:

InterviewValet.com

PodcastInterviewMarketing.com

What if the question you've been asking yourself is too small? Jason Jaggard, author of Beyond High Performance and founder of Novus Global, discusses the mindset shift that separates high performers from "meta performers".

With host Tom Schwab, Jason challenges one of the most common ambitions in business and life: becoming "the best." Instead, he urges leaders, athletes, entrepreneurs, and creators to ask a far more powerful question: What am I truly capable of?

You'll also hear a timely look at authenticity in an AI-driven world, why human originality matters more than ever, and how podcast interviews give you a platform to share ideas that algorithms can't produce, because they come from lived experience.

Timestamps From This Episode:

[04:28] High performers vs meta performers

[08;57] The role of coaching and believability

[13:44] Authenticity in an AI world

[19:08] Imagination as the key to distinguishing great performers from merely good ones

Resources From This Episode

Novus.global/

Take the assessment: Stagesassessment.scoreapp.com/?utm_source=PIMS_Jason&utm_medium=Podcast&utm_campaign=PIMS_Jason

What if dominating your market had nothing to do with shouting louder and everything to do with serving deeper? Sean Garner, marketing agency leader, breaks down what modern marketing really requires today. Spoiler: It isn't more tactics, more noise, or more hustle. It's clarity, strategy, and a system that turns every podcast interview into a high-leverage marketing asset.

With host Tom Schwab, Sean pulls back the curtain on his Marketing Domination Framework, explaining why most business owners are doing the right things in the wrong order, and how a simple, strategic foundation can transform your visibility, authority, and conversions. He shares how he extracts a full month of content from one 30-minute interview, how to repurpose episodes into blogs, videos, and AI-friendly assets, and why conversational video is quickly becoming the most powerful signal of authenticity online.

Timestamps From This Episode:

[04:19] Marketing domination framework

[10:00] Maximizing podcast guest appearances

[20:17] AI, SEO, and podcasting – the new search landscape

[28:17] The future – long-form video and authenticity

Resources From This Episode:

SeanGarner.co/interviewvalet

InterviewValet.com

What if your next podcast interview wasn't just another conversation, but the moment your ideal clients start to trust, remember, and genuinely connect with you? Interview Valet Senior Client Account Manager Liz Brooks talks with host Tom Schwab to unpack the branding fundamentals every guest needs before hitting record.

Together, they explore why your brand is far more than your logo, color palette, or fonts. It's the promise you make, and the experience you consistently deliver across every touchpoint: podcasts, emails, websites, and conversations. Drawing from her experience leading hundreds of client campaigns, Liz breaks down how to define your voice attributes, build trust through consistency, and ensure your messaging sounds like you, not an intern, not AI, and definitely not a pushy salesperson.

Timestamps From This Episode:

[02:12] Intentionally defining a consistent brand voice across all communications.

[08:43] Storytelling and audience resonance for better results.

[12:11] Using disruptive statements to engage listeners and differentiate your brand.

[19:26] Authenticity in messaging that reflects a real person, not AI generic content.

[25:40] Crafting intentional sound bites to maximize impact and shareability.

Resources From This Episode:

InterviewValet.com/Liz

PodcastInterviewMarketing.com