Podcasting as Leadership
Responsibility, Relationships, and Real Impact
Podcasting, for me, is not just a marketing tool. It’s a form of leadership and cultural stewardship. When you hold the mic, you’re not just sharing stories—you’re shaping culture. That’s something I’ve learned since I started podcasting in 2021: this medium carries an ethical responsibility we don’t talk about enough.
We’re seeing podcasts become enmeshed in politics and journalism is changing. It’s not just TV interviews or magazine articles anymore; podcasts often get the longest, most in-depth conversations with leaders and politicians. I’m not necessarily interested in politics, but I am deeply interested in how we choose our guests, what messages we amplify, and who gets a platform.
I prefer conversational podcasts. Scripting everything out just isn’t my style. I focus on a topic and ask guests if they’re comfortable talking about it, but I want the conversation to unfold naturally. For guests new to being interviewed, I’ll sometimes do practice sessions or let them approve edits—especially if their professional reputation is on the line. But I’ve learned to limit how often I do that; it’s a lot of work. The less editing I have to do, the better, and I’ve found that interviewing professional speakers and authors helps with that.
Still, there are surprises. I’ve had keynote speakers deliver entire lectures instead of engaging in a conversation. I’ve had guests check their phones mid-interview. Sometimes, I leave those moments in—they represent who the guest is. As a host, I always want to present my guests in a positive light, but if they make certain choices, I have to decide if that should remain in the episode. That’s part of the discernment this role requires.
Choosing guests is a long game for me. I follow people for years, watching for consistency and authenticity. I want to see that their work isn’t performative, that they believe what they write, and that their values align with mine. I rarely accept cold pitches. Most of my guests come through referrals, and even then, I vet them thoroughly. But I don’t always get it right. Sometimes, after an episode airs, a guest will disengage completely. That’s disappointing, but I respect that not everyone wants an ongoing relationship.
There have been times when I’ve had to reconsider guests based on things I discovered late in the process. For example, someone I admired on LinkedIn turned out to have views I couldn’t support when I checked their Twitter. That’s a lesson: do your due diligence across all platforms.
Storytelling in podcasting is powerful, but it comes with responsibility. I’ve shared stories from my own work experience that touch on sensitive topics—like microaggressions and even suicide. These stories matter, but I always ask myself: is this my story to tell? How do I share it with respect, without sensationalizing or harming anyone’s reputation? Sometimes, I delete stories at a guest’s request, but I still think about how to tell them in a way that’s emotionally resonant and trustworthy.
The conversation around AI and representation is another area where podcasting has real stakes. AI is trained on dominant narratives—often white, cis male perspectives—so marginalized voices are at risk of being erased. Unique perspectives stand out, but that can also make them targets. There’s a risk of retaliation when dominant communities feel threatened, so we have to be careful about how we use and discuss AI in this context.
Podcasting isn’t just PR or journalism; it’s a hybrid of storytelling, publicity, and responsibility. It carries real consequences. What we normalize, amplify, or ignore can go viral, be clipped, reshared, and spun into new narratives—sometimes far beyond our control. That’s why I believe in a duty of care. As a host, I might choose not to publish something if I think it could harm a guest, even if that’s not censorship but care.
Relationship building is at the heart of my approach. I value ongoing connections with guests and collaborators. Sometimes, networking intentions are misunderstood, but I believe in generosity and connecting people who might benefit from knowing each other—even if it doesn’t always land as intended.
Every guest, every question, every edit, every silence: it all builds culture. Podcasting is leadership, not just for applause or status, but with ethics and accountability. The impact can be temporary or long-lasting, and we have to be cautious with the influence we wield.
I’m my own sponsor because finding a company that matches my level of care and ethical alignment is challenging. I’m open to sponsorship, but only if it means maintaining full freedom and responsibility. I won’t compromise my message for corporate comfort.
Ultimately, my goal is to be trustworthy. I want to support conversations about the future of work from all perspectives. I call my podcast a love letter to the future of work because I’m optimistic—we can co-create healthier, more sustainable work cultures. I won’t always get it right, but I’m committed to self-awareness, nuance, and responsibility. That’s what real leadership looks like to me.
Top 5 Questions I’m Asking Myself
How do I decide whose voice gets a platform, and what messages am I choosing to amplify?
This question gets to the heart of my role as a host and the impact my choices have on shaping culture and conversation.Am I doing enough due diligence when I vet potential guests—across all their public platforms and not just the ones I’m most comfortable with?
I’ve learned the hard way that consistency across platforms matters, and that I need to check for alignment of values everywhere, not just on LinkedIn or the spaces I frequent.How do I balance presenting my guests in a positive light with representing them authentically—even when their choices or behavior during the interview are unexpected or disappointing?
This is an ongoing challenge, especially when a guest’s actions don’t align with the tone or values I want to uphold for my audience.What are my ethical responsibilities when telling stories that involve others, especially when those stories touch on sensitive topics or could have unintended consequences?
I constantly ask myself if it’s my story to tell, how to convey it with respect, and when it’s better to edit or delete content out of care rather than censorship.How do I maintain integrity and independence in my work—especially when considering sponsorships or partnerships that might not fully align with my values or vision for the future of work?
I’m committed to only working with brands that share my commitment to courageous, honest leadership, even if that means going it alone for now.