What if the difference between a forgettable podcast interview and one the host can’t wait to promote came down to what you do before you ever hit record? In this episode, I’m joined by Julie Riga, who interviewed me on her show just last week. Our conversation was so good I knew I had to bring her expertise to you.

Julie Riga is a leadership keynote speaker, executive coach, ICF certified coach, and TEDx speaker with more than 20 years of leadership experience in the pharmaceutical industry, including Johnson & Johnson, Novartis, and Bayer. Through her signature keynote, Before I Lead, she helps leaders build the presence, judgment, and trust that technology cannot replace. She’s also the host of The Stay on the Course Podcast and the creator of Before I Speak, a weekly program that helps people become confident, engaging communicators on stages, podcasts, and beyond.

In this episode, we cover:

• Julie’s origin story, from webmaster to corporate trainer to speaker, and how a coaching session led to a document called “Before I Speak” (and why Ramon Ray told her to buy the URL)
• Why practice is the fastest path to feeling comfortable on any stage or mic
• The #1 thing every podcast guest needs before an interview: know your thought leadership and walk in ready to say what you speak on
• Why the best interviews are co-created, and the question Julie asks every guest on her pre-call to help shape the episode title
• Why pre-calls are worth your time, and how mine with Julie changed the whole energy of our interview
• Why some episodes never get published (and why I can’t guarantee a host will air a boring interview)
• “Edutainment”: using humor, stand-up comedy techniques, and storytelling so your audience actually remembers what you said
• How to build a story vault of go-to stories so you’re never telling a story for the first time on air
• Why podcast interviews are the training ground for television

Resources mentioned:

• JulieRiga.com — find the Before I Speak program (under Programs) and Julie’s podcast. Before I Speak meets Mondays at 7 p.m. Eastern with rolling admission.
• Listen to my interview on Julie’s podcast: https://open.spotify.com/episode/7g7fCsYqzhS6Isxcg4EaDH
• Connect with Julie on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julieriga/

Being a great guest starts long before you hit record, and it starts with getting booked on the right shows. Join me at the free Podcast Guesting Masterclass to learn how to land interviews on podcasts your ideal clients are already listening to. Register here: interviewconnections.com/masterclass-2026