Podcast Cafe: Insights from Podcasters for Podcasters

Hayleigh Hayhurst, Podcast Producer & Strategist

Welcome to the Podcast Café, where we serve up everything you need to know about podcasting—from tips to strategies, for podcasters by podcasters. Hosted by Hayleigh Hayhurst, founder of Espresso Podcast Production, this show covers the art and science of podcasting in a fun, relatable way from podcasters for podcasters. Join our community of creators and let’s make podcasting something you love—and that works for you. Learn more at espressopodcastproduction.com.

  1. 5d ago

    104. Podcasting, AI & Automation: How to Build Systems That Actually Work | Karl Staib

    What if the biggest thing holding your business back isn’t a lack of time—but a lack of systems? Karl Staib has built his business around helping leaders and business owners think differently about the way their businesses operate. For him, systems aren’t just about efficiency. They’re about creating better customer experiences, making smarter decisions, continuously improving, and freeing yourself up to focus on the work that actually moves the business forward. In this episode of Podcast Café, I’m sitting down with Karl to talk about what it really means to build a more systematic business—and how AI is changing what’s possible. We dive into why business owners need to start thinking more like directors and less like doers, how to identify the tedious tasks that are prime for automation, and why handing something off to AI doesn’t mean blindly trusting it to do the work for you. About Karl: Karl Staib is a systems and business improvement expert who helps businesses identify bottlenecks, build better systems, and use AI and automation to create more efficient and scalable workflows. His work focuses on helping business owners and teams move from constantly doing the work themselves to thinking more strategically about how the work gets done. Karl is passionate about continuous improvement and designing systems that actually support better business outcomes. He combines human insight, technology, AI, and automation to help businesses save time, uncover opportunities, improve customer experiences, and create more space for higher-level thinking. He is also the host of the Systematic Leader Podcast, where he explores leadership, business systems, improvement, and the ways people can build better businesses by thinking ahead rather than constantly reacting to what is happening right now. Connect with Karl: Website: https://systematicleader.co/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karlstaib Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/systematic-leader/id1535499918

  2. Oct 22

    103. Gamifying Business: Paul Pape on Creativity, Branding & Podcast Growth

    Most business advice tells you to blend in. Paul Pape believes the exact opposite. I'm joined by creative entrepreneur, TEDx speaker, and Gamify Business founder Paul Pape to talk about why standing out is one of the most valuable business strategies you can have. From turning business coaching into a role-playing game to hosting a podcast set inside a fantasy tavern, Paul has built an unforgettable brand by fully embracing what makes him different. We dive into why creativity is a competitive advantage, how podcasting can become the perfect vehicle for showcasing your personality, and why trying to appeal to everyone is often the fastest way to disappear into the crowd. If you've ever worried that your ideas are "too niche," "too weird," or "too different," this conversation will completely change how you think about building your business and your brand. About Paul: Paul Pape is a creative entrepreneur, TEDx speaker, artist, author, and the founder of Gamify Business, where he helps creative entrepreneurs understand business through the lens of role-playing games. With over 20 years of experience working with companies like Disney and Universal, Paul combines storytelling, game mechanics, and business strategy to make entrepreneurship more engaging and accessible. He's also the host of Gamify Business: Tavern Tales, a uniquely immersive podcast where guests become adventurers inside a fantasy tavern while sharing the real stories behind building successful creative businesses. Connect with Paul: Website: https://gamifybusiness.com Podcast: https://gamifybusiness.com/podcast-hub TEDx Talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2JLzbQYFfSQ Take Paul's free Business Personality Quiz: https://gamifybusiness.com/quiz/ Connect with me, Hayleigh Hayhurst: Apply to work with us: https://hello.dubsado.com/public/form/view/6521a4cc8fdeed003a859a44 Steal my Podcast Launch Checklist for free: ⁠https://www.espressopodcastproduction.com/checklist Website: ⁠https://www.espressopodcastproduction.com/ ⁠Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/espressopodcastproduction/⁠ YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@EspressoPodcastProduction

  3. Oct 15

    102. How Podcasting Can Grow Your Personal Brand & Business | Teah Ojeda

    What started as a way to highlight the incredible women entrepreneurs quickly became something much bigger: a visibility tool, a relationship builder, and a space where she could show up as her full, unfiltered self. In this episode, I talked with Teah Ojeda, host of Behind the Scene with Teah, about what finally pushed her to start podcasting after years of thinking about it, how she's using the show to build visibility for her photography and coaching work, and why you don't need a massive audience to build a brand people genuinely want to be part of. If you've been waiting until you feel more confident, polished, or "ready" to put yourself out there, this conversation is your reminder to grab the mic and do it afraid. Listen to Teah interviewing me on her show: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/building-authority-before-you-feel-ready-with-hayleigh/id1809703505?i=1000776168397 JOIN: The Podcast Cafe Community — a private, application-only community for podcasters who already have a show and are done guessing alone. Apply here: https://www.espressopodcastproduction.com/community In This Episode Why Teah spent years thinking about starting a podcast but kept holding herself back — and what finally made her realize she had to share her voiceHow Behind the Scene with Teah went from a passion project to an unexpected visibility tool for her branding, photography, and coaching businessesThe reason she intentionally gets guests talking about the messy, uncomfortable, behind-the-scenes parts of entrepreneurship — and the "cheat codes" she's always looking forHow she prepares for interviews by asking not just what she wants to know, but what would actually give listeners the most valuable insightWhy your podcast branding doesn't need to start in a fancy studio — including how Teah turned her closet into part of her brandThe power of showing up consistently and authentically so people start thinking, "Oh, there's Teah again" — and why recognition matters more than constantly reinventing your brandWhat happened when Teah had to get onstage despite being terrified, and why letting people see you nervous can actually make you more relatable and powerfulWhy a small audience isn't something to apologize for — and how 50 or 100 listeners can be an incredible opportunity to actually connect with your communityThe biggest thing podcasting has taught her about herself: what happens when you stop hiding your gifts and give yourself permission to tell more of your story Connect with Teah: Website: https://scenebyteah.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_scene_creative/ Connect with me, Hayleigh Hayhurst: Apply to work with us: https://hello.dubsado.com/public/form/view/6521a4cc8fdeed003a859a44 Join The Podcast Cafe Community: https://www.espressopodcastproduction.com/community Steal my Podcast Launch Checklist for free: ⁠https://www.espressopodcastproduction.com/checklist Website: ⁠https://www.espressopodcastproduction.com/ ⁠Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/espressopodcastproduction/⁠ YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@EspressoPodcastProduction

  4. Oct 8

    101. Franky Corcoran’s 300+ Episode Journey: From Creative Outlet to Career Builder

    What started as a way to keep creating content through the pandemic eventually became a twice-weekly show with more than 300 episodes, guests from across the entertainment industry, and opportunities that have directly helped grow Corcoran Entertainment. In this episode, I talked with Franky about what happens when you stop treating your podcast like something you have to do and start treating it like something you genuinely love doing—and how his background in theater, acting, and improv has shaped the way he interviews, handles the unexpected, and builds real relationships through his show. If you're wondering whether podcasting can actually create opportunities beyond downloads and listens, Franky is a great example of what can happen when you simply keep showing up. JOIN: The Podcast Cafe Community a private, application-only community for podcasters who already have a show and are done guessing alone. Apply here: https://www.espressopodcastproduction.com/community In This Episode • Why Franky started a podcast after COVID shut down his theater plans—and how the “temporary” project turned into 300+ episodes • How he went from one episode a week to two by building a system around the podcast instead of letting it take over his life • The theater and improv skills that make him a better interviewer, especially when things go wrong • How Franky researches guests without turning every interview into a formal interrogation • The boundary rule he follows when discussing sensitive or personal topics with guests—and why the context of the interview matters • How he landed some of his dream guests from Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul simply by reaching out • The unexpected opportunities his podcast has created for his writing, theater work, collaborations, and brand • The biggest thing he wishes more people understood about podcasting: getting on the mic is only a small part of the work • What more than 300 episodes taught him about what he's capable of—and why he never expected the podcast to last this long About Franky: Franky Corcoran is the creator of Corcoran Entertainment and host of The Corcoran Entertainment Show, a twice-weekly podcast featuring conversations with people across movies, television, theater, music, writing, and the broader entertainment world. Based in Miramichi, New Brunswick, Franky started the show as a creative outlet during COVID after his theater plans were put on hold. What began as a way to keep creating has grown into a 300+ episode podcast that has helped expand his network, grow Corcoran Entertainment, and connect him with creatives and audiences far beyond his local community. Connect with Franky: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/corcoranentertainment/ Connect with me, Hayleigh Hayhurst: Apply to work with us: https://hello.dubsado.com/public/form/view/6521a4cc8fdeed003a859a44 Join The Podcast Cafe Community: https://www.espressopodcastproduction.com/community Steal my Podcast Launch Checklist for free: ⁠https://www.espressopodcastproduction.com/checklist Website: ⁠https://www.espressopodcastproduction.com/ ⁠Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/espressopodcastproduction/⁠ YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@EspressoPodcastProduction

  5. Oct 1

    100. Podcasting & Storytelling: How to Keep Your Audience Listening | Mario Juarez

    Storytelling can be the difference between a podcast people hear and a podcast people remember. It's a skill you can never stop learning. And this week you are in for a treat because I invited Mario Juarez, the best storyteller I know, to come teach us podcasters a few things! Mario has spent his career understanding what makes communication stick. Starting as a journalist before moving into the business world at Microsoft, storytelling has been the common thread throughout his work. Today, he helps leaders, businesses, and speakers become more compelling communicators by reconnecting them with something they already know how to do: tell a good story. If you want your podcast to be more memorable, more human, and ultimately more worth talking about, this conversation with Mario is packed with practical storytelling advice you can start using immediately. Mario and I are both in Seattle Executive Association, the longest running business community in Seattle. If you are in Seattle, come to a meeting to join us: https://www.seattleexecs.org/podcast About Mario: Mario is a storytelling and communication expert who helps people make their ideas more memorable, human, and impactful. His career began in journalism, where he spent 10 years professionally developing his storytelling skills before moving into the business world and joining Microsoft. Today, through his work in Storytelling for Impact, he works with leaders, businesses, speakers, and communicators to help them tell stories that connect with audiences and create meaningful outcomes. His approach focuses on the human side of communication—using specific moments, emotion, tension, and concrete experiences to make ideas stick. He also works with people preparing TEDx talks, as well as through consulting, coaching, and workshops. Connect with Mario: Website: https://mario-juarez.com

  6. Sep 29

    99. How to Grow a Niche Podcast with Cork & Fizz and The Repertoire Podcast (Live Panel at Podcasters NW)

    I brought two of my favorite niche podcasters up on stage for this one: Hayleigh of Cork & Fizz, who's built a wine education business and podcast from the ground up, and Justin of Repertoire, who spent a decade in kitchens like The French Laundry before building a coaching company for culinary pros. We got real about what happens when you niche down hard, whether it's possible to go too specific, and how to actually turn a small, focused audience into a real business. Attend the next Podcasters NW event on October 14th at Industrious: https://luma.com/7w0byjeu We chat about: The moment you realize your niche might be too small, and the "concentric circle" trick for widening it without losing what made it workWhy a rebrand after 130 episodes barely moved the needle (and why nobody notices you repeating yourself)Finding your audience where they actually hang out, not where you wish they hung outThe underrated growth hack of guesting on podcasts that have nothing to do with your nicheWhy your favorite brands are probably terrible at content, and how that's your opportunityTurning a podcast into a trust-building funnel for private tastings, coaching, and communitySolo vs. co-hosting, and the "crawl, walk, run" way to test a co-host before committingVideo podcasts: why skipping them isn't the mistake you think it isRethinking what "success" even means if sponsorships aren't the goal JOIN: The Podcast Cafe Community a private, application-only community for podcasters who already have a show and are done guessing alone. Apply here: https://www.espressopodcastproduction.com/community Connect with me, Hayleigh Hayhurst: Apply to work with us: https://hello.dubsado.com/public/form/view/6521a4cc8fdeed003a859a44 Steal my Podcast Launch Checklist for free: ⁠https://www.espressopodcastproduction.com/checklist Website: ⁠https://www.espressopodcastproduction.com/ ⁠Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/espressopodcastproduction/⁠ YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@EspressoPodcastProduction

  7. Sep 1

    98. How a Podcast Makes You a Better Networker

    A podcast makes it easier for me to network. And networking is probably my favorite part of business! I go to multiple networking events each month, and host my own events, and my podcast is such a key part of it. Podcasts turn that awkward hello into a real relationship because I invite them onto my show to really get to know them! Want to learn how? Listen to this episode! This is why I think every business owner should have a podcast! What we get into: The one line I use to book guests in under a minuteWhy it's not salesy, it's just the fastest way to build a real connectionHow I grew Espresso Podcast Production from zero network in a new city, mid-2020, with cold invitesWhy I started Employee to Boss to meet people, not to get downloadsFacebook groups then, Threads now — where I find guests todayGive and trade: it's not about clients, it's about who they knowWhy guesting will never beat the leverage of hosting your own showEmployee to Boss vs. Podcast Cafe: different goals, same playbook JOIN: The Podcast Cafe Community a private, application-only community for podcasters who already have a show and are done guessing alone. Apply here: https://www.espressopodcastproduction.com/community Connect with me, Hayleigh Hayhurst: Apply to work with us: https://hello.dubsado.com/public/form/view/6521a4cc8fdeed003a859a44 Steal my Podcast Launch Checklist for free: ⁠https://www.espressopodcastproduction.com/checklist Website: ⁠https://www.espressopodcastproduction.com/ ⁠Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/espressopodcastproduction/⁠ YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@EspressoPodcastProduction

  8. Aug 27

    97. How Rebecca Gruenspan Built a Podcast Around Her Adoption Consulting Business (The Adoption Roadmap Podcast)

    Rebecca had already helped hundreds of families through adoption before she ever hit record on a podcast. She wasn't short on expertise, credibility, or things to say. What held her back for years wasn't the content. It was not knowing what to do with the file once she stopped recording. In this episode, I talked with Rebecca, an adoption consultant and the host of The Adoption Roadmap Podcast, about what it actually took to launch a podcast inside a niche, sensitive industry, and how she built it to work for her business instead of existing next to it. If you run a business in a specialized or high-trust space and you're weighing whether a podcast is worth the lift, this is the episode to hear how she made that decision and what she'd tell you about doing it. JOIN: The Podcast Cafe Community a private, application-only community for podcasters who already have a show and are done guessing alone. Apply here: https://www.espressopodcastproduction.com/community In This Episode Why the delay wasn't about confidence or content. It was the technical side, and how a single free step-by-step course finally got her unstuckThe deliberate call she made not to compete with the adoption stories that were already everywhere, and to build her show around tactical advice insteadHow she scoped the show to fit her actual bandwidth: a simple, budget setup (one mic, one camera, ring lights, headphones) rather than waiting for a bigger production before startingHow the podcast connects directly to her business, RG Adoption Consulting, and her sister company, Our Chosen Child, rather than living as a separate content projectWhy she's explicit that the podcast is doing two jobs at once: building authority and trust in a space where trust is the entire sale, and generating real businessHow she manages guest trust in a topic this sensitive, sending questions in advance and checking what's off-limits, including what she does when a guest wants an episode pulled after it's already recordedThe reality check every business owner considering a podcast should hear: reach is the hardest part, even in a focused niche, and her first three episodes are still her most downloaded About Rebecca Rebecca is an adoption consultant and the founder of RG Adoption Consulting, where she's helped facilitate over 500 domestic adoptions for hopeful parents across the United States. She's also the founder of Our Chosen Child, the marketing arm of the adoption world, helping families build adoption profiles and helping agencies market their programs. She launched The Adoption Roadmap Podcast to give adoptive families the tactical, sometimes taboo, conversations that generic adoption content doesn't cover, and to build her business's authority at the same time. Connect with Rebecca: https://www.rgadoptionconsulting.com Connect with me, Hayleigh Hayhurst: Apply to work with us: https://hello.dubsado.com/public/form/view/6521a4cc8fdeed003a859a44 Join The Podcast Cafe Community: https://www.espressopodcastproduction.com/community Steal my Podcast Launch Checklist for free: ⁠https://www.espressopodcastproduction.com/checklist Website: ⁠https://www.espressopodcastproduction.com/ ⁠Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/espressopodcastproduction/⁠ YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@EspressoPodcastProduction

Trailer

5
out of 5
21 Ratings

About

Welcome to the Podcast Café, where we serve up everything you need to know about podcasting—from tips to strategies, for podcasters by podcasters. Hosted by Hayleigh Hayhurst, founder of Espresso Podcast Production, this show covers the art and science of podcasting in a fun, relatable way from podcasters for podcasters. Join our community of creators and let’s make podcasting something you love—and that works for you. Learn more at espressopodcastproduction.com.