There’s a particular kind of fear that shows up around podcasting for a lot of people… especially entrepreneurs, founders, and experts who know a podcast could help grow their visibility, relationships, and business, but can’t quite get themselves across the line from “thinking about it” to stepping up to the mic. This episode is about what happens when someone like that finally goes for it. Kathleen Wisemandle is a leadership coach, former corporate executive, and graduate of the Sounds Great Podcast Accelerator who, not long ago, genuinely did not think podcasting was in her future. Fast forward just a couple of months and she’s now completed her first season and is into the S2 of The Rooted Leader Podcast, experimenting with formats, building community, and (perhaps most importantly) having a whole lot more fun with podcasting than she expected. Inside this conversation, we talk about: The surprising thing that made podcasting feel within reach How perfectionism showed up once she began recording Why her interview episodes became more joyful than expected The unexpected ROI of podcasting Sustainable podcasting rhythms, seasonal thinking, and avoiding burnout We also get into one of my favorite podcasting truths: you do not have to emerge from the womb with a slick video studio setup, perfect cadence, and an NPR voice to deserve a podcast. Sometimes the thing that matters most is simply sitting down and doing the thing.. ABOUT THE GUEST Kathleen Wisemandle is a leadership coach, organizational psychologist, former senior life sciences leader, and the founder of Aspire to Grow, where she helps leaders, founders, and professionals navigate growth, transition, and reinvention with greater clarity and intention. After more than 30 years leading teams and driving innovation across the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries—including leadership roles at AbbVie, Takeda, Astellas, and Seagen—Kathleen shifted her focus toward coaching, organizational learning, and helping high-performing professionals uncover what’s possible in their next chapter. ABOUT THE SHOW Talking the Talk is a podcast about podcasting, hosted by Courtney Reimer, founder and principal strategist, Sounds Great Creative Podcast Strategy. Inside, you’ll get the realest of real talk about what it takes to make a podcast that lasts, reaches + resonates with your ideal audience, and earns its keep without burning you out. ABOUT COURTNEY Courtney Reimer is a podcast strategy architect and the founder of Sounds Great, where she helps founders, entrepreneurs, brands, and thought leaders build podcasts that actually work—for their businesses, their audiences, and their lives. A former executive producer at Spotify, Audible, and MTV, Courtney has developed podcasts for everyone from Meghan Markle and Prince Harry to emerging founders launching their very first shows. She’s also the creator of the Sounds Great Podcast Accelerator, a community-centered program helping aspiring podcasters move from idea to launch without spiraling into perfectionism, overwhelm, or podfade. → Applications are open now for the spring cohort of the Sounds Great Podcast Accelerator. Head over to SoundsGreatStrategy.com to learn more and submit your interest in joining. Limited space available, so make it snappy! ← Connect with Courtney… on LinkedIn: Courtney Reimer on Instagram: @soundsgreatpodcasts ⚡☕ This podcast runs on curiosity, crunch time, and caffeine. If you have enjoyed it, by all means Buy Me a Coffee! I’ll return the favor by continuing to create engaging, enriching episodes for you to slurp down like I do my morning cup of ambition… ☕ ⚡ buymeacoffee.com/soundsgreatcourtney
