August 8, 2025 • 9 mins
In episode 63 of Podcasts Suck, Sebastian Rusk shares personal experiences with generic and spammy LinkedIn messages that clutter our inboxes, emphasizing the importance of genuine human connection in sales.
Tune in for laughs, valuable advice, and a deeper understanding of how to sell effectively through the power of podcasting!
TIMESTAMPS
[00:02:37] Sales pitch alternatives for success.
[00:06:56] Speak, publish, connect strategy.
[00:09:03] Podcast subscription importance.
QUOTES
- "I firmly believe that a better solution to acquiring new clients... is to not give your sales pitch, but instead do something for that person right out of the gates."
- "People don't care about how much you know until they know how much you care."
- "I'd rather wake up in the morning, punch myself in the face and eat my pillow than cold DM and pitch people."
==========================
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SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS
Instagram: Instagram.com/PodcastsSUCK
Facebook: Facebook.com/srusk
LinkedIn: LinkedIn.com/in/sebastianrusk/
YouTube: Youtube.com/@PodcastLaunchLab
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:02):
Welcome to Podcast Suck.
A podcast about starting apodcast where we dive headfirst
into the wild, wacky andsometimes frustrating world of
podcasting.
If you've ever sat down with amicrophone hit record and
thought what on earth am I doing?
Or if you're just curious aboutthe magic behind your favorite
shows, then you're in the rightplace.
(00:22):
You're ready for laughs,insights and a whole lot of what
not to do advice as we embarkon this podcasting journey
together.
Let's dive in your sales pitch.
It's boring.
How do you know?
(00:43):
I'm just assuming why?
Because I've got a bettersolution.
It's called starting a podcast.
Let me give you some examples ofterrible attempts at sales
pitches.
What do you think about thelast time you got a LinkedIn
message and I use that term very, very lightly or it's
(01:08):
incredibly generic.
But they're introducingthemselves, they're telling you
that it's great to be connectedwith you.
That's a lie.
And then they just startthrowing up every single thing
about their business.
We all have them.
We get them on an almost dailybasis, at a minimum weekly basis
(01:30):
, and I take extreme joy indeleting and blocking and
reporting those messages as spam, because no one and I do mean
no one wants to receive a coldpitch via direct message.
No one.
Another thing no one wants is abad sales pitch.
(01:52):
It would be different if Ireached out to you for the very
first time and I wanted to havea conversation with you and I
literally acted like a human.
Hey Bob, it's really great toconnect with you.
I've done a little digging anddue diligence on what you've
done, or what you do, so I canspeak intelligently while being
(02:15):
a human right out of the gate.
That's a whole differentballgame, but it's kind of
irrelevant because nobody doesthat.
I firmly believe that a bettersolution to acquiring new
clients, to presenting youroffer, to giving your sales
pitch, is to not give your salespitch but instead do something
(02:41):
for that person right out of thegates.
My good friend, gary Vaynerchukwrote a book called Jab, Jab,
jab, right Hook.
It's a boxing analogy where allof the jabs are you giving,
giving, giving, notice.
It's jab, jab, jab.
It's three jabs before a righthook.
(03:04):
The right hook, of course, isyou asking for something, but
only and I do mean only garyemphasizes this in his book.
All of the information in thatbook, by the way, is still
relevant.
You should definitely pick itup.
It is a beautiful book, tons ofcase studies of how big brands
have successfully jabbed severaltimes before going for the ask.
(03:29):
Gary refers to it as guiltingpeople into doing business with
him or doing something for him,because he has showed up in such
an enormous way that it isimpossible to say no.
And that strategy, stillrelevant some 12, 13 years later
, is something you can startimplementing today with a
(03:52):
podcast.
Forget about the sales pitch.
I live this.
I have lived this and now Iempower other business owners,
entrepreneurs, solopreneurs, todo the same exact thing, because
we help them facilitate thelaunching of a podcast for this
specific reason.
(04:12):
Start a podcast for threereasons.
Number one to do something forthe people you want to do
business with right out of thegate.
Let's get you on the podcast,mary.
I'd love that.
I know you would make it allabout Mary.
Learn about her business.
Also, start to cultivateinformation.
Identify obstacles before theybecome rebuttals so that when
(04:35):
you ask Mary or you mentionedsomething that Mary had said
that would allow you to solve asolution.
Well, you've already got theammo because you had a
conversation with her, you builtrapport with her, you did
something for her first.
So forget about the sales pitch.
Start focusing on the podcast.
(05:00):
Nobody wants a pitch, no one,and I do mean no one when you
look at the opportunity at handon how podcasting flips the
switch, literally.
This person did something forme.
They didn't try to pitch me,they didn't try to finagle their
(05:22):
way the old bait and switch,the old sneak attack None of
that.
You are staying in integrity,showing up and doing something
for someone before they can everdo anything for you at all,
which is the way we should alllive our lives.
And you're identifying anopportunity.
As part of the podcastinterview process, you're
(05:46):
already creating an opportunityto have a conversation, a
productive conversation beforeor after the interview, probably
after and, at worst casescenario, at least identifying
that there is in fact anopportunity and it would be
worth the time invested for bothpeople to schedule a time and
(06:10):
better understand exactly howyou can work together.
But it all starts with a fewjabs.
Can work together, but it allstarts with a few jabs.
The right hook is identifyingthe problem and offering a
solution and them agreeing totalk to you about what their
problem is and how you can solveit.
We've all heard the quote ahundred times, but it still
(06:33):
rings true today.
People don't care about howmuch you know until they know
how much you care.
I'll make sure to timestampthat one right there, because I
totally finagled that.
So here's the new strategyReady Write this down, speak,
(06:54):
publish, connect One more time.
Speak, publish, connect.
Speak with the person you'reinterviewing on your podcast.
Have a conversation before orafter the episode, identify if
there's an opportunity to worktogether, publish the episode
and then connect with themfurther and do business with
(07:16):
them.
I've lived this for a decade.
I continue to on a daily and aweekly basis, and so do all of
our clients here at the PodcastLaunch Lab.
Why?
Because the strategy works andit's effective.
So, million-dollar questionYou're going to keep cold
pitching people.
(07:36):
I'd rather wake up in themorning, punch myself in the
face and eat my pillow than coldDM and pitch people.
That's not the way it's done,not in 2025.
There's a better, easier, moreeffective way to do it and it's
called starting a podcast.
Questions, thoughts, ideas,concerns about this episode or
any episodes on the podcast,please send me a DM on Instagram
(07:59):
.
I am at podcasts that's plural.
Podcasts suck.
Two S's Podcasts plural suck.
On Instagram, there is a linkin the description of this
episode.
To make your life so mucheasier, send me a DM.
I answer each and every one ofyou, lovely people.
It is my distinct privilege todo so.
If you've been thinking aboutstarting a podcast, the time is
(08:20):
right now, not yesterday, nottomorrow, not at the end of Q2,
q3, q12.
Now, because if you start apodcast right now, this time
next year, you will be so gladthat you did, and so will your
business checking account, andso will your clients, and so
will you and D all of the above,and so will you and D all of
the above.
(08:40):
In the event you need help orwant to better understand
exactly how our 90 day done foryou, completely done for you,
everything you need in order tolaunch a podcast.
It works.
Hit the link in my bio on myInstagram or the link in this
show description over at podcastlaunch labcom.
Click on schedule a call It'llbring it right to my calendar,
or Get us on the phone for 15 or20 minutes to see if you're a
fit for the program and for usto chat about what's possible.
(09:03):
Until next time, friends, thanksso much for tuning into this
episode.
We sure do appreciate it.
If you haven't done so already.
Make sure you're subscribed tothe show wherever you consume
podcasts this way, with goodupdates as new episodes become
available.
If you feel so inclined, pleaseleave us a review and share the
show with someone you knowshould start a podcast or may
already have one.
(09:24):
And remember podcasts suck ifyou don't have one.
Until next time, friends.
Welcome to Podcast Suck.
A podcast about starting apodcast where we dive headfirst
into the wild, wacky andsometimes frustrating world of
podcasting.
If you've ever sat down with amicrophone hit record and
thought what on earth am I doing?
Or if you're just curious aboutthe magic behind your favorite
shows, then you're in the rightplace.
(00:22):
You're ready for laughs,insights and a whole lot of what
not to do advice as we embarkon this podcasting journey
together.
Let's dive in your sales pitch.
It's boring.
How do you know?
(00:43):
I'm just assuming why?
Because I've got a bettersolution.
It's called starting a podcast.
Let me give you some examples ofterrible attempts at sales
pitches.
What do you think about thelast time you got a LinkedIn
message and I use that term very, very lightly or it's
(01:08):
incredibly generic.
But they're introducingthemselves, they're telling you
that it's great to be connectedwith you.
That's a lie.
And then they just startthrowing up every single thing
about their business.
We all have them.
We get them on an almost dailybasis, at a minimum weekly basis
(01:30):
, and I take extreme joy indeleting and blocking and
reporting those messages as spam, because no one and I do mean
no one wants to receive a coldpitch via direct message.
No one.
Another thing no one wants is abad sales pitch.
(01:52):
It would be different if Ireached out to you for the very
first time and I wanted to havea conversation with you and I
literally acted like a human.
Hey Bob, it's really great toconnect with you.
I've done a little digging anddue diligence on what you've
done, or what you do, so I canspeak intelligently while being
(02:15):
a human right out of the gate.
That's a whole differentballgame, but it's kind of
irrelevant because nobody doesthat.
I firmly believe that a bettersolution to acquiring new
clients, to presenting youroffer, to giving your sales
pitch, is to not give your salespitch but instead do something
(02:41):
for that person right out of thegates.
My good friend, gary Vaynerchukwrote a book called Jab, Jab,
jab, right Hook.
It's a boxing analogy where allof the jabs are you giving,
giving, giving, notice.
It's jab, jab, jab.
It's three jabs before a righthook.
(03:04):
The right hook, of course, isyou asking for something, but
only and I do mean only garyemphasizes this in his book.
All of the information in thatbook, by the way, is still
relevant.
You should definitely pick itup.
It is a beautiful book, tons ofcase studies of how big brands
have successfully jabbed severaltimes before going for the ask.
(03:29):
Gary refers to it as guiltingpeople into doing business with
him or doing something for him,because he has showed up in such
an enormous way that it isimpossible to say no.
And that strategy, stillrelevant some 12, 13 years later
, is something you can startimplementing today with a
(03:52):
podcast.
Forget about the sales pitch.
I live this.
I have lived this and now Iempower other business owners,
entrepreneurs, solopreneurs, todo the same exact thing, because
we help them facilitate thelaunching of a podcast for this
specific reason.
(04:12):
Start a podcast for threereasons.
Number one to do something forthe people you want to do
business with right out of thegate.
Let's get you on the podcast,mary.
I'd love that.
I know you would make it allabout Mary.
Learn about her business.
Also, start to cultivateinformation.
Identify obstacles before theybecome rebuttals so that when
(04:35):
you ask Mary or you mentionedsomething that Mary had said
that would allow you to solve asolution.
Well, you've already got theammo because you had a
conversation with her, you builtrapport with her, you did
something for her first.
So forget about the sales pitch.
Start focusing on the podcast.
(05:00):
Nobody wants a pitch, no one,and I do mean no one when you
look at the opportunity at handon how podcasting flips the
switch, literally.
This person did something forme.
They didn't try to pitch me,they didn't try to finagle their
(05:22):
way the old bait and switch,the old sneak attack None of
that.
You are staying in integrity,showing up and doing something
for someone before they can everdo anything for you at all,
which is the way we should alllive our lives.
And you're identifying anopportunity.
As part of the podcastinterview process, you're
(05:46):
already creating an opportunityto have a conversation, a
productive conversation beforeor after the interview, probably
after and, at worst casescenario, at least identifying
that there is in fact anopportunity and it would be
worth the time invested for bothpeople to schedule a time and
(06:10):
better understand exactly howyou can work together.
But it all starts with a fewjabs.
Can work together, but it allstarts with a few jabs.
The right hook is identifyingthe problem and offering a
solution and them agreeing totalk to you about what their
problem is and how you can solveit.
We've all heard the quote ahundred times, but it still
(06:33):
rings true today.
People don't care about howmuch you know until they know
how much you care.
I'll make sure to timestampthat one right there, because I
totally finagled that.
So here's the new strategyReady Write this down, speak,
(06:54):
publish, connect One more time.
Speak, publish, connect.
Speak with the person you'reinterviewing on your podcast.
Have a conversation before orafter the episode, identify if
there's an opportunity to worktogether, publish the episode
and then connect with themfurther and do business with
(07:16):
them.
I've lived this for a decade.
I continue to on a daily and aweekly basis, and so do all of
our clients here at the PodcastLaunch Lab.
Why?
Because the strategy works andit's effective.
So, million-dollar questionYou're going to keep cold
pitching people.
(07:36):
I'd rather wake up in themorning, punch myself in the
face and eat my pillow than coldDM and pitch people.
That's not the way it's done,not in 2025.
There's a better, easier, moreeffective way to do it and it's
called starting a podcast.
Questions, thoughts, ideas,concerns about this episode or
any episodes on the podcast,please send me a DM on Instagram
(07:59):
.
I am at podcasts that's plural.
Podcasts suck.
Two S's Podcasts plural suck.
On Instagram, there is a linkin the description of this
episode.
To make your life so mucheasier, send me a DM.
I answer each and every one ofyou, lovely people.
It is my distinct privilege todo so.
If you've been thinking aboutstarting a podcast, the time is
(08:20):
right now, not yesterday, nottomorrow, not at the end of Q2,
q3, q12.
Now, because if you start apodcast right now, this time
next year, you will be so gladthat you did, and so will your
business checking account, andso will your clients, and so
will you and D all of the above,and so will you and D all of
the above.
(08:40):
In the event you need help orwant to better understand
exactly how our 90 day done foryou, completely done for you,
everything you need in order tolaunch a podcast.
It works.
Hit the link in my bio on myInstagram or the link in this
show description over at podcastlaunch labcom.
Click on schedule a call It'llbring it right to my calendar,
or Get us on the phone for 15 or20 minutes to see if you're a
fit for the program and for usto chat about what's possible.
(09:03):
Until next time, friends, thanksso much for tuning into this
episode.
We sure do appreciate it.
If you haven't done so already.
Make sure you're subscribed tothe show wherever you consume
podcasts this way, with goodupdates as new episodes become
available.
If you feel so inclined, pleaseleave us a review and share the
show with someone you knowshould start a podcast or may
already have one.
(09:24):
And remember podcasts suck ifyou don't have one.
Until next time, friends.
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