August 7, 2025 • 12 mins
In episode 62 of Podcasts Suck, Sebastian Rusk dives into the evolving landscape of networking in 2025 and why traditional business cards are becoming a thing of the past. Discover how inviting new contacts onto your podcast can create memorable connections and open doors for future collaborations.
Tune in for laughs, insights, and practical tips on how to leverage your podcast for networking success!
TIMESTAMPS
[00:01:39] Networking through podcast invitations.
[00:06:27] Networking through podcasting value.
[00:09:47] Podcasting as a networking tool.
[00:11:13] Podcast launch solutions.
QUOTES
- "When you lead with value, and you lead in service, and you lead with saying, I am here because I want to connect further with you, so I'm going to do something for you, first and foremost, that doesn't cost you a nickel."
- "The only thing preventing you from starting a podcast is your excuses on why you haven't started a podcast."
- "Stop handing business cards out, start inviting people onto your podcast."
==========================
Need help launching your podcast?
Schedule a Free Podcast Strategy Call TODAY!
==========================
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 a
podcast where we dive headfirstinto the wild, wacky and
sometimes frustrating world ofpodcasting.
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.
Hey, you know that fancybusiness card of yours.
It's in the trash.
I mean, I don't want to assumethat's what happened.
(00:44):
I'm just looking at the factthat it's 2025 and the old
school way of doing business isover.
Well, sebastian, I mean I go toa networking event or a
conference.
People want my contactinformation.
I've got to give them mybusiness card, or you can
immediately connect with them,send them an email right there.
(01:08):
Pull out your phone, send theman email, add them on LinkedIn,
literally.
If you have an iPhone, I can'tspeak for the rest of you, but
if you have an iPhone, you cantouch iPhones and share your
contact card.
There are other ways toinstantly connect so that the
real connection can happen.
The real connection happens byinviting somebody to be on your
(01:30):
podcast.
There's not a better way totreat a new contact or a brand
new introduction that you'vereceived or somebody that you've
met at a conference or an eventthan by simply saying Fred,
it's great to meet you, I lovewhat you're up to.
Of course, you're saying thatafter you've chatted for a few
(01:50):
minutes, I'd love to have you onthe podcast.
Great, let's do it.
Cool, let's go ahead andconnect on LinkedIn.
I'll share my contact info withyou here and I'm going to send
you an email with a link for youto book for the show.
That might have taken me maybe90 seconds, if I'm exaggerating.
There's a new way of doingbusiness.
(02:11):
I'm not talking about the QRcode, digital business card,
none of that jazz.
Put a little bit of effort intomeeting someone when you
actually meet them at an eventthe same amount of effort of
going in your pocket andreaching out for a business card
.
Business cards are cool, butdon't expect people to have that
business card and go.
I can't wait to get back to myoffice and email this person, or
(02:34):
call this person or text thisperson If you know that person
is a fit for what you do and youwant to do business with them,
inviting them on your podcastbecomes memorable in their mind.
You know why?
Because I guarantee everybodyin that room is not inviting
everybody on their podcast.
Will this start to become moreof a normal thing to network and
(02:56):
meet people?
Absolutely, but in 2025, we'rejust getting started, baby.
It's not the norm yet.
People don't really see youcoming, but their ears sure do
perk up real quick when youinvite them to be on your
podcast.
When you meet them, you got tothink about when you've gotten,
when you've evolved in there.
(03:16):
When you go to a networkingevent and the first thing
somebody does when they walk upto you is shove their business
card right in your face, barelyeven say hello.
How rude is that?
I learned a trick a long timeago at a network, at networking
events, from an old mentor ofmine, and that was when I've
talked to somebody and I thinkthat they may be a prospect and
(03:37):
we can do some business togetheron either side, I take their
card and I put it in my rightpocket.
If it's some knucklehead whojust walks up and shoves their
car right in my face, I know Iwill never follow up and or do
business with this individual,based on how they initially
showed up, told me everything Ineed to know about them.
I take their card, put it in myleft hand but left pocket
(03:58):
rather and then on my way out ofthe event, I take all the cards
in my left pocket, the cardshovers and I throw them in the
trash.
Can I take the cards in myright pocket, follow up with
them and when I follow up I sayhey, jane, it was really good to
meet you at the chamber eventlast night.
As promised, I wanted to followup and send you a link to book
(04:21):
a time to be on my podcast so wecan get to know each other and
I can learn more about yourbusiness.
I don't say anything aboutstarting a podcast.
I don't say anything aboutpitching around what I do.
I just say it was great to meetyou, cordial Love to get you on
the podcast and I'm followingthrough with what I said that
I'm going to do Networking 101.
(04:42):
Meet someone, be professional,learn about what they do, listen
intently, follow up and takeaction.
That's how you actually networkand make it productive, where
it's not a complete waste oftime and you're just considered
unpaid entertainment.
Listen.
Business cards usually end upin the trash can and or
(05:02):
forgotten about.
You know what podcasts do?
Podcasts are permanent.
They go on the internets theworldwide web with your name and
your prospect's name and theirstory.
You know what happens topodcast episodes?
They get indexed.
And when you take clips fromthose podcast episodes and you
turn them into video reels andshorts and you post them on the
internet and TikTok, you postthem on LinkedIn and Facebook
(05:25):
and Instagram or wherever elseyou hang out online, that's
getting indexed too, with yourname your company name at least
it should be and your prospect'sname and company name.
What happens when that prospectactually is able to convert new
business because someone heardthem on your podcast?
To convert new business becausesomeone heard them on your
(05:46):
podcast?
There's not a better validationout there, not a better one out
.
So the next time you think aboutjust shoving your business card
in someone's face, I want youto think about the new way of
networking in 2025.
The ship has sailed on the daysof walking in and just grabbing
a stack of business cards,dumping them into your crappy
constant contact or MailChimpautomated newsletter and hoping
(06:09):
for the best.
Let her rip Hope somebodyreplies, yet no one does.
They unsubscribe, they don'treply, they've tuned you out.
Remember, just as quick assomeone can like and or follow
you, they can unlike and orunfollow you and or unsubscribe
to your email, to your content,to whatever it is, but when you
(06:31):
lead with value and you lead inservice and you lead with saying
I am here because I want toconnect further with you, so I'm
going to do something for you,first and foremost, that doesn't
cost you a nickel.
In fact, it might make you anickel.
I'm going to invite you on mypodcast.
That, my friends, is the wayit's done in 2025.
(06:54):
That, my friends, is the waythat you, your contact
information, doesn't end up in atrash can somewhere, ie your
business card or a follow-upemail.
Oh, that's second best toshoving business cards in
people's face.
Is the old canned email givingyou my entire dissertation and
(07:14):
biography on my life and mybusiness, when all I should be
doing is saying, hey, it wasnice to meet you last night.
As promised, I wanted to sendyou a link to book a time to be
on my podcast so I can betterlearn more about you and your
business.
After that, we can chat for afew minutes and identify if
there's any opportunity for youand I to do business together.
If not, no worries.
I got a new podcast guest andthat's what I'm excited about
(07:37):
and that's all I really careabout.
Anything above and beyond thatis just gravy.
When you stop caring about willthis person become a client if
I have them on my podcast andyou're just focused on, I just
want to get them on my podcastso I can do something for them.
Everything starts to shift, butwe live in this gimme, gimme,
take, take world.
What's in it for me, what's init for me, what's in it for me
that that worked like thatanymore.
(07:58):
Why?
Because there's way too muchnoise going on out there.
There's way too many old waysof being and old ways of
networking and connecting thatare still happening in 2025.
I know we have the internetsand the World Wide Web, yet
people are still out there inbad suits handing out bad
(08:19):
business cards.
My favorite are the ones thathave their headshot on their
card, and that headshot wastaken shortly after high school.
And I'm not talking any youngeryoung individuals by any
stretch of the imagination.
You got to just thinkrealistically on where we're at
and how people want to benetworked with and communicated
(08:40):
with.
You heard the old joke what hastwo thumbs and wants something?
Me.
So give people what they want.
Put them on a pedestal rightout of the gates.
You're going to winexponentially New podcast
(09:01):
episode, new contact.
You're doing the right thing.
By doing something for someone,you become memorable.
The podcast episodes on theinternet.
You post clips and you tag them.
You give them the clips and theraw footage to go do whatever
they want and then they tag youand all this stuff gets indexed
and it's proof of therelationship, a fruitful
(09:22):
relationship at that.
And it all started with a hello.
It's great to meet you,chatting for a couple minutes
and inviting them to be on yourpodcast and following up with
them in a productive way,meaning it was great to meet you
yesterday, as promised.
Here's a link to book a timefor my podcast, looking forward
to our conversation.
You get excited, they getexcited, everyone's excited.
(09:45):
And it all started with apodcast.
Lastly, having a podcast allowsyou to be everywhere without
being everywhere.
You don't have to leave youroffice or your house or wherever
else.
You hang out all day long.
It allows you to be everywherewithout being everywhere
(10:08):
Everywhere, meaning that you canrecord a podcast episode or
several of them every single day.
I do it, my clients do it, Isee it happen and all they are
are Zoom meetings that I happento record, that happen to be in
high definition with goodquality audio, that happen to be
in the format of a podcastinterview.
That's it.
Don't overcomplicate thisprocess.
(10:30):
I don't have a studio and Idon't have the right equipment,
and that's all baloney, becauseyou can get a good mic, decent
light, decent webcam.
Go to podcastlaunchlabcom anddownload our free guide for less
than 300 bucks maybe less than200 bucks, realistically and
you're in business.
Remember, the only thingpreventing you from starting a
(10:52):
podcast is your excuses on whyyou haven't started a podcast.
Remember, like an old mentorused to say to me, it's only
money, it's only money.
So, questions, thoughts, ideas,concerns about this episode or
any episodes, please send me aDM on Instagram.
It's at podcast suck, just likethe show name link in the
(11:13):
description of this podcastepisode.
Remember, the time is now.
You want help launching yourpodcast?
Would love to chat with you fora few minutes and chat about
what's possible and see ifyou're a fit for our 90-day.
Done for you.
Podcast launch solution.
Just head over topodcastlaunchlabcom or hit the
link in my instagram bio or thelink below in this podcast
description and I'll bring itright to my calendar.
(11:35):
We can book a time and chatabout what's possible with you
actually doing something with apodcast.
I'm telling you this stuffworks, but you must get started.
Stop handing business cards out.
Start inviting people onto yourpodcast.
You'll see the big difference.
Until next time, friends.
Thanks so much for tuning intothis episode.
(11:55):
We sure do appreciate it.
If you haven't done so already,make sure you're subscribed to
the show wherever you consumepodcasts.
This way, we get updates as newepisodes 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.
And remember podcasts suck ifyou don't have one.
(12:15):
Until next time, friends.
Welcome to Podcast Suck, a podcast about starting a
podcast where we dive headfirstinto the wild, wacky and
sometimes frustrating world ofpodcasting.
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.
Hey, you know that fancybusiness card of yours.
It's in the trash.
I mean, I don't want to assumethat's what happened.
(00:44):
I'm just looking at the factthat it's 2025 and the old
school way of doing business isover.
Well, sebastian, I mean I go toa networking event or a
conference.
People want my contactinformation.
I've got to give them mybusiness card, or you can
immediately connect with them,send them an email right there.
(01:08):
Pull out your phone, send theman email, add them on LinkedIn,
literally.
If you have an iPhone, I can'tspeak for the rest of you, but
if you have an iPhone, you cantouch iPhones and share your
contact card.
There are other ways toinstantly connect so that the
real connection can happen.
The real connection happens byinviting somebody to be on your
(01:30):
podcast.
There's not a better way totreat a new contact or a brand
new introduction that you'vereceived or somebody that you've
met at a conference or an eventthan by simply saying Fred,
it's great to meet you, I lovewhat you're up to.
Of course, you're saying thatafter you've chatted for a few
(01:50):
minutes, I'd love to have you onthe podcast.
Great, let's do it.
Cool, let's go ahead andconnect on LinkedIn.
I'll share my contact info withyou here and I'm going to send
you an email with a link for youto book for the show.
That might have taken me maybe90 seconds, if I'm exaggerating.
There's a new way of doingbusiness.
(02:11):
I'm not talking about the QRcode, digital business card,
none of that jazz.
Put a little bit of effort intomeeting someone when you
actually meet them at an eventthe same amount of effort of
going in your pocket andreaching out for a business card
.
Business cards are cool, butdon't expect people to have that
business card and go.
I can't wait to get back to myoffice and email this person, or
(02:34):
call this person or text thisperson If you know that person
is a fit for what you do and youwant to do business with them,
inviting them on your podcastbecomes memorable in their mind.
You know why?
Because I guarantee everybodyin that room is not inviting
everybody on their podcast.
Will this start to become moreof a normal thing to network and
(02:56):
meet people?
Absolutely, but in 2025, we'rejust getting started, baby.
It's not the norm yet.
People don't really see youcoming, but their ears sure do
perk up real quick when youinvite them to be on your
podcast.
When you meet them, you got tothink about when you've gotten,
when you've evolved in there.
(03:16):
When you go to a networkingevent and the first thing
somebody does when they walk upto you is shove their business
card right in your face, barelyeven say hello.
How rude is that?
I learned a trick a long timeago at a network, at networking
events, from an old mentor ofmine, and that was when I've
talked to somebody and I thinkthat they may be a prospect and
(03:37):
we can do some business togetheron either side, I take their
card and I put it in my rightpocket.
If it's some knucklehead whojust walks up and shoves their
car right in my face, I know Iwill never follow up and or do
business with this individual,based on how they initially
showed up, told me everything Ineed to know about them.
I take their card, put it in myleft hand but left pocket
(03:58):
rather and then on my way out ofthe event, I take all the cards
in my left pocket, the cardshovers and I throw them in the
trash.
Can I take the cards in myright pocket, follow up with
them and when I follow up I sayhey, jane, it was really good to
meet you at the chamber eventlast night.
As promised, I wanted to followup and send you a link to book
(04:21):
a time to be on my podcast so wecan get to know each other and
I can learn more about yourbusiness.
I don't say anything aboutstarting a podcast.
I don't say anything aboutpitching around what I do.
I just say it was great to meetyou, cordial Love to get you on
the podcast and I'm followingthrough with what I said that
I'm going to do Networking 101.
(04:42):
Meet someone, be professional,learn about what they do, listen
intently, follow up and takeaction.
That's how you actually networkand make it productive, where
it's not a complete waste oftime and you're just considered
unpaid entertainment.
Listen.
Business cards usually end upin the trash can and or
(05:02):
forgotten about.
You know what podcasts do?
Podcasts are permanent.
They go on the internets theworldwide web with your name and
your prospect's name and theirstory.
You know what happens topodcast episodes?
They get indexed.
And when you take clips fromthose podcast episodes and you
turn them into video reels andshorts and you post them on the
internet and TikTok, you postthem on LinkedIn and Facebook
(05:25):
and Instagram or wherever elseyou hang out online, that's
getting indexed too, with yourname your company name at least
it should be and your prospect'sname and company name.
What happens when that prospectactually is able to convert new
business because someone heardthem on your podcast?
To convert new business becausesomeone heard them on your
(05:46):
podcast?
There's not a better validationout there, not a better one out
.
So the next time you think aboutjust shoving your business card
in someone's face, I want youto think about the new way of
networking in 2025.
The ship has sailed on the daysof walking in and just grabbing
a stack of business cards,dumping them into your crappy
constant contact or MailChimpautomated newsletter and hoping
(06:09):
for the best.
Let her rip Hope somebodyreplies, yet no one does.
They unsubscribe, they don'treply, they've tuned you out.
Remember, just as quick assomeone can like and or follow
you, they can unlike and orunfollow you and or unsubscribe
to your email, to your content,to whatever it is, but when you
(06:31):
lead with value and you lead inservice and you lead with saying
I am here because I want toconnect further with you, so I'm
going to do something for you,first and foremost, that doesn't
cost you a nickel.
In fact, it might make you anickel.
I'm going to invite you on mypodcast.
That, my friends, is the wayit's done in 2025.
(06:54):
That, my friends, is the waythat you, your contact
information, doesn't end up in atrash can somewhere, ie your
business card or a follow-upemail.
Oh, that's second best toshoving business cards in
people's face.
Is the old canned email givingyou my entire dissertation and
(07:14):
biography on my life and mybusiness, when all I should be
doing is saying, hey, it wasnice to meet you last night.
As promised, I wanted to sendyou a link to book a time to be
on my podcast so I can betterlearn more about you and your
business.
After that, we can chat for afew minutes and identify if
there's any opportunity for youand I to do business together.
If not, no worries.
I got a new podcast guest andthat's what I'm excited about
(07:37):
and that's all I really careabout.
Anything above and beyond thatis just gravy.
When you stop caring about willthis person become a client if
I have them on my podcast andyou're just focused on, I just
want to get them on my podcastso I can do something for them.
Everything starts to shift, butwe live in this gimme, gimme,
take, take world.
What's in it for me, what's init for me, what's in it for me
that that worked like thatanymore.
(07:58):
Why?
Because there's way too muchnoise going on out there.
There's way too many old waysof being and old ways of
networking and connecting thatare still happening in 2025.
I know we have the internetsand the World Wide Web, yet
people are still out there inbad suits handing out bad
(08:19):
business cards.
My favorite are the ones thathave their headshot on their
card, and that headshot wastaken shortly after high school.
And I'm not talking any youngeryoung individuals by any
stretch of the imagination.
You got to just thinkrealistically on where we're at
and how people want to benetworked with and communicated
(08:40):
with.
You heard the old joke what hastwo thumbs and wants something?
Me.
So give people what they want.
Put them on a pedestal rightout of the gates.
You're going to winexponentially New podcast
(09:01):
episode, new contact.
You're doing the right thing.
By doing something for someone,you become memorable.
The podcast episodes on theinternet.
You post clips and you tag them.
You give them the clips and theraw footage to go do whatever
they want and then they tag youand all this stuff gets indexed
and it's proof of therelationship, a fruitful
(09:22):
relationship at that.
And it all started with a hello.
It's great to meet you,chatting for a couple minutes
and inviting them to be on yourpodcast and following up with
them in a productive way,meaning it was great to meet you
yesterday, as promised.
Here's a link to book a timefor my podcast, looking forward
to our conversation.
You get excited, they getexcited, everyone's excited.
(09:45):
And it all started with apodcast.
Lastly, having a podcast allowsyou to be everywhere without
being everywhere.
You don't have to leave youroffice or your house or wherever
else.
You hang out all day long.
It allows you to be everywherewithout being everywhere
(10:08):
Everywhere, meaning that you canrecord a podcast episode or
several of them every single day.
I do it, my clients do it, Isee it happen and all they are
are Zoom meetings that I happento record, that happen to be in
high definition with goodquality audio, that happen to be
in the format of a podcastinterview.
That's it.
Don't overcomplicate thisprocess.
(10:30):
I don't have a studio and Idon't have the right equipment,
and that's all baloney, becauseyou can get a good mic, decent
light, decent webcam.
Go to podcastlaunchlabcom anddownload our free guide for less
than 300 bucks maybe less than200 bucks, realistically and
you're in business.
Remember, the only thingpreventing you from starting a
(10:52):
podcast is your excuses on whyyou haven't started a podcast.
Remember, like an old mentorused to say to me, it's only
money, it's only money.
So, questions, thoughts, ideas,concerns about this episode or
any episodes, please send me aDM on Instagram.
It's at podcast suck, just likethe show name link in the
(11:13):
description of this podcastepisode.
Remember, the time is now.
You want help launching yourpodcast?
Would love to chat with you fora few minutes and chat about
what's possible and see ifyou're a fit for our 90-day.
Done for you.
Podcast launch solution.
Just head over topodcastlaunchlabcom or hit the
link in my instagram bio or thelink below in this podcast
description and I'll bring itright to my calendar.
(11:35):
We can book a time and chatabout what's possible with you
actually doing something with apodcast.
I'm telling you this stuffworks, but you must get started.
Stop handing business cards out.
Start inviting people onto yourpodcast.
You'll see the big difference.
Until next time, friends.
Thanks so much for tuning intothis episode.
(11:55):
We sure do appreciate it.
If you haven't done so already,make sure you're subscribed to
the show wherever you consumepodcasts.
This way, we get updates as newepisodes 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.
And remember podcasts suck ifyou don't have one.
(12:15):
Until next time, friends.
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