How to Use Podcasts for Thought Leadership Without Sounding Cringey

🎙️ How to Use Podcasts for Thought Leadership Without Sounding Cringey
Want to build authority and trust with your audience—without sounding like a walking LinkedIn post?
In this episode, I break down exactly how to use podcasting to position yourself as a real thought leader. No ego. No empty buzzwords. Just practical tips to help you speak with confidence and clarity, and build meaningful recognition in your field.
✅ Why podcasting builds deeper trust than social media
✅ What makes thought leadership sound cringey (and how to avoid it)
✅ A simple “You → We → I” framework for authentic episodes
✅ Tone and delivery tips that connect, not perform
✅ 5 easy podcast formats to show your expertise
✅ How to know when it’s actually working 
📌 Whether you’re a coach, consultant or creator, this is your guide to becoming a trusted voice in your niche—without oversharing or overperforming.
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🆓 Free Podcast Starter Guide Want help launching your own show? Grab my free guide here: ]https://we.tl/t-H7ub0jERCT
📞 Book a Discovery Call Let’s plan your podcast strategy together: https://thepodcast.studio/free-15-minute-strategy-call

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Chapters 00:00 – Intro 00:30 – Why podcasting works for thought leadership 02:00 – What makes thought leadership cringey 04:00 – Speak to serve, not to sell 06:00 – Tone & delivery tips 08:00 – Formats that show your authority 10:00 – How to know it’s working 11:00 – Recap 12:00 – What to do next
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#ThoughtLeadership #PodcastTips #ContentMarketing #PodcastStrategy #AuthorityBuilding #TrustMarketing #EEAT #PersonalBrand #PodcastingForBusiness #ThePodcastStudio

Episode Transcript

(00:00):
Okay, so there's a bit of a problem. You want to be seen as a trusted voice in your industry,

(00:06):
but every time you think about launching a podcast, you picture yourself rambling into a mic,
oversharing your life story or sounding like a walking linkedin boast. Well, here's the thing,
podcasting is still one of the most powerful ways to build trust and authority. That's only if
you do it right. In this video, I'll show you how to use podcasting for thought leadership

(00:29):
without sounding cringy, self-important, or like you've just read another motivational quote.
So, why does podcasting work for thought leadership? Well, podcasting is different from other
content formats, isn't it? It gives you a space to go deeper than social media soundbites,
and you can build genuine trust with your audience over time, which means that you're literally

(00:54):
in someone's ears. There's no algorithm interrupting, there's no distractions, it's just your voice
and your message. It's really super personal, and that intimacy makes people feel like they know
you, which builds trust faster than any glossy sales page could ever do. I've helped founders,
coaches, and consultants launch podcasts that position them as the go-to expert in their niche.

(01:20):
Now, that wasn't because they shouted the loudest or were the funniest or were the screeniest,
but that's because they showed up consistently with real insights that helped people.
So, what makes thought leadership cringy? Now, this is a really good question, so let's talk about this.
Here's what's not to do, because this is where a lot of people seem to be going wrong when they

(01:43):
try to go into thought leadership. They start podcasting and fall into one or more of the following
traps. First of all, they speak in vague corporate jargon. I empower transformation through scalable
impact, or something like that, or they make another mistake where every episode is a monologue
about their own achievements. Oh yes, I've done this, I've done that, and I've done this, that,

(02:07):
and the other. Great, that's good, we need background, but come on, let's face it, we want some tips,
right? When we're watching these videos. Or the next thing is that they sound like they're
trying to audition for TEDx, rather than connect with real people. Yeah, walking around, talking,
yeah, this, don't want to be doing that either. And also, they overshare without a point.

(02:29):
So telling you about your, my workday wouldn't really be that interesting for you if there wasn't a
point to it, right? So here's a quick game for you. Let's play, ready for this? Cringy Bingo. Let me know
in the comments if you've heard any of these, all right? Here we go, first one. I was just humbled
to be speaking at, okay? There's number one. Number two, let me tell you about my journey.

(02:53):
Of that one. Number three, in these unprecedented times, that's a good one. And number four, oh yeah,
I don't usually talk about this, but we've all heard it, and it doesn't build trust. It just builds
resistance. So what's the antidote? Well, that is quite easy, really. Speak to serve, not to sell.

(03:16):
Sounds a bit jargoned, isn't it? But it's not. It's here's the mindset shift, and it will change
everything. If you speak to serve, not to sell, your podcast will end up solving people's problems
that your audience care about, not just showcasing your dull credentials. So try this structure when
writing your episodes. You, we, I. So let's have a look at you. Start with your listeners problem.

(03:44):
If you've ever struggled to price your services without feeling awkward, there you go, this is an
example. So let's look at we now. Show some understanding, some shared understanding,
awesome insight, something like the long lines of, I hear this all the time from consultants I work
with. Let's look at I. Now, this is where you bring in your experience, support. You could say something

(04:06):
like when I was freelancing, I am the charged for years until I learned this one shift. That's very true.
So anyway, do you notice a difference? You're not centering on yourself, you're using your experience
to guide them, your listeners, and that is how you can earn trust. So let's look at tone and delivery.

(04:27):
What I want you to do is to be professional, but not performative. All right. So another big part of
this is how you sound. It's super tempting to script everything, edit out every and deliver your
lines like you're giving a keynote speech, but that can feel really robotic. People don't connect with
perfection. They connect with presence, which is quite lucky for me, I guess. So here's what works.

(04:53):
Speak like you would in a one-to-one conversation like you're talking to your best friend or a colleague.
Use plain English, so ditch all the dodgy buzzwords, and don't be afraid to let your personality through.
When you're editing, make sure you're editing for clarity, not for polish. So don't try to make it look
all that good. What you're trying to do is just make it all make sense. And I tell you what, here's a bonus

(05:15):
tip. Authenticity doesn't mean oversharing. You don't need to spill every detail of your personal life
no one cares what you heard for breakfast or lunch otherwise you'd be making a completely
different video, wouldn't you? So share it selectively and intentionally. If a story supports the
point, use it. If it's just self-expression, maybe you should just leave that out. Okay.

(05:37):
So practical formats that showcase your authority that you can use. Here you go. Now let's get
tactical. What kind of podcast content actually demonstrates thought leadership? Good question.
Here are five easy formats for you to think about. First one, teach one thing per episode.
Because short and focused insights on a single concept or technique really matter. Okay. That's

(06:04):
what people are looking for. They just want an answer to one question, not five answers to 50 questions.
Okay. Here's an example. How to qualify leads without being pushy. There you go. Next one, you can
answer people's FAQs or facts whichever way you want to pronounce it. Think about what your ideal
clients ask you all the time and turn these into episodes. So that's quite easy. So for me, it's

(06:28):
how will I be able to record remotely or what kit should I use? How many episodes should I?
Anyway, you get the idea. Loads and loads of them. But use case studies or real stories. So when
you have been speaking to your clients, what are you going to do with that? Talk through how you
help someone or how you solve the problem. So again, you can talk to your clients, you can talk to your

(06:50):
peers, you can talk to friends, but show how you help somebody, say, for instance, record a podcast,
but remotely rather than just, I don't know, talking about other stuff. And it shows that you're
bigger, you're part of a bigger conversation, doesn't it? You're not just broadcasting your own ideas.
And that's the point. So the next one could be, I don't know, debunking some myths or something.

(07:11):
Pick one misconception in your industry and explain why it's wrong and what works instead. So for
podcasting, everyone seems to be trying to be loud and funny and a clown, but that doesn't
necessarily help you in business, does it? So and a recurring segment, by the way, if you want structure,
something along the likes of, or myth of the week sounds quite good, or quick win tip of the week,

(07:33):
or client question corner or something like that. This keeps things engaging and builds familiarity.
You know, when they tune in next time, of course, they're going to be looking forward to hearing,
I don't know, next week's client's tip or something like that. All right? So how can you judge
whether it's working or not? That's the next question. So you might wonder, how do I know if I'm doing

(07:56):
this right? Well, guess what? You're on the right track if people start quoting you or referencing
your advice in conversations. Great. Or you get invited to collaborate, speak or write on articles,
or symposial or something like that. Listeners tell you, it's like you're in my head. I love that one
because it really does mean that, well, if they are in their head, it's like you understand completely,

(08:22):
what they're talking about. And also the next one is, this is what you really want. You want leads to
come in already trusting you. They know that, you know, what you're talking about, they know that
you've had dealings with the particular situation that they're also going through. And so that makes
a lot of sense to them. And that's the sweet spot, not viral fame, but meaningful recognition.

(08:44):
So let's have a look. Let's recap on everything and see what we go for there. So podcasting,
it works with all leadership because it's intimate, long form, and consistent. But make sure you
avoid cringe traps like ego buzzword and textile performances. I always get this picture of like,

(09:05):
I don't know, the guy from Apple standing up on the stage,
and apparently on about what they've just, I don't know, brought out or something. And this,
that's actually what you're after trying to avoid it. Remember to speak to serve, not to sell. So in
other words, you're trying to help people, rather than trying to sell them a product or your service.
And use clear formats that showcase your expertise. That's video, audio, whatever else.

(09:30):
So remember building trust through helpful human content and not hype will get you the results that you
want. So the bottom line, well, you don't need to fake confidence or play a character to be seen as a
leader. You just need to show up consistently, helpfully and honestly. If you're sharing what you know
in a way that helps people to grow their businesses or themselves, you already have thought leader.

(09:53):
You just need a mic. So there we are. That's the end of all this. If this helps you rethink how to
use podcasting for your brand or business, can you please do me three quick things? First off, hit like,
so the algorithm, algorithm even doesn't hide this from people who need to see it. Drop a comment
with your biggest takeaway or actually your biggest cringe moment that you've heard in a podcast.

(10:17):
Sounds good to me. And also check out my next video on the best video podcast setups for solo creators.
If you want to look and sound like a pro without spending a fortune. And if you're ready to launch your
own show, the right way, grab my free guide or book a discovery call at the link below and I can help
you to get started. Well, I hope you enjoyed this video and got something from it. And I look forward

(10:42):
to seeing you in the next one. Take it easy. Good luck. See you later. Bye.