Guesting, Growth, and the New Rules of Authority, with Tom Schwab

In this episode, Charlotte welcomes Tom Schwab, founder of Interview Valet and pioneer of podcast interview marketing. Tom shares his journey from engineering and e-commerce to becoming a leading voice in authority building for consultants, coaches, and advisors. The conversation explores why authority—not attention—is the real differentiator for service providers, and how podcast guesting accelerates trust and business growth.

Key topics include:

• Tom’s origin story and the evolution of podcast interview marketing
• The difference between attention and true authority
• How AI is now a major referral source, and why podcasts are favoured by AI engines
• Practical strategies for leveraging podcast interviews to build authority and generate leads
• The compounding effect of consistent guesting versus hosting your own show
• The importance of authenticity, niching, and the “heck yes or no” client filter
• Actionable steps for founders to start building authority in 30 days

Tom also shares tips on repurposing podcast content, nurturing prospects, and why consistency trumps chasing shiny objects.

***AUTHORITY BUILDER***

Applications are open until Mar 10, 2026.

Apply here: https://kaffeen.co/authority-builder