Jessica Rhodes on - Podcast, Family & Virtual Assistant 😎 | IMOTW

I'm the founder and co owner of the first and leading podcast booking agency, Interview Connections. And I'm also the mom to a four and a seven year old and I live in Rhode Island. My dad helped me start my business. He was my first business coach. So I definitely connect with other father daughter teams. My dad referred my first client. So my dad was really helpful in this first in this process. So my dad was my first client. Then he referred my second couple of clients. But then from there I started reaching out and building relationships with the podcast host that I was pitching, that I was reaching out to. I mean, one of the things that I love about podcasting is that it is an audio because it's audio only. It is a much more intimate setting because people only have the audio. So there's not like when you're watching someone on video or like checking out what's behind them, like, how's that like you're taking in. It's like a multi sensory experience. You're taking in the whole experience. With podcasting, you're only hearing their voice, so you're not like thinking about what they look like. You're just hearing what they're saying. And it also has people stick with you for 30 minutes.

My name is Abhi Arya. Father of two girls, six dogs, husband to a superwoman, a streetcar racer turned hotelier, now social media marketer and founder of Internet moguls. If it was up to you, Jessica, and you had to meet somebody on a podcast, how would you introduce yourself? What would be Jessica Rhodes, Hero introduction?

Yeah. I'm the founder and co owner of the first and leading podcast booking agency, Interview Connections. And I'm also the mom to a four and a seven year old and I live in Rhode Island.

Before we get started, I'd love to, you know, if you can share your story on why podcast guesting. Like, you know, what you're doing is something so unique. And I don't think by the time people start doing it next year, many people will open up. You'll be far ahead of the curve. How did this idea come about? It's part of personal branding, all of that. Tell us a little bit about the backstory and how you started this business.

Yeah, well, you guys will love the backstory because it is. I started my business and I became an entrepreneur. When I became a mom, when I had my first baby, who is now 7 years old, and my dad helped me start my business, he goes, I love that you want to be home with your, you know, with your kids, with Your baby, you can be a virtual assistant. And so I started as a virtual assistant, working in my dad's business, booking him on podcasts. So I was doing some different tasks for him, supporting. I literally was like checking links on his website and, you know, support, like doing client support stuff. I started doing sales calls for him as well, and I was booking him for interviews on podcasts. And that was really what kind of opened my eyes to something that was really enjoyable. I have a background in door to door sales, so being like reaching out and making requests and sending out pitches came really naturally to me and I really enjoyed it. And at the time back in 2013, nobody was doing this. People were podcasting, but they weren't. There wasn't a whole podcast interview industry. So I started Interview Connections. And for about a year and a half, there was no competition. And we just grew like wildfire. And we continue to grow, and now it's become this whole, whole industry because people love that they can speak and get in front of new audiences. I think you said we have like 40 something live here. I mean, there's people watching this that I haven't left my home, you know, so you can be speaking and getting exposure, building your thought leadership and your brand without leaving your house. And so I just love that this strategy allows people to make connections, build relationships, and still be with their families at home.

That is so powerful because that's the message that Raya and I give to the world, that let's grow a business. Let's don't compromise on the business that we can do, but at the same time, let's not sort of compromise the time that you spend with your family. A few years back, something like this was impossible. The Internet makes it possible, and the kind of business innovation that people like you come up with makes it possible. Okay, so it was your dad's business started helping and you said, I can help other entrepreneurs. So how did you make the jump? How did you get your first client?

Yeah, so my dad referred my first client. So my dad was really helpful in this first, in this process. So my dad was my first client. Then he referred my second couple of clients. But then from there I started reaching out and building relationships with the podcast host that I was pitching that I was reaching out to.