She Ignites
This is where power gets raw, healing gets hot, and rebellion becomes ritual. Hosted by Kari Lowe, She Ignites is your weekly dose of fire-starter truth, bold stories, and permission to break every rule that kept you small.
Light the damn match.
It’s time to burn, not behave.
(Frequent strong language)
She Ignites
One Bold Pivot Can Change Your Life - Guest Candace Dudley
Use Left/Right to seek, Home/End to jump to start or end. Hold shift to jump forward or backward.
I talk with Candace Dudley about walking away from a 13-year teaching career, doing the inner work to stop asking for permission, and building a business that lets her show up as her best self at home. We also get tactical about podcast guesting as a long-term marketing strategy that builds trust, improves SEO, and helps women stop shrinking their voice.
• leaving a stable job to stop living on leftovers
• recognizing the pull to seek outside permission
• finding grounding through entrepreneurial community and financial planning
• pivoting without shame and treating alignment as the compass
• why women hesitate to speak publicly and how “the ripple effect” reframes fear
• using podcast guesting to replace some social media grind
• how SEO, backlinks, and searchability extend the life of your message
• the “trust recession” and why long-form audio builds credibility faster
• what makes a great podcast guest, starting with clear speaking topics
• how to pitch hosts with respect, homework, and a simple DM
• common mistakes that lead to misaligned shows and burned bridges
• practical reps to start using your voice this week
Find Candace here:
https://www.instagram.com/candacedudley/
https://www.candacedudley.com/
Find her free Podcast Machmaking community here:
https://stan.store/CandaceDudley/p/match-making
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Did you know She Ignites has a playlist filled with all the Hype songs of our guests? Find it here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2NZUkiMFR6BvXfA7dzVakh?si=qM0cmFU8SXO-lSEYX1Js3Q
Want to be a guest? Fill out this form: https://forms.gle/k4E2VLQAJwk2YaKq5
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Post-production editing by SoulFlow Studios - https://soulflowstudios.com/
Welcome To She Ignites
SPEAKER_00Welcome to She Ignites, the podcast where we burn the rule book, ditch the shoulds, and light up the lives we were meant to lead. I'm your host, Carrie Lowe, candlemaker, confidence dealer, and your favorite fire starter. Around here, we speak boldly, dream wildly, and show up messy and magical. If you're done playing small and ready to own your own spark, you're in the right damn place. Now let's get lit.
Leaving Teaching Without A Safety Net
SPEAKER_02Every hood in every way.
SPEAKER_00Welcome, Candace Dudley. Thank you so much for being a guest on the She Ignites podcast today. And before we get into your work helping women use their voices on podcasts, I'd love to start with your story. So you had left a 13-year teaching career, which is a huge identity shift. And I'd love to know what was happening in your life that led you to make that decision.
SPEAKER_01Well, thanks first for having me. And yes, you're absolutely right. That was a major identity shift. I really never thought I would leave teaching. I ended up having my own children, three sort of back to back to back. And that's when I realized going home after school and kind of crashing out or needing a nap really wasn't sustainable. And I started to feel like my own kids were getting my leftover version of myself because I just couldn't not pour it out to my students, air quote, my kids at school, right? Those kids that I felt like were mine too. Um, and I couldn't just show up halfway there. And so I always, it just had weighed on me long enough where I finally made the decision to, I first took leave of absence, actually, uh just like a safety net where I could go back to my position if I uh decided to. Um, I'm since been out of the classroom for four years now and fully no safety net, no leave of absence anymore. And so um completely uh stepping in to a brand new version of myself, one that the younger me would never have seen coming, but it was really because of having my own kids and wanting to make sure that they got my best version and not that leftover piece.
SPEAKER_00Absolutely, yes. Yes, that's a big deal. So, you know, when when we make a big change like that, sometimes, you know, we talk about she ignites about the outside voices that come into our heads, right? And I'm curious what you heard. What do people around you say when you decided to leave something secure and you know that you were known for?
SPEAKER_01Absolutely. It's something that people knew, right? That's a job that's very easy to say that I'm a teacher and everybody sort of respects it and knows what that means. And I don't didn't have that anymore. Um, you know, I heard things like, don't you like your job, but you have summers off? Doesn't it fit your schedule as a mom? Um, you know, don't you want the retirement? All these things. And I do think a lot of it was said out of love and care. But yeah, because they're not. Um, if you don't have an entrepreneurial mindset, let's say, then you really do think moves like that are wild and crazy because you would never consider them. So that was a big learning that I had to do over those first couple of years. I would love to say it was faster than that, but it really wasn't, was that I kind of was looking for permission from other people around me, from people in my family, things like that. Like maybe if I do this, maybe if I have a cooked meal every night on the table, this will be the ticket, or this or that, or if I bring in a bunch of money, you know, all these things in my head that I decided for myself. I didn't really have someone telling me this, but I was looking for that outside permission. And it was a bit of a light bulb moment where I was just realized that even if my family wanted to give me permission, they really couldn't because they don't really get where I'm going and not they've never been where I want to go. So um, that was a moment where it was like, I have to give myself the permission. I have to let myself do this fully and not just halfway and not with all the the um doubts and you know lack of confidence, just full send it, right? Like you talk a lot about on this podcast, like do it fully, quit shrinking, quit playing small and just dive all the way in. So I I did that, but it wasn't easy. It was a lot of inner work that went along.
SPEAKER_00Sure. So what did you do to stay grounded, you know, during those moments when people questioned your, you know, what you what it was that you were doing?
SPEAKER_01Yeah. Luckily, I have two best friends who are very entrepreneurial spirited. So I had that sounding board. And I think if you don't have that, you really do need to find that community or um pay to be part of one for a time being, because it was vital. Had I not had that, I definitely most likely would have gone right back to where I was. Um, I'm not trying to knock the teaching profession, but you have to do what is right for you in your time of life, in your season of life. Um and it and it wasn't right for me at that time or at this time. So luckily I had those two as a sounding board because, you know, without that support, without them kind of talking you off the ledge, saying you're not crazy. This is real. This that you can there are jobs like this that you can create this for yourself and for your family. Um, you know, and that you're in a financially stable place. That was another thing in place that I had luckily been smart with money, my husband and I, and you know, I'd paid off our house and this, that, and the other. So we really were in a safe space with that to be able to make that jump.
SPEAKER_00That's great. I know a lot of people, you know, that are wanting to be full-time in their business, their side business, that is a big drawback that they're not financially secure enough to do so. And, you know, that can make the anxiety around making that decision a little stronger. And but you had mentioned, you know,
Permission, Conditioning, And Community Support
SPEAKER_00permission. So do you think that women are conditioned to ask for permission before changing their lives?
SPEAKER_01I think that's an easy yes. I think so. Um yeah, I don't think a man would have, right? I think and I and I didn't like pose the the question with my spouse, my husband, like, can I leave teaching? It was more of like, I want to and I'd rather have your support, but I guess I've kind of already decided in my head. So it wasn't necessarily that I was looking for permission to make the full decision, but it is nicer and it feels a little easier when those people do say, do it, give it a shot. And I didn't necessarily have the enthusiasm. Um, my husband's also a teacher, so it's not yeah, and he still is, which is great. We need someone with, I think each household needs like a W-2 and then uh entrepreneur. We balance it. Yes. Yep. So um it works for us, but yeah, I didn't, he wasn't like excited, but he also is like, well, obviously, I'm not gonna tell you what to do, right? So um, yeah, I do think women aren't conditioned to do that. I think that we are conditioned to think about other people before we think about ourselves, and especially when you're a mom and you have kids, you have to think about them too, and and think about the pros and cons. Um, you know, and there's been times over the last four years that, you know, my mindset has gone ups and downs as one has, um, you know, where I've thought maybe I am doing something wrong to my family by doing this. Maybe I should go back. And you just kind of have to trust your woman's intuition that we all have, that you know, we've also been conditioned to think of as anxiety or not to listen to it at all. And it's not real, but it is true. And I I believe we have that. I believe we have that knowing. And so it's not easy, but it's definitely worth it to trust that.
SPEAKER_00Right. And it's so fitting that you made that comment about like the W-2 and the um, you know, the business as we're recording this on tax day, right? Right.
SPEAKER_02Yes, we are.
SPEAKER_00Yes. So I'm curious, whenever you decided that you were going to leave teaching to pursue this, did you already have your business started?
Pivots, Burnout, And Finding Podcasting
SPEAKER_00Did you have any idea what you were wanting to do?
SPEAKER_01Yes and no. I didn't really have a full plan. I had actually been involved with network level marketing through like a wellness group. Um, and I had a great coach. So I know it gets a bad rap, but that was my gateway drug into entrepreneurship. And I was doing that for three or four years while I was still teaching, thinking like that was my ticket out. I'll make enough money, I'll match my teaching income. That'll be my way out. And I almost did that, but at the cost of like total burnout and the whole bit. Um, and so when I was leaving the classroom, I was also closing that chapter. So I was really shutting down that which had been successful and my class because I just felt burnt out, completely out of alignment, and was trying to just make decisions that got me more and more in alignment. Um, and I had the one thing that's still constant today, which we're gonna talk about, is the podcasting. I had started my own podcast during that time um while I was still teaching and while I was doing the network marketing. It was very mindset type uh things, especially for moms, which were in my wellness community, my accountability group, uh, which I'm not affiliated with any of that anymore, but it served its purpose. I was able to dive into podcasting. I was listening to podcasts at the time because I was home postpartum. And that's really what um helped me feel sort of validated and seen and started me on this growth mindset, which is probably the reason why I'm at right now. Um, had I not done that, I'd probably still be teaching and wouldn't have thought that there were other choices to make like I do now. But yeah, so the podcasting is the the kind of the one thing that stayed. Everything else was a lot of pivots, a lot of twists and turns, like maybe I'll try this. I even tried um refinishing furniture for a time, liked it, got burnt out. It's a lot of work. Um, lots of different things. So uh yeah, I'm a big believer in pivoting. As soon as you know that you're out of alignment, making that choice to change because there was a time when that was very hard for me. And I did feel like I have to ask other people permission, or I didn't trust that I knew it was out of alignment, or that people, because I'm a woman, would think, what is she doing now? She's so flighty, she's never gonna be successful. She keeps changing her mind. And I don't think we would ever say that about a man. We'd say it's a power move. What a boss. He's such a CEO. And I think we need to embrace that in our entrepreneurial journey as women.
SPEAKER_00Yes. And, you know, it's funny that you bring this up because, um, first of all, I started my entrepreneurial journey in network marketing. And I have probably 20 years or more of that in my past. And, you know, like you say, the burnout and the stress and the anxiety of meeting the monthly things that we're required to. And and again, not to put, you know, anything negative in that industry because it's beautiful when it works, right? And it helped us in a season. Um, but one thing that I have realized is pivoting from one place to another because those sisterhoods mainly are so close that some of those relationships are fractured because of that. And that's so disappointing. And I know I went through a lot of that. Um, I'm also looking at a piece of furniture here that I finished thinking that I could go down that path. And I'm not, well, actually, I can't even say I'm finished because it still needs another coat of paint. And I'm like, nope, this is not for me. So we have a couple things coming there. Yes. And yeah, you're right. Men, men would be looked at as wow, he's not stopping until he gets what he wants and he knows what he's after, and we're looked at in a different light. But I know that one of the the things when when I had received information that you had said that, you know, one moment of sharing your voice can create a ripple effect. And I absolutely love that. So in follow-up to that, why do you think that so many women hesitate to share their voice publicly?
Why Women Hold Back Their Voice
SPEAKER_01I mean, a lot of it is because what will people think? You know, when I first started my podcast, I was like, I'm just gonna publish this episode, but really I hope nobody at school at work sees it. I hope nobody in my family listens. And that's really not the point of having a podcast or being on podcast, right? It's it is to share it. It is for people to hear it. So um, one thing that helped me get over that fear, which I'm sure if I have it, I know other people will have it. We're not all that unique in that. Usually we think we are in our own head. Our brain tells us we are, we're not. Um so take a little comfort in that. But one thing that helped me was to think about the person that I wanted to help. And I know the ripple effect it had on me when I was home on postpartum, not feeling like myself and um how much that that kind of brought me back to life after that. You know, have giving birth can be it's amazing. It's it's I I don't want to paint it in a bad light, but there is that other side where you go through a lot and your emotions and things like that. And so it brought me back to life and got me to where I am now. And so I just know the ripple effect it can have in someone else's life. And that's why I love helping others use their voice and speak to speak on podcasts. So that's why I landed in that niche in the podcasting space. Um, but yeah, I think it's it's that fear of like, what will people think? Well, especially the people closest to you. But then you kind of get over that the more reps you put in. And if you can kind of keep that person that you're you're wanting to help in the forefront of your mind, it um kind of makes those doubts feel a little more selfish versus, you know, why you get into this or why you have this nudge to do this anyway, which is to help people. And so when you keep that in front of your mind, then it it makes things a lot easier for you to go take that action. And I just am a big believer in stepping out of your comfort zone. So if this is out of your comfort zone, speaking on podcasts, speaking in general, sharing what you do in general, push that little pinky toe outside your comfort zone every single day. And that repetition is literally going to change your life because it's not gonna feel that scary. And that comfort zone is gonna grow and grow and grow until you speak on podcasts like I do all the time and have my own and think nothing of it at this point. But it was a very scary, like rip the band-aid off, throw up on a puke type of moment when I did it, right?
SPEAKER_00Yes. So um, before I ask you anything else about that, I would love for you to tell us about your business and you know, your podcast and what it is that you do to help women, you know, get their voice or share it with the world. Um, just tell me a little bit about what you do.
Podcast Guesting As A Marketing Strategy
SPEAKER_01Absolutely. So I consider myself a podcast guesting coach and strategist. And yes, I did make that up because it's it, I needed something to call it, right? Um, I had had my own podcast, I still do with with weekly episodes called the podcasting mentor for almost five years now. And um, through that process, as you know, with a being a host, you get a lot of bad pitches, lots of um different things that are very out of alignment, but you you're getting pitched um people that don't fit the show, as well as I would get asked questions by people about, hey, how do I get on shows or is that a thing? And it that's what sort of naturally led me to niche down, or I like to call it niche up, is what somebody just had told me, niche up into this specific space, right? Because podcasting is such a huge umbrella. Um, but I landed in this guesting space because of those things. And it also just fits so well with my values of wanting to give women a voice so that more people can feel seen, heard, validated through listening to us. Because I'm a firm believer that each of us has our own unique take on it. We can have virtually the same business, but the way I deliver it and you deliver it is not going to be the same. And so there are people that are going to be best fit for you, people best fit for me. And there's just this abundance of plenty for all, right? So what I do is I help people go on podcast tours. And it's not just to have fun conversations with the host that happens too, but it's more strategic than that. So I help them with speaking topics at the that's the first step. I lay out a whole strategy and map out an episode of, you know, things that they can say so that their business naturally is the focus, um, their expertise is the focus so that they can use this as a marketing tool and strategy versus just a fun thing. Um, and hopefully then can take other things off their plate. Like if you don't love social media and that feels like a grind to you, you could replace some of that type of work with this strategy, which also has a much longer life. It's searchable and and people can find you through the podcast episodes that you were on. I mean, up to a year or more later, I've had clients say that people have found them.
SPEAKER_00Oh, wow. You know, what triggers someone to work with you? Is it um, you know, I have this idea, but I don't know how to share it? Or do they already have a podcast, but they're wanting more, you know, eyes on them or ears on them, I guess I should say. What how how does the what is the client that works with you most? Good question.
SPEAKER_01Uh, you don't have to have a podcast to to do this. People don't require you to do a swap. It could help if it's a fit. Um, most of my clients are service-based online business owners who um are feeling really confident in it in what they do. So they already have a really solid offer and they know who they help. Uh, that's first and foremost. And basically, if you know those two things, then you're ready for a podcast tour. Um, if you don't have that in place yet and that doesn't feel quite right yet, then you you got to start there. Um, but they have that ready and they're they're thinking things like, oh, I just wish more people could see my offer. I feel like my business is the best kept secret. That's what um I hear from a lot of my clients. Um, and they're just not really getting anywhere, maybe with social media. Um, things that I had done before I sent myself on a podcast tour in 2025 was my own best client and went on 50 shows last year. Oh wow. Um, yeah, I didn't set out to do that number, but it it, you know, snowballed, um, which was amazing. But uh yeah, it's um there, there, there things that I had tried. That's where I was going with this. I'm like mom brain losing it here. Um was 30 reels and 30 day challenges. I don't know if you've seen those or different social media challenges. Yeah. So I did two back to back and I did not see the growth that was being promised. And I followed it and it was just more draining than anything. And it was one of those moments where I was like, gosh, what am I doing? Like, I can't keep repeating the same things over and over and expecting different results. That's the definition of insanity. And so I sent myself on a podcast tour, and that's what a lot of my clients feel like too. Like they've tried these other things, they've tried what the masses have told them. It doesn't feel good to them. A lot of them are moms, so they're busy. And this is something where you can, like you and I, you sent me your calendar link. I got to book when it worked for me. My kids are at tennis camp right now, so my house is free and empty. Um, and so that's how you can make that work. But yeah, it's it's just not wanting to feel like your business is a secret anymore. You want you're you're ready for an influx of people to find you, clients, new leads, that type of thing.
SPEAKER_00Great. So I know that you had, you know, you'd mentioned the social media and the fact that podcast guesting is such a powerful alternative because it lives, you know, longer. Um so why do you think that is? Is it a matter of um the searchability lasting longer? Or because you know, I've done the same thing. Um, you know, post on Instagram or do the reels or do the TikTok or whatever, and um, you don't see the um, you know, the in you look in your insights and it's not what you're hoping. And then the podcast seems to grow a little bit more. So, what is it about the algorithm that makes podcasting so strong?
SEO, Backlinks, And The Trust Recession
SPEAKER_01The thing is, is podcasts, they don't have to fight the algorithm. So you're right, there is that searchability. Um, there's SEO, our podcast episode titles, the podcast show. Um, that is all SEO friendly and searchable. So it makes your, let's say, digital footprint so much better. Like it's making Google happy. I can't explain all of it. I have friends that can. Um, but basically there's backlinks like in your show notes for this episode. You're gonna have links to my website and things like that. Those backlinks are making the search engines really happy and making it much more likely that if someone goes to Google, goes to um search for a problem, you could come up in the search engine um organically. So that's something that doesn't happen with social media content. Really, you have to catch the algorithm and you get like what, 24 hours, maybe 48, and then that's about it for social media and it's gone. So, depending on how long it took you to make that real or that caption, it's gone. Um, the other thing is when think about your headspace, when you go to social media and you flip it open, a lot of times. I'm just going because I'm bored and it's habit and I clicked it open and now I'm kind of doom scrolling, to be honest. But if I'm going to a podcast, I'm not in that mindset. I am ready to learn something. I'm looking to be inspired. I'm in a completely different mindset. So it's much more likely that when someone listens to your podcast, they're going to uh be in a mindset to really hear you versus that seven-second reel or something that they keep scrolling by. It also um kind of counteracts the big trust recession. I think that's what people are calling it, a trust recession that we're having where it takes people a lot longer with all the AI and such to know like and trust you. Yep. And, you know, you can use AI. You can, they can IAI can write your captions, can write, uh basically tell you what to say in a seven-second reel, but you can't AI your way through this hour conversation that we're having in a podcast episode, right? I think the pendulum's really swung back where people really want that humanness. They want to feel more connected with you and know that you are a real human. You're credible, credible and um in authority in your space. And that's exactly what happens when you get on a podcast because the host has already vetted you and the hosts like you have already built this audience. You already have listeners that are here that trust you and this community around that that we do as podcast hosts. And now, as a guest, you get to sort of borrow that trust from the host because hosts don't have people on that they haven't looked into yet, that they haven't been referred to. And so it's like saying, Hey, you can trust Candace. I've already checked into her, I know someone that knows her, or something like that. And so it can really speed up the process where someone might follow you on Instagram or threads, and it might take over a month for them to see your your content and decide to sign up with you. But somebody could listen to a 30-minute episode you were on and book immediately after because they feel like they know you or they feel like they know you enough where you're not bullshitting them, you're not AI them, right?
SPEAKER_00Yeah. Yes. I I, you know, I hadn't even thought of that. Um, you know, I know anytime I am looking for something or it comes by me in a reel, I'm like, oh, that sounds really interesting. So I go to the page of the person and start researching, and then I go to the reviews. Is there anything bad about the person that would make me, you know, not want to work with them or whatever the case may be? But when I'm when I'm looking for a podcast, which, you know, I think those of us that have podcasts, we do a lot of listening to podcasts. I intentionally am searching for something. So on my drive home from work today, I wanted to listen to true crime. And so I'm like searching. And then, you know, tomorrow I might want to listen to something more inspirational, you know, about finding friendship it, you know, in midlife or whatever it is. So you're intentionally searching, you come across um different hosts and episodes that are so powerful and then lead you to um, you know, that person to follow. And I hadn't really thought about how intentional a podcast search is when you're wanting to listen. So I'm so glad you shared that.
SPEAKER_02Yes.
SPEAKER_00Um, so in speaking about being a podcast guest, what makes someone a great one?
What Makes A Great Podcast Guest
SPEAKER_01There that's a big question. There's not a tiny answer for that. It's a combination of things. Um, first and foremost, like I've already mentioned, make sure you know your offer, you feel really good about it, confident you know it can help people and know who it is that you help. Um, and that can't just be everyone, right? That's then we need to get a little more specific. But a lot of us have done that work already in our business and made those pivots and gotten to that point. So the first place I always start with is speaking topics. And this is uh something I hear often is oh, I didn't even think to have a speaking topic, or I didn't even think about that. So when you don't have a speaking topic, what that can do is when you chat with the host or you book a show, you tell them, you know, I'm in the podcasting space. Let's use my my niche as an example. Let's say I'm in the podcasting space. And I and they say, Yeah, that sounds great. Let's let's do a show. And now they're just asking anything about podcasting. Maybe they're asking me about podcast setup and this and that. And I can speak to it because I have my own podcast. So I can say, well, here's how I set mine up and yeah, and this is this, that, and the other. But then the episode gets done and it was a great talk. I still add a lot of value to the to the show and and gave a lot of value to the audience, but they never once asked me about my actual expertise, which means then if someone goes to my page and they get to my Instagram, they're gonna be confused because I don't have podcasts set up on my, I don't have podcasts set up on my Instagram. It's all about guest speaking on podcasts. So um, and you can also feel like you're trying to like work your business into the episode and just that doesn't feel good. That feels gross. But if I would have talked to that podcast host and said, yeah, so I usually talk about um, you know, podcast guesting as a networking and strategic marketing um tool for to grow your business, you know, for online service providers. And then they still say yes. Now they're gonna ask me about that specific topic, and that's gonna be completely different interview. So giving some thought and intentionality to that and pulling those speaking topics out. Then that also helps you get over the fear of I don't know what I would say for a whole podcast episode or what would I talk about? Well, you're gonna talk about that and the host is gonna ask you questions about that, and you do that with your clients every day. So that is gonna be right in your wheelhouse. You're you're not gonna feel like inapt to uh answer the questions or feel like they threw something on a left field at you because you were so specific with your topic. So that is sort of the prep work that makes the episode a lot easier for you. And having that topic also makes sure that the uh it gives you a chance to stay on topic in the podcast episode, right? One episode isn't long enough, or like our attention spans aren't long enough to jump all over the place and share every bit of your business. Maybe you do a lot more than just this one thing, but an episode isn't um a place to share all of that. We want to get really specific about one thing because then when you get done, that host is going to think of you and and podcast hosts. We get asked a lot. People know that we know a lot of people because we interview people and things like that. And so they're gonna ask you, hey, I know you don't do this, but you know someone that does XYZ. You will be top of mind if it's that topic. Um, but if you've jumped around, you've shared a lot of pieces, then you're not gonna be top of mind. It's gonna be more like you feel like a generalist. Um, so now what happens because I've given the same talk almost over and over and over, is every time open threads, someone's tagging me, a host or someone that listened to a show, they're tagging me whenever that's being brought up. And that's what can happen when you get more strategic and think about what you're gonna talk about, what your topics are, make sure they match up with your offer, make sure all that's very cohesive, and that's gonna make you a great guest. Uh, there's a few other pieces too, but just that's a plenty to start with.
SPEAKER_00Right. That's that is great. So do you, I know that some people that have um approached me about being a guest, uh, they submit a a media kit, you know, that is just a a sheet of information about them and their business and the topics that um they strongly, you know, encourage the host to
Pitching Hosts The Right Way
SPEAKER_00ask them about or what they want to speak about. Do you think that is a great idea? Or is conversation with that host the the basically the same thing?
SPEAKER_01You know, it's not a bad idea. A few years ago when I first dabbled in this and was just more of a I'm excited about this and let's try this out. And without having the strategy behind it, I had that and it is nice. It's professional. And if you put one together, you've automatically given some thought to what you would talk about, things like that, and prep that. So it's not a bad activity to do and a piece to have. Um, what I tell my people to do is either just fill out the application that a show has, but if they don't have one, which is what you have, I found your show on threads and was like, I was on a search for for clients, and then I came to yours and was like, wait, I I need this one for myself. I was hooked on your intro immediately, like, yes, let's break the mold together, right? So you're nailing your messaging because I was like 100%. Um, but yeah, fill out their application if they don't have one. Then I lean the way of a DM. And I put two things in that. One is I make sure they know I've done my homework, meaning I've listened to their show. So please, PSA, don't pitch us host if you've never listened to our podcast. Um, we don't like it. It doesn't feel good. It's like our our baby, our passion project, usually. Um, a lot of us are a one-woman show and do the editing and the publishing and the show. And so we're very immersed in our podcast. And the last thing you want to do is give that bad ick feeling because you've never listened and we can tell. So I share something that I really connected with. And then the next piece of that DM is sharing my speaking topic. So two or three topics that I can list and just say, I know I can bring a lot of value to your show with these three topics if any of them seem like a fit. Um, and I just send it as a DM or a voice note, and um, so focusing on show you've done your homework and the value you're gonna provide, which comes within your speaking topics because that's that's where your expertise is. So that's where I lean because I work with a lot of solar solo entrepreneurs or people who have like a VA but a small team, not huge production. I think if you're gonna be pitching shows that are big production um type deals where like the host of it doesn't do anything but ask the questions or do the talking and they take care of nothing else. Like they don't edit, they don't do the show notes, somebody, a team does that. It's probably gonna be more common that you should have a media sheet and you should email it because that's gonna be the standard there. But in my 50 experiences with hosts last year, pretty much all of us, I'd give it a good 95%, said, Yeah, we're sick of the emails because they're so bad right now. And you can't tell if they're spam, you can't tell if the links are junk and they're gonna give you virus. And so most of the hosts I talked with, including myself, said, We're not even opening the emails right now in this season. We're just sending it to the junk folder. That's why I go with the DM route. Plus, it's so much faster than curating a full big email and doing that whole bit. But whatever you do, um, and have a tracker. Because I have a tracker we can put in the show notes, it's free, but have a system in place to put these things because so many times someone will open a DM and they don't have time to respond right now and they don't get back to you, but they didn't want to say no, but they didn't, they kind of ghosted you. And so you want to follow up in, you know, a few days, five days, whatever, be human about it, be genuine about it. Um, but you want to keep track of that. So I do it in batches. If I'm searching for shows, listening to shows, I'm I'm linking what I can find for the hosts and their contact and the shows link and I'm putting that on the tracker one day. And then a different day I might be sending out pitches, doing those reach outs and sending those DMs. And I want to note in my tracker, like, have I sent that yet? Or not, or is it booked and not recorded yet? And I got to make sure to find out when it's recorded and or when it's gonna get published or that type of thing. So I can make sure that I share it because that's another important step. Do not guest on podcasts if you're not planning to share the episode because you're gonna burn bridges. It's not gonna be good. Make sure you're ready to share.
SPEAKER_00Most definitely. Um, I you know, I love the idea about, or not idea, but what you said about, you know, make sure that you listen to their podcast because I get personal, you know, forms that are sent to me and they've never listened to my podcast. And and I'm like, number one, how did you find me? Number two, if you haven't listened to my message, how do you know that we align and that my podcast is the right fit for you and that you have the right message for my guests? So on the other side of that, as a host, if someone submits to me, to you, a form that um has never listened to a podcast, how do you handle that? Do you respond? Do you just ignore? How do you handle that response?
SPEAKER_01The way I handle it is I write back and say, hey, I'm not taking guests right now. Thanks.
unknownOkay.
SPEAKER_01It's a lie, right? If if someone is so good, you will make room for them in the show. And and you might need it, might be true that you have like right now, I'm recording a whole bunch of guest episodes for summer because I don't like to record when the kids are home. My kids are gonna be home with me. So there can be situations where I might record with you, but it's not gonna air for four months because that's how far I'm working ahead or that's how far someone might be ahead. Um, but they'll squeeze you in if they're like, yeah, you're a yes. But when I can tell that, I and I the only reason I even respond because I used to just delete it, is because the follow-up with some people is crazy. Have you been have I've seen it like within 24 hours, hey, just bumping this back to the top. And I'm like, no, stop. I yeah, you you don't fit my show. I have female entrepreneurs on. You're a male realtor. Like, I what do you right? This is not maybe you listened and you because you can tell they'll copy the title of one episode and then they'll s tell you what yeah, they'll say something, and you're like, you missed the mark. I don't have guests like this on my show. So but I just tell them I'm not taking guests. Goodbye.
SPEAKER_00Great, great, because I need an needed an answer for a couple, so I love that. Now I have had a couple of people on that maybe haven't listened to my podcast, but I have worked with them in the past. So I know them and I know that they were, you know, are a good fit. Um, so you know, I think that could that's a good exception. But um, so I know you've talked a a lot about the best way to pitch yourself to a podcast. What are the mistakes? What are a few mistakes that you see women make when they are pitching themselves to podcasts?
SPEAKER_01One, not having a speaking topic, or if you have one, it's too generic. So then it's like, oh well, I've probably already had an email copywriter on the show already, but maybe your niche is in like the welcome funnel and you have a wild take on it, and your take is not what other people have. You need to work that into your speaking topic so that a host can be like, oh yes, I need this perspective on my show. Um, but with that said, if your topic is so specific, it's a great thing because even if you get a no, now you know that no was purposeful. That no meant their audience isn't looking for that. And so it's good because you're not going to be wasting your time. You're getting the biggest bang for your buck. So um I keep going back to the speaking talks, but it really truly sets the stage for the whole thing. Make sure you're it makes sure you get on the right shows, not just as many as you can get on, because I'm not a big proponent of that. Some people would say, well, quantity will make it work and you'll succeed if you get on enough. Um, I if you've if you're on five well-aligned shows in the year, it's gonna be so much better for you than if you're on 50 that we're all over the place. You're gonna confuse your audience. Like you said earlier, maybe um you didn't do your homework and now you're on the show and they're talking with you, and you're like, oh my gosh, I I can't share this when I'm done. I don't believe in what they're talking about, or it gets political, or it gets this or that. And you're like, wow, had I done my homework, I would have known that, but I didn't. And now I don't want to share this episode, and now this bridge is gonna be burned. It didn't need to be burned, could have just not done it. Um, and and when I see that happen a lot, it's usually because someone had a VA. They're not really in the podcasting space. They were doing what they were told and going to find shows for that were taking guests, and they got you booked on it and you showed up to your interview, but they didn't check for that alignment piece. So it's not always the best thing to have your VA do, uh, unless they are really accustomed to the podcasting space and have some of that background knowledge. Um, but I have seen that go awry for people.
SPEAKER_00Okay, that makes sense. I interview
Motherhood, Example, And No More Apologies
SPEAKER_00a lot of different women that are in different career paths or different coaches or um, you know, whatever it is that their their role is or their offer, but I always tie their story back to the mission of She Ignites. And, you know, because all of us as women have a story. And, you know, it took me, you know, I'm midlife, it took me far too long to get to the place where I listen to my own voice. And I love hearing stories of women, you know, in the process to listen to their own voice. But at the same time, I absolutely adore when I have a young guest that is already listening to their own voice and they're not gonna have to go through 20 or 30 years of, you know, shrinking themselves and all of that. And I think those are those are great examples for the younger listeners that I have, but at the same time an inspiration to the older listeners as well. But I just love the the thought process and storytelling behind helping women see their value uh without looking. You know, one of the my favorite things to say is that it's we need to choose ourselves and stop waiting to be chosen. Um, you know, and and us women in business are like the perfect example of that. However, sometimes it takes us a lot of chances and a lot of times and a lot of pivots to get to the place where we're like, wait, I do have something of value to offer. Um, you know, and and I love that I am in that space right now, and I love to hear, you know, stories from women as well. Like I said, but one of the things that I absolutely love about women like yourself is that you have children and you are setting an example for them that lets them see that, hey, well, mom is doing this, so maybe I can do this. I don't have to follow the normal path of, you know, whatever that might be, CEO of a bank or whatever. It doesn't have to be my, you know, mission in life. So I'm curious what kind of example you were hoping to set for your kids and if you were already seeing it, you know, in their ideas and in conversations with them.
SPEAKER_01You're absolutely right. I I did make this leap be with them in mind, and I wanted them to know that even though I had a good teaching job, it was good, that you can trade that for great and you have options. And um, just because other people say you don't or you think you're crazy, that you can still do what you know is is in your heart and you can still follow that. So that was a huge piece. And honestly, why I was able to make the leap was because thinking about them and thinking about what example I wanted them to see, not just that mom's burnt out every day, not just that mom's crabby every day after work, that kind of thing. Um, but I do love that they get to see that there's other options because I think I'm I was of the generation that you went to college, you got a job, that's the you know, then you retire and I chose teaching. My dad was a teacher, my dad was my teacher, like I just firstborn daughter, that type of thing, and um fit that mold. But I really didn't know that there were these options out there. I didn't know that you could have an online business. I didn't know that I didn't know about podcasts. You know, there's so many things um that you look at now and it seems so clear, but it really wasn't. So I am glad that they can see that they're 11, 10, and 8. So they there's they are starting to pick up on a lot more things and notice and um and they know that what I've created has a lot more flexibility in it than what we used to have, too.
SPEAKER_00Yes, I love that. And I have, you know, in my network marketing days, I have my youngest um was a very active listener of conversation. And I remember so many times she would be playing, whether it be with her dolls or she was playing like school or whatever, and she would be repeating some of the conversations that she heard me have on the phone with my team members, um, you know, about helping them achieve their goals or seeing their worth or their potential. And that was one of my favorite things about that and being at home where my children saw and heard, you know, my work ethic, but at the same time, those voices that empower people. And so I love that, you know, that you're seeing that in your kids too. And so I, you know, one question that I have, you know, we talk at She Ignites a lot about lighting our own fire and living unapologetically by our own rules. So for you personally, what is something that you had to stop apologizing for? And I use air quotes, um, for in order to step fully into who you are today.
SPEAKER_01I think it's just stop apologizing for what it is that you actually want to do. You know, it's not wrong, it's not bad that you want to leave a job that other people is stable and smart and X, Y, and Z. Um, and I think our brains can tell us that we're doing something bad. I don't mind it in the early on, like I'm doing it, I'm doing this horrible thing to my family because I took away this basically what people think is a promised income, right? A stable income that we can trust and count on. I took it away. Um, and so I'm doing something bad to my family, but you really have to um just give that permission again that that's okay and uh stop saying sorry for it, stop beating yourself up over that because what you gotta think about is the things that are good from this, and there's so much good from this. And um, you know, mom gets to be home when they're sick from school, no questions asked, or you know, can do fun stuff when there's a day off from school. It's it's all those good things. I coach all three of their elementary basketball teams. I played basketball in college from a big sports family. So would I do that if I was still in my nine to five? Probably, but I'd probably be pretty resentful about it because I would be exhausted. Um really tired. Oh, yes. And so now I can enjoy it and I can feel excited about it. And it's something that they all love and and they're they're getting good at. And so it's been fun to see, hey, what we put time into and what we practice we can get better at. So it's fun to see that growth in them too. But um, I don't know if I'd have been able to enjoy it as much. I don't know if I would have had that. And so there's a lot of good in this too, and it's easy to focus on, you know, what you took away or the bad from making these jumps or pivots or leaps in your life.
SPEAKER_00Sure. I love that. Not apologizing for what we went to do because we a lot of women are so um, you know, people pleasing based. And that's a big one. So I'm gonna ask you like just one more general question here before I let you share offers and all of that that you have. Sure. So, what is one way that women shrink themselves that drives you crazy?
SPEAKER_01Um
Stop Shrinking And Put In Reps
SPEAKER_01this is I will say this because my my daughters are kind of getting to that like pre-teen age. Um, one way they shrink is playing dumb. And and using that to I see uh for a reason why you can't speak on podcasts, because someone knows more than me and someone's further along than me. And the reality is is that's factual. Someone is smarter than me too. Someone is further along than me too. That that's facts, that's true. Um, but but playing dumb or playing like you don't have an expertise and you don't have an experience to share, and your story is not important, that's where it drives me nuts to um see people shrinking because you do have a story to share. And I was one of those people that thought my life is boring and I don't have a story to share, and I run out of things to talk about. Well, I'm well over 200 episodes of my own podcast and still here and talking on shows. And so, you know, I can guarantee you have a story. Even if you think it's boring, it's valuable and someone's waiting to hear it because they haven't connected to me yet. They haven't connected to you yet. They're waiting for you, and there's room and trust in that. So, yes, don't play dumb. Don't worry about if you know enough or you need one more degree. Because that's one thing I did too, right after I got out of teaching was oh, I I better go get a life coaching certification. I better go get a mindfulness coaching certification. And while those things were great, I learned stuff, uh things that help help me now. I didn't need that. I didn't need that to tell people how to talk on podcasts because I was already doing that. I already had the experience. So trust that you know enough. You know enough, and there's value in what you know to share.
SPEAKER_00Yes. I know I have um, you know, spoken with a lot of women and myself included, that you know that you're an expert in something, but if you don't have that piece of paper to show that you're an expert and to prove it, that sometimes it's hard to speak up. And so that's why we feel like we need that life coach certification or meditation facilitation, you know, yeah, coaching that I have. So I I know that that that exists so um often with women and that you say, we don't need that. I love that. So I want you to share. Um, you know, I know you told us about your business, but
Where To Find Candace And Work Together
SPEAKER_00where can people find you? How do they work with you? And any special things that you have um offers or any specials that you have right now.
SPEAKER_01Absolutely. So come hang out with me on Instagram and Threads at Candace Dudley. You'll find me my website as well, but uh Candace Dudley on Threads and Instagram. And it's me behind the screen. So send the DM if you have questions from this episode, you want to share something. I always love to hear that. And then if you are thinking about guessing on podcasts after hearing this, or you have your own show to share, I have a free community. It's growing literally every day. I'm I'm so surprised and flattered by how much it's growing and how quickly it's growing. But there's over almost 400 people in it. And um, it's only been open for a few months, but it's for hosts and for guests. It's called the podcast matchmaking community. And if you're in there, you'll get a chance each week to share your podcast episodes that you have that are new. Um, and then if you're a guest, you also get to share any guest episodes you've been on. But it's a place where you guys can connect, uh host and guest. So if you're looking for guests for your show or you're looking for shows to guest on, you'll be prompted with a form that's very short. You share your speaking topics or you share what topics you're looking for. And then the other parties have um access to that so that they can see if they're fit. And then it says how you want to be reached out to and things like that. So it's a really great place to start, free, you know, strings attached, place to start looking for shows that would be well aligned for you, or finding guests if you have a show of your own.
SPEAKER_00Okay, great. And then do you have like private one-on-one coaching or group coaching?
SPEAKER_01Yep. So my main offer is a podcast tour. So if you really want to speed things up, you can sign up for that. I have limited spots each month, but basically we work one-on-one. You fill out a form that again, it's not very long, but I dive into you, your business, and then I map out everything, your speaking topics, what you can say in the episode, questions the host can ask you to fit that framework that I teach within the program. And then I deliver that plus a full tracker with all the contact information and podcasts, 10 to 15 shows that I've found that I feel are very well aligned with your business and your message and um just you in general. And then I send you a video explaining all of it and giving you next steps. Um, and then I'm there for support and questions as you dive into those resources after. So that's the podcast tour, and that's always live and um in all my links.
SPEAKER_00That's amazing. That sounds wonderful. And anyone, I I can attest to the free community, it is wonderful. I've been there. Um, I don't, I read a lot, I don't post a lot. So I need to change that. Good.
SPEAKER_01Start sharing your episodes each weekend.
SPEAKER_00Yes, yes, I need to share more. Um, so is there anything else you'd like to share about what you're doing right now? Or um just anything that you would like my listeners to hear?
SPEAKER_01Yeah, I just want the listeners to know that you don't get to guest on podcasts if you don't tell anyone you want to guess on a podcast, right? That's not how it works. So you kind of have to put yourself out there and shoot your shot and trust yourself and do a little of that groundwork to get that ball rolling so that you can do that. And you can take that and apply it to a lot of different things in life, but I'm here with the podcast guest speaking. So um don't keep those things a secret. Don't keep those goals a secret. Let people know so that they can actually happen.
SPEAKER_00What's so funny because I had found someone on um, I think it was Instagram, and I'd been following them for a while, and I really love their content. And, you know, I thought they would be a great fit for, you know, to be a guest on my podcast. So I sent them a DM about being on my podcast, and their response was, um, I don't know if they were confused and thought that I was asking to be a guest on theirs or if they were wanting to trade. But then, you know, she had said something about, oh my gosh, I love your content. I would love to have you be a guest on my podcast. And I'm like, whoa, wait a minute. I what are you talking about? I wasn't to be a guest, I was looking for you to be a guest. So that like lit a light bulb for me. Like, wait a minute, I can be a guest too, because this is like my passion. I absolutely love doing this. Um, but then to you know, to open that door that I wasn't even thinking about um is is so much fun. So definitely your community has so many different genres or niches, however you want to say it, yes, of podcast opportunities. And it's just phenomenal. So I have um like two questions that I like to ask my guests.
One Step This Week Plus Hype Song
SPEAKER_00Um, this one I've I've changed up a little bit, but if a woman listening today feels like she's been playing small with her voice, whether that's in relation to a podcast or not, what is one step that she can take this week to start showing up differently?
SPEAKER_01I love that question. I just go back to the repetition. For me, it was just always putting in the reps because then that made it everything else easier. Once you've done it once, the second time's not as scary and so forth. So, whether that is you need to get on your stories tomorrow on Instagram and and hit the video button and start talking so that you just whatever comes out, that's your practice, that's you using your voice. But I go it just comes back to me of just practicing using your voice. So maybe you're good at it at one time, but you've lost it right at the moment. Get back on those stories. That's an easy place to start and start practicing it. Or if you have your own podcast and you haven't been recording, hit record. You don't have to promise yourself that you're going to air it or publish it. Same thing with your stories, but let yourself put that that practice rep in so that your body and your brain can be reminded, oh yeah, we know how to do this. Oh yeah, we have things to say. Yeah.
SPEAKER_00Yeah. And if you've had your podcast equipment in your closet for like three years. Get it out. That happened to me. It wasn't quite three years, but it was a while. Um, so one of my favorite questions to ask is if you had to choose like your hype song, some the song that you put on whenever you need to channel your fiercest self, what song is that? We have a She Ignites playlist, and I oh my gosh, add the women's song to the playlist, and I just love it.
SPEAKER_01Okay, I need this playlist first. Um, gosh, oh, this seems like a lot of pressure. Like it's gonna go on a playlist. It's gonna be good.
SPEAKER_00Everyone's like, wait a minute, you should have warned me.
SPEAKER_01My brain is like, you don't know any songs right now. It is gone. You don't know anything. No, um, what's coming to mind that I love the most right now is Taylor Swift's new album. So let's do which one do I like the best for that type of vibe? Um let's just do Life of a Showgirl.
SPEAKER_00I just let's do I mean it's really it's hard to pick one of her songs because they're all so great. Love her.
SPEAKER_01I'm like, is it Opalite? Is it? I mean, I oh the first three I just love to hit right in order.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, okay. Yes, amazing, wonderful. I love I love it, and I will get you the link to that playlist. And I need to make sure I list that in my show notes. I'm not sure I've been doing that. So to make a note, so fun. Yeah, um, get in the right vibe. What an awesome thing. Okay, so I want to thank you so much for being here today and sharing your story and your wisdom around podcasting and what it's like to take a chance on yourself and you know, jump from something that was safe and you enjoyed and was comfortable into something new and exciting for you. And I just loved hearing your story.
SPEAKER_01Oh, thank you so much. And thank you for having a show like this because me back then would have needed this show. And so I love that you're doing this work because it's even if you don't know it, it's making an impact for people that are listening.
SPEAKER_00Well, thank you very much. I appreciate that. So I I want to close with this.
Final Takeaway And How To Support
SPEAKER_00You know, one thing I hope every woman listening remembers uh from this conversation is that your voice does matter and not just when it's perfect, not when it's polished, but when it's honest, because our truth matters. And sometimes the most powerful thing that we as women can do is speak. So if this episode resonated with you, please take a moment to share it. And as always, keep lighting your fire. Thank you so much.
SPEAKER_01Thank you. That was good.
SPEAKER_00Well, that's it for today, babe. But your fire is just getting started. If you're feeling lit up, go ahead and hit subscribe, leave a spicy little review, and tag me at GIgnite CandleCo. So I can hype you up. Remember, the world doesn't need a quieter version of you. It needs the bold, blazing, fully expressed view. Until next time, keep glowing, keep going, and never, ever damn your damn light.