Preparation Beats Performance

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In this episode of Podcasting Made Simple Live, special speaker Mike Montague, founder of Avenue9 and host of the Human First AI Marketing Podcast, shares how artificial intelligence can transform the way you prepare for podcast interviews. Drawing on over a decade of experience behind the mic, Mike reveals how AI can help guests show up sharper, more relevant, and more confident without losing their authenticity.

You’ll learn how to use AI as a creative collaborator to research your host and audience, sharpen your talking points, and uncover fresh, personal stories that resonate. Mike breaks down four key ways AI can enhance your preparation, from crafting standout bios and pitches to brainstorming new storytelling angles, all while maintaining your voice as human and engaging as possible. If you’ve ever struggled with over-prepping, repeating old stories, or freezing up mid-interview, this episode will help you use AI to prepare smarter, connect deeper, and make a lasting impression.

Top Takeaways

1. AI is your collaborator, not your crutch.
Use AI to enhance your preparation and creativity, not to script your answers or replace your authentic voice.

2. Preparation beats performance.
Great guests don’t wing it; they use AI to research the show, host, and audience so they can show up relevant and ready.

3. You can just craft your position before you record.
AI can help you write stronger bios, headlines, and pitches that make a memorable first impression on hosts and listeners.

4. Know the show, the host, and the audience.
By analyzing transcripts or themes with AI, you can tailor your stories and talking points to fit the podcast’s tone and values.

5. Sharpen your stories, don’t repeat them.
Utilize AI to transform familiar anecdotes into fresh, engaging versions that keep your content fresh and memorable.

6. Practice with AI as your interview coach.
Let AI ask you tough or unexpected questions to help you refine your delivery, tone, and clarity before you hit record.

7. Find fresh angles and emotional depth.
Ask AI to surface personal stories, contrarian takes, or emotional insights that connect with audiences on a deeper level.

8. Be human first, always.
AI should make you sound more prepared and more human, not robotic. Once the mic is on, close your AI tabs and focus entirely on the conversation.

The Human-First AI Marketing Podcast is brought to you by Avenue9. We use artificial intelligence to amplify your unique voice, empower your marketing team, and enable your scaling business to achieve big-brand success.

Explore new avenues available with AI marketing at Avenue9.com.

No matter where you’re starting from or how big your goals are, we turn modern marketing challenges into exciting opportunities. Let's get started with a discovery consultation!

Want to be a guest? Send Mike Montague a message on PodMatch here.