How to Bridge the Trust Gap with Your Podcast
Trust is in short supply these days.
With AI-generated everything flooding our feeds, it’s getting harder and harder to tell if there’s a real, living, breathing human behind the message. Generic blogs, cookie-cutter videos, and even fake podcast hosts are making people more skeptical than ever.
This is what I call the trust gap. It’s that massive space between what people hear or see and what they actually believe. And if you’re a coach, consultant, or expert trying to build authority, this gap can make running a profitable business incredibly hard.
So, how do you bridge the trust gap?
Podcasting. Done right.
In this episode of Just One Tip from Your Podcast Performance Coach, I share the three key things your podcast must do to build trust with your listeners, especially in this AI-flooded world.
Why Podcasting Builds Trust (Fast)
The beauty of podcasting is that people opt in. They’re not scrolling past your content; they’re pressing play. That means they’re inviting you into their ears, into their day, and into their trust circle.
That’s a big deal. So don’t waste that opportunity.
If you want to use your podcast as a trust-building tool, here are 3 ways to make sure it’s doing the job:
1. Be Consistently YOU
Listeners don’t want a performance. They want YOU. Don’t over-polish. Don’t write a script that sounds like it came straight from ChatGPT. Talk like a human. Laugh. Make mistakes. Leave a few “ums” in there. Being real builds connection. And, when you are authentically you, it’s a lot easier to show up the same way each time. Can you imagine having a friend who was a different character or changed the way they spoke every time you met for coffee? You’d start to question who they really were and maybe whether you know them at all. The trust would be eroded, right? Podcasting is no different. If you want to build trust, show up as yourself every episode.
2. Make It About THEM
If you’ve listened to this podcast before, you know I’m always yammering on about being listener-centric. It’s not about what you get out of podcasting—it’s about what they get. Respect their time. Deliver value. Speak to the problem they needed to solve when they clicked play.
3. Share Real Stories
This is how you prove there’s a real human behind the mic. Tell real stories from your life or business. Talk about your clients, your wins, your screwups. It solidifies that connection. I once had someone book a free coaching call and ask if I was wearing pants. Not because she was being weird, but because she’d heard me joke on the show that I love podcasting because you don’t have to wear pants. She knew me. She trusted me. And yes, she still became a client (even without the pants).
Stories connect us. They cut through the noise. And they help you stand out as a real person in a sea of AI sameness.
If you want a few tips on storytelling in your podcast, check out episodes 108, 197, and 234.
Podcasting with Purpose in the Age of AI
If you’re using AI to help with your outlines or scripts, fine. (Notice I said help.) But don’t let it strip the humanity from your content. Use storytelling to keep your podcast grounded in the real world, with a real voice, serving a real audience. And, be consistent. Authenticity is clear when you show up the same way each episode.
So let’s recap how to bridge the trust gap with your podcast:
- Be consistently YOU
- Make it about THEM (be listener-centric)
- Share real stories that reveal your humanity and make you relatable
When you do this, you don’t just show up in their earballs, you connect with the person attached to those earballs. You build trust. And that’s going to inspire listener loyalty, leads, and long-term authority.
If you want help using your podcast to stand out and grow your business, book a free private coaching call with me now!
