Building Authority: Justin Peters’ Tips for Getting Booked and Growing Your Brand

Welcome to another episode of My First Stage! I’m your host, Sara Lohse, and this is the podcast where I sit down with public speakers to get real about how they got started, how they landed their first stages, and how speaking helped transform their businesses and lives. This week, I had the pleasure of sharing the (virtual) stage with Justin Peters, one of my favorite competitors in the podcasting world and someone who always keeps me inspired. Justin is a podcast coach, co-founder of SimplePod, and the host of Podcast Playbook. Not only has Justin been podcasting since 2019—he’s helped countless business owners launch, edit, and manage podcasts that build authority and trust with their audiences. We’ve spoken at many events in our shared city, and I’m thrilled for you to hear his story. Meet the Guest: Justin Peters Let me introduce you to Justin Peters. Justin is driven by his passion for helping people communicate, from writing viral blog posts about careers in the insurance industry to building his podcasting business. He’s a Toastmasters alum, a prolific speaker at conferences like Podfest and FinCon, and an expert at leveraging stages—both big and small—to generate leads and connect with his tribe. If you want practical advice about public speaking, podcasting, or building a brand, Justin is your guy. What We Talked About Here’s a quick overview of what Justin and I discussed during our conversation: Justin’s Unconventional First Stage: How saying “yes” to a viral opportunity landed him in front of 250 people as a 20-year-old.Big Stages vs. Small Stages: Why smaller audiences can trigger bigger nerves—and why stage size impacts your engagement style.Building Your Personal Brand: The role of content creation in getting noticed, “being qualified,” and landing speaking gigs.Toastmasters & Skill Development: How Justin used Toastmasters to sharpen his ability and stay intentional about growing as a speaker.Monetizing Your Stage Time: How Justin leverages presentations for lead generation, business growth, and long-term relationships.Judging Success: The mix of metrics and gut feel that determines whether a speaking opportunity was worth it.Repurposing Your Content: Strategies for turning speaking gigs into lasting assets—in newsletters, podcasts, and social posts.Podcasting & Speaking: Why podcast hosts make great speakers, and how practicing content off-stage translates to confidence on-stage.Authenticity vs. Polish: Our take on filler words, nervous ticks, and why being relatable matters (especially in the personal finance space!)Maximizing Every Role: How moderating panels and volunteering can be stepping stones to bigger stages—and how to be strategic about it.Advice For Aspiring Speakers: Justin’s best tip for beginners—start local, build your list, and don’t be the one to tell yourself “no.” If Justin’s story lit a fire for you, here’s how you can turn inspiration into action: Share Your Story! – I want to hear about your own first stage moment. Visit myfirststagepodcast.com and let’s connect.Connect with Justin – Learn more about Justin’s work at SimplePod Studios or follow him on LinkedIn. And don’t miss his new Podcast Playbook show!Subscribe & Review – If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe to My First Stage. Leave a rating or review and let me know who you want to hear from next!Take Your First Step – Apply for a local conference, volunteer as a moderator, or pitch yourself as a podcast guest. Your next stage could be just one ask away. Thanks for joining me for this fantastic episode—can’t wait to bring you more stories, advice, and fresh inspiration on the next My First Stage! [embed]https://youtu.be/YO7zAx5KNxw[/embed] Timestamped Summaries [00:00-01:10] – I introduce Justin and we reminisce about sharing stages together; Justin shares how his first big speaking opportunity came from a viral blog post and led him onto a major industry stage. [01:10-02:16] – Justin describes “ripping the bandaid off” for his first 250-person talk—and getting help from a co-speaker. [02:16-03:21] – We discuss nerves, audience size, and the surprising impact of smaller, more intimate crowds. [03:32-04:30] – Justin explains why smaller rooms can be tougher—and how podcasting reps have calmed his nerves. [04:41-05:34] – Justin lays out his personal brand strategy for getting on stages: content, identity, and creating expertise that attracts opportunities. [05:49-06:31] – The meaning of “qualification” for speakers—Justin talks about guiding an audience through their problem and knowing your subject deeply. [07:43-08:52] – Justin’s practical advice: just apply for speaking slots, reach out to event organizers, and don’t wait for someone else’s invitation. [09:18-10:06] – The business impact of speaking: Justin shares how stage appearances drive direct leads, conversions, and long-tail followers. [10:33-11:18] – Quantitative vs. qualitative measures of success—metrics, gut feeling, and meaningful hallway conversations. [13:36-14:35] – Structuring talks for lead generation: tactical content, resource downloads, and real-time engagement strategies. [14:42-15:46] – How podcasting and speaking go hand-in-hand—practicing content, generating ideas, and building confidence behind the mic. [17:24-18:19] – Using podcast episodes and clips as speaker reels in applications (and why it gives you a strategic edge). [18:57-20:20] – Authenticity vs. polish—why you don’t have to be perfect, as long as your insight and storytelling land for your audience. [22:28-23:47] – Justin’s worst stage experience: disorganization, interruption, and lessons learned about MCs and panel moderation. [26:12-28:47] – Using panel moderation, volunteering, and smaller roles to grow your reputation and credibility for larger stages. [29:24-30:47] – Repurposing speaking gigs for social, podcast, and newsletters—why every moment on stage can turn into powerful marketing. [31:07-31:48] – Justin’s bonus tip for beginners: start local, build your conference/event master list, and aim for manageable, high-impact opportunities. [32:06-32:37] – Justin introduces Podcast Playbook, his brand-new show for business podcasters, and explains where you can find him.