Know Before You Come on Authbition

Jan 2

A guide for guests

Authbition is a podcast where humans explore the real tension between authenticity and ambition—through story, reflection, and thoughtful conversation.

This page is here to answer the questions guests often ask before and after scheduling, and to help you feel comfortable, prepared, and at ease. Nothing here is prescriptive. Think of this as orientation, not instruction.

If you’re considering coming on the show—or you’ve already said yes—welcome. I’m glad you’re here.

Once I Say Yes — What Happens Next

After we connect and decide it feels like a good fit, I’ll send you a scheduling link.

The calendar invite includes:

Zoom link
Two-hour block of time for recording

That two-hour window is intentional. In practice, conversations almost always go longer than an hour, but so far they’ve all wrapped up comfortably within two. There’s no rushing and no clock-watching.

If nothing on the calendar works well for you, just let me know. I’m happy to accommodate odd hours, weekends, or whatever fits your life best.

The Flow of the Show

Authbition has a loose structure—not a script. The flow is simple and human, and it unfolds in four parts.

1. We have a candid, unscripted conversation

We start with a relaxed meet-and-greet. No pre-interview. No agenda. Just two people getting to know each other and easing into the space.

2. You share a meaningful work

Examples include:

Narrate a poem, song lyrics, memoir, personal essay, or short story
Talk about your innovation or entrepreneurial adventure
Sing a song and/or play an instrument
Tell a transformational life story
Show and tell a piece of art
Share a recipe

This can be something old, in process, or new. It can be tailored to the brand of Authbition: Something that rings particularly authentic and ambitious from your life. It can be what you’re passionate about on the day we record. It can be anything you want.

3. We play The Whole Mind Game

After the share, we reflect together.

I often get lucky and surface at least one tension I noticed in your work—something pulling in two directions. Sometimes we brainstorm an idea together. Some guests like to come with a specific challenge in mind that they want to discuss.

These have often included:

The subtext of your work
A difficult decision you’re facing
Something that feels alive for you that day

This part is improvisational, reflective, and conversational—not a debate or a test. It’s a game. If you’re curious to learn more about the framework itself, I have a separate post that goes deeper into The Whole Mind Game.

4. We bring it back to everyday life

We close by asking: How does this conversation apply to real life?

Not as advice or prescriptions—but as practical reflection. What might someone take with them? What might we take with us?

The Themes of Authbition

At its core, Authbition explores the tension between authenticity and ambition.

The show is built on:

Authenticity through vulnerability and nonattachment
Ambition that is caring and thoughtful
The glue that holds it all together is whole-mind thinking

These aren’t rules or requirements—just shared language.
Many guests ask, “What should I share?”
The short answer is: Anything you want.

The longer answer is: Choose something that connects, in your own way, to how you’re finding your voice, navigating ambition, wrestling with uncertainty, or holding tension without rushing to resolve it.

How Long Should the Story, Song, or Show & Tell Be?

This is a common question, so here’s some gentle guidance—not hard limits.

5–10 minutes is a sweet spot
If reading, 750–1,500 words, depending on pace
Shorter stories leave more room for conversation
Longer shares are welcome

If you’re sharing an excerpt from a longer work (like a book you’ve published), choosing a self-contained section often works well.

If you’re unsure, feel free to ask. I’m happy to think it through with you.

What You Don’t Need to Prepare

You don’t need:

talking points
scripted answers
polished insights
to “perform” or teach

Beyond choosing something you’d enjoy sharing, there’s nothing you need to prep. Curiosity and presence are more than enough.

Recording Setup & Environment

I record remotely over Zoom, with video on.

It helps to:

Be reasonably comfortable using Zoom
Have a relatively quiet space
Have a solid internet connection

That said—this is not a studio production.

I might be recording from a bedroom surrounded by bikes, or from an Airstream in the woods. You might hear city noise, birds, wind, dogs, or kids in the background. That’s all okay. Real life is welcome here.

Editing with Care

The show is candid and uncut by default—but that never comes before care.

If anything comes up during the recording that later feels:

Too personal
Too sensitive
Or simply something you’d rather not share

Please tell me. No explanation required. I’m happy to cut anything that doesn’t feel right in hindsight.

The same applies after publishing. If something needs to be removed, let me know, and I’ll take care of it.

Where the Show Is Published

Full episodes are shared on:

YouTube
Spotify
Apple Podcasts
Amazon Music

To help get the show in front of new listeners, I also create short video clips for platforms like TikTok, Instagram, X, and YouTube Shorts.

I use an AI-assisted tool to help with this, but every clip is reviewed by me before publishing. If any platform makes you uncomfortable, just say the word, and I’ll skip it for your episode.

If you ever see a clip that doesn’t sit right with you—for any reason—let me know and I’ll pull it down.

After the Recording

I typically publish about one episode per week. Depending on timing, your episode might go live in a couple of days—or a few weeks.

I try to send a personal note when your episode is live with links to the show and newsletter. I’ll be honest: I’m human, and I’ve missed this step before. Please know that I’m genuinely grateful for your time and your presence on the show.

If you’d like assets from your episode—audio, video, or transcripts—just ask. You’re welcome to create and share your own clips or posts on any platform you choose. No restrictions.

A Final Note

Authbition isn’t about soundbites, hot takes, or optimization. It’s about real conversation, real tension, and real people showing up as they are.

If this sounds like your kind of space, I’d be honored to share it with you.

Andrew DiMeo