In this special episode, recorded live from Podfest 2026 in Orlando, FL at the Renaissance Marriott Hotel near SeaWorld, I was able to gather several attendees who are in the legal world—lawyers and legal industry marketers—to talk about why lawyers should podcast and more! 🎙️ Our roundtable features Dennis “DM” Meador (Legal Podcast Network), Louis Goodman (Love Thy Lawyer), Robert Ingalls (Lawpods), Wendi Weiner (The Writing Guru), and Elizabeth Gearhart (Passage to Profit / Gearhart Law), each bringing deep experience in podcasting, legal marketing, and personal branding for lawyers.
We discuss practical, no-fluff insights about how lawyers can use podcasting to build authority, strengthen SEO, show up in large language models (LLMs) like ChatGPT, and connect more authentically with clients and referral sources. Whether you are tech-curious, tech-comfortable, or completely new to podcasting, this episode will help you decide if starting a podcast makes strategic sense for your practice or business.
QUESTIONS WE DISCUSS 🎯
Join Dennis, Louis, Robert, Wendi, Elizabeth, and me as we discuss the following three questions and more!
Why should lawyers be podcasting in 2026 and beyond, especially with Gen Z and Gen Alpha getting so much of their trusted information from podcasts and social platforms?
What is one of the first concrete steps a lawyer should take if they are seriously considering launching a podcast of their own?
What is one of the biggest mistakes lawyers should watch out for when launching a podcast, and how can they avoid becoming a “zombie podcast” that dies after a few episodes? 🧟♂️
Additional themes we explore include:
How podcasting acts as an “electronic resume” and trust-building tool for lawyers.
How podcasts can drive SEO, get you discovered in LLMs like ChatGPT, Google Gemini, Perplexity, and Claude, and generate traffic to your law firm website.
Why your podcast does not always need to be “about the law” to be effective for your legal brand.
How to balance authenticity (including salty language) with your professional brand and ethics rules.
TIME-STAMPED EPISODE GUIDE ⏱️
In our conversation, we cover the following:
00:00 – Welcome & guest introductions
Live from Podfest 2026: intros from Dennis “DM” Meador (Legal Podcast Network), Louis Goodman (Love Thy Lawyer), Robert Ingalls (Lawpods), Wendi Weiner (The Writing Guru), and Elizabeth Gearhart (Passage to Profit / Gearhart Law).
02:00 – Why should lawyers be podcasting?
Gen Z and Gen Alpha treat podcasts as a top trusted media source. 📲
Podcasting vs TikTok for lawyers who don’t want to dance but still want reach.
Podcast as “electronic resume” and branding vehicle for lawyers and judges.
04:30 – Is podcasting right for every lawyer?
Robert on why not every lawyer should podcast, and why goals matter.
How a podcast helps potential clients decide if you are “their” lawyer—or not.
06:30 – Personality, language, and fit
The Tampa PI lawyer who refuses to bleep swear words to attract the right clients and repel the wrong ones. 🤬
Why authenticity can be a powerful qualification tool, not a liability.
08:00 – Podcasting as a marketing engine
Turning a 30–60 minute recording into video clips, written content, and evergreen assets.
How podcast content keeps working for you long after the recording session.
09:30 – Personal branding and storytelling for lawyers
Wendi on using podcasts to develop a personal brand, tell your story, and highlight your “superpower” as a lawyer.
Why sharing your career pivots and non-traditional path resonates deeply with listeners.
12:00 – Getting discovered in ChatGPT and other LLMs
Elizabeth on using a podcast and transcripts to improve visibility in ChatGPT, Google Gemini, Perplexity, and Claude. 🤖
How regular podcasting and transcript optimization sustained and improved hits from LLMs to Gearhart Law’s website.
15:30 – Future-proofing and “language-based internet”
DM explains why we’re moving from a page-based to a language-based internet and why early podcast adopters will win—similar to early website and SEO adopters.
Podcasting as both “future-proofing” and “present-proofing” your practice.
18:00 – Hobby vs business podcast
21:00 – How personal is too personal?
Robert’s own experience evolving his podcast from estate planning to broader personal topics.
Balancing sharing about yourself with focusing on the listener’s problem (StoryBrand “guide vs hero” concept).
25:00 – Beyond law: topic flexibility
Why your legal podcast can focus on tech, politics, entrepreneurship, or hobbies while still supporting your legal brand.
Examples of lawyers podcasting about politics and broader societal issues to grow recognition.
28:30 – Helping lawyers find their story
Wendi’s process: asking about upbringing, first-generation experiences, career pivots, athletic feats, and long-term goals to unlock unique stories.
How those stories fuel compelling podcast episodes and stronger interviews.
34:00 – Thinking beyond your current role
37:00 – AI hallucinations & validating LLM output
Elizabeth’s workflow for cross-checking answers across ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity, Claude, and Grok.
Why LLMs “love” natural, conversational podcast transcripts as training material.
40:00 – Networking power of “you should be on my podcast”
43:00 – Content, authority, and algorithm signals
DM on why consistent, custom content will always outperform gimmicks in SEO and algorithm changes.
How podcasts support authority, trust, and long-term discoverability in search and LLMs.
48:00 – Question #2: First steps for lawyers considering a podcast
Robert and DM: “Know your why” and who your ideal listener/client really is.
Are you using the show for lead nurturing, referral education, or brand visibility?
52:00 – Political/legal shows and indirect monetization
56:00 – Brand consistency before you launch
Wendi on auditing your website, LinkedIn, business page, and social handles for consistent branding (e.g., “The Writing Guru”).
Using CTAs and data capture to turn podcast listeners into contacts.
59:00 – Knowing your deeper “why”
1:03:00 – Solo vs agency vs studio
Pros and cons of DIY gear and production vs working with podcast agencies or studios.
Why time value, ethics, and avoiding scams all matter for lawyers.
1:08:00 – Ethics, multi-jurisdiction practice, and global reach
1:12:00 – Question #3: Biggest mistakes lawyers make launching a podcast
Elizabeth: ethics, off-the-cuff comments, and aligning tone (including swearing) with your brand and practice area.
Wendi: perfectionism vs progress—accepting that early episodes will be imperfect but valuable.
Robert: no long-term plan and no content strategy, leading to inconsistency and podfade.
Louis: underestimating time; a solid 30 minutes of content may require several hours early on.
DM: expecting immediate impact and treating podcasting like a short-term campaign instead of a long-term asset.
1:22:00 – Test-driving podcasting as a guest first
1:25:00 – Where to find today’s guests & closing
RESOURCES 📚
Connect with our Guests
Louis Goodman ⚖️
Elizabeth Gearhart 📻
Robert Ingalls 🎧
Dennis “DM” Meador 💼
Wendi Weiner ✍️
Mentioned in the episode
Non‑Hardware/Software 🔍
Hardware mentioned 🧰
(Exact models are discussed generally rather than by SKU, but here are representative links to explore.)
Software & Cloud Services mentioned ☁️
