One of the many joys of having my own podcast is the ability to pick the genius minds of guests.

In Brand Therapy, we interview guests from all over the map (literally and figuratively) to unlock secrets, hacks, and recommendations about all things branding, business, and life.

This year’s guests were exceptional. From PR experts to songwriting coaches to speaking managers, there was something to learn from everyone at Brand Therapy.

That being said, there were a few mind-blowing moments that deserve extra accolades. Here are my favorite learning moments from Brand Therapy podcast guests in 2021:

When you optimize your sleep, you have maximum energy to get your work done.

Our guest Tanessa Shears is an entrepreneur coach and biohacker. While sleep is, for obvious reasons, a necessity for being a human on this planet, Tanessa’s perspective opened my eyes to the business advantages of sleeping more.

To network online, contribute to conversations that are already happening.

Guest Petra Zink gave us this “a ha!” moment about connecting with people on LinkedIn. You don’t have to be the host of all conversations to build a name for yourself. Instead, go to hashtags and speak where there’s already chatter. Brilliant!

To find out what matters to you, ask yourself, “Who am I when I’m not busy?”

Client, guest, and leadership coach Kendra Reddy recommends asking yourself this question whenever you’re feeling burned out, lost, or unsure of what to do next in business or life. When you understand who you are and what matters to you, it’s much easier to make your next move.

Get good lighting and look into your camera on Zoom calls.

News anchor and dear friend Ashley Rowe gave us a lesson in all things remote work. She recommends getting good lighting (so pull the trigger on that Ring light in your Amazon cart!) and looking directly into the camera on your video calls for extra impact.

Go after sponsored content deals with brands you love.

Our episode with Jenny Melrose was empowering. She recommends scouring the press releases of companies you admire to find contact emails of sponsored content organizers. If you make a compelling case about why you’re a good representative of your brand, you can unlock a new income stream with ease.

Think like your audience.

Our episode with search listening expert Sophie Coley was a compelling reminder about getting into the shoes of your audience. Once you know how to think like your audience, you can start accessing your audience through smart content. Genius.

And there you have it! My six favorite learning moments of 2021. Which one is your favorite?