Lessons from the Digital and Social Media Sports Podcast

It’s not every day you get to sit down with someone whose work you’ve admired for years and talk shop about the world you’re so passionate about. 

That’s exactly what happened when Tewdilly founder and CEO Jared Harding joined Neil Horowitz on Episode 284 of his renowned Digital and Social Media Sports podcast.

For those who don’t know, Neil has been running one of the most insightful and respected podcasts in the sports and digital media industry for years. 

"Having followed the show for years, being invited on as a guest was a real honor," Jared noted.

Over the course of 97 minutes, Neil and Jared dove into a wide range of topics. They discussed Jared's time leading digital and social for Kroenke Sports & Entertainment, where he worked across high-profile professional sports properties like the Denver Nuggets and Colorado Avalanche, and how he transitioned to founding and growing Tewdilly, a brand strategy and content consultancy launched in May 2024.

"One of the things I loved most about our conversation was how Neil framed the discussion," Jared said. "He’s a master at exploring not just what we do, but why we do it." 

As Neil put it, “Jared is so introspective and articulate, he gets the concepts that underlie strategy and brand — the methods undergirding the madness and driving results.” 

That’s the type of thing Neil is a master of extracting from guest, and part of what makes his podcast so valuable to listeners.

Here are some of the highlights of what was discussed:

• How social-centric marketing (a term Jared credits to Movement Strategy cofounder/CEO and long-time friend, Jason Mitchell) flips the script, creating content that wins fans over first and lets marketing and sales flow organically.

• Building community with your fans — and why it’s more important than ever.

• Translating the essence of a team’s identity into a brand that fans can connect with.

• Taking on new challenges with Tewdilly, where Jared's sought to develop audiences and strategies without the built-in affinity of sports fandoms.

They even got into some fun anecdotes, including a great story involving former Denver Nuggets guard Ty Lawson and his experience on reddit.

Jared's Takeaways: Tips for Preparing to Be a Podcast Guest

After reflecting on the experience, Jared wanted to share a few tips for anyone preparing to be a podcast guest. 

These are lessons he picked up both from being on Neil’s show and from years of working in content strategy and brand development.

1. Know Your Story

Think about what’s unique about your journey. What do you want the audience to take away from your experience? When Neil and Jared talked about his transition from KSE to Tewdilly, Jared knew he wanted to highlight how his time in sports taught him lessons that are universal to all brands.

2. Be Open and Authentic

Podcasts are intimate by nature — the audience is often listening on their commute or while working out. Let your personality shine through! As Neil said in his post, “Jared is so introspective and articulate.” That comes from being willing to dig into not just the successes, but the challenges, too.

3. Engage with the Host

This isn’t just about answering questions — it’s about having a conversation. Neil’s expertise and enthusiasm made it easy to dive deep into topics like social strategy and building community. The more you can make it a dialogue, the more engaging it will be for listeners.

4. Promote the Podcast

It’s not just about being a great guest; it’s about being a great partner. Share the episode widely, highlight the host, and let your audience know why they should tune in. 

 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Neil’s podcast is a must-listen for anyone in the industry, and being a part of it was a reminder of why Jared loves this work so much. 

If you want to hear the full conversation, check out Episode 284. And if you’re a podcast guest or host, hopefully these tips help make your next episode even better.

Let us know what you think of the episode — and if you have your own tips for being a great podcast guest, drop them in the comments!