Conversations that Illuminate: How Podcasting Changed the Way I Learn and Lead

When I launched the Lumen Podcast a couple of years ago, it started as a marketing experiment. As the founder of Lumen, an advertising agency in my home country of Guatemala, I thought, “What if we used our creative tools to shine a light on people doing remarkable things? What if we literally put a lumen — a measure of light — on stories that inspire growth?”

But something unexpected happened. The podcast evolved from a branding exercise into a personal journey of connection and learning. More than 40 episodes later, I can say with conviction that hosting meaningful conversations has taught me as much about leadership, empathy, and life than any book or seminar.

The Power of Listening

If there is one thing podcasting has taught me, it is how to listen.

Before this experience, I thought I was a good listener. I lead teams. I have been part of EO for years. I mentor and coach. But the microphone changes everything. When you are sitting across from a guest, whether it is a lifelong friend or someone you have just met, you realize that the success of the conversation depends on your ability to hear them: Not just their words, but their energy and emotion, even as they pause between thoughts.

Listening deeply reveals layers you never expected. I once interviewed a lifelong friend who is a successful lawyer in Guatemala. In our conversation, he shared he had passed the New York bar exam on his first try. It seems small, but it opened a window into his discipline, ambition, and perseverance. By the end of that episode, I felt like I knew him in a completely new way.

Quini with fellow EO member and fellow
podcast host Daniel Marcos (US East Bridge). 

Learning Through Vulnerability

What makes a great podcast episode is not the production quality or clever editing — it is vulnerability.

In EO, we talk often about the power of sharing experiences rather than advice. Podcasts work the same way. When a guest is willing to open up about failure, struggle, or doubt, listeners connect on a human level.

One of the most powerful interviews I have done was with a woman who had escaped the sex trade. Her courage and willingness to speak truth were overwhelming. My older brother called me afterward and said he had to stop listening halfway through because of the emotional impact. It reminded me that when we invite people to share their truth, we also take on a responsibility to treat their story with care and to feel it along with them.

Say “Yes” to the Unknown

Podcasting also forced me out of my comfort zone. I have always been social, but being in front of a microphone, or a camera, can still feel intimidating. Early on, I decided to adopt a “Yes Man” mindset, like the Jim Carrey movie where he has to say “yes” to any request. Yes, I will have an emotional conversation with a stranger. Yes, we will record it. Yes, we can do it on camera. Every “yes” expanded my comfort zone a little more.

The best interviews happen when curiosity takes over and the dialogue flows naturally.

- Joaquín Cordero (EO Guatemala) 

It reminded me of entrepreneurship and my time in EO, which often puts you in difficult positions and forces you to look at yourself in a new mirror. As you become a chapter president and move through the Path of Leadership, you have to learn to deliver speeches in front of large crowds with conviction. You have to learn to lead other leaders. That same principle applies to entrepreneurship. It is easy to stay safe or to decline opportunities because they are unfamiliar, but growth comes from saying yes — especially when that answer scares you.

I prepare extensively for each interview. I write down a list of questions, but I rarely get past the first or second one. That is the beauty of conversation: It has a life of its own. The best interviews happen when curiosity takes over and the dialogue flows naturally. You start with a topic like entrepreneurship and end up exploring childhood memories or personal habits and values that shape a person.

I have spoken with athletes who have broken world records, teachers who left corporate life for family time, social activists who have made real change, and entrepreneurs who have redefined success on their own terms. Each story reminds me that growth looks different for everyone.

Make the Leap

You do not need fancy equipment or a production team to benefit. You just need genuine curiosity. Start having meaningful conversations, recorded or not, with your business partners, your friends, your mentors. Ask the questions you have never asked before.

Because when you sit down and truly listen, you will find something that every entrepreneur needs: perspective. You will discover that even the most successful people have struggled, failed, and started over. You will be reminded that you are not alone in your challenges.

That, to me, is the real value of a podcast. It is not about downloads or sponsorships. It is about connection. It is about illuminating the paths others have taken so we can all see a little more clearly.

Joaquin “Quini” Cordero (EO Guatemala) is EO Global Board Chair and founder and president of Lumen, an advertising agency.