Anthony Markey is the founder of I Know A Guy (IKAG), a daily newsletter and podcast dedicated to helping entrepreneurs and professionals grow their networks through meaningful connections. With a passion for storytelling and collaboration, Anthony believes that one introduction can change everything.
Website: ikag.me
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthonymarkeyikag/
Host: Richard Lowe | Guest: Anthony Markey
Summary of Transcript
Richard Lowe: Hello, this is Richard Lowe with the Leaders and Their Stories podcast. I’m here with Anthony Markey, the founder of I Know a Guy, a daily newsletter and podcast dedicated to helping entrepreneurs and professionals grow their networks through meaningful connections. Anthony, take it from here.
Anthony Markey: Thanks, Richard. I really appreciate you having me on. I enjoyed our chat the other day and I’m excited to be on your show.
Richard Lowe: So how did you get started in podcasting?
Anthony Markey: I’ve been self-employed for seven years in the B2B space. But I’m limited to working with U.S. companies with 25 or more employees. Most people I network with don’t fit that, solopreneurs and microbusinesses. I’ve always wanted to add value to everyone I meet, but didn’t have a good method for that.
So I started recording meetings about them, who they are, what they do, what they love. That way, if I came across someone who could be a good introduction, I’d just send the episode. It started that simply, just helping with introductions, and evolved from there.
Podcasting as a Networking Strategy
Richard Lowe: Sounds like we share a strategy. I do this to meet people, create relationships, and sometimes gain business or referrals. This is better than cold LinkedIn messages. I do one, two, sometimes three interviews a day. I share these on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, YouTube, and my site.
Anthony Markey: I limit myself to one a day. Some days I’ll record four or five, others I do none. Admin days help keep balance.
Richard Lowe: It’ll slow down as I scale business, but it’s a great prospecting method. Cleaner than cold outreach because I’m building real relationships.
Anthony Markey: Cold sales rarely work. Everyone tries it at first, but it fails quickly. A podcast flips that. You say “be a guest,” and at the end, they know you. Even if they don’t need your service, they’ll refer someone who might.
Networking Groups
Richard Lowe: Right. I started with BNI. They’re expensive and strict. Miss three meetings? You’re out. I didn’t like the forced referrals either. So I tried other groups, eventually landing in more relaxed, half-hour networking groups with breakout rooms.
Anthony Markey: BNI’s strength is advocacy, referring you when you’re not in the room. But you don’t choose your group. If you don’t like someone, or they burned you, you’re still expected to refer them. That’s where organic connection matters more.
Richard Lowe: I recently joined Alliances, which is next level. Deeper connections, stronger relationships. I also joined Metal, a men’s-only group. Powerful people, very relationship-focused.
Anthony Markey: Men-only groups work, same as women-only. It creates a safe space for deeper conversations.
Why Relationships Beat Sales Pitches
Richard Lowe: So why build relationships anyway? Most people just want to sell their stuff. But no one refers someone they don’t like or trust. You need to be known, liked, and trusted.
Anthony Markey: Right. You borrow someone else’s credibility. That’s the shortcut to trust. If Richard refers me, I start on a solid foundation.
Richard Lowe: That’s why networks matter. You build relationships, get mentoring, support, and even partners who promote you. Like Diana Lee, I just did a podcast with her. She’s big in AI, very collaborative. I promote her, she promotes me. Win-win.
Anthony Markey: You borrow audiences. I spend around 3 hours per episode from recording to editing. That’s time invested in that person. They reciprocate. It’s not additive, it’s multiplicative.
Production and Process
Richard Lowe: I’ve trimmed mine to about 2 to 2.5 hours total, batching interviews and post-work. I’ll hand off editing to a VA eventually once I finalize a process. I use Riverside.
Anthony Markey: Same. I hit the Brand button, add my intro and outro, clip the ends, and I’m done in 5 minutes.
Richard Lowe: I love editing the transcript to edit the video. Simple and clean. Zoom and StreamYard don’t do that. Editing video is painful. Editing words is easy.
Anthony Markey: I don’t cut the ums, but the AI helps a ton. Five years ago, this volume of podcasting would’ve been impossible.
Lead Generation Through Value
Richard Lowe: Everyone needs to pick a networking method. Some spam LinkedIn or email, but that rarely works now. Especially with higher-ticket services, you need conversation and trust. That’s why I add testimonials at the end of each podcast. Mutual value.
Anthony Markey: Great idea. People mean to give testimonials, but life gets in the way. Doing it on the spot makes it easy.
Richard Lowe: I did 300 to 400 LinkedIn profiles and getting recommendations was always tough. But with podcasts, I get a video testimonial almost every time.
Anthony Markey: It’s mutually beneficial. You gave them exposure, they return the favor. That builds strong relationships, not spammy ones.
Richard Lowe: One common lead gen strategy is cold messages, but results are mixed. I prefer inviting people to my monthly roundtable event. It’s value-first and builds trust.
Anthony Markey: Lead with service. Most people don’t. If you give before asking, they want to give back.
Books and Collaboration
Richard Lowe: Do you have a book?
Anthony Markey: Not yet. One is in progress. I’ve been in about 20 anthologies.
Richard Lowe: You need a ghostwriter. I’m thinking of compiling a multi-author book. Charge per chapter, promote collectively.
Anthony Markey: That’s smart. Less sticker shock. More collaboration. Everyone promotes everyone. More reach.
Richard Lowe: But it needs a clear promo plan, before and after launch, to succeed.
Final Thoughts
Richard Lowe: In this uncertain world, networking is key. You need that support when jobs or contracts disappear. Build goodwill now.
Anthony Markey: Meet someone new every day. Join groups, attend events, start a podcast. Grow your circle. The more who know and like you, the better your business will do.
Richard Lowe: And don’t spam social media. That’s not networking. So, where can people find you?
Anthony Markey: Visit ikag.me. That’s “I Know A Guy.” You’ll see all my interviews, and you can sign up for my daily intro newsletter. Meet someone new every day.
Richard Lowe: Thanks again for being here, Anthony. Until next time.
Find Richard Lowe at TheWritingKing.com.