Not Every Mic Deserves Your Voice

I almost let a stranger rewrite my voice.

She invited me on her podcast because of my online presence. No pre-call. No vibe check. Just a calendar invite and a cheery intro.

I told myself it would be great exposure. She’d found me through something I wrote, so clearly she “got me,” right?

She hit record. Within minutes, I knew I’d made a mistake.

We didn’t vibe. Her questions felt stiff, formulaic.

I sounded like a knockoff version of myself—flat, overly polished, robotic.

There was no back-and-forth. No rhythm. Just awkward gaps and long-winded answers that didn’t feel like mine. I was trying to be helpful…but I could hear myself getting farther and farther from who I actually am.

When it ended, I closed my laptop and felt "off." 

I messaged her: “Hey—thank you for your time. But I don’t feel good about this one. I’d prefer not to have it go live.”

She didn’t publish it.

But that’s not what this story is about. This story is about how close I came to damaging the one thing that matters more than reach: reputation.

Because here’s what I realized: Every time you lend your voice to someone else’s platform, you’re not just showing up. You’re being shaped.

That podcast episode wouldn’t have just been “meh.”It would’ve lived online, quietly eroding the tone I’ve worked hard to build. Not because it was bad—but because it wasn’t me.

I talk a lot about building a reputation. But not about protecting it.

I used to think more exposure was always good. Now I know better.

The wrong mic at the wrong time can do more harm than good.

Since then, I’ve made a promise to myself:

Be intentional with your presence. 

Say no faster. Vet the room.Ask for a pre-call. 

And most of all—don’t confuse being invited with being understood.

Because your presence is powerful. And your absence? When used wisely? 

Even more so.

Something to sit with this week: Are you being intentional with your presence, or just visible?