Podcast Summary: Help Wanted

Episode: “How Could This Bad Email Be Improved? Help!”
Hosts: Jason Feifer (Editor-in-Chief, Entrepreneur Magazine), Nicole Lapin (Money Expert)
Producer: Morgan Lavoy
Date: September 30, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode dives into the art—and frequent failure—of cold email pitches, especially those aimed at media professionals and podcasters. The hosts dissect a real-life “bad email pitch” from their own inbox, analyzing its missteps, discussing what makes a pitch effective, and how it might be improved. The conversation is engaging, practical, and filled with relatable anecdotes and actionable advice for anyone trying to network, pitch, or make their work emails stand out.

Key Topics & Discussion Points

1. Opening Banter: Why Bad Emails Matter

Timestamp: 02:28–03:25

• Jason and Nicole introduce their ongoing interest in the topic of “bad emails.”
• Email is framed as “the most consequential communication medium of our time” for business (Jason, 04:04).

2. Breaking Down the “Bad Pitch” Email

Timestamp: 04:57–08:32

• Morgan shares the pitch she received, which started off poorly by:

  • Addressing her as “Nicole” instead of “Morgan.”
  • Opening with: “I'll skip the usual bullshit pitch where I pretend I've listened to every episode of your show. We both know those emails are garbage. Lol.”
  • Offering almost no detail about the proposed guest (no links, no context, not even a name), despite including a helpful bulleted list of possible topics.
  • Attempting to “shock the narrative” awkwardly by being blunt.

• The hosts highlight that while some tactics in the email are technically sound—attempting to stand out, summarizing topics for the host—execution is everything.

  “It's like the right ideas and the totally wrong execution.”
  — Jason Feifer [12:34]

3. What Makes a Good Email Pitch?

Timestamp: 09:13–16:47

• Jason discusses Robert Herjavec’s “shock the narrative” sales advice (from Shark Tank), emphasizing the importance of breaking expectations in a genuine way.

• Nicole emphasizes the value of specific, authentic references to the show, not generic flattery.

  “You don't need to say, like, I've listened to everything you've ever done in the whole wide world... But just something.”
  — Morgan Lavoy [15:53]

• Both hosts agree:

  • Personalization and real research matter.
  • Throwing others under the bus is bad form.
  • Providing clear, specific value is essential—don’t make the recipient do your work.

4. Other Common Bad Pitch Mistakes

Timestamp: 16:48–18:08

• Morgan notes the absence of the show’s name and the lack of any indication the sender knew which podcast (Nicole hosts multiple).
• Not providing hard numbers or concrete audience details when promising guest promotion.
• The effort required to even learn about the proposed guest is not respected.

5. Critiquing the Follow-Up Email

Timestamp: 18:28–22:52

• The sender follows up again, with little real improvement:

  • Still addresses Morgan as “Nicole.”
  • Claims to have “stumbled upon” the podcast recently.
  • Asks where to leave a five-star review, instead of just leaving one.
  • Leaves the recipient to dig up the original email.

  “If you already found me on Spotify, it doesn’t take much work to just give me the five star review and then tell me you did it.”
  — Jason Feifer [21:19]

• The “I just stumbled upon” phrasing is called out as a generic, overused, and unconvincing bit of egoboosting.

6. “Stumbled Upon” Bingo – The Worst Cliché in Cold Email

Timestamp: 22:54–25:51

• The team checks their inboxes and jokes about just how many pitches contain “I just stumbled upon your podcast/website.”

  • They point out it’s lazy, inauthentic, and has become industry spam.

  “PSA: All the publicists pitching something out there—please take that phrase out of your email vocabulary.”
  — Nicole Lapin [23:15]

7. Advice & “Messing With” Bad Pitchers

Timestamp: 25:59–27:25

• The team jokes about how to reply to such emails, and Nicole suggests:
  “An honest review on Apple Podcasts would be great. Thanks.”
• Morgan agrees to send the reply, expecting even more persistent emails in response.

8. Universal Email Best Practices

Timestamp: 27:25–28:29

• Jason’s foundational cold email advice:
  • Do your research, know whom you’re contacting, and respect their time.
  • Personalize, be authentic, and make a genuine human connection.
• Nicole echoes: Always remember the person on the other end is a real human being with limited time and attention.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On pointing out standard pitch mistakes:

  “I don't know why. It’s always Jeff. It's never...I don't know who Jeff is.”
  — Jason Feifer [05:19]

• On insincere vs. sincere personalization:

  “A lot of publicists say they listen to your show all the time. I really did love this episode. I cried at the end with you.”
  — Nicole Lapin [13:23]

• On overdone clichés:

  “Just stumbled upon your website...What is this, The Purpose?”
  — Nicole Lapin [24:31]

• Email best practice summary:

  “You are reaching out to human beings. I don’t care what it is that you’re pitching...the reaction has to be, ‘Oh, wow, this is something I want to learn more about.’”
  — Jason Feifer [27:25]

Key Segment Timestamps

• 02:28–03:25: Why bad emails deserve attention
• 04:57–08:32: Morgan reads and unpacks the “bad email”
• 09:13–16:47: Good pitch principles; what’s wrong with “shock” tactics
• 18:28–22:52: Critiquing the follow-up; “stumbled upon” cynicism
• 22:54–25:51: Checking inboxes for cliché pitches
• 25:59–27:25: Joking about replies; crafting “mess with them” responses
• 27:25–28:29: Final best-practice advice

Episode Takeaways

• Personalize with care: Even small, specific references show authenticity and effort.
• Don’t throw others under the bus: Negative comparisons weaken your pitch.
• Do the recipient’s work: Include necessary context, links, and concrete details.
• Avoid spammy clichés: “I just stumbled upon...” is not only ineffective but actively off-putting.
• Every cold email is a human interaction: Research, sincerity, and respect go much further than shortcuts and boilerplate.

Tone & Style

The episode is funny, conversational, and a bit irreverent, with the hosts poking fun at bad emailers and industry clichés, but always circling back to practical, empathetic advice for actual professionals.

For more help or to have your question featured, contact: helpwanted@moneynewsnetwork.com