Building Relationships Over Email 📧
And two new Portfolio Career podcast episodes
Do you remember the last compliment you got in an email? It’s likely that you do!
It felt good, right? Well you can give this gift to other people too!
Building relationships over email has been extremely helpful to me in my 5+ years podcasting journey!
While many podcast episodes, followed this flow: a cold email and then straight to the podcast recording, with no communication in-between.
Some podcast episodes came after emailing with someone once or twice and then I made the ask… That’s what I want to share with you today!
Sending genuine emails like this is underrated. Few people do it. And it’s why you should!
Yeah, but when should I email someone??? Here are a few email catalyst ideas for you:
when you listen to a podcast episode, email the guest or the host… (hi!)
email the author of a book you just read
when someone has a big personal announcement like they get a new job, move, start a new company, etc. Pro tip: wait a week or so before doing this. They will likely be overwhelmed with messages initially after the news comes out, just like people do on their birthdays
when you mention someone’s work to someone else
when you resonate with someone’s newsletter… hopefully like this one! Say hi
as a follow-up to a prior conversation you had with someone, especially if they offered you some kind of advice or help
What to send:
Keep it short and sweet. In your message, include why the “email catalyst” is relevant to you, what you enjoyed, and/or what you are doing with it. In these emails, I often include something like “no worries about replying back” to make it low-lift for the other person.
Some people will respond. Some won’t, and that’s OK.
What this does:
You are slowly building trust and awareness. When you email these people and they respond, this can also give you a dopamine rush. It may be validating, like it has been for me.
Yeah, but are you still doing this, David???
In the Fall 2023, I sent a lot of emails to prior podcast guests, especially the ones that don’t live in NYC. I said something like “hey, thanks for our chat, I just crossed 5 years of podcasting, etc. No worries about replying back. I hope you are doing well”
If you want to learn more about reaching out to people, listen to this episode with Carly Valancy, the Cofounder of the Reach Out Party.
Reaching out to people regularly has changed my life, and maybe it will change yours!
🎧 Portfolio Career Podcast Episodes
#295: Improv On A Piano and Building A Creative Agency with Ayaka Matsui
I have been to a few events in NYC that Ayaka has hosted and/or performed at. They are different and special. After this episode, I have even more appreciation for the art she creates and work she creates!
In this episode, you will learn about:
her *improv* piano performances
how she is getting better at her craft by blind-folding herself when playing the piano to develop her intuition
how she left her job a few years ago. And then got a call from someone a few days later to work with her. Magic like that can happen when you trust yourself!
#294: How They Are Transitioning
In this Podcast Mixer episode, you will hear transition stories about burnout, an internal transition leading to an external one, a transition about someone’s relationship to work and more much!
If you are going through a transition, know that other people are too!
That’s it for now!
~ David Nebinski who had a great time in Chicago last week and is heading to Austin this week for a little bit!
PS: thanks again to those that joined last week’s virtual meetup! it was fun!



How am I just seeing this!!! this is amazing 🤩
brilliant reminder. love that you are always expanding your surface area for serendipity!! thanks for the constant inspiration