How a Steve Madden podcast interview went viral — and paid off

Data: Financial Modeling Prep; Chart: Axios VisualsSteve Madden has gone viral for his recent, no-holds-barred interview on "The Cutting Room Floor" podcast — and in the days following, the footwear company's stock price has also gotten a bump.Why it matters: Long-form interviews can be a risky public relations move, but when done right, they can attract new customers and generate business.Catch up quick: Madden sat down with fashion podcaster Recho Omondi to discuss the shoe empire he founded, his time in prison for securities fraud, his penchant for "dupes," the impact President Trump's trade policies could have on the fashion industry and more. Between the lines: For most executives, many of the topics Madden covered would be off-limits. However, Madden's unfiltered approach paid off by spotlighting his personal brand and offering insight into how the business runs. The interview is "a case study in how brands should just be themselves," Omondi said in a TikTok video. "They should just own everything, flaws and all, all their blemishes. So often, brands are so scared. You can't have a single real conversation with anybody from their brand."She called the Madden interview "refreshing" and an example of how important it is for brands to have personalities. Yes, but: The interview, which is behind a paywalled Patreon account, had a chance to go viral because Omondi offers video clips she posts across social.The interview clips have garnered about 24.6 million views on TikTok and thousands of views on YouTube as of Tuesday, with Gen Z podcast listeners flocking to watch them. A recent Edison Research report found 76% of Gen Z listeners say they discover podcasts through clips on social media.More than 600 media stories have been written about Steve Madden since the interview first dropped on May 21, per Muck Rack data, which likely caught the attention of an even broader consumer base. The big picture: Podcasts have become a preferred channel for executives and politicians to reach and appeal to specific audiences. During the 2024 presidential election, Kamala Harris joined "Call Her Daddy" and "All the Smoke," while Trump joined Joe Rogan, Lex Friedman and Theo Von.Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg followed a similar playbook to Trump, while Elon Musk has also hit the same podcast circuit.Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky, Netflix co-founder Reed Hastings and Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi have each joined "Masters of Scale," while Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, Citigroup CEO Jane Fraser and SAP CEO Christian Klein recently appeared on "In Good Company."What they're saying: "Steve Madden's interview shows how podcasts have become the proving ground for public figures," says Andrew Vontz, founder of One Real Voice, a podcast coaching consultancy."Talking-point robots are headed for the scrapyard. Madden clearly thought deeply about these topics and didn't duck and cover — he owned his story, and that's exactly what broke through."More on Axios: Netflix eyes video podcastsThese retailers may raise prices if Trump's tariffs take effect

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