We wanted to provide a template for how to cold email someone, especially when there is an "ask" involved. You don't see many of these online, so here is one exchange below.
Please take note of how easy we try to make things at each step of the way — we are the ones with the ask! — and how concise we get. We essentially promise that we aren't going to overpopulate their inboxes, which we would never do. It is counterproductive to all parties.
We have been highly fortunate in that some of the world's leading researchers and psychologists have responded affirmatively to our cold emails: Dr. Guy Winch, Dr. Gabor Maté, Dr. Kristin Neff, Dr. Anna Lembke, Terry Real, and more. You can listen to them all on our podcast here. We've also gotten our fair share of rejections, e.g. Bill Gates, Oprah Winfrey, Matthew McConaughey, etc., and we are happily making a collage of their "no" letters, which we hope also may be helpful to applicants. We're all told "no" many times in our lives by strangers who don't know us — and I bet if they did they would be much more willing to give a yes!
To the email exchange.
From: Anna Hicks
To: Judson Brewer
Subject: 30-Minute Podcast Interview about Unwinding Anxiety
Dear Dr. Jud,
(*note that we found through our research this is what he prefers to be called*)
Our podcast, Status Check with Spivey, is directed toward college and graduate students, and we would absolutely love to interview you (for no more than 30 minutes) about your work and in particular your book Unwinding Anxiety. We know how busy you are, so we would be more than happy to entirely work around your schedule. Our podcast has received 540,000 listens across platforms — all geared toward students and young adults, many of whom are working through the greatest periods of anxiety in their lives so far, and all of whom we believe could truly be helped by hearing you speak about your work and insights.
The Wikipedia page for Mike Spivey, our CEO and who would be interviewing you, is here. He has read Unwinding Anxiety and listened to you on Rich Roll's podcast, and he's a big fan. Please know that we never charge money for our podcasts, nor do we use it to promote any products or services. Producing our podcast is entirely part of one of our core principles, which is access to great information for all who might be interested.
Many thanks for your consideration!
Best,
Anna Hicks
From: Judson Brewer
To: Anna Hicks
CC: Jennifer
Subject: Re: 30-Minute Podcast Interview about Unwinding Anxiety
Hi Anna,
I can possibly help with this sometime in Feb or March.
Cheers
From: Mike Spivey
To: Judson Brewer
CC: Anna Hicks, Jennifer
Subject: Re: 30-Minute Podcast Interview about Unwinding Anxiety
Hi Judson and Jennifer,
I acutely understand an ugly schedule, so just please know we'll work around any time in Feb or March that you can, if doable. And we'll stay out of your inbox until then.
I recently read both The Craving Mind and Unwinding Anxiety and reference both in a book I have coming out in July. Suffice to say that I am very appreciative of the work you do!
Best,
Mike
From: Jennifer
To: Mike Spivey
CC: Anna Hicks
Subject: Re: 30-Minute Podcast Interview about Unwinding Anxiety
Good afternoon,
I’ll drop Dr. Jud off the email to complete the coordination. I’m happy to look at dates in February/March that would work for the podcast.
Best,
Jennifer
From: Mike Spivey
To: Jennifer
CC: Anna Hicks
Subject: Re: 30-Minute Podcast Interview about Unwinding Anxiety
Thanks, Jennifer, please let us know if we can help in any way!
My best,
Mike