-you have a message, you just haven't figured out what to do with it!
Certify your story before you ever buy a Mic
You've got a hard-won story worth telling. Take the free quiz to find out if it's ready to become a message — then decide if you want it made official and open the door to a growing community of podcasters building alongside you.
No obligation, ever
Walk away with a clear next step — certified, not yet, or something bigger
Personalized to your actual story, not a template
Backed by The SLiDE podcast — 143 episodes and counting
━ Who This Is For
Is this certification right for you?
It's built for people sitting on a story worth telling — but not sure yet if a podcast is the right vehicle for it, or who's supposed to be listening. If any of these sound familiar, the session will pay off.
You lived through something worth talking about, but haven't shaped the message yet
You're not sure a podcast is the right vehicle
You don't know who your actual audience is
You're about to spend money on a microphone but you haven't validated the idea
You want an honest evaluation — not just encouragement to start
━ What You'll Receive
During your Certification process,
we'll review:
Your core message
Your target audience
Your Format Fit
Your readiness signal
You'll leave with one of three clear answers: certified and ready to launch, not yet — with exactly what to fix, or bigger than a podcast — meaning the story deserves more infrastructure than a show alone.
━ Why pursue this certification?
The most powerful stories never become messages.
It's rarely because the story isn't strong enough — it's because nobody stress-tested it before the mic, the hosting, and the editing software got bought. Take the free quiz to see exactly where your story stands. If it's ready, official certification opens the door to a growing community of podcasters at your same stage — the room where joint ventures and audience cross-promotion actually happen
No fluff
No purchase pressure
Just candid critique
What's already strong about your story
What's still missing
The exact next steps to take today
Whether this is a podcast — or something bigger
━ Meet Your certification Expert
Tavares K Bethel
Tech Founder & Host of The SLiDE Podcast
Tavares Bethel spent 21 years as a First Sergeant in the U.S. Army before building a second career from scratch — high-school dropout turned six-figure earner, published author, and host of The SLiDE podcast. He's personally guided 25+ people into promotions and pivots, and now brings that same eye to helping first-time podcasters certify their story before they spend a dollar on gear.
"A hard lesson learned or a trauma endured becomes a message, and a message can become a movement"
26+
Years in leadership
143+
Episodes hosted
25+
Leaders elevated
━ How It Works
Four simple steps.
Take the free Quiz
Answer a few questions about your story and get your instant result: certified, not yet, or bigger than a podcast.
Get Certified
For $97, make it official: your result is personally confirmed by Tavares, and you get a seat at Thursday's community call.
Join the Community
Certified members get ongoing access to a growing network of podcasters at your stage — where joint ventures and audience-sharing actually happen.
Upgrade to Spotlight
For $197, get personal 1:1 time with Tavares and become a featured show on The Slide's site, with traffic driven to your page as an example for others building their own story.
━ FAQ
Questions,
answered.
Is the quiz really free?
Yes — completely free, no card required. It's how we make sure certification is worth paying for before you ever pay for it.
What do I actually get for the $97?
Official S.T.O.R.Y. Certification — confirmation that your idea passes all five checks: Story Clarity, Target Audience, Original Angle, Right Format, and Your Follow-Through. It's personally confirmed by Tavares, plus a seat at Thursday's live community call and ongoing access to a growing network of podcasters at your same stage.
How long does the quiz take?
About 5 minutes. Your result — certified, not yet, or bigger than a podcast — lands in your email instantly.
What if I'm not ready yet?
That's a real, useful outcome, not a rejection. You'll know exactly what to work on, and you can retake the quiz once you've made progress — no charge for the second pass.
What does the $197 upgrade include?
A personal 1:1 session with Tavares beyond the automated report and community call, plus consideration to be featured as a spotlighted show on The Slide's site.
Ready to find out if your story is ready?
Take the free S.T.O.R.Y. quiz today. In minutes, you'll know exactly where your story stands — and what to do next.
No-pressure guarantee
Your information is never shared
Helping first-time podcasters turn a hard-won story into a message worth building a show around.
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