When Elisa Lane recorded her first podcast in 2016, she didn’t realize she was entering the career that would shape her next decade. 

She was invited to co-host a show — she didn’t even know what a podcast was — but she agreed anyway. As soon as the microphones went silent, she felt it: the spark, the connection, the sense that she had found something that finally made sense.

“It’s one of the quickest ways to get to know someone,” she says. “You’re in front of an audience, having this deep conversation, and you connect — and so does your audience.”

Now, Lane is one of the Valley’s most sought-after podcast producers and consultants. She has interviewed over 300 small-business owners, secured sponsors, and recently launched her own full-service coaching and production company, The Podcast Lane. Her mission is clear: to make podcasting accessible, strategic, and deeply human.

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Lane’s rise in the podcasting world didn’t happen in a vacuum. Before launching The Podcast Lane, she spent 15 years running a marketing agency, helping entrepreneurs shape their brands and tell their stories. She has also owned a clothing boutique, a karate school, and worked as a fashion expert and martial arts instructor — experiences that, surprisingly, prepared her for the intimacy and improvisation of interviewing.

“I come from being a business owner,” she said. “This is my fourth business. Every step of my life was building toward this career.”

Her clients span various industries and personalities: a mortgage professional featured on Local Legends Arizona Edition; a senior-care expert hosting a show with her 80-year-old mother; and entrepreneurs exploring topics ranging from wellness to real estate to personal reinvention.

Lane lights up when she talks about the people behind the microphones.

“I love when people come from compassion,” she said. “The more intimate and genuine they can be, the better the show.”

One guest who stands out is Leia Ryan, a clean‑air and water advocate who shared the story of losing her husband to cancer, and how the wellness systems she now promotes helped extend his life. 

“She teared up,” Lane recalled. “You could tell she truly believes in what she does.”

The numbers back up Lane’s passion. More than 584 million people worldwide listened to podcasts in 2025, a figure expected to reach 651.7 million by 2027. YouTube leads in video-podcast listening, while Spotify and Apple Podcasts dominate audio‑only listening.

But for Lane, the appeal goes deeper than metrics.

“Having a podcast allows small business owners to connect directly with their target audience,” she said. “People see who you are, what you’re about, and why they should do business with you.”

Her clients echo that sentiment. Ashley Clark of The House of A&A, credited Lane with transforming her business and her confidence.

“Elisa didn’t just guide me — she believed in me before I believed in myself,” Clark said. “Having a podcast has opened doors, deepened trust, and given us a voice we didn’t have before.”

Among Lane’s many offerings, one stands out as uniquely hers: the 10 and 10.

“It’s kind of my signature,” she says. “I get 10 different people in one day, and each does a 10‑minute segment.”

Now in its eighth season, the format is fast, fun and fully produced — from promotion to editing to social clips. The host changes each season, though one fan favorite, Peter Rivera — better known as “Pete the Peptide Guy” — keeps coming back.

“He did two episodes and then said, ‘I want to host,’” Lane said with a laugh. “He has a broadcasting background, so it was an easy transition.”

Lane’s story begins far from Scottsdale. Born and raised in New York, she moved to Arizona 30 years ago, raised two sons — now an electrician and a behavioral health professional — and recently became a “mimi.” Her journey from full-time mom to multi-business entrepreneur was more of a natural progression than a sudden change.

“When my kids became more self‑sufficient, I wanted something to call my own,” she said. “That support I gave my kids, I bring that to my clients. I guide them, but I don’t tell them what to do.”

Her clients feel that maternal steadiness. She adjusts their clothing before filming, coaches them through nerves, helps shape their topics, and even snaps behind‑the‑scenes photos to boost their social presence.

“It’s not something you do once,” she said. “It’s a consistent game. And when I come on board, you have accountability, guidance, and a place to show up.”

Lane’s vision for The Podcast Lane is expansive. She collaborates with multiple studios across the Valley, matching clients with spaces that fit their budgets and needs. But she sees more studios — and more impact — on the horizon.

“I have clients out of the country now,” she said. “I can technically say I’m international.”

She’s also developed a 75‑Day Podcast Launch program that takes clients from concept to artwork to their first two episodes, ensuring no one is “throwing spaghetti at the wall.”

Her goal is simple: help people tell their stories with purpose.

“Podcasting is something you get to leave behind,” she said. “Your voice is here forever.”