Interview with a Ghoster: The Spooky Truth

Close Encounters: A Candid Conversation with a Reformed Ghoster

Today, we’re speaking with Bradford Quince, former venture capitalist and self-proclaimed “professional ghoster,” who’s now on a journey of redemption. Thanks for joining us, Brad.

Brad: Appreciate the invite. Never thought I’d be doing one of these, but... here we are.

Let’s start with the obvious: What made you ghost people in business?
Honestly? Power and fear. I liked the control — leaving people hanging gave me a weird edge. But deep down, I was just avoiding confrontation, especially when the answer was "no."

Was there a moment you realized ghosting had become a problem?
Yeah. I opened LinkedIn one morning and realized half my unread messages were from people I owed answers to. I’d become the person I used to complain about in college group projects. It hit me hard.

Did you ever feel guilty while doing it?
Oh, 100%. But I buried it under the excuse of “I’m too busy.” It’s amazing how much bandwidth you actually free up when you just send the “not moving forward” email.

How did ghosting impact your reputation?
Let’s just say I stopped getting invited to things. My name became synonymous with dead air. One founder even referred to me as “Casper in a Patagonia vest.”

What role did BustGhosters.com play in your change?
They called me out. Literally. I got an email: “You've been ghosting. Let’s fix that.” It felt like getting tagged in the worst way. But their coaching and accountability system helped me own up and rebuild.

What's the first step you took toward changing?
replied to every message I’d ignored in the last year. Some people were surprisingly gracious. Others... not so much. But I did it. That was the start.

How do you handle situations now where you don’t have good news?
I say so. Kindly. “No” is better than nothing. I’ve learned people appreciate closure. It’s respectful, and it keeps doors open.

Why do you think ghosting is so common in business?
Avoidance. Ego. Insecurity. People don’t want to disappoint others or admit they’ve changed their mind — so they disappear. It's lazy and short-sighted.

What would you say to someone currently ghosting people?
You’re not as slick as you think. People notice. And more importantly, you’re burning trust. Don’t let your silence speak louder than your words.

10. Final question — do you still ghost anyone?
Only my college alumni newsletter. Everything else, I answer — even if it’s awkward. That’s growth, right?