6 Things I've Learned from 5 Years of Podcasting
I recently celebrated 300 episodes and five years of podcasting! Here is a summary of the 6 things podcasting has taught me over those years.
Podcasting has taught me:
CONSISTENCY
Consistency is one of my top values and is essential to everything. Consistency compounds over time. Whether it’s the food you’re eating, training or exercise, setting boundaries for kids (and pets!), how you show up in your relationships, and podcasting, it matters. When I first started this podcast, I committed to doing it for 5 years. I know that sounds like a long time and it is, but making a really long term commitment helps me weather periods of low motivation. There have been plenty of times I’ve wanted to quit or say that I just don’t feel like doing the podcast. Making a commitment to yourself and honoring that commitment is a muscle. Read more
THERE IS NO FINISH LINE
There is no end point when it comes to a podcast! I could have said I am stopping at 5 years, but my initial commitment was to see how it goes for 5 years and then reassess. When you love the work and the process, you don’t think about the endpoint as much. You don’t think, “I’ll be happy when I get to 5 years so I can stop” or “I’ll be happy when I’m done” because it’s an ongoing process. The purpose is the attempt at mastery. Read more
METRICS DON'T MATTER AS MUCH
I used to check my metrics and now? I might look once a month. It might sound like it’s a bad idea and I should be trying to find hacks to get more listeners or do more episodes like the top episodes. While getting top downloads or seeing tons of growth is very motivating, it’s a secondary or tertiary objective. My primary objective is to create interesting episodes by learning as much as I can from the guest, and then having a conversation that sparks curiosity and maybe even meaningful changes in others’ lives.
It’s easy to get trapped in either getting my ego involved (lots of likes = I’m validated and I matter) versus not as many likes as I think I should be getting (I’m losing relevance) all while comparing to what I would see on others’ posts. Metrics matter in certain specific instances, but again, it goes back to doing the work for the original reason you started. In sports, an example would be getting too caught up in trying to get a result or trying to get to a certain outcome and then losing the fun of it which is why you started in the first place. Purpose first, metrics second (or third!). Read more
CONTINUING EDUCATION
Podcasting has been an amazing catalyst for education. Love of learning is one of my strengths and getting to exercise it in the podcast feels deeply fulfilling.
My podcast is a weekly show. That means I’m always looking for new topics and guests. I frequently get asked how I have come up with ideas for 5 years. It comes from paying attention to conversations I’m having, conversations I’m listening to, and constantly improving my education. Fortunately, the podcast covers a lot of personal interests so it’s not a chore to come up with something new. I will say that one of the bigger challenges is covering similar topics over and over. The thing I’ve learned is I can have 3 guests who are all experts in the same area and they can basically say the same things, but they way we interpret their message and how they convey it can land in different ways.
HOW TO LISTEN
Podcasting has really helped me improve my listening and conversation skills. I actually realized after I did my health coaching certificate that a lot of skills use din health coaching are also used in podcasting. Active listening is a skill where you listen to the person talking, understand what they are saying, reflect back to them what they said, and then remember that information for a later date. Podcasting isn’t about hearing myself talk, but helping others bloom more into their story or information they are trying to share with the world. Having a platform to support other people where everyone wins (the guest wins because they get to share what they are doing, and both you, the listener, and I win because we get to learn) is rewarding. I also personally love audio and love podcasts. I learn really well when I’m in motion like walking or riding my bike when I listen to a podcast. Listening is also something that requires patience. You can feel the urge to talk bubble up in your body and learning to control the urge helps everywhere in my life.
REACHING OUT, REJECTION AND IMPOSTOR SYNDROME
There’s always a little bit of impostor syndrome. I’ve reached out to some guests and been happily surprised they want to come on the show. I’ve also learned that the more I revere the guest, the more I tend to over-prepare for the podcast. Being over-prepared is actually not a good thing because I’m a little too versed in the topic. I over-prepare because I want to ask unique questions. I also have noticed myself wanting someone I’m interviewing to like me and wanting to be their friend. When you try too hard, you don’t show up as your best self. (Like when you try too hard on a technical descent, you ride worse). It takes courage to relax and be yourself.