Episódios
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When your passion meets podcasting you get the Full Court Press NBA Podcast and Glen Willis. Glen has always had a passion and love for the game of basketball, so he decided to launch a podcast. Glen and his brother coached basketball for many years. In their podcast Glen and Greg share the technical side of basketball from their coaching perspective. They use their deep coaching background to break the game down in a different way. Their unique experiences and perspectives offer a unique story that helps them to stand out.
Glen Willis is an avid basketball fan. He is a contributor at Peachtree Hoops. He is an inactive youth basketball coach that still looks for ways to contribute to the sport by way of helping to facilitate camps and training programs. He lives in the Seattle, Washington area with his wife Sarah. In 2016 He launched the Full Court Press NBA Podcast which he co-hosts with his twin brother Greg.
He is a fascinating guy and a really insightful and well thought out guy. We had a great conversation. We talked about basketball and podcasting, but we talked about a few other things as well including long term content creation schedules, spending time on your core competency and engagement and feedback. I think you are really going to enjoy this episode.
Show Notes:
[03:13] Glen has an NBA focused podcast. [03:26] Glen shares how he developed such a great love for the NBA. His love for basketball began in middle school. [05:20] Glen and his twin brother coached basketball for many years. [06:53] His passion and love for the game never disappeared or regressed at all despite the fact that his basketball journey wasn’t quite what he would have imagined. [08:24] He had a six-month break where he wasn’t doing a full-time job and that really helped him be able to launch the podcast. [09:38] In order to cover the entire NBA, Glen needs to have a 12-month plan. The hardest aspect is to get familiar with all the new players coming into the league. [11:42] They watch and focus on three teams a week. They record on those teams and share what they saw and really dive into what they are doing and trying to do. [13:47] Glen starts his draft work in April. [16:03] There are many NBA podcasts to help you learn more about the game. [17:38] Glen knew they could use their deep coaching background to break it down in a different way. [19:57] They wanted to bring a technical conversation from people that have a coaching and teaching background in the sport hoping that would not be better than everything else, but instead would contribute to what people consuming that type of content would find value in. [21:04] Glen shares about joining a podcast network and what have been the benefits of the podcast network. [23:41] Glen knew that he needed a team to fill in the gaps of his podcast knowledge and help him to learn even more. [25:02] Parents were very appreciative of the time and effort Greg and Glen invested in their young people and when they launched their podcast they wanted to support and help. It helped them to get some support and visibility at the beginning. [27:43] The podcast network they are part of (Lineups) does all the marketing, promotion, and social media. [30:09] Any advertisers that Glen or Greg pull in themselves are completely their revenue. Any ad the podcasting network brings in is a 50/50 split. [31:45] They are not in podcasting for the ad revenue. They are energized by the content. [34:01] They record their episode and hand the file off to professionals that are more passionate about podcast production like Pro Podcast Solutions. [35:01] Glen shares how they are handling the NBA shutdown and these challenging times. [37:39] The podcast is currently on hold since the league has been on hold. They are doing a week by week assessment deciding if they feel like it is an appropriate time to start putting more content out again. They don’t want to take the attention off what is important right now. [39:45] They are looking at having a player’s series where they actually break down an individual player’s game. They never have space at any other time. [42:35] Success is about getting good feedback. They are very appreciative and grateful for the engagement and feedback they receive. [44:44] They try to make their podcast technical enough that it is interesting and different, but still connect and land with listeners. [46:20] If Glen did have a bucket list it would be to see Lebron James play in person. He would also love to go to an NBA Finals game 7. [48:19] It is not so much getting to do something as much as it is having appreciation and gratefulness for the opportunity and absolutely getting the most out of it. [50:33] Glen shares his experience going to a Sacramento Kings game. [52:28] He grew up in a challenging environment. [53:34] He hadn’t really seen a template of a successful adult man so he started reading about men that inspired him. [58:08] Darrell's Takeaways: Glen talked about how he doesn’t get caught up in what the mainstream sports media is talking about. He focuses on things that make his podcast unique. He keys in on things that few or maybe nobody else is talking about so he is able to stand apart. He talked about his long-term content creation schedule and how important it is for him. Glen builds his work schedule around this. It is important to put in the big rocks first and then build you other things around that. He also talks about how he doesn’t spend time on things that are not his core competencies like editing, publishing, and promotions. He says he measures success through engagement and engagement can come in a variety of ways. Try to look at negative reviews with an open mind, because we can actually learn and improve from that. We need to look at reviews as an opportunity to learn from your audience and grow as a podcaster.Links and Resources:
Pro Podcast Solutions Peachtree Hoops Glen on Twitter Lineups Lineups Podcasts Full Court Press NBA Podcast Full Court Press NBA Podcast on Facebook -
Have you ever thought about starting a podcast? Podcasting is an ever-growing ocean covering every topic your imagination can fathom. What about the podcasters? Why did they start a podcast? What hurdles did they have to overcome along the way? What drives them to keep creating content?
There are now over a million podcasts in existence. That means people have many choices when they're looking for a podcast for whatever topic they’re seeking. That means you have got to be on top of your game.
In this solo episode, I share seven of my best resources for new podcasters. We are going to be talking about how to engage with other podcasters in the community, which conferences you should be attending, and detailing the equipment needed. We are also going to be talking about what hosting company you should go with, how to get music, artwork, and many other great resources. This episode is going to have so much great information! We also have a bonus for you in this episode. We have put together a PDF guide that is going to be your go-to resource for this episode.
Show Notes:
1. Join Facebook Groups
Podcaster’s Hangout was created by John Dennis to allow for the participation of community and collaboration of Podcasters around the world. Podcast Movement Community - For Podcasters was created by Podcast Movement (Dan Franks and Jared Easly) as a place for people who are podcasters, looking to become a podcaster, or who are members of the podcasting industry. Independent Podcasters Group was created by Independent Podcast Conference (Joe Pardo) as a group designed to bring together independent podcasters. They are always looking to help others get to the next level and grow together. Podcasters Paradise was created by the Entrepreneur on Fire Community (John Lee Dumas and Kate Erickson) as a place for fellow Paradisers to share valuable information, collaborate with other Paradise members, and provide others with constructive feedback on podcast-related topics. She Podcasts was created by She Podcasts (Jessica Kupferman and Elsie Escobar) as a safe place for women and those who identify as female or identify as non-binary ONLY who podcast or who are setting up a show currently to ask questions, provide support, share resources, wins, advocate for each other and whatever else they like.2. Attend a podcast conference
Podcast Movement - August 5-8 Dallas, TX - Podcast Movement is the largest, longest running annual conference for podcasters and the podcast industry. Whether you’re just getting started or you’re an industry veteran, we’ve got over 150 sessions and events designed just for you. Podfest Expo - March 5-7 Orlando, FL - Whether you’re new to podcasting or a veteran podcaster looking to innovate and improve your podcast, our easy-to-understand conference tracks allow you to customize a daily agenda based on what you’re most interested in learning. No matter your skill level or experience, Podfest has plenty to offer. She Podcasts - October 15-18 Scottsdale, AZ - The largest in-person gathering of women podcasters, audio content creators, story tellers, and more. The purpose of She Podcasts LIVE is to offer women audio creators a chance to learn and experience community in an environment created JUST for them. We focus the education, the social interaction, and even the aesthetic on women only and it makes a big difference. Independent Podcasters Conference - September 24-26 Philadelphia, PA - ICON originally started out as Mid-Atlantic Podcast started (December 2014) as a Facebook group for podcasters who live in the Mid-Atlantic States. After seeing the interest to have a podcast (exclusive) conference in the northeast, Joe Pardo jumped on the opportunity to make it happen. This conference is for anyone that identifies as an independent podcaster all around the world.3. Invest in quality equipment
Microphones:
Shure SM 58 - This microphone is very durable and great for traveling. Audio Technica ATR2100 - Most popular microphone in all of podcasting. Kit with boom arm, shock mount, pop filter, and cable Electro-Voice RE320 - This is the microphone I am currently using and my favorite mic.
I highly recommend a dynamic microphone, because they are more forgiving and have an easier learning curve. Avoid a condenser microphone.Recorders:
Rodecaster Pro - This widely used and adored product can support multi- track recording and easily bring in guests. Zoom H5 - Zoom recorders don’t require a computer. You just record directly onto the SD card. The interface is intuitive and easy to follow. Zoom H6 Zoom F4 - This recorder is more portable with many awesome features.USB Interface
Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 - The best USB interface on the market and all you need.Microphone Accessories:
Boom Arm I recommend the Rode PSA 1. Tabletop Stand Pop Filter or a windscreen
You want a microphone stand that will bring the microphone up to your mouth.4. Podcast Hosting Company
Libsyn (PROPOD promo code) Simplecast Blubrry Buzzsprout Podbean Megaphone Use royalty-free music
It is important to partner with a reputable hosting company because they are going to give you reliable service and reliable stats.
If you are using music in your podcast it needs to be royalty-free and not copyrighted music. Look through their terms to see which one is best suited for you. Audio Jungle Premium Beat BenSound Incomptetech Create artwork that sells your brandCheck out PPS episode 31
Video LibraryLinks and Resources:
Pro Podcast Solutions Darrell’s Email Video Library Podcaster’s Hangout Podcast Movement Community - For Podcasters Independent Podcasters Group Podcasters Paradise She Podcasts Podcast Movement Podfest Expo She Podcasts Independent Podcasters Conference Shure SM 58 Audio Technica ATR2100 Kit with boom arm, shock mount, pop filter, and cable Electro-Voice RE320 Kit with boom arm, shock mount, and cable Rodecaster Pro Zoom H5 Zoom H6 Zoom F4 Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 Boom Arm Tabletop Stand Pop Filter Libsyn (PROPOD promo code) Simplecast Blubrry Buzzsprout Podbean Megaphone Audio Jungle Premium Beat BenSound Incomptetech Check out PPS Episode 31
Disclosure of Material Connection: The links above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, we will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, we only recommend products or services that we use personally and believe will add value to our listeners. We are disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.” -
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Real estate is a very competitive business and the real estate podcast area is a very competitive category within podcast directories. Brad Larsen shares his successes, authority, and opportunities that have come because of his podcast. Brad talks about creating The Property Management Mastermind, Property Management Mastermind Show and The Property Management Conference. His story, advice, and humility are truly inspiring. Brad’s advice is very helpful and timely for everybody.
Brad Larsen was born and raised in Iowa – his parents were both school teachers. He graduated from the New Mexico Military Institute in Roswell, NM and was commissioned as a 2LT in the US Army Infantry in 1996. He then graduated from Morningside College in Sioux City, Iowa in 1998. He was able to earn a baseball scholarship for both schools as a shortstop. Brad later earned his MBA from the University of Phoenix in San Antonio, TX in 2011. After serving on active duty in the Army as an officer in the Infantry, Brad left the military as a Captain in 2002 and moved to San Antonio to pursue his interests in real estate. He has been managing single-family homes since 2004. Brad is a member of the San Antonio Board of Realtors (SABOR), Texas Association of Realtors (TAR), National Association of Realtors (NAR), and the National Association of Residential Property Managers (NARPM®). Brad has been licensed since 2003 and has earned top honors in real estate to include the Platinum Top 50 award for agents in San Antonio. Brad is married to Leah Larsen and has two children.
Brad is so selfless even though at times he tries to argue differently and invites everyone to come on this journey and learn along with him. This episode is packed full of great advice and tips for real estate, podcasting, and life in general.
Show Notes:
[03:37] Brad shares what led him into the world of real estate. [04:06] Brad created the Property Management Mastermind where property managers can share ideas, thoughts, and collaborations on a national scale. Then he created his podcast, The Property Management Mastermind Show. [05:03] Brad’s podcast has opened up a lot of doors and opportunities including other business ventures and speaking gigs. [06:13] Brad looks at podcasting as an audio blog. [07:11] Brad shares how his business looked before his podcast and how it has expanded his business ventures. [08:43] Brad started a Facebook group and now has 8,600 members. This is another advertising avenue for getting the podcast shows out to more people. [10:09] Another opportunity the podcast has facilitated is a national annual conference called The Property Management Mastermind Conference. [10:32] All of his business ventures have stemmed from simply starting a podcast. [13:03] Brad really wants to improve and benefit the real estate industry. [15:40] On his podcast he tries to interview folks that he would want to understand better because likely others will also. [16:49] Brad started his own podcast so he could answer the questions he wanted to answer for the community. It was a better option for him than a webinar. [18:42] The podcast was a giant advertisement for his in-person live conference. [20:04] Brad’s next live conference, Property Management Mastermind Conference, will be in March 2021 in Las Vegas. [21:49] Brad has a Facebook Live every day to discuss current issues and how they affect renters and property managers. [24:13] The current issues will be short-lived, so we should have a quick spike back up when this is over. [26:08] The dollars are in the change. We are in the middle of change, so how we embrace it is going to be part of our attitude. We need to make it work for us. [28:29] If home prices go down, investors will create the bottom. It creates the basement and that it is as low as the market goes. [31:44] Brad recommends investing in residential single-family homes. [34:12] Brad has sponsors for his podcast that pay monthly or annually for commercials spots. This has helped to offset the cost of quality productions like Pro Podcast Solutions. [36:55] Finding the next good guest has been Brad’s biggest podcast challenge. [37:25] Brad suggest putting out content that is timeless, so people can go out to it years down the road. [39:24] Brad got used to podcasting, by creating Youtube narrations and videos for his real estate business. [40:12] Brad’s advice is to look at the competition. Brad looked to see how many podcasts were talking about property management before he started. [41:19] Don’t let your fear of podcasting intimidate you. [42:33] The goal of his podcast is just a bigger advertising campaign. It is important to tie podcasting in with other ideas and ventures. [44:01] Brad set a goal several years ago to make a million dollars a year. He is a long way, but he is getting on the right track. [46:02] Brad suggests checking out one of the first episodes of his podcast. His episode with Tim Melton has been the most downloaded episode. [46:21] Brad has found that doing live interviews in a remote location is very difficult, so he utilizes Zoom to record his podcast episodes. [48:13] Darrell's Takeaways: Brad’s advice was really helpful and timely for everybody. He gave great advice for those who are landlords, tenants, and even those looking to get into income property. Brad recommended going hyperlocal with your podcast to really get involved with your community. He talked about using his podcast as a way to create opportunities and his authority. Because of his authority, he was able to create the Property Management Mastermind Conference. He is seeing a lot of success with his conference because of the authority he is establishing because of his relationships and podcast. Brad gave a tip to try and make content that is timeless. It is more important now to think about this then it was a month ago. Sometimes it is a good move to create content about current issues and sometimes it is not. Make sure you are using terminology, phrases, and titles that are not going to date and make your content seem like it is no longer relevant in the long term.Links and Resources:
Pro Podcast Solutions Property Management Mastermind Property Management Mastermind Show Rent Werx Property Management Mastermind on Facebook Property Management Mastermind Conference Bigger Pockets Brrrr Technique Robert Kiyosaki Brad’s episode with Tim Melton -
Having a business, career or job enables us to pay the bills, but many of us want work that is life-giving and meaningful. One way for Christians to find this type of meaningful work is to be employed by a Christian organization. Al Lopus is the President and co-founder of Best Christian Workplaces Institute. Al began ranking the best Christian organizations to work for in a Christianity Today article which led to founding BCWI in 2002. This organization uses research-based measurement tools and culture change advisory services to help Christian organizations set the standard as the best and most effective workplaces in the world.
There is even a certification for workplaces that get a client survey score of 4.0 or above. This signals that this is a great place to work with great leadership. Having the certification can attract high-quality employees, and it also appeals to potential donors. Al is also the host of The Flourishing Culture Podcast. On his show, Al conducts interviews with leaders on how they have created some of the best and most effective Christian workplaces. Al is a client of ours, and I’m excited to talk to him about his podcast, how he started, what success means to him, his unique pre-interview question method, and the example that his father set for him.
Al is an author, speaker, and consultant. Prior to co-founding BCWI, Al served 21 years in leadership roles. He held key leadership roles at the consulting firm Willis Towers Watson. He chaired the Board of Directors for The Nicolas Fund for Education. He also served on the Christian Leadership Alliance Board and is currently on the Advisory Board. He was also on the Board for Virginia Mason Medical Center. His passion and experience for proven leadership and amazing workplace culture are highlighted in this interview. I thought his interview was relevant for these current times, but my solo episode is still coming up in the near future.
Show Notes:
[03:20] The BCWI vision is for Christian organizations to set the standard as the best most effective place to work in the world. They do this by measuring the health of the culture through an engagement survey. They also measure effectiveness of leadership organizations and do culture consulting. [04:14] They want to inspire Christian leaders to create a flourishing workplace. [04:32] Al is the co-founder of BCWI. The firm started by trying to compile a list of best Christian workplaces. [05:33] Al started The Flourishing Culture podcast to get his message to a broader audience. [06:09] His daughter helped him with his first podcast. [08:02] Al wanted stories of great Christian workplaces and what the leaders did to create that environment. [09:24] The podcast is really a way to reinforce their message to leaders, by listening to other successful leaders and sharing helpful tips. [12:57] To be certified as a best Christian workplace you need a client survey score of a 4.0 or above. Only about half of the organizations are certified. [15:51] Al's been podcasting for about five years now. When he first started out, he bought lower-end equipment and then worked his way up. [16:30] He also sends his guests the script with all the questions prior to the podcast, and they send it back to him. [17:10] To produce the podcast Al and his team have a schedule of who the guests will be. Once the guest accepts the invitation, Al and the team writes the script. Then they record on Skype. [18:25] Then they upload it to the social media manager who sends the audio to Pro Podcast Solutions. Once published, the guests gets a notification email which includes social media prompts. [21:20] The podcast is an educational and a marketing piece. [22:54] Being certified as a best Christian workplace helps improve the quality of candidates who apply to work there. High-quality individuals usually have offers from other workplaces. [24:17] Current employees also know that it will be difficult to find a better workplace than where they are already at. Donors also appreciate the certification. [27:52] Things to look for in the survey include having a good leader and having the company well managed. They also want the leader to demonstrate fairness and integrity. Another important factor is life-giving work. This is one of the reasons why people want to work at Christian workplaces. [29:13] Al does look at numbers and how many downloads he has. He also defines success by the way he positively affects his listeners. [31:22] Recognition from the podcast also creates a place to start a relationship. [31:37] They are also using transcripts from one of their podcast series and using that to write a book. [33:04] Al's dad is a CFO which is relevant because BCWI has had a recent revenue drop. His dad taught him the value of saving. He's grateful to his dad for teaching him to build the reserves that are sustaining them now. [34:43] Al is also a fan of Donald Miller and the Storybrand framework. He's also reading Marketing Made Simple and listens to other inspirational podcasts. [38:58] Darrell's Takeaways: A lot of people are dealing with remote working. Al's podcast episode can help. He also learned saving from his dad which is helping him during these times of uncertainty. Saving for the lean times during the good times is great advice. Al sends out his questions and gets the answers back ahead of time. This technique may not be right for everybody, but it could be right for you. He also gives his guests guidance on sharing the episode on social media. Podcasts are a great way to better connect.Links and Resources:
Pro Podcast Solutions Best Christian Workplaces Institute The Flourishing Culture Podcast Michael Hyatt Platform: Get Noticed in a Noisy World Christianity Today Cliff Ravenscraft Belay Virtual Assistants Building a StoryBrand: Clarify Your Message So Customers Will Listen Marketing Made Simple: A Step-by-Step StoryBrand Guide for Any Business Season 5 Episode 12: Important Advice on Managing Remote Employees // Robert Bortins, Jr., Classical Conversations Season 5 Episode 11: What it Takes to Be a Flourishing Leader // Barry Slauenwhite, BCWI Best Christian Workplaces Institute on Facebook [email protected] -
Mike and Brian Mountan are a father and son duo who together host the Bri The Sports Guy podcast. They both love watching, playing, and talking about sports. Brian has an unusual gift for being able to remember and recall stats and history about sports that most of us often forget. They also have a very close father and son relationship and planned starting their podcast together to coincide with Brian graduating from high school and Mike retiring from his finance career.
Mike is a native of Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin. He received his BA and an MBA from Northwest University in Evanston, Illinois. He spent 13 years with Procter & Gamble and 18 years with Johnson & Johnson in a variety of finance roles including VP of Finance for Johnson & Johnson's Consumer Division Asia Pacific based in Singapore and Global CFO of Johnson & Johnson's diabetes care business. Mike also serves on the board for the Jacksonville School for Autism and is chairman of the finance committee of St Joseph Academy.
Brian is a 20 year old who was diagnosed at age 3 with autism. He was born in Cincinnati, Ohio and has lived in Jacksonville, Florida twice. He’s also lived in Singapore and San Ramon, California. Brian graduated from high school in May of 2019 and has been working on the podcast ever since. In addition to sports broadcasting and blogging, Brian also works at the Brooks YMCA. You are going to love this conversation as we dive into their sports podcast and the wonderful father and son dynamic that flows throughout the show.
Show Notes:
[04:04] Growing up, Mike watched a lot of sports and played a lot of sports. [04:16] When Brian and his brother were born, his family tried to get them involved in as many sports as possible. [04:41] Brian is six feet and six inches tall. He's a great basketball player and a great golfer. [05:03] Mike grew up watching sports on TV. He was fortunate to grow up in Wisconsin, a state that had all of the pro teams. [06:02] Brian's mom thought the podcast would be a good idea after Brian graduated from high school. They've done over a hundred and thirty two episodes now. [07:21] Mike and his family knew that Brian had a gift. Mike shares a story about Brian talking about a game, and a nearby restaurant patron being amazed at everything he could remember. [09:50] Students are really being impacted by the shutdown. [10:23] The baseball and basketball seasons have been put on hold, so the NFL is one of the main things they have to talk about right now. [11:50] They are doing a free agency review by division. Then they'll do an NFC and AFC draft preview. Then they'll talk about what they think about the upcoming teams. They're hopeful that by late May, they will see some broadcasts. [15:22] They subscribe to many sports resources in order to go deep in their podcast. [16:22] They would rather have too much content as opposed to too little content. They plan out in advance which sports they will talk about during the week. [18:07] They do three podcasts a week, and they have a sponsor. [19:22] Brian talks about some of the awesome guests that they have had on the show. [20:19] They would love to get the manager of the Milwaukee Brewers on the show. His name is Craig Counsell. They are also trying to make some connections with local golfers and the Jaguars. [23:03] Mike timed his retirement to Brian's graduation, so they could both start the podcast together. [24:53] Mike has always been a workaholic, so the podcast gives him a lot to work on with so many different sports to cover. [25:32] They came up with the idea around Christmas of 2018. [26:40] Sports podcasting is a very crowded space. They did the show for their friends and to show the autism community that there's a lot of practical things they can do. [27:44] They define success by having a lot of great content and having fun. [30:29] People in Florida are really interested in hearing them talk about football. [31:33] They use a lot of different magazines to help keep things straight when covering college football. [32:41] The NBA is the easiest to cover because of the stability. [33:06] They take notes and get their research the old-fashioned way. [34:39] Brian has learned planning and not procrastinating from his parents. [36:12] Mike learned social skills from his dad and work ethic from his grandparents. [37:06] Mike would like to expand their audience. [39:26] They would also like to cover the Milwaukee Bucks NBA game live. [42:48] Darrell's takeaways: The way Mike and Brian interact shows how special their relationship is. The subject of their content has been significantly reduced because they are covering sports. They've adapted, and they're focusing deeper on the draft. They're making the most of the situation they have. They have reduced their schedule to two episodes per week instead of three. Think about your contingency plan in case of a dry spell. Look for inspiration for content. Cover what's most important and build your schedule around that.Links and Resources:
Pro Podcast Solutions Bri The Sports Guy Mike Mountan on Facebook E132: Our interview with NY Post columnist and 2020 NY state baseball hall of fame inductee Kevin Kernan [email protected] -
I talked to some amazing podcast hosts and podcast professionals when I was at Podfest in Orlando. It was a great experience, and many experts were kind enough to share podcast tips that will help podcasters and especially beginners have a smooth start and a show that they feel great about. Super Joe Pardo who runs the Independent Podcast Conference shares the importance of letting your personality shine through and the goal that you should have to move the needle.
Then I talk with Glenn the Geek who has been podcasting since 2006 and has hosted thousands of shows. He runs the Horse Radio Network and the Florida Podcast Network. Glenn talks about the importance of consistency and what sponsors are really looking for. If advertising is something you are interested in, his advice is very useful. Chris Curran from Podcast Engineering School shares tips for microphone technique including how to speak soft and low and speak loudly.
Harry Duran from Podcast Junkies talks about how to leverage the power of SEO in your podcast and how and why you should do that. If legal issues are something you’re concerned about, pay special attention to this next clip from Gordon Firemark, the podcast lawyer. Gordon talks about protecting your brand and content and gives us information on the types of consent forms and contracts that are useful to podcasters.
Dave Jackson from the School of Podcasting gives super good advice about what new podcasters really shouldn’t do. Even though it's a common mistake that many make. Jeni Wren Stottrup from Gritty Birds Podcasting gives a great tip for avoiding perfectionism and fear. Craig from Ingles Podcast talks about the importance of audience engagement. Coach Chris from The Personal Branding Playbook talks about how important marketing is. Emily Peck Prokop from E Podcast Productions talks about not trying to do everything all at once, and Christy Haussler from Team Podcast rounds out the show with her advice on rankings and list building.
Show Notes:
[03:13] Super Joe Pardo runs the Independent Podcast Conference, and he feels that it's important to have your personality come out in your podcast. The goal all the time is to move the needle and make people feel something. [04:09] Glenn the Geek is from the Horse Radio and Florida Podcast Network. He's been podcasting since 2006. It takes awhile to make money. You need to be consistent. Sponsors are buying you not your show. [06:27] Go to small companies in your niche. Work with them and involve them from the beginning. [07:53] Chris Curran runs Podcast Engineering School. He teaches people how to engineer and produce podcasts at a professional level. He also hosts the podcast engineering show. [08:43] Microphone technique is really important. Stay close and speak into the microphone from the right angle. You can get closer to sound soft and low. Lean back to say something loud. Be passionate and love what you are talking about. [09:26] Harry Duran is the host of Podcast Junkies. His tip is to leverage the SEO power of podcasting. Choose a name that people are searching for that also speaks to a pain point. [10:08] Be careful how you choose your name and what you put in your description. Choose words that people are searching for. [10:16] Gordon Firemark is the podcast lawyer. Creating media content is big business, so think of yourself as a business. You may need to form a company. [11:10] Protect yourself by protecting your title and your brand. Register a trademark for your brand and a copyright for your content. [11:41] Get consent from your guests in the form of a release. Use royalty free music or make sure you have the proper license. Always use contracts. [13:10] Dave Jackson is from the School of Podcasting. He also works for Libsyn tech support. Don't compare your show to other people's shows. [14:28] Jeni Wren Stottrup is from Gritty Birds Podcasting. She's a producer, editor, and podcast coach. Once you have a concept of what your show is then get your equipment and record right away. [15:33] Craig from Ingles Podcast says gauge the success of your podcast by audience engagement as opposed to download numbers. [18:30] Coach Chris from The Personal Branding Playbook says sharing episodes instead of marketing them is one of the biggest mistakes he sees podcasters make. [23:10] Emily Peck Prokop from E Podcast Productions says new podcasters need to start with one step at a time and stop trying to do everything at once. [24:01] Christy Haussler from Team Podcast says not to focus on ranking in iTunes categories because it won't translate to anything tangible. The list is a vanity metric. Every podcaster should begin with an offer of something free to build their email list. [26:13] Darrell's takeaways: Build that email list. Sponsors are buying you. Don't get too clever with your podcast name. Make your podcast name easily searchable. Focus on engaging with your audience. Provide a way for your listeners to engage with you. Keeping a spreadsheet of your listeners is really helpful. Focus on one thing at a time.Links and Resources:
Pro Podcast Solutions You Don’t Need Thousands of Downloads To Sell Ads – The Return of Glenn The Geek Podfest Glenn The Geek Florida Podcast Network Super Joe Pardo Independent Podcast Conference Chris Curran Podcast Engineering School Podcast Junkies Gordon Firemark Podcaster's Legal & Business Toolkit (Template Bundle) School of Podcasting The Happiness Lab Gritty Birds Podcast Editing Ingles Podcast SpeakPipe The Personal Branding Playbook Coach Chris E Podcast Productions Team Podcast Cliff Ravenscraft Mindset Strategies That Go Beyond Podcasting With Cliff Ravenscraft -
Mark Des Cotes is a podcast design specialist and the owner of Podcast Branding. He's an award-winning graphic designer with over 30 years in the design industry. He designs for both print and web. He started podcasting in 2013 doing television fan podcasts. He launched his Resourceful Designer podcast in 2015. It's a weekly podcast that helps graphic and web designers start and run their own design business.
Mark has worked with over 200 podcasters to enhance their shows appearance and help them stand out among the growing sea of podcasts through his professional designs. He designs podcast websites, cover artwork, and more. Mark is also the graphic designer that we use as part of our team here at Pro Podcast Solutions. He and I were both at Podfest Orlando a couple of weeks ago.
During this face-to-face sit down we talk about what podcast branding is, what makes great cover art, common mistakes people make and more. We also tackle the question of whether you should put your photo on the cover, looking at the camera, and who should actually have a microphone on their cover art. Mark also shares advice to create a cohesive brand for all of your platforms.
Mark's passion for design and podcast branding really shine through in this interview. He shares how even moving a design element a couple of pixels makes a difference. He strives for perfection and making everything look right. He also shares the elements of cohesive branding. We talk about having a color palette to make your brand easily identifiable across platforms.
Mark shares the difference between a logo and cover art and why both are so important. We also talk about social media. Why it’s important to simplify and mistakes beginners often make. We also discuss why a professional design across all of your platforms can complete your brand and make you stand out.
Show Notes:
[02:50] This is our fourth or fifth time meeting in person. We've become really good friends over the years. [03:01] Mark owns a business called Podcast Branding and we'll be discussing podcast artwork, branding and more. [03:47] Mark wanted to go into television advertising. He never intended to become a graphic designer. [04:54] In high school, he won the equivalent of a college scholarship for one year. His guidance counselor suggested he go to graphic design school. He tried it for a year and decided to finish the program. He hasn't looked back since. [06:06] He discovered podcasting in 2012 and got into it in 2013. Our mutual friend, Wayne Henderson, had the worst podcast art Mark had ever seen. Mark designed something for Wayne and then Wayne started spreading the word. [08:48] Mark also worked for a commercial printer and then dabbled in web design. [09:36] Mark started a web design business at home. [11:57] Be honest with your current employer and make sure your contract doesn't forbid side work. [15:03] Mark wanted to be the podcast branding expert. He has a video chat with every client. [17:38] He never would have designed Melissa Radke's artwork the way it is without talking to her first. [19:14] The first thing most people see is the podcast cover when they are looking for podcasts. If they like the cover, then they'll read the description. [21:17] Your artwork needs to be simple. Taking something away from a design will always make it cleaner. Overcomplicated artwork becomes amateurish. All you need on your podcast cover is the title of your show and possibly your name. [22:08] You can put your tagline in the description. [22:37] Your text needs to be readable on a small piece of artwork. Also, keep it down to one or two fonts. Don't overcomplicate it. [23:41] Microphones and headphones should only be included if your podcast is about microphones in headphones. The word podcast also doesn't need to be on your cover. [24:31] The word show sounds more professional. [25:00] When it comes to using your photo ask if you are recognized in your space or if you are trying to build a personal brand. [29:21] You have to be comfortable to have your image on your podcast cover. [30:50] Think about how your target audience is going to perceive your artwork. [34:43] Make sure your text is readable in a 125 X 125 pixel image. [35:53] Podcast logos and artwork are two different things. Have a logo and include it on your artwork. Think of an album cover. The band name is the logo. [37:24] Carry over your branding to your social media accounts. Have a separate account for your podcast unless you are using it to create a personal brand. You can also rotate through your color pallet. [44:21] A brand encompasses every touchpoint of your design system. [46:47] Many of us have skills, but it's better to hire a true professional. [51:49] Mark shares things that he has noticed that differ between the US and Canada. Hint: it has to do with restaurants and manners. [54:35] He is a huge fan of fantasy books and science fiction. He loves The Expanse book series. He is also a fan of Building a StoryBrand. [57:43] Darrell's takeaways: Mark gave a presentation about this very topic at Podfest. Your art is the first impression people get. They often use it to decide if they want to listen or not. Great cover art can get your show chosen above others. Make sure it looks good at 125 pixels. Think through using your own photo. Have a color palette and podcast logo to reinforce your brand across all venues.Links and Resources:
Pro Podcast Solutions Resourceful Designer Resourceful Designer - A Graphic Design Podcast Resourceful Designer on Instagram Mark Des Cotes on LinkedIn Solo Talk Media Podcast Branding Podfest Orlando Wayne Henderson Being Authentic and Sharing Your Real Self With Your Audience with Melissa Radke Platform: Get Noticed in a Noisy World Building a StoryBrand: Clarify Your Message So Customers Will Listen The Expanse Book Series -
Dr. Romie Mushtaq is a neurologist, mindfulness teacher, entrepreneur, and speaker. She is also the Chief Wellness Officer for Evolution Hospitality and the host of the Wellness Evolved Podcast. She shares how she had a love for brain science and neurology and became a medical doctor. About 10 years into her career, she had a very serious health crisis and discovered mindfulness during her journey to recovery. She is now on a mission to bring together her advanced training in Western and Eastern medicine to alleviate stress and bring health and wellness to the corporate world.
We talk about how she created and the first mindfulness program for a hospitality company and became the first hospitality Chief Wellness Officer. Then we talk about the podcast and how it became a way to reach employees with the message of mindfulness and people first. Dr. Romie found that wellness emails were going unread, but the podcasts made communication easier and provided tools for mindfulness and wellness with her guided meditations. Even though the podcast is targeted at Evolution Hospitality employees, it also has turned out to be a recruitment tool for potential employees.
Dr. Romie also shares some of the surprising results from the podcast and how a mixed format of guided meditation, interviews, and solo shows works for her. We talk about how she keeps organized and challenges with finding quality outside guests can be. We also get to hear a very touching story of how Dr. Romie’s maternal grandmother had faith in her and her potential. Even though she isn’t here anymore her presence is always with Dr. Romie. This is a fantastic interview with a very fun and smart lady who I’m happy to have the pleasure to work with.
Show Notes:
[04:37] Darrell and Dr. Romie met at Podfest in Orlando. It was so great that they met in person before Dr. Romie's podcast launched. [06:33] Dr. Romie's background is in neurology and neurophysiology. In 2013, she got a board certification in integrative medicine. [06:48] She brings the world of Eastern and Western medicine together. The mission for her wellness company is changing the brain and mental health of corporate America. [07:01] Evolution Hospitality hired Dr. Romie to be their keynote speaker and talk about the brain science of mindfulness for stress management. After that, she started consulting for them. She's now their Chief Wellness Officer and her job is to guide the mindfulness and wellness programs for their 7,000 employees. [08:37] When she was in medical school, she had a love and passion for neuroscience. She was a practicing doctor, and she got sick from too much stress. [09:02] She had to have a life-saving surgery and this led to her journey of mindfulness, meditation, and integrative medicine. [10:37] The Wellness Evolved Podcast just turned one year old. [11:44] The podcast is targeted for the Evolution Hospitality employees. She wanted the podcast to be a public-facing recruitment tool for the organization. [12:28] She created and scaled a mindfulness program from scratch. They started with The Power of Pause. They decided that a podcast would be the perfect way to get this program out and supply the employees with the tools they would need. [14:02] The podcast was first and foremost for the Evolution Hospitality employees, but other hospitality employees started showing interest in the program. It's a great PR tool. [15:56] There's brain science behind the intimate connection of hearing someone's voice in your ear. [16:56] Communication and spreading the word was what was needed for The Power of Pause. Management had to think through if they wanted something targeted for the employees to be public facing. [19:31] Dr. Romie is finding ways to measure impact. Her top downloads were the meditations. Their format includes guided meditations, solo shows, and interviews. [22:05] Seeing leaders play the podcast episodes and lead meditations is an indicator of success. Dr. Romie is also getting LinkedIn messages from job seekers. Most people in panel interviews listen to the podcast to prepare. [23:35] The podcast has helped spread the mindfulness program and bring in new candidates. [26:20] Rule #1 turn on your microphone!!! Technical glitches happen when you're in a hurry. [29:11] Dr. Romie has a busy schedule, so she has a team that helps keep things on schedule. She interviews people face-to-face when she is traveling. She also has a content calendar of podcast topics. [34:39] Serving your audience is what it's all about. [36:05] It's been challenging to get external guests from other companies and vendors on the podcast. [37:35] They do want to have subject matter experts on the show. [39:54] Dr. Romie still uses her grandmother's prayer beads when she meditates. Her grandmother always believed that she was going to rise up and do amazing things. She calls upon her grandmother often. She is anchored in unwavering faith. [43:53] Darrell's takeaways: Dr. Romie's emails were going unopened, but the podcast actually reached people. Podcasts are effective for communication and recruitment. A content calendar is great for organizing themes and ideas and collaborating with others. Don't be afraid to break the mold and try something new.Links and Resources:
Pro Podcast Solutions Libsyn Use promo code ProPod to get your first month free Dr. Romie brainSHIFT The powerful secret of your breath -- Romila “Dr. Romie” Mushtaq, MD | Romila Mushtaq | TEDxFargo Evolution Hospitality Wellness Evolved Podcast Podfest Why Workplace Wellness & Mindfulness is Important for Leaders & Culture: Interview with Evo's President John Murphy Bonus Episode: Home 10 Minute Guided Meditation: Power of Pause Tips for New Podcasters from Lead Audio Editor Mike Lalonde Turning ADHD Coping Strategies Into a Successful Podcast with Eric Tivers -
Mike Lalonde is the lead audio editor for Pro Podcast Solutions. I’m happy to have Mike on the show to talk about sound quality, what makes a great podcast, and tips for beginning podcasters. Mike is in Calgary, Alberta, Canada where it snows, gets cold, and is the perfect base for someone who works from home. Mike shares how his love for music and being in a band sparked his interest in audio production. He decided to pursue that passion and started freelancing and working on audiobooks.
I was fortunate enough to be introduced to Mike through an email he sent me. That was four years ago and now he is the lead audio editor for PPS. Every new show goes through Mike as he tweaks it, gets the sound perfect, and creates a template for moving forward. We have a great conversation talking about what beginners can do to get good audio quality. Hint: It starts with a quiet recording environment and the right microphone. Mike gives tips on how to record in a quiet area, things you can do to get better sound quality from your microphone, and microphones for beginners. We also talk about why you might want to hire an editor.
We geek out on audio software, plugins, and tools that can help produce a great sounding podcast. We also talk about things hosts can do to make their show stand out, unique questions to ask, and calls-to-action. Mike gives a lot of examples and shout outs to some of the hosts that we’ve been fortunate enough to work with. I am so fortunate to have Mike as a lead part of the team. He talks about the example and work ethic of his parents. This definitely shines through with Mike’s work ethic, skill set, and passion for audio. We also talk about the Canadian band that was the beginning of his inspiration.
Show Notes:
[03:42] Mike has been with PPS since February of 2016. His first project was an audiobook for PPS then he began working on podcast audio. [06:05] Mike was one of the first PPS editors. [07:04] Mike handles all of the audio, sound, and templates for new clients. Once everything is worked out and established then another audio editor on the team may take over. [08:52] He began in music. He and his friends started a band. That's when Mike got into Audacity, Cubase, and Logic. They also had a lot of outboard gear for EQ etc. [09:42] They also helped other bands out with music recordings. Mike enjoyed audio production and started looking for gigs on Elance. This is how he found his first audiobook gigs and a couple of podcast gigs. [10:59] He enjoyed audio work, and after sending a cold email to Darrell, he started doing audio for PPS. [11:02] The first podcasts that Mike listened to were about video games. [11:48] Mike plays guitar, bass, and drums. [13:14] Mike's in Calgary, Alberta, Canada where there's snow. That's one of the reasons he works from home. [15:19] The first tip Mike gives for new podcasters is to record in a quiet space. Close your windows and reduce as much noise as possible. Get comfortable and don't shuffle around. Also, do some test recordings with your microphone. [18:27] Learn basic microphone etiquette. Don't put the microphone right in your mouth. Make sure you're not wearing bulky clothes or jewelry that will rub on your microphone. [19:35] A sock or a windscreen will help disperse air and get rid of the plosives. [20:36] USB microphones are great for beginners. If you have an audio interface you may need a microphone with a preamp like a condenser microphone. A lot of people have had good luck with SM 48s or SM58s. [23:11] One podcast misconception is people are seeing it as a hobby or a niche industry, but the podcast industry is huge today. [26:19] You can use a podcast to grow a huge community. You don't have to be famous to become a host. [28:27] Mike and Darrell talk about calls-to-action. Amy Porterfield is great at this. Jen Briney has a lot of community engagement. She does entire episodes reading messages from her fans. Kasey Bell gives away freebies in every episode. She also encourages community engagement with community questions. [31:39] Stephen Spencer breaks down his episodes into a checklist. At the end, he gives a one-sentence call-to-action inviting people to check out the show notes. [32:31] They all put in the time and effort to provide extra content for the listeners. [36:20] We talk about things that make podcasts stand out. For example, Sip, Suds, & Smokes has fun sound effects. Jen Briney's show is community supported. Things like music breaks can help with the flow. [39:41] Stephan Spencer always asks guests, before the interview, what would make this the best interview that they have ever had. Mike shares this and other unique questions that some of our shows ask. [43:50] Watch plosives if you want to get your sound as clean as possible. Get a good stand and use a pop filter. Talk into the mic. [45:15] Darrell uses an Audition plugin called Kill the Mic Rumble. [47:58] It's a good idea to remove pets before you record. [49:17] Mike shares software tools and plugins that he uses. [50:45] Try sitting in silence when you first record to have a recording of room tone. Also separate tracks for the different speakers. [51:48] Most people start with Audacity and then move on to something like what we use which is Adobe Audition. [53:45] There are so many tools you can use for audio editing, but the easiest way to make it easy on yourself is to hire somebody to do it for you. [54:16] Having someone edit your audio is like paying to get YOUR time back. You can focus on what you do best. You also get access to a team of professionals. [56:44] Mike had his first job when he was 14. He learned from his hard-working parents that if you want something you work for it. [57:58] Mike shares his favorite Canadian band. He has seen them live and got a book signed by Geddy Lee. Geddy is why Mike started playing base. [01:00:21] Darrell's takeaways: Find a quiet space when recording and do test recordings. The microphone we recommend is the ATR2100X. It's important to create an engagement piece. Get your guest comfortable before hitting record. What benefit will hiring someone allow you to have? Hiring someone can save you time. You also get expertise and wisdom.Links and Resources:
Pro Podcast Solutions Libsyn Use promo code ProPod to get your first month free Tips for Launching a Successful Podcast with Launch Specialist Jodey Smith Audacity Cubase Logic Pro X Foam Microphone Windscreen ATR2100-USB Microphone Shure SM58 Shure SM48 Joe Rogan The Pat McAfee Show Amy Porterfield Podcast Congressional Dish with Jennifer Briney 80% of Being an Entrepreneur Is What You Think and Feel with Amy Porterfield Using the Value for Value Model to Earn a Living, Travel, and Do Good in the World with Jen Briney Shake Up Learning Stephan Spencer Sip, Suds, & Smokes Talk of 12 Oaks How Talking About Everything Good in Life Turned Into an Award Winning Podcast and Radio Show with Good Ol’ Boy Mike Stellar Life Podcast Seeing Business as a Creative Act and Focusing on What You Do Best with Andy Kushner Adobe Audition RX 7 Plugin Pack Garage Band Hindenburg Pro Tools REAPER Rush -
Deirdre Breakenridge is Chief Executive Officer of Pure Performance Communications, a strategic communications and technology consulting firm in the New York Metro area. She’s a veteran in PR, marketing, and branding. She is the author of six books including her latest book Answers for Modern Communicators. She’s counseled senior-level executives at Fortune 500 companies, and she travels worldwide speaking to corporations and associations about the changing media landscape.
She blogs at PR Expanded. She has six video courses on LinkedIn Learning. She is the co-founder of #PRStudChat a dynamic Twitter community dedicated to educating PR students, professionals, and professors. She’s also the host of the Women Worldwide podcast where she has published over 250 episodes. Deirdre shares the importance of having mentors and being a mentor. We also talk about how social media has changed the mentor relationship and has opened up new opportunities. We dive into why she started her podcast and how she is always experimenting and trying new things. She shares how her goals for the podcast changed and how she finally realized that the podcast was about helping people and building a community.
Deirdre has taken a unique approach to forming a community around her podcast guests. They have a network where these women answer questions and help each other. She even ran a mastermind experiment with some of her guests that allowed them to celebrate what they were working on and ask for help. Deirdre is passionate about community, sharing information, and helping people. She is also passionate about how helping others leads to opportunities and connections you wouldn’t otherwise expect. She also shares a personal loss that led to a research journey with millennials and the FEEL Model. This interview is truly inspiring.
Show Notes:
[03:40] Deirdre has been mentoring women for over 20 years. [04:19] Deirdre had a mentor in high school and in college. She had a close friend of the family who was a mentor who helped her get her first job. Although, she didn't actually realize they were mentors. It just kind of happened. [05:04] As Deirdre got into her career, it was natural for her to start answering questions and taking others under her wing. Now mentoring happens on social media. [07:13] It's okay to ask for help. [11:04] The fact that you can show up anywhere and speak is a sign that you could be a very good mentor. [12:29] Find the people you want to serve and find a way to help them the most. Find out what they care about and where they are. [15:00] Women Worldwide now has over 250 episodes. [16:01] Podcasting was a reinvention and a passion for Deirdre. [17:17] Women Worldwide is more than a podcast. They now have a network. The women are connecting and collaborating. She also tried a mastermind experiment with a handful of guests where they have a Zoom call. They meet once a month, and it's called Women Worldwide Connect. The purpose is to celebrate what they are working on and ask for help. [20:02] The listeners of the show also interact on social media. [21:39] There are a lot of goals you can have with a podcast. There are other podcasters who see the opportunities with each individual guest. They may not take it as far as forming a network and mastermind group. [23:59] Deirdre's first goal was to be a podcast host. Then she wanted 100,000 downloads per episode to attract advertisers. She put a lot of marketing dollars into this. She achieved her goal and then realized that wasn't what the listeners wanted. [25:31] She realized it was about the community she served and helping people. She recently noticed, it's all about the guests. [28:07] You should learn what your listeners care about and what your guests are willing to share. Guests that engage on social media and audiograms help increase listeners. [30:57] Deirdre has a project manager that helps with everything. They use Hootsuite, Basecamp, and Headliner. [32:15] The value from the podcast is flowing into the business. The greatest connection is to the guests through the network. [34:33] Deirdre is a relationship connector. [36:30] Her parents definitely shaped her. Her mom is very strong and passionate. Her dad is a mediator and a negotiator. Deirdre stepped away with a very strong foundation. [37:39] The loss of Deirdre's stepdaughter caused her to take a step back and re-evaluate her life. [38:04] Deirdre went on a research journey with millennials. She learned what they needed. They built a model called FEEL. Face your fears. Engage with empathy. Use ethics and good judgment. Unleash the love. [39:26] Her stepdaughter Noelle was a huge influence on her. [40:58] The Feel First Test evaluates where you are and gives you exercises to improve. [43:14] Darrell's takeaways: Don't be afraid to experiment and try new ideas. Deirdre was all about cultivating a culture of collaboration and support within her community. When you are serving the needs of others, you and your business will be lifted up. Deirdre's podcast is a marketing arm of Women Worldwide. It's also used to build community. The FEEL Test will give you exercises that you can do to become a better rounded person.Links and Resources:
Pro Podcast Solutions Libsyn Use promo code ProPod to get your first month free Deirdre Breakenridge PR Expanded Feel First Test Pure Performance Communications Women Worldwide Deirdre Breakenridge on LinkedIn Deirdre Breakenridge on Twitter [email protected] Deirdre Breakenridge on Facebook Answers for Modern Communicators Other Books by Deirdre Breakenridge Why Social Media and Being Strategic Is Important With Dede Watson Hootsuite Basecamp Headliner -
Justin Honaman has taken his experience in business, data analytics, and strategic sourcing and procurement and combined it with his love of creativity and leadership and built a business and a podcast around it. He is the co-founder and president of Contender Brands where he and his wife run a business that combines consumer products and other creative ventures. They feature products such as the Ringo Ring Cleaner and several clever card games that are meant to spark fun and conversation in groups.
They also feature other creative ventures such as their books and even music. Justin and his wife and business partner, Monique, believe life should be an adventure and that sometimes you just need to listen to your heart and trust your gut. Justin is a frequent speaker on leadership, personal development, and organizational culture. He is also an accomplished sales and marketing executive and the host of the ContenderCast podcast which is a leadership and entrepreneurship podcast centered on shining a light on bright ideas.
Justin shares why he started his podcast and tips that he feels are important to have a great show. We talk about letting your guests shine, the value of consistency, and how it’s okay to do things differently and have your own twist like bonus episodes and “best of” episodes. Justin is a man with a diverse background and professional experience, but whatever he is doing it’s revolving around creativity and great ideas. This is an episode about how being creative can lead to great things and great podcasts and ideas are the basis for any business, product, or creative endeavor. He also shares wisdom about how your worst show can be your most popular show, how he defines success, and the value of being consistent.
Show Notes:
[03:08] We started working with Justin over two years ago, and he has recorded 107 episodes. [04:43] Justin has an Industrial Engineer degree from Georgia Tech and an MBA from Auburn University. [05:51] Justin has spent his career in the consumer goods industry. He has been at Georgia Pacific for about a year. His background is technology and business. He's moved between consulting firms and the business side of things. [06:14] He also has a side hustle which includes the podcast. Justin and his wife have a number of creative endeavors, and they run Contender Brands together. [06:35] Justin and his wife had ideas for a couple of consumer products and card games. He had already been blogging and decided to convert it into a podcast. [07:27] Justin's wife is better at some of the business and numbers side of things. Justin is the idea guy. He loves selling, relationship building, figuring out new ways to get products to market, and finding guests for the podcast. [08:24] Justin had been blogging about leadership topics and content. A lot of the information was expanded upon information from his first two books. [09:24] He knew how to manage sound from his music experience. Justin understood sound mixing, but needed help getting the show to the podcast platforms. His podcast is a passion product for his creativity. [10:08] He and his wife have had a great time recording shows about the creation of their own products. Contender Brands is a collection of their creative outlets. They have books, products, the podcast, and music. [11:45] Justin loves using his creative mind to create awesome podcasts. [12:34] All creatives know that when you make a product, there's going to be someone who hates it. When you put yourself out there you have to be willing to accept the criticism along with the praise. The majority of the feedback that Justin has gotten back from the podcast has been awesome. [13:53] Ironically, the podcast episode that Justin thought was the worst ended up being his top downloaded episode. [15:39] An episode is released every Monday morning. Justin keeps a calendar. If he has crazy good content he wants to release, he will launch an extra episode on Thursday. [17:12] He also has “best of” episodes. It also gives him a space of extra content. [18:14] Justin organizes everything in Evernote and uses Dropbox to exchange files. [19:32] Success for Justin is providing content that people want to listen to and that he's excited about. It also has to be something he's able to make time for. He keeps manageable expectations for download numbers. [23:07] Justin does most of his interviews over the phone. He has portable microphones. [24:02] Start with a big idea and focus on it. Justin chose entrepreneurship. Decide on your format. Have a prerecorded intro person. Have a structured approach to the interviews. [26:16] A challenge Justin faced was determining his focus for the podcast. Podcasting takes time and a commitment to release on a regular schedule. [29:09] Let your guest talk and don't interrupt. Make them the center of attention. [30:44] Good habits that Justin learned from his mom and dad was having a calendar and a to-do list. His early schedule was packed with activities. [31:55] Justin loves leading worship with kids on Sunday. [32:59] He saw Pink Floyd in the mid-90s and would love it if they went on tour again. [33:21] If you love leadership content, read Turn the Ship Around and FOR by Jeff Henderson. [37:53] Darrell's takeaways: Sometimes the show you're most afraid to release will be your best episode. Justin doing a "best of" episode is a really clever idea. You have to deliver or people will stop listening. Committing to releasing weekly episodes can become a grind. Be consistent with your releases. Let your guests talk. Let them be the star.Links and Resources:
Pro Podcast Solutions Libsyn Use promo code ProPod to get your first month free Justin Honaman on LinkedIn Justin Honaman on Twitter Justin Honaman on Instagram Books by Justin Honaman Contender Brands ContenderCast Evernote Dropbox Turn the Ship Around!: A True Story of Turning Followers into Leaders Know What You're FOR: A Growth Strategy for Work, An Even Better Strategy for Life Turning ADHD Coping Strategies Into a Successful Podcast with Eric Tivers -
Music is such an important part of our lives. It brings us joy, makes us feel good, and is just a wonderful way to celebrate life. I’m very passionate about the topic of music education for young people and being in school band. This is why I’m happy to be talking with Mary Luehrsen from the National Association for Music Merchants or NAMM. The NAMM Foundation is a supporting organization of NAMM, a 119 year old music products trade association. The NAMM Foundation is funded by NAMM members through trade association activities and private donations.
Mary is the Director of Public Affairs and Government Relations for NAMM and the Executive Director of the NAMM Foundation. The NAMM Foundation is about advancing music programs in school and across life. They support scientific research, philanthropic giving, public service programs, and are a great resource for people wanting to help further public music programs. Mary is also the host of the “Talking Up Music Education” podcast. She talks with artist advocates, teachers, parents, students, and business and community leaders about what they are doing to create music learning opportunities. According to Mary, this podcast is about inspiring people to support music programs.
Mary’s passion for music education shines through as she shares what NAMM and the NAMM Foundation are. She also talks a little bit about The NAMM Show and how this event helps support furthering music and music education. We talk about the importance of music education, how Mary uses her podcast to build awareness, and what you can do to help music education in your local community. We also talk about being relentlessly positive, networking with school leaders and board members, the importance of music research in promoting music education, and how anyone can help through volunteer efforts.
Show Notes:
[04:34] NAMM is the National Association for Music Merchants. It's a 119 year old music products trade association. It started in 1901, when the world was so different. [05:16] NAMM has been carrying the flag, emblems and the torch of the value and importance of music making and music learning since 1901. [05:29] The global music products industry includes musical instruments, pro audio event technology, and all of the infrastructure and technology for large stadium concerts. All of the things for sound enhancement of the industry come together globally. [06:10] We had 129 countries represented at the NAMM Show in Southern California. [07:18] NAMM has also sponsored music brain research and the impact of having children study music early in life. [08:03] Music education is at the heart of the NAMM Foundation. [08:29] Their industry unites around the trade show experience. Because NAMM is a non-profit they can funnel resources into policy and advocacy. [08:53] They also lobby in DC for federal legislation. [09:08] They also build advocacy networks for education. This activity is fueled through sponsored research. [09:35] The foundation is the consumer outreach entity for the mission and vision. [10:14] The NAMM Foundation wants to be the engine of promoting music education. [10:55] There's 14,000 school districts in America and about 50 million children in public school everyday. Mary wants resources to support public music education for all of these children. [11:34] Participation and opportunity are never as good as they would like it to be. A social impact movement needs to be pressing continually for the benefit of the children and young people. [17:05] Music is a powerful way to get people together to embrace a common cause. [18:08] The podcast is almost up to 100 episodes. [19:28] The podcast team has worked really hard with building content and helping to form the advocacy portfolio. They have a schedule consistent with their mission. People always like to see new podcasts. Mary is able to record at home with a recorder and a good microphone. [21:30] They produce shows once or twice a month, and do live events from the NAMM Show. [21:58] They also promote the shows as actively as they can. [24:24] They have a pretty good download rate, the impact of the show is something that they are leaving to faith. The show may be having an impact because Mary was asked for her autograph. [25:39] The podcast is mainly about inspiration. [26:49] School music programs are frequently underfunded. [28:12] Being supportive of music teachers and programs can be helpful. [30:00] They are starting a relentlessly positive advocacy effort. Part of that effort is saying thank you. [33:43] When it comes to funding, there are levers to pull. We just need to be a positive part of the conversation with our school leaders. [35:36] Darrell wishes that everybody can experience how awesome being in band is. [38:57] School administrators want the music programs, they just need to know that they have support. [39:29] When Mary is walking she listens to NPR or has quiet time. She does love the Sirius Radio Met Opera and Jazz channels. She's also not opposed to Bruno Mars. [41:16] The NAMM Foundation has a huge music research database. This information is open source and can be used with citations. [42:14] They also have press kits for any group trying to start a music program. The information is open to the public. [45:10] Parents supporting students are truly making a difference with getting music programs in every school. [46:18] Darrell's takeaways: Mary's work is very much needed. Parents and non parents can get involved supporting band students. Volunteers can make children's lives better through their love of music. The podcast draws attention to the work of the organization. Have a podcast that gains awareness of work being done and your partners. Be relentlessly positive. Get into the conversation and build relationships with leaders and the school board. Ask for a three year commitment. They need support to figure out how to get funding. Use NAMM resources. It's astounding what people will do when they feel support.Links and Resources:
Pro Podcast Solutions Libsyn Use promo code ProPod to get your first month free Mary Luehrsen NAMM The NAMM Show NAMM Foundation Mary Luehrsen on Twitter NAMM Foundation on Facebook The NAMM Foundation on Twitter NAMM Foundation on YouTube “Talking Up Music Education” Podcast Music is for Life - Music Tells Our Story -
Jennifer Tribe is the director of content at Auvik Networks. Auvik makes software for Managed Service Providers or MSPs. MSPs are the companies and people that handle IT solutions for businesses that don’t have in-house IT departments. Auvik has focused on content marketing from the beginning. Jennifer is the perfect person to head up this effort. She is a trained journalist, a huge fan of writing great copy and Copyhackers, and has worked in multiple content roles from blogger, to book publisher, to podcast host.
Jennifer is also the host of the Frankly MSP podcast. Many vendors in the network and MSP space have “company name” podcasts, but Jennifer and the people at Auvik decided to take their podcast in a different direction. They wanted to focus on sharing great content and helping MSPs not advertising for their company. That’s why they chose The Frankly MSP name for their podcast. The podcast was so popular that they now have a Frankly MSP resource section and just held their first Frankly MSP Live event. Jennifer shares some interesting facts about her company and her podcast, and why they deliberately have an accessible conversational tone in all of their content.
She also shares how the Auvik polar bear mascot can help lighten the conversation about IT and networking. His name is Nanook, which is Inuit for polar bear. She also shares what Auvik means in Inuit and how it fits in perfectly with their fun arctic theme. We talk about the usefulness of having a blog and newsletter before starting a podcast. Jennifer also shares how Frankly MSP has evolved and why it’s important to pay attention to what is and isn’t working. We learn what Jennifer believes is the key to podcasting success, her regrets, and why her favorite vacation spot might just be one of the world’s most beautiful places.
Show Notes:
[02:56] Jennifer works in marketing at Auvik Networks. They make software for Managed Service Providers or MSPs. These are companies that other companies outsource their IT to. [03:43] The Frankly MSP mascot is a polar bear named Nanook which is the Inuit name for polar bear. Auvik is also the Inuit name for a block of snow used to build an igloo. [04:01] They use an arctic theme in their marketing. [04:41] Nanook adds personality to technical IT work. [06:12] Auvik has been focused on using content marketing from the beginning. They want to add value and not just talk about their product, but they also want to help MSPs be better. [06:29] They had an established blog and newsletter. In 2017, when they were launching the podcast, they wanted to call it something other than the Auvik podcast. [06:54] The name needed to convey that the podcast was about helping MSPs by providing information. They named the podcast Frankly MSP and after it's success, they spun Frankly MSP into a broader content brand including the blog and Frankly MSP Live. [07:34] The first Frankly MSP Live event was in January in Santa Barbara, CA, and it was so much fun. They had speakers, and Jennifer did a live podcast recording. [09:45] Jennifer met many fans of the podcast at the event. [10:26] She does pay attention to downloads. Numbers do tell them if they are resonating. The real goal is to put Auvik forward as a valued content brand. This strategy has been working. [13:09] The sincerity of the people at the conference was awesome. One listener even prints out the notes and takes them to meetings. [14:17] The podcast was intended to expand the audience. They had a news portion, but it wasn't evergreen. The news portion also bogged down the production schedule. They now just focus on the interview and skip the news section. [16:31] The podcast has helped increase their profile in the industry and their brand. [17:46] The sales reps and business development reps listen to the podcast and it helps them understand their customers. It's a great internal communication tool now. [18:51] Jennifer uses Todoist to keep track of everything. [19:29] They had a blog and newsletter to get the word out about the podcast. Having avenues of communication are key to starting. [20:22] The podcast comes out every other week. The newsletter comes out in the weeks in between. Each issue of the newsletter features the last two blog posts and the latest podcast. They will also have more detailed blog posts about some of the podcast episodes. [21:52] Jennifer regrets not starting the podcast sooner. [23:36] Consistency is key with podcasting just like it is with blogging. Choose a schedule that you can commit to and then make sure you hit your schedule every time. [24:12] There are a lot of things you can do with your podcast so put a lot of thought into your format. [25:08] You want to work your podcasts into the rhythms of people's lives. [26:00] Jennifer's copy writing hero is Joanna Wiebe of Copyhackers. She has all of their ebooks and refers to them often. The Copyhackers blog and courses are also excellent. [27:02] The most recent book she read was Profit First by Mike Michalowicz who was the keynote speaker at Frankly MSP Live. [27:20] A goal is to grow the podcast audience and get people more involved. [28:13] Jennifer likes to vacation in Northern Ontario in the Muskoka area where there are lots of lakes, evergreens, and rocky landscapes. She thinks it's one of the most beautiful places on Earth. [30:17] Darrell's Takeaways: Jennifer's journalism background came out during our discussion. She talked about establishing a blog and a newsletter. These are important pieces. You can leverage these items to grow your podcast and gain momentum through the podcast. The podcast isn't focused on the company, it's focused on helping MSPs. Ask how you can create a podcast for your audience? Clearly discover how you define success. Be consistent with your release.Links and Resources:
Pro Podcast Solutions Libsyn Use promo code ProPod to get your first month free Auvik Frankly MSP Frankly MSP Live 2020 Todoist Copyhackers Profit First Muskoka Auvik Networks on Twitter Auvik Networks on Facebook Auvik Networks on LinkedIn “How do I build an audience for my podcast?” -
What do you get when you take a fun loving Southern family with a hilariously authentic mom and combine that with media? You get the Radkes. The Radkes are a loud, sweet, and charming family from East Texas led by David “The Attorney General” Radke and fun loving mom Melissa. Melissa Radke is the author of Eat Cake. Be Brave. The host of the Ordinary People Ordinary Things podcast, and the star of the family sitcom The Radkes featuring her family. I talk to Melissa and David about the podcast and ask a couple of behind the scenes questions about the show.
Melissa’s wit and offbeat humor made her a social media success when she recorded a rant about the inconvenience of “Red Ribbon Week” at her children’s school. She is no stranger to being in the limelight. Melissa spent 15 years in Nashville, Tennessee pursuing her dream of singing and performing, before returning home to Texas. Melissa’s career has taken some twists and turns, but she believes she’s where she is supposed to be helping people by being her true authentic self. She is someone that other people can relate too, because she is just like them.
I talk to Melissa and David about their podcast. I get the inside scoop on how they organize the show and schedule guests. They also offer wisdom on being authentic, knowing the audience you are speaking to, podcast categories, and how real life can’t be scheduled too far ahead. Melissa also talks a little bit about her and David’s morning show and how being themselves just works. I ask about what the future has in store, and Melissa shares that she is working on a new book and shares the name of the second podcast she is starting. She also shares her biggest dream for the future in this fun show.
Show Notes:
[03:13] Darrell's wife is from East Texas similar to Melissa. [04:47] About a year after things took off for Melissa online, she got a message from a woman who said she didn't have a reason to live, but then she saw one of Melissa's videos, and it sounded just like her. [05:44] Melissa realized that people were listening and it was meaning something. [06:29] Melissa has an ability to tell stories and share her life in an authentic way. [07:57] We wanted every episode of the show to be based on real life that really happened. Some things had to be relived a bit. [09:12] Melisa and David have a live morning show on YouTube, Instagram, and IGTV. They are just themselves and it works. [09:56] Now in the evening when they check their views, they often have about fifteen thousand viewers. [10:45] Melissa thinks one of the reasons that things have spread like wildfire is because she just looks like other people. [12:31] The things that Melissa used to want to change about herself are now the things that make her stand out. She likes herself a lot better in her forties. [13:41] Melissa is the creative and David is the technical side of this marriage. David is very good at staying ahead of the Curve. [14:21] Melissa started listening to podcasts and she found herself thinking about the things that she would do differently. David was the motivator behind the podcast. [15:18] David knew that podcasting was a great way to get their voice out and communicate with people while they were in transit or at the gym. [17:26] When you're trying to get your voice out there and build your brand, it's important to be on as many platforms as possible. [18:36] Melissa's podcast was put in the religious category. It allows her to bring out a different side that she doesn't show on other platforms. [20:40] Knowing your audience and categories is important. Know what audience that you are speaking too. [22:04] Melissa and David are rolling out a new podcast that is completely different than their current one. She is super excited. [22:29] The new podcast is going to be about Melissa's reviews of binge watching streaming services. It's going to be called Streamher. [23:43] Streamher should debut in the middle of February. [24:47] Don't get too obsessed with download numbers or 5 Star reviews. Everyone's show is on a different journey. [27:20] Melissa's podcast is interview based. David is the one who keeps everything organized. [27:52] He uses Calendly to schedule interviews. He uses Air Table to get all of the guest information. Then they use Zoom to record the episode. [29:22] Batching too early can be a mistake when you are talking about people's lives. Their stories can change. Batch maybe four episodes ahead, but don't go months ahead. Fresh shows are also better for cross promotion. [32:16] Melissa's jam are boy bands. Her current favorite is Jonas Brothers, but she loves New Kids on the Block and even got to meet them when she was 16. [34:02] Melissa's parents were extremely generous people, and she learned generosity from them. [35:14] Melissa's family agreed to be part of the show, because Melissa always respected their privacy in the past. She also doesn't want to embarrass her children who happen to be really great sports. [36:19] Melissa feels like she's just getting warmed up. It's her dream to have a talk show one day. [39:24] Darrell's takeaways: It's really clear how authentic they are and how people are drawn to that. It's challenging to be vulnerable when you are in the driver's seat. If you find yourself saying I would do this differently, you might be onto something. Identifying your own uniqueness will help you stand apart. It's important to remember who your audience is and where they're at. Downloads don't define success but reviews are a good indicator. Batching too far ahead can be a mistake.Links and Resources:
Pro Podcast Solutions Libsyn Use promo code ProPod to get your first month free Melissa Radke Ordinary People Ordinary Things Eat Cake. Be Brave. Melissa Radke on Facebook Melissa Radke on Instagram Melissa Radke on Twitter Calendly Airtable Zoom -
My friend Chip Mims is here to talk about his new podcast, his retired podcasts, and even one that we did together. Chip is a lifelong science fiction and fantasy comics geek. He loves great comedy, drama, art, music, politics, and beer. He is a Renaissance man when it comes to his taste and podcasting. We’ve been friends for a really long time, and he is our longest running customer at Pro Podcast Solutions.
Up until recently, Chip was the CEO of Mims Distributing Company. Chip spent 28 years helping to bring the best beer, wine, and specialty beverages to his area. He also walked the talk with his own love of craft beers and specialty drinks. He started the Tales From the Cask podcast to talk about craft beers and beverages that he loved. This was also the first podcast that I produced for him. It has now reached 344 episodes and is now retired, coinciding with the closing of Mims Distributing.
Chip isn’t done with podcasting, though. He has a brand new podcast out called The Alethiometer which is based on the HBO series called His Dark Materials. This podcast is co-hosted with his wife Sara. Chip and Sara also hosted Watching the Americans which was based on the show The Americans which has now ended. Chip and I also did an X-Files podcast called We Still Believe.
We talk about how we met, our love of cool shows, and podcasting adventures. Chip shares how he got started, what he wished he had done sooner, and the surprising result of connections he made through his podcasts. He also gives tips on landing those big guests and some of the connections that he’s made. We even find out how many degrees I am away from Kevin Bacon. We have fun as I ask Chip three questions from Good Ol’ Boy Mike and talk about our favorite shows.
Show Notes:
[03:04] It's been seven years since Darrell and Chip were at the Fringe finale. Darrell had a big finale party in Oklahoma City where he lives. Chip told Darrell that he was thinking about starting a podcast right at the time that Darrell was thinking about starting a podcast production service. [04:45] Chip and his wife had been listening to a Lost podcast. They then started listening to a Fringe podcast. Chip thought it would be fun to do a beer podcast which led to Tales From the Cask. [07:17] Chip and a couple of co-workers decided to start a podcast. They recorded a few shows, and then they bought the equipment list that Darrell gave them. That's how they got started in 2013. [09:39] Chip was client number two and has been the longest standing client. He was also co-host with Darrell on the We Still Believe podcast about the X-Files. He also has two other podcasts. The current one is The Alethiometer and his past one was Watching the Americans. [11:51] Podcasting takes awhile to get into a cadence and rhythm with your co-host. Chip approached the podcast as something fun that they wanted to discuss. [14:27] Chip wanted listeners to discover Tales From the Cask organically. They wanted to talk about things they loved. Even things they didn't sell. It also attracted breweries to their distributor. [16:57] Chip and his wife go to Paris every year, and Chip shares his favorite spicy beer from Paris. [18:24] Chip thinks it would have been great to start with good equipment from day one. He had three co-hosts, and they just got started with what they had and bought the equipment a few episodes in. [21:32] The bar of podcast audio quality has been raised over the years. [22:08] Challenges have been logistics with interviews and the guests equipment. [24:46] One of Chip's most fun interviews was with Jim Koch the founder of Samuel Adams beer. [26:51] Using social media can be a great way to get in touch with potential guests even actors in the show you're talking about. [29:31] Chip made so many friends from podcast listeners and had a huge finale party for The Americans. He's had friends who've followed him from show to show. [32:54] It's really fun to get audio feedback and play it back. Interaction creates a cool energy. [33:37] The Americans podcast is retired because the show ended. Tales has also retired. [35:04] Chip and his wife watched season one of The Americans on a flight. They couldn't find a great podcast about the show, so they started one. They did five or six seasons and had a great show. [37:12] At the end of the season, they had a big goodbye show. [37:38] Mims Distributing is going out of business after 56 years. Chip decided to close the podcast with the business. They had a quick goodbye show and thanked the listeners. It's bittersweet, but it felt like the right time. [39:17] There was a lot of listener surprise, but people were really kind, gracious, and grateful. [40:46] Chip answers Good Ol' Boy Mike's three questions. [46:45] Chip's dad taught him integrity and honesty. His mom was super kind and people loved her. He tries to treat people with kindness the way that she did. [49:48] If in Paris, Chip recommends the elevated walkway near Notre Dame. It's an old train track that's been turned into a walkway, and it goes about 5 miles outside of Paris. You may not know it's there unless your from Paris, but it has amazing views of the city. [51:09] Chips tops three TV shows are: Star Trek the Next Generation, X-Files , and Lost. [51:25] Darrell's top three TV shows are: The original Twilight Zone, Lost, and it's a toss-up between Fringe and Breaking Bad. [53:20] Chip's Superman power would be flight. [54:59] You have to ask your favorite guest to get them on your show. Don't be intimidated. Find a respectful way to approach someone and don't get discouraged. [59:33] Darrell's first beer was a Coors or Bud Light. Darrell prefers pilsners. His magic refrigerator might contain guinness. [01:04:08] Podcasting is the right kind of addiction for Chip. [01:06:49] Darrell's Takeaways: To get that special guest on your podcast start low and work your way up. When Chip started Tales From The Cask, he didn't make promoting his business his first goal. It's important to incorporate listeners into your show.Links and Resources:
Pro Podcast Solutions Libsyn Use promo code ProPod to get your first month free Mims Distributing Company Tales From the Cask We Still Believe The Alethiometer The Alethiometer on Facebook The Alethiometer on Twitter (919) 907- 0542 [email protected] His Dark Materials Watching the Americans Chip Mims on Twitter Chip Mims on LinkedIn Fringe Brasserie de la Goutte d'Or Jim Koch How Talking About Everything Good in Life Turned Into an Award Winning Podcast and Radio Show with Good Ol’ Boy Mike -
Tom Conrad is the Chief Business Development Officer and co-owner of Rock Recovery Center. Rock is located in West Palm Beach, Florida where they offer a unique and effective approach to drug and alcohol treatment that is fitness and adventure based. What sets the programs at Rock apart is that in order to get and maintain sobriety, there needs to be a purpose. People need to enjoy being sober. The adventure based activities help highlight this approach. They also offer group therapy, and he works with addicts and alcoholics to help them break free from the chains of addiction.
He has also managed to break free from his own addictions and now makes it a priority to share his experiences with others through Rock Recovery Center. He's been a certified addiction counselor since 2013. He finds great enjoyment with helping others through adventure and outdoor activities. He has built a life beyond belief since getting sober himself. He's married, has two beautiful children, and has rekindled his love for archery. He takes pride in his wins, and he loves showing others how they can do the same.
Tom started the Real Recovery Talk podcast in 2017. He and his co-host Ben use the show to educate addicts and family members of addicts about recovery, addiction, and the process. He is impacting the world through his podcast and Rock in different ways. Tom shares his journey, how Rock began, and the impact of each one. He also shares his future plans for helping even more people who may not have all of the resources to attend a recovery program. Tom has the desire to help people in any capacity that he can and is helping to transform lives in a tangible way. I'm really excited to talk about his program and experience.
Show Notes:
[03:38] Tom is a week or two away from hitting episode 100 of his Real Recovery Talk podcast. [04:27] Tom's most personal episode was episode one. This was his most vulnerable episode. He just ended up recording something. It was very humbling and personal. [07:12] When Tom was 26, he discovered that he was a full-blown alcoholic and drug addict. He was fired from his job. On September 15th of 2010, he had to go to treatment. [07:41] He went to a treatment center in Jacksonville. He spent 45 days, and then went to West Palm Beach for an outpatient treatment experience for the next 9 months. [08:21] After being sober for a year, he got his first job in the drug and alcohol treatment industry. [09:28] He's worked in almost every department including operations and clinical. He's also a certified addictions counselor. [09:40] After being sober for about 4 years, he had an opportunity to open up what is now Rock Recovery Center. It opened in 2013 and is still going strong today. [11:26] Traditional treatment consists of a repetitive cookie cutter approach to group therapy. [12:06] They wanted Rock to be different, so they made it fitness and adventure based. They still have group rooms, but they also have activities a couple of times a week. [12:58] They want their clients to know that they are able to have fun without using drugs or alcohol. [14:19] Dealing with loved ones can be a challenge for treatment facilitators, but Tom is good at talking to them. The podcast also helps them understand how to get through it. [18:45] Family members can listen to the podcast and learn so much about what they are going through and what the addict experiences. It's a great resource. [21:47] Tom used to think podcast success was measured by downloads, but now he measures it by each download being a person who he reaches. [25:20] Podcast outreach is another challenge that he has. He doesn't market all of the time. He also thinks video for YouTube is a bit of a chore. [29:04] Ben is Tom's co-host. They brainstorm and talk to parents and loved ones. They try to find their biggest pain points. Tom also repurposes blog posts on popular topics. [31:11] Tom and Ben record, and PPS handles everything else. [32:01] Tom wants to offer more than Rock and the podcast for people who don't have the resources. He wants to create some free material and offer lower level sober coaching. [33:35] He wants to focus on what he is good at and become great at it. [34:28] Tom loves heavy metal and Slipknot. [35:35] If you are struggling with addiction, ask for help because you can't do everything on your own. There's nothing wrong with getting help, and there's nothing to be ashamed of. [37:33] Families need to show support and let their loved one know that they aren't there to criticize. [43:10] Darrell's Takeaways: Tom keeps tabs on the tasks and the media outlets that he uses. If it becomes too much, think about how much time you are putting in and how much reward you are getting. He gets content inspiration from personal experience and other people's content as inspiration. Reach out to Tom if you or someone you love can benefit from what he is doing.Links and Resources:
Pro Podcast Solutions Libsyn Use promo code ProPod to get your first month free Rock Recovery Center Real Recovery Talk Real Recovery Talk on YouTube Tom Conrad on Instagram Zoom H6 -
Eric Tivers is the host of the ADHD reWired podcast which is a number one rated and reviewed podcast on the topic of ADHD in Apple podcasts. Eric is a licensed clinical social worker, speaker, entrepreneur, coach, and productivity enthusiast. He loves helping people and after a few different paths, he discovered that podcasting about ADHD and coaching people with ADHD was the perfect fit.
When Eric was in college he discovered that he had ADHD. He knew something was wrong when the more he studied the worse his grades became. During the summer, he went on a date with someone who had ADHD, and a light bulb went off, and he realized that he might also have ADHD. He was diagnosed and medicated, but he knew he still needed strategies for coping with it. It was a long and winding road, but he now helps others with the things that he has learned and is still learning.
Eric’s podcast has reached a milestone and passed the 300 episode mark. Eric shares some of the most impactful moments created through the podcast. One was how a heartfelt listener letter led to him switching from solo episodes to interviews. He also shares how he almost didn’t publish his most personal and authentic episode, but when he did, it became his most popular episode.
He was one of the first podcasters in the ADHD space, but many others are now in the space. Eric shares how he feels about this and his philosophy around competitors. He also shares how his willingness to experiment and try new things has led to things working out better than he thought. We even get a personal story about the impact ADHD reWired had on a former PPS team member. Eric shares abundant knowledge about podcasting, learning what works, and ADHD.
Show Notes:
[03:56] Eric didn't learn that he had ADHD until he was in college. He got a 2.2 GPA in his first semester in college. He put down the beers and hit the books and ended up with a 1.8 GPA. [04:33] He knew something wasn't right. [05:49] During the summer he had a dinner date with someone who said they had ADHD. One clue was reading that triggered thoughts and never focusing on the reading. [06:38] He went to the school health center and got evaluated for ADHD. [08:28] The medication allowed him to quiet all of his thoughts. He felt normal for the first time. His head wasn't in the clouds. [09:31] He became the hardest working yet least efficient student on the campus. [09:47] After grad school, he realized that he needed strategies to go along with his medication. [12:02] He changed his major to social work and fell in love with it. When you enjoy what you are learning, it's fun. [13:36] He began working with autism and found that there were a lot of similarities between autism and ADHD such as challenges with task transitioning. [17:42] He got a job as a clinical program director in a residential treatment center for autism. This lasted for 18 months. [18:02] Then he worked with kids with Asperger's Syndrome. He ended up getting laid off, and it was time to start his own practice. [19:51] He then worked with autism and ADHD in his own practice. [21:19] Two years into it, his son was diagnosed with autism. He started his podcast the same day. [23:22] He decided to step away from working with families on the spectrum and focus more on his podcast. [23:33] It started as a solo show. His first guest interview was with a listener that sent him a beautiful letter. [27:24] Listener's were grateful when Eric shared that he actually had ADHD. [28:19] He now runs coaching groups for people with ADHD. [30:48] He had to scale back from three groups to two groups. Now he has a membership program. [31:42] Everything has evolved just like the podcast. The less he focuses on, the more he does. [35:13] Ironically, the more missteps he took with the podcast, the more popular it became. He tries to just show up and be human. [37:15] He's trying to shorten his episodes and get closer to the 45-minute mark. [37:37] He spends a lot of time writing his ads and trying to make them engaging and compelling. This is how he gets people to sign up for his coaching programs. [40:12] Eric has reached 300 episodes. That's a milestone. [43:31] Eric has also helped start other podcasts. When it comes to competition, he doesn't think there's a shortage of people who need help. What resonates with one person might resonate differently for someone else, so there's room in the space. [47:56] ADHD reWired is impacting lives. [51:42] Darrell's takeaways: The two things that made the biggest impact on Eric's podcast are the letter from the listener which led him to interviewing that listener, and the episode he recorded in the car that showed his authenticity. He also makes sure that he keeps his listeners in mind. Who is your listener? What do they want to listen to? Things happen, you're going to miss an episode. Welcome competitors in your space.Links and Resources:
Pro Podcast Solutions Libsyn Use promo code ProPod to get your first month free ADHD reWired ADHD reWired Podcast Crested Kimono: Power and Love in the Japanese Business Family 47: ADHD at 55 MPH Brene Brown Jeff Walker How to ADHD 128: How to ADHD with Jessica McCabe -
I am so happy to have the wonderful Aimee J. here to talk about chasing your dreams and living an authentic life. Aimee is a wonderfully positive person to be around. She always makes me smile. She is the host of the Chasing Dreams podcast. Aimee interviews people who have achieved their dreams by taking chances. She believes that everyone should live without regrets. It’s her goal to inspire people to make moves, take chances, and chase their dreams.
Aimee knows a little bit about this topic. She has a master’s degree in computer science, she was a NASA engineer, and she is an attorney. In spite of these achievements, she didn’t feel happy with what she was doing until she discovered podcasting. What started out as a fun hobby with a friend about their favorite show led to a calling and passion to help other people. Aimee uses her Chasing Dreams podcast to inspire and help others achieve their dreams.
She shares her background and the story that led to this passion. She also shares her setup and how she runs things behind the scenes. She has a producer and a VA along with help from Pro Podcast Solutions. This is the perfect episode for the beginning of the year. Aimee shares her motto for this year and how it will be woven into everything that she does. She also shares some unique things that she has done to stand out from the rest of the crowd.
We also get to hear about what she has in store for the future and the direction she is taking her show and plans for merchandise. We talk about how everyone is enough and should get started pursuing their dreams. We also talk about how special listener feedback can be and the importance of gratitude. This episode will inspire you and make you smile.
Show Notes:
[02:54] Aimee is always smiling and has a positive glow. There's something about her that makes me feel better after speaking with her. [04:09] Aimee chooses a motto a year. She wants something to guide her year. 2019 was embrace your fears. The 2020 motto is I am enough. This reminds her that who she is and how she is is enough for this world. [05:18] Having a certain level of ability is enough, but she wants to make it to the best of her ability. 2020 is a milestone year for Aimee, because she turns 40. [07:41] Aimee is a twin. Her and her sister are very different. She's an Indian in America. In India, she's seen as an American. In America, she's not always seen that way. She also has cultural expectations that are always playing out. [08:36] She had a college scholarship in computer science. [09:28] She had an internship at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. She worked there after college and got her master's in computer science. [09:59] She wasn't happy with what she was doing, so she decided to go to law school like her twin sister. [10:53] She had a wonderful mentorship and a job, but she still wasn't happy with it. [11:08] She started experimenting with podcasting. [11:38] She loved podcasting with her friend about her favorite show. She enjoyed working on the podcast and on social media. Her podcast caught the attention of the cast and crew of the show Haven. [12:00] They even got to do a whole day of interviews on the set in Canada. [12:24] The show ended in 2016, but people still listen to the podcast. [12:46] The power of podcasting brought everyone together. [13:28] There are so many people who are following their passions and who are happy, especially in creative arts. [13:45] Aimee decided to do a show called Aimee J. Live where she talked to her friends who were happy. She did this for about six months. [14:03] She raised money with a Go Fund Me account to podcast. [14:35] Darrell and PPS helped Aimee get going with equipment, intro, outro, show art, and everything. [15:09] It was slow, but people started listening. She also got a job offer with Comcast. She moved to Philadelphia and took the job. [16:00] It's now her goal to help people and show them that they are and they can do what they want to do. It's her job to help others chase their dreams. [16:31] Her day job helps fund her podcast. She is still having fun. [19:43] Aimee sends her guests gifts. Her episodes aren't made by themselves, so she wants to give back to those that she is grateful for. She sends guests wristbands that say Don't Stop, Keep Going. [24:00] To meet people at Podcast Movement, Aimee carried two signs that said I am a Dream Chaser or Chase Your Dreams. She would take pictures with the sign and share on social. She would follow-up and nurture the relationship. [28:53] It was a fun way to meet people and get to know them. [31:10] Aimee now has a producer. She uses a Calendly link to schedule guests. She also sends them a Google form with questions. She also asks for a picture for artwork. Each interview has a folder with notes. They also have final version files. Her producer now handles all of this stuff. She creates a bio and audio notes. [33:59] She also has a VA. [36:07] Podcasting can be time consuming. Aimee is a fan of batching. Balancing everything is the challenge. Her solution was switching from weekly to biweekly. [39:16] A listener posted that one of the episodes changed her life. Feedback can mean so much, and it's appreciated. [42:15] Aimee feels she can do more to help people. She wants to talk more about mental health. She wants to encourage people that they are enough. She is going to have merchandise and do more speaking. [45:58] Aimee's uncle would always teach them to give back. It was the motto for his life. He was known as the jewel of the church. [51:12] Darrell's takeaways: She makes him smile. You are enough. We need to get started and that means we are enough. We should all be looking for ways to stand out with our podcasts. Aimee sent recognition plaques to her first 100 guests. She also takes her Dream Chaser board to conferences. If you're overwhelmed, start by giving something small to a VA. Always be giving.Links and Resources:
Pro Podcast Solutions Libsyn Use promo code ProPod to get your first month free Aimee J. Chasing Dreams Podcast Aimee J. on Facebook Aimee J. on Twitter Aimee J. on Instagram Aimee J. on YouTube Aimee J. on TikTok NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Haven Zoom H6 Ep. 49: Darrell Darnell – Knowing When to Follow Your Passion and Do What You Love Stephen Hart Trailblazers Podcast Ep. 100: Dr. Freeman Hrabowski – Hold Fast to Dreams Podcast Movement Calendly Ep. 86: Joe Wilner – You Have a Calling -
Jodey Smith is the podcast launch specialist for Pro Podcast Solutions. This podcast is devoted to two things. Telling the stories of other podcasters and helping people who are new to podcasting or in the prelaunch phase. Jodey is a podcaster and a launch specialist, so he is the perfect guest for this end of the year show. We are taking the holidays off and will be back at the beginning of January.
Jodey is a former corporate cubicle employee. He started listening to podcasts at his desk, back in 2007, and he started his very own podcast in 2013. At one time, he even got paid to podcast about a TV show. Isn't that every kid's dream? He started answering podcaster’s questions in a Facebook group which eventually led to him being paid for podcast consulting advice. Since that time, he's launched over a hundred podcasts.
As our launch specialist at Pro Podcast Solutions, Jody is responsible for helping our customers get their podcast launched. He asks them about their goals and expectations. Then takes them through a four to six week launch cycle where he answers questions and guides them through weekly calls. He works through technical issues like sound and equipment setup. He helps them find their ideal listener. He also handles technical issues like getting feeds setup and website implementation.
Today, Jodey shares the common challenges and missteps that new podcasters are up against. He talks about the importance of sound quality and shares the best microphones for great sound at any price level. He talks about what actually moves the needle when it comes to ranking in Apple Podcasts. We discuss the benefits of podcasting, and Jodey shares some podcasts that are doing it right. We explore unique creativity, artwork, titles, and everything to get a podcast off the ground.
Show Notes:
[05:21] Jodey loves guiding people through the podcast launch process. The first thing that happens is a call where Jodey finds out what success looks like to the podcaster. He wants to get an idea of their expectations and their goals. [05:59] Success looks different to different people. One person may want one hundred new listeners and another one might just want a couple of new clients. While someone else may want 10,000 subscribers and paying sponsors. [07:59] There are certain questions and flashes of ideas that you won't even consider until you get into the process of podcasting. [08:29] Ideally we set up a podcast launch over a four to six week period. Each week Jodey gets on a Skype or Zoom call with the client and talks through any questions they may have and focuses on getting things in order. [09:06] The focus can be on things like getting comfortable with the equipment or finding the right target audience. Jodey also sets up the feed and integrates the podcast with the website. They even do practice episodes. By the end of the launch everything is up and ready to go. [10:32] Apple podcasts is still the top directory. Spotify has grown to around 9% to 11%. [11:44] You want to be on Apple podcasts and Spotify, and you want your feed to be indexed by Google podcasts. You also want to make a link for Android devices and Stitcher. [12:05] Most small directories poll from Apple or iTunes, so if you submitted to that directory you'll be in the others. [12:52] Google is treating podcast feeds the way they treat websites. You want to make sure that your podcast feed is set up correctly, so Google will call it. [13:27] You can also put some header code in your website. It usually takes four to six weeks for Google to index a podcast feed. [15:08] When you have a launch date, the best thing to do is submit your feeds well ahead of time. You can use a placeholder show. [17:25] New & Noteworthy has been around for awhile. Jodey advises clients not to worry about it on this point. [19:52] You should get the best microphone that you can afford. This makes the difference between a good and great sounding podcast. [21:04] There are currently 800,000 podcast in iTunes. If you dive a little deeper and compare it to the number of blogs that exist, podcasting isn't saturated. Plus, only 41% of those are active. [22:33] People should think about podcasting as a long-term endeavor and focus on great content and consistency. [23:36] One common issue that podcasters have is the audio quality of their guests. It's always a wild card. You can try to help mitigate these issues by sending your guest some instructions to follow. [29:56] Jodey recommends dynamic microphones. It'll make podcasts sound better. Condenser microphones pick up more ambient noise, so they need to be used in more of a sound booth atmosphere. [31:35] If you've already purchased a Yeti microphone, you can get the best sound out of it by having the microphone close to your mouth. You will need a foam windscreen or pop filter to have the microphone about 6 inches from your mouth. Then turn the gain way down. [33:59] Jodey loves meeting so many creative people. We even have a couple of creative clients who decided to sell a premium holiday episode for $3.99, they had 177 purchases the first week. By trying something new, they made an extra $600 in a week. [35:44] They just used PayPal and a downloadable mp3. [37:33] Give your audience something and build your list. Don't ask for ratings and reviews. Amy Porterfield is a master of this. You can build deeper relationships by communicating through email. [39:50] Subscribers are the biggest factor in iTunes ranking. [41:12] Titles are important. You can have a creative or bottom line title. This is something that tells your ideal listener that this podcast is for me. A good example is Dental Implant Practices by Dr. Phillip Gordon. [42:45] The danger of being creative is you may not attract your ideal listener. If you don't have a following, you might want to go with the bottom line title. [44:03] You want your artwork to let your ideal listener know if the podcast is for them. You don't have to have a microphone in your artwork or include podcast in your title. [49:07] Serve the audience you have. You don't have to have a huge audience, just serve the people your podcast is meant to serve. [52:32] Darrell's takeaways: It's not a sprint, it's a marathon. What if your 300 listeners were in your living room showing up to hear what you have to say? That puts a different perspective on subscriber numbers. Serve your audience no matter how big or small. Make sure you use a good microphone. It doesn't have to be expensive, just good.Links and Resources:
Pro Podcast Solutions Libsyn Use promo code ProPod to get your first month free Apple Podcasts Spotify Google Podcasts Stitcher ATR 2100 Shure SM58 Focusrite Scarlett Heil PR40 Electro-Voice RE320 Amy Porterfield 80% of Being an Entrepreneur Is What You Think and Feel with Amy Porterfield Dental Implant Practices Mindset Strategies That Go Beyond Podcasting With Cliff Ravenscraft -
Rural hospitals offer jobs and much needed emergency and local healthcare. You would think with a growing population, that the number of rural hospitals would be increasing. Unfortunately, that's not the case. Rural health care is in crisis. In the last 10 years, at least 114 rural hospitals have closed in the United States. The impacts of this are far reaching. The lack of fast access to healthcare can have devastating consequences in emergency situations. The lack of healthcare resources and loss of jobs also has a negative impact on small communities.
Dr. Bill Auxier has made it his mission to prevent further hospital closures. One way he is doing this is his Rural Health Leadership Radio podcast, which helps rural hospital leaders know what other hospital leaders are doing. Not being in contact with other leaders has been one of the challenges these CEOs have faced. He also received the 2019 National Rural Health Association President’s Award because of his podcast. He is even developing a certification program for rural hospital CEOs to help increase the number of qualified candidates.
Bill grew up in the rural Midwest and began his healthcare career as a nurses aide while he was in school. He later went on to become the CEO of a surgical device company and traveled all over the world. Eventually, he decided to go back to his roots and his passion by teaching leadership and advocating for rural health care in the US. He is the CEO of Dynamic Leadership Academy and Bill Auxier Healthcare Executive Coaching. Bill is also a speaker and author of To Lead, Follow. This enlightening podcast is about leadership, rural healthcare, and how Bill’s podcast affected his work and his success.
Show Notes:
[05:37] Bill feels that our core values are shaped by our experiences and the people that we've met. One of the exercises that he has leaders go through is reflecting on their upbringing. [06:12] He grew up in a poor area of rural Southern Illinois. His dad was a Baptist preacher. It was a community that came together and chipped in when someone needed help. [08:48] When a rural hospital closes, people have to drive further to get to a hospital, but the jobs are also lost. [09:45] Rural hospitals closing have far reaching ramifications. Bill wants to do everything that he can to prevent further hospital closures. [10:45] In high school and college, Bill worked as a nurses aide. This began his career in the healthcare industry. [11:54] Bill wanted to share his passion for leadership and rural health care. If not for the close proximity of the small rural hospital, his family story would look different. [15:37] Bill was the CEO of a surgical device company where he traveled all over the world. [16:02] He then decided it was time to refocus on leadership and rural health care. [16:31] Challenges that these small hospitals face is networking with other rural hospital leaders. Bill decided that he would create the Rural Health Leadership Radio Podcast to enable CEOs of rural hospitals to have a central place where they can get information and find out what other small hospital leaders are doing. [17:35] Through his research, Bill found PPS which helped him get started, and we continue to work together today. [18:24] He had 24 downloads his first month. He doesn't define success by downloads. [19:14] Because of his podcast, Bill received the 2019 NRHA President's Award. The podcast has opened many doors for him, and listener's even come up to him at conferences. [20:08] Hospital CEO turnover tops all industries. It's also hard to find qualified individuals, so Bill will be running a certification program for Rural Hospital CEOs. [23:38] Challenges that Bill has faced with the podcast has been timing of guest interviews in time for production. Now he has the opposite problem with a bank of interviews, with experts wanting to know when the show will air. [25:27] Some guests will write out their answers on his interview questionnaire, but then they read the answers. [27:15] Bill targets some guests and others come to him. He uses an info packet with three segments. It has guest info, and he lets the guest have an opportunity to edit. He also sends a list of questions. He also book end questions. The third section is where the guest can add things they would like to talk about. [30:46] He now uses Basecamp and has an intern coordinate things. He also has a portable home made sound booth. Made with room dividers and plastic sheets and sound tiles. He also has a stand-up desk. He found a great voice over artist on Fiverr. [33:51] Don't wait to start podcasting. Find a service like PPS and get going. [36:43] He's very proud of his book To Lead, Follow. He's also a fan of What Got You Here Won't Get You There and Triggers. Bill is also a Dan Pink fan. [37:48] Bills definition of leadership is when others follow when they don't have to. [39:44] Darrell's takeaways: Bill's passion is fueled by how rural health care affected his family. We all need things to refuel or fill our tank. Bill defines success by how he is impacting his niche. Finding a balance between recording in advance and having too much lead time.Links and Resources:
Pro Podcast Solutions Libsyn Use promo code ProPod to get your first month free Bill Auxier [email protected] To Lead, Follow Masters of Success Bill Auxier on LinkedIn Rural Health Leadership Radio Rural Health Leadership Radio Podcast National Rural Health Association What Got You Here Won't Get You There: How Successful People Become Even More Successful Triggers: Creating Behavior That Lasts--Becoming the Person You Want to Be Books by Daniel Pink - Mostrar mais
