Past Episodes of Podcast Pontifications

Being on lockdown sucks. But if it’s any consolation; you’re not alone. Here’s how a few other working podcasters are making it through these trying times.

With great podcasting comes great responsibility, Uncle Ben would have said. The one from Spiderman, not Ozark. But there are ethical considerations to make when deciding to exercise that power or not. Let’s discuss.

As working podcasters, we’re often focused on our own systems and process that get our content out to the world. But with so many of us sheltering in place, it’s providing an excellent opportunity for experimentation. Who knows what will come out?

It seems weird to talk about abundance during a time of shortage, I know. But just like staying on your couch right now can literally help save the world, shifting away from a scarcity-mindset can make podcasting better.

Assuming you haven’t grown weary of me talking about how the global pandemic is impacting podcasting… I want to know how it’s impacting you and your own podcasting story. Better together, you know?

Everyone is stuck inside. And save the hard-core introvert, everyone is craving more human connections. Yes, your podcast can help provide that. But think what else you can do beyond your podcast.

The odds that your podcast serves an audience unimpacted by COVID19 is vanishingly small. Virtually everyone is facing a new reality and adjusting their habits. Should you adjust what your podcast delivers to them?

Sobering opinion: The habits people formed around podcast listening are changing and will be forever changed. This isn’t the new normal. Just new. Normal is -- and always has been -- an illusion. #thisisthenew

Have you taken a look at your podcasts’ download stats lately? Are they trending in the wrong direction? And is there anything you can do about it? You’ve got questions, I’ve got… well, more questions for you to ask of yourself.

Your podcast is bigger than the audio episodes you create. And your media stack is more than the channels you use to promote and distribute your show. Are you approaching content creation strategically or taking a shotgun approach?

Podcasting has a super-power that beats broadcasting: The ability to put out a bonus episode when you need to. Or want to. Come to think of it, there are lots of ways podcasters can make better use of bonus episodes.

Does your audience expect you to say something about the pandemic? How do you balance your compassion as a human with your content production plan as a strategic podcaster? Or should you just stay silent?

Don’t stop podcasting because you feel you can’t compete with big media podcasts. You can. Maybe not on marketing dollars. Maybe not on talent acquisition. But the only thing stopping you from competing on sound quality is you.

What term do you want your show to rank #1 for? OK, other than “podcast”. Business podcast? Political Podcast? Hey, someone has to do it, so why not you? But are you ready for the realities of life at the top of the list?

Never underestimate the power of helping people fix what’s broken in their lives or their business. Not only is it the right thing to do, it’s a heck of a way to grow your podcast.

I’m a supporter of podcast conferences, happily spending my hard-earned money to attend several each year. But I’m also skeptical of much of the information provided. Too bad too many podcasters are too gullible.

Even if you’re turned off by the whole affair, podcasting can learn valuable lessons from America’s political primary process. When you swap out “voters” with “listeners”, the similarities snap into focus.

There’s a lot of drama in the podcast fiction world. And a lot of comedy. And while this genre of podcasting often times has the toughest time being accepted, it also enjoys perhaps the biggest collaborative spirit among creators and listeners alike.

For as democratic as the medium is, podcasting isn’t immune to a widening gap between the have and the have-nots. But is the hollowing-out a natural or unnatural phenomenon? And what are podcasters to do about it?

At the risk of sounding alarmist, COVID-19 is likely something we’ll all have to deal with. And while discussing the virus’ impact on podcasting might seem trivial, it’s good risk mitigation to be prepared.