Podcast Editors Mastermind

What we've learned from this show over the past year is that professional editing is more than removing filler words. But what does that mean exactly in the ever-evolving landscape of our field? How does it expand our roles and increase our earnings while increasing client satisfaction (and their show's performance).

Marion Abrams, of MadMotion, brings decades of experience in editing films and podcasts to help us tackle these questions.

Links mentioned

• https://www.madmotion.com
• https://www.madmotion.com/groundedpodcast.html
• https://otter.ai
• https://jasper.ai (previously Jarvis)
• https://podcastfellows.org/

Appearing in this episode

• Daniel Abendroth: https://rothmedia.audio | @rothmedia_audio
• Jennifer Longworth: https://bourbonbarrelpodcasting.com | @KYPodcasting
• Carrie Caulfield-Arick: https://yayapodcasting.com | @carriearick
• Bryan Entzminger: https://toptieraudio.com | @toptieraudio

This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:

OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy

In-person conferences can be expensive. In addition to the ticket, there's also travel, hotels, and food. For freelance podcast editors, that can be a pretty big expense.

And now, with more concern about travel, we have to ask ourselves if it's worth it.

Of course, we can't answer that for you, but we did talk with Steve Stewart and Mark Deal of the Podcast Editors Club and Podcast Editor Academy about why it's worth it for them...and a few things we'd like to see tweaked.

Listen to Discover

• The value we see in in-person conferences.
• Some hacks for getting out of our own way.
• Why the second conference is often better than the first.
• The value of volunteering.
• Some things we'd like to see tweaked.
• What we'd like to share with Jared and Dan of Podcast Movement.

Links & Resources

• Podcast Editor Academy
• Podcast Movement
• Podfest
• Hubspot Podcast Network

Guest Editor

This episode of the Podcast Editors Mastermind was edited by Bryan Entzminger of Top Tier Audio.

Be a Guest

If you're a podcast editor, we'd love to see if you'd be a fit for a future episode. Fill out this form to let us know you're interested, and we'll contact you to see if it's a good fit.

Your Yetis Are

• Daniel Abendroth | Roth Media
• Jennifer Longworth | Bourbon Barrel Podcasting
• Carrie Caulfield Arick | YaYa Podcasting
• Bryan Entzminger | Top Tier Audio

This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:

OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy

How we position our podcast production businesses is important. It's more than just stating a market or niche. It also involves how we put together an offer that's exactly right for our ideal clients.

Some of us ONLY offer editing, which is totally fine. But one way that we can differentiate ourselves is by offering bundles of services that fit our clients' needs like a glove.

Virginia Elder joins us to share her path into podcast editing, how she's begun to add complementary services to her offerings, and some of the ways she's grown her business. Follow along as she shares the importance of finding out what skills & services are needed in order to provide people with solutions they're looking for!

Listen to Discover

• The value of online courses.
• How Virginia found her first clients and grew her business.
• Some of the services she bundles together.

If you are looking for ways to grow and differentiate your podcast production business, click that Play button today!

Links & Resources

• Podcast Abundance (Virginia's business)
• Fincon (conference)
• Podcast Movement (conference)
• Canva (tool)
• Keywords Everywhere (tool)
• Grammarly (tool)
• Earn More Writing (course)
• YaYa Podcasting (Carrie's courses)
• Pete McPherson (Do You Even Blog)
• Episod3 30 of the Podcast Editors Mastermind, with How to Find, Hire, and Manage a Subcontractor
• Episode 33 of the Podcast Editors Mastermind, with Warren MacGregor sharing about customer service

About Virginia Elder

Virginia Elder is a podcast editor with over 15 years of experience in project management, client services, and strategic organization. You can find her at Podcast Abundance.

Guest Editor

This episode was edited by Dyan Joy Navarro.

Be a Guest

If you're a podcast editor, we'd love to see if you'd be a fit for a future episode. Fill out this form to let us know you're interested, and we'll contact you to see if it's a good fit.

Your Yetis Are

• Daniel Abendroth | Roth Media
• Jennifer Longworth | Bourbon Barrel Podcasting
• Carrie Caulfield Arick | YaYa Podcasting
• Bryan Entzminger | Top Tier Audio

This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:

OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy

If podcast editing is your business, you may find yourself struggling with how to charge for your services. There are a lot of different considerations that go into pricing podcast editing packages, such as the production style and scope of the project, your skill level in podcast editing, what you offer as additional services like transcription or copywriting...the list goes on and on!

In this podcast episode Alexandra Stenett joins your faithful Yetis to explore those various factors (and address some of the stories we tell ourselves) so that you can charge what you're worth as a podcast editor.

Listen to Discover

• How production scope and style play into pricing.
• Whether where YOU live should influence your rates.
• Why there's room for both a Mercedes and Kia plan within the podcasting ecosphere.
• Understanding that it's OK that there can be a price point for everyone, even if YOUR price point isn't for everyone - and why that's a good thing for you, your clients, and even the clients who want or need a different value proposition.
• Whether or not your pricing should be aligned with your peers.
• Whether pricing that feels arbitrary can still be appropriate.
• How your pricing should reflect the intersection of your needs and how much value YOUR clients put on YOUR work.
• When it's time to consider changing your rates - and how to approach that.
• How to determine whether your rates are too low for YOU.
• Why it's OK to write contracts that have an end date.
• The idea of the simple language contract.

Links & Resources

• https://listenerstoclients.com/
• Alexandra on Podchaser
• Alexandra on Instagram
• The Twitter thread we were talking about
• Misha's event about podcasting budgets and rates

About Alexandra Stenett

Alexandra Stennett is the co-founder of ListenersToClients.com and a podcast editor. With her background as a chartered accountant and director of operations for a media company, she helps podcast editors to become confident business owners.

After creating one of the first podcasts in the Caribbean, she and her husband Paul saw the massive positive impact it had on the community and founded their podcast production company to help others achieve the same.

You can find her in Jamaica singing off-key Sesame Street songs with her daughter and watching every single thing on Netflix with Paul.

Guest Editor

This episode of the Podcast Editors Mastermind was edited by Brandon Whitworth of Epic Podcast Editing.

Be a Guest

If you're a podcast editor, we'd love to see if you'd be a fit for a future episode. Fill out this form to let us know you're interested, and we'll contact you to see if it's a good fit.

Your Yetis Are

• Daniel Abendroth | Roth Media
• Jennifer Longworth | Bourbon Barrel Podcasting
• Carrie Caulfield Arick | YaYa Podcasting
• Bryan Entzminger | Top Tier Audio

This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:

OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy

One of the most important things you can do as a podcast editor is to provide your clients with great customer service. 

But how do you do that?

After all, delivering a great edit on time and ready to go is pretty much table stakes. It's the cost of admission. It's what we all do as professional editors.

But if you REALLY want to stand out in the minds of your clients. If you want them to GUSH about how great you are. If you want them to care and to refer other people to you, there's something deeper that will deliver the kind of service that will "wow" your clients time and again, and have them talking about how great you are every time they can.

Want to find out more?

Listen to Discover

• The unexpected power of four key questions.
• How to find out what your clients REALLY want.
• The value of taking initiative and focusing on the client experience.
• What to do when something doesn't go perfectly.
• How to quickly recover from a poor experience.
• Key ways to realize when an issue is actually the client's problem, rather than yours.
• Ways to encourage clients to improve that will lift their spirits at the same time.
• How to break up with a client who isn't a great fit.

Let's face it. We spend a LOT of time working on our clients' shows, but almost all of us do it alone, away from them. But if we find those ways to let them know we're always there, taking care of them, we can create an experience that has them constantly thinking about how good we are and how much we appreciate them.

Links & Resources

• https://www.linkedin.com/in/warrenmacgregor/
• [email protected]

About Warren MacGregor

Warren is a 13-year veteran of being on the front lines of Customer Service work from restaurants to hospitals, from pharmacies to the hotel Front Desk. He's managed others with Marriott International, Inc. as a Banquet Captain/Event Supervisor. 

His first job as a junior in high school was teaching swimming lessons at the local YMCA where he discovered a knack for teaching. Blending a teacher's mindset and a passion for connecting with and serving others has brought Warren recognition and awards in the field of Customer Service. 

Guest Editor

This episode of the Podcast Editors Mastermind was edited by Leslie Martin of Greatland Media.

Be a Guest

If you're a podcast editor, we'd love to see if you'd be a fit for a future episode. Fill out this form to let us know you're interested, and we'll contact you to see if it's a good fit.

Your Yetis Are

• Daniel Abendroth | Roth Media
• Jennifer Longworth | Bourbon Barrel Podcasting
• Carrie Caulfield Arick | YaYa Podcasting
• Bryan Entzminger | Top Tier Audio

About the Podcast Editors Mastermind

The Podcast Editors Mastermind is for professional podcast editors who want to grow their business and get more clients. We’re creating a community of like-minded professionals that are passionate about the art and science of editing podcasts.

Our goal is to help you build your business by providing tools, resources, and support so you can focus on what matters most—your craft. This isn’t just another group where everyone talks about how great they are at podcast editing; we show our work!

Follow or subscribe and take the Podcast Editors Mastermind with you today!

• Follow the Podcast Editors Mastermind
• Share your love for the Podcast Editors Mastermind

This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:

OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy

When Imposter Syndrome cripples your productivity how do you overcome it? You can’t hide your way out of it. Sharing our current and personal stories of insecurity around growth, skills and work makes this an important mastermind session for every podcast editor. It’s a raw, uncomfortable and honest conversation demonstrating how trusted advisors are truly an invaluable resource.

Listen to Discover

What Yetis will be in Nashville for Podcast Movement

Our recent wins (and why you, too, should always find something to celebrate)

Why Carrie is having a major bout of Imposter Syndrome

The challenge of navigating working for a new company in a new role 

How control issues fight with collaboration

How fear shows up every time you add a new package or service to your business

How expectations provide security

It’s always worse in your head! 

The discomfort of growth

Should you be worried if you DON’T feel Imposter Syndrome?

What happens in the absence of feedback

Reframing the negative thoughts with positive ones-- do YOU do this? We want to know.

What do you do when you make a mistake?

Is your identity what you do?

Pod Decks Question: What weird food combinations do you really enjoy?

Carrie's update

Links & Resources

Podcast Movement 2021

Stony Brook Audio Podcast Fellowship

Podcast Editors Club

Reaper for Podcasting

Guest Editor

This episode of the Podcast Editors Mastermind was edited by Sandra Paul. If you're looking for an editor and like what you hear, email Sandra at [email protected]

Be a Guest

If you're a podcast editor, we'd love to see if you'd be a fit for a future episode. Fill out this form to let us know you're interested, and we'll contact you to see if it's a good fit.

 

Your Yetis Are

Daniel Abendroth: https://rothmedia.audio | @rothmedia_audio

Carrie Caulfield-Arick: https://yayapodcasting.com | @carriearick

Bryan Entzminger: https://toptieraudio.com | @toptieraudio

On hiatus… Jennifer Longworth: https://bourbonbarrelpodcasting.com | @KYPodcasting

Carrie's Update...

The project that sparked this episode is nearing completion, so here's the outcome of this conversation.  I found that after the recording, the imposter syndrome faded away... not immediately, but over the course of a week, I was back to my normal-ish self. Sharing was worth the discomfort!

Also, thank you to everyone who messaged me to share their own stories and give support. Ya'll are THE BEST!!!

About the Podcast Editors Mastermind

The Podcast Editors Mastermind is for professional podcast editors who want to grow their business and get more clients. We’re creating a community of like-minded professionals that are passionate about the art and science of editing podcasts.

Our goal is to help you build your business by providing tools, resources, and support so you can focus on what matters most—your craft. This isn’t just another group where everyone talks about how great they are at podcast editing; we show our work!

Follow or subscribe and take the Podcast Editors Mastermind with you today!

Follow the Podcast Editors Mastermind

Share your love for the Podcast Editors Mastermind

 

This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:

OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy

Running a podcast production business can be hard.

We know it can be hard to balance all the things that need to get done in order for your podcast production business to grow and thrive. But we also know how important it is not let those things take over your life, so you don't end up looking back years later and realizing everything was out of balance, that you’re unhealthy, and that your kids and cats hate you.

That's why we're here to share our tips on keeping your podcast production business balanced without letting it take over! You'll learn about ways you can keep yourself sane while still running a successful company.

Listen now as we share our tips for keeping your podcast production business balanced without letting it take over. You'll learn about ways you can keep yourself focused on what matters most, like family time or exercise, while still making sure there are enough hours in the day for work.

Listen to Discover

• What we might be missing when it looks like other people are just crushing it in their businesses.
• What we need to remind ourselves of when we start comparing ourselves to others.
• How being a business owner instead of an employee can make this comparison game and the never-ending race to the undefined finish even worse.
• What we need to define as business owners so that we can begin to set boundaries that are healthy.
• How each of the Yetis struggle with boundaries and healthy use of their time in different ways.
• What we should look for instead of balance (hat tip to Britany Felix).
• Some of the things we juggle besides podcast production work and family.
• The value of estimating how much time will be needed to complete something (even if it’s wrong).
• How regular check-ins with a business partner or trusted friend can make a difference.
• How sometimes bringing someone in to accomplish a single short-term goal can make all the difference in freeing up time both now and later.
• Some hacks to help get as much done as quickly as possible when you’re at your best (and how to protect client deadlines using margin).
• Planning for surge capacity.
• Using a “probability to break” thought exercise to identify what to work on first.

Links & Resources

• The conversation that sparked this one: Are You REALLY Good Enough to Be a Podcast Editor?
• Podcasting for Coaches

Guest Editor

This episode of the Podcast Editors Mastermind was edited by Jude Harrington. If you're looking for an editor and like what you hear, connect with Jude at https://www.mcuneedtoknow.com/

Be a Guest

If you're a podcast editor, we'd love to see if you'd be a fit for a future episode. Fill out this form to let us know you're interested, and we'll contact you to see if it's a good fit.

Your Yetis Are

• Daniel Abendroth | Roth Media
• Jennifer Longworth | Bourbon Barrel Podcasting
• Carrie Caulfield Arick | YaYa Podcasting
• Bryan Entzminger | Top Tier Audio

About the Podcast Editors Mastermind

The Podcast Editors Mastermind is for professional podcast editors who want to grow their business and get more clients. We’re creating a community of like-minded professionals that are passionate about the art and science of editing podcasts.

Our goal is to help you build your business by providing tools, resources, and support so you can focus on what matters most—your craft. This isn’t just another group where everyone talks about how great they are at podcast editing; we show our work!

Follow or subscribe and take the Podcast Editors Mastermind with you today!

• Follow the Podcast Editors Mastermind
• Share your love for the Podcast Editors Mastermind

This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:

OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy

If you’re a podcast editor and have ever thought about hiring a subcontractor for your podcast editing business, this episode is for you.

Podcasting Editing is a booming industry and the demand for skilled editors has never been higher. But with that comes the challenge of finding, vetting, training and managing contractors to work on your projects.

After all, you don’t want to be the single point of failure in your business. You want to be able to take time off and to know that the work can still get done if you get sick.

We want to help make it easier by giving you some guidelines and tips from our experience on how to find, vet, train and manage subcontractors in order to grow your podcast editing business without having all the pressure fall on just one person (you).

Listen TODAY to Discover

• Where to find contractors.
• Vetting, training, and learning to trust your team members.
• Ways to choose what work you give them.
• Finances and different approaches to appropriate compensation.
• How a doctor’s office operates differently from how many podcast editors approach their businesses.
• Why you may (or may NOT) want to make a virtual assistant your first hire our outsourcing decision.
• The challenge to overcoming perfection and a bias towards control.
• Why you might want to consider short-term arrangements rather than an ongoing agreement.
• Different approaches to distributing up the workload.
• Things to consider when creating an application or a Request for Quote (RFQ) document.
• Things to look for in team members beyond just skill.
• What it will take to get Carrie to learn your favorite Digital Audio Workstation (DAW).
• Contracts and payment methods.
• Things to consider in order to protect yourself from subcontractors stealing your business.
• The answer to “Who would you most like to sit next to on a ten-hour flight?”

Links & Resources

• Find ways that podcast editors can take more money home by managing their finances differently.
• Daniel's sample Podcast Editor Application
• Reaper for Podcasting Group
• Podcast Editor Academy
• Podcast Editors Club

Guest Editor

This episode of the Podcast Editors Mastermind was edited by Gabriel Simão, who you can find at https://gabrielsimao.com/.

Be a Guest

If you're a podcast editor, we'd love to see if you'd be a fit for a future episode. Fill out this form to let us know you're interested, and we'll contact you to see if it's a good fit.

Your Yetis Are

• Daniel Abendroth | Roth Media
• Jennifer Longworth | Bourbon Barrel Podcasting
• Carrie Caulfield Arick | YaYa Podcasting
• Bryan Entzminger | Top Tier Audio

About the Podcast Editors Mastermind

The Podcast Editors Mastermind is for professional podcast editors who want to grow their business and get more clients. We’re creating a community of like-minded professionals that are passionate about the art and science of editing podcasts.

Our goal is to help you build your business by providing tools, resources, and support so you can focus on what matters most—your craft. This isn’t just another group where everyone talks about how great they are at podcast editing; we show our work!

Follow or subscribe and take the Podcast Editors Mastermind with you today!

• Follow the Podcast Editors Mastermind
• Share your love for the Podcast Editors Mastermind

This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:

OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy

Have you ever found yourself negotiating your rate down before you even talk to a client? Or holding on to a proposal without sending it? Or maybe over-editing again and again because you don't think you're good enough?

That has a name: imposter syndrome.

We see this coming up pretty regularly in Facebook groups, and we've even talked about it before on the show - like when we talked with Heather Wester. The reality is, we likely all struggle with that kind of fear from time-to-time. Like before breakfast, and then again after breakfast. And your Yetis are no different.

We have struggles, too.

We realize that, from the outside looking in, it might look like we have it all together. But, in truth, we deal with this kind of thing every day.

• Fear of sending a proposal.
• Wondering what a client will think after we present pricing.
• Wondering if we're charging too much.
• Wondering if we're good enough as an editor (or as a person).
• Thinking that we're the only ones who struggle.

And that's why we are sharing this - so that YOU can know that you're not alone. That we all struggle with this (at least those of us who care about the work we do).

And so that, just maybe, you can pick up some tools that help us get through this every day.

Links & Resources

• Podcast Editors Cafe (Discord)
• Podcast Editors Mastermind
• Podcast Editor Academy
• Podcast Editors Club

Editor

This episode was edited by Bryan Entzminger of Top Tier Audio. If you like what you hear and you're looking for a professional podcast editor, feel free to reach out to him.

Be a Guest

If you're a podcast editor, we'd love to see if you'd be a fit for a future episode. Fill out this form to let us know you're interested, and we'll contact you to see if it's a good fit.

Your Yetis Are

• Daniel Abendroth | Roth Media
• Jennifer Longworth | Bourbon Barrel Podcasting
• Carrie Caulfield Arick | YaYa Podcasting
• Bryan Entzminger | Top Tier Audio

About the Podcast Editors Mastermind

The Podcast Editors Mastermind is for professional podcast editors who want to grow their business and get more clients. We’re creating a community of like-minded professionals that are passionate about the art and science of editing podcasts.

Our goal is to help you build your business by providing tools, resources, and support so you can focus on what matters most—your craft. This isn’t just another group where everyone talks about how great they are at podcast editing; we show our work!

Follow or subscribe and take the Podcast Editors Mastermind with you today!

• Follow the Podcast Editors Mastermind
• Share your love for the Podcast Editors Mastermind

This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:

OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy

Podcast editors, have you ever worked your tail off only to realize that you're not actually bringing home the money you expected? Or maybe bringing home nothing at all?

It's sooo easy to see that happening. We know, because it sometimes happens to us, too.

That's why, as Carol Lynn Rivera shares, it's important to flip the script and implement a framework that is built around the way you naturally want to manage your money and makes it easy to pay yourself first.

Listen to Discover

• The secret to paying yourself first and knowing that you have money set aside for taxes.
• How traditional accounting makes it easy to pay yourself last. Or not at all.
• What makes the Profit First methodology different from traditional accounting.
• The psychology behind why managing your money with five accounts is actually simpler than keeping it all in one place.
• What to do when Waves, iZotope, Fabfilter, and Plugin Alliance are offering great sales on plugins but you don't have the money in your expense account.

Whether you're brand new at running a podcast production business or you've been doing it for years, if you're not satisfied with how your business is paying you, this episode is for you.

Links & Resources

• Podcasters Toolbox
• Profit First (Amazon, not an affiliate link)
• Wondering how much podcast editors make? Check out episode 20 with Steve Stewart and Mark Deal of the Podcast Editor Academy.
• Not sure how to craft a business model for your podcast service business? Check out episode 16 with Mark Deal.

About Carol Lynn Rivera

Carol Lynn Rivera is the CEO of Podcasters Toolbox. What you may not know is that Carol Lynn and her husband (The Ralph M. Rivera) have founded several companies, and they run them using the Profit First methodology to ensure that, while they serve their customers at a high level, they also take home MONEY so that they can live, support their family, and keep doing what they love doing.

Guest Editor

This episode of the Podcast Editors Mastermind was edited by Carrie Caulfield Arick of YaYa Podcasting.

Be a Guest

If you're a podcast editor, we'd love to see if you'd be a fit for a future episode. Fill out this form to let us know you're interested, and we'll contact you to see if it's a good fit.

Your Yetis Are

• Daniel Abendroth | Roth Media
• Jennifer Longworth | Bourbon Barrel Podcasting
• Carrie Caulfield Arick | YaYa Podcasting
• Bryan Entzminger | Top Tier Audio

About the Podcast Editors Mastermind

The Podcast Editors Mastermind is for professional podcast editors who want to grow their business and get more clients. We’re creating a community of like-minded professionals that are passionate about the art and science of editing podcasts.

Our goal is to help you build your business by providing tools, resources, and support so you can focus on what matters most—your craft. This isn’t just another group where everyone talks about how great they are at podcast editing; we show our work!

Follow or subscribe and take the Podcast Editors Mastermind with you today!

• Follow the Podcast Editors Mastermind
• Share your love for the Podcast Editors Mastermind

This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:

OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy