Podcast Pontifications

Today, I want to focus on your relationship with people who have been podcasting for less time than you.

I think, as a working podcaster who also wants to help make podcasting better for the rest of the world, helping “younger” podcasters is one thing you can do to make podcasting better for everyone.

But there are two pitfalls to watch out for:

• The act of making a podcast doesn’t make you a podcasting expert.
• Honest feedback always trumps insincere praise.

Because we need more good guides and mentors in podcasting to make podcasting better. Just remember to stick to the things that you actually are an expert on and don't be afraid to say “I don't know”. And when someone asks your opinion on how they can make their podcast better, it is incumbent upon you to be honest to that person. 

Tomorrow, more on how you can help make podcasting better by becoming an excellent advocate and steward of podcasting to would-be listeners. This week is all about what you can do in this movement of making podcasting better by advancing podcasting. 

Want to send this along to a friend who needs to hear it? Send them to this totally re-written article that also has an embedded player: https://podcastpontifications.com/episode/guiding-mentoring-junior-podcasters-with-honesty-expertise

Podcast Pontifications is published by Evo Terra four times a week and is aimed at the working podcaster. The purpose of this show is to make podcasting better, not just easier.

Follow Evo on Twitter for more podcasting insights as they come.

And if you need a professional in your podcasting corner, please visit PodcastLaunch.pro to see how Simpler Media Productions can help your firm. Podcasting is our only business.

Mentioned in this episode:

Support For Abortion Rights

While Americans overwhelmingly support the right of an individual to make their own decisions about abortion, unfortunately, that right is no longer protected everywhere in the U.S. The Supreme Court overturned Roe v Wade on June 24th.

Part 4: How long does it take to actually get better at podcasting so you can call yourself an expert? We’ll cover that today. But ICYMI:

• Part 1: Your own personal time horizon as a podcaster
• 
  
• Part 2:The length of time it takes to make a better podcast
• 
  
• Part 3: How long a podcast episode should be

You've probably heard a phrase popularized by Malcolm Gladwell: It takes 10,000 hours to be an expert at anything. Though scientists and researchers bristle at the lack of, well… science and research to back up the claim, I think it’s fine to use directionally.

If you dedicate one hour a day, every day, to practice your skill as a podcast, it’ll take you 27.5 years to hit the mark. That’s a long time.

Do it for eight hours a day, every day, and you slice that time down to 3.5 years. Still a long time. But much more in the realm of possibility.

The fact that I’ve been podcasting for 15 years isn’t what makes me an expert. That’s just how long I’ve been in the game. And honestly, being in the game too long can actually become a liability.

I come off more than a little angst-filled in this episode, so you might want to check out totally re-written article where I became a bit more coherent: https://podcastpontifications.com/episode/age-treachery-vs-youth-skill-in-podcasting

Podcast Pontifications is published by Evo Terra four times a week and is aimed at the working podcaster. The purpose of this show is to make podcasting better, not just easier.

Follow Evo on Twitter for more podcasting insights as they come.

And if you need a professional in your podcasting corner, please visit PodcastLaunch.pro to see how Simpler Media Productions can help your firm. Podcasting is our only business.

Mentioned in this episode:

Support For Abortion Rights

While Americans overwhelmingly support the right of an individual to make their own decisions about abortion, unfortunately, that right is no longer protected everywhere in the U.S. The Supreme Court overturned Roe v Wade on June 24th.

I’ll answer the question “how long should a podcast episode be?”, but only from the perspective of making a better podcast. 

You should never try to stretch an episode beyond your own ability to be interesting. And if you follow what psychologists have been telling us for decades, you’ll change things up every two minutes or less to keep your audience interested.

All of us have expectations for how much time we should allocate for everything we do, every single day. Not just the media we consume, but the tasks and experience we have in the real world, too. Why wouldn’t that be true for podcast listening as well?

So how long should your episodes be? as short as you can possibly make them, as long as it's consistent, episode after episode after episode. That's the long and short of how to make a better podcast.

If you’d prefer to read about it, here’s a link to a totally re-written article that is based on the audio of this episode: https://podcastpontifications.com/episode/the-long-short-of-better-podcast-episodes

Podcast Pontifications is published by Evo Terra four times a week and is aimed at the working podcaster. The purpose of this show is to make podcasting better, not just easier.

Follow Evo on Twitter for more podcasting insights as they come.

And if you need a professional in your podcasting corner, please visit PodcastLaunch.pro to see how Simpler Media Productions can help your firm. Podcasting is our only business.

Mentioned in this episode:

Support For Abortion Rights

While Americans overwhelmingly support the right of an individual to make their own decisions about abortion, unfortunately, that right is no longer protected everywhere in the U.S. The Supreme Court overturned Roe v Wade on June 24th.

We’re investigating time in this four-part miniseries. Yesterday was all about your personal time-horizon. Today we're going to tackle the hard question that a lot of podcasters avoid: How much time does it take to make a better podcast? 

• Minimum effort for a better podcast: 8 hours per episode. 
• Par excellence effort for a better podcast: 100+ hours per episode.
• Sensible effort for a better podcast: 20-50 hours per episode.

Do those numbers scare you? Or do you scoff at them? Both are acceptable reactions. But if you really are focused on making your next podcast a better podcast, they are good numbers to use for budgeting. Because many of the new shows coming out are budgeting that way… and those shows are becoming the norm of what better podcasts sound like. 

Why you make your next podcast is up to you. Is it art? Is it business? Is personal? You get to choose the why and the how. It’s the what I’m interested in, and I hope what you’re interested in making is a better podcast. 

You’ll hear all about that in the episode, and you can read all about it in a totally re-written article if that helps: https://podcastpontifications.com/episode/how-long-does-it-take-to-make-a-better-podcast

Podcast Pontifications is published by Evo Terra four times a week and is aimed at the working podcaster. The purpose of this show is to make podcasting better, not just easier.

Follow Evo on Twitter for more podcasting insights as they come.

And if you need a professional in your podcasting corner, please visit PodcastLaunch.pro to see how Simpler Media Productions can help your firm. Podcasting is our only business.

Mentioned in this episode:

Support For Abortion Rights

While Americans overwhelmingly support the right of an individual to make their own decisions about abortion, unfortunately, that right is no longer protected everywhere in the U.S. The Supreme Court overturned Roe v Wade on June 24th.

If you make better use of time, it will get you on the track of making podcasting better. Today, we’ll focus on where you focus: Your own personal time-horizon.

Some podcasters have a super-short time-horizon, perhaps just a few minutes out. Others plot out entire seasons, preferring to leave little to chance.

While the right answer is probably somewhere in the middle, the reality is that there is no right answer. And many podcasters will realize they need to have multiple time-horizons.

You’ll hear all about that in the episode, and you can read all about it in a totally re-written article if that helps: https://podcastpontifications.com/episode/expanding-your-podcasting-time-horizon

Podcast Pontifications is published by Evo Terra four times a week and is aimed at the working podcaster. The purpose of this show is to make podcasting better, not just easier.

Follow Evo on Twitter for more podcasting insights as they come.

And if you need a professional in your podcasting corner, please visit PodcastLaunch.pro to see how Simpler Media Productions can help your firm. Podcasting is our only business.

Mentioned in this episode:

Support For Abortion Rights

While Americans overwhelmingly support the right of an individual to make their own decisions about abortion, unfortunately, that right is no longer protected everywhere in the U.S. The Supreme Court overturned Roe v Wade on June 24th.

Getting your mindset right and making a commitment to move from hobbyist podcaster to podcasting professional is key, but only after you:

• understand that turning you into a pro is different than having a pro podcast
• 
  
• level-up the skills and abilities you already have
• 
  
• surround yourself with and collaborate with people who can get you closer to your goal of going pro.

No, none of these are easy. But the mindset is probably the hardest part. So I’ll wrap this four-part miniseries with two messages:

1. There's a very good chance that you will not succeed. Yes, that’s a Bummer. But it’s reality. No matter how much effort and energy you put into becoming a professional in the world of podcasting… it just may not work. 
2. Success might look completely different than what you're thinking about right now. So keep your mind open and increase your luck surface area.

There’s never been a better time to make the decision to turn pro. I’m rooting for you! 

A text-based and totally-re-written-for-reading version of this episode can be found at: https://podcastpontifications.com/episode/getting-your-mind-right-about-becoming-a-podcasting-professional

Podcast Pontifications is published by Evo Terra four times a week and is aimed at the working podcaster. The purpose of this show is to make podcasting better, not just easier.

Follow Evo on Twitter for more podcasting insights as they come.

And if you need a professional in your podcasting corner, please visit PodcastLaunch.pro to see how Simpler Media Productions can help your firm. Podcasting is our only business.

Mentioned in this episode:

Support For Abortion Rights

While Americans overwhelmingly support the right of an individual to make their own decisions about abortion, unfortunately, that right is no longer protected everywhere in the U.S. The Supreme Court overturned Roe v Wade on June 24th.

The connections you need to cultivate is part three of my four-part miniseries on switching from amateur/hobbyist/just having fun with podcasting to becoming a podcasting professional. Part one was a reality check and level set. Part two was an honest evaluation of your own abilities and how to improve them. 

First I drop some harsh truths:

• Your friends will not help you become a podcasting professional.
• Your family will not help you become a podcasting professional.
• Your fans will not help you become a podcasting professional.

It’s not all bad news.

• The right support community can help you turn pro.
• The right coach can help you turn pro.
• The right supporting cast can help you turn pro.

-----

Share this with a friend: https://podcastpontifications.com/episode/cultivate-the-right-connections-to-become-a-professional-podcaster

Podcast Pontifications is published by Evo Terra four times a week and is aimed at the working podcaster. The purpose of this show is to make podcasting better, not just easier.

Follow Evo on Twitter for more podcasting insights as they come.

And if you need a professional in your podcasting corner, please visit PodcastLaunch.pro to see how Simpler Media Productions can help your firm. Podcasting is our only business.

Mentioned in this episode:

Support For Abortion Rights

While Americans overwhelmingly support the right of an individual to make their own decisions about abortion, unfortunately, that right is no longer protected everywhere in the U.S. The Supreme Court overturned Roe v Wade on June 24th.

Part two of a four-part miniseries. Did you miss the reality check on what turning pro actually means?

Today’s focus is on you, targeting the skills and abilities that got you where you are in podcasting today. Because you need to boost those to get into the pro podcasting level. And recognize that true professionals are always working on their skills to stay at the top of their game.

Do you know what you’re good at? Do you know where you need to improve? Asking your fans is kinda like asking your mom, so that’s not helpful. 

Do you know what professional looks and sounds like? Do you know what true professionals outside of podcasting with those skills do to keep their skills fresh?

A text-based and totally-re-written-for-reading version of this episode can be found at: https://podcastpontifications.com/episode/upgrading-your-ability-to-become-a-pro-podcaster

Podcast Pontifications is published by Evo Terra four times a week and is aimed at the working podcaster. The purpose of this show is to make podcasting better, not just easier.

Follow Evo on Twitter for more podcasting insights as they come.

And if you need a professional in your podcasting corner, please visit PodcastLaunch.pro to see how Simpler Media Productions can help your firm. Podcasting is our only business.

Mentioned in this episode:

Support For Abortion Rights

While Americans overwhelmingly support the right of an individual to make their own decisions about abortion, unfortunately, that right is no longer protected everywhere in the U.S. The Supreme Court overturned Roe v Wade on June 24th.

There’s more to being a professional podcaster than you probably think, especially if you think only the cream-of-the-crop are worthy of the title of “pro”.

My definition is simple: Pro = makes a paycheck. Just like every other form of media (and everything else), paychecks are available to pros at all levels of the game.

Spoiler: There are professionals at every level inside of podcasting. 

Even if you may not be able to transfer your amateur hobby podcast into a professional podcast, you may be able to leverage the knowledge you have gained running that particular podcast to get a paid gig in professional podcasting.

Yes, there’s a possibility you can go pro and get a paycheck with your current efforts on your current show. 

But it's not the only possibility. 

A text-based and totally-re-written-for-reading version of this episode can be found at: https://podcastpontifications.com/episode/turning-pro-in-podcasting-a-reality-check

Podcast Pontifications is published by Evo Terra four times a week and is aimed at the working podcaster. The purpose of this show is to make podcasting better, not just easier.

Follow Evo on Twitter for more podcasting insights as they come.

And if you need a professional in your podcasting corner, please visit PodcastLaunch.pro to see how Simpler Media Productions can help your firm. Podcasting is our only business.

Mentioned in this episode:

Support For Abortion Rights

While Americans overwhelmingly support the right of an individual to make their own decisions about abortion, unfortunately, that right is no longer protected everywhere in the U.S. The Supreme Court overturned Roe v Wade on June 24th.

If you really want your show to grow, the metric that matters is Conversion Rate. Before I get into it, here’s what you missed that you may want to catch up on:

• Obsession over downloads of your podcast is depressing and doesn’t help
• Social media metrics have little to do with podcast success
• Understanding how far along people get in your episodes before bailing is a good thing

… but none of those really help you understand if you’re doing the right things to make your show grow. For that, you need to understand your website’s conversion rate. 

Bad news: You can’t get this metric from your hosting companies, apps or directories.

Good news: It’s a metric you can get for free from Google Analytics

Unsurprising news: You probably need to pay someone to set it up properly. But it understanding this number -- and influencing it -- will make your podcast better.

A text-based and totally-re-written-for-reading version of this episode can be found at: https://podcastpontifications.com/episode/understanding-your-podcasts-most-important-growth-metric

Podcast Pontifications is published by Evo Terra four times a week and is aimed at the working podcaster. The purpose of this show is to make podcasting better, not just easier.

Follow Evo on Twitter for more podcasting insights as they come.

And if you need a professional in your podcasting corner, please visit PodcastLaunch.pro to see how Simpler Media Productions can help your firm. Podcasting is our only business.

Mentioned in this episode:

Support For Abortion Rights

While Americans overwhelmingly support the right of an individual to make their own decisions about abortion, unfortunately, that right is no longer protected everywhere in the U.S. The Supreme Court overturned Roe v Wade on June 24th.