If you’re a podcaster who juggles creativity, authenticity, and the never-ending pressure to “do it right,” you’ll get a lot from this episode. I sat down with Roula Abou Haidar, host of The Life Affairs Podcast, and we got real about the unseen side of podcasting—finding your unique style, accepting that you don’t need to build a massive network, and letting go of the pressure to be everywhere (or please everyone).

You’ll hear how Roula shaped her show from storytelling with cinematic production to something simpler but more sustainable—and why evolving your format is not “losing your identity.” We dig into the value of building a personal, meaningful podcast (even if it means walking away from conventional podcast advice). You’ll also hear practical thoughts about working solo, using AI tools, and rethinking what consistency truly means for indie creators.

A couple of takeaways:

• Why simplifying your podcast workflow can actually help you stick with it longer

• How to build real connections with guests—without feeling pressured to grow a giant network

• The freedom (and challenges) of doing things your way as a podcaster

Connect with Roula Abou Haidar

Website: https://rosieandroula.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/roulaabouhaidar/

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Chapters

00:00 How Roula prepares for guests
01:47 The Heart of Life Affairs Podcast
02:30 Starting and evolving the show
03:21 Perseverance vs. rewards in podcasting
05:15 Audio and video—what changed
06:43 Being a one-woman show
07:11 Outsourcing, coaching, and letting go
08:42 Balancing passion with audience growth
09:40 Roula’s toolkit and podcast tech
11:07 Launching her show through storytelling
13:29 Finding her true podcast themes
14:19 Moving from stories to conversations
15:10 How the podcast “works on you”
16:53 Growing in confidence by podcasting
17:14 Vulnerability and building courage
19:02 Turning bad days into stories
19:32 How Roula met her co-host Rosie
21:22 Recording workflow with a co-host
22:17 Dealing with consistency pressure
23:33 Finding the right episode frequency
24:46 What consistency really means
27:12 Podcast routines and audience habits
28:30 Personal growth through podcasting
30:01 Listening, acceptance, and learning from guests
33:19 The real value of networking
35:42 How Roula handles guest connections
38:16 Tools and apps in Roula’s process
39:19 Using ChatGPT without losing your voice
42:05 Automations for show notes and repurposing
44:06 Growing on multiple social platforms
46:01 Comparing Descript and Riverside
49:19 Audio vs. video—choosing what works
50:32 Overcoming tech and internet hurdles
53:16 Guest chemistry and pre-interviews
56:54 Money: Monetizing or not?
58:44 Podcasting as a community, not a service
61:04 Advice for beginners—tech and mindset
69:20 Where to find Roula online