The Cliff Ravenscraft Show

For years, people have looked at my body of work and seen a lot of different podcasts, newsletters, live streams, and conversations. What they could not see was the pattern underneath it all. Today, I have clarity around and language for the system I accidentally built over the last two decades. This clarity changes how I see everything I create.

In this episode, I walk through the three podcasts that are my primary focus and explain how each one plays a specific role in moving someone from discovering me for the first time, to trusting me, and then to making the decision to work with me.

Podcast Answer Man is my top of funnel. It is where people find me because they already have a problem they want solved.

They are searching:

That kind of search comes from someone who is already motivated to take action. Podcast Answer Man is show that is there to answer these questions and to introduce them to my world.

Podcast Answer Man will feed directly into the following:

Podcasting is a high intent market. Someone searching for answers related to podcasting is already holding a credit card emotionally, even if they have not pulled it out yet.

Once they introduced to the answers I provide to their podcast related questions, they will quickly discover that I offer far more value to their entrepreneurial journey beyond just the tech.

This show isn't designed to attract cold listeners. Only one type of person searches for a show titled "The Cliff Ravenscraft Show" in a podcast directory, someone who already knows a guy named Cliff Ravenscraft exists.

This podcast is my relationship engine.

People who already know me through Podcast Answer Man, referrals, or social media come here to understand how I think, how I decide, and how I live inside my business.

TCRS positions me as a professional business owner who specializes in business strategy and mindset, not just a technician.

The Cliff Ravenscraft Show will feed directly into the following:

What Are You Creating? is my interview format podcast. Each episode features a conversation with entrepreneurs, creators, and visionaries building work aligned with their deepest passions.

These stories are filled with sparks. Sparks that can ignite new possibilities for your own life and business. You may discover income streams you’ve never considered, ways to align your passions with your work, or fresh inspiration to start creating something of your own.

Here are the main benefits of having your own interview format podcast.

A major feature of this podcast is to grow my peer group, my referral network, and my reputation as someone who has meaningful conversations with interesting people doing important work.

With this show, I don't focus on download counts, subscriber growth, or metrics. The primary outcome I'm looking for is the relationship I build with each guest. This allows me to show up fully present and curious, without an agenda. People can feel that.

Most people try to teach, tell their story, and interview guests all in one feed. I don't judge that approach, but I've found it confuses the audience and muddles the show's purpose.

I separated them.

Each show has one job.

Podcast Answer Man answers the questions my ideal clients are actively searching for.

The Cliff Ravenscraft Show helps people who have discovered me understand the depth of what I offer beyond the answers to their tech questions.

What Are You Creating? helps me expand my peer group.

This matches exactly how my highest-paid clients find me. Most discover me through podcasting help. They stay because they connect with how I think about business and mindset. They deepen their relationship with me through the conversations I have with my peers and the relationships I build.

I accidentally built this over twenty years. Now I finally have language for it.

In this episode, I share a deeply personal and wide ranging conversation I recently had with Greg Gerber, host of the Forward From 50 podcast.

Greg originally came into my world more than a decade ago as a Podcasting A to Z student. Today, he hosts a show dedicated to people over fifty who know their best work is still ahead of them.

The conversation became a powerful reflection on identity, ambition, reinvention, and what it means to step fully into the work you were made to do.

This conversation tells the story of my journey from insurance agent to podcaster, from Podcast Answer Man to mindset and business strategist, and now into this next chapter where everything is coming together with more clarity and alignment than ever before.

If this episode stirred something in you and you have been thinking about starting a podcast or finally taking the one you have more seriously, I invite you to join me for my next session of Podcasting A to Z.

This is my four week live coaching experience where you and I work together to turn your idea, message, and voice into real impact.

You can learn more and register at PodcastingAtoZ.com

In this episode, I share a full behind the scenes look at everything I have been working on since I made the decision to bring Podcast Answer Man and Podcasting A to Z back as a primary focus in my business.

Episode 802 was the story of why this decision happened. This episode is the story of what actually happened next.

Over the past month, I have been rebuilding, reconnecting, and reactivating an entire ecosystem that had been dormant for nearly a decade. In this conversation, I walk you through the real work behind the scenes. The relationships, the systems, the strategy, and the momentum that started moving the moment I committed to this direction.

I talk about landing a speaking engagement at Podfest Expo and what that means for reconnecting with the podcasting community. I share how reconnecting with people like Nick Pavlidis and Rob Greenlee has already started opening doors and reconnecting relationships in the industry.

I also walk through how Podcast Answer Man is now back on a true weekly publishing schedule. Every Friday at 12:01am Eastern Time, there is a new episode.

I also announce that The Cliff Ravenscraft Show is now back to a weekly schedule as well. Every Monday at 12:01am Eastern Time, there will be a new episode focused on business strategy, mindset, and the behind the scenes of what I am building.

I share some of the emotional responses I have already received from longtime listeners who heard the Podcast Answer Man intro music again for the first time in years. Those messages reminded me just how meaningful this work has been in people’s lives for more than two decades.

I also talk about the strategic decisions I have made to support this new season, including moving the Podcast Answer Man website to PodPage, setting up new affiliate partnerships, rebuilding the Podcasting A to Z sales page, and launching a new series of live interviews called Where Are They Now featuring former Podcasting A to Z students who are still creating content more than a decade later.

A big part of this episode is dedicated to the work I have been doing behind the scenes on my email list. I explain why I moved back to ConvertKit, how I am rebuilding my email sequences, and how I am creating separate paths for people who want podcasting focused content and those who want business, mindset, and entrepreneurial content.

This episode is a snapshot of a turning point. It captures what it looks like when an idea becomes a commitment and when momentum starts to build.

If you want the deeper story of why Podcast Answer Man came back, listen to Episode 802. If you want to understand how everything is now being built to support that decision, this episode is the next chapter.

Thank you for being here and for walking with me through this season of growth and realignment.

Podcast Answer Man

https://PodcastAnswerMan.com

Podcast Answer Man Episode 477

Why I Moved the Podcast Answer Man Website to PodPage

https://PodcastAnswerMan.com/477

Podfest Expo

https://PodfestExpo.com

Use promo code PAM for 10 percent off tickets

Podcasting A to Z

https://PodcastingAtoZ.com

PodPage

https://PodcastAnswerMan.com/podpage

ConvertKit (Kit)

https://PodcastAnswerMan.com/kit

Kajabi

https://PodcastAnswerMan.com/kajabi

What Are You Creating Podcast

https://www.cliffravenscraft.com/podcasts/what-are-you-creating

Free the Dream Keynote

https://MindsetAnswerMan.com/free

If you have been thinking about starting a podcast or you already have one but feel stuck, this is your invitation.

Podcasting A to Z is my four week live coaching program where I personally walk you through every step of launching or refining your podcast. You get direct access to me, weekly group coaching calls, and the ability to ask as many questions as you want. I will answer every single one.

The next session begins January 26.

If you are ready to finally put your voice into the world or take your existing podcast to a higher level, go to PodcastingAtoZ.com and join me.

This is a guided experience where you have me as your coach.

I would love to work with you.

Twenty years ago, I launched my very first podcast with no idea where it would lead. What began as a hobby eventually changed the trajectory of my life, my work, and my family. It also led to the creation of Podcast Answer Man and Podcasting A to Z, two things that played a massive role in the early podcasting industry.

If you’ve followed my journey for any length of time, you know that I eventually stepped away from that brand and that work. And for years, many people assumed it was gone for good.

In this episode, I share the full story of why Podcast Answer Man is back, why Podcasting A to Z is returning.

The spark came during a Hot Seat inside my Green Room Mastermind. I share how a simple technical question about podcast gear led to a realization that everything that once made Podcast Answer Man unsustainable has changed.

With tools like Notion and AI, what used to take hours can now be done accurately and with integrity in a fraction of the time. Combined with clearer boundaries, daily meditation, nervous system regulation, and a very different life stage, the conditions that once led to burnout no longer exist.

This return is about integrating everything I’ve learned since leaving.

Stephanie joins me in this conversation to reflect on what she has witnessed during this season of renewal. We talk about why the version of me who stepped away from Podcast Answer Man years ago had to do so in order for the version of me today to bring it back.

We also explore how Podcast Answer Man has always been the easiest entry point into my world. It is how thousands of people first discovered me. From there, many went on to launch podcasts, build businesses, and eventually work with me in deeper ways through coaching, masterminds, and long-term relationships.

This return is about bringing everything I have learned over the past two decades into a more integrated way of serving. Podcasting, business strategy, mindset, and personal growth now live together in a single ecosystem, with Podcast Answer Man once again serving as the front door.

From there, there are many ways I serve today. Podcasting A to Z. Business strategy and mindset coaching. Mastermind groups. Long-term client relationships. This return reconnects all of it.

Podcast Answer Man returns as a weekly show focused on podcasting, gear, tools, industry insights, and listener questions. You can find Podcast Answer Man at PodcastAnswerMan.com, where you will also find links to all the major podcast apps and a place to submit your own podcasting questions.

The Cliff Ravenscraft Show will continue as a weekly show. This podcast is a space for mindset, personal personal development, and deeper behind-the-scenes conversations about building meaningful work.

If you want to work with me personally and be guided step by step through launching your podcast, you can join me for my next live session of Podcasting A to Z at PodcastingAtoZ.com.

In this episode, I share the honest moment when I reached the end of September and realized my business was not heading in the direction I wanted.

I walk you through the course correction that followed, the clarity that came from a deep review of my life and work, and the renewed alignment that shaped the path forward.

You’ll hear the full story behind how I realigned my business and the exact process I will now use for my quarterly reviews.

Episodes Mentioned in This Conversation

What story am I telling myself about who I am and the work I'm doing in the world?

Does this story empower me to show up, meet a need presented in the marketplace with validated products and services, and do so in a way that feels aligned and fulfilling?

Have I drifted or slipped back into a hypnotic rhythm in any of the following categories?

If drifting has occurred, what can I learn about the cause of the drift? What patterns can be observed and disrupted?

For each area that needs improvement, use this strategy:

If you’d like help walking through this process in your own life and business, I currently have an offer available for those ready to realign, reset, and move forward with clarity and momentum.

This offer is described at the end of the episode. Learn more and sign up here: https://www.cliffravenscraft.com/offers/Vo7qVDhe/checkout

In this episode I talk about something I’ve seen a lot lately. People tell me they want to move forward. They want to start the thing, launch the idea, reach out to the person, publish the content, say yes to the opportunity.

But they’re stuck because the unknowns feel too big and the confidence simply isn’t there.

The problem is that confidence doesn’t show up at the beginning.

Confidence is the reward for taking action.

It only comes after you’ve stepped into something new, realized your worst fears didn’t come true, and built enough real experience to trust yourself in that environment.

Even after all these years, I still feel that tension when I’m introduced to someone new. Especially when their online presence is polished, impressive, and perfectly curated.

My old patterns pop up.

Who am I to talk with this person? Will I bring value? Will I land with their audience?

There are three important words that I share in this episode: Courage, Confidence, and Curiosity.

Courage. The willingness to say yes even when the outcome is unknown.

If I am courageous enough to take the step, then something interesting happens. My worst fears usually don’t come true. I learn something. I grow. And over time, with enough reps, I develop confidence.

But the confidence never comes first.

Recently, though, I’ve added a third ingredient. And it has been the biggest shift of all.

Curiosity.

Curiosity dissolves fear.

It lets me walk into a new room without the burden of needing anything to happen.

Instead of pressure, I enter with wonder.

Why was this introduction made?

What could come from this connection?

What can I learn from this person?

How might I serve?

Is there resonance here?

And if not, what clarity does that give me?

Curiosity brings me back to presence.

It clears the anxiety that shows up the day before a call, or the hour before it starts, or the five minutes before we go live.

Curiosity lets me move forward without being attached to any particular outcome. I don’t have to prove myself. I don’t have to impress. I simply get to explore what is possible.

In this episode I break down how these three ingredients work together.

Courage gets you moving.

Curiosity keeps you grounded.

Confidence grows from experience and repetition.

If you have an area in your life where you’ve been waiting for confidence before you take action, my hope is that this conversation frees you from that waiting.

You won’t feel confident before you begin.

You’ll feel confident because you began.

I’d love to hear what this brings up for you.

You can email me at [email protected].

I have a special Black Friday coaching offer. It includes three ninety-minute one-on-one coaching sessions with me, plus full access to both my Free the Dream online course and my Building an Online Business course.

If you want direct support, clarity on your next steps, and momentum heading into the new year, reach out and put “Coaching Offer” in the subject line.

In this episode I return to my Podcast Answer Man roots and share an in-depth review of my newest and most unexpected favorite piece of podcast gear. The Zoom PodTrak P4next!

This tiny device delivers almost everything I rely on from the Rodecaster Pro 2 at a fraction of the size and a fraction of the cost, coming in at only $179.

I'll walk you through how I discovered it, my initial skepticism, and why seeing the Zoom name made me give it a chance. I'm so glad I did.

I'll share what the Zoom PodTrak P4next does, how I'm using it, why it has already earned a permanent place in my travel setup, and why I might even replace my Rodecaster Pro 2 in the studio.

I recorded this episode from the front seat of my car to demonstrate how powerful this device is for portable recording. You'll hear the quality of the preamps and the impressive noise reduction capabilities in action.

I talk about the power options, multitrack capability, four XLR inputs, mix-minus support, sound pads, four independently controlled headphone outputs, built in audio recorder and more.

I also share the story of why this little recorder solves technical problems I have carried for years.

If you have been looking for a reliable way to record multiple microphones on the road, or if you want to build a complete podcast studio that fits in a backpack, this episode will show you how simple, and inexpensive, it can be.

Many listeners and viewers ask for my current recommendations for a complete portable recording setup. Here's the list with affiliate links.

Zoom PodTrak P4next - https://amzn.to/4rA85fY

Heil PR-40 - https://amzn.to/4iofavZ

If you want something more portable, my long-time favorite was the Audio Technica ATR-2100. It is no longer manufactured, so my best current guess for a quality budget dynamic mic is the Rode PodMic Cardioid Dynamic Broadcast Microphone found at https://amzn.to/4rgUIBf

Three foot XLR mic cables - https://amzn.to/43UbqMC

Portable mic stand options - https://amzn.to/3MmDMJf

Sony MDR-7506 - https://amzn.to/3M0apwo

Replacement ear pads for the MDR-7506 - https://amzn.to/3M0gj0z

If this episode inspires you to pick up the Zoom PodTrak P4next, I would love to hear about it. Send me an email and let me know how this episode inspired you. My email is [email protected].

Today’s episode is something a little different. I recorded this message from the front seat of my car (my “mobile studio”) during one of those early morning creative bursts that often come during my fall routines.

Before we dive in, you’ll notice the audio quality sounds a little different than my usual in-studio setup. I explain why in the intro, but the short version is this: I’ve been waking up at 4:30 a.m., heading to Planet Fitness, and spending time journaling, praying, reading, and creating from that sacred space of solitude.

Sometimes inspiration hits right there in the car, and I don’t want to wait until I’m back at my desk to capture it.

What follows is a message I felt deeply compelled to share. It’s about something I’ve been noticing, in myself and in other creators, as AI tools become part of our daily workflow.

We’re all starting to sound the same.

In this episode, I talk about:

This episode is about remembering what people really connect with: honesty, imperfection, and lived experience.

I hope this message encourages you to bring your unpolished, unscripted voice back into your creative process.

Until next time, I encourage you to take everything you do in life and business, and content creation, to the next level.

Today, I had an incredible conversation with Austin Armstrong, an entrepreneur, speaker, and creator whose journey perfectly embodies what it means to stop thinking like a content creator and start thinking like a business owner who creates content.

Austin is the founder of Syllaby, an AI-powered video marketing platform that helps entrepreneurs and service-based business owners simplify content creation and stay consistent across every major platform. He’s also the author of the upcoming book Virality!, which unpacks two decades of lessons from his evolution as a creator, marketer, and business builder.

In our conversation, we explored:

I loved this conversation because it’s about realizing that your content should serve your mission, not the other way around.

Austin’s energy, humility, and depth of experience made this an enjoyable conversation. If you’re a creator, coach, or entrepreneur looking to build something that lasts, you’re going to want to listen to this one from start to finish.

If this episode resonated with you, I highly encourage you to pre-order Austin’s new book, Virality! It’s filled with proven frameworks, practical tools, and hard-won lessons that will help you think, act, and grow like a business owner who creates content.

👉 Pre-order Virality! on Amazon

I’m working with a client who is a gifted communicator with years of real-world experience. He kept hearing that paid speaking is off limits unless you are already well known, can sell tickets by name alone, or have a massive audience.

I knew that wasn’t the full story. So I brought in someone I trust and have known for nearly 15 years, Grant Baldwin, to walk through what actually works today for getting paid to speak without celebrity status.

Grant has trained thousands of speakers and built The Speaker Lab into a respected, enduring brand, one that has ranked on the Inc. 5000 list of the fastest, growing privately held companies in the United States for five consecutive years.

This conversation is designed for strong communicators who are comfortable on a stage and want to translate that skill into paid opportunities. If that’s you, you’ll find a clear framework, realistic fee guidance, what event planners actually want, and the specific outreach and follow-up cadence that moves you from “aspiring” to “booked.”

Event planners aren’t always evaluating your follower count. They are reducing risk. They want a reliable speaker who can solve one specific problem for one specific audience and make the organizer look like a hero for choosing wisely.

If Oprah or a former president is headlining, tickets sell on name alone. For the rest of us, the job is to solve a defined problem so well that attendees are grateful and organizers are relieved they chose us.

The trap to avoid: “I can speak to anyone about anything.” Don’t be a buffet. Be a steakhouse. A steakhouse does one thing exceptionally well. Most buffets do many things mediocre. Your positioning must signal sharp focus, not “I do it all.”

Practical implication: Choose a niche problem and audience, and let everything else in your marketing reinforce that narrow, valuable focus.

Grant uses a five-part framework. I’ll restate it with my commentary and application steps you can take immediately.

S - Select a problem to solve

Pick one clear problem for one identifiable audience. Validate it by confirming that organizations actually hire speakers on that topic. Avoid niche passions that no one budgets for on stage. Look for the Venn overlap between what you love, what you’re skilled at, and what event buyers pay for.

Quick validators you can run this week:

P - Prepare your talk

Design a talk that offers a concrete solution to the chosen audience’s felt need. Make sure the talk aligns with what planners already hire speakers to address. Your talk is a product. It must reduce the organizer’s risk and fulfill the promise in the program description.

Tip: If there’s a personal subtopic you care about that isn’t a main-stage draw, embed it as a 5 to 10 percent segment within a widely purchased theme, rather than making it the headline. This blends your passion with market reality without performing a bait-and-switch.

E - Establish yourself as the expert

You need a sharp, professional website and a demo video. Event planners who hire speakers will compare you to several other speakers. Your materials must look as good or better than your fee peers, because people judge books by their covers, especially under risk. You do not need to spend tens of thousands, but you do need clarity and quality.

What to include:

A - Acquire paid speaking gigs

This is where most speakers falter. Do not wait passively for inquiries. Identify target events, start conversations, and follow up with discipline. Smaller events are not “lesser.” They are accessible and often pay in the $1,000 to $5,000 range for quality speakers who fit well. Those reps build momentum and referrals.

A starter outreach line that works: “When will you start reviewing speakers for your [season/year] event?”

You’re aligning to their process, not forcing a pitch at the wrong time. If they say, “in three months,” get explicit permission to follow up, then actually follow up in three months with a helpful, short note. They won’t expect you to do it. Showing up reliably previews how good you’ll be to work with.

My added tactic: Use Facebook groups where your audience gathers to crowdsource a list of live events they already attend. Ask, “If someone wanted to fully immerse in solving [problem], what live events should they attend?” Now you have a prospect list drawn from the market itself. Then apply the outreach process above. I share the exact post volume thresholds and how I used this approach during my Free The Dream years.

K - Know when to scale

Speaking can be the whole business or the front end of a larger business. Some speakers aim for many gigs and fee growth. Others use speaking primarily to acquire coaching, consulting, or long-term clients worth tens of thousands, which can dwarf the fee itself. Decide your model early, then shape your targeting and topic accordingly.

Set expectations realistically. Most speakers who are early in their professional journey charge between $1,000 and $5,000 for the first several paid gigs, with growth as reps, results, and marketing assets improve.

Fees vary by industry: corporations generally pay more than nonprofits, for example. Your website, demo video, testimonials, and relevance to that organizer’s audience all factor into perceived value.

If you are already collecting checks in the $10,000 to $25,000 range, you’re likely in a pond that routinely books at that level, with the credentials and references to match. Your materials and proof must stand shoulder to shoulder with other speakers priced similarly. The decision-maker is weighing risk. Your job is to make the yes feel safe.

Event planners and committees are in the risk mitigation business. They need to justify why choosing you is safe. The fastest way to help them feel safe is to present tightly aligned positioning, a clear solution for their audience, relevant testimonials, and a professional demo that shows what they will see on their stage. If you’re a known quantity in their industry, you reduce risk further.

Translation: Your niche experience matters. Even if you want to speak beyond your current industry later, start where you already have credibility and connections. Build momentum there, then expand.

We swapped a memorable story about a dinner in Vegas that nails this point. A top steakhouse has a short menu. It’s exceptional at one thing. Too many speakers showcase a menu of twenty topics across every domain. That spreads you thin and confuses buyers. You don’t become referable as “the person who solves X.” Choose X. Then keep saying X.

Keynotes are the glory slot, but many buyers hire outstanding breakout or workshop speakers they’ve never heard of. Target smaller, local, or state-level events where budgets are sensible and competition is less fierce. Use these to gather testimonials and in-industry proof. The more you speak, the more you speak. People in the seats are often the next bookers. Referrals compound.

Most speakers fail because they wait. Here’s a workable cadence:

This shows the organizer what it’s like to work with you. Reliability beats bravado.

My supplement to this: Source events by asking active Facebook groups where your audience congregates which conferences they actually attend. Then research and contact those events using the cadence above.

Fee-first speakers optimize for the check, the travel schedule, and fee growth over time.

Lead-gen-first speakers optimize for speaking to rooms filled with ideal buyers, then convert into higher lifetime value offers such as retainers, advisory, or premium programs. In some niches, a single client is worth more than the speaking fee. Choose the model that matches your goals and build your targeting and talk to support it.

You don’t have to wait for an invitation. Design a focused one-day workshop around your problem-audience fit, sell tickets, and put yourself on stage. This both validates your topic and produces assets, testimonials, and compelling footage for your reel.

If you’re gifted on stage and willing to do the unglamorous prospecting and follow-up, there is a clear, repeatable path to getting booked and paid. You do not need to be famous. You do need to be focused, professional, and persistent. Choose your “steak,” serve it beautifully to the right diners, and keep showing up. The rooms you want will start asking for you by name.

If you’re still here reading this, I have a feeling I know something about you.

You’re a communicator, a creator, someone with real experience, skill, and a genuine desire to serve others. You’ve been working hard to build your business, grow your audience, and create content that helps people. Yet even with all that effort, the profit still doesn’t reflect the impact you’re making.

If that sounds familiar, it might be time for a different approach.

Over the years, I’ve worked with countless creators, coaches, and entrepreneurs who started by doing what everyone said they should: creating content, building websites, and growing an audience. The problem? That’s actually Step 8 in the process of building a profitable business. They skipped the first seven steps, the ones that make everything else work.

That’s why I created my Building an Online Business Program.

It’s the same proven 11-step framework I’ve used and taught to help others finally see consistent, sustainable income from the work they love. The program includes my complete course, recorded live in the Next Level Studio, and two private 90-minute one-on-one coaching sessions with me.

Those sessions are where we take what you’re learning and apply it directly to your goals, your challenges, and your business model. It’s personalized guidance designed to bring focus, clarity, and predictable income to your business.

If you’ve been creating content for years but still feel like you’re spinning your wheels, this is your chance to change that. You’ll get the clarity, structure, and strategy that can finally convert your experience into income, and build the freedom you set out to create in the first place.

Click Here To Learn More And Enroll Today

Let’s journey together.