This past Monday, I aired the 500th episode of the flagship Lions of Liberty podcast, which was a show so big it had to be split into two parts! This particular episode was a near-three-hour alcohol-fueled marathon featuring appearances from various guests, hosts and friends of the show over the 7 1/2 year run of Lions of Liberty.
It was a blast to record (from what I recall), though not necessarily representative of your typical Lions of Liberty episode or interview. Though, I’d like to think anyway, that there’s no such thing as a “typical” Lions interview, at least if I’m doing my job right.
But I digress. Over these past 7 + years and over 500 episodes of podcasting I’ve developed an insight or two in regards to podcasting. Many of you may be asking yourselves right now, “Should I start a podcast?”
To help answer this question, I’ll guide you through the 5 Stages of Podcasting as I’ve experienced them.
The “Should I Do It?” Stage
This is basically every moment pre-launch. During this time, for some reason or another you’ve decided you wanted to start a podcast, or at least begun entertaining the idea. You ask friends who podcast about it, you read articles, you might even go further and take a podcast course or maybe even book a consulting session with a podcasting expert like myself (if I can’t give myself cheap plugs in these articles, what’s the point, really?) This is where you are absorbing all the information you can on the pathway to deciding whether to actually launch a podcast.The “Ok, I’m Doing It!” Stage
This is the stage where you formally launch your podcast, imperfections and all. And there WILL be imperfections. But at this stage in the game, the rush of excitement over launching your show will hopefully out shadow any issues that crop. Because, hey, YOU ARE A PODCAST HOST NOW. This is exciting shit.The “Oh Shit, Why the Fuck am I Doing This” Stage
This is the stage where some combination of the above mentioned imperfections along with lower-than-expected download numbers start do demoralize you. You start to develop what’s called “Imposter Syndrome” - the feeling that you don’t really “belong” as a podcast host. It creeps up in the hesitation you get before emailing a potential guests, the voice in your head that says “why would this person even give me the time of day?” It has you asking questions like “why am I doing this?” “Is it really worth all of the time and effort?”
But once you power through this phase, you’ll find yourself marching into…The “OH YEAH I AM REALLY DOING IT!” Stage
This is the phase where you have pushed through the “Imposter Syndrome” (it has no known permanent cure, but it can be tamed) and you are starting to feel like your role as a podcast host is deserved. People you never knew were following you will reach out and say crazy things like “hey, I really what you’re doing with this podcast, keep up the great work!” The downloads are trending up, and you are starting to build a little virtual community centered around your podcast.The “I’ve Come Full Circle” Stage
This is the stage where you begin to interact with podcasters currently in Stage 1-3. They will reach out to you to be a guest on their show or to ask for advice. They will be shocked when you say yes - as shocked as you were when the first guests you invited on also agreed to be a guest on your show. This is when you realize you’ve sort of “made it” in some way, shape or form. When others are now looking at YOU as as source of knowledge and inspiration, you have semi-formally “arrived” as a podcaster. This is when you realize that - as hard as it is to believe - there are people out there who look at you as somewhat of “celebrity.”
In the past year or two of Lions of Liberty, along with starting the Second Print Comics Podcast with my friend Remso Martinez, I have become firmly entrenched in Stage 5. This has given me the confidence to go out and help others to launch and grow their own podcasts, and it’s truly an incredible feeling.
I have no idea if you should start a podcast. But hopefully understanding a bit of what you would go through if you choose to launch such a journey will prove helpful.
Check out all of my projects below:
Lions of Liberty, where I facilitate conversations with the hopes of inspiring others to achieve more liberty in their lives.
Second Print Comics podcast, where myself and Remso Martinez take a weekly look at the comic book characters, storylines and events that shaped our fandom.
Book a Podcast Consulting call with me on Clarity.FM if you’re thinking about launching your own podcast!
The Expat Money Show - This isn’t my project, but I’m thrilled that I’ve gotten to work directly with my friend Mikkel Thorup to help grow this show over the past few months. I believe greatly in what Mikkel is doing - helping others to achieve greater liberty in their lives by living and investing abroad - and helping grow this program has been a true joy. I also get to help moderate The Expat Money Forum on Facebook - check it out!