Is The Emperor Naked?

if you don’t know the story of The Emperor’s New Clothes, you should. It’s an allegory for groupthink and trying to convince oneself that something is true.

Tech companies use podcasts as loss leaders to sell advertising and gather user data. Not only does this provide income, but it also drives up their stock prices. Plus, tech companies want people to make podcasts and buy the gear to make them. The global Audio Equipment Market was valued at $12.13 billion in 2020, and it is expected to reach $73.7 billion by 2030.

The tech industry benefits from podcasters using their products for creative expression. Podcasters make their products evoke productivity, creativity, and talent. If tech companies are The Emperor, podcasters aren’t just his subjects, but also the weavers making his invisible clothes.

The attention economy can also take a toll on our health. While you’re trying to make a podcast, a million digital enticements compete for your attention. It’s hard to make anything when you’re pressured to consume everything.

When you look around and see a lot of podcasters putting in a lot of time, money, and effort for little reward, you can start to wonder, is podcasting worth it? What, then?

Note the Negativity, Then Move On.

Bearing all this negative stuff in mind, how can podcasters move on? Let’s take a look at some parts of this puzzle.

Who Cares About Your Podcast?

When you have thoughts about “so what” and “who cares,” stop, and answer the question. You know who does care? Your audience avatar. Your ideal listener is the person who needs your podcast the most and can’t find it anywhere else. Figure out exactly who this person is, when they listen, what they do when they listen, and what your podcast does for them. This can help you determine, for example:

• how long each episode should be
• what your sound design should be like
• the best way to present your topics
• where and how to promote new episodes

Your ideal listener has a mirror-universe doppelganger, just like Mr. Spock wearing a goatee. This audience troll says irritating, negative things while you’re working. Grab that troll by the scruff of the neck, and let them spit out all their nasty little statements. Figure out exactly who they are. Not only does this give you a clear idea of who your podcast is not going to motivate, but also, by contrast, it tells you more about what not to do. And, when you’ve heard from your audience troll enough times, it becomes easier to shut them up. You know your podcast isn’t for that kind of audience.

Don’t Buy All The Gear, All The Time

There’s a joke in the zeitgeist about the podcaster who finally made money from his podcast by selling all his podcasting equipment. Podcasting can be expensive. The more money you spend, the more pressure builds. For years, everyone here at The Podcast Host has tried to be the Jedi Knights of podcasting, saying, “you don’t have to buy all the gear.” We recommend a lot of podcasting equipment, but we also try to find ways for people to make a podcast with the minimum amount of equipment. We also search for a balance between quality and price.

Take the pressure off yourself. Don’t buy tons of expensive gear, expecting it to make you sound good. Instead,

• research gear before you buy it
• experiment with technique before replacing or upgrading your kit
• be smart and careful with your purchases.

It’s easier to feel like your podcasting is worth it if you don’t have a big chunk of debt hanging over you. The reverse is true, too. It’s easier to feel like your workout is worth it if you treat yourself to a new pair of running shoes or workout clothes occasionally. If you have a few extra bucks and you want to buy yourself a gift, do it.

Attention is a Valuable Resource

The same mindset is true for our attention. Columbia University Law professor Tim Wu wrote a book called The Attention Merchants, all about who engineers and profits from grabbing and holding your attention.

In a 2018 interview with Vox, Wu said, “I’ve been very interested in…feats of concentration that people used to perform all the time — [such as] writing a book in six weeks or a computer program in a few days… I do think it’s become considerably harder in our environment to enter important and deep states of focus and concentration, because we surround ourselves with technology, whose business model is to distract us…. Our computers are ostensibly productivity-enhancing machines, but they also are loaded with platforms whose business model is to consume as much of your time as possible with ads and noise and distraction.”

Not only is it hard to produce a podcast (because you’re competing with distractions), but it’s also hard to get anyone to pay attention to your podcast, because they’re distracted too.

So, how can you make your podcasting worth it with all that nonsense?

• Treat the audience like the valuable resource they are. Thank them in your intros and outros. Make it easy for them to get in touch.
• Guard your time and focus like the valuable resource it is. Practice digital minimalism. Minimize your social media use.
• See other independent podcasters as potential collaborators, not competitors. Swap trailers for each other’s shows, write social media posts promoting each other’s content, and partner up to produce special episodes.
• Consider what podcast production tasks you can do without electricity. Many distractions run on it: try using a tool like a planner or journal for some tasks.

Podcasters are part of the attention economy, making avoiding distractions difficult. But, you don’t have to consume a steady stream of digital media to know what’s happening in podcasting. Practice self-awareness and build boundaries between your podcast and whatever sustains you emotionally and intellectually.

Why Are You Doing This?

My mom would ask this question when she caught four-year-old me drawing on my dolls’ faces. It sounds like, “stop it,” but it’s not, necessarily. Every podcaster should know why they’re producing a podcast. Once they know the answer, they can focus their efforts and make a sustainable workflow. Why do you want to produce a podcast? Maybe it’s:

• to tell a story that no one else can
• so you can make money or get a better job
• to enhance your existing career or business
• because experimenting with immersive or dynamic audio is interesting
• to build empathy and understanding
• for some people, to become famous

Once you know why, that reason helps you with every aspect of your podcast workflow. You’ll better know who you want to reach, how, and what you want to share with them. There are so many really good reasons that podcasting is worth it.

The “famous” part is one that you may have to reframe. While Andy Warhol said that everyone wants to be famous, for about fifteen minutes, it’s not sustainable or realistic. It’s highly unlikely that you’ll be Rogan or Oprah, because they’re statistical outliers who each had a big following before they started. You can, however, be your amazing self and have a unique podcast niche with a loyal audience.

Would you rather be famous, or respected? They’re not the same thing. At times, the steps you take to get a lot of attention can dilute or undermine getting sustainable, meaningful engagement.

Podcasting Is Worth It When You Keep It Simple

Think of podcasting as a communication tool, like mailing a letter or drawing a picture. You have interests, skills, and talents. There are topics and stories worth sharing. People, out in the world, that you have never met, can benefit from your podcast. You should be aware of the reasons that podcasting might not be worth it. Knowledge is power. This will help you make strategies to dismantle that cycle of negativity. Life is short. Share your story.

Burnout is damaging. If left unchecked, it can have a detrimental effect on your quality of life. This guide is designed for content creators of all kinds (not only podcasters) to offer practical advice on navigating burnout. 

You’ll better understand:  

• Why burnout happens to digital content creators.
• The telltale signs of what burnout looks and feels like.
• How to manage and prevent burnout. 

Take a deep breath. Settle in. You’re about to learn a healthier approach to succeeding as a creator — without the guilt, fear, and limiting beliefs that burnout imposes.

By Amir Shahzeidi

Amir is the Head of Demand Gen at Uscreen, an all-in-one membership platform built for video creators. With Uscreen, creators can easily create paid memberships that include an on-demand video library, live streaming capabilities, and their own community space, all in their own branded site and apps.

First, let’s look at what contributes to creator burnout. 

Creator Burnout Is Real—And You’re Not Alone

Creator burnout is a silent epidemic in the creator economy. It’s widespread, deeply ingrained in how creators work, and often goes unnoticed until it becomes severe. An in-depth research report from 2023 showed that an astonishing 79% of creators have experienced burnout. Here are seven causes of creator burnout. 

1. The Always-On Pressure of Content Creation

If you feel like you must constantly produce content to stay relevant, it’s because of the ever-present pressure of being relevant. Social algorithms and audience expectations demand a steady stream of content. To meet this demand, you’ve got to be in creator mode permanently. Social media strategies often focus on frequent posting and engagement, making it feel like you must be “on” at all times to stay visible.

2. Platform Algorithms Reward Consistency Over Well-Being

Many platforms penalize social accounts for inactivity. If you’re not contributing to the platform, your content will have less reach and engagement.

This algorithmic treadmill forces creators into a cycle of quantity over quality. It’s a perfect recipe for stress when coupled with little or no rest.

3. The Blurred Line Between Work and Personal Life

Many creators work from home, making it harder to set boundaries. Traditional jobs leave room for weekends off and holidays, but there’s no “clocking out” as a creator. Whether you’re editing late into the night to meet a posting schedule, sending outreach emails to potential partners or sponsors, or responding to audience comments during what should be downtime, the work never really stops.

4. Financial Instability & Pressure to Make Money

The gig-like nature of content creation doesn’t offer a steady income. For creators to “succeed,” they have to rely on more than one source of revenue. You have to chase as many opportunities as possible, from sponsorships, memberships, ad revenue, and more, just to stay afloat.

5. The Psychological Toll of Social Media

Comparison culture is more prevalent today because of social media. Creators aren’t immune to it either. Seeing others’ highlight reels creates pressure to keep up.

There’s also negative feedback, such as hate comments, criticism, and audience expectations, which can be emotionally draining.

It’s easy to fall victim to validation dependence, where creators tie their self-worth to likes, views, and follower counts.

6. Lack of Workplace Support & Mental Health Resources

Traditional jobs come with support for workers, such as mentors, managers, human resource departments, set schedules, and vacation times. Creators don’t have HR, paid leave, or mental health benefits.

As a result, isolation and a lack of support or structured support systems contribute to stress.

7. Creators Feel Guilty for Taking Breaks

“Hustle culture” mentality tells creators that stepping back equals failure. Many fear their audience will move on if they take time off, and that financial loss or declining engagement are guaranteed outcomes.

What Is Burnout?

Burnout is defined as: 

exhaustion of physical or emotional strength or motivation usually as a result of prolonged stress or frustration.

Since creator burnout doesn’t happen overnight, many creators don’t notice early signs, and push through until they hit a breaking point. 

Prevention is the best cure. So, you need a way to spot the signs of burnout before they bring you down. 

The Warning Signs of Burnout

Burnout manifests in varying degrees and ways. Here’s a look at physical, emotional, and behavioral telltale signs to look out for, prepared as a quick self-assessment that you can revisit at any time.

Physical symptoms: 

• Do you feel tired? 
• Do you experience headaches regularly? 
• Do you experience headaches when doing work?
• Are you unable to get at least 7 hours of sleep and wake up refreshed and rested?

Emotional symptoms: 

• Do you feel little or no progress to show for your efforts?
• Do you sometimes or regularly experience a sense of anxiety when thinking about work?
• Do you quickly or regularly feel frustrated at work or when something doesn’t go according to plan?
• Do you feel detached from work or experience a lack of motivation to create content?

Behavioral symptoms: 

• Do you struggle to focus and complete tasks?
• Are you missing project deadlines regularly?
• Do you feel like you’ve lost passion and interest in what you do?

‘Yes’ answers to any of these questions can indicate that you’re dealing with burnout. Your next port of call is to manage what you’re experiencing. 

Managing Burnout When You’re Already Feeling It

You’re in burnout mode and need to pull yourself out of it. These steps are designed to relieve the sense of doom systematically. Rest assured that these steps are backed by science. 

Though the ideas below may seem trivial and inadequate, don’t let thoughts like these win. A common symptom of burnout is impatience and difficulty following through. That’s because your body and mind feel like they ‘can’t do more’ and need a release. 

The good news is that the release you’re after is in the process. Following these steps will help you unwind from the mental and physical tension of burnout.

Step 1: Acknowledge It (and Release the Guilt)

Owning your situation is an important first step toward moving through it. The human mind has an affinity for labeling things. When you accept that you are dealing with creator burnout, you allow yourself to take the next step: unwinding.

Acknowledging burnout may not be easy. Maybe you encounter resistance to the idea, with negative self-talk. You may think of yourself as “weak” or “incompetent,” that you “don’t deserve success”, or you’re “not good enough.”

Fortunately, here’s where science kicks in. 

Steve Andreas was a psychotherapist who studied under Abraham Maslow. In the late 1970s, his interest turned to the field of Neuro-linguistic Programming (NLP) — the study of how thoughts affect behavior. 

Andreas later developed a modality for transforming how people see themselves. This unique approach zeroes in on identifying the limiting beliefs, ideas, and behaviors a person has about themselves. 

Then, you systematically replace these negative concepts with permanent, positive, and empowering beliefs and ideas that translate into positive and empowering behaviors.

Andreas’ book titled Transforming Yourself: Becoming Who You Want to Be, explores the idea of resistance as an internal watchdog. It shows up when you’re about to do or experience something that could leave you vulnerable to perceived loss or even failure. 

Can you see how accepting the “burnout” label might leave you feeling like a failure? 

Unpack the “Burnout” Label.

Accepting burnout doesn’t mean failure. In NLP, it’s just a result. Experiencing burnout is a product of your behavior. 

Note that we haven’t used qualifiers to describe your behavior as “good” or “bad.”

How you choose to perceive the outcome is what links all the negative associations to your state. If your state is a product of certain behaviors, then changing those behaviors will deliver different results. 

This approach to addressing resistance involves accepting it. The resistance you might feel when accepting that you’re burned out, and need rest, can be overcome by asking yourself a few questions. 

It’s Time You Had The Talk.

Imagine sitting down with the version of yourself that resists the idea of burnout. Acknowledge that this part of you is valid and that there is a good reason for resisting. 

Then, ask why you’re resisting. 

This part may seem odd and confusing. But lead with empathy. Realize that this part of you wants the best for you. It’s trying to protect you from something it may not fully understand. 

But if you approach with empathy and a deep desire to understand what’s causing the resistance, you will uncover a valid reason.

Ideas of being “weak,” “incompetent,” or “not being good enough,” are defense mechanisms. Part of you uses these labels to protect you from taking risks and feeling vulnerable. 

Choose the Next Step

Next, you want to take the next step towards a resolution. Once you know why you’re experiencing resistance, ask that part of yourself if you can address burnout if it means you can live a better, healthier, and more fulfilling life. 

Assure this part of you that you will always listen to whatever feedback it offers, especially if anything that feels like a threat comes up.

Take a moment and try this exercise. It will feel uncomfortable at first. But stick with it. 

You’ll find that the more you practice it, the easier it will be to uncover why that part of you is resistant to change.

When you’re able to visualize your resistance and qualify it, you’re able to address it.

And when you resolve the resistance, you’ll find it much easier to move to the next step.

For example, instead of saying, “I can’t finish editing this file because I’m weak,” say, “I can take a break and return to this work when my mind is rested and calmer.” Which brings us to…

Step 2: Take an Intentional Break

There’s a long list of good reasons to take time off, including improved mental health, enhanced productivity, and a lower risk of chronic illness.

But what does taking a break look like for someone in the middle of burnout?

Each situation is unique. There’s a good chance you’ve got a long list of items to get through, and that’s okay. You may not be able to drop everything and disappear for a while, but you can shift a few things around. I recommend you do. 

How to Carve Out Break Time

To carve out a break, first figure out how much time you’ll need. A short break can be anything from three to five days, and a longer break is five or more days.

Next, list everything due during the window you plan to take your break. Order your list by most important and urgent and how much work remains with each project.

Breaking those tasks down into sub-tasks will help. 

If you haven’t already, negotiate a deadline. It’s not ideal, but when you’re in burnout mode, the stakes are higher than you imagine.  Deadlines help creators know when the work will end, rather than plodding on an eternal treadmill. 

Continuing to push yourself harder only leads to more physical, mental, and emotional damage. Negotiating 3 to 5 days off is far from earth-shattering. Explain to project stakeholders that you need a few days off to recharge to return and do your best work. 

Try This Negotiation Method

For example, if you have a sponsorship commitment, here’s how you could negotiate an extension using an email script that you can modify: 

Hi [name],

Hope you’re safe and well. 

We have a deadline for [add project name] and I’m thrilled to get into it.

But right now, I’m burned out and need a little R&R. 

I want to deliver the best possible [type of project] to [mention your sponsor’s goal here], and rest will guarantee that I do.

Can we shift the [include any previously agreed to project milestones and delivery dates here] by [mention the number of days here] day to [add new delivery date here]?

Sincerely,

[Your name]

Burnout is universal. Your sponsors experience it as much as creators do, so your email won’t be considered a new phenomenon.

Creator-sponsor collaborations are also exactly that: collaborations. Sending an open and honest email with a contingency plan shows you’re aware of your responsibilities and commitments.

It also shows that you are professional enough to want to deliver the best possible results for your sponsor.

If you’re able to take time off, here’s a quick list of must-dos:

• Set up your out-of-office response
• Let everyone you work with know that you will be offline for a while
• Put your phone away

What if you can’t take time off? Step three will help you find a better way to manage burnout with healthier boundaries. 

Step 3: Set Healthier Boundaries

If you’re not able to take time off, here are three ways to create a more empowering and rest-conscious work life:

Create physical boundaries. If you haven’t yet, create a dedicated workspace. Separating your work and living spaces will help you distinguish between work and personal time. This works even if you create content at home. 

Your workspace can be a corner of a room, but keep it there. Working from bed may feel like a creator’s dream, but doing so breaks the barrier between your work and relaxation spaces. 

Without that physical boundary, you can justify or excuse detrimental behavior. Your bed no longer signals your body to relax and rest. Plus, sitting down to work won’t feel like structured focus time. 

Set time boundaries. Know when your workday starts and ends. Schedule “content-free days.” The easiest way to enjoy content-free days is by dedicating time to “content production days.” When you batch content creation, you can prepare ahead of time. With content already in the pipeline, it’s easier to take time off. 

Use mental boundaries. Saying “no” to collaborations that don’t align isn’t a weakness. It doesn’t mean that you’re never going to find more opportunities to generate an income, either. It is, however, a smarter way to run your business and manage your life. 

Suppose you produce a podcast about socks, and a beer company asks you to collaborate on a sponsored episode. Despite the potential for great puns about sock hops, this match is too much of a stretch to make quality digital content. 

The “right opportunity” looks different for every creator, and what matters most is the long game. You want to be able to continue to create your best work, and that requires protecting your time. 

You should know…

Saying “no” isn’t ever the only option. You can always negotiate terms, and I urge you to. If it’s a timing issue, suggest two or three options that work for your schedule and listen to feedback.  

Step 4: Embrace Milestones

Almost every system or framework for productivity is based on planning and achieving milestones. Milestones are easy to set, but can be hard to stick to. That’s why burnout is so prevalent among creators. 

Few creators work towards a specific point and rest. Instead, they push on, creating an imbalance that leads to creator burnout. 

Embracing milestones shifts your focus toward an immediate and smaller goal. It makes the larger, more overwhelming goal seem more attainable. Milestones make working at a comfortable pace over a specific period manageable.

The exciting news is that it all starts with you. You get to set the milestones and create the plans for achieving them. You’re in control. 

For example, say to yourself, “After I edit three episodes, I will…” and choose a reward that fits. Whether that reward is an ice cream cone or a new mystery novel, rewarding yourself for achieving milestones makes your effort feel meaningful. 

Step 5: Find a Support System

Asking for support may sound like you’re folding, but it’s far from it. Humans are social creatures, and we need to be involved in relationships to thrive. Research shows that close friendships not only make people more adaptive to stress but also lower depression and anxiety, states linked to burnout. 

Finding your tribe might seem a little tough, especially when you’re battling burnout. But there are many creators like you, all working toward similar goals and part of supportive communities.

For example, The Podcast Host’s Indiepod Community helps podcasters share ideas, discuss strategies, and commiserate. Virtual co-working groups help creators use body doubling to feel like they’re part of a productive team. Kit’s list of 20 of the best creator communities is a treasure trove worth exploring, too.

There are options if you need more dedicated support to help you find unique coping mechanisms and a more tailored approach to managing life.

You can seek out a therapist or a coach who works directly with creators to help them cut through the noise and distractions of the creator lifestyle to build a successful and rewarding business.

Preventing Creator Burnout Before It Starts

It’s far easier to save yourself from burnout than to nurse yourself out of it. To help, I’ve pulled together some of the best advice I’ve found on creating the right circumstances to avoid burnout.

Understand Your Rhythm

As a creator, you’ve likely developed habits that have brought you thus far. And by now, you’ve gathered that managing burnout is all about adopting habits that make it harder to step into the burnout trap. 

Start by learning your most efficient way of working. Neuroscientist Mithu Storoni recommends that you structure work according to your brain efficiency.

Finding your brain efficiency is knowing your body’s circadian rhythm, and how your energy levels fit different tasks. It could look something like this: 

Morning Focus: Engage in tasks requiring deep concentration during mid to late morning when cognitive functions peak.

Creative Tasks: Schedule creative activities early in the morning or late at night, aligning with periods conducive to innovative thinking.

Afternoon Slump: Recognize the post-lunch dip in energy and plan less demanding tasks during this time.

Knowing your natural rhythm allows you to experiment with other workflow frameworks. You can capitalize on the best times to do specific tasks and do them well.

Use the Right Tools to Work Smarter, Not Harder

Many creators delegate tasks to alleviate their workload rather than trying to do it all themselves. This shouldn’t shock you, but you can join the bandwagon if you aren’t on it yet. There are many ways to create systems that not only complement your workflow but also enhance it significantly.

Podcasting tools come in all sizes and budgets, and are customizable too. Today, you can automate social media, emails, and editing for almost any content. 

Before you spend any of your hard-earned money, though, take the time to map out how your business runs. Drawing out processes will show you where there’s room for improvement and potential automation. 

You’ll also likely find opportunities to dial down operational costs. 

Build a Sustainable Content Strategy

Your goal is consistency, creativity, and well-being. With 98% of creators managing stress by taking regular time off, it’s no stretch that actual content creation could be a major factor contributing to creator burnout. 

To make content creation easier and minimize stress, here are three best practices worth adopting: 

1. Plan Ahead

Creating a content calendar that includes dedicated off days. This ensures you have time to recharge, which is crucial for long-term productivity. 

2. Think “Evergreen” 

Topics that remain relevant over time can also reduce the pressure of constantly chasing trends. This not only saves time but also establishes your authority in your niche. 

For example, fitness creators who livestream your fitness classes can record and sell them as one-time purchases, or add them to a membership in your fitness app you run as extra value for your community.

3. Become a Bulk and Multi-Purpose Creator

Content batching and repurposing are powerful ways to streamline content production. By creating multiple pieces of content in one session, you can focus on a single, high-yield task and do it well. Repurposing content across platforms affords you scalability. You can maximize your output without exhausting yourself. 

Consider this, if you’re posting the same content on Instagram, TikTok, Pinterest, and YouTube, doing it manually can be mentally draining for such a simple task. Instead, you can automatically crosspost your Instagram content to other platforms, saving time and mental energy.

Another option is to leverage shoppable content on platforms like Instagram or TikTok, allowing content creators to tag products directly in posts and monetize them.

Monetize Smarter, Not Harder

It’s no secret that being a content creator is a slog, but it doesn’t have to feel like you’re starting at zero each month. Smart content creators build businesses that:

• Diversify income streams to reduce financial pressure
• Make money from multiple monetization methods

Let’s look at a case study where a digital content creator uses a variety of products and services to make money.

Case Study: The Bloom Method

Brooke Cates launched The Bloom Method, a niche membership pioneering prenatal and postnatal fitness and movement. She runs her video membership business on Uscreen, an all-in-one video streaming platform with built-in community and membership functionality.

The kicker? Brooke’s business generates over $1m in annual recurring revenue. 

She’s been able to build her business with memberships and created six live streaming apps (all customized and white-labeled with Uscreen).

Brooke didn’t stop at a video membership service. She has an eCommerce store, too. It’s where members can find quality apparel and workout equipment.

Finding your diversification and monetization methods isn’t as complex as you might think. Start with some competitive analysis. What are your competitors offering? What are their business models?  Could you offer something similar or better, and what would it take to create that offering?

Here’s a list of monetization options to get you started:

• Affiliate marketing: promoting products and services from other brands
• Brand and sponsorship deals: pitch brands the opportunity to reach a wider audience with tailored content you produce
• eCommerce: sell digital or physical products, like ebooks, guides, courses, or merchandise
• Memberships: create an exclusive membership with a recurring monthly subscription
• Run ads with your content: Depending on where your content is displayed, there are several ad-based monetization options available, like Google’s Adsense program that pays for impressions of ads shown before, during, and after videos on YouTube
• Collaborate with other creators: Build products and services with creators 
• Dropshipping: Like eCommerce, but without the need to stock inventory, dropshipping offers lower risk and the opportunity to earn by selling products to your audience

Prioritize Rest & Recovery 

This one is straightforward, so I saved it for last. Rest and recovery allow you to recharge and create your best stuff. Physical activity aids sleep, and, subsequently, focus. Small self-care efforts, such as taking a walk in nature, creative fun like doodling or freewriting in a journal, or a short nap, prevent burnout more effectively than “big self-care industry” options.

Become the kind of person who prioritizes rest and gets it in three ways:

• Daily resets: Unplug after work. Switch off your phone and turn to family, friends, or pets and connect with them.
• Deep rest days: Schedule time off without guilt. Work deep rest days into your calendar in advance. A friend of mine plans five-day breaks for the end or start of each quarter, a quarter out. This makes rest a calendar entry that must be respected.
• Hobbies beyond content creation: Throw yourself into something that doesn’t involve a screen. You can take up a new sport, join a book club, or learn how to sketch urban settings. There’s a whole world of possibilities out there just waiting for you.

You Deserve a Sustainable Creative Career

Creator burnout doesn’t have to be a permanent roadblock. It’s a challenge you can overcome with the right strategies and mindset. As long as you consistently manage your workload and rest, you’ll find it easier to tap into your creative energy when needed.

Don’t forget to bookmark this guide and revisit it whenever burnout starts to creep in. This is your go-to resource to reset, recharge, and rediscover your passion. Your creativity deserves to thrive, and so do you!

Congratulations! 

You’re experiencing what artists, writers, scientists and entertainers have experienced since time immemorial. Impostor syndrome, also known as the impostor experience, impostor phenomenon, or fraud syndrome, is part of creativity. It’s been known to make creators second-guess themselves to the point of complete inactivity.

However, if you address it directly, you can use it to gain momentum on your project. 

There are several different ways that this phenomenon works on creative people. Each can be unpacked and rebuilt into a tool you can use to get back to work and improve your project.

As soon as you notice you feel fraudulent, admit it to yourself. Then figure out why, and how you can fix it. When we make something new, there’s always uncertainty. This can lead to fear and feelings of inadequacy. 

Let’s take a look at some of the frequently-heard statements that creative people cope with during a bout with Impostor Syndrome. 

1. “I don’t know what I’m doing.” 

Sometimes, you don’t know enough about a topic to move forward confidently. This gap in your knowledge can disguise itself as feeling like someone who is bluffing their way through a project. In that case, it’s a good idea to take a step back, do more research, or break it down into parts that you do understand.

Working on a large project in smaller parts can make goals simpler to achieve.

2. “One more thing needs to be fixed.” 

Perfectionism can make a creator stick in place like a car spinning its wheels in the mud. The need to fix punctuation, brushstrokes, volume levels and so on, is often a desire to not let the project into someone else’s hands.

Give yourself a deadline and a concrete goal, and stick to it. It might not be perfect, but it’s met the goal you set out to achieve. 

3. “They will find out that I’m no good.” 

Who? Are you making work for an army of enemies? Is there a rogues’ gallery of cartoon villains sitting on bleachers, eagerly waiting to tear your work to shreds, sneer, jeer and laugh?

Those cartoon villains hate everything.

Instead, remember that when you create, there are people you haven’t met yet for whom it will have meaning.  This is one of the beautiful things about podcasting. Your work can reach people all over the world, with all kinds of life experience, not just the kind of people you know in your home town. 

4. “Someone will call me out for a particular detail.” 

If there’s a gap in your research and/or technique, own it. As theatre practitioners and fiction writers say, “Hang a lantern on it.”

For example, in the musical Hamilton, Lin-Manuel Miranda was compelled to write a song about Eliza Hamilton’s reaction to her husband’s infidelity. However, historians know little to nothing about how the Hamilton family coped with this because the family kept their pain private. The lyric, “Let future historians wonder how Eliza reacted”, is a moment where the author gives the character agency over her own privacy.  By highlighting the gap in historic detail, Miranda left the audience feeling more sympathetic toward the characters.

5. “I don’t have enough…” 

Fill in the blank. Is it that you don’t have enough time? Physical strength? Ink? Paint? Battery power in your Zoom recorder?

What would it take for you to have enough resources? Or, how can you get around it? Fill in those empty spaces, and make strategies so nothing gets between you and completion. Get help where you can.

6. “If I’m good at it, it must be not that big of a deal.” 

A cruel and inescapable facet of impostor syndrome is that creators can’t always let themselves enjoy their own success. When all your peers do work similar to yours, achievements don’t always feel unique. 

Remember that your peers are your allies. If you’re stuck on something, share strategies, or at least commiserate. When someone among you succeeds, congratulate them. The podcast community can be very good at building each other up. 

Collect your praise and save it. If someone writes something nice about your work, take a screenshot or cut it out, and keep it in a clipping folder. Remember that we are all good at different things, and not everyone can do what you do. 

7. “My ideas just aren’t any good.” 

This happens more often than people want to admit. Sometimes you have to let a concept go. Keep notes about it, in case you want to revisit it in the future. Sometimes you don’t have a choice if you’re working on a commission or a collaboration. In that case, here are two ways of dealing with falling out of love with your idea. You can:

• Go back to your original notes. Look at what made you want to explore this topic in the first place. What was it that initially made you enamored with the project? 
• Turn it around to find a new interesting element. If you’re writing fiction, revisit it from the point of view of the most minor character in the story. If you’re frustrated with a sound technique, try doing the opposite of what you’re currently doing. 

Brian Eno and Peter Schmidt created a deck of cards called The Oblique Strategies Deck, for when they felt stuck on creative projects. It’s a deck of plain white cards, each with a simple strategy to try. They include such statements as “Abandon Normal Instruments,” “Use An Old Idea”, or “Try Faking It!” 

The Alitu Showplanner can also give you a helping hand when it comes to fleshing out your ideas and concepts. Tell it a little about your podcast (or the podcast you want to make), and it’ll give you detailed feedback, suggestions, and plenty more inspiration in just a few minutes.

If all else fails, go for a walk. 

In 2014, a Stanford University study published in the Journal of Experimental Psychology stated that the act of walking, whether outdoors or indoors, on a path or on a treadmill, enhanced creativity and generated new ideas. Even just pacing can help you get perspective. If nothing else, it’ll improve your circulation. 

Feeling like a fraud, or inadequate, is a normal part of trying to make something new. Because what you’re making has never existed before, it’s reasonable to expect some insecurity. Using strategy and creativity to conquer your negative feelings allows you to take control of your work and see it through to completion. Impostor syndrome helps podcasters, as long as they can use it to their advantage.

Coping With Impostor Syndrome: What Next?

Community and camaraderie are two brilliant tonics for impostor syndrome, and you’ll find both inside our IndiePod space for independent creators. Here, you can meet potential new collaborators, get or give advice, and take part in regular activities and sessions. It’s a great place to be.

It seems that every day, more and more people are becoming privy to this secreted, multi-faceted source of entertainment and knowledge that we’ve struggled to keep under wraps in the last few years.

In 2023, a whopping 79% of people in the US were familiar with the concept of podcasting. Even my grandmother knows what a podcast is. Granted, she has no idea how to get them, but she knows they exist.

Podcasts are not that new of a medium (some would argue they’re not new at all). But in the past few years, we’ve seen them created and downloaded at record rates.

So, let’s dig into why podcasts are so popular right now.

1. The Content is Easy to Access

If you have a smartphone, tablet or computer, you can access a podcast with next-to-no effort. Your phone and tablet most likely have a native podcatching app built right in, but if not, it’s a few quick swipes, and you have one. With a computer, you can type “podcast” into Google, and the first few results will give you access to podcasts.

Not only are they easy to access, but in 99%* of the cases (*not an actual reported number), podcasts are free. Sure, you can access a premium listening app like Spotify, which offers some exclusive content. But most podcasts are available at no cost, right there in an app or browser.

This easy, free access makes podcasting a popular option for entertainment or knowledge.

2. You Can Listen to What You Want

There are over 89-millon* podcast episodes available (*an actual reported number) for listeners to choose from. Chances are, whatever you want to listen to can be found in podcast form with a few clicks or a couple of keywords in a search.

Whether you fancy an in-depth discussion on a particular true-crime case, want to catch the latest political news, need to escape with a fictional story or want to up your business game with some new tips and tricks, there’s a podcast for that. You can even use podcasts to get your next ASMR or Binaural Beats fix.

We live in a content-driven world, and people want to be delivered content on topics they want. The popularity of podcasts can, at least in part, be attributed to the fact that it’s the listener’s choice. You can pick and choose exactly what you want. 

3. Podcasting is a Multi-Task Friendly Medium

I don’t know anyone who just listens to a podcast episode. 

I listen to Dateline while I work, True Crime Obsessed while I blog, and 48 Hours and Forensic Files while I research—but I never sit in a chair with a glass of wine and simply listen to a podcast. And I truly don’t know anyone that does.

Us podcasters would love to think that our audience is solely focused on us when we’re laying down our expert knowledge and superior comedy skills. But podcasts are almost meant to be listened to while you do something else. 

And it’s that ability to be put on as entertaining (or informative) background noise that answers the question of why podcasts are so popular. They’re a great choice for so many situations—driving, cleaning, cooking and working! 

4. They Build Intimacy

When I say that podcasts build intimacy, I’m not talking about connecting you with a loved one—though if you enjoy podcasts together like you would television, that very well could be the case. Instead, I’m talking about intimacy with the hosts.

When you watch Avengers, and you see Chris Evan’s Captain America on the screen you feel a connection to the character and possibly, by extension, the actor. But you know it’s not the real person. 

But when it comes to podcasting, especially in the non-fiction space, you connect with an actual host (or several). They also tend to be a lot more accessible via social channels or email than your average media personality. 

Listening to a podcast is like hanging out with friends and enjoying a discussion on a topic you’re interested in. The relationship that’s established helps podcast listeners keep coming back.  

5. Podcasts Provide an Instant Community

Podcasters built communities to engage and grow their listenership. But this does more than simply increase download numbers and help engage sponsors – it attracts listeners who are looking for a community.

The communities surrounding podcasts are one of the assets that make them unique and apart from other entertainment-based mediums. The communities are closer to those that you might experience with a blog than a film or television show—private spaces to interact with podcast hosts, a look into the behind-the-scenes world and lots of interaction with other members of the community.

Do Other Forms of Entertainment Drive Podcast Popularity?

There’s a debate around what made podcasting “explode” into the mainstream. For some, it was Serial, a podcast where investigative journalist Sarah Koenig delved into the 1999 murder case of Hae Min Lee. For others, it was when Apple pre-installed the Apple Podcasts app on iOS devices. Both happened in 2014, and these factors likely contributed to the growth of the medium in that period, though it’s worth pointing out that podcast audiences have almost always grown, year after year.

Podcasting is a self-sustaining medium, but it doesn’t exist in a vacuum. More than a decade ago, Ricky Gervais’s RSK XFM radio show became a hugely popular podcast. Fast forward to 2022, and we saw the TV show Only Murders in the Building revolve around the plot of running a true crime podcast. Between all that, you’ve got podcasts made into movies and TV shows, TV shows made into podcasts, and a whole host of famous folks and “influencers” from other platforms and mediums bringing their followers over to podcasting.  

The Popularity of Podcasts Is Only Increasing

The history of podcasting can be traced back to its “audio blogging” roots, and it has grown slowly and steadily since October 2000. During that time, popular podcasts have come and gone, and there have been various podcast trends along the way. Recently, stories were even doing the rounds that podcasting was dying. But as Mark Twain once said, “Rumours of my death are greatly exaggerated”.

Podcasting is now part of mainstream popular culture, and it’s a big part of many people’s lives, too. But there are still billions out there who, for one reason or another, still haven’t yet discovered this brilliant medium. On the one hand, that feels a little sad, but on the other, it’s a huge opportunity for podcasting to continue its growth long into the future. There’s a real power in words, and through podcasting, those words can be delivered right into the ears of the folks that need them!

Podcast Statistics & Industry Trends 2024: Listens, Gear, & More

Read article called: Podcast Statistics & Industry Trends 2024: Listens, Gear, & More

Sure, you can hang a pair of headphones around your neck, add a little shadow to the circles under your eyes, and call yourself a “zombie podcaster,” but why? Halloween is the best time to share your special interests with your neighbors. If you dress up as one of the pioneers of podcasting, you can show your neighbors and friends that podcasters aren’t the joke that TV says they are.

Pulling together a memorable ensemble doesn’t have to be hard. Here are some leads to help you craft an excellent Halloween Costume for Podcasters.

This post may contain affiliate links. If you purchase something through one of these links, we may earn a small commission. But, you don’t pay anything extra.

Ada Lovelace

Ada Lovelace was a mathematician, the first computer programmer, and the daughter of Lord Byron. She broke the path for podcasting by pursuing the intersection of electricity, mathematics, and her “calculus of the nervous system,” or how the brain makes emotions and ideas. For this Halloween costume for podcasters, wear an empire waist dress paired with a bolero jacket or cardigan. Accessorize your Regency-era hair with a fancy headband.

Tesla, Marconi or Popov?

It’s still debated as to who invented wireless communication via radio waves: Nikola Tesla, Guglielmo Marconi, or Aleksandr Popov. But this Halloween costume for podcasters isn’t hard as long as you have a suit and tie. What makes the difference is the paper collars that people wore to make their shirts seem freshly starched. If you’re good with a pair of scissors and can tie a cravat, you’re all set. The earbuds were invented in 1891, and the first audio headphones were around 1910. So, any of these gents may have had a pair. You can make a replica using one of the (surprisingly many) tutorials on YouTube for how to make headphones out of cardboard.

Orson Welles

Actor, screenwriter and director Orson Welles brought us Mercury Theater’s 1938 radio broadcast War of the Worlds. Now, not a single World Audio Drama Day (October 30) can go by without this image getting passed around like nuts at Christmas.

Holiday traditions always make me sentimental.

Welles made an unforgettable radio drama by pushing the boundary between news programming and live performance. The reputed panic was, apparently, more media hype than actual hysteria. But, Welles apologized the next day. For Welles’ Halloween costume for podcasters, a good pair of trousers, a sweat-stained shirt and tie, suspenders, and tousled hair will do. Bonus points if you douse yourself with the smell of bourbon and cigars.

Hedy Lamarr

If you like your wireless headphones, thank this Austro-American actress and mathematician. Hedy Lamarr fled her first husband and the Nazis in the mid-1930s. Soon afterward, she became one of the top actresses in Hollywood. During World War II, she worked with George Antheil to develop “frequency hopping,” a radio guidance system for Allied torpedoes. Her concept built what would become contemporary Wi-Fi, GPS, and Bluetooth. Dressing as Ms. Lamarr is a bold move, but it’s a fabulous Halloween costume for podcasters. For a 1940s silhouette, wear a dress that emphasizes the shoulders and nips the waist with a long skirt. Add a dark wig, long lashes, dark red lipstick, and a fearless attitude.

Richard Durham

There’s a vast treasure trove of 1940s African-American radio drama, and Richard Durham created it. Durham was a poet, dramatist, journalist, and labor party organizer. Between 1948 and 1950, Durham produced Destination Freedom for Chicago radio station WMAQ. This radio drama program profiled important African Americans through history and dramatized their contributions to democracy. Another rare quality of Durham’s work for the time was the shows focused on women, not only men. Episodes include stories about Harriet Tubman, Sojourner Truth, and Ida B. Wells. Richard Durham was a simple dresser: for this Halloween costume, a good work shirt and trousers should suffice. It’s pretty much the same ensemble as Orson Welles, without the pretensions. You can listen to episodes of Destination Freedom on archive.org.

Ira Glass

Dressing as This American Life’s Ira Glass is too easy. Dark jacket, light button-down shirt, skinny jeans, big glasses. You’re probably wearing it right now. You might also be John Hodgman. This is one facial hair choice and paper collar away from the Tesla, Marconi, or Popov Halloween costume for podcasters.

Only Murders In The Building

Okay, these are TV characters, but they’re worth it. If you’re the right age and height to get away with dressing as Charles, Oliver, or Mabel, please do. Costume designer Dana Covarrubias has designed a set of color palettes and ensembles worthy of cosplay tribute. This could be a great father-daughter Halloween costume for podcasters, especially if you have a marigold faux fur jacket or violet overcoat.

Be The Podcaster You Want To See In The World

Podcasters spend so much time alone working hard on our shows that we miss out on a lot of fun. No wonder the normies think podcasters are weird; we’re stuck at our computers all the time. Then again, I just called people who don’t podcast “normies,” so who’s the one with the problem?

Traditionally, Halloween is a time to celebrate our ancestors. With these Halloween costumes for podcasters, you can celebrate wireless communication pioneers and inspire others. Spark conversation while you give out candy or go to a party. Be the freaky neighbor who gives the local kids something to remember and look up to for years to come.

There are a few TED Talks about podcasting that are worth checking out. But for me, it’s the content that’s not specifically about podcasting that’s most useful to podcasters. The speakers who share their expertise on topics like nurturing creativity, engaging listeners and tackling procrastination – that’s where podcasters can pull real value.

So here are a few of my favourites…

P.S. if you’re a devout audio-only content consumer, don’t worry. There’s a TED Podcast too.

1. How to Speak So That People Want to Listen 

Helpful for: Working on your tone of voice to engage listeners. 

Have you ever given up listening to a podcast because the host wasn’t engaging, even when you were really interested in the content? I have.

It’s a pretty crucial skill to have when running a podcast: speaking in a way that people want to listen.

In this talk, sound expert Julian Treasure provides some excellent tips not just on improving your vocals with exercises but also on how to speak with empathy – which is key to engaging an audience. Practice H.A.I.L (Honesty, Integrity, Authenticity and Love), he says, and you will win over audiences. This is very much in line with how podcasters operate.

2. 10 Ways to Have Better Conversations

Helpful for: Developing a strong and engaging interview style.

I’m not exaggerating when I say this is probably the most useful TED talk I’ve ever watched. You might think you don’t need any help with having good conversations, but by the end of this talk, you’ll realise you probably do.

Celeste Headlee is a former radio host, so she really knows her stuff when it comes to developing and improving your interview style. In this session, she highlights the difference between knowing how to talk and how to listen. We are more polarised than ever before, she says, and this is partly due to the fact we don’t know how to listen properly.

Every one of the tips she gives is excellent and still gets me thinking every time I watch it (and I’ve watched this video a lot). Headlee will help you give great podcast interviews without wasting time, getting bored or offending anyone. Essentially, if you’re having great conversations on your podcast, your listeners will have a great time too.

3. The Real Reason You Procrastinate

Helpful for: Overcoming any procrastination and productivity challenges you might have with your podcast. 

This one’s not a TED video as such – it’s an audio piece. But it’s great TED talk material, and as podcasters, we don’t need video to appreciate great content, do we? 

This is a great TED talk for those among us who always miraculously find five other really important tasks we need to do before we can record that new episode. The presenter, Adam Grant, speaks with multi-award-winning author Margaret Atwood and Psychologist Fuschia Sirois. They run through the reasons why we put the important tasks off and what we can do to fix that. What I like most about this talk is that it doesn’t just provide actionable procrastination-busting tips, but encourages us to think of procrastination as a result of a state of mind.

They talk about how procrastination comes not from being lazy, but from a fear of feeling negative emotions. These negative emotions tend to be feelings of incompetency and fear of failure. So if you struggle with things like impostor syndrome, focusing on overcoming these negative thoughts will also have a big impact on the content you produce.

4. The Secret to Great Public Speaking

Helpful for: Thinking bigger about your podcast episode topics.

Chris Anderson is the curator of TED Talks, so if there’s one thing he knows, it’s what makes a good talk. This session isn’t about providing public speaking tips and tricks, though – it’s about taking a step back and thinking about the bigger picture of what makes a ‘good’ talk (or, in our case, a good podcast topic). 

Great talks, he says, are able to transfer an idea into your audience’s brains. This happens when a pattern of neurons in your brain is repeated in the brains of those listening. It’s a really nice way of thinking about the impact you can have on your podcaster listeners.

Strong ideas have the potential to really change how others think about the world. This is really prevalent in podcasting: ‘bringing about change in culture and the world’ is consistently one of the top reasons people start podcasts, according to data we gather through our Podcast Planner tool.

Anderson gives some great tips on making your ideas stick with your audience, including limiting to one idea per episode, giving listeners a reason to care and building your ideas around things you know your audience will already understand.

5. Want to Be More Creative? Go For a Walk

Helpful for: Overcoming podcaster’s creative block.

This TED talk is a short one, but it really packs a punch. You’ve probably heard people say that walking is good for your creativity, but is there really science behind it? Turns out, there is. 

The video is only 5 minutes long, but the TL;DW is that you should:

• Choose a podcast idea or a topic you want to brainstorm before you go for a walk 
• Go for a walk (at a speed that is comfortable enough that you don’t notice you’re walking)
• Come up with as many ideas as you can. Record your ideas as a voice note on your phone or a recording device – don’t write them down, as this can disrupt the flow of your idea.

This formula, Marily Oppezzo claims, has now been scientifically proven to help you overcome creator’s block. And you can’t argue with science!

6. The Danger of Silence

I want to finish with this goosebump-inducing talk from Clint Smith on the dangers of not using your voice. It’s a strong reminder that our voice is our most powerful tool, and of the impact you can make as a podcaster by using your platform for good.

Consuming motivational content like these TED Talks, which aren’t specifically about podcasting, is important for two reasons. The first is that there’s always so much to learn from other industries and areas of expertise, and a vast proportion of it is easily transferrable to podcasting. And secondly, if we’re all just constantly consuming content about podcasting, where will the innovation come from? It’s easy to get tunnel vision. Talks like these pull us out to look at the bigger picture of why we create podcasts in the first place and how to make them better.

Podcasting Stages Are Similar to Growing Up

When you start a new podcast, you’re actually starting a new creative life. And just like you grew up from a baby to an adult in stages, you will most likely follow similar stages in your podcasting life. As with your human life stages, these podcasting stages have easy and difficult moments. I’ll focus on how they can impact your podcast’s creative growth.

Embrace Your Podcasting Baby-Like Curiosity

When we start something new, it’s awkward. We might feel needy and make a lot of mistakes. This is all a part of the process. Putting yourself out there in your podcast is a vulnerable act. Knowing that vulnerability comes with awkwardness can help you sit in discomfort. The good news is that your creative curiosity will be the highest during this stage. Your podcast ideas will burst out of you at a mile a minute. Let them.

Harness Your Questions in the Toddler Stage

As you learn the terminology, you’ll start to have more and more questions, like how to set recording levels, how you plan seasons and more. In the toddler stage, you are a learning sponge. Absorb every piece of information you encounter. As with human toddlers, this stage can be exhausting both for the toddler and for the people around them. The good news is that you know this stage is coming, so you can prepare for it.

Tips to Not Drive Podcasters Around You Crazy in the Toddler Stage

Many other new podcasters will ask questions in online and in-person podcasting groups you participate. Instead of asking questions all at once, spend more time listening first. You can learn from others’ questions without being too demanding yourself. Try:

• Listening (and taking notes) more than speaking in Facebook groups.
• Using the search function before asking a question in online groups.
• Saving your questions in order of importance in a digital space or maybe a paper notebook. Slowly ask one question at a time in group settings. And always thank the podcasters that answer your questions. You can even keep a running list of them and thank you tag them when you post your milestone posts (25 episodes, 100 episodes, 1-year podversary, etc.) in the group.
• Attending an online podcast conference and be an active reader of the chat room conversations.

Channel Your Rebelliousness in the Teenage Stage

Teenagers have a way of pushing back on traditions that can really help innovate how a culture functions. The same is true in podcasting. When you reach this stage, you’ll be really familiar with what best practices are, and you’ll be ready to challenge them. When done respectfully, this rebellious, creative energy can help move podcasting forward. I bet many disruptions in podcasting had a podcaster at this stage spearheading it.

By challenging podcasting norms, you may prove there’s a better way to do something. But remember, just like human teenagers can come across as angry and insensitive sometimes, these push-back moments are best done with kindness and respect. Chances are that, like most traditions, those best practices served a purpose when they started.

Nestle Into Routine in Your Podcast Adulthood

The adulthood stage of podcasting can be a time to relax: finally. After months or even years of your creative juices coursing through your veins, things calm down. This is a good time to set up systems as much as possible. Just like we go through huge growth spurts in real life, the same is true in your podcasting life. This could also be a time to start a second show with all the skills you’ve learned. Although you’ll probably want to publish episodes less frequently to make sure that your podcasting calm does not get disturbed. This probably doesn’t sound like a very creative time for you now. But we all need to slow down and let our creative juices refill. And that’s precisely what happens in this stage.

Bear Hug Your Generous Side by Giving Back in the Elder Stage

At this point, you’ve seen and heard so many of the same podcasting questions that you not only can answer them, but you can explain them with your own unique viewpoint. Podcasting can be a very friendly space for indy creators. There are quite a few seasoned podcasters sharing information and resources online and at in-person meet-ups. Even though you can share these things yourself at any stage in your podcast life, you’ll probably feel the biggest urge to do so in your elderly podcasting stage.

However, it’s worth noting that some folks might recommend that you keep your knowledge to yourself. The decision to become a gatekeeper is very real at that point. I encourage you to say HA to gatekeeping and instead lean into your generous side. When possible, use the words “can” or “might” instead of “should” to encourage newer podcasters to explore their creative curiosities. Share your experiences, not rigid rules.

The Stages Aren’t Always One-and-Done

Although these stages look like they occur in a clear order, the truth is that you may go through them out of order. You also might go through any one of the five stages a few times as a new podcaster. Here are a few situations when podcasters change their podcast, and it feels like they’ve gone backward.

If you…

…start out with a guest-driven show and then switch to a solo show

…change recording platforms like from Zencastr to Alitu

…go from recording weekly to batching your episodes

The good news is that as you go through the podcasting stages, each time you revert back to stage 1 in any skill, you’ll have more and more cumulative skills and can progress out of it faster. For example, when I switched from using Audacity to Hindenburg for editing my podcasts a couple of years ago, it slowed down my editing time. I had to watch video tutorials, experiment, and even get a tutor to find out how to do the things I knew how to do in Audacity but didn’t in Hindenburg. But after only a couple of months, I was editing faster, and my episodes sounded more professional than before. Compare that DAW learning experience to when I first learned to use Audacity, and it’s lightyears faster. This will happen to you too.

Focus on the Joy of Podcasting

Because podcasting is an open medium, there’s a fair bit of pressure that potential podcasters put on themselves before they start, and during the beginning of their podcast journey. Everything has to be perfect, right? Um, no. In fact, no matter where you start, you’ll learn and grow. Knowing these five playful stages can help you let go of unrealistic pressures and focus on enjoying podcasting.

Time was that this answer elicited well-intended smiles and glazed eyes. Fortunately, more people are familiar with podcasts now. They’re less likely to ask, “what’s a podcast?” or “how do I listen to one?” They’re more likely to assume that you spend all your time closeted with a bank of computer equipment, ranting obsessively, like Winslow in The Phantom of The Paradise.  

Fortunately, you can put those assumptions to rest and entertain your loved ones simultaneously. As a special winter gift to you, we’ve made Podcasting: The Game!  And now, for 2022, we bring you: Podcasting: The Game: The Expansion Deck! Now it has even more colons and exclaimation points for extra excitement.

What You Will Need to Play Podcasting: The Game!

You will need:

1. The game board (print it out right up there, bonus points if you let your little cousins color it in).
2. The cards (print them out, then cut out, shuffle and place face down)
3. A different coin for each player’s game piece (Remember coins? We used them to purchase goods and services before everything went digital. Ah, nostalgia!)
4. One coin that’s different from the others you’re using as playing pieces. Or, use Google’s nifty “flip a coin” tool. 

How to Play

The youngest player goes first, and then gameplay passes to the left.

On each turn, the player flips the coin. 

If the coin comes up heads, the player moves forward two spaces. If the coin comes up tails, they move forward one space. 

Always move in the direction of the finish line unless a card directs you to go back. 

After the player moves, they take a card.
Follow the instructions on each card, then put it back on the bottom of the deck. 

If gameplay hasn’t finished by the time you get to the bottom of the deck, the player furthest from the finish line shuffles and replaces the deck, and play continues. 

The first person to get to the finish line is The Best Podcaster Ever, and they get to wear a shiny tiara.*

Podcasting: The Game: The Extras!

For more challenging, true-to-life play, you can add the following rule. Players can each decide whether or not their podcast has transcripts. If so, they skip their first turn. After that, they move one extra space forward on every turn, regardless of what the card says.

And Now: The Expansion Deck!

This PDF has more cards to show more podcasting challenges. Even if you’ve played the game before, now there are all new adventures in Podcasting: The Game.

Remember the rewarded traffic scandal earlier this year, when podcast directories bought podcast downloads on mobile games to inflate download numbers for certain podcasts? Do you remember when it looked as though Twitter would be The Next Big Thing in podcasting, and then it wasn’t? What about when two big creator-focused platforms laid off significant amounts of staff? Or when Instagram made it easier to promote your podcast with Reels and audiograms? The Expansion Deck shows you that there’s never a dull moment in podcasting.

In 2020, people started listening to podcasts more, but they listened to different kinds of podcasts. Some thought podcasts would suffer because fewer people commuted to work. Then, that rise went down a bit, but the demand for podcasts is still high. Audience tastes are unpredictable, and no one podcast does well (or badly) all the time.

The Object of Podcasting: The Game

The object of the game isn’t to win. It shows the players how podcasting requires a varied set of skills. It also requires patience, persistence, creativity, and meeting deadlines. 

Podcasting: the Game also shows how the obstacles and advantages can seem arbitrary. It shows how preparedness and consistency are necessary to keep moving forward. What matters is human connection, meaning, and balancing how much effort you put in with the enjoyment you get out of it.

Keep this in mind the next time your uncle starts bragging about your cousin who’s a lawyer or a doctor. Not only can they play this game with you, but when they’re ready to make a podcast, you can provide them with your rate sheet for consultancy services. If you play-test this game, let us know!

*Tiara not included.

What’s the Enneagram?

The enneagram is a complex, interconnected personality test that has ancient roots and a lot of modern-day interpretations. Consider this post enneagram lite because I’m only going to scratch the surface of this powerful tool. It’s also important to mention that I’m far from an expert on enneagrams. However, I’ve always been a firm believer that the self-awareness it provides can be used to help improve our podcasts. This has already been proved by the podcasters that I’ll share with you in a bit. But first, we need to touch on a few enneagram basics.

Enneagram Quick Facts:

• There are nine personality types (image above). We’ll be highlighting types 1 & 4.
• It has ancient roots and has had a resurgence in the past few years
• This is popular in both religious AND secular environments (we’re keeping it secular)
• There are three centres of intelligence (thinking, feeling, acting)

As I mentioned before, this tool is complex. There are triads, wings, and many more intricate ways to talk about the enneagram. If you’re curious for more, a quick Google search and/or search for podcasts in your favourite podcast app will provide you with plenty of information.

Here’s the free enneagram test that I took; there are many others, both free and more extensive paid versions.

Growth and Stress Paths to Improve Your Podcast

It’s easy enough to take the Enneagram personality test. There are many free versions available online. The challenging part is then using the knowledge from the test to move past mental blocks like possibly imposter syndrome. But, the beauty and sometimes the pain of the enneagram is the specific nature of our strengths and weaknesses that it points out. These are called growth and stress paths, and they are the cornerstones for improving our podcast. Paths because we can take the path to somewhere new OR we can refuse to face them. The choice is ours. Let’s find out how some podcasters used enneagrams to improve their podcast.

Type 1: Overcoming Perfectionism to Improve a Podcast

There are a few large hurdles in a podcaster’s creative life, in order:

• publishing the first episode
• getting the first listener feedback/engagement
• monetization

You Don’t Have to Do Everything Perfectly.

Podcast groups are filled with wanna-be podcasters asking so many questions that it almost seems like they’re opening up a production house. This tendency to overprepare and thus, unfortunately, delay publishing that first episode is very, very common. And it’s also something that Melissa Lent, Host of Tired In My Twenties, dealt with until very recently when she finally hit PUBLISH.

But when she was setting up her podcast, she thought:

“…I have to do this to make it successful, I have to do that to make it successful. I have to go above and beyond with every single thing that I’m doing to be successful. And I have to push myself to the limit of what I could do every single time to be successful.”

Give Your Podcast Room to Grow and Change

There were a few things that made her realize that the podcast could change and grow over time instead of needing to be perfect from the get-go. Facing her stress path of perfectionism for her enneagram type 1 was one of the factors that made her realize this. Type 1’s are so organized and idealistic that sometimes, their own rigid sense of right and wrong (or correct and incorrect) can stop anything from happening. We’ve all done this to some extent, but for type 1’s, the intensity of perfectionism and the frozen state can be overwhelming. And this was the case for Melissa during the 4-month podcast publication delay she experienced this year.

But hey, type 1’s, she pushed through it, and so can you! The key is to find out your Enneagram type, face your stress path and build ways to work around it. Just like she did!

Type 4: Keeping Emotions Balanced to Improve Your Podcast

You can tell by listening to Laura Joyce Davis’ voice on Shelter in Place that she speaks from the heart. The genuine emotional pauses, the heart high and low tones that her voice travels on, and more show this quality. Part of the time, you’re along for the story, but you’re also there for the voice, the personality telling the story: Laura. This delivery style, this way of moving vocally through the world, these are very type 4 traits! And although they can be powerful narrative storytelling tools, as Laura admits, they can be overwhelming also.

At the worse of times, type 4’s are so emotional that sometimes our feelings literally feel bigger than we are. They’re scary monsters that can consume us. Yes, I’m saying our and us because, like Laura, I’m a type 4. So I know firsthand how intense these emotions can be. They’re hard to get a handle on if we don’t learn how to deal with them. But Laura has learned how to do this, and enneagrams played a large role in this awareness.

“A key part of learning to appreciate my type has been reminding myself that not everyone feels things as intensely as I do. Just because my empathy radar is going off doesn’t mean mean it’s about me. If I can let those big feelings pass, or get a good night’s sleep, I can better discern whether or not I should reach out or just let it go.“

And so, by facing her growth path of intense emotions, she’s been able to make conscious choices on when they play a part in the podcast. When you listen to her episodes, you’ll hear this emotional sensitivity and the room she gave it to exist in a way that’s both beautiful and helpful.

An Enneagram Is a Self-Awareness Tool

Personally, I like to think of the enneagram much like podcast planning tools, plentiful and interchangeable. Just like Elsie Escobar replied in the below tweet, you don’t have to use just the enneagram alone.

The important thing is the act of thinking about your behaviours and facing the less pleasant ones. Working on these is sure to improve not only your life but your podcast as well.

For LGBTQIA+ creators, podcasting has unique benefits over other media. Most podcast creators prize creative expression, a lack of gatekeepers, and minimal gear. LGBTQIA+ people benefit from podcasting because of the variety of communication tools, relative safety, and trust and affinity over distances. 

More Tools for Self-Expression

Podcasting doesn’t just allow for self-expression in audio, it promotes self-expression via niche and unique value proposition. The podcast’s website, color scheme, visual art, and overall tone of social media posts can make an identity that’s superhuman. Your interests and preferred company are more honest expressions of yourself than who you are in your daily life. To the outside world, most of us are a body with relationships, some preferences, and a job. In your podcast, you can be an expert, an investigator, or simply someone who’s interested in sharing something. For example:

• a pie baker who shares seasonal recipes for Catholics (Recipes! Techniques! Traditions!)
• a golfer who rates different courses around the world for environmentalists (Maps! Photos! Soil pH balance levels!)
• a rose cultivation fanatic who shares gardening tips for kids and families that love folktales (Illustrations! Stories! Sun & Moon Calendars!)
• and so much more.

Podcasting values creation over consumption. Podcasters can reach people who are most interested in what they have to share. A podcaster’s voice, interests, values, and skills are front and center, bringing valuable information and empathy to the audience.  It doesn’t matter if you are LGBTQIA+ or not. But, if you’ve ever had to hide who you are, it matters more.

Safety Balanced with Audience Engagement

Engaging audiences safely is another benefit for LGBTQIA+ podcast producers. According to The Human Rights Watch’s report on LGBT laws:

• 68 countries still have “national laws criminalizing same-sex relations between consenting adults.”
• Nine countries have national laws “criminalizing forms of gender expression that target transgender and gender-nonconforming people.”

In much of the US, if you don’t behave or seem heterosexual, the community pressures you to become invisible.

Podcasters can create and publish their podcasts from safe places, in a way that keeps them and their audiences safe. 

Creative folks in the past haven’t been as fortunate. Award-winning playwright Charles Busch wrote and produced his early 1980s plays for small galleries and cabaret spaces. This was the only way he could meet his audience safely on a reasonable budget. In 1978, Phranc leapt boots first into LA’s punk scene, historically a fertile world for butch lesbians and trans artists. Podcasting wasn’t available to them, so they adapted and improved.

Podcasting lets queer creators speak their minds and connect with their audiences in a safe space. Though social media may seem like a minefield, it’s completely different from the clubs and streets of the past. Podcasting lets people declare their values, preferences, and affinities with dignity and comparatively less risk of harm.

Breadth and Depth of Podcasting’s Reach

Any podcaster knows that their audience has less to do with geography, and more to do with interests. Audiences might download your podcast anywhere from Ann Arbor to Antarctica, wherever the topic matters. Commitment to your podcast’s niche and ideal listener make the difference when it comes to growing your audience. They’ll tell their friends and other people with similar interests. LGBTQIA+ podcasters know that it doesn’t matter how far your show’s reach is, but how loyal and consistent it is. 

Case Study: Hello from the Hallowoods

I asked William A. Wellman, creator of Hello From The Hallowoods, to share why and how podcasting works for them. Wellman’s worked in various kinds of media; why podcasting? They said,
“In short, podcasting gave me a voice. On a technical level, the audio medium enables me to create content faster than if I was sketching for a graphic novel, and engage my audience more than if I was publishing to a blog somewhere. But more than that, podcasting has no barrier to entry. Queer creators can tell stories that fully represent their authenticity and diversity of perspective, and share these directly to an audience that needs to hear them in a world often lacking in representation. Podcasting has allowed me to share my own story, but also to realize that I’m not alone in my experiences, and that speaking them aloud can bring comfort to others.” 

Podcasting Helps LGBTQIA+ Audiences and Creators.

I’m so old, I can remember having to drive an hour across New Jersey to get a copy of The Advocate. A restaurant where two women could have a romantic date night was an hour and a half away. To socialize with other people who weren’t heterosexual, I’d have to drive two.

Twenty-five years later, New Jersey celebrates LGBTQIA+ Pride Month with events across the state. The Internet helps people get information safely. Big corporations have moved from ignorance to what some call rainbow capitalism. Anyone who wants community can type their interests into the search box of their favorite podcast listening app. For people who live with reliable Internet access and fair judicial systems, a safe space for self-expression may seem passé. But, much of the world needs LGBTQIA+ podcasts, to focus on people’s needs and normalize cooperative values.