The Showrunner is a weekly podcast hosted by veteran podcasters Jonny Nastor and Jerod Morris in which we share advice, ideas, and experiences that will help you solidify your podcast's positioning, produce more useful content, build a more authentic connection with your audience, and drive more meaningful results with your podcast. And we also provide regular words of encouragement and inspiration, because none of the rest of it matters if you don't show up and keep showing up reliably for ...
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The Present and Future of Podcasting
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Whoa. We're back! Jerod Morris and Jonny Nastor and reunite to talk podcasting ... for the first time in almost 18 months! We are actually killing two birds with one stone: a Lunch & Learn for folks in the Unemployable Initiative (a community that Jerod runs) and a new episode for this long-dormant Showrunner feed. Learn more about the community: h…
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[143] Should You Take a Holiday Break? (We Are)
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With the holiday season now in full swing, it's time to ask yourself a very important question: should you take a holiday break from your show? Here is answer: yes, we are. This will be our last episode of The Showrunner until January 9th, 2019. But before we go, we describe some important reasons why you should consider taking a break too, and off…
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[142] Articles That Caught Our Eye On ... Podcasting Advertising and Short Podcast
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This week, we react to two articles that caught our eye — each of which deals with a topic we’ve discussed recently here on The Showrunner. First, we discuss this article from Nieman Lab (http://www.niemanlab.org/2018/11/consumers-love-smart-speakers-they-dont-love-news-briefings-on-smart-speakers-at-least-not-yet/): Consumers love smart speakers. …
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[141] 5 Simple Steps to Creating a Lead Magnet Your Audience Will Love
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We talk a lot about the importance of building your email list and nourishing your subscribers — but what do you do when you are struggling to get anyone to join your email list in the first place? You need to examine (or reexamine) your lead magnet. And in this week’s episode of The Showrunner, we describe a simple 5-step process for creating a le…
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[140] Podcast Listener Life Cycles (Why You Need to Let Go of Your Audience)
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As we mentioned near the end of last week's episode, this week we're talking about listener life cycles -- because not all listeners are created equally, and without a proper understanding of your podcast’s listener life cycles you will find yourself fighting an unwinnable fight to keep every new listener who comes your way. We publish remarkable p…
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[139] 8 Ideas to Help You Develop Rabid, Loyal Audience Members (Maybe Even Your Own #ChatMob)
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There are audience members — the kinds of people who auto-download your show, listen consistently, and even share an episode every once in a while. And then there are AUDIENCE MEMBERS — the kinds of rabid, loyal folks who show up for your live broadcasts, participate in live chats, support your show with donations, offer to help out, reach out to y…
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[138] 7 Tips for Striking a Win-Win-Win Deal With a New Sponsor
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Sponsorships are one of the most common and potentially reliable ways to monetize a podcast. But especially for podcasters with smaller audiences -- those who don't have access to the bigger networks of corporate podcast advertisers -- getting conversations going with potential sponsors isn't easy, and knowing how to propose terms and set up deals …
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[137] How to Market a Podcast: 7 Ways to Get More Listeners
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If you’re struggling to build the audience you want, it may be time to shift some of the time you’re investing into your podcast’s content over to the marketing — because no matter how great your content is, you’ll never build an audience if the right people aren’t being exposed to your show. In this episode, we provide you with seven proven tactic…
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[136] 7 Reasons Why Short-Form Podcasts Are A Major Growth Opportunity
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Emerging distribution channels like Amazon Alexa's Flash Briefing, plus the ever-expanding proliferation of "normal" longer-form podcasts, are creating an interesting opportunity for podcasters. Is it time to consider publishing shorter, more regular episodes? There are several examples of this working in a variety of different markets. And Jerod h…
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[135] The Six Stages of Creating Fearlessly
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The people we admire who seem to launch new books, youtube channels, and podcasts endlessly — they aren’t braver, smarter or stronger than you. They have just gained control over their thoughts and feelings towards their fears. They have learned how to use their inner voice to overcome fears and move forward. Let’s learn how to create fearlessly — …
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[134] Now What? 7 Important Steps to Take Right After You Launch
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This week talk about launching your show — specifically, launching when you don’t have an established audience already. What are some of the most important steps that you should take — and not take — during the first few weeks after your episodes go live, so that you can generate excitement, get some listeners and subscribers, and build positive mo…
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[133] How to Improve Your Podcast Description To Bring In More New Listeners
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[133] How to Improve Your Podcast Description (and Gain More New Listeners) Your podcast’s description can have a big impact on your ability to attract new listeners. By including relevant search keywords in your description, it can help you surface in more relevant searches, thus exposing you to additional potential audience members. And by choosi…
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[132] 22 Tips to Help You Avoid Costly Mistakes With Your Email List
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Whether you’ve been building an email list for a while, or still haven’t even collected that first email address, there is something for you in this episode. Among the topics we discuss: • 6 reasons why you should build an email list to complement your podcast • 8 different ways you can use email to deliver valuable content to your audience • 3 que…
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[131] Common Podcast Listener Pet Peeves to Avoid At All Costs
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This week we have have a little fun by ranting about our podcasting pet peeves. We also share some notable pet peeves that were posted by members of the Showrunner Podcasting Community. And while it’s fun to rant, there is a larger purpose in doing this. If we understand what triggers podcast listeners to have a negative reaction, we can make sure …
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[130] 23+ Ways to Earn Profit From Your Podcast
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This week, we talk about how you can earn a profit from your podcast. Some of the methods we discuss are about how to earn money from your podcast. Other methods that we discuss have nothing to do with money at all. But they all fall under the umbrella of podcast profitability — and we explain how. Your challenge as you listen is to identify at lea…
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[129] Are You Forgetting These Essential Elements of Your Podcast Category Page?
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This week we discuss a topic that is easy to overlook: your podcast category (aka archive) page on your website. But we aren’t overlooking it. Not only is it the topic of this week’s Accountability Challenge in the Showrunner Podcasting Community, but we also recently updated our podcast archive page too. What purpose does this page serve? What ess…
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[128] How to Build an Audience That Transcends Your Content: The 3 C’s Approach
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This week we talk about how you can move beyond just connecting with your listeners through your content. We lay out the step-by-step process you have to go through to actually to build a community that transcends your content, and the benefits that you, as the showrunner, reap when you do. Among the topics we discuss: • Why you can’t skip steps in…
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[127] A 7-Step Plan for Changing the World With Your Best Ideas
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This week we are going to walk you through a simple process that will help you … change the world. Seriously. Because the only way to change the world is through ideas, but it will never happen with subpar, under-developed ideas, or without knowing how to give your ideas a real opportunity to spread. While we certainly don’t know all the secrets to…
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[126] Behind the Scenes of Our Recent Community Launch
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This week we are going to talk about something very exciting that has been going on over the past six days: the relaunch of the Showrunner Podcasting Community. We’re less than a week in, and the community already has more than 150 members. • Where are we hosting it? • Why did we make that choice? • What are our goals with the community? • And how …
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[125] A 4-Part Framework for Getting Your Positioning Right
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This week we are going to talk about a new framework that will help you think about how you are positioning your podcast. And if it feels like we’ve been hitting this topic of positioning a lot in recent weeks … good! It should. The deeper and deeper we delve into one-on-one conversations and consulting with you and your fellow showrunners, the mor…
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[124] How to Name Your Podcast for Maximum Listener Attraction
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This week we are going to talk about naming your show. Specifically, we are going to go over three key concepts that you should consider when coming up with the name for your new show — or, if you have a show that isn’t getting the traction that you want, then for renaming an existing show. And even if you are settled on your name, so you’re thinki…
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[123] 3 Pieces of 'Low-Hanging Fruit' That Will Help You Attract More Listeners
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This week we discuss some elements of your podcast that are easy to overlook or take for granted but that can make a huge impact on your ability to get discovered — which is the first step toward driving meaningful results. We call these elements “low-hanging fruit” because they are simple changes that can really make a difference, and we shouldn’t…
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[122] An Episode About an Email About an Episode About An Email ...
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This week's episode is being published a day early due to the 4th of July holiday on Wednesday, and it's also about a quarter of the usual length -- with a very specific call to action for how you should invest your extra 30 minutes! You may remember our discussion from episode #117 (What Are You Avoiding That You Know You Should Be Doing?) in whic…
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[121] How to Avoid 3 Problems That Can Derail Remote 2-on-1 Interviews
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If you have ever tried to host a remote 2-on-1 interview, then you are almost surely aware of the landmines laying in wait all over the place. From disorganization to verbal car crashes and more, remote 2-on-1 interviews can be fraught with issues if you don’t have a solid strategy for executing them. This week we use a question from our Showrunner…
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[120] 3 Steps for Creating Your Inner Character
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When that green or red light is on, and words are being recorded, you are performing for your audience. Which can be tricky, because when we use a word like “performing,” it can suggest that we are putting on a front, or that we are somehow being fake. This isn’t the case — at least, it’s not the case if the foundation of your show is an authentic …
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[119] 3 Ways This Showrunner is Getting His Podcast Right
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[119] 3 Ways This Showrunner is Getting His Podcast Right This week, we share three important tips that we took away from listening to a show hosted by one of your fellow showrunners. These are tips that will help you create a better audio experience for your listeners, and they will help you better define your positioning in the minds of your list…
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What is the unique combination of advantages that you have -- whether these advantages were earned, gifted, or came to you by happenstance -- that no one else in your niche has? These are your unfair advantages, and maximizing them is one of your keys to success as a showrunner. Among the topics we discuss during our main topic segment: • Examples …
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[117] What Are You Avoiding That You Know You Should Be Doing?
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This week's episode is pulled directly from Jonny's own showrunning experience with Hack the Entrepreneur. Recently, he had fallen into a rut in which he'd gone close to a month without emailing his list. With every passing day, the prospect of reaching back out felt more difficult and monumental. Until he just ... did it. So we discuss some of the…
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[116] How to Shake Up the Experience Your Podcast is Delivering
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This is the fourth episode in our series on reassessment. In this one, we dive into the importance of routinely shaking up the experience that your podcast is delivering (or at least reassessing to determine if you should) — both for your audience’s benefit, and your own. Among the topics we discuss: • Different ways that you can shake up your podc…
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[115] How to Improve Your Podcast Audio Production (with Toby Lyles)
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Our series on reassessment continues, this time with a discussion about audio production. And we have a special guest here to lend his expertise: Toby Lyles from TwentyFourSound. Among the questions we ask Toby: • When you are talking to new podcasters who don’t have a ton of experience creating quality audio, what basic tools do you suggest they s…
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[114] Is Your Podcast Positioning on Point?
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In this episode, we continue our series on reassessing your podcast -- focusing on your podcast's positioning. What is the positioning for a podcast? Why does it matter? And what steps should you take in reassessing your podcast's positioning to make sure it's on point? We answer all of those questions and more. We also walk you through how we reas…
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It's time to do some reassessing. In this episode, we are beginning a multi-part series in which we walk you through how to do some important reassessments with your show. And in this episode, we start with the most foundational reassessment question of them all: should you even be running a podcast? Depending on your perspective, it's a question t…
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[112] 3 Tips for Crafting Thoughtful Interview Questions
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Two weeks ago, Jerod hosted an interview for one of his shows the resulted in this text message from the guest: "You asked the best and most thoughtful questions of any people I have spoken to yet." It's always encouraging and motivating to get such high praise from a guest! Naturally, this prompted some reflection on what, in particular, had made …
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[111] 9 Recurring Podcasting Activities You Need a Template For
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From researching to recording to writing up show notes, there are recurring activities that every showrunner needs to do regularly. The most experienced and efficient showrunners create templates to help them save time and preserve brainpower for creativity. In this episode, Jerod and Jonny run through nine of these recurring activities that smart …
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No. 110 Podcast Monetization: How to Connect Your Content to Your Offers
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This week on The Showrunner, we talk about three key components for monetizing your podcast: 1) understanding your goals and the value your business provides; 2) understanding who your audience is and what their goals are; and 3) how to connect your contact to your goals and your audience's goals.By Jerod Morris & Jon Nastor
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No. 109 3 Tips for Using YouTube to Help Build Your Podcast Audience
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This week, we're talking about YouTube ... and we're talking ON YouTube. In terms of the content, we cover some important tips for leveraging YouTube to help you build your podcast audience. This is something Jerod has a lot of experience with over at The Assembly Call. We discuss: 1. The importance of being open to YouTube being the connection AND…
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No. 108 The Biggest Lessons Learned While We Were Away
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It's been a long time -- too long -- since we've released a new episode of The Showrunner. So we're excited to be today with a new episode, and ready to ramp our weekly schedule back up. In this episode, we explain the reason for our hiatus, issue an apology for not doing a better job of communicating with you while we were away, and then dish on t…
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No. 107 Is Podcasting a Good Way to Reach My Target Audience?
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In the words of Mugatu from Zoolander, podcasts are "so hot right now." And it's true. But … is a podcast the right way for you to reach your target audience? In this week's episode of The Showrunner, we give you three questions that will help you decide. This week's big news is that today... Listen to episode…
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No. 106 Should You Take Over Your Boss's Podcast?
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This week's episode of The Showrunner features another listener question. Plus, we announce the reopening of The Showrunner Podcasting Course! Here is this week's question, from Showrunner listener Samantha: 1. How can I help my boss (the subject matter expert of our company) be more comfortable podcasting? 2. Should I take over my boss's podcast..…
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No. 105 How to Conduct Not-to-Miss Podcast Interviews
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When he started Hack the Entrepreneur, Jonny had never conducted a single interview before. But during the past two years, he's hosted more than 350 podcast interviews. He's also made a lot of mistakes, embarrassed himself a few times, and learned countless lessons. In this episode of The Showrunner, Jonny shares a number of insights,... Listen to …
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[Rebroadcast] No. 045 9 Lessons Learned Publishing a Book From a Podcast
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Starting a podcast is a lot of fun, has the potential to build you an audience of raving fans, and may earn you the right to become a Showrunner. All of this is excellent, but it may just be the tip of the iceberg. In this episode, Jerod and Jonny discuss the lessons Jonny learned... Listen to episode…
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[Rebroadcast] No. 051 How to Overcome Your Inferiority Complex as a Podcaster
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Have you ever felt like you weren't qualified to host your podcast? Ever felt like you were way out of your depth with a certain topic or with a certain guest? Welcome to the club. Most of us have. In this episode of The Showrunner, Jonny and Jerod share their own experiences with facing a... Listen to episode…
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We answer another great listener question this week. The topic: Creating a call-in show. Jerod goes solo to describe why it's a great way to bring something new to your audience. He also shares from experience that there are plenty of ways to go about doing it. This week's question comes to us from Nance... Listen to episode…
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No. 103 What Should I Do with My Archive?
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We're back! And excited to begin a series of shows in which we answer questions submitted by Showrunner listeners. This week's question comes to us from a showrunner who is 75 episodes into her show and wondering how best to make use of her growing archive. Here is the question, from Julie Duffy Dillon, showrunner... Listen to episode…
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No. 102 How to Immediately Become a More Productive (and Better) Podcaster
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You want to become a better podcaster. We know this because you're listening to The Showrunner. We also know that you fear becoming a better podcaster. We know this because you must change to become better and to fear change is to be human. But what if I told you that you only need to... Listen to episode…
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A few hours before recording this episode, we received an email from a loyal Showrunner listener. It turned out to be the perfect idea for an episode. Here is the email, from Jason Norris of Podcast Local, which is part of OnTheGo.FM. If you haven't planned episode 101 yet, consider this. Showrunner 101 sounds like... Listen to episode…
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No. 100 We Answer Your Questions (and Celebrate 100 Episodes)
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Cue the sounds of fireworks and jubilant marching bands! This is episode 100 of The Showrunner, and it's extra special because it's all about you — our faithful listener. Jerod and Jonny started The Showrunner podcast on April 1, 2015, and during the past two years they've built a community, shared their podcasting journeys, and... Listen to episod…
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No. 099 3 Powerful Reasons to Produce More Evergreen Episodes
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Is it possible to step away from your podcast and have downloads numbers go … up? That might sound crazy to you. Maybe even impossible. But it's not. And we have the listener email to provide it. What is this showrunner's secret? It's actually not any kind of secret at all. In this episode, we... Listen to episode…
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No. 098 Are You Overlooking This Proven Podcast Format?
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If you were given a choice, would you create a podcast that took more or less time to create, all else being equal? Some podcast formats are harder to consistently produce than others. Choose wisely. Today's episode is a discussion about Q&A shows. We discuss the pros and cons, the barriers to entry (both real... Listen to episode…
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No. 097 Are You Doing Enough with Your Best Ideas?
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Your audience does not need your ideas. It's true. What your audience needs in fact, all that your audience needs are your best ideas. And you should invest more time distributing these premium ideas further and wider. You shouldn't simply hit "publish" and then run to the next idea. This way you can... Listen to episode…
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