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Hey moms and dads, don't you just.
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Hey, this is personal and self serving, but I warned you in the title of the podcast. So if you're still listening, thank you. And if you don't want to listen to all six minutes of this, here's the gist. You don't owe me anything. I don't need you to support me. But I do want you to know that in order for me to get paid by the brands who advertise on the podcast, you have to actually play the ads because they know if you skip them or not. Look, you can play through the ads at 1.5 speed and that works. You could do something else during that minute that they're playing. You just have to let the ad play through for it to count. A lot of people don't know that, so if you feel so inclined, listen to the ads. And I do appreciate that. One other self serving point I'm horrible at asking people to share our podcasts with others, so I'm asking now. Like the Calm Parenting Podcast, review it that really helps. Share it with others. Subscribe to the Calm Parenting Podcast on your favorite platform so it automatically loads when there are new episodes. Look, I don't want to be famous. I'm too old and wise to know the pitfalls of fame. The one thing I do want and have asked for is I want influence because I think our message changes families And I encourage you, come join us on our Facebook page because I'm pretty active there answering questions. And I know social media can be contentious and negative, but I hope that you find our Facebook page is a place to feel understood and supported. Right. And I also make 45 second videos on our Calm Parenting Podcast in Instagram page. Right. And if you look, you'll find the most unflattering screenshots of my face in mid sentence possible. So that's kind of fun. Look, you don't owe me anything. I'm an avid listener of podcasts myself and I get irritated when hosts say your support helps me keep this podcast going. That's BS. Recording and distributing this podcast cost me about $30 per month. The main investment is time and energy. But I love doing this. So here's the deal with the podcast. I recorded about 250 podcasts over many, many, many years before any advertisers ever approached us. So this just happened in the past year. And here's how it works. There are two types of ads. One is a generically placed ad that isn't read by me. You'll just randomly hear ads pop up for companies like usaa, which I love because I'm actually a user. But also there's weird ones. Like today I heard one for Tic Tac breath mints. And so I don't have any control over those. They just kind of pop up during the podcast. And if you listen to them, they pay me a little bit of money. I appreciate it. Then there are the host read ads. The ones that I read. Company will reach out to me and say, hey, we'd like to advertise. Advertise on your podcast. And I reject about 98% of those brands that approach us because I don't like their product or it just isn't a good fit. So here's an upcoming advertiser I'm excited about. I did want to share this. I've been drinking AG1 every morning for a couple years, so I actually really love this brand. It's the one brand I really wanted because it's part of my daily routine and I can do ads for them in my sleep. So a couple weeks ago they reached out by email. I replied back with a picture of my AG1 bottle and said, I don't need talking points or samples. I love your product. So for host read ads like HelloFresh and AG1, I write my own ad. I use some of their talking points, but it's my ad and these are placed in the podcast. And every time you listen or play these all the way through, it counts toward payment. And I would also remind you, if you actually order from these brands, use the specific URL right, like drinkag1.com calm. Because then they know that order came through our podcast and they'll be more likely to keep advertising through us. That just helps me. This campaign starts on my birthday on March 1st, so I'm kind of pumped about that one. One other quick one. That's funny. I met Casey yesterday for lunch and I mentioned Whole Life Pet to him. Cause they're a new sponsor. And he said, dad, our cat won't stop bugging us about those Whole Life treats. He knows where we keep them and he'll lead us toward that room several times a day. He's actually annoying, so he said that in a sweet way, but it just shows it's kind of fun because our pets actually like their brand. So, look, I never want people to do anything out of obligation or guilt. If you want to listen to the ads, I appreciate it and it's awesome and it does help us a little bit. But I'm perfectly happy that a struggling mom or dad can listen to hundreds of free podcasts and feel heard and have practical tools to change their family. I think that's awesome. I'm even more happy when the family orders our programs. Well, is that because you're greedy? No, it's because I know when people make that decision to invest in the programs, something changes. They work harder at changing themselves. Families change more quickly. So I hope that makes sense. If you ever need financial help, just ask for it. I'm older now. We're grown adults. We know how life works will always require people to make some kind of investment. Because we're making an investment in this right of our time and expertise. And I want you to make an investment because you just tend to value things a little bit and take them more seriously when you do that. But we help literally everyone. So look, thank you for listening. Thank you for being so kind and supportive. I have the greatest job in the world and I do appreciate you. If you ever need anything, email Casey C A s e y celebratecalm.com and we'll help you out. Okay? Love you all. I kept this to five and a half minutes. Not bad. Okay, talk to you soon on a real podcast. And thanks for indulging me. Bye.
Calm Parenting Podcast Episode Summary
Title: A Personal, Self-Serving, 5-Minute Podcast!
Host: Kirk Martin
Release Date: February 21, 2024
In this candid and introspective episode of the Calm Parenting Podcast, host Kirk Martin breaks the fourth wall to discuss the behind-the-scenes realities of producing the show. Titled “A Personal, Self-Serving, 5-Minute Podcast!”, the episode delves into the financial and personal motivations that drive Kirk to continue delivering valuable content to over a million parents and educators worldwide.
Kirk begins by acknowledging the self-serving nature of the episode, thanking listeners for their time and patience in tuning into a more personal segment:
Kirk Martin (01:25): "Hey, this is personal and self serving, but I warned you in the title of the podcast. So if you're still listening, thank you."
Kirk emphasizes that while he doesn’t require listener support, advertisements are crucial for the podcast's financial sustainability. He explains how ads contribute to the podcast’s revenue and, consequently, its ability to provide free content:
Kirk Martin (02:15): "I don't need you to support me. But I do want you to know that in order for me to get paid by the brands who advertise on the podcast, you have to actually play the ads."
Kirk categorizes the advertisements into two main types:
Kirk Martin (03:20): “There are two types of ads. One is a generically placed ad that isn't read by me... Then there are the host read ads.”
Kirk discusses his selective process for choosing host-read advertisers, rejecting about 98% of unsolicited proposals to maintain integrity and relevance. He highlights his partnership with AG1, a brand he personally uses and endorses:
Kirk Martin (04:45): "I've been drinking AG1 every morning for a couple years, so I actually really love this brand... I can do ads for them in my sleep."
He also mentions Whole Life Pet, sharing a humorous anecdote about his cat’s affinity for their treats, which underscores the authenticity he brings to his endorsements:
Kirk Martin (05:30): “He said that in a sweet way, but it just shows it's kind of fun because our pets actually like their brand.”
Kirk requests listeners to support the podcast by:
Kirk Martin (06:30): "Listen to the ads. And I do appreciate that."
He explains the psychological aspect of investments, suggesting that financial involvement leads to greater commitment and positive change within families:
Kirk Martin (07:30): "I want you to make an investment because you just tend to value things a little bit and take them more seriously when you do that."
Kirk shares his personal motivations for continuing the podcast, highlighting the profound impact it has on families and his fulfillment from helping others:
Kirk Martin (08:15): "I'm perfectly happy that a struggling mom or dad can listen to hundreds of free podcasts and feel heard and have practical tools to change their family."
Closing the episode, Kirk expresses heartfelt gratitude towards his listeners, reaffirming his commitment to supporting them beyond just providing content:
Kirk Martin (09:20): "Thank you for listening. Thank you for being so kind and supportive. I have the greatest job in the world and I do appreciate you."
He also provides contact information for further support and assistance:
Kirk Martin (09:45): "If you ever need anything, email Casey@celebratecalm.com and we'll help you out."
Notable Quotes:
Final Thoughts
In this transparent and self-referential episode, Kirk Martin provides listeners with an honest look into the financial mechanics of podcasting and the importance of ad support. By sharing his selective process for advertisers and emphasizing the value of listener investment, Kirk reinforces the symbiotic relationship between the podcast and its audience. This episode serves as a reminder of the dedication behind the scenes and the mutual benefits of supporting quality content.