Summary5 min read

Coffee with a Podcaster: Love Your Podcast Again

Episode: Don’t be Steven Bartlett. Or Joe Rogan.
Host: Matthew Bliss
Date: July 9, 2026

Episode Overview

In this brief but insightful monologue, Matthew Bliss delivers a “reality check” for podcasters chasing mainstream podcasting models, especially those idolizing figures like Joe Rogan or Steven Bartlett (Diary of a CEO). He unpacks the prevalent myths—often perpetuated by influencers and “common wisdom”—that prescribe success as emulating these chart-topping talk show hosts. Bliss emphasizes the importance of carving one's own path, balancing optimism with honest self-assessment, and rediscovering personal fulfillment in podcasting. The episode aims to help listeners recalibrate expectations and stay true to their unique perspectives.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Trap of Mimicking Podcast Superstars

Opening Reality Check (00:05)
- Bliss notes most aspiring podcasters start by discovering blockbuster shows like Joe Rogan or Diary of a CEO, thinking, “these are the models of success.”
- Quote: “You want to follow what these guys did because they portray success, but in reality, your journey must be different.” (00:08)
- He debunks the notion that copying such formats guarantees results, stressing that these are unique journeys unlikely to be replicable.

2. The General Chat Show Myth (00:50 – 03:20)

Why ‘General Chat’ Seems Easy—But Isn’t
- General chat podcasts (celebrity interviews, wide-ranging conversation) appear straightforward and easy to execute, but are in fact among the hardest to grow.
- Quote: “It's a very simple remit, feels very easy to enact, and yet it's the hardest kind of podcast to grow.” (01:25)
Chasing ‘Success’ as Defined by Charts
- Aspiring podcasters often internalize that the ultimate goal is chart-topping, but the journey will never mirror the one taken by high-profile names.
- Quote: “Even if it is the endpoint for you, the journey is going to be completely different.” (02:22)

3. The Perils of External Comparison and ‘Common Wisdom’ (02:38 – 04:10)

Subconscious Pressures
- There’s a constant mental pressure to emulate “what works” for Rogan, Bartlett, and others—more guests, more variety, more authenticity.
- Quote: “That voice that sits at the back of your head saying, hey, Joe Rogan did this this week. Make sure you remember that for when you plan your next episode.” (02:43)
Broadening Too Wide Can Be Dangerous
- The more generalized your show, the harder it is to define and reach an audience.
- Quote: “The more that we generalise what our podcast does and the more people we try to cater to... the harder it is to define an audience.” (03:15)

4. The Value of Starting Simple—But Evolving (04:11 – 07:10)

Embrace the Beginner’s Path
- It’s okay to start by modeling a simple, familiar format (the “chat show”), as that helps you learn the ropes.
- Reference to the Dunning-Kruger effect: you start confident, then realize how much you don’t know.
- Quote: “Starting with a general chat show is actually a really good way to begin because you've got something to model from and copy.” (04:25)
Iterate towards Your Unique Perspective
- Practice, evolve, and gradually move away from copying; find your unique voice, niche, and ideal audience.
- Don’t get discouraged if you don’t “become Joe Rogan in six months.”
- Quote: “The key is to not continue Joe Roganing your podcast and being consistently disappointed when you don't become Joe Rogan in six months.” (05:13)

5. Seeking Joy Over Perfection (05:45 – 07:00)

Reframe: From External Success to Internal Fulfillment
- Podcasting should bring you joy; disappointment comes from false expectations.
- Quote: “I don't want you to be disappointed. This is optimism. This is feeling joy and finding your happiness.” (05:43)
- The creative struggle is necessary to discover what fulfillment means for you in podcasting.

6. Looking Forward: “Podcaster Divergence” (07:11 – end)

Upcoming Concept Teaser
- Bliss introduces the idea of “podcaster divergence”—the journey from broadly-accepted wisdom to forging your unique approach with acquired knowledge.
- Quote: “There is unique knowledge that you have, and only you can create your podcast. And you're not going to be Joe Rogan, but you can be amazing.” (07:48)

Notable Quotes & Timestamps

“You want to follow what these guys did because they portray success, but in reality, your journey must be different.” – Matthew Bliss (00:08)
“It's a very simple remit, feels very easy to enact, and yet it's the hardest kind of podcast to grow.” (01:25)
“Even if it is the endpoint for you, the journey is going to be completely different.” (02:22)
“The more that we generalize what our podcast does and the more people we try to cater to... the harder it is to define an audience.” (03:15)
“Starting with a general chat show is actually a really good way to begin because you've got something to model from and copy.” (04:25)
“The key is to not continue Joe Roganing your podcast and being consistently disappointed when you don't become Joe Rogan in six months.” (05:13)
“I don't want you to be disappointed. This is optimism. This is feeling joy and finding your happiness.” (05:43)
“There is unique knowledge that you have, and only you can create your podcast. And you're not going to be Joe Rogan, but you can be amazing.” (07:48)

Structure & Flow

00:05 – Begins with a reflection on how most podcasters discover big-name shows and feel pressure to emulate them.
01:00 – Explains the complexity behind “simple” chat shows and why copying high-profile models usually fails.
02:45 – Discusses the internal pressures to mimic industry giants and the “generalist trap.”
04:20 – Endorses using familiar templates as learning grounds, but advises pivoting over time.
05:40 – Emphasizes joy and personal fulfillment as the core aims.
07:15 – Teases the next episode’s theme (“podcaster divergence”) and closes with encouragement.

Summary Takeaway

Matthew Bliss offers a grounded, compassionate perspective on podcast aspiration. While starting by imitating big names is tempting—and even useful for early practice—the only meaningful and sustainable podcasting path is the one uniquely yours. Chasing charts isn’t the answer; joy and authenticity are. Don’t be Joe Rogan or Steven Bartlett; be you, and in doing so, you might create something just as brilliant (for you and your audience).

Host note:
“Thank you for listening to Coffee With a Podcaster. I'm Matthew Bliss, and I'll see you next time.” (08:00)

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Transcript1 lines

[00:06]
A
So you learned about podcasts, then you found Joe Rogan or maybe Diary of a CEO, maybe even Chris Williamson of Modern Wisdom, Jay Shetty. You want to follow what these guys did because they portray success, but in reality, your journey must be different. So trying to copy them won't get you the results that you think you want. This is a quick one from me, just to bring a bit of a reality check and something to think about whenever you feel like you need to be Joe Rogan. Welcome back to Coffee with a Podcaster. A piece of common wisdom in the podcasting space is that you shouldn't try to be like Stephen Bartlett. Diary of a CEO is one of the most popular podcasts in the world at the moment. Starting to get unseated a little bit, and people are starting to see behind the curtain. But nevertheless, if you start with a big one, like with Stephen or with Joe, you ultimately want to be like them. And you define a podcast as a general chat show that speaks to people about their stories and makes space to share authentic perspectives with the audience. It's a very simple remit, feels very easy to enact, and yet it's the hardest kind of podcast to grow. So. But the common wisdom there is don't do what they did because it will either take you too long or the journey won't be the same. And in fairness, probably no one who's a huge fan of Diary of a CEO is looking for a second one to try and latch themselves onto. Now, I know this is probably something that you go, yeah, absolutely, I understand that. But at the back of our mind, when we think about podcasting, we're always looking to these huge, successful podcasters, and successful should probably be in sneer quotes there, successful podcasters for how much they've done and see that as the end point of where we want to be. But even if it is the end point for you, the journey is going to be completely different. So that voice that sits at the back of your head saying, hey, Joe Rogan did this this week. Make sure you remember that for when you plan your next episode. Or if you have another podcast idea, the little voice might say, hey, but you need more guests. You need more diverse guests, better guests, celebrities, you know, more authentic voices. You want to share unique perspectives. And it can't just be about one thing. It's got to be about lots of things. Curiosity. Yes, curiosity. Curiosity and authenticity. That's what you're looking for. The more that we generalize what our podcast does and the more people we try to cater to the more coverage we try to make, the harder it is to define an audience, in which case, being at Joe Rogan and trying to do it from the very start becomes a very hard exercise to find it enjoyable and a modicum of success in whatever podcast we try to do. Now, the thing that will run against exactly what I've just said, which is don't do that, is that maybe you should start with that, because it is the simplest type of show to try and begin. Get started on your podcasting journey and at the very beginning of the Dunning and Kruger effect of things, the idea that you start at the beginning and think that you're an absolute master until you realize that you don't know as much as you thought you did and then have to work a little bit harder to fix all those little problems that you start seeing. Starting with a general chat show is actually a really good way to begin because you've got something to model from and copy. You can practice some of the elements that will become unique to you eventually, and then you can reiterate your show and try to find the unique niche, the unique audience, or your unique perspective and approach to a podcast so that you can find that success. But the key is to not continue Joe Roganing your podcast and being consistently disappointed when you don't become Joe Rogan in six months. Because ultimately it is disappointment, and I don't want you to be disappointed. This is optimism. This is feeling joy and finding your happiness. We have to struggle a little bit to learn what we need to do in order to find that joy from our podcast. And when you begin the podcast journey, you don't know what that joy comes from. You don't know what the material nature of that podcast is. Copy Joe Rogan and then start to deviate a little bit. Start to think about what your show should be like for what you most enjoy, what you get the most from, what your goals are, and the types of listeners that are approaching your show. In the next episode, I'm going to talk a little bit more about a concept that I've come up with called podcaster divergence, where the knowledge you acquire at the beginning can align to the common wisdom, but you gradually move away from it. And you have to, because there is unique knowledge that you have, and only you can create your podcast. And you're not going to be Joe Rogan, but you can be amazing. Thank you for listening to Coffee With a Podcaster. I'm Matthew Bliss, and I'll see you next time.