Podcast Summary: Win With Paid Ads

Episode: Content Batching Mistakes That Drain Energy

Host: Ashley Brock
Date: February 19, 2026

Episode Overview

In this episode, Ashley Brock candidly discusses the common mistakes—and overlooked solutions—related to batching content. She opens up about her own struggles with exhaustion during batch days and walks listeners through how she redesigned her approach not just to boost productivity, but to protect her energy and wellbeing. The intent is to help entrepreneurs and business owners create effective, joyful, and sustainable content days that deliver high-quality work without leading to burnout.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Problem: Burnout from Content Batching

• Ashley’s Personal Experience with Overwhelm

  • Ashley shares, “There was actually a season last year where I actually kind of dreaded content batch days...I just started crying in the middle of the episode” (00:34).
  • She points out that despite loving teaching and content creation, mental overload and exhaustion made the process unsustainable.

• Redefining Batching

  • “Batching is not about productivity. It's about protecting your energy so that your best work can actually come out.” (03:25).

2. The Foundation: Advance Preparation

• Planning Far Ahead

  • Batch days are scheduled one to three months in advance. “My goal is in the next month to have every single batch day plan for the whole year.” (10:10)

• Night-Before & Morning Routines

  • Sleep: “Got eight and a half hours of sleep last night…” (12:52)
  • Meals Prepared: “The last thing you need to stress about on the day of a batch day is your breakfast, lunch and dinner.” (13:50)
  • Family Support: Thanks to her mom for assisting with kids and the environment (“she is absolutely life changing” 15:15)
  • Self-care: Makeup and outfit planned in advance; light physical activity instead of straining workouts; journaling to clear mental space.

3. Ashley's Batch Day Structure

• Timing

  • Typical batch day is from 9:30 am to 3:30 pm.
  • Key: Honor your personal productivity patterns. “I'm a morning person and I really shouldn't be on camera anywhere after 4pm…” (20:50).

• Content Flow

  • Podasts first, followed by ads and organic content.
  • Different content types require different mindsets or “brains” (Teacher, Conversion, Connection).

• No Distractions Policy

  • Non-negotiable: “I don't do any meetings, I don't do any emails, slacks or decision making because again, that is weight on your brain.” (27:02)
  • Slack, email notifications muted; phone is only for urgent family or school calls.

• Outfit and Appearance Prep

  • “Everything is planned in advance.” (28:39)
  • Enlists help with styling to avoid wasted time and stress.

4. Post-Batch Self Care and Recovery

• End-of-Day Rituals
  • Schedules a facial or self-care activity as a reward and clear end to the day.
  • “Something like an appointment, like an actual deadline to end batch day. That's like a self care like, like, hey, proud of you for showing up..." (31:10)
  • Emphasizes importance of scheduled recovery days after big pushes or live events.

5. Preparation vs. Scripting

• No Full Scripts for Most Content
  • “Preparation does not mean scripting. I actually think going off script, when you're really good at something, you get the best content out of that anyway.” (36:47)
  • Google docs with bullet outlines, only scripts for video sales letters.
  • On ads: Ad-libbed content feels more authentic and connecting vs. rigid teleprompter reads.

6. The Power of Team Support

• Ashley Never Batches Alone
  • Team includes videographers, social media managers, editorial assistants, family.
  • “It is absolutely a teamwork makes the dream work situation, because support is what supports the creative freedom that I have...” (40:19)
  • Batching with a team evolved over time—listeners can start solo.

7. Why Batching Works

• Clear Emotional Payoff

  • Fewer decisions, clearer structure, more creativity, calm nervous system.
  • “Now I have fewer decisions, clear structure, full presence, a calmer nervous system. And when my brain feels safe, my creativity gets to show up.” (44:10)

• Staying Ahead Relieves Pressure

  • “Being ahead changes everything because there's a little bit less pressure on the episode because you're not like, no, if I don't get this perfect, like, it's supposed to go out tomorrow…” (45:25)

• Content Buckets Aid Simplicity

  • Four primary podcast buckets: Teaching, Client Testimonials, Business Encouragement, and Life/Behind-the-Scenes topics.
  • For guest episodes: “100% of our episodes, that is any guest, they are a client.” (48:21)

8. Editing & Distribution

• Division of Labor

  • Video and audio editing split among team based on content type.
  • Distribution includes YouTube, Instagram, shorts, reels, TikTok.

• Sustainable Cadence

  • One episode per week, sometimes aiming for two, but respects what feels sustainable.
  • “Stick to the thing that you know that you can do that gets you excited to do it.” (53:12)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

“Batching is not about productivity. It's about protecting your energy so that your best work can actually come out.”
—Ashley Brock (03:25)

"The worst way you could think about [batch days] is just another workday."
—Ashley Brock (04:15)

“The last thing you need to stress about on the day of a batch day is your breakfast, lunch and dinner.”
—Ashley Brock (13:50)

“Do I want to be like, yeah, let's go to seven. Yes. Is it good? No.”
—Ashley Brock, on respecting her own limits (21:55)

“Preparation does not mean scripting…I actually think going off script, when you're really good at something, you get the best content out of that anyway.”
—Ashley Brock (36:47)

“It started with me. Then it started with me and Robert, then it started with me and Robert and Meredith, and then it became me, Robert, Meredith, and Mom. And it grew over time. It doesn't have to start like this…”
—Ashley Brock (40:34)

“Reduce your decisions, protect your energy, and let your voice and confidence and what you're meant to bring to the world come out so beautifully.”
—Ashley Brock (55:22)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:34 – Ashley describes her past struggles with batch days and episode purpose
• 03:25 – Redefining batching: Energy vs. Productivity
• 10:10 – Advance planning: Scheduling batch days
• 12:52 – Batch day preparation: Sleep, food, support
• 20:50 – Picking the right hours for batching based on personality
• 27:02 – No distractions policy and preserving mental bandwidth
• 31:10 – The importance of self-care and built-in rewards
• 36:47 – Outlines vs. scripts: Maximizing creativity
• 40:19 – The evolution and importance of team support
• 44:10 – Emotional payoff of batching
• 45:25 – Value of staying a month ahead in episodes
• 48:21 – Structuring episodes with content buckets
• 53:12 – Maintaining a sustainable publishing cadence
• 55:22 – Final encouragement: “Reduce your decisions, protect your energy...”

Tone & Takeaways

Ashley’s tone throughout is conversational, encouraging, and honest—with a blend of personal anecdotes and actionable advice. She urges listeners to recognize that productive content batching flows from strong self-care and intentional planning, not just from cramming more work into less time. The ultimate goal is for creators to finish content days feeling energized and fulfilled, not depleted.

Next Episode Teaser

Ashley hints at a “different direction” for the next episode, focusing on refunds and customer cancellations—promising a discussion that could transform listeners’ approach to business challenges.

If you want to streamline your batch days, save your energy, and produce content you’re genuinely proud of, let this episode serve as your blueprint.