School of Podcasting: Why SNL’s 50th Is a Goldmine of Podcasting Wisdom!

Host: Dave Jackson

Date: February 17, 2025

Episode Overview

In this energizing episode, Dave Jackson reflects on lessons podcasters can glean from the 50th anniversary of Saturday Night Live (SNL), seen through the lens of its long-running musical and comedic legacy. Drawing connections between SNL’s innovation and endurance and podcasting best practices, Dave identifies strategies for creativity, audience engagement, and content delivery—layered with stories from the SNL special, documentary insights, and practical podcasting advice.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. SNL’s Audience-Driven Branding and Nicknames

• Organic Nicknames: SNL didn’t choose their own abbreviation; “SNL” came from the audience. Attempts to force branding (e.g., “The Shack,” “The Hut”) typically fall flat.
  • Quote: “Nicknames are given to you by people that love you.” – Dave Jackson (04:42)
• Lesson: Let your audience shape aspects of your show’s identity.

2. Creating for Yourself vs. Serving an Audience

• SNL Approach: Early SNL made a show they themselves wanted to watch, not just chasing demographics.
  • Quote: “We made the show we wanted to watch, and that is absolutely an option.” – Dave Jackson (06:46)
• Implication for Podcasters: If you choose this route, your strategy shifts to finding more people like yourself.

3. The Power of Strong Openings and Delivery

• SNL’s Musical Retrospective: The 50-year special showcased the importance of both content (rich musical history) and delivery (Questlove’s masterful curation).
  • Quote: “What makes great content or what makes a great episode? It’s content, sure. And delivery.” – Dave Jackson (11:32)
• Lesson: Even with great material, how you present it is critical.

4. Embracing Weirdness and Experimentation

• Not Afraid to be Different: SNL brought on unusual acts (Andy Kaufman, Penn and Teller, punk and rap groups) and took risks with non-comedic hosts (Steve Forbes, Elon Musk).
• Creative Risks: Pushing boundaries creates memorable moments and sparks conversation—even divisive ones.
  • Quote: “If you can get people talking about your show, it makes you wonder, you know, if you tell a friend if it’s excellent, you’ll probably tell two if it was horrible.” – Dave Jackson (17:53)
• Personal Anecdote: Dave shares how breaking his own format revitalizes his show and keeps things interesting for himself and his audience.

5. Word of Mouth and Unique Value

• Discovery & Sharing: Dave learned about the SNL special via his brother—a simple illustration of word of mouth being irreplaceable.
  • Quote: “Word of mouth, as always, word of mouth, that is not artificial intelligence. That is real intelligence.” – Dave Jackson (32:53)
• Exclusive Content: Behind-the-scenes stories (e.g., Adele’s meteoric chart jump after SNL) highlight the impact of providing “information you can’t get anywhere else.”
  • Quote: “Every time we turn on this microphone, we have an opportunity to impact people to where they go, what is that? And they stop what they’re doing to listen.” – Dave Jackson (24:06)

6. Monetization, Opportunity, and Hustle

• Don’t Wait to be Discovered: Success comes from actively promoting, not passively waiting for discovery.
  • Quote: “The whole build it and they will come is just not the way that works. You know, you’re not going to grow your network from behind a desk.” – Dave Jackson (27:00)
• Value Every Listener: Never say “only” in front of download numbers; a small, engaged audience has real value.

7. Leveraging Guests & Segments for Validity and Engagement

• Star Power & Credibility: SNL’s ability to attract notable musicians—and their willingness to share rare stories—amplifies the show’s authority.
  • Quote: “When you have other guests on it, there are times when people go, ‘Whoa. You had, you know, Gary Vee on your show. Holy cow.’” – Dave Jackson (36:35)
• Segment Focus: Identify which segments resonate most with your audience and consider doubling down or evolving those parts.

8. Visual Presentation’s (Limited) Importance

• Not All Top Podcasts Are On Video: Out of the top 50 podcasts, only 79% have video; 21% don’t.
  • Quote: “If you’re still thinking I have to be on video? No, you don’t… I just want to release that pressure.” – Dave Jackson (30:42)
• Lesson: High-quality audio and authentic connection matter most.

9. The Value of Risk and Being Live

• Infamous SNL Moments: Live broadcast brings unpredictable, buzz-worthy events (e.g., Ashlee Simpson’s lip sync, Sinead O’Connor’s protest).
• Be Willing to Fail: SNL sometimes produces sketches that flop, but the risks foster innovation.

10. Learning from Outliers: Tom Green and ‘Weird’ Content

• Tom Green’s DIY Show: Live webcasting from his living room in 2007 foreshadowed modern podcast and video culture and inspired others like Joe Rogan and “Jackass.”
• Lesson: Being unapologetically weird or unique can be the catalyst for industry shifts.

11. Owning Your Platform and Distribution

• RSS Power: Don’t rely solely on platforms like iHeart or Spotify. Distribute everywhere, and always own your RSS feed and core audience relationships.
  • Quote: “Never underestimate the power of RSS… allows us to be heard all over the world.” – Dave Jackson (24:30)
• Beware Platform Volatility: Dave cautions against depending on Spotify and YouTube for your podcast’s future, especially as corporate entities don’t always prioritize creators’ interests.

12. Business Mindset for Podcasters

• Upcoming Topic Tease: Dave is preparing episodes about running your podcast as a business, featuring accounting advice and the Profit First system.
• Paint by Story: Dry topics (like numbers) need to be made compelling via storytelling.
  • Quote: "How do you fix boring numbers? You paint them with a story.” – Dave Jackson (46:33)

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On Audience Naming:
  "Nicknames are given to you by people that love you." – Dave Jackson (04:42)

• On Creating for Yourself:
  "We made the show we wanted to watch, and that is absolutely an option." – Dave Jackson (06:46)

• On the Impact of a Single Episode:
  "[Adele] leaves New York City... her album was like at number 49 on the charts. By the time she landed ... she was either in or very near the top 20 because of one appearance." – Dave Jackson (23:11)

• On Audience Value:
  "Never put the word 'only' in front of your download numbers... That’s a full classroom." – Dave Jackson (25:20)

• On Risk and Creativity:
  "If I get bored, we’re all screwed. Except he didn’t say screwed." (Sammy Hagar’s philosophy) – Dave Jackson (20:36)

• On Not Waiting to Be Discovered:
  "You gotta get out there and hustle a little bit, know who your audience is, go to where they are, make friends with them and tell them about your show." – Dave Jackson (28:36)

• On the Power of Guests:
  "When you have other guests on it, there are times when people go, 'Whoa. You had, you know, Gary Vee on your show. Holy cow.'" – Dave Jackson (36:35)

• On Platform Ownership:
  "Never underestimate the power of RSS… allows us to be heard all over the world." – Dave Jackson (24:30)

Important Timestamps (MM:SS)

• 03:25 – SNL’s branding and why you can’t force your nickname
• 06:46 – SNL's “make your own favorite show” philosophy
• 11:32 – Content vs. delivery, and Questlove’s masterful curation
• 17:53 – The value of risk and “swinging the bat”
• 23:11 – The Adele story: SNL’s power to make stars overnight
• 24:30 – RSS and the importance of platform independence
• 28:36 – “Don’t wait to be discovered” and Dave’s gum-selling anecdote
• 32:53 – The magic of word of mouth in podcasting success
• 36:35 – The power of guests and credibility through association
• 39:50 – [Guest Clip]: Insights into shady record industry practices affecting Spotify
• 45:07 – Upcoming business-focused episodes for podcasters
• 53:00 – Bonus: Dave’s favorite features in Pocket Casts for podcast listeners

Memorable Stories & Anecdotes

• Andy Kaufman’s Mighty Mouse act: Highlighted the value of “weirdness”—you either loved it or hated it, but you definitely talked about it.
• Ashlee Simpson’s infamous lip sync fail: Proves that unpredictable live moments generate enduring discussion and notoriety.
• Tom Green’s pioneering web show: Example of thinking outside the box before the “creator economy” was in vogue, influencing future podcasting stars.
• Rage Against the Machine’s censored flag stunt: A behind-the-scenes look at artistic risk-taking and network boundaries.

Actionable Takeaways for Podcasters

• Let your audience shape aspects of your branding.
• Don’t be afraid to break format and take creative risks.
• Focus on your show’s delivery as much as your content.
• Celebrate your listeners—big or small—as a real “classroom.”
• Seek out word-of-mouth and unique, “can’t-get-it-anywhere-else” stories.
• Diversify your distribution; own your platform and RSS.
• Lean into your own weirdness and individuality.
• Use guests and highly-valued segments to boost authority and retention.
• Don’t wait for an audience: genuinely engage and promote yourself.

[For more resources, links, and to join the School of Podcasting community, visit schoolofpodcasting.com and see the episode show notes.]