← The Goal Digger Podcast | Top Business and Marketing Podcast for Creatives, Entrepreneurs, and Women in Business
The Goal Digger Podcast | Top Business and Marketing Podcast for Creatives, Entrepreneurs, and Women in Business
938: The Mic That Made Me: The Lessons I Never Expected to Learn from Podcasting
00:47:46
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- [00:02]
A
Okay. I have been on this ruthless pursuit to purge any clothes that I'm not actually wearing. Like, if I haven't reached for it in months, it's gotta go. I am trying to be really intentional about what I bring into my closet right now, which means I am only buying pieces that I know I will actually wear and use. Revolve just gets it, though. I'm literally wearing my brown Autry sneakers from there right now and my new suede purse. It fits my laptop in it, so it's basically a fancy shoulder bag that works for everything. I love finding pieces like that, things that look good but also work hard for my actual life. Their holiday shop is live right now with all the good stuff. Sparkly party dresses, cozy sets, cute gifts, everything you need for whatever is on your calendar. And it's all in one place, which makes shopping feel way less overwhelming. Whether it's a weekend away, a big night out, or a holiday party, your dream wardrobe is just one click away. Head to Revolve.com forward/gold digger. Shop my edit and take 15% off your first order with the code gold digger. Fast two day shipping, easy returns. It's literally the only place you need to shop from. That's Revolve.com forward/gold digger to shop my favorites and get 15% off your first order with the code Gold Digger offer available for a limited time. So happy shopping.
- [01:18]
Nine years ago, I started talking into a microphone as a total experiment. I was lonely. I was building a business in a village of 1200 people in Wisconsin, and I thought that maybe, just maybe, if I started a podcast, I could find my people. Now, I expected a lot of things in the world of podcasting, but what I didn't expect was this. That my mic wouldn't just help me find my audience, it would help me find myself. And I know that sounds cheesy and trite, but along the way, this microphone has taught me more than any business course, any mentor or, or any strategy ever could. Today, I'm going to break down the nine lessons. I wish someone would have told me before I started all of this. And we're not talking about things like audio quality or interview techniques, but about the deep, transformative shifts that actually happen when you give yourself permission to show up and grow in public. Because if you have ever, and I mean ever felt the tug to use your voice, I want you to understand what you're really signing up for and why it might be the most important thing you ever do. Let's dive in. I'm Jenna Kutcher and I help you trade hustle for purpose and build a business that gives you the life you actually want to live. From a $300 Craigslist camera to a seven figure business I run from home, I've learned that success isn't just about what you do. It's about how you live. Here, you'll get strategies that work, see systems that give you your time back, and steps that turn your effort into results and impact. If you're ready for clarity, confidence, and a business that feels as good as it looks, you're in the right place. This is the Goal Digger podcast.
- [03:00]
All right, kicking things off with lesson number one. And I just have to say this is the perfect lesson for me to start with. You do not have to be good at technology. And maybe take tech doesn't scare you, but it totally scared me. Let me tell you a quick origin story. So before I ever started my podcast, I had this microphone. Now, my brother, he is two years older than me. He is an incredible entrepreneur. He is very nerdy when it comes to tech. I mean, the guy is inspiring, but so over my head. And he had bought a microphone for some sort of project that he was doing and he wasn't using it. And so I'll never forget when he gave it to me and he said, I think you should start a podcast. And I remember laughing at him, like deadpan laughing into his face and saying, I will run out of things after episode number seven. And I believed that. I really did. And that microphone sat in this box. I can still picture exactly where it was inside of my makeshift office at the time. And it just sat there and it taunted me. And here's what I need you to hear. I almost didn't start my podcast because I didn't know how to plug a microphone into my computer. Like, let that sink in. I almost let a USB cord steal nine years of growth for me. Now, if you've ever heard the origin stories of my podcast, I had a nice microphone. My brother literally gifted it to me for the sole purpose of having a podcast. And I didn't know how to use it. And so my first bunch of episodes were recorded with nothing more than iPhone headphones. And I'm not talking about like the cute airpods that are out now. I'm talking about the corded old school headphones because that was the only way that I knew how to simply start. And I am not someone who is scared of starting sloppy starting, messy. That is literally my M.O. because I've just realized over time, that perfectionism is the thing that often will keep you from starting. It is like a fancy form of procrastination. And I have experienced that. Just taking messy action that will teach you everything you need to know to get closer to where you want to be. But it'll also just help you progress. And when you see yourself progressing, you start to change your beliefs about yourself. And so I started this podcast with zero tech skills. I didn't know how to edit. I didn't know what an RSS feed was, or I still don't even really know what it stands for. I did not have any sort of studio or fancy setup. I was just a girl who wanted to have conversations. And over the years, I've had some terrible audio on this show. Like, I am not the audio queen, okay? But I've realized that the message matters more than the method. And that has kept me showing up. I mean, I have recorded episodes under duvets in hotels. I've recorded them in the front seat of my car. I've recorded them in many different places, including a closet. And not like a cute little studio closet, but like a closet closet, like the one with the random boxes next to you. Like, the box is literally titled random junk that you will never go through, and you will move from home to home. Okay? And so I just need you to know you absolutely, positively do not need to be good at tech, especially nowadays. Like, just so you know, here's a little pro tip. I am recording this episode with my microphone, but I also have my voice notes app recording on my phone, because guess what? That app has saved me many times. There are now AI editing things you can run audio through. It could be the worst audio, and it could pretty much make you sound like you are sitting in an amazing studio. And so I just need you to know there has never been an easier time to start. Especially. And even if you are not tech savvy, and so if technology is something that is holding you back, I just want you to know you likely already have everything you need to start a podcast. And your gear can grow and change with time. I now have this setup where I can just sit down, plug my laptop into the wall and plug a few cords in and bada bang, bada boom, I am recording this show. But I just need you to hear me that if you are afraid of, like, figuring out that stuff, it's actually way easier than you think. And so if you have been telling yourself that you're not tech savvy enough to have a podcast or you're not polished enough or you need to learn more. The tech is so doable and it's so learnable. And what matters way more than any of that is your willingness to start before you're ready. Like, you don't need to be an expert. You just need to be willing to learn as you go. Now, real quick, I'm gonna give a plug. I have a podcasting 101 masterclass. I walk you through the tech and why it is not intimidating. And if you sign up and show up to this, I actually have an entire technology guide that walks you through every setup I've ever recorded on this show, from my iPhone headphone setup to what I use today, including a nice camera and all the different things. So if you go to teachmetopodcast.com you can save your seat. And if you show up to the training, you will get my free tech guide. It is so good and complete. It has links to everything. You will no longer be worried about buying the wrong cord on Amazon. Let me tell you how many wrong cords I've bought over the years. Signed. You're not tech savvy leader. Okay? That's teachmetopodcast.com lesson number two. Your voice is your proof of growth. Okay? You know, it's wild. If you go back and you listen to episode one of this show, you will hear an entirely different person. Like, it's me, but it is a version of me that no longer exists. It is a form of me that was absolutely scared, you know what? List, and someone who was trying to find her voice. And I was so terrified. But I hit record anyways. And that is the only reason why I am here today. And so here's what you need to understand. You do not magically find your confidence before you start to speak. You build your confidence through showing up and speaking. Okay? When I first started this show, it was legitimately an experiment. So let me just paint the picture for you. At the time, I was a wedding photographer. I did not have all the digital courses, all the different things. You see, I was a wedding photographer who shot weddings from basically April until October. And then I had what I coined the off season, which was anything but off, but, like, off from being gone every single weekend shooting weddings. And so in my off season, I decided I was going to do an experiment and I was gonna record a podcast. And inspiration only came because I had recently became a podcast listener. I actually listened to my now best friend show, Amy Porterfield. For years, she had no idea who I was, and I Admired the hell out of her. That woman got me so many results just from tuning into our show every week. I didn't even know that there was a podcasting app on your phone already. And so every week I would go to her blog and I would hit play on her little podcast player in her blog, show notes, and I would tune in. And I remember listening to her show one day and she was talking about an offer. It didn't even exist. It was like an idea of hers. And I remember having this visceral feeling of like, take my money. You have given me so much. You have taught me so much. You have given me real results for free just by listening to your show. Like, take my freaking money. And I just remember really recognizing in that moment how a podcast is such a. A vehicle of service and it is such a way to show up and share, to really share your life with people, but to build the know, like and trust factor, which, if you are in any form of marketing, you know, it is the most valuable thing and it is also the hardest thing to do, especially in the era we're in. And so when I started my show, I said, this is going to be an experiment. It's going to be an off season experiment. I have no idea where it's going to go. I don't know how long it's going to last, but I just want to try it. And if after 10 episodes, I run out of things to say, I just call it season one and I fade off into the distance, right? I ride off into the sunset. And so I really felt this, like, calling to figure it out. But more so, my podcast really came from this feeling of being so lonely. For the first three years of my entrepreneurial journey, I was burning the candle on both ends. I had been working a corporate job while starting my business. I really had my head down. And I think a lot of it was fueled by imposter syndrome. Who am I to call myself a photographer? Who am I to do this? I didn't really want to build relationships. I was kind of on an island of my own, I think out of scarcity, out of imposter syndrome, out of all the negative things that come up when you start a business. And so three years in, I was finally starting to lift my eyes and be like, okay, what else is out there? And are there other people as crazy as I am? And are there other people working as hard as I am? And how do we talk about these hard things that will make us feel less alone? That is like, the birthplace of The Gold Digger podcast. When I first started this show, it was interview only because I felt like I had nothing to offer. I felt like I couldn't do something like I'm doing right now and talk and do a monologue for more than five minutes. I thought so many things about myself and my ability. And so now, even just having this episode today, this is proof of growth. This is proof that confidence comes through action, through doing the reps. And so what's interesting is, is that I started off as an interview show, and I thought, I'm just going to highlight other people. I'm going to let them do their thing. And then soon I realized, wait, I wanted to interject into everything they were saying. I wanted to share my take, my opinion on things. Okay, wait, maybe I do have something to say. Maybe I should add in solo shows. And so it's wild how much has changed. I mean, if you go back to the early episodes, which people message me every day saying they're going back to the very beginning, my voice has literally changed. I mean, when I started, I had, you know, what's called kind of your phone voice. Like the voice you use when you record your voicemail and you record it, like 20 times because you are convinced that is absolutely not what you sound like. So I had my phone voice. I kind of sounded like a mix of like, a Valley Girl and like a Fargo person. I'm from Minnesota, so I do have a bit of an accent, But, I mean, when I listen to those early days, I'm like, oh, child. But also, I'm like, go, girl. Freaking go, girls. So, like, my voice has changed. And not just in sound, also in certainty and tone and the way I show up and the confidence that it delivers. And so the thing I need you to hear for lesson number two is most people think that podcasting is about having something to say, having the perfect thing to say. But what I have learned after nearly a thing, thousand episodes, is podcasting is really about discovering who you become when you commit to showing up. Like, when you show up week after week, idea after idea, evolution after evolution. When you do the work, that is where the real gold is. And it's just wild because I've hit so many different milestones with this show. I mean, I'll never forget hitting a million downloads. Like, what? Also will never, never, Never forget hitting 100 million downloads. Like, being a girl who grew up in a town of about 5,000 people. When I see numbers and stats, and not just numbers, but imagining real humans tuning in, putting their earbuds in inviting me into their lives like that is absolutely nutty. And so having recorded over 900 episodes, I can hold space for complex ideas without needing someone else. Like I can hold my own on the microphone. And I hope that this episode is proof of that. So if you have been waiting to feel confident before you start, whether that's launching a podcast or writing that email, or posting your new offer, even just like speaking up in a room, I need you to know confidence isn't a prerequisite. It is a byproduct of consistent courage. You don't wait to feel ready. You prove you're ready by showing up again and again and again and again.
- [15:14]
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- [15:33]
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- [16:04]
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- [16:22]
Okay I have been on this ruthless pursuit to purge any clothes that I'm not actually wearing. Like if I haven't reached for it in months, it's gotta go. I am trying to be really intentional about what I bring into my closet right now, which means I am only buying pieces that I know I will actually wear and use. Revolve just gets it though. I'm literally wearing my brown Autry sneakers from there right now and my new suede purse. It fits my laptop in it so it's basically a fancy shoulder bag that works for everything. I love finding pieces like that, things that look good but also work hard for my actual life. Their holiday shop is live right now with all the good stuff. Sparkly party dresses, cozy sets, cute gifts, everything you need for whatever is on your calendar and it's all in one place which Makes shopping feel way less overwhelming. Whether it's a weekend away, a big night out, or a holiday party, your dream wardrobe is just one click away. Head to Revolve.com forward/golddigger. Shop my edit and take 15 off your first your first order with the code Gold Digger. Fast two day shipping, easy returns. It's literally the only place you need to shop from. That's Revolve.com forward/gold digger to shop my favorites and get 15 off your first order with the code Gold Digger. Offer available for a limited time. So happy shopping. All right, lesson number three, Podcasting. I wish I would have known. This is free coaching for your soul. Oh, my gosh, so many people do not pay attention to this. If you are fading off, come back to me. I feel like this is one of the most important points I want to make. When you have a podcast, you literally get to interview people you admire. You look up to your dream mentors, you get to ask them questions. So the other day I met this woman. I was at a kid's birthday party for one of my daughter's friends, and it was like, with our community. And this woman came up to me and she's like, I'm so sorry, I have to fangirl. And she goes, I need to apologize to you because when you moved into town, I totally emailed you and I said, can I pick your brain? Can we meet up for coffee? And can I pick your brain? And she sat there and apologized. And I was like, oh, my gosh, please don't apologize. But what I was really thinking in the back of my mind is I have been able to pick the brains of hundreds of successful women without having to apologize because of my podcast. And I just kind of smiled to myself because that whole pick a brain thing is something that can really strike a nerve with people. It doesn't really bother me. I get it. I mean, there were people whose brains I picked at the very beginning. But having a podcast is like having free coaching. You get to interview your mentors. And those conversations not only teach you things, but they reveal things about yourself you never expected. Like, here's a quick story of this podcast. So I interviewed this amazing woman. Her name is Tracy Otsuka. And we get hundreds of pitches every single week to our show. And Tracy's had landed in her inbox. And I just remember thinking, this is fascinating. And Tracy is an expert in ADHD now. I just thought Tracy's topic was super compelling. Her pitch was really great. She was a dedicated listener of the show. So I said, absolutely. Let me interview you. So we go through the entire interview process, and I end the interview, and Tracy goes to me, and she goes, how long have you been diagnosed? And I was like, wait, what? And she's like, you have adhd, right? And I was like, wait, what? And she's like, you know why I applied to come on your show, right? And I'm like, wait, what? And she's like, I applied to come on your show because I have listened to your show for years, and all of the things that you do in a reference are absolute textbook signs of adhd. She goes, I'm not going to sit here and diagnose you, but you should look into it. And that episode, I literally said yes to that episode just because I thought it was a fascinating topic that could help our audience. I had no ulterior motives. I went through the entire interview. Not everyone's thinking, she's talking about me. And that changed my life. I did go on to get a diagnosis. I had so many conversations with my family members. It has changed my life. It has changed the way I parent because I likely have neurodivergent children, and it's just wild. And so it's crazy, because I would have never discovered this about myself in this way if I didn't have my show right, if I didn't have Tracy on as a guest. There have been so many interviews that have planted seeds in my life for business, that have changed my way of thinking, that have challenged me. There have been so many quotes and moments and key points that have absolutely shaped my own direction in business and in life and in motherhood. I mean, I have had my assumptions challenged. I have opened my eyes to new ways of thinking. I have built amazing relationships with my guests. There are so many guests that have come on my show who I didn't even know who they were before they were on my show. I just knew the work that they did and knew that it was impactful. Who? I have left the episode with their phone number, and we still keep in touch. I have created so many connections with guests who then recommend my show or me to other people. I mean, it's just. Just this effect that you can't even imagine. And I don't know why people don't talk about it more. Is like, if you want to get coached and you want access to mentors, having a podcast is amazing. Like, think about it. If I wanted to hire Tracy for private coaching, it could cost me thousands of dollars. But because I have a podcast, I get an hour of her undivided attention for free. And that alone changed my life. Like, that is the hidden ROI that no one talks about that I wish they would have. Because when you create space to ask questions and, like, real questions, curious questions, you're not just learning about that person. You're also learning about yourself. Like, you are discovering, what am I drawn to, what lights me up, what challenges am I ready to face? And so if you are someone who you're like, I want more access. I want more relationships. I need more coaching. This is an amazing way to do this. Like, if you are in a space where you're like, I want more coaching in my life, or I want access to people who are doing amazing things that I admire, or I need. Need real community. If you are in that space, a podcast gives you a reason to seek out conversations that will stretch you. Like, you just have to know you're not just building an audience here. You're building your own education vault that you can go back and reference to while also letting other people in. Like, you are literally creating your own curriculum of who you are becoming. Okay, lesson number four. I love this one. You are allowed to change your mind. I have over 900 episodes that are basically a public record of my evolution. Some of my early advice, I can cringe at it now, or I can say, hey, I have changed my mind on that, or I totally got that wrong. And I'm not saying this from a place of shaming myself. I am saying this from a place of, like, this is proof that I'm still growing and that I am humble enough to say, ooh, yeah, I actually don't agree with myself. Growth means that your ideas can evolve. Like, to me, if I am not learning, I'm dying. Like, I know that sounds dramatic. I think someone famous said that line. We should probably Google that. But I want to always be committed to learning. And I think that changing your mind is one of the most beautiful things and the most beautiful gifts you can give yourself. I always tell my daughters, you can choose and re Choose. And so when I look back, I'm like, you know what I believed in episode 10 isn't exactly what I maybe believe in episode 910. But to me, that's not failure. That's evolution. And so it's been really interesting to document the process of evolving. I mean, I have done so many things I thought I would never do. My life has unfolded in ways that I never thought it would have. You know, when I started my show, we weren't even sure. We wanted kids. We've documented basically, like, every journey. And so to think that there are 900 episodes that really just showcase what it is like to evolve, to become more conscious, to wake up, to mess up, to change your mind, like, I love that. And so I just think that it's been a beautiful way to document it all. And I like to imagine maybe my kids will want nothing to do with it, but someday them just, like, tuning into a random episode to hear, what did mom think about this thing? And what was she up to? And what stories did she have to say? And I've just given myself permission to continue to evolve as my beliefs change or as my mindset shifts. And I love that, because I do not want to stay stuck in who I used to be. I want to continue to push myself to grow. And so if you're someone who you're afraid, like, you're like, this has to be a manifesto, and it has to be exactly right, and it has to be everything I stand for. If you've been afraid to, like, change your mind and do it publicly, or afraid of what people would think about you, or afraid of looking inconsistent or afraid of outgrowing your old ideas, I want to give you permission. Right now, podcasting is the best permission I know. That gives you the ability to evolve. Like, your audience is not going to be following you because you're perfect. They're following you because you're real. And real people grow and change and refine their beliefs over time. And I am a walking, talking billboard for this fact. And I absolutely just love that fact about me and the show. Okay, lesson number five. Creation builds clarity. So here's what I think is so interesting, and I often think about this is a lot of times people will try to tell other people what to do with their platform. So they would say something like, if I had this many followers, this is what I'd be posting about. Or, if you have a platform, you need to say X, Y, or Z. And the thing that I always want to tell people is that you have to start speaking when nobody is listening. And when you do a good job and you speak with conviction, then people will start to follow. That is how the platforms that you're looking at were built, not built. Once they had all the followers. Now they start saying all the things. No, they were built because they started speaking up. And so you have to really understand, like, you're not going to find your niche, and then all of a sudden, start creating. You find clarity through the creation process. So it's interesting when I look back around clarity, because I feel so crystal clear from the place that I'm creating from today. But there were so many times where I'm like, okay, how do I want to say this? Or what do I want to say? I mean, think about this. This show was literally created pre AI era, right before ChatGPT would toss you out an outline. And so every single episode had to really come from my human heart, right? And so there are so many messy episodes or so many episodes where maybe my ADHD takes over and I don't get to the point, or I'm not really leaning on any sort of structure. And so maybe I'm unclear, right? But what's amazing is, is that podcasting became this amazing testing ground for me to just show up to see what's resonating, to see what doesn't resonate, to really harness what feels true to me. And it was interesting because I would start to notice, like, hey, when I talk about this thing, I really want to share it to the masses. Like, I want to scream out about it. I want to post it on social everywhere. And then other episodes, it would just be like, huh, that was a good one. That was interesting, right? And so if you are someone who you're like, I'm going to wait for the perfect idea. I need to know exactly what it's going to be or the perfect niche or the perfect offer. Clarity is crafted through doing, not dreaming. Like, you're not going to figure it all out in your head. You figure it out when you get into motion. And so the beauty is, is when you start to create, then you are able to refine and adjust. And over time, your voice becomes unmistakable. Not because you forced it, but because you've practiced it, right? You have that confidence and that clarity. And again, that is only through doing the reps and starting scared. Lesson number six is it can get you off of the hamster wheel. So you want to know something that blows my mind every single, single month? So when I look at my monthly downloads of my show, 50% of my podcast downloads are from episodes that I recorded months and even years ago. Like, I created them once, and those old episodes are still working for me while I sleep, while I'm with my kids, while I'm living my real life. And so if you are someone who is exhausted about creating fresh content every single day and nothing is sticking, podcasting builds an incredible library for you that will work for you 24 7, and that will outlive any type of social content. And so what's interesting to me is like, I have 900 plus episodes as a resource library, and every time I create an episode, I'm creating it to answer a question, to solve a problem, to provide a solution. And so 98% of the emails that come into our inbox asking us questions, we can send them a podcast episode. And the 2% we can't, that's where we create. That's the source. And the well that we create from, right, is like, how do we create something that answers this question? And so if you feel like you are constantly repeating yourself or you are shouting into the void trying to get people's attention, the most beautiful thing about a podcast is that you, you create the episode once and you can send people to it for years. And you know what, if you're good at it and you have the right strategy, people will just keep finding it for years. And so I love that half of my monthly downloads are not from the new episodes that drop that month. They are from my backlog, meaning my old work is still working for me. Now, the other piece of this one about the hamster wheel, because I freaking hate the hamster wheel, is a podcast can really be the source source of all of your work. So if you are someone who is trying to create for multiple platforms, your podcast can basically be like the starting point of your content. So for us, every single episode turns into a blog post, which is our show notes, which is SEO, search engine, optimized Pinterest pins, Instagram carousels, Instagram stories, LinkedIn posts, email content. And so can you see how just one episode literally kind of fuels this entire ecosystem of value across every platform. It is the hub, okay? And so it's just amazing to think about how your podcast can save you time, get you off of the hamster wheel, and create work that works for you. Like, I feel like that is how I've been able to stick with it for so long is because I know that when I sit down to record something, this isn't just going to be working for me the day it's published. I know it will be working for me months and even years to come. In a world that is trying to communicate through 4 second sound bites and captions that are probably not even getting read, it is so refreshing to record a podcast that offers context and stories, that shares perspectives and insights and ideas, that allows you to have a full conversation and not try to communicate through clickbait. So if you feel like you are constantly creating and never building anything that actually lasts A podcast gives you that. It is long form. It is evergreen, meaning it lives on and your growth compounds over time. And for me, it has made sitting down to record each and every episode absolutely worth it. Okay. Lesson number seven is it just forces you to be consistent. It forces you to do the reps. Now, since I interviewed Tracy Otsuka and got diagnosed with adhd, I really started to connect a lot of dots in my life about how I struggled with consistency. I was someone who was on this massive cycle of getting an idea, getting really excited about it, getting started with it, and then falling off the bandwagon and then feeling immense guilt and shame and then starting it all over again. Like, if you are someone that can relate to this idea. I have a million beautiful journals and I write for two or three days, and then I just fall off the bandwagon until I buy the next one, Right? Like, I have always struggled with consistency and showing up in every area of my life. And this show held me to a different standard. Like, I will never forget. Like, if you go back, maybe you will after this episode, go back to some of the early episodes. Like, I was a terrible interviewer. Like, horrible. I would interrupt. I didn't let people finish their thoughts. I interjected my own thoughts. Like, I wanted to be the star of the show. And some of those. I mean, it was. It was awful. Nobody taught me how to interview someone and be good at it, right? But I am someone who would rather be bad and get better than be someone who stayed perfect in my head but never started anything at all, right? And so success requires reps, and most people are not willing to put them in. And so having a podcast forces you to show up consistently. And those reps will undoubtedly change who you are. Let's just say you have some favorite creators that you love to follow. If you admire anybody, especially if they're on the Internet, go back and look at their early work. Look at how many posts they've created, how many videos they've published, how many episodes they put out there. Look at how many reps they've put in. These are the people who have stayed dedicated and stayed focused. They didn't get, like, squirrel tendencies and go off in a million directions. They put their head down and they showed up over and over and over again. And so when I think about showing up for nine years, that is hundreds and hundreds of reps, if you want to know the actual math. Over 900 episodes, that's 900 times I've had to sit down and hit record and face the fear of not being good enough. 900 times I've chosen courage over comfort. Like, you are not really competing with people who are more talented than you, even though your brain wants you to think that you are competing with people who are willing to be bad longer than you are. Like, that is the biggest truth bomb I can drop for you. Because it's crazy. Like. Like, nobody starts great. Nobody starts great. And so every single episode was essentially one round of practice of showing up and being vulnerable and finding my voice and trusting my ideas and understanding that I can share things. Even if I don't know everything, I can share things. And I'm still to this day, not a perfect podcaster. I never, ever, ever can become a perfect podcaster. But doing the reps and showing up consistently has made me so, so much better. And so if you want to be successful at literally anything, you have to be willing to put in the reps. And being willing to show up and learn on the job in public is one of the best things you can do. Because confidence, it's not about getting it right. It's about showing up again and again and again.
- [35:14]
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- [36:15]
Look, I've become kind of a systems nerd, and anything that gives me more space in my day, I'm all in. And a reliable connection is a huge part of that. Because when the Internet lags or cuts out, everything pauses and suddenly the simplest tasks take forever. I learned really early on that dependable Internet, it's not a luxury, it is a must. Whether you're a content creator like me, a restaurant owner, or running a busy dry cleaning business, you need that steady connection to support your team and your clients. That's why I'm excited to share a solution for my fellow business owners. Spectrum Business keeps businesses of all types connected with Internet, advanced wi, fi, phone, TV and mobile services, all with connectivity solutions built for your budget. And they have a truly incredible offer. Business owners can get free business Internet advantage forever when you add four or more mobile lines. It's simple with no contracts and no added fees. Visit spectrum.com forward/free for life to learn how you can get business Internet free forever. Restrictions apply. Services not available in all areas.
- [37:21]
Can you believe that we're already wrapping up 2025? This year was packed with travel and so many new memories. One of my favorite moments was our team retreat in Arizona with the incredible women who help me keep this business running. I also recently took the kids to Nashville during fall break, and somewhere in between, I squeezed in a trip to Puerto Rico with friends. We booked some of our most memorable stays this year on Airbnb. There's something special about finding a place that doesn't just look great in the photos, but actually feels welcoming the moment you walk in that this feels right kind of feeling. If you've got trips coming up, whether it's a family vacation, a retreat, or a work trip, your house will probably be sitting empty while you're gone. Have you considered hosting your home on Airbnb and letting it work for you? It's a simple way to earn some extra income that can be put towards a future trip or home improvement projects. Your home might be worth more than you think. Find out how much@airbnb.com forward/host.
- [38:20]
Okay, lesson number eight is different seasons require different strategies. This one comes from this idea that I've had over the last few years. And I think it was because oftentimes, like, I can just really make things way bigger than they are. Like, that idea of like, what is your purpose in life? Like, that feels so paralyzing to me just even trying to think of that or communicate that or put words to that. Heck no. But if I were to change a question and say, what is the purpose in my life right now in this season, I could answer that, right? And so when I think of like, different seasons requiring different strategies, I think of all the different versions of this show. Like, when I first started my show, I literally had a part time virtual assistant named Caitlin who was helping me with my photography business. So she was like answering client questions. She was the first person that I ever got help with in my business. I did not have a big team I did not have a network. I did not have a producer, nothing. And so it was just me and Caitlyn figuring it out. And then eventually the show grew where I needed to have a dedicated team member. I hired my sister for a while, and then I had Kylie on the show, then I had Christie. And so I've always had a very, very small team when it comes to show. I've never had more than one team member on my team dedicated to the podcast. And so when I look back at all the iterations, like the version of the show when I first started, when I was literally just figuring it out, like, that would stress me out so much today. You know, even the version five years ago, like, I couldn't have imagined all the different systems and strategies and tools and technologies that are in place to make starting a podcast easier than it has ever been. And so I just, like, look back and I'm like, none of those is wrong. They were all beautiful. They all led me to where I am. But, like, what worked in year one isn't going to work in year ten. And to me, again, that's not a problem. That's growth. Like, that is what growth is. That is what transformation looks looks like. And so when I first started my show, I mean, again, tech scared, tech illiterate. Recording it in the front seat of my car, having no idea how to do things like write show notes, having no idea what an RSS feed was. I just looked it up the other day, and I think I spent $2,500 paying somebody to submit my RSS feed to get my show. So when you have a podcast, your show will automatically drop onto all the platforms. So Apple, Spotify, like, all the different platforms. I didn't realize that. I thought that every time you publish a show, you have to, like, manually submit your episode to all the different platforms. I was thinking it was going to be so much work, and I was just so terrified of all things technology. So I paid somebody to do a few important clicks for me to set things up right from the jump, because I literally didn't know any of that. And so when I, like, look back, I'm like, there was so much fear, there was so much uncertainty, where now there are so many systems and structure that make this feel like a very easy effort, a very exciting effort. Right. And so it's been interesting to look at all the different iterations in the different seasons and really look at too, like, how I went through so many different seasons and stages with the show. So, you know, I've had every different type of monetization on this show. I've had a sponsor. I've been a part of a network. I canceled all sponsors and just use my show to grow my email list. I've had different advertisers. I've done sponsored interviews. Like, I've done affiliate links. I've done affiliate partnerships. I've done every different method because different seasons in the business require different things. And so it's really beautiful to see how your podcast really becomes this tool, to really leverage what is most important for you right now in this stage of life or business. There are so many things that this podcast has helped support, like growing my email list, promoting my own courses and my products, bringing in sponsors, joining networks, like, networking with other podcasters. Like. Like, there are just so many, like, hidden little benefits and also very real benefits. Like, this show has generated over seven figures in a year. That's pretty incredible. I never, I repeat, never dreamt that when I was first starting out. So if you're beating yourself up, if you're, like, looking at your life and you're like, okay, what used to work isn't working anymore, or if you're looking at yourself and you're like, in this season, I do not have the time or the energy like I used to to have, I just want to say, like, you're not failing. You are evolving. And guess what? You're living. And that's so beautiful, because different seasons of life and business are going to require different strategies. And what got you here is not going to get you there. And that doesn't mean that it's broken or that it was worthless. It just means that you've got to pivot and change. And so the sooner that you accept this, the sooner you can stop forcing yourself into a version of success and using strategies that don't fit any longer. Like, let that go. Let that go. It's not you. Okay, and on to our final lesson. Lesson number nine, Intimacy scales better than any algorithm. Okay? I get messages all the time from people who say that they feel like they know me, and I think it is the most beautiful thing in the world because they have spent hours upon hours listening to my voice, whether it's in their car or in their kitchen or in their shower or on their morning walks. And I take that so seriously. Like, when I think about how special and intimate it is when somebody pulls your podcast up and chooses it out of the millions of shows out there and hits play and lets you speak into their life for an extended amount of time. Holy crap. That is so valuable. Like, you cannot buy that kind of trust. You can only only earn it one episode at a time. And so when I look back, especially over the last almost decade, I see that everyone else was really excited to chase the hacks and I didn't want that. I never wanted that. I wanted connection. I want trust. Trust compounds. And so when I think about a show and a podcast, that quiet, consistent voice in someone's ears builds deeper brand equity than any viral moment ever would. And it drives much bigger results. Right? And so when I think of even just yesterday, I was cleaning out this crock that we have in our kitchen, I just collected a bunch of notes and I'd gotten a handwritten note from a guest that was a listener of the show that then came on to be a guest. And it was just the most meaningful, thoughtful card like that I held onto. When I think about the way that I have been able to connect with people, people, or when I get messages saying, like, this episode changed everything for me, or even one of my dear friends yesterday sent me a link to one of my episodes and said, I just sent this out to my entire network with bullet points of where they need to really listen in on. I just recognize, wow, this is so intimate. This is so special. This is so valuable. Like, podcasting is intimate in a way that social media can never be. People are literally choosing you and letting you into their lives. Like, like I have listened to podcasts and I could name the exact moment and exactly what I was doing when I heard a thought or an idea or a story that changed my life. Right? And people don't really acknowledge the difference that this makes. Like intimacy versus algorithms. Like when you recognize that with a podcast, you're not just popping up, trying to distract somebody or catch their attention or stop their scroll, they are actively choosing to listen and tune into your content. That changes the relationship. It changes how consumption takes place. It changes how information is absorbed, it changes how results are generated. And so when you prioritize depth over trying to go viral or even just being so paralyzed on social media that you have nothing to add to the conversation, that decision will pay off dividends in loyalty and trust in long term impact. And so what's so interesting is, is when I think about all of the episodes I've done, I've had really popular episodes, but I've never had like a viral episode. And I'm sitting here, we have over 115 million downloads. I have a multi seven figure business. And while everyone else was chasing their 15 seconds of fame. I was building something that will still probably be working for me 15 years into the future. Right? And so maybe it's not as sexy or shiny, but, like, if boring is gonna win, I'm gonna sign up for boring every single time. And so if you're someone who has been spinning your wheels, trying to go viral or crack the algorithm or trying to show up and, like, be everywhere at once, I want to offer you a different path. Like, what if you focused on connection instead of reach? What if you built trust instead of chasing trends? Like, what if you showed up consistently and intimately and unapologetically for the people who are actually wanting to listen to you? That's the work that lasts. That's the work that matters. And so it's just been such a crazy journey. I've learned so much, but when I look back, it's like, when I first hit record, I never imagined that I would learn all of this and so much more. This show has succeeded beyond my wildest dreams, and I just am so grateful that you're listening to it and that you're letting me in. Truly, it just means the world to me. So here's what I want you to hear. This mic taught me more than any business course ever could. It taught me that I don't have to be perfect to be powerful, that I definitely do not have to have it all figured out before I start. It showed me that my voice matters, even when it's messy or even when it's evolving, or even when it's contradictory, even when I'm learning. But more than anything, it taught me this. That the act of speaking your truth out loud week after week is one of the most powerful ways that you can grow your character, expand your knowledge, and build a business that actually serves your life. So if you are someone who is tired of the content hamster wheel right now, or if you're exhausted from waking up and creating fresh posts every single day with nothing lasting to show for it, Podcasting offers you an entirely different path. It lets you create something once and distribute it everywhere. It literally builds out a library that compounds over time. It can turn strangers into email subscribers, subscribers into customers, customers into raving fans who feel like they know you because guess what? They do. They've spent hours in your virtual company. And it gives you this reason to connect with people that you admire, to ask questions that will literally change your perspective and change your life, that allow you to learn and grow and connect while you're building. So if you've been feeling that tug. If something in this episode resonated with you or you had that moment of like, oh, I want that. I want to invite you to take the next best step. So I created a free Masterclass. It's called Podcasting 101, how to Start, Record, and profit from your show. And in this training, I want to walk you through exactly how to start your podcast without getting overwhelmed by decisions by the tech. I'm going to talk about how to turn your podcast into a revenue stream through many different ways. And I'm also going to talk about the biggest mistakes I've made and that I see podcasters making and how to avoid them. And so this is, in theory, this is all based on the exact system that I've used to build this exact show that you're listening to. And I want for you to sign up for that free training right now. It's at teachmetopodcast.com that's teachmetopodcast.com and here's what I know for sure. I really do believe that the world needs what only you can say. The insights you've gained, the lessons you've learned, the perspectives you carry. There is someone out there right now who needs to hear it. You do not need to be perfect. You do not need to be polished. You absolutely do not have to have it all figured out. You just need to be brave enough to start. And I want to help you. You can borrow my bravery. I will hand you as much as I possibly can in my free masterclass. Again, teachmetopodcast.com I would love to meet you over there. Thank you so much for being here. Thank you for listening. Thank you for trusting me with your precious time. And I just hope that this episode lit a little spark inside of you that will hopefully grow into a wildfire that will take over and change the world. Until next time, gold Diggers, keep on digging your biggest goals. And thank you so much for listening to this episode of the Gold Digger Podcast. Thanks for listening to the Gold Digger Podcast. I hope today left you inspired and equipped with something you can put into action as you build a business that truly supports your life. If this episode resonated with you, here's how you can help this show reach even more entrepreneurs. Hit follow. Share it with a friend who's building something meaningful. And if you're feeling generous, leave us a review. Those reviews help other listeners discover these conversations when they need them the most. This show has become so much more than I ever imagined, and it's because of listeners like you who show up and share. You are helping build something that will inspire on entrepreneurs for years to come. For show notes, links and resources, head to gold diggerpodcast.com keep digging. Your biggest goals the world needs what you're building.