← The How To Podcast Series - Podcast Co-Hosts, Practical Podcasting Tips, and Podcast Community
The How To Podcast Series - Podcast Co-Hosts, Practical Podcasting Tips, and Podcast Community
E704 - Committed to the Mic - How Consistency Creates Community - Practical Podcast Tips
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Hey. Hey. Welcome back to the how to Podcast series. It's Dave with you. Hope you're doing well. I just wanted to tell you, if you don't know already, this is a podcast created by humans for humans. No AI, none of that stuff is here. This is actually a human. I'm a human. My name is Dave. I have a family. I don't get plugged in and get recharged. I, I charge up on coffee. That's one thing I will do, but I don't require any prompting. Well, my wife would disagree with that. I don't require any prompting to do whatever it needs to get done. I'm a podcaster and I'm a human. So this is a human podcast for humans. There you go. Also, I'm not paid to do this show. I'm not. I've never sold my podcast to any companies. I do not work for anybody in podcasting. I don't work for any of those companies at all. I am a solo podcaster and I have nobody to tell me what I can and cannot say. And I'm not, I'm not blinded by my paycheck as a podcaster. So I get to talk about whatever I want. And you're going to get that on the show. So I hope you enjoy that. If you like somebody trying to sell you their own product or service because they work there, then go listen to those other podcasts about podcasting because many of them, not all, some really great ones out there, many of them are just empty shells peddling their employers products and services. And it's sad, very sad. A little tear drops out of my eye when I hear them come to the mic and push, push, push. Commercial, commercial, commercial. So sad. Anyways, there's no commercials here because this is the how to podcast series. You picked the right show. Well, so welcome. Nice to have you here. That's all done. It's out of my system. Let's move forward. What about how we hear this in podcasting? Often is consistency is super important and the idea that we need to pick something, stick with it and keep going forward. Right. Don't be so kind of laissez faire where you're like, yeah, I'm going to podcast, I'm going to take a break, I don't care. I started, then I got distracted by something else and I forgot I had a podcast. I'm talking about consistency, showing up, being regular with your show, making the effort, make it a priority where you tend to start really well but you don't continue. You're not really good with keeping up with stuff. You've got a gym, gym membership for a gym you've never been to, Right? Yeah. That's what I'm talking about in podcasting. We start a show, we get all excited and then we just give up. We walk away and like, oh, yeah, I remember when I used to be a podcaster. And your audience is like, what happened to so and so? Where did they go? We love them, they're great. And now they're not here. Maybe consistency could be the answer for you. So this is. I'm bringing back an episode from the past of the how to Podcast series. This was a daily Dave, which was a bonus episode, short episode where it was unnumbered. So in your hosting site, you can pick from a full episode a trailer, which is. You should have only one trailer, by the way. A trailer episode that lives at the top of your feed on your apps. You'll see it up there. Change your trailer as often as you want, by the way. It doesn't have to be one and done. You see, I have full episodes, trailers and bonus. Bonus episodes are unnumbered episodes and they're more sorted by date than by episode number. So what I've done is I've gone back because I'm doing a daily episode of my podcast is I've been grabbing some of the older episodes that you probably have never heard or you've listened to years ago and you've forgotten all about them. But the content, it's still good. Like, it's. There's still stuff in here that I think that all of us can really put into place. So I'm bringing these forward and sharing these episodes with you so that you can hear them. And for new people, again, probably not going to go back and hear stuff from three, four years ago on this show. That's a. That's a big commitment. I do that because I. I love hearing everybody's. Every episode of everybody's showing. I like to do that, but I don't anticipate everybody does that. I'm kind of a weird duck. So I bring these episodes forward to share them with you. And I would love for you to check this out. This is all around consistency and creating how it creates community for you around your podcast. And I hope you enjoy this. Here we go. Thanks for being here. Hey, welcome back to the how to Podcast series. It's Dave with you. Hope everything's well. The fact that you made time to be here is awesome. Thank you for pressing play. There's A quote that I really like. I heard Bono from U2 talking about this quote and I fell in love with it and I thought it really relates to podcasting as well. Frederick Nietzsche. The quote is long obedience in the same direction. It's a phrase that he is known for, long obedience in the same direction. People have been getting this as tattoos on themselves and all this, but the meaningfulness around this is that fulfillment in life comes from sustained, dedicated effort towards a specific goal or purpose over extended period of time. Sounds like podcasting to me. I think this, this quote, this phrase, a long obedience in the same direction really relates to what we do in podcasting. Not implying that you start a show and you're committed to that show for the rest of your natural life. We've talked about on this podcast, you can do five episodes, 10 episodes, beginning, middle and end, and be done and start a totally different show. Just because you start a podcast doesn't mean that has to be the only podcast. Again, I have nine, so I'm a poor example of this because I have nine different things I like to talk about. But you can end a podcast, it can have a natural conclusion, sparking the opportunity to then start a different show, a completely different show from scratch. Every time you start a podcast, it gets easier and easier and easier. You find your voice. And if it's any kind of relation to the other podcasts you've done in the past, if your audience finds you, they're going to follow you, they're going to be curious about what you're going to do next. But when you pick, whether it's a five episode series, a 10 episode series, a 25 year series, whatever it is that we have this belief, this foundation of a long obedience in the same direction. We talk about on this show a lot about branding, we talk a lot about on this podcast about podcasters who say that it's normal to rebrand, that everyone's rebranding this show. The how to Podcast series has been around now into our fourth year and have a rebranded at all. Maybe touched up the artwork from the original artwork for the show. After about 10 episodes, I'm like, I want something different. That's not a rebrand, that's kind of a refresh. A rebrand is a completely new name, a new focus, a new style, a new topic. Out with the old, in with the new. It's like a new year. That's what a, that's what a rebrand is. Refresh is just changing the music. I've got different music for this episode, little things, those are just re imagined additional things you can do to your show. But there's a long term obedience in the same direction for your podcast. You continue to create great content for the lifespan of your show. And you as a podcaster have an obedience and a commitment to showing up for yourself, to doing the thing, to show up with the right content that serves an audience and to serve that audience well. This quote, a long obedience in the same direction really speaks to the power of a sustained commitment over a period of time. For us as podcasters, this idea is especially relevant. I really think it applies to all of us. Building a successful show isn't about quick wins, virality, paying somebody to make you famous, paying for listens, getting on listen notes, getting on these places and using stats to impress people. It's not something that happens to you over time. Bands are known for a 10 year overnight sensation period of time. They've been working at it, doing the things, playing in parking lots into empty bars for 10 years and then overnight success comes their way. 10 years later and they're famous as podcasters. It's a long term focus again, whether it's one podcast over a long period of time, multiple different shows starting and ending over a long period of time. It's a long obedience in the same direction. It's about dedication to your craft, dedication to your content, and dedication to your community. Even when progress feels slow, like you're going up the down escalator, you're going up the up the river, that's going, the current's going the other way. A lot of paddling, a lot of effort and not a lot of results. That's common in podcasting. Just so you know, as a new podcaster, you're like, this could look so easy. Turn on the mic, record, talk into the mic, post it, I'm done. That's one element of the podcast. The larger element of the podcast is growing community, being found, helping others. That's something else you're signing up for by creating a podcast. Consistency could be how many episodes you do and doing them on the same time of the week or the same time of day. Okay, that's maybe an element of it in that you're being consistent and showing up for your audience. I get that, that makes sense. But consistency is showing up in for yourself, showing up for your content, like putting time and effort into creating great content for your show and against. Showing up means showing up for your community when they leave you a message, are you responding? Are you on your YouTube channel? Comments Are you in your DMs on social media? Are you responding through Speak Pipe? Are you responding through email? Are you there? If people are feeling like they're talking to the void when they reach out to you, you need to fix that. Consistency is simply showing up. Fill in the blank to whatever element of your podcast you're talking about. But consistency is showing up episode after episode. This demonstrates a deep commitment to your audience. This along obedience in the same direction. It means investing in your own personal growth as the host of your show, refining your message, and nurturing the trust that your listeners have in you and your content. Over time, this steady perseverance creates a rich archive of content, of a loyal community and connection with them, and a reputation for being reliable. Showing up, being reliable as a partner with your husband or wife, to your kids, to your job. Showing up, being consistent makes you reliable. And when you're reliable, people can count on you. When you're not reliable, people lose faith in you. People see you as not as relevant. People can't trust you. People see you as random. So consistently showing up. Fill in the blank to what that means for you, but be consistently showing up. Podcasting rewards those who persist, who keep creating and keep connecting, even when the results aren't immediate. When you start your show, you are not going to be immediately successful. Nietzsche's wisdom reminds us that lasting impact comes from staying the course, sticking with it, embracing the journey, and honoring that promise that you made to yourself and to your listeners with that first episode to today's next episode. Long obedience in the same direction. How are you going to apply that to your next episode, to your podcast? I love to hear how you're demonstrating long obedience in the Same Direction. HowToPodcast CA. I'd love to hear your thoughts, love to connect with you always Free time on my calendar right there on the website. You and I can get together, talk about anything to do with your podcast, and let's map out a long obedience in the same direction for your podcast. I'd love to talk to you. Keep podcasting keeping you. Thanks for listening. Thanks for being you. Talk soon. So there it is, dropping some Nichi on you. How's that? That's pretty Nichy of us, right? Long obedience, commitment, obedience. Does this podcast matter to you? Does it really matter in the big scheme of things? Is this something that's your priority or is this something that you're doing in your spare time? And it's whenever you have the opportunity, something you need to come to grips with at the beginning of your show. How much time do I have to devote to this new thing called podcasting? What am I going to give up? I've given up bad listening and watching tv. I've given up a lot of my musical stuff that I've been doing a lot in the past to do this. This is my thing. This is what I'm focused on. I've said no to many things. If you're not willing to say no to something to make room for this, it's not going to be your priority and you're going to get around to it, but you're not going to be committed to it overall. Now you don't have to create a podcast and that become your obsession and you don't do anything else in life. Don't do that. That's not healthy either. But you do need to create a space for this. You've committed yourself to an audience. You've committed yourself to this new thing. And when you build something, it's not immediate. You're not going to see get gratification right away, not going to see results right away. Takes time. Takes time. So don't give up on yourself. You got this. It just comes down to creating a routine, creating a ritual, creating the habits, creating the small wins that build over time. That's how you succeed in podcasting and that's how you stay consistent. Consistency will bring you great results. When you start fast and quit soon, you're not going to see any of your investment payoff. It's not how it works. So make the time, show up, be there for your audience. However, that is once a week, every two weeks, once a month, once a year. I don't know what your schedule is. For me, I'm doing a daily podcast for, for 2026. It's a lot. So when people get all kind of freaky around the fact that I can't commit to doing a weekly podcast, I don't have time for that. And then it's like, well, Dave's doing 365 in a row and he has a full time job and he has family and he has things. It kind of reduces some of the excuses that I hear. It's like, oh, well, maybe there is some time in my calendar. You need to, you need to figure out what works for you. And don't let anybody talk down to you, including me. You need to find what works for you. And if you need to take a break for your podcast for an extended length of time, do one thing for your audience. Just let them know. Let them know you're okay. People have been listening to you and building you into their world and they worry about you. It's totally different than radio. It's totally different than television. It's totally different than everything else. Podcasting is unique. People love their favorite podcaster. So if you're going to take a long hiatus from your show, then just take tell them you don't owe it to them. But you also don't. You don't automatically get an audience because you start a podcast and you buy a microphone. You're not guaranteed an audience. And your audience, they will stay for you if you just give them a reason to stick around. So let them know, need help. Let me know if you just need some encouragement. If you just need a virtual hug as a podcaster, I can do that. How to podcast ca thanks for being here. You're still here. Awesome question from a podcaster. They're like, Dave, how do you stay motivated to do all this? Like it's ridiculous how many episodes you're doing. Like how I keep losing my motivation to come to the mic. How do you keep going? How do you just keep this thing happening? Well, as we kind of mentioned in the episode, I've made it a priority. I've said no to other things in my life. It's something that I'm passionate about and I have a long term vision for my show. I'm still working full time. I still have a regular 9 to 5. Well, my job is 11pm to 7am job, so it's really not really a 9 to 5. But I already have a full time job and that pays my bills and keeps the lights on. So I don't have the undue pressure on my podcast to support my, my mortgage and my putting groceries in the cupboard. So I don't have to worry about that part. But I do have to worry about balancing my time. So being a podcaster with a full time career has helped me to create windows of time in my week where podcasting is my priority and everything else shuts off. So again, I'm not sitting upstairs watching TV right now. I'm here with you recording this episode. I've so you just have to decide what's important to you in podcasting and in life and you need to make the decision that works for best for you. And if you, if you find that you have less time, then maybe making shorter episodes will help you to stay motivated. You don't have to do 40 minutes, you can do 20 minutes, cut it in half. If you just don't have enough time to do an interview every week, then do an interview every second week. Do an interview every second week. And in the in between weeks, do like a short five minute recap about the episode from the week previous. There's a lot of opportunities and options for you. Don't feel obligated to do the thing that's wearing you out. And if you just want to chat about your podcast, reach out to me at howtopodcast ca. We can see what works for you. Maybe there's some suggestions we can come up with together. I don't want you to podcast my way. I want you to podcast your way. And I'm happy to listen and offer some suggestions, as two podcasting friends would do. Reach out to me howtopodcast ca. See you tomorrow.