From Interviewer to Unignorable: 6 Brutal Truths That Will Make or Break Your Founder Podcast

6 key things most podcasters overlook that will make or break their podcast.

Let’s get into it:

01 INTERVIEWER to PERSONALITY to LEADER

Being a podcaster is a brutal journey.

Entry into the podcasting world is almost nothing (*see my Let Your Voice Lead Guide), and so the competition is stiff.

But entrepreneurs are experts at choosing hard over easy.

If you’re determined and persistent, then this is the article for you.

I never want to discourage anyone, but I think that when we have a clear idea of what it’s going to take to succeed at something right from the beginning, the staying power is built into the decision to act.

Here’s the REAL (cause that’s how we keep it around here):

• Your first 20 - 50 episodes will not be as good as you think they are. They might not be terrible, but let’s say your best work is ahead of you.

• 50 - 150, you’re getting into the groove of things. Still a bit shaky, but the reps will start to show.

• 150 to 300, you’re experimenting with approaches and finding your authentic voice. You’ve stopped mimicking other podcasters and found your hosting genius.

• 300 to 400 episodes is when people become dangerously good as podcasters.

At this point, they’ve gone from being nervous and unsure of themselves to asking great questions, instinctively understanding how to connect with people, and mastering effective communication.

This podcaster is now a personality.

By the way, if you’re an Alex Hormozi fan, I have my own theory on why he’s great at presenting. Alex had a podcast for years before becoming YouTube famous. So those reps are transferable, beyond podcasting.

After 400 episodes, we’re solidly moving from being a personality to a leader of a community if we’re being strategic.There’s a tribe that has programmed your podcast into their day. #Mote

In the world of finance, a really great investment has a mote around it. Which means it’s not easy to replicate. Can you say BRAND?

📌Practical tip: Love the process of getting 1% better. Every. Single. Time.

The ROI (return on your time invested) will be significant.

⚠️It’s going to be a LOT of work… but if everyone could do it, they would.

We’re not all going to the Olympics (for a reason) 😀 There’s always a big reward for strategically doing what most won’t.

02 Developing a DISTINCT style

What’s your signature style?

1. That thing that helps those who know you identify your presence.

2. That state of being fully present without any concern about who is around.

Professional communicators do this early in their careers. They try different styles to figure out what feels the best, connects with the audience best and is most natural.

📌Practical tip: Listen to comedians, preachers, politicians, and activists to identify what makes you forget about time and get wrapped up in what they are saying.

Try adding one new thing to your podcast every few episodes and see what feels natural.

⚠️I’ve even heard it’s important not to listen to people in your niche too often, cause the human mind mimics.

Guard your originality jealously.

People are wired to want different.New ideas, new experiences, new possibilities. Discovery doesn’t just feel good, it’s what keeps us alive and engaged.

03 Elevating your episodes to a LEGACY body of work

This is a game-changing mindset shift: Create like an artist.

Great artists have songs that we continue to sing generation after generation because they don’t make their creation 100% trendy. Trends fade.

What’s the classical music version of content by Founders?

• Principles

• Thought leadership

• Strategy

Don’t sleep on improving your packaging. In an audio experience, even simple things like elevating the excitement you bring to the interview, marketing it more boldly…

I’m going to pull back the curtain on my early days in podcasting. I was so unsure of myself. I knew the content was valuable, but I was hesitant to promote it. This was my call-to-action: “you may like this episode” or “if you have time to listen.” Can you smell the lack of confidence?As opposed to “This episode is going to blow you away…” The energy is elevated.

When you’re selling your episodes to potential listeners, remember:

“Selling is the transfer of enthusiasm.”- Anonymous

04 INTENTIONALITY

This I learnt from the biggest name in the game, living legend Oprah Winfrey.

Before pressing record, direct the energy of the episode:

• What do you want the people listening to walk away with?

People listen to words, but they feel the intention.

There’s that adage, “People forget what you say, but they never forget how you made them feel.”

Consider how an entire department of sales reps will get the exact same script, but for some reason, some will fail to sell, and others can’t stop bringing in the sales.

It’s the intention behind the words.

When we need that sale to pay our late bills, that desperate energy can be felt. When we genuinely want to help the seller make the right choice for them, that energy can be felt, too.

📌Practical tip: Create a manifesto for your podcast - a written declaration of your intentions, motives, or views.

For quick use as a filter when coming up with topics and guests, create a GPT that scores your ideas against this manifesto for the best fit.

• Who do you want to speak to and why?

• What do you want your podcast to be known for?

• What are the values you share through your body of episodes?

• What should the listener get out of this?

• How can I honour the guest?

05 YES, EXCITEMENT!

Bored podcasters create bored listeners!

Your podcast is a very powerful marketing tool. Don’t let it turn into one long, boring ad.

Ask yourself:

• Am I having interesting conversations?

• Why should someone not want to miss this episode?

EDU(cation and enter)TIANMENT not just one or the other. BOTH!

This doesn’t need to be complicated.

📌Practical tips: Think about the shows you enjoy watching or listening to. Why do you keep coming back? :

• Perhaps the suspense, that need to know what happened next. Split your 1 ½ hour episode into 2 parts. Create some anticipation.

• Perhaps the way you feel after watching. How can you encourage, motivate, and create a feel-good vibe about your episodes?

• Perhaps you connect with the characters, you’re one of them. How can you be relatable to your listener (This goes back to that ideal listener exercise). Are you a mom speaking to other moms? It doesn’t matter where you’re from or what you look like. The human experience of motherhood is the same. We all worry about our kids. We all get overwhelmed with creating a home life. The list is endless. CONNECT.

• Perhaps, it’s that 30 minutes in the day when you can just have a good laugh to yourself. As a podcaster don’t shy away from real-life humour. You don’t need to be a comedian. The funny thing you noticed on your way to work or at the mall. As if you were talking to a friend sharing the thing that had you in stitches that week.

• Perhaps it’s the self-improvement tips you get from listening. The show is contributing to your sense of personal growth. How can I leave the listener with something they can put into action to improve their business, relationships, family life etc. Be a GUIDE. (Visit my website for the review of Building A Story Brand by Donald Miller)

I could keep going, but I think the point is clear.

Take what you know from other media and see how you can apply it to your podcast.

06 Lastly AUTHENTICITY

Give yourself permission for this one (It’s HUGE):

Be okay with being yourself.

You may not need this tip, but I struggled with this one. I wanted the episodes to be palatable, so I dialled back my personality to avoid being too business-nerdy.

I made the classic entrepreneurship 101 mistake: I tried to be for the masses. To make it so that anyone would enjoy listening to the episodes.

Sounds noble, but it’s not.

If we try to be for everyone, we end up being for no one (Read 02 again).

It’s important to suit a preference. We don’t all enjoy the same music, and that’s ok.

Beyonce is giving the “Bey-hive’” more of what they like. She’s not concerned that other people don’t care for her music.

Consider that thing that makes you somewhat eccentric and not for everyone. Maybe that’s THE THING.

Lean into your uniqueness; it’s your competitive advantage.

Happy Podcasting... & In the words of Lady O, "Get so good at what you do that they can't ignore you."

Blessings!

Hi, my name is Priscilla, and I’m the host of the podcast The Entrepreneur’s Kitchen

P.S. Which one of the 6 will you definitely give a try?