J Cleveland Payne's Creators Pep Talk

The better the gear you own doesn’t instantly translate to being a better podcaster. But these tools can help a proficient podcaster be better.

None of your ideas are original. So, give props to the fact that you are trying our new things you've observed working from others. Even generic credit shows good spirit.

It is not difficult to publish a lot of podcast episodes. It is really hard to keep the same people listening to your podcast over an extended period of time.

If your set up allows you to monitor your recordings in real time, take advantage of it. And get over whatever ick factor you have with wearing your headphones.

Setting your audio levels properly are just one key to recording good episodes. Showing up to record without the right amount of physical and mental energy can be heard just as clearly as the hiss of an improperly ground wire.

Before you get started working on the recording of a podcast, you have to know if the intent of your show to be  solo, interview, co-host, or a hybrid.  

While there are exceptions to this rule, podcasts generally need to be published on a consistent basis to maintain a following.

A comfortable routine may make for an easy-going life, but not a very informed one.

Any question that asks for ‘the best’ will create controversy. But I believe there should be a universal top answer for why 'people' (not necessarily you) actually listen to certain podcasts.

Your audience will be your greatest source of support, whether financial or emotional, in your podcast journey. This week we quickly cover how to engage with your audience to get them to be willing benefactors as opposed to coming off as a desperate beggar.

There are a lot of podcasts. There are way too many podcasts for you to personally listen to, especially if you aspire to have a top-rated podcast yourself. There are not too many podcasts.

You can be boring and informative, or dynamic and totally trivial. But what makes your podcast, and you as a host, worth listening to?

If you are listening to this, I want to give you hope as a podcaster. But I also need you to set a realistic floor and ceiling for your expectations.

A good website to funnel podcast listeners is a great tool to have if you can effectively keep it updated and fresh. If not, your generic website created by your podcast host is just fine, assuming you are sharing your feed on the major podcasting platforms.

Looking for topic ideas? 'Borrow' a few from your fellow podcaster to pull and use at a later date.

If your podcast finds a way to a platform where real listeners can find it, it doesn't matter what your podcasting peers (or haters) think about your plan for hosting.  

All the bells and whistle of a 'good' podcast require a lot more time and effort than you think, even if you are   a veteran producer. And sometimes, the effort is not worth it for the audience you want to reach or the information you want to get out.

The problem is probably not how bad it sounds, but the range of how good it sounds. Consistent use of the same equipment, same settings, and same locations make more of a difference than how expensive equipment you can access.

Should you scrap a possible podcast topic because it is not currently trending?

Too many podcasts in the wild is a problem for new podcasters. It’s actually two separate problems that must be overcome: too much noise to filter out with bad podcasts and the proper pitch to get one to tune in over good podcasts.

How to battle the fear that you are just adding noise to what could be real discussions and dialog.

There is an over-abundance of advice in the podcasting world, and surprising more of it is helpful than not. But there is so much advice out there that you cannot possibly implement the bulk of what you hear.

The extra work it takes to record, edit, process, and publish a video may not be worth the effort it takes to comb your hair and wash your face.

We all ask for them and hope to get them. But how useful are those five-star reviews on Apple Podcasts? Or elsewhere?

Not seeing enough response to your call to action? Whatever you do, don't stop giving your call to action.