30-Day Solo Podcast Challenge: Recent Episodes
Big Podcast
If you want more results from your podcast, you need to be able to handle hosting on your own, without the "crutch" of co-hosts, interviews, or music. The 30-Day Challenge podcast will help you do just that. Be more confident behind the mic!
The 30-Day Solo Podcast Challenge is done, but you are not done – your podcasting challenge is just beginning.
This series was designed to give you a jumpstart into the world of solo podcasting. What happens next is up to you...
To make sure you don't miss any of these special 30-Day Solo Podcast Challenge episodes, go to bigpodcast.com/subscribe and subscribe now.Click the icon below to listen.
Your podcast, especially if it's solo, is a billboard – it lets people know everything they need to know about you (or at least what you want them to know about you).
So what do you want to be known? That's what this episode of the 30-Day Solo Podcast Challenge is about.
To make sure you don't miss any of these special 30-Day Solo Podcast Challenge episodes, go to bigpodcast.com/subscribe and subscribe now.Click the icon below to listen.
One of the most common questions people ask me about solo podcasting is, "Where do you get ideas for episodes?"
In this episode of the 30-Day Solo Podcast Challenge, I talk about this and give you a very specific exercise to make sure you never run out of podcast episode ideas.
To make sure you don't miss any of these special 30-Day Solo Podcast Challenge episodes, go to bigpodcast.com/subscribe and subscribe now.Click the icon below to listen.
All podcast hosts have two things:
- Things we want people to know about.
- Things we hope remain secret.
Some secrets are scandalous. Or we think they are.
Some are a big deal. Or we think they are.
This episode is about secrets and what we choose to share (or not share) with listeners.
To make sure you don't miss any of these special 30-Day Solo Podcast Challenge episodes, go to bigpodcast.com/subscribe and subscribe now.Click the icon below to listen.
Most stories in the media, at least when it comes to celebrities, don't just happen. When you see somebody "famous" getting positive coverage on big media, there's a good chance it happened because a publicist (or even the person himself) asked for it.
When it comes to getting attention for yourself, your podcast, and the business behind your podcast, you need to let people know the kind of attention you want.
The same is true for your reputation. A good reputation doesn't just happen – you have to let people know the type of reputation you want, then act accordingly.
What do you want your listeners to know about you? How can you let podcast listeners know these things within the podcasts you're doing? That's the subject of this episode.
To make sure you don't miss any of these special 30-Day Solo Podcast Challenge episodes, go to bigpodcast.com/subscribe and subscribe now.Click the icon below to listen.
Listeners are attached to you. Because of this, they love "behind-the-scenes" info. One of the best ways to ease into this and provide something of value that's related to your podcast topic is to share the tools you use to do your job (related to your topic) and your work process.
The tools I used to make this podcast episode:
- Audio-Technica BP-30 microphone
- Focusrite Scarlett 2i2
- Audacity
Something that I didn't mention, but was also used in the creation of this episode is Auphonic, which is post-production software that touches up your raw audio to make it sound better.
To make sure you don't miss any of these special 30-Day Solo Podcast Challenge episodes, go to bigpodcast.com/subscribe and subscribe now.Click the icon below to listen.
Over the last couple of episodes, we've covered the "future" as well as the "past." In this episode, I talk about how to share what's happening NOW and get your listeners involved in what you're currently doing.
Have you ever been in a city where there is a Starbucks on one side of the street and, directly across from it, there is another Starbucks? That can seem like overkill, but those situations aren't by accident – they happen because people are less likely to go somewhere if they have to cross a street.
If a city street will keep people from spending money on something they're addicted to, you can imagine how difficult it can be to get people to take action on "non-addictive" offers. I talk about this also...
To make sure you don't miss any of these special 30-Day Solo Podcast Challenge episodes, go to bigpodcast.com/subscribe and subscribe now.Click the icon below to listen.
The image we present as podcast hosts is always different than how we actually are as humans. Some of this is done on purpose, but because our podcasts are planned out and edited (or should be), it's easy for people to think we're better at organizing messages and delivering them than we actually are.
Like standup comics, we plan things. And we tweak our messages (and perfect them) before they're delivered to people.
If you want to have real rapport and connection with the people who listen to your podcast, you have to let them know that you make mistakes too.
To make sure you don't miss any of these special 30-Day Solo Podcast Challenge episodes, go to bigpodcast.com/subscribe and subscribe now.Click the icon below to listen.
As a podcast host, listeners look to you as an authority on your subject. And it can be helpful to your "status" as this expert to talk about current and future trends.
Think about the host of a stock market show. What does something like that do for listeners?
Part of the job is to advise you today on what the market will do tomorrow, next week, next month, and next year.
You can benefit by doing something similar. Even if you don't make predictions for the future, it can be helpful to your expert status to talk about the trajectory of current trends.
To make sure you don't miss any of these special 30-Day Solo Podcast Challenge episodes, go to bigpodcast.com/subscribe and subscribe now.Click the icon below to listen.
There's a saying among those who sell their own products that, "If you don't have a few people return what you've sold, you're not selling enough."
The same could be said for bad reviews of podcasts. If you don't have some bad reviews for your podcast, you're not reaching enough people with it.
Everybody who has ever really tried at life has been rejected. Because of this, your listeners will have their own stories of rejection.
You have one too. And a great way to better connect and develop rapport with your listeners is to share it with them.
To make sure you don't miss any of these special 30-Day Solo Podcast Challenge episodes, go to bigpodcast.com/subscribe and subscribe now.Click the icon below to listen.
Most podcast listeners are passive. That means two things:
They will never contact you or interact with the community you've built around your podcast.
They aren't taking action on what you talk about.
When it comes to #2, a big reason for this is listeners don't know how to take action. Most don't know what you want them to do and those who do know have no idea where to start – they're overwhelmed with options.
You can solve these issues by being clear with listeners about what you want them to do and how you want them to do it. And that's the subject of this episode of The 30-Day Solo Podcast Challenge.
To make sure you don't miss any of these special 30-Day Solo Podcast Challenge episodes, go to bigpodcast.com/subscribe and subscribe now.Click the icon below to listen.
Looking for sponsors for your podcast? You better know how to tell a story and sell stuff if you want to keep them happy.
How do you do it? That's what I talk about here. You'll learn how to go beyond the generic talking points most advertisers give you and how to inject your personality into your ad reads so listeners buy and sponsors keep coming back.
To make sure you don't miss any of these special 30-Day Solo Podcast Challenge episodes, go to bigpodcast.com/subscribe and subscribe now.Click the icon below to listen.
One of the top qualities you can have as a podcast host is approachability. When listeners think you're relatable and they'd have an easy time saying hello if they ever see you out, you will be very attractive to them.
You can help your approachability by talking about topics and sharing stories that listeners can relate to. And one of the types of stories we can all relate to is that of a "missed opportunity."
You have a missed opportunity story – you're thinking about it now.
On this episode of the 30-Day Solo Podcast Challenge, I talk about my own missed opportunity related to radio and podcasting and give you a formula for sharing your own missed opportunity story that will instantly improve your connection with listeners.
To make sure you don't miss any of these special 30-Day Solo Podcast Challenge episodes, go to bigpodcast.com/subscribe and subscribe now.Click the icon below to listen.
Yesterday, we talked about how to use jargon in podcasting. Today's episode builds on that as far as clarifying things for listeners...
You can't assume listeners know what you do or what you want from them. Because of this, it's a good idea to embed certain things into the stories you tell on your podcast. When you do this, you'll not only educate listeners and get them more engaged with your podcast, you'll also attract more (and better) clients for yourself and the business behind your podcast.
That's what this episode of the 30-Day Solo Podcast Challenge is about.
To make sure you don't miss any of these special 30-Day Solo Podcast Challenge episodes, go to bigpodcast.com/subscribe and subscribe now.Click the icon below to listen.
Jargon is "special words or expressions that are used by a particular profession or group and are difficult for others to understand."
And it's a great opportunity to better connect with your podcast listeners, if you know how to use it...
To make sure you don't miss any of these special 30-Day Solo Podcast Challenge episodes, go to bigpodcast.com/subscribe and subscribe now.Click the icon below to listen.
You've officially 50% done with the 30-Day Solo Podcast Challenge.
How does it feel? Tougher than you thought? Welcome to the club. Remember, I'm right here with you.
But keep going! This is how good podcasters become great and great podcasters become even better!
This episode talks about another opportunity for you to share something about yourself or about the people listening to you. "Surprise" stories can show your human side, but are also a great way to reinforce the benefits of listening to your podcast to listeners.
The story you share doesn't have to be big or flashy. I share a story that only podcasters will be able to fully appreciate.
To make sure you don't miss any of these special 30-Day Solo Podcast Challenge episodes, go to bigpodcast.com/subscribe and subscribe now.Click the icon below to listen.
Everybody has a "weird" story. You know, something that happened to you that was outside the mainstream, or a fluke, or maybe just funny.
Your listeners have these kinds of stories as well. Again, everybody has these stories.
If you've been podcasting for a while, you probably have one related to your podcast. In this episode, I share a podcasting-related story that will blow your mind. I also talk about a podcaster I know who shares "weird" stories on his podcast, which recently his 10,000,000 downloads.
There is money (and listeners) in weird stories.
To make sure you don't miss any of these special 30-Day Solo Podcast Challenge episodes, go to bigpodcast.com/subscribe and subscribe now.Click the icon below to listen.
Over the last couple of days, you've talked about some of the common misconceptions and hurdles that are holding your listeners back. Now it's time to talk about the results of what happens when your listeners don't take the action necessary to work through these misconceptions and hurdles.
You're not a nameless, faceless "host." If people wanted that, they can get it all day (and night) long on broadcast radio. So we're going to look at the issues your listeners are facing in a very real, human, and emotional way...
Mentioned:
- How Podcasting Is Helping Me Embrace My Stutter (James Hayden) - https://themighty.com/2019/11/podcasting-stutter/
- My Stuttering Life (Pedro Pena) - https://mystutteringlife.com/
- The Perfect Podcaster Isn't Perfect - https://bulletin.bigpodcast.com/perfect-podcaster
To make sure you don't miss any of these special 30-Day Solo Podcast Challenge episodes, go to bigpodcast.com/subscribe and subscribe now.Click the icon below to listen.
Your podcast listeners, like all people, have a few misconceptions. And these misconceptions are getting in the way of them getting where they need to go.
But these misconceptions can be a great opportunity when it comes to listeners getting really connected with you as a podcast host...
To make sure you don't miss any of these special 30-Day Solo Podcast Challenge episodes, go to bigpodcast.com/subscribe and subscribe now.Click the icon below to listen.
If you want a BIG podcast, whether your format is solo, co-hosted, or interview, you need to know your listeners. I encourage all hosts do set up one-on-one meetings with listeners on a regular basis to keep in touch with where they are and what they're looking for.
When you do this, you'll start to notice patterns. One of those patterns is specific "hurdles" your listeners are dealing with that keep them where they are if not handled properly.
This episode is about those listener hurdles and how to go over them, under them, around them, and through them.
To make sure you don't miss any of these special 30-Day Solo Podcast Challenge episodes, go to bigpodcast.com/subscribe and subscribe now. Click the icon below to listen.
The people who listen to your podcast are making mistakes. If you talk to them often, and you should, you'll start to see patterns – the same mistakes made over and over.
Talking about common mistakes listeners are making on your podcast and can show them three things:
- Social Proof - It shows that "other people" are listening to you.
- It shows you have an awareness of a common issue (and teases a solution).
- It may build rapport if you've been through that issue yourself and want to share the experience.
On a more general level, this is another opportunity for you to get personal, build rapport, and show your humanity. Nobody wants to listen to a robot, yet that's what so many upcoming solo (and non-solo) podcasters broadcast to listeners when trying to be flawless.
Mentioned On The Episode:
3 Mistakes I Made When I Started My First Podcast - https://bulletin.bigpodcast.com/3-podcasting-mistakes to read this article.
To make sure you don't miss any of these special 30-Day Solo Podcast Challenge episodes, go to bigpodcast.com/subscribe and subscribe now. Click the icon below to listen.
I don't believe in the concept of the "self-made man." Everybody has help along the way and we're all influenced by others, even if that influence shows us what not to do.
This is especially true when it comes to the subjects we podcast about. If you care about something enough to podcast about it, you've had a lot of help when it comes to formulating your thoughts and opinions on the subject.
That's the story I want to know.
To make sure you don't miss any of these special 30-Day Solo Podcast Challenge episodes, go to bigpodcast.com/subscribe and subscribe now. Click the icon below to listen.
Excitement is contagious.
Have you ever seen an excited person in a public place sharing that excitement with a friend? People are naturally attracted to situations like this.
What about your podcast subject do you find exciting? Why do you care so much? When you can clearly communicate these things, listeners become easy to attract.
This episode is about how to clearly communicate your excitement to listeners.
To make sure you don't miss any of these special 30-Day Solo Podcast Challenge episodes, go to bigpodcast.com/subscribe and subscribe now. Click the icon below to listen.
You can tell a lot about somebody from the books they read. Whenever I meet somebody interesting, I always ask about this.
The books we read tell a lot about us. They help define our beliefs. They help us to move forward with our lives.
You want your listeners to know who you are and sharing stories of the books you read helps to do this.
To make sure you don't miss any of these special 30-Day Solo Podcast Challenge episodes, go to bigpodcast.com/subscribe and subscribe now. Click the icon below to listen.
This episode, Day #7 of the 30-Day Solo Podcast Challenge, continues where yesterday's episode left off. As mentioned yesterday, one of the best things you can do to set yourself apart from other hosts and make yourself (and your podcast) stand out is to do the opposite of what everybody else is doing.
Why do the opposite of what so many people are doing? Because there are a lot of false beliefs about things and somebody (who happens to be you) needs to set the record straight.
As always, there's a "challenge" element and I give an example of what I'm looking for from you. In this example, I talk about false beliefs about podcasting, because not only is this a podcast about podcasting and I want to keep examples relevant, these are things you need to know when selling advertising and sponsorship for your podcast.
To make sure you don't miss any of these special 30-Day Solo Podcast Challenge episodes, go to bigpodcast.com/subscribe and subscribe now. Click the icon below to listen.
Legendary speaker and broadcaster, Earl Nightingale, once said, “If you want to be successful in life, simply watch what most people would do in a given situation, and then do the total opposite."
In general, this is arguable good advice. But as a way to make yourself stand out from other podcasters, it's great advice.
Your listeners have a way of doing things that seems "normal." The other podcasts in your market have hosts who advise these things.
What would happen if you do the opposite? I talk about this. I also share the story of how "doing the opposite" of what traditional radio thought was best has kept my broadcast radio show on the air.
To make sure you don't miss any of these special 30-Day Solo Podcast Challenge episodes, go to bigpodcast.com/subscribe and subscribe now. Click the icon below to listen.
All successful podcasts solve a problem. This could be a big problem or a small problem. Regardless, it's important to the people who listen.
If you want to attract listeners to your podcast in a big way, you have to know your problem.
If you want to attract sponsors to your podcast in a big way, you have to know your problem.
Once you know your problem and have a way to solve it, listeners come to you.
Once you know your problem sponsors come to you, provided you know how to explain the problem (and your solution) to them.
That's what this episode is about...
To make sure you don't miss any of these special 30-Day Solo Podcast Challenge episodes, go to bigpodcast.com/subscribe and subscribe now. Click the icon below to listen.
FUN FACT: Your first podcast isn't usually where you end up.
Similar to the people we date, jobs we work, and places we live, very rarely do we have podcasting success the first time around.
So there's a pretty good chance the podcast you're working on now isn't the podcast you started with, even if the name and topic are the same.
So how did you get here? That's the subject of today's episode of the 30-Day Solo Podcast Challenge.
To make sure you don't miss any of these special 30-Day Solo Podcast Challenge episodes, go to bigpodcast.com/subscribe and subscribe now. Click the icon below to listen.
This is Day #3 of the 30-Day Solo Podcast Challenge.
On the previous episode, the topic focused around a common question every podcaster gets asked, "How did you get into podcasting?"
This episode is about another common question and how to give an answer that will let you tell your story in an entertaining way.
To make sure you don't miss any of these special 30-Day Solo Podcast Challenge episodes, go to bigpodcast.com/subscribe and subscribe now. Click the icon below to listen.
We've all met that guy with an interesting job and wondered, "How'd he get into that?"
People are wondering the same thing about you.
The reality of working on something is different than the fantasy people on the outside tell themselves. Still, it's good to be able to tell the story of "how'd you get into that."
That's what Day #2 of The 30-Day Solo Podcast Challenge is about. I want to know about your podcasting origin story and how you ended up here.
More details in this episode...
To make sure you don't miss any of these special 30-Day Solo Podcast Challenge episodes, go to bigpodcast.com/subscribe and subscribe now. Click the icon below to listen.
The better you are at telling stories, the more people will listen to your podcast.
In other words:
better stories = more podcast listeners
It sounds simple, because it is simple. However, telling great stories takes practice. So that's where we're going to start the 30-Day Solo Podcast Challenge – you're going to practice telling a story.
Don't worry! Your story doesn't have to be perfect. The story I tell on this podcast is far from perfect. And I have little doubt I'll lose some listeners because of it.
That's how stories work. You attract some listeners, but you're going to lose a few too. But the listeners you attract will be the right listeners.
So listen up, be offended by the subject of my story (or not), and let's get you started on the 30-Day Solo Podcast Challenge.
To make sure you don't miss any of these special episodes, go to bigpodcast.com/subscribe and subscribe now. Click the icon below to listen.
If you want more results from your podcast, you need to be able to handle hosting on your own, without the "crutch" of co-hosts, interviews, or music.
This 30-Day Challenge podcast will help you do just that. You'll become more confident behind the mic and more skilled at delivering your message in a way that attracts more people to your podcast, attracts the right people to your podcast, and makes you more money.
A month from now, if you listen to this series and follow my instructions, you'll be a more confident host, Beyond that, you'll be better at spreading your message offline, beyond just your podcast.
To make sure you don't miss any of these special episodes, go to bigpodcast.com/subscribe and subscribe now. Click the icon below to listen.