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Pod-Crashing Episode 41: Trusting Evolution

Every singer songwriter I sit with, we end up getting locked in talk about how music never stops evolving. None of the artists seem to be bothered by it. It\u2019s as if they expect change. This might be the reason why so many fans of music enjoy listening to a live album. The songs we love are there! It\u2019s just performed a little bit differently.
The reason why I bring this up is because so many Podcasters have a difficult time moving through evolution. Great shows have totally disappeared off the map because the performers felt their episodes were moving in the wrong direction.
I get it. It\u2019s an odd feeling that takes over. Bringing the podcast to life feels like a job more than a connection to content. Getting over that hurdle puts podcasters in a decision to \u201cplay out\u201d a \u201ctimeout.\u201d That in itself can easily turn into \u201cdrop out.\u201d
The evolution of your podcast is completely natural. It\u2019s one of the first things I cover when designing shows with businesses and solo performers. I get to know their vision. We discuss the highs and lows. The time required not only to show prep and layout the tracks but to market the episodes on social media.
Being that close to a project puts you in the center of podcast fatigue. The moment you try something new suddenly the censors are blaring like WWII air raid sirens. In the beginning you\u2019ve got the confidence to participate with change but when the numbers aren\u2019t instantly showing up? We revert to old habits. Which puts weight on every reason why you\u2019re podcasting.
It\u2019s decision time. Do you start an entirely different podcast or dump what feels like a bad taste. We\u2019ve make it too easy to locate free time. Once you get that sweet surgery flavor in your creative system it becomes difficult to get back up on the horse. In the early moments of podcast building you were able to push your way through invisible walls and stumbles. Once you start getting the itch that something needs to evolve it\u2019ll become that voice in the back of your head that won\u2019t leave you alone.
The evolution of your podcast. There has to be change! Each episode is a new lesson learned. Through experience you\u2019re able to strengthen your vocal delivery or tone it down. Through awareness a natural exchange begins to unfold. Don\u2019t ever stop giving yourself permission to screw up.
My podcast Unplugged and Totally Uncut is always under the microscope. It\u2019s nowhere near where it started. I wanted to be Casery Kasum or Dick Clark and share the journey of the singer songwriters and performers. I wanted to take it to massive level of this is what we did to get here. Then one day I asked myself, \u201cWhy are you doing what everybody else has already done?\u201d
This is why I\u2019d probably turn down a conversation with Paul McCartney. What\u2019s he going to say that hasn\u2019t already been lived? That oh wow moment. Does Mr. McCartney still have it in him? I keep practicing! Cuz the day the phone call chimes in he\u2019s gonna know we aren\u2019t talking about The Beatles, Wings or global tours.
While lecturing on campuses I invite students to participate with the famous people interviews. One rule. Don\u2019t say anything about their past. All thoughts and conversation are based on what is in the now. I had to evolve to get there. Then believe in why it would be this way. A recent WTF moment was with legendary Rock drummer Deen Castronova talking about never becoming the front man of a band. He\u2019ll sing lead vocals all day and night but he\u2019s not going up there where the people are.
Unplugged and Totally Uncut went through a huge change about a year ago when I began posting a show called Unplugged Addiction to Creativity. I wanted to be real. Like most people we\u2019re all getting tired of reading about which person of fame elected to take their life. The numbers are through the roof! I\u2019ll never stop asking why while doing everything in my creative power to write and produce features that put focus on what it\u2019s really like to be overtaken by the creative beast.
The evolution of your podcast can include extensions. I love what Jake Brennan is doing with his atmosphere. Disgraceland and Club 27 embrace the dark storytelling format of music\u2019s unspoken history. Each of the podcasts feed the other. He uses the platform to cross pollinate other ventures he\u2019s diving into at Double Elvis.
Lauren Bright Pachenco is the journalism force behind Murder In Oregon. A series of episodes digging deep into murder, government corruption and more. I asked her about life after this story is complete, would there be more unsolved Oregon murders? She paused. Then laughed. And said she couldn\u2019t dive into the future at this time. My professional guess is yes. I can\u2019t wait to see how she evolves her skills as a storyteller and investigator into a giant web of continuations.
Podcasting isn\u2019t terrestrial radio. The one thing I took from the conversation between Bob Pittman of iHeart Media and Charlamagne Tha God is that it\u2019s still an open platform for creative minds to explore. Because I\u2019m so far out of the tower signal loop I reached out to Bo Thompson of WBT Charlotte. The kid has evolved into a master at designing and executing portraits of legendary Broadcast talent and more. It\u2019s totally got his signature all over it. Is podcasting within the ranks of radio as free spirited as blogging was during its heyday?
In which direction will future podcast episodes grow now that Google has brought Audio SEO\u2019s forward? The question Kraus Group Marketing is asking Podcasts and S.E.R.P\u2019s or SERP\u2019s the next big thing? Search Engine Result Pages.
SERPS are extremely important because it allows your fans and followers to get to know your website. If you\u2019re truly into podcasting because it\u2019s gonna make you money, this is a priceless part of your podcast evolution.
So what\u2019s the moral of the story? Let your podcast presence go and grow. Let it have a life of its own! Somedays it may act like an out of control two year old child, a constantly demanding teenager or well-oiled seasoned middle aged expression of great content.
My podcast Poetic Elevation. In the beginning it had to be one path with no way off. I invited Southern Preachers to hang their messages and learned quickly how disconnected that thought was from how listeners want their podcasts. The evolution of the episodes began to put focus on Biblical studies but with my voice. They still wouldn\u2019t have it. My friend Denny wrote to me, \u201cEverything you\u2019re saying has already be shared a trillion times. It\u2019s nothing new. If you\u2019re truly into this approach put lifestyle ahead of all things. You\u2019re gonna have to get real.\u201d
Play with your podcast. See if it bites you back. Pull on its history and see if it snaps. Bring an approach you thought you\u2019d never try. Never stop taking chances. Evolve\u2026