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Pod-Crashing Episode 42 Knowing The Dirt

This could be a touchy subject but I think it needs to be talked about. Since mid-summer 2019 I\u2019ve noticed a very interesting trend. The growing number of promoters and producers tossing their energy into the podcast hat. I call them \u201cListener Locaters\u201d and \u201cGuitar Center Home Studios Are Us\u201d
I\u2019m endlessly flooded with emails and phone calls, \u201cHey man I can bring bigger days to your growing needs.\u201d My response is always the same, \u201cThat\u2019s so cool! Find me a sales person that\u2019s interested in making new money.\u201d
First\u2026 I get it! With the most recent increase of podcast listening business owners and everyday talkers are finding the digital sport to be entertaining as well as affective. We\u2019re all doing the same thing. Reaching for the centerfield fence and all we\u2019re getting is a fly ball over second base.
The really good news? Somebody\u2019s always willing to help out. I also love that recording studios are popping up all over the nation guaranteeing high quality. Who wouldn\u2019t want to tap into this fast moving beast?
The other night it hit me. Do any of these experts host their own podcasts? Do they post two or three episodes a week? Are they biting at the bit to maybe get 1/10th the numbers Joe Rogan\u2019s pulling in?
The podcasting experience is more than being a communications specialist or setting up a couple of mics and hitting play and record. There\u2019s a lifestyle to this. Being in the trenches is priceless. There\u2019s a lot to be said about making absolutely no money and you\u2019re still busting serious ass to make a listener connection.
Once again, I\u2019m not saying Listener Locaters and Guitar Center Home Studios Are Us are wrong. What I see on their Linkdin posts and company emails is the total cost to make your podcast a reality. You can do it! For this amount of money! Join our team of professionals and put your brand out there in the shape of a podcast!
Guess this is where my heart gets bent out of shape. You want how much money for how much studio time? And how long will it take to start making my own money? I mean like right away right? This my take. Up to this moment. Golf and horse racing have been the world\u2019s most expensive hobbies. We\u2019ve gotta tuck podcasting into this picture.
I\u2019m not saying your company podcast isn\u2019t going to inspire new consumers to test and purchase your product. I\u2019m totally into the idea of generating a conversation with podcast followers. Sharing products that bring comfort and security to their life. Helping them become knowledgeable about cars, computers, homes, medical issues and whatever else the business is willing to bring forward.
My initial question. How many Listener Locaters and Guitar Center Home Studios Are Us are hosting their own podcasts? Why would that be important? Simple. During these opening rounds of everybody can do a podcast it takes only seconds to get a bad taste in your mouth. The very second you get hooked up with someone that sounds pretty reliable but it flops like a fish. There\u2019s a big chance those of us that are living this everyday won\u2019t get your business.
It reminds me of a message I bring to future Broadcasters. Short and to the point. I\u2019m glad you\u2019ve got the ambition and drive to reach toward terrestrial radio. The requirement is years of hard work, dedication, sacrifice and in the beginning very little pay. Or you can create a podcast and instantly be the CEO of Me Incorporated.
I write to those who invite me to use their services. I\u2019m very professional. One question, \u201cWhere can I listen to your latest podcast?\u201d
In a really weird way this has to be how Marc Maron felt while I sat across from him in the studio. I was trying to convince him to help change the name of podcasting. He said, \u201cDon\u2019t mess up a good thing?\u201d
He was right! I was just getting into podcasting. My only real experience was what I put down on paper. I hadn\u2019t bled the blood. Sweat the tough times. Or looked at myself long enough in the mirror asking, \u201cSeriously? Really? Come on! Take up professional bowling!\u201d
In 2011 my good friend Nathan put me on the spot, \u201cWhy are you trying to get radio station advertisers to create a podcast? Dude! Just because you write and produce commercials doesn\u2019t make you an expert in podcasting! You can\u2019t lead people without knowing the ins and outs of what is or isn\u2019t a good or bad podcast.\u201d
Even after eight years of hardcore pushing and pulling the only thing I can truly offer you are simple questions that in the end could poison your wallet. But if we\u2019re being truthful. Maybe that\u2019s what you need. The first edition of Podcast Magazine is blessed with self-developed journeys that should\u2019ve gone south but those involved didn\u2019t give up.
What I got out their digital confessions is the same story I\u2019ve picked up in my four decades of terrestrial radio. What you\u2019re doing in the way of communicating isn\u2019t in your hands. No matter how much it hurts or is pushed away it acts like hot sticky gum on the bottom of your shoe.
You should be able to look into the eyes of someone and know on the spot if they podcast. This is why I\u2019ve chosen to invite so many podcasters to my podcast Unplugged and Totally Uncut. The behind the scenes stories are perfect tools for those wanting to podcast. Other listeners are getting a backstage pass into a world that\u2019s just getting started on its long term design.
I received an email this morning from Age Of Radio.org. They clearly state, \u201cWe don\u2019t believe that you should have to pay for podcast hosting and we don\u2019t believe you have to have a minimum of 20,000 downloads per episode to be on a podcast network.\u201d I sent them my RSS link. Got a quick reply with further instructions. Their choice for podcast delivery is Megaphone.
Videos instantly connect you to a ton of information about setting up the episodes then executing them. From the very beginning they introduce you to their CEO Jeremy Quintanilla who has built a strong team of supporters and relationship managers.
After signing up I still had questions. With so much attention placed on having Relationship Managers I wanted to test the water. Within three minutes a reply was received.
Let me also give a shout out to Anchor.fm as well. They\u2019re also providing a free platform, plus they\u2019re hosting specialized podcasts on how to bring yours forward. I\u2019ve been with Anchor.fm for several months with no complaints.
Both platforms seem to get it. They know that in order for you to make a listener connection, they need to be connected to you. It makes you feel like you belong. You\u2019re part of a new age of something that\u2019s showing growth.
So what\u2019s the moral of the story? If Listener Locators and Guitar Center Home Studios Are Us are going to help podcasters, producers, writers and planners please be in the same game. I can\u2019t prove that church ministers practice what they preach. I just know that they usually say a bunch of stuff that\u2019s taken directly from my street.