306 - Unpacking Questions From The Mailbag & Sharing Wins

0:03 Good morning podcasters. It's Friday, May 16th, 2025. And today we've got some questions from the mailbag. And of course, we've also got some wins today. And if you're listening via podcast, please share this episode with fellow podcaster. And now give us about 30 seconds and we will get these things rolling.

1:24 I'm Dr. Fay. I am hosting. This is the last day that Mark is going to be away. He's on a plane on his way back and we'll be so happy to see him. And on stage with me right now is Ashley, Alex and Amanda. The 3A's Ashley, Alex and Amanda are all on stage with me. Thank you. And we have a little icebreaker question for everyone. So take it away, Ashley. I believe this was found on Reddit. The host of the podcast I produce has two podcasts. One is Independent 1 is a huge network. I work with them on the Independent 1. The guests reached out asking for a sit down interview so we coordinated for the independent podcast. But then in person she kept mentioning things from the network podcast and saying how much she loves the host's work and interviewing skills.

2:18 She clearly isn't aware of the independent one, although the host clarified it will not be the network 1 and she went through with the recording as it is too late by then. The host will try to sell the network and I don't know if it will work. What do you think is a good way to amend this confusion right now with the guest and make sure she doesn't get too upset or disappointed? So the question is, there's a lot here, but what we're really asking is what would you do if you were this podcast manager? Or alternatively, have you ever had a guest get confused about like maybe you've got 2 podcasts? Did they ever get confused about which podcasts they're appearing on? And how did you clear up this confusion without burning any bridges?

3:04 Oh God, I. I am. I don't even. Yeah. I'm seldomly lost for words here, friends, we know this, but I'm going. To answer it, because I think I know where it's going because I've been on multiple podcasts and I have this one podcast that I go on like I guessed. And it's, it's kind of like a movie review podcast. And I have a tendency to like want to take it over. And it's like this running joke. It's not like it's, it's not like it's done maliciously because you, if you, like most of us have have been the lead. So you're used to like being the lead and you're like introing stuff.

3:44 But you know, you can do it one of two ways. You can get mad about it or you can, if it's during the show, you can kind of, you know, have fun with it because that's what we end up doing. But if it's beforehand, you know, I, I don't know, just have a coming to Jesus meeting with them, I guess. I don't know if that's the question, but I'm answering it and that's mine. I'm sticking to it. OK. Matthew, I see that you just joined us. Go ahead. Good morning, everybody. I actually saw it when it was. Oh, good. Yeah. So I'd I'd read it and it through some of the thinking patterns. From what I understand, they were on the episode. They had recorded the content with them, but some of the responses that they made during the recording was that what was for the network podcast as opposed to the Independent 1.

4:29 So I think the person is trying to find out the best way to say, hey, clearly you've given us the content for the wrong podcast here was actually for this show and I'm pitching the network show, the big one to see if they'll air the episode. Seems unlikely. So how do I, you know, telling this person basically that they've, you know, figured they were going on, for case an example, the Joe Rogan show where they were actually on the about Joe Rogan show, which has, you know, audience, that kind of thing. And realistically for me, I looked at it and I thought there's not it. It's not a huge concern.

5:11 I don't think people are as as concerned as you think about this kind of thing. If they're a guest on a podcast, they clearly came onto the podcast to be able to share the stuff that they're talking about. And unless this person has been paid or reimbursed or expects some sort of kickback for their time, I'm not sure the pod, the person who is running this podcast needs to worry too much. I think just being upfront and transparent with the guest to say this was the situation and then maybe a lead into being on the network show at the same time, I don't know. I think the biggest issue might be whether the content was relevant or not, or whether the connection with the guest and the host was adequate. If they were answering questions, presuming they're on a different podcast entirely and a bit more context there would help to like if the network show is way too different compared to the independent show and whether there were any similarities at all.

6:07 It's a it's a little bit hard to say without more info there. It's just I think it's more of an event and a concern and a support seeking post than something that would necessarily be an actual issue. It's not something I've ever encountered before. Usually resolved, I think by being very upfront and clear with the the communication. Right, right. Yeah, I guess just a little clarification for me, if you would. Was this actually recorded then? So this was actually a recorded episode. I believe so. I don't know, I guess if I was that host and doing the interviewing, shame on me for not helping direct the content a little bit bigger. So I feel like it shouldn't have gotten so off the rails or so flip-flopped because there's times that Chris and I like, we'll forget where we're at in the show because we're laughing or having a good time.

7:00 And we have to like do a self correction and get us back on the right page of like, if he accidentally tried to go next and it was supposed to be my my time to go. And so there's just corrections that I think you have to do while you're doing a podcast with somebody else sometimes. And I say corrections as just like, it's not like we're correcting or scolding somebody, but you, it's a skill to be able to clarify or put the person that you're interviewing back on the right path. So I guess I just don't understand how it might have been a finished product and have that much discrepancy in there or flip flopping. Agreed. Ashley, what would you do? I mean, you asked the question, so have you thought about this?

7:40 What would you do? I have the same thing, just open clear communication. And the way I took this is I don't think it says in the ice breaker question that the interview was already recorded. That's not how I perceived it anyway. To me, it sounded like they were preparing for this interview and the person, the guest thought that they were going to be on the big major podcast that's with the network, but in fact, they were actually going to be on a more independent version. So if I were the manager of this podcast, I would make sure they absolutely know what show they were going to be on from the get go to avoid that kind of confusion. Yeah, I think exactly what someone says to have a come to Jesus meeting with them.

8:27 That's the only thing that I can think of. I can't even imagine being in that. OK, so we have some more questions from the mailbag, and I'm not sure if this one came from Reddit, which by the way, has been supplying a lot of our questions lately on other mailbag days. So with so many podcasts out there, standing out is tough. She's in a niche that is pretty saturated. So what can someone do if they are in a saturated niche but it is their specialty? What can someone do to stand out? Does anyone have any suggestions? Oh good, Amanda. I like how you say, oh good.

9:11 I think it kind of taps into yesterday, yesterday's conversation a little bit and what we hinted at a lot of our episodes is that personal branding, that unique you, the thing that makes you stand out amongst other people. So Chris and I are in a very saturated music lane of podcasting and if you look on YouTube, it is just saturated. So to try and get any kind of ranking is terribly hard. But I think one thing that we have found is just our consistency of showing up. So we authentically show up as ourselves and then we consistently show up as ourselves, but often. And so I think for me that would be my biggest suggestion to them is just keep showing up, but also showing up as yourself. Excellent.

9:57 Anyone else? Alex, do you have any suggestions for them? Amanda kind of hit the nail on the head. Don't worry about everybody else. I think that's the main thing. Yes, you can look at what other people are doing and maybe not copy, but if you want to incorporate your brand of what you're doing. I mean, I'm in a pretty saturated market as well. And it's really, it's a little different than what everybody else does is because we've there's basically a clock when the show drops in a lot of cases that on TV people want to get a review and there's a lot of people that do screeners. So if it drops at 9 O clock at night, people drop their episode at 9 O clock.

10:38 Again, people listen to podcasters because of the content, but also because of the people. I mean, anybody can talk about any topic, but they're talking. They're listening to you because of you and whatever makes you your podcast unique, If it resonates with people, it'll start getting traction. I think that's the main thing is you have to kind of not have blinders on, but sometimes you have to have blinders on and just keep in, like Gemena said, just keep doing consistent work and it'll end up resonating with people if it's good content. I know Matt wanted to say something, please. I'll take a more logistical angle because finding your unique genius is super important when there's a lot of other people trying to do the same thing. The great thing about having a saturated niche is that there are tons of other podcasts and podcasters to connect with. So that means lots of guesting opportunities, lots of collaborative opportunities.

11:38 And that could be a way for you to get your voice out a little bit and get a bit of practice in too. You know, you can learn, make connections with people who can help you improve your show a little bit, improve what you deliver to an audience. And combining that with your unique genius in the space can be a really great way to to help improve your show. Now the, the other logistical point I wanted to bring up as well is that there's probably a formula you could make as an inverse correlation to saturation of space versus time, time required to grow to acceptable point. So making sure that those expectations are like maybe 6-12 months down the track and setting yourself a goal for that time.

12:23 And in the in between coming up with that plan for collaborating with other people in your niche, that that's probably a really good way to go about it. You know, it's funny you say that and what is from podcasts. We've actually hooked up with some of the other podcasters that do that and we've done year end reviews, previews, things like that to kind of boost each other's podcast. And we've kind of stole some stuff from them. They stole some stuff from us. Not a bad way. I mean, just in a collaborative way. And like you said, it really kind of helps people to grow your audience as well as it shows that we're not trying to compete against each other even we are, but we're not. So there is a lot of benefit to that. So Ashley, are you back or not?

13:09 OK, I wasn't short now because I know DRS doing her eggs. OK, here we go. The Golden Globes will honor podcast for the first time, with the Best Podcast of the Year category debuting the 83rd Golden Globe Awards on January 11th, 2026. Audio and video shows will be eligible, with the top 25 podcasts qualifying and six ultimately nominated. What impact do you think a Golden Globe Podcast Award will have on listener expectations and overall podcast quality? I think this is such a joke because we all know who are going to be, even the nominations. I mean, we do this every Wednesday. We see what the lists are.

13:52 I think it's a very unrealistic opportunity for the true, true like independent podcasters to ever get to that table. So for me, I don't know, I have no interest in watching those kind of shows at all. I think they're so like over glamorized and so silly. So like for me, I just, I think there's just no way that we will ever have a seat at that table. But I would love for the world to make me a liar on that. I'm with you. Go ahead, Matthew. I feel the exact same and usually when I do, I try to to query myself a little bit and try to find where the advantage might be or where the good point might be for something like this. Because obviously someone with 10 episodes in independent podcaster, no history in the entertainment industry isn't hasn't got a sight on getting into the Golden Globes on those charts unless something miraculous happens. But I think the expectations that we need to set for these is part of what's making us frustrated with this kind of announcement, right?

15:03 The the idea is that the Golden Globes is the place for one of the places for big, major entertainment to be recognized and awarded for the things that they do. I don't think there's, you know, small short films coming out of, you know, rural Canada that kind of make their way to the Golden Globes. You know, it's a, it's a very specific pool of people and pool of producers or you, whoever might be involved in that circle or that zone of influence that's likely to get an opportunity here. And you're looking at it more realistically. I mean it emotionally, it is frustrating to have another award ceremony for another group of people who are, you know, innately successful because they have an established audience, because they have the means and the resources to punch up past the ceiling. It takes us years to get to as independent podcasters. But at the same time, it's, it's for them like they put it on a global stage because the Internet entertainment market is, you know, it's designed to pull us in as consumers because they rely on our money to be able to support these things, to congratulate them.

16:17 It's the American, I was about to say Australian Idol, but I know my audience here, American Idol effect where we're all singing judges when we're sitting at home on our couches watching these singers do their thing. We're not really, but we are consumers of the entertainment industry. And so we're invested in the things that we like earning the awards that we want them to win. Podcasting just is different in that way, though. As long as we know that it's the celebrities that are going to be getting into this award ceremony and we can clap them on. When Idris Elba and his wife started that podcast three years ago and they get an award for it just because he's a DJ and an actor and all that kind of thing, I think it sets our expectations more as frustrated as we might be with not having a look at it, getting an award there.

17:03 Alex, I think you've chucked your hand up twice there. Do you want to jump in? First off, I think it's pretty amazing the fact that they're even out of seat, seat at the table. You can look at it both ways. It's just a reason to give a bunch of other celebrities a bunch of awards that they don't deserve or deserve, whatever, that's fine. But at the same point, I think Dave said at least it's bringing podcasting into the conversation and that's what it's about. I mean, we had this conversation five years ago. People would laugh at the fact that it's there for people like us. Yeah. It's going to be frustrating for people in the industry like your and all the other Mike.

17:47 I can't think of it. Yeti. They're going to make a fortune because more people want to get in the podcast thing. And is that a bad thing? No, I just think that we all criticize the Mel's and the DRS boyfriend a lot, but we're all trying to in some way take some stuff from what they do and try to add it to our own because it does work. Now, why does it work? Because they got a lot of money and they have a lot of influence. And if people want to listen to it and they've hundreds of thousands of downloads, does that make it the best podcast? Probably not. But at the same time, you know, we're getting a seat at the table for what we love to do. And I think there's a lot to be said for that. I guarantee you to Amanda's point, you know, maybe not the Haktui girl, but the other girl who got a divorce after she, she does those really monotone interviews with celebrities, you know, she kind of like jumped up out of the scene and became a hot.

18:47 I think it's a good podcast. I think that's what's the name of the it's called. I forget there's going to be somebody that's going to crack it because out of all the different types of genres, this is the easiest one to crack into if you get if you have the right timing and everything else. I believe so. You know, you just have to it's kind of like a YouTube star. I mean, on the extreme, Mr. Beast, everybody loves to point at him. He came from nothing and then all of a sudden he became what he became. And I know there's probably more to it than that. And now he's a multi bazillionaire. But it's easier to break into this than it probably is into an independent film or into the film industry. So, Amanda, what do you have to add? Well, I want to be clear.

19:30 Like it doesn't frustrate me that this is the way that these awards work because I just think they're silly anyway. I far more am concerned about like the awards that Dominic goes and, you know, throws his hat into the table for because those are, I feel like those are judged based on probably like much better merit than what this is going to be. And to even have a seat at the table. I can't even imagine the budget for marketing and all the things that put you into the pool of figures and all the good stuff that it would take to even become a nominee for that. But also I do. I did just have a thought. So Ashley, when you read that, the criteria, and maybe I'm using the wrong word there, but I think the criteria, you said audio and video, is that right? Yeah, I think it does say audio and video. So I think we have a lot of conversation of what is a podcast and I think the fact that they would be including video in there.

20:28 It definitely is kind of putting what is a podcast into the direction that yes, of course it will always, I think remain audio, but that that lane of video definitely is of importance to keep your, you know, your pulse on. If you're not doing that route yet, I think you better. I will say this though, I look at your show, I look at a lot of different shows that are out there. I mean, you guys use stream yard, right? I think you can still use stream yard when you do your podcasts. There's a lot of top podcasters if you want to call them. I watch a lot of sports. If you want to call podcasts and these are people that are XDSPM people, they're using the same exact thing that you are. They're getting the reach that you're, you know, they're getting these huge numbers or not so huge numbers and they're using the same products that you are. So maybe I'm being a little, you know, rose covered glasses, but I'm with you in the sense of, you know, the webbies and the and the communicator awards and all these other podcast awards are, you know, for podcasters by podcasters a little bit more. But I just think it's kind of cool. I mean, yes, I know Dr. is dying to see Joe Rogan get up there and thank Dr. For all her.

21:41 Support I know that Mel Robbins, if she does go to one of those things, if she doesn't have, you know, something better to do. We'll thank all of the people, especially Matthew and especially Amanda for your support. But the fact is we kid. But I see where you're going. I'm with you 1000%, Amanda. But I like I said, I think it's really cool that they're they're doing it. It's never going to be what we want, but at least it's a start, if that makes sense. And I do think you have a point there that the tools out there are being widespreadly used by very, very top producing podcast and very entry level like that's amazing that that same tool is being utilized.

22:26 I think we're the majority of us in this room have the disadvantages. We just don't have this marketing team behind us doing all the hard work. Like Alex, I know like editing is your nemesis this, you know what I mean? Where if you, we, if none of us in this room had to worry about editing, all we had to do is show up for fun, do put on our show, literally put it on and then tap out and knew that we had this amazing team behind us doing all the things that all of us should be doing. We just don't have the extra time or the budget. I think that's the difference there. And so, Amanda, outside of great luck, we'll just never be competitive. The greatest day was yesterday for me. I got the guests and when it was over, you know what I did he. Just hung up and did.

23:14 Nothing. Amen. It was a great just day of podcasting I'm. Talking about Alex, like think that if we were that big and we had that big of a budget that we could just go, OK, we're done, have a good day and know that magic happened behind the scenes. That would be well. And to be fair, that's kind of what happens with me because Chris does all the work. Dave, Dave, I know Dr. and Ashley are part of this too, and Mark is too. You really are a say a say gist or something. Anything's fun. God bless you, We. Oh, I like editing. Exactly, we need people like you, Dr. because if we didn't, nothing would ever happen in this. Absolutely. God love you. We need the editors for sure.

23:56 Oh, and by the way, Joe Rogan did say he just messaged me. He did say he can't wait to to say something about Dr. and her support. Yes, the little woman behind the great man. I know, I know. So I'm going to change gears here a little bit and we're going to talk about imposter syndrome. There's someone on Facebook who has a severe case of imposter syndrome. And I'm going to go around the room and ask what advice would you give to this person on how to get through their imposter syndrome? But first I want, I want to define imposter syndrome for some of the people who are listening on the replay as far as I know. And please jump in if you have another explanation. So take someone, for instance, who has studied up the hilt of everything.

24:51 They've taken all the classes, all the workshops, all the masterminds, they've been in all the courses. And now when it comes time to actually implement, because maybe they have a client or maybe they've been contracted for something, they are choking up. They feel like they're not really worthy of getting that client or that contract. And that to me is imposter syndrome. Does someone else have? Yeah, go ahead out. I'll go with that. I just think that people have to learn how to feel comfortable with being uncomfortable. And I learned that from here. But I've kind of, you know, used that in a lot of part of my life and you're never going to feel good enough and you're never going to feel like you're there. And but at the same time, that's why you have to kind of check yourself and be like, OK, we did this. We did that.

25:48 Like my what is from podcasts? It's the top three podcasts for the show. We have 100,000 downloads. We've got all these other wonderful things. I'm not saying in my eyes, I'm actually hope trying to leave the show. I don't think it's good enough. It should be better and I look at some other shows that are a lot better and I know you can compare yourself, but at the same time, I think imposter syndrome in some ways is a good thing because it keeps you hungry. But at the same time, unless I'm defining it differently than you are, but I think it can be a good thing. But it's at the end of the day, you got to take those chances. You got to jump in and everything happens.

26:29 It doesn't happen. You don't go from 1:00 to 10:00. You kind of make little jumps along the way and then all of a sudden you're at a different place. I think that happened with Amanda and Chris with your YouTube stuff. You started, you had a ball, Chris started doing a ton of content and all of a sudden, boom, you're where you are and you're killing it. So I mean, that's what I feel. Agreed. I feel that. Thank you, Alex. I'm going to go around the horn here. Ashley, what would you tell this person of how to step out of their imposter syndrome? I would say to realize that imposter syndrome is, is a term that was made-up I think in the 70s and I, I think it's a lot like stage fright. It's just part of the creative journey.

27:11 Everyone goes through periods where they're unsure of themselves and it just takes time to go through the reps of doing the thing and enjoying the process. And I don't think imposter syndrome, stage fright ever really goes away. I've been playing music professionally for over 20 years and I still, I'd be lying if I said I don't have a tiny, tiny, tiny bit of of stage fright that happens right before they turn on the mics and we're on stage. So I would just say just realize that it's a natural part of the creative process and it doesn't really ever go away. But at the same time, realize that whatever you have to say is, is valuable, and that you should find the bravery within yourself to say it anyway and do it scared.

28:00 Do it scared. That's right, I need AT shirt that says do it scared Matthew, I see your hand up. Sorry, I just had to stop laughing for a second there. You said you want to show up with that on. It could be very fun to what Ashley said. There's a really interesting thing that I found when I talked about it with a few other people that they agree that it's kind of the same thing. Some people are unique in this way. Some people usually have this, but from my teaching background and from people that I know who get up to do presentations and speak in, you know, auditoriums or in front of large groups of people and that kind of thing, there's this feeling that you get that or that, you know, I get speaking from my experience that you get just before doing whatever it is you're doing in front of this group of people, you've done days and days and days of preparation and you're ready. You know what you got to do.

28:53 And then 15 minutes before you got to go on, you get that feeling of butterflies and you start thinking to yourself, oh man, what if I don't remember that thing? What if that thing doesn't work? What if the Lesson plan I would put together doesn't pan out? What if the technology doesn't work? What if all the things have these things happen? Invariably it starts, you do the thing, and then an hour later you feel amazing about it. You feel great that you just accomplished this thing. Then it comes around to do the same thing tomorrow again. And then 15 minutes before you get the butterflies, you start questioning yourself. You start wondering whether it's worth doing just running out of the room and trying to escape to Vanuatu or if you want to go. It's a consistent feeling, and coming to terms with that feeling takes a lot of practice.

29:40 And as Kate said, doing the reps, I think it's very easy in this space to have the word impostor syndrome, like Ashley, like you said, made in the 1970s. It's a word that's persisted across time, and generations will grab it as a way to justify the feelings they have and try to address that particular thing. But in reality, there's always the same stuff that we'll be suggesting and recommending to move forward for. From my example there, it's knowing the butterflies are coming, but knowing that feeling on the other side of them and being able to move forward with it. For podcasting, it's realizing that perfect isn't ever realistic, that you've put out there what you get and you learn by failing and continue to improve, you know, pushing that ceiling higher and higher for the quality that you want from the show and realizing when it has to stop as well.

30:30 Like Alex said, sometimes it's not imposter syndrome, it's just a feeling that something isn't quite right. And that's true. A little bit different, but actually you chucked your hand up there. Yeah, definitely. Perfectionism is is not, it's not realistic. I just wanted to say I the link I pinned up there for y'all. We recently did a more thorough episode on imposter syndrome from a different angle, so I just wanted to let you all know that's there and I'll also link it in the show notes as well. For me, I feel like imposter system, imposter syndrome is simply this. It's people feel like they don't have a seat at the table despite them having the qualifications to be at that table.

31:14 And that to me is when it's imposter syndrome. If there's insecurity, sometimes it's because they really don't know what they're doing. But when you have the qualifications and you're at that table, you better be confident that you're there. And so I guess I was born confident. So I've never suffered from any kind of imposter syndrome. However, I'm humble enough to know at that table, there's going to be people who know a little less than me and people that know far more than me, and I'm going to learn from both of them. And I think that's the importance is I feel like I can fit in anywhere because I understand there is a great amount to learn from everyone in the room.

31:54 So I've never walked into a space and said I don't belong here. I walked into this space grateful that I was there and I'm just going to make my place there learning from everybody because everybody has a lot to give. So I think if everybody could just do that, just understand that they are allowed in a room and as long as they're willing to learn, I mean, hopefully that word just goes away and pastor syndrome shouldn't even exist. It was something trendy to say out loud. And people said, oh, that's me to have like a conversation when sometimes it's kind of like when someone says, oh, your outfit looks so good, you look so beautiful today. And we downplay it. Like, why do we have to downplay it? We don't have to like, bring ourselves down because someone gave a compliment.

32:40 So I feel like that's something that just came to like, politely, like bring us down a couple notches so we didn't feel arrogant. Agreed, Alex. I saw your hand up earlier. It just comes down to planning. And I think that when people are uncomfortable and they don't feel like they have that seat at the table, well, that's fine. But you can still be a very, you can be, like you said, you can be very successful and not even know it. And what happens is people when they're nervous, they revert back to what's their comfort zone is. And if they're if they train themselves to have a comfort zone of something that's comfortable, that is professional, then you're going to be successful.

33:30 Like this week, you know, everybody is waiting to hear the opening because we do the opening the same way. The music, when it does work the same way, you know, all the stuff the same way. And I look at what given something as simple as what with Lucy, she's learning how to play a sport. Lacrosse took her a year to kind of figure it out. And it's a throwing catch. And she went up against some kids that were bigger. And she just did what she was supposed to do. Not because she was better, just because when she got totally nervous and she was out of her comfort zone, she just did it. And when she's on, when we podcast together, she's better than I am because she's just so used to watching YouTube videos.

34:12 So I think that's the thing that people have to understand is, and I think Kate Katie said it the best, it's about the work. Nobody's an overnight success. I mean, you know, better than anybody actually being in the music world, nobody's ever overnight success. You guys bust your ass as musicians and you're constantly working on your craft and then all of a sudden somebody finally notices you and then you're a success. It's not it, you know, it's like with podcasting with the whole, you know, Golden Globe Awards when you know, poor, poor Mel Robbins or DRS boyfriend is going to get an award. I mean, they just they, they just were an overnight success, right. Oh, by the way, happy birthday or anniversary, Julie, I guess you have your little deal there. Oh, happy birthday.

34:58 I did wanted to acknowledge some of the messages that we're getting in the chat. Dave Campbell, to make a list of things that you have learned to do and use that list as proof that you can do and learn new things to counterbalance that feeling of inadequacy. Kate, who Alex referred to before, she says the only way out is through confidence only grows by putting in the reps Also don't care about what others think. Don't care about what others think of you because they're not you. Maybe that's what she meant. Dave came back with a quote from Theodore Roosevelt quote, do what you can with what you've got, where you are or maybe where you are AT.

35:40 And Kate says, again, imposter syndrome is an excuse. What we think and talk about grows. So talking about progress and next steps pushes us into action instead of feeling stuck. And Matthew, even though he's on stage, she said it definitely exists, but it's a frame for the deeper issue. As long as we don't build an entire persona built on the cookie cutter self help push by the gurus, pushed by the gurus with the solutions. Yeah. So those are some of the some. Those are some of the comments in the chat. You know, I one of the shows that I produce is a business show and she had APR person on one time and the PR person, her first name is Leilani. It stuck in my mind for some reason. Leilani and Leilani said, you know what, you should embrace imposter syndrome because it means that you are breaking through another layer of where you've never been before. Congratulations, you've broke through that barrier, keep breaking through barriers and you broke through this one. So congratulations.

36:52 It's just you're in unfamiliar charted territory here, but you brought yourself here. So congratulations. And I think that I kind of live with those words a little bit. So that was imposter syndrome. And again, for those who that are listening on replay, you might experience imposter syndrome. I don't know what to say. Just keep working through it. Congratulations that you're in, that you broke through the barrier. And I hope one day that you can come on this show and talk about it with us. So it is about 15 minutes until the end of the show. We only have about 5 people on stage with us and that it's not going to fill up an entire 15 minutes. So yeah, come on up.

37:42 Ashley says come on up and share your wins. That's what I would love to see. If anyone has any wins to share and anyone coming up that's OK, I will nobody. Has. Wins. Nobody has wins. I understand. I will share my win. It's kind of a weird win. So my win is that I have a client. She is a retired pediatrician, and she also has a seat on the board of American Pediatrics Association. And she called me up yesterday and said that she thinks that June, after 250 episodes, she thinks that June is going to be her final month. I love this client.

38:25 She's one of my favorite clients. I've learned a lot from her. And I got this sense of just this big smile on my face, like I'm going to have time to do stuff now. I love working on hers and I'm and I'm going to miss the money. But I've been through all the workshops, the masterminds, the courses, I've spent money on courses that I haven't even cracked open yet because I just haven't had the time. And now I think I'm going to have the time to do that. I mean, I've even taken like several courses on how to get new clients, which is ridiculous because I've had no time to open up those courses to get the new clients. And even like if I did open up the course, I wouldn't have the time to, to have a new client.

39:12 So I am looking at this in a completely different, completely different way. I for one, think that she's actually not done. She just, there's some things going on in her family. Her husband is sick and that she, she really even feels that she's going to have to retire from her seat from the, from the board of Pediatrics. That's how serious it is. But I, for one, think that she's probably going to come back. I'm going to suggest, because she likes to write, I'm going to suggest that she start getting really serious with her newsletter and start referring back to, well, in episode 76, we talked about blah, blah, blah, blah. Or, you know, in episode 25, we talked about. So I think that she can still perpetuate a community through a newsletter.

40:03 Newsletter is not going to, you know, she's going to be home and I think that her creative juices are going to be flowing and she's going to need a place to to put them. So that's my win and I'm still feeling good about it actually. Ashley, what is your win? If we can come back to me, I saw Michael jumped up here. If you'd like to go and go with Michael. Hi, Michael. Good morning everybody, hope you're doing great. Yes, I know you were light on stage and thought I'd pop up. So I think I mentioned a few weeks ago that I am going through Pat Flynn's Power Up podcasting for the second time. I did that when I had a previous podcast and this time I'm doing it with a cohort. So the new podcast, the launch date is going to be June the 1st.

40:45 As I get through this, I'm making that commitment and things are going well. I've got the the equipment out of the closet and adjusting it off and setting it back up. And so that's my win for the week. Congratulations. That's awesome. That's awesome. Well, let's go backwards on my phone. Matthew is next to you. Matthew, what's your win? Well, First off, I want to say Dr. You'll have time to get that podcast going. That's exactly what I was thinking about you. Exactly. And I wanted to share something similar to you actually, Dr. being us being in kind of a similar space. I've resolved over the last couple of months to start disembarking a few clients that I've had just to free up some time and, you know, swap out some some grandfathered in clients so that I can bring in some new ones that will pay the rates that that I've kind of worked myself up to over the last couple of years.

41:40 The kind of the little win I had this week is something that's developed a little bit in my mind over over the last few weeks is that I've noticed when I've been editing episodes more than usually it's audio, but sometimes it's video as well. Sometimes I'll notice I'm smiling to myself as I edit, and more than usually it's because something interesting or something insightful or funny has happened. But I didn't notice myself doing it until I started to, you know, reflect back on myself after a period of time and noticed hang on my my, my mouth is shaped in a way that wasn't when I left it when my brain exited my body to to edit this show.

42:24 So I thought I'd share that as a bit of a win. And I've been meaning to post it around social media a little bit in the podcast editing groups to take advantage of those moments where you sit there and you're, it's weird for us as producers or editors doing stuff for clients because it's not our work, but we know we're invested. When you just sit back and you're editing that episode and you just smile to yourself and go, that was pretty good. I think that's a little bit of a win. That's awesome, Matthew. I wanted to unpack maybe not getting rid of that's not the right phrase, but letting go some clients off boarding. So how do you how do you do that? What's the verbiage that you're using on that? I'm in an unusual position where a lot of my clients have been with me from the beginning of my editing journey. A lot of them have been referrals or people that I know and it makes the conversation a little bit more difficult. Yeah, because they want to continue their show, they want to keep going.

43:22 But the more clients you need to take on to push up past that right ceiling, the more that you can't let them go, the more your time disappears and you just start running out of time. I've managed to surround myself with a few people that have changed my thinking and my approach and and I'll be announcing my new podcast and business direction very shortly. It's very aligned to the way that I think and I kind of need to make a radical change to make that happen. TS TS But the thing that it has to be is just communicating. Like a couple of times I've I've taken the depressive step and just knocked out and gone. OK, guys, I just, it's too much time. This is it.

44:04 You got a few months and then I'm going to have to leave you guys to it. And they kind of look at it and go, which is fair enough to they look at it and go hang on what? We can't just stop. You've been doing stuff for us, but what I've found is communicating with them, telling them the journey because they're your friends, they're peers, they're collaborators, they're partners, especially if they've come by referral, Telling them what the justification is, how they can work into that journey. To make your podcasting journey easier, your podcast editing and business journey easier is going to be much more rewarding and fruitful than treating it like a business relationship and then hoping that the personal relationship remains afterwards. I think just the business, podcasting industry and business, just like podcasting itself, it's all about partnership and collaboration.

44:54 And I think that's probably the biggest thing that I've learned that will hopefully allow me to off board those lovely clients that I've had or will have. And yeah, justify that chat a little bit. Cool. Thank you. It doesn't matter if it's podcasting or any other type of business. I mean, clients are, you know, working with clients is always a especially when you're a quote UN quote small business where it's you or just a couple of people. It's always difficult, but that's why you have to in podcasting, quote UN quote, train your guests, I'm assuming as an editor or someone that's that's, you know, buying your service. You have to train your clients too on how you work. So if you are upfront, when it is time to kind of part ways, whether you want to part ways with them or they want to part ways with you, you know, at least you're on the same page. Because I, I know with clients in my non podcasting life, you know, we've had to get rid of people and they've had to get rid of me for whatever reason.

45:56 And, and sometimes it's just not a hard feelings. It's just, you know, it didn't work because it wasn't the right fit. So that's something that's kind of interesting. And it's great to hear that you're going to be actually rebranding or starting a new podcast. I think it's great that you're going to, you know, you're going to get Dr. to actually drop an episode too. Oh. God, that's the first thing I thought of when this happened to me. Janae, thank you so much for coming up on stage. Do you have a win that you can share with us? Morning. Yes, I absolutely do. Thank you so much. Yesterday I got to report a podcast episode in person, the Charlie Burnie Friends of podcasting morning chat here.

46:39 He's also a friend of Mark. We did a podcast meet up last year and got to go over to his studio over at Podville Media. Really nice space tattoo at this in person conversation. I mean, I'll have conversation and we do these all the time. But when you do it in person, there's a whole nother level of engagement that you get with your guests. So that wasn't that was an awesome win. Thank you, Janae. I appreciate it. And lo and behold, ladies and gentlemen, Big Daddy is come up on stage. Mark, how are you? I'm OK, I'm actually on the flight. It should be taken off any minute. Awesome, and what is your win? My win is that I'm taking off any minute. Exactly.

47:27 I can appreciate that. And it's that I was able to enjoy 11 day vacation across the pond and got to enjoy a couple of new countries, new to me countries. It was really an unbelievable vacation and I'm so grateful we had the opportunity to do it. Coming back renewed and refreshed and with lots of ideas and ready to. 100% I am looking forward to jumping back in Monday and relieving you all. I know this, I don't want to call it a burden, but this big responsibility and I'm so grateful to all of you for holding down the Fort while I was gone. And like I said, really excited to be back on Monday.

48:10 Well, we thought that maybe you might even take Monday off because you know the whole jet lag thing happening, so you don't see that happening. No, I think I'm going to be there Monday, no problem. Awesome. It was great. We can hardly wait for you to get home. That's fantastic. I'm excited to be there. Thank you guys. Good deal Amanda, you are the next one on my list and talk to me about your wins. So my wins for the week is I was able to use the word know often and for many. I know for many a year is that has been a struggle. I'm an overdoer for others and while I love it, I'm getting older and my like bandwidth, my stamina to just keep running without it affecting like my body or my mind is just getting harder and harder to do. So I've kind of out of what?

49:01 Ditto. Right. Like it really just hit me this year. I'm like, wow. So I've just really, I'm having fun. I'm not saying having fun, saying no, having fun, being in the season that I feel like I can say no. And just because I say no today doesn't mean it's not a no in three months or a yes in three months. But you know, I only have so much bandwidth and got to put it where it's most important. And then and also, even if I have the extra time, is that where I want to spend it? Or do I just want to like sit down and be able to be more present in this room because I I enjoy this or have just a cup of coffee with a girlfriend.

49:41 So I'm really kind of re prioritizing things a little bit too. So I just, I don't know if this has been a week of no and I've been loving it. It sounds so mean. No, I think it's sounds really cool and he's great. Congratulations. That doesn't mean if anyone sends me a message it's going to be a no. OK? It just it just might be. That's awesome, Alex, what is your win today? I'm not accepting your nose. That's right. It's kind of funny because my win actually has to do with podfast. So I I met one of the people from Ecam, Katie, she's one of the the PR people for for Ecam and she has a podcast on called the VHS club. It's a live slash podcast video that she does and she's always looking for guests.

50:34 So I guessed it on that yesterday and it was so much fun. We did a Major League, the movie Major League, so if you want to check that out, and that's my podcast Win for the week. Awesome. And Ashley, what is your big win for the week? Thanks, Shaw. So my big win for the week is this week we had two very successful productions for my clients podcast, My Happy Ass Life. And the coolest thing happened on Wednesday. We had a production and as I was setting up the equipment in her space, I, I was just asking her, so tell me a little bit about the guests you have today. And she mentioned the name.

51:17 And at first I didn't think much of it, but then I got to think about like, I know her. I know that name. She got married. It was a hyphenated name. And when she walked in the room, I realized who she was. She was my classmate from high school from 20 years ago. And we have talked to each other in 20 years. So that was really cool how podcasting reconnected us and we exchanged information and we're going to maybe do some stuff together creatively. And the other when I have is Karen has decided to turn her upstairs office into somewhat of a podcast studio. And she's hiring me for additional work to basically outfit the place, put in the lights, the mics, the she's going to get some sort of a board. And you know, we were talking about that in front of the other guests we had yesterday.

52:06 And he says, well, I'm doing the same thing. Let's talk about you doing that for me. So those are some cool opportunities coming up to out outfit these spaces for folks. So Ashley, let me ask you something. And I know that we are at the top of the hour here, but I know that you just recently lost a client and it was really hard on you. Has these opportunities opened up after the client was lost? Oh yeah, that was about two weeks ago. And I knew, even though it was a bummer in that, you know, that gut punch moment, I knew something would happen. And it's just always a question of when you know. Wow, That is very affirming for me.

52:48 That's really affirming for me. So I'm going to do one last win before we close, and the last win is this stage today. Thank you so much for everyone on the stage helping me out. I was really grasping today. Really, really grasping. And through the magic of Ashley's editing, I'm sure she's going to make it a lot less sounding, a lot less grasping. So I appreciate that. And I want everyone to go out and make it a great weekend and come back Monday because you'll be hearing Big Daddy's voice, Mark Ronic. And have a great weekend, everybody. Bye bye.