Podcasting Step by Step

Last week, I gave one of the lightning talks at Stoicon 2024. The topic: How to Combat Speaking Anxiety with Stoicism.Want to see the video? Head to my Substack

Why do we get angry? How can we challenge our immediate reactions? And what's the best way to articulate our feelings without passive aggression or a blow-up? In this episode, you'll learn four Stoic tips to turn potential conflicts into opportunities for personal growth and stronger relationships.Become a member of the Live Without Borders Community ❤️Let's continue the conversation. Head on over to my blog on Substack for more on how to thrive through better communication, Stoicism, and global exploration. We can chat together in the comments and I have fab bonuses for paid subscribers. Or, you can read new posts for free.Live Without Borders Substack

Our intentions don't always line up with our outcomes, and misunderstandings lead to anger, sadness, frustration, and conflict. In this episode, I'll talk about intent vs impact, which is more important, and how to effectively and ethically communicate your intentions. Of course, I'll be weaving in the timeless wisdom of the Stoics.Hi, I'm Sarah Mikutel, your communication and mindset coach, an Enneagram 9 expat in England, and practicing Stoic.  Introverts come to me to learn to speak confidently in front of a room, online, and in social situations without becoming a sweaty, blushing mess with a stress headache.Check out the itinerary for the Ultimate Bulgarian experience and save $200 when you book by Nov. 11. If you love exploring ancient ruins, food and wine tastings, and experiencing new countries like a local, you're our kind of person. Join us for an unforgettable experience in May.https://sarahmikutel.com/Bulgaria

Introvert Emergency Kit Click here if you're ready to become a less anxious, more charismatic public speaker.When it comes to public speaking, what exactly are you afraid of? Most people I talk to don't explore their fears at all – and this makes them worse. The thought of public speaking brings up such uncomfortable feelings that they try to ignore them or stuff them down – which is why they continue to suffer from speaking anxiety, one of the most common fears in the world. How is an amorphous ‘fear of fear' holding you back and keeping you quiet?  I'm Sarah Mikutel, your communication and mindset coach. By the end of this episode, you will know:what you're really afraid of when you say you don't like public speaking – no more amorphous clouds of discomfort,how anxiety manifests in our mind and body and why not managing it is so harmful,the beliefs underlying the four different flavors of public speaking anxiety, and Stoic practices you can do to let go of anxiety so you can more eloquently express your thoughts, feelings, and ideas.So no more holding in what you want to say and then internally screaming when someone else voices what you'd been thinking. It's time to start feeling more calm and confident when you speak. Let's dive in. sarahmikutel.com

We often hear how negative self-comparisons can be, especially when it comes to social media. But what if we could use comparison as a force for good? A tool to help us grow and flourish at work and in our personal lives?  Great news, we can!Today you'll learn how to stop negatively comparing yourself to others and start measuring your progress in healthier and more productive ways. Plus, you'll learn the scientific theory about why you're actually more likable the less perfect you are.Hi, I'm your host, Sarah Mikutel. Ready to take this work deeper and radically transform your life? Let's talk. Book your call here. sarahmikutel.com 

To be an effective communicator, you need to learn how other people think and what motivates them. In this episode, you'll learn how to use the Enneagram typology to do just that.Discover the nine core personality types and uncover the layers of motivations and desires that drive our actions and reactions. You'll walk away with a better understanding of yourself and how to engage with the different personalities in your life.Ready to transform your life? Let's chat. sarahmikutel.com

Do you fly into a fit of rage when people interrupt you? Maybe not externally, but quietly in your head? This episode is for you, my fellow introvert. Learn why people interrupt and how to respond to interruptions from a place of confidence and strength. Book a consult to discuss your communication and confidence goals.sarahmikutel.com 

Most of our suffering comes from thoughts that we let run wild in our brains. We spend a lot of time each day rehashing different conversations and situations in our mind, and we think that we're just reviewing facts. But we're not. We're reflecting on our own points of view, assuming what others think, worrying about the future, and ruminating about the past.The ancient Stoics understood that our thoughts are nothing more than stories we tell ourselves. And modern mental health professionals agree with them that we should challenge the thoughts that pop into our heads and not automatically accept them as reality. You might be thinking, “That's impossible. I have a million thoughts running through my mind. It's not in my control. I'm anxious. I'm overwhelmed.”In today's episode, I'll coach you on how to use a thought record to manage your mind so you can live a more resilient, calm, joyful, and compassionate life. I can't overstate how essential this work is to your wellbeing. If you're feeling stressed, overwhelmed, or frustrated that the changes you're trying to make aren't sticking, listen to this twice.I've also created a thought record worksheet for you.sarahmikutel.com

When you feel like you're being taken advantage of, do you speak up, or stay quiet and grumble to yourself later? In this episode, I share a personal story about when someone tried taking me to the cleaners -- you'll get the pun after listening -- and how I successfully navigated the situation.Get ready to explore why we feel awkward standing up for ourselves and strategies to manage this anxiety while asserting ourselves more confidently. From retraining our brains to identifying patterns of behavior, I'll explain ways to break out of your comfort zone and start speaking up with more confidence and less anxiety. ******************************************************************************************Are you ready to speak in front of a room, online, and in social situations without becoming a sweaty, blushing mess with a stress headache?Book a consult and let's discuss how we can transform your confidence and communication.https://sarahmikutel.com/

It's nearly the anniversary of D-Day, the largest air, sea, and land operation in the history of war. On D-Day alone, Nazis killed nearly 4,500 Allied troops and injured many more. In one day. And I keep asking myself: Are we living lives that honor that sacrifice?  We can do better.  On this episode of the podcast, I share some thoughts on how we can live lives worth dying for. How we can show up as Stoic leaders.https://sarahmikutel.com/

Where do emotions come from? What are emotions? Most of us don't give this much thought. We live as if we're at the mercy of our emotions. We live in fear of them. Anxiety and anger and stress. We try to deny them or indulge in them in unhelpful ways.And this often means staying quiet. We're not willing to be with an emotion long enough to feel its power diminish. Did you know this usually happens in about 90 seconds?Think about a time when you had to speak in public, whether in a meeting, on stage, at a networking event. At first, it felt scary, but as you pushed through, you started to feel better. I work with my clients to help them manage their minds and bodies so they feel less anxious and more confident speaking up and being decisive.Body awareness is the first step toward emotional freedom and resilience and what I want to talk to you about today. I'll be weaving in some Stoic philosophy, which is an ancient philosophy rooted in love and positive emotion. More than 2,000 years ago, the Stoics practiced therapeia, the foundation of today's leading evidence-based treatment for anxiety: cognitive behavioral therapy.When people hear the word ‘stoic,' they often think of someone who swallows their emotions.Stoic philosophy, however, involves cultivating healthy emotions and managing unhealthy ones.Stoics leaders get curious about emotions like anxiety, instead of reacting against them or stuffing them down. This self-awareness sets them free. Are you ready to learn how? Let's go. https://sarahmikutel.com/

Why does public speaking scare introverts so much? In this episode, you'll learn:the science behind why public speaking feels so terrifying for introvertswhat introversion iswhether we're born with our personalitiesthe key differences between introverts and extroverts where the word ‘cool' came fromAnd more!If confidence is a trait you'd like to grow in yourself, let's talk.Book your free, 20-min chat to to discuss how you can learn to speak confidently in front of a room, online, and in social situations without becoming a sweaty, blushing mess with a stress headache.

Welcome to the Influential Introvert, which will be replacing Podcasting Step by Step in this feed.The Influential Introvert is for business owners and leaders who want to speak confidently in front of a room, online, and in social situations without becoming a sweaty, blushing mess with a stress headache.Hi, I'm your host Sarah Mikutel, and you may be wondering why I'm switching up the podcast.I consider it an evolution. While not all of Podcasting Step by Step listeners are introverts, many are. The Influential Introvert podcast is for you if you've ever…✔️ ghosted or not responded to a great PR opportunity someone offered you.✔️felt like you can't get a word in when a big group is talking.✔️ lost sleep thinking about a presentation you had to give. ✔️ had your heart beat out of your chest in conversations where you feel others have more experience and authority.Even when you look calm on the outside, inside there's an anxious swirl that's exhausting you.Life doesn't have to be this way.When you follow this podcast, you'll learn the essential verbal and non-verbal skills necessary to elevate your presence and charisma and capture people's attention.Equally important, you'll learn to manage your mind and body so you feel less anxious and more confident speaking up and being decisive.If this sounds like something you could use help with right away, go to sarahmikutel.com/influentialintrovert, book a consult, and let's get you enjoying life with less anxiety and more influence. 

Black Friday has come early! Or maybe it's an early Cyber Monday? Or, Small Business Saturday. However you like to shop, Podcast Launch Academy is having a super special holiday offer for the next two days. Buy now and save more than 75%!Wondering if it's right for you? Here's a testimonial from a PLA student:Excellent Podcasting CourseThe aim of Podcast Launch Academy is to cover everything you need to set up and grow a successful podcast. Years ago I paid $3,000 for a podcasting course, but although it included live sessions, it didn't go as much into depth as Sarah Mikutel does in Podcast Launch Academy at a fraction of the price.Sarah's voice is very easy to listen to and she breaks everything down into bite-sized manageable chunks, with most lessons being less than 10 minutes, along with specific tasks to complete and a spreadsheet to help you track your progress.After completing the podcast course that I did years ago, I soon lost heart as I'd not chosen the right topic. Sarah's course helps you do the right groundwork first to ensure that your podcast will be long-lasting, rather than rushing into podcasting on a topic, and in a format, that might not be right for you or your audience in the long-term.Sarah is an experienced podcaster and it shows in her level of knowledge, for example her mistakes in originally buying the wrong kind of mic, and what she would recommend now. She also goes into depth on how to record and edit your podcast to make it sound professional.She also covers how to successfully brand and launch your podcast, and also the different ways that you can make money from it.I would definitely recommend Podcast Launch Academy for anyone interested in starting a podcast, or if you want to learn how to improve your skills from someone experienced in podcasting.  Buy now and save more than 75%!Xo Sarah

If you want to launch your podcast soon, or relaunch your existing show, I made something special for you...The Perfect Podcast Formula — a secret podcast I created to guide you through my 5S framework for podcasting success. What makes this show secret? It's a private podcast not available to the public, but you can access it via https://sarahmikutel.com/secretpodI'll be sharing the five qualities your show needs to really stand out and create super fans. Really quick, bingeworthy, brand-building show is:SpecificSeductive Searchable Sound good Systematized In each episode, I'll talk you through one of the Ss and give you a mini-assignment to help you take action on your podcast. Consider this a fun, five-day challenge to give you the momentum you've been looking for.By the end of this podcast masterclass series you'll have learned:how to develop a show that both lights you up and meets your GOALShow to identify and attract your ideal listener, and become the leader in your spacediscover what tech you really need to podcast,and more.The Perfect Podcast Formula is a free, pop-up podcast, meaning it will disappear in a few days, so sign up now so you don't miss it.Let's have some fun this week exploring how you can create a podcast you and your listeners fall in love with

Looking to spice up your podcast format? Try adding audio clips from your listeners. It's a fun way to engage your audience and it's not as complicated as you might think. Speakpipe is a popular tool you can use but I talk about a free way to capture listener feedback in this episode. ***Hiya, I'm your host Sarah Mikutel, podcast launch consultant at your service.Are you ready to launch a podcast that builds your brand and business, connects you to your global community, and grows your influence? Visit sarahmikutel.com to see how we can work together.Here's a special treat for you: Use my Buzzsprout affiliate link to sign up for their podcast media hosting and get a $20 Amazon gift certificate. I've gotten to know the Buzzsprout team over this last year and love their customer service so much, I moved my shows over here. sarahmikutel.com/buzzsprout

In case you haven’t heard, both Apple and Spotify have rolled out podcast subscription programs, which would allow individual creators to get paid for their work.In a previous episode on how to make money with your podcast, I mentioned the listener-support model. This is when you invite your listeners to financially donate to your show. Up until now the most popular platform to collect this money and offer content is called Patreon. A number of other players have cropped up, including Buy Me a Coffee, and Glow, which was recently acquired by the podcast media host Libsyn. But now Apple and Spotify let you offer paid subscriptions directly to your listeners. Is it worth it?***Hiya, I'm your host Sarah Mikutel, podcast launch consultant at your service.Are you ready to launch a podcast that builds your brand and business, connects you to your global community, and grows your influence? Visit sarahmikutel.com to see how we can work together.Here’s a special treat for you: Use my Buzzsprout affiliate link to sign up for their podcast media hosting and get a $20 Amazon gift certificate. I’ve gotten to know the Buzzsprout team over this last year and love their customer service so much, I moved my shows over here. sarahmikutel.com/buzzsproutFREE TRAININGS THIS WEEK: CREATE YOUR $20K DAYWant to make good money being your own boss? My friend Crystal Davis is hosting a private podcast series on topics like mindset, what to sell for the fastest income, and the 3 Steps To Becoming a High Income CEO.Trainings disappear Sunday. Sign up using my partner link at sarahmikutel.com/highincome

How do I grow my podcast? How do I make money with my podcast? Those are the most popular subjects when it comes to podcasting about podcasting. You’ve heard me say many times that creating a product or service of your own is the best way to monetize. And on a recent episode you heard my guest Jeremy Enns and I talking about nurturing your audience and building relationships. Jeremy built his business this way and today I want to talk to you about how you can build your business and podcast through referral partnerships.I’m diving deep into this topic with my guest Zoe Linda Pollard. Zoe is an English expat living in Sweden and she specializes in teaching others how to grow their online businesses through referrals. One of the things she teaches is to invite potential partners for virtual coffee chats so you can get to know each other. You can also invite potential partners to be guests on your podcast, which is what I did with Zoe. What better way to build a relationship than to have an awesome one-hour conversation with them?Zoe’s actually hosting a free event called the Magical Meetup on April 7th and you can find out more about that by going to sarahmikutel.com/zoe (referral link). If you hear this podcast after that, I’ll link to another useful resource of Zoe’s. Her one-hour meetup was created to help you connect with other service-based business owners around the world who can help you spread the word about your business. It’s also a place where you can find podcast guests. And I’ll be there, so come say hi :)***Hiya, I'm your host Sarah Mikutel, podcast launch consultant at your service.Are you ready to launch a podcast that builds your brand and business, connects you to your global community, and grows your influence? Visit sarahmikutel.com to see how we can work together.Here’s a special treat for you: Use my Buzzsprout affiliate link to sign up for their podcast media hosting and get a $20 Amazon gift certificate. I’ve gotten to know the Buzzsprout team over this last year and love their customer service so much, I moved my shows over here. sarahmikutel.com/buzzsprout

Why do some podcasts grow while others do not? My guest today, Jeremy Enns, asked himself that question and is in a unique position to get an answer. He’s CEO & Storyteller In Chief of Counterweight Creative, a podcast strategy and marketing agency.Jeremy looked into the data of what was and wasn’t working for his clients. Today, he's sharing what he’s learned. Jeremy and I are discussing: How Your Podcast's Positioning Can (And Will) Make Or Break Your ShowWhat Most Podcasters Get Wrong About The Role Their Podcast Is Best Suited To Play In Their Marketing SystemHow A 200 Download/Ep Podcast Pulled Off A $300K LaunchAnd if you’re interested in podcast sponsorships, Jeremy is holding a free 5-day workshop on how small shows can land big sponsors. If you’d like to sign up for that, you can do so using my partner link sarahfmikutel.com/jeremy This workshop is happening March 29-April 2 2021, after which I’ll link to something else cool Jeremy has going on.Jeremy is a fellow world wanderer and you can hear more of his story on my other podcast, LIVE Without Borders. Enjoy the show!***Hiya, I'm your host Sarah Mikutel, podcast launch consultant at your service.Are you ready to launch a podcast that builds your brand and business, connects you to your global community, and grows your influence? Visit sarahmikutel.com to see how we can work together.Here’s a special treat for you: Use my Buzzsprout affiliate link to sign up for their podcast media hosting and get a $20 Amazon gift certificate. I’ve gotten to know the Buzzsprout team over this last year and love their customer service so much, I moved my shows over here. sarahmikutel.com/buzzsprout

As a podcaster, should you be on Clubhouse, the newish social media app that’s audio only? If so, how can you use Clubhouse to deepen your connection with your podcast audience, help new listeners discover you, and find great people to interview? I will dive into that in this episode. Plus share some surprising things I learned while playing around on this app over the last few weeks.***Hiya, I'm your host Sarah Mikutel, podcast launch consultant at your service.Are you ready to launch a podcast that builds your brand and business, connects you to your global community, and grows your influence? Visit sarahmikutel.com to see how we can work together.Here’s a special treat for you: Use my Buzzsprout affiliate link to sign up for their podcast media hosting and get a $20 Amazon gift certificate. I’ve gotten to know the Buzzsprout team over this last year and love their customer service so much, I moved my shows over here. sarahmikutel.com/buzzsprout

Do you record your remote interviews with the camera on or off? On Podcasting Step by Step, I share what I do and why, plus who should keep their camera off and who should have it on (it has nothing to do with looks!)***Hiya, I'm your host Sarah Mikutel, podcast launch consultant at your service.Are you ready to launch a podcast that builds your brand and business, connects you to your global community, and grows your influence? Visit sarahmikutel.com to see how we can work together.Here’s a special treat for you: Use my Buzzsprout affiliate link to sign up for their podcast media hosting and get a $20 Amazon gift certificate. I’ve gotten to know the Buzzsprout team over this last year and love their customer service so much, I moved my shows over here. sarahmikutel.com/buzzsprout

As we close out the year, I thought this would be a good time to share with you the current podcast products and services that I’m using and will likely continue to use throughout 2021.In this episode, I talk through what I use to produce an interview episode. Don’t worry about writing anything down, you’ll find links to everything I talk about on

Well, hello there, fellow podcaster. I just experienced the joy and nervousness of launching a new podcast: Part of Something Greater, a show for peacefully ambitious people seeking personal transformation so they can better themselves, their communities, and the world at large. This is the fourth time I’ve launched a podcast, and I think there will always be a mix of excitement and, “What am I doing? Am I really putting this out there?”But as I’ve said before, we can’t wish ourselves brave. Confidence comes when we take brave action. I’m sharing the first episode of Part of Something Greater with you here. If you think this is the kind of show you’ll get a lot of value out of, you can subscribe to the show wherever you listen to your podcasts. GIVEAWAYI'm giving away three of my favorite books on the Enneagram (Road Back to You, Complete Enneagram, and The Essential Enneagram) PLUS your choice one of my online podcasting courses.Here’s how to win:Leave a rating and review of Part of Something Greater on Apple Podcasts. Here's how to do itScreenshot your review and share on Instagram, tagging me @sarahmikutelYou'll be entered to win :)And that’s all you have to do! I’ll pick a winner on December 17, 2020. Deadline to enter is December 16, 2020 noon (EST). If you plan on entering, you should do it now so you don't forget

Have you thought about adding video to your podcast? You might know that YouTube is the second-largest search engine after Google -- people can’t get enough of video and consumption is only going up. There’s also a lot more video on social media. So if you’re trying to grow your audience, should your audio podcast also show up as a video show? Today, my friend Andrea Jones is back to talk to me about who should and shouldn’t bring video into their podcast production; how producing video positively altered her life in massive ways; and the tips and tools you need to get started with video if you’re a team of one. Andrea is founder of the Savvy Social School and host of the Savvy Social podcast. She is the go-to expert for all things social media, and in our discussion, she also talks about how we can repurpose the video we create so we are not constantly reinventing the wheel when it comes to content creation. show notes

How often should you release podcast episodes if you want to build a following? Weekly, bi-weekly? Does it matter? In this episode, I break down the key criteria to consider when choosing your podcast frequency.P.S. Podcasting Step by Step is going bi-weekly because I'm developing a new podcast that is very close to my heart. Want a behind-the-scenes look at how I'm creating it? Watch my Stories on Instagram @sarahmikuel***Hiya, I'm your host Sarah Mikutel, podcast launch consultant at your service. Are you ready to launch a podcast that builds your brand and business, connects you to your global community, and grows your influence? Visit sarahmikutel.com to see how we can work together.Here’s a special treat for you: Use my Buzzsprout affiliate link to sign up for their podcast media hosting and get a $20 Amazon gift certificate. I’ve gotten to know the Buzzsprout team over this last year and love their customer service so much, I moved my shows over here. sarahmikutel.com/buzzsprout

When you upload a podcast episode, are you filling out the podcast description?   If you are not, you are driving listeners away. They don't want to guess what you're about -- there are many other podcasts they can choose.   Need more motivation?   Last year, ABC Audio Studios in Australia, came out with a study that said 71% of people are motivated to try a new podcast based on the description and title. More motivating than friend recommendations or podcast artwork.   Let’s talk about how to keep listeners coming back by writing excellent podcast episode descriptions for your show.   *** Hello. I’m Sarah, your host and founder of Podcast Launch Academy. Are you ready to launch a podcast that builds your brand and business, connects you to your global community, and grows your influence? Visit sarahmikutel.com to see how we can work together. Here’s a special treat for you: Use my Buzzsprout affiliate link to sign up for their podcast media hosting and get a $20 Amazon gift certificate. I’ve gotten to know the Buzzsprout team over this last year and love their customer service so much, I moved my shows over there. sarahmikutel.com/buzzsprout

Wondering if now is a good time to start a podcast?   NPR and Edison Research have just put out The Spoken Word Audio Report, which includes stats and stories you’ll definitely be interested in.    Let's dive into some juicy podcast 2020 statistics.   Show notes at sarahmikutel.com *** Hello. I’m Sarah, your host and founder of Podcast Launch Academy. Are you ready to launch a podcast that builds your brand and business, connects you to your global community, and grows your influence? Visit sarahmikutel.com to see how we can work together. Here’s a special treat for you: Use my Buzzsprout affiliate link to sign up for their podcast media hosting and get a $20 Amazon gift certificate. I’ve gotten to know the Buzzsprout team over this last year and love their customer service so much, I moved my shows over there. sarahmikutel.com/buzzsprout

What do you do if a podcaster copies your content? You file a DMCA Takedown Notice.   On this episode of Podcasting Step by Step, I walk you through the steps I took to get plagiarism of my work removed from the infringer's podcast media host. *** Hello. I’m Sarah, your host and founder of Podcast Launch Academy. Are you ready to launch a podcast that builds your brand and business, connects you to your global community, and grows your influence? Visit sarahmikutel.com to see how we can work together. Here’s a special treat for you: Use my Buzzsprout affiliate link to sign up for their podcast media hosting and get a $20 Amazon gift certificate. I’ve gotten to know the Buzzsprout team over this last year and love their customer service so much, I moved my shows over there. sarahmikutel.com/buzzsprout

What do you get for the podcaster who has everything? Pod Decks!   Travis Brown is a podcast editor, host of the podcast Podcast Therapy, and creator of Pod Decks, which are decks of cards with interesting questions to use during your podcast interviews. These questions can also be found in a new app that includes podcast mini courses, royalty-free music, giveaways, and more.   A lot of people have told Travis, “Hey, I had the idea for Pod Decks years ago.” But they never did anything with it.    On Podcasting Step by Step, Travis and I not only talk about how to become better podcast interviewers, but how to take fast action even when we’re scared, rather than dream about something and then watch someone else follow through with our ideas.   sarahmikutel.com   *** Hello. I’m Sarah, your host and founder of Podcast Launch Academy. Are you ready to launch a podcast that builds your brand and business, connects you to your global community, and grows your influence? Visit sarahmikutel.com to see how we can work together. Here’s a special treat for you: Use my Buzzsprout affiliate link to sign up for their podcast media hosting and get a $20 Amazon gift certificate. I’ve gotten to know the Buzzsprout team over this last year and love their customer service so much, I moved my shows over there. sarahmikutel.com/buzzsprout

With more than 1 million shows in Apple Podcasts, how can you make sure your show stands out?    On Podcasting Step by Step, I talk you through my 5S framework for creating the kind of irresistible podcast that builds your brand, increases your influence, and connects you to your community on the deepest level.   Use my 5S test to audit your existing podcast or as a pre-launch blueprint for creating a bingeworthy, brand-building podcast.   sarahmikutel.com *** Hello. I’m Sarah, your host and founder of Podcast Launch Academy. Are you ready to launch a podcast that builds your brand and business, connects you to your global community, and grows your influence? Visit sarahmikutel.com to see how we can work together. Here’s a special treat for you: Use my Buzzsprout affiliate link to sign up for their podcast media hosting and get a $20 Amazon gift certificate. I’ve gotten to know the Buzzsprout team over this last year and love their customer service so much, I moved my shows over there. sarahmikutel.com/buzzsprout

Hello, it’s the end of summer in my part of the world, and I’m in the States visiting my parents.   So Podcasting Step by Step will be taking a little vacation.   I’m also taking this time to do a little refresh of the podcast.    New intro and outro. New music. New bonuses for you.   And I’d encourage you to take some time in the next week or two to evaluate your own podcast. What do you love about it? What feels heavy that you want to change? Is there something you can stop doing? Are you happy with the frequency and the length of your episodes?  Do you want to change your call to action on your show, or introduce one if you don’t have one yet? Do you want to add or subtract a segment? Have you asked your audience what they’d like to see included?    Speaking of, are there any episode ideas that you’d like me to cover on this podcast? Something I haven’t covered before, or maybe it’s time to revisit a certain topic.    Find me at sarahmikutel.com and let me know.    OK, I’ve got some brilliant guests coming on in a few weeks who you’re going to love. I can’t wait to share those with you.    But for now, I’m signing off and I will see you in September.  *** Hello. I’m Sarah, your host and founder of Podcast Launch Academy. Are you ready to launch a podcast that builds your brand and business, connects you to your global community, and grows your influence? Visit sarahmikutel.com to see how we can work together. Here’s a special treat for you: Use my Buzzsprout affiliate link to sign up for their podcast media hosting and get a $20 Amazon gift certificate. I’ve gotten to know the Buzzsprout team over this last year and love their customer service so much, I moved my shows over there. sarahmikutel.com/buzzsprout

After you’ve been podcasting for a few months, you’re going to start attracting a global audience.   How you communicate with them can make or break your relationship, and on Podcasting Step by StepI talk about the three things you need to do to nurture a show that grows beyond your borders. *** Live Online Training: Podcast Interview Perfection    Does this sound like you?   You started your podcast to show up as a leader, but now you worry your interviews make you look like an awkward robot.    Breaking the ice with online guests you’ve never met feels forced.   Your conversations sound like job interviews. The kind that make people nervous.   If you feel sick before an interview and pray the guest cancels last-minute so you don’t have to do it, congratulations on being a totally normal human being.    Most of us aren’t born with amazing interview capabilities. It’s a skill we learn.   And developing your interview skills is essential if you want your podcast to portray you as both an expert in your field, and as someone your listeners want to work with.   May I offer you a shortcut to dramatically improve your podcast interview skills?   You are invited to a live online training Podcast Interview Perfection.    In this training, you will learn how to:   show up like a leader during the interview and guide the conversation so your audience gets the most out of it find your ideal podcast guests and get them to say ‘yes’ to coming on your show set up your podcast guest booking system come up with great questions and outline a show that deliver the most value for your audience prevent podcast guest no-shows break the ice with your guest and begin the interview in a fun way that puts your guest at ease record remote interviews that sound great (all the tech simplified) interview with confidence even if you’re a rookie get your guest to promote their episode and more!   After the training, you’ll have the opportunity to ask any interview questions you want. You’ll also have the opportunity to submit questions before the training so that they can be incorporated into the workshop.   Grab your spot at sarahmikutel.com/podcastinterviewperfection  

Do you feel like your podcast is taking you way too long to produce? Or maybe you haven’t even launched yet because just starting seems endless?   Parkinson’s Law might have something to do with it. And today, I’m going to teach you how to break the law.    In this episode, you'll learn how to speed up your podcast production process by: Setting real deadlines Time blocking Finding ways to hold yourself accountable   *** Live Online Training: Podcast Interview Perfection    Does this sound like you?   You started your podcast to show up as a leader, but now you worry your interviews make you look like an awkward robot.    Breaking the ice with online guests you’ve never met feels forced.   Your conversations sound like job interviews. The kind that make people nervous.   If you feel sick before an interview and pray the guest cancels last-minute so you don’t have to do it, congratulations on being a totally normal human being.    Most of us aren’t born with amazing interview capabilities. It’s a skill we learn.   And developing your interview skills is essential if you want your podcast to portray you as both an expert in your field, and as someone your listeners want to work with.   May I offer you a shortcut to dramatically improve your podcast interview skills?   You are invited to a live online training Podcast Interview Perfection.    In this training, you will learn how to:   show up like a leader during the interview and guide the conversation so your audience gets the most out of it find your ideal podcast guests and get them to say ‘yes’ to coming on your show set up your podcast guest booking system come up with great questions and outline a show that deliver the most value for your audience prevent podcast guest no-shows break the ice with your guest and begin the interview in a fun way that puts your guest at ease record remote interviews that sound great (all the tech simplified) interview with confidence even if you’re a rookie get your guest to promote their episode and more!   After the training, you’ll have the opportunity to ask any interview questions you want. You’ll also have the opportunity to submit questions before the training so that they can be incorporated into the workshop.   Grab your spot at the early bird rate at sarahmikutel.com/podcastinterviewperfection  

“Some people naturally seem to be storytellers who are more expressive vocally than others, but that doesn't mean that there aren't skills and tools that you can learn to have more control over your voice and to have more fun with it, and to really use it as a tool for self-expression in a way that still feels natural and authentic,” says Andrea Klunder, my guest on Podcasting Step by Step.    “It just comes with knowing what to play with and giving yourself permission to go there and experiment and see what feels good for you.”   In addition to being a pod expert, Andrea is classically trained in voice. In our episode together, she teaches us how to * warm up our voice * improve our posture * speak with more energy and clarity * take care of our bodies * and more   *** Hello. I’m Sarah, your host and founder of Podcast Launch Academy. Are you ready to launch a podcast that builds your brand and business, connects you to your global community, and grows your influence? Visit sarahmikutel.com to see how we can work together. Here’s a special treat for you: Use my Buzzsprout affiliate link to sign up for their podcast media hosting and get a $20 Amazon gift certificate. I’ve gotten to know the Buzzsprout team over this last year and love their customer service so much, I moved my shows over there. sarahmikutel.com/buzzsprout

“I hate hate my voice.”    So many aspiring podcasters say this. But do they really hate their voice? Or is something else going on here?   On this episode, I dig into how to become more comfortable with your podcast voice.   Don't miss next week's episode, which will be a deep-dive vocal training on how to enhance your natural voice (which sounds great, by the way).   *** Hello. I’m Sarah, your host and founder of Podcast Launch Academy. Are you ready to launch a podcast that builds your brand and business, connects you to your global community, and grows your influence? Visit sarahmikutel.com to see how we can work together. Here’s a special treat for you: Use my Buzzsprout affiliate link to sign up for their podcast media hosting and get a $20 Amazon gift certificate. I’ve gotten to know the Buzzsprout team over this last year and love their customer service so much, I moved my shows over there. sarahmikutel.com/buzzsprout

Today is podcasting 101 for new and aspiring podcasters. If that is you, then welcome to the podcasting family.    I’m sure you have a ton of questions, which is why today I’m speaking with Buzzsprout’s Priscilla Brooke.   Buzzsprout is a podcast media host and Pricilla is part of their customer support/customer happiness team, which means she spends all day answering podcast questions.   I asked her to join me on Podcasting Step by Step to discuss the most frequent questions that new podcasters ask.    We cover: Why you need a podcast media host What an RSS feed is  How to get into Apple Podcasts Why, when hit publish, you’re not seeing your latest podcast episode in Apple Podcasts and other directories right away How to improve your audio quality  What you should podcast about  How to get paid via affiliate marketing And how to switch podcast media hosts   I’ve gotten to know the team at Buzzsprout over the last year and I love their customer support and how easy and innovative their podcast hosting platform is.   I moved one of my podcasts over there and have been incredibly happy with their service.   If you are trying to decide which podcast host to choose, I recommend going with Buzzsprout and you’ll hear more about why in this episode.   If you want to try out Buzzsprout for free visit sarahmikutel.com/buzzsprout    And as a listener to this show, you will get a $20 Amazon gift card if you sign up for a paid Buzzsprout plan. Joining through my link helps support Podcasting Step by Step. sarahmikutel.com/buzzsprout *** Hello. I’m Sarah, your host and founder of Podcast Launch Academy. Are you ready to launch a podcast that builds your brand and business, connects you to your global community, and grows your influence? Visit sarahmikutel.com to see how we can work together.

Today’s interview with Jasmine Star will blow your socks off. There is just so much meaty goodness that I can’t wait to share with you.   I originally wanted to talk to Jasmine because she is the queen of Instagram — literally every business owner I know follows her — and I knew she’d share really good strategic and tactical advice to make Instagram work better for you. We do talk about this, but...   I’m even more excited to share how Jasmine used her podcast to make her latest launch of Social Curator such a smashing success.   In case you don’t know, Social Curator, which I’m a member of, helps small business owners elevate their social media presence and overall strategy for doing business on social.   In this episode, you will learn: how Jasmine used her podcast to prime people to buy during her latest launch of Social Curator; her podcast strategy, including who her ideal listener is and the kind of content Jasmine’s creating to help and empower her — and how this content is evolving; the difference between Jasmine’s free and paid content; The importance of having an email list to nurture your audience, and more.   And, we talk about Instagram, of course, and Jasmine shares a strategy to help us stay consistent on social media and tells us how to talk about our business without hard selling people all the time.   Are you a business owner who wants to use your podcast to make your next launch even more successful? Download my Business Pre-Launch Podcast Strategy Cheatsheet. *** Hello. I’m Sarah, your host and founder of Podcast Launch Academy. Are you ready to launch a podcast that builds your brand and business, connects you to your global community, and grows your influence? Visit sarahmikutel.com to see how we can work together. Here’s a special treat for you: Use my Buzzsprout affiliate link to sign up for their podcast media hosting and get a $20 Amazon gift certificate. I’ve gotten to know the Buzzsprout team over this last year and love their customer service so much, I moved my shows over there. sarahmikutel.com/buzzsprout

Do you ever feel like the rest of the world knows a secret that you don't about growing an audience? Like when you're in a Facebook Group and someone humble brags that they just started their podcast and already have 100,000,000 downloads (this statement is usually followed by the online equivalent of Bambi blinking his eyes all innocent-like and saying, "I don't know, is that good?") And then you start to feel crummy. “What am I doing wrong?”    You’re not doing anything wrong. It takes time to build your audience, but some podcasters start out with a larger following because they’ve built one up on their blog or social media or maybe they are a celebrity of some kind.    Also, some podcast categories will always have a bigger audience than others. True crime and comedy will always have more downloads than an obscure hobby podcast.   Having said all that, we all want to grow our audience, and in this episode, I break down the three ways to do that.    But let’s jump to the spoiler: The most effective way to grow your show is to guest on other people’s podcasts.    The bad news? Lots of people are pitching pods. The good news? Most of these pitches aren’t good.    Would you like to cut through the noise and learn how to get podcast hosts to say yes to featuring you?   Check out my new online course Podcast Pitch Perfection (I’ve got a special offer waiting for you).  

My guest today is Danielle Desir, host of The Thought Card travel podcast and founder of WOC Podcasters — that’s Women of Color Podcasters.   Danielle actually started her podcasting community before she started her podcast, and she shares that brilliant story in today’s episode.   WOC Podcasters now has 3,000 people in its Facebook Group, and you’ll learn how Danielle is nurturing and growing this community.   Danielle’s mission with this group is to amplify the voices of women of color podcasters, and we talk about how you can get involved in this mission.   P.S. Did you know that getting on other people's podcasts is the best way to grow your own show? If you'd like my fluff-free success plan for getting on podcasts, I have a special offer for you at sarahmikutel.com/podcastpitchperfection    *** Hello. I’m Sarah, your host and founder of Podcast Launch Academy. Are you ready to launch a podcast that builds your brand and business, connects you to your global community, and grows your influence? Visit sarahmikutel.com to see how we can work together. Here’s a special treat for you: Use my Buzzsprout affiliate link to sign up for their podcast media hosting and get a $20 Amazon gift certificate. I’ve gotten to know the Buzzsprout team over this last year and love their customer service so much, I moved my shows over there. sarahmikutel.com/buzzsprout

In the last episode,  podcast editor and host Emily Prokop told us about how she manages her ADHD as a podcaster and business owner, and she gave us some great advice on how we can find our focus and be more productive.   Today I’m continuing the conversation with Emily to learn about her podcast production process, specifically how she’s using Facebook Lives to build community.   I hope this episode inspires you to try a new way to connect with your audience.   Enjoy the show. *** Hello. I’m Sarah, your host and founder of Podcast Launch Academy. Are you ready to launch a podcast that builds your brand and business, connects you to your global community, and grows your influence? Visit sarahmikutel.com to see how we can work together. Here’s a special treat for you: Use my Buzzsprout affiliate link to sign up for their podcast media hosting and get a $20 Amazon gift certificate. I’ve gotten to know the Buzzsprout team over this last year and love their customer service so much, I moved my shows over there. sarahmikutel.com/buzzsprout

Are you having a hard time focussing on your podcast?   Maybe you’re a daydreamer. Maybe something is going on with your family. Maybe you’re devastated at the state of the world. Maybe you’re happy and hopeful and jumping around from thing to thing because you’re so excited. Maybe you have ADHD like today’s guest.   I’m speaking with my friend Emily Prokop, podcast editor, host of the Story Behind, and co-host of the Hate to Weight podcast.   Emily and I have a lot in common, including being recovering research-obsessed perfectionists. That doesn’t mean we’re natural planners. We definitely fall in the daydreamer category.   We still have big goals that we want to accomplish.   One very important thing that I learned this year is that there are several different personality types — you can go back and listen to my Myers Briggs episode to hear more about that.   Our brains work in very different ways. We’re motivated by different things.   Some podcasters are natural organizers and they love talking about spreadsheets and achievements and they thrive on praise.   Others are procrastinators, not out of laziness, but out of analysis paralysis and overwhelm, which is the primary reason I started Podcast Launch Academy — to give people the roadmap they need to move out of that.   Lack of focus doesn’t mean lack of ambition or lack of interest.   Today, Emily and I are sharing our favorite routines and resources to make you a more productive podcaster. We recorded this a few months ago, but the tools and tips we share are timeless. Enjoy. *** Hello. I’m Sarah, your host and founder of Podcast Launch Academy. Are you ready to launch a podcast that builds your brand and business, connects you to your global community, and grows your influence? Visit sarahmikutel.com to see how we can work together. Here’s a special treat for you: Use my Buzzsprout affiliate link to sign up for their podcast media hosting and get a $20 Amazon gift certificate. I’ve gotten to know the Buzzsprout team over this last year and love their customer service so much, I moved my shows over there. sarahmikutel.com/buzzsprout

A few months ago, I was listening to a podcast between two white men who speak at a lot of conferences. One of them complained about conferences trying to be more diverse.   He said that it was not fair that he, a white guy, might not get to speak because of a ‘token.’ He was speaking about women, but you can insert ‘black people’ or any minority.    He said that if you’re good enough, you’d already be speaking on stage, you’d get the speaking slots you applied for.   I unpack this idea on today's episode and talk about the importance of being mindful of diversity and inclusivity when choosing our podcast guests.   Podcasters for Justice Danielle Desir, head of the WOC Podcasters Community, will be on the podcast in a few weeks. She started a Podcasters for Justice campaign and her text is below for you to use:   Collectively, we have built engaged audiences that listen to our voices regularly, and with coordinated effort, we can combine OUR voices to take a STRONG stance against racism and police brutality. We serve many audiences, but we can speak with one voice. One voice that does not mince words and demands justice. We created this simple PSA for podcasters or any content creator to post and share in hopes that we can come together across digital spaces to support the work of activists on the front lines of change, who risk themselves daily to create a better world for us all. Please join us in using your voice to take a stand and encourage action at this critical time by issuing the following statement on your podcast or other digital platform(s): We are (podcasters/bloggers/youtubers/influencer/etc.) united to condemn the tragic murders of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor and many many others at the hands of police. This is a continuation of the systemic racism pervasive in our country since its inception and we are committed to standing against racism in all its forms. We believe that to be silent is to be complicit. We believe that Black lives matter. We believe that Black lives are more important than property. We believe that we have a responsibility to use our platforms to speak out against this injustice whenever and wherever we are witness to it. In creating digital media we have built audiences that return week after week to hear our voices and we will use our voices to speak against anti-blackness and police brutality, and we encourage our audiences to be educated, engaged, and to take action. Here are three ways podcasters and content creators can participate: Read this statement on your next show release & post the above statement and graphic to your social media feeds. Donate a portion of your show proceeds and ask audience members to donate to any of the following:George Floyd Memorial Fund: https://www.gofundme.com/f/georgefloydMinnesota Freedom Fund: https://minnesotafreedomfund.org/Black Visions Collective: https://www.blackvisionsmn.org/Campaign Zero: https://www.joincampaignzero.org/Black Lives Matter: https://www.Blacklivesmatter.comMinneapolis NAACP Branch: https://www.paypal.me/mplsnaacp4050B Sign A petition & Ask Your Audience To Sign:Text “Floyd” to 55156 to sign a petition a demand justice for George Floyd Sign-up at Color of Change: https://colorofchange.org/ to be notified of more opportunities to take action Hashtags: #podcastersforjustice #WoCPodcasters #BlackLivesMatter

Are you overthinking something right now and can’t seem to move forward? Today, I have a simple yet very powerful mindset mantra that will get you moving in the right direction.   I had a mind-blown experience this week. One of my online business mentors, Elizabeth Goddard, said, "Let Future You take care of it."   Whoah! So simple yet such a powerful mindset shift.   Here's what Elizabeth means: Have faith that Future You will have the experience and the context to make the right decisions.   So often we tie ourselves in knots about whether we should try this or that. Should I start a podcast? Should I move to Paris?   But Present You can't know the answers because you don't have the experience of trying yet.   The job of Present You is to try, experiment, and play. To take action on something now and let Future You decide if it's working, if you love it, or if you want to try something else.   Future You has more information and, therefore, more answers. Yes, Present You will help out Future You by putting in effort and doing the work. But save your worries and ‘what ifs’ for Future You to figure out.   The job for Present You is to make a decision and take the next step. *** Hello. I’m Sarah, your host and founder of Podcast Launch Academy. Are you ready to launch a podcast that builds your brand and business, connects you to your global community, and grows your influence? Visit sarahmikutel.com to see how we can work together. Here’s a special treat for you: Use my Buzzsprout affiliate link to sign up for their podcast media hosting and get a $20 Amazon gift certificate. I’ve gotten to know the Buzzsprout team over this last year and love their customer service so much, I moved my shows over there. sarahmikutel.com/buzzsprout

How do I make money with my podcast? That’s always a hot topic amongst podcasters.   A few episodes ago we talked about affiliate marketing, which is a good way to get started. But if you want to make real money, you need to sell your own products and services.   Today I’m speaking with Crystal Davis, the Borderless Coach and founder of High Income Digital Nomad. Crystal’s mission is to help people build thriving and enjoyable businesses that let them travel and work remotely.   We get into the nuts and bolts of how to get up and running with a profitable online business right now. We discuss: why conventional wisdom regarding online business keeps people in a long slog, and what you should do instead to earn the income you want; what kind of offer you should create; how to find clients; who you should sell to and who you shouldn’t target; the three daily activities you need to do to make money; and more.   This isn’t the usual business advice you hear, and I think you’re going to love Crystal’s fresh, and effective, perspective.   I’m such a fan of Crystal’s work that I joined her group program, High Income Digital Nomad, and I’d like to invite you to a free three-day training she’s doing starting on Monday on how to sell without feeling totally cringe-y and awkward. It’s called the 24 Hour Secret Sellout Launch.   Let’s face it, if you’re going to have your own business, you need to master selling. You can join the training via my partner link at sarahmikutel.com/highincome   It is a live training, so you need to sign up this weekend, and then I’ll see you in the Facebook Group! *** Hello. I’m Sarah, your host and founder of Podcast Launch Academy. Are you ready to launch a podcast that builds your brand and business, connects you to your global community, and grows your influence? Visit sarahmikutel.com to see how we can work together. Here’s a special treat for you: Use my Buzzsprout affiliate link to sign up for their podcast media hosting and get a $20 Amazon gift certificate. I’ve gotten to know the Buzzsprout team over this last year and love their customer service so much, I moved my shows over there. sarahmikutel.com/buzzsprout

You’ve heard me ask: ‘What do you stand for? And what is the conversation you want to have with the world?’    On today’s episode, we’re talking about how this conversation can change and evolve.    Joining me again is Alexis Teichmiller, Affiliate Manager at ConvertKit and host of the Deeper Life, a podcast about vulnerability, connecting with others, and showing up unapologetically in the world.   I love featuring podcasters focusing on the deeper aspects of life and that is Alexis in a very literal sense.    We discuss vulnerability, forgiveness, getting in alignment with our values, working with our feelings instead of against them, how to increase our self-awareness, and more.   It’s so easy to get stuck in a routine and lose track of what we believe in, and to not give ourselves space to reflect on whether our beliefs still ring true.   Consider this episode your opportunity to reflect on what matters to you, and whether you are becoming the person you want to be. *** Hello. I’m Sarah, your host and founder of Podcast Launch Academy. Are you ready to launch a podcast that builds your brand and business, connects you to your global community, and grows your influence? Visit sarahmikutel.com to see how we can work together. Here’s a special treat for you: Use my Buzzsprout affiliate link to sign up for their podcast media hosting and get a $20 Amazon gift certificate. I’ve gotten to know the Buzzsprout team over this last year and love their customer service so much, I moved my shows over there. sarahmikutel.com/buzzsprout

Let’s talk about money. Specifically, making money with your podcast.   In previous episodes of Podcasting Step by Step, I’ve talked about how the traditional podcast sponsorship model — where you get paid per 1,000 downloads per episode — is a pretty bad deal for most podcasters. You’re much better off negotiating your own sponsorship with a brand that’s perfect for your audience.   Or, you can try becoming an affiliate for the products and services that you love. As an affiliate, you’re sort of an advertiser / brand ambassador.    Alexis Teichmiller, the Affiliate Manager at ConvertKit, joins me on Podcasting Step by Step to talk about how podcasters like you can get started with affiliate marketing.   We answer your burning question, including: What is affiliate marketing and how does it work? Where do you find products that have affiliate programs? What are the top mistakes affiliate marketers make? What strategies are the most successful affiliates using? And more.   If Podcasting Step by Step has helped you with your podcast, you can support the show by signing up for services you need — like email so you can connect to your listeners — through my recommended affiliate links, including signing up for a free trial of ConvertKit (yup, that’s an affiliate link!) *** Hello. I’m Sarah, your host and founder of Podcast Launch Academy. Are you ready to launch a podcast that builds your brand and business, connects you to your global community, and grows your influence? Visit sarahmikutel.com to see how we can work together. Here’s a special treat for you: Use my Buzzsprout affiliate link to sign up for their podcast media hosting and get a $20 Amazon gift certificate. I’ve gotten to know the Buzzsprout team over this last year and love their customer service so much, I moved my shows over there.

We’re living through a global pandemic. It's okay to have down days and to be upset about the way things are. None of us want to be locked up in our house or to lose our job.   But if we wallow in that negativity for too long, that doesn't mean we're going to get extra days in our life, right? We're not going to get bonus months at the end of our life because we survived lock down.    Author Ryan Holiday has a podcast called the Daily Stoic. Lately, he’s been talking about Alive Time versus Dead Time, something writer Robert Greene told him about.    According to him, we can spend our time in one of two ways, passively (Dead Time), where we’re just zoning out and letting life happen to us, and actively (Alive Time), where we’re learning, trying new things, and consciously choosing how to spend our time.   As the Stoics taught us, we can't control what's going on in the world, but we can control how we react to it. You’ll never get today again -- will you make it matter? *** Hello. I’m Sarah, your host and founder of Podcast Launch Academy. Are you ready to launch a podcast that builds your brand and business, connects you to your global community, and grows your influence? Visit sarahmikutel.com to see how we can work together. Here’s a special treat for you: Use my Buzzsprout affiliate link to sign up for their podcast media hosting and get a $20 Amazon gift certificate. I’ve gotten to know the Buzzsprout team over this last year and love their customer service so much, I moved my shows over there.

Do you often feel like you never have enough time to do what you want, including podcasting? It’s the worst!   You’re spending hours at your computer and yet nothing is getting done. What is going wrong? And where did the day go?   Imagine how great it would feel if you had all the time you needed to podcast. My guest today says it’s possible because time is more abundant than you think. We can actually stretch it.    Laura Vanderkam is the author of several time management and productivity books, including Juliet’s School of Possibilities, I Know How She Does It, and 168 Hours: You Have More Time Than You Think.    She also speaks at conferences, including at TED; writes for publications like the New York Times; hosts the podcasts Before Breakfast and The New Corner Office, and co-hosts the podcast Best of Both Worlds.   She has five kids and blogs almost every day at Laura Vanderkam.com.   So if Laura can find time to do all that plus hang out with friends and get eight hours of sleep, then there is hope for us all.  *** Hello. I’m Sarah, your host and founder of Podcast Launch Academy. Are you ready to launch a podcast that builds your brand and business, connects you to your global community, and grows your influence? Visit sarahmikutel.com to see how we can work together. Here’s a special treat for you: Use my Buzzsprout affiliate link to sign up for their podcast media hosting and get a $20 Amazon gift certificate. I’ve gotten to know the Buzzsprout team over this last year and love their customer service so much, I moved my shows over there.

On the last episode, I spoke with Idelle Erickson, producer of the Girl Talk podcast for the Girl Scouts. We talked about the mission of the show and about the role of a podcast producer, and Idelle mentioned that she and her colleagues and guests usually record their episodes in person.   Today Idelle explains the set up she creates in her basement to capture studio-like sound for her podcast. This information is incredibly valuable because most people do not record good audio when they’re in the same room with someone. I hear a lot of audio bleed and reverb on shows I’ve edited, but never on Idelle’s.   Of course, recording in person might not always be possible. Your guest could be 1,000 miles away or maybe the entire globe is on lock down due to a pandemic. But one day, when you do record an episode in person, you will be happy to have this knowledge.    Idelle and I recorded this remotely using Squadcast, which is how I usually record my interviews. If you’d like to support this show, you can do so by testing out Squadcast via my affiliate link. Go to sarahmikutel.com/squadcast to check it out.  *** Hello. I’m Sarah, your host and founder of Podcast Launch Academy. Are you ready to launch a podcast that builds your brand and business, connects you to your global community, and grows your influence? Visit sarahmikutel.com to see how we can work together. Here’s a special treat for you: Use my Buzzsprout affiliate link to sign up for their podcast media hosting and get a $20 Amazon gift certificate. I’ve gotten to know the Buzzsprout team over this last year and love their customer service so much, I moved my shows over there.

Remember a few episodes ago when I was talking to podcast editing extraordinaire Steve Stewart? We chatted about how to create your podcast editing side hustle, and he talked about finding clients at conferences.   Well, today I’m speaking with a client of mine whom I met at Podcast Movement last year.   I’m speaking with Idelle Erickson, who works for the Girl Scouts and produces the Girl Talk podcast.   We talk about what a podcast producer does, and Idelle walks us through her process of creating a Girl Talk episode, plus shares how she engages Girl Talk listeners.    Idelle is so lovely and I’m happy to have her as a friend. I was actually crying before we recorded this episode because l can't stop thinking about all the children forced to be in lock down in abusive situations. I want to create a recovery program for abused kids that uses audio to help them feel comfortable speaking up and healing. Want to help me? Get in touch.    *** Hello. I’m Sarah, your host and founder of Podcast Launch Academy. Are you ready to launch a podcast that builds your brand and business, connects you to your global community, and grows your influence? Visit sarahmikutel.com to see how we can work together. Here’s a special treat for you: Use my Buzzsprout affiliate link to sign up for their podcast media hosting and get a $20 Amazon gift certificate. I’ve gotten to know the Buzzsprout team over this last year and love their customer service so much, I moved my shows over there.

Imagine a magical world in which you can promote your podcast and your business online, generate lots of traffic back to your website, and you don’t need to worry about how many followers you have.   Well good news! That world exists and it’s called Pinterest, where, unlike social media, you don’t need to get caught up in vanity metrics like how many people heart your post. As my guest today says, “The only thing from a data perspective that matters is how many people are clicking through to your website.”    Today I’m speaking with Cara Chace, founder of the membership site the Pin Power Method, which teaches people how to use Pinterest marketing for their online business.   Whether you have your own business yet or not, the same strategies Cara teaches in her membership, and with us here today, can be used to grow your podcast.   Pinterest is a powerful search engine and a fantastic tool to help your ideal listeners and customers discover you. Consider this episode your the Ultimate Guide to Pinterest for Podcasters.    We get into: The two key things that you need to know to get started with Pinterest What to include on your Pinterest boards, how often you should pin, and what you should definitely NOT pin How to create and optimize pins so people click back through your website How to analyze your pins so you can double down on what is working and fix what’s not The three pillars that equal Pinterest success, and more!   I love diving deep and getting really tactical advice, and Cara really delivers for us today. I’ve captured everything for you at sarahmikutel.com/pinterest so don’t worry about taking notes. *** Hello. I’m Sarah, your host and founder of Podcast Launch Academy. Are you ready to launch a podcast that builds your brand and business, connects you to your global community, and grows your influence? Visit sarahmikutel.com to see how we can work together. Here’s a special treat for you: Use my Buzzsprout affiliate link to sign up for their podcast media hosting and get a $20 Amazon gift certificate. I’ve gotten to know the Buzzsprout team over this last year and love their customer service so much, I moved my shows over there.