I Was Just Thinking About Creating a Podcast

Creating a podcast has been on my mind for a few weeks now. And I won’t beat around the bush with the news: I already launched it. I use the word, “launch” lightly though. When I say, “I launched a podcast“, what I really mean is I sat down at my desk, recorded about an hour’s worth of reflective thoughts, edited it only slightly, and then uploaded it into the stratosphere of the internet; otherwise known as Spotify. But I didn’t stop there. Of course I didn’t stop there. Have you met me?

Let’s back up here a minute and get some context. As I continue to engage in my creative sabbatical, I’ve become more aware of how important self-reflection is to me. It’s not just something I do or practice. Being a self-reflective person is how I show up in the world. I’ve been thinking about coaching, going back to school to study who knows what, starting a different business, selling everything I own and moving to a deserted island. The list is endless.

But the truth is that when I think about doing anything, I’m reflecting on it. I talked at length about this in my latest post about purpose. And the podcast, as it turns out, seemed like a natural extension of my purpose.

My Approach to Creating in this Creative Sabbatical

I approached creating a podcast with the same attitude I’ve approached all aspects of this creative sabbatical: Let’s see how it feels. And you know what? It felt pretty good to sit at my desk and rhyme off some of the things I’ve been thinking about lately. But what’s more, it felt great to bring those ideas to life in a way beyond the blog. I feel like it’s a true extension of the work I’m doing here, but more…in real time.

I knew I was in the flow of returning to podcasting (yes, this is a return to podcasting…wait for it), because as soon as I hit publish on the first episode, I recorded a second episode. I felt all the things that come up when you do something new, or in my case, go back to doing something you used to do before. If you’re not familiar with my work, welcome.

And if you are familiar with my work, you know I’ve hosted several podcasts over the years that total over 1000 episodes across several titles. I’m no stranger to podcasting. So it was a bit of a surprise when self-doubt came up in the form of thinking I needed a professional produced podcast.

Ah, no sir, I do not. That’s just a thought in my head that has the potential to keep me thinking about doing this instead of actually doing it. And the whole point of doing anything within the container of this sabbatical is to show up, imperfect, and decide if it’s worth improving over time or bailing on because, well, maybe it doesn’t feel as great as I thought it would. Or, it simply doesn’t look or feel the way I thought it would. Or, quite frankly, I just don’t like it.

We’ve All Got Free Will. Let’s Use it More Often

As I exercise my free will all over town when it comes to this creative sabbatical, I think creating a podcast was a just a matter of time. I talk a bit about the hesitation I had in launching a new podcast on the podcast, but for continuity’s sake, here’s the rationale I used to avoid doing this: obligation. I didn’t want to feel obligated to continue to record and publish podcasts just because I started it.

I wanted the creative freedom to try it out, see how it felt and then decide if it was something I wanted to keep doing. I didn’t want to start out of the gate feeling like I would have to record podcasts forever and ever, Amen.

Keep a Finger on the Pulse

I’m glad I caught this tricky little thought because I was able to give myself permission to do as little or as much podcasting as I saw fit. Because I get to decide what the container looks like. I get to decide what the deliverable is, if I would even call it that. I don’t think I would. I’m not interested in feeling like I have to do anything right now. But I am interested in pursuing ideas that feel good or that I feel compelled to do.

Is my podcast going to change lives and shake trees? Maybe. But it changes me and helps me live in my purpose just because I created it. I wanted to create it. Whatever else happens to it, around it or because of it, is great but not the point. And while I think it is important to have lots of metrics and KPIs for lots of things in business, I’m actually approaching this project from the perspective of life.

Approaching podcasting from the perspective of, “This is a thing I want to do right now, no strings attached,” means that I don’t have to keep up with a demanding recording schedule. I don’t have to define what the podcast is or isn’t…not yet anyway. There may be room for those things down the road if I decide to keep podcasting, but for now, it’s all a wonderful, living-out-loud experiment and I love it.

This isn’t a Brand…But Maybe it Could Be. If I wanted it to Be. See How That Works?

I’m not looking to build a brand or even a product base right now. I’ve been dabbling in coaching again, and have been thoroughly enjoying interacting with people who have signed up for Coach Week with me. I know I enjoy engaging in that kind of meaningful work. But I’m not choosing a business model, direction or even overall goal for all of this beyond creative interest. It’s all just meant to create an opportunity for me to pay attention to my work in a new way. .

The podcast, I think, could lend well to all of that immediate thought-work and ideation that is going on. I imagine, right now anyway, recording as I feel inspired to record. The sense of progress I have when I complete something even if I decide I don’t want to do it again is worth the effort.

Reflecting on the Past to Change the Present

And that’s where I think I’ve gone wrong in the past. In previous podcast ventures, my focus had been to create something that could function as a lead magnet for whatever business I was running at the time. I would spend hours drafting scripts, recording and rerecording audio, editing said audio, and then spraying and praying everything all over the internet hoping to attract clients to whatever I was selling. I think that works to a point. But the point is very small and frankly, pointless. At least it felt that way to me.

Because my focus was external motivation (get more leads), I continued to show up to the podcast recording sessions with the intention of getting more leads. Makes sense right? This time, however, I’m showing up because showing up is what feels good to me. Will the podcast attract “leads”? Maybe. To what? I have no idea yet. If it ever came to that, I have the skills, knowledge and abilities to figure that piece out, but for now, I want to dig into how good it feels to create something just for the sake of creating it.

Effort and Motivation Aligning in Creative Practice

Sure, I’m sharing my stories to inspire others. It also inspires me. And yes, I’m putting this effort in with this platform, my writing, the little bit of posting I do on LinkedIn and Pinterest and of course now, the podcast. I’m putting in the effort, but the motivation behind the effort is different. And the typical “product” feel has left the building. I put together a cover for the podcast in about 4 minutes. I wasn’t overthinking it. I needed a podcast cover. I can update it at any time.

Before, I spent hours pouring over options and trying to decide what looked “professional” even though I’d tell you with a straight face that I didn’t consider myself professional. Nobody wants to see their ugly mug next to a perfectly coiffed podcast cover, right? At this point, it’s not that I don’t care. I care enough to create something from nothing and put it into the world. But I don’t care about the details right now.

Embrace the Learning and Make New Things

It’s a learning curve for me. I’m used to putting in effort where people can see and yes, I also put in effort where people can’t see. How do you think I make all that effort look so effortless? But when it comes to this sabbatical, this podcast, this platform: I’m taking a different approach. I’m living into my purpose, which it turns out, is not to fret over the details. It is to spend my days doing things I love, for as long as the money I’ve banked lasts to continue to fund this adventure, or if I decide to opt back into “working” at any point in time.

The podcast launch was an exercise in following through. This entire sabbatical is an exercise in following through. I have no problem with follow through these days, especially when it comes to working. But I’m not following through for anyone but me right now. What I create and release is the byproduct of the work I’m doing on myself. It’s not the deliverable. I’m the deliverable. I’m sharing a thing I made while considering parts of myself I wanted to explore and get to know more. And now I’m writing about it to take it to another level.

Co-Creating My Life With Things I Love

I see the blog and podcast as co-workers. Ironic because I don’t feel like I’m “working” at all right now. I feel like I’m just making stuff. You get a podcast! You get a blog! Here’s a book I wrote! Look at this painting! Here’s something I learned on a trip I took! It’s all in service of my purpose and my plan for this sabbatical. And the latest addition to that plan is the podcast. Of course, that part wasn’t part of the original plan. But the original plan also had me painting so things have evolved.

At the end of the day, I’m driven by one thought and one question right now. I’m holding them both in high esteem and consider them both true: I keep asking “What do I want to do?” And when I answer it, I ask this question, “But do I really want to do that?” In some cases, such as the podcast, and Coach Week, the answer has been yes. For sure. Yup, I’m here for it. Who knows where that stuff will go.

Say No and Yes

And in some cases, such as my art and painting, I’ve already determined that no, no I don’t really want to do that. I did want to try it, but doing it on a regular basis as a way to feel like I’m living my best life is not true for me.

The next time you’re stuck on a decision, try asking yourself those questions in that order. Do you want to do it? And do you really want to do it? They aren’t the same question, I assure you. And the shift in your perspective might surprise you. It continues to surprise me. And I’ll keep following what comes from asking those questions.

If you want to do some deeper work on this yourself, you can listen to the podcast (don’t forget to subscribe!) and you can join my 5-day Journal Challenge to help you re-frame some of the thoughts clouding your judgment right now. You’re not confused. Maybe you’re just asking the wrong questions.