Did You Skip Some Steps?
A, B, C, K, P, T, Z...
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Teach Me Stairway to Heaven
I love playing the guitar. There's a video of me from 18 years ago—trust me, it gets entertaining about a minute in. It's always been an excellent release for me. If you ever catch me giving guitar lessons, something's up; it means I either really need the money or I'm really fond of the student.
While I cherish teaching in general, teaching guitar comes with its quirks. Most students want to leapfrog steps 2-7, dart past step 9, and land triumphantly at step 10. But that's not how it works. Each step builds on the skills of the previous one, revealing lessons that can’t be skipped. Case in point: “Stairway to Heaven” by Led Zeppelin—it's practically the anthem for guitar learners. I'd have students rush into lesson two, already eager to play it.
Before diving into such challenges, you need to master the basics: string names, fretboard notes, chords, and parts of the guitar. Many would say, “Sure, I get that, but teach me Stairway.” As a beginner, it's genuinely challenging. It even hurts; your fingers get little dents, pressing down so hard. This pain is the litmus test of your commitment. When I mention trimming fingernails for female students, I see who's truly serious.
So, how does this mirror podcasting?
The question on everyone's lips is, “How do I grow my audience?”—essentially the podcasting equivalent of “teach me Stairway.” I've learned that many launch their shows without feedback or verification of whether the name is already in use. They select the wrong software or hardware, in their rush to chase “the big audience.” The urge is strong, I get it, but shortcuts don't exist. I'm skilled on the guitar because for years, I practiced diligently, four hours a day, mastering every musical genre. This wasn't just physical practice; it was about becoming comfortable with discomfort, reducing fears one note at a time.
It's crucial to transition from learning to doing. Many aspiring podcasters get stuck in perpetual planning, overwhelmed by the expanding to-do list—now steps 1-6, whereas initial focus should be on steps 1-3. It's vital to take that leap, even if it’s imperfect. Move beyond consuming content and start creating.
Over time, as I practiced, my fingers developed calluses, and guitar playing grew more natural. Chords transformed into muscle memory, enabling seamless transitions. But nobody starts there. Begin doing—start the journey.
Podcast Hot Seat
Is your show note getting the downloads you feel it deserves? You may be missing something. This service lets you know when you “Have spinach in your teeth.” Get a podcast audit and a free month at the School of Podcasting
Check it out at podcasthostseat.com Your Audience Will Thank You
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Stuff That Caught My Eye
Legal Stuff
If you need legal items, Gordon Firemark is a great resource. It even offers “do it yourself” options for getting a trademark and more. For contracts and other legal forms, check out Creator’s Legal and Law Depot.
Answer Socrates
Answer Socrates is a keyword research tool (and a whole lot more). Socrates discovers questions that real people are asking on Google to help you write a thorough research-based article, answer every possible question about your product, brainstorm ideas, and gain deeper insight on almost any topic. So you can do topics that people are looking for. You can do quite a bit with their free version, and their paid version is $29/month, where tools like Mangools is $49/month, SE Ranking is $65/month, Hike SEO is $149/month. So with a decent free version, and a plan starting at $29/month, I might be digging deeper into Answer Socrates.
Why David Gilmour Won’t Be On My Channel - Rick Beato
This is a great video from a YouTuber who explains why his channel has millions of subscribers and how his interviews are so much better than something you would see on a late-night talk show. It’s a great rant.
New To Instagram?
I heard Brock Johnson on a podcast and came over to check out his show and found this easy-to-follow “get up to speed” on Instagram for newbies. Check it out.
What’s Coming In The Future
A lot of ingredients in the Stew
I’m somewhat “feelin’” the “You Skipped a step / What is Advanced Podcasting” vibe. I’ve got some great interviews coming, and some gear reviews. The content treadmill never ceases. Do you have any topics you’d like to hear?
Need Help With Your Podcast?
Whether you’re just starting or a seasoned podcaster, the School of Podcasting can help. Helping podcasters is what I do, and I’ve been doing it since 2005
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