The 5Ps: When a Podcasting Framework Became a Life System

I thought I was building a framework for podcasts. What I didn't realize was that I was developing a way of thinking about every creative project I've worked on since - from meals for 2,500 people to AI ventures, improv classes, and even dinner parties.

It started ten years ago in a client meeting. They wanted the tactical stuff - microphones, software, and hosting platforms. But I kept pulling them back to something bigger.

"What's your plan?" I ask. "Who's your audience? Why should they care?"

They look confused. Everyone does this. They want to skip straight to the sexy stuff - the gear, the production, the publishing.

That's when I discovered I'd accidentally built something much more potent than podcasting advice.

Seth Godin says, "Culture conceals systems, and systems construct our future." I'd been unconsciously using the same systematic approach for everything creative, but I didn't know it had a name: systems thinking.

The question is: what hidden system is shaping your creative life right now?

The Accidental Discovery

It started with "see one, do one, teach one" - that old training principle.

Back in 2007, when the iPod was new and there were only about ten podcasts in total, I was listening to everything. In 2015, I launched 805 Conversations. Soon after, a guest asked me to help them build their own show.

I'm a chef by training, so I think in recipes. I also love alliteration. The letter P worked perfectly (pun intended).

Plan, Produce, Publish, Partner, Promote.

However, I didn't realize this until years later: I was practicing a concept called systems thinking, but I had no idea what it meant.

The Revelation

A client who worked in global health stopped me mid-sentence one day.

"Oh, now I understand what you're doing," she said.

"What?"

"You're a systems thinker."

I had no clue what she meant. She explained that I naturally see the entire system - all the moving parts, all the connections, everything that has to work together.

It hit me like a revelation. When I was catering dinner for 2,500 people at Westmont, I wasn't just thinking about cooking food. I was thinking about room setup, buffet lines, transportation, ordering, ice, glasses, cups, staff scheduling - everything.

That's systems thinking, and apparently, I'd been doing it my whole career without knowing there was a name for it.

The 5Ps weren't just about podcasting. They were about thinking through any complex system.

Why Everyone Skips the Plan

Here's what happens every single time: people want to jump straight to "produce."

"What microphone should I buy? Do I need a studio? What software should I use?"

They get lost in tactics before they've figured out strategy. It's like starting to cook for 2,500 people without knowing what you're serving or who's coming to dinner.

Plan isn't the fun part, but it's everything. For podcasts: What's your show about? Who needs to hear this? Why you, and why now?

But this applies everywhere. Before I design a new improv class format, I sketch the emotional beats I want the audience to experience. When Coastal Intelligence plans an AI workshop, we map the participant journey first. Even dinner parties start with "who's coming and what do they need for this evening?"

In a world with millions of podcasts, infinite newsletters, and endless content, how are you going to break through? You need something unique, something your audience can't find in 100 other sources.

The question nobody wants to answer: Why do you want to make this thing?

It's not hard work, but it's a lot of steps. This show requires 21 individual steps and takes five and a half hours to produce. Why put yourself through that? What change are you trying to create?

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The Production Paradox

Produce is actually the easiest part now, which surprises people.

You can get studio-quality microphones for $100. Headsets that let you hear yourself clearly. Free editing software like GarageBand. Great cameras for video.

When I started ten years ago, this stuff was complicated and expensive. Now it's ubiquitous.

But production isn't just gear. It's your entire brand - logo, website, visual identity. Everything that makes your show feel like one coherent thing instead of a collection of random episodes.

This thinking transfers everywhere. When Coastal Intelligence hosts an event, we create the "brand feel" first - the room setup, the welcome experience, the takeaway materials. For improv shows, it's lighting, music, a