You Can Be an Influencer Without Being the Best: Lessons from Ace Frehley of Kiss

Hey, it’s Dave Jackson from School of Podcasting, and in this episode, I look into what podcasters can learn from Ace Frehley of Kiss—even though Ace wasn't the most technically brilliant guitarist, his unique approach made him a massive inspiration for millions. I share how Ace’s story relates to how we think about our own podcasting journey.

Here are some of the takeaways we can learn from Ace:

• Be Yourself: Just like Ace was always Ace, when you’re podcasting, lean into what makes you unique. Your “superpower” may be simply being authentic and relatable.
• You Don’t Have to Be the Best: Ace wasn’t the most technically gifted, but millions saw themselves in him because his style was accessible and inspiring. You don’t have to be the smartest or most polished podcaster to make an impact.
• Find What Sets You Apart: Ace created the iconic smoking guitar—a visual nobody else had. What can you do to stand out in the podcasting space? (it's a hard question)
• Continuous Improvement: Ace’s smoking guitar started as a basic smoke bomb and was improved again and again. Tweak, pivot, and keep making your show better.
• Know Your Role and Play for the Team: Ace knew his part in Kiss and played what was right for the song, not just what made him look good. As a podcaster, sometimes the best thing is to let your guest or co-host shine.
• Connect with Your Audience: Ace was famous for taking time with fans, speaking their language, and connecting through his style. Make sure you’re speaking your listeners’ language and not talking “above” or “below” them.
• Protect Your Rights: When it comes to business decisions, maintain ownership of your content whenever possible—like Ace leasing his makeup design to Kiss rather than selling it outright.
• Have Fun and Know When to Walk Away: Ace left Kiss and walked away from millions because it wasn’t fun anymore. If your podcast isn’t bringing you joy, consider your options.
• Overcome Setbacks: Ace faced business, creative, and personal struggles but kept moving forward. Don’t let challenges stop your podcast journey.
• Be Innovative and Audience-Focused: Innovation drew attention to Ace, and keeping your audience in mind helps you deliver a show people remember.

Mashed Potatoes and AI

Today I use the analogy comparing AI-generated content to instant mashed potatoes out of a box. While it’s impressive how quickly and easily you can whip something up with AI—just like it’s convenient to make mashed potatoes from a box—the outcome usually isn’t that memorable. Most of the time, I find myself more amazed by the technology itself than by what it produces.

Growing up, my mom tried to make instant mashed potatoes edible by mixing in milk and lots of butter, but honestly, they still couldn’t compare to homemade mashed potatoes made from real potatoes, mashed by hand. When you taste those homemade mashed potatoes, it’s something you remember—they’re just better.

The point I wanted to make is that shortcuts like AI (or boxed potatoes) may save time, but when I put in the time to create something myself—from scratch—it always turns out more remarkable and worth sharing with my audience. That’s what I strive for in my podcasting: to create something people remember, not just something that’s quick and easy.

Josh Liston from Sake This had me thinking how I've never shared something created by AI because of the content (maybe because it was cool).

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