July 30, 2025 • 26 mins
In this episode, I’m breaking down the BIG mindset shift that transformed my podcasting journey — the difference between just “doing a podcast” and truly becoming a podcaster. If you’ve been stuck in perfection paralysis, treating your show like a side hustle, or feeling burnt out before you even launch, this one’s for you. I’m sharing how owning your identity as a podcaster changes everything — from your content creation to your confidence and connection with your audience. Plus, I’m getting real about the hustle, the heart, and how to build a podcast that’s not just noise but legacy. Ready to step into CEO-level podcasting and amplify your voice with purpose? Let’s go!
Check out my video "Podcasting Without Burnout" here on YouTube.
https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/unGUrKA8DC/
https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/TWTVuslUjZ/
Check out my video "Podcasting Without Burnout" here on YouTube.
- ☕ Ready to take your podcast from idea to impact?
Book a Coffee Chat with me! Let’s get clear on your vision and make your voice heard.
👉 Schedule your session now! - 🎁 Download the Launch Confidently Podcasting Checklist here: https://soulpodcasting.com/resources/
- Contact us for your Podcast Coaching
https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/unGUrKA8DC/
https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/TWTVuslUjZ/
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:14):
Hey, Hey, beautiful souls. Welcome back to another episode of
Soul Podcasting, where soulful strategy meets creative clarity to help
you amplify your voice and create lasting impact through podcasting.
And I'm your host, Dmitria Zinga. I'm a podcast coach,
a brand storyteller, and the founder of the Soul Podcasting Collective.
(00:35):
We support visionary leaders and creatives and launching podcasts that
don't just sound good, but they feel aligned, and they
flow with your purpose and they create legacy. I do
talk about legacy a great deal on this show because
that means so much to me and the work that
I do, and I'm hoping to help you create legacy
with your podcast as well. So today's topic is a
(00:56):
bit of a gut check, and it's one that I
wish someone had told me earlier in my journey. And
we're talking about a mindset shift that could mean the
difference between your podcasts quietly fading out after five rushed
episodes or becoming a consistent, legacy building platform that expands
your brand and transforms your audience. And here's the shift.
(01:18):
There's a difference between doing a podcast and becoming a podcaster.
One is action and the other is identity. So if
you've been treating your podcast like a side task or
side hustle, or if you're stuck in perfection paralysis before
you actually launch your show, this is your invitation to
(01:40):
think bigger and to go deeper. And we also want
to reframe how you show up on the mic. So
let's start with the obvious. Most people launch their podcasts
like their launching a YouTube channel or an Instagram reel series.
It's just content, right, it's just marketing. It's a task.
It's another thing to do. So you make your checkless
(02:02):
Mike check host platform, check, Canva, cover art, check first
few episodes check check. All right, cool, all done. But
let me tell you. When I started podcasting two decades ago,
I did it with no strategy. I did it with
no confidence and definitely no checklist. I was a new
(02:22):
mom trying to keep it all together, recording voice notes
during nap time and uploading them from my bedroom closet.
It wasn't polished, but it was real and it was
me and people felt that. And what I learned through
that messy beginning is that podcasting is not just another
piece of content. It's a container for your growth. It's
(02:43):
a practice, a platform, a presence, all those things that
contain who you are from the past, who you are
in the present, and who you're going to be in
the future. And when you treat your show like just
another thing to do, your energy will always feel rushed
and you're going to feel pressured and really detached from
(03:05):
your purpose. But when you step into the role of
a podcaster, not just someone who podcasts, you begin to
embody the voice and the leadership that your brand actually needs.
All right, my friend, before we dive into this next step,
let's just take a deep breath together, because you know
what you're doing this. You're showing up for your vision
(03:25):
and that's what matters. So go ahead, vibe with me
for a sec. We're going to step into what I
like to call our CEO time, and I want you
to let this beat remind you that you're not just
a content creator. You're building legacy. You're leading with purpose.
And this next part is where strategy meets soul. So
(03:46):
let's get into it. We're going to talk about how
(04:13):
identity shifts everything for you. Let's unpack the real difference here,
because doing a podcast is equal to delivering episodes right,
you're doing the work doing a podcast, but being a
podcaster equals owning a mission, and the difference is massive
because a podcaster will speak with intention, not just a volume.
(04:36):
A podcaster develops a point of view and evolves it
over time, designs content around impact and not just visibility.
We talked about going viral and what that actually means
a few episodes ago. Go back and listen when you
get a moment on episode sixty as podcasters were always
designing content that impacts. And then we also learn how
(05:01):
to trust our voice even when downloads don't skyrocket overnight.
And here's a secret. You don't need to wait to
hit a certain number of listeners to become a podcaster.
You decide to become one. You decide how, you decide when,
you decide the way you show up. It's just a
mental switch, and it's the moment you stop treating your
(05:23):
podcast like a chore and you start treating it like
a calling. You stop saying I have to post this
one more episode, and you start saying, I get to
lead this conversation. You see, that's a huge transformation, a
huge mental shift. So remember we're building from identity and
that equals your long term success. I'm just going to
(05:45):
be honest with you. Podcasting does take work. A lot
of work. There are logistics, there's editing, there's content planning.
There's even the keyword research if you choose to focus
on your SEO and how your content it shows up
organically through search. There are the things you need to
do to make sure that you are visible on social media.
(06:08):
So it's not always glamorous because there is a lot
of work behind the scenes. But you know what's even harder,
it's doing all that work from a place of doubt
and burnout or obligation. In case you didn't know about
my YouTube channel, I do have a channel called Dimitria
zing a Solopreneur Lifestyle, and it's where I share all
of my videos about being a solopreneur, but also about
(06:33):
the things that I enjoy in content creation, content strategy,
and specifically, especially as of lately, podcasting. So you can
find all of my podcast episodes if you didn't know
already on my YouTube channel. They are located there and
you can watch many of them that are that have
a visual element, and also my audio only podcasts are
(06:55):
hosted there as well, recently, as of this recording, I
upload a video called podcast without Burnout. These are podcast
consistency tips, and it just goes along with everything that
I'm sharing here on the podcast as well. But I
have a video for you if you'd like to watch it,
I'll place a link to that in the show notes
so that you can see what exactly I mean by
(07:17):
taking your time in this podcasting journey and giving yourself
room to grow. When you build from identity, the things
that shift are the fact that you stop second guessing
your content and you start trusting your gut instincts. You
also start creating systems that support your vision instead of
scrambling every week at the last minute to see what
(07:39):
you're going to publish, and of course I talk about
that in the video as well. You'll also begin to
speak with more freedom and flow because you know who
you are and you know who you serve, so it's
easier to show up. This shift isn't just mindset, it
is strategy and that sole podcasting collective. Some of the
things that I like to do is coach my clients
(07:59):
to anchor their shows in four things. One is voice clarity,
like what is the deeper message behind what you're bringing
on your podcast. The second is brand alignment. How does
the show elevate your brand story? Thirdly, I like to
look at your platform positioning. How does your show reflect
your thought leadership? And fourthly, I like to help you
(08:21):
with your consistency through rhythm. You're creating rhythms in your life,
not pressure, So how do you keep going sustainably? Because again,
you're not building for the purpose of virality, but you're
building for legacy. So I include all of that in
my coaching because I think it's important for me to
help my clients to know where they're going with their
(08:42):
podcast and how they can be consistent with the work
that they feel called to do. And if this is
something you're interested in working with me, I in my
agency can work with you and help you to get
where you need to be. To find out more about
my coaching, you can go to soul Podcasting dot com
slash Services. All Right, so let's have a real conversation
(09:05):
now about the shift that you need to have in
order to make the kind of change that I'm talking
about today. This is the part where most podcasters get
stuck or frustrated, but it's also where the gold is
and after you've launched, or even if you've been podcasting
for a while, there comes a point when you've got
to pause an audit. And I'm talking about taking an honest, loving,
(09:28):
but firm look at what's working and what's not working
for you. What's just a bunch of fluff that you
could definitely streamline or take away altogether, and listen, I've
been there. Let me tell you a quick story. A
few years ago, I was running one of my older podcasts.
I had all right gear, the content was somewhat semi polished.
I think I had guests lined up. It looked good
(09:50):
from the outside. But after quite a few episodes in,
and I'm talking maybe forty to fifty, I started to
feel a little bit off about that show. And I
was showing up. I was not showing up, if you
know what I mean. My voice was there, but my
soul wasn't all in. So I did what I now
coach my clients to do. I hit pause, not forever,
(10:11):
just long enough to ask the hard questions, and I
listened back to some of my old episodes. I read
through the feedback, and more importantly, I sat with my
vision all over again. And I asked myself, does this
still reflect the legacy that I'm building? Is this aligned
with where I'm being called to go? Spoiler alert, It
actually wasn't, so I had to take a pivot and
(10:32):
I got clear on the why all over again. I
let go of topics that felt like busy work. I
leaned into the ones that lit me up, even if
they felt a little bit scary or deeper than I
thought my audience expected or would want to engage in
with me. And what I want to encourage you to
do in this season is to audit and refine your podcast.
(10:55):
I like to do this somewhere around the summer, so
that would be going into season three because for me,
that is kind of the midway mark in my podcasting
journey for the year, and it helps me to take
a nice clean break, see what I'm doing, see where
I want to go for the following for the rest
of the year. Right for me, it's September through December
(11:19):
is where I'm making any final edits and changes that
need to be done for the direction and flow of
the show. So my summertime is usually busy thinking about
how I want to pivot and make those changes. So
here's what that looks like practically. For me, I re
listened to a few of my latest episodes with a
note pad in hand, And when I say that, I
just mean, you know, my notes, my digital notes. So
(11:42):
for me, that is either a Google doc that I've
pulled up, or it is my notion and I write
down what I felt strong and where I've rambled or
where I felt unsure of myself. So just re listening
to those episodes and kind of taking note of the
things that I wasn't so certain about on those shows.
And then I look at my analytics, not just my downloads,
(12:04):
but listener retention. Are people staying to the end of
that episode? Are they dropping off when they give me feedback,
are they telling me that they listen to the specific
episode and what stood out to them in that show.
That means a lot to me. It's not just numbers,
it's not just the analytics, but it's also what my
listeners are telling me they liked. And then I revisit
(12:26):
my mission. Does my show still represent my purpose? Does
it represent my zone of genius, my core message? Or
have I evolved but my content hasn't caught up to
the way I've evolved. So I have to look at
all of these things because again, we are multi dimensional
beings that are constantly changing, evolving, and we can't create
(12:46):
an entity like a podcast where we're showing up in
our full selves and expect our podcast to remain static.
So even if we have planned out months in advance
of content, we have to remember that content may shift
and change according to our stage and place in life.
So maybe six months from now we're revisiting the content
that we thought we were going to put out six
(13:07):
months ago. If we are batch recorders like I am,
we have to think about these things and say, okay,
well maybe I do need to make a pivot, so
maybe this recording that I did three months ago does
not reflect where I am today. So those are some
things really to think about as we're creating content, revisiting
our mission and understanding how our content needs to evolve
to where we are. And then again as always asking
(13:30):
our audience send a simple poll or post a question
on Instagram stories, ask what they want more of, what
episode impacted them the most. Sometimes their feedback will really
surprise you, so be sure to get your audience engaged
in answering those questions. And then refine your format. Maybe
you need shorter episodes, maybe it's time for a series format.
(13:50):
Maybe you want to experiment with storytelling or bring on
some coaching style solo episodes. Maybe you want to start interviewing.
Figure out how you want to refine your formats. And
I've done that quite a bit on this show. For
those of you who've been with me from the beginning,
you know that I've been a solo episode only show
or a solo show for many years. So podcasting was
(14:11):
kind of on a once a week and then once
bi weekly and then once a month publication schedule up
until just about a few months ago. So that's where
we started really upping our game and bringing two episodes
a week and then eventually three, and then probably from
here on out after the summer, we're going to drop
back down to two a week. But in doing so,
(14:31):
I've also changed our format and we went from solo
only episodes to including interviews, and it's been such a
great way to bring a different dynamic to this show.
And I had been planning to do that for the longest,
but finally got around to it at about episode forty two.
I believe with Angela Ross. It was a wonderful kickoff
(14:52):
to having an interview segment on this show, and I
really am glad that I did that because I met
so many podcasters and I've had conversations here that I
would never have had the opportunity to had I not
brought on interviews. So I'm glad that I made that pivot.
And so it did change the structure of this podcast,
but I'm glad for that. I'm so happy that I
(15:14):
explored that aspect of it and didn't remain only solo.
And so I enjoy solo episodes, but I also enjoy
the interviewing part as well. So you have to kind
of figure out what you enjoy the most. For me,
I honestly still really enjoyed solo episodes, and so that's
why I come back twice a week with my solo
shows and deliver my content that way, because I am
(15:37):
a teacher at heart and I love coaching and teaching,
and part of what I do here is to motivate,
inspire and coach you one on one, and so that
aspect of this podcast will always remain that way, even
with an occasional interview. And I say all that to
say that you may have to look at your formats
(15:57):
to see what you want to experiment with, and maybe
you want to change things up a little bit, and
by all means do that. This doesn't mean that your
show is wrong the way it is. It means that
you're growing. And that's the best kind of pivot you
can have when you know your podcast isn't just content.
It's a living, breathing extension of your voice. So don't
be afraid to refine. Let your podcast evolve as you evolve.
(16:22):
This step it's the beginning of a deeper connection between
you and your audience, and it's what takes you from
being just another podcaster to being a thought leader with
a legacy. So now that we've talked about the mindset,
let's get practical. How do you actually begin to shift
from I'm doing a podcast to I am a podcaster?
(16:43):
And here are five intentional practices that I recommend, and
it's not just to help you produce more consistently, but
to help you show up more authentically and powerfully. The
first is that you're going to reintroduce yourself with authority.
So let's start with how you frame yourself in your
own show. Every time you get on the mic. You're
reinforcing your brand, even if it feels repetitive to you.
(17:06):
It's someone's first episode. Every episode is a new handshake,
a new open door. So don't mumble through your intro,
don't shrink into your bio. Speak it with conviction. Say
I'm say your name, and then say what you do,
who helps? Tell who you help to do, and then
tell what that transformation is that you offer. Because your
(17:27):
introduction isn't fluff, it's leadership positioning. And when you state
clearly what you do and why it matters, you're stepping
into thought leadership. You're giving people a reason to trust
your voice from the first ten seconds or so of
your episode, and this shift alone trains you to take
your own platform seriously. In the past, I used to
(17:48):
really hate doing intros. I'd rush through them like they
didn't matter. And then one day it occurred to me
that when a listener DMed me and said, I didn't
know you were a coach. I thought you just I
thought you were just giving tips. I didn't know you
were at the time, a web designer. I didn't know
you were this or that you know, and I thought, Wow,
why am I not introducing that why am I not
(18:10):
talking about these things in my bio? So let me
introduce myself clearly and say who I am and what
I do, so that it's very clear to my listener
and they're not confused about what I'm offering and why
I'm passionate about what I bring to the table. For
someone who is an introvert or ambrovert who's mostly leaning
introvert and impath, it's very easy for me to keep quiet,
(18:34):
not say very much, stay on the kind of, you know,
low key end of things, and not really declare my
identity on anything because I want to be all things
to all people. But that's just not possible and it's
just not effective. And also, if I'm stepping into leadership,
I need to embrace that one hundred percent. And so
(18:57):
the stage of life that I'm in currently is one
that allows me to be an introvert, to be who
I am, to enjoy my solitude, my rituals, my workflows,
the things that make me happy in my space, in
my personality, owning that fully but yet also fully owning
the fact that I am a leader in the space
(19:17):
that I wish to be a leader in and I'm
taking responsibility for that, and I'm not apologizing for it.
So as I'm moving into this space, it's been kind
of a dichotomy because I've had to start to learn
to embrace the part of me that wants to rise
to the top while still giving a nod to the
side of me and the parts of me that enjoy
(19:40):
my comfort zones. It's almost kind of like a past
meets future me kind of handshake, and it's a little
awkward right now for me, But I'm sharing that with
you just to let you know that, no matter what
your personality type, or no matter whether you feel a
bit on the shy side or you're not used to
tooting your own horns, so to speak, that as you
(20:01):
develop your leadership skills through podcasting, you're going to start
getting used to being clear about your identity, who you are,
what your mission is, what you bring to the table,
and not be afraid to share that with your audience.
And you're not going to shrink as much as you
used to the more you get used to sharing what
you do. It's just a matter of becoming accustomed to
(20:22):
those things, all right. So another thing I want to
share is to develop a ritual not just a workflow.
I just mentioned briefly workflows and rituals. A lot of
podcasters focus on workflows like scripting, editing, uploading. Yes, that's
all necessary, but I want you to go deeper. So
what is your ritual? What helps you get into the
zone creatively, spiritually, energetically. Maybe you journal a few affirmations
(20:46):
before you record, maybe you light a candle. This is
all me. This is stuff that I do. Okay, so
maybe you're doing something completely different. But I play instrumental
music that calms my nervous system. I have to block
out the same hour every week. Maybe that's what you
have to do as well, or maybe, depending on you
know your stage of life and what you're having to
deal with, maybe you have to block out a different
(21:07):
time every week, but treat that time like a sacred appointment.
Ritual is what separates content creators from intentional communicators. So
for me, I take five minutes before I hit record
and I check in with myself. I say, what do
I need to say today? Where's this episode coming from?
Is this obligation? Is this overflow? Like I need to
know where I stand so that I don't feel rushed,
(21:29):
And I don't feel pressured, And that kind of check
in makes a huge difference. Even if I'm pre recording
episodes and batching in advance, I still ask myself these questions.
So it's not just about content, it's about alignment. You
want to stop speaking to the algorithm and you want
to speak to a real human. So I want you
to imagine that your favorite listener is your person. That's
(21:50):
the one who gets your message, even if they haven't
found you yet, And when you record your episodes, you're
speaking directly to them. Forget the numbers, forget the algorithm,
forget trying to impress everyone on LinkedIn. Podcasting is an
intimate medium. It's you and one other person, their earbuds
in headphones on absorbing your words. When you speak like that,
(22:11):
like you're mentoring one person or having coffee with someone
who really needs encouragement, your tone begins to shift, your
flow improves. You connect with that audience, right, that kind
of connection, that's what creates listeners who come back. Not
your perfect editing, not your big guest names, but relatability
That builds loyalty. And that's a reason why I like
(22:32):
to continue my solo episodes here to continue building that
loyalty and relatability with you. Now. I know some of
you love the adrenaline of last minute uploads, but if
you want to step into your identity as a podcast
and thought leader, it's time to create systems and not chaos.
So I have two more tips for you, and one
of them, of course, is going to be batching. I
say it all the time, but I say it in
(22:52):
love because even if you're not a consistent batcher, just
being able to create those systems is going to help
you out a lot. You don't have to batch your content.
If that doesn't work for you, maybe you flow better
showing up at the mic when you're passionate, when you
feel inspired, and that's okay. But for many of us,
batching our content is something that helps us to protect
(23:13):
our piece. So for us, that would be recording a
couple of episodes two to three and one sitting so
our ideas stay and flow, Maybe planning content about a
month out or so so we're not scrambling every week,
or maybe just a couple of weeks out. Repurposing episodes
into multiple formats like blog posts, Instagram, reels, audiograms, carousels,
so you get mileage from your voice and think of
(23:35):
it like this. Each episode you record isn't just a podcast,
it's a brand asset and that's how CEOs operate, That's
how creators build legacy. So all of this is to
help you to get the support that you need. You
weren't meant to do this all by yourself. And this
might be the most important thing that I've said on
this entire episode. If you're going to own your voice,
(23:57):
stay consistent, and grow your platform, we need support. I
need support. We all need it. So we are going
to admit that today as entrepreneurs, as podcasters, that we
need support. That might look like a podcast coach and
I'm waving my hand here, Hi, I know a great one.
Or it might be an editor to handle your post production. Again,
(24:17):
our agency is here to help you with that aspect
of it. It could be that you farm out a
virtual assistant who helps you to upload, to schedule, or
repurpose your content, or a creative accountability partner to keep
you moving along the podcasting journey. Trying to do every
little thing yourselve, script, record, edit, published, promote that can
(24:37):
lead to burnout doesn't have to. There's many of us
who have been doing this on our own for so
many years, So who doesn't have to lead to burnout?
But it can, and that's when podcasting becomes a burden
instead of a blessing. Investing in support is an extra.
It's what allows you to stay in your lane as
the visionary, the voice, and the creative lead. So I'm
going to bring this full circle here. If you've been
(24:59):
doing and I say that in air quotes, doing a
podcast and it feels exhausting, unsustainable, disconnected, all of those
things that we don't want, that doesn't mean that you're failing.
It just means that you haven't fully stepped into the
role that you're meant to hold the moment you decide
to become a podcaster. Everything ships. You speak differently, you
(25:20):
create with conviction, You lead your audience instead of chasing
your audience. And if you want help stepping into that,
my friend, I've got you inside my podcast coaching program.
I help creators like you build podcasts with clarity, flow
and strategy. We don't just talk mic settings, we talk
voice alignment and long term vision. So if you want
(25:43):
to book a clarity call with me, head over to
Soulpodcasting dot com Slash Services or send me a DM
at soul Podcasting on Instagram, and let's create something that
actually reflects you. You're not just here to produce content,
You're here to use your voice to build something real.
(26:04):
So press record, my friend, show up fully and become
the podcaster you're called to be. And until next time,
stay soulful, stay consistent, and own your voice like the
creative CEO that you are. Happy podcasting
Hey, Hey, beautiful souls. Welcome back to another episode of
Soul Podcasting, where soulful strategy meets creative clarity to help
you amplify your voice and create lasting impact through podcasting.
And I'm your host, Dmitria Zinga. I'm a podcast coach,
a brand storyteller, and the founder of the Soul Podcasting Collective.
(00:35):
We support visionary leaders and creatives and launching podcasts that
don't just sound good, but they feel aligned, and they
flow with your purpose and they create legacy. I do
talk about legacy a great deal on this show because
that means so much to me and the work that
I do, and I'm hoping to help you create legacy
with your podcast as well. So today's topic is a
(00:56):
bit of a gut check, and it's one that I
wish someone had told me earlier in my journey. And
we're talking about a mindset shift that could mean the
difference between your podcasts quietly fading out after five rushed
episodes or becoming a consistent, legacy building platform that expands
your brand and transforms your audience. And here's the shift.
(01:18):
There's a difference between doing a podcast and becoming a podcaster.
One is action and the other is identity. So if
you've been treating your podcast like a side task or
side hustle, or if you're stuck in perfection paralysis before
you actually launch your show, this is your invitation to
(01:40):
think bigger and to go deeper. And we also want
to reframe how you show up on the mic. So
let's start with the obvious. Most people launch their podcasts
like their launching a YouTube channel or an Instagram reel series.
It's just content, right, it's just marketing. It's a task.
It's another thing to do. So you make your checkless
(02:02):
Mike check host platform, check, Canva, cover art, check first
few episodes check check. All right, cool, all done. But
let me tell you. When I started podcasting two decades ago,
I did it with no strategy. I did it with
no confidence and definitely no checklist. I was a new
(02:22):
mom trying to keep it all together, recording voice notes
during nap time and uploading them from my bedroom closet.
It wasn't polished, but it was real and it was
me and people felt that. And what I learned through
that messy beginning is that podcasting is not just another
piece of content. It's a container for your growth. It's
(02:43):
a practice, a platform, a presence, all those things that
contain who you are from the past, who you are
in the present, and who you're going to be in
the future. And when you treat your show like just
another thing to do, your energy will always feel rushed
and you're going to feel pressured and really detached from
(03:05):
your purpose. But when you step into the role of
a podcaster, not just someone who podcasts, you begin to
embody the voice and the leadership that your brand actually needs.
All right, my friend, before we dive into this next step,
let's just take a deep breath together, because you know
what you're doing this. You're showing up for your vision
(03:25):
and that's what matters. So go ahead, vibe with me
for a sec. We're going to step into what I
like to call our CEO time, and I want you
to let this beat remind you that you're not just
a content creator. You're building legacy. You're leading with purpose.
And this next part is where strategy meets soul. So
(03:46):
let's get into it. We're going to talk about how
(04:13):
identity shifts everything for you. Let's unpack the real difference here,
because doing a podcast is equal to delivering episodes right,
you're doing the work doing a podcast, but being a
podcaster equals owning a mission, and the difference is massive
because a podcaster will speak with intention, not just a volume.
(04:36):
A podcaster develops a point of view and evolves it
over time, designs content around impact and not just visibility.
We talked about going viral and what that actually means
a few episodes ago. Go back and listen when you
get a moment on episode sixty as podcasters were always
designing content that impacts. And then we also learn how
(05:01):
to trust our voice even when downloads don't skyrocket overnight.
And here's a secret. You don't need to wait to
hit a certain number of listeners to become a podcaster.
You decide to become one. You decide how, you decide when,
you decide the way you show up. It's just a
mental switch, and it's the moment you stop treating your
(05:23):
podcast like a chore and you start treating it like
a calling. You stop saying I have to post this
one more episode, and you start saying, I get to
lead this conversation. You see, that's a huge transformation, a
huge mental shift. So remember we're building from identity and
that equals your long term success. I'm just going to
(05:45):
be honest with you. Podcasting does take work. A lot
of work. There are logistics, there's editing, there's content planning.
There's even the keyword research if you choose to focus
on your SEO and how your content it shows up
organically through search. There are the things you need to
do to make sure that you are visible on social media.
(06:08):
So it's not always glamorous because there is a lot
of work behind the scenes. But you know what's even harder,
it's doing all that work from a place of doubt
and burnout or obligation. In case you didn't know about
my YouTube channel, I do have a channel called Dimitria
zing a Solopreneur Lifestyle, and it's where I share all
of my videos about being a solopreneur, but also about
(06:33):
the things that I enjoy in content creation, content strategy,
and specifically, especially as of lately, podcasting. So you can
find all of my podcast episodes if you didn't know
already on my YouTube channel. They are located there and
you can watch many of them that are that have
a visual element, and also my audio only podcasts are
(06:55):
hosted there as well, recently, as of this recording, I
upload a video called podcast without Burnout. These are podcast
consistency tips, and it just goes along with everything that
I'm sharing here on the podcast as well. But I
have a video for you if you'd like to watch it,
I'll place a link to that in the show notes
so that you can see what exactly I mean by
(07:17):
taking your time in this podcasting journey and giving yourself
room to grow. When you build from identity, the things
that shift are the fact that you stop second guessing
your content and you start trusting your gut instincts. You
also start creating systems that support your vision instead of
scrambling every week at the last minute to see what
(07:39):
you're going to publish, and of course I talk about
that in the video as well. You'll also begin to
speak with more freedom and flow because you know who
you are and you know who you serve, so it's
easier to show up. This shift isn't just mindset, it
is strategy and that sole podcasting collective. Some of the
things that I like to do is coach my clients
(07:59):
to anchor their shows in four things. One is voice clarity,
like what is the deeper message behind what you're bringing
on your podcast. The second is brand alignment. How does
the show elevate your brand story? Thirdly, I like to
look at your platform positioning. How does your show reflect
your thought leadership? And fourthly, I like to help you
(08:21):
with your consistency through rhythm. You're creating rhythms in your life,
not pressure, So how do you keep going sustainably? Because again,
you're not building for the purpose of virality, but you're
building for legacy. So I include all of that in
my coaching because I think it's important for me to
help my clients to know where they're going with their
(08:42):
podcast and how they can be consistent with the work
that they feel called to do. And if this is
something you're interested in working with me, I in my
agency can work with you and help you to get
where you need to be. To find out more about
my coaching, you can go to soul Podcasting dot com
slash Services. All Right, so let's have a real conversation
(09:05):
now about the shift that you need to have in
order to make the kind of change that I'm talking
about today. This is the part where most podcasters get
stuck or frustrated, but it's also where the gold is
and after you've launched, or even if you've been podcasting
for a while, there comes a point when you've got
to pause an audit. And I'm talking about taking an honest, loving,
(09:28):
but firm look at what's working and what's not working
for you. What's just a bunch of fluff that you
could definitely streamline or take away altogether, and listen, I've
been there. Let me tell you a quick story. A
few years ago, I was running one of my older podcasts.
I had all right gear, the content was somewhat semi polished.
I think I had guests lined up. It looked good
(09:50):
from the outside. But after quite a few episodes in,
and I'm talking maybe forty to fifty, I started to
feel a little bit off about that show. And I
was showing up. I was not showing up, if you
know what I mean. My voice was there, but my
soul wasn't all in. So I did what I now
coach my clients to do. I hit pause, not forever,
(10:11):
just long enough to ask the hard questions, and I
listened back to some of my old episodes. I read
through the feedback, and more importantly, I sat with my
vision all over again. And I asked myself, does this
still reflect the legacy that I'm building? Is this aligned
with where I'm being called to go? Spoiler alert, It
actually wasn't, so I had to take a pivot and
(10:32):
I got clear on the why all over again. I
let go of topics that felt like busy work. I
leaned into the ones that lit me up, even if
they felt a little bit scary or deeper than I
thought my audience expected or would want to engage in
with me. And what I want to encourage you to
do in this season is to audit and refine your podcast.
(10:55):
I like to do this somewhere around the summer, so
that would be going into season three because for me,
that is kind of the midway mark in my podcasting
journey for the year, and it helps me to take
a nice clean break, see what I'm doing, see where
I want to go for the following for the rest
of the year. Right for me, it's September through December
(11:19):
is where I'm making any final edits and changes that
need to be done for the direction and flow of
the show. So my summertime is usually busy thinking about
how I want to pivot and make those changes. So
here's what that looks like practically. For me, I re
listened to a few of my latest episodes with a
note pad in hand, And when I say that, I
just mean, you know, my notes, my digital notes. So
(11:42):
for me, that is either a Google doc that I've
pulled up, or it is my notion and I write
down what I felt strong and where I've rambled or
where I felt unsure of myself. So just re listening
to those episodes and kind of taking note of the
things that I wasn't so certain about on those shows.
And then I look at my analytics, not just my downloads,
(12:04):
but listener retention. Are people staying to the end of
that episode? Are they dropping off when they give me feedback,
are they telling me that they listen to the specific
episode and what stood out to them in that show.
That means a lot to me. It's not just numbers,
it's not just the analytics, but it's also what my
listeners are telling me they liked. And then I revisit
(12:26):
my mission. Does my show still represent my purpose? Does
it represent my zone of genius, my core message? Or
have I evolved but my content hasn't caught up to
the way I've evolved. So I have to look at
all of these things because again, we are multi dimensional
beings that are constantly changing, evolving, and we can't create
(12:46):
an entity like a podcast where we're showing up in
our full selves and expect our podcast to remain static.
So even if we have planned out months in advance
of content, we have to remember that content may shift
and change according to our stage and place in life.
So maybe six months from now we're revisiting the content
that we thought we were going to put out six
(13:07):
months ago. If we are batch recorders like I am,
we have to think about these things and say, okay,
well maybe I do need to make a pivot, so
maybe this recording that I did three months ago does
not reflect where I am today. So those are some
things really to think about as we're creating content, revisiting
our mission and understanding how our content needs to evolve
to where we are. And then again as always asking
(13:30):
our audience send a simple poll or post a question
on Instagram stories, ask what they want more of, what
episode impacted them the most. Sometimes their feedback will really
surprise you, so be sure to get your audience engaged
in answering those questions. And then refine your format. Maybe
you need shorter episodes, maybe it's time for a series format.
(13:50):
Maybe you want to experiment with storytelling or bring on
some coaching style solo episodes. Maybe you want to start interviewing.
Figure out how you want to refine your formats. And
I've done that quite a bit on this show. For
those of you who've been with me from the beginning,
you know that I've been a solo episode only show
or a solo show for many years. So podcasting was
(14:11):
kind of on a once a week and then once
bi weekly and then once a month publication schedule up
until just about a few months ago. So that's where
we started really upping our game and bringing two episodes
a week and then eventually three, and then probably from
here on out after the summer, we're going to drop
back down to two a week. But in doing so,
(14:31):
I've also changed our format and we went from solo
only episodes to including interviews, and it's been such a
great way to bring a different dynamic to this show.
And I had been planning to do that for the longest,
but finally got around to it at about episode forty two.
I believe with Angela Ross. It was a wonderful kickoff
(14:52):
to having an interview segment on this show, and I
really am glad that I did that because I met
so many podcasters and I've had conversations here that I
would never have had the opportunity to had I not
brought on interviews. So I'm glad that I made that pivot.
And so it did change the structure of this podcast,
but I'm glad for that. I'm so happy that I
(15:14):
explored that aspect of it and didn't remain only solo.
And so I enjoy solo episodes, but I also enjoy
the interviewing part as well. So you have to kind
of figure out what you enjoy the most. For me,
I honestly still really enjoyed solo episodes, and so that's
why I come back twice a week with my solo
shows and deliver my content that way, because I am
(15:37):
a teacher at heart and I love coaching and teaching,
and part of what I do here is to motivate,
inspire and coach you one on one, and so that
aspect of this podcast will always remain that way, even
with an occasional interview. And I say all that to
say that you may have to look at your formats
(15:57):
to see what you want to experiment with, and maybe
you want to change things up a little bit, and
by all means do that. This doesn't mean that your
show is wrong the way it is. It means that
you're growing. And that's the best kind of pivot you
can have when you know your podcast isn't just content.
It's a living, breathing extension of your voice. So don't
be afraid to refine. Let your podcast evolve as you evolve.
(16:22):
This step it's the beginning of a deeper connection between
you and your audience, and it's what takes you from
being just another podcaster to being a thought leader with
a legacy. So now that we've talked about the mindset,
let's get practical. How do you actually begin to shift
from I'm doing a podcast to I am a podcaster?
(16:43):
And here are five intentional practices that I recommend, and
it's not just to help you produce more consistently, but
to help you show up more authentically and powerfully. The
first is that you're going to reintroduce yourself with authority.
So let's start with how you frame yourself in your
own show. Every time you get on the mic. You're
reinforcing your brand, even if it feels repetitive to you.
(17:06):
It's someone's first episode. Every episode is a new handshake,
a new open door. So don't mumble through your intro,
don't shrink into your bio. Speak it with conviction. Say
I'm say your name, and then say what you do,
who helps? Tell who you help to do, and then
tell what that transformation is that you offer. Because your
(17:27):
introduction isn't fluff, it's leadership positioning. And when you state
clearly what you do and why it matters, you're stepping
into thought leadership. You're giving people a reason to trust
your voice from the first ten seconds or so of
your episode, and this shift alone trains you to take
your own platform seriously. In the past, I used to
(17:48):
really hate doing intros. I'd rush through them like they
didn't matter. And then one day it occurred to me
that when a listener DMed me and said, I didn't
know you were a coach. I thought you just I
thought you were just giving tips. I didn't know you
were at the time, a web designer. I didn't know
you were this or that you know, and I thought, Wow,
why am I not introducing that why am I not
(18:10):
talking about these things in my bio? So let me
introduce myself clearly and say who I am and what
I do, so that it's very clear to my listener
and they're not confused about what I'm offering and why
I'm passionate about what I bring to the table. For
someone who is an introvert or ambrovert who's mostly leaning
introvert and impath, it's very easy for me to keep quiet,
(18:34):
not say very much, stay on the kind of, you know,
low key end of things, and not really declare my
identity on anything because I want to be all things
to all people. But that's just not possible and it's
just not effective. And also, if I'm stepping into leadership,
I need to embrace that one hundred percent. And so
(18:57):
the stage of life that I'm in currently is one
that allows me to be an introvert, to be who
I am, to enjoy my solitude, my rituals, my workflows,
the things that make me happy in my space, in
my personality, owning that fully but yet also fully owning
the fact that I am a leader in the space
(19:17):
that I wish to be a leader in and I'm
taking responsibility for that, and I'm not apologizing for it.
So as I'm moving into this space, it's been kind
of a dichotomy because I've had to start to learn
to embrace the part of me that wants to rise
to the top while still giving a nod to the
side of me and the parts of me that enjoy
(19:40):
my comfort zones. It's almost kind of like a past
meets future me kind of handshake, and it's a little
awkward right now for me, But I'm sharing that with
you just to let you know that, no matter what
your personality type, or no matter whether you feel a
bit on the shy side or you're not used to
tooting your own horns, so to speak, that as you
(20:01):
develop your leadership skills through podcasting, you're going to start
getting used to being clear about your identity, who you are,
what your mission is, what you bring to the table,
and not be afraid to share that with your audience.
And you're not going to shrink as much as you
used to the more you get used to sharing what
you do. It's just a matter of becoming accustomed to
(20:22):
those things, all right. So another thing I want to
share is to develop a ritual not just a workflow.
I just mentioned briefly workflows and rituals. A lot of
podcasters focus on workflows like scripting, editing, uploading. Yes, that's
all necessary, but I want you to go deeper. So
what is your ritual? What helps you get into the
zone creatively, spiritually, energetically. Maybe you journal a few affirmations
(20:46):
before you record, maybe you light a candle. This is
all me. This is stuff that I do. Okay, so
maybe you're doing something completely different. But I play instrumental
music that calms my nervous system. I have to block
out the same hour every week. Maybe that's what you
have to do as well, or maybe, depending on you
know your stage of life and what you're having to
deal with, maybe you have to block out a different
(21:07):
time every week, but treat that time like a sacred appointment.
Ritual is what separates content creators from intentional communicators. So
for me, I take five minutes before I hit record
and I check in with myself. I say, what do
I need to say today? Where's this episode coming from?
Is this obligation? Is this overflow? Like I need to
know where I stand so that I don't feel rushed,
(21:29):
And I don't feel pressured, And that kind of check
in makes a huge difference. Even if I'm pre recording
episodes and batching in advance, I still ask myself these questions.
So it's not just about content, it's about alignment. You
want to stop speaking to the algorithm and you want
to speak to a real human. So I want you
to imagine that your favorite listener is your person. That's
(21:50):
the one who gets your message, even if they haven't
found you yet, And when you record your episodes, you're
speaking directly to them. Forget the numbers, forget the algorithm,
forget trying to impress everyone on LinkedIn. Podcasting is an
intimate medium. It's you and one other person, their earbuds
in headphones on absorbing your words. When you speak like that,
(22:11):
like you're mentoring one person or having coffee with someone
who really needs encouragement, your tone begins to shift, your
flow improves. You connect with that audience, right, that kind
of connection, that's what creates listeners who come back. Not
your perfect editing, not your big guest names, but relatability
That builds loyalty. And that's a reason why I like
(22:32):
to continue my solo episodes here to continue building that
loyalty and relatability with you. Now. I know some of
you love the adrenaline of last minute uploads, but if
you want to step into your identity as a podcast
and thought leader, it's time to create systems and not chaos.
So I have two more tips for you, and one
of them, of course, is going to be batching. I
say it all the time, but I say it in
(22:52):
love because even if you're not a consistent batcher, just
being able to create those systems is going to help
you out a lot. You don't have to batch your content.
If that doesn't work for you, maybe you flow better
showing up at the mic when you're passionate, when you
feel inspired, and that's okay. But for many of us,
batching our content is something that helps us to protect
(23:13):
our piece. So for us, that would be recording a
couple of episodes two to three and one sitting so
our ideas stay and flow, Maybe planning content about a
month out or so so we're not scrambling every week,
or maybe just a couple of weeks out. Repurposing episodes
into multiple formats like blog posts, Instagram, reels, audiograms, carousels,
so you get mileage from your voice and think of
(23:35):
it like this. Each episode you record isn't just a podcast,
it's a brand asset and that's how CEOs operate, That's
how creators build legacy. So all of this is to
help you to get the support that you need. You
weren't meant to do this all by yourself. And this
might be the most important thing that I've said on
this entire episode. If you're going to own your voice,
(23:57):
stay consistent, and grow your platform, we need support. I
need support. We all need it. So we are going
to admit that today as entrepreneurs, as podcasters, that we
need support. That might look like a podcast coach and
I'm waving my hand here, Hi, I know a great one.
Or it might be an editor to handle your post production. Again,
(24:17):
our agency is here to help you with that aspect
of it. It could be that you farm out a
virtual assistant who helps you to upload, to schedule, or
repurpose your content, or a creative accountability partner to keep
you moving along the podcasting journey. Trying to do every
little thing yourselve, script, record, edit, published, promote that can
(24:37):
lead to burnout doesn't have to. There's many of us
who have been doing this on our own for so
many years, So who doesn't have to lead to burnout?
But it can, and that's when podcasting becomes a burden
instead of a blessing. Investing in support is an extra.
It's what allows you to stay in your lane as
the visionary, the voice, and the creative lead. So I'm
going to bring this full circle here. If you've been
(24:59):
doing and I say that in air quotes, doing a
podcast and it feels exhausting, unsustainable, disconnected, all of those
things that we don't want, that doesn't mean that you're failing.
It just means that you haven't fully stepped into the
role that you're meant to hold the moment you decide
to become a podcaster. Everything ships. You speak differently, you
(25:20):
create with conviction, You lead your audience instead of chasing
your audience. And if you want help stepping into that,
my friend, I've got you inside my podcast coaching program.
I help creators like you build podcasts with clarity, flow
and strategy. We don't just talk mic settings, we talk
voice alignment and long term vision. So if you want
(25:43):
to book a clarity call with me, head over to
Soulpodcasting dot com Slash Services or send me a DM
at soul Podcasting on Instagram, and let's create something that
actually reflects you. You're not just here to produce content,
You're here to use your voice to build something real.
(26:04):
So press record, my friend, show up fully and become
the podcaster you're called to be. And until next time,
stay soulful, stay consistent, and own your voice like the
creative CEO that you are. Happy podcasting
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