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The ShowrunnerThe Present and Future of PodcastingWhoa.We're back!Jerod Morris and Jonny Nastor and reunite to talk podcasting ... for the first time in almost 18 months! We are actually killing two birds with one stone: a Lunch & Learn for folks in the Unemployable Initiative (a community that Jerod runs) and a new episode for this long-dormant Showrunner feed.Learn more about the community: http://unenployable.com/communityWe cover:• Takeaways from the annual Infinite Dial survey on the podcasting industry.• Why our four pillars of successful are still just as important now as when...2020-04-211h 15The Showrunner[143] Should You Take a Holiday Break? (We Are)With the holiday season now in full swing, it's time to ask yourself a very important question: should you take a holiday break from your show?Here is answer: yes, we are.This will be our last episode of The Showrunner until January 9th, 2019. But before we go, we describe some important reasons why you should consider taking a break too, and offer up a few steps for how to execute a holiday break the right way so that you get the most out of the experience.2018-11-2923 minThe Showrunner[142] Articles That Caught Our Eye On ... Podcasting Advertising and Short PodcastThis week, we react to two articles that caught our eye — each of which deals with a topic we’ve discussed recently here on The Showrunner.First, we discuss this article from Nieman Lab (http://www.niemanlab.org/2018/11/consumers-love-smart-speakers-they-dont-love-news-briefings-on-smart-speakers-at-least-not-yet/): Consumers love smart speakers. They don’t love news on smart speakers. (At least not yet.)You may recall in episode we discussed a handful of reasons why short-form podcasts are a major growth opportunity. This article lends further credence to that idea … though we both urge caution before you think about just jumping right into producing one.2018-11-2138 minThe Showrunner[141] 5 Simple Steps to Creating a Lead Magnet Your Audience Will LoveWe talk a lot about the importance of building your email list and nourishing your subscribers — but what do you do when you are struggling to get anyone to join your email list in the first place?You need to examine (or reexamine) your lead magnet. And in this week’s episode of The Showrunner, we describe a simple 5-step process for creating a lead magnet that will lead to consistent conversions.Among the topics we discuss:• How to define the problem your lead magnet will solve (and why being able to complete this step i...2018-11-1440 minThe Showrunner[140] Podcast Listener Life Cycles (Why You Need to Let Go of Your Audience)As we mentioned near the end of last week's episode, this week we're talking about listener life cycles -- because not all listeners are created equally, and without a proper understanding of your podcast’s listener life cycles you will find yourself fighting an unwinnable fight to keep every new listener who comes your way.We publish remarkable podcasts on a consistent basis and new listeners discover our shows each and every day. So why do new listeners not stick around? Is it something we did or didn’t do, or is it something deeper than this?2018-11-0743 minThe Showrunner[139] 8 Ideas to Help You Develop Rabid, Loyal Audience Members (Maybe Even Your Own #ChatMob)There are audience members — the kinds of people who auto-download your show, listen consistently, and even share an episode every once in a while.And then there are AUDIENCE MEMBERS — the kinds of rabid, loyal folks who show up for your live broadcasts, participate in live chats, support your show with donations, offer to help out, reach out to you when they are visiting your area to ask you to coffee, and just generally go the extra mile (maybe even many extra miles) to show you how much they love your work and the community you’re building.2018-10-3150 minThe Showrunner[138] 7 Tips for Striking a Win-Win-Win Deal With a New SponsorSponsorships are one of the most common and potentially reliable ways to monetize a podcast. But especially for podcasters with smaller audiences -- those who don't have access to the bigger networks of corporate podcast advertisers -- getting conversations going with potential sponsors isn't easy, and knowing how to propose terms and set up deals isn't always clear.We hope to shed some light on that with this episode, in the wake of Jerod signing up a new sponsor for The Assembly Call. He learned a few things from the experience, and you know Jonny always has plenty...2018-10-2456 minThe Showrunner[137] How to Market a Podcast: 7 Ways to Get More ListenersIf you’re struggling to build the audience you want, it may be time to shift some of the time you’re investing into your podcast’s content over to the marketing — because no matter how great your content is, you’ll never build an audience if the right people aren’t being exposed to your show.In this episode, we provide you with seven proven tactics (plus three bonuses!) that will help you get more listeners.Among the topics we discuss:• The reality that most podcasters aren’t investing enough time in marketing their shows.2018-10-1754 minThe Showrunner[136] 7 Reasons Why Short-Form Podcasts Are A Major Growth OpportunityEmerging distribution channels like Amazon Alexa's Flash Briefing, plus the ever-expanding proliferation of "normal" longer-form podcasts, are creating an interesting opportunity for podcasters.Is it time to consider publishing shorter, more regular episodes? There are several examples of this working in a variety of different markets. And Jerod has done his own experiment resulting in some pretty surprising (at least to him) results.Among the topics we discuss:• Some of the success Jerod has experienced over the last two months with his "Banner Morning" experiment.• 7 reasons why there is an emerging opportunity for shor...2018-10-1247 minThe Showrunner[135] The Six Stages of Creating FearlesslyThe people we admire who seem to launch new books, youtube channels, and podcasts endlessly — they aren’t braver, smarter or stronger than you. They have just gained control over their thoughts and feelings towards their fears.They have learned how to use their inner voice to overcome fears and move forward.Let’s learn how to create fearlessly — which will in turn enable you to become the showrunner you want to be.Check out our sponsor Hover for your domain hosting needs. Go to Hover.com/Showrunner and get started today with 10% off your fir...2018-10-0344 minThe Showrunner[134] Now What? 7 Important Steps to Take Right After You LaunchThis week talk about launching your show — specifically, launching when you don’t have an established audience already.What are some of the most important steps that you should take — and not take — during the first few weeks after your episodes go live, so that you can generate excitement, get some listeners and subscribers, and build positive momentum for the future?Among the topics we discuss:• Why having the right mindset, and realistic expectations, is so important.• How to approach your launch like … a tropical vacation? (Yes.)• The importance of having a home base for yo...2018-09-2650 minThe Showrunner[133] How to Improve Your Podcast Description To Bring In More New Listeners[133] How to Improve Your Podcast Description (and Gain More New Listeners)Your podcast’s description can have a big impact on your ability to attract new listeners.By including relevant search keywords in your description, it can help you surface in more relevant searches, thus exposing you to additional potential audience members. And by choosing your words strategically, you can answer a few key questions that any potential audience member has when trying to decide whether to give your show a chance or not.This week, we provide actionable tips and advice that help you im...2018-09-1934 minThe Showrunner[132] 22 Tips to Help You Avoid Costly Mistakes With Your Email ListWhether you’ve been building an email list for a while, or still haven’t even collected that first email address, there is something for you in this episode. Among the topics we discuss:• 6 reasons why you should build an email list to complement your podcast• 8 different ways you can use email to deliver valuable content to your audience• 3 questions to ask yourself to determine which type of email content you should produce.• 5 rules of thumb to follow when setting up your email list (or reassessing it)2018-09-1250 minThe Showrunner[131] Common Podcast Listener Pet Peeves to Avoid At All CostsThis week we have have a little fun by ranting about our podcasting pet peeves.We also share some notable pet peeves that were posted by members of the Showrunner Podcasting Community.And while it’s fun to rant, there is a larger purpose in doing this. If we understand what triggers podcast listeners to have a negative reaction, we can make sure we avoid those elements in our shows.Here is the rundown:• (2:12) Showrunner Spotlight: 90 Seconds with Harry Duran from Podcast Junkies and FullCast• (7:40) How Hover (this week’s sponsor) makes it...2018-09-0551 minThe Showrunner[130] 23+ Ways to Earn Profit From Your PodcastThis week, we talk about how you can earn a profit from your podcast.Some of the methods we discuss are about how to earn money from your podcast. Other methods that we discuss have nothing to do with money at all. But they all fall under the umbrella of podcast profitability — and we explain how.Your challenge as you listen is to identify at least one method you aren’t currently using and figure out how you can incorporate it into your podcast profitability mix.Among the topics we discuss:• How we def...2018-08-291h 00The Showrunner[129] Are You Forgetting These Essential Elements of Your Podcast Category Page?This week we discuss a topic that is easy to overlook: your podcast category (aka archive) page on your website.But we aren’t overlooking it. Not only is it the topic of this week’s Accountability Challenge in the Showrunner Podcasting Community, but we also recently updated our podcast archive page too.What purpose does this page serve? What essential elements should it include? We’ll walk you through the basics that every one of these pages should have.Among the topics we discuss:• Why the data suggests you shouldn’t overlook t...2018-08-2240 minThe Showrunner[128] How to Build an Audience That Transcends Your Content: The 3 C’s ApproachThis week we talk about how you can move beyond just connecting with your listeners through your content.We lay out the step-by-step process you have to go through to actually to build a community that transcends your content, and the benefits that you, as the showrunner, reap when you do.Among the topics we discuss:• Why you can’t skip steps in this process.• The foundational power of the one-to-one connection between host and listener, and how to both provide and seek opportunities to connect.• The difference between congregation and community, and some...2018-08-1545 minThe Showrunner[127] A 7-Step Plan for Changing the World With Your Best IdeasThis week we are going to walk you through a simple process that will help you … change the world. Seriously.Because the only way to change the world is through ideas, but it will never happen with subpar, under-developed ideas, or without knowing how to give your ideas a real opportunity to spread.While we certainly don’t know all the secrets to how ideas spread, but we do understand how to help you give your best ideas a chance. And we’re going to talk about it this week.Among the topics we discus...2018-08-0844 minThe Showrunner[126] Behind the Scenes of Our Recent Community LaunchThis week we are going to talk about something very exciting that has been going on over the past six days: the relaunch of the Showrunner Podcasting Community.We’re less than a week in, and the community already has more than 150 members.• Where are we hosting it?• Why did we make that choice?• What are our goals with the community?• And how have things taken off so rapidly?We’ll discuss in this episode — in hopes that you can apply some of what we have learned to your own community-building endeavors.2018-08-0249 minThe Showrunner[125] A 4-Part Framework for Getting Your Positioning RightThis week we are going to talk about a new framework that will help you think about how you are positioning your podcast.And if it feels like we’ve been hitting this topic of positioning a lot in recent weeks … good! It should.The deeper and deeper we delve into one-on-one conversations and consulting with you and your fellow showrunners, the more we are realizing that positioning is one of the areas proving most challenging to identify and define, but also the most rewarding when pinpointed correctly.So we are going to try to g...2018-07-2542 minThe Showrunner[124] How to Name Your Podcast for Maximum Listener AttractionThis week we are going to talk about naming your show.Specifically, we are going to go over three key concepts that you should consider when coming up with the name for your new show — or, if you have a show that isn’t getting the traction that you want, then for renaming an existing show.And even if you are settled on your name, so you’re thinking maybe you should just skip this episode, you shouldn’t. The concepts we’re going to discuss today are applicable to many elements of your show besides just your...2018-07-1841 minThe Showrunner[123] 3 Pieces of 'Low-Hanging Fruit' That Will Help You Attract More ListenersThis week we discuss some elements of your podcast that are easy to overlook or take for granted but that can make a huge impact on your ability to get discovered — which is the first step toward driving meaningful results.We call these elements “low-hanging fruit” because they are simple changes that can really make a difference, and we shouldn’t overlook them in our haste to seek more advanced strategies for our shows.This low-hanging fruit includes:• The importance of manicuring the search engine results when people google your name or brand name• Mak...2018-07-1149 minThe Showrunner[122] An Episode About an Email About an Episode About An Email ...This week's episode is being published a day early due to the 4th of July holiday on Wednesday, and it's also about a quarter of the usual length -- with a very specific call to action for how you should invest your extra 30 minutes!You may remember our discussion from episode #117 (What Are You Avoiding That You Know You Should Be Doing?) in which Jonny relayed the overwhelming response he received when he finally sucked it up and sent an email to his list that he'd been avoiding. One of the responses was from someone who was inspired...2018-07-0310 minThe Showrunner[121] How to Avoid 3 Problems That Can Derail Remote 2-on-1 InterviewsIf you have ever tried to host a remote 2-on-1 interview, then you are almost surely aware of the landmines laying in wait all over the place.From disorganization to verbal car crashes and more, remote 2-on-1 interviews can be fraught with issues if you don’t have a solid strategy for executing them.This week we use a question from our Showrunner Course Facebook group as the inspiration for an entire episode highlighting three of the biggest potential problems and give you strategies for overcoming them.Among the topics we discuss:• Comm...2018-06-2755 minThe Showrunner[120] 3 Steps for Creating Your Inner CharacterWhen that green or red light is on, and words are being recorded, you are performing for your audience.Which can be tricky, because when we use a word like “performing,” it can suggest that we are putting on a front, or that we are somehow being fake. This isn’t the case — at least, it’s not the case if the foundation of your show is an authentic connection with your topic and your audience.The performance is about channeling all of your energy and attention into delivering useful content to your audience. For those five or fi...2018-06-2055 minThe Showrunner[119] 3 Ways This Showrunner is Getting His Podcast Right[119] 3 Ways This Showrunner is Getting His Podcast RightThis week, we share three important tips that we took away from listening to a show hosted by one of your fellow showrunners.These are tips that will help you create a better audio experience for your listeners, and they will help you better define your positioning in the minds of your listeners — which is something you can’t just do once, but that needs to be an ongoing part of your message.The episode we are referencing is When Money Isn’t Real by Jarmar Dupas of Get...2018-06-1932 minThe Showrunner[118] What Are Your Unfair Advantages?What is the unique combination of advantages that you have -- whether these advantages were earned, gifted, or came to you by happenstance -- that no one else in your niche has? These are your unfair advantages, and maximizing them is one of your keys to success as a showrunner.Among the topics we discuss during our main topic segment:• Examples of unfair advantages from popular shows/showrunners and from our own experiences• Why understanding your unfair advantages is so important• The questions you should ask yourself to discover your unfair advantages• What to do wh...2018-06-1237 minThe Showrunner[117] What Are You Avoiding That You Know You Should Be Doing?This week's episode is pulled directly from Jonny's own showrunning experience with Hack the Entrepreneur. Recently, he had fallen into a rut in which he'd gone close to a month without emailing his list. With every passing day, the prospect of reaching back out felt more difficult and monumental. Until he just ... did it.So we discuss some of the lessons Jonny learned from this experience, and that we hope you learn too:• Why doing something (even if it's imperfect) is better than doing nothing.• The upside of repelling the people who aren't really your idea...2018-06-0528 minThe Showrunner[116] How to Shake Up the Experience Your Podcast is DeliveringThis is the fourth episode in our series on reassessment. In this one, we dive into the importance of routinely shaking up the experience that your podcast is delivering (or at least reassessing to determine if you should) — both for your audience’s benefit, and your own.Among the topics we discuss:• Different ways that you can shake up your podcast by adding or removing elements• Examples from our showrunner past of how we have shaken up our shows• A sequence of three questions to ask yourself when you’re ready to reassess the experience y...2018-05-2935 minThe Showrunner[115] How to Improve Your Podcast Audio Production (with Toby Lyles)Our series on reassessment continues, this time with a discussion about audio production. And we have a special guest here to lend his expertise: Toby Lyles from TwentyFourSound.Among the questions we ask Toby:• When you are talking to new podcasters who don’t have a ton of experience creating quality audio, what basic tools do you suggest they start out with?• What is the biggest mistake you see podcasters make when it comes to getting quality sound?• Once a person is comfortable with the basics, what are some next steps they can take to impro...2018-05-2240 minThe Showrunner[114] Is Your Podcast Positioning on Point?In this episode, we continue our series on reassessing your podcast -- focusing on your podcast's positioning.What is the positioning for a podcast? Why does it matter? And what steps should you take in reassessing your podcast's positioning to make sure it's on point? We answer all of those questions and more.We also walk you through how we reassessed, and revised, our positioning for The Showrunner.2018-05-1539 minThe Showrunner[113] Why You Should PodcastIt's time to do some reassessing.In this episode, we are beginning a multi-part series in which we walk you through how to do some important reassessments with your show. And in this episode, we start with the most foundational reassessment question of them all: should you even be running a podcast?Depending on your perspective, it's a question that might seem pointless or intimidating ... but either way it's essential that you regularly reassess whether you should be serving the audience you're serving with a podcast.So we give you three questions that you...2018-05-0830 minThe Showrunner[112] 3 Tips for Crafting Thoughtful Interview QuestionsTwo weeks ago, Jerod hosted an interview for one of his shows the resulted in this text message from the guest: "You asked the best and most thoughtful questions of any people I have spoken to yet." It's always encouraging and motivating to get such high praise from a guest!Naturally, this prompted some reflection on what, in particular, had made the questions so strong, which resulted in this three-part breakdown for how to craft thoughtful interview questions.2018-05-0144 minThe Showrunner[111] 9 Recurring Podcasting Activities You Need a Template ForFrom researching to recording to writing up show notes, there are recurring activities that every showrunner needs to do regularly. The most experienced and efficient showrunners create templates to help them save time and preserve brainpower for creativity. In this episode, Jerod and Jonny run through nine of these recurring activities that smart showrunners will have templates for. Are you missing any?2018-04-2441 minThe ShowrunnerNo. 110 Podcast Monetization: How to Connect Your Content to Your OffersThis week on The Showrunner, we talk about three key components for monetizing your podcast: 1) understanding your goals and the value your business provides; 2) understanding who your audience is and what their goals are; and 3) how to connect your contact to your goals and your audience's goals.2018-04-1741 minThe ShowrunnerNo. 109 3 Tips for Using YouTube to Help Build Your Podcast AudienceThis week, we're talking about YouTube ... and we're talking ON YouTube. In terms of the content, we cover some important tips for leveraging YouTube to help you build your podcast audience. This is something Jerod has a lot of experience with over at The Assembly Call. We discuss:1. The importance of being open to YouTube being the connection AND listening point for your audience2. Why you should leverage YouTube’s unique and particular strengths as much as you can3. Why you need to know what next step you want YouTube listeners to ta...2018-04-1037 minThe ShowrunnerNo. 108 The Biggest Lessons Learned While We Were AwayIt's been a long time -- too long -- since we've released a new episode of The Showrunner. So we're excited to be today with a new episode, and ready to ramp our weekly schedule back up.In this episode, we explain the reason for our hiatus, issue an apology for not doing a better job of communicating with you while we were away, and then dish on the most important lessons we learned while we were away.2018-03-2737 minThe ShowrunnerNo. 107 Is Podcasting a Good Way to Reach My Target Audience?In the words of Mugatu from Zoolander, podcasts are "so hot right now." And it's true. But … is a podcast the right way for you to reach your target audience? In this week's episode of The Showrunner, we give you three questions that will help you decide. This week's big news is that today... Listen to episode2017-09-2738 minThe ShowrunnerNo. 106 Should You Take Over Your Boss's Podcast?This week's episode of The Showrunner features another listener question. Plus, we announce the reopening of The Showrunner Podcasting Course! Here is this week's question, from Showrunner listener Samantha: 1. How can I help my boss (the subject matter expert of our company) be more comfortable podcasting? 2. Should I take over my boss's podcast... Listen to episode2017-09-2018 minThe ShowrunnerNo. 105 How to Conduct Not-to-Miss Podcast InterviewsWhen he started Hack the Entrepreneur, Jonny had never conducted a single interview before. But during the past two years, he's hosted more than 350 podcast interviews. He's also made a lot of mistakes, embarrassed himself a few times, and learned countless lessons. In this episode of The Showrunner, Jonny shares a number of insights,... Listen to episode2017-09-1333 minThe Showrunner[Rebroadcast] No. 045 9 Lessons Learned Publishing a Book From a PodcastStarting a podcast is a lot of fun, has the potential to build you an audience of raving fans, and may earn you the right to become a Showrunner. All of this is excellent, but it may just be the tip of the iceberg. In this episode, Jerod and Jonny discuss the lessons Jonny learned... Listen to episode2017-08-0945 minThe Showrunner[Rebroadcast] No. 051 How to Overcome Your Inferiority Complex as a PodcasterHave you ever felt like you weren't qualified to host your podcast? Ever felt like you were way out of your depth with a certain topic or with a certain guest? Welcome to the club. Most of us have. In this episode of The Showrunner, Jonny and Jerod share their own experiences with facing a... Listen to episode2017-08-0234 minThe ShowrunnerNo. 104 How Do I Create a Call-In Show?We answer another great listener question this week. The topic: Creating a call-in show. Jerod goes solo to describe why it's a great way to bring something new to your audience. He also shares from experience that there are plenty of ways to go about doing it. This week's question comes to us from Nance... Listen to episode2017-07-2622 minThe ShowrunnerNo. 103 What Should I Do with My Archive?We're back! And excited to begin a series of shows in which we answer questions submitted by Showrunner listeners. This week's question comes to us from a showrunner who is 75 episodes into her show and wondering how best to make use of her growing archive. Here is the question, from Julie Duffy Dillon, showrunner... Listen to episode2017-07-1931 minThe ShowrunnerNo. 102 How to Immediately Become a More Productive (and Better) PodcasterYou want to become a better podcaster. We know this because you're listening to The Showrunner. We also know that you fear becoming a better podcaster. We know this because you must change to become better and to fear change is to be human. But what if I told you that you only need to... Listen to episode2017-05-2433 minThe ShowrunnerNo. 101 Showrunner 101 (Back to Basics)A few hours before recording this episode, we received an email from a loyal Showrunner listener. It turned out to be the perfect idea for an episode. Here is the email, from Jason Norris of Podcast Local, which is part of OnTheGo.FM. If you haven't planned episode 101 yet, consider this. Showrunner 101 sounds like... Listen to episode2017-05-1744 minThe ShowrunnerNo. 100 We Answer Your Questions (and Celebrate 100 Episodes)Cue the sounds of fireworks and jubilant marching bands! This is episode 100 of The Showrunner, and it's extra special because it's all about you — our faithful listener. Jerod and Jonny started The Showrunner podcast on April 1, 2015, and during the past two years they've built a community, shared their podcasting journeys, and... Listen to episode2017-05-1046 minThe ShowrunnerNo. 099 3 Powerful Reasons to Produce More Evergreen EpisodesIs it possible to step away from your podcast and have downloads numbers go … up? That might sound crazy to you. Maybe even impossible. But it's not. And we have the listener email to provide it. What is this showrunner's secret? It's actually not any kind of secret at all. In this episode, we... Listen to episode2017-05-0342 minThe ShowrunnerNo. 098 Are You Overlooking This Proven Podcast Format?If you were given a choice, would you create a podcast that took more or less time to create, all else being equal? Some podcast formats are harder to consistently produce than others. Choose wisely. Today's episode is a discussion about Q&A shows. We discuss the pros and cons, the barriers to entry (both real... Listen to episode2017-04-2627 minThe ShowrunnerNo. 097 Are You Doing Enough with Your Best Ideas?Your audience does not need your ideas. It's true. What your audience needs in fact, all that your audience needs are your best ideas. And you should invest more time distributing these premium ideas further and wider. You shouldn't simply hit "publish" and then run to the next idea. This way you can... Listen to episode2017-04-1938 minThe ShowrunnerNo. 096 What Got You Here Won't Get You ThereYou took the plunge and started a podcast. You chose your format, picked a name for your show, artwork, theme music, everything. And unlike the many, many podcasters who don't continue, you've published your 50th episode. Congrats! Now, you have to change what you do. Today's episode is based on a book titled What Got... Listen to episode2017-04-1244 minThe ShowrunnerNo. 095 5 Steps to Hosting Successful Live Online EventsWe have a special guest on this week's episode of The Showrunner: David Bain from Digital Marketing Radio. He provides us with five steps that will help you evolve from podcasting to hosting successful live online events. David is very knowledgeable and experienced, and you'll find his insight valuable. By the way: this episode was... Listen to episode2017-04-0533 minThe ShowrunnerNo. 094 Sponsorships or Affiliate Marketing: Which Is Better for Your Podcast?One of the four key elements of a remarkable podcast is monetization. We've talked about indirect vs. direct monetization, but today we are going to talk about the pros and cons of two types of direct podcast monetization: sponsorships vs. affiliate marketing. As we weigh them both, remember that it does not need to be... Listen to episode2017-03-2947 minThe ShowrunnerNo. 093 How to Learn (and Teach) BetterIn this episode of The Showrunner, we're going to discuss three big ideas about learning that come straight from Peter C. Brown, the lead author of the Make it Stick: The Science of Successful Learning. The three big ideas are: Why learning is more about pulling information out than putting it in Why difficulty is... Listen to episode2017-03-2232 minThe ShowrunnerNo. 092 The ‘Create Anything' FrameworkWe can all agree that producing useful content on a consistent basis is key to building an audience and platform. When we produce content on a consistent basis, we elevate our authority in the eyes of Google, our clients, and our peers. But … Producing useful and valuable content on a consistent basis takes having... Listen to episode2017-03-1528 minThe ShowrunnerNo. 091 9 Steps to Becoming a Better Podcast Listener (And Why That Matters)We spend a lot of time discussing being a better podcast host. In this episode, we discuss some specific ways that you can become a better podcast listener — and why it's important that you do so. This week's episode is broken down into three sections: 3 tips for getting more out of the time... Listen to episode2017-03-0836 minThe ShowrunnerNo. 090 Are You Spending Enough Time Thinking?As Showrunners we spend our time honing our interview skills, tweaking our recording gear, and promoting ourselves on social media. What if we are missing out on a crucial aspect of being a Showrunner? This crucial aspect is thinking. Are you doing enough of it? Any podcast is in one of two businesses: the idea... Listen to episode2017-03-011h 00The ShowrunnerNo. 089 Podcasting: The Stand-Up Comedy of Content CreationJonny recently attended a stand-up comedy show at a venue that seats a grand total of … 18 people. What did he learn from the experience that you can apply to your showrunning? Plenty. First, Jerod gives a quick description of his favorite new show, and then Jonny describes how he committed the most seemingly... Listen to episode2017-02-2245 minThe ShowrunnerNo. 087 [Guest] Expert Tips for Conducting Better Interviews, with Krys BoydWe have a special treat for you this week: an interview with one of Jerod's favorite podcasters … even though she's not really a "podcaster." What she is, undoubtedly, is a remarkable interviewer. And in this episode of The Showrunner, she shares her tips and best practices for conducting better interviews that will make your... Listen to episode2017-02-0838 minThe ShowrunnerNo. 086 10 Tips for a Better Show in 2017Back at the beginning of 2016, we posted an episode titled 13 Steps to a Better Show in 2016. It was one of our favorite episodes to produce in 2016, and one of our most popular. Well, it's still the beginning of 2017, so let's revisit that topic. Jerod has five and Jonny has five.... Listen to episode2017-02-0138 minThe ShowrunnerNo. 083 How to Rekindle Your Focus on the Other End of the HeadphonesAs you progress as a showrunner, it's easy to become focused on your end of the headphones. To kick off 2017, we deliver some strategies that will help you maintain your focus where it always needs to be: on the other end of the headphones. In this episode, Jonny and Jerod discuss: Some recent content... Listen to episode2017-01-1131 minThe ShowrunnerNo. 082 How to Stop Listening to Podcasts and Start Your Own ShowAs we wrap up 2016, Jerod and Jonny are also wrapping up their 3-part series created to prepare you for 2017 by improving yourself and your podcast in 2016. In today's episode we are answering two listener-submitted questions. Both of these questions struck a chord with Jerod and Jonny. Although the questions are answered directly,... Listen to episode2016-12-2829 minThe ShowrunnerNo. 073 Empathy Maps: A Podcaster s GuideWhat if you knew exactly what your listener was thinking, feeling, and seeing when they listened to your show? To even think about having that kind of deep insight is empowering. In this episode, Jerod and Jonny discuss the simple steps you need to take to acquire this valuable insight, and then use it to... Listen to episode2016-10-1927 minThe ShowrunnerNo. 070 3 Important Lessons About Sponsorships That Will Make You More MoneyDo you want to make more money from your podcast? Rhetorical question. Of course you do! We all do. One of the clearest paths to revenue with a podcast is sponsorship, but it can also be the most difficult to tap into it, especially for newer or niche shows. In this episode, Jerod shares... Listen to episode2016-09-2829 min
The ShowrunnerNo. 067 What Being a Showrunner Can Teach Us About Parenting (and Vice Versa)Jerod is set to become a parent for the first time later this month. Jonny has been a parent now for 11 years, and podcasting has featured prominently in the development of his relationship with his daughter. Needless to say, Jerod has some questions … and Jonny does his best to provide some answers. How... Listen to episode2016-07-1336 minThe ShowrunnerNo. 057 How to Decide What Your Podcast Should Be AboutThis is the first lesson in our three-part mini course about how to create a unique podcast that attracts and retains an audience. In this lesson, Jerod leads a discussion about the fundamental question that must be answered at the beginning of every showrunner's journey. And while it may not seem like it has much... Listen to episode2016-05-0450 minThe ShowrunnerNo. 055 How (and Why) to Teach a Mini Course via Your PodcastThere are so many benefits to making mini courses available online, and your podcast is a great place to start from when it comes to prepping (and even recording) your mini course material. In this episode of The Showrunner, Jerod and Jonny discuss the many benefits of mini courses. They also outline their plan for... Listen to episode2016-04-2031 minThe ShowrunnerNo. 052 How Jerod Grew Revenue by 1200% and Doubled Subscribers to The Assembly CallHosting and running a podcast is (thankfully) a lot of fun. If it wasn't, most of us probably would have quit our shows a long time ago, because it is a lot of hard work. Aside from the personal satisfaction and minor ego boosts we get from hosting a podcast, there are two metrics that... Listen to episode2016-03-3039 minThe ShowrunnerNo. 051 How to Overcome Your Inferiority Complex as a PodcasterHave you ever felt like you're not qualified to host your podcast? Ever felt like you were way out of your depth with a certain topic or with a certain guest? Welcome to the club. Most of us have. In this episode of The Showrunner, Jonny and Jerod share their own experiences with facing a... Listen to episode2016-03-2334 minThe ShowrunnerNo. 050 Why Quitting Your Podcast May Be the Greatest Gift You Can Give Your AudienceThere is a time in every Showrunner's journey when we think about giving up, packing it in, and quitting. The common response is to keep pushing and stay focused. But not today. In this episode, Jerod and Jonny talk about when you should pack it in and quit your podcast. Quit your show, not quit... Listen to episode2016-03-1626 minThe ShowrunnerNo. 048 Quick Case Study: How to Be Smart About SponsorshipsA Sponsorship is the most common method for achieving direct profitability from your podcast. Jerod just accepted the first sponsor for one of his shows after 4+ seasons without one. He and Jonny discuss a few lessons he learned along the way, and whether the "big announcement" email he sent his audience was a good... Listen to episode2016-03-0245 minThe ShowrunnerNo. 047 Apple Podcasts Connect is Here (What it Means for You and Your Show)After a mysterious few days during which several Showrunner listeners and course members were unable to submit new podcasts to iTunes … there is breaking news. Apple Podcasts Connect is here, and it's worth getting excited about. In this remarkably short episode of The Showrunner, Jerod and Jonny discuss: What Apple Podcasts Connect is, what... Listen to episode2016-02-2420 minThe ShowrunnerNo. 046 7 Mindset-Altering Lessons from a Recent Gary Vaynerchuk KeynoteGary Vaynerchuk delivered the closing keynote on the opening day of Traffic and Conversion Summit 2016, and Jerod was there to see it. The next day, he and Jonny recorded an episode discussing the mindset-altering lessons Gary delivered. The episode opens with two important housekeeping notes: The Showrunner Podcasting Course is accepting new students until... Listen to episode2016-02-1742 minThe ShowrunnerNo. 045 9 Lessons Learned Publishing a Book From a PodcastStarting a podcast is a lot of fun, has the potential to build you an audience of raving fans, and may earn you the right to become a Showrunner. All of this is excellent, but it may just be the tip of the iceberg. In this episode, Jerod and Jonny discuss the lessons Jonny learned... Listen to episode2016-02-1045 minThe ShowrunnerNo. 041 The 3 Elements You Must Have Ready at LaunchWhether you are launching a brand new show or you are looking to gain some much-needed attention with a relaunch of your existing show, having a launch plan for your podcast is essential. Don't have a launch plan for your podcast? Jerod and Jonny have you covered with The Showrunner 15-part podcast launch plan. In... Listen to episode2016-01-1332 minThe ShowrunnerNo. 040 13 Steps to a Better Show in 2016The new year is upon us all, which means it's time to refocus and put a plan in place for making 2016 your show's best year ever. Jerod and Jonny have that plan. The first step in that plan is joining us for the free public Blab.im session we are hosting on Friday, January 8,... Listen to episode2016-01-061h 03The ShowrunnerNo. 039 Exciting News and New Years Resolutions for 2016The end of each year offers up the perfect time for quiet reflection, as well as enthusiastic glances toward the future. With that in mind, Jerod and Jonny end 2016 on a high note — as each have received exciting news recently — and then look toward 2016. In addition to commenting on their own... Listen to episode2015-12-3043 minThe ShowrunnerNo. 038 Are You Looking For a New Way to Launch (or Relaunch) Your Podcast?During the past 38 episodes, Jerod and Jon have taught a very specific 15-step podcast launch plan. But what if there was an easier and more effective way to launch (or relaunch) your podcast? With all of the work that goes into creating a remarkable show experience for your listeners, sometimes the promotion side of... Listen to episode2015-12-1643 minThe ShowrunnerNo. 037 Is It Time to Start Building a Team Around Your Show?You are a showrunner. You're powerful. You're flexible. You're one person who can do the work of ten (or so it seems). But … at what point is it smart for you to build a team to help you with your show? This episode was inspired by a recent experience Jerod had: he got married... Listen to episode2015-12-0934 minThe ShowrunnerNo. 034 Next-Level Tips for Building Your Show's Email ListHow do you kick the growth of your show's email list into high gear? In this episode, Jonny and Jerod offer up some of the strategies that have worked for them in growing powerful email lists for their shows. If you missed last week's episode, it was a rebroadcast of an earlier episode about the... Listen to episode2015-11-1849 minThe Showrunner[Rebroadcast] No. 033 Why Email Is Your Show's Mandatory CompanionYes, you've heard the main section of this episode before — about the importance of building an email list as part of your audience engagement strategy. But the intro and outro are new, as Jerod explains why we decided to rebroadcast this episode this week. The smartest showrunners know that their podcast is only the... Listen to episode2015-11-1137 minThe ShowrunnerNo. 028 Good, Good, Good Advice for Recording Interview Guests and Co-HostsThis episode outlines the best practices for recording good audio for yourself, your guest, and your co-host(s). And yes, we have addressed this topic before, but never quite like this … This week's episode begins with a callback to last week, as Jerod notes a massive bit of irony that came out of the episode... Listen to episode2015-10-0742 minThe ShowrunnerNo. 026 Sonia Simone on How a Podcast Fits Into a Content Marketing StrategyWe have not one but two renowned Defenders of Humanity on this week's episode. Sonia Simone, Chief Content Officer for Rainmaker Digital, joins Jerod and Jonny to discuss how your podcast can (and should) fit into your overall content marketing mix. The timing of Sonia's visit is not a coincidence. With Authority getting ready to... Listen to episode2015-09-2338 minThe ShowrunnerNo. 025 How to Easily Find and Schedule Guests for Your PodcastWith the surge in popularity of the interview-based podcast, what can you as a Showrunner do to stand-out and be remarkable? In this episode, Jerod and Jon tackle this very question. In fact, this topic started as our listener question, but both of us felt that it deserved its own episode. With Jerod's sports podcasting... Listen to episode2015-09-1640 minThe ShowrunnerNo. 024 Essential Audio Tips from the Official Audio Engineer of Rainmaker.FMToby Lyles of TwentyFour Sound is the audio wizard behind the curtain here at Rainmaker.FM. With Jonny out this week, Jerod takes over the show and invites Toby to share some insights on how you can improve the quality of the audio you are delivering to your audience. This week's episode begins with Jerod sharing... Listen to episode2015-09-0940 minThe ShowrunnerNo. 020 Why Podcasting is a Crappy Hobby, but a Great Job (Or is it?)And now for something slightly different. This episode was recorded backwards and worked surprisingly well (or did it?). This episode was inspired by a statement made by Roman Mars during his keynote presentation at Podcast Movement 2015. As you will hear, both Jerod and I have strong and opposing opinions about Roman's choice of words.... Listen to episode2015-08-1231 minThe ShowrunnerNo. 019 From Stats to Sponsors: A Remarkable Show is Simply Great Content, On DemandSponsorships are one of the most discussed topics in podcasting. For the most part, we all want to monetize our podcasts and get compensated for all the hard work we put into our shows. Well, there's good news and bad news … We begin this episode with a chat about Podcast Movement and Jerod decides... Listen to episode2015-08-0535 minThe ShowrunnerNo. 014 Pro Tips on Building an Audience That Will Stick With YouGet a sneak peek at the lessons inside The Showrunner Podcasting Course as Chris Garrett and Christina Canters provide expert advice on the right way to build, and even move, your audience. This week's episode opens with a reflection on the unique experience we shared this week: Jerod stepping into Jonny's Hack the Entrepreneur host... Listen to episode2015-07-0139 minThe ShowrunnerNo. 012 Best Practices for Recording Interview Guests and Co-HostsWhen you conduct interviews with guests — particularly high profile guests — you've got just one shot to get it right. This episode outlines the best practices for recording good audio for yourself, your guest, and your co-host(s). We begin this episode with a quick discussion about how Jon balances being a husband and father... Listen to episode2015-06-1736 minThe ShowrunnerNo. 009 A New Way to Think About Your Show's U.S.P.One of the common threads from the speakers at Authority Rainmaker was the importance of differentiation. In this new episode of The Showrunner, Jerod and Jon provide a new way to view the unique selling proposition of your show. After opening with a brief discussion about incredible benefits you can gain from taking online relationships... Listen to episode2015-05-2833 minThe ShowrunnerShowrunner ‘Short': The 4 Essential Elements of a Remarkable PodcastDo you want to create a podcast for listeners? Or do you want to deliver a remarkable audio experience to your audience? In this reprisal of his presentation at Authority Rainmaker, Jerod dives deep into the four essential elements of a remarkable audience experience. You ll learn: Why the general perception of the term showrunner is... Listen to episode2015-05-221h 05The ShowrunnerNo. 008 The 3 Components of Podcast ProfitabilityLast week, Jerod gave a presentation at Authority Rainmaker entitled "Become a Showrunner: The 4 Essential Elements of a Remarkable Podcast." One of those elements is profitability, which he and Jon break down this week's episode of The Showrunner. Jerod and Jon begin by sharing their biggest Oh crap! moments while recording, then dive into... Listen to episode2015-05-2033 minThe ShowrunnerNo. 007 The Importance of Treating Sponsorships Like PartnershipsOnly a few months after launching Hack the Entrepreneur, Jon Nastor was receiving unsolicited sponsorship requests. One turned out to be a perfect fit. In this episode of The Showrunner, Jon takes us behind the scenes of how his deal with FreshBooks came about. As we did last week, we offer up a significant snippet... Listen to episode2015-05-1328 minThe ShowrunnerNo. 006 Podcast Interview Best Practices from a Guy Who Publishes 3 Per WeekJonny Nastor posts three new episodes of his interview show Hack the Entrepreneur each week. So he s learned a thing or two about conducting interviews. We pick his brain in this episode of The Showrunner. Among the topics discussed in this episode: How we plan to ensure that The Showrunner Podcasting Course does not overshadow... Listen to episode2015-05-0631 minThe ShowrunnerShowrunner Short: Why Color Psychology Matters for Your BrandingThere are many elements to take into account when you are determining how you will brand your show. Don't overlook the psychological impact of the colors you choose. In this Showrunner Short, Jerod delivers a quick lesson on the oft-overlooked importance of color psychology in podcast branding. It matters both for your podcast's artwork and... Listen to episode2015-05-0111 minThe ShowrunnerNo. 005 What Does It Mean to Be a Showrunner?So … what exactly is a "showrunner" anyway? And what does it take to be a successful one? Jerod and Jon define the term, and explain what separates successful Showrunners from all the rest. In this episode, Jerod and Jon discuss: What essential lesson about building an audience can we learn from the very first... Listen to episode2015-04-2935 minThe ShowrunnerNo. 004 5 Easily Avoidable Mistakes That Cause Most Podcasts to FailMost podcasts fail. It s unfortunate, but true. That might psyche some potential showrunners out before they even start. But savvy showrunners will recognize an opportunity to learn from the mistakes of others. Obviously there are many possible mistakes can lead to podcasts failing. But there are some common ones that Jerod and Jon have seen... Listen to episode2015-04-2237 minThe ShowrunnerNo. 003 The Right Way to Approach Branding Your PodcastYou may think that branding your podcast begins with the name and ends with your show art. Not so. There is so much more to it, and it's vitally important that you get it right from the beginning. In this third episode of The Showrunner, Jerod and Jon discuss all of the following: The inevitable... Listen to episode2015-04-1528 minThe ShowrunnerNo. 002 How to Decide What Topic to Podcast AboutOnce you've decided that you want to be a showrunner, it's time to decide what topic to podcast about. This episode details a few of the most important questions you should ask yourself to choose the best topic to get started with. Jerod and Jon provide insight on how aspiring showrunners should choose their topics... Listen to episode2015-04-0841 minThe ShowrunnerNo. 001 Why Right Now is the Perfect Time to Start Your PodcastA multitude of factors are converging to make now the perfect time to launch a podcast. But should you? In the first episode of The Showrunner, Jerod Morris explains the factors contributing to the current podcasting boon and walks you through how to decide if you have what it takes to run a successful podcast.... Listen to episode2015-04-0138 min