Behind the Mic: Podcasting Unboxed Launch & Finding that Balance

Launching a podcast doesn't have to be complicated or expensive! Join me on the Steel Roses podcast as I unveil the newly released Podcasting Unboxed: Your Comprehensive Start Up Guide —a 33-page resource packed with essential steps, cost-effective solutions, and personal insights from my own podcasting journey that began in April 2023. I’ll share behind-the-scenes stories of the hard work and inspiration that went into this guide, especially the struggle to find clear and detailed resources online that motivated me to create something truly comprehensive. If you’re passionate about amplifying women's voices or simply eager to start your own podcast, this episode is filled with valuable advice and encouragement tailored just for you.

Start your podcasting journey now!

Balancing podcasting with personal life is crucial, and this episode doesn't shy away from that reality. Inspired by a fellow podcaster who scaled back from daily episodes to prevent burnout, I discuss the significance of finding a sustainable workload. I’ll also highlight my strategy for shorter, solo episodes during the summer to manage my energy levels, and share my plans to prioritize family time for the July 4th holiday—even opting to order food instead of cooking! Learn about the challenges of condensing professional responsibilities into a shorter workweek due to the holiday and discover practical tips for maintaining well-being while pursuing your podcasting passion. This conversation is essential for anyone looking to harmonize their creative ambitions with their personal life.

Chapters

• 0:00 Still Roses Podcast Launch Guide Announcement
• 8:54 Prioritizing Health and Family Time

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:00

Hi everybody, welcome to Still Roses podcast. This podcast was created for women, by women, to elevate women's voices. Welcome to the show. I'm so excited for this week because I am finally able to announce to everybody that the Still Roses how to Podcast Guide has been released and made live.

Speaker 1: 0:27

This has been something that I have been working on for months. I think I started working on it. The original planned launch was April, and so in let's see January, march, february March is when I started working on it, figuring out what the concept was going to be building out the website. Let's see January, march, february. March is when I started working on it. Like I figuring out what the concept was going to be building out the website, building out all the modules, like figuring out what I was going to say, writing the downloadable guide, which is, I think, at this point, 33 pages, um, and really putting that thought into well one, why am I doing it? And then also like, how, how am I going to do this? It's going to make a difference for people. So, um, the premise really for the guide itself is when I launched this podcast, originally with my cousin, in 2023, it's been a while. Um, in 2023, um, or 2022, no 2023. It's been a while In 2023. Or 2022. No 2023. Sorry. Anyway, april 2023 is when we launched.

Speaker 1: 1:32

I had started doing research for the podcast. However, in 2021, in the winter you know winter, november, december timeframe and being a true like marketer person, I started looking at, you know, target demographics, what's the topic going to be? Brainstorming the type, you know the what the podcast is going to be called, um and then really thinking through, like, what am I passionate about? What topics do I want to talk about? And clearly, like, women elevating women is is beyond for me, like it's beyond, and you all know that Um is beyond for me, like it's beyond, and you all know that.

Speaker 1: 2:07

But when I was looking at launching the podcast, I kept researching it. You know how do you do it and because, while I do have broadcast experience and while I have, you know, virtual broadcast experience and I have loads of project management experience, knowing and understanding the actual steps is not quite clear online. And so if you Google it right now how to podcast, how to start a podcast you're going to get the same basic steps pretty much every single time. But the behind the steps, the thoughts behind the steps and the process, behind the steps, is not clear and I I looked high and low for more details on how to do things. I paid quite a bit of money for classes and guides and you know really something to launch me, to really get me going, but there was no guide that really explained to me very clearly like this is your step one. This is how this is the first step you're going to take is, you know, picking your recording equipment. This is, you know, the first step you're going to take is choosing your platform. Where are you hosting your podcast Um which, by the way, for recording equipment, like I initially I will say this initially when I was looking at podcasting um, they have tons of stuff on Amazon podcast equipment.

Speaker 1: 3:39

If you look it up, there's highs and lows. You know. You can get something for 20 bucks or you can get something for for like 1000s, you know, and in the beginning, when I started, I'm like I don't want to put too much money into this. I don't really know where this is going to go. I've always been passionate about it. I always had a gut feeling that this is gonna be something big for me, but the reality of it was at the time I'm like I really didn't have the money to put, you know a ton of money behind what we're, what I was doing. So I opted for, you know, a well reviewed microphone which I'm still using in this moment.

Speaker 1: 4:14

You don't have to go too far with equipment or technology that I mean, there's so much that you don't really need to do. But, like sometimes online again, it's really not clear and then you don't really know what you're doing until you're in it. So this guide is built around me, putting my brain into paper to tell you how easy it can be to start a podcast. It does not have to be complex, and that's really the cornerstone of the entire almost the entire guide, and you'll hear it. So for throughout the guide, 33 pages, and each section is broken down into two sections. One of them is the quick start how do you just get this going for as little cost as possible? And then there's the more detailed, like diving into the detail section. So that's section two. In the upfront, I talk through, you know what you can do. And then what's the minimum? What is the minimum there? What do you need? You know, what do you? What's the minimum you need to do just to get your podcast off the ground.

Speaker 1: 5:13

I think a lot of people the barrier beyond technology is getting overwhelmed, thinking like you have to do so many things when, to be perfectly honest, you don't. And I've said it on other episodes where I talk about how to podcast, where, like there was I was doing earlier in the year like VIP thought module series and I ran it all throughout the first year almost and I recorded those in my car. I'm on my way to and from meditating. You know like there's a lot to it that like can be made simpler and you know that's where I felt a responsibility to bring that information to other people like you don't have to be so complicated. This can actually be super easy. Now.

Speaker 1: 5:58

Podcasting itself is a medium that is starting to really take shape and really pick up pace. So if you have that inkling or that feeling that you're really want to do something, you want to use your voice, this is a really great mode and way to do it. This is a great medium to do it because you can authentically be yourself, you can engage on a personal level with people that are listening to you and you really get to share their stories If you have guests or share your own story. I mean, there's just so much more to it that people can take away from it. And from the beginning I had always said that Even if there's only one person listening which thankfully there's more than one but even if there's only one person listening, that helps me meet my goal. If this podcast only helps one woman, if one woman listens to an early episode where we talked about postpartum depression and it helps her get through that moment, then my job is done. Depression and it helps her get through that moment, then my job is done.

Speaker 1: 7:09

If one mother hears me crying or ranting on one of these episodes, it is like, oh my God, me too. I'm also falling apart. That's why I'm here. That is literally why I'm here. That's why I'm still doing this. That's why I prioritized podcasting this evening instead of hanging out with my kids, because I did kind of. I prioritized podcasting this evening instead of, you know, hanging out with my kids because I did hang out with them all weekend and I said mommy has, mommy has to record today, like I have to get this done. And you know, luckily they're, they understand, and I think they're proud of me for this too. So you know, it's one of those things that I'm like I I want to help people. I want you guys to know that I'm here for you. I'm here to help you.

Speaker 1: 7:44

And you know, if you're interested in podcasting, I'm going to link the um, the website, in the description of this episode so you can access it easily to take a look through, um, what the materials would be you can get. It's almost gives you like a sneak peek at like you know what it would look like visually, um, and then you know there's there's actually two packages, so there's like a basic package that's less expensive, it's, and it includes all the video modules and the downloadable PDF. There's a VIP package that includes two, two engagements with me, so two one-on-one accountability calls with me, and then you also have the option to purchase ad hoc calls If you're developing a podcast. If you're developing a podcast and you want to go ahead and, you know, have someone help you out and get through those early days, that's I'm here. You know like it's very hard and you know I I've noticed that other people also that I'm connected with take breaks too. You know you get burnt out sometimes and then you have to kind of recalibrate, reset. There's some podcasters that I follow. That got me in the game, basically, and they recalibrate and reset all the time.

Speaker 1: 8:54

One of them used to post an episode every single day of the week, monday through Friday. There was five episodes a week and I was astounded at the amount of episodes she was. I couldn't even keep up. She was posting so many episodes and they were so amazing and I wanted to listen to all of them, but I didn't have five hours a week. So it was just one of those things.

Speaker 1: 9:16

And then this year and I couldn't wrap my head around, like how is she doing that? She was also doing all these webinars and she's doing all these virtual trainings and she was hosting live, live things and all this stuff. And I was just like my God, like how is she accomplishing all this? And then this year she scaled back and that, to me, says that we all need to really take a look at this. You know there's you have to make it work for you, whatever you're doing. So, whether it's podcasting or something else, whatever you're doing, you have to make it work for you, whatever you're doing. So, whether it's podcasting or something else, whatever you're doing, you have to make it work for you. And that's really again like one of the points is podcasting specifically. Make it work for you, like the summer series that we're listening to right now.

Speaker 1: 9:58

Like this is my summer series. It's just going to be me, mostly because I know people's schedules change during the summer and you know short, quick hit episodes are going to be a little bit easier for everybody to listen to, but also because I get burnt out. You know, for every guest episode that I have, I have to record that guest episode in advance and I have to make sure I edit it and sometimes I have to clear it with the guests themselves. So you know, there there's a lot more to it from my perspective, and so taking the summer to just do episodes alone is like great, and I get to be talking with you guys a couple times a week, so that I mean that in itself makes me happy and it really lights me up. So I'm super excited about this, even if you yourself are not you're not interested in podcasting specifically.

Speaker 1: 10:44

You share it along with somebody. I mean, I'm always gratefully grateful for all of you. I'm very appreciative for any support from any of you. You know sharing along the guide and, you know, helping me get this message out there. So that was top of mind, mostly because I just launched it today. So I'm like kind of I'm super excited about it. Um, now onto other things. Um, if you're living in the States, um, this episode is going to be airing on July 2nd, um, so you know it's a big week for us here in the United States because we have July 4th holiday coming up. Um, I love having um folks around. I love having family around for holidays, especially during the summertime, because we get to be outside and enjoy the backyard. My husband and I have been working a lot to spruce up the backyard, make it nice and enjoyable for people, so I'm super excited about that.

Speaker 1: 11:43

One thing that I always, always, always, always overdo and this is definitely coming from my background is food. Now, I am very particular about what I eat, especially being a vegetarian, I kind of only really like a few things, but this year, you know, there's been other years where we've had people here and this year is the first year that I've decided that I'm not going to cook for the whole holiday and I'm I mean I might do a little bit of grilling, but no, I'm actually let me take that back Not going to do grilling. I am ordering a few trays of food and I'm kind of just calling it a day and that's it, and I'm going to spend the time with my family actually enjoying with them, because most of the time when we have company, I'm in the kitchen the entire time and I love it. I love feeding my family. That's how I express myself to them, that's how I show them my love for them is through food. But in this instance, I really want to be able to hang out with everybody. I want to spend time with people, I want to chat with people. I never get to do any of this stuff. So that's a shift for me this year and, honestly, the only reason why I mean we're, you know we can actually afford to do it this year. So I'm very, very grateful for that, because that's not the norm for me for prior years. So I'm excited about that. I'm excited about that and having my family, my grandkids, everybody here.

Speaker 1: 13:16

So that's coming in this upcoming week and then, you know, just the regular summertime stuff. So this is, I think, my last episode. I talked about two weeks of summer going in. We're going into our third week of summer with the kids in day camp for half the day and then coming home to me. It's a short week.

Speaker 1: 13:34

As I said, I'm only doing Monday and Tuesday this week, but nevertheless, even when it's just a two-day work week actually, when it is a two-day work week, I think some of you are going to understand when I say that you have to almost work harder because you're just trying to. When you get to a certain level in your career and people are depending on you and you really have, you know, things that you're carrying on your shoulders professionally. It's almost harder on you when you take time off because you have to crunch things in to a very small period of time. So in this case I'm crunching five days into two, which will be very interesting for me on Monday and Tuesday, which is also why I took off Wednesday, because I was like I'm going to need a minute before everybody arrives, um, so my, um, my method before I'm going to take time off is really to hustle a little bit harder. So I'll be, um, condensing a lot into those two days so that that's going to be interesting with the kids and everything this week, um, and then, on a whole separate note, um, that kind of just focusing in on health and wellness for a minute.

Speaker 1: 14:53

Um, the last few weeks, in addition to the craziness and everything, I was feeling like run down and I kept feeling like I was kind of sick, but I wasn't sick enough for it to be like an issue, but it was sick enough that I was like uncomfortable and not myself and grouchy. And for the first time in forever, um, I well, not forever, I'm, I've been working at this for a while, but I made sure to prioritize like sleep, and that, for for me, is quite shocking. Um, I'm proud of myself for it. That's actually why I'm sharing that, because, um, in prior years, anytime I didn't feel well, I would power through. Um, it didn't matter what it was.

Speaker 1: 15:45

Well, the only thing that took me out was, um, stomach viruses. Those take me out Like there was. No, I can't get around that that that you go down hard with those. Um, I always try to bounce back quickly, but you're going to go down hard with those regardless. Um, but normally on the regular, outside of that particular illness, um, anytime I was sick, I would just power through, I would suck it up. I would suck it up, I would take as much medicine as my stomach could handle over the counter and I would just keep going, and I did not give my body time to rest and I would just go. And that was something that over the past year year and a half no, over the past year, yeah, year and a half I've been adamantly trying to change, because your body needs that rest. When you get sick, it's literally your body telling you like oh, something's happened here, I need time to recuperate.

Speaker 1: 16:38

Sleep is such an important element in our lives for keeping us healthy and it's something that we totally just throw to the wayside. I am a I am a continual offender for lack of sleep, not recently, but in my prior years, I mean I think I've said it to you guys before when the kids were little. But in my prior years I mean I think I've said it to you guys before when the kids were little, I was probably only sleeping, like when my twins were babies, still probably for the first two years of their lives yeah, the first two or three years of their lives, I think I was only sleeping like two to three hours a day and that was spread out through the whole night, because what would end up happening is like they would all wake up. Like one would wake up and I would get that one down, I'd fall asleep for like 15 minutes and the other one would wake up. I'd get that one down, I'd fall asleep, and I would literally sleep anywhere. I slept on the floor of their room, I slept in their beds, I slept on the couch, I like I didn't care where I was falling asleep, I would just fall asleep because I just needed to get whatever sleep I could During that time.

Speaker 1: 17:46

What would end up happening is that I would have these full body shutdowns and I would literally be mid activity. There was one instance in particular I think it was like a Saturday or something, and I was in the middle of cooking something and I just felt myself starting to shut off, which was wild. So it was like beat the clock, trying to finish what I was doing and then getting and then saying to my husband, as I like dragged myself down the hallway, like watch the kids, I have to lay down for a second and I literally just dropped, and I would drop for like a couple hours, and then I would wake back up and be like okay, sorry about that, and I would keep going. That happened frequently.

Speaker 1: 18:34

There was a separate instance where I was home with my kids. My husband was at work and it started to happen and I knew it was happening and I was like, all right, I had read an article that said if you're in a situation where you need to sleep and you are with your kids and they're awake and they're not sleeping, just make sure you're in a safe space where no one can get hurt. So I remember I brought us all they were small enough that they couldn't reach the doorknobs yet or they couldn't quite get them open and so I brought them all into one of their rooms, their bedrooms, which is obviously fully childproofed and safe, and I laid down right on the floor and I let them just play around me and I just laid there and I think I, I think I fell asleep for a little bit, but not deep like REM, just enough that it got me through, and then I was able to get up and be. You know me again, but you know there was instances like that. So I do want to say that you know, if you're, if you're finding yourself in that situation where you know you're habitually sleep deprived, um, I, as painful as I, even it, even me saying it and you can hear it in my voice.

Speaker 1: 19:39

I'm having a hard time even saying it, because when people used to say to me like well, you have to find time to lay down, I used to get so pissed off, like excuse my language, I used to get so frigging mad because I'm like please tell me when. You know, when I went to a for a physical for the first time after my girls were born and I explained the whole situation to my doctor about my sleep deprivation and she was like, well, you're going to have to try to find a way to sleep, I was like I had to bite my tongue for before, like cursing her out and being like what the F do you want me to do? Like, what would you like me to do? And that was like that for a long time. So I'm saying it.

Speaker 1: 20:18

I think you all know it probably, and you know, for those of you who are like yeah, yeah, okay, tell me when you can come watch my kids so I can take a nap obviously, no, I can't. But you know what? Like try to find a workaround, because I never did. I wish I did, I wish I had asked for help. To be honest with everybody. I wish I had maybe things would have been a little bit different had I asked for help and tried to prioritize myself. I know, know, some women who do prioritize themselves before their kids, just not all the time, but like for some stuff and they're probably better for it. I never did it and I'm like I hope that that trait doesn't quite rub off on my kids. I kind of hope that the girls pick up a better balance than than what I ever did, because I was so imbalanced it was like obscene, okay.

Speaker 1: 21:13

So with that in mind, I do want to cut this episode a little bit, because I'm going over the 20 minute mark and I promised that these would be all short hits. So again, kind of just full circle. I'm going to link to the podcast guide in this episode. Take a look at it, check it out Again. I'm super excited about it. It's really, really awesome material and you know, if it's not something you're interested in and you can, you know, forward it along. I greatly appreciate it. This week, with the holiday, it may only be a one episode week. I'll see what I can do. I might end up having to do an episode just because of my sanity and you guys keep me sane. Um, so until next time. Thank you so much for listening. Um, leave me a review on whatever platform you're listening on. I greatly appreciate that and I'll see you on the next one. Take care everyone.