Finding Your Podcasting Mindset with Aeoliana Elliott

Oct 03, 2024

In this episode of the Blogging Breakthroughs podcast, I talk with Aeoliana Elliott about:

Embrace the Learning Curve: Starting a podcast means accepting that your initial episodes won't be perfect. The key is to begin and allow yourself to improve over time. Understanding that the early stages are part of the learning process can ease the pressure of perfection.
Manageable Beginnings: To avoid burnout, start with smaller, more manageable goals, such as monthly episodes, before potentially increasing the frequency. Shorter episodes can offer substantial value without overwhelming effort, making the process more sustainable.
Mindset is Key: Success in podcasting and business heavily relies on mindset. Overcome mental roadblocks and maintain consistency for long-term success. Understanding your thoughts and adopting an entrepreneurial mindset is crucial when pursuing new ventures.
Building Trust: Podcasts can create a sense of intimacy and trust with the audience, which is beneficial for promoting services or products. Authenticity in your voice and less emphasis on over-editing helps build a genuine connection with listeners.
Repurposing and Consistency: Make strategic use of existing content by repurposing and expanding upon it to build new podcast episodes. Consistently creating content and revisiting successful topics can increase long-term impact and engagement with your audience.

In the latest episode of Blogging Breakthroughs podcast, host Faith Mariah and guest Aeoliana Elliott tackle the fascinating and multifaceted world of podcasting, offering listeners a treasure trove of valuable advice and mindset strategies. This episode is a must-listen for anyone eager to embark on their podcasting journey, as it’s rich with insights into turning what can seem like an overwhelming endeavor into a manageable and rewarding project.

Understanding the Podcasting Mindset

One of the critical themes discussed in the episode is the mindset required for successful podcasting. Aeoliana points out that many people are conditioned to believe that if something is too easy, it’s not valuable or that something bad will follow. This mindset can be a significant barrier when starting a podcast. Aeoliana emphasizes that the most challenging aspect is not taking action, but the decision to take action. This insight is foundational, as it helps future podcasters understand that self-doubt and fear of the unknown are natural, but they mustn’t be deterrents.

Faith adds to this by discussing the initial stages of podcasting. She notes that the first few episodes will likely not be perfect and that’s okay. The goal is to push through these early stages quickly, allowing for improvement over time. The key takeaway is to embrace imperfection and view the early content as a necessary step towards becoming more comfortable and skilled.

Starting and Sustaining a Podcast

For those just starting out, Faith and Aeoliana offer practical advice on how to embark on the podcasting journey. Faith suggests starting small to manage energy levels and avoid burnout. If the idea of producing weekly episodes feels overwhelming, begin with monthly episodes. Aeoliana echoes this sentiment, highlighting that shorter episodes can be equally valuable as longer ones.

Both Faith and Aeoliana stress that there’s no need for perfection. Being a beginner allows for significant learning opportunities. Over-editing content can strip away the authenticity that listeners crave. Podcasting is about creating a sense of intimacy and connection with the audience, and this is best achieved through authenticity rather than polished perfection.

Strategic Content Creation

Faith introduces the idea of creating core episodes that can be reused and promoted repeatedly. This strategic approach ensures that content remains evergreen, reducing the pressure to constantly generate new material. Flexibility is key; there are no strict rules in podcasting, and creators should feel empowered to adapt their strategies as they go along.

Aeoliana encourages podcasters to repurpose existing content, such as blog posts, into podcast episodes. This not only leverages already created material but also provides a way to breathe new life into it. Updating older content with new research, trends, or guest perspectives can keep it fresh and engaging.

Building Trust and Engaging the Audience

One of the most impactful benefits of podcasting, as discussed by Aeoliana, is its ability to build trust and intimacy with the audience. Listeners often invite the host into their personal space, creating a unique connection that is more intimate than other mediums like emails or videos. This connection can significantly enhance audience loyalty and engagement.

Faith elaborates on how podcasting can serve as an effective sales and nurture strategy. By building trust and rapport with the audience, podcasters can facilitate better sales and develop a loyal customer base. This is particularly valuable for entrepreneurs looking to promote coaching services or products.

Overcoming Challenges and Embracing Your Journey

The conversation also touches on the importance of preparing for challenges and not giving up when things get tough. Aeoliana advises considering worst-case scenarios as a way to mentally prepare for potential failures. This mindset encourages resilience and adaptability, key traits for anyone in the podcasting space.

Faith shares her personal approach of embracing the whole journey of building a business, emphasizing the need to work hard and create great offers to help people. She believes that even unsuccessful ventures are valuable for personal skill growth, reinforcing that consistency and persistence are crucial.

In summary, this episode of Blogging Breakthroughs podcast provides a rich blend of mindset strategies, practical advice, and motivational insights for aspiring podcasters. It reinforces the importance of authenticity, strategic content creation, and resilience, making it an invaluable resource for anyone looking to dive into the world of podcasting.