Follow These Tips to Revive Your Show and Get Out of the Podfade Slump
There’s nothing more exciting than announcing to the world that you have a new podcast. This is the one that will change the world, break the mold and shake up modern-day society as we know it. However, once you get past the initial launch and set your show up on all the distribution platforms, it’s easy to revel in the “coasting” stage yet also feel like you could use a refresher to get you back in excitement mode and remember the reason you started your show in the first place.
Whether you are a newish podcaster or have had a show for years, these four tips can help you spice things up in and out of the studio.
Being stuck in a rut is just an invitation to shake things up or redirect, not a sign that you aren’t a good podcaster or you should quit. Almost every podcaster I know, including myself, has episodes or periods of time where they feel like they are phoning it in or going through the motions. The whole “love what you do and you will never have to work a day in your life” bit is great for a wall hanging, but let’s face it — podcasting is work. You can love it, but still recognize that like any job or hobby, you have good days, bad ones and the majority of in-between ones. If you apply one or more of these four tips, you’ll be on the right track in no time.
Four Ways to Spice Up Your Show!
Change the ways you physically podcast.
If you are always sitting, stand for a few episodes. Switch spaces with your co-host. Change up the time of day you podcast. Do you podcast while drinking Earl Grey tea and a squeeze of lemon? Try a new beverage. Humans are creatures of habit, and one small change to our normal procedure can mean a whole new vibe to the whole episode.
Fold your listeners into the show even more through segments, social media and in-person events.
For my show, Campfire Sht Show, my co-host Beau Hufford and I have a segment called Bug Bites where listeners write in about things that get under their skin. We do a Bug Bites-themed episode every couple of months and our people get a kick out of us dissecting their pet peeves. It’s super fun for us, provides entertaining content we may not have thought of, and gets people feeling connected to our content even more.
Jonathan Small, editor, writer and host of the Write About Now podcast, is starting a new segment where he asks listeners to come on and share their writing hacks. This welcomes a diversity of opinions, and shakes up the general routine of just himself and one other featured guest.
Don’t be afraid to restructure how you do the show.
Most listeners are understanding and forgiving when podcasters make changes to their show, whether it’s a new logo, new jingle, or even a different co-host. What does matter is that you are transparent with your audience and not try to do the weird thing they did on Roseanne by giving us a new Becky and hoping we wouldn’t notice that they did away with the original. Dustin Nickerson, comedian and host of the Don’t Make Me Come Back There podcast, made the shift from being guest-focused to most episodes being just him and his wife Melissa. This big shift led to his show now feeling like they are giving their truest, most genuine selves. If alleviating pressure in any way will free you up to give more energy into your show, consider giving it a try.
Spice Up Your Life Outside of The Studio, and The Fun Will Follow
I recently made a “no more Postmates or GrubHub delivery” rule and it was the best decision of 2021 so far. There are tasty morsels of content in our everyday lives, but we have to get out there and be part of it. As a podcaster, you have a duty to make your life as interesting as possible off-mic so it ripples out into the world. That can be small things such as going out to the neighborhood coffee shop, walking more places, taking that tango class, etc. For every Netflix night in, an adventure out will give you inspiration for not only your show but the beauty and entertaining nature of life itself.
Let us know the ways you’ve spiced up your podcast, and any shifts that have given you a much needed refresh!
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