Getting started
I finally did it. Some of you will know that I have 2 podcasts. One of them is in German and the other English but the topic is the same; doing business on the internet and communication. No surprise there.
My biggest challenge, or problem was in getting the podcast completed. Like in photography, videography and probably painting there is a lot more than just what you see at the end which needs to line up correctly to make it enjoyable.
I love what I call "the chase" in podcasting. Finding a new guest, researching, preparing then reaching out to see if they are open to the idea then the actually interview is a really enjoyable experience for me. Some interviews come together within days while others might be months or years in the making but the process bringing us together is very satisfying.
“Oh, the joy I felt”
After hitting the stop button on my recorder I feel complete. All the work I invested had paid off. The interview was a success for me and my guest. Then follows the trough of disillusionment: the mix. This is where skill is needed and this skill is not one I want to invest much time in. I can do it. I have produced podcasts since 2014 and some have been quite popular but I really don't enjoy this part. I want to share the episode with others. I want to share the excitement I felt during the interview with those also interested, not piecemeal the separate items together then level everything for a pleasurable listening experience. So I hired an editor.
Yes, this should have been done at least a year ago. I have interviews from months back which I have not yet edited. I am embarrassed to share that but those who I interviewed know this. Sorry. There will be a flood of episodes coming soon I expect. I thought I could do it all myself. I thought, this isn't that hard and why spend the money? Well, after my recent trip to the US and conversations I had there I was convinced that my time was worth more than the cost of the edit. Spending time with my guest, either in prep or during the time together was more valuable than then later sitting at the keyboard and mouse stitching together an episode. Coming to this point took a long time. The joy I felt, just this morning, when I got my first finalised episode back from my editor was great. It felt almost like Christmas. I want to feel that more often.