Podcast Answer Man

485 - An In-Depth, Thoughtful Defense of Why RSS Still Matters

In this episode, I share a conversation that was recorded at the Cincinnati Podcast Studio with Brian Erickson. I originally invited Brian to join me for an episode of my What Are You Creating? podcast, which I typically produce as an audio-only show. Since Brian runs a studio devoted to high-quality video podcast production, he invited me to come to the studio and record the conversation there. What took place was a very unscripted conversation that began as an interview, but it naturally became a genuine exchange between two podcast professionals exploring how we each think about content creation. Where it’s been. Where it is now. And where it might be headed. At one point, Brian asks me to share my perspective on what makes content a "show" vs. a "podcast." That is the part of the conversation that I have included in this episode of Podcast Answer Man. Check Out The Video Interview: You can see the full video interview, recorded professionally at the Cincinnati Podcast Studio, on my YouTube channel at https://youtu.be/2bzuQFXlzkE?si=Bq_4bp4WXjczmZK2 Next Level Mastermind If you’re a professional author, coach, speaker, content creator, course creator, or online business owner, and you’ve ever felt alone in your content creation, marketing, or business decisions, I want you to know this. You don’t have to do this journey by yourself. I’ve reopened the Next Level Mastermind. It’s designed for entrepreneurs who are committed to growth, service, and bringing their full education, experience, skills, and perspective into a trusted peer environment where everyone contributes and everyone benefits. If you feel a pull toward doing this work alongside other thoughtful, accomplished people who understand the decisions you’re facing, email me directly at cliff@cliffravenscraft.com and put “Next Level Mastermind” in the subject line. I’d love to explore whether it makes sense for us to journey together.

484 - The Long Game of Podcasting: Lessons From 5,000+ Episodes with Guest Scott Smith

In this episode, I sit down with Scott Smith, host of The Daily Boost, for a wide-ranging conversation shaped by more than two decades of podcasting experience. This is an honest exploration of what it actually takes to stay relevant, build a sustainable business, and remain creatively alive over the long haul in the content creation world. Below, I’ve compiled a list of insights drawn from our conversation so you can revisit the ideas that matter most and reflect on what they mean for your own podcasting journey. Podcasting Longevity and Identity Podcasting has always rewarded consistency more than perfection. The creators who stay long enough inevitably outlast trends. Early podcasting forced creators to understand the medium deeply because nothing was automated. That foundational understanding still pays dividends. Being uncomfortable at the beginning is normal, even for experienced broadcasters. Confidence emerges through repetition, not preparation. Listeners don’t stay for format or polish alone. They stay for the host’s point of view and presence. Podcasting works best when the host allows listeners to hear how conclusions are formed, not just the conclusions themselves. Performance, Authenticity, and “Podcaster Voice” “Be yourself” does not mean showing up with no energy. It means showing up as a fully engaged version of yourself. “A Slightly Elevated Version of You.” Every effective podcast has a performative element, whether acknowledged or not. Elevating energy slightly is not being fake. It is breaking through the invisible wall between creator and listener. The most trusted moments often happen when the host thinks out loud in real time. Authenticity does not require rawness at all times. It requires honesty and clarity. Audience Connection and Community Short-form content can attract attention, but longer-form connection builds community. Community begins when listeners feel seen and acknowledged, not when they consume more content. Engagement deepens dramatically when creators intentionally invite listener participation. Scott shared how a weekend or recap-style show transformed passive listeners into active community members. People want interaction more than volume. They want to know the creator is paying attention. Monetization, Ads, and Business Models Early podcasting had ideological divides around advertising that shaped long-term business decisions. Advertising income can be unstable and distracting compared to direct audience-supported models. Monetization works best when aligned with how the creator actually wants to spend their time. Membership and continuity-based models offer stability but come with operational overhead. Teaching, coaching, and services often outperform ads in both income and satisfaction. Private RSS feeds create immense perceived value, especially for high-level clients. High-end clients overwhelmingly prefer audio over video, transcripts, or dashboards. Giving premium clients fewer deliverables often increases retention rather than decreasing it. Sustainability and Creative Aliveness Creators feel trapped when they prioritize audience expectations over creative truth. Audiences often sense stagnation before creators consciously acknowledge it. Changing format, length, or style can reignite both creator energy and listener engagement. People rarely know what they want in advance. Creators must lead with discernment. Shorter episodes are not inherently better. Depth still matters in an AI-saturated world. Story and emotional context are now more important than surface-level answers. A format that allows the creator to feel alive is more sustainable than any optimization strategy. Relevance, Timing, and Production Approach Recording closer to release keeps content culturally and emotionally relevant. Over-batching can disconnect a podcast from real-world context. Podcasting thrives when it responds to what listeners are experiencing right now. Re-recording an episode to stay relevant is a feature, not a failure. The goal is resonance, not efficiency. The Bigger Picture Podcasting is not just a content platform. It is a relationship medium. Longevity comes from choosing alignment over scale. Sustainable success often looks like fewer hours, fewer clients, and deeper impact. The most powerful podcasts are created by people who have lived enough life to speak with grounded conviction. The real advantage is not starting early. It is staying present long enough to evolve. Reach Out To Scott The Daily Boost Website: https://dailyboostpodcast.com Email Scott directly: scott@dailyboostpodcast.com Instagram: https://instagram.com/heyscottsmith Apply For The Next Level Mastermind Today If this conversation resonated with you, there’s a good chance it’s pointing to something deeper than podcasting. Long-term growth, clarity in decision-making, and the ability to think well in seasons of uncertainty rarely happen in isolation. That’s exactly why I facilitate the Next Level Mastermind. It’s a small, intentional peer group for entrepreneurs who want to sharpen their thinking, make better decisions faster, and build what matters without carrying the weight alone. Before you apply, I recommend starting with the six-episode private podcast at upgradeyourpeergroup.com. Those episodes will give you a clear understanding of what a mastermind is, how it works, and whether this kind of environment is right for you. If you listen through those conversations and find yourself thinking, “Yes, this is exactly what I’ve been missing,” then you’ll be ready for the next step. When you’re ready, visit nextlevelmastermind.info to apply. I review every application personally, and I’m intentional about who I invite into the group. If you’re looking for a peer environment that supports your growth, challenges your thinking, and helps you move forward with clarity and confidence, I’d love to explore whether the Next Level Mastermind is the right fit for you.

483 - Does Podcasting Take Too Much Time and Cost Too Much Money to Produce?

Does podcasting really take too much time and cost too much money to produce? That question came up for me after a series of conversations with experienced podcasters who have stepped away from shows they once loved. In this episode, I explore that question from multiple angles, drawing on my own workflow, my production history, and what I consistently hear from people who feel stuck, burned out, or unsure about what comes next. I walk through very practical ways I personally reduce production time and cost, including how I record, edit, and publish multiple long-form episodes each week with zero monthly production expenses. I share why complexity often sneaks in unintentionally, how production standards evolve, and how simplifying your process can restore momentum without sacrificing quality or integrity. But this conversation goes deeper than tools and workflows. I reflect on why “time and money” are often symptoms rather than root causes, and how lack of return on investment, lost inspiration, or a changing sense of purpose can quietly drain the energy from a podcast. I also respond to a listener question about how to know when a podcast season or chapter is truly complete, and I share the real story behind why I shut down Podcast Answer Man years ago and why I eventually brought it back. If you’ve ever wondered whether podcasting is still worth it, whether you should simplify, pause, pivot, or restart, this episode is an invitation to look beyond the surface reasons and get honest about what you want to create next. Links Mentioned in This Episode The Cliff Ravenscraft Show – Episode 806 - CLICK HERE An example of an “unplugged” episode with no intro music, recorded and published under tight constraints to demonstrate how simple podcasting can be. The Cliff Ravenscraft Show – Episode 802 - CLICK HERE Why Podcast Answer Man Is Back. The Full Story. The Cliff Ravenscraft Show – Episode 803 - CLICK HERE A behind-the-scenes follow-up episode detailing what it took to bring Podcast Answer Man back operationally and strategically. Need Som Clarity? If you’re questioning whether to start, simplify, pause, or restart a podcast, and you want clarity around what makes sense for you right now, I’d be glad to help. I offer straightforward one-on-one coaching sessions designed to help you save time, reduce unnecessary cost, and get clear on what you want to create next. Just email me at cliff@cliffravenscraft.com and ask for my current coaching rates.

482 - Why You Should Consider Creating a Separate Podcast with Only 5 to 10 Episodes

What if the most powerful podcast you ever create is not one you plan to produce every week for years, but one you intentionally decide to end before you ever hit record on episode one? In this episode, I share the full recording of my PodFest Expo 2026 session where I make the case for launching a limited-series podcast. A short, laser-focused show designed to solve one specific problem for one specific audience. I walk through why this approach is easier to discover, easier to binge, easier to trust, easier to recommend, and ultimately easier to convert than a traditional ongoing weekly podcast. I also share real-world examples from my own experience, including a podcast I haven't touched in over 15 years that still generates meaningful revenue today, and another limited series that produced $90,000 from four people who found the podcast within 45 days, people who had never heard my name before. If you already have a podcast, or if your audience growth has plateaued, this episode will challenge how you think about podcasting as a tool for movement, not just content creation. Topics Covered in This Episode Why a podcast that is intentionally finite can be more powerful than an ongoing weekly show What a limited-series podcast is and how it differs from your main podcast The five core benefits of creating a five to ten episode podcast Why limited series podcasts are easier to discover in search How short series naturally encourage binge listening How rapid binge listening accelerates trust with new listeners Why these podcasts are dramatically easier for others to recommend How limited series podcasts create a natural path to conversion A behind-the-scenes look at my Virtual Assistant Podcast and its long-term impact How a six-episode series led to $90,000 in new mastermind revenue Using archived evergreen content to launch a new limited series without starting from scratch Practical ideas for using limited series podcasts to promote books, programs, events, or coaching Why podcasting works best when it is designed for intentional movement Gear Recommendation I used the Tascam DR-10L Pro to record my talk, a professional field recorder with a lavalier microphone. I use this for all my presentations so I'm never dependent on someone else's equipment to capture quality audio from the stage. Affiliate Link: https://amzn.to/4jZc8iy Private Strategy Coaching for Podcasters If you already have a podcast, or you have the technical side figured out, and what you really want is clear, practical strategy, I’m offering a limited-time one-on-one coaching package. This is for brand new clients only. We’ll work together over three ninety-minute private sessions focused on your podcasting and or entrepreneurial journey. The investment is $1,500. If you want to bounce ideas off someone who has been in this space for over twenty years and get clear direction on your next best steps, email me at Cliff@PodcastAnswerMan.com.

481 - How to Start a Podcast and Still Be Around 12 Years Later

If you would like to learn how to start a podcast and still be around 12 years later, you will want to listen to this episode. In it, I share a powerful conversation with Laura McClellan, host of The Productive Woman podcast, who took my Podcasting A to Z course more than twelve years ago and has now published over five hundred episodes. Laura almost never launched her show. She recorded her first episode, then let fear stop her for six months before finally deciding to publish an episode she recorded from a closet with a handheld recorder. What followed was a body of work that has touched thousands of people around the world. This conversation is part of my Where Are They Now? series, where I sit down with students who went through my course 10 to 15 years ago to explore what it actually looks like to keep showing up with your voice over the years. Insights from My Conversation with Laura Starting a podcast can begin as a personal, creative outlet long before it becomes something that serves others. Fear and self-doubt are often part of the beginning, even for people who later become incredibly consistent creators. You do not need a platform or an audience to start. You only need a willingness to speak and press publish. A simple weekly cadence creates momentum that compounds over time. Listener feedback, even from one person, can be the fuel that keeps you going. Podcasting builds community in ways that are difficult to predict when you first begin. Taking a sabbatical or stepping away can be part of a long creative life. It is easier for many people to speak than to write, which makes podcasting a powerful medium for sharing ideas. Tools and technology continue to evolve, making it easier than ever to create and distribute high-quality content. The true reward of podcasting is not downloads or stats, but the impact your voice has on real people. Links and Resources Laura’s Podcast In Apple Podcasts Laura's Podcast in Spotify Laura McClellan’s website: TheProductiveWoman.com Podcasting A to Z What Are You Creating? podcast Where Are They Now? This is a special series inside my What Are You Creating? podcast that begins with Episode 27. In this series, I sit down with people who went through my Podcasting A to Z course more than a decade ago and chose to keep creating. These are long-term podcasters who have published hundreds, and in some cases thousands, of episodes over the last ten to fifteen years. Each conversation looks back on what it was like to begin, what it took to keep going, and how their lives and work have evolved through years of using their voice. You can find the series starting at Episode 27 by clicking here. Podcasting A to Z Laura’s story is not special because she decided to begin and kept showing up. If you have been thinking about starting a podcast, relaunching one that has gone quiet, or bringing new life to something you already created, my next session of Podcasting A to Z is starting soon. This is the same program Laura went through and it is where I personally walk you through every step of creating a great-sounding audio podcast with clarity, confidence, and a proven plan. You can find all the details at PodcastingAtoZ.com.