The Tim Ferriss Show
#538: How I Built The Tim Ferriss Show to 700+ Million Downloads — An Immersive Explanation of All Aspects and Key Decisions (Featuring Chris Hutchins)
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Quick takeaways
- High-quality content trumps big names in the value of a podcast.
- Monetizing a podcast should be carefully considered based on its worth and added value.
- Challenge norms and find approaches that work best for you, like setting non-negotiable terms with sponsors.
- Twitter offers a unique advantage for reaching out to well-known individuals and growing a podcast audience.
- To achieve podcast growth, focus on creating relevant and valuable content that resonates with listeners.
- Joining a podcast network can provide benefits like ad sales and audience growth assistance.
Deep dives
Focus on the value of the product rather than the name
The value of the podcast lies in its content, not in the fame of the guest. High-quality content trumps big names.
Monetization should be a thoughtful decision, not a distraction
Monetizing the podcast should be a well-considered decision based on the worth of the effort and the value it adds to the podcast.
Question best practices and tailor them to your needs
Challenge established norms and find approaches that work best for you, such as setting non-negotiable terms with sponsors and prepayment for sponsorship spots.
Focus on finding interesting guests and improving as an interviewer
Follow your interests and make guest selection easier by starting with people you know well. Continuously seek to improve as an interviewer.
The importance of Twitter for connecting with influential people
Twitter offers a unique advantage for reaching out to well-known and hard-to-reach individuals. It allows users to connect directly with others through activities such as following, liking, retweeting, and replying. This platform provides an opportunity to capture someone's attention without needing their contact information and offers a less intrusive way for communication compared to other platforms like DMs on Instagram.
The power of building relationships through Twitter for podcast growth
Twitter can be a valuable tool for growing a podcast audience, especially for connecting with influencers and celebrities who are difficult to reach through traditional channels. Building relationships through Twitter allows for circumventing multiple layers of entrenchment that might exist when approaching agents or managers. By engaging with someone's tweets, following, liking, retweeting, and replying strategically, one can occupy more of their timeline and increase the chances of catching their attention.
The significance of authenticity and relevant content in podcast growth
To achieve podcast growth, it is essential to focus on creating relevant and valuable content. Having a celebrity guest doesn't guarantee listener retention, as the host's role and their ability to engage and bring value to the conversation matter significantly. Building a loyal audience requires consistency in delivering episodes that resonate with listeners and keeping their interests at the forefront. The key is to create content that is interesting, engaging, and unique to attract active listeners who will become ambassadors and share the podcast with others.
Balancing personal interest with audience appeal in podcasting
When it comes to episode topics and guests, hosts should focus on their personal interests and curate content that excites them. Not every episode will be relevant to every listener, but that's okay. The goal is not to please everyone with every episode, but to provide valuable and engaging content that resonates with a segment of the audience and entices them to come back for more. Emphasizing authenticity and pursuing subjects that genuinely intrigue the host will ultimately attract listeners who share similar interests and foster a loyal following.
Importance of Batch Recording and Reflection
Batch recording allows for efficient production of podcast episodes, providing a buffer of content for several months. Reflection and self-assessment are crucial in determining the podcast's impact on one's energy levels and overall enjoyment. By regularly checking in and evaluating how podcasting affects one's mental and physical state, it becomes easier to gauge whether to continue or take breaks.
Considerations for Joining a Podcast Network
Joining a podcast network can offer benefits like ad sales and audience growth assistance. When considering such a partnership, it's important to ask questions about their methods, reach, and potential limitations. Taking calls from podcast networks provides an opportunity to learn about best practices, common mistakes, and the overall podcasting ecosystem. Ultimately, the decision to join a network depends on one's personal goals and willingness to outsource tasks like ad sales.
Prioritizing Personal Enjoyment and Sustainability
When evaluating the future of a podcast, the focus should be on personal enjoyment and fulfillment. Checking how one feels when thinking about recording, reviewing their calendar, and considering the podcast's overall impact on mental and physical well-being is essential. Aim for a net positive energy and fulfillment, and adjust recording and production schedules to align with personal preferences. Nurturing one's passion for podcasting enables long-term sustainability and ensures a positive experience for both the host and the audience.
How I Built The Tim Ferriss Show to 700+ Million Downloads — An Immersive Explanation of All Aspects and Key Decisions (Featuring Chris Hutchins) | Brought to you by LinkedIn Jobs recruitment platform with 770M+ users, Athletic Greens all-in-one nutritional supplement, and Helix Sleep premium mattresses. More on all three below.
Chris Hutchins (@hutchins) is an avid life hacker and financial optimizer. He’s the host of All the Hacks podcast and the Head of New Product Strategy at Wealthfront.
Previously, Chris was co-founder and CEO of Grove (acquired by Wealthfront), co-founder of Milk (acquired by Google), and a partner at Google Ventures, where he focused on seed and early stage investments.
Chris reached out with many questions about podcasting. He had already read much of what I had written and listened to several interviews, and this is intended to be an updated guide to all things podcasting.
Please enjoy!
This episode is brought to you by Athletic Greens. I get asked all the time, “If you could only use one supplement, what would it be?” My answer is usually Athletic Greens, my all-in-one nutritional insurance. I recommended it in The 4-Hour Body in 2010 and did not get paid to do so. I do my best with nutrient-dense meals, of course, but AG further covers my bases with vitamins, minerals, and whole-food-sourced micronutrients that support gut health and the immune system.
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This episode is also brought to you by LinkedIn Jobs. Whether you are looking to hire now for a critical role or thinking about needs that you may have in the future, LinkedIn Jobs can help. LinkedIn screens candidates for the hard and soft skills you’re looking for and puts your job in front of candidates looking for job opportunities that match what you have to offer.
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Past guests on The Tim Ferriss Show include Jerry Seinfeld, Hugh Jackman, Dr. Jane Goodall, LeBron James, Kevin Hart, Doris Kearns Goodwin, Jamie Foxx, Matthew McConaughey, Esther Perel, Elizabeth Gilbert, Terry Crews, Sia, Yuval Noah Harari, Malcolm Gladwell, Madeleine Albright, Cheryl Strayed, Jim Collins, Mary Karr, Maria Popova, Sam Harris, Michael Phelps, Bob Iger, Edward Norton, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Neil Strauss, Ken Burns, Maria Sharapova, Marc Andreessen, Neil Gaiman, Neil de Grasse Tyson, Jocko Willink, Daniel Ek, Kelly Slater, Dr. Peter Attia, Seth Godin, Howard Marks, Dr. Brené Brown, Eric Schmidt, Michael Lewis, Joe Gebbia, Michael Pollan, Dr. Jordan Peterson, Vince Vaughn, Brian Koppelman, Ramit Sethi, Dax Shepard, Tony Robbins, Jim Dethmer, Dan Harris, Ray Dalio, Naval Ravikant, Vitalik Buterin, Elizabeth Lesser, Amanda Palmer, Katie Haun, Sir Richard Branson, Chuck Palahniuk, Arianna Huffington, Reid Hoffman, Bill Burr, Whitney Cummings, Rick Rubin, Dr. Vivek Murthy, Darren Aronofsky, and many more.
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