The Anycast with Matt Levine

In Case You Missed It... Lou Mongello, the vibrant host of the WDW Radio podcast, takes us on an enchanting journey filled with magic, resilience, and the power of following one's dreams. From his early days as a lawyer in New Jersey to becoming a celebrated Disney content creator, Lou shares how his passion for Disney, sparked by cherished family trips and nostalgic Sunday night movies, propelled him to overcome 47 rejection letters before successfully publishing his Disney trivia book. Tune in to discover how Lou turned setbacks into stepping stones and learn about the ever-evolving landscape of book publishing and podcasting that has empowered enthusiasts everywhere to share their passions. Our conversation doesn't stop there. We explore the latest magical transformations at Disney parks, including the captivating Tiana's Bayou Adventure in Magic Kingdom, a reimagined experience that beckons lovers of princess tales. With highlights like the Frozen attraction in Epcot and the cutting-edge Galaxy's Edge for Star Wars aficionados, Lou explains why staying on Disney property amplifies the storytelling magic of your visit. Whether you're a lifelong Disney devotee or new to its wonders, this episode promises delightful insights into Disney's growing influence and the vibrant world of podcasting.     LouMongello.com WDWradio.com 102 Ways to Save Money For and At Walt Disney World by Lou Mongello theanycast.com/s2e3

Matt Levine talks to Lou Mongello, a former attorney who left the practice of law to follow his passion for Disney. They discuss the business side of running a podcast, ways to consistently create unique experiences for your audience, and lessons from Disney World that you can apply to your business immediately. Lou is a passionate keynote speaker, mentor, and host of WDW Radio, a podcast, live video, site, events, books, and tours dedicated to celebrating the magic of Walt Disney World, the Disney Parks, Disney Cruise Line, Marvel, and Star Wars. Lou starts the conversation by sharing why he switched from practicing law to building a Disney-inspired business. Lou talks about writing and publishing a book today versus twenty years ago. The best part about writing a book today is that there are no more gatekeepers. There are many platforms that will help you get the idea from your mind and onto paper. Lou shares what it was like getting 47 rejections from book publishers and what he did to persevere. According to Lou, the key to overcoming rejection is to never take rejection personally and never question the validity of your concept. Matt and Lou talk about the dos and don'ts of starting a business and whether it’s advisable to go all in or have a safety net for when things don’t go as planned. For Matt, it makes sense to always have a safety net when starting a new business, especially if you have a family to provide for. But once you decide to do something, give it 100%. Matt explains why Being different is better than being better. You should never convince somebody that you're better than your competition. You’re better off explaining why you're different. Lou shares his thoughts on niching down and why even in your own niche, you can’t expect to resonate with everyone. Love and enjoy what you do every day. The day it stops being fun is the day you stop doing it. Lou covers the benefits of doing a live podcast recording versus uploading an edited podcast. For Lou, the most rewarding part of running a coaching business is seeing people learn, do the work, and come out different on the other side. Matt explains why he believes ideas today are worthless--especially if you don’t execute them. Having a plan and talking about what you will do is all great. But nothing beats going out and doing the work. For Matt, inspiration is for amateurs, professionals show up and do the work. Lou is a big fan of creating your best content because you never know who's listening and you never know the type of impact you’ll make in the world. Lou talks about The Dream Team Project--an initiative dedicated to bringing joy to seriously ill children and their families by making their dream of visiting Walt Disney World come true. Lou covers the theme of everything he does--it's not about doing things at scale. It's about connecting with one person and having a positive impact on their lives. Most creators are obsessed with vanity metrics and growing the size of their audience. According to Lou, instead of focusing on getting as many followers as possible, creators should focus on the people who are already part of the community. Take care of them and not only will they be loyal to you, they will also become your most vocal evangelists. Matt and Lou break down the evolution of podcasting--where we are right now, what the future holds, and whether it makes sense to start a podcast today. AI will not put podcasters out of business, but it's going to put podcasters who don't use AI out of business. For Lou, AI is a tool, it's not a replacement. Let it make you more efficient, let it make you more effective, but what you create still has to be authentically you. Matt and Lou close the discussion by talking about all the hot, new attractions in Disneyland and what it takes to create an immersive experience for both kids and adults.      Mentioned in This Episode: LouMongello.com WDWradio.com 102 Ways to Save Money For and At Walt Disney World by Lou Mongello theanycast.com/s2e3

Full episode launches on November 28

In Case You Missed It... Podcasting trailblazer Elsie Escobar, a Hall of Fame inductee and the Director of Community and Content at Libsyn, joins us to share her journey and insights into the world of podcasting. Elsie takes us back to her innovative beginnings in 2006, with a yoga podcast that flipped the script on teaching visual classes through audio. Her passion for fostering understanding and accessibility in podcasting beyond individual shows is contagious, as she emphasizes the medium's potential to open new worlds to its audience. Elsie advocates for a collective effort among podcasters to demystify the art of podcasting and reach out to those who might not yet understand its benefits. Throughout our conversation, Elsie reflects on her experiences as an immigrant from El Salvador and the transformative power of podcasting in amplifying diverse and often underrepresented voices. Her personal journey illustrates the medium's capacity to expand worldviews and build community connections. Elsie challenges misconceptions, urging podcasters to share their enthusiasm for this dynamic medium in a way that highlights its inclusivity and potential to bridge cultural gaps. Join us for an inspiring discussion with one of the most influential voices in the podcasting industry.     Elsie Escobar on Instagram Marketing Over Coffee Podcast Syndicating Web Sites with RSS Feeds For Dummies by Ellen Finkelstein theanycast.com/s2e2

Matt Levine talks to Elsie Escobar, an 18-year-plus podcasting veteran, mentor, strategist, and inductee to the Academy of Podcasters Hall of Fame. They discuss the history of podcasting, what you must do to thrive in the new age of podcasting, and how to stand out in a world where thousands of creators are doing the exact same thing you’re doing. Elsie starts the conversation by describing what a podcasting advocate is and how podcasting has evolved from 2006 to now. She shares what a podcast is not and why there is still a lot of confusion around podcasting. Matt and Elsie discuss how podcasting started, the evolution of the space, and where the industry will be in the next five years. According to Elsie, the competition for podcasting is not radio or other podcasts; it’s anything people can do instead of listening to a podcast--this includes YouTube, movies, video games, etc. Elsie shares how she started her very first podcast, what it was like hosting an audio-only podcast, and the type of people who consumed her content. How podcasting went from being odd and weird to becoming cool and hype. Elsie and Matt agree that the constant demand to be visible, to be creating content, and to be pushing things out is what makes creators miserable. How to stand out in a world where thousands of creators are doing the exact same thing you’re doing. Elsie breaks down ways podcasters can be successful in today’s ultra-competitive market and the difference between building an audience today and building an audience in 2005. Podcasting is super competitive. Elsie’s advice for new podcasters is to focus on serving a small but engaged audience instead of trying to be the next big thing. When we create content online, everybody’s dream scenario is to go viral. According to Elsie, virality is not real because it’s almost impossible to replicate the virality that people crave. Elsie talks about the complexity of managing extremely large audiences. Once you start reaching millions of people, the freedom of saying and doing whatever you want goes away. Matt and Elsie talk about the identity challenge--and why most podcasters cannot separate their creative side from their personal life. Elsie describes what it’s like to be a woman in podcasting and why we need more diversity in podcasting--diversity of thought, language, and voice. Elsie explains what makes a podcast popular and whether there is a formula for becoming famous online. Why podcast metrics are not too different to those of broadcast television. What will podcasting look like 10 years from now? Elsie talks about the future of podcasting and why podcasts need to evolve to meet the expectations of the newer, younger generation. Matt describes how the model for publishing podcasts has changed. Right now it’s less about publishing content and more about making sure people see enough ads. Is it possible to get rid of ads in the content we consume? Matt and Elsie agree that it’s almost impossible because we live in a world where ads pay for everything. Elsie goes through the pros and cons of online ads and why she doesn’t like social media algorithms. According to Matt, the main reason social media sites use algorithms is so that you can keep seeing the stuff that you want to see without paying. For Matt, people love being sold to. They just don’t like being sold stuff they don’t want. Elsie talks about AI, how it will change the podcasting space, ways to use AI in your content creation process, and how to stay relevant in a world full of AI-generated content.      Mentioned in This Episode: Elsie Escobar on Instagram Marketing Over Coffee Podcast Syndicating Web Sites with RSS Feeds For Dummies by Ellen Finkelstein theanycast.com/s2e2

Full episode launches on November 7

In Case You Missed It... Ever wondered how podcasting has evolved from its early days to the era of AI? Join us as we sit down with industry veteran Paul Colligan, who has seen it all from the days of Audible's groundbreaking audio vision to co-founding the Podcast Partnership. Paul's journey is a testament to the seismic shifts and growing pains in the podcasting landscape, where the influx of money and new participants has created both opportunities and confusion. We'll take you through the highs and lows of this dynamic medium, reflecting on how technology and timing have shaped its course. What happens when AI meets podcasting? In our second segment, we tackle the ethical and creative dilemmas that editors, writers, and creators face in this brave new world. While the rise of AI brings anxiety about the loss of artistic control, it also offers remarkable tools to enhance quality by automating mundane tasks. We critically examine whether disclaimers for AI usage are necessary, drawing interesting parallels to other forms of digital art. Can AI make podcasting more authentic and meaningful? Paul shares his unique insights into this ongoing debate that is set to redefine creativity itself. Finally, we strip away the myths surrounding podcast success. Discover why timing and luck often trump merit, and why great content alone isn't a guarantee for a massive audience. Through vivid anecdotes and industry secrets, we highlight the importance of understanding your specific audience and setting realistic expectations. Whether you’re an aspiring podcaster or a seasoned pro, you’ll find valuable lessons on audience engagement and growth strategies. Tune in to learn why persistence is key and how to navigate the uncertain middle phases of podcast development, ensuring your journey in this competitive field is both fulfilling and effective.     Mentioned in This Episode: Paul Colligan on X How To Podcast Volume 4.0 by Paul Colligan Podcast Strategies: How to Podcast - 21 Questions Answered by Paul Colligan theanycast.com/s2e1

Matt Levine talks to Paul Colligan, author of the #1 Top Selling "How To Podcast" and CEO of The Podcast Partnership – where he helps people monetize their audience through podcasting. They discuss the evolution of podcasting, ways to make a living from your podcast, and how to give your audience value in exchange for their attention. Guest Paul Colligan shares his podcasting journey from the year 2000--and how his company, Podcast Partnership, partners with people to help get their podcast out the door. Paul starts the conversation by describing where we’re at in the podcasting lifecycle and whether it’s too late to start a podcast.   He believes that although there's a bit of confusion about what podcasting really is, there's still a lot more money in it.  Paul and Matt cover how AI is changing the podcasting landscape. According to Paul, AI is here to stay, and although podcasts will not be replaced with AI podcasts, they will be replaced with podcasts that use AI. For Paul, a podcast is a transaction--you trade value for attention. You give somebody value in exchange for their attention. Paul explains how different types of podcasts make money--and the numerous ways you can make money from your podcast.    Paul and Matt break down the attention war and how other podcasters, Netflix, political parties, media outlets, social media sites, companies, and individuals want a share of your audiences’ attention. To be successful in podcasting, all you have to do is to be better than drive time radio. When solving a problem, people want the most convenient solution in the market. It doesn’t matter if you’re better, cheaper, or just average. You will get customers if you’re convenient. Paul explains why discoverability is crucial for podcasting success. Your podcast needs to be discoverable so that you can be found by the people who are actually looking for you. Paul and Matt talk about the main objective of podcasting and why the primary goal of all podcasts should be getting customers, not getting crazy numbers like Joe Rogan. Paul explains the difference between downloads and consumption. According to Matt, it’s unfortunate that most marketing spend in the world today is on stuff that can't be tracked. Paul shares his thoughts on podcast trackability and the only metrics that matter for podcasting success. Paul talks about where the podcast landscape is right now, where it will be in the next seven years, and how to win in the future of podcasting. Matt shares what the audience can expect from season two of the podcast--and the type of guests he’s looking for.     Mentioned in This Episode: Paul Colligan on X How To Podcast Volume 4.0 by Paul Colligan Podcast Strategies: How to Podcast - 21 Questions Answered by Paul Colligan theanycast.com/s2e1

Full episode launches on October 17

Tech entrepreneur and boat aficionado Kris Beevers joins us for a compelling conversation on Anycast! From his unique lifestyle living on a boat in Singapore to pioneering influential tech startups like NS1 and NetBox Labs, Kris offers an inside look at his extraordinary journey. We unpack the evolution of NetBox, an invaluable open-source network management tool, and its pivotal role in network documentation and automation. Kris delves into the transformative impact of open-source technology on the networking industry, advocating for an ecosystem that fosters innovation and breaks down the barriers of traditional vendor silos. The camaraderie between Kris and Matt shines through in a heartfelt discussion about their enduring friendship and professional adventures. They share memorable moments and the meaningful insights they've gathered over the years. Kris expresses his deep gratitude for joining the conversation and looks ahead to future interactions, whether online or face-to-face. This episode is brimming with connection, appreciation, and excitement for the future of digital networking—tune in for an inspiring and informative dialogue!   Kristopher Beevers on LinkedIn NetBoxlabs.com