Breaking Your Podcast's Format Isn't Always A Bad Thing

Consistency is often key in podcasting, and your show’s format is part of that. But your format is simply a tool that helps you better tell the story to your audience. Sometimes, a different tool may get better results.

Today's missive is for podcasters who adhere to a format. I’m one of them demonstrated on over 500 episodes thus far, my short form, single topic, monologue episodes.

But here's a reality check my chosen format, like your chosen format, is just a construct.

Chat cast. Headline rundown. Poem of the day. Narrative deep dive. These are all simply constructs.

Extremely helpful constructs that better craft the information presented in your episode, sure.

But what's more important? The information/story you're imparting/telling or the format you’ve chosen to tell it in?

If you said “the format”, then I’m afraid we can’t be friends. Or you need to buy me several beers as you attempt to convince me of your position.

Your audience is not here because you interview guests on your podcasts. They’re here for the information.

Your audience isn’t here because you do a solo show. They’re here for the insight and inspiration.

Your audience isn’t here because you include exactly three short headlines in your daily news roundup. They’re here to be caught up.

So sometimes, on occasion, and when it is really, really warranted, it's OK to temporarily eschew the construct if a different format better serves or compliments the story you’re telling with your overall podcast.

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Boostagram Corner

Thanks to Rich, Regina, Oscar, and Dane. Links in the next section.

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Links:

• Getting more than 10K downloads per episode? Talk to Gumball.fm! 

• Regina Revazoa - https://www.linkedin.com/in/regina-revazova/

• Open Conversation - https://www.openconversation.com

• Oscar Merry - https://twitter.com/MerryOscar

• Fountain podcast listening app - https://www.fountain.fm

• Dane Cardiel - https://twitter.com/danecardiel

• New Podcast Apps - http://newpodcastapps.com

• Give value for value for the show! - https://podcastpontifications.com/value-4-value

• Now booking sponsorships for 2022! - https://podcastpontifications.com/sponsor

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A written-to-be-read article and a full transcript of the audio of this episode can be found at https://podcastpontifications.com/episode/breaking-your-podcasts-format-isnt-always-a-bad-thing.

Visit https://twitter.com/evoterra for more podcasting insights from Evo Terra as they come.

Return the value-for-value of the podcasting wisdom of this episode and more at https://PodcastPontifications.com/support

And if you need a professional in your podcasting corner, please visit https://Simpler.Media to see how Simpler Media Productions can help you reach your business objectives with podcasting.

Allie Press assists with the production and transcription of the show. Learn more about Allie at http://alliepress.net.

Podcast Pontifications four times a week to provide ideas and ask questions every working podcaster should be thinking about. Subscribe/follow today at https://PodcastPontifications.com.

Photo by Anne Nygård on

Consistency is often key in podcasting, and your show’s format is part of that. But your format is simply a tool that helps you better tell the story to your audience. Sometimes, a different tool may get better results.

Today's missive is for podcasters who adhere to a format. I’m one of them demonstrated on over 500 episodes thus far, my short form, single topic, monologue episodes.

But here's a reality check my chosen format, like your chosen format, is just a construct.

Chat cast. Headline rundown. Poem of the day. Narrative deep dive. These are all simply constructs.

Extremely helpful constructs that better craft the information presented in your episode, sure.

But what's more important? The information/story you're imparting/telling or the format you’ve chosen to tell it in?

If you said “the format”, then I’m afraid we can’t be friends. Or you need to buy me several beers as you attempt to convince me of your position.

Your audience is not here because you interview guests on your podcasts. They’re here for the information.

Your audience isn’t here because you do a solo show. They’re here for the insight and inspiration.

Your audience isn’t here because you include exactly three short headlines in your daily news roundup. They’re here to be caught up.

So sometimes, on occasion, and when it is really, really warranted, it's OK to temporarily eschew the construct if a different format better serves or compliments the story you’re telling with your overall podcast.

-----

Boostagram Corner

Thanks to Rich, Regina, Oscar, and Dane. Links in the next section.

-----

Links:

• Getting more than 10K downloads per episode? Talk to Gumball.fm! 

• Regina Revazoa - https://www.linkedin.com/in/regina-revazova/

• Open Conversation - https://www.openconversation.com

• Oscar Merry - https://twitter.com/MerryOscar

• Fountain podcast listening app - https://www.fountain.fm

• Dane Cardiel - https://twitter.com/danecardiel

• New Podcast Apps - http://newpodcastapps.com

• Give value for value for the show! - https://podcastpontifications.com/value-4-value

• Now booking sponsorships for 2022! - https://podcastpontifications.com/sponsor

-----

A written-to-be-read article and a full transcript of the audio of this episode can be found at https://podcastpontifications.com/episode/breaking-your-podcasts-format-isnt-always-a-bad-thing.

Visit https://twitter.com/evoterra for more podcasting insights from Evo Terra as they come.

Return the value-for-value of the podcasting wisdom of this episode and more at https://PodcastPontifications.com/support

And if you need a professional in your podcasting corner, please visit https://Simpler.Media to see how Simpler Media Productions can help you reach your business objectives with podcasting.

Allie Press assists with the production and transcription of the show. Learn more about Allie at http://alliepress.net.

Podcast Pontifications four times a week to provide ideas and ask questions every working podcaster should be thinking about. Subscribe/follow today at https://PodcastPontifications.com.

Photo by Anne Nygård on Unsplash

Mentioned in this episode:

Support For Abortion Rights

While Americans overwhelmingly support the right of an individual to make their own decisions about abortion, unfortunately, that right is no longer protected everywhere in the U.S. The Supreme Court overturned Roe v Wade on June 24th.

Abortion is a basic healthcare need for the millions of people who can become pregnant. Everyone should have the freedom to decide what’s best for themselves and their families, including when it comes to ending a pregnancy. This decision has dire consequences for individual health and safety, and could have harsh repercussions for other landmark decisions.

Restricting access to comprehensive reproductive care, including abortion, threatens the health and independence of all Americans. Even if you live in a state where abortion rights are upheld, access to safe medical procedures shouldn’t be determined by location, and it shouldn't be the privilege of a small few.

You can help by donating to local abortion funds. To find out where to donate for each state, visit donations4abortion.com.

If you or someone you know needs help, or if you want to get more involved, here are 5 resources:

1. ShoutYourAbortion.com is a campaign to normalize abortion.
2. DontBanEquality.com is a campaign for companies to take a stand against abortion restrictions.
3. Abortion.cafe has information about where to find clinics.
4. PlanCPills.org provides early at-home abortion pills that you can keep in your medicine cabinet.
5. Choice.CRD.co has a collection of these resources and more.

We encourage you to speak up! And spread the word.

This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:

OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy
Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy
Podsights - https://podsights.com/privacy