I’d tell anyone who wants to be a podcaster the same thing others have recommended – find a niche you’re passionate about and willing to be immersed in. ~ Chronicles Of A Seawoman: A Collection Of Poems
Clearly, I can’t disagree with that. Anytime you choose a new endeavor, you increase your odds of success to the degree you go all in. It may not be the same for everyone, but when I feel strongly about a cause, topic, or person and I take action, there’s a reason. A goal. That was also the case when my friend and former colleague, Ryan Borawski, decided to take a dip in the crowded waters of podcasting, but he didn’t start his social media adventure by podcasting.
Factoids about Ryan's Podcast
- Shifted focus to podcasting from Twitter (now X) and Instagram.
- Changed topic from sports to business and practical life and started Ryse with Ryan.
- Gets his ideas [often] from Tony Robbins, to the extent those ideas relate to his life.
- Released over 1,250 episodes in the last 5 years. This is no small thing. Per Reddit, over 90% of podcasters don’t make it past 3. Yes, 3 episodes. The next 90% quit after 20 episodes.
- Being faithful to the process has facilitated longevity.
- Interviewed a few people, but interviews complicate timing, for one.
- Records episodes using Garage Band and uploads to Spotify. No, it won’t be that easy for you – he did video editing as a graduate assistant in college.
- Made available on Apple, Spotify, and Listen Notes.
- Episodes average 5 minutes.
Directional influences
Less than a dozen years ago, Ryan provided life coach counseling in addition to his full-time career, and he used Instagram to complement his work in that area. He highlighted inspirational quotes from sports figures in his posts and he published those to encourage and motivate people just like he does today. However, life happens. With inevitable changes in family dynamics, goals and motivations change as well. Ryan is now married and he is a father of sons. Obviously, what he aspired to accomplish 10 years ago pales in comparison to his current vision.
While Ryan has always had a passion to energize and motivate others, he has begun to look beyond this life to consider the question, “What will you be leaving when you go?” For parents, of course, this is not a rhetorical question. We all want to be able to leave material goods to our children, but there’s a better-than-average chance they won’t need your stuff. They do need something from you, though.
Their first and primary influencer
Your children need you. When you’re gone, they need to know what you would say or do in a specific situation. As I have reached the last quarter of my life (probably), I can tell you that I will never be old enough to know more than my parents know.
Ryan realizes this as well, and part of his goal now is to leave a legacy for his sons. Some day, after he exits this life, they will be able to hear his advice and understand his perspective on a wide variety of topics through his podcasts. Do they care right now? Hardly. They aren’t even aware of his podcasts at their tender ages, and they might be equally apathetic when they are in their teen years. Nevertheless, in a few decades when they are adults, and especially when they reach middle age, the words in his voice will be a great gift.
So, what are you leaving?
Obviously, we cannot all be podcasters or involved in any endeavor that captures our voices, and even fewer of us have a YouTube channel. But most of us have smartphones. We could probably create videos or audio recordings, even if they consist of only one recording and even if it’s only five minutes long. No matter if you stumble over a phrase or mispronounce something, the people who love you will still be able to say, “I can hear him now.” And they can mean it, quite literally. In the traditional sense of “literally,” not the new version.
On the other hand, some of us would rather write and that’s an excellent legacy as well. I have a postcard Daddy sent me more than 35 years ago, and I love just being able to see his handwriting again. My mother paints and I have a dozen of her paintings hanging in my home. She also wrote her autobiography some years ago, and that’s a piece of my history I wouldn’t have been able to accumulate otherwise. Her art and her writing represent her talent and her interests and that’s part of her legacy. Those items are priceless. After all, what is more valuable than an inheritance that expresses a person’s thoughts, whether those are auditory or visual?
And then what?
Happily, this is one time I’m a little ahead of the game. I do have a YouTube channel with a few videos on it, and I plan to add more. Maybe I’ll worry less about making them close to perfect and focus more on making them reflect who I am every day. You know, the Gayle who has a great vocabulary, but is occasionally as air-headed as a latex balloon. That way, whoever is listening will know the person talking isn’t an imposter. Yes, I’ll do this even though I don’t like the sound of my voice, as mentioned in a post a few weeks go.
Anyway, that’s my plan. As with the fairy tale reading, I’m open to audits from my friends. Some of you might want to get started with recordings, YouTube or not, and I’m glad to help as far as my skills take me. So, who’s up for it?
You?
I have a long and growing list of things I wish I had known as a young person…..probably things I was told at the time but apparently not in a teachable moment. Wife just gave me a little plaque that reads, “It is perfectly okay for you to talk to yourself, It is also perfectly okay for you to answer yourself…….but it is sad that you have to repeat yourself because you were not listening.” Not sure why she would give that to me.
I am not sure why she would do that either. 🙄