I’m not going to lie, it still feels pretty surreal to write and see that number “100,000” attached to the download count for my podcast, The Fill Your Cup Podcast. It’s hard to believe at times because when I started The Fill Your Cup Podcast in December of 2018, while I had done thorough research of podcasts prior to, I still felt terrified to sit behind that mic and couldn’t even imagine it getting to where it is today (only 1.5 years later).

Now, The Fill Your Cup Podcast is one of my favourite aspects of my business and is one of the most common ways that people and prospective clients come across me and my business.

I often get questions about how to start a podcast and what I wish I knew before starting, which is why I rolled out my NEWEST guide, Podcast 101, which will answer all of your questions you have about starting a podcast (and more!). Trust me when I say, I wish I had something like this when starting a podcast because the set up of a podcast can actually be a massive headache (if you get irritated by new tech things really quickly like me). So what I did, is I made it super easy and simple and shared everything you need to know – and it’s only $28 buckaroos! You can get your copy here.

In addition to Podcast 101, I wanted to share some general thoughts about what I wish I knew before starting a podcast that will be beneficial for you too if you want to launch a podcast one day, too, or if you are in the early stages of running your podcast.

What I Wish I Knew Before Starting a Podcast

1. It takes time

This can be perceived in more ways than one, meaning 1) It takes time to GROW your podcast listenership and episode count 2) It takes up A LOT of your time. Being mindful of both when you’re first starting out will help you to not get defeated in the early stages of the game.

This is why I strongly advise against relying on motivation to do things, like setting out to lose weight and starting a podcast. That’s because motivation dies (life happens, things get busy etc, etc.).

Before you commit to your podcasting journey, make sure you have the capacity to take it on. What might help you in making that decision is figuring out what you want to use your podcast for and determining what frequency makes sense for you. Perhaps publishing your podcast in seasons and taking breaks makes sense for you, or maybe you want to work at it in “chapters” or “series” or sorts, so you aren’t expected to commit to it on a weekly ongoing basis.

No matter what you decide, be patient and KEEP. GOING.

2. It would be a really great way to support my business

I started my podcast as a means of supporting people who are struggling with emotional eating, knowing that emotional eating is often born out of people not meeting their basic needs, not putting themselves first, not … filling their cup! However, initially, I wasn’t very strategic with how it could actually benefit my business. Once I realized that most of my Intuitive Way For Eating clients were finding me through the podcast, I made a shift to ensure I was touching upon topics that prospective clients could really benefit from, and using ad space to inform them about my program offerings, so that they could get the help they need.

I realize now how amazing podcasting has been as a medium to connect with my audience. It not only humanizes you and your brand, but it also allows your prospective clients/customers to consume your content even while juggling busy lives, which like – who isn’t nowadays?!

3. The topics you touch upon WILL change your life

If you look back at the episodes from Season 1 of The Fill Your Cup Podcast, we talked a lot about walking away from friendships, relationships or a career that isn’t serving you. Actually, there is a specific podcast episode all about this that was very loved and appreciated and it’s with my dear friend, Tabitha Wills. You can tune into that episode here.

There was a point in the Season where suddenly I realized, that the subject matter we were touching upon in the episodes was going to force me to change because once you know something, you can’t “un-know” it.

I was hearing from guests who took big leaps and great risks in their own lives and basking in the fruits of their courage and bravery, and while I wanted to experience that so badly with the changes I knew I had to make, I was scared. But it truthfully was all of the people before me, and the stories and experiences they shared, that gave me the courage to make the scary decisions I made later that year in 2019 (i.e. leaving a 6 year relationship, leaving my job at Joyous Health) that have led me to the cup-filling, intuitive life I live and lead now – and for that, I am forever grateful.

4. Diversity is critical

Admittedly, this is an area where I’ve fallen short in the past, but am actively working on improving (and always open to feedback and suggestions, by the way!). But prioritizing diversity when podcasting is especially important to ensure you’re not only representing one “type” of lived experience (which, in my case, was the lived experiences of white people). By doing this, it makes the BIPOC sector of my audience feel isolated as the experiences I’m highlighting don’t speak to the truth of theirs. It also indirectly says “this experience is more important than yours”, which is so not the message I want to send.

If you are starting a podcast, consider how you can make diversity and inclusion a priority. If you have questions about this, I would recommend hiring a diversity and inclusion expert that could advise on this. My friend and former Fill Your Cup Podcast Guest, Ren Navarro (episode 69) would be perfect for this!

5. Don’t say “YES” if you really mean “NO”

When you start your podcast, and especially more so when it takes off, you will receive pitches from people, including friends, to be a guest on your podcast. As much as you may want to say yes to everyone, it’s important to stay true to your vision and if it doesn’t support your end goal, you need to get comfortable saying no.

There are times when I said yes, when my gut was trying to tell me “no” and I ended up not airing certain episodes (and wasting people’s time and potentially hurting people’s feelings).

It’s your baby, your vision, YOUR podcast. Don’t sway from what you had envisioned for it to please others. They will understand and respect you more for honouring your boundaries.

Final Thoughts

If you’re contemplating starting a podcast, GO FOR IT! I can’t recommend it enough. There are many parts of my business that I love, but hosting The Fill Your Cup Podcast is one of my favourite parts. There’s nothing I love more than connecting with guests (many that have turned into friendships) and hearing how the takeaways from each episode have impacted your life.

It’s always a bit nerve-wracking to get started, but my best advice is to START BEFORE YOU FEEL READY – because you might not ever feel ready!

Plus, I’ve done a lot of the “annoying” work for you in Podcast 101 by sharing everything you need to know to get your podcast started. I’m not joking when I say it will save you HOURS of work and research.

In Podcast 101, you’ll learn:

Should You Start a Podcast?

How To Know If You Should Start a Podcast
Should You Do It Alone Or With a Friend?
Why You Might Want To Consider Starting a Podcast
How Much It Costs To Start a Podcast
Benefits Of Having a Podcast

How To Start a Podcast

Naming Your Podcast
Podcast Album Art
What Equipment You Need To Start a Podcast
Hosting Your Podcast
Submitting Your Podcast To Podcast Platforms
Podcast Editing
Sourcing Intro/Outro Music
Booking Podcast Guests
Organizing + Planning (plus the template that I use)
Outreach + Outreach Template
Podcast Sponsorship: Rates + Getting Sponsors
Writing Show Notes

Setting Your Podcast Up For Success

Marketing Your Podcast
Converting Podcast Listeners Into Paying Customers
Putting It All Together & Making It Happen

You can get your copy here for only $28 (a TOTAL steal based on how much information is in here!). You’ll get access to everything I used and followed to reach 100,000 downloads on my own podcast, The Fill Your Cup Podcast.

And of course, if you have any other podcasting questions, or feedback about The Fill Your Cup Podcast, you are welcome to leave your thoughts in the comments below!

What I Wish I Knew Before Starting a Podcast: Lessons After 100,000 Downloads