Sometimes in order to move forward, you have to move on. But how do you know when its time to give up on something you used to be passionate about rather than sticking with it to the bitter end? Well, when it comes to podcasting it’s never easy to get to the conclusion that your podcast has reached it’s ending. However, this doesn’t always have to be a bad thing!
Giving up on your podcast might be exactly what you need to do. Especially if you have lost interest and find yourself feeling stuck and unsure of a way out. Quitting your podcast can mean a new beginning for something else that you were meant to do. It can also be a celebration of all of the amazing memories you’ve made and the incredible guests that you’ve had on your show.
It’s really all up to you how you want to see it and how you want to end off your podcast to make room for something new to begin. To help you decide if this is where you are in your podcasting journey, here are the main reasons why it might be time for you to quit your podcast.
You Are No Longer Enjoying It
Usually, when we start something new we are always extra enthusiastic about it, coming up with new ideas, and spending every waking minute thinking about it and working on it! However, as time goes by that excitement can start to fade and what you’re left with is something you do just for the sake of doing it. Your enjoyment of it has gone, it’s become more of a burden, and you’d much rather be doing anything else.
This is definitely a sign that it might be time to move on. Bear in mind that over time your interests changes and that’s perfectly normal. If your podcast has become like a ball and chain weighing you down or just something you’re really not excited for, then it might be time for you to hang up the proverbial microphone. Your life should be created and filled with the things you enjoy doing, ultimately building a life that you love to live. So when things don’t love you back (including your podcast), it’s time to let them go.
Related read: How To Revamp Your Podcast for the New Year
You’ve Run Out of Things To Say
Each and every podcast topic is different. The amount of episodes your podcast has all depended on what topic you chose, but finding things to share with your listeners can become difficult after a while. It might also be that you started your podcast so you can share your story or knowledge with more people and once that’s done then your podcast has fulfilled its purpose and there is nothing more you’d like to share with them.
Of course, there are quite a few strategies to help you pivot from this so-called “stuck-ness”. When you’ve run out of things to say it is time to either pivot in a new direction or simply stop for good. First, try to repurpose your content or re-introduce older topics that your new listeners haven’t heard before. You can also spice it up with different guests, a new podcast format, or even shifting the topics towards answering listener questions. However, if there truly is no way to pivot your podcast, then it is time for a new beginning!
Related read: 5 Steps to Create Listener-Driven Content for Your Podcast
You Simply Don’t Have Time
As we all know, committing to a podcast full-time requires hard work and dedication. It also requires quite a bit of time to make sure that you are putting out a quality show for your audience. Of course, when you first began you were probably very excited to start your own podcast and had a plan to do it every day after work or maybe just work on it over the weekends, which worked for the first few weeks.
But after a while, you realized the amount of work and time that goes into creating a successful podcast and it has simply become too much for you to handle. You might have limited time a week to spend on podcasting because you have a full-time job, you want to spend quality time with friends and family, and your podcast is no longer one of those top priorities. We always prioritize and make time for the things that we are most passionate about. So if you no longer have time to prioritize your podcast that it is time to let it go.
Related read: 7 Tips to Make More Time for Your Podcast
Quit the Old to Start a New Podcast
Sometimes the end of one podcast can also mean the start of a new podcast. You might have originally started a podcast where you shared your thoughts and expertise about art. But now you want to talk a bit more about fashion, your other passion. Many of us have quite a lot that we can share with the world and one podcast might not be enough for you to express yourself.
Rather than completely rebranding your current podcast, simply find a way to end off the “season” and announce the beginning of a new podcast. By leaving your previous podcast intact and somewhat open-ended, you can always go back and launch a new season when your passion for that topic is spurred on again. While in the meantime, you can launch your new podcast and continue sharing your expertise while building a new audience targeted to the topic at hand.
Related read: 5 Reasons Why You Shouldn’t Start a Podcast
Can’t Keep Up With the Work
In the same way that a podcast can be demanding on your time, so too it requires a lot of hard work. Like with a lot of things, the more work you put in the more you will get out in results. Creating a podcast consumes a lot of your time and creativity. Not all of us are cut out for life as a podcaster, and that’s okay! Your podcast is your baby and all the hours you sit creating content, recording, editing and even sometimes scratching that entire episode and starting over can get tiring.
Maybe you didn’t think it through when you started your podcast or just got tired of the tons of little things that need to get done before you can even think about publishing your podcast. Podcasting is hard, so let’s just face the facts. But keep in mind, whatever you’ve achieved thus far should not go unnoticed. You should be proud of yourself for giving it a go, and for putting in the work of getting your message out to the world! So just because podcasting might not have been for you, don’t be disheartened. Refocus, re-energize, and get back out there to find what works for you!
Featured Image Credit: Isaiah Rustad
