It’s hard to believe that the festive season is already here, and as a podcaster, it can be a pretty crazy time! Joining us to explore the best holiday practices for podcasters is Jennay Horn, our very own Content Director at We Edit Podcasts!
In the spirit of the season, we use today’s episode to reflect on the past year and the many lessons we’ve learned from launching our flagship podcast, Business Beyond the Mic. You’ll hear our tips on how to make the holiday season extra special, from decorating your space to choosing festive topics for your bonus episodes, plus essential strategies on how to keep your momentum going over the holiday break. We also share our favorite selection of podcasts for getting into the holiday spirit and our advice going into the new year. Stay tuned for a delightful episode whose stocking is filled to the brim with festive joy!
Takeaways From This Episode:
To engage with your audience during the holidays, consider decorating your podcasting space and sharing holiday-related content. This could involve discussing your personal rituals, exploring stress-relief tips for the holidays, or delving into the history of holiday traditions. You can also create bonus episodes outside of your regular schedule, focusing on festive topics like favorite holiday movies, allowing you to stay connected with your audience in a fun and seasonal way.
For podcasters, maintaining momentum can be a key ally in your podcasting experience. But making time to switch off and take a break is also important. Luckily, there are some great strategies you can use to take time off without losing that hard-earned momentum, like recording in advance, doing batch recordings, and making sure all your social posts are ready to go. And don’t forget to communicate with your audience! They’ll want to know if you’re taking time off or have special holiday episodes coming up. The holidays are a great time to explore themed podcasts celebrating the festive season. Carli and Jennay share some of their favorites, including ‘Tis The Grinch Holiday Talk Show hosted by the green monster himself. This one isn’t just for the kids, parents will love the dry humor this curmudgeonly creature is known for! And if you’re feeling stressed, The Calm Christmas podcast with Beth Kempton is another wonderful recommendation to help you deal with the added anxiety that often accompanies this time of year.
For Carli, pivoting from being a full-time mom and getting back into her demanding role at We Edit Podcasts has been a joy, but the learning curve has been crazy on all fronts. While there are goals she had hoped to achieve by the end of the year, the amount she and her team have managed to accomplish in such a short time has been phenomenal. As we reflect and look towards the new year, it’s important to take stock of not only your wins, but also your misses, and embrace what you can learn from that.
When you host a podcast, you get to chat with some phenomenal guests, which has been one of the most exciting aspects of launching Business Beyond The Mic. From adopting a beginner’s mindset in podcasting to streamlining the process, Carli shares the biggest lessons she’s learned from guests this past year — and why she can’t wait for all the fascinating guests she gets to learn from once January rolls around!
If there’s one piece of advice that Jennay has for listeners as we go into the new year, it’s this: be kind to yourself. While it may sound cliché, it’s essential not to be too hard on yourself. Instead of measuring success solely by metrics or numbers, reflect on the areas where you’ve experienced personal growth throughout the year. When you look at all these different areas, you’ll realize you achieved a lot more than you think you did!
Quotes:
“There’s a lot of options out there to keep your momentum going without actually having to put in the work during the holidays.” — Carli van Heerden [0:11:24]
“We’re looking forward to the new year, but I think it’s so important to reflect and take stock of where you are. Look at your wins, maybe the misses and see what you can learn from that.” — Jennay Horn [0:20:05]
“My word this year has been reinventing — and it’s not to change who you are. It’s to continuously be working on yourself day by day, so that you are a better version of yourself than you were yesterday.” — Carli van Heerden [0:24:25]
“Look back at the year. You don’t have to measure success by your metrics. You don’t have to measure success by numbers. Look at the places that you’ve grown.” — Jennay Horn [0:31:12]
“Be kind to yourself in terms of what you have achieved. You really have achieved a lot if you look back and spread the glance back over so many different areas.” — Jennay Horn [0:31:32]
“Your time is valuable. Find ways to streamline it, so that you can love what you do, continue to love what you do, and enjoy spending time with those around you. Find those systems and those habits that really save you time and maximize your output.” — Jennay Horn [0:31:43]
“Maximize the output from less input, so that you always pour from a full cup.” — Jennay Horn [0:32:02]
Resources from Today’s Episode:
The Trial of Lucy Letby on Apple Podcasts
Scamanda on Apple Podcasts
Modern Love Podcast
Christmas Countdown on Apple Podcasts
Christmas Past Podcast
Welcome to Tinsel Town: A Christmas Adventure on Apple Podcasts
‘Tis The Grinch Holiday Talk Show on Apple Podcasts
The Midnight Carols on Apple Podcasts
The Calm Christmas podcast with Beth Kempton
Connect with Carli:
Business Beyond The Mic on Spotify
Business Beyond The Mic on Apple Podcasts
