The test of a first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposing ideas in mind at the same time and still retain the ability to function.
~ F. Scott Fitzgerald
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Opposing ideas →
Just create →
But the unintended consequence of, what one might call, total brand and business control, is that it diverts attention away from the most essential part of any creative profession. You know, making great stuff.
It’s hard to do that under ideal circumstances; harder still when you’re tweeting or visualizing your next Instagram story or flying to some industry conference.
~ Ryan Holiday from, Your Work Is the Only Thing That Matters | by Ryan Holiday | Human Parts
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The only thing better than finding something worth sharing is not realizing who the author is until after deciding to share it. Holiday—I’ve just learned—also writes on Medium, and I didn’t recognize the site title, nor his style. But that’s not my main thrust today…
An artist’s job is to create masterpieces. Period.
~ as above
Usually I’m all like: My latest podcast episode isn’t downloaded a million times? “Nobody loves me.” Paltry likes on Instagram? “Nobody loves me.” My LinkedIn post gets ignored? “Nobody loves me.” No new weekly email list signups? “Nobody loves me.” …ahem.
But sometimes I manage to remember to just. do. the. work. And then all’s right as rain.
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Half twist →
Continual awareness of all time and space, of the size and life span of the things around us. A grape seed in infinite space. A half twist of a corkscrew against eternity.
~ Marcus Aurelius
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Yes, relax →
This is the training. Relax the narrative, loosen your view, and drop into the openness of the present moment. Breathe deeply, and relax your body. Relax the jaw, relax the muscles in your torso. Feel the openness in this moment.
~ Leo Babauta from, Training to Be Relaxed in Stressful Situations – Zen Habits Website
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It took me a long time to understand that the only source of stress in my life is myself.
I’ve been in two car crashes where I’ve instantly gone from automobile operator to roller-coaster rider. I’ve been absolutely wiped out, in countless variations, in martial arts context. I’ve discovered mid-air that I’ve been launched off my mountain bike. I’ve been obliterated while skiing. I’ve had too many—I’m refusing to count—nearly serious automobile accidents where my driving skills, applied consciously with to-the-inch and to-the-split-second accuracy saved the day. I’ve had bones broken. I’ve been fallen upon, by a poor fellow who was saved from an 8-foot, head first, fall onto concrete… by the flex of my rib cage. I’ve been hit in the face with a max-power, line-drive, point-blank soccer ball penalty kick. I’ve been flattened by a skull-to-skull running-speed impact. Sucker-punched in the gut. T-boned into the sticker-bushes at high speed on a bicycle. Beaned by a 2×6 board. I once fell 12 feet from a tree with my head being the first thing to land… on a tree root. I’ve been clipped by a truck, and blown a bicycle tire at high speed, ending up happy to reach the ditch rather than the asphalt. I rear-ended a car at speed (on my bicycle.) I’ve been banged up, flipped over, slammed into, … but also yelled at, and put upon. I had someone angrily invoke the name of my dead father in an attempt to shame my actions. I’ve been laughed at, and picked last in gym class. I’ve run out of money and bummed rides to work. I’ve been chewed out by a boss. I’ve had my credit card declined while in public. I’ve been scammed by street hustlers, lied to by various people, and pre-judged in various dimensions.
…and I can now truthfuly say: The only source of stress in my life is myself.
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Spiritless men →
Fires can’t be made with dead embers, nor can enthusiasm be stirred by spiritless men. Enthusiasm in our daily work lightens effort and turns even labor into pleasant tasks.
~ Baldwin
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Audience with Tyler Williams →
What are the differences and challenges in engaging an audience across live performances, studio recordings, and podcasts?
Crafting a consistent identity for a podcast requires balancing creative freedom and audience expectations.
I started out thinking every episode of my podcast needed three actionable tips, something concrete so that even a stranger would walk away with value. But then I realized I was having so much fun just talking to my musician friends—those natural conversations became the real heart of the show.
~ Tyler Williams (8:07)
The conversation explores the differences between live performances, studio recordings, and podcasting, particularly how they affect the performer’s ability to connect with an audience. Live performances demand real-time adaptability, like responding to unexpected disruptions, while studio recordings offer intimacy and control. Podcasting, on the other hand, presents unique challenges due to the absence of a visible audience, requiring conscious effort to maintain energy and engagement.
Another key topic is podcast structure and identity. The discussion touches on title choices, episode intros, and whether podcasts should always deliver specific value, such as tips or insights. The importance of consistency and balancing creativity with audience expectations is emphasized, particularly as podcast creators experiment with formats, such as solo episodes versus guest interviews.
The conversation also highlights audience surprises, such as unexpected feedback on edited episodes, and the role of accessibility. Strategies for improving audience reach, including artwork and search relevance, are considered, alongside concerns over licensing agreements with platforms like Spotify.
Takeaways
Live performance adaptability — Engaging a live audience requires real-time reactions to unexpected challenges, such as disruptions or mistakes.
Podcast intimacy — Studio recordings and podcasts offer a controlled, intimate setting to connect with the audience.
Audience engagement challenges — Podcasting lacks direct audience feedback, making it harder to gauge and maintain engagement during recording.
Podcast identity and structure — Balancing creativity with consistent value, like including tips or key insights, helps define a podcast’s identity.
Episode titles and artwork — Titles and visuals impact whether a potential listener clicks “play” on an episode.
Audience surprises — Listeners often respond unexpectedly to certain episodes, highlighting the subjective nature of audience preferences.
Podcast format flexibility — Mixing guest interviews with solo episodes provides creative freedom without creating separate shows.
Licensing and platform concerns — Understanding the implications of podcast licensing agreements, particularly with platforms like Spotify, is crucial.
Accessibility of older episodes — The longevity of podcast episodes allows them to surprise creators long after publication.
Introductions and summaries — Crafting episode intros or show notes can range from minimal to highly curated, depending on the podcast’s style.
Resources
Hear Me Pod — Tyler’s podcast
Mac Power Users Podcast — A podcast offering tips and insights on Apple devices and workflows.
The Working Musician Podcast — A podcast discussing the challenges and realities of working musicians.
Anchor by Spotify — A free podcasting platform discussed in relation to its push for advertising and licensing agreements.
(Written with help from Chat-GPT.)
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Journey with Steve Heatherington →
What is the personal and professional journey of someone who engages deeply with podcasting and alpaca farming?
The challenge of helping alpaca owners led to building a community-driven podcast from scratch.
You’re onto a good thing when that happens—the resistance is an indicator and therefore you need to engage with that and find a way through it, round it, over it, whatever to get past it.
~ Steve Heatherington (8:59)
Craig and Steve engage in a conversation that spans podcasting, personal growth, and alpaca husbandry. They reflect on Steve’s podcasting journey, which begins with his intention to help his wife promote her book. Over time, this evolves into a deeper commitment to podcasting, leading to the creation of his show, Alpaca Tribe, and a role as a coach in podcasting workshops. Steve shares his experiences of learning the craft, overcoming challenges like imposter syndrome, and balancing different podcast formats such as solo episodes and interviews. The pair also discuss the significant time and effort required to develop a podcasting practice.
Steve’s passion for alpacas emerges as another key topic. He describes his life as an alpaca shepherd and shares how his podcast aims to help alpaca owners feel confident and fulfilled while caring for their animals. The discussion also delves into broader themes of creativity and growth, with Craig noting the similarities between podcasting and artistic endeavors like painting. They explore how both pursuits involve facing challenges and continuously improving. Steve emphasizes the importance of identifying a compelling problem to address, one that resonates deeply enough to sustain years of exploration and conversation.
Takeaways
Having a clear purpose — Revisiting “why” helps keep the podcast focused and aligned over time.
The power of curiosity — Sustained exploration and willingness to learn drive growth in podcasting.
Different podcast formats — Host-on-mic versus interviews create distinct challenges and require varied skill sets.
Imposter syndrome — Resistance often signals that you’re doing meaningful work worth pursuing.
Balancing storytelling with practicality — Melding stories with helpful information engages a broad audience.
The iterative process — Success comes from continuous refinement and revisiting foundational questions.
Starting small — Big ideas often begin as modest, practical experiments.
Resources
The Alpaca Tribe Podcast — A podcast aimed at helping alpaca owners feel confident and fulfilled.
The Pod Buffet — A curated platform featuring short, impactful podcast episodes.
Akimbo Podcasting Workshop — A workshop designed to teach podcasting skills and foster community collaboration.
Stephen Pressfield’s Blog — Mentioned in the context of overcoming resistance and creative challenges.
(Written with help from Chat-GPT.)
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Thinking →
If everyone is thinking alike, then somebody isn’t thinking.
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