No Harm In Asking

Playing With Perspective - The Suspended Animation Podcast with Darren Saul

Are you so hung up on not pouring money into your podcast that you resort to simple but odd ways of breaking even? And by taking this "easy way out", are you preventing yourself from investing the time and effort into better monetization options?
Even with a few kinks to work out on the revenue side, Darren Saul continues to do what he does best, showcase his genuine likability. By tapping into his friends, acquaintances and local community contacts he uncovers interesting people and unique entrepreneurial ventures for a quick chat that is always enjoyable, but at times could go deeper for greater insight.
In this episode Mike and Eric review "Playing With Perspective - The Suspended Animation Podcast" where we discuss these observations and more, including: 
Should your podcast have two names? How deep should you dig when you're exploring someone's business, particularly if the person you're interviewing is a friend or close acquaintance? How much of a niche should your podcast have? Should you plug yourself, constantly, regularly or rarely? Does the title of your podcast need to communicate the general philosophy of the show?
For this review we will focus on Darren's March 10, 2022 episode: Funeral & Memorial Service Live Streaming! with Paul Sheaffe.
This episode can be found here:
https://podcasts.apple.com/hk/podcast/episode-182-funeral-memorial-service-live-streaming/id1486778755?i=1000553508108&l=en
https://suspendedanimation.podbean.com/e/episode-182-funeral-memorial-service-live-streaming-with-paul-sheaffe/

The Unspeakable Podcast with Meghan Daum

Many podcasters have decided that the road to success lies in the discussion of controversial and taboo topics. But does it?
Indeed, Meghan Daum is not afraid to talk about the “unspeakable”, including her own challenges with monetizing her podcast.
In this episode Mike and Eric review "The Unspeakable Podcast" where Meghan conducts candid, free-ranging interviews with artists, entertainers, journalists, scientists, scholars, and anyone else who’s willing to do the “unspeakable” and question prevailing cultural and moral assumptions.
If you choose to name your podcast “The Unspeakable” (or something similar), how controversial must your content be? Can you occasionally stray from this? Is the contentious element clearly obvious to the listener? If you decide to interview two guests at once, do you understand why and how these two guests will both add value to the discussion you’re trying to have? If you have a deeper and longer history with one of the guests, does this imbalance affect the interview? These questions and more are discussed in this podcast which is worth a listen particularly to see how engaged Meghan gets with her guests, and if this interaction could be improved upon.
For this review we will focus on Meghan’s November 1, 2021 episode: Bitter Homes and Gardens: Larry Clarke and Fielding Edlow on Staying Afloat, Staying in Love, and Staying Insured in Hollywood.
This episode can be found here:
https://www.theunspeakablepodcast.com/podcast/episode/2fc511a9/bitter-homes-and-gardens-larry-clarke-and-fielding-edlow-on-staying-afloat-staying-in-love-and-staying-insured-in-hollywood
We also talk about Meghan’s struggles with monetization and how much we enjoyed her very candid self-reflection in this episode:
https://www.theunspeakablepodcast.com/podcast/episode/e5dcaeef/why-this-show-is-a-failure-a-song-of-joy-and-peace
 

Entrepreneurs On Fire with John Lee Dumas

“Boom shake the room Fire Nation listeners,” in this episode Mike and Eric review the podcast "Entrepreneurs On Fire" with John Lee Dumas. “EOFire” is an award-winning podcast where “JLD” interviews inspiring entrepreneurs looking for specific gems to share in episodes typically under 30 minutes. 
If you're struggling with monetization and looking to see how one of the best in the business has developed a system that includes daily (that’s right daily) podcasts, affiliate marketing, sponsorship, short podcasting advice videos, books, and more, JLD is well worth checking out. Indeed 3,000 episodes and 10 years in the trenches does result in some valuable lessons.
Should you have a mantra for each podcast, like ensuring you deliver “3 Value Bombs” per episode? Can you be too over the top? Can being the hardest working guy in the industry pay off? Are entrepreneurship-focused podcasts the easiest ticket if profitability is your main goal? How important is relatability to your audience when it comes to podcasting? These questions and more are discussed in this podcast which is worth a listen just to understand what’s possible if you dedicate yourself to the craft and work your tail off!
For this review we will focus on JLD’s December 3, 2021 episode: Isolation is the Enemy of Excellence with Aaron Walker.
Entrepreneurs On Fire can be found here: 
https://www.eofire.com/podcast/aaronwalker5/
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/entrepreneurs-on-fire/id564001633

Mea Culpa with Jeffrey Broer

In this episode Mike and Eric review the podcast "Mea Culpa" with Jeffrey Broer based on his successful Postmortem Conferences in Hong Kong on the lessons learned in startups. In Startup Mea Culpa Jeff interviews people who are open about their entrepreneurship journey, the decisions they made that turned out poorly, what they learned from it and what the impact on their life has been. Jeff has contributed greatly to the local startup scene in Hong Kong and thus, we're excited to review this podcast. If you're not naturally chatty,  what kind of questions can you ask to get things going? How do you know when to go "off script"? How should you end your podcast? These questions and more are discussed in this podcast which is sure to be a favourite of anyone that dares to call himself or herself an entrepreneur in Hong Kong.
For this review we will focus on his March 26, 2020 episode - Both sides of the table with Fritz Demopoulus.
Startup Mea Culpa, The Podcast can be found here: 
https://www.postmortemconf.com/mea-culpa-podcasthttps://caster.podbean.com/e/both-sides-of-the-table-fritz-demopoulus/

Forever is a Long Time by Ian Coss

In this episode Mike and Eric review the podcast "Forever is a Long Time" by Ian Coss. A "one-off" production, Ian has delivered a masterpiece combining interviewing, storytelling, music, and personal reflection showcasing the power of the medium. Over the course of 5 episodes, through interviews, reflections and discussions with his wife, Ian Coss documents the circumstances around how every living member of his family, who had ever been married, had also gotten divorced. How can a single podcast series of just a few related episodes build your brand? Why does editing matter? What makes this so powerful to listen to? How does Ian instill such intimacy into this production? These questions and more are discussed in this podcast that The New York Times named as one its "10 Best Podcasts of 2021".
"Forever is a Long Time" was released on August 19, 2021. It can be listened to here: 
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/forever-is-a-long-time/id1570813696https://snapjudgment.org/episode/forever-is-a-long-time/https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-forever-is-a-long-time-84623293/

A Slight Change of Plans with Maya Shankar

In this episode Mike and Eric review the podcast "A Slight Change of Plans" hosted by Maya Shankar. Conceived in 2021, it was selected as Apple Podcasts’ Best Show of the Year and is now in its second season. In this podcast, Maya leverages her background in social and behavioural science alongside personal teenage tragedy into beautifully composed stories of resilience in the face of change. What unique combination of attributes might you possess that can be combined into a killer podcast? Is being nice under any and all circumstances a winning podcast strategy? Should you stick with your theme 100% of the time? How can you use editing to effectively move listeners through your podcast? What tricks can you use to engage your listener without constant conversation? These questions and more are discussed in this award-winning podcast.
For this review we will focus on her November 22, 2021 episode - The Science of Grit with Angela Duckworth.
You can follow @DrMayaShankar on Instagram.
Her podcast is available here: https://www.pushkin.fm/show/slight-change-of-plans/

Minnie Questions with Minnie Driver

In this episode Mike and Eric review the podcast "Minnie Questions" hosted by actor Minnie Driver. Conceived in 2021, it is now in its second season. In this podcast, Minnie poses the same seven questions to each guest based on the famous Proust Questionnaire, a set of questions answered by the French writer Marcel Proust. Should you attempt a podcast where you ask the same question of each guest? Can you venture "off script"? Can this last? If the guest knows the questions ahead of time, does this reduce the spontaneity of the interview? These questions and more are discussed in this fun podcast whose host shows her wit, charm and intelligence while talking to politicians, entertainers, writers and journalists.
For this review we will focus on her May 19, 2021 episode where she talks to Tony Blair, former Prime Minister of the UK and current Executive Chairman of the Institute for Global Change. 

Story Worthy with Christine Blackburn

In this episode Mike and Eric review the podcast "Story Worthy" hosted by Christine Blackburn. Each week, as she's done for over 700 episodes, Christine talks to, laughs with and asks probing questions to Hollywood’s most talented comedians and entertainment writers. The opening banter is all a precursor to the reason people tune in, when each guest shares a true, personal story delivered to the best of their comedic ability. Why has this format lasted so long (11 years and counting)? What makes Christine so fun to listen to? What consistent strategy does she use during the first few minutes to "break the ice" and promote past episodes? How does she reel us in with the great titles she uses on each of her episodes? These questions and more are discussed in what has now become a mainstay in the Los Angeles podcasting scene.
For this review we will focus on episode #706 - The Dark Side of Disney with animator and podcaster Frank Sasso.
More info is available on the website: https://www.storyworthypodcast.com
Follow Story Worthy on Twitter and Instagram at @StoryWorthy
 
 

No Harm In Asking - About

Welcome to No Harm In Asking. Do you ever wonder why some podcasts are so successful? Do you wish you could replicate the success of some of the top podcasts? So do we. And we believe there is no harm in asking, so we are questioning everything about how podcasts are produced, hosted and monetized. We hope you follow along on our journey.
 
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