Drumroll please, Friday 23rd February 2018 heralds the arrival of my new podcast, The Good Life Well Lived.
Assuming, I figure out the iTunes submission process before then…. And get the final files edited and uploaded…. And finalise the episode art work (who knew there was so much involved?).
Several times people have suggested to me that I start a podcast and the resounding answer has always been ‘no’. I really, really don’t like the sound of my own voice. Lots of people don’t like hearing the sound of their own voice so you might be able to relate.
I’ve long ago ‘got over myself’ and recorded videos for my paid programmes and I’m not adverse to the odd Facebook Live. For me video was easier than audio. Maybe because I was so distracted by examining my grey roots or my wonky eye that I didn’t notice my voice so much!
But a couple of weeks ago I came to the conclusion that I had to take this ‘getting over myself’ thing a step further and make my peace with hearing my own voice.
Why I Am Starting The Good Life Well Lived Podcast
At the start of 2018 I decided that I wanted to network more. Not the ‘slightly awkward stand in a room full of strangers dishing out business cards’ variety of networking, more the ‘connect with people online and then take the time and effort to arrange to have a proper conversation with them’ type of networking.
It’s been a really lovely experience. It is very easy to build up a superficial network on social media but themagic happens when you invest the time in getting to know people properly.
Now, I consider one of my ‘superpowers’ is to help people solve their problems by connecting them to the right person or resource. Inevitably what I was finding after my networking conversations was that I was saying to people ‘oh I spoke to this great person who could really help you, you should get in touch with them’.
Another one of my ‘superpowers’ is efficiency… why do things several times when it can be done once.
Which made me think, ‘why don’t I just record these conversations that I am having? Then other people can listen in too’.
The thought of it made me uncomfortable but then I recorded the first couple and the idea of sharing the conversations (and my own voice) with the world didn’t seem nearly as scary.
I then decided that while I was at it I’d record some solo episodes of me talking and sharing what I share on this blog but in audio format.
Some people prefer to listen than read, I get that. I love listening to podcasts on car journeys and whilst out walking. Maybe, just maybe, somebody would get value from listening to me.
Here is what I know
I Will Make Mistakes
At the moment this is a solo-initiative. If I decide to continue with it I will undoubtedly get a team involved to help with the editing and production. But at the moment it’s just me, doing the best that I can.
It ain’t slick. It ain’t polished.
As Ernest Hemmingway said “The first draft of anything is sh#t”.
I’m going to be pleased to get the first few episodes out there (my first draft) and get the sh#tness out of the way. It will get better. As I get more comfortable with myself and with the technology. But everybody has got to start somewhere, right?
I Will Think It’s Not Good Enough
Yes, I know. I’m constantly telling you that you are good enough. I’m constantly telling myself that I’m good enough. But I’m not immune to the voice of my inner critic asking me ‘Who do you think you are? Do you really think anybody is going to want to listen to you?’
The good news is that I have done A LOT to develop my own self-awareness and when that voice kicks in I know exactly what to do to put it in it’s place (gagged, blindfolded, put in a box and thrown to the back of the shoe cupboard, right behind that really stinky pair of old trainers).
It Will Be Fun
A while ago I was chatting to a friend about our ‘dream job’. I decided I wanted to be James Corden hosting Carpool Karaoke. Doesn’t he look like he is having the BEST time?
Quite often while he is singing along with guests he looks out of the window for a few seconds. I’m convinced in those few seconds he is thinking ‘I can not believe this is my life and I get to this AND get paid for it.’ Or maybe he is thinking ‘shall I have sausages for dinner?’. I like my version better. If anybody knows James, please ask him and satisfy my curiosity!
The Good Life Well Lived podcast is my version of Carpool Karaoke. Meeting and chatting with interesting people about topics that are important to me. I just hope I can convey the same enthusiasm that James Corden does!
So, how about it. Will you come and have a listen? Be gentle with me for this first few episodes while I am finding my feet. I’ll post a link here when it’s live on Friday.
Let me know what you think and if there is a specific topic you would like me to cover or somebody you think I should interview then leave a comment below.
Nx
