Solo Podcasting vs. Podcasting With a Team – PCI 486

0:05 - Welcome to Podcast Insider. I'm your host, Mackenzie - Bennett, here with Dave Clemons from the Blueberry - team. - Hey. Hey. - Hello. We are missing Mike Dell also from - support and operations today. He is at Podcast - Movement, - because, you know, we... We're recording these episodes - a couple weeks before they go out nowadays. - It's making our lives much, much easier. So - you've just got the two of us today, - and we're talking about - doing a podcast solo and doing a podcast - with a team. We've both been on, - the either side of the coin... The the - coin here. So we'll see. - We'll see what we have to say.

0:47 - I guess my first question for you, Mackenzie, - is do you prefer to have a team, - or do you prefer to do it all - by yourself? - I think it's been more enjoyable, - to do it with a team. - Like, I've done it on and off over - the years with Mike and Dave and, - with Todd in the past, and - it was - sometimes easier - to just make a unilateral decision. When I - was doing it by myself, like, that was - great. I love being... Like, I I do - not have a hard time with with decisions. - That is just not how my brain works. - Now we're like, okay. We're... We've been working - together on it. It is - easier - to... I think it's less stressful - with - with a small team. I've never worked on - a big team before, so - I'd say probably I enjoy - doing it for work - with you guys.

1:47 - I'd... I enjoy doing it as a team. - If I was doing my own podcast by - myself, - I... Outside of work, - I think I would probably do it. I - would happily do it myself, - and not, like, - work with, - you know, a friend of mine or, like, - a past colleague or something like that. I - think I would - I think I would enjoy - it doing it alone. Doing it for the... - For Blueberry, - I prefer a team. If I was doing - my own show about something, - outside of work, I would probably do it - myself. - Yeah. I think anybody that... That's - had both experiences - would probably have a similar - answer. Like, that's kind of my answer.

2:36 - But I think, like... So for me, my - first show was a solo show. Like, I - did everything. - And then I added a co host. - And so there were two hosts, - but - still, I was the the the lone man - doing everything else. So I still call that - solo in a way. Yeah. - But then - I've also done a show where there's, you - know, six or seven people - that are part of it and doing various - things. And then I've also done podcast insider - where, - you know, like, now it's... There's three of - us, and we all kind - of agree this is the thing we're gonna - talk about. - It gets recorded, - and then, like, I'm doing editing right now.

3:18 - That may change at some point. But, - yeah, they're all kind - of different experiences. - And I think it just depends on the - show. I - I have gotten to a point where I - don't like doing solo shows anymore. I like - to have someone to bounce - things off of, - because as I've stated many times before, - I tend to ramble, and I will totally - lose the point of whatever the heck it - is I'm saying. - And so it's nice to have somebody there - to be like, you know, hey. Let... Let's - let's keep it on track. Let's quit Yeah. - Tangenting all over the place. - Yeah. The... One of the disadvantages - of doing it solo is if you are - not good at something, - you're gonna have to get good at it.

4:06 - Yeah. - When I did podcast insider, - AKA PowerPress podcast, when - I started years ago, - back in 2015, - I was recording, - getting the guests, doing the show notes, - editing - the recorded episode, doing the recording by myself. - And it was a lot, and there were - definitely parts of it that I was better - at than others. - So, like, it forced me to learn how - to do things, - But there were parts of it that I - still just did not excel at. - And that's that's, you know... - Like, if I was doing a show on - my own right now, I... One of the - things I would probably do is, like, well, - crap. Now I gotta, like, learn how to - edit like I like to edit.

4:53 - I'm like, because right off the bat, like, - the capabilities that I currently have with editing - are - not - up to par with what I would wanna - put out. - Yeah. So I know it would obviously, like, - get better as it goes on, but I... - That's probably one of the things that I - would, like, do for myself. I'd be like, - alright. I gotta figure this out. It's gonna - be terrible, and I'm gonna figure it out. - That's the attitude I've I've always appreciated from, - indie podcasters is the... I don't know what - I'm doing, but I'll figure it out. And - it's gonna be bad, and it's okay. - And that's... You know... If you talk to - any of us that have - done shows for, I don't know, - more than five years, six years, something like - that, we probably all have that same - mindset of - I'll figure it out, and I'm willing for - it to...

5:49 - I'm willing to let it be bad, - just so I can see my own improvement - because I just need to get the thing - out. That's that's one thing that I see - because I just need to get the thing - out. - That's that's one thing that I see a - lot - when I'm online and I'm looking at, you - know, podcast communities and Reddit and things like - that. - And I think I've talked about it before - where it's one of maybe my biggest gripes - personally because I see all of these new - podcasters that have all of - something. - They're just - like, - I - I - should be perfect at editing Mhmm. Today. Right? - Yeah. And I'm, like, I'm, like, I should - be perfect at editing Mhmm. Today. Right? Yeah. - And I'm like, well, how many episodes have - you done? And they're like, none. I don't - even have a microphone. And I'm like, why - are you worried about that? Record yourself.

6:34 - Figure out how you sound. Figure out how - to edit. - Right. You know? Do that by yourself.... Stomach - the sound of your own voice. - Yeah. I'm still trying to figure that out. - I think we all are. - But, - yeah. I mean, I guess... I feel like - the way that I got into podcasting - was a really good way to do it, - because - I started solo. - And I learned - more about who I was as a creator - and what I wanted out of - a final product. - And I got to hone my editing skills. - I've, - I've lost some of my speaking skills because - I haven't recorded regularly - outside of doing Podcast Insider.

7:19 - But I feel like I I developed a - lot of skills doing things by myself. - And then - that transitioned into - a team show - in good and bad ways. - Mhmm. You know? Because - on on the on the good parts is, - like - like, I've I've always been open and willing - to listen to other people's ideas about what - a show should sound like. - The downside is I'm also very particular about - what a show should sound like or the - way that a process - should be done. - And I don't encourage everybody - to go down that same route a 100%. - But, - I don't know. There's something about, like, figuring - out how to do it yourself - and then joining someone else.

8:07 - Because I think if if I had never - done a podcast before and - you or Mike had come to me and - were like, hey, - we need one more person for Podcast Insider. - You're the guy. - I don't know how I would have fared. - Like, everybody's - heard me, you know, goof and make fun - of myself just in these episodes - because I'm just out of practice. But, like, - I know what I'm doing, and I'm okay - at it. - But I I could not imagine just getting - thrown into a team - show and not knowing... Not having the background - that I have. - It's... I mean, it's definitely daunting.

8:48 - So - Todd somewhat did that to me. - He... - I think he... I mean, I think he - knew that I had worked in college radio, - when I, - you know, when I first got hired. But, - like, - my literal first day, - working at Blueberry, he was like, alright. So - we're... You're gonna be the host of the - new pod... Of the podcast. He's like, we're - gonna bring it back, and you're gonna do - it. And I was like, - alrighty then. - Wow. I'm gonna do it. - And - that's that's definitely the way that he worked. - He was like, we're just gonna figure it - out. And - I think, like, it's great that I had... - You know, I had been behind the mic - before, had been for four years, - and never really, like, thought about it too - much, to be quite honest.

9:37 - I - I just - have a pretty good sense of being able - to say, alright. Well, that's the way that - that is, and we're gonna move on. Right. - So - so I do a pretty decent job with - that, but it's definitely one of those things - with podcasting where you're like, alright. - This... It requires me to do this. It - requires me to get artwork. It requires me - to sign up for this - hosting account, but I guess I'm gonna figure - it out. It requires me to... - Maybe if I have the guts, take a - look at my stats every once in a - while. - Yeah. The scariest thing a podcaster can do. - Precisely. - Precisely. - I feel like that's one of the things - that you either look at too much or - maybe a little too...

10:21 - Maybe not enough. - Right. - I'm... I am the latter. I I don't - like looking at stats because it can do - one of two things. It can definitely inflate - your ego, or it can just deflate it. - Real fast. - Yeah. Yeah. - I think - rather than, I guess, being, like, super general - with some of my experiences, - I I think - while I do prefer working with a team, - I think it'd be difficult to work with - such a large team - again. - Not that I didn't enjoy doing the show - that I did, - but, - there... There's a lot of - cooks in the kitchen.

11:07 - And that is kind of a downside of - doing a team show, - where if you haven't kind of solidified - this is what the show is and this - is what we're expecting to put out, - it can get really difficult and very noisy - really fast. - You know, Podcast Insider, there are three of - us. And, - you know, there are other members of the - team that kind of, - they have some input on, like, hey. Like, - here's something you guys might add or change - a little bit. But - largely, - the three of us have, like, creative control - over - what the end product is. - And - that's that's pretty great because it also allows, - you know, for... Like, I have yet to - get feedback about, oh, man. Your editing was, - like, really bad - on this episode.

11:59 - But, you know, with a bigger team, I - have I have had things like that where - it's like, oh, dude. Like, you you left - this one part in there that we shouldn't - have left in, - and, that was embarrassing. - And - I'm like, oh, you could have told me - before I edited so that I knew it - was taken out. Or Yeah. You know, - especially with the show I was doing, like, - there would be some creative decisions of, like, - what, - you know, a monster would sound like or - a character would sound like. And I I - would be adding effects - or whatever to it. And I was like, - oh, well, that's not really - what we wanted it to be, but we're - gonna go with it because that's what you - chose. - It can it can be a lot more, - they're more politics - when you have a a much bigger group.

12:49 - But I guess if if, you know, you - sit down ahead of time and you've... You - just figure it all out and also be - willing to, you know, - flow a little bit as you go. - I think I think it could work out. - Like, obviously, you have these big celebrity shows - where - that is a team. And you have a - dedicated host. - And then you have an editing staff and - marketing and all of this other stuff. And - those are much bigger than anything I've ever - been - involved in. And they're successful. - So I think a lot of it is - just how do you organize behind the scenes. - And I've had shows that work well, like - podcast insider, but then other shows that don't - work as well as I would have liked - them to.

13:32 - So what's one or two things that you - would recommend for the the behind the scenes - stuff? - I think... - Again, it depends on the kind of show - that you're doing. - I think if you're doing a show like - Podcast Insider where it is kind of roundtable - style discussion - where we're not interviewing anyone. We don't have... - You know, we're just having a conversation, really. - I think that the thing that has been - most helpful for a Podcast Insider - type of show - has been - having a list of topics all planned out. - Like, we've we've got topics planned out to - the end of the year. And Mhmm. For - me, that's very helpful because it it gives - everybody time to go, well, - let's change the topic because this thing came - up, rather than we're going to record, and - then - you get sideswiped and, oh, we need to - change the topic.

14:31 - Yeah. - With a bigger show, - again, it it it depends on what you're - doing. Like, for the show that I did, - it was a drama. - It was an audio drama. So there was - a lot of - stylistic choices that hadn't been agreed upon beforehand, - largely because they weren't there. And then I - came on board, and I was like, it - should have this. And everybody was like, oh, - we'll just do what you want. And then - I would do what I want. And then - they'd be like, oh, maybe that's not what - we want. - So, like, - literally have team meetings. Like, that is always... - I have found that to be productive in - those bigger - bigger meetings.

15:15 - And just let everybody - give their opinions. You can vote on them. - Figure that out. - You gotta be kinda democratic about it, I - guess. I I think that answers your question - in the longest way possible. - It does - bring up the idea - of some some groups of people are gonna - do better when there is a quote, unquote - designated leader at the helm. Mhmm. And some - are gonna be - more - traditionally, - you know, okay. Each person does this type - of thing or - each person's - opinion has value or something like that. I - think for, - you know, for the big - celebrity shows that we're all used to nowadays - or coming from, - a news outlet or something like that, there - is a producer there. There's the host of - the show. And if they are celebrity, then - they are typically the, the be all end - all decision maker - Mhmm. Because they're the one making money or - the network.

16:21 - It goes... You know, there is a hierarchy - there. - Sometimes that works for people. Sometimes - people that are doing this - as a hobby are like, okay. Great. I - I happily wanna do this, but also, like, - I don't want the stress of making these - decisions in, like, our friend group, - all on my own. - And then there's just different dynamics between people - where it's like, no. We're we're gonna easily - be able to come to a consensus and - be fine. - Kinda similar to, like, a garage band. - Yeah. - You know? Like, - some of it's gonna be, oh, okay. So - and so is lead singer and lead guitarist, - and they're just... They are the leader, and - and we follow because we want to be - successful.

17:05 - And then there are the bands that it's - like, no. We are gonna have a decision - and talk about this type of thing. - Yeah. I... I've... Yeah. My show was kind - of like, oh, there's multiple lead singers. - How are we doing this? - So... Yeah. - Yeah. - I I think a lot of it is - just... Again, it's organization, but it's also communication. - If you are a big production, you can - just be like, okay, this is the person. - But when you're, you know, more independent and - you kind of just answer to your team, - yeah, you you definitely have to, like, - take the time to work that out. Definitely - do that first.

17:45 - Solo, you can do whatever you want. Nobody's - gonna argue with you. Your fans - and your audience, like, they might give some - feedback, and they're like, don't ever do this - again. But Yeah. Those are pretty few and - far between. - So, - good and bad. You know? Like, I I - don't like doing solo shows because sometimes I - get just a little lonely where I'm just - like, boy, this is really sad. - I'm I'm almost 40 years old, and I'm - talking about comic book movies. And - they're - cool, but I feel like a big dork - sitting in my office all by my lonesome - Yeah. Talking - about these things even though I absolutely love - them and don't really care what people think. - Yeah.

18:26 - There's there's some people who are so - so, - good at articulating - exactly what it is that they want to - get out by themselves - in more of a - monologue. And then there are the people who - could have - wonderful, - diverse, - well thought out ideas about a topic, - but can't seem to get them out of - their head - into a podcast, like, into a microphone without - someone else there with them. And there's, you - know, there's nothing wrong with that. I think - there's a lot of people who maybe are - doing... - May be stuck doing a solo show that - could be so much better with with someone - else there or people who are just like, - why am I talking to this person? I - feel like I'm - not - thoroughly enjoying this, - when I Now the truth is out. You - could just say it, Mackenzie. Jeez.

19:22 - I'm fired. Like, what would I do as - a podcast by myself? I don't even know - what I would talk about. - Yeah. Well, - if you if you look through my Blueberry - account, you can see all of the different - ideas I've come up with and decided not - to do by myself. - Yes. - Honestly, looking at, like, how many that, - how many ideas you and Mike and... - Have had and other people on the team - have had before where they're like, I wanna - do a podcast about this. And I'm like, - whatever happened with that? And you guys are - like, nothing. - Nothing. But you thought about it, and there's - nothing wrong with that. - Yeah. - Yeah. So... - So... Yeah. I mean, - to to kinda put a bow on this, - like, - you can either do all the work yourself - and - either get really, really good at a lot - of things or just okay at a lot - of things. Or you can work with a - team and just, - you know, be diverse. Like, McKinsey said, like, - you have a little garage band going on, - and you figure out who's playing what instrument - and who's the best at which instrument, and - you just go from there.

20:30 - I don't know. The longer we do podcast - insider, I'm like, dude, I don't know how - much of a lead singer I am. Like, - can I just go back here and play - bass? Because that... I can do that okay. - K. - You... I think you bring a lot of - value to the show, one, in your opinions. - But two, - you are doing editing, which - is not an easy task. - That is not an easy part of - the show. - So That's what that's what people say, and - I just don't get it. So I don't - wanna be, like, just a genius or something. - You know, it's I'm kidding. - It's very much, - if you're not doing it, - I'm certainly not gonna find the time, which - means Mike would be doing it.

21:15 - And Mike doesn't really want to do it. - So - that's that's the thing. You know? Whenever you - have a team, it is - very, very nice to know that you have - reliable coworkers and human beings in your life - that that are there for you when you're - doing your show. Because a podcast can be - stressful. If if you've got, like, you know, - a good setup, it's probably gonna be less - stressful. But some people thrive on stress. I'm - not one of them, but some people love - it. - So pick your, - pick your lane. There's no - perfect one - for people, - you know, for for every podcast.

21:58 - But - give it a try. You're never gonna know - unless you try. I think that's my biggest - thing with podcasting. - Yeah. And you can always change it, - to quote Mike, because he's not here. There - are no rules in podcasting, just, - best practices. - So... And this is not one of those. - Just do what feels good and bring on - a co host if you don't have one - and you want one. And if you have - one and you don't want one, - get rid of them. - Yeah. Heavy on the get rid of them - if you don't want them anymore. - Right. - Yeah. - Alright. - That's, I think that's our episode of Podcast - Insider today. So thanks everyone for listening, and - we'll catch you next episode.