How an Idea Became an Emerging Podcast in 2 Weeks in 2021? ft James Loren - Host of Podcast Tactics

I feel very strongly that people should just go for it. You know, try not to overthink it. You do want to have a plan, like, you know, know what your vision is for what your podcast is going to be. Try to write that down, but don't let doubt stop you.

Hey, guys. This is Avi Arya, father of two girls, six dogs, husband to a superwoman, a streetcar racer turned hotelier, now social media marketer and founder of Internet Moguls. Welcome to my channel. James Lauren, welcome to the Askavi Arya show, where we introduce Internet moguls like yourselves to people in India, in Vancouver, and many parts of Asia. People like yourselves who understand technology, who understand how the human connection works. James, I always say, the shortest distance between two human hearts, it's always a story. Tell somebody a story and you win them for life. So just right off the bat for our audiences, can you tell us your story?

Well, my story is a couple of weeks ago, around Valentine's Day, I had an idea for a podcast. It was to feature. It was a podcast that would feature new podcasters or up and coming podcasters. And so I threw an idea out there in a Facebook group and did not have any experience with podcasting just starting out, and the reception was awesome. I got a lot of offers for people to come on as guests to a show that did not exist. And so, yeah, that's two weeks ago, I had nobody interested in a podcast, and now I up to 30 interviews done to date, and I've got, I think, another 30 to go before I am actually able to launch later on this month. So I've been busy with that. Yeah. All of a sudden, I'm thrust into the podcasting limelight.

Awesome. Awesome. So you want to tell us a little bit about when people talk about podcast, they want to hear about gear. Would you like to talk to us a little bit about gear?

Yeah, I mean, so for me, you know, my gear is extremely simple. At this point right now, I wanted to kind of keep it, you know, basic because, you know, I'm just starting out, so I don't want to spend a lot of money. So I did know that I wanted to get a decent microphone. So, you know, I think that's probably the highest expense that I had. But, yeah, I mean, it's all, you know, it's all basic webcam stuff. Like, I'm actually using an old iPhone for my webcam that's working right now. But, yeah, I mean, I think I spent less than $200. So the gear itself wasn't a Lot of money. I mean, I tried to keep it as low as possible for that.

Excellent, excellent. So what is your monetization idea now?

Well, I don't think I've really thought that far down the road. I mean, I know that there are opportunities for monetization. I know that there's affiliate programs. There was a few people that actually contacted me to offer up some sponsorship opportunities for some episodes, but to be honest with you, I really haven't thought about that. I've been really focused on getting these interviews done and I want to start, start editing the podcast episodes so that they can be published later on, you know, in a couple of weeks. Awesome.

James, we have a community in India and in Vancouver. Tell us how we can help you.

Oh, that's a, that's a really good question. I mean, if somebody knows how to clone me, I think. No, I'm just kidding. I, you know, at this point right now, I mean, it's really, I don't think I really need like any resources or outside help at this point right now. I'm just really trying to get into a good cadence with the interviews and with editing the podcasts. So, you know, I mean, at this point right now, it's actually fine as a one man show.

Awesome, awesome.

Yeah.

Can I, can I continue asking you questions?

Yeah, absolutely.

Yeah. Okay, so tell us, you know, like, what would be your advice to brand new podcasters? How should this.

Yeah, so I mean, I've had the opportunity to interview, you know, like I said, about 30, 30 podcasters so far today, you know, in just the last couple of weeks. And I asked that question too, like, what is your advice to anybody who's interested in starting a podcast or who is starting a podcast? And I feel very strongly that people should just go for it, you know, try not to overthink it. You do want to have a plan, like, you know, know what your vision is for what your podcast is going to be. Try to write that down, but don't let doubt stop you. You know, at some point you're going to have to go for it and you're going to have to live with your doubts and it's going to, it's going to roll along with or without you. So I mean, that's kind of the position I was then where it's like, oh, I guess I'm going to start doing this, you know, because all these people are reaching out to me for interviews. So, yeah, be open to. Be open to anything, really, but just.

Do it in terms of, you know, like what kind of software do you use? Like, Lip Synth Anchor? Tell us a little bit about that.

Yeah, so I, you know, Zoom, obviously, I use Zoom to do my interviews, and then I'm using Captivate for my hosting for the podcast host, and then I use Description.

You guys interviewed the founder of Captivate in the morning.

Oh, that's awesome. Yeah, yeah. Is that. Was that Mark, I believe is his name. Yeah, yeah, yeah, he's great. Um, yeah, I'd love to meet him, actually. I'm basing that greatness on, like, you know, he's. He. I went through one of his courses to kind of walk me through, like, how to prep for getting up to launch, and it was a great podcast. I think it's. I mean, a great podcast. Series of introduction, if you want. Oh, that'd be awesome. Yeah, I mean, I, you know, I just love what he's up to. Um, you know, I clearly. I love their hosting as well. So.

Introduce Mark and James.

It's funny, I feel like I know Mark just because I've been with him for. I mean, I've been watching his videos for these last couple of weeks, so it's like. Yeah. But, yeah, I've been also using descript for editing as well, so that's been a really valuable piece of software too.

Okay, excellent, Excellent. So in terms of adding value to the audience, I like to flip it. What is. What is that one question, you think? What are the three questions I should ask you?

What are the three questions that I usually ask for people in terms of how they are providing value in their podcast? Yeah, I mean, I think that I usually. What I do is I find what it is that they're trying to get at with their podcast. So one of the things that I ask is, why should people listen to their podcast? You know, what is it that they want people to get out of the podcast? So that's, you know, that kind of. Those two questions right there kind of drive at the heart of, like, why they're doing it, but also, like, why should people feel compelled to listen to these people's products, podcasts? And then the other question that I usually ask, too, that's kind of built around that is, is, you know, what is your. What's your vision for the podcast? You know, a year or two down the road? And so that's more about, like, the planning and, like, you know, how they're strategizing for the future of their podcast, you know, so that's usually what I. Those are the two or three questions that I asked to kind of drill into the core of what's motivating a podcaster.

Got it, got it. So, James, moving on, tell me what's. What's the next 100 day plan for James? Lauren?

Yeah, I mean, for me, it's going to be doing more interviews and getting more, you know, more of them completed in the can. I do want to start looking into opening up some sponsorships as well. Um, but yeah, I mean, really, it's going to be focused on, you know, meeting more podcasters and kind of growing the show. I mean, obviously, you know, the marketing aspect of it is something that I am, you know, considering as well. So, you know, that's definitely in the future. Yeah.

Do you have any metrics for sponsors? Like how many people do you need before you can start making money and asking for money?

Yeah, you know, that's a good question. I don't actually. I haven't gotten that far in it. Like, this is really a two week old, you know, project for me. So I know that that is something that I need to start considering. So that's a good question.

What is the motivation that you made? You have 30 podcasts in 14 days.

So, I mean, you know, initially when I went on and when I had this idea, I mean, the, the inception of it was, you know, it'd be nice to, you know, have something that is, you know, earning income. Right. You know, that's obviously at the core. But as I got into the interviews and I started to meet these podcasters who are essentially in the same boat as me, some are, you know, further down the road, some are, you know, newer. But, you know, that what I, what I really got out of this was a sense of community and, you know, just connection and that really, I knew I would love the conversations that I would have with people, but it was something that really kind of beats out the goal for money. You know, it's just like I love the connection and the, you know, speaking with people, hearing what they're up to and being inspired. I just enjoy that so much. And, you know, unfortunately, you know, we do have to have money to, you know, support our families and, you know, survive. So there's that side of it too. I mean, I'm not, not going to sugarcoat that. But by the same token, I mean, it's really nice to be able to speak with people around the world almost every day for the last couple of weeks and just really get connected with them.

Excellent, excellent. This is going fast. So I have only one more question left. If you had no Fear. Absolutely. Sorry, I have two questions. If you have absolutely no fear, absolutely no fear, what's that one thing do you do with your podcast?

No fear. What would I do with my podcast? Hmm. Gosh, I don't know. That's a tough one. I can't say. What would I do with the podcast? I mean, I don't know. I don't know. What do you mean by that? What would I do?

Would you reach out to Mark Cuban and say, I'm hosting a show on Monday? I've already announced to the world that you're going to be there at 9 o'. Clock. The posters are out, and Mark Cuban, you need to be there.

I mean, honestly. So, I mean, celebrities are great and whatnot. I mean, really, I think my. My podcast is actually a little bit more. It's not on that level of like, trying to attract that type of guest. I mean, I'm really about the people that are on the ground, like, creating, you know, and kind of, you know, pulling themselves up by the bootstrap sort of concept, you know. So, I mean, there are, I guess, other podcasters that have been around the scene for longer that I do, like, look up to, I guess, you know, so, I mean, they're. They're not on the Mark Cuban level of celebrity, but, you know, in the podcast world, I think, you know, they're well known and, you know, I wouldn't mind having them.

Sorry, Johnny Dumas.

No, not on that level either. Like, Joe Rogan's not even on my radar either. It's, it's, you know, I was a fan of, you know, paranormal podcasts, and so when I think about, like, you know, the, like Jim Harold or the Astonishing Legend Crew, you know, like, they would be fun to have on just because, like, I've listened to them for years and, you know, I would be humbled if they came on and, like, shared their wisdom about how they built their podcasts and, you know, the ups and downs and the advice that they would give new podcasters. So, yeah, awesome.

James, before we end, I have one last question, and you can. This is a very emotional question. A lot of people get emotional. Actually, some guests also teared up when I asked this question last time. So if you don't want to answer it and it's too personal, you know, you can. You can choose to decline and you can say, it's okay. You ready?

I think so.

Who are you a bigger fan of and why?

The Hulk? Yeah.

Why?

You know, it's silly, but my. My son's my Youngest son's favorite color is green. And, you know. Yeah, I think he would love that. So I chose the whole thing.

Lovely, lovely, lovely. Because why I asked this question at the end of every podcast, every, every talk is you see in others, James, what you have inside of you. So if you chose the J, if you the Hulk, then you have the ability to power through every situation, bulldoze your way through life if needed. Excellent.

Yeah, that's cool.

Great. So I'm going to just pause the recording. So before we go, would you like to say anything to the audience?

Oh, no, no, not at all. Just, you know, thank you for having me on. It was a pleasure.

I had this list of 10 questions. I didn't know they would go by so fast. You just seem to. You don't seem to be somebody who started two weeks ago. You seem to be somebody who knows what they're talking about. You have the game set up. You have the intention set up. You know the guest that you want and you don't want. You know that it requires monetization. You already have sponsors reaching out to you. So my friend, I love it's almost talking to you and having your step by step thing is just maybe if your life and this last interview was a book, the COVID of the book would be the 30 minute startup plan. Right. And.

Or that's a good title.

What else could it be? That don't overthink it, just do it. The money will follow. Or if you want to make it more marketing, it could be how I got sponsors for my podcast in less than two weeks.

Yeah, I love it. I love it. That's good. I have to remember that.

Great. So I'm just going to pause the recording. Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, I hope you had a good time watching and getting some nice, crisp, to the point answers from our friend here, James from San Diego. If you. I'm going to link up all of James details in the comments in the description. Please feel free to follow him, see what he's up to. And thank you very much for your time. Once again, this is Avi Arya, father of two girls, six dogs, husband to a superwoman, a streetcar racer turned hotelier, now social media marketer and founder of Internet moguls. Signing off for now.