Category: PodcastCategory: Podcast

In a recent Email Guidance session, someone told me about spending too much time on social media promoting their podcast.

Promoting our work on social media leads to likes and replying to comments and responding to DMs.

Thus, our marketing efforts on social media lead to more work on social media; we keep feeding the machine, and the machine gives you more busy work.

Eventually our work suffers because we’re also cos-playing as a social media manager.

Instagram and Facebook love all the time that we devote to promoting our work, all while we’re spending less time doing the work. We’re on their platforms engaging and interacting in the hopes of getting more likes, views, impressions. Pull the lever, win a prize!

But the prize we’re looking for rarely comes. We’re hoping for the click, which could lead to the subscribe. We engage, we like, we spend another 20 minutes interacting, hoping for the elusive click.

Let’s stop hoping and realize the truth: RSS exists.

Podcast players pull in new episodes via an RSS feed, and “feed readers” like NetNewsWire (my favorite) let us subscribe to blogs (even Substack newsletters and YouTube videos).

So when we publish a new piece, people get it without interference from algorithms, spam folders, or promotions tabs.

And if we devote time to making great work instead of feeding social media platforms, it would seem that our work could grow by delivering it directly to the people who care.

More on RSS:
“In defense of RSS” by Seth Godin

“The ancient technology of the RSS feed” by TK (YouTube short)

As you can see, Olivia and I had a horrible conversation about quitting Spotify, making an album about geology, and lots more.

This was recorded on Substack Live, so some things you might here throughout are usually reactions to people making comments during the live stream.

Subscribe to the full podcast RSS feed here.

Substack is a busy place these days, and I’m definitely taking full advantage of the Live functionality to talk to interesting people.

Last Monday I got talking to 

Chuck Marshall. I didn’t leave that call thinking about NEW SUBSCRIBERS or engagement, but rather, “wow, Chuck is a cool guy, I’m glad we got to chat!”

Little did I know that magic would happen afterwards.

This from 

Bree Stilwell:

All these fricking live videos lately, it’s just soooo much. When I saw Seth Werkheiser pop in though, while folding laundry and feeling loose, gave it a shot.

What happened next is exactly why I think most of us are here, fighting our way through the noise and toward real life connections with other creatives.

I watched this video, learned a little about this cool dude and his local music, arts and beer newsletter, and, that we live in the same town.

I dm’d immediately, met him and his amazing partner-in-all-things Brenda for coffee just days later, and the bond has been set. Good works to follow, and friendships I didn’t have last week.

Says Chuck in his latest post:

“We met on Friday morning for coffee over at York Food and Drink. Meeting Bree and talking about her background and passion for art was a blast. She also shared thoughts on her project, which is yet another source of inspiration. She’s looking to build a third space for all kinds of creative folks. Most importantly, including those that are what I’ll call ‘creative curious.’”

This is what I’m talking about, friends; use the internet as a tool, not a destination.

As Bree said in a follow up comment, “it’s so completely crucial to use this platform, and others like it, as peripheral tools to make shit happen in real life, in our communities, and for lasting effect.”

If that takes shape as a Zoom room or a supper club or an email thread, then do it. Make sure it’s sustainable, and it feels good, with the right people.

Ditch the social media feeds and their algorithmic grief machines, and just fill your day with good people instead.