I was a part of the first cohort of The Podcast Fellowship, a Seth Godin course, last summer.
I’ve been a big fan of Seth’s work for a long time. I read Purple Cow and Free Prize Inside about 15 years ago, when my mom brought them home from a library book sale. I’ve been a daily blog reader for at least seven or eight years, and have been a loyal listener of Akimbo. I really like Seth’s perspective on a lot of issues – his engineering background leads him to be very systematic about the world at large, which is similar to how I see the world.
I didn’t come out of The Podcast Fellowship course with a podcast. That was very difficult for me for a while – it felt like I had failed. I didn’t put in the time and effort and I didn’t push myself to get the podcast done.
In hindsight, I learned a lot. It was good for me – to participate in a course full of Seth Godin fans, to hear his perspective on the entire process, and to be encouraged and engage with my part of the cohort in meaningful discussion. The course materials were well-organized and would have lead me to a completed, launched podcast if I had kept with it.
My part of the cohort showed me that they were confused about my concept for a podcast, and that made me realize that it wasn’t going to work. I’m grateful to them for contributing and giving their input.
A few months after the course, thinking/processing my experience, I realized that I could shift my podcast, and it could work in that form and would provide value to my listeners. I haven’t made that podcast yet, but not because it isn’t possible. Instead, it’s because I’ve realized where it fits into my priorities, and it isn’t what I need to focus on right now.
I’m happy to answer questions anyone has about my experience participating in the Podcast Fellowship, and would encourage you to consider it, if you’re seriously considering starting a podcast and committing to it. Cohort #3 just started, but I’m guessing #4 will show up later this year.
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