Life Lessons You Can Learn From Podcasting

By TONY BERARDO

In a world where we might seem disconnected using our devices, there’s a lot of things we CAN learn if we utilize these tools correctly. There’s countless stories of podcasters that have gained some incredible life skills through podcasting, in this article we’ll dive into 5 specific skills you can learn by simply talking into a microphone.

Section 1: Communication Skills:

Interviewing Techniques: Conducting interviews sharpens your listening and questioning skills, helping you engage with your guests and audience effectively. Additionally this can help you become a better listener.

Articulation: Expressing ideas clearly and articulately is key to a successful podcast. This skill translates into better communication in various aspects of life. If you find yourself stumbling over the right word to use well, that’s because you don’t have enough practice saying those words. Nothing wrong with that but I found that the more you read, the better you can read. Just like the more you talk, the better at talking you’ll be.

Section 2: Research and Critical Thinking:

Thorough Research: To create compelling content, you need to delve into topics deeply, encouraging thorough research and fact-checking. Now while you think that AI might take us over one day, you might ask yourself why should I research when I can just ask chatGPT to do it for me. Well as that’s a great tool, it will take away your ability to look at ALL aspects of a certain topic, sometimes there might be valuable information in find the right and wrong research, especially as history has shown us time and time again we do make mistakes. Podcasting will absolutely teach you some great research techniques.

Critical Analysis: Evaluating these different perspectives through your research and conversations with guests, enables critical thinking which is a very, shall we say, not-common skill amongst humans no a days…. your audience wants you to possess this skillset.

Section 3: Time Management:

Planning Episodes: Organizing your content, scheduling interviews, and planning episodes require meticulous time management skills not to mention a lot of work.

Consistency: Regularly uploading podcast episodes cultivates discipline and consistency, essential for success in any endeavor not to mention the podcasts that DON’T make it are the ones that quit.

Section 4: Adaptability and Problem-Solving:

Technical Challenges: Podcasting isn’t always smooth sailing, in fact you’ll probably have a least one issue each episode, but that’s okay. Dealing with technical issues builds resilience and problem-solving skills, teaching you to troubleshoot and adapt on the fly.

Adapting to Feedback: Embracing constructive criticism and adjusting your content based on audience feedback is a skill that extends beyond podcasting. A lot of my show has evolved and I think gotten a lot better thanks to the feedback of my listeners. Whether it’s an email or a DM, being a good podcaster means listen to your audience because face it - without them you're just a dude talking to yourself.

Section 5: Networking and Relationship Building:

Guest Collaborations: Networking with guests and fellow podcasters expands your social circle and enhances your ability to build professional relationships. So don’t be afraid to get out of your comfort zone and start talking to like-minded strangers, they could end up being a great asset to your show and business.

In closing, as a podcaster a lot of us want to hurry up and make money like Joe Rogan but I challenge you to embrace the suck first. Embrace the cool, non-tangible benefits of the podcast. These skills, that in some ways may end up making your richer…

By having a podcast, it's very possible to not only make a good living from it but to learn some great life lessons in the process. If you want to know more about how to start your own podcast - visit my Podcasters Handbook For Beginners where I break down everything you need to know.