10 Reasons You Shouldn’t Start a Podcast

And 11 reasons you should

Photo by C D-X on Unsplash

I get a lot of emails that start like this: “I have an idea for a podcast.” Usually this person wants me to explain the business of podcasting or confirm that their idea is viable. There are great online resources to answer the first question; you can answer the latter by actually recording something and playing it for people. But before you start googling or downloading audio editing software, be sure you know your WHY, as Simon Sinek says. Below I’ve categorized the best and worst motivations I’ve heard.

You shouldn’t start a podcast…

1. Because you’ve been meaning to interview all your relatives, à la StoryCorps
2. Because your boss says that after starting the weekly newsletter and ramping up on TikTok, the podcast should be next on your to-do list
3. Because people have always told you you’re a really good listener
4. Because people have always told you you’re really good at explaining things
5. Because people always told you that you have a really nice voice
6. Because your roommate in college now has a podcast, so it can’t be that hard
7. Because you are looking for new ways to make “content” that expands your “personal brand”