How To Make Podcasting Fun While Growing Your Show Into Something Bingeable With Jake Harrell Of A Quality Podcast

We talk often about how much work podcasting is - especially if you want to achieve the badge of being bingeable. But today, I want to talk about how much fun it can be and I found the perfect guest to dive into this topic with me. 

He’s known on LinkedIn as the funniest lean guy. Jake Harrell, Co-host of A Quality Podcast, truly lives up to this nickname from the minute you start chatting with him or listening to his content. 

What is Lean: Jake is a Lean Manufacturing Expert, so let’s define Lean real quick: Lean is a set of tools, topics and philosophies that act as a cohesive approach to how you can engage all stakeholders in a business, focusing on growth from every perspective. 

How to Have Fun AND Become Bingeable 

Step One: Give Yourself Permission to Improve

The most bingeable shows I love did not start that way. Part of becoming a really good host with really good content is to focus on improvement over perfection. Jake talked about how his first episode has the worst sound quality but he didn’t delete it because he wanted people to know that it was okay to learn as you go along. When you shift your mindset in this way and are open to learning, your show will continually improve. 

Step Two: Strike Up Conversations

“This is going to come as a surprise to people who are sitting at home but you have to put in a lot of effort. It’s not like I said the right funny thing and there are 10,000 people following me. It takes effort. I use a three-phase approach, I engage with everybody on my feed. I’m constantly cleaning up my feed. If you don’t podcast or lean, then I’m not going to meet you because that’s what my two groups are. If you are in that group, I’m going to engage with everything you do and get notified.”

Step Three: Be Okay Being Uncomfortable

You don’t have to be a stand-up comedian to be a real, authentic host. But - you do have to be okay with the levels of discomfort that go along with really putting yourself out there. Don’t be afraid to have fun, put your voice in as many places as possible and even laugh at yourself as you learn. This is how growth will happen. 

A few great tips on becoming bingeable, from Jake Harrell

Binge Factor: The niche A Quality Podcast falls into is not something you think you'd want to listen to, it's very focused and specific. However, Jake and his co-host John make every minute you spend with them both fun and educational. They bring the listener into the fold, on the joke and the topic in such an organic way and this makes the listener feel like they belong, like they're part of this conversation. 

Jake knows who he is and he puts himself out there in a very authentic and very funny way. His show is very niched down, very specific, and  most of all, he’s having fun with it. Bingeable shows all have this in common. If you read back through these Binge Factor articles or have taken any advice from me through Podetize, you have heard me say this many times. 

Yes, great shows are a lot of work, but they can also be fun. And when you find that sweet spot for your own show, you will also find your binge factor.

You can watch Tracy Hazzard’s full on-air podcast coaching with Julie Lokun below or listen to The Binge Factor on your favorite podcast player.