Happy Friday Friends!!  Welcome to the newest edition to my blog (thanks to Coronavirus / COVID-19) and today we are starting a podcast!

In light of the recent state of the world and that fact that we have slowed down as a society, I don’t know about you, but I am FINALLY getting things done in my business that I have put off.

Let’s be clear – the things that I have been putting off in my business are things that I really want to do.

But because I am a compulsive, Type-A, Virgo, Ennegram 3… I have a natural inclination to procrastinate things when I think they won’t be perfect.

And you know what that means?  Shit never gets done.

Perfection is a lie that we tell ourselves.

We say, “I can only do that thing if it’s perfect.  Because if it isn’t perfect, it isn’t good enough.”

Guess what?  There is no such thing as perfect.  Ever.  Period. 

So in light of this realization about myself, I decided to start a blog, IGTV & (now) podcast series called “Fuck It Friday”.

Because I am now saying “FUCK IT”.

Fuck it to my fears, to my procrastination, to perfection, and from holding myself back from doing the things I have been feeling a deep desire to do.

I have one caveat about this blog edition.

I’m not an expert. 

But I am a doer. 

I get shit done. 

And I think I do it pretty efficiently, if I do say so myself.

I’m all about messy action and just getting it done.  So that is what this series will be all about! 

As I learn more about the processes I am explaining, and then change the things I am doing, I will come back and edit or write a part two to this blog entry to keep you current with my process. 

So number one on the list of “Fuck it” list?

Create a podcast!

Soooo How to Start a Podcast in 2020 

First, Why Are You Starting a Podcast? 

The first question you should ask yourself is why do you want to start a podcast?  What is your intention behind talking behind a mic & into your audiences ears every week?

Here are a few questions to ask trying to gain some clarity around why you are starting your podcast — 

• Does this serve your brand or mission?  How?
• What is the purpose behind your podcast?
• What kind of information do you want to share?
• What kind of guests do you want to have on?

For me, I wanted a podcast that allowed me to talk to my audience and connect with them in a way that I love to be connected with. 

I love listening to podcasts – it allows me to connect to people I admire and I can multi-task while listening and learning.  Because I think a lot of my audience is like me, I felt like this platform was my best bet out of the gate. 

What should I name my podcast?

This all depends on what you want to talk about and what your goal and intention is behind the podcast.

My podcast is called “All the Things – With Regina Lawrence.” 

A huge mission behind my brand & mission is empowering women to no longer live in boxes and that they can be all the things they want to be in this world.

What is a catchy title that encompasses what you are trying to connect with your audience on? 

Let that dictate what you call it and also know that you can always change the name of your podcast.  Don’t get too caught up on this.

Come up with a couple ideas. 

Phone a friend. 

DM me and ask my thoughts.  I’d love to chat about it! 

Write Out a Description of Your Podcast

Sit down and write down a paragraph explaining what your podcast is all about.

Keep it simple & concise but give enough information so the listener and reader knows what it is all about.

This is what mine says: 

Regina Lawrence is a lawyer turned transformation mindset coach who has cultivated a community of women who can be all the things – successful, spiritual, sexual, and wildly unique, while creating a life of purpose and passion according to your own rules.  We don’t have to look or be a person that social norms dictate anymore.  We don’t have to play by someone else’s rules.  We can be whoever we want to be – and that person can be all the things in one. 

This also serves as the introduction to my podcasts so you can kill two birds with one stone.

Create Your Podcast Art on Canva

If you know me, you know that I think I am a Canva graphic designer.

Canva has allowed the small business owner to literally become graphic designers on a budget to create graphics that are professional and on brand.

The other thing I love about Canva is that it allows you to upload your brand colors so that anything you create can have the exact colors that you are using in your other branding.

For my graphic, I wanted to keep it simple.  First I searched all my favorite podcasts and took a look at their podcast cover art to get some inspiration.  Then I created my own.  

I sized my graphic at 1400×1400 Pixels because that is what is accepted my iTunes.  I used a very clear picture of myself.  I used my branded colors and branded typography so everything would stay on brand.  Here is what mine ended up looking like: 

What Equipment or Programs do I need to start my Podcast?

I kept it reallyyyyyy simple.

I ordered this microphone set from Amazon.

Then, I decided to record my podcast episodes in Garage Band.  I have a Mac and it was already on my computer so I decided to try what I already had and not purchase anything new.

The quality of the microphone I’ve purchased with Garage Band is perfect and I’m pretty happy with it for my solo episodes.

For episodes where I am interviewing someone who isn’t local, I am recording the interview on Zoom.  I haven’t recorded an in-person episode yet so I’ll figure that out when that opportunity arises in the next few weeks and update you!

Then, I read this article which told me everything I needed to know about recording my podcast in Garage Band. 

And then I watched this Youtube video about how to upload a podcast from Garage Band to Anchor. 

Then I went on Story Blocks and downloaded the introduction music I wanted to use for my episodes.

After I did all of that, I was ready to get down to business!

Should I Host My Podcast on Spotify, ITunes, Google, etc?

The answer is you should host them on all platforms.

It’s actually easier than you think.

I use an app called Anchor.  

Anchor is a platform that hosts my podcast and will publish it to all the major platforms.  Each week you can publish your podcasts or you can schedule your podcast to be released on a certain day and time and Anchor takes care of the rest. 

How to Do a Quick & Dirty Launch of Your Podcast On Social Media

If you don’t know me, I am the community building and creating connections.

Connecting with people, building my community & asking people to help me is the way that I have built & am building my community.

So when I decided to launch my podcast, I decided to reach out to my community & ask them to help me with the launch so I could reach as many people as possible.

This is actually what I really did… 

I looked at my most recent 6 Instagram posts and made a list of all the people who regularly like my photos.

Then I thought about all my best friends friends and supporters in life.

Then I thought about all the people who have ever come to any event I have put together, retreat, webinar – whatever.

If you go through all the people you know, who have supported you, and who love you, you will come up with a lot of people to be a part of this launch. 

I added them all to an email (BCC of course) and sent them an email asking them to be a part of my launch and if they are interested to respond to this email with YES.

I haven’t done my official launch yet but my plan is to ask everyone if they will listen, rate and review my podcast as well as share a slide on their story telling people about my podcast & inviting their audience to rate, review and listen to the podcast.

 I will prepare the slide in Canva and send it to all the people who want to participate as well as the date I would like for them to share about my podcast.

If I have 100 people say yes to helping me launch my podcast, I will divide them up over 10 days.  So for 10 days of my podcast launch, I will have 10 people sharing in their stories about my podcast.  The night before each launch day, I will email the 10 people sharing the next day to remind them that tomorrow is their day and give them the slide & verbiage to share.

Remember, if people are willing to help you do this, make this as EASY as possible for them to help you, give them the materials and remind them the night before & maybe the morning of.

My Checklist to Get it Started 

To sum this up, here is a little check list of the things you can do to launch your podcast quick & dirty like I did 

• Create the podcast concept, focusing on who you serve & what your goal for the podcast is.
• Create a catchy title.
• Write out a working description of the podcast that can be posted on all platforms to describe what your podcast is all about.
• Create your own podcast art in Canva.
• Buy your microphone from Amazon here.
• Open up Garage band on your computer.
• Read this article about how to record a podcast on Garage Band.
• Sit down and record an episode of yourself talking.  Maybe you’ll delete it.  Maybe you’ll love it.  I used the first episode to introduce myself & explain the premise of the podcast.
• Edit said podcast per the article above.
• Create an Anchor account.
• Watch this video on how to upload a podcast to Anchor.
• Upload your first episode.
• It will take a few days (and up to two weeks) to have your episode approved on all platforms.
• Write a description of the episode in the summary section on Anchor.  Make sure at the bottom of the description to let your audience know your website, social media handles and how they can find you and work with you. 

And that my friends is it.

Quick, dirty, but efficient.

Just the way I like to do thing 😉

Was this helpful? Send me a message here and let me know what you think!

And don’t forget to check out my new podcast here! If you love what you hear, I would be so appreciative for you to rate, review and subscribe!