How a Podcast Can Change Your Business (IT CHANGED MINE)

I started a podcast three years ago. It changed my career. 
🎙️ Take the assessment to find out which long-form path fits your business: https://chris-u1zjvux4.scoreapp.com

Here's why podcasting might be the most underrated business decision most owners will never make — plus a conversation with a new podcaster on what to know before you start.

Transcript

Copy Transcript Copied

0:00

OK, to all my note takers, I'm going to start off with the thesis of this episode and really the reason why I do the work.

This is the most important thing that you'll hear.

So I'm going to repeat it twice, but I'm going to start off with it to be generous to my listeners, but stick around.

Here's what matters to me.

0:17

This one line, great communication results in great outcomes.

Great communication results and great outcomes.

This is why I do the work that I do because I realized whenever I was 20 years old in college that the better I can communicate, the better my life will be.

0:41

If there's something in your life that changes, that can change, then you have the opportunity to change it by communicating better.

We can talk about a whole bunch of different things.

Money, change your words, change your wallet, influence, focus on relationships, focus on the people around you.

0:58

Your relationships will get better.

Because once you know great communication results and great outcomes, then we take it one step further and we think to ourselves, well, what happens if we share that communication on digital platforms like YouTube or podcasts or newsletters?

1:15

Then the great outcomes.

Compounds.

So then you start seeing people approaching you with trust.

I have a little cue card on video that says trust right here because someone may be approaching you for the first time.

1:35

You may have never met them before, but they may have heard your voice for 20 hours, 25 hours, 30 hours.

No longer do you have these cold openings, rather they're warm.

If you have a business, this is warm leads.

If you're trying to create an event for your community, if you're trying to raise money for a non profit, you're going to have a much better time because you're not a stranger, rather you've built trust.

2:00

The second opportunity there will be opportunities that show up in your life that you will have never expected.

I'm right there with you.

Within the first year of starting my podcast, I had my own business.

I'd never expected to have my own business.

2:17

I had sat down with some of the coolest people.

I never met an Olympian in my life, and I find myself sitting down with an Olympic gold medalist coaching her on how to be a podcaster.

I would have never guessed that I would travel to go shoot content with people who have performed on Broadway, and I find myself sitting there as they're coaching me how to be a better podcaster.

2:44

If you want to show up for workshops or if you want to be a speaker somewhere or an author or do your own business, the amount of opportunity you can have if you invest in your communication and then you invest in the platform is going to blow your mind.

3:02

And then the third way this is really going to show up in your life is message, message, message, message, whatever you start to show up, podcast, YouTube, long form content, you have to figure out what your message is.

3:19

You don't realize how sharp you have to be until you actually show up and start trying.

And then you realize people are going to be watching this, people will be listening, people will be reading.

I need to say what I mean.

And it really forces you to figure out what is your core message?

3:36

What are the things that care?

What are the things that matter?

What is it?

And I am a walking example of this.

Every single year I've had this podcast, it's.

Changed because I've changed.

My family's changed.

3:52

And I feel like.

I've changed for the better and I think the podcast has as well, but it forces you to come up with a message and not many people, entrepreneurs, business owners, there's people listening to this podcast.

Not many.

People have sat down and actually thought, what is my message?

4:09

So whenever you figure this out, great communication equals great outcomes, and you realize that we have these free microphones.

These free microphones, not the word I'm looking for, looking for that one megaphone.

4:29

There we go, these free megaphones to be able to share who we are, to share what matters to us and share the value that we can add to everybody out there.

Great communication creates great outcomes.

I've officially dropped all of my prop cards on the floor.

So we are going to switch over.

4:46

I'm going to go to the park and I'm going to have a conversation with someone who just recently started their podcast 6 months ago.

And I'm going to ask them, why'd you start your podcast?

Do you have any tips for people who would like to start a podcast?

And then afterwards, I've been podcasting for three years and six months, so just three years longer than the person you're about to hear from.

5:07

And I'll talk to you a little bit about is podcasting right for you and.

If you have a.

Business or if you've ever thought about having your own podcast, then you could check out my.

Description because I actually made a assessment is.

5:22

Podcasting right for you, and I put my thoughts in there to help you decide on whether or not you should go for a podcast, a YouTube channel, a newsletter, which one would be best for you, if any of them?

And I hope it's helpful.

For you, it's free.

5:38

I put it together.

A lot of people ask me, hey, Chris, should I make a podcast?

And I just recently had the thought of, well, maybe I could make something and put it on a digital platform to where more people can access it than just people who show up in person and we have conversations.

5:54

So in the description or in the link below or wherever you'll be able to find this assessment.

Is podcasting right for you now?

Let's go listen.

Or you can.

We're going to go hop over to the next segment and then afterwards, I'll share a few last thoughts on how great.

6:10

Communication creates great outcomes and how digital.

Platforms compound and multiply great outcomes.

We are at South Park, downtown Lawrence, and I'm sitting across from someone who's been podcasting for how long?

Six months?

Six months?

OK.

So this segment's going to be three years and six months of podcasting versus 6 months of podcasting.

6:32

What got you to start your podcast?

Actually, it was an idea that a customer had where I work and she suggested that I record our conversations.

Cause usually when they come in, I usually spend like the whole time talking to them.

And you know, they're an older, an older couple.

6:47

So they're like 90 years old.

So I always ask them, how was life back then, like in the 40s, fifties, and they kind of go off and like, tell me, what do you want to know?

And I kind of just base my questions off of that.

So once I started doing that and, you know, I was like, I should interview the lady and the, and, and her husband because I kind of want to hear their stories, 'cause he's a veterinarian and she's a great, great grandmother and she's been through a lot.

7:11

And she had kids, her first child, I think she was 13.

And it was like something that like sexual assault.

So, you know, I was really empowered by her story when she told me that.

So I was like, you know what, let me start a podcast where I interviewed her and like take her suggestion and I did that.

7:26

And then I interviewed him as a veterinarian and like kind of like his path to it.

And like he told me were growing up, like his teachers would tell him he was like too dumb to go to college.

So kind of getting like that story of what, like, led him to become a veterinarian and like, become a doctor, like something that he thought he wouldn't be able to do because everyone around him was, you know, tell him you couldn't do something.

7:47

Like that and then you're 2 episodes in and so you got set out on this idea of collecting stories, right?

Because someone said, hey, you should.

Get this story.

And now you're 6 episodes in. 6 episodes in already.

So has it been a story every single episode?

8:04

Every, every story that I've done has been a story and it's been unique because everyone has had a different path and a different upbringing and kind of everyone's face kind of a different adversity and a challenge throughout their life, which I think has made them who they are right now.

OK.

8:20

So that's the Saul Ortiz show.

Correct.

Spotify will put a link below.

Check out the Saul Ortiz show.

I met Saul and he was like, hey, you running to talk to people podcast.

I was like, yeah right.

And what I love is 3 1/2 years ago I was thinking about collecting stories too.

8:40

So it's so cool to see you doing it.

And my first forty were in person and so.

Far all of yours have been in person.

Right.

All of them have been in person so far.

I usually try to hit in person because I think like the message and like the questions.

Everything hits a little better when it's like in person.

8:56

Yeah, that was my thought exactly too.

And then I started to do.

We moved.

So the studio was.

Harder.

And it got to a point to where I was like, OK, I'm going to try a virtual, but then virtual.

Is different.

Right.

I'm not against virtual.

I think you could still do a good podcast virtually, but in person there's a spark there if you can figure out the So now what I'm doing is taking my stuff in the wagon, like we just set up, right, Taking the stuff in the wagon and then just showing up places and having conversations.

9:28

What would be your advice to someone if they want to start their own podcast?

I say just start like with what?

Even if you just have your phone or whatever, just a mic, just start with that.

Because I think at the beginning I was overthinking it.

I had the idea since 2025 and I was like, oh, I think I need this gear, I need that gear, I need this equipment because I saw like all the best people like start with that.

9:49

But then once I started like seeing the videos, like where they talked about like I started with my phone, I started with just like with a simple gear.

Then I was like, you know what?

I'm just going to use what I have and we're going to get better.

And like every time I've had a podcast, I've always gotten better.

Like my first one wasn't really that good.

10:05

And like every time I've done one, I've always learned how to get better, whether it be editing the audio.

And I'm just like I got.

I just use what you have.

And with the reps you'll get better, correct?

So you.

Have a good.

Question and you said what was it like back then that you asked your guests?

10:22

What are other good questions you found during guest conversations?

Kind of like what motivated you to like keep going forward, you know, like not to quit because even like right now, I'm only 24.

Like there's times are like, Oh my God, I can't like they've lived 90 year, 90 years and like, imagine I'm over here complaining about and I've only lived 24 years.

10:43

So imagine like getting to their point, like how do you not quit?

Like when things get tough, you know, and it's kind of like, you know, asking those questions of like, are you like putting, I don't know, are you getting advice from other people or are you putting a goal in front of you to chase that goal?

10:59

Like, and like especially now, I think it's like really hard with all these distractions.

Like there's so many things coming at me.

I just feel like it's like I'm overloaded with like information and like it's kind of, I think for me, I don't know if it was, I don't know, maybe I'm like, I don't have their perspective on how hard it was for them, but I feel like for me now, like you just have so much stuff going on.

11:20

It's it's kind of like, how do I get through it?

You know, you feel like behind you feel like this, like there's like so many ways.

So I think that's why I want to learn like how I was back then.

Like how did you like navigate through those like rough patches?

You're like, give me your game, give me the tips, give me the.

11:35

Secrets give me at least like a cheat code.

What I've found is whenever I'm creating podcasts, if I'm creating a podcast and I am actually seeking out knowledge for myself where I'm genuinely curious, that will create a fun episode because just like our thumbprints, we all have unique curiosity just for us.

11:57

You're curious about stuff that I'm not curious about.

So I always tell people whenever they're creating it, especially for podcasts, follow what you're curious about and there may be a question that no one else would ask.

They call it Kairos, which is a Greek term for asking the right question at the right time to the right person in the right place.

12:17

There may be a moment where you can walk in that if you follow your curiosity, you know.

So I think that's really dope if you can keep it up, like keep asking the questions you're.

Curious about?

'Cause if you win, just like I am genuinely curious about what questions you ask, 'cause I'm like maybe I can get some more knowledge from.

12:35

Saul.

And I know we don't got that much time, but I thought it'd be fun to do this segment because we're both podcasting.

What excites you the most?

About.

Podcasting in the future, like for your The Saul Artis Show, what excites you the most when you look a year down the road?

12:55

I feel like as I keep going, I just want to get like crazier stories, you know, like I think right now I'm getting like, you know, like the the story where the people have been like, you know, they've just been doing their work.

They've been low key normal people like me.

I think I want to get into the path where they're like, you have these people who've done like crazy stuff.

13:12

Maybe there was like illegal stuff or they worked with like, I don't know, DEACIA and did some crazy stuff and they they can speak about stuff like that or I don't know.

I think just getting into the stories that you like only read in books or you watch on movies and like maybe people haven't heard of stuff like that, but that that'd be the goal to get stories like that and bigger guests too as we go down the road.

13:36

And what's what's interesting about that?

Is the.

It's difficult to do because 1, you have to find the people who have the interesting stories, but then two, you have to find the people willing to share them.

And then three, you have to find the people who are willing to share them but who are actually good at sharing them, Correct?

13:55

Because you get some people, I don't know if you've had this yet, but some people on your podcast and it's really hard to get them rolling right.

Like it doesn't matter like what question you ask them.

They're like yes or like yes or no, even though the question isn't yes or no, they still have like short responses because they just haven't spoken to anyone about their experiences like that before, you know, like on a personal level.

14:16

So I think like what I try to do before I actually like talk to them on the podcast.

I usually beforehand, I usually like connect with them and like connect with them on a personal level to make them feel comfortable.

And then I'll schedule out the podcast maybe like a week or two after, maybe a month later so that we have like kind of that connection and they feel more comfortable when we're actually talking about those like iffy subjects.

14:39

I've had some people tell me about bigger podcasts that they don't do those discovery calls, so they don't do those sessions and they treat it like a.

Business boom, boom, boom.

But for me, and I've heard about some other podcasts where they do those discovery calls and for.

14:57

Me.

I have to have those.

I've done a couple guests where I didn't meet them beforehand.

A few times it's gone well, but most of the time just to have an hour or an hour and a half, then they're going to feel a lot more comfortable 'cause you're the.

Host, right?

You're walking them through this experience.

15:14

A lot of people have never been on a podcast before in their life.

They're so nervous and that, hey, could we get a one hour?

Could we go get coffee?

And what what I do now is whenever I hit people up to potentially be on the podcast, I don't even ask them, would you like to be on the podcast before I meet them?

15:34

I ask them, I say, hey, I'd love to get together.

I'm working on a podcast about this concept or this subject.

And I feel like you would have some good advice or have some good things to offer.

So it could just be me getting information from them from that coffee and then signing in on my podcast because sometimes I've shown up to those and I've been like, I don't think you'd be good on the podcast.

15:59

And then I'm like, thank you so much for coffee.

I can't wait to use this to make a better podcast.

They're like, cool, you know?

But then there are moments where I'm like, would you be interested in being on the?

Podcast, right?

So you are the.

Host, you're the guest.

You get to make them feel as relaxed as possible and I I'm glad you've already figured that out.

16:18

If you keep those pre session talks up, I think that's the move.

And you said you've done almost 100 episodes.

So like, what's like the biggest change you've seen since the first one you did to like the now the what would be the 100th one?

16:33

Like, how do you think you have grown?

Like, what have you changed?

What have you learned along the way?

Yeah, I would say my focus has changed.

Initially it was to gather conversations, that was my initial focus, and then it change to where I'm thinking potentially this could be a business.

16:53

So I'm going after views, I'm going after setting things up for sponsorships.

And now I'm in a position to where my podcast is truly the elevator or the ski lift for my personal brand, for people to know more about who Chris Miller is.

And as I build my personal business, talk to Chris Miller, then it's a way for people to become even more familiar with it and to trust me more.

17:16

Because people, if you're working out, if you're going on a drive, you may be right now.

And I love being here with you.

And now I've changed about that.

So it removes some pressure from me 'cause I used to be like, oh, I better ask all the perfect question.

17:32

And I need to start off with the speed round so I don't lose people at the beginning.

But now it's changed to where I'll get the right.

People, they'll show up.

And when they show up, they'll be.

Willing to listen?

And I don't have to be super exciting or I don't have to be super outside the box.

17:47

I need to create what I want to create.

People will be able to know me better and I'll be more excited about that, yeah.

So you mentioned earlier that you're more focused like on the views and stuff like that.

So what how do you deal with when you make a video and it flops?

How do you get through that?

Because normally once like people are riding the high wave and something flops, next they kind of get discouraged and they kind of stop once they don't see like, you know, like movement here for like maybe a week or two weeks a month.

18:14

For sure, it's tough.

I mean the podcast I did this week, 97 views, that is one thousandth of some videos I've done.

And to think about that, I could have done 1000 of those podcasts and it wouldn't even equate to 1 video that I've done.

18:31

But there's this idea of play the game, but don't look at the scoreboard, just keep playing the game.

And in my head, the game is for people to be able to know more about me and know more about how people connect and communication.

So whenever I was a server, I used to be a server at a pizza place.

18:48

Kind of like you're doing a lot of that right now.

And if I left the job upset that I didn't get enough tips, then I would have some bad days because we can't control how much people tip.

I mean, we can do our best, but at the end of the day, they got the money they got and they're going to give what they give.

19:04

So there'd be days where I wouldn't even get tables.

I'd show up and it'd be so slow.

I didn't get any tables.

I'd.

Leave 0 tips.

That's a bad day.

But if I changed it and I showed up and I thought to myself I'm here to become a better communicator then every table, how can I open it better?

19:21

Can I make them laugh?

Can I ask them certain questions that makes it a little different for them and they can connect more?

Can I make my Co worker laugh?

Can I make my manager think a little bit more about Chris?

Right.

That's a completely different game.

Then I'm driving home and I can have a good day every day because like, yeah, I need tips for sure, but that's not my metric of success.

19:42

And that's not going to define me.

What's going to define me is I'm going to show up every day, become a better communicator.

So that'll be the same thing with the pod is like you're going to have some that go blam.

Really good.

Some that flop, but every video you create your floor will rise so you'll get more people more people.

20:02

You know this because you've gone viral you'll get more people but then it'll drop but then your drops are higher than what they used to be right so but yeah, we we got to roll thanks Saul.

Y'all will be seeing more Saul.

He's around, he's doing some cool stuff and.

20:20

This is what it.

Looks like whenever you get to be around someone who just started podcasting and I just started podcasting too.

Just depends on who you ask.

Parting words.

Just go pick up the camera or whatever you want to do, pick it up and just go.

It doesn't matter like what gear you have.

20:36

OK, on to the next part.

Saul said something that we should talk about.

He asked me the question, what do you do about views?

What do you do if you post up these podcasts or these YouTube videos and you don't get good views?

I have felt a.

20:54

Ton of different pressure when it comes to this whenever I first started my podcast, all of these things started happening and before I knew it I was running my own business around podcasts.

And then a little later after that I started having YouTube videos go viral.

21:10

I was like what in the world's going on?

And then YouTube monetized me and they would pay me for all the views I got.

Then I started to think to myself, oh, I really need to make these YouTube videos.

That way I can get more views and make more money.

But what I've realized is that's one approach to the whole content game.

21:30

And honestly, I don't think it's the approach for most people.

I don't think most people should walk that road.

I do have some people in my life who do walk that road and they're really good at it.

So if you want to create a YouTube channel where you are going for the Max amount of views, then definitely reach out to me.

21:48

Talk to me because I have some good advice for you on that.

But for most people listening, having a YouTube channel or a podcast isn't going to be the thing that you're going to be monetized by the amount of views you get.

Not all viewers are equal.

22:04

You could get 100,000.

You could get.

I've gotten close to 1,000,000 views on a long form video.

Almost 100 years of people's 100,000.

Almost 100,000 years of people watching my 1 video and it resulted in only a few leads because not all viewers are equal.

22:23

Often times we make content to try and get a whole bunch of views and it won't change your life.

And it's a good example of how my podcast has changed mine because I've made it focused.

So if you could be focused with your podcast or with your content, then you are a lot more likely to build your trust, to create opportunity and to have a better, more distinct dialed in message.

22:48

Also, I think to myself, what are some of the reasons why you all haven't started?

Because I know there are many of you listening, have wanted to do your own YouTube channel or your own podcast.

One of the first reasons is you don't know how.

And I.

23:04

Would say to you that is a great reason to figure out and to start your own because then you will be able to help so many other people figure out.

How many of you would say you don't have enough time because you're so busy with your work, whatever work you do?

And I would say that is a great reason why you should make your own.

23:24

That way you can make yourself more time.

Imagine if you were able to leverage digital platforms to compound the returns you're already getting so that someday down the road you will get more time with my podcast.

23:40

I will get more clients showing up to me than I would if I were going door to door.

And then some people may say money.

I don't have the money to make it happen.

This is a bit more iffy because nowadays you could just do it on your phone.

If you have a phone and you have an idea then you could do a podcast.

23:59

But I would.

Also say that's such a good reason why you should start one because leveraging one or leveraging YouTube channel, long form newsletter could result in more money.

So think about your objection and think to yourself, could that be a good reason for me to start one?

24:20

It's kind of hard in the moment, right, to think that way.

But now that I've had my own podcast for 3 1/2 years and I've seen the opportunity and outcomes that it's provided for me, it gives me a different perspective for someone who's thinking about starting their own podcast.

24:36

So yeah, I hope this was helpful.

I'm about to leave.

It's the day after talking with Saul.

It's a weekend, got some fun family time.

This evening.

We're going to get together with some friends.

And if you are enjoying this, then I hope you listen to some other videos that I make Talk to People podcast or the Talk to Chris Miller YouTube channel.

25:00

You could always subscribe.

If you are an entrepreneur, a business owner, maybe you run a non profit, maybe you just have a personal message you want to get out there.

If you want more clients, if you want to be able to communicate faster and get further, this podcast is for you.

25:17

Also, if you're thinking, I don't know, maybe a podcast is for me.

I built that assessment for you is a podcast for me assessment.

It's free, you can check it out.

All right, folks, remember, life is better when you talk to people.

25:35

Great communication results and great outcomes.

Digital.

Platforms compound those great outcomes.

I'll see you next time.