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Perfectionism might be the single biggest thing holding you back from starting your podcast.
After almost 11 years behind the scenes with hundreds of podcasters, I’ve seen it stop more shows from launching than any other obstacle. People treat their podcasts like permanent monuments instead of living projects that can evolve over time.
Here’s what I want you to know: Nothing about your podcast is set in stone. And that’s actually freeing.
The Things You’re Obsessing Over (That Can All Be Changed)
Let me break down what’s actually flexible:
Your Show Name It’s rebrandable at any point. You can shift your focus, change your topic, pivot who you’re speaking to – and keep your subscribers. You don’t have to start over.
And piggybacking on what I talked about in Episode 1, you don’t need a perfect name to start. I considered a few names for this podcast. This was probably the third one I really sat on, but I had it decided in about a day.
Cover Art You can swap it out anytime in your podcast host (that’s basically your home base where you upload episodes and manage settings).
Usually within 24 hours (but often much sooner) those changes reflect across all the platforms where your podcast lives.
If you’re proficient in Canva, you can design your own. There are specs to follow (reach out if you need them, or just Google “podcast cover art specifications”). I can also recommend a great designer who did mine and has worked with many of our clients.
But here’s the key: Don’t get caught up on your cover art. It’s unbelievable how many people get tripped up at this step.
One quick tip while we’re here: Keep it simple. Minimal text, bold letters. Remember that people will be looking at your cover art on small smartphone screens.
Intro/Outro Music Another thing people get stuck on that you really don’t need to.
Starting out, you can do what I did: hop onto YouTube and search for the vibe you’re looking for. I Googled “corporate modern royalty free podcast music” (Make sure to include “royalty free” so you have permission to use it).
There are great people who do custom intros and outros, but if you want to keep it quick and simple, YouTube has plenty of options.
And here’s another option: Start with no music at all. Just start speaking and record your trailer episode. While you’re getting your show approved on platforms, you can find music to add later.
Episode Format Solo, interview, co-hosted – it’s all flexible and changeable.
I knew I wanted this to be a solo show with short episodes (15 minutes and under). But at some point, I might invite clients on to share their experiences, or I might bring on a co-host. I just don’t know. I’m open to all possibilities.
You can experiment and see what sticks.
Episode Length You may start short and go long, or vice versa. Our average client show at PodAssist is right around 30 minutes, but we have some with episodes that run an hour and a half.
It varies. Experiment and see what fits your style.
Your Voice and Hosting Style This will evolve naturally. You will get better as a host over time.
We’re granting you permission here to be awkward at first. You’re not going to be perfect. That was a big one I had to overcome myself.
Story Time: The One-Day Podcast Launch
Remember in the opener when I mentioned someone who woke up one morning, decided she wanted a podcast, and had her show live that very same day?
It’s my wife, Gen.
Gen is a naturopath who specializes in the lymphatic system. She decided she wanted to do a podcast called The Lymph Lounge.
First, I have to mention that Gen’s Human Design type is Manifesting Generator. When I asked her what that means, she said it’s someone who identifies what moves the needle and moves fast.
So this may not be typical, but I wanted to show what’s possible. It doesn’t take weeks, months, or years of planning to get a podcast out there.
Here’s how she did it:
✅ She had the name: The Lymph Lounge
✅ She already had her description from the work she does
✅ She got her intro music from YouTube
✅ She designed her own cover art in Canva
✅ She recorded one 17-minute episode
✅ She uploaded it to her podcast host
✅ Her show was approved that same day
And she was able to start sharing it immediately.
Gen’s on a seasonal frequency now. She hasn’t released an episode in a while, but she’s done 19 of them. And she still gets people reaching out about her podcast. Even local customers and clients mention they’ve gone back and listened to past episodes.
Your Permission Slip
Pick one thing you’ve been overthinking about your podcast.
Maybe it’s your podcast name. Your cover art. Your music. Your format.
Give yourself permission to start with good enough (this podcast was live 6 days after I decided to do it, plus it was the week of Christmas – you can do it too)!
Remind yourself: It’s not set in stone. You can change it at any time .
Now go hit record.
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Want to talk about your podcast idea? I offer no-obligation calls where we can brainstorm your concept, talk through your hurdles, and see if working together makes sense for your goals.
You can book a discovery call right by clicking HERE or feel free to connect with me over on LinkedIn to share your thoughts on this episode.