Episode 24
The Roadblock Show
February 19, 2016 · Mike Murphy
Ep24: The Roadblock Show Five potential roadblocks you might encounter on your podcast and online journey. Episode Summary: Sme tips that will keep you moving forward.
Episode Summary: 5 real roadblocks new podcasters and online content creators run into — time, shiny object syndrome, health, technical difficulties, and skills — with honest solutions for each.
What You’ll Learn
- 5 real roadblocks new podcasters run into, and honest solutions for each
- What a mixer actually is and why podcasters need one
- Why time management, not gear, is the biggest early obstacle
- Where to keep learning skills so you never plateau
“When you come to a fork in the road, take it.” — Yogi Berra
Ask Mike Anything: What Is a Mixer?
Question (from Blab): What is a mixer?
Answer: A genuinely good question — it’s easy to assume everyone already knows, and that’s rarely true. A mixer is the audio interface used to connect a microphone and any other audio sources (an iPhone, iPad, or an instrument like a guitar) into a computer or recording device. Some kind of interface is necessary to get quality sound into a recording program — Adobe Audition, in this case. A mixer is also called a mixing desk; the big intimidating versions with rows of knobs and sliders seen at live concerts or recording studios are the same idea, just scaled down for podcasters. They look confusing at first but are actually simple once the logic clicks. A class on using this exact mixer is in the works for Udemy and Skillshare. The mixer used here: the Allen & Heath ZED 10.
5 Roadblocks on the Podcast Journey
1. Time
Most podcasters and online entrepreneurs have full-time jobs. Producing a podcast is a real commitment — working 9-5 often means doing the work in the evenings (or mornings) instead. Resource mentioned: Gary Vaynerchuk’s 7-2 strategy.
Solutions: use the roadmap discussed in Episode 18 — download the 2016 Roadmap PDF directly. Work in the mornings before the day job starts; every minute counts. Do the hardest work when your brain is sharpest — for most people, that’s first thing in the morning, not spent on email or social scrolling. Batch-record shows when possible to free up time later.
2. Shiny Object Syndrome
Distractions and ideas from other people and influencers that pull focus away from the original plan. Resource mentioned: John Lee Dumas’s mantra — F.O.C.U.S.: Follow One Course Until Successful.
Solution: resist, focus, one thing at a time. Multitasking is the enemy in the online world.
“There is no there there.”
3. Health & Well-Being
Sitting all day takes a real toll — back pain, weight gain. Keep stress in check: good stress can be fun in small doses, but bad stress affects physical and mental health, and the people around you notice.
4. Technical Difficulties
An unavoidable roadblock — things will go wrong. Audio, specifically: an ongoing fight against digital noise, tackled with acoustic foam from Foam Factory, new cables, and an EbTech Hum Eliminator — no luck yet, but persistence eventually pays off. Back up your data. Learn your tools and equipment — when something breaks, knowing how to fix it comes from practice and familiarity, not luck.
5. Skills
You never stop learning — daily study is part of the routine, always trying to get a little better at everything. Places to learn: Lynda.com, Skillshare, YouTube. Audio specifically: The Sound Reinforcement Handbook — genuinely nerdy, but worth it to really understand audio.
In Conclusion
Starting a podcast has been one of the best decisions made — it pushes hard and makes you think. But it’s not all roses. Ben Franklin said it best: “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” To recap the 5 roadblocks:
- Lack of time. Develop routines and habits, and do the hard work when you’re sharpest.
- Shiny object syndrome. The grass is not always greener.
- Health & well-being. All work and no play makes for a dull, unhealthy life.
- Technical difficulties. Learn the tools of the trade.
- Skills. How do you get to Carnegie Hall? Practice.
Music: “Life of Riley” & “Wallpaper” (incompetech.com).