It's sorta embarrassing to admit Reader, I made a rookie mistake with my podcast for years. I thought YouTube was just for people who wanted to make fancy unboxing videos. Boy, was I wrong. Last month, I was chatting with a podcaster friend who casually mentioned that 70% of her listeners come from YouTube. Wait, what? I nearly spat out my mushroom coffee (story for a later post). She doesn't even do anything fancy with her video - just a simple camera setup and basic lighting. But her...
3 days ago • 1 min read
I had a revelation this morning while sipping my coffee and writing today's LinkedIn post. I freakin' LOVE my sponsors! When I first launched Podcast Junkies way back in 2014, my mantra was: "Treat your guests like gold". I always wanted to make sure they had the best experience both before, during, and after the show, period. With my second show, Vertical Farming Podcast, given that the objective was to create a show that was sponsorship-driven from day one, I quickly realized my new mantra...
16 days ago • 1 min read
Tough love time Reader, I had a conversation with a client last year that stopped me in my tracks. "Harry," she said, "I've recorded 15 episodes and I'm still only getting 37 downloads per episode. What am I doing wrong?" I took a deep breath. Because I knew exactly what was happening. She was treating her podcast like a stage instead of a networking event. Here's the uncomfortable truth I've learned after helping 130+ business owners launch their podcasts: Most podcasts never get real...
24 days ago • 1 min read
Something different today Reader, For a peek into my personal life, check out the latest edition of my Substack, A Life Worth Living. https://harryduran.substack.com/p/betting-on-myself-lessons-from-my-first-sweat-lodge Spoiler Alert: It was a helluva experience! With gratitude, Harry
28 days ago • 1 min read
You know Reader, the one sending desperate podcast pitch emails that screamed “PLEASE HAVE ME ON YOUR SHOW!” Cringe. I’d refresh my inbox every 15 minutes hoping for a response. Nothing. It took me embarrassingly long to realize what I was doing wrong. I was approaching podcast guesting like I was asking for a handout instead of offering value. Everything changed when I flipped my mindset. Guest podcasting isn’t begging for attention—it’s a strategic power move. Let me share what finally...
about 1 month ago • 1 min read
I believed a dangerous myth when I started podcasting Reader. Maybe you’ve heard it too. “If you build great content, they will come.” It’s the Field of Dreams mentality that has quietly killed more podcasts than bad audio quality ever will. I fell for it hard back in 2014 when I launched Podcast Junkies. I thought my brilliant insights would somehow magically find their audience. I was wrong. Dead wrong. The industry research doesn’t lie: cross-promotions and collaborations consistently...
about 2 months ago • 1 min read
I made a rookie mistake when I first started podcasting. I thought I needed to be EVERYWHERE. Instagram? Check. Facebook? Of course. Twitter? Absolutely. TikTok? Why not? I was creating content for so many platforms that I was completely burnt out within weeks. And the worst part? Nobody was finding my show. I was shouting into the void on every platform and getting zero traction. Sound familiar? Here’s what I wish someone had told me back then: trying to be everywhere means you end up being...
about 2 months ago • 1 min read
Wow Reader! Last weekend I spent three days with people who made me feel simultaneously inspired and slightly inadequate. In the best possible way. I attended my long time friend Krisstina Wise's mastermind focused on longevity and wealth building. And wow. Just... wow. The caliber of humans in that room left me speechless at times. Business owners doing incredible things. People with purpose. Individuals creating meaningful impact. You know that feeling when you're around someone who makes...
about 2 months ago • 1 min read
Can you relate Reader? The fear of sounding stupid was my biggest block to starting.It kept my best ideas locked away.It stopped me from ever hitting record.I let my first microphone sit on my desk for months.Every day, I heard that voice: “Who do you think you are?”That voice almost won. But here’s what 11+ years in podcasting taught me.Tell your STORY:S — Share your lived experience.You’ve survived, learned, or figured out something that someone else is still struggling with. That’s your...
about 2 months ago • 1 min read