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Fountain The Best (and Worst) Podcast Feedback We've Ever Received
Key Takeaways
- Many podcasters fail to ask for podcast feedback and then wonder why their show isn't growing, making it essential to actively seek constructive input from trusted sources.
- When evaluating podcast feedback, always consider the source and determine whether the critique points to something actionable that you can actually control and improve.
- A clear, descriptive podcast title matters significantly; changing an obscure name to something obvious can dramatically improve listener comprehension and audience growth.
- Negative reviews and harsh podcast feedback can sting, but they often provide a catalyst for self-reflection, refocusing your content, and refining your delivery.
- Always communicate the value proposition to your audience early in an episode, ensuring listeners immediately understand what's in it for them.
A listener once told me they hoped I'd quit teaching altogether. Another told me, in the nicest way possible, that the curmudgeon was showing up a little too early these days. Only one of those helped my show. This month's Question of the Month was all about feedback: what's the most constructive feedback you've ever received, and what's the most destructive? A few listeners sent in their answers, I share mine, and to prove how much feedback matters, I dig up some embarrassing basement recordings from a much younger Dave Jackson. Let's get into it.
Why Aren't You Getting Feedback?
It honestly boggles my mind how many podcasters never ask for feedback and then wonder why their show isn't growing. Think of it like making someone a sandwich. You can ask, "I've got baloney, smoked turkey, or salami. Which do you want?" and make something they'll actually eat. Or you can hand everyone salami and say "tell your friends," while half of them are quietly thinking, "I hate salami."
Ralph Estep Jr.: "Go Hire a Speaking Coach"
Ralph, the content creator's accountant, says the best feedback he ever got was to hire a speaking coach. People (me included) told him he sounded robotic on his show, nothing like the Ralph you meet on a Zoom call or in person. He found a coach, and it changed the way he does everything. On the other side, he's had people tell him they hope he gets hit by a bus or struck by lightning over his religious views. He's not taking that advice. His point: when you get feedback, consider who it's coming from and whether it makes sense to act on it.
York Campbell: The Name Was the Problem
York's show used to be called Poetic Earthlings, and people kept assuming it was about poetry. It's actually short sci-fi stories: time travel, alien worlds, hyperdimensional creatures, and a few conspiracy theories. A fellow podcaster suggested Welcome to Earth Stories, and once he made the change, the attention and downloads followed. As York put it, sometimes you fall in love with a clever name because of what it means to you, and never stop to ask whether anyone else will understand it.
Timothy Kimo Brien: "You Called My Baby Ugly"
Tim submitted his old show, KDOI Podcasting (Kimo's Den of Iniquity), to the Podcast Rodeo Show. I said it sounded like a radio station, and the full name sounded like... something else entirely. Tim was not a happy camper. Later, sitting at a podcast conference and hearing someone talk about making your show's title clear, he asked himself what his show actually does: it's about creating art. Hello, Create Art Podcast. He's gone from roughly 200–300 downloads a month to between 1,000 and 1,500. He says it's not necessarily because of the name change. I say probably. Either way, it helped him focus on what the show is really about.
My Best Feedback: The Curmudgeon Is Showing
Before Podfest even started, my buddy Steve Stewart asked me to lunch and asked if I was open to notes. I grew up professionally with "constant improvement" on the walls of my first job, so of course I was. He told me the curmudgeon was coming out a little quicker than it used to. That was gold, because it was something I could control and fix. And it came from someone whose opinion I value, someone who'll tell me when something's good and when it isn't. Knowledge is only power when you act on it.
My First Bad Review (and What Good Feedback Looks Like)
In 2010, five years into podcasting, I got my first negative review: basically "not good, not enough thought, it's a commercial for bad services." It knocked me back on my heels, but there was nothing I could fix, because it never said why. (This is why I now say you're not a real podcaster until you get a one-star review.)
Compare that to a 2017 review from a listener who wanted to hear the show but said the mix had a hiss or too much treble. That's great feedback. It's specific, and I could have adjusted it (I was using the Electro-Voice RE320 back then and liked my S's and T's crisp). The only problem is he should have sent it to me directly.
A few things to keep in mind:
- The person might be having a bad day. After decades in customer support, I've seen people apologize later once they calmed down.
- Ask yourself: do they have a point? If so, can you fix it?
- Make it easy for feedback to reach you. A review isn't a direct line.
- Save the nice messages. On days you don't feel like recording, they remind you people are listening.
- Reviews are social proof, but they don't help you get found. Apple has said so.
When Feedback Goes Wrong: The Podcast Rodeo Show
In 2017 I launched the Podcast Rodeo Show, where I'd grab a random podcast and give a real first impression. (Half of YouTube is reaction videos now. I'm taking credit for inventing it. I didn't.)
One episode, a host opened by sharing a string of genuinely awful personal experiences, all within the first few minutes, and never said what the show was about, who it was for, or even that it was an interview. My feedback was all logic: what's in it for the listener? As Erik K. Johnson says, nobody gets on a bus if they don't know where it's going. Don't bury the lead. People don't care about you until you give them a reason to care.
She emailed and attacked me personally, said I was cruel and should never call myself a teacher. It hit me hard enough that I worried the show was hurting my brand, and it's part of why the show eventually ended. Listening back now, I could have been more compassionate. But when I asked my audience whether they wanted a kinder, gentler version, they very loudly said no. So the show evolved (a little less "listen and react," a little more "what do we want them to learn") and got rebranded, first to Podcast Hot Seat (people said that sounded painful) and now to Fix My Podcast.
Scott Orr: How to Take Hard Feedback
Now compare that to Scott Orr, an award-winning journalist and host of Code 3 – The Firefighters Podcast. Before one review, I reached out and said, respectfully, "Scott, you sound like you're drunk." He replied that he didn't have a drinking problem. He has Parkinson's. Instead of getting angry, Scott took the feedback and now opens every episode by saying he won't let Parkinson's stop him.
When Scott later came on the Podcast Review Show, Erik K. Johnson pointed out that addressing it up front is disarming. Listeners stop wondering what's going on and focus on what Scott's saying, not how he's saying it. Honest? Yes. Awkward? Yes. Helpful? Absolutely.
You Can't See Your Own Typos
My favorite example: I once had a typo in the School of Podcasting's own tagline ("plan, launch, grow, and monetize") and didn't catch it. Sometimes you just don't see it.
Young Dave Jackson's Basement Tapes
At School of Podcasting we hold listener parties, where members listen to an episode together and give feedback in real time. Some people cringe at the idea. So here's my confession: in my twenties I was basically Ross from Friends, recording angry '80s rock in my basement. Guitar, bass, keys, drum machine, and, unfortunately, all the vocals. I'd hit play and leave the room while friends listened.
Their feedback? "Who's playing the piano?" Me. "Who's on bass?" Me. Nobody said a word about the music. Just recently, my brother found that CD and told me the songs and singing weren't that bad, but the mix was horrendous. Thirty years later. A little late.
Here's the scary part: you're going to be judged anyway. Wouldn't it make more sense to be judged in a way where you can capture the feedback and make changes before you publish?
The Sidewalk Lesson
A few years ago on the Fourth of July, I fell on an uneven sidewalk while looking at my phone and still have the scars on my knees. That was feedback too, just the painful kind. If someone had warned me about that raised block of cement ahead of time, I'd have saved myself a lot of trouble. That's what good feedback does.
Give me feedback on this show: head to schoolofpodcasting.com/survey and tell me how I can make it better. I'm doing this show for you.
Want help growing your show? Go to schoolofpodcasting.com and use the coupon code LISTENER for a monthly, quarterly, or yearly subscription, backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Next week: one thing I did in under five minutes that put me directly in front of my target audience. Follow at schoolofpodcasting.com/follow so you get it the minute it drops.
Contributors & Links
- Ralph Estep Jr., the Content Creator's Accountant: https://ralphestepjr.com
- Becoming Financially Confident (live weekdays, 11:30 a.m. ET): https://becomingfinanciallyconfident.com
- York Campbell, Welcome to Earth Stories: https://welcometoearthstories.com
- Timothy Kimo Brien, Create Art Podcast: https://createartpodcast.com
- Steve Stewart, Podcast Editors Academy: https://stevestewart.me
- Scott Orr, Code 3 – The Firefighters Podcast: https://code3podcast.com
- Erik K. Johnson, Podcast Talent Coach: https://podcasttalentcoach.com
Also Mentioned
- Fix My Podcast (get your show audited): https://fixmypodcast.com
- Podcast Rodeo Show archive: https://podcastrodeoshow.com
- Podcast Review Show: https://www.podcastreviewshow.com
- School of Podcasting survey: https://schoolofpodcasting.com/survey
- School of Podcasting (coupon code LISTENER): https://schoolofpodcasting.com
- PodPage: https://podpage.com
- Pocket Casts: https://pocketcasts.com
Mentioned in this episode:
Live Appearances
I loved connecting with my audience. Here are the next events I will be at: November 11: Podindy.com (use the coupon code SOP) February 23-26, 2027: National Religious Broadcasters nrb.org I'd love to speak at your event. Go to schoolofpodcasting.com/contact
Started a Podcast But You Feel Stuck?
You're already podcasting, but you feel stuck. I get it. Let's fix that. Join me inside the School of Podcasting and let's get your show growing again. Go to schoolofpodcasting.com, code LISTENER. Thirty-day money-back guarantee.
Podpage Makes Interview Shows Eaier
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Question of the Month
This months' question is, " How long did it take before you felt like you had "real listeners" — and what made you realize it? If you don't feel it now, what would make it feel "real"? I need your answer by October 23rd. Don't forget to mention your show, your tagline, and your website. Go to schooolofpodcasting.com/question
Free Podcast Tips
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is getting podcast feedback important?
Podcast feedback helps you understand what is and isn't working for your listeners, allowing you to make necessary adjustments to grow your audience and improve your content.
How should podcasters handle negative reviews?
Evaluate negative reviews objectively by considering if the critic has a valid point, checking if it is something you can fix, and remembering that the reviewer might simply be having a bad day.
Does a podcast name change affect downloads?
Yes, changing an unclear or overly clever podcast title to a descriptive name that clearly communicates the show's topic can help attract more attention and downloads.
00:00 - Untitled
00:36 - Welcome
01:10 - Free Expsoure
02:05 - This MOnth's Question
03:17 - Ralph Estep Jr
05:41 - York
07:15 - Timothy Kimo Brien
10:42 - Dave Jackson
13:04 - The Key To Feedback
13:26 - Dave's 1 Star Review
16:43 - Exammples of Feedback
19:00 - The Show That Attacked Me Personally
23:34 - We All React Differently
26:04 - When In Doubt Ask Your Audience
27:42 - Listening To Advice
35:03 - People Will Judge Your Stuff If You're There or Not
36:45 - Nobody Commented on the Content
38:29 - The Scariest Truth About Your Show
39:27 - Feedback From the Sidewalk
41:13 - Hear My Heart
41:36 - Next Week's Show
42:03 - Please Share the Show
43:07 - Bloopers
David Jackson:
It is question of the month time. That's where I
David Jackson:
ask you a question and you reply. And this month's question
David Jackson:
was all about feedback, and it's what's the most constructive
David Jackson:
piece of feedback you've received, as well as the most
David Jackson:
destructive feedback you've ever received. So I'm going to share
David Jackson:
mine, and we have a few people that shared theirs, and I'm
David Jackson:
going to embarrass myself just so you can learn the importance
David Jackson:
of feedback. Hit it, ladies.
David Jackson:
The SOP Singers: The School of Podcasting with Dave Jackson.
David Jackson:
Podcasting since 2005. I am your award-winning
David Jackson:
Hall of Fame podcast coach Dave Jackson, thanking you so very,
David Jackson:
very much for tuning in. If you're new to the show, this is
David Jackson:
where I help you plan, launch, grow, and monetize your show.
David Jackson:
The website, courtesy of PodPage.com, is
David Jackson:
SchoolOfPodcasting.com, and if you go over there and use the
David Jackson:
coupon code listener on either a monthly, quarterly, or yearly
David Jackson:
subscription, that'll save you some money. And today is the
David Jackson:
question of the month. If you're new to the show, this is where I
David Jackson:
throw out a question, you answer it, and you get some free
David Jackson:
exposure. That's the thing I think that always kind of
David Jackson:
boggles my mind is people are like, how can I get the word out
David Jackson:
about my show? And I have just added a new show to kind of my
David Jackson:
app. I use Pocket Cast, by the way. And where where did I hear
David Jackson:
about it on another podcast? And today we have three answers, so
David Jackson:
I'm here just to not to shame you and not to make you feel
David Jackson:
bad, but just to say, if you heard me do the question of the
David Jackson:
month last month, you've had a month, a month to record a quick
David Jackson:
answer, and have me say your website. So you will hear that
David Jackson:
later, and it's free publicity to people who listen to
David Jackson:
podcasts, so keep that in mind. And the question of the month
David Jackson:
for September, and it's kind of about feedback. I am always
David Jackson:
somewhat kind of confused as to why people do not get feedback
David Jackson:
on their show, and by that, I realize some of us ask for
David Jackson:
feedback and don't get any, and we'll talk maybe a little bit
David Jackson:
about that. But also, there are people that don't even ask, and
David Jackson:
then they want to know why their show isn't growing. So this is
David Jackson:
this month's question, and that's fine if you haven't done
David Jackson:
one. I'm just letting you know it makes sense. Picture yourself
David Jackson:
in the kitchen, and you're making someone a sandwich, and
David Jackson:
you go, "Hey, I've got baloney, I've got smoked turkey and
David Jackson:
salami. Which one do you want? They go, "Oh, I love smoked
David Jackson:
turkey. Oh, okay, and so you make a sandwich that they will
David Jackson:
eat, and there are times when you're handing people salami,
David Jackson:
going, "Hey, here's a salami. Tell your friends, and they in
David Jackson:
their head they're like, "Yeah, I I hate salami. So we're gonna
David Jackson:
start off the question with my buddy Ralph Eastep Jr. You know
David Jackson:
him as the content creator's accountant. Take it away, Ralph.
David Jackson:
Ralph Estep Jr.: Hey, Dave, it's Ralph Eastep Jr. and I'm
David Jackson:
responding to your question of the month, I got to be honest.
David Jackson:
When I look back at my several years of podcasting, I would say
David Jackson:
the best advice I received or the best feedback I ever got was
David Jackson:
when somebody told me go hire a speaking coach. Because to be
David Jackson:
very candid with you, I was struggling to find my voice. I
David Jackson:
was struggling to figure out just how do I start the
David Jackson:
conversation? How do I do those things? And I found a lady, and
David Jackson:
she was fantastic, and it has absolutely changed the way I do
David Jackson:
things. And that was feedback. That was people saying to me,
David Jackson:
"Ralph, you sound very robotic. They said, "And you were one of
David Jackson:
those people, Dave. You said, 'Ralph, you don't sound like
David Jackson:
when I see you in a Zoom call when I see you in person, so
David Jackson:
that was probably the most beneficial advice I've ever
David Jackson:
received. Now on the other side of that, I've gotten some pretty
David Jackson:
nasty feedback from people about my religious affiliations and
David Jackson:
the things I talk about. Some people have told me they hope a
David Jackson:
bus runs me over, and other people have said I hope they I
David Jackson:
hope you get hit by lightning, so obviously I'm not going to
David Jackson:
take that advice. So, as with anything, when you get feedback,
David Jackson:
understand who's giving you that feedback, and study it and see
David Jackson:
does it make sense to actually embrace the feedback? Because
David Jackson:
the truth of the matter is, and you and I actually talked about
David Jackson:
this at the conference when we were talking about question of
David Jackson:
the month, I for the life of me don't understand people who
David Jackson:
don't want to get feedback. I think feedback is a fantastic
David Jackson:
thing, and helps us grow as human beings, and certainly
David Jackson:
helps us grow as content creators. So those are my
David Jackson:
answers. If you want to find out more about me, you can go to
David Jackson:
RalphEistepJunior dot. Again, that's Ralph Estep E S T E P J
David Jackson:
r.com, and make sure you check out our new show, Becoming
David Jackson:
Financially Confident. It is every day, Monday through
David Jackson:
Friday, 1130 a.m. Eastern Time. It's a live show, and you can
David Jackson:
find that@becomingfinanciallyconfident.com.
David Jackson:
Thank you, Dave. Look forward to talking to you soon, my friend
David Jackson:
Ralph. Thank you so much. So you can hear there.
David Jackson:
He got a little bit of feedback. His show is improving. He's
David Jackson:
probably having more fun. It's not quite as stressful. And
David Jackson:
yeah, and you will get feedback like you know, hey buddy, go
David Jackson:
jump in a lake. And you don't always have to take that advice.
David Jackson:
Next up, we have York. Hi,
York:
Dave. This is York from Welcome to Earth Stories. The
York:
best advice that I received is to change the name of my show.
York:
Before, it was called Poetic Earthlings, but people
York:
weren't-they weren't getting it because of the title. They
York:
thought it was about poetry. I should have known that. You
York:
know, sometimes you get so enamored by a name because you
York:
thought of how clever it is and how much it means to you on an
York:
emotional level. But I didn't stop to think: Would people
York:
understand what I'm talking about? When a friend of mine
York:
said, "What about if you change it to 'Welcome to Earth'
York:
stories? It just made sense because my stories-they're about
York:
time traveling, alien worlds, and hyperdimensional creatures,
York:
and things of that nature, with conspiracy theories thrown in as
York:
well. Once I changed the name and followed the advice of my
York:
fellow podcaster, I received a lot more attention, a lot more
York:
downloads, just because I changed the name. If you want to
York:
hear short sci-fi stories, then listen to Welcome to Earth
York:
Stories season nine just launched last week. All the
York:
details could be found@welcometoearthstories.com.
York:
Thanks, Dave.
David Jackson:
Thank you, York. Next up, some call him Tim.
David Jackson:
Timothy Kemo Brian: Hey, Dave. This is Timothy Kimel Bryan,
David Jackson:
your head instigator from Create Art Podcast, where I help my
David Jackson:
listeners tame their inner critic and create more than you
David Jackson:
consume. You can find that@createartpodcast.com. So,
David Jackson:
Dave, I love this question because it has a little
David Jackson:
something to do with you, so I submitted my old show KDOI
David Jackson:
podcasting to the podcast rodeo show.
David Jackson:
Now rebranded fixmypodcast.com.
David Jackson:
Timothy Kemo Brian: You said something to the effect of that
David Jackson:
you didn't know what KDOI was kind of sounded like a radio
David Jackson:
station, and then when I said chemo's den of iniquity, it kind
David Jackson:
of sounded like something out of a BDSM kind of thing. So
David Jackson:
initially, you called my baby ugly, and I was not happy with
David Jackson:
you. I remember we. I was doing another podcast called
David Jackson:
Podwrecked, and we were interviewing you. And yeah, I
David Jackson:
was not a happy camper, but you know what? I got over it. I
David Jackson:
actually was sitting at a podcast conference. I was
David Jackson:
sitting at Icon Independent Podcast Conference up in
David Jackson:
Atlantic City, when I was hearing somebody say something
David Jackson:
about you know the title of your show should be you know
David Jackson:
something memorable something that you know people can dive
David Jackson:
into. Heck, it might have even been you, and I thought, well,
David Jackson:
what does KDI podcasting do? It's an art podcast. I talk
David Jackson:
about creating art. Oh, create art podcast. Three guesses as to
David Jackson:
what that podcast is about, and the first two don't count. So
David Jackson:
that was some great advice that you gave me. Even though at the
David Jackson:
time I was a little too precious about my podcast, and ever since
David Jackson:
I have changed it, it's really taken off. I'm getting about
David Jackson:
between 1015 100 downloads a month, which at the time that
David Jackson:
you had called my baby ugly, I might have been getting 200,
David Jackson:
maybe 300 downloads a month. Now, is it because of the name
David Jackson:
change? Not necessarily,
David Jackson:
but I'm going to say. Probably,
David Jackson:
Timothy Kemo Brian: but it really helped me focus on what
David Jackson:
the podcast was about. So that is some very constructive advice
David Jackson:
that I got from you. So I want everybody to know about it, and
David Jackson:
I want to say thank you. I want to apologize for being mad at
David Jackson:
you for calling my baby ugly, but you know what? Sometimes
David Jackson:
your babies have to be called ugly, and you know me-I wear a
David Jackson:
T-shirt that says "I make cute babies. So now I do with your
David Jackson:
help. That sounded weird. Anyhow, have a great one, Dave,
David Jackson:
and thanks for all you do, and thanks for helping me name my
David Jackson:
podcast,
David Jackson:
Tim. Thank you so much. When it comes to what I
David Jackson:
felt was super, what's the word? Helpful feedback. I believe it
David Jackson:
was Podfest. It haven't hadn't even started yet, and I see my
David Jackson:
buddy Steve Stewart, he says, "Can we go to lunch? And I go,
David Jackson:
"Yeah. And he said, "Hey, are you open to any kind of notes?
David Jackson:
Well, I grew up with the mantra. The very first job I had out of
David Jackson:
college, they had this all over the walls: constant improvement.
David Jackson:
Better known for some of you, if you're fans of the the movie
David Jackson:
Dead Poet Society, Carpa Diem, Carpe Diem, baby, and so that's
David Jackson:
that's all. I'm always open to notes, and so Steve said, I
David Jackson:
think the curmudgeon, meaning me getting a little frustrated on
David Jackson:
the mic, maybe he said, "I think the curmudgeon is coming out a
David Jackson:
little quicker than it used to, and for me, that is something I
David Jackson:
control. That's something I need to know because we'll talk about
David Jackson:
this in a second. I'll talk about some advice that I gave
David Jackson:
that actually made me almost stop a podcast because a
David Jackson:
listener came at me so hard. I was like, I think I'm done with
David Jackson:
this. We'll talk about that in a second. But this was something I
David Jackson:
could control and something from. And I, I really, Tim just
David Jackson:
mentioned it. Ralph mentioned it. You have to consider the
David Jackson:
source, and you need somebody's opinion that you know will tell
David Jackson:
you when this is good, and they'll also tell you when it's
David Jackson:
not good. And I really value Steve Stewart's opinion. And he
David Jackson:
was like, "Hey, man, the the curmudgeon's coming out a little
David Jackson:
quick these days. And I was like, "Man, that is something I
David Jackson:
can control, something I can fix because I never want the
David Jackson:
curmudgeon to stop you from going? You know, I think I want
David Jackson:
to work with Dave. I'm honest, you know. Tim just talked about
David Jackson:
how I called his baby ugly, and what I said was this doesn't
David Jackson:
make sense. And well, you'll hear some of my opinions, and
David Jackson:
we're going to talk about. And we've talked about this in the
David Jackson:
past, but this is a good place to bring this up. The key to
David Jackson:
feedback is how you react to it, right? Knowledge is power.
David Jackson:
Knowledge is only power when you act on it. So that was the best
David Jackson:
feedback I got. The worst feedback I I've received, and it
David Jackson:
really wasn't even great feedback, but it was the first
David Jackson:
time I'd received something negative, and I had to go look
David Jackson:
it up. It is from 2010, so I'd been podcasting for five years,
David Jackson:
and this is where I kind of now say you're not a real podcaster
David Jackson:
until you get a one star review. But from Jay Widgett, he said
David Jackson:
not good, not enough thought. It's a commercial for bad
David Jackson:
services that was from March of 2010, and so when I heard that,
David Jackson:
a it's when you just say it's not good. Okay, I get that, but
David Jackson:
like, why is it not good? That would be something I could then
David Jackson:
fix, but like, hey, you suck is not really very constructive.
David Jackson:
But that one, I was like, he said I was bad. He said I'm a
David Jackson:
bad commercial. I'm like, I'm spending all this time on this.
David Jackson:
It really kind of knocked me back on my heels a little bit.
David Jackson:
And when I went looking through my reviews and Apple Podcasts.
David Jackson:
One of the things you want to keep in mind, because I get
David Jackson:
this. I've worked in customer support for decades among many
David Jackson:
different companies, and there are sometimes when somebody's
David Jackson:
just having a bad day. I remember once this was recently
David Jackson:
a pod page, and somebody said, "Why is it taking so long to
David Jackson:
reply, and I literally replied like in two minutes, and I was
David Jackson:
kind of like, "I'm sorry that it, you know, I'm here now. And
David Jackson:
he even said later, "Like, hey, you know what? I'm having a bad
David Jackson:
day. I'm sorry. Obviously, you guys are replying much quicker
David Jackson:
than most people. So keep in mind, somebody may be." Having a
David Jackson:
bad day, but great feedback is like this one from 2017. So I
David Jackson:
really want to listen to this podcast, but so often the sound
David Jackson:
mix seems to have either a hiss or too much treble. Can the
David Jackson:
sound quality be improved?
David Jackson:
Now that's great feedback from Jim the halfling. The thing that
David Jackson:
Jim should have done is sent it to me directly, because there
David Jackson:
are some people I know. Some people obsess over their
David Jackson:
reviews. I am not one of them, but I like them. They're social
David Jackson:
proof. Please keep in mind reviews do not help you get
David Jackson:
found. People still repeat that. Apple has said no, it doesn't.
David Jackson:
So for feedback to work, it has to get to the right person, and
David Jackson:
so make sure if you want to receive feedback that you have
David Jackson:
something in place to receive that, and then when somebody
David Jackson:
says something nice about you, be sure to save that someplace
David Jackson:
because there are going to be days when you're like, ugh, time
David Jackson:
to make the podcast, and you just don't feel like it, and
David Jackson:
when you go back and review it, it reminds you there are people
David Jackson:
listening, and when you get feedback that's not really
David Jackson:
helpful, you know, just keep in mind that a that person might
David Jackson:
have been having a bad day. Two, do they have a point? Like in
David Jackson:
this case, this guy's like now this was from like 10 years ago.
David Jackson:
Hey, your show's a little tinty for me. You know, it's a little
David Jackson:
too bright. And that was back probably when I was using the
David Jackson:
Electro Voice RE 320, and I liked that sound. I liked my S's
David Jackson:
and T's very clear. He did not, but had I seen that probably
David Jackson:
back then, I could adjust that. So that's the thing. Do they
David Jackson:
have a point? Great. Can I fix this? Yeah. Yeah,
Unknown:
yeah, yeah.
David Jackson:
So on march 5, 2017, I launched a show that was
David Jackson:
not supposed to be a real show. The name of it was the Podcast
David Jackson:
Rodeo Show, where I grab a random podcast and see how long
David Jackson:
I can hang on. But Podcast Rodeo Show is not a good name.
David Jackson:
Everybody thought it was about the rodeo. I didn't really care.
David Jackson:
It was going to be a show at the time. I believe Captivate was
David Jackson:
brand new, and I needed a show to just basically try it out.
David Jackson:
And so, just to give you an idea of this, and again, kind of
David Jackson:
focusing on feedback, you'll hear me say good and bad
David Jackson:
feedback here, and this is the trailer for the podcast rodeo
David Jackson:
show, which is now Fix My Podcast. On the podcast rodeo
David Jackson:
show, we grab a random podcast and see how long we can hang on,
David Jackson:
and I give you a real life first impression. Didn't expect that.
David Jackson:
All right, this is not your grandpa's faith podcast. I'm
David Jackson:
digging it so far.
Unknown:
We discussed how cheesecake is actually a really
Unknown:
great thing to have in your home.
David Jackson:
Okay, you had me, and you said you brought her on
David Jackson:
because she knows this cool survival stuff, and then you
David Jackson:
didn't tell me the other things that she's going to tell me
David Jackson:
about, and now you're talking about cheesecake.
David Jackson:
Timothy Kemo Brian: Um, so we didn't really have anything to
David Jackson:
talk about. We were going because this episode is coming
David Jackson:
out on Black Friday,
David Jackson:
and that, my friends, is the phrase that
David Jackson:
pays. The minute you go, I'm not really sure what I'm going to
David Jackson:
talk about. I am out of here because that means that you're
David Jackson:
going to waste 45 minutes of my time. Holy cow! Well, first of
David Jackson:
all, great intro. Here's the key to this. I want to hear the rest
David Jackson:
of this episode. Do you? I do. The Podcast Rodeo Show. Find
David Jackson:
it@podcastrodeoshow.com. So you can hear, and I tried, without
David Jackson:
being too harsh, to just think out loud. So I think about it
David Jackson:
now. Half of YouTube is just reaction videos, and I would
David Jackson:
like to say I invented, which I'm sure I didn't, but I'll take
David Jackson:
credit for it. Back in 2017, I was doing reaction podcasts, and
David Jackson:
I'm not going to say the name of the show, but there was a show
David Jackson:
that within the first I'm going to say three minutes, a person
David Jackson:
and I feel bad for all of these. They were talking about
David Jackson:
different ways of learning, and so she announced that when she
David Jackson:
was growing up, she was probably in the fourth or fifth grade.
David Jackson:
Her mother had cancer. That's horrible. Between eighth grade
David Jackson:
and 12th grade, she had moved multiple times. That's a
David Jackson:
horrendous stress on a little kid. Her sister died in an
David Jackson:
accident. Horrible, and then even later when she was in
David Jackson:
college, she was attacked. That's horrendous. The problem
David Jackson:
was I heard this again in less than probably four minutes,
David Jackson:
which is a lot to take in. And the other thing that I pointed
David Jackson:
out was. Well, here it is. Yeah, I don't get it. And as I look at
David Jackson:
the show notes, I'm like, "What? So, yeah. Um, I I screw up on
David Jackson:
the phone. She actually apparently this is an interview,
David Jackson:
and nowhere in her introduction did she say, "Today we're going
David Jackson:
to be talking with Adele Myers, founder and artistic director at
David Jackson:
the Miami-based dance company. Okay, so yeah, this first of
David Jackson:
all, I'm sorry to hear all the negative things that have
David Jackson:
happened in your life, but the teacher and me, I think every
David Jackson:
every presentation is either made great or completely blown
David Jackson:
opportunity by the setup, and so it's like, hey, welcome to the
David Jackson:
show. People think I I think sideways. Here's a bunch of crap
David Jackson:
that happened to me, and I'm like, why am I listening to
David Jackson:
this? What's the show about? Who is this for? And and the whole
David Jackson:
thing is like, oh, you'll get this after I get to know you.
David Jackson:
Well, why would I stick around to get to know you when there's
David Jackson:
nothing for me here? Like, I don't get it. What's in it for
David Jackson:
me? Remember, that's the radio station that you're broadcasting
David Jackson:
on. WIFM. What's in it for the listener? And at this point, I'm
David Jackson:
like, I don't know why I'm here, and I don't know what I'm going
David Jackson:
to get. And I will use my buddy Eric K. Johnson, the podcast
David Jackson:
talent coach. One of my favorite lines: Nobody gets on a bus if
David Jackson:
they don't know where it's going, and I don't know what
David Jackson:
this show is about. I may have just found it in Apple or
David Jackson:
wherever and clicked play, and there there was no definition of
David Jackson:
like, here's what the show is about, and here's what we're
David Jackson:
going to talk about today, and here's how you're going to
David Jackson:
benefit. So, yeah, this this has, and also your sound is is
David Jackson:
borderline bad, but and all of this is an easy fix. That's the
David Jackson:
beautiful thing about this show. I want to help you make the best
David Jackson:
episodes possible, and it's rarely like oh, we can't fix
David Jackson:
this. It's always all you need to do is maybe invest in a
David Jackson:
better microphone. If you go out to podcast rodeo show, you'll
David Jackson:
see I have some guides there on gear, and then just a matter of
David Jackson:
getting to the point and explaining to people how they're
David Jackson:
going to benefit. Who doesn't want to benefit? We all want to
David Jackson:
benefit, so let people know. Here's what you're listening to.
David Jackson:
Here's why you're listening to it, and here's how you're going
David Jackson:
to benefit. So I would actually like to listen to this show
David Jackson:
because just between her her description and things like
David Jackson:
this, my guess is that this is somebody who probably wants to
David Jackson:
turn this into some sort of monetary thing. And I don't
David Jackson:
know.
David Jackson:
It's going to be interesting, but this show is all about first
David Jackson:
impressions, and my first impression was not great. So I
David Jackson:
would go back to the drawing board, spice up your your audio
David Jackson:
a little bit, come up with an intro that lets people know what
David Jackson:
the show is about, what the episode is about, and then get
David Jackson:
to don't bury the lead. You got an interview here, so I'm not
David Jackson:
sure why the point was. I here's why I know why. This is what
David Jackson:
happened. Somebody said you need to get your story out there.
David Jackson:
People don't care about you until your story is out there.
David Jackson:
No, people don't care about you until you give them a reason to
David Jackson:
care. So when you give me something of value that I'm
David Jackson:
like, oh, I didn't know that. I'm gonna have to go try that.
David Jackson:
Wow, that saved me time. Wow, that saved me money now. I want
David Jackson:
to know about you because you seem pretty cool. But to just
David Jackson:
hey, here I am. Guess what? This happened and that happened, and
David Jackson:
that's not really. It didn't resonate with me. I'll just
David Jackson:
leave it that way. So as I listen back to this, everything
David Jackson:
she mentioned at the beginning of her show was very emotional,
David Jackson:
if you think about it, and all of my feedback was very logical.
David Jackson:
You're not connecting this. You're not getting to the point.
David Jackson:
Things like that, and this person emailed me and attacked
David Jackson:
me personally, saying how cruel I was, how I shouldn't have, I
David Jackson:
shouldn't never even consider calling myself a teacher. You
David Jackson:
know, basically, you know, you should stop doing this, and you
David Jackson:
really hurt me. And one of the things that I always try to do
David Jackson:
by being transparent is to let you hear my heart. I'm any time
David Jackson:
if I ever give you any positive or negative feedback, it's
David Jackson:
because I'm trying to help you make a better show, so that you
David Jackson:
can make a better connection with your audience, so that you
David Jackson:
can grow your audience. Now, am I always right? No, I'm always
David Jackson:
giving you the best feedback I can give you based on all the
David Jackson:
studies that I do on podcasting, which is 20 years of basically
David Jackson:
listening every day to multiple podcasts about podcasting. I've
David Jackson:
got a bookcase in my office if you. Ever see me do something
David Jackson:
live? I've read every single one of those books. I study
David Jackson:
podcasting. I study storytelling. I study SEO. I
David Jackson:
study AI. Now, these are the things I study. And when I see
David Jackson:
somebody doing something that I don't feel is good in the long
David Jackson:
run, or that they may not realize, I explain it to them,
David Jackson:
and when I listen back to my feedback now, I remember
David Jackson:
thinking this was really, really harsh. And when I listen to it
David Jackson:
now, I go, "Yeah, I could have been a little more transparent,
David Jackson:
a little more compassionate about the fact that she'd gone
David Jackson:
through such horrible things. But she came at me hard, and I
David Jackson:
literally was like, "Oh, the last thing I want to do is to
David Jackson:
think some, you know, have somebody think I'm an old
David Jackson:
curmudgeon that's just gonna, you know, rip your show to
David Jackson:
shreds. And that's not what I'm doing. And that's where that
David Jackson:
show actually eventually came to an end. Although, as I listened
David Jackson:
to it, I'm like, "Man, that was fun, but it's one of those
David Jackson:
things that I asked my audience. I said, "Hey, because when in
David Jackson:
doubt, ask your audience. And I said, "Would you like a kindler,
David Jackson:
gentler version of the podcast rodeo show? And my audience very
David Jackson:
loudly said, "No, this is you. You are saying what we're
David Jackson:
thinking, and that's what makes this show at the time kind of
David Jackson:
radical. And so I did it. Now I did think before it was
David Jackson:
literally listen, react, listen, react, and now it's a little
David Jackson:
okay. What do we want to say here? What do we want them to To
David Jackson:
learn, and I also rebranded it. It's funny, I rebranded it to
David Jackson:
Podcast Hot Seat, and I heard people say that sounds painful,
David Jackson:
so I changed it to Fix My Podcast. And so, if you're
David Jackson:
looking, you're like, "Hey, I want to hear Podcast Rodeo Show.
David Jackson:
It's still there, podcastrodeoshow.com. But if you
David Jackson:
actually want an audit, you would go to fixmypodcast.com.
David Jackson:
So that person, understandably, I guess I don't really know what
David Jackson:
was going on. Remember, somebody may have been having a bad day,
David Jackson:
came at me hard, said I was a horrible human being, I should
David Jackson:
get out of teaching, and that I just I'm going. It was just
David Jackson:
nasty to the point where it's like, ooh, I never want to be
David Jackson:
seen this way, and I was worried that the podcast rodeo show was
David Jackson:
hurting my brand. Like, who would want to learn from Dave
David Jackson:
Jackson? He's a mean old curmudgeon, and luckily, my
David Jackson:
audience said, "You're not a mean old curmudgeon. You're just
David Jackson:
stating the truth. And so, that's one way to handle
David Jackson:
feedback is to attack the person giving you feedback.
Unknown:
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
David Jackson:
On another episode of the podcast rodeo
David Jackson:
show, I was listening to a show by a guy named Scott Orr. Now
David Jackson:
Scott is-he's a decorated journalist, really nice guy, and
David Jackson:
really loved firefighters. He he covered wanted to be he wanted
David Jackson:
to be a firefighter. When you can't be a firefighter, well,
David Jackson:
you know maybe he could basically talk to them. So he
David Jackson:
did a show called Code Three, the Firefighter Podcast, and he
David Jackson:
had me review his show multiple times, and on the first one, I
David Jackson:
actually before I reached out and you know did kind of a first
David Jackson:
impression, I reached out to Scott and said, "What is going
David Jackson:
on? And Scott, I don't mean this disrespectful, but you sound
David Jackson:
like you're drunk, and Scott replied to me. He goes, "No,
David Jackson:
man, I don't have an alcohol problem. I have Parkinson's. And
David Jackson:
I said, "Oh, well, that makes so much more sense. You might want
David Jackson:
to address that at the beginning of your show, now Scott could
David Jackson:
have said, "What do you mean? I sound drunk? You're a horrible
David Jackson:
human being. You should quit teaching. You make me feel bad.
David Jackson:
You're reminding me that I had Parkinson's. But instead, Scott
David Jackson:
took the feedback, and here's how he starts his show,
Unknown:
hosted by award-winning journalist Scott Ord. Now here's
Unknown:
Scott.
Unknown:
That's right, and I will not let Parkinson stop me. Welcome back
Unknown:
to another episode of Code Three.
David Jackson:
And later we talked about this because Scott
David Jackson:
went from the podcast rodeo show to the podcast review show,
David Jackson:
which is a show I do with Eric K Johnson, and Eric brought up
David Jackson:
kind of the obvious point.
David Jackson:
Erik K. Johnson: I wouldn't think the the fact that you
David Jackson:
mention it right up front, Scott, is disarming, and you
David Jackson:
address the elephant in the room right away, so people aren't
David Jackson:
going, "Man, what is going on? Like, what Scott is three sheets
David Jackson:
to the wind recording this show. Like, come on, buddy, like sober
David Jackson:
up before you record, and then you are like, "No, I have part."
David Jackson:
Disease. So, if that were 10 minutes into the episode, that's
David Jackson:
all I would be focusing on is why the speech impediment. But
David Jackson:
you hit it right up front, and then we're like, "Oh, all right.
David Jackson:
Well, then that now makes sense. And then we just roll on, and we
David Jackson:
don't think a second thing of it.
David Jackson:
Can you see how that's good feedback? It's
David Jackson:
helpful. Now, is it honest? Yeah. Is it awkward? Yeah, to
David Jackson:
go. Hey, dude, I know you have Parkinson's, but it's affecting
David Jackson:
your speech to the point where how you're saying things is
David Jackson:
affecting what you're saying. I can't get over the fact of how
David Jackson:
you sound. So when he says, "Oh, by the way, I have Parkinson's,
David Jackson:
you're like, oh, that explains a lot. Now I can go back to
David Jackson:
focusing on what you're saying, not how you're saying it. And
David Jackson:
this kind of feedback are the things that can help your show
David Jackson:
grow. And a lot of times you do not see them. My favorite story
David Jackson:
about feedback is when I had a typo in the name of the School
David Jackson:
of Podcasting. It said, "Plan, launch, grow, and monetize
David Jackson:
instead of monetize. Sometimes you don't see it. I'm going to
David Jackson:
hit you with just a little more logic right after this.
Unknown:
All
David Jackson:
right. It's funny because at the school of
David Jackson:
podcasting, we do these things called listener parties, where
David Jackson:
you can sign up, give me an episode to play, and then
David Jackson:
whoever wants to can come and listen together. So we usually
David Jackson:
have a handful of people that are sitting there and we're
David Jackson:
listening, and you can watch us listen to your show. And I've
David Jackson:
seen people actually kind of go, "Ye, like I don't want to do
David Jackson:
that. But do you realize that when you put out your episode,
David Jackson:
you know, episode six, and you haven't got any feedback yet,
David Jackson:
there are people that are going to be listening to it, wouldn't
David Jackson:
it be nice if you could see if it was good enough? So, since we
David Jackson:
mentioned seize the day, we are dusting off some seriously old
David Jackson:
cobwebs when a 25 maybe year old Dave Jackson had recording
David Jackson:
equipment in his basement. And have you ever seen the episode
David Jackson:
of Friends where Ross was playing the keyboard and he's
David Jackson:
like, "I'm gonna work on my music. Yeah, I've I've now
David Jackson:
realized that I was Ross growing up, and I would have my friends
David Jackson:
listen to my music, man. Which was funny because for some
David Jackson:
reason I was an angry teenager. I don't know if that's normal,
David Jackson:
but here's the thing: I was an I'm an okay guitar player, but
David Jackson:
as I listen back to these. It's hard to fathom this. I am
David Jackson:
embarrassed in a room by myself, but I'm going to play a little
David Jackson:
bit of this and then tell you. Now I'm not going to play the
David Jackson:
whole song, but just some stuff to explain this. So the song
David Jackson:
starts. It sounds very 1985. Just picture of you know a bunch
David Jackson:
of smoke coming on a stage, white snake kind of stuff, you
David Jackson:
know. But it's fine, and the fun part, of course, was I was
David Jackson:
playing the bass, I was playing the guitar, I was programming
David Jackson:
the drums, and unfortunately, I was doing all the singing, which
David Jackson:
sounded like
Unknown:
this.
David Jackson:
And apparently, I found the percussion button with
David Jackson:
the little clicky clicks.
Unknown:
Ooh, that was not a good note.
David Jackson:
Yeah, trying to be a little James Hetfield
David Jackson:
there, whatever. Not sure what's going on, and the fun part is I
David Jackson:
would bring my best friend in. God bless him, my brother maybe,
David Jackson:
and so I knew. So I would hit play and I would leave the room.
David Jackson:
I didn't want to watch them listen to my music because I
David Jackson:
knew I was going to do something like this. Lots of echo, and
David Jackson:
everything was always saved with a blistering guitar solo. So,
David Jackson:
here we go, little young Dave Jackson. All right, that's
David Jackson:
enough of that. They would say things like, "So wait a minute,
David Jackson:
who's playing the piano? And I'd be like, "That's me. Who's
David Jackson:
playing the strings? That's me. Who's playing guitar? Me, bass.
David Jackson:
Me, drums. You know, machine, etc. They never said, "Wow,
David Jackson:
those lyrics are amazing. You know, my favorite. There was one
David Jackson:
I've been listening to these, going, "Man, what what was wrong
David Jackson:
with young Dave Jackson? Can't you see the indie?" Can't you
David Jackson:
give some recognition? Love to you means pure submission, while
David Jackson:
the blind perform the circumcision. Like wow, okay,
David Jackson:
Dave the poet, young young Dave the poet, that was hilarious.
David Jackson:
But the point was, nobody gave me any honest feedback. I have
David Jackson:
been there. I have lived that, and I now look back and go, "Oh
David Jackson:
my gosh! They weren't giving any feedback on the music. It wasn't
David Jackson:
until recently my brother found that CD and said, "You know,
David Jackson:
these songs weren't that bad. He goes, "And your singing wasn't
David Jackson:
that bad. He goes, "You're on key, kind of. He goes, "But the
David Jackson:
mix, and I go, yeah. The mix was horrendous. Nobody said that at
David Jackson:
the time. They did it, you know. 20. Let's be serious. 30 years
David Jackson:
later, and that's a little too late. You need the feedback
David Jackson:
because realize, as I sat here and listened to this, and was
David Jackson:
like, ooh, cringe, ooh, cringe. If you don't get feedback before
David Jackson:
you release the stuff, now I I don't want to scare the bejesus
David Jackson:
out of you, so you never ever release an episode. But can you
David Jackson:
see where feedback would have been a little helpful here, just
David Jackson:
a little bit? And here's the scariest line ever: Whether you
David Jackson:
do a listener party with your friends or whatever, or you
David Jackson:
don't, you're going to be judged anyway. So wouldn't it make more
David Jackson:
sense to be judged in a way that you could capture the feedback
David Jackson:
and make the appropriate changes for maximum effectiveness. Now
David Jackson:
that is awkward, and at times it's hard because you put so
David Jackson:
much work into it. But put your emotions aside for the second.
David Jackson:
Wouldn't it make more sense? And call me weird. I like things
David Jackson:
that make sense. And brothers and sisters, I am here to help
David Jackson:
you. One final example, and then we'll start to head out the
David Jackson:
door. I shouldn't say that because a lot of you just hit
David Jackson:
skip, but it's been like probably three years ago on july
David Jackson:
4, which is a holiday here in the U.S. I fell on the sidewalk
David Jackson:
and landed on my knees, and it was gross. There was blood
David Jackson:
everywhere, and in theory, looking back, I should have gone
David Jackson:
to some sort of medevac and had them stitch up my cuts, but I
David Jackson:
didn't, and consequently, I still have scars on my knees.
David Jackson:
It's taken a while for this to really heal up. That was
David Jackson:
feedback. Feedback on what? It was feedback on looking at your
David Jackson:
phone when you're walking up your street on a sidewalk that
David Jackson:
is very uneven, and I don't do that anymore. Why? Because it's
David Jackson:
called learning. It's called a lesson learned the hard way,
David Jackson:
unfortunately. But if somebody had got me ahead of time and
David Jackson:
said, "Hey, if you're going to be walking around this
David Jackson:
neighborhood, you might want to seriously consider not looking
David Jackson:
at your phone because you'll see right here where this particular
David Jackson:
block of cement is about two inches taller than everything
David Jackson:
else. And just to put my money where my mouth is, if you would
David Jackson:
like to issue feedback on this show, now realize I'm doing this
David Jackson:
near the end, so the question, do you think the show is too
David Jackson:
long? Isn't really appropriate here because if you think it's
David Jackson:
too long, you've already left.
David Jackson:
But if you go to schoolofpodcasting.com/survey,
David Jackson:
I'm using the built in survey from Pod Page, and I'm always up
David Jackson:
to hearing feedback on how I can make this show better because
David Jackson:
I'm doing this show for you again. I hope you can hear my
David Jackson:
heart that I really do love to just try and help people and use
David Jackson:
the knowledge that I have, you know, built up over a couple
David Jackson:
decades here. And if you go to schoolofpodcasting.com and use
David Jackson:
the coupon code Listener, you got a 30 day money back
David Jackson:
guarantee when you sign up for either a monthly, quarterly, or
David Jackson:
yearly subscription. Next episodes, we're going to be
David Jackson:
talking about some of the results I've done trying to grow
David Jackson:
my show, and one thing I did that took less than five minutes
David Jackson:
got me exactly in front of my target audience. What was it?
David Jackson:
You'll have to go over to schoolatpodcasting.com/follow,
David Jackson:
and you'll get that episode the minute it's available. And if
David Jackson:
you know somebody who should be getting feedback, simply go to
David Jackson:
your. Click on the share button and share that with a friend.
David Jackson:
Maybe it's kind of weird because I have given advice to people
David Jackson:
and they won't do it, and then they'll hear the exact same
David Jackson:
advice from somebody else and they will do it. So maybe you've
David Jackson:
been saying you should get some feedback and then they don't,
David Jackson:
and now you know you send them this message where I go, look,
David Jackson:
look at how people benefited, like York and and Ralph and
David Jackson:
everybody else that sent in something here. Tim, you know,
David Jackson:
look how they benefited from a little feedback. You might give
David Jackson:
that a shot, and with that, I'm going to stop because if I was
David Jackson:
coaching me, I just gave you three calls to action, and
David Jackson:
that's two too many. Oops. Until next week, class is dismissed.
David Jackson:
Take care, and God bless. I've got a survey there. You can
David Jackson:
feedback. You can feedback me. You can feedback me. We're gonna
David Jackson:
start off with my buddy Ralph Eastep Jr. better known as the
David Jackson:
pod the podcast creator's accountant, and I was doing so
David Jackson:
good until I had to say his title. Hmm. Sorry, Ralph. They
David Jackson:
didn't stop to think. Does this guy have a point, Alexa. Really?
David Jackson:
Erik K. Johnson: Yeah.
