Shortly after I started blogging back in 2017, a friend suggested I start a podcast. I understand why. At the time, podcasts were beginning to take off. Popular ones like Joe Rogan’s and Barstool Sports were drawing huge audiences and reportedly making millions of dollars each month.
I didn’t start a podcast because I didn’t have anything interesting to say. Sure, I could write a post or two each week, but generating content for a podcast was another matter entirely. If I couldn’t sustain my own interest, I wasn’t going to attempt to do it for an audience.
That didn’t stop thousands of others from starting podcasts.
I think there are several reasons why:
- Because they thought they could make “easy” money by jumping into podcasting.
- Because there is a low barrier to entry. All you need is a microphone, some cheap software and a mouth.
Most of them failed to make money. Many of them failed to exist beyond their first year. Quite a few never made it past their first few episodes.
Thousands more are still out there plugging away.
I’ve seen this before:
- Bloggers in the early 2000s who offered “coaching” on finances, minimalism or nomadic living
- Podcasters who provide dating advice
- Life coaches (who’ve done nothing to earn any credibility)
And the nearly ubiquitous “hacking experts” who blogged, podcasted or instagrammed about their faux-expertise while pitching courses, ebooks and programs.
When everyone is an expert nobody is an expert.
I am reminded of this every time I search for specific information online.
Welcome to the Internet.