In this episode, we tackle the paradox of the "Urgency Trap"—why we feel an overwhelming need to rush our creative projects, even when we've been sitting on them for years.

• The "Anus GPS" Effect: Why do we make bad decisions when we're close to the finish line? Much like the frantic urge to reach the bathroom in time, when we get close to launching something, we hit a panic button. We start rushing, and that's when mistakes happen.
• The "Dusty Microphone" Syndrome: If you've been "thinking" about starting for years, putting off your launch for one more week isn't going to break the world. The world has managed to keep spinning without your podcast—don't let your gear collect dust for a decade because you're waiting for "perfect."
• The "Wrinkled T-Shirt" Episode: Your first episode probably won't be perfect. It’s like a wrinkled t-shirt: you can wear it, but you don't really want people to notice. The trap here is releasing that "wrinkled" work because you feel a self-inflicted pressure to get it out "yesterday."
• The Golden Rule: Late is temporary, but bad is forever.
• I'm currently dealing with the pressure of a rebrand. I wanted it out last night, but I pushed it back a week.
• Yes, you can technically change things later, but let’s be real—do we ever actually go back and fix them?
• The Balance: How do you avoid the "dusty microphone" paralysis without becoming a perfectionist? It's about knowing when to buff out the rough spots without letting the pursuit of excellence keep your project buried in a drawer.

Mentioned in this episode:

Fix My Podcast: We Make Good Podcasts Great

Is your show note growing like it should? Are you afraid to ask for feedback for fear that you'll be ripped to shreds? At Fix My Podcast we find out what you're doing right (so you can more of that) and identify those things that might need a little tweaking. It's a safe, constructive environment to leave you better educated about your show, and strategies.

Fix My Podcast

When you just promote your podcast everywhere, it's hard to tell what is working. One way that makes it easy to see what's working is to track the links you share. Newsletters like Kit, Beehiz, Mailerlite enable you to see what is getting clicked on. I use Fathom stats on my website so I can see where my traffic is coming from (and enables to see where I get more traffic from my newsletter than social media).

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Switchy Link Tracker

Whispr Flow

School of Podcasting

There are tools like bit.com but my favorite is called Switchy (as you are switching out links). It does a ton of stuff:

• Creates tracking links for things you share
• Makes it easy to organize you data so you can see what is working
• Makes trackable QR codes (which I use in my slides when I speak)
• Can make a "Linktree" type website (all with trackable links)
• It's only $39 for a lifetime deal at App Sumo

• Starting a podcast takes more time than you think, especially at the beginning.
• Using tools like Switchy helps track what works for your podcast and what doesn’t.
• Exercise can do wonders, like biking, which also relates to consistency in podcasting.
• Measuring your efforts in podcasting allows you to focus on what actually brings in listeners.
• Changing multiple things at once in your podcast can confuse results, stick to one at a time.
• Your newsletter might outperform social media for traffic, so don’t overlook it.

Mentioned in this episode:

Your Voice is Your Legacy

You have lived things that need to be heard. You can help other people, and I'm here to help. Don't let your story die within you, release your legacy today and start your podcast. I've helped hundreds (thousands?) of podcasters and I can help you. It's time to do it.

School of Podcasting