December 2020 – The Podium

Hello, Podium Readers,

Well, this one is special. Since this is the last letter of the year, we so wanted to end it on a special note. So, here we are.

This piece is our honest reflections of 2020.

What a year it has been!

We endured our bad days and celebrated the good ones.

From making chapatis that looked like a map of the world to becoming the OG Masterchefs, from being super-motivated to achieve that super-fit shape to binge-eating and Netflixing our blues away, from naval-gazing to surprisingly coming out with creative content… and to being pandemic insomniacs, we were all in this together.

May be 2020 slowed us down for good? Where were we all busy rushing to, after all? What was all the mad rush about?

To live in the now has been the biggest lesson of the year.

The only moment you need is right in front of you. It is now, this very moment. Make it completely yours.

Well, 2020 inspired us to make positive changes in our personal as well as professional lives. I do believe that we have become smarter, wiser, more aware.

It was a year of losses and sufferings and you and I are the “privileged ones“. While I can write from the comfort of my puffy mattress, you are fortunate enough to have the resources to access it.

As they say, “Every cloud has a silver.” 2020 had too.

It brought us together. It taught us kindness. Gave us the opportunity for introspection. We were more conscious of our choices. We reflected on our choices, rethought our compulsive behaviors. We were empathetic. We learned patience. We learned the strength of community and having each other’s back.

2020 has taught us to embrace the glorious mess that we are.

All in all, we emerged through trying and extreme times.

So, Few things we learned this year…

1. Don’t be futuristic.

Forget the future, we had no clue what the next day was gonna look like. There were hopeless nights. Probably we were all doing it wrong for the longest of time. The urge to grow fast and hence ending up making those 5-year long plans was all redundant. Making short-term goals and chasing them with all our sweat and passion is the smartest choice here.

Well, if anything, this year has given us the much-needed space to think about our lives. To think about how far we have come and where we are going.

2. Consume Consciously.

The content you consume shapes you. Your thoughts and actions. It is imperative to feed our brain with the right information given that there is a bombardment of content in the social media world that we operate in. Too much information can be overwhelming. Take a conscious step to detox, rejuvenate, and step away from those screens once in a while. Step away from the FOMO.

3. Invest in the Right Things.

Right things can be: consuming good, healthy food, enriching content, books, or talking to your loved ones and well-wishers. Invest in things that keep you sane and grounded. They can be tangible things or intangibles. Direct your money, time, and effort in the right places. Buy that desk where you can sit calmly and work with pleasure. Take those greens home. Enroll in those dance classes and soothe your mind muscles. Go for horse-riding. Invest in relations that bring out the best in you. Upskilling yourself is the key to better opportunities. Most importantly, don’t be afraid of the things you like and be who you want to be!

4. Learn to save.

Well most certainly, We ordered a hella Amazon packages. I mean giving into useless stuff that we never used again except the day it first arrived. (Just our inability to resist those comfort zones and succumbing to escapism)

The unprecedented pandemic had us shopping non-stop.

Saving money is an essential skill that everybody should know. As my grandpa says, “Saving money makes you a responsible citizen.” The pandemic has made us realize that. The recession is real and we need to look for sustainable ways of living rather than spending unnecessarily.

5. Self-control.

Resist temptations, the things that temporarily lure you. Resist the need to have instant gratification. Park the need to watch ‘just one last episode’ when it’s time for you to hit the sack. Self-discipline makes you a life-long achiever. Letting the emotions get the better of you is not the smartest thing. Self-awareness prevents you from making impulsive choices.

We wish you the bestest holiday season full of love and positivity.

Ending this piece with one of my favorite quotes:

“It’s the thrill of the chase, not the size of the trophy.”

Let’s do a toast to 2021…

New world! New beginnings! New ambitions! Let’s build a community of life-long learners!

A very happy 2021 to y’all. Stay safe 🙂

We will see you soon!

Until next time…

Gratitude and Regards,

Nikita, on behalf of The Podium team.

PS: What is your biggest takeaway? How are you reflecting upon as we come closer to bidding adieu to a year that was 2020? Do let us know. We are always listening 🙂

So, what can a podcast offer?

In our experience, it helps you build a healthy network with some amazing people. You get to have conversations with smart people about things that are important to you! You hear their ideas. You throw the ones you have. And you see what sticks. And then you repeat.

Wonderful. No?

Oh, a podcast also helps build camaraderie with your audience like no other platform can offer. It is the new-age medium that allows you to reach a new set of people that, typically, you can’t reach through any other platform. You derive so much listening pleasure that comes out as a result of unprecedented rants and vulnerable conversations!

Yes, Podcasts are the new Content King.

So….. hello, Binge-listeners and Podcast enthusiasts!

This piece is dedicated to the hustle and bustle and what goes behind making a podcast. We, at The Podium, are lifelong learners and we believe that by sharing these with you, we can give you some perspective on what it takes to build one.

Here we go.

A. Breaking the ice.

Whether you use a script to record the conversation or you are just talking into the microphone, how you start your podcast, the intro, is very crucial. How are you going to break the ice (with both the guest and your audience) and really engage your listeners depends heavily on your intro.

After all, it is the first thing your listeners will hear.

If it’s boring or bad, why would they continue? There are as many podcasts as there are voices. Other shows are just a click away. You better be kickass with your intro! The podcast intros set the stage for the show, help create a bond with the listener, bring new listeners in, and of course, showcase the personality of your show.

B. Think Structure.

Breaking down your podcast into segments really helps.

You don’t need to make a script and follow it to the T. A simple guide with key points is all you need. Even if you have the gift of the gab, you can’t just start blabbering and see where it goes!

So, do think about structure. And don’t forget to have fun!

Once you are enjoying what you do, your passion can help you stand out.

C. Uncovering new learnings.

Your podcast is much more than the episodes you create and release each week. Each part is like a piece of the puzzle that you need to solve as you plan for your podcast’s success. These pieces range from your content to the title of your podcast to even the logo of your podcast.

All these pieces are required to get you to get the most from your podcast.

And what do you want from it?

Learning Experiences! There is always an exchange of knowledge happening behind the scenes. Many new things are uncovered which you probably never thought of when you planned the conversation.

Each guest has something unique to offer.

A podcast allows you to meet and talk with some of the most incredible people (and if you are lucky, you can become friends as well!)

And of course, the prep work that goes in before each episode to learn about your guests (and what makes them unique can not be understated!). The research is imperative.

D. Build your personal brand.

Podcasts and audio-first consumption is clearly exploding, and they’re probably the best way to create content for your business, product, service, or brand. A podcast can be the perfect companion to your brand – if you do it the right way.

And how do you make sure yours stand out?

So, your brand is your vision and you need to create a unique one. We could write a bible on this, to be honest, but in one line, it is an extension of your personality. And your podcast needs to bring out your personality. You want your listeners to understand what your podcast is hoping to achieve and they have to be drawn in even before they hear it. Things like episode titles, episode descriptions, podcast logo are vital to the success of your podcast and your brand. You have to invest time and effort to get this going.

At the end of the day, your audience desire a good experience.

As we end this piece, here is a pro tip. Feed the right information. Educate your listeners. Know your audience and provide insights into your audience’s interests.

Yeah, that’s a lot of responsibility.

But then, such is life! You don’t get things by playing it safe.

Hope you go forth and make an awesome show. In case you need more help, do write to us and we’d love to extend whatever support we can.

Until next time…

Oh, please do write in and tell us what would you like to read about in the next editions of the newsletter.