The Misstep That Wounded a Friend

The Mic Drop Mastery Newsletter, Issue #32

Have you ever done something you wish you wouldn’t have done?

I hate this part.

You know, the part where you mess up and you wound someone else in the process.

It takes an extraordinary type of bravery for a wounded person to call someone out — and not offend them in the process.

And it takes a practiced humility to receive the callout and ask for forgiveness.

In my earlier years, I’d likely have been defensive and more concerned about my ego. I’d apologize - sure, but the depth of it, I wouldn’t fully feel because I was too busy thinking someone else overreacted. Or, it’s not that bad. I’d be defensive.

I’m still sitting in a deep sadness a latest offense.

I really do hate that I messed up.

Podcast Host Integrity and Honoring Your Relationships

There are two moments in my six years of podcasting that I’ve been asked to remove an episode or modify something I released.

Each situation is unique.

Each situation requiring me to decide on a course of action.

One where I edited the episode. Another where I pulled the episode completely.

Has this ever happened to you?

There are multiple reasons hosts pull or modify episodes. I'll group them into 4 Categories:

1. Brand + Positioning

2. Emotional + Relational

3. Technical or Legal Concerns

4. Other Strategic Reasons Determined by Host

Let me give you an example of each one of these four.

#1 Brand and Positioning

It could be that when you released an episode, you recognize you’ve been attracting the wrong audience. We know not all downloads are good downloads.

Some episodes may accidentally train your listeners to expect: free therapy, controversy in every episode, or beginner-level content.

You want to ensure the episodes you create attract the right audience. This is why it’s so important that you and I are in regular connection with our podcast listeners.

(This is the beauty of Substack, by the way.)

#2 Emotional and Relational

Maybe you’ve recorded an episode, and you’ve been angry or hurt or betrayed or exhausted, and you later realize it may have been honest, but it wasn’t wise.

Podcasting preserves those emotional moments permanently. When your emotions are toff-kilter (and temporary), that can be dangerous. This is why you want to be in a healthy emotional place when you record episodes, whether they are solo or a guest is involved.

The third reason why you may pull or modify an episode has to do with…

#3 Technical and Legal

Maybe you’ve uploaded the wrong version. This is a pretty easy fix. But if you don’t realize it initially, you’ve got the wrong version out there, or you have extended periods of silence, as soon as you recognize it, just go fix it.

As far as the legal stuff, there’s a mountain of legalese out there and there may be legal reasons why you need to pull or modify the episode.

Finally, the last category for determining whether you need to pull or modify an episode is basically up to you as the host.

#4 Other Strategic Reasons Determined by Host

There are reasons why you may want to pull or modify an episode, and that’s really up to you. It has to do with your strategy, with what you’re seeing going on in the marketplace.

Know this:

You don’t need to go back and redo all of your episodes.

They’re a part of your journey, so I’m never going to have a hard recommendation to pull old episodes or that you modify them or you re-record them. That’s not the goal here. Really, our podcast episodes reflect our growing expertise.

Typically, when you’re asked to modify or pull an episode, it’s related to current circumstances, usually something that’s happened within the last 5 to 10 episodes.

Let’s get into the three areas of every Mic Drop Mastery Newsletter, how you can become Memorable, Referable, and Profitable.

Here’s to enhancing profits with your podcast!

Jen 

Become Memorable

If you’ve been podcasting for any length of time, you’ve probably recorded an episode that makes you cringe just a little bit today.

As I shared earlier, the real bravery isn’t in hitting publish, it’s having the humility to face the reality of it later. Sometimes, a piece of content that felt totally right in the moment becomes a liability because you’ve matured, or new information comes to light that pivots your perspective.

Here is the good news: we don’t need to go backward and try to “fix” the past. Perfection isn’t the goal. Instead, we make a swift, strategic decision for the present. You aren’t looking to cover up your tracks; you’re looking to protect the authority you are building today.

🎬Teeny tiny action: If you were to listen to your last few episodes through the lens of the leader you are today, would you proudly advocate for them, or would you find yourself wanting to distance yourself from them?

 This is exactly why I recommend the Podcast Health Checkup, that you check on the health of your podcast aligned with your business values, and who you serve. Start with the Podcast Health Checkup so your podcast can be healthy and wealthy. Go to thevirtualpodcastschool.com/healthcheckup¹

Use the code SUBSTACKTLC to save 50% on the Podcast Health Checkup

Become Referable

You don’t need to sell mattresses on your podcast.

The idea that you need massive ad revenue or a “buy me a coffee” link to monetize is the exact myth keeping brilliant business owners broke.

So, how do you earn money through referrals? You adopt the 100 listener strategy.

If you want to turn your show into an automated client acquisition engine, adopt my Core Conviction: Sell your own stuff.

🎬 Teeny tiny action: Listen to episode #320 of Simplify Podcasting to hear about The 100-Listener Strategy to Turn Your Podcast Into a Sales Engine.

Become Profitable

Profitable podcasters lead an ecosystem, not just a show. Your back catalog is a live business asset. (Spoken like a true recovered Certified Public Accountant, right?)

The question isn’t whether you “messed up” by mentioning an offer that no longer exists.

Let’s face it, businesses pivot, and that’s a beautifully normal thing! The question is whether those older episodes are still serving your listener of today.

When someone binges your content, they want a clear, present path to work with you. A dead-end CTA (Call to Action) or an expired link isn’t a mistake to lose sleep over; it’s just a business friction point that requires a deliberate decision: do we keep, pivot, or pull?

🎬 Teeny tiny action: If you had to bet your revenue on the “customer journey” of a listener binging your last 10 episodes, would you be confident they are finding a clear, current path to your work, or are they hitting a few dead-ends that create unnecessary friction? Ensure your links are active!

 One quick reminder: Some newsletters have  more podcast work for you to choose from and you may not have time in your schedule for all three areas of memorability, referability and profitability. Choose the one you need most right now!

 Thank you so much for spending time with me and I cannot wait to connect with you inside of Substack. God bless you! I'll catch you in the next episode of the Substack Podcast Studio.

1. Use the code SUBSTACKTLC to save 50% on the Podcast Health Checkup!