Ep 117: The Light Watkins Show with Light Watkins

Episode 117: Show Notes

For Light Watkins, it is an honor to be able to spread inspiration through conversations with exceptional people. However, making a podcast is an arduous task, requiring hard work, dedication, and a lot of time. But once you are consistent and when you get it right, it can be one of life’s most rewarding experiences.

Today, our host Light Watkins is riding solo once again, this time to dive deeper into the origins of this podcast. After giving us a taste of the incredible sounds of Mexico City, Light tells us what it’s like to record a podcast with a minimal setup while reiterating the importance of not giving up on your podcasting dreams.

Light takes us on a journey back to the early days of the podcast, sharing some of the mistakes that he has made along the way. In this captivating episode, you’ll be inspired by how our host overcame many initial obstacles to get this podcast to where it is today. We talk about three big interviews that Light was very nervous about and how they, ultimately, led to him overcoming fear, insecurity, and imposter syndrome.

You’ll learn how to be more efficient when doing deep research, how our host engages with his guest’s personal stories and philosophies, the importance of recording podcasts in advance, what the common thread is between all of Light’s guests, and why you should always only do that which is aligned with the mission and purpose of your podcast. Be sure to tune in to hear it all.

Key Points From This Episode:

Light welcomes us to his second solo episode: the origins of The Light Watkins Show: Part II.
The thrilling sounds of Mexico City.
What it’s like to record a podcast with a minimal setup.
Why you should not give up on your podcasting dream.
The tools you need for podcasting success.
The importance of doing deep research and why Light now holds it up as non-negotiable.
Light takes us back to his very first episode.
Why you should interview friends and family when you first start your podcast.
How being curious about people living out their purpose gave birth to this podcast.
Talking to David Blight and Ava DuVernay and overcoming imposter syndrome.
Why Light’s interview with Adriene Mishler was huge for this podcast.
How to be efficient when doing deep research.
Engaging with a guest’s philosophy and personal stories.
The importance of recording podcasts in advance and giving yourself time before publishing.
A common thread between Light’s guests: they all talk about mission, purpose, leaps of faith, etc.
Having a diverse array of guests, each one different from the previous episode.
Being consistent and choosing quality over quantity.
The initial struggles Light had with interview preparation and how he overcame them.
How he balanced what he wanted to speak about with what was popular in the mainstream.
How having a podcast is difficult and time-consuming yet ultimately, incredibly rewarding.
Being extremely well-organized as a defining factor for a podcast’s longevity and success.
Why budget shouldn’t be a hindering factor.
The responsibility on you, as the interviewer, to make the guest interesting.
Doing only what you feel is aligned with the mission and purpose of your podcast.
Light’s words of encouragement for prospective podcasters to get started!

Tweetables:

“If you bring your personality, your authenticity, your unique perspective, and your willingness to do a deep dive into that person's body of work, and you have professionalism, and you have the tenacity to publish on a schedule, even though there's a million podcasts, your podcast will quickly rise above the fray.” —@LightWatkins [0:10:29]

“You evolve with time and you iterate with experience.” —@LightWatkins [0:43:03]

“Somebody says, ‘History doesn't repeat itself, it rhymes.’ Well, the same thing is true with following your purpose. The blueprint for following your purpose is never the same for any two people, but a lot of it rhymes.” — @LightWatkins [0:47:50]

“If you stick to what's most important for you, keep bringing a quality amount of attention, research, and questions to the interview, eventually your podcast is going to get the right attention. It really just comes down to consistency.” — @LightWatkins [0:55:23]

“Having a podcast is difficult and time-consuming. It's also incredibly rewarding.” — @LightWatkins [0:57:09]

“If you know how to ask them questions about their life, and give them space to talk and let the story develop organically, you'll find that everybody has something interesting about their life.” — @LightWatkins [1:02:25]

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Who’s That Voice Asking for Scrap Metal in Mexico?

The Shine Movement

Prophet of Freedom

Ava DuVernay on Instagram

4-Hour Work Week: Podcast Gear

The Light Watkins Show E18: Array with Ava DuVernay

The Light Watkins Show E106: The Power of One More with Ed Mylett