► Tell us about you and your podcast
My name is Roger Williams and after 30+ years in the teaching/youth development field, lockdown, and two heart attacks, I shifted my self worth from how and to whom I sold my labor to the experiences in life that brought me joy and who I did them with through the bucket list lifestyle. I left my career in November of 2021 to pursue an adult gap year to cross items off my bucket list and live a life of intentional joy.
The Crossing It Off Podcast is a weekly show. As the host I interview one person each episode about a single item they have crossed off their bucket list. The show provides a wide variety of bucket list items for the listeners to learn about. Items crossed off range from get Arnold Schwarzenegger's autograph and making amends with dying mother to swim in open water and bike the Baja peninsula. I have a unique take on a bucket list that it does need to be grand travel adventures (which it can), but can be anything that you accomplish that will bring you joy.
My listeners are 52% from the US, aged between 28-50, white and female.
► Why & how did you start this podcast?
I was not a podcast listener before I started this journey. I did understand that this was the medium I wanted to use because it allow for long-form storytelling to take place. Well, at least longer than the seven seconds you have in an IG Reel.
I started the podcast with just the goal of telling others stories about crossing items off their bucket list, in the hopes that it would inspire and empower others to do the same.
Having no background in the area it took me about one month to get my first episode out.
► How'd you find the time and funding to do this podcast?
I have successfully released an episode each week for the last year. I know burnout from podcasting might be a thing, so setting this goal for myself and accomplishing it was a major accomplishment for me. I have currently almost 24 episodes recorded and waiting for release. I am in the process of deciding if I will go to two drops a week at the beginning of the year.
I have not been working full time since starting the podcast.
Each episode takes about 3.5 hours to produce. That is from guest acquisition to release of promotional material to all platforms. I completely fund the podcast myself.
► What do you gain from podcasting?
I do not seek outside sponsorship for the show. I use the show as a funnel to my recently released book and mentoring services I have started to offer the past couple of months. It is slow now, but it is just the start of those offers.
I absolutely love doing the show! I have learned a lot about producing a podcast over the last year and that has been great. My biggest benefit so far is the chance to tell great stories. I am naturally curious which makes the episodes much more conversational than an interview. Every time I edit a show I start off imagining how bad the interview was and then as I go along am inspire what we caught with the microphones. I love meeting new people and hearing their stories. The podcast allows me to amplify both to a wider audience.
► How does your podcasting process look like?
I am 100% DIY. I use cheap, mostly free services to produce and publish the podcast. I only pay for my hosting (Acast) monthly and an annual fee to have Filmora that I use for my editing. I have use a cheap laptop, headset and microphone. Calendly is my best friend!
I use Instagram hashtags to find guest for my show. I am looking for authentic people that have crossed an item off their bucket list, but it is hard to convert them to guests as most are not "Professional Podcast Guests" looking to promote a product/service.
Out of 52 episodes I have only done one in person interview. All the others have been over the free version of zoom (40 min limit.)
► How do you market your show?
52% of my listeners come from Apple iTunes and 47% of my listening audience comes from outside the US. I use Instagram and Facebook. The best marketing I get is when guest promote the show to their family and friends.
► What advice would you share with aspiring (new) podcasters?
Be 100% organic and authentic in your show format and how you grow your show. Be leery of those that offer fast growth tactics, they rarely produce the desired outcome you are ultimately wanting, a real audience. Find your niche before you start and stick with it no matter how long it takes.