Start Your Marketing Comeback with a Podcast

Have you felt benched by life’s circumstances and wonder how the heck to get back in the game of book marketing and podcasting? 

That’s the question we’re answering today with my special guest, my podcasting client, Toni Thrash. Toni is a certified life coach and hosts the Start Your Comeback podcast, and is celebrating her 1 year podiversary this month. SO FUN! 🥳

Toni and I both know that life happens as writers and podcasters and oh goodness the dread of getting to the end of your day and realizing you’re supposed to have a podcast out the next day. The struggle is real and I couldn’t wait for you to hear Toni’s three-part framework for dealing with life’s transitions that can interrupt our podcasting schedule.

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Being benched by a potential publisher

Our conversation kicks off with Toni recounting the time she met with a publisher at a writing conference, which marked a pivotal moment in her book-writing journey.

“I met with an agent, and her biggest takeaway for me was to build a bigger audience. I was shocked to understand that, but that’s what she encouraged me to do. I came away from that a bit disgruntled and unsure of my next steps.” – Toni Thrash

This is a common sentiment is among aspiring authors. Many are caught off guard when told they need a larger platform, especially after they've invested so much effort into writing. 

Finding the Path to Podcasting

Toni and Kim shared about their earliest co-working meetings and how a podcast could help Toni create content for her future book.

Together they mapped out the evergreen content of her podcast, Start Your Comeback.

Setting Clear Goals for Content Creation

Setting a deadline for the podcast launch was crucial to motivating Toni to stick to her plan. With a date of personal significance (Toni's birthday month), she had a tangible goal to strive for.

Starting a podcast comes with its share of frustrations and hesitations.

“Podcasting seemed overwhelming, but seeing it as a way to repurpose my blog content made the process seem more manageable.” – Toni Thrash

The transition from blogging to podcasting was intriguing. Toni talked about how much easier it was to podcast than to write a blog.

Kim acknowledged that this shift is often more manageable, especially with the self-imposed deadlines podcasts have compared to the more flexible and sometimes haphazard nature of blogging.

Managing Time and Commitments

Balancing a full-time job, part-time coaching, life coaching, and podcasting along with being a new grandma, Toni addresses the common concern of time management.

“I realized my podcast doesn’t have to be like anybody else's; it can be 10 minutes or 45 minutes. Initially, it was about finding that rhythm, but repurposing my existing blog content helped streamline the process. Now, creating an episode takes about 30 minutes, which is about the length of a TV show.” – Toni Thrash

While the initial podcasting learning curve can be steep, once you hit your stride it becomes much smoother.

Understanding Transitions: A Glimpse into Toni's Framework

Toni’s podcast, Start Your Comeback, revolves around helping women tackle life's transitions and she shared her three-pillar framework for a winning gameplan:

1. Shock

Even if you see a transition coming, like retirement, there's always an element of shock once it becomes reality. It’s hard to think straight or make sound decisions during this stage.

2. Limbo

This stage is where the initial shock has worn off, but you're stuck, and seeking answers. A life coach can help craft a unique game plan to navigate through this phase.

3. Re-Entry

Once you have your game plan and are implementing it, the re-entry stage begins. Navigating the ‘new normal' can be challenging, but having a plan makes it manageable.

“Divorce and becoming an empty nester simultaneously were tough, but now I can use my experiences to aid my clients.”

We often use your three-stage framework for various aspects of our work. Transitions, whether they're dealing with a publisher or coming back into podcasting after a break, all fit into this model.

Final Thoughts

As we wrapped up our conversation, Toni reiterated the ease podcasting brought to her life compared to blogging. She also encouraged listeners to find a system that works for them, whether it's a structured framework or a looser approach, as long as it resonates with their personal style and life commitments.

“It's all about finding rhythm. Life is busy, but podcasting doesn't have to be time-intensive once you get the hang of it.”

If you’re exploring the idea of starting a podcast but feel overwhelmed, remember Toni’s advice: Your podcast is yours to mold. Tailor it to fit your needs and commitments, repurpose existing content, and find enjoyable ways to share your voice.

Thanks Toni for serving my listeners and readers. 💛

Toni's website
Toni's Start Your Comeback podcast
Hear Kim as a guest on Toni's podcast

How to Start a Podcast: the first 5 things you need (ep #115)
Finding Spiritual Rest in a Chaotic World (ep #123)