No Harm In Asking (Mike Kerr and Eric Byron)

Welcome to No Harm In Asking. Do you ever wonder why some podcasts are so successful? Do you wish you could replicate the success of some of the top podcasts? So do we. And we believe there is no harm in asking, so we are questioning everything about how podcasts are produced, hosted and monetized. We hope you follow along on our journey.

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This week Mike and Eric review the podcast Freakonomics Radio hosted by Stephen J. Dubner. We also take a look at his sister show No Stupid Questions that he co-hosts with research psychologist Angela Duckworth. Looking at both shows, we debate why we believe FR comes across as a much more engaging show than NSQ despite the likability of Angela and the similar goals of each podcast.

Freakonomics Radio attempts to discover the hidden side of everything and tells you things you always thought you knew (but didn’t) and things you never thought you wanted to know (but do). Indeed, they do a great job in this superbly done podcast!

On No Harm In Asking, hosts Eric Byron and Michael Kerr are on a journey to gather insights into why podcasts succeed or fail and to explore the myriad of different patterns, structures, topics, techniques, and personalities that have evolved this industry. Through our podcast, we hope to inspire and encourage the next generation of storytellers and visionaries.

While we listened to many episodes of FR, we both enjoyed this recent "replay" show, The Pros and Cons of America’s (Extreme) Individualism.

https://freakonomics.com/podcast/the-pros-and-cons-of-americas-extreme-individualism-replay/

The Freakonomics Radio team can be found on Twitter at @Freakonomics. Angela can be found at @angeladuckw.

Check us out on Twitter at @noharmaskingpod.

Eric also publishes his online journey titled "A Podcasting Journal" on Substack at https://ericbyron.substack.com/

Our sponsors:

Qollab.me - the free to use interview planning, preparation and collaboration tool

https://qollab.me/

Discovery Shark Week https://www.amazon.com/stores/SharkWeek/page/24092A27-AAC4-45E1-96B2-C4019C4CB766?ref_=ast_bln

Use promotion code: 10SHARKWEEK

After many years and many episodes under your belt, who is your audience? Who should you direct the next episode towards? Should it be the longtime listener that's been there since day one? Or should you hone in on the first-time listener? The one that might need their hand held a bit to really understand what's going to happen here?

Josh Tapp is a young, curious and driven young man out to make it on his own. His chosen medium, podcasting. Four years ago, fresh out of college in Idaho, and newly married, Josh decided to jump full-time into entrepreneurship without a parachute. Fast forward four years, and Josh has interviewed over 750 successful people, from professional athletes to billion-dollar business owners. Originally his objective was to ask them all one thing ... "if you had to start a new company from scratch, what type of business would you build and what is the exact framework you would use to build a thriving brand?" What's not to like about this guy?

In this episode of “No Harm In Asking” Mike and Eric review a number of Josh's recent episodes on marketing, sales and idea formation. How does Josh do grabbing that first-time listener? We also dive into some points about being careful not to over-prepare and come across as scripted.

These episodes can be found here on Apple Podcasts:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/nurture-marketing-secrets-to-pre-sell-premium-programs/id1481464292?i=1000557878755

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/special-episode-with-ray-tapp/id1481464292?i=1000561701792

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/selling-straight-from-your-podcast-with-lynn-whitbeck/id1481464292?i=1000560008716

Everything Josh can be found on his website at https://theluckytitan.com/titan

Josh can also be found on Twitter at @theluckytitan

Check out us on Twitter too at @noharmaskingpod. We greatly appreciate it.

In this episode Mike and Eric review the podcast "Forever is a Long Time" by Ian Coss. A "one-off" production, Ian has delivered a masterpiece combining interviewing, storytelling, music, and personal reflection showcasing the power of the medium. Over the course of 5 episodes, through interviews, reflections and discussions with his wife, Ian Coss documents the circumstances around how every living member of his family, who had ever been married, had also gotten divorced. How can a single podcast series of just a few related episodes build your brand? Why does editing matter? What makes this so powerful to listen to? How does Ian instill such intimacy into this production? These questions and more are discussed in this podcast that The New York Times named as one its "10 Best Podcasts of 2021".

"Forever is a Long Time" was released on August 19, 2021. It can be listened to here: 

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/forever-is-a-long-time/id1570813696 https://snapjudgment.org/episode/forever-is-a-long-time/ https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-forever-is-a-long-time-84623293/

Do you have a big enough tribe such that you can now quit your day job and head out on your own?

When do you decide, this is the time?

Perhaps we all haven't had the same kind of success as journalist, radio personality and now podcaster Josh Barro, but if you're looking for someone that works hard to pull it all together in this space, checking out Josh is a good start.

Very Serious is a weekly conversation with top political commentators, columnists and policymakers, focused on how events in the news relate to major, long-standing controversies in politics, economics and culture. Joined by a rotating set of regular guests to work out the ideas behind the arguments on topics serious and not-so-serious. Josh's goal is a great conversation across ideological lines that hopefully leave you entertained, enlightened, and maybe even persuaded. We found Josh easy to listen to and sufficiently cerebral despite his overuse of the word salient.

In this episode Mike and Eric focus on his episode with Matt Yglesias, that in fairness, Mike didn't get all the way through.

In total, we listened to the following episodes, which are all mentioned at some point in our review: "Why Is Flying Such a Nightmare Right Now?", "Allison Schrager on Why We Can't Have Nice Things", "Tyler Cowen on Identifying Talent" and "Matt Yglesias on Popularism, Joe Rogan, and Getting 'Back to Normal'". They can all be found at the link below.

https://www.joshbarro.com/podcast

Josh is also on Apple Podcasts and Acast at https://shows.acast.com/very-serious-with-josh-barro

Josh Barro's Substack articles and podcast can be found here https://www.joshbarro.com/

Josh, now up to 290,000 followers, signed up early on at Twitter and thus got the sweet handle @jbarro

Check us out on Twitter too at @noharmaskingpod. We greatly appreciate it.

Eric also publishes his online journey titled "A Podcasting Journal" on Substack at https://ericbyron.substack.com/

Learning from the best of the best. Crime Junkie has been at or near the top of the charts since 2019. With great power (and profits) comes great responsibility. Join Mike and Eric in a discussion around the ethics of profiting off other people’s painful stories.

Crime Junkie is a weekly true crime podcast dedicated to retelling many of America's most compelling murders. Host Ashley Flowers takes us through the details of a crime she’s been obsessing over that week in a straightforward, easy to follow format with suspense twisted in and few “full body chills”.

On No Harm In Asking, hosts Eric Byron and Michael Kerr are on a journey to gather insights into why podcasts succeed or fail and to explore the myriad of different patterns, structures, topics, techniques, and personalities that have evolved this industry. Through our podcast, we hope to inspire and encourage the next generation of storytellers and visionaries.

Mike and Eric listened to many Crime Junkie episodes for this review, including MISSING: Mekayla Bali, MURDERED: Jenny Lin, Part 1 & 2, MURDERED: Shari Smith & Debra Helmick, SERIAL KILLER: Khalil Wheeler-Weaver and the MYSTERIOUS DEATH OF: Ellen Greenberg with her co-host Brit Prawat (indeed they're easy to listen to). You can find them here:

https://crimejunkiepodcast.com/

They also have a full social media presence on Twitter at @CrimeJunkiePod.

Follow us on Twitter at @noharmaskingpod so you don't miss a review!

Eric also publishes his podcasting journey titled "A Podcasting Journal" on Substack at https://ericbyron.substack.com/

Please check out our sponsor:

Qollab.me - the free to use interview planning, preparation and collaboration tool https://qollab.me/

In this episode Mike and Eric review the podcast "Mea Culpa" with Jeffrey Broer based on his successful Postmortem Conferences in Hong Kong on the lessons learned in startups. In Startup Mea Culpa Jeff interviews people who are open about their entrepreneurship journey, the decisions they made that turned out poorly, what they learned from it and what the impact on their life has been. Jeff has contributed greatly to the local startup scene in Hong Kong and thus, we're excited to review this podcast. If you're not naturally chatty,  what kind of questions can you ask to get things going? How do you know when to go "off script"? How should you end your podcast? These questions and more are discussed in this podcast which is sure to be a favourite of anyone that dares to call himself or herself an entrepreneur in Hong Kong.

For this review we will focus on his March 26, 2020 episode - Both sides of the table with Fritz Demopoulus.

Startup Mea Culpa, The Podcast can be found here: 

https://www.postmortemconf.com/mea-culpa-podcast https://caster.podbean.com/e/both-sides-of-the-table-fritz-demopoulus/

This week we try something new as we kick off Season 2 of the No Harm In Asking pod where Eric and Mike debate what makes a great sports podcast.

After listening to dozens of sports podcasts, as well as looking at innovative formats from radio and television, we discuss how you might get started in this game if you don't come from a journalism or athletic background based on some that have done it. We also suggest some things to avoid that will help give your podcast a chance in this highly competitive genre. 

On No Harm In Asking, hosts Eric Byron and Michael Kerr are on a journey to gather insights into why podcasts succeed or fail and to explore the myriad of different patterns, structures, topics, techniques, and personalities that have evolved this industry. Through our podcast, we hope to inspire and encourage the next generation of storytellers and visionaries.

All of our 21 podcasts in Season 1 can be found here on Podbean:

https://no-harm-in-asking.podbean.com/

Check us out on Twitter at @noharmaskingpod. We greatly appreciate it.

Eric also publishes his online journey titled "A Podcasting Journal" on Substack at https://ericbyron.substack.com/

In this episode Mike and Eric review the podcast "Story Worthy" hosted by Christine Blackburn. Each week, as she's done for over 700 episodes, Christine talks to, laughs with and asks probing questions to Hollywood’s most talented comedians and entertainment writers. The opening banter is all a precursor to the reason people tune in, when each guest shares a true, personal story delivered to the best of their comedic ability. Why has this format lasted so long (11 years and counting)? What makes Christine so fun to listen to? What consistent strategy does she use during the first few minutes to "break the ice" and promote past episodes? How does she reel us in with the great titles she uses on each of her episodes? These questions and more are discussed in what has now become a mainstay in the Los Angeles podcasting scene.

For this review we will focus on episode #706 - The Dark Side of Disney with animator and podcaster Frank Sasso.

More info is available on the website: https://www.storyworthypodcast.com

Follow Story Worthy on Twitter and Instagram at @StoryWorthy

When your podcast starts to get rolling, like really rolling, like Adam Grant rolling, how far do you venture from your core focus? People have tuned in for some time, the podcast has averaged over a million ears per episode and spent multiple weeks as the #1 show on the entire Apple Podcasts chart. Surely you can try a few different things. Change it up. Expand your audience perhaps? Then again, maybe not?

On WorkLife, host Adam Grant, organizational psychologist, best-selling author and Saul P. Steinberg Professor of Management at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, takes you inside the minds of some of the world’s most unusual professionals to explore the science of making work not suck. From learning how to love criticism to harnessing the power of frustration. But one thing’s for sure, you’ll never see your job the same way again.

While Mike and Eric might disagree on whether Adam tops Malcolm Gladwell for pure listening enjoyment, if there's one thing we do agree upon, it's that we wish we were as smart and successful as Adam Grant and hope that we come across as having as much fun doing what we do as Adam seems to be having.

In this episode of “No Harm In Asking” Mike and Eric review the May 4, 2022 show of WorkLife titled "Taken for Granted: Jon Batiste on the art of pushing your limits". We also review a few others that are more representative of Adam's usual format and style. It can be found here on Apple Podcasts:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/taken-for-granted-jon-batiste-on-the-art-of-pushing/id1346314086?i=1000560201232

Everything Adam can be found on his website at https://adamgrant.net/

Adam can also be found on Twitter at @AdamMGrant.

Check out us on Twitter too at @noharmaskingpod. We greatly appreciate it.

“Boom shake the room Fire Nation listeners,” in this episode Mike and Eric review the podcast "Entrepreneurs On Fire" with John Lee Dumas. “EOFire” is an award-winning podcast where “JLD” interviews inspiring entrepreneurs looking for specific gems to share in episodes typically under 30 minutes. 

If you're struggling with monetization and looking to see how one of the best in the business has developed a system that includes daily (that’s right daily) podcasts, affiliate marketing, sponsorship, short podcasting advice videos, books, and more, JLD is well worth checking out. Indeed 3,000 episodes and 10 years in the trenches does result in some valuable lessons.

Should you have a mantra for each podcast, like ensuring you deliver “3 Value Bombs” per episode? Can you be too over the top? Can being the hardest working guy in the industry pay off? Are entrepreneurship-focused podcasts the easiest ticket if profitability is your main goal? How important is relatability to your audience when it comes to podcasting? These questions and more are discussed in this podcast which is worth a listen just to understand what’s possible if you dedicate yourself to the craft and work your tail off!

For this review we will focus on JLD’s December 3, 2021 episode: Isolation is the Enemy of Excellence with Aaron Walker.

Entrepreneurs On Fire can be found here: 

https://www.eofire.com/podcast/aaronwalker5/

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/entrepreneurs-on-fire/id564001633

In this episode Mike and Eric tackle why we believe this is the most listened to podcast on the planet, as well as what we like and what we don't.

Indeed, as with many podcasts, it may all just be about understanding yourself and knowing who your tribe is!

The Joe Rogan Experience podcast is a (very) long form conversation hosted by comedian Joe Rogan with friends and guests that are typically comedians, actors, musicians, MMA fighters, authors, artists, and experts in their field.

In this episode Mike and Eric focus on Joe's March 7, 2022 episode with Jimmy Donaldson, better known as MrBeast. It can be found on Spotify here:

https://open.spotify.com/episode/5lokpznqvSrJO3gButgQvs

Joe Rogan's website is here: https://www.joerogan.com/

Now with over 9M followers, Joe's twitter account handle is @joerogan.

Check us out on Twitter too at @noharmaskingpod. We greatly appreciate it.

Eric also publishes his online journey titled "A Podcasting Journal" on Substack at https://ericbyron.substack.com/

Continuing on with our short series on sports podcasting, Mike and Eric look at the show that, in our opinion, set the bar for all that followed. Originally a half-hour TV show on ESPN that began airing in 2001, it is now available as a podcast with over 200 episodes.

For all the 1 or even 2 hour-plus sports podcasts out there, it's important to look at what can be delivered in 26 minutes with a rigid format all while mixing in debate, often an interview, and numerous other elements to make it original and fun.

Inserted clips and sound bites were taken from the PTI 20 documentary. You can check it out on YouTube here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HWwMPtTicls

On No Harm In Asking, hosts Eric Byron and Michael Kerr are on a journey to gather insights into why podcasts succeed or fail and to explore the myriad of different patterns, structures, topics, techniques, and personalities that have evolved this industry. Through our podcast, we hope to inspire and encourage the next generation of storytellers and visionaries.

Our first episode in the series, How to Succeed in Sports Podcasting (Part I), can be found here on Podbean:

https://no-harm-in-asking.podbean.com/e/how-to-succeed-in-sports-podcasting-part-i-with-michael-kerr-and-eric-byron/

Tony doesn't really do Twitter, but @RealMikeWilbon is all over it for his 4.7M followers!

Check us out on Twitter at @noharmaskingpod. We greatly appreciate it.

Eric also publishes his online journey titled "A Podcasting Journal" on Substack at https://ericbyron.substack.com/

For the finale of our short series on sports podcasting, Mike and Eric review a six-part special on Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck hosted by Zak Keefer that he did for The Athletic Football Show. In this review we discuss the sports storytelling genre, one that we feel is open to many and underutilize by sports podcasters. We also talk about the growth of The Athletic and how they grew into a force to be reckoned with.

The Athletic’s flagship football podcast covers the NFL and breaks down the biggest stories throughout the world of football. On LUCK, the series explores the fundamental question, why did one of the greatest quarterback prospects of all-time end up walking away from the game before he turned 30?

On No Harm In Asking, hosts Eric Byron and Michael Kerr are on a journey to gather insights into why podcasts succeed or fail and to explore the myriad of different patterns, structures, topics, techniques, and personalities that have evolved this industry. Through our podcast, we hope to inspire and encourage the next generation of storytellers and visionaries.

You can kick-off listening to "Luck Episode 1: The Rise" on Apple Podcasts here:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/luck-episode-1-the-rise/id1528622068?i=1000569505293https://no-harm-in-asking.podbean.com/e/how-to-succeed-in-sports-podcasting-part-i-with-michael-kerr-and-eric-byron/

Zak Keefer can be found on Twitter at @zkeefer.

Check us out on Twitter at @noharmaskingpod.

Eric also publishes his online journey titled "A Podcasting Journal" on Substack at https://ericbyron.substack.com/

Our sponsors:

Qollab.me - the free to use interview planning, preparation and collaboration tool

https://qollab.me/

Discovery Shark Week

https://www.amazon.com/stores/SharkWeek/page/24092A27-AAC4-45E1-96B2-C4019C4CB766?ref_=ast_bln

Use promotion code: 10SHARKWEEK

S-Town, a seven "chapter", 6-plus hour podcast was released on March 28, 2017. The podcast was downloaded a record-breaking 10 million times in four days, and had been downloaded over 40 million times just a few months later. This week Mike and Eric review S-Town, along with The Trojan Horse Affair, Brian Reed's follow-up to S-Town. Drawing on both comparisons and contrasts between the 2 series, we attempt to highlight the techniques and styles that makes Brian’s podcasts so ground-breaking and a must-listen for anyone doing podcasts that involve storytelling.

S-Town begins when a middle-aged man, living in an Alabama town he despises, emails Brian and asks him to investigate a murder that he believes has been covered up by the local police. In The Trojan Horse Affair, an unlikely duo chases down the origins of a mysterious letter that caused a national scandal in England.

On No Harm In Asking, hosts Eric Byron and Michael Kerr are on a journey to gather insights into why podcasts succeed or fail and to explore the myriad of different patterns, structures, topics, techniques, and personalities that have evolved this industry. Through our podcast, we hope to inspire and encourage the next generation of storytellers and visionaries.

All 7 chapters of S-Town can be found here:

https://stownpodcast.org/

They also have a full social media presence on Twitter and Instagram at @stownpodcast (although updates seemed to have stopped after they were acquired by the New York Times).

The Trojan Horse Affair is available here:

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2022/podcasts/trojan-horse-affair.html

Check us out on Twitter at @noharmaskingpod.

Eric also publishes his online journey titled "A Podcasting Journal" on Substack at https://ericbyron.substack.com/

Our sponsors:

Qollab.me - the free to use interview planning, preparation and collaboration tool https://qollab.me/

Discovery Shark Week https://www.amazon.com/stores/SharkWeek/page/24092A27-AAC4-45E1-96B2-C4019C4CB766?ref_=ast_bln

What a privilege to listen to and review Jason Choi doing his podcast, Blockcrunch, this week. Now in his 5th year of doing the show, Jason is a young man mature beyond his years. But when you’re already an expert, are there “tricks” you can implement in your podcast to showcase your knowledge even more? We believe there are!

The go-to podcast trusted by fund managers, founders and operators in crypto and Web 3, Jason Choi is full-time investor who goes deep weekly into the technology and economics behind blockchain projects with the aim of dissecting trends and themes in a global context.

In this episode Mike and Eric reference a few of our past “No Harm In Asking” podcast reviews to help Jason elevate his expertise and suggest tying in older podcasts to add extra value to his listeners. Specifically we focus on Episode 178, "Why This Top Selling Metal Band is Using NFTs to Engage Fans - Synyster Gates, Lead Guitarist of Avenged Sevenfold".

This episode can be found here on Apple Podcasts:

https://podcasts.apple.com/hk/podcast/blockcrunch-the-crypto-investor-podcast-project/id1350649166?i=1000546362632

Everything Jason can be found on his website at https://www.jasonchoi.me/

Jason can be found on Twitter at @mrjasonchoi

Music in the podcast is from Avenged Sevenfold and can be found here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H_V4y4CWYGE&ab_channel=MUSICAL

Check out us on Twitter too at @noharmaskingpod. We greatly appreciate it.

In this episode Mike and Eric review the podcast "Minnie Questions" hosted by actor Minnie Driver. Conceived in 2021, it is now in its second season. In this podcast, Minnie poses the same seven questions to each guest based on the famous Proust Questionnaire, a set of questions answered by the French writer Marcel Proust. Should you attempt a podcast where you ask the same question of each guest? Can you venture "off script"? Can this last? If the guest knows the questions ahead of time, does this reduce the spontaneity of the interview? These questions and more are discussed in this fun podcast whose host shows her wit, charm and intelligence while talking to politicians, entertainers, writers and journalists.

For this review we will focus on her May 19, 2021 episode where she talks to Tony Blair, former Prime Minister of the UK and current Executive Chairman of the Institute for Global Change. 

Are you interested in podcasting but struggling to come up with an idea? Worried that you’d never be able to fill an hour despite your soul-searching questions and witty banter? How about a podcast that provides value in under 5 minutes! 

This podcast is your reminder that there are weird, delightful and effective ways to survive and thrive in this world. In every episode of the show, a different contributor offers their own personal take on what they do to make their life better, healthier, saner and more liveable in bite-sized morsels you can try today!

In this episode Mike and Eric review "The Best Advice Show" where we investigate these valuable tidbits of wisdom and discuss:

Is a 5-minute podcast even possible? Does it work? Like potato chips, can you consume just one? And, is it really possible to obtain topics from complete strangers? 

Since they’re roughly only 5-minutes long, we of course could listen to many, but we’ve focused on these from 2022. March 3rd’s Avoiding Stir-Craziness with Abigail Briggs, February 24th’s Practicing Restraint with Shira Heisler and February 8th’s Throw that Crappy Bottle of Vermouth Away with Ryan Patch.

These episodes can be found here:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/avoiding-stir-craziness-with-abigail-briggs/id1507811918?i=1000552789332

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/throw-that-crappy-bottle-of-vermouth-away-with-ryan-patch/id1507811918?i=1000550415186

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/practicing-restraint-with-shira-heisler/id1507811918?i=1000552083533

Forbes put the Tim Ferriss Show on its list of "10 Podcasts To Change Your Life". With more than 700 million downloads, it has been selected three time as the "Best of Apple Podcasts" and has been ranked #1 out of its 400,000+ podcasts on numerous occasions. But can you replicate Tim's success? Can you eventually get ads for mushroom coffee too?

Launched in April of 2014, Ferriss interviews "world-class performers" ranging from Marc Andreessen and Peter Thiel to Malcolm Gladwell and Reid Hoffman to Arnold Schwarzenegger and Jamie Foxx. His focus is on dissecting actionable advice from top books, morning routines, exercise habits and time-management tricks. Or in his own words … “I specialize in pattern recognition and accelerated learning”.

In this episode of “No Harm In Asking” Mike and Eric review "The Tim Ferriss Show" where we discuss what makes Tim unique, as well as whether preparation really is the key to success. Are two hour podcasts really necessary? Should you break them up? Is Tim’s interview style particularly distinct? Apparently, Ferriss charges $54,000 per episode and does two sponsorships per episode, what do we think of these ads?

We’ll be specifically focused on episode #566 from January 26, 2022 with University of Chicago economics professor John List — A Master Economist on Strategic Quitting, How to Practice Theory of Mind, Learnings from Uber, Optimizations to Boost Donations, the Primitives of Decision-Making, and How Field Experiments Reveal Hidden Realities.

We’ll also discuss if this is the world’s longest podcast title and whether Tim is the king of podcasting SEO?

A link to this episode can be found on Tim’s blog:

https://tim.blog/2022/01/26/john-list/

Follow Tim Ferriss on Twitter at @tferriss and on Instagram at @timferriss.

Follow us on Twitter at @noharmaskingpod.

Many podcasters have decided that getting a guest to tell their best story is the ticket to a great show. Indeed, we're big fans of this kind of podcast format. How can it not be a winner every time? Well, you'd be surprised.

Welcome to Storytime with Seth Rogen, where every week Seth asks somebody, “Do you have a great story? And if you do, will you tell it on my podcast?” That’s it. That’s the concept.

Not a typical comedian-hosted chat show, each episode features a presentation unto itself, with supporting interviews and archival tape woven into each story with a rhythmic editing style. While not all the stories are knee-slap funny, it's worth a listen just for the editing effort where you can decide if it adds value to the story or distracts from it. Still, Seth is always engaged and reveals his curiosity about people and the world, and always ends up in an unexpected place.

In this episode of “No Harm In Asking” Mike and Eric review the November 24, 2021 “Storytime” episode "Gambas" where Joe Mande and his longtime girlfriend Kylie take a trip to Spain and an ill-fated day in Córdoba goes from bad to worse.

This episode can be found on the Earwolf Podcast website and on Apple Podcasts below.

https://www.earwolf.com/episode/gambas/

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/gambas/id1583325095?i=1000542909354

Seth can be found on Twitter at @Sethrogen. Also, make sure to check out Joe's website joemande.com and follow him on instagram at @joemande.

Check out us on Twitter too at @noharmaskingpod. We greatly appreciate it.

Many podcasters have decided that the road to success lies in the discussion of controversial and taboo topics. But does it?

Indeed, Meghan Daum is not afraid to talk about the “unspeakable”, including her own challenges with monetizing her podcast.

In this episode Mike and Eric review "The Unspeakable Podcast" where Meghan conducts candid, free-ranging interviews with artists, entertainers, journalists, scientists, scholars, and anyone else who’s willing to do the “unspeakable” and question prevailing cultural and moral assumptions.

If you choose to name your podcast “The Unspeakable” (or something similar), how controversial must your content be? Can you occasionally stray from this? Is the contentious element clearly obvious to the listener? If you decide to interview two guests at once, do you understand why and how these two guests will both add value to the discussion you’re trying to have? If you have a deeper and longer history with one of the guests, does this imbalance affect the interview? These questions and more are discussed in this podcast which is worth a listen particularly to see how engaged Meghan gets with her guests, and if this interaction could be improved upon.

For this review we will focus on Meghan’s November 1, 2021 episode: Bitter Homes and Gardens: Larry Clarke and Fielding Edlow on Staying Afloat, Staying in Love, and Staying Insured in Hollywood.

This episode can be found here:

https://www.theunspeakablepodcast.com/podcast/episode/2fc511a9/bitter-homes-and-gardens-larry-clarke-and-fielding-edlow-on-staying-afloat-staying-in-love-and-staying-insured-in-hollywood

We also talk about Meghan’s struggles with monetization and how much we enjoyed her very candid self-reflection in this episode:

https://www.theunspeakablepodcast.com/podcast/episode/e5dcaeef/why-this-show-is-a-failure-a-song-of-joy-and-peace

This week on the “No Harm In Asking” podcast, Michael Kerr and Eric Byron review "The Jordan Harbinger Show". Certainly the old adage "nothing succeeds like success" applies to Jordan as he can definitely get guests that most podcasters can't but there's still some great lessons in the business that he has built. As many reviews have taught us, being nice is never a losing strategy along with remembering that every episode is an opportunity to gain a new fan, so make it easy for them.

Every week, Jordan interviews fascinating people at the top of their game. Now over 700 episodes, "The Show" has become one of the most popular podcasts in the world and was awarded “Best of 2018″ by Apple. A recovering lawyer who speaks 5 languages Jordan covers such topics as disinformation, abnormal psychology, China, criminal justice, cults, scams, conspiracies, cyber warfare and more!

Mike and Eric listened to episode "737: Winston Sterzel : Don’t Lose Your Bacon in a Pig-Butchering Scam" as well as a few others for this review. We also love his "Starter Packs" section if there are particular topics you're interested in. They can be found on Jordan's website here:

https://www.jordanharbinger.com/

Tell Jordan he should listen to our review on Twitter at @JordanHarbinger!

Follow us on Twitter at @noharmaskingpod so you don't miss a review.

Eric also publishes his podcasting journey titled "A Podcasting Journal" on Substack at https://ericbyron.substack.com/

Please check out our sponsor:

Qollab.me - the free to use interview planning, preparation and collaboration tool https://qollab.me/

In this episode Mike and Eric review the podcast "Stuff You Should Know" hosted by Josh Clark and Chuck Bryant. Coming up on 15 years and now over 2,000 episodes Josh and Chuck have managed to continuously challenge each other while providing information you should know in a non-pretentious manner. Now with a large and loyal following of everyday people they are able to host live shows as well as leverage the brand across books and even a board game collaboration.

So, why has this been so successful? Is it just two nice guys who are sufficiently curious about everyday things with great chemistry? Not surprisingly, yes. Combine that with a great podcast title and a bit of a foundation from a formerly-related educational website on which you can hit the ground running and maybe you too can repeat their success.

The SYSK guys can be found on Twitter at @SYSKPodcast. We specifically focused on the episode "Ballpoint pens? Heck yes, ballpoint pens!", which can be found here on iHeartMedia:

https://www.iheart.com/podcast/105-stuff-you-should-know-26940277/episode/ballpoint-pens-heck-yes-ballpoint-pens-29741397/

Follow us on Twitter at @noharmaskingpod so you don't miss a review or interview with the best in the business!

Eric also publishes his podcasting journey titled "A Podcasting Journal" on Substack at https://ericbyron.substack.com/

Please check out our sponsor:

Qollab.me -- the free to use interview planning, preparation and collaboration tool at https://qollab.me/

We love business podcasts and this one is right up our alley, pairing it with another favourite topic -- startup founder experiences. But pulling off a kickstarter podcast is harder than you might think. Getting that balance right between showcasing the founder and the product all while talking about what the podcast is really about, the lessons learned during the crowdfunding campaign, is tricky. What do Eric Byron, Michael Kerr and our guest C. K. Sze, Ubitech founder and Kickstarter-experienced entrepreneur, think this week? 

The Art Of The Kickstart podcast exists to help inventors and entrepreneurs successfully crowdfund their products. Billed as the longest-running podcast on crowdfunding, this podcast contains hundreds of interviews with campaign creators who share their stories.

CK, Mike and Eric focused on "Monitor and Control Your Utilities with PowerX" for this review. Find it here:

https://artofthekickstart.com/powerx/

All Art of the Kickstart podcasts can be found here:

https://artofthekickstart.com/

CK's product, the best DIY water leak damage prevention solution available, can be found here: https://ubitech.com/

His Kickstarter campaign can be found here: 

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/custos/custos-starter-kit?ref=backertracker&utm_medium=web&utm_source=backerkit

Follow us on Twitter at @noharmaskingpod so you don't miss a review.

Eric also publishes his podcasting journey titled "A Podcasting Journal" on Substack at https://ericbyron.substack.com/

Please check out our sponsor:

Qollab.me -- the free to use interview planning, preparation and collaboration tool at https://qollab.me/

Like the saying goes "Go niche or go home". Oh, actually, that's apparently not how the saying goes, but if you've listened to any of our reviews on the No Harm In Asking podcast, you're probably aware that we think it should. While building a brand in a narrow subject, like grammar, might seem like an uphill battle, if you can ultimately pull it off you might just find yourself with a fascinating career. 

One of our favorites is Mignon Fogarty, a.k.a. Grammar Girl, who has built up such a following that many of her episodes are now provided by fans and other guest contributors, which she simply reads, leaving her time to focus on promoting her tips and books helping us all communicate better.

Five-time winner of Best Education Podcast at the Podcast Awards, Grammar Girl provides short, friendly tips to improve your writing and feed your love of the English language. Whether English is your first language or your second language, these grammar, punctuation, style, and business tips will make you a better and more successful writer.

Mike and Eric listened to "Wick-ED Fun Pronunciations. Deviled Eggs." and many others, including lots of great short tips on YouTube. Find her podcast on Apple Podcasts here:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/grammar-girl-quick-and-dirty-tips-for-better-writing/id173429229

All things Grammar Girl and her complete collection of Quick and Dirty Tips podcasts can be found here:

https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl/

Mignon is very active across social media where she does a stellar job. Show her some support on Twitter at @GrammarGirl!

Follow us on Twitter at @noharmaskingpod so you don't miss a review.

Eric also publishes his podcasting journey titled "A Podcasting Journal" on Substack at https://ericbyron.substack.com/

Please check out our sponsor:

Qollab.me - the free to use interview planning, preparation and collaboration tool at https://qollab.me/

Listening to the MFM guys is like sitting down with your sharpest, most inquisitive, most successful friend at the local bar and having a beer while talking about how to make it in life. And there’s two of them! What could be better?

My First Million is one of the top ranked business podcasts in the world. Each week Sam and Shawn (and sometimes Ben Wilson, like for the one we reviewed) brainstorm new business ideas, interview business builders who are creating big, meaningful companies and perform business breakdowns in a straight-forward fashion. Basically, they say that they're your research team who spoon-feeds you interesting business insights that you'd normally have to pay for. 

And we'd say they do a pretty great job of it all around.

In this episode of “No Harm In Asking” Mike and Eric review “MFM” where we discuss why this podcast is consistently a winner and what past accomplishments really enable the hosts to pull this off so successfully. Additionally, as seasoned content guys, paying attention to the small things they do could really help with getting your listenership up and ensuring your past episodes can get added traction.

We’ll be specifically focused on their April 5, 2022 episode “Writing Your Way to Millions with Neville Medhora” where they talk about copywriting.

This episode can be found on the MFM Podcast website and on Apple Podcasts below. They also do the whole thing on YouTube.

https://www.mfmpod.com/writing-your-way-to-millions-with-neville-medhora/

https://podcasts.apple.com/sk/podcast/writing-your-way-to-millions-with-neville-medhora/id1469759170?i=1000556290394

They’re also on Twitter at @myfirstmilpod.

Check out us on Twitter too at @noharmaskingpod.

Are people born podcasters or can the skill be learned? Obviously, it can be learned, but sometimes it's worth taking a look at the people that were clearly born to do it. Ira Glass serves as the director, senior producer, host, administrator, librarian, researcher and (perhaps most importantly) lead visionary for This American Life. To be fair, Ira did put in his time at various newsrooms cutting tape and doing odd jobs, but it very much seems like this was his life's calling.

This American Life is a weekly public radio program and podcast that began in 1995 and now comprises over 780 episodes. The jury is still out as to whether we'd search this one out on a weekly basis, indeed it's a lot to process, but the way they intertwine often three, four or even more seemingly disparate stories into a cohesive unit is pure genius. 

Heard by more than 2 million listeners each week on over 500 public radio stations in the U.S., and with another 2.3 million people downloading each episode as a podcast, there are many great lessons in here for any podcaster.

On No Harm In Asking, hosts Eric Byron and Michael Kerr are on a journey to gather insights into why podcasts succeed or fail and to explore the myriad of different patterns, structures, topics, techniques, and personalities that have evolved this industry. Through our podcast, we hope to inspire and encourage the next generation of storytellers and visionaries.

Mike and Eric listened to The Possum Experiment, Ghost in the Machine and Tell Me I’m Fat, all of which are discussed in our review. You can find them here:

https://www.thisamericanlife.org/

They also have a full social media presence on Twitter at @ThisAmerLife and Ira can be found at @iraglass.

Follow us on Twitter at @noharmaskingpod so you don't miss a review!

Eric also publishes his podcasting journey titled "A Podcasting Journal" on Substack at https://ericbyron.substack.com/

Please check out our sponsors:

Qollab.me - the free to use interview planning, preparation and collaboration tool https://qollab.me/

Discovery Shark Week https://www.amazon.com/stores/SharkWeek/page/24092A27-AAC4-45E1-96B2-C4019C4CB766?ref_=ast_bln

Use promotion code: 10SHARKWEEK

If faith plays a role in your life, there is one podcasting genre that comes with a loyal and dedicated audience in the millions, ready to support you with their time and often money – Religion. This week Michael Kerr and Eric Byron listened to numerous religion-focused podcasts and found a diverse collection of offerings catering to all believers. However, at Compelled we feel we found one that combined the right mix of inspiration, scripture and hope told through current and relevant stories of transformation and redemption. 

Compelled is a seasonal podcast that uses gripping and immersive storytelling to celebrate the powerful ways that God is transforming the lives of Christians around the world. Hosted by entrepreneur Paul Hastings and produced with a small team, Compelled is a niche podcast worth cheering for.

Mike and Eric listened to many of Compelled's uplifting stories including “Sentenced to 500 Years in Prison”, “Hope for the Porn Addicted Pastor”, “Loving the Forgotten Through Foster Care & Adoption”, “From a Jail Cell to Ministry” and "Transgender to Transformed". They can be found on Paul's website here:

https://compelledpodcast.com/

Show Paul some support on Twitter at @CompelledShow and Instagram at @compelledpodcast.

Follow us on Twitter at @noharmaskingpod so you don't miss a review!

Eric also publishes his podcasting journey titled "A Podcasting Journal" on Substack at https://ericbyron.substack.com/

Please check out our sponsor:

Qollab.me - the free to use interview planning, preparation and collaboration tool https://qollab.me/

This week on the show, Michael Kerr and Eric Byron are pleased to welcome our guest Danielle Meadows-Stinnett of the "MoreThanGraphics Podcast" to discuss her favourite podcast -- "The GaryVee Audio Experience"!

For the podcasting perfectionists out there, great is often the enemy of good enough. Especially, as Danielle points out, if your audience is creators and entrepreneurs that need daily motivation to keep on going! Lots of great lessons from GaryVee in this podcast on how to create audio content from virtually anything you do. 

The GaryVee Audio Experience is hosted by entrepreneur, CEO, investor, content creator, and public speaker Gary Vaynerchuk. Almost every day Gary offers up a mix of the #AskGaryVee show episodes, keynote speeches on marketing and business, segments from his DAILYVEE video series, interviews and fireside chats he's given, as well as new and current thoughts he records pretty much wherever he finds himself for this "audio experience"!

The "More Than Graphics Podcast" with Danielle Meadows-Stinnett can be found on Apple Podcasts (link below). Tune in as Danielle, her co-host Cicely, and guests put it all on the table, sharing authentic life truths from an array of women (and men) in the tech and creative industries as we sustain and empower each other while in search of their tribe.

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/more-than-graphics-podcast/id1451605246

Mike, Eric and Danielle listened to the episode "Why FACEBOOK is Back On Top : 4Ds PART 1" as well as a few others for this review. It can be found on Apple Podcasts here:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/why-facebook-is-back-on-top-4ds-part-1/id928159684?i=1000574758770

All of GaryVee can be found on his website here:

https://garyvaynerchuk.com/podcast/

Give Gary some love on Twitter at @garyvee!

Follow us on Twitter at @noharmaskingpod so you don't miss a review.

Eric also publishes his podcasting journey titled "A Podcasting Journal" on Substack at https://ericbyron.substack.com/

Please check out our sponsor:

Qollab.me - the free to use interview planning, preparation and collaboration tool.

https://qollab.me/

Thinking of producing a podcast to showcase your corporate brand? We think every large corporation should explore this opportunity. But getting it right is harder than you might think, requiring effort and clarity of purpose. In this episode Mike and Eric deep dive into Netflix’s podcast for attracting future employees from engineers to creatives and break down why we think Netflix mostly misses the mark with this one.

That said, there’s still lots to like about the WeAreNetflix Podcast that features employees talking about work and life at Netflix, hosted by Netflix Senior Software Engineer Lyle Troxell.

On No Harm In Asking, hosts Eric Byron and Michael Kerr are on a journey to gather insights into why podcasts succeed or fail and to explore the myriad of different patterns, structures, topics, techniques, and personalities that have evolved this industry. Through our podcast, we hope to inspire and encourage the next generation of storytellers and visionaries.

Mike and Eric listened to numerous WeAreNetflix episodes, such as "The Science and Storytelling of Sustainability at Netflix", "Career Growth and Development" and "How We Hire at Netflix". They can be found on Apple Podcasts here:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/wearenetflix/id1360511576

Follow us on Twitter at @noharmaskingpod so you don't miss a review!

Eric also publishes his podcasting journey titled "A Podcasting Journal" on Substack at https://ericbyron.substack.com/

Please check out our sponsor:

Qollab.me - the free to use interview planning, preparation and collaboration tool https://qollab.me/

So, do we really have the right to give any advice to Conan O’Brien and his top-25 podcast Conan O’Brien Needs A Friend? Probably not. But we're going to do it anyway.

After 25 years at the Late Night desk, Conan realized that the only people at his holiday party are the people who work for him. Over the years and despite thousands of interviews, Conan believes he has never made a real and lasting friendship with any of his celebrity guests. This is his podcast to see why this is, and maybe find a friend.

You kind of know what you're going to get when you listen to a Conan podcast, and he consistently delivers, but can Team Coco use this premise to make a difference in the world? One of us thinks so.

In this episode Mike and Eric focus on episodes with Howie Mandel and Molly Shannon, along with regular people including a pharmacist from Cairo, a prison guard from North Carolina’s death row, and a bus driver from outside Ottawa.

The episodes with Howie Mandel and Nariman from Cairo can be found here on Apple Podcasts:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/howie-mandel/id1438054347?i=1000541911434

https://podcasts.apple.com/fi/podcast/pharmacies-and-fast-food-in-cairo/id1438054347?i=1000541517134

Team Coco and all his merch can be found here at https://teamcoco.com/

Conan has a decent following on Twitter at @ConanOBrien

Check out us on Twitter too at @noharmaskingpod. We greatly appreciate it.

This week we take a page from some of our favourite podcasters and engage in a bit of self reflection.

Were we too confident go in to our podcast? What have we learned? What has surprised us? Are we having fun? Who is our tribe? These and other questions are discussed as Mike and Eric look back at the first 20 episodes of our podcast.

On No Harm In Asking, hosts Eric Byron and Michael Kerr are on a journey to gather insights into why podcasts succeed or fail and to explore the myriad of different patterns, structures, topics, techniques, and personalities that have evolved this industry. Through our podcast, we hope to inspire and encourage the next generation of storytellers and visionaries.

All of our 20 podcasts in Season 1 can be found here on Podbean:

https://no-harm-in-asking.podbean.com/

Check us out on Twitter too at @noharmaskingpod. We greatly appreciate it.

Eric also publishes his online journey titled "A Podcasting Journal" on Substack at https://ericbyron.substack.com/

This week on the pod, hosts Michael Kerr and Eric Byron interview broadcaster and media entrepreneur Cliff Dumas. Cliff is the current morning host at KUZZ FM in Bakersfield, California and co-founder of audio production and global distribution company EverythingPodcasts.com as well as author of the book Broadcast2Podcast. He is also the only Canadian to win Country Music Association and Academy of Country Music accolades as Radio Personality of the Year!

In this episode Cliff talks about his career in radio broadcasting and how he's expanded it into a podcasting consultancy. Ultimately, like all media, Cliff understands that in the end it's all about the work, there's no magic formula for getting downloads, passion rules and knowing your audience remains the key success factor.

Cliff can be found on Twitter at @cliffdumas and his production company is ready to help firms of all sizes enter the podcasting space. It can be found here:

https://www.everythingpodcasts.com/

If you’re in the US, you can check out Cliff’s morning gig here: 

https://www.kuzz.com/ 

Follow us on Twitter at @noharmaskingpod so you don't miss a review or interview with the best in the business!

Eric also publishes his podcasting journey titled "A Podcasting Journal" on Substack at https://ericbyron.substack.com/

Please check out our sponsor:

Qollab.me -- the free to use interview planning, preparation and collaboration tool at https://qollab.me/

Are you so hung up on not pouring money into your podcast that you resort to simple but odd ways of breaking even? And by taking this "easy way out", are you preventing yourself from investing the time and effort into better monetization options?

Even with a few kinks to work out on the revenue side, Darren Saul continues to do what he does best, showcase his genuine likability. By tapping into his friends, acquaintances and local community contacts he uncovers interesting people and unique entrepreneurial ventures for a quick chat that is always enjoyable, but at times could go deeper for greater insight.

In this episode Mike and Eric review "Playing With Perspective - The Suspended Animation Podcast" where we discuss these observations and more, including: 

Should your podcast have two names? How deep should you dig when you're exploring someone's business, particularly if the person you're interviewing is a friend or close acquaintance? How much of a niche should your podcast have? Should you plug yourself, constantly, regularly or rarely? Does the title of your podcast need to communicate the general philosophy of the show?

For this review we will focus on Darren's March 10, 2022 episode: Funeral & Memorial Service Live Streaming! with Paul Sheaffe.

This episode can be found here:

https://podcasts.apple.com/hk/podcast/episode-182-funeral-memorial-service-live-streaming/id1486778755?i=1000553508108&l=en

https://suspendedanimation.podbean.com/e/episode-182-funeral-memorial-service-live-streaming-with-paul-sheaffe/

This week we go back to the one that started it all, well, at least for Mike.

From a little town in Southwestern Ontario to Toronto to Washington to the world, it seems obvious that few can tell a story like the truly talented, and always inquisitive, Mr. Gladwell. As well, for those out there doing 1 hour or even 2 hour-plus podcasts, it's worth listening to what a master of the trade can pack into just a half hour. 

In this episode Michael Kerr and Eric Byron tackle why we believe this podcast is always a pleasure and a privilege to listen to.

Revisionist History is Malcolm Gladwell’s journey through the overlooked and the misunderstood. Every episode re-examines something from the past — an event, a person, an idea, even a song — and asks whether we got it right the first time. 

This week we focus on Malcolm's recent Season 7 episodes, including "In Triplicate" and "The Magic Wand Experiment". We also listened to a few back in Season 6 for our review, including "Project Dillard", "Lord of the Rankings" and "I Love You Waymo".

They can all be found on Pushkin here: https://www.pushkin.fm/podcasts/revisionist-history

You can check out or buy all his books here: https://www.gladwellbooks.com/

Malcolm is reasonably active on Twitter at @Gladwell.

Check us out on Twitter too at @noharmaskingpod. We greatly appreciate it.

Eric also publishes his online journey titled "A Podcasting Journal" on Substack at https://ericbyron.substack.com/

How do you determine if you have the authority, the experience or the “right” to produce a podcast on a given topic? Obviously you can choose to do a podcast on anything, there are no rules or restrictions. But should you be able to authentically connect with your guests for ultimate success? We think you do. In this episode Mike and Eric discuss authenticity, niche topics, how long we think this particular podcast can and should last and showcase how Anderson uses audio elements to engage the listener and deliver unfiltered emotion.

On “All There Is” Anderson Cooper takes listeners on a deeply personal exploration of loss and grief. Episode 1 shares his experience of packing up the apartment of his late mother Gloria Vanderbilt along with memories of his brother’s suicide decades ago. In subsequent episodes he talks with other guests that have lived through similar grief in a series of emotional and moving conversations about the people we lose, the things they leave behind, and how to live on.

On No Harm In Asking, hosts Eric Byron and Michael Kerr are on a journey to gather insights into why podcasts succeed or fail and to explore the myriad of different patterns, structures, topics, techniques, and personalities that have evolved this industry. Through our podcast, we hope to inspire and encourage the next generation of storytellers and visionaries.

Mike and Eric listened to all of Anderson’s podcast episodes. They can be found on CNN here:

https://edition.cnn.com/audio/podcasts/all-there-is-with-anderson-cooper

Follow us on Twitter at @noharmaskingpod so you don't miss a review!

Eric also publishes his podcasting journey titled "A Podcasting Journal" on Substack at https://ericbyron.substack.com/

Please check out our sponsor:

Qollab.me - the free to use interview planning, preparation and collaboration tool https://qollab.me/

Many people want to develop something that takes them down a different path than the usual nine-to-five routine. Indeed, the dream of the nomadic lifestyle supported by a podcast represents (to many) the perfect life. But settling on a podcast topic, and one that could be developed into a monetizable business, is always the first obstacle. Is the solution perhaps to share with the world the most challenging, the most sensitive and the most intimate details of your relationship? In this episode, Mike and Eric discuss the pros and cons of this podcast choice and where this could lead.

Life with Steph and Dalt is a podcast about the ups and downs of life as a young couple. By sharing their thoughts and life experiences they hope to inspire others to strengthen their relationships through candid discussion. 

On No Harm In Asking, hosts Eric Byron and Michael Kerr are on a journey to gather insights into why podcasts succeed or fail and to explore the myriad of different patterns, structures, topics, techniques, and personalities that have evolved this industry. Through our podcast, we hope to inspire and encourage the next generation of storytellers and visionaries.

Mike and Eric listened to numerous Steph and Salt episodes, such as "How Pain, Travel and Relationship Changed Our View of Success" which is representative of the podcast. It can be found on Apple Podcasts here:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-pain-travel-and-relationship-changed-our-view/id1622523342?i=1000578683826

Follow us on Twitter at @noharmaskingpod so you don't miss a review!

Eric also publishes his podcasting journey titled "A Podcasting Journal" on Substack at https://ericbyron.substack.com/

Please check out our sponsor:

Qollab.me - the free to use interview planning, preparation and collaboration tool https://qollab.me/

Many say this is the podcast that started it all. In fact, a survey of Serial newsletter subscribers revealed that for almost a quarter, Serial was the first podcast they'd ever listened to! Furthermore, with the conviction of Adnan Syed recently overturned as a result of Sarah and her team's work in Season 1, Serial has cemented its place in podcasting history. However, as odd as it sounds, can too much success lead to your downfall? This week Mike and Eric discuss these things and more in our review of Serial.

A podcast from the creators of This American Life, Serial is hosted by Sarah Koenig and tells a single true story over the course of a season. Typically grouped within the true-crime genre, Season 1 investigated the 1999 killing of a Baltimore teenager, Season 2 examined the story of an American Army soldier held for 5 years by the Taliban and Season 3 was an analysis of the American criminal justice system reflected over a year at the Justice Center Complex in Cleveland, Ohio.

On No Harm In Asking, hosts Eric Byron and Michael Kerr are on a journey to gather insights into why podcasts succeed or fail and to explore the myriad of different patterns, structures, topics, techniques, and personalities that have evolved this industry. Through our podcast, we hope to inspire and encourage the next generation of storytellers and visionaries.

Mike and Eric listened to Season 3 of Serial. All 3 seasons can be found on their excellent website here:

https://serialpodcast.org/

They also have a full social media presence on Twitter at @serial.

The article that stated that almost a quarter of subscribers said Serial was the first podcast they'd ever listened to is here (among other stats):

https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/first-survey-of-serials-listeners-sheds-light-on-the-serial-effect-300104734.html

Follow us on Twitter at @noharmaskingpod so you don't miss a review!

Eric also publishes his podcasting journey titled "A Podcasting Journal" on Substack at https://ericbyron.substack.com/

Please check out our sponsor:

Qollab.me - the free to use interview planning, preparation and collaboration tool https://qollab.me/

In this episode Mike and Eric review the podcast "A Slight Change of Plans" hosted by Maya Shankar. Conceived in 2021, it was selected as Apple Podcasts’ Best Show of the Year and is now in its second season. In this podcast, Maya leverages her background in social and behavioural science alongside personal teenage tragedy into beautifully composed stories of resilience in the face of change. What unique combination of attributes might you possess that can be combined into a killer podcast? Is being nice under any and all circumstances a winning podcast strategy? Should you stick with your theme 100% of the time? How can you use editing to effectively move listeners through your podcast? What tricks can you use to engage your listener without constant conversation? These questions and more are discussed in this award-winning podcast.

For this review we will focus on her November 22, 2021 episode - The Science of Grit with Angela Duckworth.

You can follow @DrMayaShankar on Instagram.

Her podcast is available here: https://www.pushkin.fm/show/slight-change-of-plans/