1 00:00:01,650 --> 00:00:04,470 Morgan Franklin: I graduated high school in 2011 and it's 2 00:00:04,470 --> 00:00:08,100 weird how that feels like both yesterday and also three 3 00:00:08,130 --> 00:00:11,490 lifetimes ago at the same time, depending how old you were in 4 00:00:11,490 --> 00:00:14,910 2011 you might remember it as the year William and Kate got 5 00:00:14,910 --> 00:00:18,810 married Harry Potter ended or Kim Kardashian got divorced from 6 00:00:18,810 --> 00:00:22,740 Chris Humphries after 70 something days. It was also the 7 00:00:22,740 --> 00:00:26,700 year Verizon started carrying the iphone four, and pretty much 8 00:00:26,700 --> 00:00:31,290 launched us straight into the smartphone era. My dad bought me 9 00:00:31,290 --> 00:00:34,290 an iPhone the day I graduated high school, and I still 10 00:00:34,290 --> 00:00:38,940 remember all my friends and I completely obsessing, huddling 11 00:00:38,940 --> 00:00:42,390 around this thing like it was the monolith in 2001 A Space 12 00:00:42,390 --> 00:00:46,830 Odyssey. From the moment I got that phone, I was obsessed. And 13 00:00:46,830 --> 00:00:50,640 I don't even know if obsessed is a strong enough word, but around 14 00:00:50,640 --> 00:00:54,150 that same time, I remember an adult, maybe a parent, or my own 15 00:00:54,150 --> 00:00:58,110 parent, saying, posting on the internet is like peeing in a 16 00:00:58,110 --> 00:01:03,120 pool. First of all, gross. Second of all, what? It took me 17 00:01:03,120 --> 00:01:08,010 a long time to figure out what that really meant, but today, 18 00:01:08,010 --> 00:01:12,030 it's a phrase I think about almost every day, because once 19 00:01:12,030 --> 00:01:16,350 something's on the internet, you can never get it back. You can 20 00:01:16,350 --> 00:01:21,510 never change it. It is permanently tied to you for the 21 00:01:21,510 --> 00:01:26,910 rest of time. Hello and welcome to podcast for profit. My name 22 00:01:26,910 --> 00:01:30,540 is Morgan Franklin. I'm a Podcast Producer, strategist and 23 00:01:30,540 --> 00:01:35,280 educator. This podcast will help you create and grow a podcast 24 00:01:35,400 --> 00:01:39,390 that cuts through the noise of social media and speaks directly 25 00:01:39,390 --> 00:01:43,230 to your target audience. If you're ready to create a podcast 26 00:01:43,230 --> 00:01:46,140 that will align you with the experts in your industry, 27 00:01:46,230 --> 00:01:50,280 position yourself as a trusted leader and create another source 28 00:01:50,280 --> 00:01:54,240 of revenue for your business, you're in the right place. So 29 00:01:54,240 --> 00:01:57,090 this week, we're going to talk about politics, politics on your 30 00:01:57,090 --> 00:02:01,470 podcast, the pros, the cons, what every podcaster should 31 00:02:01,470 --> 00:02:04,560 consider before discussing politics on their podcast. 32 00:02:05,190 --> 00:02:07,590 Before we get into this episode, I want to share a few 33 00:02:07,590 --> 00:02:13,920 disclaimers. The first one being your podcast is your podcast. I 34 00:02:13,920 --> 00:02:19,020 truly believe intuition is more important than any advice anyone 35 00:02:19,050 --> 00:02:23,340 could ever give you. And if you feel called to share your 36 00:02:23,340 --> 00:02:29,520 opinion or your story or your thoughts, you should do it. The 37 00:02:29,520 --> 00:02:33,360 second one being, I'm American. I was born in America. I've 38 00:02:33,360 --> 00:02:36,600 grown up in America. I currently live in America. If you're 39 00:02:36,600 --> 00:02:39,600 listening to this from anywhere else, I do believe that 40 00:02:39,600 --> 00:02:43,080 information is general enough for anyone to benefit from it, 41 00:02:43,380 --> 00:02:47,340 but I can only speak to my own experience and knowledge of this 42 00:02:47,340 --> 00:02:51,570 government and how politics works in America. The third 43 00:02:51,570 --> 00:02:55,260 being, I will not be sharing my political opinion takes or 44 00:02:55,260 --> 00:02:59,280 stances on this podcast. Not to say I won't share them in other 45 00:02:59,280 --> 00:03:01,950 places on the internet, because I'm sure I will or in other 46 00:03:01,950 --> 00:03:06,240 capacities, but that is not what this podcast is about, and at 47 00:03:06,240 --> 00:03:09,600 the end of the day, me sharing my political opinion on this 48 00:03:09,600 --> 00:03:14,310 podcast does nothing for you the listener. The past two weeks 49 00:03:14,310 --> 00:03:18,750 have been a totally insane time in American politics. We started 50 00:03:18,750 --> 00:03:21,540 with the assassination attempt of FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD 51 00:03:21,540 --> 00:03:24,930 TRUMP, PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN dropping out of the race as the 52 00:03:24,930 --> 00:03:28,860 Democratic nominee, and about 400 other subplots in between. 53 00:03:29,070 --> 00:03:33,150 It's been a crazy month, but what's been even crazier are 54 00:03:33,150 --> 00:03:37,290 people's reactions. Right? Some are good, some are bad, some are 55 00:03:37,290 --> 00:03:40,260 downright disgusting. But it brings me back to the 56 00:03:40,260 --> 00:03:44,250 introduction of this episode, when you post something on the 57 00:03:44,250 --> 00:03:50,220 internet, it's like peeing in a pool. You can't get it back, you 58 00:03:50,220 --> 00:03:55,320 can't make it go away, you can only dilute and deflect and hope 59 00:03:55,320 --> 00:04:01,530 eventually to filter it out. Our words have consequences, no 60 00:04:01,530 --> 00:04:04,470 matter which side you're on, the past month has felt like the 61 00:04:04,470 --> 00:04:07,620 chickens coming home to roost on some of the ideologies shared by 62 00:04:07,620 --> 00:04:12,240 both sides. And I truly believe it is the slow and deliberate 63 00:04:12,240 --> 00:04:15,810 branding of both of the major political parties in the United 64 00:04:15,810 --> 00:04:19,620 States that's changing how we see each other. Instead of us 65 00:04:19,620 --> 00:04:24,570 all being proud Americans were now proud conservatives or proud 66 00:04:24,570 --> 00:04:28,590 liberals, and I think that's a really big problem when you 67 00:04:28,590 --> 00:04:31,830 don't believe your neighbor or your community has your best 68 00:04:31,830 --> 00:04:36,930 interest at heart. How is it possible to grow but that's the 69 00:04:36,930 --> 00:04:41,130 situation we're in right now, and it feels terrible because 70 00:04:41,130 --> 00:04:46,020 the stakes feel so high. We're all in this pressure cooker 71 00:04:46,020 --> 00:04:48,870 where it feels like if we don't make the right decision right 72 00:04:48,870 --> 00:04:52,980 now, the United States, as we know it, will cease to exist, 73 00:04:53,160 --> 00:04:56,040 and this will have all been for nothing. And I just want you to 74 00:04:56,040 --> 00:05:00,180 know if you feel like this, if you are feeling this kind. Of 75 00:05:00,210 --> 00:05:03,870 urgency, I want you to know, talking crap on your podcast is 76 00:05:03,870 --> 00:05:07,650 not going to help anything. Sharing your hyped up political 77 00:05:07,650 --> 00:05:12,390 opinion is not going to change anyone's mind. In fact, it will 78 00:05:12,390 --> 00:05:16,530 most likely cause them to not listen to your show. If your 79 00:05:16,530 --> 00:05:19,710 podcast is about anything other than politics, news or current 80 00:05:19,710 --> 00:05:23,280 events, the likelihood of you growing an audience from sharing 81 00:05:23,280 --> 00:05:27,240 your political opinion is incredibly slim. And maybe 82 00:05:27,240 --> 00:05:30,840 you're thinking, Morgan, this is how I educate people. This is 83 00:05:30,840 --> 00:05:33,270 how I educate my audience on what's going on, and if I don't 84 00:05:33,270 --> 00:05:37,590 talk about it, who will? How do I advocate for myself and my 85 00:05:37,590 --> 00:05:41,760 beliefs, if not on my podcast? And you know what I hear you I 86 00:05:41,760 --> 00:05:47,070 do. But here's a few things that I want you to ask yourself, Does 87 00:05:47,070 --> 00:05:51,570 this have anything to do with my podcast, the normal topics of my 88 00:05:51,570 --> 00:05:55,110 episodes, or my audience at large? That's question one. 89 00:05:55,470 --> 00:06:00,210 Question two is, Will what I'm saying give perspective to 90 00:06:00,210 --> 00:06:05,730 others, or is it just an opinion I want to share? Three is what I 91 00:06:05,730 --> 00:06:11,550 have to say worth potentially alienating and upsetting 50% or 92 00:06:11,550 --> 00:06:16,980 more of my listeners. And then lastly, if I waited two weeks, 93 00:06:17,400 --> 00:06:21,180 would I still feel as passionately about sharing this 94 00:06:21,180 --> 00:06:25,590 opinion, and let's talk about that last one. If you waited two 95 00:06:25,590 --> 00:06:29,760 weeks, would this still matter enough to you to bring up on 96 00:06:29,760 --> 00:06:33,120 your podcast? And I think that's a really good question. This is 97 00:06:33,120 --> 00:06:36,150 a good rule of thumb for anyone talking about pretty much 98 00:06:36,150 --> 00:06:39,690 anything ever especially if you're feeling fired up, 99 00:06:39,930 --> 00:06:44,580 especially if what you're saying is controversial or passionate 100 00:06:44,580 --> 00:06:50,280 or divisive, will it matter in two weeks, and if you can wait 101 00:06:50,280 --> 00:06:55,200 two weeks to record it, because, wow, there are so many times as 102 00:06:55,200 --> 00:06:59,010 a Podcast Producer and as a podcast listener, I wish people 103 00:06:59,010 --> 00:07:03,030 would have just slept on it because we all say wacky stuff 104 00:07:03,030 --> 00:07:06,300 in the heat of the moment. You know it, I know it, but that 105 00:07:06,300 --> 00:07:11,310 doesn't mean we want that wacky stuff linked to us forever and 106 00:07:11,310 --> 00:07:16,290 ever in eternity online, you are entitled to your opinion, and 107 00:07:16,290 --> 00:07:19,440 thankfully, if you live in the United States of America, you 108 00:07:19,440 --> 00:07:23,670 have the right to say whatever you want, but I think there's a 109 00:07:23,670 --> 00:07:28,170 difference between a right and a reason, and that's what I really 110 00:07:28,170 --> 00:07:31,710 want you to take from this episode. Is there a reason to 111 00:07:31,710 --> 00:07:36,690 say what you're saying? Is it going to grow your podcast? Is 112 00:07:36,690 --> 00:07:40,380 it going to make you money? Is it going to improve your brand? 113 00:07:40,770 --> 00:07:43,890 Is it actually going to make an impact on someone? If that's 114 00:07:43,890 --> 00:07:47,160 your reason for saying it, I went to a women in business 115 00:07:47,160 --> 00:07:50,280 conference earlier this month, and one of the breakout sessions 116 00:07:50,280 --> 00:07:55,110 was about first impressions. The whole point of the session was 117 00:07:55,110 --> 00:07:57,750 to talk about how to make a first impression on someone that 118 00:07:57,750 --> 00:08:01,680 leads to a lasting professional connection. If you're a business 119 00:08:01,680 --> 00:08:05,310 owner or a creator or a podcaster, you know this is a 120 00:08:05,310 --> 00:08:08,220 very important skill to have, that could be your next client 121 00:08:08,310 --> 00:08:11,820 or sponsor, or connection to your next client or sponsor. And 122 00:08:11,820 --> 00:08:15,930 do you want to know? The first thing this speaker said, the key 123 00:08:15,930 --> 00:08:21,600 to a lasting first impression is listening. Listening. Who wants 124 00:08:21,600 --> 00:08:24,630 to listen? I'm trying to allow someone when I meet them, right? 125 00:08:24,660 --> 00:08:27,810 I mean, I think that most of us, that's our first reaction when 126 00:08:27,810 --> 00:08:31,860 we meet someone, is to think, How can I impress this person? 127 00:08:32,010 --> 00:08:36,390 How can I make a memorable impression? How can I show them 128 00:08:36,390 --> 00:08:40,410 that we are connected, or that we have something in common, or 129 00:08:40,410 --> 00:08:43,230 that we have common values, or that they should remember me. 130 00:08:43,470 --> 00:08:46,890 And you know what I'm hearing a lot of when I say that, I, I, I, 131 00:08:46,890 --> 00:08:50,700 me, me, me. This is not about you. Meeting someone for the 132 00:08:50,700 --> 00:08:54,000 first time is not about you. And you know what? Your podcast is 133 00:08:54,000 --> 00:08:57,660 not about you. And if you want to build a community, you have 134 00:08:57,660 --> 00:09:01,650 to remove yourself and your ego from the equation. Because, yes, 135 00:09:01,710 --> 00:09:06,450 this is your podcast, but you didn't create it for yourself to 136 00:09:06,450 --> 00:09:09,840 listen to. Now, am I saying that you should never share your 137 00:09:09,840 --> 00:09:14,100 opinion or thoughts online? No, especially if you have a solo 138 00:09:14,100 --> 00:09:18,270 podcast. What else would you talk about besides your own 139 00:09:18,270 --> 00:09:23,790 thoughts? What I'm saying is to create room, show respect, be 140 00:09:23,790 --> 00:09:28,560 thoughtful about what you say and how you say it. If you're 141 00:09:28,560 --> 00:09:33,450 endorsing a political candidate, great, say why you love them. 142 00:09:33,750 --> 00:09:39,540 Say why you're proud to vote for them and what you hope they do 143 00:09:39,540 --> 00:09:44,310 for this country, not why you hate the other person, not how 144 00:09:44,340 --> 00:09:47,100 they're gonna burn this whole place to the ground, or why you 145 00:09:47,100 --> 00:09:51,000 think they're a totally incompetent goober. We have to 146 00:09:51,000 --> 00:09:54,360 take the high road. We have to hold ourselves to a higher 147 00:09:54,360 --> 00:09:57,570 standard than the mainstream media, because all mainstream 148 00:09:57,570 --> 00:10:01,230 media wants is to get views. Debate us with entertainment and 149 00:10:01,230 --> 00:10:04,950 crazy headlines to get more advertising dollars. If you want 150 00:10:04,950 --> 00:10:08,730 to blame one side in this country, blame the corporations 151 00:10:08,730 --> 00:10:12,750 and big media that are using our patriotism for profit. It 152 00:10:12,750 --> 00:10:17,280 doesn't matter if it's CNN or Fox News or MSNBC, they're all 153 00:10:17,280 --> 00:10:21,180 owned by huge, multi billion dollar corporations that know 154 00:10:21,360 --> 00:10:25,920 they make more money and get more views when we are fighting 155 00:10:25,920 --> 00:10:29,610 with each other. And I don't know about you, but I don't want 156 00:10:29,610 --> 00:10:32,250 to be part of this cycle, and I don't want to continue 157 00:10:32,250 --> 00:10:36,510 perpetuating the lies that one side is evil, or that just 158 00:10:36,510 --> 00:10:40,140 because you're one party and I'm another, we don't both want 159 00:10:40,140 --> 00:10:43,950 what's best for this country and the world? Do we always agree on 160 00:10:43,950 --> 00:10:47,640 exactly how to do it? No, no, we don't, and that's okay, but we 161 00:10:47,640 --> 00:10:50,850 need to turn down the temperature. We need to listen 162 00:10:50,850 --> 00:10:54,630 to each other. We need to stop the name calling and childish 163 00:10:54,630 --> 00:10:58,140 backstabbing, and even if you're doing it just so that you don't 164 00:10:58,140 --> 00:11:01,500 lose podcast listeners, you know what? That's an okay place to 165 00:11:01,500 --> 00:11:05,250 start, because one habit turns into a lifestyle, and maybe 166 00:11:05,250 --> 00:11:08,550 before you know it, you're actually listening to someone 167 00:11:08,580 --> 00:11:11,280 that's not in your political party, and maybe you don't agree 168 00:11:11,280 --> 00:11:13,860 with them at all. You think they don't really know what they're 169 00:11:13,860 --> 00:11:16,980 talking about, but you're taking a moment to listen instead of 170 00:11:16,980 --> 00:11:20,700 just completely shutting down and falling apart. We all have 171 00:11:20,700 --> 00:11:23,940 so much more in common than we think we do. I've worked with 172 00:11:23,940 --> 00:11:27,540 podcasts and clients on both sides of the aisle for several 173 00:11:27,540 --> 00:11:31,350 years, and I can tell you one thing, they both love America. 174 00:11:31,380 --> 00:11:34,980 They do. They both want what's best, or at least what they 175 00:11:34,980 --> 00:11:39,300 think is best. And no matter what side we could all benefit 176 00:11:39,300 --> 00:11:42,690 from listening more if you haven't already registered to 177 00:11:42,690 --> 00:11:46,770 vote, go ahead and go to vote.gov. And register. Do your 178 00:11:46,770 --> 00:11:51,540 research. Check your sources. Be a good source if you are one. 179 00:11:52,140 --> 00:11:57,030 And as always, I can't wait to listen to your podcast. Hey, 180 00:11:57,030 --> 00:11:59,850 thank you so much for joining me on this episode. If you enjoyed 181 00:11:59,850 --> 00:12:02,520 the podcast and you'd like to hear more episodes like this 182 00:12:02,520 --> 00:12:06,090 one, go ahead and subscribe to the show. New episodes air every 183 00:12:06,090 --> 00:12:09,180 Monday morning. And if you found this episode valuable and you 184 00:12:09,180 --> 00:12:12,060 want to help other business owners and podcasters, we leave 185 00:12:12,060 --> 00:12:14,910 me a five star review. It helps the show ring higher in the 186 00:12:14,910 --> 00:12:18,000 charts and brings more entrepreneurs the information 187 00:12:18,030 --> 00:12:21,270 they need to start making money on your podcast.