No Harm In Asking

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/

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/

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/

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/

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/

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/

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/

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/

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/