If you have been constantly asking yourself “what topics should I discuss today?”, then this article is for you. You can’t kid a kidder, topic ideas are tough to come up with. But don’t worry, just about every podcaster has trouble at some point with podcast topic ideas.

It’s like writers block, but you have to talk about it.

We’re going to dive into 23 proven methods of generating new podcasting ideas that will keep your content fresh and engaging.

So let’s get going.

Know Your Podcast Audience

Podcasting is a great way to connect with your people and build deeper relationships. This becomes more important than ever as podcasting moves away from strictly advertising monetization to alternative ways of being paid, like micropayments.

There are even apps trying that out now with bitcoin like Fountain.fm that are experimenting with this model. So, in the future, you have to make a commitment to making the connection with each potential listener.

Podcasting Ideas Come from the Strangest Places

Like Jason Lee’s character in Almost Famous, you have to find that one person who isn’t getting off, and you get them off. That’s how you get those micro payments.

But it can be hard to get started. And even harder to come up with episode ideas.

The best way to start a podcast is by knowing your target audience like the back of your hand.

To do this, you need to think about what they want so that you can deliver it in the most appealing way possible.

Think about, or even ask, what your target audience’s frustrations and pain points are. A good podcast informs, and entertains. So if you can do that you are well on your way.

So, for podcast topics, ask yourself, where does my audience hurt and where can I add value in solving that hurt?

Read… Always be reading. Voraciously

Reading keeps the mind active and nimble.

Reading makes you smarter. It helps you think more deeply, gives you a broader vocabulary, and expands your worldview. Reading also helps you come up with new ideas, which is why it’s so important for podcasting!

In fact, I recently read a book that helped me break my writers block. I had been stuck on an idea for weeks and couldn’t seem to get past the first few steps of getting started. Then I picked up a book by Sam Harris and fell into a spiral of creativity that lasted for days. He talked about how books can help us get our creative juices flowing and how they can get us out of ruts like writers block.

That gave me just enough inspiration to finally start writing again.

Now, while reading helped me break out of my writers block, it can help with creating new podcasting ideas as well. It’s the same style of ideation.

If you need a podcast idea, open a book. As an aside, book reviews are a great part of the process. The difference between what you took away versus what someone else took away can be the genesis of a great podcast topic.

Write 10 Random Ideas a Day

This one comes from prolific podcaster James Altucher.

He famously writes ten ideas a day. Most of which are terrible, but occasionally, there’s a gem in there that’s worth fleshing out or developing further. He did a whole podcast episode on the practice and has since started a social media site dedicated to the practice.

So the ten idea thing was an idea worth fleshing out. Now, he does it on a waiter’s pad, but you can do it anywhere using whatever you have at your disposal.

These don’t even have to be related to your podcast niche. It’s just an exercise to get the mind limber.

Scan Social Media for Podcasting Ideas

Productivity gurus will tell you social media is garbage.

Well, that’s usually true. You get sucked into pop culture nonsense or celebrity news, or celebrity interviews, and suddenly, your day is gone. So, scan, don’t immerse.

But its not all bad. You can pick up podcast episode ideas based on what’s trending and compare that to what your audience might enjoy.

Podcast ideas can come from anywhere, even somewhere you wouldn’t normally think of. For instance, reading reddit posts. Some of the best podcast topic ideas 2022 had to offer came from funny podcast topics reddit had to give.

Dive Into Global News and Local News

One place you should dive into is the news. It’s full of controversy and “if it bleeds, it leads” type of content.

A hot take on what’s going on in the world, and current events, can be an excellent source of podcast ideas.

Now, if you don’t know anything about the stock market or if personal finance isn’t what your audience is going after, a direct hot take may not be the right answer. But, trust me, this type of bombardment will get the creative juices flowing.

Everyone has an opinion. See if you can line yours up with your audience and niche to come up with a great podcast idea.

Use Guided Meditations to Clear the Mind

Studies have shown a consistent mediation practice to effectively reduce stress and anxiety.

If you reduce stress and anxiety you allow your mind to focus on other priorities. like coming up with podcast topics.

Meditation can sound a bit “eastern philosophy,” or “Buddhist,” but science shows this practice works for just about anyone willing to give it a go. And if you need a boost starting your practice, we have a whole list of meditation podcasts that can help you start.

Plus, there’s the added benefit of boosting your mental health.

Listen to Other Podcasts

Listening to other podcasts is the best way to get fresh ideas for your own.

When you want to keep a podcast going, it’s easy to get stuck in a rut. You keep thinking of the same things—the same topics, the same ideas and approaches. But if you listen to some other podcasts outside your genre, you’ll start getting new ideas for how to tell stories and engage listeners.

For example, I’ve been listening to a true crime podcast (serial) lately and I never thought about how much their storytelling style could help me with my own creative process.

It’s not that they’re doing something that’s particularly new or innovative (which is what we often think of when we think of creativity), but rather than talking about things from an objective perspective, they’re telling stories from inside the characters’ heads—making us feel like we know them personally. And that makes all the difference.

Think about the storytelling in This American Life and How I Built This. Listening to those podcasts will help you connect with your audience, no matter what your genre is.

So yeah, just stroll around Apple Podcasts and see what you can find. But stroll, as if you have nothing better to do. You never know what you’ll find that will spark interest.

Revisit Old Content

Revising old content is one of the best ways to come up with a good podcast topic. Why? Because it already was a good idea. Easily one of the best podcasting tips I’ve come across.

We talked a while back about revising your old content when you start see a fall off. Find what people liked and talk about it again. That’s a no brainer marketing strategy.

Have a Conversation

After so much isolation, we haven’t had enough conversations to keep that part of our brain active. Talk to people and see what is bugging them. Ask questions.

Coming up with new ideas is all about getting out of your head. Maybe you’ll get some good book recommendations to apply that strategy. Maybe you’ll see something from every day life from a new perspective.

If you can’t have a real conversation for whatever reason, have one with the new AI tools that are popping up everywhere.

I used Copy.Ai as a writing assistant during the pandemic lockdown and couldn’t be happier with the experience. Who needs real friends? Who needs live events with people, and airborne droplets, and…

Alright, I’m off topic.

Still, if you want podcast topics to talk about with friends, the pandemic lockdown is certainly among the best. Everyone has an opinion, and just about every opinion is different.

Steal Like An Artist

This book blew my mind. It’s akin to the “there’s nothing new under the sun,” and, when you think about it, it’s hard to argue.

What a lot of people don’t realize is that all art is a product of its creator’s influences.

The creator didn’t have to create something completely new, because that’s impossible. They simply had to take what they were inspired by and apply it in their own way—to create something new.

And that’s what this book is all about: helping you find your inspiration, then use it as a springboard for your own creativity.

Work on Your Imposter Syndrome

Imposter syndrome is a term used to describe the feeling of being an impostor, or like you don’t belong in the position that you’re in. For example: if you’re a writer and you know that your work isn’t very good, or if your work is good but you don’t think it’s as good as other people say it is, then that can be a sign of imposter syndrome.

Imposter syndrome also tends to hold creators back from sharing their ideas because they’re afraid that other people will think their ideas aren’t worthy. That’s why it’s so important for us to talk about this issue and create more open spaces where creators can share their ideas without fear of being judged or criticized.

I’ve personally overcome imposter syndrome by taking small steps: writing down my ideas on paper instead of just keeping them in my head; sharing those ideas with friends who I trust will give me honest feedback; and finding ways to make small improvements each time I write something new until eventually I feel confident enough to share it with others.

Podcasters can do just the same with their own ideas. Show me an original travel podcast, and I’ll show you angels dancing on a pinhead.

Take a Walk

Put one foot in front of the other.

Taking a walk can be just the thing your brain needs to get creative juices flowing.

That’s right—it’s not just a myth! In fact, scientists have been studying this phenomenon for years.

In one study, researchers found that people who took a break from their work and walked around the block reported feeling more creative afterwards. They also had increased blood flow to their brains, which is known to boost creativity. The same study saw an increase in creativity in up to 81% of study participants.

The researchers also noted that participants were more likely to come up with new ideas if they walked outside than if they stayed inside during their break.

So if we’re looking at product reviews of walking, I’m all in.

Alter, or Change Formats

I mentioned the Prof G podcast in earlier articles. But recently, he’s changed formats.

What were once segments of individual episodes have been broken apart into standalone editions of the overall podcast. And overall, I’d say it works.

Rather than having to spread research thin over several different subjects, by breaking them up into stand alone set pieces, that research can be much more focused. It takes the spirit of the segments and makes them more robust, more fleshed out.

The market shows go into more depth and nuance with fewer headlines and more expertise. The Office Hours shows on Wednesday can dispense more advice and the No Mercy No Malice segments can offload some of the work to outside contributors.

If you’re seeing a drop in listenership, tweaking your format, or giving it a facelift can be just what you need to reinvigorate your creative juices.

Brainstorm Elsewhere

If you do all of your work in the office, it’s easy to stagnate.

If we learn anything from the pandemic (and we likely won’t), it’s that many people are more creative when they have a new view on their rote work. A literally different view.

A change of venue can be just enough to jumpstart a stalled creativity engine. So if you’re working all day in your home office, try the local coffee shop, do some people watching, and let the freewriting flow.

Now, this isn’t a panacea. Nor is anything on this list, but changing venues, or just changing your gaze and getting away from the screen can be a game changer.

Do you always do your brainstorming in a Word or Google Doc? Try changing up the medium you record your ideas on. A good old fashioned legal pad served my brain storming for years before I eventually upgraded to a Remarkable.

Just that simple change saw a huge uptick in productivity. An uptick implies the eventual fall off, but changing up routines is a great place to start when you’re feeling stuck.

Start a New Podcast

Nobody said you have to keep all of your podcasting ideas under one umbrella podcast. You can always start a new podcast if there’s something you want to talk about that doesn’t fit your other show’s niche.

In essence, you aren’t married to one idea. But you should let your audience know what’s going on. That you’ve got some podcast content that they may want to hear, but doesn’t fit the brand.

Scott Galloway recently discussed on the Prof G Show how he was fighting his producer on his other podcast, Pivot. That his salty nature was getting cut from Pivot.

Which is the perfect reason to have his stand alone show. He can do whatever he wants in his own voice without any trepidation.

For your new idea, you can get podcast hosting for free, or a podcast host for less than you think. If you want to stick with a free podcast, go for it. Let your new idea flourish and grow.

Generating New Podcasting Ideas

Coming up with new podcasting ideas isn’t easy. And, unfortunately, it just gets harder the longer you’re at it. Listeners turn elsewhere when the well runs dry and the algorithm starts to think less of you.

If you think AI is the solution, well, it can help with brainstorming. No doubt about that, but as a creator, you’re still ultimately in charge of coming up with your own podcasting ideas and promoting them to success.

Writing this article got me thinking about implementing the “How I Pod” series again. I’m fascinated with people’s workflows, how they stay fresh, and relevant. It’s too easy to get entrenched and the world moves too fast to dig out a too much of the time.

In the tradition of tweaking and trying out new ideas, be on the lookout for the first installment of How I Pod shortly. I’m excited about the idea, and I think new creators will be as well.

The post 15 Alternative Effective Methods of Coming Up With Podcasting Ideas appeared first on Discover the Best Podcasts | Discover Pods.

As 2020 stumbled, drunk, over the finish line, the absolute wreckage of the economy was overshadowed.  The massive rebound in the stock market was in every media outlet. As if that obnoxious year couldn’t get worse, now we’re supposed to understand what a K shaped recovery is?

Retail investors on Reddit struck back. And gained the ally-ship of some of Silicon Valley’s biggest activist investors. Not to mention eccentric entrepreneurs.

The entire financial system, just a decade or so out from a complete bailout is poised for disruptive democratization. This is no time to sit out on the sidelines.

Well, I Do Disclaim…

Now, as an enormous disclaimer that shouldn’t need saying, but it does. I am not a lawyer or a financial adviser. Nothing in this article is legal or investment advice.

What we are, at Discover Pods, is passionate about podcasts and how they can improve our lives. Learning a little something about the markets, how they work, and what’s going on falls squarely in that category.

So let’s look at some of the best finance podcasts to gain a better understanding of what can be alien territory.

Marketplace

Hosted by Kai Ryssdal, Marketplace bills itself as the show that makes sense of the day’s financial news. It’s a show designed for the widest possible audience. You don’t need to have a background in economics for this show to be illuminating.

Kai’s team provides economic context through interviews, conversations, and short stories. They aim to make the dry numbers more digestible.

Marketplace is the flagship show, but there is actually a suite of financial podcasts under the Marketplace umbrella:

• Marketplace Morning Report

• Marketplace Weekend

• Marketplace Tech

• Marketplace Minute

Apple Podcasts | Stitcher | Spotify

Bigger Pockets Money Podcast

I actually came across the Bigger Pockets Money Podcast after having listened to their sister show, Bigger Pockets, for years. That show focused on real estate investing.

Bigger Pockets Money centers around wealth creation. How to build it. How to keep it.

As hosts, Mindy Jensen and Scott Trench run through a wide range of topics. They cover leverage, financial independence, and debt structure. To name a few. They also bring on guests and share stories that are down right inspirational.

They spotlight stories that are accessible enough to show their listeners what’s possible. Nothing’s guaranteed, but the the possibility alone…

It’s worth a listen.

Apple Podcasts | Stitcher | Spotify

The Fairer Cents

It may seem like “the market” exists separate and apart from our everyday lives. Something only the experts can understand and only for professionals. But that’s just the way the patriarchy wants it.

There’s a reason the Fairer Cents was named one of the 8 best finance podcasts of 2020. Hosts Kara Perez and Tanja Hunter take a holistic approach to disrupting the finance world’s male dominant status quo. They do so by demystifying the financial universe.

Perhaps even more important, they peel back the covers on systemic roadblocks in the market. Roadblocks like privilege, the silent costs of motherhood, and the very definition of success itself. Blocks that can stymie real wealth creation.

It’s an absolute must listen.

Apple Podcasts | Stitcher | Spotify

Earn Your Leisure

We are a culture and economy fueled by debt. Lending rates have been under 5% since 2007. The average American carries $90,460 in debt.

“Investing” then, isn’t something accessible for the average person. Financial adviser Rash Bilal and educator Troy Millings set out to change that basic premise. The through line of their finance podcast is practical, casual, advice on how to acquire more assets than you have liabilities.

That’s wealth creation. That’s the liberating mindset shift they seek to foster in their listeners. We should all be listeners.

Apple Podcasts | Stitcher | Spotify

Stacking Benjamins

The first thing you’ll notice about Stacking Benjamins is the humor. The topic can be a little dry but the Stacking Benjamins crew attack these heady topics with an authentic wit that screams trustworthy.

Recording from host Joe’s Mom’s unfinished basement doesn’t hurt the levity factor either.

But the show’s goal is serious. Stacking Benjamins isn’t so much a show about definitive answers. No, there are plenty of those. It’s more a show that ensures their audience knows how to ask the right financial questions. It’s about opening doors instead of standing as gatekeepers.

They also happen to be very active on Twitter (@SBenjaminsCast). You should say hi. 

Apple Podcasts | Stitcher | Spotify

The Motley Fool

Like Marketplace, the Motley Fool is actually a stable of related podcasts. But with more focus on investing and without the NPR vibe.

The Motley Fool was founded by two brothers, Tom and David Gardner as a stock picking service for outsiders. As time has progressed, so has the fool.

Their podcast silo now has 5 different shows:

• Motley Fool Money

• Market Foolery

• Rule Breaking Investors

• Motley Fool Answers

• Industry Focus

Each show has its own focus but starting with Market Foolery finance podcasts is probably your best primer. It covers current events and the day’s news from a finance perspective.

Apple Podcasts | Stitcher | Spotify

We Study Billionaires

If you’re going to disrupt a status quo, you kinda need to have an idea of what you’re disrupting right? That’s where the We Study Billionaires comes in.

It interviews some of the most successful investors around. As well as looks at the most prolific investing philosophies. If you want to know why things are done the way they’re currently done, this pod is a good place to start.

All the information covered on WSB serves as a solid investing foundation.

Apple Podcasts | Stitcher | Spotify

InvestED

Phil Town is a hedge fund manager and financial adviser. As the host of one of the most well reviewed financial podcasts, you might expect him to have some stodgy elitism about him. His co-host, who also happens to be his daughter, dispels any such expectation.

Their show is readily accessible to the average listener and beginning investor. But they don’t pull punches or skimp on the details. Phil and Danielle cover their topics in depth and with enough clarity to say that they are really educating their listeners. They aren’t merely having a conversation about the nuts and bolts. They make sure to bring their audience along.

If you are just getting into the market, I recommend their episode on making your first trade. It’s an exciting first step and it feels like Tom and Danielle are making it with you.

Apple Podcasts | Stitcher | Spotify

My Worst Investment Ever

Example is a powerful learning modality. Not only is learning from the mistakes of others useful, but it is also cathartic. It’s encouraging to hear the trials and tribulations overcome to build back after defeat.

That’s what “My Worst Investment Ever” is all about. The recounting of accounts that shocked their accountants.

Apple Podcasts | Stitcher | Spotify

Pivot

Pivot is a collaboration between hosts Kara Swisher from Recode and Scott Galloway, an NYU professor as well as host of his own eponymous show.

Pivot is ostensibly a news/commentary show. What sets it apart is Swisher and Galloway. They riff on subjects that sit at the intersection of finance, public policy, and tech. And have the bona fides to back it up.

There’s a macro economic as well as mass psychological component to understanding what’s taking place in the market. The underlying forces usually live in the overlap in Pivot’s subject.

If you’re looking for a smart, high level, view of market trend lines, Pivot should find its way to your queue.

Apple Podcasts | Stitcher | Spotify

Conclusion

Some not insignificant changes are coming to the way we trade and how society interacts with markets. There has been inequity and pressure from every interested side here. Something has to give.

What change is coming? That’s murkier.

What’s clear is that understanding the basics and being aware of what’s going on will pay dividends. These financial podcasts go a long way towards getting us up to speed. Is there anything podcasts can’t help with?

If you love podcasts as much as we do, give us a follow on Twitter.

The post Smash The Status Quo With These 10 Powerful Finance Podcasts appeared first on Discover the Best Podcasts | Discover Pods.