The $100,000 Podcast

In 2020 I launched a brand new podcast in an industry with ZERO visibility.

Since then it has generated over $100,000 in sponsorship revenue and my sponsors have flown me to conferences in Dubai and Germany.

I was invited to speak on stage at the world’s largest podcast conference, where I shared the EXACT strategy I used to successfully launch and grow this show to #1 in its industry.

I’m sharing the presentation, slides and key takeaways, so that more aspiring podcasters understand the importance of niching down and not being dependent on CPM (aka downloads) as the only source of revenue.

There is another path.

In 30 minutes you’ll learn EXACTLY how to:

👉 Identify Your Niche & Target Audience

👉 Position Your Podcast Strategically

👉 Research & Build a Database of Potential Sponsors

👉 Create a Sponsorship Media Kit

👉 Leverage SEO & Visibility

👉 Build Relationships Before Launching

👉 Pitch Sponsors Confidently

👉 Overdeliver for Sponsors

I’ve shared these strategies with my paid clients, but this needs to be seen by a bigger audience.

Comment “100K” and I’ll send you the link!

How I Built a $100,000 Podcast was originally published in FullCast on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

There I was, in a dimly lit theatre, half-eaten popcorn bag in-hand, pausing between handfuls, with my mouth slightly ajar.

Indiana Jones had just narrowly escaped being crushed by a giant boulder and was dodging arrows as he jumped into an awaiting prop plane.

I thought to myself, “man this is SO cool!”

As a child of the 80’s, I have a special place in my heart for the Indiana Jones trilogy.

The idea that there was this hidden treasure all over the world just waiting to be found. All you had to do was evade an army of Nazis and escape from a pit of snakes, for starters.

Easy peasy.

There’s that one scene later on in Raiders of the Lost Ark, when Indiana Jones, after weeks of arduous (and adventurous) travel finally arrives in Egypt. Having deftly evaded his pursuers, he finds himself inside a hidden chamber with a replica of the city sculpted from stone.

With his gem-capped staff in hand, he positions it so that the incoming sun rays point a beam of light to his next destination.

Wow.

What sticks with me to this day is that feeling of satisfaction that comes from solving intricate and mysterious puzzles.

Sprinkle in some buried treasure, ancient maps and secret codes… I mean who didn’t want to be part of the Goonies crew?

Secret rooms behind doors disguised as bookshelves with hidden latches.

Closets that open into a magical world with talking lions!

I know now that all of this was speaking to my sense of curiosity with the world and the cosmos. I have this unexplainable urge to know where I am from. It is palpable and sometimes makes it hard to function on earth.

There are things that just somehow don’t make sense to me and I sometimes truly feel out of place.

During an intense Ayahuasca session several years ago, I was processing this feeling of abandonment. I remember asking the question in my mind. Why did you leave me?

The answer was swift and powerful.

“We’ve never left you, we’ve always been there with you.”

Needless to say, in my primed condition, I immediately began bawling for several minutes.

As I recount that story, I’m reminded of that very famous photograph titled Footprints.

While I’ve always rolled my eyes at it in the past, it’s likely due to my Catholic upbringing, and how much I want to separate myself from that, once I became a teenager. No surprise there.

But if you pull back and don’t let yourself get lost in the words God, Jesus, Lord, etc., and replace them with Intuition, Guidance, Spirit, and the ever popular Universe, you begin to find a language that speaks to your heart.

And you continue to push yourself out of your comfort zone and seek.

I can’t speak for you as I realize we’re all wired differently, but for me it is a drive to know the answers to questions I have yet to properly formulate.

I just know it’s there. I feel it with my heart and soul.

Questions like,

What exactly is under the Sphinx in Egypt and how old is it really?

The rabbit hole continues…

Could the erosion markings on the side of the Sphinx be indicative of flooding which, according to geologist Randall Carlson, could only have been caused by a catastrophic event over 10,000 years ago?

Well then wait a minute,

Could that be related to a mysterious civilization mentioned in Plato’s works Timaeus and Critias?

Welcome to my mind.

I’ll leave it at that for now as that rabbit hole gets cavernously deep, and this may not be the best time for metaphysical spelunking.

The reason I shared that small peek it to my world of curiosity is to remind you that you have your own list of things that fill your heart with wonder.

For me, as my journey on this planet continues to progress, I will always be seeking answers to many things that may remain unanswered.

As I get older, I’ve discovered how much that wonder fuels me. That need to share my mind with you, and maybe meet a fellow explorer of similar interests along the way.

But I also do it to remind you that it’s OK to follow your curiosity every day.

Who cares what they think?

‘They’ are not your people.

Your people are waiting to hear from you. They are on the lookout, as they continue on their journey, for a beacon.

That beacon is you.

By sharing your adventures, not only do you benefit, but those that find you benefit as well.

It’s funny, I began this letter thinking I was going to talk about curiosity, and how that has led me to wanting to share all the books, blogs and podcasts I’ve discovered. I was then planning to share all the tools I’m using (Kindle, Instapaper, Readwise) and turn this into a how-to post.

But that’s not what happened.

As I started writing, I had this feeling of not wanting to just gloss over the metaphysical wonder that shines the light on what I love.

Was there fear or apprehension? Oh yeah, every day.

I’m still finding my feet with these letters and this new format and the weekly consistency is really having me flex a new muscle.

I’m not sure if I’ve worked that writing muscle this intensely before, and it’s no easy task.

I’m looking for a mix of storytelling, while also teaching.

So expect to see a mix of both.

More than anything I want these to be for provoking, because we are at a transition. We need all the curiosity seekers to start sharing their stories.

Because that’s when we begin to discover that there are more things that unite us than keep us apart.

🙏with gratitude,

Harry

What I Created This Week

🎧 Vertical Farming Podcast (Season 6) sponsored by Cultivatd

• Episode 70: Plant Genetics, First-Time CEO Challenges, & Improving the Equity & Quality of Food with Nordetect’s Keenan Pinto

By the time you read this I’ll likely be on a flight to Dubai to speak at the AgraME conference next week, courtesy of my podcast sponsor, Cultivatd. Very exciting. More to come in a future letter!

🎧 Podcast Junkies | The Podcaster’s Voice sponsored by Focusrite.

• Episode 304: Moritz Kaminski | The Lightning Network, Podcaster Wallets & Value for Value

🙋‍♀️ P.S. When You’re Ready…

Here are a few of ways I can help…

✡️ Download a free copy of my Conscious Voice Expansion Plan. The most powerful way to transmit and elevate your voice is with a podcast. This plan will outline for you the pillars of success needed prior to the launch of your show!

🎥 Watch my free video, 5 Key Pillars of a Profitable Podcast that every business owner needs to know prior to launching their show.

🎙️ Subscribe to Podcast Junkies + Vertical Farming Podcast to hear inspiring stories guaranteed to make you a better host.

Exploring Pyramids and Celebrating Your Innate Curiosity was originally published in A Life Worth Living HD on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

“I’m sitting here on a Saturday morning, sipping coffee, watching the leaves drifting down from the tree in my front yard on a sunny, chilly fall day.”

I don’t have a tree in my front yard. Those aren’t my words above.

They are from a subscriber who was responding to last week’s newsletter. She continues….

“I keep feeling this pull to writing. It keeps coming back around. The universe seems to keep telling me it’s time to set one aside for the other. And then, I read your message! It’s like another loud and clear message that it’s time to write.”

Well now, if that didn’t just make my day.

In keeping with my love of the metaphysical, our lovely reader wraps up with:

“If you’re keeping track of how many people you reach with this message with absolute purpose — count me as one.”

As with all new projects, I always feel mixed feelings of satisfaction and joy, offset by apprehension at the thought of having to do this week after week.

If I needed any reason to keep going, then that email was definitely a sign, and very motivating.

But that general apprehension, what is it? That feeling of dread, is that laziness?

Last Saturday I did another thing outside of my comfort zone. I attended an in person meet up.

I know, crazy right? LOL.

The thing is, I used to go to a lot of these when I lived in New York. At the time I was building a mobile app and dabbling in entrepreneurship and MeetUp.com was a good way to meet new people with similar interests.

Given the weirdness of the past 2 years, I’m just now getting back into the flow of looking for face-to-face opportunities in town.

So there I was on MeetUp, where I came across a group that looked interesting and happened to be walking distance from my home.

We were asked to watch this 5-minute video below ahead of the meetup.

If you’re not famliar with the concept of growth mindset, it’s a term coined by Stanford University psychologist Carol S. Dweck, Ph.D.

After decades of research, Carol discovered a simple but groundbreaking idea: the power of mindset.

I’ve come across her teachings several times during my entrepreneurial journey.

In the book she shows how success in almost every area of human endeavor can be dramatically influenced by how we think about our talents and abilities.

Those with a growth mindset believe that abilities can be developed, and are more likely to flourish, as opposed to those with a fixed mindset, who believe that abilities are fixed.

The new cadence of this newsletter is an example of growth mindset.

For me, it almost takes on a mantra-like intention. It’s something I remind myself of every single day.

I can grow.

I am growing.

I will always be growing.

The minute that I accept that as my personal truth…

Shift made.

It is now my new reality.

For those that speak in the language of multi-dimensionality and parallel timelines (🖐) , once you align yourself to that view, you’ll find that you’ve now shifted over to a new reality as well.

It’s pretty heady stuff and a subject for another letter indeed.

Some of my favorite movies are ones that make my head hurt, because they make me think differently about the world.

For starters I recommend Inception, Being John Malkovich, Adaptation, Sliding Doors, etc.

There is a reason these movies get made and people watch them. For those whom it resonates, they speak to your heart and mind in a way that makes you curious. They help you question the status quo.

So why write about this?

Because you should be thinking differently.

All the time.

I’ve come to grips with the realization that, as I start this new path, there are times I won’t have any freakin’ clue what I’m going to be writing about the following week.

And that’s OK.

A growth mindset takes the perspective of looking at everything in your life as an opportunity to expand your mind and your perspective.

The way you view life.

Growth from past mistakes.

But not in a way that is self-critical and judgmental. In a way that speaks to what Carol calls ‘not yet’

Watch to dig deeper when you have a moment.

And remember to provide a bit of grace to your inner child. Give yourself permission to make mistakes.

It’s OK to not have it all figured out. It’s OK to not have all the answers.

What struck me from the meetup group, which I estimate had an average age of 45, was the willingness of everyone there to be open to learning new things.

It’s a daily reminder for me that I don’t have it all figured out, and that’s OK.

Yes, I am constantly learning. But what good is it, if I don’t put any of that into practice?

I can’t take this knowledge with me.

I feel a responsibility, a calling to share my journey.

And yes, it’s slightly uncomfortable for me to say that I’m sharing my knowledge. That imposter syndrome kicks in hard, and it’s something I struggle with daily.

I undersell my ability to teach anything since I feel I don’t know it all.

But here’s the thing, I don’t have to.

And I won’t.

I’ve come to realize that it’s that special collection of skills and experiences that is uniquely mine, which I can and should share as widely as possible.

So should you.

It’s a constant thread you’ll see in these letters.

BTW, I like calling them letters (thanks Dan Koe) as it helps me visualize the act of writing these to a past, present and future version of myself, depending on the message.

So what are you waiting for?

There’s a version of you waiting to hear what you have to say. 🤯

🙏with gratitude,

Harry

What I Created Recently…

Vertical Farming Podcast (Season 6) sponsored by Cultivatd

🌿 New episode: 69: The Intersection of Emerging Technology In Agriculture & Energy with GrowFlux’s Eric Eisele

I re-launched http://verticalfarmingjobs.com this week and we have already 6 applicants who have joined the Vertical Farming Jobs Collective!

Podcast Junkies | The Podcaster’s Voice sponsored by Focusrite.

🎤 New episode: 303 Laura Michelle Powers | Psychic Channeling, 3D Consciousness & Networking through Podcasts

🙋‍♀️ P.S. When You’re Ready…

Here are a few of ways I can help…

✡️ Download a free copy of my Conscious Voice Expansion Plan. The most powerful way to transmit and elevate your voice is with a podcast. This plan will outline for you the pillars of success needed prior to the launch of your show!

🎥 Watch my free video, 5 Key Pillars of a Profitable Podcast that every business owner needs to know prior to launching their show.

🎙️ Subscribe to Podcast Junkies + Vertical Farming Podcast to hear inspiring stories guaranteed to make you a better host.

You Have So Much More Growth Left In You was originally published in A Life Worth Living HD on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Most people create content in the hopes that it will reach the widest audience.

Here’s why that’s bad…

With the proliferation of tools like ChatGPT, we end up with a ton of of ‘carb-loaded’ content that fills you up in the short-term, but leaves you feeling hungry afterwards.

But you can be different.

If you’re reading this, then you understand that It’s becoming more important to separate yourself from the pack. The way you do that is by creating non-obvious content.

Why is that important?

People that create something unique + special will be the ones that stand out + build an audience.

As someone looking to contribute to humanity, I want to always ensure I don’t forget to include the ‘human’ aspect of my journey.

The book that inspired this week’s letter and this post is Snow Leopard: How Legendary Writers Create A Category Of One by Christopher Lochhead, Nicolas Cole & Eddie Yoon

In the book, these Category Pirates explore the difference between being a thought leader + being perceived as one.

They argue that most people want to be seen as thought leaders without actually having to contribute new + meaningful ideas.

To be a real thought leader, one must:

- Lead with their thoughts
- Take the world to new places
- Be willing to think deeply about their audience and the difference they want to make.

Snow Leopard outlines 5 levels to becoming a legendary writer, creator and thought leader:

1. Consumption
2. Curation
3. Obvious Connection
4. Non-Obvious Connection
5. Category Creation

Those who want to make a difference MUST divorce themselves from public approval and be willing to create meaningful and non-obvious content that takes time to understand.

AKA, the hard stuff.

Most people are content consumers, not content creators.

This leads to ‘intellectual morbid obesity’ where you continue to consume empty intellectual calories without contributing your own ideas.

If your goal is short-term impact, then you can keep creating obvious connections, but to have a long-term impact + build a unique and differentiated category, you MUST create non-obvious connections.

To build a unique and differentiated category, create non-obvious connections that push the boundaries of what is already known and accepted.

Your marching orders for this week:

Create Non-Obvious Content!

This post was inspired by this week’s newsletter (subscribe to receive every Saturday!)
https://harryduran.com/warning-this-letter-might-make-you-high/

🙏 with gratitude,

Harry

30 days ago, I signed up for Dickie Bush & Nicolas Cole’s cohort-based course, Ship 30 for 30.

In that time, I wrote & published 30 Atomic Essays, learned the fundamentals of Digital Writing, made friends, and continued gaining clarity around my niche. It’s been a very rewarding (and challenging) journey, and I am more excited than ever to keep writing online.

Here are the 3 biggest things writing & publishing consistently every day for 30 days taught me:

1. Take Imperfect Action

As you might imagine, coming up with a topic every day is no easy feat. And while the templates provided some helpful starting points, it did require focused effort. I had to be comfortable knowing that not every one was going to be a mind-blowing revelation, but the important thing was (and is) forward momentum.

2. Build a Support Group

The program gave us many opportunities to connect with our fellow shippers, many of whom I’ve remained connected with. When tackling a challenge such as this one, it’s extremely helpful to have a sounding board of peers going through the same ups and downs.

3. Push Out of Your Comfort Zone

While I could have kept the topics superficial and safe, I would always look for an opportunity to share a personal story. Not surprisingly, those are the ones that received the best feedback. At the end of the day, our stories and experiences are valuable and should be shared. I guarantee you that your voice will be heard at the right time by the right person. It’s not up to us to decide their value.

In an earlier essay I mentioned the importance of planning your show prior to thinking about any of your gear needs. Once you’ve put the time into the preparation and have your Name, Description, Cover Art, and draft of your first 12 episodes, you can then start focusing on your tech needs. Lucky for you, I just happen to have that list handy!

Start with Professional Microphone

Beginner: Samson Q2U ($80)

Pro: Shure SM7B ($400)

Boom Arm: Samson MBA38 ($70)

Headphones: Sony ZX — light & affordable ($19)

High Quality Input

Remote Recording: SquadCast.fm (starts at $20/mo)

Edit Your Media

Audio: Hindenburg Pro — Noise reduction plugin included ($10/mo)

Video: Descript ($12/mo)

Promotion

Cover Art / Episode Graphics: Canva (Free to start)

Audiograms: Headliner Pro (Free to start)

This is a starting list but it will definitely set you off on the right path. As your needs grow you can look into signing up for a social media scheduling tool for help scheduling your episode promotion. When considering an additional expense, take the time to determine whether the investment will truly help in the growth of your show.

I used to be bad with goal setting. It’s a challenge I’ve had for years and, if I’m being totally honest, probably decades. Whenever I would be asked what my 10-year plan was, or vision, or goals or BHAG (big hairy audacious goal), I would inevitably make up something that ‘sounded’ lofty and ambitious.

But without an actionable plan on how to get there, I would inevitably fall short and get discouraged. So what changed?

What Gets Measured Gets Managed

Everything changed as soon as I began to put my focus on my why. I became more consistent with my meditation and journaling, which always help to clear my mind. Additionally, this recent uptick in my writing has provided additional clarity.

My intention is now on continuous daily improvement with an eye towards my long-term goals. I’m really fascinated by this idea of tiny, daily, 1% improvements. Am I perfectly diligent and track every metric down on a daily level? No, not by any means. But that is the intention.

Wherever you are in your life journey, it’s never too late to sit down and take a close look at your life now and where you want it to be. Ask yourself those tough questions and take charge of your life today!

In December 2004 I took a trip to Thailand to visit a friend whose parents owned a house on Koh Samui.

It ended up being the longest trip I had ever taken at that point in my life.

Little did I know what was going to happen within 24 hours of arriving.

On Saturday morning I share that story with 1,593 subscribers of my newsletter, A Life Worth Living.

I’m thinking you should join us: harryduran.com

As I make into the home stretch of this 30-day writing challenge you’ve all been experiencing first-hand, I’ve been spending a lot of my time thinking about the importance of consistency.

Lately, one question I’ve been asking myself is this:

How Important Is Consistency Without Quality?

Imagine you go to your favorite Italian restaurant and order a pasta dish that you love. Every time you come back, you expect it to taste the same. But one day, you get your Noodles Alfredo Supreme and it just doesn’t taste right. The ingredients are still there, but it’s just not as delicious as it used to be.

That’s what it’s like when you focus on consistency without quality — it’s predictable, but it’s missing something. It doesn’t have the flavor and impact that you were expecting.

For these 30 days, in order to stick to the challenge, I’ve made sure that one piece of writing makes it out the door. But I’m always wondering, are the noodles up to par?

There’s something to be said for taking consistent imperfect action, but I don’t want that to be an excuse for shipping crap. Especially with this new wave of AI-driven content.

Will I be looking for a breather on Day 31? That’s still up in the air. If you’ve been struggling with similar thoughts, I’d love to hear your feedback!

I don’t know where you were in your late 20’s, but if I told you (at that age) that the only opportunity to better your life was to leave the country you were born in and travel to another country where you didn’t speak the language, I’m wondering how many of you would honestly (in this day and age) make that trip.

You see, it’s exactly what my father did. He traveled from El Salvador in the late 70’s in search of a better life for his family. Not to put too fine a point on it, but had he not taken that leap, I wouldn’t be here writing this to you.

Not only that, at some point during the 2nd or 3rd work shift of his day, he somehow managed to find an advertisement in the back of a magazine, promoting a program in computer repair.

I can’t for the life of me put myself in his shoes, but something clicked. He recognized, as many did then, that computers were the future. And so he found a way to get the money to attend, and my family’s life was changed forever.

It was he that brought home the first electric typewriter I had ever seen. Granted, the thing weighed a ton, but it was cool as shit. That piqued my curiosity and eventually led to my first Texas Instruments PC with a cassette recorder as the ‘hard drive’. It’s been a love for tech ever since.