A couple of years ago, I made a risky decision to re-invest in Rask’s podcasts.
But it paid off. Big time.
I believe podcasts are the new radio. They are what Netflix was to broadcast TV.
With one difference: podcasts are easier for us to consume than video.
In January 2023 alone, Rask crossed over half a million listens to our two core channels.
It’s safe to say, we’re growing faster than ever before through our amazing community and a quality-first approach.
How I interview – three steps
With two leading podcasts, The Australian Finance Podcast (beginner/intermediate) and The Australian Investors Podcast (intermediate/advanced) — and The Australian Business Podcast which is growing fast, and another series TBA — I often get asked how to grow a podcast and be a better interviewer.
Let’s tackle the second part, first.
There are three things you can do right now to be better at having good conversations (podcast or not):
1. Know a lot about your guest. I never accept a meeting or conduct an interview without learning what I can about the person I’m about to speak to. I read, listen and watch to study my guests, and anyone I have a business meeting with, before I say “hello”.
Being an experienced analyst helps me, but anyone can do this. After all, what’s the point of spending your precious time speaking with someone special if you’re not able to talk about the good stuff right away?
It also flatters the person if you can relate to their story.
2. Summarise what they just said. There’s nothing worse than listening to an interview with awkward pauses, blank stares or nervous ticks between questions. You know what I’m about.
Things like “huh, okay… [next question]” or “yeah, that’s great [pause] [next question].”
The easiest way to overcome this (other than through heavy editing) is to summarise what the person just said. It requires active listening, then just one or two sentences.
“Right, so basically you’re saying venture capital is about investing at the earliest stage of a business’ life. I like how you said that it is higher risk because… [next question].”
Even if you don’t run a podcast, this is a fantastic ‘life hack’ to make people around you feel comfortable and important when you talk to them. Try it out.
3. Shut up and get out of the way. Podcasters and radio hosts, especially those in finance, love the sound of their own voices. If you want to grow and be a curious person, be quiet.
Other than in talk therapy, listening to what others have to say is a far better way to learn.
Keep your questions short and open-ended because if you walk your guest into a corner by seeking a specific answer, or taint their subconscious with ideas, two things are likely to happen:
1. They’re going to give you a specific and short response;
2. Their enjoyment with the conversation will drop meaningfully.
All you’ve got to do is light the spark (and don’t forget to hit record!).
3 of my favourite podcasts from the past 12 months
I’ll leave you with three of my favourite podcasts from the past 12 months — I published over 250 podcasts or live shows in 2022. So there’s a good sample size for me to choose from.
Translation: before you listen to any other podcasts, try these three.
If you haven’t already done so, why not recommend one (or all) of our channels to your friends/family in need of good quality advice. It could change their life.
***
You should know, it’s hard for me to play favourites — since I get to speak with hundreds of people who are far smarter than me ever year.
But, usually, I can tell if a conversation — or a person — is going to be a cracker within minutes.
Over Christmas I took a few moments to reflect on my favourite conversations and share them with you.
Here are 3 of my favourite discussions, and why you should consider listening.
#1 – Nick Crocker – “Insane ambition” 🚀
Watch it on YouTube – listen on Apple – listen on Spotify.
I have never. Ever. Listened to a Rask podcast more than once before a podcast went live to the public.
I listen to my conversation with Nick four times.
And I made most of my notes… get this… on the fourth listen!
Nick and I spoke about why it’s okay to have ambition, how your journey through life shapes our philosophy on business and money, how to change the world, work-life balance, team building and more.
You don’t have to run a business to love this discussion or our podcast series — but if you’re a manager at work, have a side hustle or run your own business — subscribe to The Australian Business Podcast. It’s going to be an incredible year of insights.
#2 – Glen James – “Money, mental health & mindset” 🧠
Watch it on YouTube – listen on Apple – listen on Spotify.
In January I had just dusted off my top three podcasts after so much thought and reviewing… then I spoke with Glen last week.
Glen James is the founder of my millennial money (mmm) and one of Australia’s most well-known financial educators.
This Australian Investors Podcast episode is a gem for anyone who’s interested in getting better with money, has entrepreneurial instincts, wants to grow an online business, struggles with mental health (don’t we all?) or the mastery of the psychology of money.
Finally, listen to this Investors Podcast episode if you want to ‘solve my finances and get back to life’. Glen reveals his simple investment strategy, how he manages his own money and the importance of investing in yourself.
#3 – “8 ways to buy happiness”
Watch it on YouTube – listen on Apple – listen on Spotify.
Kate and I record ~110 episodes of The Australian Finance Podcast every year. It is now probably Australia’s second-biggest business-category podcast series. I’m humbled by that every day.
In this episode, we talked about money, goals, investing, ETFs, the stock market and how all of that impacts our life (or vice versa).
In this very special episode, we dove into the fusion between money and using it as a tool for a happier life.
Drawing on some academic literature, teachings, stories and our own experiences, we identify 8 ways money will bring you happiness.
Don’t believe me? Have a listen, then let me know if you disagree by flicking me a message on Twitter.
P.S. These are just some of the truly amazing conversations I get to have every day — and many of our listeners or members will disagree with me on what is considered ‘the best’. I’m a firm believer that even the best piece of content won’t be right for the same person at every stage of their life. Some people like different things, at different times.
