I don't normally tell you what to feel.
But right now, you should feel excited!
Why?
Because the first podcast of Value of Simple – the Smart and Simple Matters show – is ready!
I promised you audio in the About page, the intro to this refuge of simplicity, and a YouTube welcome video.
I'm making good on that promise today with the first of many podcasts.
Why Smart and Simple Matters?
You'll want to listen to the podcast for the full rundown on what to expect for the current and future shows.
But here's a brief explanation of the significance for the name Smart and Simple Matters.
- “Smart” refers to you. The smart people in our community who love being inspired, educated, and entertained by the spoken word. It's also a promise. A promise that only smart topics and smart people will be featured on the podcast. I humbly include myself in the smart category…although I got there just barely.
- “Simple” refers to what this place is all about. It was essential to highlight this as the podcast is an extension of Value of Simple.
- “Matters” refers to two things. The first is the important matters of life that are always on your mind and the essential, unglamorous matters that are ignored at our peril. The second is to stress that simple matters. The podcast and the people on it are here to remind, convince, illustrate, and activate the message that the value of simple just plain matters. The forces of chaos and needlessly complex have no place here.
Now, let's jump right into what you'll learn in the first podcast.
You're about to Learn …
There's a lot to like and learn as I light the fuse for bigger podcast booms.
So stop, collaborate and listen. Joel is back with my brand new invention.
In this podcast episode you'll learn about:
- Why I'm really doing the podcast (hint: it's not for me).
- The answer to the question, “Who is this guy?!”
- My secret for consuming podcasts and videos in half the time.
- My definition of simple, what it means, and how I use it.
- A sneak peek of my “put it in a spreadsheet” benefits.
- How serious a slang using, laid-back dude can be.
- The dream job I wish I had (besides my current one).
- The kinds of topics we'll cover in the future.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe Now and Never Miss an Episode: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Android | Email | RSS
Resources and Items Mentioned in This Episode Include:
- Newsletter: Value of Simple
- Pages: My Story and About
- Social Media: Facebook and Twitter communities
- Software: VLC Media Player
- Free Products: The Personal User Guide
Topics
- [02:51] The run down on me, the podcasts, and the website
- [06:44] My definition of simple, what it means, and how I use it
- [10:42] How things work and the structure of the podcast
- [17:04] The driving force behind this podcast
- [21:23] My simple secret for ultra-efficient podcast and video consumption
Subscribing to the Podcast
I'll be cranking out podcasts regularly so I want to give you an easy way of knowing when a new one is available. If you're subscribed to this websites RSS feed (and if you're not, don't wait any longer) you'll normally see an article with the details of a new podcast.
However, the podcast specific RSS feeds are the best way to instantly know when a new one is ready.
- Click here to subscribe via iTunes
- Click here to subscribe via non-iTunes
Transcript
Click here to download the transcript for podcast 001
Tell Me How You Feel
I'd love your feedback on what worked or didn't work for you in this episode.
Did the audio quality or length make you stop listening before the end? Do you have a person or topic you'd like me to cover in a future episode?
You help guide me in creating better and more valuable stuff when you leave a comment. So please comment!
Thanks for listening everyone!
Bless you, sir, for providing a transcript. I know they’re a ton of extra work (unless you cleverly use it as a script!)
Also, you forgot your iTunes link at the end of the transcript.
I’d just like to pipe up and let everyone know that the personal user guide is a pretty awesome resource and it’s a very interesting way to look at yourself. You all should check it out!
Hi Shanna,
I wanted to have a transcript available from the start even though (as you assumed) it took a lot of extra work. I’ll outsource the creation of future transcripts but I hope I did a decent job the first time around. Some people just don’t care to listen to podcasts so I wanted the readers among us to be able to experience it.
And thanks for pointing out my placeholder that I failed to get updated. “” isn’t the classiest thing to have in a document. 🙂
On a last note, I think the Personal User Guide will start to market itself once more people get it. But until that happens, it’s cool that you’re willing to speak up on its behalf.
This was a nice introduction to your future podcasts. I glanced at the transcript, but I’m like you in that I like to communicate verbally, so I listened to the podcast while I was finishing up a painting.
I think you’re right about videos – sometimes it’s hard to sit there and watch an entire video. With audio, you can walk around and do other things. Works well for me!
In answer to your question for feedback…
For me, the length is perfect. It really depends on your reader. You said most podcasts will be about 15-30 minutes… that’s about right for a podcast, I think.
Audio was clear, voice was easy to listen to.
My only recommendation is to make each podcast about one very specific topic, so it’s easy to follow. This podcast was, imo, more like an intro to future ones, so it’s hard to judge this one. But, the quality was awesome! And that’s probably the most important thing to get right.
Hi Denise,
This was intended as an intro podcast and certainly isn’t a “normal” one. It will be clear for everyone else what a “normal” one sounds like with a few more under my belt.
The input you gave is exactly what I was looking for. I’m glad the quality was good from your perspective. I’m going to upgrade my microphone soon but I recorded this on a cheap non-USB mic.
Joel, you DO have a “sweet, strong, and soothing voice”! Loved your presentation. Great job!
Awwww, thanks. I’ve been told I should get into radio and, maybe some day, I will. For now and the indefinite future, this is awesome.
I just listened! I’ll start by saying I’m totally going to check out VLC. I rarely watch long videos because they’re soooooo slow, so that should help!
Next, I’ll say I really appreciate your dedication to providing your content in many different formats. I’m still a reader at heart, but I do enjoy podcasts as well. Everyone learns differently, which you obviously realize and are doing a ton of extra work to accommodate. So, thanks!
Third, I very much appreciate the length. There are some podcasts I subscribe to that run on the long side, and they have to be pretty awesome for me to listen to the end. I’ll be able to say more about format once I hear a “normal” episode, but the overall length is great.
I thought the audio quality was fine, especially for starting out. I had no trouble hearing or understanding you. I liked the little tune you have for the intro and outro — very professional, and an easy way to identify the show.
This is totally subjective, so unless you’re hearing this from other people too, you can just ignore me. But, I did listen on double speed (always do), and you sounded normal speed to me at double speed, especially in your pauses. I know you don’t want to rush through things, and that may have been a conscious decision. But that would be my one…not even suggestion, really. Comment? Question? One of those 🙂
Looking forward to future episodes, and to being able to subscribe via iTunes (that’s how I keep up with my podcasts)!
Thanks for all this Erin. It’s not just you who thinks I was talking a bit slow. When I listened to the recording for the first time I also thought, “man, I was talking kind of slow.”
I have a tendency to talk significantly slower when giving a presentation of some kind (e.g. a Toastmasters speech). My brain must have put me into “presentation mode” and slowed the pace down but I did consciously slow myself down in certain parts to really emphasize something. Good thing you can speed me up to 2x playback with my tip. 🙂
I actually put you on my iPod…I like being able to wander around and cook/clean/commute/etc. while listening. But your awesome tip is totally going to come in handy when it comes to video!
As for speed…I do think it’s better to be a little on the slower side than too fast 🙂
That’s exactly how I like to listen to podcasts too! While wandering.
Hi Joel- I put your podcast into my favorite iOS app- Downcast so I won’t miss any updates. I’ll be listening today as I drive back and fourth from a consulting gig so I’ll have some more feedback.
Until then, though: I think you went the extra mile with this blog post. Most podcasts I know of skimp on the written stuff and visa versa. It’s hard to know if I even want to listen to a particular episode because there is no description. So cheers for letting your listeners make an educated decision!
I just checked out Downcast. Looks pretty cool but I have an Android phone, so boo hoo for me.
I guess I’m prone to go over the top when it comes to information. The show notes, the transcript, the behind-the-scenes stuff you don’t even notice…I do that to try and make myself (and what I create) as useful as possible. But sometimes I go overboard and provide too much so I gotta watch that. I’m glad this isn’t one of those times.
Yes, a transcript! You have no idea how sexy that makes you. I hate, with a vengeance, audio and video, and love reading. I’m probably an exception (e.g. I hate youtube videos, if they had transcripts I would read them), but anyway…
“So get ready to hear my pleasant
voice a good amount,” nope 😉
Ah, I think you may have forgotten to update the end of your transcript? –> “”
I’m looking forward to your podcasts! (well, their transcripts!).
Ya gotta cater to the medium people want. I want to be considered a writer but I have more fun creating audio and video. And of the three mediums, audio is my favorite. Maybe I’ll get into infographics and other stuff one of these days but that probably counts as reading to you, right Amit?
I guess in your case, get ready to read my well typed transcript and imagine my pleasant voice reading it to you. 🙂
And yes, I still need to update the end of the transcript. I was waiting for the iTunes RSS feed url to be made available but the employees at Apple are taking their sweet time approving my podcast. I think I’ll make all my placeholders “Joel is frickin’ rad” in the future so if I forget to update one people won’t mind.
Hi Joel:
I remember when you were coming up with your blog names in the a-list forums. I had given you some creative ideas, but in the end I think your name works very well. It is to the point and lets you know exactly what your blog is about.
You have done a great job of customizing with Headway. I need to take lessons. I was looking over your resources and definitely plan to implement many of them. I will come back and make sure I use any of your links in case they are affiliate links.
Just finished listening to your podcast. I think you did a great job. You have a voice for audio. I have managed speakers for several years so I am very attuned to voices and what works.
By the way, I do have a friend who has been very successful in voice over work. It has taken a long time. She stared in SF and moved with her husband to LA a few years ago. If you ever want to pursue that avenue, I would be happy to put you in touch with her.
I am going to sign up for the newsletter.
– Wendy
What a cool and helpful comment to wake up to Wendy.
I’m glad you like the name and I’m happy you and others like the design. I won’t take much credit for the design as my website dev was amazing and implemented it all for me. I guess I’ll take a couple of points of credit for the 15 page requirements document I provided him though. He’s super reasonable so just say the word and I’ll give you his contact info.
Side note: I find it great that so many people have mentioned their friend or colleague that does voice-over work since I published the first episode of Smart and Simple Matters. A lot of folks have offered to connect me with people in the biz and one day I may take them (and you) up on it. Right now it’s just a fun relic from the past but who knows what might happen in the future.
I hope you find the newsletter valuable. If you don’t, please complain. 🙂
Okay, for someone who, like Shanna, can’t stand listening to audio… I was initially thankful for the transcript and now even more thankful for your tip at the end of the podcast! I always feel like there’s great information available in audio and video formats, but I never am willing to give up the time to listen to it… so thanks for catering to those of us who don’t do audio/visual well. Congrats on a great first podcast! I’m looking forward to many more (unless your voice acting career takes off….)
Some additional thoughts from Tao Te Ching…
Some say that my teaching is nonsense.
Others call it lofty but impractical.
But to those who have looked inside themselves,
this nonsense makes perfect sense.
And to those who put it into practice,
this loftiness has roots that go deep.
I have just three things to teach:
simplicity, patience, compassion.
These three are your greatest treasures.
Simple in actions and in thoughts,
you return to the source of being.
Patient with both friends and enemies,
you accord with the way things are.
Compassionate toward yourself,
you reconcile all beings in the world.
Hey Ralph,
Cool blurb from Tao Te Ching. I hadn’t heard that one before but I’ll keep it around. Thanks for sharing!
Great stuff Joel! Having the transcript is a thoughtful feature (I tend to be a reader mysel), but I enjoyed listening to your voice while I prepared dinner tonight. It puts a personal touch to the blog – and I feel like I have a much better sense of your intention. Can’t wait to learn more about how to simplify my life and work – both through reading and listening!
I went to the Pat Flynn (of Smart Passive Income) school on podcasting and providing transcripts. He wrote a great article about it called “The Power of the Written Word for Podcasts and Videos” a year ago which really shaped my philosophy on it.
Sure, it costs me money to hire someone to transcribe an interview and then it costs me my time to edit it. But I’m fully committed to giving people access to knowledge and skills in whatever way they prefer to get them. If I can (somewhat) easily take something I create and give it multiple shapes I’ll always do it. I’m glad people appreciate this!