Rethinking Podcasting

BONUS: Preview of my Yearly Themes Episode with Valentin Farkasch

Welcome to another special bonus episode of Rethinking Podcasting! I, Matthew Bliss, am usually your host but, as a treat for those of you thinking about what 2026 will bring for you, Valentin Farkasch is back and we’re talking about Yearly Themes over on his podcast, “Orbit For Creators”. This is just a portion of the conversation, and we’re paying homage to one of our favourite creators, CGP Grey, and the podcast “Cortex” that he cohosted with Myke Hurley. Every year they talk about making “Yearly Themes” to plan the direction of their year without the burdensome (and ultimately futile) new year resolutions. This is just a taste of the ep, and if you like what you hear than you can head over to Orbit For Creators wherever you watch/listen to podcasts and get the full version. Its my first time officially doing a yearly theme, and I really enjoyed thinking it through on the show with Valentin. Check out the rest of the episode on "Orbit For Creators": * YouTube [https://youtu.be/wgW4NfiStk4?si=0s8UYM-HUeFk7xx9] * Audio-Only Version [https://pod.link/1706799311/episode/N2QzNTNlN2MtMzlhMS00Nzg0LWIxZDctMDM4ZDkzYTk3NjBk] * OrbitForCreators.com [https://www.orbitforcreators.com/] Explore doing your own Yearly Theme: * "Your Theme" (CGP Grey, YouTube) [https://youtu.be/NVGuFdX5guE?si=9Tebuj3soO_p3k3-] * Introduction to Yearly Themes (Cortex) [https://youtu.be/2zugiZ73SyM?si=YzZtUbF0Cz8-DdkC] * Latest Yearly Theme Episode of Cortex [https://pod.link/1001591696/episode/aHR0cDovL3JlbGF5LmZtL2NvcnRleC8xNjI] Let's Start a Dialogue The Socratic Method is best done in dialogue, so if you'd like to respond to one of my episodes or send through an idea of your own, send it to: 📧 podcast@rethinkingpodcasting.com [podcast@rethinkingpodcasting.com] 🎤 rethinkingpodcasting.com [https://rethinkingpodcasting.com/] and select "Send a Voicemail" Make sure you share the name of your show, so I can include it in my response! Support this Podcast: Here are some of the services I use to create this show. Sign up for these services with the links below to support the podcast: Use Brain.FM to stay focused while you podcast [https://rethinkingpodcasting.captivate.fm/brainfm] (30 Day Free Trial) Sign up for Artlist.io to add Royalty Free Music to your Podcast [https://artlist.io/referral/ba47afd5-5498-43f2-b81b-7e58836935d6] (2 Months Free) Use Captivate.FM to host & distribute your Podcast [https://www.captivate.fm/signup?ref=nge4mda] (30 Day Free Trial) Create your Episode Transcript with GoodTape.io [https://goodtape.io/invite/BTLt2bUg5kHmQ2REN] (€5 off when you sign up) This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy

BONUS: Preview of my guest spot on The Sincere Practice with Helen Garcia

After having Helen on the show, I thought I’d return the favour and I had a brilliant time as a guest on "The Sincere Practice" talking about my philosophy background, my contrarian takes on the podcast industry, and my experience with creativity in entrepreneurship while building a personal brand. I loved this chat with Helen, particularly as she was curious about philosophical flourishing! Its not often I get to wax lyrical on that side of myself on other shows. So, as a special gift for you, I’m sharing the first 30 mins of that episode with you on this feed and if you’re keen to listen to the rest of the conversation, you can find “The Sincere Practice with Helen Garcia” on all podcast platforms and on YouTube. I’ll add the links into the shownotes to make it easier for you to find. Listen to the rest of the episode: * YouTube [https://youtu.be/24UYe5UxDpU?si=Kwi6uNYt7hok0HT9] * Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/17-the-problem-with-modern-podcasting-nobodys/id1704419016?i=1000741010197] * Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/episode/7efCBQ4etTzJW0dfLzPNwk?si=6993325be58d44a3] * Pick your platform [https://pod.link/1704419016] Let's Start a Dialogue The Socratic Method is best done in dialogue, so if you'd like to respond to one of my episodes or send through an idea of your own, send it to: 📧 podcast@rethinkingpodcasting.com [podcast@rethinkingpodcasting.com] 🎤 rethinkingpodcasting.com [https://rethinkingpodcasting.com/] and select "Send a Voicemail" Make sure you share the name of your show, so I can include it in my response! Support this Podcast: Here are some of the services I use to create this show. Sign up for these services with the links below to support the podcast: Use Brain.FM to stay focused while you podcast [https://rethinkingpodcasting.captivate.fm/brainfm] (30 Day Free Trial) Sign up for Artlist.io to add Royalty Free Music to your Podcast [https://artlist.io/referral/ba47afd5-5498-43f2-b81b-7e58836935d6] (2 Months Free) Use Captivate.FM to host & distribute your Podcast [https://www.captivate.fm/signup?ref=nge4mda] (30 Day Free Trial) Create your Episode Transcript with GoodTape.io [https://goodtape.io/invite/BTLt2bUg5kHmQ2REN] (€5 off when you sign up) This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy

On How Podcasters Will Evolve in 2026: Intrinsic Resilience

To register your interest in "The Resilient Podcaster" program coming in 2026, sign up at ResilientPodcaster.com [https://www.ResilientPodcaster.com]. You may have noticed that the world around us is starting to change. Economically, socially… there’s terms being thrown around like Enshittification and Late-Stage Capitalism. They all point at a paradigm shift that’s coming soon that we need to prepare for. Podcasting is not immune from this potential shift, and the podcasters like you and I that love the medium will have to change. But its resilience to change and strength of adaptation that will see us through the hard times, and build an unshakeable foundation to support our podcasting efforts. Today I’ll be talking about The Resilient Podcaster: what I believe is the next stage of evolution for podcasters. So much of the podcasting world has changed in such a short time, and there’s a lot of uncertainty with what comes next. Keeping up with growth hacks and strategies will see you through the short-term, but there’s only so long that you can hack your way to a sustainable creation journey. I’ll be sharing a brief reflection on this evolution that I believe podcasters will be making next year, and how I intend to help other podcasters become Resilient. This will also be the last episode of 2025, after which I’ll be taking a small break and coming back next year but listen to this episode to find out what to expect from me in 2026. Let's Start a Dialogue The Socratic Method is best done in dialogue, so if you'd like to respond to one of my episodes or send through an idea of your own, send it to: 📧 podcast@rethinkingpodcasting.com [podcast@rethinkingpodcasting.com] 🎤 rethinkingpodcasting.com [https://rethinkingpodcasting.com/] and select "Send a Voicemail" Make sure you share the name of your show, so I can include it in my response! Support this Podcast: Here are some of the services I use to create this show. Sign up for these services with the links below to support the podcast: Use Brain.FM to stay focused while you podcast [https://rethinkingpodcasting.captivate.fm/brainfm] (30 Day Free Trial) Sign up for Artlist.io to add Royalty Free Music to your Podcast [https://artlist.io/referral/ba47afd5-5498-43f2-b81b-7e58836935d6] (2 Months Free) Use Captivate.FM to host & distribute your Podcast [https://www.captivate.fm/signup?ref=nge4mda] (30 Day Free Trial) Create your Episode Transcript with GoodTape.io [https://goodtape.io/invite/BTLt2bUg5kHmQ2REN] (€5 off when you sign up) This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy

BONUS: Mini-update and break for this week

Hello there, dutiful Rethinking Podcasting listener! If the title didn't give it away, I need to take a breather this week because at this exact moment, my Internet Provider is getting changed over! This obviously makes the podcasting stuff hard (and shows a bit of my hand with how close to release I put these together!) I did want to follow my own advice as well, and make a bit of space for the final few episodes of this year. So you'll be getting two more solo episodes from me in the lead up to December, and then I'll be taking a few months off to revise and review the podcast. The episodes have been really fun to make so far, but I want to make sure the direction the podcast is going is of the most benefit to you. So I guess this turned out to be a short update on the state of things! If you got this far, thanks for sticking around and if you do have any notes or feedback on Rethinking Podcasting, let me know by emailing podcast@rethinkingpodcasting.com [podcast@rethinkingpodcasting.com]. Anything you can share directly with me will help build the topics and interviews that help you the most as a podcaster or podcasting professional. Thanks for listening, keep rethinking and I’ll see you next week. Let's Start a Dialogue The Socratic Method is best done in dialogue, so if you'd like to respond to one of my episodes or send through an idea of your own, send it to: 📧 podcast@rethinkingpodcasting.com [podcast@rethinkingpodcasting.com] 🎤 rethinkingpodcasting.com [https://rethinkingpodcasting.com/] and select "Send a Voicemail" Make sure you share the name of your show, so I can include it in my response! Support this Podcast: Here are some of the services I use to create this show. Sign up for these services with the links below to support the podcast: Use Brain.FM to stay focused while you podcast [https://rethinkingpodcasting.captivate.fm/brainfm] (30 Day Free Trial) Sign up for Artlist.io to add Royalty Free Music to your Podcast [https://artlist.io/referral/ba47afd5-5498-43f2-b81b-7e58836935d6] (2 Months Free) Use Captivate.FM to host & distribute your Podcast [https://www.captivate.fm/signup?ref=nge4mda] (30 Day Free Trial) Create your Episode Transcript with GoodTape.io [https://goodtape.io/invite/BTLt2bUg5kHmQ2REN] (€5 off when you sign up) This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy

Creative Practices, Sincerity and Podcasting for Mental Health (DIALOGUE)

When we seek self-improvement, its easy to pick podcasts as a medium for learning. But what if I told you that *creating* a podcast might be the best way to explore your creativity, reduce your anxiety and steady your life’s journey? This week I’m chatting to Helen Garcia - a Mental Health Professional, Therapist, and host of The Sincere Practice podcast & newsletter. I met Helen through a mutual acquaintance in a Mastermind back in 2023, and since then I’ve been following her content creation journey. She has a penchant for exploration and growth through the podcasting medium by exploring creative practices in her content. The motivation behind it all caught me by surprise, though. Helen understands herself so well, which makes sense with her background as a therapist, but the depth of her intrinsic understanding has allowed her to build a creative environment that activates her. She talks of diagnosed anxiety, and how her podcast helps to keep her thinking on-track and healthy. And this led to the biggest revelation for me: Helen creates her podcast as a tool to maintain her creative life, not for fame and fortune. And she makes her podcast for the younger version of herself, that needed a guide through the turbulent times. We also talk about the state of the podcasting industry and charlatans in it, why she left, her favourite microphone (she’s tried a lot!) and she even asks me a few questions that you might be interested in too. Follow Helen Garcia's Journey: * LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thehelengarcia/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/thehelengarcia/] * "The Sincere Practice" Substack [https://sincerepractice.substack.com/] * "The Sincere Practice" podcast [https://pod.link/1704419016] and YouTube Channel [https://www.youtube.com/@thesincerepractice] Let's Start a Dialogue The Socratic Method is best done in dialogue, so if you'd like to respond to one of my episodes or send through an idea of your own, send it to: 📧 podcast@rethinkingpodcasting.com [podcast@rethinkingpodcasting.com] 🎤 rethinkingpodcasting.com [https://rethinkingpodcasting.com/] and select "Send a Voicemail" Make sure you share the name of your show, so I can include it in my response! Support this Podcast: Here are some of the services I use to create this show. Sign up for these services with the links below to support the podcast: Use Brain.FM to stay focused while you podcast [https://rethinkingpodcasting.captivate.fm/brainfm] (30 Day Free Trial) Sign up for Artlist.io to add Royalty Free Music to your Podcast [https://artlist.io/referral/ba47afd5-5498-43f2-b81b-7e58836935d6] (2 Months Free) Use Captivate.FM to host & distribute your Podcast [https://www.captivate.fm/signup?ref=nge4mda] (30 Day Free Trial) Create your Episode Transcript with GoodTape.io [https://goodtape.io/invite/BTLt2bUg5kHmQ2REN] (€5 off when you sign up) Chapters: * (00:00) Intro & meeting Helen * (00:21) Exercise as creative medicine for a creative brain * (02:12) Three-notebook system, nature walks & analog habits * (04:32) Anxiety, depression, immigration & finding freedom in creativity * (08:13) Hustle bros vs wholesome creativity & Matthew’s own practices * (11:15) Flow, biology and growing up around microbiology talk * (14:20) Social media, limbic hijack, video games & flow states * (18:20) Bringing a therapist lens into podcasting & self-help skepticism * (26:06) Questioning experts, cult followings & defining a meaningful life * (33:59) Rebrands, self-discovery & landing on “The Sincere Practice” * (44:03) Being too hard on ourselves as podcasters & learning to accept choices * (51:05) Creating for your younger self, future kids & what listeners really want This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy