Discover the power of storytelling, find solace, and embrace the beauty of being human.
"progress, not perfection."
Today Rylan Banis, the creator of The Boy’s Journal shares his story of Personal Journals podcast.
► Tell us about you and your podcast
Meet Rylan (me), a vibrant and enthusiastic college student who is passionate about storytelling and connecting with others through his podcast. Growing up, he developed a love for sharing personal experiences and captivating anecdotes with friends and family. Recognizing the power of storytelling to inspire, entertain, and create connections, he decided to channel his passion into his own podcast, "The Boy's Journal."
"The Boy's Journal" podcast is a platform where the host fearlessly shares personal stories filled with triumphs, struggles, and moments of reflection. It explores topics such as relationships, personal growth, and life-changing decisions. The emphasis is on storytelling, using a combination of humor and vulnerability to engage listeners and create a space for solace and connection.
My podcast appeals to a broad audience who are interested in personal narratives, self-improvement, and emotional exploration. People who enjoy hearing relatable stories, gaining insights from others' experiences, and finding inspiration in the face of challenges would be drawn to "The Boy's Journal." My listeners might include individuals seeking personal growth, those going through similar life situations, or simply people who appreciate the beauty of human stories and the power of shared experiences.
► Why & how did you start this podcast?
Rylan recognizes the power of the spoken word and the unique connection it can create with listeners. By conveying his stories through audio, he can infuse emotions, tone, and intonation into his narratives, making them more engaging and immersive. Through his voice, he can bring his experiences to life and establish a personal connection with his audience.
Yes, the above college student who chose podcasts as his medium of storytelling is also an avid podcast listener. Being passionate about storytelling and the power of podcasts, he recognizes the value of consuming content in this format. As an aspiring podcaster, he listens to a wide range of podcasts across various genres and topics.
The primary motivation behind his podcast was the desire to share personal stories from his own life. He recognized the power of storytelling to connect with others, evoke emotions, and inspire listeners. By sharing his own experiences, he hoped to create a relatable and authentic space where listeners could find solace, laughter, and inspiration.
The college student started his podcast, "The Boy's Journal," during his first year of college (2020). After extensive research, planning, and preparation, he officially launched his podcast in the spring semester.
Creating the first episode of his podcast took a considerable amount of time and effort. It involved brainstorming ideas, developing a format, scripting or outlining the episode, and recording and editing the audio. Additionally, he invested time in designing podcast artwork, creating a catchy intro theme, and setting up the podcasts' hosting platform.
In total, it took him approximately one month to release his very first episode. This timeline allowed him to ensure the quality of the content, establish a consistent schedule, and create a solid foundation for future episodes. By dedicating time to adequately prepare and refine the first episode, he aimed to make a strong and impactful debut in the podcasting world.
► How'd you find the time and funding to do this podcast?
The college student, driven by his passion for storytelling and a desire to consistently engage with his audience, decides to release his podcast, "The Boy's Journal," on a weekly basis. This frequency allows him to maintain regular content delivery and build anticipation among his listeners.
In terms of episode production time, the student devotes a significant amount of effort to ensure high-quality episodes. On average, it takes him approximately 10-15 hours to produce a single episode from start to finish.
The college student, dedicated to providing a high-quality podcasting experience, made a substantial investment of 1 lakh INR (Indian Rupees) in acquiring podcasting equipment. This expenditure demonstrates his commitment to delivering professional-grade audio and ensuring an immersive listening experience for his audience. The student carefully selected his podcasting equipment, prioritizing quality and durability.
Regarding podcast hosting, the student chose a hosting platform (Spotify for Podcasters) that offers a free hosting plan, allowing him to launch and distribute his podcast without incurring any hosting costs. This decision aligns with his budget and ensures that he can share his podcast episodes with his audience effectively.
► What do you gain from podcasting?
Despite the college student's podcast, "The Boy's Journal," not currently having sponsors, he remains open to the possibility of monetizing it in the future. While his podcast may not yet have the reach or popularity to attract brands and sponsors, he recognizes the potential for growth and understands the importance of building a strong and engaged listener base.
At this stage, the student focuses on creating valuable content and establishing a genuine connection with his audience. He aims to provide a meaningful listening experience and build a loyal community of listeners who resonate with his storytelling and find solace in his narratives. By prioritizing content quality and audience engagement, he believes that his podcast has the potential to grow organically and attract a larger following over time.
Podcasting provides a platform for the student to express himself and share his personal stories. Through the process of crafting episodes, reflecting on his experiences, and engaging with his audience, he experiences personal growth, self-discovery, and an increased sense of self-confidence.
The student's podcast serves as a platform to make a positive impact on his audience. By sharing stories of triumphs, struggles, and personal growth, he inspires and motivates his listeners. Through vulnerability and authenticity, he creates a safe space for others to relate, find solace, and embrace their own journeys.
► How does your podcasting process look like?
The college student who hosts "The Boy's Journal" utilizes various tools and services to create and produce his podcast. The student invests in a high-quality dynamic microphone (Samson Q2U) known for its excellent sound capture capabilities and clarity. He uses studio-grade headphones (Sennheiser Professional HD 280 PRO) to monitor his recordings and ensure accurate sound reproduction. The student chooses a DAW, such as Audacity to record and edit his podcast episodes. These software tools provide a range of features for recording, editing, and enhancing audio quality.
The college student hosting "The Boy's Journal" follows a structured process to prepare each episode, ensuring that they are well-crafted and engaging for his audience. Here is an overview of how he prepares for each episode:
Topic Selection: The student begins by selecting a topic or theme for the episode. This could be based on personal experiences, relevant events, or subjects that resonate with his audience.
Outlining or Scripting: Depending on his preferred approach, the student either creates a detailed outline or writes a script for the episode.
Recording: With the preparation work done, the student sets aside a dedicated time for recording the episode.
Editing: After recording, the student spends time editing the episode. He listens to the recording carefully, removing any mistakes, refining the pacing, and ensuring a smooth and engaging flow.
Post-production and Publishing: Once the editing is complete, the student finalizes the episode by adding an introduction, outro, and any additional segments. He ensures that the episode length is appropriate and optimizes the audio file for optimal streaming and downloading. Finally, he uploads the episode to his podcast hosting platform, writes engaging show notes, designs episode artwork, and schedules the release.
► How do you market your show?
The college student hosting "The Boy's Journal" has made a deliberate decision not to actively promote or market his podcast. Instead, he chooses to focus his efforts on improving the quality of his podcast and the content he delivers to his audience. This approach allows him to prioritize what he believes is within his control, ensuring that the podcast itself is the best it can be.
The student firmly believes that the key to a successful podcast lies in its content and the experience it provides to the listeners. By choosing not to actively market or promote his show, he can concentrate his energy on honing his storytelling skills, enhancing production quality, and delivering valuable episodes that resonate with his audience.
His decision stems from the belief that word-of-mouth and organic growth are powerful indicators of a podcasts' value and impact. Instead of investing time and resources in marketing efforts, the student chooses to trust in the intrinsic qualities of his podcast to attract and retain listeners. He believes that if the content is compelling, authentic, and resonates with his audience, they will naturally share it with others who may find it valuable as well.
► What advice would you share with aspiring (new) podcasters?
Throughout his podcasting journey, the college student hosting "The Boy's Journal" learns a valuable lesson: "progress, not perfection." He realizes that the key to success lies not in achieving perfection from the start but in embracing continuous improvement over time.
As the student delves into the world of podcasting and gains experience, he becomes aware of the immense pressure to create flawless episodes right from the beginning. However, as he navigates the challenges and hurdles along the way, he comes to understand that perfection is an elusive goal. Instead, he discovers the power of progress and the importance of consistently and gradually improving his craft.
Initially, the student may have set high expectations for himself and his podcast, seeking to deliver flawlessly scripted episodes with impeccable production quality. However, he quickly realizes that this pursuit of perfection can be paralyzing and hinder his growth. He acknowledges that every episode won't be flawless, and that's okay.
Through feedback from listeners, personal reflection, and ongoing self-evaluation, the student learns to embrace imperfections as opportunities for growth. He understands that progress is a continuous journey, where each episode provides a chance to refine his storytelling skills, enhance audio production, and strengthen the overall content.
By adopting a mindset of progress, the student experiences a sense of liberation. He frees himself from the constraints of unattainable perfection and focuses on incremental improvements. He learns to celebrate the small victories and milestones along the way, acknowledging that every step forward, no matter how small, contributes to the overall growth and evolution of his podcast.
► Where can we learn more about you & your podcasts?
The college student hosting "The Boy's Journal" takes a unique approach to maintaining his mental health and prioritizing authenticity by choosing not to be present on any social media platforms. Instead, he encourages listeners to support him solely by listening to his podcast.
The student firmly believes in the power of focusing on mental well-being and maintaining a healthy relationship with technology. Recognizing the potential negative impact that social media can have on mental health, he has made a deliberate choice to abstain from these platforms.
He understands that social media often fosters a culture of comparison, unrealistic expectations, and constant validation-seeking. The curated nature of social media can sometimes contribute to feelings of inadequacy and anxiety. In his quest for authenticity and preserving his mental health, the student consciously distances himself from this environment.
By not being present on social media, the student also avoids the distractions and time-consuming nature that these platforms can bring. Instead, he channels his energy and resources into creating meaningful content for his podcast. This intentional focus allows him to invest more time in research, storytelling, and improving the quality of his episodes.
The student acknowledges that not being on social media may limit his reach to some extent, as these platforms have the potential to connect content creators with a wider audience. However, he firmly believes that the most authentic and valuable support for his podcast comes from listeners who genuinely resonate with his content.
By directing his audience's attention solely to his podcast, the student fosters a deeper sense of connection and engagement. He encourages listeners to actively engage with the episodes, provide feedback, and share their experiences related to the podcasts' themes. This creates a more intimate and meaningful community centered around the podcast itself.