176: Mic Check Retreat Roundtable: Real Advice from Seasoned Podcasters

Ever wish you could eavesdrop on a candid conversation among seasoned podcasters? At Mic Check Retreat, I had the privilege of hosting a roundtable discussion with our incredible group of podcast attendees. We jumped into the real stories behind our shows—the triumphs, the hurdles, and the unexpected lessons that come with the territory.

In this honest, heartwarming, and somewhat entertaining conversation about what it actually looks like to be in the thick of podcasting, we share how podcasting is changing the way we show up in business and life.

Clocking In with Haylee Gaffin is produced by Gaffin Creative, a podcast production company for creative entrepreneurs. Learn more about our services at Gaffincreative.com, plus you’ll also find resources, show notes, and more for the Clocking In Podcast.

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Why We Hit Record at the Retreat

Every podcaster in the room at Mic Check Retreat brought their unique voice and journey to the table. We created space to ask real questions: What’s working? What’s changed? What are we learning about ourselves along the way?

Recording this roundtable was intentional. We wanted to invite YOU into this conversation. Whether you’re in your first month or seventh year of podcasting, these stories will affirm, encourage, and maybe even inspire your next big move.

Key Lessons and Takeaways from Podcasting

Rediscovering the Joy of Learning

Nata reminded us how easy it is to stop learning when you’re caught up in running a business. Her podcast gave her permission—and structure—to learn again. By engaging with her guests, she rekindled the curiosity that first drove her to entrepreneurship.

Your Podcast Is a Salesperson

Colie shared a powerful insight: her audience listens. And when they hear her simplify complex concepts on her podcast, they buy. It was a reminder that your podcast is doing more work than you think. People trust voices that educate and connect with them.

After three years and 200 episodes, Colie republished older episodes with new intros and CTAs. Not only did it save time, it actually boosted conversions. Her strategy: keep the core content, update what’s changed, and make the CTA count. It’s a tactic anyone can implement.

Confidence Comes with the Mic

For Bree and Claire, the mic became a tool for transformation. Bree moved from guest-heavy shows to solo episodes and discovered her voice was more than enough. Claire started her show to overcome her fear of speaking—and found unexpected confidence in her solo episodes. Both reminded us that podcasting is as much personal development as it is content creation.

The Business of Podcasting

What really struck me during this roundtable was how podcasts have become extensions of our businesses in unexpected ways. Here’s how:

Bigger Rooms, Better Conversations: Quianna uses her podcast as an icebreaker at in-person events, and it’s landed her in rooms she once dreamed of entering.
Try Before You Buy: Colie mentioned something we don’t talk about enough: podcasting helps us vet potential collaborators and clients—because good conversations lead to good business.
Proof of Progress: Christi talked about how going back and listening to old episodes showed her just how much she’s grown. Your podcast can become a catalog of your development.

One Episode You’d Never Delete?

We asked our attendees to think about the one episode they’d save if they had to delete the rest. From heartfelt interviews with their kids to personal episodes that represented big leaps, this was one of the most emotional parts of the conversation. If you haven’t done an episode that makes you proud just to have it out in the world—maybe now’s the time.

How the Retreat Inspired Action

By the end of the retreat, ideas were flowing. People were scheduling guest interviews, implementing strategies, revisiting old content, and finally hitting publish on shows they’d been dreaming of for years. Being in the room—both physically and emotionally—lit a fire under all of us.

Ready to take your podcast from spinning wheels to strategic growth? Our four-month group coaching program is designed to help you make intentional, aligned progress with your show. We combine one-on-one strategy, group coaching, and peer support to move your podcast forward.

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Find it Quickly:

What is one business win that came from your podcast? (2:05)

What is something unexpected that you’ve learned since launching your podcast? (3:40)

What is one creative way that you have repurposed your podcast content? (4:37)

Was there one piece of content that pivoted your show? (8:29)

Are they any podcast struggles you’re currently facing? (10:35)

Is there something that you do differently in your business because of podcasting? (12:28)

If you had to delete every podcast episode except one, what would it be and why? (14:12)

How has podcasting changed you as a leader? (19:34)

One major takeaway from Mic Check Retreat (22:52)

Finding inspiration from other attendees (25:38)