Milestones: Make Memories and Build Momentum

Two weeks ago today marked the release of the 700th hosted/recorded episode of my podcasting career.  If you’re wondering why I’ve waited until now to write a blog about it, I challenge you to instead look at how much mileage you can get out of a similar milestone that you might reach in whatever you’re creating.

Are you about to step onstage for the 500th live performance of your music career?  Will your next one be your 100th livestream on Twitch?  Did you just get to the one thousand subscribers plateau on your YouTube channel?  Is the next blog you write going to be the 200th such post?

All of these are prime examples of what hitting 700 podcast episodes two weeks ago did for me.

In the competitive creator world (music, podcasts, and other art), it can be easy to just roll right through a significant moment because “I’ve just got to keep going.”  But it’s important to stop and celebrate your wins, no matter how big or small.

Equally important, however, is the motivation that milestones can provide for you and the momentum that they can help create.

Let me break that down for you.

On November 7, 2022, when I hit 700, it was a combination of (at that point) 455 episodes of “Now Hear This Entertainment,” 197 episodes of “Catholic Sports Radio,” plus a combined total of 48 episodes of the now-defunct “TASCAM Talkback” (41) and “Capture Your Art” (seven).



Note the 197 for CSR, which then provides motivation and momentum to reach the 200-episode plateau for that show (one week from today).  (I'm waiting in the queue with optimism for a certificate for that from a podcasting service that gives such recognition for that specific milestone.)  Also, as far away as 500 for NHTE might seem (Episode 458 comes out the day after tomorrow), it does start getting the wheels turning towards the significance that that will bring, which leads to, “Hmm, what marquee guest could I try to target for then?”  This is how you help keep your own interest in what you're doing, never mind that of your audience.

Celebrate your milestones too in a variety of ways so that you put yourself in a position for discovery by – yup, even after 700 podcast episodes – people who still might not know you and what you create.

I posted on my personal Facebook about 700 as well as my LinkedIn page and my page on Stage 32.com.  Of course it went all across the various Now Hear This, Inc. social media channels (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn).  I certainly published an item about it in my weekly e-newsletter.  It got published in the Podfest Messenger (the email newsletter that Podfest Multimedia Expo puts out) AND they mentioned it on the “Podfest Podcast.”  On November 8th at the monthly Florida Podcasters Association meeting, I was recognized for my accomplishment.  I even had lunch with Dominick Pages from Crystal Blue Sound Studios, where I first recorded NHTE back in the day, which then created a photo opportunity for social media use.

While this doesn’t apply to me, “podfading” is a thing in the podcast industry (and I’m sure there’s a buzzword for other creators too), referring to folks who are starting to get off schedule and skip an episode or two and eventually fade out (from fatigue, burnout, lack of interest, don’t have the time, and so on), to where eventually they stop podcasting altogether.  I’d be shocked if someone hit a major milestone, only to then abruptly quit.


Furthermore, being able to say, “I’ve done (big round number) (podcasts, Twitch streams, live performances, blogs, etc.)” could be the cherry on top of your sales pitch that gets someone to hire you to ply your trade for them.  I will break the news here and say that I have just been contracted for work that will include doing a new podcast every other week, which no doubt was helped by being able to point to the number of episodes I have hosted/recorded since starting my podcasting career in February 2014.

If after all this you’re smacking your forehead and saying, “Darn it.  I should’ve been keeping track (count) all this time,” rally around this trumpet blast to go back and dig through anything and everything to come up with a number as accurate as possible and start documenting every one from this point forward.

You’ll be happy that you did and might be in for quite a return on all the time you’ve put into your work.

Is there something in your creator career that challenges you, though?  I’ve been helping indie artists, podcasters, authors, and entrepreneurs from around the U.S. for more than 18 years now.  Book a private, online video consultation with me and let’s make sure you’re moving forward.  Our conversation is completely confidential, and you set the agenda, not me.  Let’s talk.