Your Podcast Could Be the Start of Your Next Big Idea (With Bill Groner)

We all know podcasts are a great way to build a brand. But what if we flipped that idea around? What if your podcast wasn't just a way to promote what you're building, but a way to help figure out what you're building in the first place? That's what happened for Bill Groner when he launched the Positive Connection Initiative. Initially, the podcast was a way to establish credibility and create a body of work while the organization itself was still taking shape. But then the podcast ended up doing something Bill didn't anticipate– it started shaping the organization itself. In this episode, Courtney and Bill discuss what happens when you stop thinking of your podcast as simply a content channel and start treating it as a sandbox for your ideas. They talk about using conversations to test and refine new ideas, building a body of work that can become something bigger, and the unexpected ways a podcast can influence what you create next. Topics include: Why the podcast comes before the book How a podcast can help you establish credibility when you're launching something new What happens when you use your podcast as a proving ground for ideas you haven't fully figured out yet How podcasts can "show" expertise, better than simply "telling" people you're an expert What is "Return on Thinking" and how can your podcast inform the direction of your business   ABOUT THE GUEST Bill Groner spent 35 years in the courtroom before becoming fascinated by a different kind of practice: understanding what helps people connect, communicate, and thrive. That interest led him to co-found the Positive Connection Initiative, a nonprofit focused on human connection and wellbeing. He now explores these questions on his podcast, The Connection Effect: With Bill Groner,  through conversations with scientists, philosophers, and other thought leaders. Learn more at: https://connection.net/ ABOUT THE SHOW Talking the Talk: A Podcast About Podcasting helps entrepreneurs, founders, creators, and business owners build podcasts that work harder than they do. Host Courtney Reimer explore how to build a show that creates trust, builds your business, remains sustainable, and delivers a meaningful return on what you invest into it. ABOUT THE HOST Courtney Reimer is the founder of Sounds Great Strategy and a former executive at Spotify, Audible, Yahoo!, Discovery, and MTV. She helps entrepreneurs and organizations create podcasts that become their hardest-working business assets. HOW TO CONNECT WITH COURTNEY Follow on Instagram: @soundsgreatcourtney Connect on LinkedIn: Courtney Reimer Subscribe to her weekly-ish newsletter on burnout-proof podcasting: Sounds Great on Paper To book your free Podcast Clarity Call with Courtney, visit SoundsGreatStrategy.com.