Finding My Podcast Rhythm

Every day for the last couple of weeks, I’ve written somewhere on my to-do list: “Podcast” or “Figure out podcast.” And now it’s been almost three weeks since I published an episode.

I wrote out a couple of thousand words of thoughts, and sat down and recorded them this afternoon. When I went to open my program to edit what I had recorded, it crashed. I worked my way through a series of glitches. There’s still some technical thing that’s standing in my way.

But I’m no longer certain I want to share those words with you. It’s like I tried on a new pair of pants and they don’t fit right.

I’m back to square one.

Some of you who have been around since April of 2021 have been so patient to stick with me while I figured out how to be a podcaster. When I launched the Untangled Faith podcast, there weren’t many (if any?) podcasts that aimed to be a resource for those who had been harmed in their faith communities and were trying to make sense of it.

I have met dear people through this podcast venture. I know I’ve provided resources and encouragement to my listeners. And I’ve been able to document our family’s story, publicly. I’m proud of all of these things.

When I rebooted the podcast, more than anything, I wanted to sit down and have meaningful, helpful conversations. I didn’t just want to do interviews with people who have books to promote (I’ve tried to only say “yes” to ones I think serve my listeners. You should see some of the pitches I turn down!).

Here’s what has been standing in my way of making my podcast what I want it to be:

• Technology difficulties.

• Finding clarity on where, exactly, I fit in this genre. I feel like a misfit toy with no shelf space assigned to me.

• Figuring out how to make this more conversational while moving away from book interviews, and doesn’t result in a monologue format with me talking to a microphone by myself. I’ve attempted to twist my husband’s arm into joining me a time or two, but this isn’t his thing, and our marriage is more important than this podcast.

• Getting ready to launch another child to college next month.

That’s the long answer to “Why hasn’t there been a new podcast recently?”

I’m praying for direction. I know that sounds corny and like something people are supposed to say in situations like this, when they may or may not actually be praying for direction. I really am praying for direction. My journal could attest to that.

In the meantime, I may try out some different ideas over the next several months, and I would love to hear from you if you have any ideas.

In the meantime, please admire the results of what happens when the Google robots look at one of my selfies and say, “It looks like you’re having a good hair day. We thought you might like this photo even more with this special effect.”