The Why Behind Starting a Podcast

Today, my brand new podcast, Shoot it Straight, is live and in the world. And in honor of this I thought it would be fun to share the “why” behind starting a podcast.

sabrina gebhardt shares the why behind starting a podcast
The Why Behind Starting a Podcast 4

Let me back up and do a little story telling… a few years ago, I remember thinking that there were so many great authors and educators and industry authorities on podcasts. I remember kind of fan girling over so many different episodes. Listening to them teach on podcasts felt almost like they were talking directly to me. I mean, obviously they weren’t but the experience felt almost intimate even though we weren’t in the same room, on camera or even in a dm. It was just that listening to them while I was in my kitchen or on a walk felt so special.

Then I started my online course, The Organized Photographer. As I tried to grow my educational platform, I knew I needed to be a guest on some podcasts. But man, oh man, was I nervous. I love public speaking so I have no clue why recording an audio episode on my computer was nerve wracking, but it was.

Luckily for me, I am personal friends with a big time industry podcaster, Annemie Tonken of This Can’t Be That Hard and she asked me to be a guest on her podcast. I say “luckily” because I was asked to be on a successful and established podcast without having to even pitch myself. So, yea, lucky me:)

shoot it straight podcast for creative entrepreneurs podcast mic with coffee cup and books
The Why Behind Starting a Podcast 5

After that recording, I was basically hooked. Ha! All it took was one recording and then hearing the episode air and I realized how fun I thought the platform was. Enter me pitching myself to as many people as possible.

Not to any surprise, I was shot down (or ignored) a bunch because I was just a “small fish”. I wasn’t established yet and so it took a while to get the interviews rolling. But slowly, over time, they did. You can catch a bunch of those episodes HERE.

Somewhere along the way, I knew in my gut that I wanted to have a podcast of my own but I wasn’t ready yet. Part of this “not yet” was literally the time commitment part. I wanted to get a few of my educational offerings out into the world. I wanted to get my new website launched. I needed to get consistent growth out of my audience and prime them for a podcast. And I also didn’t want to start and then fizzle out too soon. You see, I have a history of jumping into things too early.

And if I am being transparent, which I always try to be, there was fear involved too. I was afraid that I wasn’t good enough to have my own podcast. That I didn’t have enough followers. That I would “fail” (whatever that means). That no one would listen. Or that too many people would listen (and complain). There was fear around a lot of it. And then I finally said, ENOUGH.

The confidence piece fell into place and then I waited until the timing felt right.. And then at the start of this year, it felt like the stars were aligning. I started to feel in my gut that this was the year I would make it happen. The first thing I did was reach out to Haylee Gaffin to learn about the process and hire her to get my podcast created and out into the world. And then I quickly hired her to produce it because it is a LOT of work!

shoot it straight podcast host sabrina gebhardt stands against a pink wall
The Why Behind Starting a Podcast 6

And now my podcast baby, Shoot it Straight, is out in the world and I couldn’t be more excited. My hope is that when you listen, you will be inspired and encouraged. That you will hear my words and the words of my guests and know that you are not alone. That each week you would gain insight into your business and also your heart.

I can’t wait to take this journey and I really do hope that you will come alongside me. Of course, now that I am an official podcaster, I am going to ask you to subscribe and leave a review over on Itunes because, well, I guess we are doing this thing.

Interested in being a guest, suggesting a guest, or have a topic idea for me? I would love to hear from you here.

SHARE THIS POst

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

The Blog

If you’re booked solid, feeling burned out, or not paying yourself well, it might be time to raise your prices. In this post, I’ll walk you through how to know when you’re ready, the mindset shifts to make it feel good, and the exact steps to take, so you can grow your business without burning out or second-guessing your worth.

Mentor and coach Sabrina Gebhardt confidently standing in a green dress, helping creative business owners know when to raise your prices.

Social media is great for visibility, but email marketing for photographers is where real client relationships are built. Learn how to grow your list, what to send, and the simple strategies that turn subscribers into loyal, repeat clients.

Smiling woman in a white blouse with hands in pockets against a pink background, ready to share email marketing for photographers tips.

Get ready for your next session with these real-life family photo shoot tips! From prepping your kids and choosing outfits to mindset shifts that matter, this guide will help you walk into your photoshoot feeling confident, calm, and excited to capture the magic of your real life.

Candid nursery moment with kids playing and parents smiling, demonstrating how family photo shoot tips support comfort and ease at home.

Tired of clunky email platforms? This Flodesk review breaks down why I ditched the old, how Flodesk helps photographers market with ease, and how you can get started with gorgeous emails, automations, and freebies, without tech overwhelm or rising costs.

Confident businesswoman in a white shirt and floral skirt, smiling with arms crossed—highlighted in a Flodesk review.

When your portfolio is mediocre, your inquiries are too...In this step-by-step guide, learn about how boost your creativity, drastically improve your portfolio and sell out offers faster. 

Is your portfolio less than inspiring?