Marion Abrams - Podcasting, Persuasion & Storytelling (#86)

Introduction to guest:

Marion Abrams is a storyteller, content creator and podcast expert that knows a thing or two about delivering compelling content and growing a successful podcast.

Marion developed the “Spartan Up” podcast and YouTube series, taking it from an audience of 0 to over 30 million views & downloads.

She has also worked on a range of content creation projects from social media advisor on a political campaign, to creating the documentary film “Flood Bound”, to directing TV ads for Vermont Lottery.

On her podcast “Grounded Content”, she teaches how advertising, marketing, and content creation can be tactical, effective, grounded and honest.

Today Marion continues to work with Spartan and is a podcasting coach & consultant, helping thought leaders, business leaders, and podcast hosts elevate their podcast presence.

Enjoy the show and don’t forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel for podcast clips and to join the live discussions!

More from Marion:

Website: madmotion.com

Podcast: Grounded Content Podcast

Key quotes and takeaways from the show:

There is a human need for challenge. It’s human nature.

People are tired of the BS! We all know the shortcuts don’t work. Sometimes you just have to buckle down and do the work!

A distinctive personality (and strong opinion) attracts a podcast audience.

It takes a while to develop your style/point of view/”thing”. You have to actually make a start to develop your own style. You can’t get better at anything you’re not doing. You have to be willing to be bad at something to be good at it.

Fire, Ready, Aim!

Curiosity is one of the most powerful drivers in the world.

Determination x Curiosity = Success.

Purpose, POV, Process, Practice, Promotion.

If you try to replicate something, you will only ever be “almost” as good as the original. Why would someone recommend you if you’re almost as good as the original? They wouldn’t, they would recommend the original! Find your own take on the world. Be yourself and bring that to the table. This allows you to be unique and fill a niche that isn’t being filled. Specific knowledge! No one can be youer than you! You are the best at being you.

“All your listeners are narcissists.”

“Keep your word to yourself.” – Brian Chontosh. Be wary of going to ridiculous lengths in order to do unimportant things for others. Be wary of doing things that are not essential.

Questions for identifying what’s essential in your life:

What do I feel deeply passionate about or what am I inspired by?
If you could do only one thing with your life right now, what would you do?
What is the very most important thing you should be doing with your time and resources right now?
What is essential? Eliminate the rest.

Always keep the audience in mind. It has to be about them. Put yourself in their shoes… What would you want? It’s all about the audience!

People sometimes don’t even buy what they need, they buy what they want.

What problem are you solving? This does not always need to be practical.

Guide your audience (or customer) on the journey to their dream life. Be their guide. Your customer is the hero, you are just the guide (hero’s journey analogy).

Context is everything!!!

“What am I embarrassed to be struggling with right now and what am I doing about it?”

Really prepare for the specific conversation.

Listen!

As a podcaster, you are your audience’s virtual network. Find out what they want and feature guests [if you do interview style shows] that compliment what your audience wants.

Asking questions is a good way to persuade and convince.

Shaming people is not going to work! If you tell someone they’re wrong, the chances are you’re not going to persuade them.

Become an observer and collector of stories.

Sprinkle specifics within your story. Don’t drown your story in specifics. Details are condiments, not the meal!

“And then…” “What did he say…?” “How did you feel…?” Move people through the story in a timeline fashion.

If you are recording an interview that is going to be edited, you can ask the same question repeatedly to get different answers.

Look at stories from different perspectives.

Story aids learning and memory recall.

You can develop stories over many years on social media if you keep your audience engaged. Social media cultivates a shorter immediate attention span but a longer progressive attention span.

You can build a Soap Opera Sequence over many years on social media (e.g. business journey, writing a book journey, fitness journey, etc.). Balance authenticity with engaging content that your viewers like to watch.

We are capable of so much more than we think. “There is no equivalent of running a mile in your hotel room.”

It’s simple but not easy.

“Most of us have two lives, the life we live and the unlived life within us. Between the two stands resistance.”