The One Thing You Should Learn from the Taylor Swift Podcast (And It's Not What You Think)
I'm getting bored with the Taylor Swift New Heights conversations.
Not because it's bad content. It's very good content.
And it's brilliant for both New Heights AND Taylor Swift.
But there is far too big a focus on what it means for podcasters, and what we can learn.
It's kind of like saying, "Gordon Ramsey just made the best Beef Wellington he's ever made. What does that mean for cooking at home?"
It means literally nothing. Ramsey is a skilled chef and perhaps the most recognizable one in the world.
The same thing goes for New Heights + Taylor Swift. They are all huge names in their own right, and Taylor Swift is the biggest pop star in the world.
The views/streams/downloads buzz they generate can't be a lesson for us because it’s so vastly different from our situation.
Taylor Swift did a single podcast episode, and that podcast his co-hosted by her boyfriend. So I guess the lesson is be her boyfriend.
The wider world is talking about this particular podcast episode because Taylor Swift announced a new album.
She could have done that using a CB Radio and people would be talking it. And it would mean nothing for the trucking industry.
What Actually Helps with Creating Content
The things that help podcasters (and anyone who creates content) before Taylor Swift's appearance on New Heights remain true after:
Know your audience (which Swift and the Kelces know very well)
Create great content for them (again, check and check)
Telling people about it
Experimenting
I suspect many of us already know this is the answer.
The problem isn't that we don't know what makes good content; it's that we don't have the time to spend on what it takes to create it.
So what should you do?
Fill in the GAPS.
GAPS: Gear, Automations, Playbooks, Support
You need to make your life as easy as possible when it comes to creating content. That means you don’t want to spend your time:
Fighting gear or setups
Doing everything manually
Reinventing the wheel
Doing everything yourself
By filling in the GAPS, you can focus on what really matters: defining your audience as clearly as possible, and making sure your content serves them as best as possible.
THEN, once the content is out, you experiment.
So what does filling in the GAPS look like?
You get a good mic and easy-to-use camera, so you don’t have to worry about quality.
You use tools like Ecamm Live and Tella to make creating and editing videos easier.
You set up simple automations in Zapier or Notion to manage communication and move files for you.
You create SOPs that act as step-by-step instructions that can be clearly followed.
And you hire a VA, editor, and anyone else who can do a job better than you — so you can focus on what matters most.
This will definitely take some investment (both time and money).
But the ROI is invaluable.
And if you’re wondering how you can fill in the GAPS in your business, let me know. I’m working on something pretty sweet.