Episode Summary

Join me for a very special 10-year anniversary episode as I reflect on a decade of content creation and the story behind 155 consecutive podcast episodes and my exciting pivot into AI technology. From Adobe tutorials to RAG systems, discover how I evolved from Tech Handyman to RAG Handyman and what's next for the Mike Murphy Content Factory.

🎙️ The Podcast Origin Story

• Launching Mike Murphy Unplugged in September 2015
• The challenge of writing 3,500-word scripts weekly
• 155 consecutive episodes before taking a much-needed break
• Career opportunities that came from podcasting consistency

🎥 Content Creation Journey

• Building 1,700+ YouTube videos over 10 years
• The legendary 365-video challenge in 2017
• Evolution from Tech Handyman to specialized expertise
• Balancing audio, video, and written content across platforms

🤖 The AI Transition

• Making the scary pivot from Adobe tutorials to AI content
• Why Mike went "full nerd" on artificial intelligence
• Learning Python, terminal commands, and automation workflows
• Building an AI playground on a virtual private server

🧠 RAG Systems Deep Dive

• RAG Explained: Retrieval-Augmented Generation for content creators
• Building AI knowledge bases from your existing content
• Real-world applications for creators and small businesses
• The Mike Murphy Content Factory concept

🔧 Becoming the RAG Handyman

• Evolution of identity: Tech → Podcast → AI → RAG Handyman
• Mission: Making complex AI systems accessible and practical
• Target audience: Content creators and small businesses

What RAG Can Do For You

• Content Generation: Build on your existing work with new ideas
• Course Creation: Develop outlines that match your teaching style
• Script Writing: Maintain your unique voice across formats
• Audience Engagement: Answer questions using your knowledge base
• Content Repurposing: Seamlessly adapt content across platforms
• Pattern Recognition: Discover insights hidden in your content library

My Current AI Stack

• Daily AI Companions: ChatGPT, Claude, Grok
• Programming Language: Python
• Development Environment: MacOS Terminal + Code Editors
• Infrastructure: Virtual Private Server for AI experimentation
• Focus Area: RAG (Retrieval-Augmented Generation) systems

Next Steps & Future Plans

• YouTube Priority: Growing from 40K to 100K subscribers for that Silver Play Button
• Podcast Return: Working toward consistent Mike Murphy Unplugged schedule
• Content Factory: Building AI-powered content creation systems
• Education Focus: Making complex AI accessible for creators and small businesses

Resources & Links

📧 AI Newsletter

AI Unplugged - Weekly AI insights every Friday morning
Subscribe: aiunplug.io

🎥 YouTube Channel

Weekly AI tutorials and shorts
Subscribe: [Mike Murphy YouTube Channel]

📱 Social Media

Twitter/X: @mikeunplugged

Connect With Me

🌐 Website
📧 Newsletter
🎥 YouTube
🐦 X
💼 LinkedIn

Thanks for joining me on

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Episode Summary:
In this episode 161, Happy New Year, a brief walk down memory lane and a sneak peak into 2024. 

Episode 161 Overview:
Happy New Year. A walk down memory lane and a sneak peak into 2024. 

• Who am I and When and why did I start my online business and this podcast?
• What were my goals when I started and what are they today?
• What is the future of this podcast, Mike Murphy Unplugged?
• What would make 2024 a successful year?

Housekeeping:

• Email me with any questions: info@mikemurphy.co
• Sign Up For My Email List To Stay In Touch
• Subscribe To YouTube Channel
• Sign Up For My Domestika Audition Course at: mikemurphy.co/domestika 
• Full Episode Notes: https://mikemurphy.co/ep161

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Episode Summary:
In this episode 160, I share the details of my brand new class called Introduction to Adobe Audition and the experience I had creating it with the online learning platform, Domestika.

🔴 My Domestika Referral Link (use to sign up or share):
https://mikemurphy.co/domestika

Episode 160 Overview:
Behind the scenes look at creating an online class about Adobe Audition on Domestika from start to finish.

• What is Domestika?
• What is the course I created?
  • Who is the class for?
  • What will you learn?
  • How can you take the course?
  • How much does it cost?
• How Did I Get Started Working With Domestika?
• How Did I Make The Course?
• How is it going since the course launched?

Who is the course for?

• This class is for content creators, podcasters, musicians, sound designers and anyone who wants to start using Adobe Audition for podcasting, music, voiceovers, etc whether you are brand new to audio production or a seasoned professional wanting to switch DAWs.
• Basics courses are the best-selling classes on Domestika intended for beginners and broken down into ‘Mini-Courses’ with practice lessons at the end of each section.

What will you learn?

1. Getting Started with Adobe Audition
2. Adding Media and Recording Audio
3. Editing: Waveform and Multitrack
4. Effects and Processing
5. Exporting and Saving Projects

How can you take the course?
If you go to mikemurphy.co/domestika that will take you to the course page on Domestika.

How much does it cost?
It is normally $59.99, but it is currently 85% off so it is only $9.99 which is quite a bargain if I do say so myself.


Housekeeping:

• Sign Up For Course at: mikemurphy.co/domestika 
• Share My Referral Link: mikemurphy.co/domestika
• Please leave a review on Domestika if you do sign up. 
• Email me with any questions: info@mikemurphy.co
• Full Episode Notes: https://mikemurphy.co/ep160      

 

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Ep159: The Ai Show

Episode Summary:
Today’s episode is all about Ai or Artificial Intelligence and ChatGPT and how they can be used by podcasters and content creators.

The Confession:
The entire script of this episode was written by ChatGPT in a matter of minutes and I read it word for word.
My reason for creating this episode was to have a little fun while also teaching the basics of Ai that I think is a mystery to many (including myself), but it is certain to have an enormous impact on life as we know it.  If this is your first time hearing about ChatGPT, I encourage you to give it a try. To say it is impressive is an understatement.

1. Give ChatGPT a try:
   https://chat.openai.com/

 

Episode 159 Overview:
In this episode 159, I will discuss the benefits of using AI for podcasting, how ChatGPT works, and some of the ethical and social considerations that come with the use of AI.

• What is Artificial Intelligence?
• What is Chat GPT?
• What are some benefits of using ChatGPT & Ai for podcasting in 2023?
• What are some of the ethical and social considerations that come with the use of AI in podcasting?
• Will Artificial Intelligence replace podcasters and content creators?
• What does the future of podcasting look like?

 

The Script (Generated by ChatGPT):

What is Artificial Intelligence?

• AI, or artificial intelligence, refers to computer systems that can perform tasks that typically require human intelligence, such as learning, problem-solving, and decision-making.
• AI systems are designed to mimic the cognitive functions of the human brain, such as perceiving, reasoning, and adapting to new situations.

There are several different types of AI, including:

1. Narrow AI: This type of AI is designed to perform a specific task or function, such as language translation or image recognition.
2. General AI: This type of AI is designed to perform a wide range of tasks and adapt to new situations, similar to how a human brain can learn and adapt.
3. Strong AI: This type of AI is designed to be indistinguishable from a human in terms of its ability to think and reason.

AI is being used in a variety of fields, including healthcare, finance, education, and transportation, to improve efficiency and automate tasks. 
However, the development and use of AI also raise ethical and social concerns, such as the potential impact on employment and privacy.

What is ChatGPT?
ChatGPT is a chatbot that uses a natural language processing Ai model (NLP) and machine learning to generate human-like responses to user input. It is based on the GPT-3 language model developed by OpenAI, which is one of the largest and most advanced language models currently available. ChatGPT is able to understand human language inquiries and then generates appropriate responses.

Here is how ChatGPT works:

1. ChatGPT receives input from a user in the form of a message or question.
2. The input is processed by the chatbot's NLP algorithms, which analyze the words and phrases used and determine the intended meaning.
3. Based on this analysis, ChatGPT generates a response using its machine learning algorithms, which have been trained on a large dataset of human-generated text.
4. The chatbot's response is sent back to the user, who can then continue the conversation by providing additional input.
5. This process repeats until the conversation ends or the user decides to stop interact

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Ep158: The Pilgrimage
This episode marks the 7-year anniversary of Mike Murphy Unplugged.  In this episode, I share the story of my pilgrimage on the Camino de Santiago in France & Spain.

About:
My name is Mike Murphy and I started Mike Murphy Unplugged in September 2015 to teach and document my journey of building an online business and brand creating content. The goal of the podcast has always been to share what I am learning and doing to create the life I want to inspire others to create the life they want.

The Pilgrimage:

• A Pilgrim or Peregrino is defined as a person who journeys to a sacred place often for religious or spiritual reasons.
• The Camino de Santiago (or, the Way of St. James) is a pilgrimage that can be traced back to medieval times. 
• There are several different routes, but all lead to the tomb of the Apostle Saint James, in the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in Spain. 
• The most popular route and the one documented in the movie The Way starring Martin Sheen is called the Camino Frances and it starts in St. Jean Pied de Port, France, and goes up and over the Pyrenees Mountains into Spain for 500+ miles to Santiago de Compostela, in the Galician Region of Spain.
• The scallop shell is the official symbol of the Camino de Santiago and most pilgrims have a scallop shell attached to their backpack
• Albergues are hostels where pilgrims can stay for usually less than $15 and they often provide a communal meal (and wine, of course)
• All pilgrims must have a 'pilgrim's passport' in order to stay in albergues
• Pilgrims must get their passports stamped at least once per day at albergues, coffee shops, churches, places of interest, etc in order to get a Compostela (certificate) in Santiago.
• Over 300,000 pilgrims arrive in Santiago each year

My Walk:

• August 26, 2021
  • Started walking from St. Jean Pied de Port, France
• Sept 28, 2021
  • Arrived in Santiago de Compostela, Spain
• October 3, 2021
  • Arrived in Finisterre, Spain ('The End of the World')
• October 4, 2021
  • Arrived in Muxia, Spain

Stats:

• Total # of Walking Days……….   39 days
• Total Number of Steps……….   1,462,154 steps
• Total Distance Walked (km)……….  1052.6 kilometers
• Total Distance Walked (mi)………  654.3 miles

• Average Number of Steps……….  37,491 steps per day
• Average Distance Walked (km)……….  27 km per day
• Average Distance Walked (mi)………  16.8 mi per day

Buen Camino,
Mike

---------------------------------------------------------------

➜Episode Notes:  https://mikemurphy.co/158

➜Gear & Resources I Use:: https://mikemurphy.co/resources


---------------------------------------------------------------

 

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Ep157: The 2022 Life Update Show

As Eleanor Roosevelt famously said, Absence makes the heart grow fonder, so today I simply want to say hello, reconnect and bring you up to speed on what I’ve been up to and what I have planned for 2022.

Episode Summary:

Hello and welcome to episode 157: The 2022 Life Update Show. 

It’s been a minute since I published an episode and I simply wanted to touch base and provide a quick life and business update. So, let’s go.

Life Updates 2022:

• In early January of 2022, I had to move out of my little old beach cottage that I have been happily renting for over 11 years because it was sold (big bummer)
• I lost my full-time job of 3+ years at Simplecast/SiriusXM on the exact same day (also a bummer because of the bad timing)
• The good news is I found an awesome place for rent right across the alley from my old cottage and I love the new digs/studio.
• The other good news is that I can focus on Mike Murphy Co and making a living as a tutorial maker and content creator (which is my North Star)

Quote:
“Some changes look negative on the surface but you will soon realize that space is being created in your life for something new to emerge.”    - Eckhart Tolle 

Life Updates 2021:

• The pandemic life was not fun, but Florida ignored it and my day-to-day routines did not change all that much
• I  remained healthy throughout and never tested positive, but who knows
• The podcasting industry blew up during the pandemic which was a good thing, but I also started to burn out a little
• I took a 7-week leave of absence in August of 2021  to recharge my mind and body

Trip of A Lifetime

• I walked from St. Jean Pied de Port, France (starting on Aug 26, 2021)
• I walked 15-20 miles per day for 40+ days over the Pyrenees and across all of Spain
• I ended up in Muxia, Spain  in early October and walked a total of 650 miles
• The Camino life was simple and incredible 
• The mantra I lived by was 'One thing to do and all day to do it (walk from Village A to Village B)'
• The to-do list was Walk, Eat, Drink, Sleep, Repeat.

Resources Mentioned in Episode:

1. Movie: The Way starring Martin Sheen
   If you have any thoughts about going, do it! It's beyond words how amazing the experience was.  
2. Book: The Courage To Be Disliked  by Ichiro Kishimi
   It's a book about how to find happiness and I really enjoyed it. It was recommended by a great YouTuber named Ali Abdaal.  

Mike Murphy Co in 2022:

• My main focus is on growing the Mike Murphy Co YouTube channel  and increasing revenue streams
• Weekly Livestreams
• Creating a digital product (class)
• Writing on Medium
• Freelance & Consulting Gigs (helping people figure things out)

Mike Murphy Unplugged Podcast:

• No set schedule or pressure on me to publish, but there will be new episodes
• I see it evolving into more of a personal audio journal to connect with you and the community
• The podcast will be my outlet to share life and business updates.

Amazon Associates Disclosure:
Mike Murphy is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com

Episode Notes: https://mikemurphy.c

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In Today’s episode, I am going to read a simple, but practical checklist from a book that I recently finished to help or inspire you to create a positive change in your life

Summary:
The checklist I am going to share with you today is from the book, What to Say When You Talk To Yourself by Shad Helmstetter which is all about rewiring your brain with positive thoughts and self-talk.

Buy Book on Amazon: (affiliate link)
What to Say When You Talk to Your Self
by Shad Helmstetter Ph.D
https://amzn.to/3bGMbkj

TIP
If you have an Amazon Alexa device, you can buy Kindle books on Amazon usually for $3.99 or less and use the Alexa app on our iOS Device and listen to your Kindle books like an audiobook. The voice of Alexa is a little robotic and not nearly as high of a production value as an Audible book, but it’s been a great discovery for me and I’m finding myself consuming a lot more books listening like I do podcasts at a fraction of the cost of Audible books.

Quote From Book:

Whatever you put into your mind in one way or another, is what you will get back out, in one way or another

What does your self-talk sound like?

Are you kind and positive and encouraging when you talk to yourself?
Do you beat yourself up over all the things on your to-do list that you can’t seem to get done or the projects that you never seem to have time for or the failed attempts at getting in shape, or the inability to get ahead financially, etc.

Ways to Create Positive Change

1. Believe In Yourself
2. Keep Your Priorities Straight
3. Take Responsibility For Yourself
4. Create Your Own Future
5. Meditate Daily
6. Practice Mindfulness
7. Focus On What You Want
8. Attract What You Desire
9. Learn To Visualize The Outcome Of Your Goals
10. Never Let Anyone Control Your Destiny For You
11. Be Creative
12. Think Big
13. Control Stress
14. Be Aggressive And Assertive
15. Think Positively
16. Chart Your Own Course
17. Set Specific Goals And Review Them Often
18. Spend Some Time Each Day Improving Your Mind
19. Review Your Results And Readjust As Necessary
20. Be Tolerant
21. Do Everything With Love
22. Don’t Hate
23. Have Courage
24. Recognize That Most Of What We Believe About Life Is An Illusion
25. Be Honest
26. Work Hard
27. Believe Money Is Good And It Will Come To You
28. Have Faith
29. If You Agree To Do It, Enjoy It
30. Be Strong
31. Show Affection
32. Manage Your Time
33. Dress Right
34. Learn To Sell Yourself
35. Take Time Off
36. Believe In A “Higher Self”
37. Eat Right
38. Live Prudently
39. Seek The Aid Of Others Who Are In Sympathy With Your Goals
40. Give Assistance To Others
41. Keep Motivated
42. Be Optimistic
43. Trust Others And Be Worthy Of Trust
44. Recognize That Success Is More Than Money
45. Be Kind
46. See The “Big Picture”
47. Take Care Of The Details
48. Get Organized
49. Don’t Procrastinate
50. Stay In Control
51. Keep Fit
52. See Problems As “Opportunities”
53. Learn Everything You Can About Your Job
54. Don’t Be Afraid Of Success
55. Be Generous To Others
56. Believe In God
57. Reach A Little Higher Than You Thought You Could
58. Set Your Sights
59. Take Action
60. Never Give Up

Gandhi said it best:

_Be the Change You Wish to See in The World.

Buy Book on Amazon:
What to Say

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Today is the 4th Anniversary of Mike Murphy Unplugged and I take a walk down memory lane and look at the takeaways from year 1 and see how they hold up today…a few years later !

In this Episode 155:

A big thank you to all of you who have been with me since the beginning of this journey! Cheers!

In this episode, I look at my Top 10 Takeaways from Year One and see how they stack up today. Year 1 Mike vs. 2019 Mike

Episode Notes:

https://mikemurphy.co/ep155

The Top 10 List is from 2016 (Listen for 2019 Comparison)

1. Podcasting is a big commitment and hard work:
2. I am proud to be a one-man band
3. Podcasting has made me a better teacher, thinker, writer…
4. Podcasting has me be more confident in my abilities
5. Podcasting can be fun and creative
6. Writing scripts is not fun (but are rewarding)
7. Done is definitely better than perfect
8. Having templates and systems are Essential
9. I stink at self-promotion & marketing
10. Do it for yourself and everything will always be worth it. (2019)

Quotes from 2016:

Karen Lamb: “A year from now you will wish you had started today”.
Wayne Gretzky: “You miss 100% of the shots you never take”.

• Patience is the key to most things in life.
• Everything takes time, but you have to take initiative
• Start creating and doing and taking chances
• Launching the podcast was my first big shot on goal towards creating the life I wanted.
• If I can do it, so can you.

Happy 4th Anniversary and Thank You!

Thank you for joining me today and I hope you join my one man band and together we can Learn. Create & Move Forward. Cheers, Mike.

Episode Notes: https://mikemurphy.co/ep155

Contact Me:
Email: mike@mikemurphy.co
Instagram:@mikeunplugged
Twitter: @mikeunplugged

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This episode breaks down the process of how to move your show (podcast) from one podcast hosting company to another without losing any subscribers.

Topics covered in this episode:

1. What is a podcast host?
2. What is a podcast directory?
3. What is an RSS Feed?
4. What is a 301 Redirect?
5. How do you move your show without losing subscribers?

What is a podcast host?

When you start podcast, one of the major decisions you will make is where to host your show. There are many podcast hosts available but some of the more popular ones include:

1. Simplecast. Where I work full-time on the product support and content team.

Others hosting companies include:

1. Libsyn
2. Blubrry
3. Podbean
4. BuzzSprout
5. Spreaker
6. Soundcloud
7. Anchor

What do podcast hosting platforms do?

Overview of Podcast Hosts:1. Audio File Storage & Delivery2. Generate your RSS Feed3. Publishing & Syndication to directories.

1. Audio File Storage & Delivery To store your audio files and serve them to listener devices when someone clicks play or download from a podcast app or an embed player or anywhere your podcast episodes can be accessed.

2. Generate your RSS Feed which is the link between your show and subscribers and to all of the podcast apps and directories.

Every podcast has one unique RSS Feed and that usually only changes when you change podcast hosts.

Note: Your RSS Feed is not always generated at the location where you store your audio files. When moving a show, you will do so wherever your RSS Feed is located and not necessarily where your audio files are stored.

My original set up was using the Powerpress plugin by Blubrry on my Wordpress website and I hosted my audio files for download only on the podcast host, Libsyn.

If your RSS Feed was generated by Powerpress, then that is the location where you would redirect your feed.

Ask if you are not certain.

1. Publishing and Syndication To Directories. Podcast hosts make it possible for you to create and publish new episodes much like creating a blog post on a website. When you publish new episodes or make edits to already published episodes, your podcast hosting platform connects your RSS feed to the podcast directories such as Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Pandora so your show will always be updated automatically. This process of publishing and then updating everywhere automagically is possible because of the RSS Feed and this process is called syndication.

Additional roles of podcast hosts:Analytics, websites, sharing tools, embed players, and some even have world-class support!

What is a Podcast Directory?

A podcast directory is simply a library or catalog of podcasts where one can browse, listen, and subscribe to new shows.

Major Podcast Directories:

Apple Podcasts
Spotify
Google Podcasts
Google Play
Pandora

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Behind the scenes of my simple and practical new financial freedom plan to help me create the life I want. Today is about taking action and control of your finances so you can create the life you want.

1. The motivation or my why for taking action on my finances.
2. The two books that helped me build the framework and key takeaways from each.
3. My new plan along with the tools I am using to put my financial plan on auto-pilot.

Part 1: Why am I taking action on my finances?

• I turn 50 in November
• Reduce stress and self-doubt
• Financial Freedom
• Peace of Mind
• Control & Clarity
• Always Moving Forward
• Opportunity to Advance

Part 2: The 2 Books that led me to action

1. I Will Teach You To Be Rich by Ramit Sethi(Buy on Amazon)
2. The Latte Factor by David Bach(Buy on Amazon)

 

I Will Teach You To Be Rich 
By Ramit Sethi

1st Edition:
My biggest takeaway from the 1st edition was setting up online banks for automating your finances. Set it and forget it. Deposit your paycheck in a checking account and have set amounts go to bills, savings, and investments automatically.

2st Edition:
I ordered the audiobook from Audible immediately and listened to it non-stop for 2 days.

This book is a crash course in the fundamentals of investing and also very tactical in that he gives step by step advice along with specific recommendations for investments and online banks.

I Will Teach You To Be Rich caused me to take action 10 years ago and it had the same effect on me the 2nd time around because the message throughout the book is taking the time to do this now will help you create the life you want.

This book will teach you exactly what to invest in, how to set up online banking so your savings and investing are automatic, and what it means to live a rich life.
It’s not about the money, it’s about intentional living and purpose.

The Latte Factor
by David Bach

Podcast Mentioned:
The James Altucher Show

I also listened to The Latte Factor on Audible from start to finish.

The Latte Factor is story about a girl named Zoey who is a twenty-something working and living the dream in NYC and is buried under student loans, debt, and living paycheck to paycheck just trying to make ends meet. Not an unfamiliar story for many. The thought of savings and investing are the furthest thing from her mind as she can barely afford rent. This is a story many of us have experienced and it can be a vicious cycle of financial stress and worry working hard just to pay debts and eek by without being able to put any money aside for travel or savings or retirement.

Zoey meets a wise old man who changes her perspective and teaches her many valuable money and life lessons such as the power of compounding interest and one of the the most important lessons of this book and my biggest takeaway from the book is Pay yourself first.

**Pay Yourself First: **
You take the first hour of every working day and put that in your savings or investment account.

Example:
You work 8 hours per day
You take your hourly rate for 1 hour out of the 8 hours
You put the first hour of payin your savings or investment account

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Today is an update episode and I simply wanted to say hey wish you all a very happy Holiday Season.

Episode Summary:

So welcome to this holiday episode 152. In this episode I wanted to bring you up to speed on my journey and plans for 2019, but more importantly I really just wanted to make sure I took the time to wish each and every one of you a very merry holiday season and to wish you the best as we approach a new year.

The Update:

A couple of months ago I told you I was taking a hiatus from Mike Murphy Unplugged for a variety of reasons. This was not an easy decision to make and it saddened me a little to give up a piece of something that I worked extremely hard every single week for 3 years. I was and still am very proud of the consistency and hard work I put into this podcast and all of the content I make surrounding it, but I listened to my heart and took a step back. It was the right decision at the right time. I needed to get the weight off my shoulders as it was introducing negativity into my world and becoming a burden instead of something that inspired me to make.

Consistency:

I get asked all the time on social media how on Earth I am able to create tutorials and content on such a consistent basis. The answer is easy. I love it. I love to learn and teach. Making tutorials and quick tips is not easy in some ways, yet it’s all I want to do, so I just do it.

Podcasting Break

I also still very much podcasting and will publish a podcast regularly again, but as soon as the process of podcasting became something that I no longer looked forward to, the problem solver in me clicked in. I do not like when things are broken and I have the ability to fix it. It drives me nuts actually when I see people who suffer and make no attempt to right the ship. That is why I stopped. I shifted and tweaked my process of podcasting until I decided the best course of action was to put it on the shelf and re-adjust.

Minimalism

Do you know what really made this easy? My push to simplify and get rid of physical, digital and mental clutter. 2018 was the year of minimalism for me and that meant letting things go that caused stress or were not contributing to my happiness or well-being. To be as candid as possible, the first half of 2018, my podcast was a thorn in my side. I was pulling topics out of thin air and I was making them simply because of self-discipline. Again, problem solver Mike knew that this was a problem, and I solved it. I did not give up or quit, I gave myself permission to free up some space and figure out what needed to be done.

Opportunity Knocks

As soon as I put my podcast on hiatus, a door opened up for me out of the blue. And that was an opportunity to work for the podcasting technology company, Simplecast. Was this a coincidence? In my mind, no way. I manifested this opportunity by showing up every day making and publishing content. When I started I really had no idea what I wanted or what I was good at, so I just started exploring and making things and I started really wide and over time I just started narrowing down and finding my style and groove.

Simplecast hired me to do exactly what I am best at and what I like to do. My job is in support and my role is to help solve problems for podcasters and create educational content in the form of tutorials and articles and to teach through webinars and eventually at conferences and workshops. If you have listened to this podcast for any length of time, you will probably realize that my role in Simplecast is exactly what I talk about all the time. If you find yourself in a position of self-doubt or uncertainty, but you know you want to improve your career or what

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Today is the 3rd anniversary of Mike Murphy Unplugged and this an update episode about change, development and creating the life you want. I have some exciting news to share with you.

Episode Summary:
I started this show on Friday 9/25/2015. Thank you to all of you who have supported me over the past 3 years.

The podcast is still on hiatus, but I created this episode:
1) To acknowledge you and the anniversary
2) Share some updates since Episode 150
3) Let you know about my new position with podcast hosting company Simplecast

What is a Milestone?:

A milestone is an action or event marking a significant change or stage in development.

Change is to make or become different.

Development is state of growth or advancement.

So Why Did I Start Mike Murphy Unplugged

Reason 1: To connect, teach and help people figure things out,
Reason 2: To figure out how to make a living as an online educator and content creator.

My solution: Starting a podcast was the perfect medium for me:

Why Podcasting?:
-I have been an avid podcast listener since the iPod 1.0
-I love audio and gear
-I could share my voice to the world from my bedroom
-I knew it was an emerging medium.

Timeline:I gave myself 30 days to learn how to start a podcast, how to record and edit audio, create the artwork and branding, and set up social media profiles and figure out what it was about.

I did not overthink starting a podcast and I was determined to stay genuine and authentic to me and do it my way.

Everyone told me I had to niche down and narrow my topic, but that is not who I am.

I have a wide range of interest and skills and I wear many hats (I’m the guy who has watched over 11,000 Lynda videos remember).

I used to think of this as my weakness, but it is my super-power.

My long-term goal was to make a living as a content creator and teacher.

Mike Murphy Unplugged

was to document my journey and share all of the tools and resources and steps I was taking to move myself forward towards a very general goal of making a living in creativity and teaching tech tips and tricks.

Step #1: in the journey was starting a podcast so I dedicated the first several months of Mike Murphy Unplugged to being a podcast about podcasting.

I shared everything I knew about setting up and producing a podcast as that was my main focus at the time and I knew it was an emerging and important medium for businesses in the future. And guess what, the more you talk about and share knowledge about a topic the more of an expert and authority you become. I knew what I was talking about and was confident in my abilities from the start.

The main principle I want to share today on this anniversary is showing up day after day even when it seems like nobody is listening or you are not getting many downloads or views or likes, etc.

I created at least one piece of content 7 days a week 365 days in row for almost 3 years because I knew that if I just kept showing up I would either figure it out or an opportunity that would present itself.

I started this podcast and online venture without a roadmap or plan, but I started and I just kept at it. My priority was to get really good at everything related to teaching and creating content and to be consistent and patient and to work

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Taking a break
Resting your mind is vital to your health and wellness, but that does not mean you stop your efforts to create the life you want

The life I want is making a living as a content creator and online educator.

My sights are on the long-term, so I’m in it for the marathon and not the sprint, so pace is important.

**Mid-Year Review:**July 18th is the halfway mark of the year.The perfect time to evaluate your life and business roadmap for the year and set yourself up for a strong finish to 2018.

**Are you on the right track?**Do you know where you are headed?Are you doing everything necessary to get there?Are you in control or are you in reaction mode?

**Summary of Episode:**I share my content strategy and plan for the second half of 2018 as I get ready to refresh and head out for a 2-week vacation to Nantucket.

I plan my summer vacation by planning my 3rd and 4th quarter content strategy and business goals.

My version of work-life balance.

The Podcast HiatusI shared in Episode 149 The Freedom Show that I was going to take an indefinite hiatus from this podcast.

I do not know when Episode 151 will be published or I may launch a brand new show.

I am not putting pressure or making any grand promises as I do not know. I just know I am making the right decision because it is from my gut and heart.

The 2018 Roadmap

In Episode 122: The 2018 Roadmap Show, the priorities I listed were:

Priority #1: Murphy Concierge (Generating Income)

Priority #2: Tutorials & Classes:

Priority #3: Writing

Priority 4: Ask Mike Murphy

Priority 5: YouTube

Priority 6: Health & Wellness

Mid-Year Reaction:

Wow! I did a really good job with that Roadmap.

Note: podcasting did not make the list of priorities, but it is of upmost importance to my content puzzle and should be for many brands and businesses.Audio & Podcasting are extremely important and effective as we move into a mobile-dominated world. I am not going anywhere. I just need to find the rhythm which will come from adjusting the format and possibly the entire topic or concept. It’s not firing on all cylinders and I know it. I am simply transitioning to a new phase.This is me taking one step back to move 2 steps forward.

**My homework:**Brainstorm and add specific ideas and types of content for each of the priorities so I can control the ebb and flow of my life and business and not feel controlled or lost on what to do next.

Mantra & Theme for 2018: Simplicity, Fundamentals, Storytelling.

To maintain the lifestyle of simplicity and reducing physical & mental clutter and place more emphasis on fundamentals and storytelling in my content creation.

StorytellingI am approaching this trip with storytelling on my mind. Creating content drawing from my own personal experiences that others can relate to and make a connection to me. I am looking to make content that strikes a nerve and hits home with others.

I’m not concerned with how much content I create on this trip, but I am going to explore and experiment with my cameras and audio equipment and see what I can come up with. .

Micro-storytelling is my goal. It’s how I teach. I take big concepts and break off pieces instead of trying to cover too much. This takes discipline and can be challenging as simple is not easy. This is how I want to approach storytelling. Snippets of the journey when pieced

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The Art of Letting Go

“The secret to happiness is freedom… And the secret to freedom is courage. ”–Thucydides, Philosopher

Today is all about freedom, happiness and the power of letting go and

Episode Summary:

I have spent the past few months aggressively purging and de-cluttering my physical and digital environments and taking inventory of my business and life.

Taking inventory means looking in the mirror and doing an honest self-audit.

One of the difficult truths or realities I came to terms with in doing a self-audit is this podcast is holding me back and it is weighing me down.

My stubbornness and determination could keep it going forever, but the reality is it has become a bit of a burden and I know that is not healthy.

I have had to remind the self-critic in me that letting go is not the same as quitting or giving up. It simply means letting go to make room for something new.

Announcement: Mike Murphy Unplugged is going on Summer Hiatus.I have decided to press the pause button on Mike Murphy Unplugged after episode 150.I am not done podcasting, just taking a break for now.

I started Mike Murphy Unplugged in September of 2015 and I have published a new episode every Friday morning at 6:00 am without fail. I started this podcast to help me find my voice as a creative and to give myself a foundation and platform to teach. I am extremely proud of the body of work I have created and would not trade the experience for the world, but it’s time to start a new chapter.

My Backstory of Things:

I moved from Colorado to Montana to Portland to New Hampshire and back to Colorado and traveled everywhere in between often living out of my Subaru wagon or VW Van.

The freedom and independence I had was largely due to not owning much stuff.

Being debt-free and not wanting or requiring extraneous things allowed me to be swift and pick up and go when an opportunity to travel knocked.

One Man BandYou hear me say that I am a One Man Band a lot.This independence is what the term represents to me.The ability to move and do what I want on my terms.This comes from me having control and not being tied down to things.I can pick up and go whenever I want.I am putting in the hard work in my business to allow me to work from anywhere in the world. That is the life I want.

For me, simplifying and de-cluttering and cutting back to only having the essentials is about having control over the things that matter most in life and doing eliminating things that are not helping me achieve my business goals.

It’s easy to get stressed and overwhelmed and feel like the weight of the world is on your shoulders and I think a lot of you may feel this way. I refuse to live a life filled with negativity and stress and conflict, and getting rid of excess is my remedy for peace of mind regaining control.

The less I have the better I feel.

My Minimalist Process

For the past several months I have been actively cleaning house on my physical and digital spaces and I’ve turned it into a game almost to see how much stuff I can get rid of.

I started thinning things out. Everything. Even things that are small or you think don’t take up much room. It’s amazing how getting rid of the small stuff makes such a difference.

I went room by room, drawer by drawer and bag by bag.

Any gear or tool or attachment big or small that I did not use or need on a regular basis went out to the pod shed to be given away or sold on Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist.

I cleaned out every cupboard in my kitchen and got rid of excess silverware, gadgets, plates, glasses, mugs, spices, pots and pans.Condiments in t

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All about Instagram TV. 

Episode Summary:

• What is IGTV?
• How does it work?
• Why might you use it for your business & brand?
• How do I plan on using it for Mike Murphy Co?

Follow me on Instagram & IGTV@mikeunplugged.

What is IGTV?

IGTV was launched in late June 2018 by Instagram.Instagram is owned by Facebook.

There are now over 1 Billion users on Instagram.There are over 2 Billion users on Facebook.

IGTV is a standalone app, separate from Instagram, but you can access IGTV from the main Instagram app.

So what exactly is IGTV?Many are referring to it as TV for mobile devices, aka your phones.

The channels on IGTV are you and me.

Every content creator is their own channel and it is open to anyone and everyone.

IGTV gives you a channel for you to create content that people browsing IGTV and can stop and watch and if they like what they can see, they can let you know by liking or commenting and following you, just like on Instagram.

When you open IGTV, videos start playing automatically. Just like when you turn on your TV.

Instagram gives you some options to browse including:For You, Explore, Following & Popular and you can search for creators.

You cannot search for topics, but you can search for channels.

Open the IGTV app and videos will start playing or if you are in the main Instagram app, just look in the upper right for the Orange TV icon and that will take you into IGTV.

How Does IGTV Work?

IGTV is all about vertical videos for your phone.The correct aspect ratio for IGTV is 9:16.The 9 is the width and the 16 is the height.This is the opposite of horizontal videos you would post on YouTube which have an aspect ration of 16:9. Just think vertical. Taller than it is wide.

Tip: Do not place text or important elements or graphics close to the edges when making videos for IGTV or they may get caught off on certain phones.

The most common size you will likely use for IGTV is 1080 px wide by 1920 pixels high. This is what your iPhone shoots and is the exact same aspect ratio and size for Instagram Stories.

Videos you make for IGTV must be a minimum of 15 seconds long and a maximum of 10 minutes long.

For accounts with over 10,000 followers & verified accounts can post videos up to 1-hour long, but for now, the average creator is limited to a maximum of 10-minutes per video.

You can upload videos from your phone or in a web browser like Chrome or Safari which is pretty convenient.

You can select a Custom Thumbnail or Cover Image.You can add a Title & DescriptionAnd you have the option to Share to your Facebook Pages.

If you do have over 10,000 followers and find you have the option to upload 1-hour videos, you will have to use a web browser. Uploading from a phone is not an option for the long videos.

Viewers of your IGTV videos can leave comments that will show up in both IGTV and Instagram. They can also like and share to friends.

IGTV also integrates with Instagram Stories in that you can create links in your Stories and viewers can simply swipe up and it will take them directly to any video you link to on your IGTV channel.

So Why Should You Consider Using it for your business or brand?

For starters, remember the stat about Instagram & Facebook having 3 Billion users, well that is one important reason.

Instagram is massively popular and IGTV could be a really big deal for creators and brands to get exposure and market your business.

IGTV is the first of its kind to focus on

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I have spent the past week laughing and crying and I also figured out the recipe for success as a content creator and I share it with you in this episode. Today’s is about understanding what matters in life and how to build a brand and create content that makes a positive impact on others.

Life Lessons for Content Creators

Episode Summary:
Today’s episode 147 is about understanding what matters in life and how to build a brand and create content that makes a positive impact on others.

Today is about priorities and urgency. You have one chance at this game of life and sometimes you need to do a self-audit to get back on track.

Questions, Comments, Feedback?
mike@mikemurphy.co

Complete Show Notes:
https://mikemurphy.co/ep147

Buy My New eBook:
How To Podcast on Wordpress com: The Step-By-Step Guide
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07D6DSVVM

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Ep146: The Writing A Book Show

Behind The Scenes of Writing & Self-Publishing a Book/p>

Episode Summary:
How did I write my new eBook: How To Podcast on Wordrpess.com?

What tools and resources did I use?

What was my process and workflow and my overall experience?

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Questions, Comments, Feedback?
mike@mikemurphy.co

Complete Show Notes:
https://mikemurphy.co/ep146

Buy My New eBook:
How To Podcast on Wordpress com: The Step-By-Step Guide
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07D6DSVVM

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Ep145: The Creator Show

What does it really take to create online content and to create the life you want?/p>

Episode Summary:

What does it take to make it as a content creator?
What does it take to succeed in business?
What does it take to create the life you want?

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Questions, Comments, Feedback?
mike@mikemurphy.co

Complete Show Notes:
https://mikemurphy.co/ep144

Buy My New eBook:
How To Podcast on Wordpress com: The Step-By-Step Guide
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07D6DSVVM

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Ep144: The Wordpress.com Show

In today’s episode, I share a chapter from my new eBook How To Podcast on Wordpress.com and share 14 reasons to consider using Wordpress.com to launch your podcast and website.

Chapter 1 of my new eBook: Why Use Wordpress.com as a Podcast Media Host?

Why should you consider using Wordpress.com if you are launching a new podcast and website?

What are 14 benefits Wordpress.com brings to the table?

Free PDF:
https://howtopodcaston.files.wordpress.com/2018/06/why-wordpress-com-1.pdf

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Questions, Comments, Feedback?
mike@mikemurphy.co

Complete Show Notes:
https://mikemurphy.co/ep144

Buy The eBook:
How To Podcast on Wordpress com: The Step-By-Step Guide
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07D6DSVVM

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Ep143: The Podcast Hosting Show
In today’s episode, you will learn what a podcast media host is, what to look for when choosing one and how much do they cost

Episode Summary:

What is a podcast media host?
How Does Podcast Media Hosting Work?
What should you look for when choosing a media host?
What podcast hosts do I use?
How much does podcast hosting cost?

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Questions, Comments, Feedback?
mike@mikemurphy.co

Complete Show Notes:
https://mikemurphy.co/ep143

Buy The eBook: How To Podcast on Wordpress com
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07D6DSVVM

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Episode Summary: The story of Why I Wrote The How To Podcast on Wordpress.com:The Step by Step Guide.

The Anatomy of a Good Email
Is Wordpress.com a legitimate podcast host?
What makes Wordpress.com a good option for some podcasters?
What ultimately made me decide to write my first ebook on Podcasting on Wordpress.com?

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Episode Summary: Today is all about The Amazon Associates Affiliate Program.

What is the Amazon Associates program?
How do you join the program?
What are the pros and cons of the program?
How much does Amazon pay in commissions?
How do I use Amazon Associates?

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mike@mikemurphy.co

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Ep140: The Podcast Roadmap Show

Episode Summary: Today I simplify the start to finish process for starting a podcast. This is the cheat sheet I wish I had when I started.

In today’s show:
What is The Podcast Roadmap?
Who is it For?
What are the main steps in the Roadmap for launching a podcast from start to finish?

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mike@mikemurphy.co

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Episode Summary: Episode 139 The One Life Show tells is life lessons and moving forward

This story is to remind you that you have one life and there is no better time than now to create the life you want.

Create the life you want
Overcoming self-doubt and fear of trying
One at bat

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Episode Summary: Episode 138 The Teacher Show about my journey to become an online educator
So the key points I will discuss today:
What does a perfect world look like for Mike Murphy LLC?
What and who do I want to teach?
What steps am I taking to position myself as an online educator?

Comments, Questions & Feedback:
mike@mikemurphy.co

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