Midweek Insights

44. Podcasting as a Marathon: The Growth Journey

• Dezzy Charalambous • Season 3 • Episode 44

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Dr. Agis Keramidas returns to share insights from his podcasting journey spanning over 440 episodes, discussing how consistency, deep listening, and personal development intersect in this powerful medium. His experience reveals that podcasting is not just about content creation but a transformative journey that builds momentum and cultivates valuable life skills.

0:00 Introduction to Dr. Agis Keramidas

2:44 Misconceptions About Podcasting

4:50 The Art of Listening in Conversations

9:02 Momentum and Consistency in Personal Growth

16:57 Self-Motivation Strategies and Pain as Motivator

31:14 Challenges and Future of Podcasting

43:55 Daily Practices for Personal Development

55:55 Final Thoughts and Standing Out

• Podcasting is a marathon, not a sprint – results typically emerge after the first year
• The power of truly listening rather than waiting to respond creates deeper connections
• Consistency and momentum become transformative forces that overcome self-doubt
• Self-motivation requires connecting to your deeper "why" and reviewing it regularly
• A simple daily gratitude practice with a friend can create profound life changes
• Meditation and physical movement serve as cornerstones for personal development
• The importance of having a clear direction and revisiting your vision regularly
• Niching down isn't always necessary – some successful podcasts have broader appeal

''Stand out rather than fit in.'' Dr. Agis Keramidas

https://agikeramidas.com/
Agikeramidas.com


Get in touch at: midweekinsights@gmail.com

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The information provided in Midweek Insights is for general informational and entertainment purposes only and is not intended as professional advice. Listeners should seek professional advice relevant to their specific circumstances before making any decisions.

While we strive to provide accurate and up-to-date information, the dynamic nature of certain topics may result in changes or updates. Midweek Insights does not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or suitability of information discussed in the episodes.



Speaker 1:

So welcome to Midweek Insights. I am very excited to welcome back Aki Keramida, who is my mentor in podcasting. I learned from him. He inspires me without even realizing it and I admire from him. He inspires me without even realizing it and I admire his journey. He has currently reached 440 episodes and that in itself is worth celebrating.

Speaker 1:

So he is an author, a knowledge broker, and his work encompasses empowering people to master personal growth. And he ends every episode with a wonderful catchphrase stand out rather than fit in. And he embodies this in the way hephrase stand out rather than fit in. And he embodies this in the way he's standing out in the podcasting world with his consistency and his love of what he does and his pursuit of this at all costs. And he brings his wealth of experience to his content creation. And he's inspired countless individuals, including myself, through his unique way and the way he embraces growth. So Aki's back to talk about podcasting, the journey, the growth that has come through it and anything else that comes up. So let's see where it goes. Welcome, aki. Thank you for coming back again. Such a pleasure to have you back.

Speaker 2:

Desi, it warms my heart to be here and speak with you again. We've known each other for a little while and thank you so much for this beautiful introduction that I was listening with interest, and you said that I inspire you. I will say thank you very much, and you also inspire me because what you are doing right now and you are carrying on your podcast for now, the third season this is incredible and if, if I think of you, you know, a few years back before you had started, who, who knew that this would be happening, and so it is lovely to be here again and speak with you, and I'm so looking forward to whatever you want to discuss.

Speaker 1:

I like the way you say whatever you want to discuss, because, yes, I have an outline, but I also like it to go in whatever direction around the topic. So let's see and I'm always surprised as how, what, what comes out from each guest. So that's the part I think I enjoy the most. And, yeah, so this is going to be digging into podcasting and I'd like to dig right into asking you your thoughts about what are the misconceptions around podcasting this thing. We've both tried to do this crazy challenge for me and the lifestyle for you. Now, yeah, the.

Speaker 2:

The misconception the first one that comes to my mind is that podcasting is one of those things that will get you where you want to go fast. You know, either in terms of making money or in terms of creating an audience or in terms of any kind of selling point. People tell you about podcasting. Podcasting is not a fast thing. That's the first misconception. So whoever and you know that does very well whoever tries to go into podcasting with a short-term vision okay, I'm going to do that for a couple of months or something. That's probably what's going to happen, because the the fruit, shall we say, of podcasting comes further down the line. So that is the main misconception.

Speaker 2:

The phrase I like using is that podcasting is like a marathon, it's not a sprint. So don't approach it like a sprint, because it's a very long way ahead of you. I'm not saying you need to do 440 episodes, like I have Exactly, but it is unrealistic, in my opinion, to expect that you will reap results from having your podcast during the first year. Let me put it like that. Of course, there are exceptions, desi, but the exceptions. You never know if you will be the exception. So I think that's the main misconception.

Speaker 1:

From that, what is the biggest lesson that podcasting has taught you so far or lessons I know there's probably- many yes, many lessons.

Speaker 2:

One is I will tie it back to what you were saying earlier before you asked me about misconceptions you were saying I'm trying now to write about the conversations and having some questions to ask, and so on, and what I have learned from doing over 250 interviews is that it is important to allow the conversation to go, and this is something that you know. It does not apply only to podcasting. That's where I learned it from. But, you know, often we have this tendency to have an agenda out of a conversation or some specific message that we want to put across or whatever, and the more we are attached to that, the less opportunity there is for the conversation to evolve, maybe, or present something that may not have been what you initially thought. But by allowing the conversation to happen more, let's say, naturally, you get something different, and I will use the word better in the very loose sense of. There was something different, something that was, let's say, meant to come from that conversation so that's a big lesson, I think.

Speaker 2:

I don't know if it is the biggest, but it's certainly one of the biggest to listen.

Speaker 1:

Yeah.

Speaker 2:

To listen, to listen, not to wait to respond. Listen, pay attention to what the other person is saying. Pay attention to the tone of their voice without thinking, oh, what I'm going to ask them. Attention to what the other person is saying. Pay attention to the tone of their voice without thinking, oh, what I'm going to ask them them. Of course, the thoughts will come, but let's not, don't stick with them. Carry on listening, paying attention to the the other person speaking, and then beautiful things come out of that conversation, as you you also know, being a podcast host but, it is, I think, a big, big lesson for me and for.

Speaker 1:

Yeah.

Speaker 2:

I think most people could do it with a little bit more listening, listening.

Speaker 1:

And this is a skill. Has it transferred? First of all, has it gotten better your listening skills with the episodes? Because in the beginning I'm sure and I can compare myself in the process you are quite focused on getting the questions in and trying to figure out the right flow. But has it gotten better at being able to tune in more, let's say attentively, with time? Have you learned it as a skill and is it something you've done to acquire the skill?

Speaker 2:

Practice that's what I've done practice. So yeah, it definitely has improved. It was not like that. It's improved and there is still room for improvement. It's purely ongoing.

Speaker 1:

Simple as that, Desi. Yeah, it is one of the most underrated skills. I think listening and this is something I have a lot of work on, also personally it happens when most people are also not used to being listened to.

Speaker 2:

So when they encounter a person that actually does listen to them and says, oh yes, I must, or whatever it is the response that shows that you've actually listened and try to see things from their point of view, I think that makes such a huge difference, Such a huge difference.

Speaker 1:

That's true and that probably gives them the feeling that they want to give back more, you know, and that they feel heard and they want to share more because it's not just going wasted right. Their words matter.

Speaker 2:

Yeah yeah, they're not as used to being listened to. So when they are listened to, you see that people open up in all sorts of ways.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, I think that's one of the things I enjoy most is when I am tuned in really well into a conversation and I get that the person is opening up more and they want to share more of themselves. It feels good because you can see them relaxing into it and I relax into it more when I see that response too. So any yeah, what other unexpected skills have come from this that you could say oh, this is cool, I can use it outside of podcasting?

Speaker 2:

Skills right, I will tell you. A trait that comes certainly is consistency, which I didn't know, that I had this kind of consistency with something to be putting out two episodes a week for almost five years.

Speaker 1:

That's incredible.

Speaker 2:

Honestly, I didn't you know. If you had told me back in 2019, 2020 when I started, that's what will happen, I would say, really, I really can't see it. But you know it picked up the momentum. I think you mentioned the word momentum. It is a tremendous force, tremendous power, and you can use momentum to your advantage. When you roll the momentum on a positive habit or change or act or otherwise, momentum will take you the opposite way. Either way, there is no other way. Momentum will work. It always does so.

Speaker 2:

In this case, the momentum and the consistency showed me that. You know there is, there is a power there in me that this is. When I say this, I mean putting out my continuing with personal development mastery podcast. There is no other alternative or option or question in my mind. It is a certainty that I will carry on. So you know that, combined with the momentum of 440 episodes, create something that is very difficult to be, you know, slowed down, especially from. You know internal factors, which I know these are the, the topics that you enjoy talking about, rather than you know the external things that might happen and you're saying the internal factors.

Speaker 1:

Can you just expand on that a little bit?

Speaker 2:

limitations, fears, self-sabotaging patterns, you know all those things that hold us down.

Speaker 2:

They're meant to keep us safe, but this is not a safety when you are afraid to pick up the phone and do a sales call. That's not about your safety. You're going to be safe, no matter what the other person says. Your well-being is not threatened, but the body responds in the same way that if the proverbial saber-toothed tiger would be next to you. So I don't know. I changed direction to your answer of your question, so I'll take a pause here I'm taking you.

Speaker 1:

I told you that we don't know where it's going to take us, but so I like that. You said that, because it's the fear you said you had, the momentum that pushes you, despite what the internal stuff would do. Maybe initially, maybe that's a bigger force for you, from what I'm seeing right, maybe that was stronger and now the momentum is carrying you. Even if there are moments of that or there are times of that, you've got such a force already. It's like this rolling ball that's already gotten moving that even if you do this is what I'm equating it to you start to feel that fear and that self-doubt. You're like, wait a second, I've got this other stuff pulling me forward, so it's not as strong. And I think that's really important what you said, because this can be applied to so many things when we start doing and taking steps towards doing and letting the doing happen more than the doubting right. I think that's really crucial.

Speaker 2:

You know what it comes to me that analogy.

Speaker 2:

They say that the rocket, the spaceship, needs like 90% of its fuel to do the initial couple of kilometers and then it doesn't need as much fuel. So it is more difficult to start and what you were saying, the, the fears, are certainly more in the, the beginning, the self-doubt because that is a big, I believe, internal thing that many experienced. Self-doubt also, you know, prevents or makes it difficult to stick with anything. As you said, it's anything. Maybe it is starting a diet. Day one is much more difficult than day 60. If you had gone for 60 days, for example, it would be much easier because you are used to it, you have the momentum, or stopping alcohol. At the moment we are recording in October I'm doing sober October. It was a very nice break and now that I have now halfway into October and I really enjoy planning not to start drinking anytime soon, certainly not this year, at least until Christmas, which I will reconsider about that time.

Speaker 2:

But that is a week which I will see. But what I'm saying is that it is always more difficult in the beginning. Then, once you get going, going, it's so much easier yeah but you have to go through that initial part of the self-doubt, of the fear, of the. Whatever way these inner limitations, shall we say, express themselves in different people is different things, but there are variations, it's not very different, you know there are variations of same things yeah, that's so true and I hope the alcohol thing goes well, let us know.

Speaker 1:

Done with alcohol I have done a year without I have.

Speaker 2:

it goes on and off in periods of time I actually enjoy it Not having it Like I do very much not having it, but there are periods that I enjoy having it as well. So I go through cycles.

Speaker 1:

So I think, also with that, it's the momentum of the feeling, the good feeling behind you know, as the days accumulate, like feeling, I guess, better in your body and feeling more, I don't know alert, maybe, I don't know.

Speaker 2:

Definitely.

Speaker 1:

So that could also be part of the momentum that carries you right, to keep going, to keep doing so. This kind of leads me to the point I wanted to ask you about motivation, because many of us have goals and aspirations, we want to do things and a lot of the times we look for the motivation to get started and to get moving. Um, how have you dealt with this aspect of things? You've kind of answered it in terms of momentum, but to get started, like before you even start the momentum, what advice would you have for someone who is in that phase?

Speaker 2:

It's a great question. Yes, the momentum comes afterwards before I think the important thing to keep yourself motivated, and I will talk now about self-motivation. Actually, there are two different aspects of this. One would be self motivation, and for that I would encourage someone to write down not just think about, but write down the why, the, the reasons why you want to do this. And a very good exercise is when you write. Let's say you write five reasons that you want. Let's take, for example, losing weight or starting a diet okay, so one reason could be because I will feel better in my body.

Speaker 2:

Okay, and then you write another five reasons or whatever you want. Then you look and that's a very good exercise. You look into the list of reasons and you think of what lies or what benefits might there be or what reasons might there be below that one. So in the example I said earlier, I will feel better in my body. Then there is another benefit or reason that because of that, I will be able to be more physically active with my children to be more physically active with my children.

Speaker 2:

So by doing that and looking at a growing list of things that either inspire you or you want to do them for some reason, or they will benefit you in some way when you write a list of that and you can easily write with using this method, 20 at least 20?

Speaker 1:

whys right? So going down 20 times? Is that what you're saying?

Speaker 2:

No, no, no, no. I mean, in total you could write 20 reasons why you want to start a diet. So when you have a list of 20 things, read them in the morning. If you're lacking the motivation, read them. You have to repeat them every morning. Put them on your fridge. But even better than that, I would make an effort to read them and do it like a kind of an affirmation, a self-affirmation that turning those into affirmations?

Speaker 2:

yeah, that will motivate you hopefully yeah because they are, and that's what I mean with the deeper you go with your reasons and the more emotional you get about because it's not like, oh, because I want to see the number 60 in the scale, who cares? That's not really the reason why I want to do it.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, there's a lot behind. Exactly, I find that I am often not always, but often motivated by pain. So, like you know, they say the stick with the carrot. So for me I like I could give an example of my own weight. I had ballooned after the summer, right, I was also taking some medication and it just added to it and it just got out of control and I just the pain of that, of not feeling comfortable where I was at right, and the effect it had on me and how I felt, has been a very strong motivator. So often that gets me like to take the first step right, to make that first move, and often that gets me to take the first step right to make that first move. So I relate a lot to the pain as a push, I guess.

Speaker 2:

So yeah, I guess we can make…. Pain is a great motivator, but you don't have to use that. I mean when the pain happens, that motivates you. So earlier I was talking about ways you can motivate yourself without pain before reaching the pain happens that motivates you. So earlier I was talking about ways you can motivate yourself before it's in the pain.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, yeah, correct.

Speaker 2:

Because the pain will yeah, it changes us.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, the pain changes us, but there are things like we might. I mean, it's always been there to get back into shape, to get fit and what have you. But the pain kind of pushes that decision faster for me.

Speaker 2:

Yeah definitely yeah, I would say, I can imagine for most people.

Speaker 1:

So some challenges you faced in the podcasting experience and how you've managed to overcome.

Speaker 2:

One challenge is the being able to do everything in time and sort things out without having the podcast consume all of my working time, because it would be. It's possible, so that was a challenge which I'm very happy to have found very effective, shall we say? Ways to do things fast, the same things that I used to do, and even better, with the aid of technology and some platforms, to do things really effectively and fast. So much that I'm considering at some point not now, and this is the first time I'm saying this so at some point the podcast will increase its weekly episodes. So it's been two episodes a week since it started, wow, but yes, the idea of having three episodes a week, it has crossed my mind a few times.

Speaker 1:

I don't know when it's going to happen, but you know it.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, I will leave it to that.

Speaker 1:

You would look at the same topic of personal development, mastery right, or would you look at another angle? No, no, no.

Speaker 2:

There's still a lot to master. I'm scratching the surface there. Oh my goodness, 440 episodes to attain mastery in. Only they talk about 10,000 hours. You know that's. I'm not there.

Speaker 1:

You're almost there, though If you do the three episodes, you're going to catch up fast.

Speaker 2:

Do you?

Speaker 1:

ever find yourself steering a little bit away from the personal development mastery topic and wanting to bring in other topics that are interesting to you or that are linked maybe.

Speaker 2:

Can you tell me of a topic that is not related? That's true.

Speaker 1:

I was trying to think now.

Speaker 2:

I mean, even if I put a topic that is completely like a skill set, which I don't often, let's say, someone talking about marketing yeah, I don't often do that, but even talking about that, it depends that skill set can also be applied to your own personal development because of what you will learn of that or the way that you will behave with people, or so I'm not sure if that makes sense.

Speaker 1:

Actually, as I asked the question, I was like, well, I mean it does. It all comes back to that in a way, because it's behind a lot of what we do, whether we want to, you know again, start a podcast. There's a lot of personal development around that. For me, that's been a huge part of my growth right and pushing certain limits of my growth right and pushing certain limits of my own. So, and then I would imagine, like you said, pod, um, marketing and um, even a leadership role especially read leadership roles or as an educator, teaching.

Speaker 2:

There's a lot and that's personal development.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, there's, it's actually in a lot, so it's under so many other brackets. That's why so it's key You've got a lot of content to keep.

Speaker 2:

Parenting, Isn't it Parenting? Isn't parenting? Personal development, to become a better parent is to become a better person.

Speaker 1:

Huge, huge and, my goodness, the lessons already and thinking you know it all before you start or what you're not going to do or do, and then you get big challenges and a big humbling experience in many ways, parenting, I think. So, yes, okay, so you don't need to go to another topic to stay motivated. Have you had a guest in front of you where you felt uncomfortable or the experience has not been as pleasant and didn't flow?

Speaker 2:

It has happened a handful of times. These are two different things that I saw in that question. One was not feeling comfortable because of my, let's say, apprehension towards looking at the person that I had put in a pedestal, and that was, you know, years ago. So that was one situation that I did feel it was not uncomfortable. Not uncomfortable in the sense that, you know, I didn't want to be there.

Speaker 2:

It was uncomfortable in the sense of it's out of the comfort zone, because I'm having a conversation with someone who I don't know, 15 years ago, used to watch a documentary called the Secret. That was Dr John Demartini, not to say exactly who he was. So I was in 2005 or something like that. I was watching the documentary, reading the book and being inspired, and then, when I had him opposite me on a call like this, then I did feel, you know, nervous because I thought, wow, this is a person that, so that is, I have. It is a matter of, you know, experience, and lots of things have evolved since then. But that comes up as an experience of the first kind. As for the second kind, like a conversation that doesn't flow or does not, you know, connect, or I've had I'm, I will admit that it goes less than five over the years.

Speaker 1:

Probably I can remember of three now which I'm not going to name.

Speaker 2:

You know those conversations, one was not even published, the other I don't even remember. Okay, yeah, it can happen sometimes, and you feel free not to publish, right if it's something that doesn't work out, or you just, oh, definitely now if if that happened to me now, after this experience that I have, I would probably yeah, depending on how it was, I might have even I might also tell them that I'm sorry, this is really not what I wanted to, okay wow that comes Desi.

Speaker 2:

That comes with experience and having you know 250 conversations as a host plus, so it comes more easily.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, and I know I asked you this question before in our first interview. Was it episode 16 when I interviewed you? I'll double check. Anyway, go back and see it. Let me just check episode 16, I believe, but I'll confirm it at the end, and now I need to confirm it just in case someone's listening and wants to go back and hear that one again. No, that wasn't 16, aki which?

Speaker 2:

one was it.

Speaker 1:

Ah 13. Lucky 13.

Speaker 2:

13. Oh wow, Right Interesting.

Speaker 1:

Lucky 13.

Speaker 2:

Lucky, no the wow right.

Speaker 1:

Interesting Lucky 13. The lucky 13, yes, and I asked you then, and I want to ask you again, about any recent guests that have inspired you or surprised you, given you something that was another wow moment or takeaway that you cannot forget.

Speaker 2:

Let me take a pause for a moment. I would like to look actually at the list, now that you say it. Because the people that come to my mind. I probably answered them in our previous conversation.

Speaker 1:

You did say about Eat that Frog and the Demartini you mentioned again, maybe in the more recent ones.

Speaker 2:

The more recent ones. I've had some conversation that comes to my mind without even looking at the list, and then I will look at the list, but since it came up, it is important to mention it's a conversation I had with Matt O'Neill about happiness, and you know, know, it is the topic that I doubt that there are many people that are not interested in being more happy or finding out ways of, and that's one of the and really it was about, you know, the state of what I got. One thing I remember getting from the conversation was that we often are challenged with happiness when things do not go our way. That's when it's more difficult to connect with happiness. When everything is fantastic, then it's easier, but that's coming from the external, whereas happiness comes from the internal. So when there are challenges or adversities to us, and it helps to find meaning in this situation, whatever that might mean for different people, but whatever happens, when you find meaning in, in that, then you are allowing again the sense of happiness to emerge again, as shall we say.

Speaker 1:

So it's not the absence of the challenge or the bad experience, it's the maybe, learning through it and becoming taking the good from it, and maybe is that the angle he's looking at you know, finding meaning.

Speaker 2:

Yes, finding meaning is what? Could it mean that you know, there is things, everything happens for a reason. I really believe that there are no random things. So if we believe that the universe, or god or the great architect creates all this and has created all this, then there must be a meaning for the higher good. That's what I mean a meaning for the higher good in this adversity. Anyway, this is actually. This is more my interpretations, rather than what we talked about in that podcast, so that is mine.

Speaker 2:

However, there is one episode that was very important a recent episode and a very special one, a different one where I spoke with a friend of mine about a daily practice that he and I have been doing for over a year now okay, cliche so that and it is a gratitude practice.

Speaker 2:

So to keep it, to explain it very simply because it's very simple, you, each of us, records a voice message a few minutes, you know five minutes or whatever on whatsapp and we send it to the other person I like that and usually the message is about gratitude, what it is that I'm grateful for, and the other person sends their own, or they can respond, or yeah but it is a very simple practice that has led us to cultivate a deep friendship, to have some insights, by either hearing ourselves say some things it is a transformational practice, desi and my invitation is.

Speaker 2:

If you want to check out, I will tell you which episode yes, we do, it is 430 recently.

Speaker 1:

Yes, it's recent. Yes, we do.

Speaker 2:

It is 430. Recently yes, it's recent the simple daily practice that has changed our lives in the last year. So we describe the practice and, more importantly, what each of us has gained by doing it, and it's incredible.

Speaker 1:

I like this. I like this a lot because usually you say, write a list, but this is someone on the other end. Hearing it as well makes it, I think, more powerful. So I'm going to find a person that I'm going to do this with and I'll give you some feedback in about a year. I'll give you some feedback. At some point we were not planning to do it about a year.

Speaker 2:

I'll give you some feedback at some point. We're not planning to do it for a year. It's, it's. We said, okay, let's, let's give it a go. That's what, how it? Because we didn't know how it, we never had a time frame we said shall we give it a go? Okay, let's do it. Then neither of us had to say anything because we saw the benefits.

Speaker 1:

Tell me some benefits that you felt. What came up that?

Speaker 2:

was noticeable. So one thing was, as I said, the cultivating of a deep friendship. The other was feeling heard, feeling listened to, for me personally, also being heard without judgment. You know, we started as purely as a gratitude practice, so I'm grateful that today is a sunny day, or whatever it is that, but soon we started opening up to each other and sharing vulnerably about some things that were happening either in our internal state or in our life and that led to you know, desi, many times many of those messages were, in my perception anyway, therapy Because and I will speak for myself now Jamie had his own list of benefits he gained when you speak to a person, the other person is not there anyway, but you know they will listen to your message when you articulate some thoughts that you have in your internal dialogue, and I find that, personally, that's how it works for me.

Speaker 2:

There are things you know, we're thinking about things all the time and there is a confusion of thoughts, thoughts over thoughts, and when you try to explain that, to speak it out, to put it into words, to articulate it, it creates some clarity that wasn't there before, because you can't speak in a confused manner. You have to put the words and create a concept, and many times it's very difficult. You don't know what to say. But you know, with practice and that's what I have found personally that there were times that I shared some things, that I said some things, and it was just the fact that I spoke them out that allowed me to release them and feel like, oh my, like a weight has been lifted on my chest, and that was because I spoke about them and you know it's. You can do it in front of the mirror, but I doubt that you will have the same connection because the other person you know the other person is there and we were blessed that we have a very, very good you good connection and we became friends.

Speaker 2:

Well, we knew each other only a few months before then, but it has created something wonderful. I will tell you one more benefit quickly, and then we can change the subject. Yeah, yeah, no, this is good. Can change the. If you want to stop. Yeah, yeah, no, this is good. But sometimes we were I was like, because I had to record the message and because I didn't want, you know, not to do it. Sometimes I had to force myself because, you know, let's say, I was not in the frame of mind to start talking about gratitude. Yes, like me, he does Right.

Speaker 1:

That's his challenge.

Speaker 2:

I see, you know what I'm talking about.

Speaker 1:

It's a full-fledged more than you can imagine.

Speaker 2:

Yes, so there comes a moment in your day that you say I need to record now my message, your day, yeah, you say I need to record now my message and it's. I found myself that, even though I could start by saying you know what, today I really don't feel like talking about gratitude, blah, blah, blah. I could start like this, but I would shift it it. I found it much easy to change my dialogue again, my internal dialogue and what I was saying, my focus, like tony robbins, my focus, my towards gratitude, and that again it breaks the whatever has been happening, because you're angry or sad or overwhelmed or whatever it is that you can't connect to gratitude at all, because you have to do it, even trying. I mean, it's not like you're going to start crying tears of gratitude all of a sudden, or maybe you, you might, I don't know, but it's sure. But it is very powerful to change your state, change your vibration.

Speaker 1:

It's a powerful method so with personal development and personal development mastery, it's not that you get to a place where you're always going to be grateful. So you are kind of finding tools to get into a better state. And I think this also it changes the trajectory of sometimes what comes first and what is natural right. The maybe, negativity or the anger or whatever is the first default. This little practice and it sounds little but it's quite significant can actually start to train you to not stay there, maybe, or not to live there as long as you might have. So, yeah, I'm going to definitely try that one and find someone. I'm going to use.

Speaker 2:

Looking forward to hearing. I'll find the right person, though to do that with. Of course, you need the right person definitely.

Speaker 1:

Definitely. Yeah, You're not going to do this with someone who's not into personal development and thinks it's that they would they that other person?

Speaker 2:

I suppose they would need to be looking at it with interest, like you, yeah, yeah, I'm gonna say oh, that sounds a good idea not like yeah, that's important a few more directions I'd like to take you, but might go further.

Speaker 1:

Is your favorite personal development book if there's a favorite at the moment, because I know it might change as well.

Speaker 2:

I don't have one book, daisy, to answer my favorite book, it all depends on current I am reading now, the one I'm reading now, so I will answer it like this rather than what is my favorite book. The book I'm reading now is by Matt O'Neill, who mentioned earlier, about happiness. It's called good mood revolution, so it's it's a very nice book. Yeah, so that's. And the other one I read every day and I have been reading one page a day for many years now, since 2018, is the Daily Stoic, which, yeah, maybe I don't remember if I mentioned that in our other conversation, I probably have. It's been years that I've been reading. It's part of the books that I read every morning. It only takes two minutes to read one page. That's how it's meant to be read, little thoughts for the day.

Speaker 2:

Things to ponder for the day.

Speaker 1:

More than little.

Speaker 2:

Little that become big. Of course, it's about the art of living, desi and things that have been, because Stoic philosophy was in ancient Greece, like two and a half thousand years ago. It's still very relevant today, as it was in ancient Greece and in ancient Rome. What are the one relevant one?

Speaker 1:

that stands out.

Speaker 2:

That it is not about what happens. It is about our ability to choose how we respond, and that's from there, right yeah. You hear all these reasons yeah.

Speaker 1:

So back to podcasting, I'd like to take you. If someone wants to start their podcast or is unsure if it's for them or not, what would you say in those situations? Someone's thinking about it and they're unsure.

Speaker 2:

I don't know If they're unsure. They need to create some kind of certainty, either yes or no, and that comes with getting more information, I suppose. If you're unsure, why are you unsure? And what would make you more sure, either for yes or no, could be reading on websites, could be speaking with Daisy, or speaking with me, or you know a person that knows about podcasting. Just get more certain, because if you are unsure, you probably won't do anything, which better. It's better to gain some clarity. And now now I remember Desi, that phrase that says when you have to make a decision, the best thing of the decision, the worst decision that you can make, is not to make a decision.

Speaker 2:

That's really that's so by not being sure what's the point of that Get sure. Either you want to do that and do it, or if you don't want to do it, don't trouble yourself with it. Oh, I could have done it If you could have done it.

Speaker 1:

do it Very true and best advice you've received as a podcaster and something that was really not worth taking on as advice on your journey.

Speaker 2:

I will start with the second one, the advice that the worst advice, that I never agreed with it, but it's a well, it's a common advice that's been given among podcasting around other things as well, but podcasting in particular, and that is that you have to niche your show down to a very specialized audience.

Speaker 1:

I'm glad you said that.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, because that gave me a lot of trouble when I heard that Definitely that applies to many, but it doesn't apply to all, and I would argue that there are many successful podcasts that are not niched at all. Of course, there are many advantages in niche endowment if your topic is, indeed, you know, a topic that is very specific. I remember a guy that was had a conversation with him. He used I will tell you what I mean specific he has a podcast about cadillac, the cadillac cars and and he has, you know it's very niche podcast. So it's about it's people in USA that own Cadillac cars and he. So that is niche, very much niche. And when you have that, or if you talk about, you know, I don't know a specific category of cats or that helps, but not but with other, it doesn't have to be like that.

Speaker 2:

Anyway, that is an advice that I think it is wrong because it does not apply to everything. That's why it's wrong. Many times it is right, you know. As for good advice, now I'm trying to think about good advice, desi. One thing that comes to mind I don't remember if it was a specific person that told me, or it is advice that I have created or picked up from.

Speaker 1:

The lines get blurred after a while, right when the advice comes and what your thoughts are.

Speaker 2:

It is it is true, it does it does because because you know, at some point you realize that the, the things that make a difference and the things the wisdom is very it is the same. It is very difficult. I mean, there are different translations or different interpretations or different approaches, but you know it is. You know it is hard to argue, so I anyway, yeah. So advice then, or wisdom, as I started to say have a clear direction of where you want to go, and take time from time to time to re-read that document and look ahead, like what is my plan for the next year, or more than that if you want, but also much less than that. So do have a written plan, a written direction, a strategy, if you want, so that you can evaluate and continue. And I'm not sure if that's what you were, yeah, yeah, so that was yeah, of course, because that's your advice have a clear vision and revisit, right revisit for sure and revisit maybe the con you're saying revisit the content or your reason for doing this, maybe revisit things.

Speaker 2:

Generally daisy, we have the. I know that I have the tendency to write down some things, that when I write them I say, wow, this is really going to change my life, and then it doesn't completely forget about it because I haven't brought it back into my focus. So there is repetition is the mother of skill. Yes, I'm your friend, so let's reread those stuff, because we forget them otherwise.

Speaker 1:

That's true, definitely revisiting it. What's your go-to activity outside of the podcast that meets your personal growth needs, or if there is?

Speaker 2:

Of course there are. I'm just trying to think where to start maybe one or two, I will tell you two that came to my mind.

Speaker 2:

So yes, I was thinking, and yes, one is meditation. It is a cornerstone of my practices. I meditate every day. I recently have started with my partners once a week, every Sunday, we meditate for one hour, which is a commitment. It is easy to sit for 15, 20 minutes, it's not a big deal, but an hour is difficult, it's different. So, you know, meditation is, for me, a cornerstone of my abilities to center myself. That's one thing. The other thing is center myself, that's one thing. The other thing is physical activity. You know, moving the body. That really makes a big difference.

Speaker 2:

I've been doing yoga almost every day for a few years now with the wim hof method and it has really, it has changed my. I would say that it has changed my life. Doing that it's like 10 to 20 minutes, depending on the different routine that it has. It's incredible that it's a simple thing, it's a gentle thing, not necessarily, you know, sweating, but I do enjoy a good run also. That also, but if I take those things out. Another thing that I did actually yesterday I went for a walk. There was a point in the afternoon that I felt like my energy had dropped. I was not in my best and it was sunny, I said, okay, I'll go for a walk. I walked for half an hour. I was super afterwards. I had some nice fresh air and movement. May I the last one in this, the we? When we eat higher vibrational foods, we feel better. Also, when we eat low vibrational foods, we might feel better temporarily at that moment with the dopamine, but then we feel worse.

Speaker 1:

Definitely there's such a connection there. Oh, my goodness, I feel that a thousand percent when I'm not eating optimally and then going into better eating. It's such a difference and it does affect mind in a big way. So that's quite a lot that you've said and you keep these going. But definitely, moving our bodies, it changes our state, like when we're in a bad state, are also moving and walking for me and just ideas and thought, like creativity, especially when I'm not listening to something or when I'm not listening to another podcast and I've just like got nothing on and I've gone for a walk. That's I find I get one then I need a notebook.

Speaker 1:

I'm like where's my notebook? I?

Speaker 2:

need to put one in your pocket. It, I need to put one in my pocket. It's not a big deal.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, yeah, yeah, but I was like oh, how many ideas have I wasted, how many To end off? I want to ask you if you have any parting thoughts around personal development and growth for our listeners, who are also into these topics, something you'd like to leave them with so that they can remember you by.

Speaker 2:

You're hard to forget. No pressure.

Speaker 1:

No pressure, they will not forget you because you're unforgettable.

Speaker 2:

You know you also mentioned in the introduction that I always end my podcast with the phrase stand out, don't fit in. So that's one thing to say. But apart from that, what comes up now is to congratulations, first of all, for being on the journey and I acknowledge you for being on the journey of personal development, because many people are not. They prefer to settle, which is the easy way, but I'm fulfilling. So congratulations, first of all, for being on the journey of growth and the challenges and the fulfillment it brings, along with all that. Keep going, and it is a journey. Keep going, enjoy the process and carry on. And I will say it now stand out, don't fit in.

Speaker 1:

Yes, and that's how we end the episode. Thank you so much again, aki. You always share so much, and not just from the podcast interviews, whenever we do catch up and share ideas or just catch up on where we're at you always leave me with so much, so I'm really grateful that you are here.

Speaker 1:

So my first thing I'm saying out loud my gratitude for today is this conversation and the fact that I can reach out and say, aiki, would you like to come back on for another interview? And you show up so openly and so ready to share. So I don't take that lightly and I really appreciate this, and you so. Thank you.

Speaker 2:

The appreciation is mutual, Daisy.

Speaker 1:

Thank you so much.

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Dezzy Charalambous

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