Several weeks ago, a talented friend of mine over at Light Ridge Studio (photographer, videographer, podcast producer) asked me about starting a podcast. He was so encouraging because he’d seen me speak on camera so easily and improvise without any kind of script. It was true: I always enjoyed speaking to all kinds of crowds in all kinds of ways–through writing, teaching, public speaking, radio interviews, Facebook Live, or however else God would position me to use my words to talk about Him.
But a podcast? I hardly listen to them. I don’t know this world of podcasting at all. They’re for the young, the cool, the well-platformed.
My students love them. In fact, most of my friends in their 20’s and 30’s seemed to listen to an ongoing stream of their favorite podcasts. I wondered when they listened (all the time, whenever) where they listen (in the car, on the bus, walking, while doing chores) how they listen (Spotify, iTunes on their phones with earbuds) and why they listen (to learn, to connect, to not be alone with their thoughts).
I began to understand a new medium to talk about the things I love: writing, verbs, Jesus, the Bible. Why wouldn’t I do this? Well, for one, it’s expensive. You need equipment. You need someone to produce your podcast (unless you teach yourself). You need to learn how to store or host your podcasts, upload them to various sites, and how, most importantly, to find sponsors to pay for production fees or, if you’re using your podcast for revenue, to find advertisers who will pay you. You need to promote your podcast and feel comfortable enough to know it might completely fail.
And you need to actually do it. You need to get in front of a microphone and speak to an unseen audience about your topic. It’s definitely not for everyone. It feels a bit more vulnerable than anything else I’ve ever done.
So I prayed about it first. I checked in with God. Are you sure? Are you sure, God? Is this a good idea? I found myself in Psalm 71, and the answer came swiftly and with conviction:
But as for me, I will always have hope; I will praise you more and more. My mouth will tell of your righteousness, of your salvation all day long, though I know not its measure. . . even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, O God, till I declare your power to the next generation. Psalm 71:14-18
As I sat with the Lord, I thought about what it means to praise Him more and more. The podcast was more. It could be another way to praise Him. And the funny thing was I had been feeling old and gray. I had been feeling like a podcast was for younger folks, for a generation I no longer truly understood. Yet here, I realized the podcast could be a way to declare His power “to the next generation.”
And so I did it. I am doing it. May God be glorified. And here it is on Spotify.