What I've learnt from 20 podcast episodes

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I've been getting some world-class guests on the podcast lately, PJ Ricardson (Laundry), Erin Sarofsky (Sarofsky) and Marti Romances (Territory), and I want to maximise that.
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— those last two are still to be published, so make sure you're subscribed —
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So what's interesting to me is looking for patterns and habits that they all share. Maybe even the words they use or the way they think. I want to do a deep analysis of what the secret to being a leading creative is.By looking at what they say, but also what is unsaid.
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And you know who is great at discovering patterns - Monsieur A.I.
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Once I've created a nice little prompt and dived into the insights, I'll share the experiment with you guys.
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Podcasting isn't something you do to earn money or get famous - no you really need to be famous first for people to give a shit but that doesn't stop me from trying to work out wha the cheat code is for podcasting and try to get the most views.
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Intros REALLY matter

I have one outlier on my podcast - one that performed 16x better than the average. My theory is it's the intro or the hook that was better than all the rest.

So let's break that down and see what we can learn. I asked AI to look for repeatable patterns and strategies as to why this was an effective intro:

WHY IT WORKS

Novelty: Opening with an unexpected stance on AI vs. traditional craft jolts attention. Listeners decide to stay or drop in the first 30s, novelty is a proven retention spike.

Authority: “21 years” instantly signals expertise, so the opinion carries weight.

Concrete imagery: “6,000 images a day” is a mental movie, not a vague complaint. Specific sensory details boost engagement.

Emotion & vulnerability: “Oh my God… professional button-pusher” shows frustration; audiences bond with honesty.

Mini-story arc: Pain → discovery → hope. A complete micro-narrative satisfies yet teases more. Hook-stacking relies on micro-arcs inside the first minute.

Curiosity gap: We now need to learn how AI solved the problem, pulling us into the episode. Effective hooks promise answers without giving them away.
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I got lucky because that's a pretty great intro I accidentally edited together. But can I repeat it now that I have a better understanding of why it works?
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Back to AI to make it actionable

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30-Second Intro Playbook (cheat-sheet)

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1. Build the hook
   • Provocative claim – “I shot ads for 21 years, but AI finally lets me create again.”
   • Authority – drop 1 fact (years, marquee client, awards).
   • Pain in one image – vivid low-point (“6 000 shots a day, zero ownership—felt like a button-pusher”).
   • Promise of change – tease the upside (“AI gave me my art back—here’s how”).
   • Open loop – end on the unanswered how?
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Formula: Claim ➜ Credibility ➜ Pain ➜ Pivot ➜ Cliff-hanger.
​Target length: 20–30 s.

Top 3 AI Uses in 2025: Support

Interesting study I saw – apparently, the top use cases for AI right now revolve around support. Things like getting ideas, specific searches, even companionship and therapy.

And well... I have a little secret...

I actually used AI myself to help zero in on my purpose. Now, I'm building a repeatable system from what I learned so anyone taking my Dopamine Reset course can get that same support too.

Now, I don't sell the course explicitly as a 'find your purpose' thing, because honestly, I can't guarantee that outcome – there are just too many factors involved. But what I can do is give you the absolute best chance of succeeding.

How?

Simple, really. I sell people what they want, and then I give them what they need. If you're feeling addicted to your phone, drained, and lacking motivation, a Dopamine Reset is the perfect kick-start – that’s the 'want'. But how can you ever feel truly motivated long-term if you don't have any real purpose or direction in life? That's the 'need'.

We often make the mistake of thinking our mind and body are separate entities. That spending hours scrolling, depleting vital neurochemicals, won't somehow affect us deeply.

That skipping exercise, missing out on those natural endorphins, won't impact our thoughts and mood.

That not being present and aware of our own thoughts won't ripple through our bodies.

It's all connected. My secret goal for you? Start with a dopamine reset, end with finding purpose.

Again, I can't promise you will succeed in finding it. But I can promise that treating yourself like a dedicated creative athlete for the next 30 days – resetting, refocusing, reconnecting – will give you the best possible environment to make it happen.

It definitely worked for me.

Curious? The next cohort kicks off in May. DM me or drop a message below if you want to know more!