Before I had a Bitcoin podcast, I wondered 'why do all the bitcoin podcasts always have the same guests all the time?'
Then I started a bitcoin podcast ... and I realized it's because as much as people claim they want to see 'different guests', their actions say otherwise... If you want big numbers, you need big names.
You can have an insanely interesting guest and a great, high-signal conversation, but if that guest isn't one of the 'big names' then your episode will struggle get any meaningful traction.
In contrast, every single time you have a 'big name' guest on your show, the episode FLIES.
Your RSS feed downloads skyrocket.
People share clips of your show across Nostr, X, and Instagram.
Snippets of the episode go viral on the Reddit r/bitcoin feed and get dropped in Bitcoin Telegram channels.
The YouTube algorithm pumps up your numbers like crazy by suggesting the episode to everyone and their mother... Why? Because, based on everyone and their mother's past viewing habits, the YouTube algo knows everyone and their mother will watch this episode... (look at my podcast playlist on YouTube for examples)
As a podcaster, when you see this stark contrast in performance again and again, you can't help but learn from this experience. After all, this is the market giving you signals.
It's also important to point out that if you want to get sponsors for your bitcoin podcast, you need to show numbers that make it worth the sponsor's while to fork over some sats. You need to show results.
Sponsors don't sponsor a podcast out of the goodness of their heart. They do it because they expect to make a return on their investment. Duh. The only way they will make a return on their investment is by getting their message in front of the largest number of people possible to increase the chance of conversions, because only a very small fraction of the people who view an ad read actually take action. As a podcaster, the best way to deliver the sponsor a return on their investment (and thereby ensure you continue to be sponsored) is to have big name guests on your show, ensuring your show reaches the eyeballs of a wider audience and leads to conversions for the sponsor.
This is the current incentive structure. It's not necessarily bad or good, it's just the reality of the bitcoin podcast market based on individuals freely making subjective value judgements. It's also somewhat a function of YouTube's algorithmic bias, but that bias is fed by our actions. It shows us things it thinks we will like based on what we have watched in the past. This is not complicated.
It's also not fair to only blame YouTube for pumping big names because RSS feed downloads (which are NOT influenced by YouTube's algorithm in any way) also tell the exact same story. This is not The Algorithm's fault, it's simply human action.
Additionally, the 'big name' guests are big names for a reason; they are GREAT at delivering high-signal bitcoin information that appeals to a wide audience. They distill complex ideas into succinct soundbites. They say things that resonate deeply with Bitcoiners and Precoiners alike. They are well known and, as such, have built up a great deal of trust and reputation within the Bitcoin community. Bitcoin doesn't require you to trust a third party, but when it comes to finding signal in this noisy world, we humans rely on people we trust to help us.
Trust is a heuristic. Reputation is a filter.
Our time is scarce, and we don't want to potentially waste 90 minutes of it on an unknown podcast guest.
Let me be clear: I'm very grateful for all the big name guests who come on my show. I'm grateful to call them friends and to drink deeply from the fountain of their knowledge. I'm grateful for the incredible job they do of communicating the why, how, and what of Bitcoin in a way few people can.
Folks like Jeff Booth , Lyn Alden , Samson Mow , preston , HODL , Erik Cason , Guy Swann and others have each come on THE Bitcoin Podcast multiple times.
I LOVE having them on as guests and I honestly learn something new from each of them every time we talk. I always look forward to the next time I get to talk to them, whether in a recorded episode or in person at a conference (hopefully over a beer).
They are all 'big names' because they do not waste people's scarce time.
Every time you listen to an episode with one of them you learn something new. You consider an alternate perspective. You think differently. You begin to ask yourself new questions. You share these episodes because you want others to have the same experience.
"Alright, Walker, this is getting pretty fucking long... What the fuck do you want from me?"
I simply ask that you recognize that YOUR ACTIONS make a difference.
If you want to see a wider range of guests on Bitcoin podcasts, then start giving your attention to a wider range of guests.
It really is that simple...
I'm not asking you to stop listening to the 'big names' when they come on podcasts. I'm simply asking you to mix in an episode or two with a guest you are NOT familiar with.
After all, you've got 40HPW to work with. You might as well take a chance with a couple of those hours. Who knows? You might just find the next 'big name' before they are a big name. When you find an episode you like with a previously-unknown guest, share it far and wide! Give it a "like" and comment on YouTube so it boosts the episode in YouTube's algorithm. Give the podcaster a zap on Nostr to show them you value the episode. Recommend that other podcasters have this guest on their show as well.
I also want to encourage you to try NEW podcasts.
I know, I know, you're a die-hard fan of THE Bitcoin Podcast and I appreciate that sincerely, but give some love to the new bitcoin podcasts that pop up. It's easy to start a podcast, but it's very hard to keep doing it and make it successful. Most podcasts don't make it past the first couple dozen episodes because it turns out podcasting can be quite demoralizing when you're struggling to grow from zero. So, when you see a new show pop up, go give it a shot. If you don't like it, give some constructive feedback to the host. I promise you they will appreciate it (I know I do).
You can also start your own Bitcoin podcast. I sincerely believe we need many, many more. Until we have more Bitcoin podcasts than TardFi podcasts we do not have enough Bitcoin podcasts.
I didn't start THE Bitcoin Podcast to make money. I started it to make a difference. I want to help educate as many people as possible about Bitcoin, and this is the best way I can do that right now.
I still have my fiat job, and I will continue doing THE Bitcoin Podcast even if I never have another sponsor. I try to do my best to give a voice to anyone with Bitcoin signal to share, regardless of the size of their audience.
I will also continue to regularly have 'big names' on my show because they have immense signal to share, and the current reality is that 99% of people just don't care about an episode unless it has a big name they recognize.
But that's OK, because I make my show for the 99% and the 1%.
I'll leave you with this: we are still so damn early. 99%+ of the world still hasn't caught on to Bitcoin yet. You never know when a particular guest will resonate with a particular person, and you never know when one bitcoin podcast episode might just change someone's life by sending them down the rabbit hole.
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If you want to hear from big names, small names, and people without names at all, check out THE Bitcoin Podcast and subscribe to "THE Bitcoin Podcast" wherever you get yours >> https://bitcoinpodcast.net/podcast
Check out THE Bitcoin Podcast on Nostr at https://primal.net/titcoin