Jessica Kupferman , the co-founder of the largest online and in-person community for women podcasters, and an expert in community building and podcast marketing, joined me on the Grounded Content podcast.  I asked her how important  diversity is in marketing? What is the most effective way to grow your podcast? Where is the line between selling and sleaze? And we talk about selling itchy overstock T-shirts and metaphorical underwear sizes.  Hear more Grounded Content here.

Grounded Content - Advertising, Marketing & Content Gets Real

With the launch of the "Grounded Content" podcast, I finally get to ask the best minds in marketing, messaging, advertising & content creation all the questions I want! In this clip from episode one my guest  Chris Brogan, author of the classic book "Trust Agents," founder of StoryLeader and host of the "Backpack Show" tells me  why he doesn't like the term "authenticity."  The episode title is a nod to fear driven sales tactics and listicles as well as Chris' quirky sense of humor.

Chris: I don't like the word authenticity, because I think that the most people trying to use it, utterly lack it and they are trying to emulate authenticity, which kind of goes against the word, right? So let's pretend I'm using it for now just because you like it.
Marion :  No, no, no, pick a better word. I pick a better word
Chris:  Just be helpful. You know, the advice I started giving in 2006. Anytime someone says whatever advice if you ask me this question, 20 minutes or now I'm gonna say be helpful.

Listen to the podcast at HERE or subscribe on your favorite podcast app:

Watch the video for nuggets of  podcasting wisdom. At the Guinness world record-breaking Podfest Global Expo event we ran an afternoon conference for and by Fitness and Self-Improvement Content Creators featuring Gabby Reece "The Gabby Reece Show," Mark Divine "Unbeatable Mind," Matt B. Davis "Obstacle Racing Media," Anders Varner "Barbell Shrugged, Dr. Lara Pence "Spartan Mind" and "Curious Minds Podcast," and moderated by Marion Abrams producer of "Spartan Up Podcast" and founder of Madmotion.

Gems of wisdom from the guests, including a quick intro by Chris Krimitsos founder of Podfest Global Expo.

I hope to find more ways to serve the Fitness & Self-Improvement Creator community, if you'd like to stay in touch drop your email HERE.

Here's the full text:

Chris Krimitsos  0:00 

What's cool is all of us are focused on something positive, helping each other. While people are basically going through different phases of quarantine globally, how are you feeling? basically putting this together Marian?

Marion Abrams  0:18  
I feel grateful. I mean, I just forgot how smart and inspiring the group of friends that I have collected since I started podcasting. And since we started inviting other podcasters into the circle has been and why I I just love listening to them. And I think expanding beyond the fitness space and being part of the pod fest global Expo has been a really great opportunity. So I thank you, Chris for for setting this up. 

Dr. Lara Pence  0:46  
One of the phrases that I like to use and probably this will come as no surprise to individ any individual that's ever been in therapy is I like to use the phrase. So what I'm hearing you say is and what that allows is for the, for the guests to feel really heard to feel like you're there with them, not just that you're worried about your next question. And when the guest trusts you, because they know that you're listening, they're more willing to go there with you. And so and so what that can do then is not only it helps build trust and rapport with your guests, but it also then allows them to go that one step further, right. 


Gabby Reece  1:31  
I realized that there was a part of me that was dreading doing a podcast on my own. If I can be really honest, I thought, well, I could probably do 10 and then I probably be boring and I don't know and this is like 25 years into it. So the other point that I want to share with you is, is this idea of really trusting yourself, which is hard to do. So I will do an interview last week or next week, and before the interview, I will always think, okay, I've done my homework, which is obviously really important. And I hope it goes, Okay. And then when they leave, I always think I hope that I hope that we had a good show and that that I remember also all the things that I should have asked.

So you're always going to feel that way. And I want to remind you that whatever conversation needed to be had at that moment, on that day was the one that you were supposed to have.

Matt B. Davis  2:27  
It's gonna come out pretty clearly if you care about what you do.  Early on, in the process of me doing this show... I would have people say, you know, we really like what you're doing because you actually care about the sport. You're not just reporting on it. And I thought, well, how is there any other way to do it? I mean, to me that was like, why would I be here, like, I guess to try to make a book, which there wasn't much books to be grabbed, but to me, it just, it just made sense to do that. 


Anders Varner  2:58  
My attention to fitness has to be delivered to the people that I'm talking to, in a manner that resembles my life and the thing that I'm learning about because I want them to go on the journey with me, I want them to feel like they're in the room every single time we turn on the microphones, and I talk about the struggles that I, as a fitness professional have turned into music on and finding 45 minutes in my day to work out. I don't know, I never thought that there would be a day that fitness would be hard, but I get it now. And that is the most authentic conversation. That's where all of my attention is when I think about fitness. And the next piece, you could call me as woo is woo woo as you would like. But every time you turn the microphone on, I want you to think about how much you love somebody that is willing to take time out of their day and listen to you on their commute to work.


Mark Divine  3:57  
So if you're in an interview, or you're in any any type of scenario where you're like, Oh shit, you know, this is gametime and you're uncomfortable because it's gonna be uncomfortable. Then you come back to that tactical breathing and just kind of like, pause for a moment. reconnect with the breath and and with your nostrils with your nose, mouth close, and your mind soft and think about your mind like gripping, gripping, gripping.

And then inhale, just releasing, no need to think no need to do it, just notice what happens. And then with your eyes, instead of looking looking looking, release, go soft, peripheral vision. So this is profound because when you release the grip of your your thinking mind, and then you soften your gaze, and you breathe deeply through your nose and suddenly what happens is you your mind, your conscious expands out into what we call context. And guess what, right then and there, all that fear and anxiety goes away. And then while you're in this interview, you try to maintain that kind of relaxed awareness so that you're accessing kind of right and left brain synchronicity, right so you, you have the pattern recognition, the spontaneity to respond in a way that's not going to be as controlled or fear based. Or like I have to remember what I studied or you know this net

Let's be real.  We all want to look our best on camera and in videos, and we want to be real.  Here are 3 simple tips that will make you look better without changing your make up or using filters. 3 simple tips so you look better in your videos.

If you want to see more like this, please subscribe to my youtube channel.

I challenged myself to create a series of four videos with myself as host, and to talk about my own creative and personal development journey.  I have made fun of people who do this for my entire life...until I started producing Spartan Up podcast and listening and learning from them. There is still a high proportion of blowhards and snake oil salesmen in the self help arena, and yet those reminders, hacks and lessons propel me forward.

As Doug Comstock said - I'm not telling you anything new, I'm just reminding you.

So here is video three of the series.  In this video I talk about the two most helpful tactics / principles I have learned.

When I posted the video about podcasting safely while social distancing a few people asked me about wind noise.  I realized that things I've been doing for 30 years  are second nature to me, but not everyone knows them. So - here's a quick video about 4 ways to stop wind noise from ruining your shoot when you get to record outside.

Find more technique and "how To" videos for podcasters and YouTubers here.

It started when I heard an interview with James Clear, author of Atomic Habits.  He said to establish a habit start with something really small, for example one push up a day.  It sounds ridiculous.  But when you start with a small commitment you'll be more likely to keep it.  Once you start keeping it you begin to see yourself in a new light - as someone who does a push up every day.

So I decided I'd run one mile every day.  I've written about that, and it's been going pretty well.  And James Clear was right.  Success there lead me to take on another challenge.  When COVID times started I committed to posting a daily photo journal here on my blog for a month.  I did that too.  I realized that the simple practice of writing and photographing every day was helping me grow as a creative, whether anyone read it or not.

Now I'm challenging myself to create a video, with me as the on camera host, talking about my own creative journey, every week for the next four weeks.  Here is the first:

Next week I'm going to talk about the value of keeping your work to YOURSELF.

It's not the greatest photo, but I love the image of my mom on a virtual call using her dictionary. 

If you're not familiar with the game of "fictionary" here's how it works: one player finds a word in the dictionary that no one knows the definition of.  That player writes the actual definition on a slip of paper, each of the other players writes a fake definition on a slip of paper and anonymously drops it into a bowl.  The first player reads all the definitions out loud and the we all try to guess the correct definition.  There's a point system based on guessing the right definition or tricking others into choosing yours...but that's really not the point.

We figured out last night that we could set up a zoom call on the ipad and text each other definitions, so we played a few rounds with Grandma Roo.

We did our first ever virtual podcast interview today too.  Joe had a great conversation with James Altucher while his engineer Jay and I listened in. 

... and just like a TV news anchor - no one can see that I'm wearing sweats and pink slippers below the view of the camera.

I'm grateful for the virtual connections, but there is something deep within me that craves in person visiting.  There's a lot of conversation about how the world will be different.  How people will realize so much commuting and office time is wasted.  I think that's true.  But I also think we will all come out of this with a greater value on real, in person, human connection.

I get asked a lot - what lens did you use? What about model x camera?  Which microphone is best? These things do matter, but what you do with them matters a lot more.
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Anyone can afford a pencil, that's not what makes you a writer.  Writing makes you a writer. Writing more, getting feedback, working with a variety of clients in a variety of environments makes you a better writer. Study makes you better. Practice makes you better. Diligence. Creativity. Focus. Flexibility. Adaptability. Persistence.

Originally posted on Instagram & Linkedin

At the 2019 Podcast Movement conference in Orlando, FL I joined 10 other presenters in a program called IGNITE.  Each talk was 5 minutes long with 20 slides each playing for exactly :15 seconds.  I spoke about lessons in resilience I have learned producing over 400 episodes of the Spartan Up Podcast. Some have to do with the unrelenting nature of producing a weekly show for 5 years, others have to do with the incredible people we've met.  

The slides each include quotes from the show, lessons from Amanda Sullivan, Patrick Sweeney, Travis Roy {correction - I said NFL when I meant NHL,) Nate Carr, Eric Byrnes, Bruce Babashan, Mara Schiavocampo, Karim Jaude, Meb Keflezighi, Aaron Hinde, Pete Cohen, Dean Karnazes, Kelly Starett, and Zach Even Esh.

​Thank you to all or our Spartan Up guests for inspiring me, to Spartan and Joe De Sena for the opportunity to create the podcasts, to my hosts Sefra the Seedhuntress, Col Time Nye, "Dr" Johnny Waite, Zach Even-Esh, Dr. Lara Pence, Dr. Nada, Brian "Tosh" Chontosh, and the many guest hosts.

Also thanks Eric Rosenberg for organizing IGNITE, and to the Podcast Movement conference.

There's no question that Oprah Winfrey is one of the most influential conversational interviewers ever (read about the 5 Interview Lessons interview types here,) her talk show "The Oprah Winfrey Show" was the highest rated TV show of its kind in history. Today she hosts the successful "Supersoul Conversations," a TV show and a podcast. What can we learn from her? Here are four things she does in every interview.

#1 The most important question
The most important question comes BEFORE the interview.  Oprah says "I approach every interview by asking, "What is my intention? What do I really want to accomplish?'" It's something podcasting trailblazer Pat Flynn puts another way, he says the most important thing to determine in your interview prep isn't what or how but WHY. A clear understanding of the goal will guide your questions and your reactions, that's what will set your interview apart.  

​#2 Connection
A conversational interview is about rapport and compassion. Oprah creates connection from behind the mic with empathy. "You can't accomplish anything if you're judging," says the Supersoul Conversations host. It's an intentional technique - "I'm nonjudgmental in an interview. Out of an interview, there's a whole other side of me!" Her goal is to disarm the guest, make them comfortable, so they speak freely.  As an interviewer you are on a search for meaning. "my secret to interviewing: How do I find the common denominator that allows a person to know that I hear them, and that what they say means something to me?"

#3 Detailed preparation
I listened to Oprah's interview with Steven Pressfield (if you haven't read his book "War of Art" I highly recommend it!.) Her detailed preparation for the interview was clear.   I could hear that she had been working to understand Pressfield's take on the concepts he discussed arriving ready with questions that would allow her to dig deeper into the ideas.  The level of detail was evident in the frequent references to quotes and page numbers.  A perfect combination of big-picture thinking and detailed groundwork.

#4 Translation
The "why," the empathy, and the detailed prep all come together in the conversation. Oprah acts as a translator, helping her audience process the ideas her guest presents through her own lens.  Oprah is not afraid to be an active participant in the conversation sharing stories, and ideas of her own to help deepen her audience's understanding and give them additional routes to access the information her guest presents.  This is the art of the conversation interviewer: bringing her own stories and comments to the conversation to lead her audience to a better connection with the guest.

Read more about interviewing for podcasts, documentaries, testimonials and oral histories at Interview Lessons.

Everyone's talking about podcasting, but with the battle for attention heating up how do you decide if starting a podcast makes sense for you?  Tizra asked me to speak on the topic at their Tizra UNITY19 conference. I don't talk about what microphone to buy, or how to get on "new and Noteworthy," but I do explain how podcasting can be a unique avenue to reach your busy audience and give a realistic picture of potential audience size.  I also explain some of the holistic style and marketing questions you should be asking yourself. Watch the complete presentation HERE.

It was an honor to join the other speakers Soren Ryherd from working planet, Alec Beckett from Nail Communications, and  Ann-Marie Harrington from Embolden!

After recording an interview with Dan Crowley, Bataan Death March survivor, we were inspired to take on the Bataan Death March Memorial at White Sands.  It's a marathon distance "ruck" carrying a 30lb pack.  Our Spartan Up podcast team consisted of Joe De Sena, Sefra the Seedhuntress, retired Col Tim Nye and his brother Joe, retired Command Sgt Major Frank Grippe, and Ewalk (Erica Walker)... and me with the camera gear and mics.

Here's what I packed for the adventure.

Interview lessons is a new project I've begun, to share what I've learned over 30 years of coaching, conducting, shooting and directing interviews for podcasts, marketing testimonials, oral histories and documentaries.  I'm researching and sharing what it takes to be a great interviewer and sharing it with you.  So far there are articles about top podcaster Tim Ferriss' interview strategies, the philosophy of documentary filmmaker Errol Morris toward interviewing, how to drop filler words like "ummm" and Like" from your interviews and a few others.  As the library grows I will be inviting experienced interviewers to contribute directly, taking requests from readers, and adding audio and video media. 

I'm excited about this new project.  It's just a few months in the making so far but has helped me to become better at the art of interviewing, and at coaching others.

A little over 3 years ago Spartan Race approached me about creating a podcast.  They wanted to gain a deeper understanding of the elements of success and share them as  away to further Spartan brand credibility and brand depth, and to build engagement with a broader audience. The show also served as a content and story feeder for the growing portfolio of Spartan media platforms.
We’ve now published over 170 weekly episodes as podcasts and on our YouTube channel, we’re in the top 5% of all podcasts (based on per episode downloads) and have had over 9 million video and downloads.

“Spartan Up!” Is a weekly audio podcast and YouTube show that focuses on the Spartan mindset and how we define and achieve success in all walks of life. Themes include grit, resilience, hard work, frame of reference, motivation, and general fitness.  Guests are high achievers and thought leaders in business, sports, adventure, academia and the arts.



To celebrate the three year milestone, and kick of the new year, here’s out special end of year wrap up episode from the Spartan Iceland Ultra World Championship.

The Spartan Up podcast has been an amazing journey, both professionally and personally.  I've had the opportunity to work with great partners to build an interview series from the ground up, as Dean Graziosi said "make it up, then make it happen."  In the process I've been able to learn lessons from every one of our guests, and quite a few from our hosts as well. Here's our latst trailer:

You can find all 137 episodes on our YouTube channel, iTunes, or wherever you catch podcasts by searching for Spartan Up.

It has been more than a year now since I started working with the founder and CEO of Spartan Race Joe De Sena developing and producing the "Spartan Up!" podcast. We've traveled the world exploring what drives successful athletes, entrepreneurs, CEOs, adventurers, professors authors, thought leaders .. even monks, trying to discover and share what we can learn from them. I think I've shot about 300 interviews, and Joe's done another 20 or so without me.  So what have we learned? Joe has a series of articles published in Entrepreneur, Inc and here on Linkedin breaking down many of the lessons.  I'll try to sum up my thoughts from behind the camera here.
This week we published the 100th episode in which our panel of hosts each talk about their favorite interviews so far. Doctor Johnny chose a few of the authors, Col Nye chose National Geographic Explorer Shannon Galpin, Dr. Delle chose the world's greatest living explorer Sir Ran Fiennes, Sefra chose Sealfit's Mark Divine and Joe chose one of my all time favorites Karim Jaude.
So what if I had been asked to choose? Impossible. BUT among my favorites are Nate Carr and his amazing positivity, Tony The Fridge and his intensity, Jay Jackson who reminded us to say we "get to" no we "have to,"Levison Wood who had JUST returned from walking the entire Nile,Nicole DeBoom who brought out Joe's "sassy" side, Mimi Anderson who is unstoppable, of course Angela Duckworth THE expert on GRIT, Risa Mish and her concrete tips on critical thinking, Richard Branson who reminded us to see the best in everyone, Amit Kumar who learned experiences are better than possessions, Dan Edwardes who understands the links between fear and physical movement, Zach Even - Esh who talked about the failures and struggles on the way to success and lives it with sheer enthusiasm for life, Dick Costolo who made the connection between stand up comedy and business success, Juliet Starrett and her hippo escape story, Frank Grippe who understands the value of sheer force of will, Jennifer Gilbert who one day decided not to deviate from her life's plan,Mark Webb who was amazing already and just kept it up after losing a foot ... I hate to start this list knowing I'm missing so many - I can honestly say there has not been one interview that has not taught me something.

If I had to sum it up -

1. Sometimes it's just sheer force of will that gets you there.

2. Optimism is KEY, without it you will never persevere.

3. The mind lives in the body, you can't take care of one but not the other.

4. Every thing you do is a privilege, never take it for granted.

And from the panel - when you have a good team around you, hard work becomes a pleasure.

Here's the 100th episode:

For the last few months friends and colleagues may have noticed I've been pretty busy, and on the road quite a bit.  I can finally tell you why!  This summer I started developing a podcast concept for my neighbor Joe Desena.  Joe is the founder and CEO of Spartan Race and the NYT Best Selling Author of "Spartan Up!"

The idea of the podcast is to travel the world interviewing people at the top of their game - authors, executives, adventurers and athletes - to find out what makes them tick, then share those lessons with the Spartan audience. We've met amazing athletes like Tony the Fridge (runs Ultra Marathons with a Fridge on his back,) the author Steven Pressfield, the SEAL Team 6 member who shot Bin Laden, the World's Greatest Living Explorer Sir. Ran Fiennes, and one of the most adventurous CEOs in the world Richard Branson. This has been a great hands on project for me personally and I continue to enjoy the opportunity to build this project from the ground up as it morphs, grows and takes on a life of it's own.  With 90+ interviews in the can we are really excited about the product. Right now we are rolling out our first promotional efforts, pulling key lessons from each interview to incorporate into the show notes, and shooting intro.s with our expert panel for the 90+ interviews.

Look for the series on iTunes in early January, or sign up now for updates at Spartan Up Podcast.