The Cliff Ravenscraft Show

Twenty years ago, I launched my very first podcast with no idea where it would lead. What began as a hobby eventually changed the trajectory of my life, my work, and my family. It also led to the creation of Podcast Answer Man and Podcasting A to Z, two things that played a massive role in the early podcasting industry. If you’ve followed my journey for any length of time, you know that I eventually stepped away from that brand and that work. And for years, many people assumed it was gone for good. In this episode, I share the full story of why Podcast Answer Man is back, why Podcasting A to Z is returning, and why this moment feels so aligned in a way it never could have before. This is the honest narrative of how this decision came to be. What led to this return I walk you through a recent Hot Seat conversation inside the Green Room Mastermind that sparked a major realization. I talk about burnout, identity, seasons of growth, and why the version of me who stopped Podcast Answer Man could not have sustained it long term. More importantly, I explain why the version of me today can. With tools like Notion and AI, questions that once required hours of effort can now be answered efficiently and accurately. Combined with clearer boundaries, daily meditation, nervous system regulation, and a very different life stage, the conditions are no longer the same. This return is about integrating everything I’ve learned since leaving. A conversation with Stephanie Stephanie joins me in this episode to reflect on what she noticed during this season of change. she brings up burnout, parenting load, business funnels, and the reality of what it takes to sustain meaningful work over decades. Her perspective adds grounding and clarity to why this return feels different, healthier, and more sustainable. Why this matters now Podcast Answer Man is once again the easiest entry point for people who don’t yet know me. It’s the front door into my world. From there, there are many ways I serve today. Podcasting A to Z. Business strategy and mindset coaching. Mastermind groups. Long-term client relationships. This return reconnects all of it. Podcast Answer Man will now be my primary weekly podcast, focused on podcasting, gear, tools, industry insights, and listener questions. The Cliff Ravenscraft Show will continue as a behind-the-scenes space for mindset, personal growth, and deeper reflections, released as inspiration strikes. What to do next If you want to hear from me every single week, make sure you are subscribed to Podcast Answer Man. You can find it at PodcastAnswerMan.com, where you’ll find links to the main podcast apps and a place to submit your own podcasting questions. If you want to work with me personally and be guided step by step through launching your podcast, my next live session of Podcasting A to Z begins in January. You can learn more at PodcastingAtoZ.com. This episode marks a line in the sand. I’m moving forward as the Podcast Answer Man with the wisdom, tools, and clarity I didn’t have before. Thanks for being here.  

In this episode, I share the honest moment when I reached the end of September and realized my business was not heading in the direction I wanted. I walk you through the course correction that followed, the clarity that came from a deep review of my life and work, and the renewed alignment that shaped the path forward. You’ll hear the full story behind how I realigned my business and the exact process I will now use for my quarterly reviews. Episodes Mentioned in This Conversation TCRS 514, TCRS 518, and TCRS 519 (Not as important as the following) TCRS 537 – Six Months After The Big Leap TCRS 565 – Success & Failures: What I learned from my first year after The Big Leap Journal Prompts For My Quarterly Review What story am I telling myself about who I am and the work I'm doing in the world? Does this story empower me to show up, meet a need presented in the marketplace with validated products and services, and do so in a way that feels aligned and fulfilling? Have I drifted or slipped back into a hypnotic rhythm in any of the following categories? Physical Fitness Intentional Eating Business Income and Profit Nurturing existing client relationships Planting seeds to establish and nurture new relationships Content production If drifting has occurred, what can I learn about the cause of the drift? What patterns can be observed and disrupted? For each area that needs improvement, use this strategy: Describe the current results. Create a mind map of the perfect system that created the undesired result(s). Describe the desired outcome, moving forward from here. Create a mind map of the ideal system that will achieve the desired outcome. Create a strategy to implement and track this new system. Identify any limiting beliefs, or a narrative in my mind, that may be blocking me from taking action in this new system. Year End Coaching Offer If you’d like help walking through this process in your own life and business, I currently have an offer available for those ready to realign, reset, and move forward with clarity and momentum. This offer is described at the end of the episode. Learn more and sign up here: https://www.cliffravenscraft.com/offers/Vo7qVDhe/checkout  

In this episode I talk about something I’ve seen a lot lately. People tell me they want to move forward. They want to start the thing, launch the idea, reach out to the person, publish the content, say yes to the opportunity. But they’re stuck because the unknowns feel too big and the confidence simply isn’t there. The problem is that confidence doesn’t show up at the beginning. Confidence is the reward for taking action. It only comes after you’ve stepped into something new, realized your worst fears didn’t come true, and built enough real experience to trust yourself in that environment. Even after all these years, I still feel that tension when I’m introduced to someone new. Especially when their online presence is polished, impressive, and perfectly curated. My old patterns pop up. Who am I to talk with this person? Will I bring value? Will I land with their audience? There are three important words that I share in this episode: Courage, Confidence, and Curiosity. Courage. The willingness to say yes even when the outcome is unknown. If I am courageous enough to take the step, then something interesting happens. My worst fears usually don’t come true. I learn something. I grow. And over time, with enough reps, I develop confidence. But the confidence never comes first. Recently, though, I’ve added a third ingredient. And it has been the biggest shift of all. Curiosity. Curiosity dissolves fear. It lets me walk into a new room without the burden of needing anything to happen. Instead of pressure, I enter with wonder. Why was this introduction made? What could come from this connection? What can I learn from this person? How might I serve? Is there resonance here? And if not, what clarity does that give me? Curiosity brings me back to presence. It clears the anxiety that shows up the day before a call, or the hour before it starts, or the five minutes before we go live. Curiosity lets me move forward without being attached to any particular outcome. I don’t have to prove myself. I don’t have to impress. I simply get to explore what is possible. In this episode I break down how these three ingredients work together. Courage gets you moving. Curiosity keeps you grounded. Confidence grows from experience and repetition. If you have an area in your life where you’ve been waiting for confidence before you take action, my hope is that this conversation frees you from that waiting. You won’t feel confident before you begin. You’ll feel confident because you began. I’d love to hear what this brings up for you. You can email me at [email protected]. Let’s Work Together: I have a special Black Friday coaching offer. It includes three ninety-minute one-on-one coaching sessions with me, plus full access to both my Free the Dream online course and my Building an Online Business course. If you want direct support, clarity on your next steps, and momentum heading into the new year, reach out and put “Coaching Offer” in the subject line.  

In this episode I return to my Podcast Answer Man roots and share an in-depth review of my newest and most unexpected favorite piece of podcast gear. The Zoom PodTrak P4next! This tiny device delivers almost everything I rely on from the Rodecaster Pro 2 at a fraction of the size and a fraction of the cost, coming in at only $179. I'll walk you through how I discovered it, my initial skepticism, and why seeing the Zoom name made me give it a chance. I'm so glad I did. I'll share what the Zoom PodTrak P4next does, how I'm using it, why it has already earned a permanent place in my travel setup, and why I might even replace my Rodecaster Pro 2 in the studio. I recorded this episode from the front seat of my car to demonstrate how powerful this device is for portable recording. You'll hear the quality of the preamps and the impressive noise reduction capabilities in action. I talk about the power options, multitrack capability, four XLR inputs, mix-minus support, sound pads, four independently controlled headphone outputs, built in audio recorder and more. I also share the story of why this little recorder solves technical problems I have carried for years. If you have been looking for a reliable way to record multiple microphones on the road, or if you want to build a complete podcast studio that fits in a backpack, this episode will show you how simple, and inexpensive, it can be. Portable Gear Recommendations Many listeners and viewers ask for my current recommendations for a complete portable recording setup. Here's the list with affiliate links. Primary Device Zoom PodTrak P4next - https://amzn.to/4rA85fY Microphone Options Heil PR-40 - https://amzn.to/4iofavZ If you want something more portable, my long-time favorite was the Audio Technica ATR-2100. It is no longer manufactured, so my best current guess for a quality budget dynamic mic is the Rode PodMic Cardioid Dynamic Broadcast Microphone found at https://amzn.to/4rgUIBf Cables Three foot XLR mic cables - https://amzn.to/43UbqMC Stands Portable mic stand options - https://amzn.to/3MmDMJf Headphones Sony MDR-7506 - https://amzn.to/3M0apwo Replacement ear pads for the MDR-7506 - https://amzn.to/3M0gj0z Closing Thought If this episode inspires you to pick up the Zoom PodTrak P4next, I would love to hear about it. Send me an email and let me know how this episode inspired you. My email is [email protected].  

Today’s episode is something a little different. I recorded this message from the front seat of my car (my “mobile studio”) during one of those early morning creative bursts that often come during my fall routines. Before we dive in, you’ll notice the audio quality sounds a little different than my usual in-studio setup. I explain why in the intro, but the short version is this: I’ve been waking up at 4:30 a.m., heading to Planet Fitness, and spending time journaling, praying, reading, and creating from that sacred space of solitude. Sometimes inspiration hits right there in the car, and I don’t want to wait until I’m back at my desk to capture it. What follows is a message I felt deeply compelled to share. It’s about something I’ve been noticing, in myself and in other creators, as AI tools become part of our daily workflow. We’re all starting to sound the same. In this episode, I talk about: How AI-generated phrasing has become a dead giveaway in so much content. The subtle rhythms that make a piece of writing or video sound “machine-shaped.” My own experiences using ChatGPT for content creation (and where it crossed the line). Why I’m returning to more unscripted, unpolished, human communication. How we can still use AI as a thought partner without losing our authentic voice. This episode is about remembering what people really connect with: honesty, imperfection, and lived experience. I hope this message encourages you to bring your unpolished, unscripted voice back into your creative process. Until next time, I encourage you to take everything you do in life and business, and content creation, to the next level.