Carving Out Time for Podcasting: Jarret Patton, MD

April 25, 2023
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Jarret Patton, MD, discusses podcasting inspiration and processes that make his side hustle work (for him).

What are you really good at?

Podcasting.

Have you had any formal training in this? Any course or preparatory recommendations?

Yes. I have invested in coaching from a well-established podcaster.

She helped me learn about the art of podcasting and got me to refine my craft.

Coaching is essential to gaining performance and growing as a podcaster (or anything for that matter.)

I have also attended podcasting trade conferences which have also helped in my growth.

If nothing else, there are some great podcasting youtube videos.

3,2,1 Podcast by Dr. Nii Darko is a quick read to help get you started.

The Feed by Libsyn is a great podcast to learn more about podcasting.

How do you fit your skill into your day? What’s your ‘secret sauce’ (aka: any special secrets)?

Like many things that I prioritize, I carve time out for podcasting.

Although there can be a lot of technical things involved, I make the time for them.

I really enjoy the conversations I have with new and interesting people that can help spread valuable messages to others.

The best advice I can offer is to simply have fun; if it is not fun it is not for you.

You mention interesting people. What is an example of one of the more interesting conversations you’ve recently had?

In episode 143, I interviewed Mixed Martial Arts Champion Jenae Noonan.

Besides being an elite athlete, she has written a few books and talks about her ventures out of the ring and into entrepreneurship. She tells a great story about how getting punched in the face propelled her to reach greater heights.

What time of the day do you carve out for your podcast (and is there a particular reason you do it at that time?)

I typically create my recordings between the hours of 10am and 1pm.

I choose this time because my voice has had a chance to warm up and that coincides with a peak energy time so that I transfer my physical energy into the audio. However, I do record various times out of necessity.

Once, I recorded an episode with KQueen Kat , a surgeon turned rapper, at 3:30am PT because that is what worked for her schedule.

In essence, you should record at a time when you have good energy, a quiet environment, and the space and time to be creative.

How many episodes do YOU have under your belt?

I have produced over 150 episodes of Licensed To Live.

When I started, I was determined to release episodes every 3 weeks.

With time and experience I became more efficient with podcast production and increased the amount of annual episodes. Currently the show releases a new episode every week.

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What are 2 examples of standout episodes that you distinctly remember because they were so unique?

In episode 66, I interviewed Superbowl Champion Mike Logan. I like his story because he made a proclamation in grade school that was incredibly unlikely to come true. However, he never gave up on the dream and turned it into reality.

Of course back in episode 56 we learned all about social media with SoMeDocs chief Dr. Dana Corriel. We talked about social media and transitioning out of medicine. She has so much to offer that she returned for a cameo appearance in episode 131!

What are three excellent tips you have for those who look to excel in what you’re great at?

Get over yourself- many people say they don’t like the sound of their voice, or they may make mistakes during the recording; get over yourself. Hardly anyone likes the first episode they produce, but move forward anyway. With time your show gets better.

Don’t worry about your stats initially- growing your audience takes time and effort. The best way to grow your audience is to continue to put out great content. Your show will grow with consistent content. Be sure to tell people what you are doing and remember to have fun!

Equipment is not as important as you think- Many people think that you need a fancy sound studio with expensive microphones. Learning a few things about acoustics can go a long way. All you need is a basic microphone and headphones/earbuds. In fact, my most popular episode was recorded on my end from my smartphone earbuds/microphone sitting in a rental car! Although you want to have a decent sound quality, you don’t have to spend a lot of money when you begin. You can grow into fancier equipment.

What is one single, most valuable piece of advice you can impart?

Podcasting can be daunting if you think about all that is involved.

However, the best thing to do is to get started.

Once you have your plan, you will start your first recording, next thing you know you will have 50, 100, and 200 episodes.

Take action now!

Where can we find more of you?

You can find more of Dr. Patton here. He also appears inside an episode of our exclusive series Doctors on Social Media Teach Podcasting, here.

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