Decode Your Burnout – Podcaster Interview with Sharon Grossman

Written by JJ Barnes

www.jjbarnes.co.uk

I interviewed author and podcaster Sharon Grossman about her career, what inspires her, and the work that goes into making her hit podcast, Decode Your burnout.

Tell me a bit about who you are.

I’ve been working as a psychologist for the past 20 years. Currently, I am success coach, a speaker, and author of the international bestseller, The 7E Solution to Burnout.

I work with professional women between the ages of 35-55 who although they have a career and a family, are finding that they are overwhelmed and burned out.

I work with them to reduce their anxiety, overcome their limiting beliefs, and boost their energy levels so they can live a more focused, fun, and fulfilled life with ease in just 15 minutes a day.

How and why did you start podcasting?

I started podcasting in 2021 as a way of sharing tips and strategies of how to live a more optimal life, something I value and seek out myself. Since I talk to people for a living, I thought it would be a natural way to share my message, so I started a podcast called Optimize Your Life.

Each week, I researched a topic, recorded, edited, and uploaded the episode to be released on a set date and time.

Over the course of that year as I worked on my show and while I did some guest podcasting on other people’s shows, I realized that I like the nature of an interview and that it would be far less work, but still provide value to the listeners.

I decided to finish off 2021 with the 50 episodes I set as my goal for the year. That said, in this new year I have changed the format and name of the show.

What is your current podcast called, and how did you come up with the name?

My current podcast is called Decode Your Burnout. The name comes from a program I recently created to help people who are burned out and who want to better understand their burnout crack the code on their burnout. The premise of the program is that there are three main contributing factors to burnout.

Once you recognize these factors in your own life, you can find custom-tailored solutions to recovery which can help prevent a recurrence of burnout. So in the program, I included research from people who have burned out. When you can find a profile that aligns with your own,
chances are what helped them can help you.

The podcast takes this concept and instead of relying on past research, I bring on two types of guests. The first is a burnout survivor who shares their burnout journey and what’s helped them. As they share their story, I decode their burnout based on the same three factors – their programming, environmental stressors, and personality.

The second types of guest I include is someone who is an expert in their field who wants to debunk the myths of what it takes to be successful. I then spin their tips to apply to life outside their field so that the listener can find ways to prevent burnout.

What platforms can we find Decode Your Burnout on?

It’s on all the major platforms including iTunes, Spotify, iHeartRadio, and Amazon Music/Audible

Do you host Decode Your Burnout alone, or have guest hosts/partners?

I host alone.

Do you edit Decode Your Burnout or have someone who does it for you?

At this point, I’m still wearing all the hats, which means I do all my own editing.

Do you script Decode Your Burnout, or just chat as you go?

With Decode Your Burnout, because it’s an interview, I don’t script it. I prefer an organic conversation. That said, I ask my guests to fill out a form prior to coming on the show which allows me to read their bio and gives them an opportunity to think of three tips or three myths they are going to debunk ahead of time.

What are you biggest challenges with Decode Your Burnout?

The biggest challenge is the time it takes to edit, create show notes, upload, and promote. I have a virtual assistant who is creating short audio snippets to post on social media, but the rest I am currently doing and I’m working on ways to pass more of the responsibility over to someone else so I can focus more on the content creation and less on other aspects.

What are your favourite podcasts to listen to?

My favorite podcasts to listen to include the Life Coach School, Fried the Burnout Podcast, Duolingo, and Online Marketing Made Easy with Amy Porterfield.

How and where do you promote Decode Your Burnout?

I promote my podcast on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and Youtube. I create a short description of what is in that week’s episode and post it along with the link. I tag the guest that’s on the show so that they are notified about the promotion and can share the post. I also email them and remind them to please share the episode with their following.

Do you earn money from Decode Your Burnout, or is it a hobby?

I do not earn money from podcasting. If anything, it’s an expense of time and money for me, but it’s a marketing strategy and a great content creation engine that I can repurpose.

What’s something you never expected about podcasting? What have you learned that surprised you?

I never expected the editing of the show to take as long as it does, but it actually is the most time consuming part of the process.

What is the first piece of advice you would give to anyone inspired to start podcasting?

If you’re thinking about starting a podcast that is only you, I would encourage you to come up with a list of topics for the entire year in advance so you always know what you’re supposed to be talking about.

If you want to feature guests, I recommend looking for suitable interviewees on PodMatch, a website that matches hosts with experts or telling people you meet in networking events who seem like a match that you have a podcast and would love to invite them to speak.

And, finally, are your proud of what you’re accomplishing with your podcast? Is it worth the effort?

I’m proud of the stories we get to share with the listeners. Burnout is something that happens to nearly half the working population. While there are other burnout podcasts out there, I am proud of the unique angle I took with this show to provide additional value to listeners. And what’s been rewarding so far is to hear the guests share how the interview helped them as well. Yes, it is absolutely worth the effort.

Pop all your work, website and social media links here so the readers can find you:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sharongrossman/
Youtube: https://bit.ly/drsharononyoutube
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/coachingbysharon
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theburnoutdoc/
Website: https://drsharongrossman.com/
The Decode Your Burnout Podcast: http://bit.ly/oylpodcast
Decode Your Burnout, the Program: https://bit.ly/decodeyourburnout

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