In this Dai By Dai Podcast clip, Dai and Charlotte artist/podcaster Gauxstman share a candid discussion on the realities of podcasting—going beyond content creation to highlight preparation, time management, and sustaining motivation as critical factors for success.
Gauxstman reflects on his podcasting journey, revealing how balancing podcasting with his music career and frequent touring created challenges. He initially stopped producing episodes because the overwhelming post-production process led to a backlog of unfinished content. He candidly shares that without proper preparation, podcast interviews often fell flat, emphasizing that even experienced podcasters like Joe Rogan invest heavily in research to craft meaningful conversations. Gauxstman acknowledges past mistakes, including rushing through preparation or waiting until the day of the interview to do research, which left guests feeling dissatisfied with the experience.
Both Dai and Gauxstman stress the importance of preparation before recording, noting that leading up to a podcast requires careful planning and attention to detail. They explain that the actual recording is only a small fraction of the work, while the bulk lies in editing and post-production—a process that can become daunting without proper time dedication. Gauxstman mentions that anxiety over editing large batches of episodes led him to temporarily abandon the project. However, he later committed to uploading all his stored episodes and handling edits as he could, focusing on consistency rather than perfection.
A significant part of the conversation revolves around finding and maintaining the right motivation. Gauxstman explains how his original drive was to become the top podcast in Charlotte, which fueled his early efforts. However, over time, his focus shifted to monetization, which affected his engagement and content quality. He admits that losing sight of his “why” caused his passion and commitment to wane, resulting in lower-quality episodes and declining audience interest.
The discussion ends with both podcasters agreeing that success requires genuine dedication, long-term planning, and staying true to the original purpose. Dai and Gauxstman underscore that there’s no shortcut to building something worthwhile—“you can’t cheat the grind.”
