The Christian Podcaster
Oct 30, 2020
Jennifer Eikenhorst of Accidental Hope
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Jennifer Eikenhorst is the host of Accidental Hope. She is a mom of four, wife, and a middle school math teacher. Her story changed when she caused an accident that killed someone. Today, Jennifer shares how her podcast gave her a place to share her story, help people like her, and create good out of a tragic situation. Jennifer's podcasting journey reminds us that we can do big things even when we are scared.
Listen to Jennifer's story now!
Stories Jennifer shared:
- Her crazy house including a quarantine puppy
- Loving dance fitness
- Getting on bikes with the family
- Starting her podcast in 2018
- Tools she didn't know she had that helps with podcasting
- The tragic car accident that changed her life
- The pushback she expected when she started her podcast
- Wrestling with Imposter's Syndrome
- Reaching for guests she thought would never say yes
- Her favorite guests on the show
- Opening up on mental health in the church
- Starting scared and the joy as a result
- Starting a YouTube channel next
- Writing her memoir
Great quotes from Jennifer:
God put a bunch of tools in my tool belt before I even knew.
I'm only there for one, anyway. I'm only there for God and he can work out the rest.
I did it while I was scared and now it's one of the things that brings me joy.
Resources we mentioned:
- Jennifer's website
- Jennifer's favorite episodes
- The Sorrow and Shame of the Accidental Killer in the New Yorker
Related episodes:
More episodes from The Christian Podcaster
Sep 12, 2023
Building Community for your Podcast with Chris Grainger
Join Chris Grainger as he shares his journey in building a transformative community for Christian men. Discover the power of authenticity, meaningful connections, and personal experiences in creating a support network. But be prepared, as Chris faces unexpected challenges that leave him questioning the future of his community.
Quotes from the episode:
God later on my heart said, 'Alright, you need to take this skill that you've been taught and serve me.' So we came up, prayed about it, went to my wife, said I think God wants me to start a podcast serving Christian men in the area of leadership. - Chris Grainger
A lot of these guys are just out there just lost and alone, and they want somewhere they can go and be real. And that kept coming back. That was a need there to feel. And I was like, you know what? We're going to figure out how to do this. - Chris Grainger
In this episode, you will be able to:
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Discover the crucial role that community plays in successful podcasting.
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Hear firsthand from Chris Grainger about his journey to create a supportive community for Christian men.
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Acquire actionable strategies to kickstart and launch your thriving podcast community.
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Learn to overcome apprehensions and challenges hindering the monetization of your community.
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Understand the potentially transformative impact of an effectively managed online community.
Timestamped summary of this episode:
00:00:00 - Introduction Eric and Chris introduce themselves and discuss the power of community for podcasters. They emphasize the importance of building a community around your podcast to connect with like-minded individuals and promote your show. 00:05:10 - The Five Part Worldview of Podcasting Eric explains his five-part worldview of podcasting, which includes mindset, message, mechanics, marketing, and monetization. He focuses on the marketing aspect and highlights the often overlooked community-building as a powerful tool for growing your podcast. 00:07:30 - The Origin Story of "The Lion Within Us" Chris shares his journey of starting his podcast, "The Lion Within Us," which focuses on leadership for Christian men. He discusses how he realized the need for connection and community with his listeners, leading him to create a membership community. 00:09:14 - Recognizing the Need for a Community Chris explains how he recognized the need for a community by analyzing podcast download patterns and engaging directly with his listeners. He discovered that his audience craved connection and a support system, prompting him to create a community for them. 00:09:53 - Benefits of a Podcast Community Chris discusses the benefits of a podcast community, including the opportunity for listeners to connect with each other and the host on a deeper level. He highlights the sense of belonging, support, and accountability that a community can provide for podcasters and their audience. 00:13:44 - Creating a PDF to Give Away, Chris discusses the versatility of creating a PDF and emphasizes that it doesn't need to be lengthy. He suggests focusing on one thing that connects with your audience and provides value. 00:14:19 - Designing an Avatar, Chris explains the importance of designing an avatar and testing the content to ensure it resonates with their struggles. He shifted his avatar from early 20s to 35-55 based on feedback and community needs. 00:17:05 - Starting a Paid Membership Community, Chris shares his experience of starting a community and opting for Mighty Networks as the platform. He initially started with a free beta version to gather feedback and later introduced a paid membership. 00:18:01 - Learning from the Community, Chris highlights the importance of learning from the community during the first quarter. He gathered insights on user experience, engagement, and preferences, which helped him refine the community. 00:19:11 - Setting the Price Point, Chris formed a steering committee from the community to determine the right price point for the paid membership. By involving the members in the decision-making process, he gained their support and converted 23% of the free group into members. 00:25:56 - The Importance of Community, Chris discusses the value of creating a community of like-minded individuals to support and encourage one another in their faith and personal struggles. 00:26:29 - Creating Engaging Events, Chris explains how he organizes various events and activities within the community to encourage participation and open discussions on topics such as Bible study, sexual purity, and business meetings. 00:27:27 - Utilizing Technology for Convenience, Chris highlights the use of the Mighty Networks app to make it convenient for members to access the community and receive notifications about upcoming events and content. 00:29:05 - Delegating Responsibilities, Chris emphasizes the importance of having moderators within the community who help facilitate events and manage specific areas, allowing for scalability and shared leadership. 00:31:30 - Authenticity and Vulnerability, Chris shares the power of being open and honest about personal struggles, as it creates a deeper connection with community members who can relate and support one another. 00:38:00 - Introduction to the Community, Chris encourages listeners to sign up for the community and try it out. He shares that he is open to helping others with starting their own community and advancing their goals. 00:38:29 - Open Book Approach, Chris emphasizes his willingness to help others by offering one-on-one conversations and showing them how to use the platform. He believes in advancing the kingdom and supporting others' growth. 00:39:11 - Building Connection in Facebook Groups, Chris advises Joey to start by having one-on-one conversations with men at his church or other individuals he can connect with. Building authentic relationships is key to finding out what men are struggling with. 00:40:36 - Starting a Beta Group, Chris shares his idea of starting a free beta group to test out the content and gather feedback before monetizing it. He believes in the power of having a sounding board and making adjustments based on the community's needs. 00:42:30 - Overcoming Imposter Syndrome, Chris encourages Joey to use his own struggles and experiences as content for speaking to other men. Being transparent and sharing personal stories can help others relate and find support in the community. 00:50:56 - Introduction, Eric introduces the guest, Chris Grainger, and mentions that they will be discussing building community on this podcast episode. 00:51:02 - Challenges with Facebook, Chris talks about the struggle of capturing an audience on Facebook due to its distracting nature and mentions the growth of CPA (Cost Per Action). 00:51:13 - Using Kajabi's community product, Chris mentions using Kajabi's new community product to help people find more community within Kajabi. He acknowledges the need for more places for people to go. 00:51:39 - Troubles with building community, Chris mentions that she has had trouble with building a community but expresses willingness to work on it. 00:51:54 - Conclusion and podcast promotion, Eric thanks Chris for being on the podcast and mentions that the episode on building community will be released later in the summer. He promotes Chris' podcast, "The Lion Within Us."
Resources
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Join the Christian Podcasters Association/ Christian Podcasters Association Facebook group: If you're interested in starting or growing your Christian podcast, consider joining the Christian Podcasters Association. You can find more information and sign up on their website.
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Join the Christian Podcasters Association membership.
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Check out Chris Grainger's podcast and membership community, The Lion Within US, designed to help Christian men take accountability for themselves and their families.
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Download Chris Grainger's lead magnet, Ten Scriptures to Fight Like a Lion, and receive…
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Aug 15, 2023
Things I Learned at Conferences with Eric Nevins
Have you ever experienced a moment that completely changed your perspective? That moment when you thought you knew what to expect, but were hit with an unexpected twist that left you reeling?
Well, that's exactly what happened to me at conferences.
At first, it was all about the excitement of meeting my podcasting idols and making new connections. But little did I know, the true treasure of these gatherings was something entirely different.
Stay tuned to find out the surprising twist that completely transformed how I approach conferences, leaving me hungry for more.
Quotes from the episode:
"The gold is in the follow up. That's where you actually reap the rewards of the conference." - Eric Nevins
"I think we need as Christians to show up to those events as much as we can." - Eric Nevins
"Great questions never get old. They have the power to connect, inspire, and create meaningful conversations. "- Eric Nevins
In this episode, you will be able to:
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Discover the unexpected rewards of participating in podcasting conferences.
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Understand the fundamental role that networking plays in the podcast industry.
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Learn how to wield conversation as a tool for creating meaningful industry relationships.
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Grasp why maintaining connections post-conference can fuel your podcast's growth.
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Identify the power of leveraging a variety of communication avenues for efficient collaboration.
Timestamped summary of this episode:
00:00:00 - Introduction, Eric Nevins welcomes listeners to the Christian Podcaster and introduces the podcast as a resource for learning and growing in podcasting. 00:01:21 - Podcast Movement, Eric shares his excitement for the upcoming Podcast Movement conference and the opportunity to connect with other podcasters, both Christian and non-Christian. He highlights the value of meeting new people and the chance to represent Christ in the podcasting community. 00:04:10 - Meeting Podcasting Heroes, Eric reflects on his past experiences of meeting influential podcasters at conferences, such as Eric Fisher, John Lee Dumas, and Cliff Ravenscraft. He encourages listeners that it is possible to meet and connect with their own podcasting heroes. 00:07:56 - Learning to Serve, Eric recalls a valuable lesson he learned at the Free the Dream conference about the importance of serving others. He encourages listeners to approach conferences with a spirit of service and to ask how they can help others. 00:09:55 - Concentrating Content Consumption, Eric advises listeners to be strategic in choosing which sessions to attend at conferences. Rather than trying to consume all the content, he suggests focusing on specific topics or speakers that align with their podcasting goals. 00:11:10 - More Than Free Events, Eric reminds listeners that conferences offer more than just free events. While it's enjoyable to attend these events, he encourages listeners to prioritize their own well-being and not feel obligated to participate in every 00:13:40 - The Importance of Crafting Engaging Questions, Eric shares the importance of having a few go-to questions to avoid awkward silences and engage in interesting conversations. By asking about topics that others may not usually talk about, you can make the interaction about the other person and create meaningful connections. 00:15:07 - Enjoying the Conference Experience, Eric expresses his love for attending conferences and the opportunity to connect with people. However, he also acknowledges that social interactions can be draining, and sometimes it's necessary to take a break and relax, especially when attending a conference in your own city. 00:15:56 - The Power of Follow-Up, Eric emphasizes the importance of following up with contacts after a conference. Within three to seven days, he suggests sending emails or messages to connect and solidify any potential collaborations or connections made during the event. Consistent follow-up can lead to successful outcomes. 00:16:59 - Persistence in Follow-Up, Eric advises continuing to send follow-up emails if initial attempts do not receive a response. He suggests spacing out the emails by several days to maintain contact and increase the chances of a reply. Persistence in follow-up can be key to reaping the rewards of a conference. 00:17:48 - Share Your Conference Learnings, Eric invites listeners to share their own conference learnings and experiences. He encourages feedback and discussion, inviting participants to comment on the podcast episode or reach out through the Christian Podcasters Association website or social media platforms.
Resources Mentioned:
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Join the Christian Podcasters Association/ Christian Podcasters Association Facebook group: If you're interested in starting or growing your Christian podcast, consider joining the Christian Podcasters Association. You can find more information and sign up on their website.
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Attend Podcast Movement: If you're a podcaster or aspiring podcaster, consider attending Podcast Movement, the largest podcasting conference in the world. It's a great opportunity to learn, network, and meet other podcasters. Check out their website for more details and to register for the event.
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Join the Christian Podcasters Association membership
Are you ready to grow your podcast into the ministry you first envisioned? Join CPA Gold to find the resources, support, and community that will take you from mindset to monetization.
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Aug 8, 2023
Christian Creators and Social Media with Chris Martin
Hey friends!
Have you been wondering about joining CPA Gold but would like to experience it first? This is your chance for a sneak peek at the kinds of people we bring in to learn from.
Here are the details:
When it comes to social media, there's only one relationship status that makes sense: it's complicated.
As Christian creators, we are always looking for effective ways to get our message out. Any other posture is dereliction of duty. But when you see harmful, manipulative, and damaging tactics used by some to sell online, you can easily become discouraged.
How should Christian creators like you and me interact with social media?
Our guest this week is Chris Martin is the author of Terms of Service, about the costs of social media. He also has a new book, The Wolf in Their Pockets: 13 Ways the Social Internet Threatens the People You Lead, and will share with us about it, as well.
If you've ever wondered how to be a Christian creator and engage on social media, do not miss this session!
MEET OUR GUEST CHRIS
Our guest Chris Sanders, he is an editor at Moody Publishers and a Social Media Marketing and Communications Consultant. He regularly writes his stuff in the Substack Newsletter. He’s written the book Terms of Service, and he has a new book coming out called The Wolf in their Pockets: 13 Ways the Social Internet Threatens the People You Lead, which is very clever and provocative.
Connect with me and let me hear your thoughts over on Facebook!
TOPICS DISCUSSED:
* Working in social media and online content
* The difference between technology and social media
* How social media has changed our relationship with God
* The problem with passive ignorance on social media
* how can a Christian with a message engage in social media
* How social media can shape us
* Never feel bad about promoting your own stuff
* The positives of social media engagement and community
* Put the focus on the people you're trying to serve
* How much longer will we be willing to give up autonomy for social media
* Finding success off of social media
* How to engage in a Christ- like way on social media
* How can a Christian, engage a Christian with a message engage in social media
* How can Christian creators avoid the sort of harmful manipulative, deceptive practices that people have on social to kind of sell their their junk, whatever it is, and, and do it in a way that really honors not only Christ, but also the human beings that they're trying to share it with
* Best tip for translating your followers to your email list
RESOURCES AND LINKS FROM THE SHOW:
* Substack Newsletter
* Terms of Service Website
* Terms of Service Book
* The Wolf in Their Pockets: 13 Ways the Social Internet Threatens the People You Lead Paperback – March 7, 2023:
* Christian podcasters Association Membership
* Neil Postman’s Book Amusing Ourselves to Death: Public Discourse in the Age of Show Business Paperback – December 27, 2005
CONNECT WITH CHRIS MARTIN
* Facebook
* Twitter
* Instagram
* Website
* Email
CONNECT WITH ME
* CHRISTIAN PODCASTER ASSOCIATION (CPA) FB GROUP
* CHRISTIAN PODCAST GUEST FB GROUP
* HALFWAY THERE PODCAST
* HALFWAY THERE PODCAST FB
* CHRISTIAN PODCASTER ASSOCIATION MEMBERSHIP
MORE ABOUT THE CHRISTIAN PODCASTER:
The Christian Podcaster is the official podcast of Christian Podcasters Association. We help Christians with a message develop, launch, and grow their podcasts so they can serve the people God is calling them to. Whether you’ve started your show or are ready to launch, this podcast is for you.
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