Welcome back to Podcasting Insights with the Podmaster, the show that gives you all the tips for podcasting success.

Except when your host completely drops the ball.

Yours truly forgot the Good Friday was a holiday leading to an unexpected no show last week.

So in the spirit of do as I say, not as I do, let's talk about planning time off.

Yep, I'm the guy who tells you to be intentional, and yet here I am with an unintended break.

The irony isn't lost on me.

In fact, my lack of planning goes against one of my core principles, which is if you don't pitch your podcast absolutely perfectly from the beginning with your brand new listener, you've lost them.

No chance to get them back.

So what should I have done?

Let's figure this out together.

I could have pre recorded all my month of episodes.

This is the classic solution.

Even better, I could have had an assistant do the basic edits for me.

So all that's left for me to do is come in and give them the final polish and all the creative bits.

But I didn't.

I could have repurposed some old content.

You know, re release a best of or an updated version of a popular episode.

This can be useful if things have slightly changed or there's a development in the story.

But I didn't.

I could have had a shorter episode, like a super quick tip, a listener Q and A or a behind the scenes.

But I didn't.

Or at the very least, if all else failed, I could have announced that I was on a holiday break and then suggested some other episodes they could listen to based on their specific needs for that moment.

But I didn't.

It's not just about me needing a break.

It's about you, the listener expecting consistent content.

As we know, the most successful podcasts have a clear ideal listener in mind, and a sudden absence can feel like a broken promise.

So how do we avoid this pod failing?

Here are a few essential bits of POD mastery.

Firstly, create a content calendar with built in buffer weeks.

This alone can save you a lot of stress.

Secondly, batch recommendation.

Record episodes whenever possible.

Not only does this give you a bank of content, but as I always say, if you don't figure out how to tell a story, you're going to end up with seven listeners and a misplaced sense of self importance.

Think of your podcast like a needy plant.

You can't just abandon it for weeks.

You need a plan or it'll die on its prickly ass.

Or in this case, your download numbers will so learn from my mistake.

My podcasting Padawan, plan your breaks, respect your listeners expectations, and for sake, check the calendar.

But also be kind to yourself.

We're all human and sometimes we just need a short break.

We forget all else until it's too late.

Even the podmaster.