My name is Marisa Huston. I host and produce a podcast in Denver, Colorado, called Live Blissed Out. I started the podcast in October 2019, and I've released nearly 140 episodes. I talk to writers, coaches, subject-matter experts, and business owners about mindset and finding meaning in work.
I'm a business owner myself. Alongside podcasting, my husband, Jerry, and I own a business called Second Spindle, an environmentally conscious venture that produces handmade, personalized gifts and keepsakes. We started the business only recently and have no plans to retire. We like to keep our minds and hands busy.
I minored in radio studies as a college student. That was before cell phones, laptop computers, or the internet. At first, I doubted myself: I have a high-pitched voice and an unusual accent. But I realized that, if I could just get out of my own way, I could focus on how I could be of value to others.
Producing a 30-minute podcast takes me about six hours. This includes meeting the person to be interviewed, doing the interview, editing, transcribing, and then marketing, networking, and promoting the show on social media. I produce one episode every other week.
I usually have between six and eight episodes ready to release. I try to schedule and record my interviews on the same day each week. The week prior to a podcast release, I begin editing the podcast that is next in line. This takes about three hours, depending on my guest: Some of my guests aren't trained speakers and have never been in a podcast. They are well-informed about their work but may have trouble describing it to listeners. If my guest is an experienced speaker, my editing time is significantly reduced.
After editing, I work on the introduction, the closing, and the advertisements. I'm then ready to upload the podcast and the transcript to my hosting platform. I use a different software to transcribe my episode, in part for the hearing-impaired. I then upload the transcript, create chapter markers, and work on a sound bite to promote the episode on social media. I also upload all this information to my website. I send a thank-you note to my guest, informing them that their episode will be released on Tuesday at midnight, and suggesting how it could be marketed.
When I work at Second Spindle, Jerry and I prepare the wood we use to produce the handcrafts: We do all the cutting, finishing, sanding, and sewing. We've had to learn all about different types of wood, and much more. We love seeing the smile and delight on people's faces when they receive a personal, thoughtful gift. And for me, too, it is a nice change to work with my hands and a good balance with the podcasting.