How We’re Actually Growing This Podcast: Clips, Thumbnails, and a Better Workflow - The Shift EP 28

Episode 28 is just Mike & Joe—no guest, no script, and a surprisingly useful behind-the-scenes breakdown of what we’re changing to actually grow The Shift.

 

We talk through what we’d do differently if we restarted the podcast from zero, the real reason clips are becoming our growth engine, and the “boring” stuff that matters more than people think: consistency, workflow, thumbnails, and division of labor. We also share the real-world time + cost of producing an episode, how the show has helped networking and business opportunities, and why we’re putting more intention into packaging (titles/thumbnails/clips) moving forward.

 

In this episode:

• If we restarted from zero: what we’d change immediately (schedule + consistency)

• Why clips are the fastest lever for growth (and what makes a clip work)

• Learning DaVinci Resolve + collaborative editing (project sharing + workflow)

• Thumbnail strategy: building the episode around “packaging” from the start

• Our current publishing cadence and why we’re tightening the process

• The real cost of an episode (time, editing, and what we outsource)

• Sponsorship reality: why we’re focused on views + subscribers right now

• Email list: why we still haven’t built it (and why we need to)

• A “podcast tour” idea + how bigger guests could change the trajectory

• Quick life/business updates: music gigs, lessons, video work, and what’s next

 

Question for you:

What’s the biggest growth lever for a smaller podcast right now—clips, thumbnails, consistency, or guests?

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🎧 Support / Follow The Shift with Mike & Joe

 

Website: https://www.theshiftwithmikeandjoe.com

Donate: https://www.theshiftwithmikeandjoe.com

YouTube: @TheShiftwithMikeandJoe

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🎸 Connect with Mike & Joe

 

Image & Sound Media (Joe)

Website: https://imagesoundmedia.com

YouTube: @imagesoundmedia

 

Joe Bryan Music

Website: https://joebryanmusic.com

 

Kent Island Academy of Music (Mike)

Facebook: @kentislandacademyofmusic

 

Michael Waskey Music

Website: https://michaelwaskey.com

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🎥 Production Gear (Episode 28)

 

Main camera: Sony A7V + Sigma 24–70mm f/2.8

Joe cam: Sony FX3 + Sony 135mm f/1.8 GM

Mike cam: Sony A7 IV + Sony 70–200mm f/2.8 GM II

 

Lighting: Amaran 100x (rim), Amaran 200x (rim), Amaran F22x (key)

 

The Shift with Mike & Joe is fully produced by Image & Sound Media.

https://www.imagesoundmedia.com