Starting a podcast sounded like a dream. But three months in, I’ve learned the raw truth: it's a full-time job, it’s humbling, and it’s not for the faint of heart. In this solo episode, I break down the 10 most important lessons I’ve learned so far—from getting hate online to learning how to handle burnout, bad audio, inconsistent platform performance, and the pressure to grow without a return. If you’ve ever thought about launching a podcast (or any creative venture), this episode is for you. Whether you're just starting out or already in the game, these lessons are real, unfiltered, and straight from my experience. 00:00 Introduction01:00 The Reality of Podcasting Workload06:45 Balancing Podcasting with Life08:19 The Financial Aspect of Podcasting11:01 Platform Performance Insights12:18 The Power of Viral Content13:19 Social Media Conversion Rates14:34 Instagram vs. TikTok Performance16:06 Podcast Platform Rankings18:25 Challenges with TikTok Scheduling20:01 Initial Spike and Momentum21:15 Capitalizing on Momentum22:59 Overcoming Fear of Posting24:34 Understanding Non-Linear Growth27:31 Reflecting on the Journey27:57 Call to Action: Support the Show28:26 Gratitude and Future Plans   Follow Arrad (podcast host)    LISTEN / SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST: SPOTIFY APPLE MUSIC YOUTUBE   CONNECT WITH US: ✩ Ourselves (production team):  ✩ Instagram ✩ Twitter ✩ TikTok ✩ Facebook