Episode 493 - Seth Rogan on How To Not Be Successful - If You Want This Podcast to Work, Show Up
The heart of this message is about resilience, patience, and the truth that success in creative fields often comes unpredictably—and quitting guarantees you’ll never see it.
As podcasters, it’s easy to feel the weight of slow growth, small numbers, or the lack of recognition compared to others in the space. Many creators start strong but eventually fizzle out when the journey feels too long or success seems out of reach. But here’s the truth: if you quit, you guarantee you’ll never make it. If you keep going, even if progress is slow, there’s always a chance you’ll break through.
I’ve watched people succeed in wildly unexpected ways. Some hit it lucky early, some grind for years, and others rise to prominence later in life. The only common denominator between those who succeed and those who don’t is that the successful ones didn’t give up.
Think about the story of Ian McKellen. Today, he’s a household name—Magneto in X-Men, Gandalf in The Lord of the Rings. But most of the world hadn’t even heard of him until his 60s. He didn’t explode onto the scene in his twenties. His spotlight came decades later. And when it did, he became one of the most recognizable actors in the world.
Podcasting works the same way. You don’t know when your episode, your voice, or your story is going to connect with the right person—or the right audience—that changes everything. Maybe it’s tomorrow, maybe it’s ten years from now. But it only happens if you’re still in the game.
This is what podcasters need to hold onto:
Consistency beats overnight success.
Showing up creates the possibility of connection.
Longevity gives you chances you can’t predict.
Every time you release another episode, you open another door for someone to discover you. Every time you choose to keep going, you’re writing your own story of persistence.
So don’t quit. Not today, not tomorrow. You owe it to yourself and to your audience—those who are already listening and those who haven’t found you yet. Your breakthrough might not be on your timeline, but it’s never possible if you stop.
Clip referenced:https://youtube.com/shorts/hqcPnIkKYNI?si=3V7p69OJ5HxogIYh___