The Smarter Way to Create Without Burning Out
What happens when you let go of complexity, listen more, and speak with intent.
Hello Producers,
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I’ve been following Colin Gray’s work since I first got curious about podcasting. His blog, The Podcast Host, was one of the first places I turned to for real, no-fluff advice. And Alitu quickly became the tool I’d recommend to anyone trying to make podcasting simpler.
So getting to sit down and record with him felt like a proper full-circle moment. Colin’s been doing this for nearly two decades, teaching, building, coaching, creating, all while balancing business, family and a steady flow of content.
The Podcast Pioneer: 20 Years of Lessons in Creating, Teaching and Building Tools | #114: Colin Gray
Colin Gray is a podcaster, educator and founder behind two of the most trusted names in the audio space: ThePodcastHost.com, a go-to hub for podcast education, and Alitu.com, a podcast-making app designed to simplify every step of the process. With a background in higher education and a doctorate in online learning, Colin has spent the past 15 years helping creators share their voice, through tools, guides, speaking, and hands-on support.
In this episode, you’ll hear how Colin discovered podcasting nearly two decades ago, long before it became mainstream. We explore what it’s like to support thousands of podcasters through his blog, software and courses, and how he stays creative while running businesses, raising a family and showing up with consistency. It’s an honest, thoughtful conversation with someone who’s built a career around making podcasting more human.
Lessons:
Why Re-Recording Beats Editing Every Time
The One-Question Strategy Behind Alitu’s Growth
How to Spot Signature Ideas While You Speak
Use AI to Think Faster, Not Sound Generic
Simplify Your Workflow So You Actually Create
Lesson 1: Don’t Edit the Clip. Re-Record It
One of the smartest tips Colin shared? Don’t clip. Re-record.
Instead of trimming segments from a long interview, he jots down the best moments and says them again. No awkward edits. No time wasted scrubbing timelines. Just a clean, focused take with a stronger hook, smoother delivery and a proper call to action.
You’ve probably done the opposite. You find a “decent” clip, spend an hour polishing it, then end up with something that’s fine but not quite right. It looks like a repurposed edit, and often feels like one too.
Re-recording isn’t lazy. It’s deliberate. You already know the point you want to make. Now you get to make it better.
Spot the strong idea. Say it again with clarity and purpose. Your audience will thank you.
Lesson 2: Use Questions to Build Your Product
When Colin started growing his audience, he didn’t offer a guide or launch a funnel. He sent one line.
“What are you struggling with right now?”
That single question led to hundreds of replies. From those replies came blog posts, podcast episodes, workshops and, eventually, Alitu. His audience wrote the roadmap. All he had to do was listen and respond.
Most creators try to guess what their audience wants. But real insight doesn’t come from overthinking. It comes from asking simple questions at the right time.
This isn’t about market research. It’s about curiosity.
Ask a clear question. Look for the patterns. Build something that answers them.
Lesson 3: Coin a Concept While You Talk. Then Reuse It Everywhere.
Some of the best creative ideas happen when you’re not trying to create.
Colin often notices useful frameworks or phrases while speaking off the cuff, during a podcast, a coaching call, or a casual explanation. If it lands well, he captures it, names it and reuses it across formats.
You’ve probably done the same without even realising. That one line that made something click. The phrase you keep repeating to clients. The metaphor that always works.
Instead of letting those moments pass, make them part of your creative system.
Catch them. Frame them. Share them often.
Lesson 4: Treat AI Like an Assistant. Not a Creator.
Colin uses AI tools daily, but never to publish raw outputs.
He leans on them for structure, variation, speed and support. But the voice, the judgement, and the creative intent still come from him. AI gives him more starting points. The final say stays human.
You don’t need to avoid AI. You just need to use it with intention.
Let it help you think faster. Don’t let it replace the thinking.
Support your process with tools. But keep your message yours.
Lesson 5: The Simpler Your Workflow, the More You’ll Create
Most creators don’t burn out because of content itself. They burn out from making it harder than it needs to be.
Colin’s approach to content and product building is rooted in simplicity. If a process has too many steps, he cuts it. If a tool creates friction, he removes it. That’s how he continues showing up without losing momentum.
You don’t need another app or a better system. You need fewer obstacles between your ideas and your audience.
Simplify how you create so it becomes something you can sustain.
Clear beats clever. Always.
We covered everything from podcasting and tools to AI and creative mindset. The conversation just flowed, packed with back and forth, sharp insight and ideas you can actually use.
Whether you’re building a podcast, product or personal brand, you’ll walk away with ideas you can use this week. Hit play below and let me know what landed most.
Keep producing,
Tommen
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