Colin Gray

Often, we can be quick to blame technology for increasing screen time and reducing human connection. But as @colingray.bsky.social shares in an upcoming episode of 5 Random Questions, that doesn't need to be the case.

Follow below to get new episodes when they drop.

fiverandomquestions.com/listen

Indie Podcaster Grants and Funding Opportunities 2025 (UK & USA) Ever thought about applying for funding to support you in your podcasting journey? Here's a list of the best podcast grant opportunities.

Fancy some cash to grow your podcast? 💰 Er... trick question?

Here's a big list of all the grants we could find - www.thepodcasthost.com/business-of-...

Plus a set of 6 tips on increasing your chances of getting a grant, so hopefully we can help you actually win one of these things! Good luck 😁

You know you’re ill when it even hurts to move your eyeballs.

Thanks Ann! Happy to 😁

2 episodes scheduled for publishing over the holidays, so I can knock off today and do absolutely nothing for a fortnight!

A rare fit of 'getting ahead of it' for me 😂

Enjoy the holidays! 🎄

It’s a good point… our site has a few things built in almost by habit, from building/running sites 10+ years ago. Probably time for an audit!

Hah, good question, but need to get rid of the pop up somehow!

Playing around with Filmora for easier video editing. I actually really like the app - quick and simple, but pretty flexible and loads of workflow tools.

But, almost put off by the absolutely millions of upsells and a really confusing set of pricing options and plans...

Yea, I think you could be right!
Same, though, I just hit decline if I can. It all just feels so pointless - not convinced it's helped anyone 🤣

Anyone know if the cookie laws have measurably improved anything, anywhere?

Or is the main result that, now, everyone blindly clicks the green button on the first popup that appears on every site, everywhere? And the web is just far more annoying to use...

I reckon I remember about 30 authentication codes per day... how many brain Megabytes is that 🤣 This is why I can't find my keys every morning 🔑

Anyone else get too caught up with the word 'test' in eye test...?

Optician: "What's better - 1 or 2?" as she changes the lenses.

Me: "1!"
"no... 2!"
"no no ... 1!"
"wait.. 2... 1 ...2."

Either way, pretty sure I failed it today.

YouTube video by The Podcast Host: Colin Gray Amateur vs Pro creator mindset

Joined by Mr @craighewitt.com from Castos on this week's Creator Toolbox episode. This segment was a really fun chat about how to think like a pro and get way more consistent over time 💪

www.youtube.com/watch?v=yOxW...

Currently trying to find a PC game to play with my 12 year old where he won’t absolutely pummel me.

I used to be good at games… I think?

This pic doesn’t even reflect the best fact - the witchcraft that enables them to swing sideways too!

Haha, maybe 12-year old me, but old-me has forgotten near everything I ever learned about basic 😆

As long as millions of people still listen in their cars, or at the gym, or walking the dog, audio podcasting isn't going anywhere. And it will no doubt continue to generate big video stars, too. Which is great ⭐

But please, oh please, stop telling me audio is dead 😆

And it's still the best way for most new podcasters to start out. Video just adds so much time and complexity to the process. It's really hard for a one-person team to manage.

It's brilliant that video podcasting is growing, and reaching a whole new audience. But my whole point is, it doesn't mean that audio podcasting is dead. In fact, it's still as alive and kicking as it ever was.

But... it means the faces of podcasting, the most popular shows in the world, have become video & YouTube people AS WELL. So any new podcaster, or any podcast commentator is biased to say that only video shows work... Forgetting the vast majority of successful video shows didn't start that way.

Then, because these shows have done so well, they become the poster-folks of the podcasting world - and well deserved too!

There's a success bias of sorts going on here.

1. Podcast X succeeds as an audio show.
2. So, Podcast X grows the revenue to really lean in.
3. Podcast X then asks, how can we grow faster?
4. Podcast X hires a team, massively raises production value, and starts growing a YouTube channel AS WELL.

If we remove Joe Rogan alone, how much does that shift the YouTube share?

A lot, I'm willing to bet! Ask the rest of the podcast listening world (James said this really nicely) - the non-Rogan listeners - and suddenly the YouTube share will drop drastically.

Matthew and I talked about this last week on Podcraft (link in the comments, listen from 54:40 onwards.) and I heard James Cridland say the same thing today in the Podnews Weekly Review.

Trouble is, the top few shows in the world skew this data in a ludicrous way.

The stats just don't tell the full (or even the real...) story around the demand for video podcasting.

Edison data shows that 31% of people most often consume their podcasts on YouTube.

Spotify and Apple pods are at 27% and 15% behind that.

So Video wins, right?

Nope! 👇

I know!! That box cover gives me the strongest nostalgic vibes 😆 I graduated to big-standard AMOS not long after but the easy version was the one that sticks in my head!

It was Easy AMOS for me!

“Sunlight exposure in the morning is vital,” they shout.
“You won't get good sleep without it,” they cry.

Scotland, at 10am in November:
“Sunlight? All out, pal. Come back to me in March.
Actually… call it April. Just to be safe.”

#theDebacleMorning #notthe5amclub

Thanks Arielle :)