REFLECTION: Expressing Appreciation
Before beginning each podcast interview, I tell my guest that I have three goals for their episode. First, to have fun. Second, to entertain the audience — because after all, we’re in show business. And third, I want my guest to feel comfortable and respected. Those three goals are really at the heart of Follow Your Dream. Each interview is a meaningful conversation about my guest’s life, their career, and their art. But it’s important to me that these conversations take place in a relaxed, enjoyable, and supportive atmosphere, with mutual kindness and respect. In many ways, that’s the secret sauce of the podcast. When a guest appears on Follow Your Dream, they receive worldwide exposure for their work and their story. Listeners from around the globe hear their music or experience their art, their ideas, and their creative journey. So I tell them that appearing on the podcast is like going on a world tour — but from the comfort of their own home or studio, and with no travel required. Of course, putting each episode together takes quite a bit of work. Arranging the logistics for the interview, gathering and reviewing the materials for the “fest” portion of the show, recording the conversation, having it edited and sequenced, publishing it, promoting it, and sharing it with listeners around the world. But it’s work that I truly enjoy, because every conversation brings something new and introduces me to another extraordinary artist. And what I’ve found is that most artists are deeply appreciative of the experience. They love their interview, they share it with their fans, they stay in touch, they introduce me to other remarkable artists who might be great guests as well, and in some cases we even collaborate musically on new projects. It becomes a kind of creative community built on mutual respect — extending the podcast beyond conversation and into creative production. I like to call it a virtuous creative loop. Which reminds me of something simple but important. When someone treats you well, expressing appreciation matters. It’s a small gesture, but it helps maintain and strengthen the connections between people. And in the creative world — as in life — those connections are important and often lead to wonderful things. Just an observation from my many conversations. This is Robert Miller with Follow Your Dream.