🎤 Discomfort Is the Assignment: What Improv Taught Me About Growth

05 May 🎤 Discomfort Is the Assignment: What Improv Taught Me About Growth

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👋Hey there Podcaster!

Last week on the Podcasting Morning Chat, we leaned all the way into discomfort—and what it can unlock when we stop avoiding it. From my own improv stage debut, we explored how choosing discomfort can crack open real growth. Then we took flight—literally—with Rich and Drew from Two Guys on a Plane, who dropped in to share how they turned memes into a magnetic brand before they ever launched a podcast (and what happened when a sponsor said yes before the first episode even dropped). Plus, if you’ve been waiting for a sign to pitch your talk or grab your pass to Empowered Podcasting 2025, this is it. This newsletter is packed with stories, strategies, and a gentle nudge to go where the magic is: just outside your comfort zone.

🎤 Discomfort Is the Assignment: What Improv Taught Me About Growth

When was the last time you did something uncomfortable… on purpose?

Last week, I stood on a stage for the first time since high school—with no script, no plan, just improv and a shaky promise to roll with whatever came out of my mouth. It was uncomfortable. And that was exactly the point.

In a recent episode of the Podcasting Morning Chat, we cracked open the real talk about choosing discomfort—not for the content, not for the clout—but because it rewires something in us. From my own improv showcase (hello, dentist office sketch that almost bombed) to Dan Woerheide setting up a literal “I’m a coach, just talk to me” sign at a coffee shop, we’re all about embracing the awkward to unlock deeper confidence, connection, and creativity.

We talked about:

  • How podcasting gave me the reps to stay grounded on stage
  • Why letting go of control is the real creative unlock
  • What Dan’s sign experiment reveals about judgment and visibility
  • How discomfort isn’t the thing to avoid—it is the work
  • Why even extroverts squirm at true vulnerability
  • Plus: poetry challenges, roller dance classes, fear of heights, and a quiet call to play more

Here’s the truth: your next level isn’t hiding in a how-to guide. It’s probably sitting just past the thing that makes you cringe a little. Whether that’s hitting record without a script, dancing sober at Beat Church (I’m working up to it 😬), or showing up without the polish… that’s where real growth kicks in.

So I’ll leave you with the question we asked:

👉 What’s one thing you’ve done—on purpose—that made you uncomfortable?

Hit reply and share it with me. And if you’re feeling bold, go make today your next uncomfortable story worth telling.

✈️ From Memes to Mic Drops: How “Two Guys on a Plane” Are Building a Brand That Flies

When two flight attendants with over 100K followers decide to launch a podcast…
…you expect turbulence, champagne, and maybe some viral in-flight meltdowns.

But Rich and Drew—the duo behind Two Guys on a Plane—are flipping the influencer narrative upside down.

They didn’t go viral.
They didn’t luck into fame.
And they definitely didn’t “just start a podcast” because everyone else was doing it.

In fact, they almost didn’t launch one at all.

Why? Because they’re not “podcast people.”
Not naturally, anyway.

But when a longtime sponsor approached them, before their podcast even existed, to say “we want in,” they took it as a sign. Not a lucky break, but a signal: their audience wasn’t just big—it was ready.

In last week’s episode of the Podcasting Morning Chat, Rich and Drew joined me to break down the real story behind their brand. They talked about:

  • Why content that feels effortless actually takes hours (and yes, they’re both glued to their phones)
  • The secret sauce behind growing a loyal following without being cringey or salesy
  • Why building community before you need it is what saved them after losing their Instagram account
  • Their strategy for rolling out a podcast with both an audio launch and a video premiere party
  • Why one of them edits at 1am (hi Rich 👋), while the other’s monitoring analytics mid-flight

Oh—and there’s the part where Rich got recognized in a Paris grocery store while hoarding French butter. (Because priorities.)

More than anything, they reminded us that brand building isn’t about going viral—it’s about showing up consistently, being deeply you, and treating your audience like the community it actually is.

🎤Ready to Take the Mic? Empowered Podcasting 2025 Is Calling

Here’s the deal—Empowered Podcasting Conference 2025 is where indie podcasters come to get fired up, connect with their people, and walk away with real strategies they can actually use.

🎟️ If you’re planning to be there (and honestly, why wouldn’t you be?), grab your ticket now. This isn’t one of those huge, overwhelming events where you leave with a bunch of fluff and no plan. We keep it real, we keep it actionable, and yeah—we keep it fun.

🎙️ And if you’ve got something to say—some behind-the-scenes gold, growth lessons, or creative magic to share—we’re taking speaker applications now. Step on that stage and speak to a room full of people who actually get it.

✔️This is your room.

🎤This is your moment.

🤝Let’s do this together.

👉 empoweredpodcasting.com for tickets and speaker apps.

🎙️Podcasting Morning Chat Highlights🌅

Welcome to your essential morning brew of ideas and insights, the “Podcasting Morning Chat” is a daily show that’s by creators, for creators. A dynamic team of experienced podcasters, entrepreneurs, and producers hosts the PMC. Each episode peels back the curtain on the art of podcasting and content creation. The conversation is a mix of insights, stories, and strategies, tailor-made to keep your content fresh, your audience engaged, and your creative spark alive. 

Recorded live every weekday at 7 AM EST on Clubhouse and available via podcast at 7 AM PST, our show has become a cornerstone for podcasters worldwide, offering a unique blend of expert advice, real-world success stories, and innovative ideas. Whether you’re here to enhance your content, expand your audience, or just soak in the collective wisdom of fellow content creators, the PMC is your source for inspiration, empowerment and connection in the podcasting world. 

Catch up with the latest episodes and join our global community of creators to kick-start your day with creativity, strategy, and insight.

I’m so grateful to be connected with you and a part of your podcast journey. 

All My Best,

Marc Roncik

👋Marc Ronick

This content was composed with assistance from OpenAI

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