Your Mic
Your Mic is a podcast for new and aspiring podcasters. Hosted by Freddy Cruz, founder of Speke Podcasting, Your Mic offers insights, tactics, and mindset strategies. Each episode features practical advice to help listeners build and grow a top 1% podcast. Join Freddy as he shares his experience and knowledge to guide you through the podcasting journey. Tune in and take your podcast to new heights.
Episodes
December 9, 2025
Cristiano Ronaldo bets on curiosity and Perplexity AI. Your favorite podcasts already own your time. This episode dares you to stop lurking in the audience and build your industry’s next favorite show in 2026.Key takeaways
Curiosity is capital. When someone worth over a billion bucks backs a tool they actually use, it is a signal to stop treating your own curiosity like a hobby.
Every week you are clocking serious hours wit...
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Chung Wu risked his career to put clients first during the Enron crisis, embodying transparency and integrity above all else. Despite immense pressure and personal cost, he refused to compromise on doing what was right. Now, his philosophy centers on living a balanced life with honesty and purpose.
Learn more about Chung Wu here.
Subscribe to Your Mic on YouTube, Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.
Shoot Freddy an ...
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Earworthy newsletter publisher Frank Racioppi joins the show to spotlight the often-overlooked power of independent podcasters. They dig into why indie creators deserve a much larger role in the podcast ecosystem, how big networks and celebrity-fronted shows dominate headlines, and what that means for everyday listeners.
Frank shares the evolution of Earworthy—from amplifying network press releases to exclusively featuring indepen...
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November 25, 2025
Happy Thanksgiving.
If you’re sick of amateur hour in your feeds, let’s celebrate everything you don’t have to endure.
Villainous? Only if liking good audio is a crime :)
Subscribe to Your Mic on YouTube, Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.
Shoot Freddy an email: freddy@spekepodcasting.com.
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November 20, 2025
If you’re tired of gurus and hype, you’re not alone. On Be Amazing You, Lolita and I get real about building a show, why you probably have everything you need already, and the value of keeping things simple.
Your story is worth sharing. Just make sure you’re doing it for the right reasons.
Subscribe to Be Amazing You on YouTube here.
Key Takeaways
Skill beats fancy gear, every time.
Find your people, serve them, ignore t...
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November 18, 2025
Speke Podcasting brings you a jet-fueled holiday special with Britney Crosson from Fun Love Media, dropping the secrets combos of social media and podcasting during the holiday season. If you dread marketing or want to ride the festive wave, Britney and Freddy break down omnipresence, platform picks, and why recycling content is pure genius. This chat shows how midlife podcasters and business owners can own their season, set custom...
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November 13, 2025
When the job market closed its doors, Freddy Cruz opened a new one.
His path from morning radio to founder of Speke Podcasting started with hundreds of rejections and ended up reshaping Houston’s entrepreneurial podcast scene. Integrity Bank
co-founders Hazem Ahmed and Mack Neff, who also host Banking on Integrity, walk through Freddy’s personal and professional pivots, authenticity in business, and what happens when you never s...
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November 11, 2025
It’s time for a no-apologies pep talk from the founder of Speke Podcasting.
Freddy gets real about editing, perfection, and why chasing that seamless sound is overrated. If you’ve ever agonized about every “um,” “ah,” or background bark, this episode hands you permission to care about the message more than the pixel-perfect audio. He demystifies what listeners truly notice, helps you make kinder editing decisions, and reminds you ...
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November 6, 2025
Every new podcaster faces the reality of holiday listenership dips, but Freddy Cruz transforms this seasonal curveball into a power move. Expect a direct line on testing bolder formats and rethinking your approach when everyone else disappears for family and festivities. The guidance here is all about owning your choices, setting expectations with your audience, and emerging stronger for the new year. No guesswork, just clear permi...
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November 4, 2025
Audio quality is everything. When you drop a podcast or step up as a guest, the way you sound says plenty about your show before you ever say a word. A solid mic isn’t just a luxury. It’s a signal that you know what you’re doing, that you respect yourself, and that you respect the folks giving you their time.
A hundred bucks on a quality microphone is enough to help you stand out in a sea of background hums and tin-can audio. List...
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October 30, 2025
Podcasts lose steam when consistency slips and priorities shift. In this episode, Freddy Cruz breaks down how pod fade happens and why batch recording is key for keeping your show alive. Scheduling dedicated recording blocks helps hosts maintain regular episodes and momentum, even when life gets busy. Staying consistent builds your brand and keeps your mic hot—because podcasting is the ultimate platform for your message.
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October 28, 2025
Freddy Cruz shares how to launch and plan your podcast using AI. Download Perplexity AI, upload your writing, and use prompts to generate a show description and a full episode roadmap. Grade each transcript for value, clarity, and engagement, then use the AI’s feedback to improve with every release.
Subscribe to Your Mic on YouTube, Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.
Shoot Freddy an email: freddy@spekepodcasting.c...
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October 23, 2025
Have you ever missed a deadline and wondered if it made you less dedicated? On this episode, I talk about how I used to push for strict podcast consistency, what changed after a busy season, and why giving yourself some grace matters.
The realities of running a podcast and staying disciplined
How to handle slipping up without losing momentum
Why missing an episode doesn't mean you've failed
Join me as we explore what it...
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October 21, 2025
What’s a surefire way make your next podcast episode better than your last? A perfectly crafted prompt. Duh. You might be thinking about your flow, time management, or how the guest shines when you have someone on.
Today, I’m sharing how I use a simple system, including an AI transcript grading tool, to get clear, specific feedback.
There’s a prompt that goes beyond general notes and gives you a real grade,
Why I won’t mov...
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October 16, 2025
What does it really take to launch your first podcast event?
I had big plans for Speke Fest—months of work, meetings, and some tough lessons.
Three things stand out:
The challenge of bringing people together
Learning from honest feedback
Finding real connections when things don’t go as planned
Let’s talk about what worked, what didn’t, and what comes next.
Subscribe to Your Mic on YouTube, Apple, Spotify or wherever...
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A freeway, a baby blue mansion, a banged-up car, and the kind of conversation only a dad can spark. In this episode, everyday moments turn into lessons about real value. Shiny billboards and glossy TV spots look impressive, but the microphone in your hand is where the magic lives. When the world is obsessed with polish and luxury, the smart move is to double-down on what’s personal, scrappy, and true.
Key Takeaways
Podcasting...
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Pop star Anna Storm joins the pod to share powerful lessons on confidence, creativity, and perseverance.
A creator at heart, Anna dives into the importance of remembering why you started your journey and how to maintain the courage to keep shooting your shot. Plus, she reveals the unforgettable advice her dad gave her about quitting—words that will resonate with creators and podcasters alike.
Be sure to share the show with fello...
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An offhand comment can quickly turn someone into the accidental villain online, as public reaction transforms an innocent remark into a widespread controversy. The story of Ethan Zuckerman, who created the pop-up ad, shows how a single idea can ripple across the Internet and change digital culture. Moments meant to be private, whether spoken or posted, can go viral in unexpected ways, fundamentally shifting how reputations are form...
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September 30, 2025
What happens when you have a goal that keeps getting moved to the next year, and then someone comes along with a way to make it real? Dorothy Gibbons put "start a podcast" on her list—year after year—without even knowing how podcasts worked. Now, "Let's Talk About Your Breasts" brings stories out of the Rose that would otherwise go unheard.
Hear why telling your own story matters.
Find out what happens when a guest meets th...
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September 25, 2025
Johatsu—the phenomenon of Japan’s “evaporated people”—sheds light on the extreme decision to abandon everything and vanish from one’s own life. These stories aren’t just shocking; they force listeners to think about why someone chooses to disappear and what that means about society’s expectations and personal struggles. Sharing these hidden stories can inspire deeper honesty when telling your own, especially if those stories cut th...
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