Part of the YourBrand Network
PodcastYourBrand · Part of the YourBrand Network
You don't need the whole map. You need the nextstep.
You don't have a podcast problem. You have a clarity problem. You don't need a new mic or a launch plan. You need the one move that helps your show this week.
Find my podcast nextstep →Two minutes. Six questions. You see your result before I ask for anything.
Free · 2 minutes
What's your Podcast Clarity Score?
I'm Russ. A podcast is a long, kind conversation with people who chose to listen. Most shows don't stall for lack of gear. They stall because nobody said what to fix first.
Six questions. Two minutes. One nextstep. No email needed to see it.
Kindness is cool, smiles are free.
How it works
No program. No 40 tabs. One move at a time.
Take the score
Six quick questions about where your show is today. Idea stage or episode 200, it works.
See your one gap
Not ten things. The one that matters most right now, plus three moves for it.
Do one move a week
Nextstep Notes lands every Thursday with one trend and one 15 minute move. Do it, then do the next.
Try this today. 15 minutes.
Write your show in one sentence.
Finish this line: This show helps [who] with [what]. Keep it under 20 words. Read it out loud, then put it at the top of your show description and say it in your next intro.
Done looks like one sentence, live in your show description.
That's what a nextstep feels like. The quiz finds yours.
Russ Johns
Nextstepnext · YourBrand Network
Who's behind this
I'm Russ. I write Nextstep Notes every Thursday, and I read every reply.
30 years in corporations and 15 years as an entrepreneur and content creator.
A stroke took my voice for a while. Getting it back taught me what a voice is for: helping people, one honest conversation at a time.
This site is one small piece of a bigger mission: help more people help more people. One craft, one move at a time.
Read the whole story → (opens in a new tab)Not ready for the quiz?
Start with the letter.
Nextstep Notes lands every Thursday. One trend, one 15 minute move, and the podcast trend lives right inside it. Free, short, and kind to your inbox.
No price. No upsell. Unsubscribe any time.
Fair questions
Is it free?
Yes. The quiz, your result, and Nextstep Notes are all free.
Do I have to give you my email to see my score?
No. Your result shows up on the page. Getting it in your inbox is your call.
I haven't started a show yet. Is this for me?
Especially for you. Getting the basics clear before episode one means everything you record later has a home.
Will this grow my downloads?
I won't promise numbers. I'll help you see where your show is and pick one useful move. What happens next is yours.
Trust
Playing it straight
Trust is earned one message at a time. Here's how we keep it, and how you can too.
Rules people follow
- Follow the rules of every place your show lives.
- Only message people who asked.
- An unsubscribe link in every email, honored right away.
- Honest claims and safe, clear links. No hidden redirects.
What we do
- Opt in only. No unsolicited emails, texts, or DMs.
- Every message says it's from Russ Johns and Nextstepnext, and leaving takes one click or one word.
- Real numbers only, like 600+ livestream interviews. No promised results.
- We never buy, sell, or share lists.
Record and publish the right way
- Get a written yes before you record or publish anyone. Some places require everyone to agree.
- Honest titles and cover art that match the episode.
- No fake downloads, plays, reviews, or followers.
This is general guidance, not legal advice.
Rather talk it through with a person? Book a free Roadmap call (opens in a new tab). We look at where you are and pick your nextstep together.