In this episode I talk about something I’ve seen a lot lately. People tell me they want to move forward. They want to start the thing, launch the idea, reach out to the person, publish the content, say yes to the opportunity.

But they’re stuck because the unknowns feel too big and the confidence simply isn’t there.

The problem is that confidence doesn’t show up at the beginning.

Confidence is the reward for taking action.

It only comes after you’ve stepped into something new, realized your worst fears didn’t come true, and built enough real experience to trust yourself in that environment.

Even after all these years, I still feel that tension when I’m introduced to someone new. Especially when their online presence is polished, impressive, and perfectly curated.

My old patterns pop up.

Who am I to talk with this person? Will I bring value? Will I land with their audience?

There are three important words that I share in this episode: Courage, Confidence, and Curiosity.

Courage. The willingness to say yes even when the outcome is unknown.

If I am courageous enough to take the step, then something interesting happens. My worst fears usually don’t come true. I learn something. I grow. And over time, with enough reps, I develop confidence.

But the confidence never comes first.

Recently, though, I’ve added a third ingredient. And it has been the biggest shift of all.

Curiosity.

Curiosity dissolves fear.

It lets me walk into a new room without the burden of needing anything to happen.

Instead of pressure, I enter with wonder.

Why was this introduction made?

What could come from this connection?

What can I learn from this person?

How might I serve?

Is there resonance here?

And if not, what clarity does that give me?

Curiosity brings me back to presence.

It clears the anxiety that shows up the day before a call, or the hour before it starts, or the five minutes before we go live.

Curiosity lets me move forward without being attached to any particular outcome. I don’t have to prove myself. I don’t have to impress. I simply get to explore what is possible.

In this episode I break down how these three ingredients work together.

Courage gets you moving.

Curiosity keeps you grounded.

Confidence grows from experience and repetition.

If you have an area in your life where you’ve been waiting for confidence before you take action, my hope is that this conversation frees you from that waiting.

You won’t feel confident before you begin.

You’ll feel confident because you began.

I’d love to hear what this brings up for you.

You can email me at Cliff@CliffRavenscraft.com.

I have a special Black Friday coaching offer. It includes three ninety-minute one-on-one coaching sessions with me, plus full access to both my Free the Dream online course and my Building an Online Business course.

If you want direct support, clarity on your next steps, and momentum heading into the new year, reach out and put “Coaching Offer” in the subject line.

In this episode I return to my Podcast Answer Man roots and share an in-depth review of my newest and most unexpected favorite piece of podcast gear. The Zoom PodTrak P4next!

This tiny device delivers almost everything I rely on from the Rodecaster Pro 2 at a fraction of the size and a fraction of the cost, coming in at only $179.

I'll walk you through how I discovered it, my initial skepticism, and why seeing the Zoom name made me give it a chance. I'm so glad I did.

I'll share what the Zoom PodTrak P4next does, how I'm using it, why it has already earned a permanent place in my travel setup, and why I might even replace my Rodecaster Pro 2 in the studio.

I recorded this episode from the front seat of my car to demonstrate how powerful this device is for portable recording. You'll hear the quality of the preamps and the impressive noise reduction capabilities in action.

I talk about the power options, multitrack capability, four XLR inputs, mix-minus support, sound pads, four independently controlled headphone outputs, built in audio recorder and more.

I also share the story of why this little recorder solves technical problems I have carried for years.

If you have been looking for a reliable way to record multiple microphones on the road, or if you want to build a complete podcast studio that fits in a backpack, this episode will show you how simple, and inexpensive, it can be.

Many listeners and viewers ask for my current recommendations for a complete portable recording setup. Here's the list with affiliate links.

Zoom PodTrak P4next - https://amzn.to/4rA85fY

Heil PR-40 - https://amzn.to/4iofavZ

If you want something more portable, my long-time favorite was the Audio Technica ATR-2100. It is no longer manufactured, so my best current guess for a quality budget dynamic mic is the Rode PodMic Cardioid Dynamic Broadcast Microphone found at https://amzn.to/4rgUIBf

Three foot XLR mic cables - https://amzn.to/43UbqMC

Portable mic stand options - https://amzn.to/3MmDMJf

Sony MDR-7506 - https://amzn.to/3M0apwo

Replacement ear pads for the MDR-7506 - https://amzn.to/3M0gj0z

If this episode inspires you to pick up the Zoom PodTrak P4next, I would love to hear about it. Send me an email and let me know how this episode inspired you. My email is Cliff@CliffRavenscraft.com.

Today’s episode is something a little different. I recorded this message from the front seat of my car (my “mobile studio”) during one of those early morning creative bursts that often come during my fall routines.

Before we dive in, you’ll notice the audio quality sounds a little different than my usual in-studio setup. I explain why in the intro, but the short version is this: I’ve been waking up at 4:30 a.m., heading to Planet Fitness, and spending time journaling, praying, reading, and creating from that sacred space of solitude.

Sometimes inspiration hits right there in the car, and I don’t want to wait until I’m back at my desk to capture it.

What follows is a message I felt deeply compelled to share. It’s about something I’ve been noticing, in myself and in other creators, as AI tools become part of our daily workflow.

We’re all starting to sound the same.

In this episode, I talk about:

• How AI-generated phrasing has become a dead giveaway in so much content.
• The subtle rhythms that make a piece of writing or video sound “machine-shaped.”
• My own experiences using ChatGPT for content creation (and where it crossed the line).
• Why I’m returning to more unscripted, unpolished, human communication.
• How we can still use AI as a thought partner without losing our authentic voice.

This episode is about remembering what people really connect with: honesty, imperfection, and lived experience.

I hope this message encourages you to bring your unpolished, unscripted voice back into your creative process.

Until next time, I encourage you to take everything you do in life and business, and content creation, to the next level.