Grief doesn’t send a calendar invite. In this episode, I’m coming to you raw and vulnerable, sharing a deeply personal journey through one of the hardest seasons of my life. Over the past four months, I lost two of my grandparents—one just a week ago. Through these losses, I learned the real power of building a business and a podcast that supports your life when life asks you to pause.

I'm not here today with a polished plan or the perfect message. I’m here as a reminder that being prepared doesn’t mean being perfect—it means creating space for life to happen.

Here’s what I want you to take away:

1. Why every creator and entrepreneur needs an episode bank—and how to start yours.
2. How to prepare your content strategy for unexpected life events.
3. What it really means to build a business (and podcast) that honors life, not just hustle.

Clocking In with Haylee Gaffin is produced by Gaffin Creative, a podcast production company for creative entrepreneurs. Learn more about our services at Gaffincreative.com, plus you’ll also find resources, show notes, and more for the Clocking In Podcast.

Podcast Resources:

151: Dropping Everything & Finding My Why

Review the Transcript; https://share.descript.com/view/tgjFqQmdZYe

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What if the best content that you could share this week already exists? In today’s episode, I’m featuring my interview on The Modern Editor Podcast, hosted by my client Tara Whitaker. Tara and I share our insight into what it’s like to be a podcast guest, plus how you can make the most out of your guest appearances.

This episode originally aired on episode 49 of The Modern Editor Podcast.

Today's episode is brought to you by Mic Check Society, our community for podcasters who are looking to take their podcast from good to great. Come join us for educational trainings, a private member's only community, and monthly calls! Get $10 off per month with code PODCAST at micchecksociety.com.

Clocking In with Haylee Gaffin is produced by Gaffin Creative, a podcast production company for creative entrepreneurs. Learn more about our services at Gaffincreative.com, plus you’ll also find resources, show notes, and more for the Clocking In Podcast.

Find It Quickly:

Are Podcasts Still Relevant in 2025? (1:39)

The Power of Borrowing Someone Else’s Mic (11:22)

How to Pitch Yourself as a Podcast Guest (13:41)

The Key to Finding the Right Podcasts to Pitch Yourself to as a Guest (19:23)

Pitch Yourself With Clear Goals in Mind (28:19)

Where to Find New Podcasts (36:28)

What to Do After You Appear on a Podcast (40:28)

Ready For More Podcast Training? (48:18)

Podcast Resources:

Tara Whitaker Instagram: instagram.com/taramqwhitaker

The Modern Editor Podcast: tarawhitaker.com/podcast

The Modern Editor Episode 49 with Haylee Gaffin: tarawhitaker.com/episode-49

Mic Check Society: gaffincreative.com/mcs

Instagram: instagram.com/hayleegaffin

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

You don’t have to do it all to build a successful business. In today’s episode, I’m flipping the mic to some incredible women who’ve mastered the art of outsourcing—because staying creative, consistent, and balanced in your business doesn't happen alone.

You’ll hear from five inspiring podcasters—Stephanie Deininger, Jennifer Griffith, Bree Pair, Ali Haney, and Tara Whitaker—who share how outsourcing their podcast production to my team at Gaffin Creative has given them back their time, energy, and clarity.

Clocking In with Haylee Gaffin is produced by Gaffin Creative, a podcast production company for creative entrepreneurs. Learn more about our services at Gaffincreative.com, plus you’ll also find resources, show notes, and more for the Clocking In Podcast.

Find it Quickly:

Stephanie Deininger of Organize and Cherish (1:23)

Jennifer Griffith of About Your Mother (3:00)

Bree Pair of Thrive Podcast for Content Creators (3:59)

Ali Haney of Brand & Market (6:05)

Tara Whitaker of The Modern Editor (7:46)

Meet the Podcasters:

Stephanie Deininger: instagram.com/theorganizedflamingo

Organize and Cherish: theorganizedflamingo.com/podcast

Jennifer Griffith: instagram.com/byjennifergriffith

About Your Mother: byjennifergriffith.com/podcasts/welcome-to-about-your-mother

Bree Pair: instagram.com/thrivetogetherblog

Thrive Podcast for Content Creators: thrivetogether.blog/podcast

Ali Haney: instagram.com/brandandmarket.co

Brand & Market: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-brand-market-podcast

Tara Whitaker: instagram.com/taramqwhitaker

The Modern Editor: tarawhitaker.com/podcast

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ever feel like your to-do list is out of control but none of it moves the needle? Same here—until I started hosting weekly marketing meetings...with ChatGPT.

In this episode, I’m sharing the exact structure of my Monday Marketing Meetings—a framework that transformed how I prioritize, plan, and actually get stuff done. It's not your typical team sync. It’s a solo, AI-powered business check-in that keeps me accountable and aligned.

Connect with Haylee:

instagram.com/hayleegaffin

Gaffincreative.com

micchecksociety.com

Review the Transcript: https://share.descript.com/view/bgvlC2fNing

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Will artificial intelligence replace podcast producers? As a podcast producer who’s watched the rise of AI tools over the years, I’m here to tell you: I’m not afraid of that happening. But I am strategic about how we use it at Gaffin Creative.

I’ll break down how AI is actually enhancing our workflows, where it falls short, and why human-first podcasting still matters. Spoiler alert: AI can’t replicate context, strategy, or the magic of a producer who truly gets your brand.

Today's episode is brought to you by Mic Check Society, our community for podcasters who are looking to take their podcast from good to great. Come join us for educational trainings, a private member's only community, and monthly calls! Get $10 off per month with code PODCAST at micchecksociety.com.

Clocking In with Haylee Gaffin is produced by Gaffin Creative, a podcast production company for creative entrepreneurs. Learn more about our services at Gaffincreative.com, plus you’ll also find resources, show notes, and more for the Clocking In Podcast.

Find it Quickly:

The rise of AI in podcasting (1:43)

How I’m already using AI in podcasting (3:55)

Why a human-first podcast production agency still matters (9:13)

Embracing AI without losing the human touch (16:18)

Podcast Resources:

gaffincreative.com

Descript

Rev

Otter

Adobe Enhance

Auphonic

Connect with Haylee:

instagram.com/hayleegaffin

Gaffincreative.com

micchecksociety.com

Review the Transcript: https://share.descript.com/view/oc5KSnU8TeO

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Summer is here—and with it comes both the temptation to slow down and the opportunity to get ahead. If you’re a podcaster staring down your content calendar wondering “Should I take a break?” or “Should I double down?”—you’re not alone.

In this episode of Clocking In, I asked a few of my amazing clients to share how they’re approaching their podcast this summer. From full-on batching mode to intentional breaks, their strategies are a reminder that there’s no one “right” way to podcast through the season.

So, whether you're craving rest, chasing growth, or simply trying to maintain momentum, let their plans inspire your next move.

Clocking In with Haylee Gaffin is produced by Gaffin Creative, a podcast production company for creative entrepreneurs. Learn more about our services at Gaffincreative.com, plus you’ll also find resources, show notes, and more for the Clocking In Podcast.

Find it Quickly:

Bree Pair of Thrive Podcast for Content Creators (0:50)

Stephanie Deininger of Organize and Cherish (2:16)

Colie James of Business-First Creatives (3:07)

Ali Haney of Brand & Market (7:00)

Meet the Podcasters:

Bree Pair: instagram.com/thrivetogetherblog

Thrive Podcast for Content Creators: thrivetogether.blog/podcast

Stephanie Deininger: instagram.com/theorganizedflamingo

Organize and Cherish: heorganizedflamingo.com/podcast

Colie James: instagram.com/coliejames

Business-First Creatives coliejames.com/podcast

Ali Haney: instagram.com/brandandmarket.co

Brand & Market: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-brand-market-podcast

Connect with Haylee:

instagram.com/hayleegaffin

Gaffincreative.com

micchecksociety.com

Review the Transcript: https://share.descript.com/view/IwjriedgqJM

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Feel like you’re doing everything to grow your podcast, yet still not seeing the momentum you want? In this episode, I’m completing the series all about podcast growth. Today, I’m sharing the podcast marketing framework that will lead you to sustainable and scalable podcast growth.

Today's episode is brought to you by Mic Check Society, our community for podcasters who are looking to take their podcast from good to great. Come join us for educational trainings, a private member's only community, and monthly calls! Get $10 off per month with code PODCAST at micchecksociety.com.

Clocking In with Haylee Gaffin is produced by Gaffin Creative, a podcast production company for creative entrepreneurs. Learn more about our services at Gaffincreative.com, plus you’ll also find resources, show notes, and more for the Clocking In Podcast.

Time-stamps:

Your brand foundation (2:19)

Leverage your existing audience (8:12)

Expand your reach through collaborations (10:38)

Invest in paid growth and advertising (12:41)

Build a sustainable and scalable long-term growth engine (14:57)

Mentioned in This Episode:

Episode 167 Paid Media: gaffincreative.com/167-how-to-maximize-your-podcast-growth-with-paid-media/

Episode 166 Collaboration: gaffincreative.com/166-grow-your-podcast-audience-through-collaboration

Episode 165 Organic Growth: gaffincreative.com/organic-growth-maximizing-your-existing-audience

Episode 164 Foundations of Podcast Growth: gaffincreative.com/164-foundations-of-podcast-growth-grow-your-podcast-series-pt-1

Mic Check Society: gaffincreative.com/mcs

Instagram: instagram.com/hayleegaffin

Connect with Haylee:

instagram.com/hayleegaffin

Gaffincreative.com

micchecksociety.com

Review the Transcript: https://share.descript.com/view/bX2BSl5YPbn

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If you're serious about taking your podcast to the next level, it's time to talk about paid growth. While organic strategies (like tapping into your current audience or collaborating with others) are powerful foundations, there may come a point when you need an extra boost to reach new listeners faster.

That's where strategic paid growth comes in — and it’s not just about throwing money at ads and hoping for the best. Done well, paid strategies can supercharge your podcast audience without feeling like you're wasting your budget.

Today's episode is brought to you by Mic Check Society, our community for podcasters who are looking to take their podcast from good to great. Come join us for educational trainings, a private member's only community, and monthly calls! Get $10 off per month with code PODCAST at micchecksociety.com.

Clocking In with Haylee Gaffin is produced by Gaffin Creative, a podcast production company for creative entrepreneurs. Learn more about our services at Gaffincreative.com, plus you’ll also find resources, show notes, and more for the Clocking In Podcast.

Podcast Details:

Why consider paid growth opportunities? (2:30)

Podcast player ads (4:04)

Social media advertising (10:22)

Sponsorships (13:52)

Podcast Resources:

Episode 166 Collaboration: gaffincreative.com/166-grow-your-podcast-audience-through-collaboration/

Episode 165 Organic Growth: gaffincreative.com/organic-growth-maximizing-your-existing-audience/

Episode 164 Foundations of Podcast Growth: gaffincreative.com/164-foundations-of-podcast-growth-grow-your-podcast-series-pt-1/

Mic Check Society: gaffincreative.com/mcs

Connect with Haylee:

instagram.com/hayleegaffin

Gaffincreative.com

micchecksociety.com

Transcript: https://share.descript.com/view/ZSMrUj89q2l

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.