Mike is the CEO and Founder of mowPod, the largest driver of engaged subscribers and listeners to some of the most prominent newsletters and podcasts in the US. He is also the co-host of the Friday Night Karaoke podcast, an (ironically) ad free, negativity free weekly pod highlighting performances from members of the Friday Night Karaoke Facebook community with their submitted themed covers of popular songs. Outside of mowPod, you can find Mike singing karaoke in Japan, skateboarding / snowboarding at a local park / mountain, or spending time with his two amazing kids and incredible wife.
Find Mike Online
https://mowmedia.com/
https://mowpod.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikewiston/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/fridaynightkaraoke/
https://fridaynightkaraoke.org/

Key Moments
[00:00:28] Podcast host Seth welcomes CEO Mike Wiston from Japan, founder of Mopod, a podcast promotion engine. Mike is drinking 20-year-old whiskey.
[00:06:16] Japanese culture values pride and dedication in all jobs; people are friendly and professional, with a focus on quality of life over money.
[00:10:44] Podcasting is a discovery issue with many podcasts out there, including zombie episodes. Digital content disappears and podcasters can use tools like Mopod for a boost. It allows entrepreneurs to interact with others without doing ads.
[00:14:16] Achieve organic growth before paid media. Validate with organic engine before spending money on growth. Example of newsletter with low open rates. Don’t pay for media if not getting organic growth.
[00:17:59] Uncertainty and risk come with entrepreneurship. Relying on one major client is financially dangerous. Diversify investments to avoid losing everything.
[00:21:36] Facebook group started for pandemic karaoke leads to successful podcast featuring weekly theme songs. No negativity or monetization. Number 5 music podcast in US and Canada.

Key Points
– Significance of a necklace as a physical and sentimental object
– Importance of being true to oneself and not imitating others
– Risky nature of entrepreneurism and the uncertainty of income
– Need for diversification to mitigate risks and the potential of Mopod for podcast promotion
– Importance of having an organic engine for growth before investing in paid media
– Speaker’s role as a “dot connector” and the challenges of working in a corporate environment
– Cultural differences between Japan and the US regarding work and money
– Transparency of data for evaluating the success of campaigns
– Launch and success of Facebook group Friday Night Karaoke and the accompanying podcast Friday Night Karaoke.

If you’re enjoying Entrepreneur’s Enigma, please give us a review on the podcast directory of your choice. We’re on all of them and these reviews really help others find the show.
GoodPods: https://gmwd.us/goodpods iTunes: https://gmwd.us/itunes Podchaser: https://gmwd.us/podchaser
Also, if you’re getting value from the show and want to buy me a coffee, go to the show notes to get the link to get me a coffee to keep me awake, while I work on bringing you more great episodes to your ears. →  https://gmwd.us/buy-me-a-coffee
Follow Seth Online:
Seth | Digital Marketer (@s3th.me) • Instagram: Instagram.com/s3th.me
Seth Goldstein | LinkedIn: LinkaedIn.com/in/sethmgoldstein
Seth on Mastodon: https://s3th.me/@seth
MarketingJunto.com
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices