Podcast Spotlight: Anna Jelen’s The Time Expert Podcast

Listening to Anna Jelen speak feels like listening to a soft, beautiful voice memo from a close friend. On her podcast, Jelen shares tips and advice for making positive changes in your daily life. She talks through setting goals, comfortably spending time alone, creating habits that stick, and increasing your own productivity. Jelen gets vulnerable each episode, making it easier for listeners to be vulnerable with themselves. Through meaningful, personal stories, Jelen sets the scene for her audience to make real changes in their lives. Jelen is on the listener’s side and deeply wants them to succeed. She even created a community through her Member’s Club, an online space meant to help you discover your own truth. This weekly podcast comes out every Sunday, when many of us are reflecting on the previous week and preparing for the next one. The Time Expert Podcast is a quick and perfect pairing to this reflection ritual, regardless of the day of the week.

We were fortunate to talk with Jelen about the podcast, how they differentiate from other podcasts, and their future plans in podcasting. See below for our full Q&A.

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DISCOVER PODS: How’d you get into podcasting?

JELEN: For a few reasons. First, I wondered how to get my short stories out there, and I thought podcasting was an excellent way to bring some life into the stories with my voice. Secondly, I am a Keynote Speaker, and after giving a speech, my audience came up to me and asked me for more. I did not have a book yet, so again, podcasting was a good alternative. Now my audience get’s my ideas every week.

DISCOVER PODS: In your own words, why should listeners tune in to The Time Expert Podcast?

JELEN: If you are openminded and curious to look at life from another perspective, you should tune in. If you would like to grow personally and expand your thinking and mindset, you should also listen. I invite you to lean back and listen to these short stories filled with hidden treasures for personal development. 

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DISCOVER PODS: What kind of feedback have you heard from your listeners?

JELEN: I am always astounded by the beautiful feedback I get. One of my longtime listeners said, she always has the feeling I am a close friend of hers, which is lovely to hear. Someone wrote to me: “I have been listening to your soulful and authentic podcasts for a few months now, and I’m always fascinated by how you tackle the issues. Your contribution to the most diverse areas of human concerns always hit the nail on the head with a lot of empathy and sensitivity. I thank you for your openness and how you reach into areas of feelings – that are all too easily drowned in everyday life. With your voice, with your adventurous and at the same time, warm-hearted stories you awaken my own creativity and thoughts.”

DISCOVER PODS: Describe your recording set up? What equipment are you using?

JELEN: I work with Garage Band, Epidemic Sound for the music, SoundSnap for sounds, and a Rode Podcaster Mic.

DISCOVER PODS: What’s the biggest challenge you face as an indie podcaster?

JELEN: I am my biggest challenge. Does my brain give me another good episode this week? Is it going to be good enough? Does it have the impact I would like to have? Yes, the challenge is to come up with one story every single week. But slowly I start to trust my creativity, because yes; I release an episode every Sunday.

DISCOVER PODS: Where do you want to take your podcast?

JELEN: I am learning to write better every day and I am relentlessly working on the craft, because I want to help to improve others’ lives. I want to reach as many people possible because I have seen what my podcast can do. It’s magic, and I love it!

DISCOVER PODS: What other podcasts are you listening to now?

JELEN: Everything Is Alive, Have You Heard George’s Podcast?, Derek Sivers Podcast, The Tim Ferriss Show.

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DISCOVER PODS: Anything else you’d like to add?

JELEN: I would like to say thank you to all my dear listeners out there. They are incredibly loyal and kind people. I feel very blessed to have such a great audience. And in case you want to know a bit more about me, you can also find me @annathetimeexpert or on my homepage: www.annajelen.com, welcome!