Behind the scenes of Faithfully Explore! from tangled tech to unexpected growth.
Hi friends! I’m Laura, the voice behind Faithfully Explore!, a podcast where kids and their grown-ups get curious about beliefs, traditions, values, and the big beautiful questions of life.
Ten episodes in and… whew. I’ve laughed, I’ve cried, I’ve worn out my microphone, and I’ve whispered “please don’t crash” to my computer more times than I care to count.
Here are ten things I’ve discovered along the way. Whether you’re a fellow podcaster, a homeschool parent, a tired teacher with 18 tabs open, or just cheering from the sidelines, here’s a peek behind the mic.
1. Talking to AI Is an Artform
Writing for Robots Is Weirdly Magical
Turns out, writing for and with AI is like giving instructions to a genie with very selective hearing. The more specific you are, the better your wish turns out.
I’ve learned to fine-tune prompts like a maestro conducting a very literal orchestra.
The Prompt Formula That Works
Tip: Use Role, Audience, Tone, and Pacing in your AI prompts.
Instead of saying:
“Shorten this story and make it better.”
Try:
“You are an experienced children’s author. Revise this story to be kid-friendly for ages 5–12 and slightly shorten it without losing the key dialogue or message.”
The more specific you are, the better your wish turns out.
Want to take it further? Let AI help you write a better prompt to use with another AI chat! You can say:
“Help me write the best prompt for a children’s author to improve my story, keep it appropriate for kids 5-12 and make it shorter without losing content.”
Consider these elements when crafting your prompts:
- Role – “You are a professional graphic designer…”
- Audience – “…designing for kids ages 5–12 and their families…”
- Tone – “…make it playful, warm, and inclusive…”
- Pacing – “400-600 words”
Being this intentional helps AI deliver something closer to what you actually want- especially when juggling creative projects like books, podcasts, or printables.
2. Pronunciation Is Key — and Surprisingly Hard
Words Are Tricky, Especially Sacred Ones
From “Bahá’u’lláh” to “Muzdalifah,” my tongue has done more flips than a gymnastics team on espresso.
Every episode is an adventure in phonetics. I rehearse tricky names aloud, practice with pronunciation guides, and sometimes still record 12 takes that all sound slightly wrong. And to be really honest- if you listen carefully, I have made mistakes. I try hard, but once in a while I mispronounce something important.
Lesson learned: Never assume, always verify pronunciation with native speakers, online audio clips, or religious dictionaries.
3. Editing Is a Monster (But Descript Is My New Best Friend)
Editing Without Tools? Nightmare.
Image Suggestion:
Left side is a frustrated person tangled in cords and scribbled notes. Right side is the same person peacefully editing on a laptop with magical sparkles coming out of laptop with Descript open.
Before Descript, editing felt like carving a statue with a plastic spoon while wearing mittens. Now? It’s editing wizardry.
Descript transcribes my audio like magic, lets me cut out every “um,” “uh,” awkward pause, and mid-sentence tummy grumble with just a few clicks. I can even overdub the occasional word I flubbed- it’s like having a time machine and a grammar coach in one.
Your Tools Are Not Just Tools
They are time machines for your brain.
Real Talk: Invest in tools that save time and protect your sanity — your future self will thank you tenfold.
When you’re building a business, especially as a creator or solo entrepreneur, your most valuable resources are your time, energy, and focus. It can be tempting to bootstrap everything and go the free route and sometimes that makes sense! But there comes a point when the right tools aren’t just nice to have- they’re essential
Investing in tools like ChatGPT for content brainstorming, Descript for lightning-fast audio editing, or Captivate for managing and growing your podcast has saved me countless hours and so much frustration. These tools have helped me stay creative, consistent, and (mostly!) sane, even when juggling a hundred different hats.
Yes, they come with a price tag. But the time and mental bandwidth they free up is worth far more in the long run. These aren’t just expenses, they’re investments in yourself and your future growth. Every minute I don’t spend wrestling with tech or editing manually is a minute I can spend creating, connecting, or even just taking a breath. That adds up.So if you’re on the fence about paying for a tool that could make your workflow smoother or your life easier, ask yourself: How much is my peace of mind worth? And remember, you don’t have to do everything the hard way.
“These aren’t just expenses- they’re investments in yourself and your future growth.”
4. Web Design: Fake It Till You Make It
I Don’t Code. I Click (and Cry Occasionally).
I did not go to school for coding. I don’t dream in HTML. But here I am, learning plugins, tweaking fonts, and figuring it out as I go. My website may not win design awards, but it works– and more importantly, I know how to fix most of it when it breaks (ask ChatGPT and mild panic).
You don’t need to be a tech expert to build something great- just be willing to learn, Google boldly, and ask for help (looking at you, ChatGPT).
What Actually Matters
You might not have a degree in web design, but your determination, curiosity, and “figure-it-out” mindset go a long way. Perfection isn’t the goal, progress is. Every time you troubleshoot a plugin or tweak a layout, you’re building real skills and confidence. So don’t wait to feel “ready”… start messy, learn as you go, and celebrate the wins (even the weird little ones, like fixing a broken menu).
5. Social Media Consistency = Way Harder Than It Looks
Not as Effortless as It Seems
Some people make it look effortless. Me? I’m uploading reels at midnight, trying to match captions to audio while hoping I didn’t misspell “spirituality”.
But I’ve learned that showing up matters more than perfection. People don’t need perfect—they need real. Messy bun and mismatched fonts? That’s called authenticity.
Still Worth Showing Up
Advice I’m still learning to follow:
- Batch content when you’re in the zone
- Use scheduling tools
- Reuse your best-performing posts
- Celebrate any win!
6. So Many Balls to Juggle
I Wear Every Hat
Cartoon of Laura juggling hats labeled “Editor,” “Writer,” “CEO,” “Voice Actor,” Some hats are wobbling, but none are dropped.
Podcasting isn’t just recording. It’s a whole production circus with one person running the tent.
In any given week, I’m:
- writing social media content for one episode,
- recording and editing another,
- scripting out a third and fourth,
- researching several more —
all while trying to remember what day it is.
My Mantra:
Done is better than perfect. Coffee is better than no coffee.
I joke, but here’s the truth: when I first said I wanted to start this podcast, my husband gave me a great piece of advice. He reminded me of that Jim Collins quote,
“Good is the enemy of great.”
And I heard him but didn’t really take it to heart, until I came across another quote while taking a course on religion:
“The perfect is the enemy of the good.”
That’s when it hit me. If I waited for this podcast to be “great” or “perfect,” it would never exist. So I decided to start now.
Podcasting is messy, magical, and always evolving. But the best decision I made was to stop waiting and start recording.
7. Kids Deserve Deep, Respectful Content
Young Minds Are Ready
I’ve learned never to underestimate young minds. Children are wildly curious and often ask better questions than adults.
When I explain Shabbat, Humanism, or Hajj, I aim to honor each tradition while meeting kids where they are with clarity, kindness, and joy.
Big Words Welcome- Just Explain Them
Not everything needs to be simplified. It just needs to be inviting.
Don’t shy away from big words, explain them. Don’t avoid hard questions, explore them together.
8. The Details Take Way More Time Than You Think
The Work Behind 30 Minutes
Me before starting the podcast… “Oh, it’s just a 30-minute episode!”
Ha. Hahaha.
Each one involves days of:
- research
- writing an engaging script
- fact-checking
- sound editing
Hard-won truth: The magic lives in the details… and the details take forever.
Build in more time than you think you’ll need… and then double it.
9. Listener Feedback Is the Fuel
My Emergency Encouragement Folder
I keep a folder of kind emails and cute voice memos a.k.a. my “Emergency Encouragement Stash.”One thank-you from a parent or one message from a curious 7-year-old can refuel me faster than an oat milk latte. This work can feel invisible sometimes, but the connection is what it’s all about.
It Matters
This work can feel invisible sometimes, but the connection is what it’s all about.
10. My Curiosity Has Grown Too
I’m Growing With Every Episode
Each episode has stretched me spiritually, intellectually, emotionally, and occasionally physically (try recording while holding a yoga pose).
Each episode has taught me something new about other people, beliefs, history, storytelling, even my own voice. I’ve become a better listener, a braver question-asker, and a bolder explorer. Just like the kids I hope to inspire.
“If you let it, this work will change you. And that’s kind of the point.””
Bonus Lesson: I’m Just Getting Started
If this is what I’ve learned from 10 episodes… imagine what 20, or 50, or 100 will bring.
Thanks for Being Part of the Journey
Thank you for being on this journey with me — whether you’ve listened to every episode, joined a coloring contest, or just landed here while Googling “the Baha’i faith.”
Stay curious, stay kind, and keep exploring.
I Could Really Use Your Help
If you’ve enjoyed listening, learning, or just cheering me on from the sidelines, here’s one super easy way to help Faithfully Explore! keep growing:
Subscribe to Faithfully Explore! on YouTube and Spotify!
Why it Matters:
Subscribing tells the internet gods (ahem, algorithms) that this content is worth sharing. It helps other families and educators discover the show — and lets me keep creating joyful, respectful, faith-inspired adventures for curious kids everywhere.
How to Subscribe on YouTube:
- Go to Faithfully Explore on YouTube
- Click the red “Subscribe” button under any video or on the channel homepage.
- (Optional but awesome!) Click the 🔔 bell icon to get a heads-up when new videos drop.
How to Follow on Spotify:
- Open the Spotify app (on your phone, tablet, or computer)
- Search “Faithfully Explore!”
- Tap the “Follow” button right at the top
- Scroll down to rate ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ if you’re enjoying the show — it makes a big difference!
Comment Below:
What’s something you’ve tried, even though you weren’t sure you were ready? What did you learn from starting anyway?
Let us know what you think.