Constructive Podcast Criticism

I do appreciate constructive criticism. I can always pretend to take it in stride, even if it bruises the perfectionist in me.

After beating up on myself about my diet, though, hearing from a listener that I tend to go off-topic, and plug too many other podcasts (or "blogs," as she called them), and that my musical interludes are too long... that didn't feel as constructive as it was probably meant.

I got kudos early on for my musical selections, and I thought they were a high point of my podcast. And I thought that referring my listeners to other podcasts that might help them would be... well, helpful. And I thought that broadening my topics to include low-glycemic and fitness issues would bring more listeners into the fold.

I know that one person out of 150 having qualms about the tightness of my production doesn't necessarily mean that I suck. I have to wonder, though, how many people aren't saying anything.

I might consider throwing in the towel if I weren't the only low-carb podcast out there. I've gotten plenty of positive e-mails in past weeks, though. It's just that this tidbit of constructive criticism was poorly timed. I'm already in a slump, and being reminded of my shortcomings — or, rather, having new ones brought to my attention — doesn't really help matters.