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Oct. 21, 2025

Some Lessons Are Learned the Hard Way

This newsletter contains affiliate links. Not all of them, but some of them. I earn a small commission, and it doesn’t cost you anything. I call that a win-win.

Oh I Didn’t Think About That

So I bought a NEEWER MS60B LED Video Light along with NEEWER 35”/90cm Octagonal Softbox. Any time I see someone using a Softbox, I just think they look “this much” better. So when they went on sale at Amazon I pulled the tigger.

Then I needed something to hang the lights on my poll going across my ceiling. So there is that additional price for the NEEWER Super Clamp. It was more or less a $300 lesson. So what happened?

This light is best used when it’s right above the subject. When I did that, the light is right above a “Tree” I have that I clip my camera to, etc. So as it’s getting colder here in Ohio so I’m starting to do more exercising inside, like using my standing desk. Except now with this light hanging right above my desk, I can’t use it as a standing desk. So it was time to answer some questions.

Does this new light make me look any better? Kinda, but not really (and not $300 better).

Is it important to use your standing desk? Yes.

I do have a stand in my basement, and if I wanted to I could put the light on a rolling stand, but my office is fairly small, and it would take up easily 20%. Maybe, just maybe…

Wisdom At Warp Speed

This was just a lovely $300 lesson. The average credit hour for a college class in Ohio is $306 for in state students. So I got a lesson in a few days instead of taking a whole semester.

One other lesson would be if I have a choice of having lights work with my phone, or a remote control, I’m going remote control. I might actually prefer one without an on off switch so I can control them with a smart plug.

Am I upset? Am I mad?

I’m disappointed, but some lessons you learn the hard way. The biggest lesson I learned was to stay away from Amazon during those special days with discounts as you are likely to buy equipment you didn’t need in the first place.


My Latest Content

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The Podcast Journey: Why Focusing on Monetization Might Make You Miss…

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The Dave Jackson Blog (an experiment in SEO)
The History of Episode Numbers in Podcasting


Stuff That Caught My Eye

Neuronwriter

Neuronwriter helps you write SEO ready blogs, pages, show notes, etc. You can feed it your competition, and it will walk you through writing content that will outrank it. (I’m actually working on my blogging).

Check it out!

Elgato Prompter XL

The new Elgato Prompter XL is a 15” version of their previous (which was 8”). It also (finally) has an on/off button. It’s clocking in around $599 which is expensive but still cheaper than a “real” prompter (which can cost thousands).

Be careful if you have the smaller version and you go to swap this out. a 15” teleprompter spreads out the text wider, and if the prompter is only a few feet from your eyes, the viewers may see your eyes moving left to right. Check it out.

What’s Coming In The Future

I have an interview with someone who was able to score some brand partnerships while still having a smaller audience on deck. I also have a 96 year old Aunt who fell today and fractured some ribs, so #familyfirst.


Need Help With Your Podcast?

Whether you’re just starting or a seasoned podcaster, the School of Podcasting can help. Helping podcasters is what I do, and I’ve been doing it since 2005

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If you start now, you’ll be in the right place to take over the world in January!

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P.S.
R.I.P Ace Frehley (more on that next week).

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