Welcome to part 2 of “Start A Podcast For $0 (Zero Budget Guide)”. In this episode “The $0 Blueprint: 5 Years Of Podcast Lessons That Actually Matter”by Thoughts Off The Stem, we discuss what I’ve learned over the last five years of podcasting, the things that are most important and should be the primary focus of your attention when starting out.
Many podcasts out there fail within the first year because people lose sight of what is important, have over inflated expectations, and let external influences dictate how they view success.
Podcasting is fun and can be a lucrative business but for most people it doesn’t start out that way. There are a many factors that go into the growth of a podcast that, you as new person starting out are going to learn as you go. As your show’s concept, creative ideas and audience evolve so does your production, and production is an aspect that improves over the course of time with a lot of trial and error. It’s very unlikely that your show is going to skyrocket to the top of the charts after the first week. I’m not saying it can’t happen I’m saying it’s unlikely.
“The $0 Blueprint: 5 Years Of Podcast Lessons That Actually Matter” is essentially a guide to avoiding the pitfalls and mistakes that a lot of new podcasters fall into and make. There are over 4 million podcasts out there, it’s a big pool for listeners to choose from. If you keep that in perspective and remind yourself of the depth of the pool it helps to maintain healthy expectations. Especially for the podcaster like myself who has to find and build a fan base, as well as trust with listeners.
I hope you enjoy the sesh.
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So you want to start a podcast? Think you need a $500 microphone and a soundproof studio to get heard? Think again. In this episode of Thoughts Off The Stem, host Justin Barone breaks down exactly how to start a podcast with zero budget.
Forget expensive gear and high-priced studios. You can launch a professional show from your couch using the tools you already own. Whether you’re looking for a fun new hobby or a potential career shift, we’re proving that you can create a high-quality podcast with a total investment of $0 in 2026.
As an independent creator, editor, and producer with 5 years of podcasting experience, Justin Barone is stripping away the gatekeeping to help you enter the world of podcasting without spending a dime. This is the first episode in our new “Getting Started” series—designed for the creator who has the ideas but doesn’t know where or how to begin.
In this episode, we cover:
The “Hidden” Studio: Which tools you already own that are perfect for your first 5 episodes.
Editing for Free:Â The best no-cost software to produce a crisp, professional audio experience.
Zero-Cost Distribution:Â Free hosting platforms that push your show to Spotify, Apple, and beyond.
The Creator Mindset:Â How to keep podcasting fun and avoid burnout.
Your First Content Map:Â What to record first (and why your audience will help you find your “niche”).
Organic Promotion:Â Which social media platforms to prioritize for your first listeners.
This seshisode of Thoughts Off The Stem is all about gratitude and refocusing expectations.
I have always wanted to get involved in radio and television broadcasting. So when the pandemic hit and we were all trapped inside during Covid-19. Like many other people I didn’t have anything to do. Spotify for creators, then known as Anchor, gave us the ability to simply record podcasts. So that’s what I did. I started recording Thoughts Off The Stem on a weekly basis.
It was designed to encompass all the things that would allow me to talk about a wide range of topics. The catalogue is filled with over 200 episodes, ranging from comedy, cannabis and entertainment, to stories of personal growth, self improvement, parenting struggles, what it’s like to be a single dad with three kids and a whole bunch of relatable content about life.
It’s been 5 years since the inception of the show and it’s time to show some gratitude to you for coming back each week. Thank you! Without you wonderful folks I would not have kept going for this long. I appreciate that you make time for me and my silly.
The point of the show is to mimic a sesh, where no topic is off limits and hopefully I can provide you with a few laughs, a break from the worlds crazy, maybe get you to think differently and some times teach you a thing or two.
All I really want to do is put a smile on your face and add a dose of fun to your day.
This sesh is for you. I guess you could say I was all in my feels for this one and I hope that it hit’s the spot and truly show’s the appreciation I have for you.
If you’ve ever been just high enough to question your entire existence, this episode is your new spiritual home. We’re diving headfirst into the trippy, hilarious, mind-warping question:
“What even is reality?”
In this episode, we explore:
Why your brain suddenly feels like it has four tabs open and all of them froze
The strange moment when you look in the mirror high and think,
“Is that really me… or just the meat suit I drive?”
How we’re all basically NPCs wandering around doing side quests
The weird glitch moments in real life—like when you walk into a room and forget why
Why being high makes everything feel deeper than it actually is
(“Bro… time isn’t real. It’s just vibes.”)
The possibility that we’re all living in a simulation run by someone who definitely forgot to update the software
And the classic stoner spiral:
“If reality is what I experience… who’s experiencing ME?”
This episode blends comedy, cannabis chaos, and stoner philosophy into one big, hilarious existential meltdown—in the best way.
🎧 Press play and prepare to question everything… while laughing your face off.
Get ready for an episode dedicated to the strange, the awkward, and the downright WTF things people do every single day—usually without realizing how bizarre they actually are.
In this episode, we break down the weirdest human behavior you definitely notice but never talk about, including:
People who fake-laugh just a little too hard at unfunny jokes
The ones who open a bag of chips like they’re diffusing a bomb
Folks who talk to their pets in full sentences—and expect answers
People who say “I’m not weird” (the biggest red flag of all)
Awkward over-sharers who treat small talk like a therapy session
The classic “hover behind you silently” move while you’re shopping
And those strange habits that only come out when you’re high
(like staring at a wall for 10 minutes and calling it multitasking)
This episode is a hilarious breakdown of the quirky, confusing, and totally relatable behaviors that make humans… humans. If you’ve ever watched people and thought, “No way we’re the dominant species,” this one’s for you.
🎧 Hit play for big laughs, weird stories, and pure comedy chaos.
Get ready for a full-on comedy vent session, because this episode is all about the pet peeves that drive EVERYONE insane—the tiny things people do that make you question humanity, your sanity, and whether society is actually okay.
This episode dives into the funniest, most infuriating, most universally hated everyday annoyances, including:
People who chew like a cement mixer
That one coworker who acts like they invented being busy
Drivers who treat turn signals like optional DLC
Folks who stand in the middle of aisles like they own Costco
The “I’ll put it back exactly where it DOESN’T belong” people
Loud breathers, slow walkers, interrupters, and the classic “just asking questions” guy
The weirdly specific pet peeves that hit way too hard when you’re high
And the biggest pet peeve of all:Â people who think they have no pet peeves
It’s a mix of rants, reality checks, and the type of relatable chaos that makes listeners say, “Okay, I thought it was just me.”
🎧 Hit play, laugh with the madness, and maybe feel a little more normal.
If you’ve ever taken a hit and then immediately thought, “Wait… how long is THIS gonna stay in me?”, this episode is about to become your new favorite panic-relief comedy session.
We’re breaking down the real science, the myths, and the ridiculous things people do when they realize they might—just maybe—have a drug test coming up.
You’ll hear:
 when they realize they might—just maybe—have a drug test coming up.
You’ll hear:
•
How long THC actually sticks around in your blood, urine, saliva, hair, and probably your soul
•
Why two people can smoke the same joint but one is sober in an hour and the other is high until Wednesday
•
The funniest detox myths people swear by:
•
The funniest detox myths people swear by:
•
“Just drink 14 gallons of cranberry juice.”
•
“If you sweat hard enough, you’ll be fine.”
•
“Bro, take a bath in vinegar.”
•
Times when I 100% should’ve checked before smoking… but didn’t
•
How edibles, concentrates, tolerance, metabolism, and “that one friend who rolls fat joints” all affect how long THC sticks around
•
The moment every stoner knows:
“Wait… is my job gonna test me?”
“Should I Google this?”
“Actually, no—Googling made it worse.”
It’s comedy, cannabis education, and panic-fueled storytelling all rolled into one episode.
🎧 Hit play and finally learn the truth (with laughs instead of anxiety).
If your brain loves to hit you with deep thoughts at the worst possible times, this episode of Thoughts Off The Stem is going to feel uncomfortably accurate… and absolutely hilarious.
We’re diving into the chaotic world of overthinking, where your mind becomes a 24/7 conspiracy theorist, motivational speaker, and doom predictor—all at once.
You’ll hear:
, where your mind becomes a 24/7 conspiracy theorist, motivational speaker, and doom predictor—all at once.
You’ll hear:
, where your mind becomes a 24/7 conspiracy theorist, motivational speaker, and doom predictor—all at once.
You’ll hear:
•
The ridiculous things my brain decides to obsess over at 2:47 AM for no reason at all
How one small decision becomes a 17-step spiral into hypothetical chaos
•
The way weed can either calm your thoughts or make them so loud they sound like a podcast of their own
•
Relatable anxiety moments like:
•
Relatable anxiety moments like:
• “Did I say something weird?”
• “Did they think I meant something else?”
• “Why did I remember that embarrassing thing from 8 years ago?”
•
The comedic side of having a brain that just refuses to clock out
If you’ve ever wished there was a mute button for your own thoughts, this episode is going to make you feel seen, understood, and definitely amused.
🎧 Hit play and let’s laugh our way through the chaos inside our heads.
Copycat Creators Are Ruining the Internet | Thoughts Off The Stem
The internet used to feel creative… now it feels like the group project where everyone copies the one kid who actually did the work. Today we’re breaking down how copycat creators, stolen ideas, and recycled trends have turned social media into the world’s most chaotic copy machine — and why originality keeps getting punished by the algorithm.
In this episode, we get into the stuff everyone online thinks about but never says:
Why creators steal ideas and get rewarded for it
How the algorithm kills originality
Why every TikTok/video looks the same in 2025
What it feels like when a bigger creator copies your content
How “viral trends” destroy actual creativity
And the hilarious, frustrating reality of trying to stand out online
This is part rant, part comedy, part therapy session for anyone tired of scrolling through the same recycled videos, the same jokes, and the same “new trend” that’s been dead for months.
If you’ve ever looked at your feed and thought, “Why does everything look exactly the same?” — you’re gonna feel this one.
🎧 Tap play and let’s roast the algorithm together.
The cannabis industry is one of the fastest-growing, most chaotic, most demanding workplaces out there… so why do mainstream employers treat cannabis workers like their skills don’t count? Today we’re breaking down the massive misconceptions, the hidden skills, and the real reason employers still underestimate cannabis experience in 2025.
This episode hits EVERY frustration cannabis workers deal with when trying to enter “normal” jobs:
Why companies think cannabis experience “isn’t real work”
The outdated stigma that still follows cannabis employees
The skills cannabis workers have that mainstream jobs desperately need
The chaos of weed retail vs. the softness of regular retail
How cannabis workers master customer service, crisis management, and compliance
Why employers are flat-out wrong about what cannabis experience means
And hilarious stories that prove cannabis workers do 10 jobs at once
If you’ve ever applied for a job and watched a hiring manager look at your cannabis experience like you grew it in your basement… this episode will feel painfully, hilariously accurate.
This is comedy, truth, and a well-deserved call-out to the corporate world.
🎧 Hit play — let’s talk about why cannabis workers deserve WAY more respect.
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