Episode Details

Joe Sanok is the founder of Practice of the Practice Podcast the #1 podcast for counselors.

He is also a keynote and TEDx speaker as well as a business consultant and writer. He has been featured on Huffington Post, Forbes, GOOD Magazine, Reader's Digest, entrepreneur on Fire, and Yahoo News.

He has published 5 books and has been named the Therapist Resource's top podcast, consultant, and blogger.

How did Joe get to where he is now? (0:44)

• Joe was trained as a traditional therapist. After getting his Masters in counseling and psychology he first worked at non-profits and community mental health.

• He tried out counseling private practice as a contractor to help pay off his student debt and found that he liked it.
• He started his own practice when he moved back to Northern Michigan and saw it as his 'side-gig' until one of his interns mentioned that they would love to work at his practice.
• He was hired at the community college in Traverse City and it was during that time he started listening to more and more podcasts.
• Listening to people like Pat Flynn and Lee Dumas inspired him and he ended up starting his own podcast in 2012 called Practice of the Practice.
• In 2014 he was reevaluating his job at the community college and decided to quit and rather do his counseling and podcast full time.
• Once his podcast really gained momentum, Joe sold his practice and is now completely location independent, they live in a camper house and travel the nation while podcasting on the road.

How did Joe's podcast start out? (5:57)

• Joe did not have a clear plan when he started his podcast.
• When new podcasters ask Joe for tips on starting their podcasts, he will tell them that having a clear place and clear arc for your p[odcast is important.
• Joe's first few episodes were really just him reading a book and then telling his audience what he learned from it.
• He also gave his audience thoughts on how to apply what he learned from the book to private practice.
• Sometimes he would reach out to someone to be a guest on his podcast but mostly he said it was him just trying out different things with zero plan, trying to see what worked.
• Listening back on his first episodes now, he admits they are pretty terrible but he learned by doing.

Who does Joe primarily work with? (20:51)

• Joe says about 80% of their audience are counselors, therapists, psychologists and coaches are increasing in number every day too.
• A lot of their audience wants to do better at digital marketing.
• Membership communities, eCourses, and some fitness people are also appearing and working with Joe now.
• Joe gives special mention to Melissa from the Bom Bom podcast. She is a fitness instructor but she tackles the topic of the mom mindset where many women put everyone else's needs, wants, and health before their own.
• She tries to teach women that if you care about your own wants, needs, and health then you will be a better mom and person overall.

What's been one of the biggest challenges for Joe as a business owner and entrepreneur? (22:29)

• Thinking back to 2012 when he started Practice of the Practice that year was very difficult for him.
• His daughter was born in 2011 and it became clear soon after that