#017: What a Beard, a Podcast, and a Newsletter Can Teach Us About Business Growth

Have you ever thought about growing a beard purely for personal branding? Norm Farrar did. And it worked.

But that’s just one of the many fascinating insights Norm shared with me in our latest Podjunction Podcast episode.

Norm, widely known as The Beard Guy, has spent over 25 years in e-commerce and built a thriving brand—not just with products but through conversation. His podcast, Lunch with Norm, started as a COVID experiment, turned into a three-times-a-week commitment, and eventually evolved into a more refined weekly show. And guess what? He doesn’t even have a website. Yet, his podcast and newsletter drive all his business leads. Crazy, right?

Here’s what I took away from our conversation:

🎙️ Podcasting Isn’t Just a Platform—It’s a Community. Norm’s show started as a way to connect entrepreneurs, but what really made it successful was the community he built around it. By going live and engaging directly, he turned listeners into loyal followers.

📩 Newsletters = Hidden Gold for Podcasters. Norm pairs his podcast with a newsletter that repurposes key insights, updates his audience, and builds deeper connections. And he doesn’t just send a newsletter—he gamifies it with things like ‘Find the Beard.’ The lesson? Don’t just inform—engage.

🛠️ Small Tweaks Over Time = Big Impact. From upgrading his podcast setup to refining his content strategy, Norm emphasized the power of continuous improvement. His approach? Start, test, refine, repeat.

🔥 Authenticity Wins. Norm embraces his bloopers, doesn’t overly polish his episodes, and remains genuinely helpful. His audience trusts him because of that.

💡 If You’re Not Repurposing, You’re Missing Out. Norm is now using AI to extract guest insights, repurpose content into blog posts, and even launch a faceless podcast series. Smart, right?

At the end of the day, Norm’s approach reminds me that podcasting is more than just putting out episodes. It’s about strategically using conversations to grow your brand, business, and audience.

👉 Want to hear the full episode? Check it out here.

Thanks for being here!

Until next time,
Sadaf