Pay It Forward: How Three Words Created Podcasting's Longest-Running Innovation Show

Have you ever wondered what it takes to create something that truly lasts? What's the secret to building something that doesn't just survive but grows stronger for decades in our always-changing digital world?

The answer might surprise you.

It's not about fancy equipment or perfect production. It's not even about having all the answers when you start.

It begins with a simple promise to pay it forward.

The Bathroom Session That Started It All

March 2005. A hotel bathroom at the Marriott in Phoenix.

That's where I sat with a basic microphone, nervously recording the first episode of what would become Killer Innovations. The bathroom's natural echo was the only "sound engineering" I had—nothing like the studio we have today.

Why a podcast? Why innovation? And honestly: why a bathroom?

These questions have followed me for years, and as we launch Season 20—officially making the show the longest continuously produced podcast in history—it feels right to finally share the whole story with you.

But first, let me ask you something: Has someone ever believed in you so deeply that it completely changed your path?

The Debt That Can Never Be Repaid

For me, that person was Bob Davis. As my mentor, Bob spent countless hours guiding me, challenging me, and opening doors I didn't know existed.

During one of our regular talks, feeling incredibly grateful, I asked him how I could possibly repay him for everything he'd done.

Bob's answer wasn't what I expected.

He laughed—that hearty, knowing laugh of his—and said something that would change the direction of my life: "There's no way you can pay me back. You have to pay it forward."

This wasn't gentle advice. It was a responsibility placed squarely on my shoulders.

But how could I possibly live up to such a big obligation? What did "paying it forward" actually look like in real life?

The answer would come in ways I couldn't have imagined, shaped by voices that had influenced my own thinking.

Finding My Voice in Others

Long before podcasts existed, I followed Earl Nightingale's monthly "Insight" audio cassette subscription. Earl showed me how spoken words could do more than just inform—they could change lives.

Could I create something similar in this new thing called "podcasting"? The term itself was barely a few months old. The first true podcast “show” was created in August 2004 by Adam Curry when he launched his daily show, "Source Code."

Most people still listened to radio or CDs. Podcast directories didn't exist. Subscription models were foreign concepts. Tools to create and publish podcasts did not exist. The landscape was new, untested, and mostly unknown.

It was perfect.

But a big question remained: Would anyone actually listen?

What I didn't realize then was that this uncertainty—this feeling of not knowing—would become one of the show's greatest strengths.

An Unexpected Ally

The early days were quiet. Recording weekly episodes felt like talking to no one. Until one day, something unexpected happened.

Adam Curry—the very person who had created the first podcast show—mentioned Killer Innovations on his own show.

That single mention changed everything. Suddenly, this small experiment in paying it forward found an audience. People began listening, responding, talking back.

But as our listeners grew, so did a nagging question: What insights could I possibly share that would be worth people's time? What principles could truly help others navigate the complex world of innovation?

The Five Truths That Emerged

Over hundreds of episodes, thousands of conversations, and countless moments of thinking deeply, patterns began to emerge. Not just in how successful innovations were created, but in how the show itself grew.

These weren't principles I set out to discover. They revealed themselves gradually, persistently, until they became impossible to ignore:

1. Innovation requires intention. Big ideas rarely happen by accident or luck. The most successful innovators deliberately create spaces and habits that encourage creative thinking and problem-solving.
   
   

2. Failure is an essential teacher. Our greatest lessons often come from our biggest failures, not our successes. Embracing failure as a normal part of the innovation process—rather than something to fear—unlocks growth and insights we'd miss otherwise.
   
   

3. Diversity drives creativity. The most powerful innovations come from mixing different viewpoints, experiences, and knowledge areas. Building diverse teams is the best way to break through old thinking patterns.
   
   

4. Innovation is a learnable skill. While some people might seem naturally creative, the basic skills of innovation can be developed through practice. With the right methods and consistent effort, anyone can get better at innovation.
   
   

5. Human-centered approaches work best. Technology and processes matter, but innovations that truly change lives must be based on human needs, behaviors, and feelings. Starting with deep understanding of the people you're serving leads to solutions that don't just work technically but make a real difference.
   
   

These five truths have guided not just what we talk about but how the show itself has grown.

But here's what I've never publicly shared before: these principles weren't abstract theories I studied from a distance. Each one came from my own painful lessons, stubborn mistakes, and humbling realizations.

From Bathroom to Broadcast Studio

As the show's reach grew, so did our production capabilities—though not without growing pains.

From that hotel bathroom, we moved to makeshift home setups, then to increasingly better equipment. Eight years ago, we built our first full professional recording studio, a space designed specifically for exploring innovation in all its forms.

Now, we're in the middle of our biggest expansion yet: transforming our recording space into a complete Innovation Studio—a place not just for talking about innovation, but for showing it in action.

Each upgrade brought technical challenges. Each improvement required learning new skills. Each evolution demanded letting go of what was comfortable for what was possible.

Sound familiar? It's the innovation journey itself, played out in real time.

But through it all, one question kept coming back: What makes this show different from the countless others that have come and gone?

The Secret Ingredient

The answer became clear only with time: it's you.

You've been the secret ingredient all along. Your emails challenging my thinking. Your stories showing principles in action. Your questions pushing me to explore new territories.

In recent months, we've seen a remarkable growth in our community. New listeners discovering two decades of insights. Long-time supporters returning with fresh perspectives.

This growth has made me think deeply: What responsibility comes with being the longest-running show in our medium? What does Season 20 demand of us after all we've learned?

The answer lies in returning to that original promise made to Bob Davis, but with a depth and maturity that only experience can bring.

Season 20: The Promise Renewed

As we launch Season 20, I'm both humbled by what we've accomplished and excited by what lies ahead. This milestone wasn't something I planned—it's simply the result of showing up for you week after week, year after year, honoring that original promise to pay forward what I've been given.

Season 20 represents a renewed commitment to that promise. We'll focus more on innovation leadership skills, creativity, and thinking methods you can use right away. We'll host more live sessions from our Innovation Studio, creating experiences that bring innovation principles to life.

To deliver on this vision and continue raising the bar on quality, we need your help. Like any worthwhile innovation, this next chapter requires both creative vision and practical resources to make it real.

Supporting Our Shared Journey

As the show grows, so do our costs. We need equipment, software, and most importantly, a team of talented people who help with research, production, and editing. Every dollar from supporters goes directly into these expenses—not into my pocket. Your support makes it possible to deliver quality content every week.

For those who've found value in our journey together, I've created a way for you to become an even more important part of this community through Patreon. Your support helps fund the team that makes the show possible and ensures we can continue delivering quality innovation insights for years to come.

In return, you'll receive exclusive content, early access to episodes, and other special benefits that enhance your innovation practice. Visit patreon.com/philmckinney to learn more about joining this next phase of our journey.

The Question That Drives Us Forward

Looking back at that first recording in a Phoenix hotel bathroom, I'm struck by how much has changed—and how much remains the same.

The technology has evolved. Our understanding has deepened. Our community has grown beyond anything I could have imagined.

But the basic question that drove that very first episode still drives us today: How can we help each other become better innovators?

As we enter our third decade together, I'm filled with the same curiosity and enthusiasm that drove that very first recording—maybe even more so, as I've seen the amazing power of shared knowledge and learning together.

To you, whether you've been with us since those early, rough episodes or just found us recently—thank you. You are the reason we continue this journey, and your pursuit of meaningful innovation inspires everything we create.

But I'm left with one final question, perhaps the most important one of all: What innovation challenges are you facing right now? What stands between you and your next breakthrough?

Share your thoughts in the comments below or reach out directly through our website. Your questions and insights might inspire our next exploration together.

I'd also love to connect with you on LinkedIn. As I receive hundreds of connection requests monthly, please mention that you're a listener of the podcast when sending your request, and I'll be sure to accept it.

After all, the greatest innovations often begin with the simplest of questions—asked at just the right moment.

Here's to the next chapter in our ongoing exploration of what makes innovation truly "killer"—impactful, lasting, and transformative.

The best is yet to come.