Podyssey Picks
Podyssey Creators’ Corner (Nov 29)
We’re trying something new to help podcast creators grow their podcasts! We’re piloting a new newsletter series called Podyssey Creators’ Corner that’ll be filled with hot podcast tips, news, and valuable learnings from podcast creators on how to create successful podcasts. Let us know what you think of this newsletter at info@podyssey.fm.
In this edition: How to grow audience with listener surveys. Serial’s Sarah Koenig’s journey to podcasting excellence. How resiliency through failed starts helped a podcaster grow.
mmLast Updated: Nov 25th, 2021
Podcasts for Podcasting Tips
1. Use listener surveys to grow your podcast audience.
Your current listeners are the best PR team to increase audience growth. Get to know your current listeners. They'll tell their friends about your podcast. Find out what their interests and habit...Show More
2. Hear Serial’s Sarah Koenig journey to podcasting excellence.
Sarah Koenig is the host and co-creator of Serial, the show that made podcasts a cultural phenomenon. After three seasons of exhaustive reporting, we wanted to ask her: how does she get it done? We sa...Show More
In the News
Why Hot Pod founder Nick Quah almost burned down his podcast industry newsletter before he sold it.
David chats with Nick Quah about creating his podcast newsletter Hot Pod, making it into a sustainable business, burning out from running it, potentially walking away, and then how/why he sold it to V...Show More
👻 Radio Public is ghosting podcasters.
Learn from a Podcaster: Resiliency through failed starts with Vinita Srivastava
Hello! What’s your background and what’s your podcast about?
I'm a veteran-community journalist and reporter (the New York Times, Vibe, WBAI radio) and now am the Culture + Society senior editor at The Conversation. I'm the host and producer of Don't Call Me Resilient, a podcast about how racism impacts our daily lives, tackling some of the big issues and searching for solutions with our guests.
What motivated you to start a podcast?
Racism.
What went into starting the podcast?
I attended a lot of podcast meetups and conferences. The podcast community was wicked! I experienced much sharing and generosity. That helped a lot. I also had many conversations with producer friends, wrote a whole lot of grants and experienced a whole lot of doubt and angst including some deep-thinking about what really is important and of course, I had many failed starts.
What podcast tools (equipment and software) do you use and what is your creation process?
I use a mic, a mixer (Steinberg), a Mac computer and free audio editing software (audacity). I also use Trint - transcript software and Zencastr community platform for interviews. Of course, Google Docs, Google Calendar are necessary too. I was using other methods of planning but Google Docs and Calendar turned out to be easiest. I also started using Descript which I absolutely love.
How have you attracted listeners and grown the podcast?
I work at The Conversation Canada and we have an excellent audience development editor who has been invaluable to help spread the word. We also use a lot of Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. For season 1, I hired Content Queen to help me get the word out. We did a lot of Instagram Lives!
What are the biggest challenges you have faced and obstacles you’ve overcome?
The biggest challenges involve human resources: how can we keep and attract talented producers without offering any job security and much money? How can we train ourselves in a completely new medium? How do we get better at what we are doing?
What are your goals for the future of your podcast?
To go weekly. To grow our audience. To do some live events. To connect with other podcasters doing anti-racist work.
What’s your advice for new podcasters who are starting out?
Meet as many podcasters as you can. Listen to the pods you love. Relax. Practice. Practice. Practice. Script. Forgive yourself. Pace yourself. Be kind to yourself. Be bold and brave and be authentic.
How can everyone learn more about you and your podcast?
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Meet the Curators
Melody and Danny are the co-founders of Podyssey. Every week we curate this round-up with the mission of helping podcast creators grow their podcasts.