Subject Matter

Audio is exploding. As you’re listening to this, millions of people are tuning in to be entertained, educated and inspired by creators just like you.

But committing to a podcast is tough. The number one way podcasts grow is word of mouth, so how do you create a show worth talking about? How else can you reach bigger audiences? And how do you eventually convert that audience into revenue?

If you’re an aspiring creator wanting to build with audio, this is the show for you.

I’m Ben Bradbury, and 4 years ago I was an aspiring creator too. I started as a freelance podcaster, then became an agency owner, and now my agency has become part of Workweek: A media company powered by creators that’s making work fun. I’m heading up Workweek’s audio team, and although I’m obviously a little biased, I think we’re working on some pretty cool projects. And I’ll be sharing everything I learn to help you build, grow and monetize your audience through audio.

Here’s what you can expect from this season. We’ll have 2 types of episodes: In-depth interviews, and bite-sized commentary. With the interviews you’ll hear from subject matter experts, learning how they got started in the audio space, and we’ll get into the weeds of how they maximize the impact of their audio. You’ll get actionable insights into growing and monetizing your content, from guests who practice exactly what they preach.

And I know you’re busy, so I'll be following up with short episodes that includes commentary from each interview, diving into case studies you can learn from, and providing practical tips to make your show worth listening to.

If you want to make the most of the audio revolution, you’re in the right place.

New episodes dropping May 23, with four new episodes every week after that. Media’s constantly moving and we’ll be sharing information from the very edge of our field, so make sure to subscribe to stay up to date with the very latest content.

“How do I build, grow and monetize my podcast?”

I see this question coming up a lot. In this upcoming season I’m excited to start this journey with you, sharing learnings that will help you turn your audio into a sustainable and profitable business.

In this episode I share my own journey as a creator, from digital nomad, to agency founder, and finally how I’ve landed my dream role as Head of Audio at Workweek. We’re a new media company focused exclusively on supporting and growing creators.

In this bonus episode I’ll take a look back at where Subject Matter has come from, why it’s taking a new, exciting direction, and how success in audio is something anyone can do with the right mindset.

I’ll also tell you about our upcoming shows, some of the amazing guests I’ve got lined up who’ve achieved huge success in podcasting, and a bit more about the snackable, actionable episodes we’ve got hitting your feed very soon.

Excited for you to listen!

Feel free to reach out to me any time on Twitter: twitter.com/benbradbury

It’s a wrap! Season 5 is done and dusted, leaving behind a treasure chest of wisdom collected from Ben’s stellar guest line-up. Take a listen to the season highlights in this best of episode.

Founders, CEOs, former General Counsel and mavericks - all speaking from experience and offering their unique insights on growing and succeeding for young professionals in a competitive space.

Not just succeeding but succeeding with integrity and while keeping yourself mentally and physically at the top of your game. Learn how to develop the right kind of empathy, how to really listen and why one word can unlock your potential.

You’ll hear guest wisdom intertwined with some of Ben’s personal founder journey in this season finale of Subject Matter.

Guest highlights include: Rob Volpe, Rich Keller, David Wachs, Brian Roland, Rob Chesnut, Marc Champagne and Eleanor Haglund

You can find Astutely’s actionable feedback guide, mentioned in this episode, on this podcast.

When you learn to let your authentic self shine through, you build the kinds of relationships that last the distance, personally and professionally.

For busy professionals, taking time to consistently show up will help you take feedback better, build communication and make the kinds of pitches that get heard.

And it’s never too early to get great feedback, opening the floor to your team is where solutions are created. Staying quiet and letting your talent loose, is where relationships are solidified and creativity unleashed.

Ben unpacks why feedback is the tool you need to bring out the best in you and the people you lead, how to make a pitch that sticks and why being consistently yourself all of the time builds relationships with staying power.

Eleanor Haglund knows how to take feedback. Positive, negative and everything in between, when you stop talking and start listening, you get better and better.

And it’s never too early to open the feedback loop. Whether you’re pitching to the boss, or working out a problem, let your team shine by talking less and listening more.

Drawing on her experiences in Montessori education, Eleanor has worked with many startups, raised funds and won several competitions building her companies. Now she’s Founder and CEO of Allianse, the platform for connecting startup CEOs and investors.

Learn the secrets of pitching like a professional and how to build a team that optimizes your business.

Ben and Eleanor talk about why feedback is crucial for success and how theater and cooking have influenced her personal and professional life.

Follow Ben on Twitter:

https://twitter.com/benbradbury_

Connect with Ben on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/benbradbury/

For more information about the Subject Matter Podcast:

https://bit.ly/3I6GbBf

What does art mean to you? Is it a part of your everyday life or something that barely registers? For ambitious professionals, art can take on many forms, from podcasters to Old Masters. Whatever you define as art, it’s something that can help you tackle problems and look for solutions in your time-strapped professional life.

Ben unpacks how one of the great names in tech was inspired by thinking outside the box and why the fusty old image of art as a hobby for the rich is being stripped away by an ambitious startup.

You’ll hear why you should spend time with art and artists, and how to go about creating a creative routine.

Art is a divisive issue, but getting to know the artist’s story can help unlock creative thinking and break down barriers. Discover how tapping into creativity can make you a better strategist.

Paul Becker is the CEO of Art Money, a global fintech company empowering people to buy art through a win-win business model. He believes art’s ROI isn’t just the value of the piece but how it makes you think and feel, and how it can help with creative problem solving.

In this episode Paul explains why getting to know the artist, taking Steve Jobs as an example, helps to unlock the story behind the art and why that story can be a useful tool for your own creative thinking. He discusses how looking outside your own industry for inspiration and answers is all part of art’s power and how you can use it to break down barriers.

01:30 - Paul Becker intro

01:36 - The motivations that drive the Art industry

03:07 - The importance of psychology to understand the art world

06:30 - The cultural baggage and disruption of Art

10:40 - the true ROI of Art and how to use it as a tool for creative thinking

15:22 - The art of storytelling

20:30 - The importance of integrity in art and business

24:00 - The future of art, as per Paul Becker

27:48 - Interview wrap

Listen to more Subject Matter podcasts at: http://www.subjectmatterpodcast.com

Prioritizing your wellbeing can feel selfish. In a world where we feel judged by our productivity, taking time to make sure you’re in top physical and mental shape can be challenging. And yet it’s exactly these kinds of actions that create motivation and success.

When you prioritize your personal life, you’re making a long term commitment to your professional success. And leading by example can help your teams work smarter and harder too.

Ben gives practical advice on how to form a healthy routine and weekly habits that will help you think more clearly, sharpen your intellectual edge and help you sleep better.

When you put your personal life above your professional life, you become a great employee.

To get the best from teams, leaders should hand over the reins and allow them to manage their own workloads. With so many teams working remotely, focusing on output and not the clock is the smart way to get the best from your reports.

Brian Roland is our guest and talks to Ben about why leaders should trust teams to make decisions on their work/home life balance. He discusses the power of having employees whose ethics align with the company they work for, and how to be a business that actively gives away its profits.

Listen now and get practical insights into unleashing your leadership potential and why you should always put your needs above the company.

Find more Subject Matter podcasts at: http://www.subjectmatterpodcast.com

00:00 - Introduction

03:09 - Abenity’s social mission

04:30 - Brian’s first steps to create Abenity’s social mission

08:26 - The benefits of having a social mission

14:26 - Working for Full-Profit Enterprises Vs. Working for Non-profit Enterprises

18:05 - The requirements to build a remote-working team

21:04 - The importance of prioritizing personal life over work life

25:03 - Managing social needs in a remote-working team

27:44 - Brian’s D-I-S-C evaluation system for remote workers

32:46 - The problem of using emails for internal communications

38:39 - Closing remarks

Choosing between doing the right thing and what's best for you can be tough decision, but what if doing the right thing was always in your self-interest?

Ben talks about why developing personal integrity is a gamechanger for professionals and why Richard Branson agrees with him.

You'll discover what happens when doing the right thing compounds and why the world's most successful people look inside when it comes to key decision making. You'll hear about the two types of motivation and why one will propel you forward, while the other leaves you flat.