The Format.

(Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts)

Meet Ana Xavier: Originally from Portugal, Ana created her first podcast back in 2008 (!!) while completing her bachelor’s of science in communications and journalism from the University of Porto. After a decade of experience in podcasting, broadcasting and digital marketing in Portugal, and London, UK, founded The Podcast Space. Ana and her team have helped more than 40 professionals and entrepreneurs launch and improve their podcast. She was recently named Marketing Maverick of the Year and has been featured by Riverside.fm and Captivate. Learn more here.

What makes a great podcast?

Beyond the basics, like having a clear beginning, middle, and ending to each episode - Ana and I discuss how we help our podcast clients think strategically to get the most out of their time and money producing a podcast.

If you are creating a podcast to support your existing business, a great podcast for you will be one that helps you and your clients.

Start with what you know.

* What do your customers care about?

* What problems are they struggling with?

* Who are they?

* What questions do you get asked over and over again that you’ve gotten pretty good at answering or explaining?

It’s important to ask yourself these questions before you start a podcast. Answering these questions for yourself will help you become more clear and focused on the goals for the podcast which, in turn, will help you decide what kind of content you want to create, what guests you want on the show, etc.

One simple way to achieve value from your podcast is to create a micro-episode. Here’s a clip (viewable on Substack) from the episode where Ana and I discuss this.

The Creating and Maintaining Part…

Ana and I both agree that perfection is way overrated. It’s more important to get started and allow yourself to iterate as you go.

* Realize the original title for the show isn’t catching folk’s attention? Change it!

* Don’t have the time to produce a show every week? Change to monthly or bi-monthly. It’s OK to change things as you go - just keep going.

Another big part of creating and maintaining a podcast is setting up a home studio that is easy for you to use.

Ana and I discuss this in great depth in our conversation. I’m a bit techy and opted for a more complex set-up with a mixer, but Ana uses a $50 USB microphone and sounds and looks fabulous! She sounds so fabulous that I’ve purchased that exact microphone to take with me when I’m traveling and need to record.

Here’s a clip (viewable on Substack) of us talking about our podcast studio setups.

Want links to our exact studio equipment? Sign up for a paid subscription and get the links! Your paid subscription helps me keep this Podcast & Substack going! Thank you!

How to find Ana and The Podcast Space:

Ana’s Instagram

Ana’s Website

The Podcast Space Podcast

(Listen on Spotify.)

Podcasting has exploded in popularity in recent years, providing a unique and intimate way to share stories, ideas, and experiences. With the emergence of user-friendly technology and platforms, it's never been easier to start your own podcast.

But why create one and where would you even start? How much does it cost? This piece is inspired by conversations I’ve had with dozens of folks curious about the power and possibility of podcasting. If you are curious as well, I hope this “podblog” helps you get started!

Why Podcasting?

Podcasting offers a more personal and intimate way to connect with your audience. Unlike short videos or scripted content, podcasts allow for greater depth and connection. They can be more affordable than video production and are typically long-form, providing ample content that can be repurposed (example short mentioned in podcast) for various platforms.

Types of Podcasts

There are several formats your podcast can take. The interview format is one of the most common, involving a conversation between two or more people. Narrative podcasts are more story-driven, akin to an audio film or documentary. News-based podcasts tend to have regular segments or recurring themes. The format you choose will largely depend on your content and target audience.

Budget Considerations

The cost of producing a podcast can vary widely. Narrative style podcasts, with their layers of sound and storytelling, can take a lot of time and money to produce. On the other hand, interview-style podcasts are typically less resource-intensive and more affordable. It's crucial to consider your budget and the amount of time you can dedicate to the production process.

Podcast Branding

Your podcast's branding should align with your overall message and audience. Consider the tone, style, and feel you want your podcast to convey. Your branding will extend to everything from the music and colors to the language and presentation style. If your podcast is tied to a business, it should be a sibling of the existing brand, not a distant cousin.

Tools for Podcasting

There are numerous tools available to help with podcast production. Descript, for example, is a tool that can automatically transcribe your recordings, making the editing process simpler and more efficient. Other tools, like Fireflies AI, can help create outlines, produce blogs, and provide other valuable resources from your podcast content.

Summary

Starting a podcast is an exciting endeavor that can help you connect with your audience on a deeper level. Understanding the types of podcasts, considering your budget and branding, and utilizing available tools can make the process smoother and more enjoyable.

Think you're ready to start your podcast or pod blog? Schedule a quick call with me to learn more.

Happy Podcasting!

References:Ana Xavier - The Podcast SpaceSerial PodcastDescriptAdobe AuditionBill Nussey Visual SoundbiteSubstack - TheFormat.Fireflies AISplice app

The Future of Podcasting: A Deep Dive with Nick from Fountain

LISTEN ON FOUNTAIN

The podcasting landscape is continually evolving, and one company at the forefront of this revolution is Fountain. In a recent discussion, Nick, a co-founder of Fountain, shed light on how the company is shaping the future of podcasting, addressing challenges faced by creators, and redefining the concept of value in this ever-growing medium.

Fountain - A New Era of Podcasting

Fountain is not your typical podcasting platform. It combines elements of a social media network with a podcasting app, allowing listeners to not only consume content but also engage with it. Listeners can boost episodes, comment on them, and even share clips with their followers. This community interaction is a step towards a more dynamic future for podcasting.

Value for Value Model

One of the most intriguing aspects of Fountain is the introduction of the 'value for value' model. This concept revolutionizes the way podcasters earn income. Instead of relying on advertisements or sponsors, listeners can directly support their favorite podcasters through small contributions, also referred to as 'boosts'. This model not only incentivizes creators to produce high-quality content but also fosters a more intimate relationship between the podcaster and the listener.

Bitcoin - The Currency of Choice

Fountain's choice of Bitcoin as currency for listener contributions is another remarkable feature. Nick explains that this decision was driven by a desire to enable a unique feature – streaming money. This feature allows listeners to pay a small amount per minute of content consumed. Moreover, Fountain also offers a 'listen to earn' feature, where users can earn bitcoins just by listening to episodes.

Enhancing Listener Engagement

Fountain is also working towards improving listener engagement and feedback, which Nick believes is a crucial aspect often overlooked in traditional podcasting. Fountain allows users to create clips, comment on episodes, and even start conversations with other listeners. It's a way to make podcasting a two-way street, opening up a world of possibilities for interaction and community-building.

The Road Ahead

Nick shares his vision for the future, he shares his plans to attract larger podcasts to the platform. He believes that Fountain's unique features, such as community interactions, the 'value for value' model, and opportunities for growth and discovery, could be significant draws for established podcasters.

Fountain is redefining the podcasting landscape by focusing on the value of content, community interaction, and listener engagement. By addressing the challenges faced by podcast creators and providing a unique platform for listeners, Fountain is paving the way for a dynamic future for podcasting.

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It's here! The first podcast episode of The Format. This conversation is with my friend and fellow podcast producer based in Durham, North Carolina, Angela Hollowell.  Angela owns Rootful Media and hosts The Honey and Hustle Podcast.  We talk about crafting an engaging interview, managing guest expectations, tech tools we are loving and using podcasting to disseminate information and build communities. 

In order of mention:

Why Raleigh? Podcast
The World Changing Podcast 

Creative Architects - Castos 

The Ground Up Show

The Zane Lowe Interview Series

St. Augustine’s University 

Zapier

Notion AI 

Aston 

The Colin and Samir show

Patreon
Airbnb
Red Hat Podcast 

How I Built This with Guy Raz

Frontier RTP

Phil Freelon

Descript

Outine: 

• What got us into podcasting


• What new tools we have been using that we love
  • AI tools 
  
  


• Interviews techniques
  • Balancing guest comfort/happiness with the quality of the show - pros and cons of sending drafts or episode for review 
  
  


• Show formats/styles
  
  
  • Editing styles/process
  
  
  • Youtube and spotify SEO
  
  
  
  


• Video podcasting versus non-video podcasting
  • 38:06 took a while for angela to realize Honey & Hustle was a podcast and to start releasing it on spotify etc
  
  


• What aspects of our work so far we are most proud of


• Scratching that creative itch vs. making a living - why we love podcasting 


• Patreon and other creator platforms 


• The future of podcasting - What is a "successful" podcast 
  • The width versus the depth of your reach