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Boldness is a requirement if we want to create…anything. And isn’t that what podcasting is all about? Our journey around the world begins in North America, more specifically Canada with one of the boldest women in podcasting I know. 

In this episode you’ll hear from Fatima Zaidi, the Founder and CEO of Quill Inc. and Cohost, who at the time of publishing, was just named the number one fastest growing women-led company in Canada.

This series is hosted and created by Christina Barsi, the founder and CEO of Avant Haus Media, and Boss-Goddess, a strategic content-marketing agency specializing in podcasting, as well as The Women's Podcast Industry Network™.

More on Fatima:

As a member of the National Speakers Bureau, Fatima has spoken at various, global events on media and tech trends leading her to keynote on stages alongside speakers like Gary Vaynerchuk. In addition to being a commentator for BNN Bloomberg on the challenges that female and BIPOC founders face in entrepreneurship, she is a frequent contributor to publications including The Globe and Mail and Huffington Post, and has been featured in publications like Forbes and Entrepreneur. In the earlier days of her career, Fatima won two Top 30 under 30 awards, and most recently she received DMZ’s Woman of the Year, the Young Professional of the Year by Notable Life, Veuve Clicquot’s Bold Future Award, The Women in Content Marketing Award, and one of Flare Magazine’s Top 100 Women.

Resources:

Visit: Avant Haus Media

Join: The Women's Podcast Industry Network Newsletter

Visit: https://www.quillpodcasting.com/

Visit: https://www.cohostpodcasting.com/

LinkedIn: @fatimazaidi

LinkedIn: @christinabarsi

Mentioned in this episode:

Elsie's Yoga Podcast

Research:

• https://podnews.net/article/history-uk-podcasts
• https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/elsies-yoga-class/id181891173
• https://www.yogkulam.org/blog/yoga-statistics?t#:~:text=Age%20and%20Demographics%20Statistics%20in%20the%20US,also%20increased%20up%2038%%20in%20the%20US.
• https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/2019/02/19/women-built-tech-industry-then-they-were-pushed-out/
• https://samsontech.com/blog/spotlight-women-in-podcasting-kathleen-russo-elsie-escobar-espree-devora/
• https://www.siriusxmmedia.com/insights/for-the-girls-amplifying-female-voices-for-your-next-audio-campaign?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=ashley-flowers-adweek

If you'd like to join the conversation and leave us a voice message with your own answers to one or all three of our questions, please call or WPIN Podcast hotline: 805-601-6806

Questions:

1. What are the most proud of as a woman working in the podcast industry?
2. What keeps you up at night?
3. What do you want people to understand about the area you are from as it relates to the podcast industry and women?

Join our free industry newsletter: The Women's Podcast Industry Network Newsletter

There are approximately 5 million people of South Asian heritage in the UK...but where are the South Asian podcasters? When I asked google AI “what was the first south asian podcast” the answer was this: While pinpointing the absolute first South Asian podcast is difficult, "The Masala Podcast" is a strong contender, and was one of the earliest and most prominent South Asian-focused podcasts, starting in 2009.”

In this episode you’ll hear from Sangeeta Pillai, the creator and host of the multi-award-winning Masala podcast and founder of Soul Sutras, a south asian feminist platform.

This series is hosted and created by Christina Barsi, the founder and CEO of Avant Haus Media, and Boss-Goddess, a strategic content-marketing agency specializing in podcasting, as well as The Women's Podcast Industry Network™.

More on Sangeeta:

Sangeeta Pillai is the creator of the multi-award-winning Masala Podcast as well as the founder of South Asian feminist network Soul Sutras. Sangeeta grew up in a Mumbai slum fighting for her rights - and found her feminism early on. Today, she is recognised as a leading voice for South Asian feminism globally. Sangeeta's work challenges many cultural taboos: from sex, sexuality, periods, shame, mental health, menopause and more. 

While celebrating many life-enhancing aspects of her South Asian culture: from Kamasutra, Tantra, Ayurveda, Bollywood and beyond. Sangeeta's Masala Podcast has won 6 British Podcast Awards, 1 Audio Production Award & the Spotify SoundUp 2018 award. Most recently, Sangeeta and Masala Podcast have been on giant billboards in New York, London, Dublin, Cardiff & Glasgow. Sangeeta has been featured extensively in the press from BBC Radio, Guardian, Metro, Cosmopolitan, Evening Standard, Stylist, Eastern Eye to Huffington Post.  

Visit: Avant Haus Media

Join: The Women's Podcast Industry Network Newsletter

Visit: https://www.soulsutras.co.uk

Listen: Masala Podcast

LinkedIn: @sangeetapillaisoulsutras

LinkedIn: @christinabarsi

Mentioned in this episode:

Coiled by Leanne Alie

Goalhanger & Nicole Logan

Research:

• https://podnews.net/article/history-uk-podcasts
• https://podcastrex.com/topics/where-in-the-world-are-the-south-asian-podcasters
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Asians_in_the_United_Kingdom
• https://www.soulsutras.co.uk/
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_podcasting
• https://www.britishpodcastawards.com/leanne-alie
•  https://contentisqueen.org/the-most-influential-people-in-podcasting/
• https://www.cuepodcasts.com/post/female-podcast-market-trends
• https://www.thepodcastacademy.com/podcasting-industry-insights/is-podcasting-sexist

If you'd like to join the conversation and leave us a voice message with your own answers to one or all three of our questions, please call or WPIN Podcast hotline: 805-601-6806

Questions:

1. What are the most proud of as a woman working in the podcast industry?
2. What keeps you up at night?
3. What do you want people to understand about the area you are from as it relates to the podcast industry and women?

Join our free industry newsletter: The Women's Podcast Industry Network Newsletter

There is a lot to learn about the emerging podcasting landscape in Africa - but my favorite detail of how the podcast industry is emerging in Africa is that it is primarily being led by WOMEN.

According to Molly Jensen, the founder of Afripods “Countless women creators have been leading the forefront when it comes to podcasting in Africa, and it is exciting to see them break barriers on the continent".

In this episode you’ll hear from Gathoni Ngumba, the Community Manager at Afripods, and the founder of Story Palette.

This series is hosted and created by Christina Barsi, the founder and CEO of Avant Haus Media, and Boss-Goddess, a strategic content-marketing agency specializing in podcasting, as well as The Women's Podcast Industry Network™.

More on Gathoni:

Gathoni Ngumba is a leading podcast community builder with over half a decade of experience in the continent's podcasting industry. As Community Manager at Afripods, a pan-African podcast hosting and distribution platform, she excels at creating networks for African podcasters to connect, foster growth and create collaboration within the ecosystem.

Beyond her role at Afripods, she is a podcast trainer, coach and digital content strategist, dedicated to empowering creators and helping them navigate podcasting and digital storytelling. She has worked with Mesha Science, Lemon Slice Pictures, Sahihi Africa, NBO Film Festival and Ubunifu Hub. Gathoni also co-hosts the award nominated podcast Okay Kiasi with her sisters.

She is passionate about her belief that Africa's stories are best told by those who live them and is committed to amplifying authentic African stories. Her dedication stems from a belief in the power of storytelling to foster understanding, challenge stereotypes and celebrate the richness of African cultures. 

Visit: Avant Haus Media

Join: The Women's Podcast Industry Network Newsletter

Visit: https://afripods.africa/

Listen: Okay Kiasi

LinkedIn: @gathoningumba

IG: @podcastingafrica

LinkedIn: @christinabarsi

Mentioned in this episode:

Unlocking Africa

https://thepodsessions.com/ by Rutendo Nyamuda

oxo podfest 

Africa Podfest by Melissa Mbugua and Josephine Karianjahi 

Podfest Cairo led Kim Fox 

Bidemi Adedire of the Association of African Podcasters and Voice Over Artists (APVA)

Odudu Efe (FayFay) Naija Podhub

Research:

• https://wan-ifra.org/2023/08/africas-storytelling-evolution-how-podcasting-boosts-minority-voices-and-can-reinvigorate-newsrooms/
• https://africanofilter.org/research
• https://trtafrika.com/opinion/podcasting-the-rise-of-an-impactful-medium-in-africa-13744659
• https://www.weforum.org/stories/2022/08/how-female-led-start-ups-can-transform-africa/

If you'd like to join the conversation and leave us a voice message with your own answers to one or all three of our questions, please call or WPIN Podcast hotline: 805-601-6806

Questions:

1. What are the most proud of as a woman working in the podcast industry?
2. What keeps you up at night?
3. What do you want people to understand about the area you are from as it relates to the podcast industry and women?

Welcome to the Women’s Podcast Industry Network podcast! A place where we have a global conversation with women around the globe as it relates to the podcast industry. 

As women get more and more involved within the podcast industry around the world, we are folding ourselves into the fabric of technology and media history. But there is still much to talk about and much left to be desired when it comes to diversity, women’s voices and leadership within the space. 

So let’s talk about it.

Hosted by Christina Barsi, the founder and CEO of Avant Haus Media and Boss-Goddess a strategic content-marketing agency specializing in podcasting and also the creator of The Women's Podcast Industry Network.

In this first mini-series, Barsi asks three women, who live in three different countries, three questions. And what you’ll hear, is exactly what they said. Unedited.

We will be dropping all three episodes at once featuring Fatima Zaidi, Founder & CEO of Quill Inc. and CoHost, Sangeeta Pillai, creator of Soul Sutras, and Gathoni Ngumba, Community Manager at Afripods.

Presented by Avant Haus Media

Follow, subscribe and SHARE now so you and women in your network don't miss the mini-season launch on March, 25th, 2025.

If you identify as a woman or are interested in the podcast industry landscape as it relates to women, be sure to join The Women's Podcast Industry Network Newsletter .