Why Podcasters Podcast – PCI 355

Why Did You Start Your Podcast?

The inspiration behind starting a podcast is unique to each creator. This week we dive into the reasons why people choose to start a show, ranging from personal passion of sharing your own knowledge to showcasing your business.

Today's hosts: Todd Cochrane and Mike Dell

Podcasters choose to create podcasts for a variety of reasons. Here are some of them:

Sharing Knowledge: Many podcasters are experts or enthusiasts in a specific field and want to share their knowledge and passion with others. This can range from academic subjects to hobbies and everything in between.

Building Community: Podcasting can be a way to build and engage with a community of like-minded people. This is especially true for niche topics, where podcasters can create a space for people with similar interests to gather and learn from each other.

Creativity and Self-Expression: Podcasting is a form of media that allows for creative freedom. Podcasters can experiment with format, content, style, and more. It's a platform where they can truly express themselves.

Career Opportunities: Some podcasters start podcasting as a way to advance their careers. This can be by building a personal brand, demonstrating expertise or networking within an industry. Podcasts can also serve as a portfolio for individuals in fields like journalism, media production or entertainment.

Monetization: While not all podcasts generate significant revenue, some podcasters are able to monetize their content through sponsorships, advertising, Patreon support, selling merchandise or other means.

Education: Podcasts can be a great tool for education. Educators and institutions may create podcasts to supplement traditional teaching methods or to reach a wider audience beyond the classroom.

Storytelling: Some podcasters are natural storytellers and podcasts provide a unique platform to share these narratives. This can range from true crime stories to science fiction narratives.

Interviews and Conversations: Podcasting can provide an opportunity to have long, in-depth conversations with interesting people. Many podcasters enjoy the chance to learn from their guests and provide a platform for diverse voices to be heard.

Advocacy: Podcasts can be a powerful tool for raising awareness about social issues, causes or movements. They can give a platform to underrepresented voices and provide nuanced discussion around complex topics.

Personal Development: The process of creating and maintaining a podcast can result in valuable personal growth. Skills such as public speaking, audio editing, marketing and networking can all be honed through podcasting.

Entertainment: Simply put, podcasting can be fun! Whether it's a comedy show, a movie review or a role-playing game, many podcasters enjoy entertaining their listeners.

Note that these motivations often overlap and a single podcaster might be driven by several of these reasons.

Setting a goal for your podcast is crucial for several reasons:

Direction: Having a clear goal provides direction and focus for your podcast. It helps you determine what content to produce, who your target audience is and how you will reach them. Without a clear goal, you may find yourself floundering or producing content that feels disconnected or inconsistent.

Motivation: Creating and maintaining a podcast requires a significant amount of effort and time. Having a clear goal can help keep you motivated, especially during periods when you might feel discouraged or overwhelmed.

Measurement of Success: Goals give you a benchmark to measure your progress and success. If your goal is to reach a certain number of listeners, for example, tracking your listener statistics will give you a clear idea of how well you're doi...