Pro Podcaster Stories

Pro Podcast Solutions
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Have you ever thought about starting a podcast? Podcasting is an ever growing ocean covering every topic your imagination can fathom. But what about the podcasters? Why did they start a podcast? What hurdles did they have to overcome along the way? What drives them to keep creating content? How do they define success? Pro Podcaster Stories dives deep to explore these questions and much more.

  1. 05/05/2020

    Passion Meets Podcasting with Glen Willis

    When your passion meets podcasting you get the Full Court Press NBA Podcast and Glen Willis.  Glen has always had a passion and love for the game of basketball, so he decided to launch a podcast.  Glen and his brother coached basketball for many years.  In their podcast Glen and Greg share the technical side of basketball from their coaching perspective.  They use their deep coaching background to break the game down in a different way. Their unique experiences and perspectives offer a unique story that helps them to stand out.   Glen Willis is an avid basketball fan.  He is a contributor at Peachtree Hoops. He is an inactive youth basketball coach that still looks for ways to contribute to the sport by way of helping to facilitate camps and training programs.  He lives in the Seattle, Washington area with his wife Sarah. In 2016 He launched the Full Court Press NBA Podcast which he co-hosts with his twin brother Greg.   He is a fascinating guy and a really insightful and well thought out guy.   We had a great conversation.  We talked about basketball and podcasting, but we talked about a few other things as well including long term content creation schedules, spending time on your core competency and engagement and feedback.  I think you are really going to enjoy this episode.   Show Notes: [03:13] Glen has an NBA focused podcast.   [03:26] Glen shares how he developed such a great love for the NBA. His love for basketball began in middle school.   [05:20] Glen and his twin brother coached basketball for many years.   [06:53] His passion and love for the game never disappeared or regressed at all despite the fact that his basketball journey wasn't quite what he would have imagined. [08:24] He had a six-month break where he wasn't doing a full-time job and that really helped him be able to launch the podcast.  [09:38] In order to cover the entire NBA, Glen needs to have a 12-month plan.  The hardest aspect is to get familiar with all the new players coming into the league.   [11:42] They watch and focus on three teams a week. They record on those teams and share what they saw and really dive into what they are doing and trying to do.    [13:47] Glen starts his draft work in April.   [16:03] There are many NBA podcasts to help you learn more about the game. [17:38] Glen knew they could use their deep coaching background to break it down in a different way.   [19:57] They wanted to bring a technical conversation from people that have a coaching and teaching background in the sport hoping that would not be better than everything else, but instead would contribute to what people consuming that type of content would find value in.   [21:04] Glen shares about joining a podcast network and what have been the benefits of the podcast network.   [23:41] Glen knew that he needed a team to fill in the gaps of his podcast knowledge and help him to learn even more.    [25:02] Parents were very appreciative of the time and effort Greg and Glen invested in their young people and when they launched their podcast they wanted to support and help.  It helped them to get some support and visibility at the beginning.  [27:43] The podcast network they are part of (Lineups) does all the marketing, promotion, and social media.   [30:09] Any advertisers that Glen or Greg pull in themselves are completely their revenue.  Any ad the podcasting network brings in is a 50/50 split.    [31:45] They are not in podcasting for the ad revenue.  They are energized by the content.   [34:01] They record their episode and hand the file off to professionals that are more passionate about podcast production like Pro Podcast Solutions. [35:01] Glen shares how they are handling the NBA shutdown and these challenging times.    [37:39] The podcast is currently on hold since the league has been on hold. They are doing a week by week assessment deciding if they feel like it is an appropriate time to start putting more content out again.  They don't want to take the attention off what is important right now.    [39:45] They are looking at having a player's series where they actually break down an individual player's game.  They never have space at any other time.   [42:35] Success is about getting good feedback. They are very appreciative and grateful for the engagement and feedback they receive.   [44:44] They try to make their podcast technical enough that it is interesting and different, but still connect and land with listeners.    [46:20] If Glen did have a bucket list it would be to see Lebron James play in person.  He would also love to go to an NBA Finals game 7.  [48:19] It is not so much getting to do something as much as it is having appreciation and gratefulness for the opportunity and absolutely getting the most out of it.  [50:33] Glen shares his experience going to a Sacramento Kings game.   [52:28] He grew up in a challenging environment. [53:34] He hadn't really seen a template of a successful adult man so he started reading about men that inspired him.  [58:08] Darrell's Takeaways: Glen talked about how he doesn't get caught up in what the mainstream sports media is talking about.  He focuses on things that make his podcast unique. He keys in on things that few or maybe nobody else is talking about so he is able to stand apart.  He talked about his long-term content creation schedule and how important it is for him.  Glen builds his work schedule around this.  It is important to put in the big rocks first and then build you other things around that. He also talks about how he doesn't spend time on things that are not his core competencies like editing, publishing, and promotions.  He says he measures success through engagement and engagement can come in a variety of ways.  Try to look at negative reviews with an open mind, because we can actually learn and improve from that.  We need to look at reviews as an opportunity to learn from your audience and grow as a podcaster.   Links and Resources: Pro Podcast Solutions Peachtree Hoops Glen on Twitter Lineups Lineups Podcasts Full Court Press NBA Podcast  Full Court Press NBA Podcast on Facebook

    1h 4m

  2. 04/28/2020

    Best Resources for New Podcasters

    Have you ever thought about starting a podcast? Podcasting is an ever-growing ocean covering every topic your imagination can fathom.  What about the podcasters? Why did they start a podcast? What hurdles did they have to overcome along the way? What drives them to keep creating content?  There are now over a million podcasts in existence. That means people have many choices when they're looking for a podcast for whatever topic they're seeking.  That means you have got to be on top of your game.  In this solo episode, I share seven of my best resources for new podcasters.  We are going to be talking about how to engage with other podcasters in the community, which conferences you should be attending, and detailing the equipment needed.  We are also going to be talking about what hosting company you should go with, how to get music, artwork, and many other great resources.  This episode is going to have so much great information! We also have a bonus for you in this episode.  We have put together a PDF guide that is going to be your go-to resource for this episode.   Show Notes: 1. Join Facebook Groups Podcaster's Hangout was created by John Dennis to allow for the participation of community and collaboration of Podcasters around the world. Podcast Movement Community - For Podcasters was created by Podcast Movement (Dan Franks and Jared Easly) as a place for people who are podcasters, looking to become a podcaster, or who are members of the podcasting industry.  Independent Podcasters Group was created by Independent Podcast Conference (Joe Pardo) as a group designed to bring together independent podcasters. They are always looking to help others get to the next level and grow together.  Podcasters Paradise was created by the Entrepreneur on Fire Community (John Lee Dumas and Kate Erickson) as a place for fellow Paradisers to share valuable information, collaborate with other Paradise members, and provide others with constructive feedback on podcast-related topics.  She Podcasts was created by She Podcasts (Jessica Kupferman and Elsie Escobar) as a safe place for women and those who identify as female or identify as non-binary ONLY who podcast or who are setting up a show currently to ask questions, provide support, share resources, wins, advocate for each other and whatever else they like. 2. Attend a podcast conference Podcast Movement - August 5-8 Dallas, TX - Podcast Movement is the largest, longest running annual conference for podcasters and the podcast industry. Whether you're just getting started or you're an industry veteran, we've got over 150 sessions and events designed just for you. Podfest Expo - March 5-7 Orlando, FL - Whether you're new to podcasting or a veteran podcaster looking to innovate and improve your podcast, our easy-to-understand conference tracks allow you to customize a daily agenda based on what you're most interested in learning. No matter your skill level or experience, Podfest has plenty to offer. She Podcasts - October 15-18 Scottsdale, AZ - The largest in-person gathering of women podcasters, audio content creators, story tellers, and more. The purpose of She Podcasts LIVE is to offer women audio creators a chance to learn and experience community in an environment created JUST for them. We focus the education, the social interaction, and even the aesthetic on women only and it makes a big difference. Independent Podcasters Conference - September 24-26 Philadelphia, PA - ICON originally started out as Mid-Atlantic Podcast started (December 2014) as a Facebook group for podcasters who live in the Mid-Atlantic States. After seeing the interest to have a podcast (exclusive) conference in the northeast, Joe Pardo jumped on the opportunity to make it happen. This conference is for anyone that identifies as an independent podcaster all around the world.  3. Invest in quality equipment Microphones: I highly recommend a dynamic microphone, because they are more forgiving and have an easier learning curve.  Avoid a condenser microphone. Shure SM 58 - This microphone is very durable and great for traveling.   Audio Technica ATR2100 - Most popular microphone in all of podcasting. Kit with boom arm, shock mount, pop filter, and cable  Electro-Voice RE320 - This is the microphone I am currently using and my favorite mic.  Recorders:  Rodecaster Pro - This widely used and adored product can support multi- track recording and easily bring in guests.  Zoom H5 - Zoom recorders don't require a computer.  You just record directly onto the SD card.  The interface is intuitive and easy to follow.   Zoom H6  Zoom F4 - This recorder is more portable with many awesome features.  USB Interface Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 - The best USB interface on the market and all you need.   Microphone Accessories: You want a microphone stand that will bring the microphone up to your mouth.   Boom Arm I recommend the Rode PSA 1.  Tabletop Stand  Pop Filter or a windscreen 4. Podcast Hosting Company It is important to partner with a reputable hosting company because they are going to give you reliable service and reliable stats. Libsyn (PROPOD promo code) Simplecast Blubrry Buzzsprout Podbean Megaphone Use royalty-free music If you are using music in your podcast it needs to be royalty-free and not copyrighted music.  Look through their terms to see which one is best suited for you.  Audio Jungle Premium Beat  BenSound Incomptetech Create artwork that sells your brand Check out PPS episode 31  Video Library Links and Resources: Pro Podcast Solutions Darrell's Email Video Library Podcaster's Hangout Podcast Movement Community - For Podcasters Independent Podcasters Group Podcasters Paradise  She Podcasts Podcast Movement Podfest Expo  She Podcasts Independent Podcasters Conference Shure SM 58 Audio Technica ATR2100  Kit with boom arm, shock mount, pop filter, and cable Electro-Voice RE320  Kit with boom arm, shock mount, and cable Rodecaster Pro  Zoom H5  Zoom H6  Zoom F4 Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 Boom Arm  Tabletop Stand Pop Filter  Libsyn (PROPOD promo code) Simplecast Blubrry Buzzsprout Podbean Megaphone Audio Jungle Premium Beat BenSound  Incomptetech  Check out PPS Episode 31  Disclosure of Material Connection: The links above are "affiliate links." This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, we will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, we only recommend products or services that we use personally and believe will add value to our listeners. We are disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

    52 min

  3. 04/21/2020

    Using Your Podcast to Build Authority and Opportunities with Brad Larsen

    Real estate is a very competitive business and the real estate podcast area is a very competitive category within podcast directories. Brad Larsen shares his successes, authority, and opportunities that have come because of his podcast. Brad talks about creating The Property Management Mastermind, Property Management Mastermind Show and The Property Management Conference. His story, advice, and humility are truly inspiring. Brad's advice is very helpful and timely for everybody. Brad Larsen was born and raised in Iowa – his parents were both school teachers. He graduated from the New Mexico Military Institute in Roswell, NM and was commissioned as a 2LT in the US Army Infantry in 1996. He then graduated from Morningside College in Sioux City, Iowa in 1998. He was able to earn a baseball scholarship for both schools as a shortstop. Brad later earned his MBA from the University of Phoenix in San Antonio, TX in 2011. After serving on active duty in the Army as an officer in the Infantry, Brad left the military as a Captain in 2002 and moved to San Antonio to pursue his interests in real estate. He has been managing single-family homes since 2004. Brad is a member of the San Antonio Board of Realtors (SABOR), Texas Association of Realtors (TAR), National Association of Realtors (NAR), and the National Association of Residential Property Managers (NARPM®). Brad has been licensed since 2003 and has earned top honors in real estate to include the Platinum Top 50 award for agents in San Antonio. Brad is married to Leah Larsen and has two children.  Brad is so selfless even though at times he tries to argue differently and invites everyone to come on this journey and learn along with him. This episode is packed full of great advice and tips for real estate, podcasting, and life in general.  Show Notes: [03:37] Brad shares what led him into the world of real estate.  [04:06] Brad created the Property Management Mastermind where property managers can share ideas, thoughts, and collaborations on a national scale. Then he created his podcast, The Property Management Mastermind Show.  [05:03] Brad's podcast has opened up a lot of doors and opportunities including other business ventures and speaking gigs.  [06:13] Brad looks at podcasting as an audio blog.  [07:11] Brad shares how his business looked before his podcast and how it has expanded his business ventures.  [08:43] Brad started a Facebook group and now has 8,600 members. This is another advertising avenue for getting the podcast shows out to more people.  [10:09] Another opportunity the podcast has facilitated is a national annual conference called The Property Management Mastermind Conference.  [10:32] All of his business ventures have stemmed from simply starting a podcast.  [13:03] Brad really wants to improve and benefit the real estate industry.  [15:40] On his podcast he tries to interview folks that he would want to understand better because likely others will also.  [16:49] Brad started his own podcast so he could answer the questions he wanted to answer for the community. It was a better option for him than a webinar.  [18:42] The podcast was a giant advertisement for his in-person live conference.  [20:04] Brad's next live conference, Property Management Mastermind Conference, will be in March 2021 in Las Vegas.  [21:49] Brad has a Facebook Live every day to discuss current issues and how they affect renters and property managers.  [24:13] The current issues will be short-lived, so we should have a quick spike back up when this is over.  [26:08] The dollars are in the change. We are in the middle of change, so how we embrace it is going to be part of our attitude. We need to make it work for us.  [28:29] If home prices go down, investors will create the bottom. It creates the basement and that it is as low as the market goes.  [31:44] Brad recommends investing in residential single-family homes.   [34:12] Brad has sponsors for his podcast that pay monthly or annually for commercials spots. This has helped to offset the cost of quality productions like Pro Podcast Solutions.  [36:55] Finding the next good guest has been Brad's biggest podcast challenge.  [37:25] Brad suggest putting out content that is timeless, so people can go out to it years down the road.  [39:24] Brad got used to podcasting, by creating Youtube narrations and videos for his real estate business.  [40:12] Brad's advice is to look at the competition. Brad looked to see how many podcasts were talking about property management before he started.  [41:19] Don't let your fear of podcasting intimidate you.  [42:33] The goal of his podcast is just a bigger advertising campaign. It is important to tie podcasting in with other ideas and ventures.  [44:01] Brad set a goal several years ago to make a million dollars a year. He is a long way, but he is getting on the right track.  [46:02] Brad suggests checking out one of the first episodes of his podcast. His episode with Tim Melton has been the most downloaded episode.  [46:21] Brad has found that doing live interviews in a remote location is very difficult, so he utilizes Zoom to record his podcast episodes.  [48:13] Darrell's Takeaways: Brad's advice was really helpful and timely for everybody. He gave great advice for those who are landlords, tenants, and even those looking to get into income property. Brad recommended going hyperlocal with your podcast to really get involved with your community. He talked about using his podcast as a way to create opportunities and his authority. Because of his authority, he was able to create the Property Management Mastermind Conference. He is seeing a lot of success with his conference because of the authority he is establishing because of his relationships and podcast. Brad gave a tip to try and make content that is timeless. It is more important now to think about this then it was a month ago. Sometimes it is a good move to create content about current issues and sometimes it is not. Make sure you are using terminology, phrases, and titles that are not going to date and make your content seem like it is no longer relevant in the long term.  Links and Resources: Pro Podcast Solutions Property Management Mastermind Property Management Mastermind Show Rent Werx Property Management Mastermind on Facebook Property Management Mastermind Conference Bigger Pockets Brrrr Technique Robert Kiyosaki Brad's episode with Tim Melton

    52 min

  4. 04/14/2020

    Helping Christian Organizations and Leadership Flourish with Al Lopus

    Having a business, career or job enables us to pay the bills, but many of us want work that is life-giving and meaningful. One way for Christians to find this type of meaningful work is to be employed by a Christian organization. Al Lopus is the President and co-founder of Best Christian Workplaces Institute. Al began ranking the best Christian organizations to work for in a Christianity Today article which led to founding BCWI in 2002. This organization uses research-based measurement tools and culture change advisory services to help Christian organizations set the standard as the best and most effective workplaces in the world.  There is even a certification for workplaces that get a client survey score of 4.0 or above. This signals that this is a great place to work with great leadership. Having the certification can attract high-quality employees, and it also appeals to potential donors. Al is also the host of The Flourishing Culture Podcast. On his show, Al conducts interviews with leaders on how they have created some of the best and most effective Christian workplaces. Al is a client of ours, and I'm excited to talk to him about his podcast, how he started, what success means to him, his unique pre-interview question method, and the example that his father set for him.  Al is an author, speaker, and consultant. Prior to co-founding BCWI, Al served 21 years in leadership roles. He held key leadership roles at the consulting firm Willis Towers Watson. He chaired the Board of Directors for The Nicolas Fund for Education. He also served on the Christian Leadership Alliance Board and is currently on the Advisory Board. He was also on the Board for Virginia Mason Medical Center. His passion and experience for proven leadership and amazing workplace culture are highlighted in this interview. I thought his interview was relevant for these current times, but my solo episode is still coming up in the near future.  Show Notes: [03:20] The BCWI vision is for Christian organizations to set the standard as the best most effective place to work in the world. They do this by measuring the health of the culture through an engagement survey. They also measure effectiveness of leadership organizations and do culture consulting.  [04:14] They want to inspire Christian leaders to create a flourishing workplace. [04:32] Al is the co-founder of BCWI. The firm started by trying to compile a list of best Christian workplaces.  [05:33] Al started The Flourishing Culture podcast to get his message to a broader audience.  [06:09] His daughter helped him with his first podcast.  [08:02] Al wanted stories of great Christian workplaces and what the leaders did to create that environment. [09:24] The podcast is really a way to reinforce their message to leaders, by listening to other successful leaders and sharing helpful tips. [12:57] To be certified as a best Christian workplace you need a client survey score of a 4.0 or above. Only about half of the organizations are certified.  [15:51] Al's been podcasting for about five years now. When he first started out, he bought lower-end equipment and then worked his way up. [16:30] He also sends his guests the script with all the questions prior to the podcast, and they send it back to him. [17:10] To produce the podcast Al and his team have a schedule of who the guests will be. Once the guest accepts the invitation, Al and the team writes the script. Then they record on Skype. [18:25] Then they upload it to the social media manager who sends the audio to Pro Podcast Solutions. Once published, the guests gets a notification email which includes social media prompts.  [21:20] The podcast is an educational and a marketing piece. [22:54] Being certified as a best Christian workplace helps improve the quality of candidates who apply to work there. High-quality individuals usually have offers from other workplaces. [24:17] Current employees also know that it will be difficult to find a better workplace than where they are already at. Donors also appreciate the certification. [27:52] Things to look for in the survey include having a good leader and having the company well managed. They also want the leader to demonstrate fairness and integrity. Another important factor is life-giving work. This is one of the reasons why people want to work at Christian workplaces. [29:13] Al does look at numbers and how many downloads he has. He also defines success by the way he positively affects his listeners.  [31:22] Recognition from the podcast also creates a place to start a relationship.  [31:37] They are also using transcripts from one of their podcast series and using that to write a book.  [33:04] Al's dad is a CFO which is relevant because BCWI has had a recent revenue drop. His dad taught him the value of saving. He's grateful to his dad for teaching him to build the reserves that are sustaining them now. [34:43] Al is also a fan of Donald Miller and the Storybrand framework. He's also reading Marketing Made Simple and listens to other inspirational podcasts.  [38:58] Darrell's Takeaways: A lot of people are dealing with remote working. Al's podcast episode can help. He also learned saving from his dad which is helping him during these times of uncertainty. Saving for the lean times during the good times is great advice. Al sends out his questions and gets the answers back ahead of time. This technique may not be right for everybody, but it could be right for you. He also gives his guests guidance on sharing the episode on social media. Podcasts are a great way to better connect.  Links and Resources: Pro Podcast Solutions Best Christian Workplaces Institute The Flourishing Culture Podcast Michael Hyatt Platform: Get Noticed in a Noisy World Christianity Today Cliff Ravenscraft Belay Virtual Assistants Building a StoryBrand: Clarify Your Message So Customers Will Listen Marketing Made Simple: A Step-by-Step StoryBrand Guide for Any Business Season 5 Episode 12: Important Advice on Managing Remote Employees // Robert Bortins, Jr., Classical Conversations Season 5 Episode 11: What it Takes to Be a Flourishing Leader // Barry Slauenwhite, BCWI Best Christian Workplaces Institute on Facebook ALopus@BCWInstitute.org

    46 min

  5. 04/07/2020

    Podcasting About Sports With Father and Son Hosting Duo Mike and Brian Mountan

    Mike and Brian Mountan are a father and son duo who together host the Bri The Sports Guy podcast. They both love watching, playing, and talking about sports. Brian has an unusual gift for being able to remember and recall stats and history about sports that most of us often forget. They also have a very close father and son relationship and planned starting their podcast together to coincide with Brian graduating from high school and Mike retiring from his finance career.   Mike is a native of Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin. He received his BA and an MBA from Northwest University in Evanston, Illinois. He spent 13 years with Procter & Gamble and 18 years with Johnson & Johnson in a variety of finance roles including VP of Finance for Johnson & Johnson's Consumer Division Asia Pacific based in Singapore and Global CFO of Johnson & Johnson's diabetes care business. Mike also serves on the board for the Jacksonville School for Autism and is chairman of the finance committee of St Joseph Academy. Brian is a 20 year old who was diagnosed at age 3 with autism. He was born in Cincinnati, Ohio and has lived in Jacksonville, Florida twice. He's also lived in Singapore and San Ramon, California. Brian graduated from high school in May of 2019 and has been working on the podcast ever since. In addition to sports broadcasting and blogging, Brian also works at the Brooks YMCA. You are going to love this conversation as we dive into their sports podcast and the wonderful father and son dynamic that flows throughout the show.  Show Notes: [04:04] Growing up, Mike watched a lot of sports and played a lot of sports. [04:16] When Brian and his brother were born, his family tried to get them involved in as many sports as possible. [04:41] Brian is six feet and six inches tall. He's a great basketball player and a great golfer. [05:03] Mike grew up watching sports on TV. He was fortunate to grow up in Wisconsin, a state that had all of the pro teams. [06:02] Brian's mom thought the podcast would be a good idea after Brian graduated from high school. They've done over a hundred and thirty two episodes now. [07:21] Mike and his family knew that Brian had a gift. Mike shares a story about Brian talking about a game, and a nearby restaurant patron being amazed at everything he could remember. [09:50] Students are really being impacted by the shutdown. [10:23] The baseball and basketball seasons have been put on hold, so the NFL is one of the main things they have to talk about right now. [11:50] They are doing a free agency review by division. Then they'll do an NFC and AFC draft preview. Then they'll talk about what they think about the upcoming teams. They're hopeful that by late May, they will see some broadcasts. [15:22] They subscribe to many sports resources in order to go deep in their podcast. [16:22] They would rather have too much content as opposed to too little content. They plan out in advance which sports they will talk about during the week. [18:07] They do three podcasts a week, and they have a sponsor.  [19:22] Brian talks about some of the awesome guests that they have had on the show. [20:19] They would love to get the manager of the Milwaukee Brewers on the show. His name is Craig Counsell. They are also trying to make some connections with local golfers and the Jaguars. [23:03] Mike timed his retirement to Brian's graduation, so they could both start the podcast together. [24:53] Mike has always been a workaholic, so the podcast gives him a lot to work on with so many different sports to cover. [25:32] They came up with the idea around Christmas of 2018. [26:40] Sports podcasting is a very crowded space. They did the show for their friends and to show the autism community that there's a lot of practical things they can do. [27:44] They define success by having a lot of great content and having fun.  [30:29] People in Florida are really interested in hearing them talk about football. [31:33] They use a lot of different magazines to help keep things straight when covering college football. [32:41] The NBA is the easiest to cover because of the stability. [33:06] They take notes and get their research the old-fashioned way. [34:39] Brian has learned planning and not procrastinating from his parents.  [36:12] Mike learned social skills from his dad and work ethic from his grandparents.  [37:06] Mike would like to expand their audience.  [39:26] They would also like to cover the Milwaukee Bucks NBA game live.  [42:48] Darrell's takeaways: The way Mike and Brian interact shows how special their relationship is. The subject of their content has been significantly reduced because they are covering sports. They've adapted, and they're focusing deeper on the draft. They're making the most of the situation they have. They have reduced their schedule to two episodes per week instead of three. Think about your contingency plan in case of a dry spell. Look for inspiration for content. Cover what's most important and build your schedule around that. Links and Resources: Pro Podcast Solutions Bri The Sports Guy Mike Mountan on Facebook E132: Our interview with NY Post columnist and 2020 NY state baseball hall of fame inductee Kevin Kernan MountanMike@Yahoo.com

    47 min

  6. 03/31/2020

    Podcast Tips from the Experts at Podfest

    I talked to some amazing podcast hosts and podcast professionals when I was at Podfest in Orlando. It was a great experience, and many experts were kind enough to share podcast tips that will help podcasters and especially beginners have a smooth start and a show that they feel great about. Super Joe Pardo who runs the Independent Podcast Conference shares the importance of letting your personality shine through and the goal that you should have to move the needle.  Then I talk with Glenn the Geek who has been podcasting since 2006 and has hosted thousands of shows. He runs the Horse Radio Network and the Florida Podcast Network. Glenn talks about the importance of consistency and what sponsors are really looking for. If advertising is something you are interested in, his advice is very useful. Chris Curran from Podcast Engineering School shares tips for microphone technique including how to speak soft and low and speak loudly.  Harry Duran from Podcast Junkies talks about how to leverage the power of SEO in your podcast and how and why you should do that. If legal issues are something you're concerned about, pay special attention to this next clip from Gordon Firemark, the podcast lawyer. Gordon talks about protecting your brand and content and gives us information on the types of consent forms and contracts that are useful to podcasters.  Dave Jackson from the School of Podcasting gives super good advice about what new podcasters really shouldn't do. Even though it's a common mistake that many make. Jeni Wren Stottrup from Gritty Birds Podcasting gives a great tip for avoiding perfectionism and fear. Craig from Ingles Podcast talks about the importance of audience engagement. Coach Chris from The Personal Branding Playbook talks about how important marketing is. Emily Peck Prokop from E Podcast Productions talks about not trying to do everything all at once, and Christy Haussler from Team Podcast rounds out the show with her advice on rankings and list building.  Show Notes: [03:13] Super Joe Pardo runs the Independent Podcast Conference, and he feels that it's important to have your personality come out in your podcast. The goal all the time is to move the needle and make people feel something. [04:09] Glenn the Geek is from the Horse Radio and Florida Podcast Network. He's been podcasting since 2006. It takes awhile to make money. You need to be consistent. Sponsors are buying you not your show.  [06:27] Go to small companies in your niche. Work with them and involve them from the beginning. [07:53] Chris Curran runs Podcast Engineering School. He teaches people how to engineer and produce podcasts at a professional level. He also hosts the podcast engineering show. [08:43] Microphone technique is really important. Stay close and speak into the microphone from the right angle. You can get closer to sound soft and low. Lean back to say something loud. Be passionate and love what you are talking about. [09:26] Harry Duran is the host of Podcast Junkies. His tip is to leverage the SEO power of podcasting. Choose a name that people are searching for that also speaks to a pain point. [10:08] Be careful how you choose your name and what you put in your description. Choose words that people are searching for. [10:16] Gordon Firemark is the podcast lawyer. Creating media content is big business, so think of yourself as a business. You may need to form a company. [11:10] Protect yourself by protecting your title and your brand. Register a trademark for your brand and a copyright for your content. [11:41] Get consent from your guests in the form of a release. Use royalty free music or make sure you have the proper license. Always use contracts. [13:10] Dave Jackson is from the School of Podcasting. He also works for Libsyn tech support. Don't compare your show to other people's shows.  [14:28] Jeni Wren Stottrup is from Gritty Birds Podcasting. She's a producer, editor, and podcast coach. Once you have a concept of what your show is then get your equipment and record right away. [15:33] Craig from Ingles Podcast says gauge the success of your podcast by audience engagement as opposed to download numbers. [18:30] Coach Chris from The Personal Branding Playbook says sharing episodes instead of marketing them is one of the biggest mistakes he sees podcasters make. [23:10] Emily Peck Prokop from E Podcast Productions says new podcasters need to start with one step at a time and stop trying to do everything at once. [24:01] Christy Haussler from Team Podcast says not to focus on ranking in iTunes categories because it won't translate to anything tangible. The list is a vanity metric. Every podcaster should begin with an offer of something free to build their email list.  [26:13] Darrell's takeaways: Build that email list. Sponsors are buying you. Don't get too clever with your podcast name. Make your podcast name easily searchable. Focus on engaging with your audience. Provide a way for your listeners to engage with you. Keeping a spreadsheet of your listeners is really helpful. Focus on one thing at a time.  Links and Resources: Pro Podcast Solutions You Don't Need Thousands of Downloads To Sell Ads – The Return of Glenn The Geek Podfest Glenn The Geek Florida Podcast Network  Super Joe Pardo Independent Podcast Conference Chris Curran Podcast Engineering School Podcast Junkies Gordon Firemark Podcaster's Legal & Business Toolkit (Template Bundle) School of Podcasting The Happiness Lab Gritty Birds Podcast Editing Ingles Podcast SpeakPipe The Personal Branding Playbook Coach Chris E Podcast Productions Team Podcast Cliff Ravenscraft Mindset Strategies That Go Beyond Podcasting With Cliff Ravenscraft

    32 min

  7. 03/24/2020

    All About Podcast Artwork and Branding with Podcast Design Specialist Mark Des Cotes

    Mark Des Cotes is a podcast design specialist and the owner of Podcast Branding. He's an award-winning graphic designer with over 30 years in the design industry. He designs for both print and web. He started podcasting in 2013 doing television fan podcasts. He launched his Resourceful Designer podcast in 2015. It's a weekly podcast that helps graphic and web designers start and run their own design business.  Mark has worked with over 200 podcasters to enhance their shows appearance and help them stand out among the growing sea of podcasts through his professional designs. He designs podcast websites, cover artwork, and more. Mark is also the graphic designer that we use as part of our team here at Pro Podcast Solutions. He and I were both at Podfest Orlando a couple of weeks ago.  During this face-to-face sit down we talk about what podcast branding is, what makes great cover art, common mistakes people make and more. We also tackle the question of whether you should put your photo on the cover, looking at the camera, and who should actually have a microphone on their cover art. Mark also shares advice to create a cohesive brand for all of your platforms.  Mark's passion for design and podcast branding really shine through in this interview. He shares how even moving a design element a couple of pixels makes a difference. He strives for perfection and making everything look right. He also shares the elements of cohesive branding. We talk about having a color palette to make your brand easily identifiable across platforms.  Mark shares the difference between a logo and cover art and why both are so important. We also talk about social media. Why it's important to simplify and mistakes beginners often make. We also discuss why a professional design across all of your platforms can complete your brand and make you stand out.  Show Notes: [02:50] This is our fourth or fifth time meeting in person. We've become really good friends over the years. [03:01] Mark owns a business called Podcast Branding and we'll be discussing podcast artwork, branding and more.  [03:47] Mark wanted to go into television advertising. He never intended to become a graphic designer.  [04:54] In high school, he won the equivalent of a college scholarship for one year. His guidance counselor suggested he go to graphic design school. He tried it for a year and decided to finish the program. He hasn't looked back since. [06:06] He discovered podcasting in 2012 and got into it in 2013. Our mutual friend, Wayne Henderson, had the worst podcast art Mark had ever seen. Mark designed something for Wayne and then Wayne started spreading the word.  [08:48] Mark also worked for a commercial printer and then dabbled in web design.  [09:36] Mark started a web design business at home.  [11:57] Be honest with your current employer and make sure your contract doesn't forbid side work. [15:03] Mark wanted to be the podcast branding expert. He has a video chat with every client.  [17:38] He never would have designed Melissa Radke's artwork the way it is without talking to her first.  [19:14] The first thing most people see is the podcast cover when they are looking for podcasts. If they like the cover, then they'll read the description. [21:17] Your artwork needs to be simple. Taking something away from a design will always make it cleaner. Overcomplicated artwork becomes amateurish. All you need on your podcast cover is the title of your show and possibly your name. [22:08] You can put your tagline in the description. [22:37] Your text needs to be readable on a small piece of artwork. Also, keep it down to one or two fonts. Don't overcomplicate it. [23:41] Microphones and headphones should only be included if your podcast is about microphones in headphones. The word podcast also doesn't need to be on your cover.  [24:31] The word show sounds more professional. [25:00] When it comes to using your photo ask if you are recognized in your space or if you are trying to build a personal brand.  [29:21] You have to be comfortable to have your image on your podcast cover. [30:50] Think about how your target audience is going to perceive your artwork. [34:43] Make sure your text is readable in a 125 X 125 pixel image. [35:53] Podcast logos and artwork are two different things. Have a logo and include it on your artwork. Think of an album cover. The band name is the logo.  [37:24] Carry over your branding to your social media accounts. Have a separate account for your podcast unless you are using it to create a personal brand. You can also rotate through your color pallet.  [44:21] A brand encompasses every touchpoint of your design system.  [46:47] Many of us have skills, but it's better to hire a true professional.  [51:49] Mark shares things that he has noticed that differ between the US and Canada. Hint: it has to do with restaurants and manners.  [54:35] He is a huge fan of fantasy books and science fiction. He loves The Expanse book series. He is also a fan of Building a StoryBrand.  [57:43] Darrell's takeaways: Mark gave a presentation about this very topic at Podfest. Your art is the first impression people get. They often use it to decide if they want to listen or not. Great cover art can get your show chosen above others. Make sure it looks good at 125 pixels. Think through using your own photo. Have a color palette and podcast logo to reinforce your brand across all venues.  Links and Resources: Pro Podcast Solutions Resourceful Designer Resourceful Designer - A Graphic Design Podcast Resourceful Designer on Instagram Mark Des Cotes on LinkedIn Solo Talk Media Podcast Branding Podfest Orlando Wayne Henderson Being Authentic and Sharing Your Real Self With Your Audience with Melissa Radke Platform: Get Noticed in a Noisy World Building a StoryBrand: Clarify Your Message So Customers Will Listen The Expanse Book Series

    1h 1m

  8. 03/17/2020

    Bringing Eastern and Western Medicine Together to Change the Mental Health of Corporate America with Dr. Romie Mushtaq

    Dr. Romie Mushtaq is a neurologist, mindfulness teacher, entrepreneur, and speaker. She is also the Chief Wellness Officer for Evolution Hospitality and the host of the Wellness Evolved Podcast. She shares how she had a love for brain science and neurology and became a medical doctor. About 10 years into her career, she had a very serious health crisis and discovered mindfulness during her journey to recovery. She is now on a mission to bring together her advanced training in Western and Eastern medicine to alleviate stress and bring health and wellness to the corporate world.  We talk about how she created and the first mindfulness program for a hospitality company and became the first hospitality Chief Wellness Officer. Then we talk about the podcast and how it became a way to reach employees with the message of mindfulness and people first. Dr. Romie found that wellness emails were going unread, but the podcasts made communication easier and provided tools for mindfulness and wellness with her guided meditations. Even though the podcast is targeted at Evolution Hospitality employees, it also has turned out to be a recruitment tool for potential employees.  Dr. Romie also shares some of the surprising results from the podcast and how a mixed format of guided meditation, interviews, and solo shows works for her. We talk about how she keeps organized and challenges with finding quality outside guests can be. We also get to hear a very touching story of how Dr. Romie's maternal grandmother had faith in her and her potential. Even though she isn't here anymore her presence is always with Dr. Romie. This is a fantastic interview with a very fun and smart lady who I'm happy to have the pleasure to work with.  Show Notes: [04:37] Darrell and Dr. Romie met at Podfest in Orlando. It was so great that they met in person before Dr. Romie's podcast launched.  [06:33] Dr. Romie's background is in neurology and neurophysiology. In 2013, she got a board certification in integrative medicine. [06:48]  She brings the world of Eastern and Western medicine together. The mission for her wellness company is changing the brain and mental health of corporate America.  [07:01] Evolution Hospitality hired Dr. Romie to be their keynote speaker and talk about the brain science of mindfulness for stress management. After that, she started consulting for them. She's now their Chief Wellness Officer and her job is to guide the mindfulness and wellness programs for their 7,000 employees. [08:37] When she was in medical school, she had a love and passion for neuroscience. She was a practicing doctor, and she got sick from too much stress. [09:02] She had to have a life-saving surgery and this led to her journey of mindfulness, meditation, and integrative medicine. [10:37] The Wellness Evolved Podcast just turned one year old.  [11:44] The podcast is targeted for the Evolution Hospitality employees. She wanted the podcast to be a public-facing recruitment tool for the organization. [12:28] She created and scaled a mindfulness program from scratch. They started with The Power of Pause. They decided that a podcast would be the perfect way to get this program out and supply the employees with the tools they would need.  [14:02] The podcast was first and foremost for the Evolution Hospitality employees, but other hospitality employees started showing interest in the program. It's a great PR tool.  [15:56] There's brain science behind the intimate connection of hearing someone's voice in your ear. [16:56] Communication and spreading the word was what was needed for The Power of Pause. Management had to think through if they wanted something targeted for the employees to be public facing.  [19:31] Dr. Romie is finding ways to measure impact. Her top downloads were the meditations. Their format includes guided meditations, solo shows, and interviews. [22:05] Seeing leaders play the podcast episodes and lead meditations is an indicator of success. Dr. Romie is also getting LinkedIn messages from job seekers. Most people in panel interviews listen to the podcast to prepare. [23:35] The podcast has helped spread the mindfulness program and bring in new candidates. [26:20] Rule #1 turn on your microphone!!! Technical glitches happen when you're in a hurry. [29:11] Dr. Romie has a busy schedule, so she has a team that helps keep things on schedule. She interviews people face-to-face when she is traveling. She also has a content calendar of podcast topics.  [34:39] Serving your audience is what it's all about. [36:05] It's been challenging to get external guests from other companies and vendors on the podcast.  [37:35] They do want to have subject matter experts on the show.  [39:54] Dr. Romie still uses her grandmother's prayer beads when she meditates. Her grandmother always believed that she was going to rise up and do amazing things. She calls upon her grandmother often. She is anchored in unwavering faith.  [43:53] Darrell's takeaways: Dr. Romie's emails were going unopened, but the podcast actually reached people. Podcasts are effective for communication and recruitment. A content calendar is great for organizing themes and ideas and collaborating with others. Don't be afraid to break the mold and try something new. Links and Resources: Pro Podcast Solutions Libsyn Use promo code ProPod to get your first month free Dr. Romie brainSHIFT  The powerful secret of your breath -- Romila "Dr. Romie" Mushtaq, MD | Romila Mushtaq | TEDxFargo Evolution Hospitality Wellness Evolved Podcast Podfest Why Workplace Wellness & Mindfulness is Important for Leaders & Culture: Interview with Evo's President John Murphy Bonus Episode: Home 10 Minute Guided Meditation: Power of Pause Tips for New Podcasters from Lead Audio Editor Mike Lalonde Turning ADHD Coping Strategies Into a Successful Podcast with Eric Tivers

    47 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

Have you ever thought about starting a podcast? Podcasting is an ever growing ocean covering every topic your imagination can fathom. But what about the podcasters? Why did they start a podcast? What hurdles did they have to overcome along the way? What drives them to keep creating content? How do they define success? Pro Podcaster Stories dives deep to explore these questions and much more.

Information

  • Creator
    Pro Podcast Solutions
  • Years Active
    2019 - 2020
  • Episodes
    37
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Pro Podcast Solutions
  • Show Website
    Pro Podcaster Stories