The Authentic Communicator

Kira Pogge Brewka

"Authenticity is important," "Be Authentic." How often have you heard those phrases, particularly in business, marketing, storytelling, and the arts? In this podcast, we talk to creators and creatives to learn more about their journey to authenticity, how they found the courage to share their voice and point of view, and how we can overcome the everyday challenges of uncovering and sharing our unique and authentic voice. Along the way, I hope you will be inspired to speak up and let your voice be heard.

Episodes

  1. Episode 11: Featuring Paul Gowder of PowWows.com & PaulGowder.com

    03/26/2025

    Episode 11: Featuring Paul Gowder of PowWows.com & PaulGowder.com

    In this episode, I had the pleasure of talking with me friend Paul Gowder, founder of PowWows.com, an online community dedicated to celebrating Native American arts and culture for over 25 years. Paul takes us on his journey of building an incredible community and navigating the ups and downs of entrepreneurship. From starting PowWows.com in 1996 as a passion project to growing it into a thriving business while working full time, Paul shares the secrets to his success and the lessons he’s learned along the way. Paul dives into the power of live streaming to connect people globally, fostering a positive and welcoming online community, and handling the challenges of negativity and trolls online. He offers valuable insights on how authenticity and vulnerability can create meaningful connections, while also sharing his strategies for building an engaged community through email marketing and personal engagement. Whether you're a creator, entrepreneur, or simply looking to engage more effectively with your audience, Paul’s advice is practical and inspiring. He also touches on the impact of social media on younger generations and shares his thoughts on what makes a nurturing community, inspired by his favorite Star Wars character, Leia. Chapters: 00:00 - Introduction to Paul Gowder and PowWows.com 03:41 - Understanding Authenticity and the Inspiration Behind PowWows.com 08:01 - Building a Community and the Power of Live Streaming 14:21 - Creating a Positive and Welcoming Online Community 18:06 - Strategies for Dealing with Negativity as a Creator 22:01 - Navigating Negative Comments and Trolls Online 25:53 - Taking a Deep Breath and Processing Online Interactions 29:29 - Starting Out with Email Marketing: Personal and Open-Text-Based Content 33:49 - Engaging with Your Community on Various Platforms 37:55 - Focusing on Positive Interactions and Turning Off Negative Comments 43:41 - Leia: The Ideal Star Wars Character to Create a Nurturing Community About Paul Gowder: Paul Gowder is the founder of PowWows.com, an online community that has been celebrating Native American arts and culture for over two decades. In addition to running PowWows.com, Paul coaches business owners on how to build engaged online communities. He’s passionate about empowering entrepreneurs to overcome obstacles, especially when balancing a full-time job and growing a business. Through his experience, Paul shares insights on community building, email marketing, and using social media to create meaningful connections with audiences.  Visit www.paulgowder.com for more information and resources on how email marketing can be a total game-changer for community building, increasing traffic, and driving sales.

    45 min
  2. Episode 10: Featuring Cassie Tucker of Marketing Happy Hour

    10/30/2024

    Episode 10: Featuring Cassie Tucker of Marketing Happy Hour

    In Episode 10 I'm joined by Cassie Tucker, an independent marketing strategy consultant who helps her clients refine their messaging and communicate their value to potential customers across digital channels. The goal in her work with her clients is to drive meaningful connections, build community, and fuel sales growth. In this episode Cassie offers incredible insights on authenticity, content creation, and entrepreneurship! Pulling on her experience from the corporate world working with NYC social media agency Socialfly, collaborations with brands like NEST Fragrances and IL MAKIAGE, and her time as an entrepreneur, she combines her marketing expertise with her experience as a former Disney Cast Member to make magic for her clients. Through her work as the co-host of Marketing Happy Hour, she is committed to empowering and encouraging young professionals on their career journeys. Additionally, Cassie is the co-host of podcasts for Universal Studios and The Leadership Crucible Foundation. In her free time, Cassie enjoys visiting the Orlando theme parks and spending time with her husband and two dogs. I'm so grateful to Cassie for taking time to be on the show and share her journey and her thoughts! Visit Cassie's website here! Visit the Marketing Happy Hour Podcast here! Join in the Marketing Happy Insiders Facebook Group here! Check out Cassie's work as a host of the Discover Universal Podcast here! You can also connect with Cassie on LinkedIn and Instagram!

    42 min
  3. Episode 9: Featuring Tim Bigonia of Journey to Grateful

    10/17/2024

    Episode 9: Featuring Tim Bigonia of Journey to Grateful

    In Episode 9 I'm joined by Tim Bigonia, an Art Director/Graphic Designer with more than 30 years of experience, a photographer, and the host of Journey to Grateful. The Journey to Grateful podcast began after Tim lost his beloved wife, Colleen, on July 3, 2020 after a long battle with breast cancer. Colleen's was diagnosed with breast cancer in February of 2017, treatment was aggressive, including radiation, chemo, and operation. In 2018 she was progressing nicely after treatment was adjusted to a maintenance level. However, December 30, 2018, a necessary trip to the ER revealed her cancer had metastasized into brain tumors. In May of 2020, additional chemo treatments along with experimental options culminated in the realization there was nothing more that could be done. The family engaged in-home hospice on June 8, 2020, allowing friends and family access to visit and making her as comfortable as possible. Colleen passed at 4:30 am the morning of July 3rd. The experience of such a profound loss, as well as the encouragement from family and friends, inspired Tim to start a podcast that would talk honestly and vulnerably about grief and it's many layers. Through sharing his own experiences and in conversations with others Tim explores what it is to experience loss and what it is to support others who have experienced loss. In this conversation we talk about how authenticity is essential in order for his conversations to reach people's hearts and minds.  I'm so grateful to Tim for taking time to be on the show and share his incredible journey! Visit Tim's website and subscribe here to receive his supportive newsletter! Join in the conversation with Journey to Grateful Facebook Community here! You can find his podcast on Spotify here and Apple Podcasts here!  You can also connect with Tim and Journey to Grateful on Instagram!  Are you interested in learning more about Tim's work in art direction, graphic design, and photography? Visit his website here!

    54 min
5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

"Authenticity is important," "Be Authentic." How often have you heard those phrases, particularly in business, marketing, storytelling, and the arts? In this podcast, we talk to creators and creatives to learn more about their journey to authenticity, how they found the courage to share their voice and point of view, and how we can overcome the everyday challenges of uncovering and sharing our unique and authentic voice. Along the way, I hope you will be inspired to speak up and let your voice be heard.