COVID-19 has no doubt shaken the foundations of our global society. As we adjust to this ‘new normal’ many of us, in both a personal and professional capacity, have had to come face to face with the core of who we are.
That said, I’ve been thinking a lot about the art of storytelling and how we’ve all walked roads that could easily translate into incredible screenplays. However, right now, the world isn’t seeking beautifully curated and edited stories. They’re looking for real, authentic engagement, encompassed in compassion.
I believe podcasting provides a unique medium for individuals, communities and companies to tell their stories and connect with people in a personal way.
Having hosted and produced two podcasts: the “In My 20s” podcast and Bizcommunity’s “BizTakeouts”, I would like to use this platform to share my knowledge as well as draw on the expertise of people in the industry.
“The Podcast Sessions” platforms include: a podcast, a magazine, social media as well as YouTube videos. I hope these resources will provide you with the information you need to help you along your journey, to turning your podcast dream
into a reality.
01: The “Right” Name
We all want the perfect podcast name. A name that will capture the hearts and minds of audiences around the world. A name that effortlessly rolls off the tongue when announced as the “World’s Greatest Podcast of the Century”.
The truth is – there is no perfect name. When thinking about what to call your podcast, it’s important to find something that resonates with you, your content and your audience. Believe that whatever name you choose, will stick. Some people name their podcasts after themselves, others put the subject matter in the title and others draw a name out of a hat.
What might help you find your perfect podcast name is identifying the content you want to speak about in your podcast.
02: CONTENT
There are probably two kinds of people reading this: those who want to create a personal podcast and those who want to create a business podcast. Either way, it’s important to speak about something you’re passionate about. At this top-level brainstorm think about topics or themes you’d like to cover and write them down.
Question:
“What if there’s already a podcast similar to my idea?”
Answer:
There probably is, but you shouldn’t let that stop you. Just think of all the beauty YouTubers in the world – they didn’t let anyone stop them and neither should you.
Remember: You have a story to tell and the world needs to hear it.
03: VISUALS
The visual aesthetic of your podcast is your podcast look and feel. This includes aspects such as: your branding, logo, social media posts, the style, voice, colours graphics etc.
Don’t stress, you don’t have to create visuals from scratch – there are many amazing free online tools like Canva that make this process easier.
04: THE ELEVATOR PITCH
If you’re like me, when someone asks you anything about something you’re working on, you proceed to tell them everything you can think of including the things that pop into your mind during the conversation.
STOP! [in the name of love]. IT’S TOO MUCH.
It’s important that you’re able to express your podcast idea in a single thought. If you cannot write down your idea in three short sentences; or explain it in 20 seconds then it’s too long.
If your idea isn’t clear to you, it won’t be clear to your audience.
05: PODCAST STYLE
The Solo Podcast
This podcast will rely on you as the main voice throughout the podcast. This is great if you are an expert in a certain area or are simply passionate about particular content.
The Interview-Style Podcast
This is a very popular form of podcasting consisting of a host and a guest, or guests, who will be interviewed on the episode. The guests could be brought on the show to be profiled, for their expertise in a particular subject or for entertainment.
The Panel Podcast
This podcast style makes use of multiple voices. This is a great way to facilitate discussions and provide different viewpoints on topics. Different opinions provide a fantastic way to open up mindsets.
**BTW: If anyone wants to know, my favourite podcast style is long-form non-fiction storytelling podcasts. But we’ll discuss this another day.
