10 women in podcasting you need to hear from
Plus, 52 weeks of podcast growth
Happy International Women’s History Month! I (Shreya here) wanted to hear from women that are doing wonderful work but we don’t hear from often. I didn’t want to make this just a collection of random quotes so I asked them three specific things:
✅ one piece of advice on podcast growth.
✅ one learning from their time in the industry.
✅ one thing they wish to see more of.
Then, a funny thing happened — they started recommending more women. The list grew and it turned into a plethora of insights, advice, and experiences from an exceptional set of women. While today’s is a lengthier issue than usual, I promise you that each of these 10 women has something valuable to share. My most heartfelt gratitude to all of them. 💛
➡️ (If you’re looking for this week’s podcast growth tip, it’s at the very end).
If you only have time for one thing
Then let it be these simple words from Jess Schmidt -
Know your worth.
Thank you for the reminder, Jess.
Without further ado, here we go!
The following quotes have been edited for clarity and brevity.
📈 One tip on podcast growth
🎙️Be smart about word-of-mouth promotions! Don't just make a slogan for your podcast; establish the actual language you want people to use to describe your show. Create a phrase in plain english and repeat it on your show, in your podcast description, and on your social media channels that is easy to say and isn't cringey for listeners to repeat.
Kattie Laur, Writer of Pod the North Substack and Freelance Podcast Producer
🎙️ When marketing a show, one paid ad or a handful of barter placements will not move the needle. Align all marketing tactics (and yes, that should include paid) to launch in concert and make it feel like your show is everywhere!
Kayla Moriarty, Marketing Consultant
🎙️ Search engine optimization! This means using specific keywords to optimize your audio content and show notes so that they appear in search results. This way, people can find your show through Google.
Erin Hynes, Travel Blogger, Podcaster, Digital Marketer
🎙️I am a big believer in human interactions. Talking to people and telling them a story can make a difference when you are interested in growing your podcast. Go out, meet people and tell them your story and how that is reflected in your podcast.
Valentina Kaledina, Director of Business Development at Castbox and Board Member at The Podcast Academy
🎙️Guesting on other podcasts is so important. You’re reaching people who are already active listeners of the medium, so it makes it more likely that they’ll go check out your podcast.
Mackensie Freeman, Account Executive at BECK Media and Marketing (PR for Tenderfoot TV)
🎙️ Subscribe to the industry newsletters! Not only are they great places to pitch your show for inclusion, but you'll also discover new ways to market your show and get in front of potential listeners.
Taylor Faust
🎙️Build a community around your content. Social media and online forums are great tools to engage with your audience and allow them to provide feedback consistently across space and time but don’t underestimate the power of in-person events. Make it a party with dope music and great food.
Veronica Montes, Communications Specialist at FRQNCY Media
📓 One learning from your time in the podcast industry
🎙️ The podcast industry is growing by the day, but at the core it's still made up of creative, thoughtful people who really love the medium of audio. Listen to the credits of every podcast you love and follow the work of people who are making things you admire. You might just find your next mentor or collaborator—and at the very least, you'll find some more sonic inspiration along the way.
Rebecca Seidel, Audio Engineer + Lead Creative Producer at Goat Rodeo
🎙️ Know your worth. Women are disproportionately more likely to experience imposter syndrome than their male counterparts, and in an industry dominated by men (in one report from 2022 women and other identifying people make up just about 1/3 of all podcast creators, with men making up the rest) it is so important to be confident in your skills. Search out teammates and role models who are committed to lifting each other up. Podcasting is hard work, but it still should be fun - find people who make it fun for you!
Jess Schmidt, Podcast Producer/Consultant and Accessibility Advocate
🎙️One big learning for me has been how amazing the podcast community is, especially within specific niches. My show is part of the travel niche, and it’s enabled me to connect with many people doing incredible work in the space of responsible tourism.
Erin Hynes, Travel Blogger, Podcaster, Digital Marketer
🎙️Relationships are everything! Finding a community of fellow podcasters, even if it's just a few people, will give you the space to air grievances, get advice, cheer each other on and cross-promote your content.
Kattie Laur, Writer of Pod the North Substack and Freelance Podcast Producer
🎙️Reach out to people who are doing what you want to do, making the audio you want to make. I know this can feel daunting or awkward, but I think it's always good to hear how other people work - how are they making the thing that inspires you? Don't be afraid to ask. And if you're a producer, it's good practice reaching out to strangers.
Natalie Gregory, Producer on The Opportunist Podcast and a proud Salt alum
🎙️ I've never worked in an industry that was as generous with their knowledge as podcasting. There's this collaborative and cooperative spirit that makes you feel like everyone is supporting each other's successes. It's lovely!
Kayla Moriarty, Marketing Consultant
🎙️I've learned that there's no single "best" way of doing a podcast. So many successful podcasts go against what would've traditionally been seen as the "right" way of doing it. For instance, Hardcore History has five-hour long episodes, which on paper, is easy to balk at. But they make it work. I encourage people to push the boundaries. The medium is so flexible and it's being defined at this moment. Embrace that!
Amanda Cupido, Founder, Lead Podcasting and Program Director, AM 640 Toronto.
🎙️ When it comes to promotion, timing is everything. For instance, we don’t want to share news widely about a podcast if we can’t drive listeners back to the feed or a website where they can enter their email. But, we want some people to know in advance, so they can share the news on release day. There’s a lot of nuances with podcast PR and you really have to play around with the timelines. (Bonus: I’ve learned how KIND the podcast community is!)
Mackensie Freeman, Account Executive at BECK Media and Marketing (PR for Tenderfoot TV)
🎙️My biggest takeaway from the industry is just how collaborative it is. I don't work in podcasting full-time, but I've found that the vast majority of people that do are more than willing to take a call to chat about their experiences and even connect you with others. Reach out to other shows and podcasting pros - you'll meet some great people and have awesome experiences along the way!
Taylor Faust
🎙️I’ve been a part of the pod community for a little over a year now. Everyone has been so lovely and happy to meet with me. They share their love for pods with joy and sometimes with humor. It is through podcasting I realized I love audio. I’m a Pisces, so I can’t dive deep into anything I’m not truly feeling. Audio has impacted my whole life because it centers around my main passions – music and meditation. My love language is sharing audio, so don’t forget to support creators by sharing their work or writing a review.
Veronica Montes, Communications Specialist at FRQNCY Media
🔭 One thing you’d wish to see more of
🎙️Every creative team needs strong support from the commercial people. Monetization, ads, sponsorship is a fuel that is necessary for our industry. Sometimes I see that this is all a burden of creative teams. I think specialization can help even if it's a tiny little team that is making their first steps. On all levels, I'd wish to see more qualified commercial people who can handle costs and profits equations while giving more space to creative teams who can focus on their craft.
Valentina Kaledina, Director of Business Development at Castbox and Board Member at The Podcast Academy.
🎙️I would like to see more tech giants liaising with industry professionals, including indie producers and networks. Ensuring that what's being worked on/developed will help not only the big networks, but the emerging ones, will ensure the space to lift a variety of voices and create opportunities for accessibility.
Amanda Cupido, Founder, Lead Podcasting and Program Director, AM 640 Toronto.
🎙️ I appreciate seeing the intersections of audio merging into podcasts. For example, I love pods that feature original songs that I want to replay over and over. I want a pod soundtrack playlist, please.
Veronica Montes, Communications Specialist at FRQNCY Media
🎙️People outside the podcast industry writing about podcasts (and just more podcast business writers).
Mackensie Freeman, Account Executive at BECK Media and Marketing (PR for Tenderfoot TV)
🎙️More women in executive roles. Runner up: more companies focused on experiential audio.
Natalie Gregory, Producer on The Opportunist Podcast and a proud Salt alum
🎙️Accessibility! Transcribing your podcast is an easy way to drastically increase your accessibility, and it's not just the right thing to do in terms of showing your audience that you care about inclusivity - it's also an amazing SEO booster. At this point in time, audio is not indexable in search engines like Google, so by not transcribing your podcast you're leaving tons of potential Google juice stuck behind the sound barrier. You can do transcripts yourself for free or pay for expert help, but either way the benefits that you get from something as simple as including transcripts can't be overstated.
Jess Schmidt, Podcast Producer/Consultant and Accessibility Advocate
🎙️More podcasts that encourage intentional listening—to the world around us, and to each other.
Rebecca Seidel, Audio Engineer + Lead Creative Producer at Goat Rodeo
🎙️Women in charge.
Kayla Moriarty, Marketing Consultant
🎙️I would love to see more opportunities for indie podcasts. Funding and grant opportunities, as well as mentorship and networking opportunities. Especially here in Canada, there are so many indie shows doing great work, and it would be amazing to see wider support for them.
Erin Hynes, Travel Blogger, Podcaster, Digital Marketer
🎙️I want to see more government grants, community funding, and financial support from major podcast organizations available to help underrepresented podcasters create podcasts, especially for Indigenous podcasters across North America to help them revive their dead feeds!
Kattie Laur, Writer of Pod the North Substack and Freelance Podcast Producer
Thank you, to each and every one of these women and the very many working in audio, to tirelessly shift the needle for all of us in the industry.
52 Weeks of Podcast Growth
Get a friend or a fellow podcaster to hear your promo swap. And ask them to tell you what they think about it.
To sum it up, the last five podcast growth tips are:
Spend 15 minutes writing a new pitch for your show.
Show your 300-word pitch to a friend. Ask them if they understand what your show is about.
Rework your pitch if needed. If not, share it with a community that is not your friends.
Record a trailer of your show.
Get a friend or a fellow podcaster to hear your promo swap.
👋 New here? Start from Week #1 of Podcast Growth.
From the desk of Tink
abandoned: The All-American Ruins Podcast guides listeners through immersive audio fantasies, recreating host Blake Pfeil’s experiences exploring abandoned spaces across the United States. Along the way, the show asks critical questions about American history and culture, community, capitalism, and economics, the environment, and mental health while encouraging folks to activate their imaginations as a tool for healing.
🌟 More Magic
Listen to the Pod-At-Me Hotline featured on Trailer Park Podcast.
Just wanted to shoutout the great use of the stock photo 😂
Thanks for using my stock photo!!