Entrepreneurship diaries 12: promoting a podcast

February 15, 2013

After last week's cri de coeur about what I should be doing with my work life, I heard from two listeners and a few friends with advice, which was heartening. I've decided that for the next few months I will concentrate solely on producing and promoting The Broad Experience - after that I'll take stock and decide next steps. I feel I have to put time into the show in order to build its audience and secure sponsors. Talking of which, I took a big step this week thanks to fellow writer, public radio reporter and podcast host Tanner Latham's example. This two-minute teaser gives listeners, potential sponsors, partners, and radio stations an idea of what The Broad Experience is about. I am actively looking for sponsorship, so if you know anyone...

Also, I recently got in touch again with a podcast network I had contacted in September to ask if they were still interested in working with me. For logistical reasons things kept getting put off, but the answer is yes. This means that, beginning the week of February 25th, I'll have a home for The Broad Experience at a network that has some heft with iTunes and Stitcher. The show should receive some promotion and pull in some more listeners - many more, I hope. I'll reveal more after my debut with them. Finally in podcast news, yesterday I spoke to Julie Shapiro of the Third Coast International Audio Festival for a piece she's writing on why there are so few female podcasters. She mentioned a comment Andrea Seabrook of the Decode DC podcast made in a recent interview with Third Coast, which I will post here:

"As for the gender gap, I can tell you that throughout my career at NPR, young people came to me for advice on getting into journalism. Twenty-something women would ask, what degree should I get? What's the next internship for me? They seemed to be looking for some authority to give them the credentials or experience to be a reporter. Young men, on the other hand, would ask how do I start now?"

I've said it before and I'll say it again: women do not ask for things the way we should, in part because we feel we need permission for everything. Until this changes, we - including me - will have less chance of getting what we want. You know that podcast network I just spoke about? I pitched them my show as soon as I heard of their existence. Their response said, in part, that they were very glad to hear from a woman, because all their pitches came from men.