► Tell us about you and your podcast
Richard Eisenberg. I am the Managing Editor of the PBS site for people 50+, Nextavenue.org and editor of its Work & Purpose and Money & Security channels. The podcast is Your Next Avenue, which is about work after 50.
► Why & how did you start this podcast?
Next Avenue started this podcast as part of our mission to help people after 50 navigate their lives. We thought that interviews with experts about work after 50 would be useful. The podcast started in February 2018. It took us about two months to launch our first episode.
► How'd you find the time and funding to do this podcast?
We release new episodes every two weeks. It takes about three weeks to produce an episode. I make time during my full-time job to prepare for the podcasts, interview experts, and write show notes and articles about the episodes. We are spending about a total of $3,000 for the first nine episodes and that is funded by TPT Television, the public television station that owns Next Avenue.
► What do you gain from podcasting?
We do not take sponsorship yet but may for our second season. Podcasting benefits us by broadening the reach of Next Avenue and benefits me by helping establish my expertise in the area of work after 50.
► How does your podcasting process look like?
We use Zencastr; I record from my home office and the guest is wherever he/she works or lives. My guests are experts I've interviewed for our site or who I know are experts in this subject. I prepare each episode by reading the expert's book, if there is one, and his/her website and articles and then discussing with the guest in advance what I'll want to talk about. I send my questions in advance.
► How do you market your show?
We spread the word on social media, in our Next Avenue newsletter and on the Next Avenue website. We are also in directories such as iTunes Podcasts, ListenNotes and others. Twitter has been the most useful social media marketing channel.
► What advice would you share with aspiring (new) podcasters?
I would say it's useful to do a few episodes as tests to get a sense of how to do one; let your guests talk, but interrupt politely when it's time to get to the next question. Show your interest and enthusiasm. Get your guest to talk about things he or she hasn't said publicly before.