Helping Leaders, Coaches and Consultants harness the power of their words to change lives, for the better.

My background is in leadership development. I spent 15 years in the corporate world training and coaching leaders on how to behave and communicate more effectively to engage their teams, create harmonious working environments, and increase productivity. I left the corporate world 10 years ago and transitioned into entrepreneurship, where I have focused on helping coaches, consultants, and leaders enhance the impact of their communication.

In the consumer world, this involves assisting independent business owners in delivering keynote and signature talks to articulate their thought leadership across various platforms, both online and in-person. I help them create unique and expert ways of delivering their messages, including landing and delivering TEDx talks. As a TEDx speaker and curator for a TEDx event, I bring together my passion for helping people, particularly business owners and leaders, harness the power of their words to create positive change.

This impact is felt both in a societal context through TEDx and in the day-to-day dynamics within teams, briefings, presentations, and talks. My audience primarily consists of individuals in leadership roles within the corporate world, seeking ways to engage their teams and communicate more effectively.

Additionally, I work with independent coaches and consultants who aim to articulate how they help others through signature talks, TED talks, and effective communication that resonates and leaves a lasting impression.
 

I am an avid podcast listener and enjoy a multitude of podcasts while engaging in various activities such as walking, cooking, cleaning, or other mindful tasks. I have a particular interest in investigative journalism but listen to personal development, fiction and specialist topics too. When I set out to launch my own podcast, I wanted an overarching theme that would benefit people and align with my expertise, which is "words that change lives." I aimed to reach more people by discussing topics that many could benefit from.

I realised that I could achieve this in different ways. I could have candid conversations with individuals in the field of communication across various areas, and I could also record sound bites to share my own knowledge, story, and tips from my experiences. I began developing my podcast in the summer of 2023 and assembled a team to assist with the preparation. I officially launched my podcast in January 2024 and released my first episode in the second week of January. From the initial idea to the release of my first episode, the process took about seven months.
 

I started the podcast for the first six months, releasing episodes biweekly. I realised that to reach people in the way I wanted and create the desired frequency, I needed to switch to a weekly schedule, which I implemented after six months of broadcasting.

I have a system to produce each episode using AI. I use AI to help generate ideas, and I also gather insights from my clients and my daily experiences in my business. I record the episodes at home using Riverside in my home studio, which takes a few hours per episode.

After recording, I have a team that edits the episodes and creates clips for social media. Additionally, I have a virtual assistant (VA) who schedules social media posts. I also utilise an AI tool that helps me take the transcript from the podcast episode and create content for social media and my email list.

What would normally take a lot of time has been streamlined into a shorter process, which I estimate takes a couple of hours of work per episode. I fund the podcast completely myself, and I have a team that assists with editing and marketing. I also pay for hosting on Captivate.
 

At this stage in my growth, I have not looked into sponsorship, but it is definitely something I want to pursue as the podcast grows. Thank you for sharing that I am in the top 5%. I am striving to become part of the top 2% and hopefully acquire sponsorship, so that is something in the pipeline for the future.

The reasons I launched this podcast are: 1, to reach a new audience; 2, to nurture my existing audience; and 3, to use it as an asset library to point potential clients to or to use as a discussion point. Essentially, it serves as a lead-generating tool for me. It raises awareness, credibility, and reach, and I am signing clients because they have listened to a podcast episode, or I might direct them to a specific episode to help them decide whether to work with me.

Additionally, it has given me a real sense of satisfaction to apply my knowledge in this way and share it, as well as to meet incredible people, have amazing conversations, and connect with individuals I would not normally engage with. I truly hope that with the growth of the podcast, I can expand my connections and gain in more ways as well.
 

The tools I use are Riverside FM, and I previously used Audacity. I have a podcast team that handles the editing from Riverside, obtains clips for social media, and creates audiograms. I find guests through my networks, conversations, and interests. I also put out a call across my networks on social media, primarily LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook, to find potential interviewees. Additionally, I interview my clients because the work I do with them directly translates to communication.

I prepare for each episode by having a conversation with the guest, agreeing on a loose flow, and selecting a topic and angle for the candid conversation. This ensures we are not just discussing their story or business, but also a topic that is important and interesting to listen to. I then compile guidance notes and send them to the guests.

For my own episodes, I prepare by considering my topic, creating an outline with the support of AI, and then recording in a conversational manner while following the outline I have created. I interview guests via Riverside FM.
 

Listeners currently find my show through my social media and email marketing. I have an email list, and I send a weekly email addressing the topic of the episode. Each week, I market across social media through video posts, audiograms, articles, and social posts.

I have found that the most effective way of sharing is through video. I also market on YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok with these videos. Videos are more attention-grabbing, especially when I discuss the topic rather than just sharing an audiogram. This approach has proven to be how people are discovering my content. Additionally, I have started experimenting with discussing a topic on social media and then asking people to comment, after which I send them the podcast episode.
 

I've learned that it is essential to constantly test, change, adapt, and evaluate as you progress. This approach helps to evolve what works for you and what feels good, while also considering what others prefer.

This applies to the details of how to start an episode. Initially, I began episodes with an intro, but I have decided to remove that and instead do a live intro to hook listeners more quickly, so they do not have to listen through a standard intro. That is just one example.

I have also changed how I interview people and the topics we discuss. I transitioned from what I used to call a head-to-head format to a candid conversation. Additionally, I have learned a lot from listening to other podcasts, observing their conversations and topics.

One podcast that has been particularly helpful is "Why Your Podcast Isn't Working." It offers great advice and tips on hooks and titles. I have also found valuable information on Riverside FM and its YouTube channel, which provides numerous resources for launching podcasts. YouTube is an excellent resource for those doing it themselves, offering a wealth of advice.
 

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Web: www.helenpackham.com
Blog: https://helenpackham.com/my-blog/
Facebook: helenpackham1
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/helenpackham
YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@helenpackhamspeakercoach
https://www.youtube.com/@helenpackhamspeakercoach