► Tell us about you and your podcast
I have spent the past 11+ years helping single people find love again as a dating coach and matchmaker. I'm based in Austin, TX but I work worldwide.
Single people come to me when they are not meeting the right people, they are tired of the inauthenticity of dating apps, or dating feels like work, and what they really want is a real connection with a quality person.
I have been featured on ABC, NBC, FOX, and TEDx. Her message has been heard by over a million people globally. With over 20,000 hours of meditation, as well as an award winning violinist, Crista believes in the power of REAL LOVE, and its ability to change the world.
I am the author of the Amazon best selling book, Break The Glass Slipper: Free Yourself of Fairy Tale Fantasies and Find True Love in Real Life. In this paradigm shifting dating guide, I expose the societal fantasies about dating and relationships that sabotage our ability to attract a healthy and happy long term relationship.
My podcast is also called Break The Glass Slipper. The goal is the help single women create loving relationships that last. Each week I provide dating advice and on the court stories of the clients I have worked with so that people feel empowered and inspired to continue their journey to find real love.
► Why & how did you start this podcast?
One of my goals this year was to NOT take on any new big projects unless I had a team in place. Back in August I magically attracted a lovely person into my life who felt pulled to help me launch a podcast. She had such a pleasant energy so I hired her. Together we got the whole structure of launching a podcast in place. We hired an engineer, set up our Trello Board, and set the launch date: Oct 8, 2020! It was a team success.
I personally felt pulled to start the podcast because I needed a creative outlet to express myself. Artists have paints, but by turning on the mic inside my cosy dark closet, my podcast has become my own personal blank canvas that I get to express and create. Plus as a public speaker there have not been a lot of opportunities to speak during this pandemic, so with my podcast I get to speak every week!
► How'd you find the time and funding to do this podcast?
Before I committed to doing this, I thought long and hard. I wanted to make sure that I was committed for the long-term. I said to myself, "If you can commit to seeing this through for at least 5 years, then let's do this."
I set aside time each Monday to think about an idea (about 2 hours) and then record it. I don't do many edits. I like to have it feel natural. Even if I slip up and mispronounce something, I just correct myself and move on. I wanted this project to be as simple and fun as possible. If I focus on having it be too perfect, it is not fun for me anymore. My weekly episodes come out each Wednesday. I upload the audio to my engineer and he makes it sound so professional within a week.
Then there is all the administrative aspects of having a podcast. I create a blog post each week, and email to my list, and social media posts. I do this each week as well.
I 100% fund my own podcast with my business.
► What do you gain from podcasting?
Financially speaking, the podcast has paid for itself tenfold. I just launched in October 2020, I've gotten 3 new clients because of it. So the podcast has paid for itself, and I only just started.
Professionally, it has allowed me to make a difference for people who may not be able to afford working for me. I provide a lot of coaching and insights that can deeply help single women on the journey to finding love. Now, when I am on the phone with a potential client, and for some reason they cannot afford to work with me, I now have a resource for them in place that I can share and that I know will be a contribution to them.
Personally, having the podcast has expanded my confidence. Just 12 recorded episodes in and I am already feeling more sassy and free! I'm excited to see how I will grow even more as a person as the episodes continue.
► How does your podcasting process look like?
I have a structured process in Trello that is used by the entire team. We use this software to communicate and keep track of each stage of the episode development process.
Break The Glass Slipper features me and me alone. While having guests would be fun, I wanted my podcast to give me the opportunity to share my thoughts and personal experiences. I also deeply value simplicity and having guests seems like a lot of extra administrative work that I am not very interested in doing right now.
I typically record each episode on a Monday and then upload it to Dropbox. I create a new card in Trello for each new episode. In each card we keep track of edits, review, show notes, blog post creation, and social media. My audio engineer usually has a final version back to me within a week. We are currently a few weeks ahead of schedule so we don’t feel any pressure each week. My engineer not only edits, but he also uploads each episode to the Libsyn platform.
The shows are edited and uploaded to Break The Glass Slipper podcast page with the show notes. The show is also distributed through several channels including iTunes, GooglePlay, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, and of course, Listen Notes!
► How do you market your show?
The main way new people are finding my podcast is through Instagram. I also have an email list that has started to cultivate a regular listenership.
Because I just recently launched, my main goal was to create consistency of creating this new habit in my life. By next year I would love to focus more on more marketing efforts.
► What advice would you share with aspiring (new) podcasters?
Have fun! If it's not fun, then why even do it? I allow myself to have fun by not having to be perfect. With each episode I am learning more and more how to let go and to find my natural voice.
I would also recommend a good mic and to devote a cozy closet to your podcast endeavors. Having a nicely padded place to record makes the podcast sound so warm and yummy. And because I want my listeners to feel like they are having an intimate experience with me, the cozy-factor is important.
Plus, I am starting to get that I am not speaking to a lot of people, I am speaking to ONE person. There is one person with their earbuds on the other end of my podcast. This has been helpful to remember.
► Where can we learn more about you & your podcasts?
Learn more about Crista Beck and Break The Glass Slipper:
Website: cristabeck.com
Buy Crista’s book on Amazon: cristabeck.com/buybook
Follow Crista on Facebook: cristabeck.com/facebook
Follow Crista on Instagram: cristabeck.com/instagram
Subscribe to Podcast: cristabeck.com/podcast/
Want to have her as a guest on your show? Check out her Podcast Media Kit. She is currently planning and creating a press tour for the launch of her book on Audible in January 2021.