► Tell us about you and your podcast
I'm fortunate enough to get to run three podcasts fro Richland Source. The Open Mic Podcast, a podcast about Ohio musicians, Chalk Murder to Me, a Truecrime podcast focusing on Ohio murders and cold cases,West Fourth and Goal, a Richland County high school football and basketball podcast. Our audience is oddly enough all over the country, but we aim for mid-Ohio listeners and subscribers.
► Why & how did you start this podcast?
I started The Open Mic to allow the musicians a chance to promote their music and get media attention, I really thought they all deserved. Chalk Murder to Me was started because we have a reporter here who loves true crime and it was something we didn't truly realize was as significant in our area as it's turned out to be.
► How'd you find the time and funding to do this podcast?
Because I am a reporter with Richland Source, my publisher actually liked the work I was producing and built a really great studio for me and others to use. It's part of my job to produce, edit and host these podcasts now, which is amazing. We sell advertising-- again because we are a news company, we have a sales team who reaches out to companies for sponsorship.
► What do you gain from podcasting?
On our W. Fourth and Goal podcast, we get pizza from a pizza place across the street. We asked him to do a trade-for-trade sponsorship, where if we promote his pizza, he gives us two large pies of our choice to allow our high schooler to eat when he comes after football or basketball practice. We are still in the early stages of finding sponsors. We've been relatively slow in getting sponsors and I think it has to do with the fact that our sales people have more than just that on their plate. Currently, W. fourth makes $25 per episode.
► How does your podcasting process look like?
We use Audacity (Free) to record. and have four microphones running in our sound proof booth. It's a really nice facility. I prefer interviews in person, but on The Open Mic, it's hard to get the big musicians to come, so we speak on the phone.
► How do you market your show?
Social media and word of mouth, so far. This is the area I really struggle with. We publish to Spotify, Apple podcasts, Google Play, et all.
► What advice would you share with aspiring (new) podcasters?
When you throw spaghetti against a wall, some of it is bound to stick. Don't worry about what fell to the floor. Keep trying and eventually you'll get something you are proud of. Listen to many different podcasts and think about what makes you like those and replicate it -- ideas, format of show, energy.