HAVE YOU HEARD? // Wanna Be Podcast

Have You Heard? is a series in which the team from Pod Bible meet the people behind the podcasts you may not have heard of yet. While the Oh. My. Pod. section in the magazine gives a quick shout out to shows of that ilk, Have You Heard aims to go deeper in an effort to spread awareness for shows that deserve more exposure! In this week’s edition we sat down with Imriel Morgan to discuss her podcast, Wanna Be Podcast.

POD BIBLE: Please introduce yourself and your podcast to our readers!
IMRIEL MORGAN: I’m Imriel, the Founder of podcast marketing and PR agency Content is Queen and the host of Wanna Be Podcast.

PB: When creating the podcast, did you have an idea of what you wanted the show to be about first, or were you thinking more about an audience you wanted to speak to?
IM: Both. I knew I wanted the podcast to highlight unconventional careers and jobs. I was drawn to people in the creative industries more specifically those who had close proximity to the people we perceive as ‘famous’ or ‘successful’ but they operate behind the scenes so don’t get credited in the same way. E.g. Storyboard artists, Directors, Illustrators, writers etc.

PB: Why did you decide a podcast was the right medium for your project?
IM: I hate cameras! In all seriousness, I’ve been in podcasting coming on five years and it’s been such a powerful medium for me to grow my confidence, develop my voice and be a strong public speaker. The simplicity of the podcast works well with the intimacy you can create. I’m also a sucker for really short-form content. So creating a 30-minute show which gives you a window into this person’s life without the ability to judge how they look or their body language makes a huge difference. If you see it, you can be it, but I’m finding more and more that if you hear it, you can be it, too.

PB: What was the first podcast you ever listened to?
IM: This is so cliche, but it was Serial. I haven’t looked back since.

PB: Which podcasts inspire you?
IM: Great question, the podcasts that inspire me all teach me something new. I really love podcasts for that, so Mothers of Invention which is about Climate Justice is brilliant. I loved Slate’s Placemakers which is all about urban planning. I also loved The Sun King by Audible.

PB: How has the podcast evolved over time?
IM: At the start, I felt like I had to do so much; season 1 was double episodes per week and we were making so much content! Now it’s a little more relaxed and conversational. The biggest evolution is how increasingly high profile the guests are becoming with each season. This season we had Keke Palmer, Elaine Welterwroth, Lolly Adefope and Malorie Blackman, which is insane to me. Every week I have a little fangirl moment about who I’m going to be speaking to next. What’s consistent is that we’re genuine in our intent to hear their story so that it can inspire our listeners. We’re trusted with our guests and by the audience to deliver actionable career insights from masters in their field.

PB: How much preparation do you like to do before speaking to your guests?
IM: This may sound terrible, but I don’t do too much at all. Perhaps 15 minutes to an hour. If they have a book, I’ll read the book (or listen to the audiobook) or if they’re journalists, I’ll read their tweets and articles. It’s worth mentioning that if they’re appearing on the podcast, they’re already someone who’s work I’m familiar with and respect. The podcast is fairly formulaic, so I want the steps they’ve taken to get to where they are now which is really asking them to retell their story in their own words. My job is to find out what obstacles there were and how they overcame them. Everything else in addition to that is a bonus on the podcast.

PB: What’s the most valuable lesson you’ve learnt so far as a podcaster?
IM: Know your audience, even if that audience is you. Asking anyone to listen to a podcast is a pretty big ask. It’s a time commitment. People pay for convenience to not lose time so knowing your audience, where they are, what they like, the references that’ll resonate. etc. is essential to creating great content but also to developing a loyal community around it.

PB: How important is diversity in choosing guests and topics for your show?
IM: Diversity is essential to the podcast. The show exists to show young women all that’s possible for them. For us, it’s essential that you see yourself represented by our guests. 

PB: Which episode would you say is the perfect introduction to your podcast?
IM: Episode 80 with London Mayor Sadiq Khan is a great introduction to the show and what you can expect in other episodes. Also episode 102 with Elaine Welteroth is just pure joy to listen to, from start to finish.

PB: Where can the Pod Bible readers find out more about you?
IM: You can visit Wannabepodcast.com to find all of the episodes. We’re on Instagram and on Twitter.

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