Four years ago I realized how important it is for women professionals to connect on a personal level. I started hosting a series of dinners where a small group of women could meet. The first dinner started with only 12 women, but once word got out, a community was formed with over 200 women.

In fact, the conversations and connections that were made at these dinners is what inspired me to start the interview-based Women Authors of Achievement Podcast. I felt that a wider audience should have access to these inspirational stories, hearing them I often had goosebumps myself.

So how do you build a community around your podcast? Here are my 4 tips.

1. Start building your community before you launch your podcast (if you can)

That’s right, as mentioned above — the core WAA Podcast community of guests, listeners and supporters was formed long before I started the show. Still today, I am grateful for all the women (and men!) who encouraged me to kick start my own podcast.

2. Stay locally relevant before going global.

A lot of people that go into podcasting are overly excited by the extensive global reach of potential guests they can have on the show. They look for guests globally and not locally – which is not necessarily bad, but this makes it more difficult to form a community around the podcast.

From the start, I knew that I wanted to create a strong bond with the local community. At the moment I am exclusively interviewing in-person in a studio located at the heart of Kreuzberg in Berlin, Germany. The WAA Podcast represents women who are not only authors of their own achievements in life, but they are also building their successful careers in this city. Listeners and podcast guests can literally bump into each other on the streets, which creates closeness and proximity. And this physical aspect of meeting someone in person is a first step towards creating a community.

In the future you can always expand, but first try to establish yourself locally.

3. Stay close to your podcast guests “alumnus” network.

Don’t simply interview your guests and never speak to them again. First of all, it’s awkward. Secondly, didn’t you invite them to your show because you find them interesting? Exactly, so keep the ties close to people you are inspired by.. Stay in touch with your guests, also because they can be your biggest ambassadors and most loyal fans. What can be more rewarding than people you are inspired by, in return are excited about your work? Organize small get-togethers or simply find time for a small catch-up with your guests when possible. At the WAA Podcast we are starting to engage with our Season 1 guests by inviting them for a short written interview which is then published on our monthly newsletter.

4. Show some love to your listeners and supporters.

I know “love” is a very strong word, but I want to make a point. You should genuinely be appreciative of your listeners, followers and supporters. And I don’t mean flooding them with social media posts, I mean real gestures of appreciation. Sometimes it’s a small “thank you” or when bumping into a listener or supporter simply be present and engage into a conversation. To be treated with respect and to be heard is what matters to your community. My wish to other podcasters out there — be truly genuine to you listeners, guests on the show and people that support you.

Sometimes being a podcast host can get overwhelming, but your genuine interest and care of your community is what creates long-term and loyal connections.

How do you engage with your audience? I am curious to hear from you. Send me an email via hello@waa.berlin.

On the WAA Podcast, host Daria Suvorova interviews women in leadership positions, founders and investors, where each episode reveals a personal story of the guest and their path to success. You can listen to the episodes via waa.berlin or directly on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or any other platform of your choice.

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“A bad sounding podcast will turn away new listeners from what could be a successful podcast”

Whether you’re brand new to podcasting or have been making a podcast for years, it’s important to consider a Podcast Editor. An Editor can help you find your feet with a new podcast project or take your existing show to the next level. Hiring a professional to take care of the technicalities can help you get the most ROI from your substantial efforts. Here are 5 reasons why you should consider working with one of our Podcast Editors:

It saves you tons of time

Did you know that editing out all the pauses and irrelevant parts of a podcast can take up to eight times as long as the recording itself, and up to four times as long even when you know your editing software already? Editing a podcast takes a long time, especially if you are new to the world of podcasting. The biggest benefit of hiring a Podcast Editor is no doubt saving the time (not to mention the colossal headache) it takes to actually go through and edit your podcast. And if you hire an Editor before you launch it can save the time spent learning how to use new complicated editing software.

A second pair of ears

If you hire a podcast editor, you’ll be getting a new perspective on your podcast. They can provide a fresh take and offer impartial feedback on your show before you publish it. It’s easy to overlook things that could be improved upon when it’s your own project and a Podcast Editor can help point out ways to enhance your podcast. They will have a good ear for the most engaging parts and help refine your recordings. For example, at Podcast Editing Services, we can attach an engaging leading clip at the top of your episode or create small engaging clips for socials to draw in more listeners.

Sound more professional

If you think it doesn’t take a team to create a professional podcast, think again! Many successful podcasts that look like they have small teams often have many people working behind the scenes. Our Podcast Editors wake up in the morning with the sole purpose to get the best out of your recording and enhance it in every way they can. We have access to pricey professional audio tools to improve the sound quality of your recordings. Did you know there are even tools that Podcast Editors can use to remove background noises? These tools can save a ruined recording, but these are often in the £££-££££ range. You don’t always want to buy expensive software for a one-off or new project. Fear not though, as we own and study them and know exactly how to utilise them.

Having good sound quality is important in making a good first impression, to both listeners and potential sponsors. But if you’re trying to do this for a living, working with a company like us means you’ll be able to put all your energy into a professional performance and looking after your guests.

Ongoing support

Hiring a Podcast Editor goes beyond just a transactional service – you’re entering a partnership with someone with a wealth of experience. Making a podcast seems simple and straightforward but to keep up the consistency takes a lot of work, so having someone to support you on that journey is really important. Once you sign up to Podcast Editing Services, you will speak to the same Editor at all times. There will be unexpected issues that you’ll run into but having your Editor to guide you through these challenges will make your life much easier.

Added extras

Oftentimes, Podcast Editors will provide other services related to podcasting that you might not have even considered. Some will help you out with promoting your show on social media by making Audiograms (short highlight clips with a simple visualiser). Some can provide a transcript of each episode. They will also know graphic designers who can make the artwork for your podcast, which is important in standing out from the crowd. Our Editors all have experience of working on lots of other podcasts, and will share this knowledge and wisdom with you. This way you can work smarter, not harder, and put wheels on your project from the beginning.

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If you are unsure about what kind of support you require with your podcast, drop Podcast Editing Services an email via our website. Or call for a friendly chat to discuss your needs on 02071937592 and mention you saw us on the Pod Bible website. We can bring your project to life.
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This article was produced as part of a paid advertising package. To enquire about advertising with Pod Bible email info@podbiblemag.com.

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The Football Ramble has been at the centre of football podcasting across the world for 15 years. What started out as four blokes sitting round a kitchen table with a minidisc player has grown into a varied slate of shows, including everything from studio discussions dissecting both the men’s and women’s game, to interviews, documentaries and immersive on-location features. Through all that the team maintain a keen eye for the absurd, and it’s been that way since its inception in 2007.

With the new football season starting this month ahead of a World Cup starting in November, we sat down with Charlie Morgan – Head of Production at Stak and a Football Ramble producer – to discuss what we can expect from the year ahead.

So, what does your day as a producer look like?

A real joy of the job is that no two days are the same. Mondays and Fridays are still dominated by the main Football Ramble episodes that we record at Stak HQ, so the content-planning and organisation for those hugely popular episodes is always a priority – listeners want to hear from us as soon as possible!

Away from that, it could be anything! I might be heading to a match to record an episode of At The Match with Andy Brassell, or we might be in the Stak office planning our next documentary series. I think listeners really enjoy the variety of what we do – so my job is equally as varied.

What are you most excited for on the Ramble network this season?

Upfront, our award-nominated women’s football show, has been really successful throughout the Euros this summer, and it’s a true joy to work on. I can’t wait to do more with Flo, Rachel and Chloe as we continue to grow the show and truly set our stall out as the definitive place for women’s football audio. Watch this space!

What’s the hardest part of producing the Football Ramble?

The range of content means we’re constantly juggling different deadlines! Some shows need to be recorded, edited and made available for listeners within an hour while others take months to produce, so keeping track of various spinning plates can be tricky.

Thankfully I’ve got a great team around me who keep things running smoothly. Luke Moore, Stak’s COO and Football Ramble host, has a wealth of experience we often draw on, while Finn Ranson and Rory Evans are the true workhorses of the Ramble team. It’s gone from a passion project to one of the biggest podcasts in the UK, but it’s safe to say the passion hasn’t gone anywhere.

Listen to Football Ramble on all popular podcast apps.

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Stak is the bold, irreverent podcast company that is serious about creating quality audio. We are the creators of some of the UK’s favourite shows and entertain millions of people across the world. Katie Baxter is a Senior Producer and Sound Designer at Stak. She’s the producer of JaackMaate’s Happy Hour, one of Spotify’s biggest shows and the most successful YouTube to podcast conversions in the UK, as well as Eureka! and UTOPIA Talks. She also works across Stak’s commercial audio.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE ASPECT OF YOUR WORK AT STAK?

I love the creative freedom I have and the range of projects I get to be a part of. Whether it’s comedy for JaackMaate’s Happy Hour, crazy sound design for Eureka! or thinking up music focused content for UTOPIA Talks, I feel like at Stak I get to try my hand at a lot of different things. I also really appreciate the amount of trust that’s put in me to deliver a good show.

WHAT WAS IT THAT INITIALLY GRABBED YOUR ATTENTION TO PODCASTING?

I’ve always loved music, so when I went to uni I got really involved with student radio and started producing, presenting and DJing, which really drove my love for audio to the next level and made me want to turn it into a career. I did a few internships in radio and one day in my third year I got an email from Stak inviting me to come and see their studio. I caught a coach down to London from Nottingham just before my final deadline and the rest is history!

WHAT’S A PODCAST YOU’RE LOVING AT THE MOMENT?

The Log Books is an amazing LGBTQ+ history podcast. I also always come back to Song Exploder and I listen to Today in Focus a lot!

WHAT DO YOU THINK ARE THE ESSENTIAL INGREDIENTS TO MAKE A SUCCESSFUL PODCAST?

That is the golden question! In my experience it’s taking pride in the content you create, being consistent, working well as a team and trying to give whatever you’re making its own unique spin!

Listen to Katie’s work on JaackMaate’s Happy Hour, Eureka! and UTOPIA Talks wherever you get your podcasts.

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