16: Should You Have A Travel Podcast? ( + How To Make It Stand Out )

Today, we have on my producer, Marie from Anarie Productions who has come on today to spill all the beans on why podcasting should be your next move. I know I could tell you personally how much it has absolutely grown my business, expanded my network, and is making sales SO much more fun, but I wanted to you to hear from the expert herself. 

In this episode we cover:

• Why podcasting can be a much more effective lead for business sales than social media
• Why you don't need a large podcast to start making some real money 
• Best resources to start your podcast ASAP
• How to create a travel podcast that stands out from the rest
• Why podcasting is a 5 in 1 of content creation
• The incredible networking benefits you can have with podcasting 

Connect with Marie:
Book a FREE call with Anarie Productions
@podcastingbyanarie
Email her: anarie.ads@gmail.com for the FREE podcast starter guide

Her podcasts:
Culture Cult Show
@culturecultshow
Entrepreneur Honestly
@entreprenuer.honestly

Marie's Favorite Podcasts:
My Favorite Murder
My Favorite Aunties
Hindzight
The Dollop
Armchair Explorer

My Favorite Podcasts:
Normal Gossip
Psychology of Your Twenties
Pass Around The Smile
Cubicle To CEO 
Mindset Mentor
Ologies
I’ve Had it

FREE Resources:

FREE Creator Wildfire Co-Working Community:
https://travelcontentwriting.hbportal.co/public/65f1dece8139f500190c30ca

FREE DIY Content Repurposing Guide: https://travelcontentwriting.hbportal.co/public/64c11bc09da87f002b3e2b4a

FREE Travel Creator Newsletter Template: https://travelcontentwriting.hbportal.co/public/64c541cc034b1a032be4479b

Try ConvertKit for FREE:
https://app.convertkit.com/users/signup?plan=free-limited&lmref=-G3vDw

This podcast features an affiliate link. This means I might earn a small commission if you choose to sign-up for a ConvertKit paid plan.

No Fluff Travel Guides:

Get my no BS travel guides: https://www.thatch.co/@noflufftravel

Follow No Fluff Travlers for no BS destination guides for digital nomads: https://www.instagram.com/noflufftravelers/

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Transcript

 [00:00:00] Hey, Travel Creators  welcome back to the podcast. If you've never heard my voice before I'm Laura and I'm a content developer for travel creators and influencers and I'm so excited because today we are diving into why I think every single creator should be leveraging a podcast and how it has absolutely transformed my business with my incredible producer, who brings these episodes to your ears every single week, Marie.

And guess what? Creating a podcast is one of the easiest things I do for creating marketing content for my business and in this episode, we're going to get into that.

Marie Walker: 

Marie Walker: So I'm a podcast producer and I help six figure content creators and coaches double their freaking money through podcasting and using it as an effective sales funnel.

Marie Walker: Um, I also do like entertainment podcasts and stuff too, but I really help people in business. Use it as a marketing tool and. Yeah, it's called Anarie Productions, [00:01:00] which, my name's Marie, but it's just my first name and my middle name mixed together. 

Laura Haley: Beautiful. I always wondered what that was. You can find that in the show notes, we'll leave all of Marie's incredible information down there. okay. I can't speak highly enough about what podcasting has done for me as a little business here. I never thought that it could be so. transformative because it always felt like to me that everybody and their aunt has a podcast.

Laura Haley: Like, literally, I am people's aunt, and it's like, okay, my aunt has a podcast. Um, I never realized how important it could be because it felt, like, so saturated. But I always tell people, and who knows, maybe this is complete bullshit, and you can tell me if I'm wrong, that podcasting is, like, in its infancy, and that it is kind of where blogs were in like 2011 or something, and if you just get consistent and good at it, maybe something can come of it, which is encouraging, and I think that's also like, half the battle is that people aren't Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. consistent. 

Laura Haley: So if [00:02:00] someone wants to start a podcast tomorrow. Mm hmm. What would you say is, the best kind of set up for them is for it to be consistent and not burn out and be fun. 

Marie Walker: That's a good question. Okay. It took me like a year to figure out how to podcast. Because it was just me. So like I would find a podcaster and be like, Hey, how do I do this?

Marie Walker: Or hire someone to at least launch you. Because it took me a year to figure out how to do it. And then I launched clients in like three, four weeks, and. you could do YouTube university for like years and be like what mic? whatever whatever actually have a free launch checklist.

Marie Walker: I'll just add that to the show notes But yeah, I think just a what is something you generally cannot shut the fuck up about like at a party. Everyone's like, damn, Laura's talking about it again. Like that's what you should be podcasting. Don't podcast with something you feel excited about for like the next few weeks.

Marie Walker: it has to be something you're not tired of and just don't burn out on anything, just don't go too hard, too quickly. Like I kind of told some of my clients to start up with bi monthly and you can always ramp up, [00:03:00] but if you do weekly and ramp down, people will lose trust in you.

Laura Haley: Oh my god. Oh my god. That's crazy. I started doing just solo. The first season I did was just solo and I kept my season count to eight because it felt most manageable. It was like, great, I can record eight solo episodes because then you don't have to rely on anyone just, and just yourself. And then I just wanted to get it out there and see what people felt about it because I was totally like, no one will ever want to be on this show. Um, apparently a lie. Um, People are knocking down my Google Form door. Fuck yeah! But, I did that to stay consistent and sustainable and then it was like, incredible. It's just going out on its own and I literally don't have to do anything. 

Okay. I have to admit something. I used to be one of those people who thought that I could do everything on my own. Okay. I can make sure I manage all of my finances and make sure I am writing all [00:04:00] of my blog content. And maybe I could edit a podcast on my own note. That is so not true. And the only reason, the only reason you get this podcast into your ears every single week is because of Marie. 

Because if I had to do this on my own. There's just no way that's possible. And as someone who creates this type of content myself, who realizes how hard it can be to be consistent. That's kind of why I created the services I have for travel creators, who. Have less than a stable wifi connection. And the other great part about podcasting for me is that I get to talk about stuff that I love. And then somebody goes in there and cleans it up and edits it and brings 

it to your phone. 

Laura Haley: Okay, let's talk about, like, what makes a good podcast episode for you. 

Marie Walker: you have to get to the fucking point.

 you can add a little fluff in the beginning of chitchat, but like people really, really don't want to hear like 15 minutes of cutting up, get to the point, And a [00:05:00] really good podcast episode is really about the host and what the host brings. And so if you have a guest episode, people don't really care about the guests. They care about you as a host, the entertainment and the value. So really kind of how we're doing with this episode, like Laura is going to be talking right after I talk and talking back to you, letting you know, like you're the most important person.

Marie Walker: So cut the fluff out. Don't y'all ever post an episode that's over an hour. Stop that. You're not Joe Rogan. I don't want to listen to Joe Rogan for an hour and a half. Like, fuck that. So, you can literally create, to the point, entertain, create an emotion in like five to ten minutes.

Marie Walker: My favorite podcast is called Hindsight. It's literally seven minutes and he's changed my life in those seven minutes. So, just get to the point and Edit. 

Laura Haley:  was always nervous having guest episodes on because something that I'm about to admit to the internet, which I've never admitted before, but I really don't like listening to podcast episodes because I think I've only listened to bad ones.

Laura Haley: Because, you're exactly right, I [00:06:00] clicked on this episode for a reason, and I want to hear that reason. And I'm sorry. I love you as a guest, but I don't want to know, like, why this person got to where they are. But I want to hear that at the end, unless because sometimes I do. Sometimes I'm like, wow, they do a really cool thing that I want to know more about.

Laura Haley: but I'd rather hear that at the end. 

Marie Walker: the biggest problem is everyone starts to episode off, so how did you get here? Tell me about your journey. And the person's like, well, in 2012, whoa, that far back, like already I'm out. Cause yeah. Cause like, if you look at the title of the episode, it's probably like 

Marie Walker:  maybe how to start your business in 10 days. And I, I click on the episode and then that's the first question I hear is, well, in 2012, I lost my job, my wife divorced me, and now I, I'm already out because I'm here for that reason.

Marie Walker: So if you have an educational podcast, you better get to the fucking point. 

I really only love listening to podcasts or really consuming any type of content that gets to the point, especially when it's educational. Because time [00:07:00] is our most valuable resource and I don't need to spend time reminding you of that. But that's why I keep my episodes short. To cut out all the fluff and get the best bits of information out of them. 

And if you want to hear all the fluffy fun parts from my conversation with my guests, those go at the end because they're optional. Whereas the rest of the podcast is a little bit mandatory. If you want to learn,

Speaking of cutting the fluff. A lot of people don't know this, but I create my own travel guides for destinations around the entire world. Right now we're in our national parks era. 

And you can find me on Instagram at no fluff travelers. Because sometimes reading travel blogs is like reading a recipe. 

You're just like, want to jump to the best bits of information to help you plan your own trip to get there. And that's something travel curators can do in their own content, really like taking a step back. And it's all the fine line of like, How much personal information do I share [00:08:00] versus educational information? But anyway. In no fluff travel guides. I break down the most important bits of information you need to know about a destination. To help you exponentially. Reduce the amount of time you spend. Planning for your trip. You can find a link to no fluff in the show notes. 

If you're interested. Tell me why like why should business owners have a podcast because I was a little naive and was like I don't really know how this can be helpful because it seems like such a saturated place. So what would you say to, like, a business owner or someone who is trying to build a business? Why the heck they need a podcast?

 I love this question. 

Marie Walker: with podcasting, you don't need to have insane numbers to get a return on your investment. So another myth people think, okay. I just, the only way I'm gonna make money is I need to get a sponsor and I need to have HelloFresh sponsor me.

Marie Walker: And I need to have a Patreon, which means like people pay you monthly [00:09:00] for extra content. And I got to do all this stuff that takes a huge amount of community. If you're a business owner and let's say you're selling like, how to do like newsletters, copywriting and stuff like that.

Marie Walker: You just need to niche down and make sure a hundred percent of your audience listens to every single word you say. There's no one outside of that niche and that way, whatever you sell, a good percentage of them will buy, let's say you're a business owner and you go on social media amount of like. Click time where people will watch it is like two five seconds. I'm not that's not real statistic But I just know off my thing like if you don't have my attention in two seconds I'm out and you just spent like an hour or maybe two hours making that video and no one gives a fuck and also I Can't really get to know you as a business owner Then on podcasting people give a podcast a chance for three to seven minutes That's a long time, seven minutes, that's a long time to get a lot of stuff out that you need to get out if you cut the fluff and, also retention rates with YouTube.

Marie Walker: People only pay attention about 60 percent through and podcasting the [00:10:00] average is 80 percent because people are listening while they're driving, while they're doing dishes, while they're like on their walk. So you're just able to be in more people's ears for longer. and just the most important thing is depth.

Marie Walker: Like, you're not going to get the depth and the trust of your potential clients or customers through a 30 second TikTok video. you become the best friend in their ear, they start to trust you. And this is why I work with coaches because they get to bring so much value and they're selling very, very expensive high ticket services.

Marie Walker: But if I've been listening to you for like six months. And I hear you have a program and I've been, I trust you. I'm going to fucking invest like six to 10 grand on you because I trust you and you're not going to get that over social media. So I think, to end this, I would say you don't need like a big sponsorship.

Marie Walker: You just need to like really think who's your ICA, your ideal client as your business. Translate that to your podcast, bring a lot of value, and then have high ticket services. So if you have a 5, 000 service and you only have a hundred downloads a month, if one [00:11:00] person of the hundred buys it, that makes you 5k in a month.

If you are a tribal creator who has put together resources or services, and one of them is a high ticket offer. Podcasting just feels like a natural next step, because you can talk in depth. About your offer or service? And lead people to that through the podcast. Like Maria said, people give podcasts almost seven minutes of their time. 

Before they click off and you can get in so much information about your offer and service in those seven minutes. 

And it's please, don't just be like, here is why somebody should buy my offer right now. And this is how much it costs. Like. No, you have to tell people a little bit more about you. 

Basically don't make the first seven minutes of your podcast, a complete sales pitch, but it is a great way to really show your personality and get in front of your target audience.

And I feel like you're [00:12:00] probably thinking, well, what would I talk about? Well, there are so many things you can talk about. With your offer. And service, you can have current. Clients on to talk about how you've helped them. You can share tips and tricks. You can harness the power of AI. There's so many things you can do to pick up a microphone and talk for five to seven minutes once a week. 

And think about if you batch, if you batch an entire month of podcast episodes. You could do that in under an hour, if your episodes. are really short and to the point. 

Laura Haley: how do you feel about people who don't have like a business podcast but are more of like an entertainment podcast, and like what do they have to do to try and make money?

Laura Haley: So for example, if someone was like, I want to create a podcast talking about some of my travel stories, but I don't have like great, tips or knowledge to share, I'm not like an expert in one specific thing. How can those people, like, monetize a podcast and how hard is [00:13:00] that? 

Marie Walker: Yeah, I feel like, I'm just gonna be frank, like, entertainment podcasts are quite difficult to monetize because now you're just selling you.

Marie Walker: you need to create a very strong community. that means, uh, Like on a more traditional route, your strong community would pay 5 a month to your Patreon. And if you get 50 of those people, I can't do math, but I think that's some money, you know? I don't do math publicly, so I'm not sure. Okay, well, insert in your calculator what 50 times 5 is, and you will make that money. we just 

Laura Haley: do the math. 

Marie Walker: Wait, 50 times what? Five. 250. So you're now putting in the effort as an entertainment podcast of like, I want 50 people to sign up for my podcast and for my Patreon where I'm going to send them extra episodes a month and I'm going to send them merch and all this extra effort for 5 a month.

Marie Walker: I see a lot of entertainment podcasts doing this. You only get 250. But again, if you have a 5, 000 product or service and you sell it for 5, 000, you only need one person to buy it. 50 people. That's a lot of people. I only see the big, big, big podcasts monetizing [00:14:00] So it's not impossible. You just need to get creative. So you need to either have fucking fire merch that you sell at a high ticket. You could do like travel tours. Oh my God. There's so many podcasts that do travel tours and they do it for high ticket prices. or then you start to like translate into other ways.

Marie Walker: I'm going to monetize through affiliate marketing. So that's say I'm an outdoor podcast. I'm going to make a relationship, does that be REI, like a smaller company? And it's like, Hey, everyone in my audience is obsessed with camping. Like here are my stats. They love camping. And then you can start selling their products and get an affiliate.

Marie Walker: So there's ways to make money. But I feel like the cheat code will always be have a high ticket service and just create a business out of it. so that's my thing with entertainment podcasts. You can do it, but it's a longer road. And I'm saying that because I am an entertainment podcast on my own and I don't see like a direct correlation unless I put a freak ton more work into it.

 what are some of your [00:15:00] best podcast marketing tips? How the heck do I tell people about it? 

Marie Walker: Mmm, okay, okay. That's a really good question. I say play into your strengths. So if you're like, already have a social media audience, oh my god, sitting ducks. If you have a newsletter, sitting ducks.

Marie Walker: For me, I have a very strong, like, networking strength. So when I did my podcast, I was like up in everyone's message and I wasn't sending group messages. I was like, Laura, can you please share this? Laura, can you please leave a review? it takes a lot of time, but like, that's what I'm good at.

Marie Walker: And so I got a lot of people listening from the start. So I would say like, if you're launching, like play into your strengths, And then let's say you're marketing on your podcast, listen to people like Laura, like you're good at sales, like get good at sales, get good at knowing when to drop information, how to lead into someone into a call, how to leave breadcrumbs, how to create a sales funnel, like start listening to people where like you caught yourself being like, should I buy that service while listening to a podcast?

One of my favorite things in the world, especially because I get to work with so many cool creators and [00:16:00] influencers who are posting online, their faces, or talking in any pieces of content. Is that when I meet with them, they are the same person as who they show up as on video. Online. And when that happens, that is like the best feeling ever, because you're like, oh my gosh, I have found a genuine person who is the same in this conversation right now with me as they are on their social media. 

And I want you to know that when you. Have a conversation with me. If you get on a call, if you book one of my free slots, this is exactly how I am. This is how I will show up and talk to you. I'm probably wearing a crew neck and I have no shame about it.

Because I use my podcast. As a funnel filler. And that means my goal is people will find my podcast, hopefully check out some of the resources that I have linked below. Like my newsletter that comes out every Tuesday. For travel craters on how the heck they [00:17:00] can win in their content. From there. They'll get on my email list to keep receiving those. 

And from there. In my email list, I put in more specific offers and things that are really only given to my newsletter community. So, yes. This is also a slight plug do go check out my newsletter, which is always linked below.

I think really one of the best parts for me about podcasting is the networking that comes from it. And when I first started, I had no idea. I didn't even think. About wanting to, or having the opportunity to network with all of these incredible people that I have on the show, or just know from the podcast community now. It's really life changing and it's changing things in my business and it's really incredible. 

I'm now like brainstorming with other creators on resources we can put together. It's just. I can't speak enough about how it has transformed. My Take on networking. It's also forced me to network. And for the best way possible. And [00:18:00] I really love it for that. 

Laura Haley: half of the reason why I want to have guests on my podcast is one, because they can provide information that helps my audience learn, and the other half is that I get to network with incredible people, and like, shoot my shot saying, will you come on my podcast?

Laura Haley: And they're like, yes, I will, and I'm like, oh my gosh. 

Marie Walker: I totally didn't even touch on that, like, networking is, like,

Marie Walker: I think personally the best part of it, I have made a serious amount of, genuine friends from this situation and I I think half my clients have come from podcasting people love to talk, they love making friends, and podcasters are fucking cool. I just went to a podcast convention. I had the best time. Everyone there was amazing. 

Marie Walker: And like, even if you're like, okay, okay, I don't want to, you know, have a whole business with my podcast. Like, you have no clue where these networking things could lead you to. I thought when I started my podcast, like a few years ago, I was like, I'm just cutting up and then boom, I have a whole business.

Marie Walker: I'm traveling because of this fricking hobby. 

Laura Haley: Oh yeah. Side note, Maria is a [00:19:00] digital nomad. If that makes you love her more. Yeah, The thing about like podcast networking that I never really thought would happen and what can happen if you have like an incredible producer like Marie Is that Marie will email me and be like hey go meet this person or go reach out to this person because they would be incredible to be on your podcast and That's like another part of podcasting that I never thought would happen Is that not only can you ask people to be on your show, but sometimes you'll just meet people Through other people that you've met through podcasting to come and be on your podcast.

Laura Haley: And then it's like, wow, now I know all these people in all this expertise. It's wild. 

Laura Haley: I just asked someone who has almost a million YouTube subscribers if he would be on my podcast like, there's absolutely no way he's gonna respond.

Laura Haley: He responded and was like, heck yes, let's do it. Oh my god! Wait, is this the guy you've been trying 

Marie Walker: to get on? Um, yes. 

Laura Haley: I literally said to him, I was like, can I have 20 minutes of your time? Because what I'm going to do is just ask [00:20:00] him questions, and then I'll go back in with my own thoughts later so that we can get the good parts out and I don't waste anybody's time. 

Laura Haley: so everybody loves travel stories. Most people, if you're listening to this, you do. Sometimes It feels as though there are a lot of like travel story based shows, podcasts, blogs, content, whatever. What advice would you give to someone who wants to start a podcast in a niche or a realm that has a lot of that content already?

Laura Haley: What tips would you give to someone to stand out in amongst a lot of similar shows? 

 Yeah. Okay. I like loved this question when you asked this. So on the basic, basic, basic level, if you're launching, Look at the art around you like literally having the word travel as we're speaking I bet you if you look this up right now, everyone's Freaking podcast art is blue or green because it's like earth Travel like already pick pink pick orange like any other color don't do blue and then like I can't like I can't [00:21:00] figure this out yet.

Marie Walker: The SEO of your name cuz like a very fine line with naming your podcast, because you want it to come up first, and I can't lie, I'm still trying to figure that out, I think You can have a creative name as long as you, like, do a semicolon and then add a bunch of SEO words.

Marie Walker: So with your podcast, it's the travel creator, colon, influencer, travel creator, you know, I try to add that so that it comes up often. So I would say, like, check your competition. on a deeper level, I'm gonna be honest, I don't listen to travel podcasts for a couple reasons, because I find a lot of them just boring.

Marie Walker: Because you're having people come on and describe a visual experience and like, I just feel like when you have someone come on and they're like, I'm like, Hey, Laura, tell me what happened last summer in Turkey. How was your trip? And you're like, well, the first day we arrived, it's a crazy day. We went on a bus and then I got some coffee.

Marie Walker: I'm like, well, I don't care. That's like when your friend comes home from a trip and you're like, I don't really care. Sorry. unless they're good fucking storyteller and you [00:22:00] can't guarantee that with your guest. So now you're taking the, the, the entertainment value and you're asking your guests to hold that for you when you can't.

Marie Walker: So again, it comes back down to editing and the strength of your personality as a host. So it's totally okay to do travel stories. I did that on my podcast. I wouldn't even listen to mine as an example, but I would say there's one I would absolutely listen to. It's called armchair explorer. it is so good.

Marie Walker: Adventure, like adventurous. Come on. what he does is kind of like this episode. He goes back in and he talks directly to the audience and describes the story along with the The guest and there's music and there's effects and there's tension.

Marie Walker: And like, he has you on the edge of your seat. You feel like you are at the bottom of the ocean in a submarine with these people, or you're on the top of Mount Kilimanjaro, in a snow storm, like he makes you feel like you're in the scene. So if you're going to do a travel podcast, I would say create a scene.

Marie Walker: And then the last thing I'll say is at least do something different. like with my podcast, I am trying to cover every country in the world. Now, [00:23:00] I could have someone from, Turkey, and I'm like, Hey, Turkish person, tell me about your country.

Marie Walker: are they going to be interesting? I don't know. So what I do instead is my strength are in my friends who are all comedians. So I tell my comedian friends, Uh, I have them come on, they've never heard of the country before, and I'm telling them about the country. I'm getting genuine reactions from them.

Marie Walker: At the end, I tell crazy freakin stories from that country that are just out the bonkers wild. And so it's entertainment, it's history, it's travel, and you get to be entertained, but you still get to learn. So that's why I would say if you're going to do travel podcasts, long story short, like just be more creative.

Marie Walker: no one wants to hear about your trip to France, like unless you do it right. 

 I do not listen to a ton of travel podcasts and I think it's several reasons. One, because it's so closely tied to everything that I do every day, that it just feels like more work. and secondly, because I think there are a lot of really bad ones. I do. And The reason that I think I have [00:24:00] feelings about travel podcasts. Is because they're all feel to me like they're doing the same thing just from the perspective of somebody else. 

Yes, it is true. Someone will come to your podcast and listen to it because of you. 

But when we get down to the nitty-gritty a packing list for France is a packing list for France. 

 So, if you want to start a travel podcast, you need to do some research and listen to podcasts. You can figure out what you like and what you don't. And then you need to already know your niche. Who the heck are you talking to you on this podcast? cause if you're trying to talk to everybody, you're talking to no one. For example, I'm not talking about traveling general. I'm talking to a very specific community of travel content, creators, and influencers who are already making money from their. Work in the travel space and are looking to elevate to the next level slash learn how to manage. That content. 

That is a very specific audience. And you need to have one in mind. Before you press record on that [00:25:00] microphone because you can't just have like a little soap box moment. I have like a little soapbox moment in a tiny community square. Rather than in like central park. I think in any. Content you are creating. The more specific you can be, the better that piece of content is going to perform. Whether it's creating a podcast show posting an episode, or trying to brainstorm a script for your next real. 

Marie Walker: I would say, go listen to some shitty podcasts and that'll tell you exactly what you like to listen to and how you want your podcast to be. 

Marie Walker: type in like travel podcasts and just listen to a bunch of 'em and be like, whoa, I don't like this. That needs to be improved. and then start yours and just do it.

Marie Walker: Do something unique. Mm-Hmm. 

Laura Haley: I mean, it's the same with any type of travel content you're creating. There is so much, and you have to figure out what makes you unique, and like, why the heck should somebody listen to you? Like, what are you bringing to the table that hasn't been brought before?

Laura Haley: Because I can guarantee you, Fran's [00:26:00] Packing Tips has been brought. It's been delivered, it has been checked in a bag a million times over. 

Marie Walker: Oh, actually we were talking with our friend who has like a, an educational travel podcast. And we were kind of saying the setup of, instead of doing the whole usual, or how would you get into traveling?

Marie Walker: Like, fuck that question. Pack the front with very straightforward questions. How would I pack? If I only have one layover or I don't know, pack it heavy. And at the end. You're like, okay, now tell me your weirdest travel story. at the end, there's the entertainment. So educate first, entertain in the back.

Marie Walker: I feel like that's a really unique way to do a travel story episode or educate. 

Laura Haley: Yeah, I think that's totally counterintuitive to what people think podcasting should be. Especially if it's like a guest you don't know beforehand. It's so like, you just want to break the ice and be like, so how did you start?

Laura Haley: And it's like, let's reverse engineer what we think podcast episodes should be. Or like having a first conversation with someone and like I am straight up with my guests. I'm like, listen, [00:27:00] I don't ask the question of like, how you got to where you are now. You are welcome to share that.

Laura Haley: If you feel as though it is a massive, like, impactful thing that really drives home why you do what you do now or like the advice you have to share with us today, I'm happy to put that at the end, but that is not like I'm here to get your expertise. And we can share your story in a different way in the podcast.

Laura Haley: What are like the biggest, the common mistakes you see? With people trying to do podcasts on their own, meaning they don't have a Marie producer in the background doing all these amazing things. They're just like them and their little mic and what are they messing up on?

Laura Haley: Mm hmm. 

Marie Walker: Yeah, I feel like launch, like it's launching is really hard, like I told you it took me a year to figure it out. I was like, what kind of mic? Well, where do I, once I record, where does it go? Okay, like, what do I do after that? how do I edit? Like, it's a lot. It took me like a year to figure all this stuff out on my own.

Marie Walker: So I would say, like, papers want to launch you. you'll get it [00:28:00] done in like three weeks. They'll know what you're doing, and then try to edit. You might love it. You honestly might love it. You might fucking hate it. Like, pass on the stuff you don't like.

Marie Walker: You know? And get a good mic. Like, oh my god. That's like the biggest pet peeve, is like, someone could, I don't care what you're talking about, if you sound like this far away, see the difference? Like, it's, you would not listen to me if I sounded like this.

Marie Walker: You listen to me now. So, I feel like it's quite simple. Like, and, okay, so, Blue Yeti mics, if you look it up. don't get that shit. It's like 500 and it's trash. Get audio technica or sure. S H U R E they're great mics. And they're like 50, maybe a hundred and you can plug it into your computer.

Laura Haley: Yep. That's what I have. It is. The whole entire setup was like 70 maybe. And then I just keep little bubble wrap so I can travel with it without it getting like, Oh, you're fancy. I like roll it up and like all the clothes. That's smart. 

Marie Walker: get a good microphone set up. It's not that expensive. at least ask [00:29:00] someone how to launch quickly. learn how to edit. Don't just like record and then press play. That's terrible. Mm mm. Mm 

Laura Haley: mm, mm mm, mm mm. And it's the best too because it's just like any conversation you ever have with someone, you'll always think of better things when you've been away from it.

Laura Haley: You're like, damn, I should have said this or asked that or talked about this. And like, that's where good editing can come in because then you're like, okay, Marie was talking about this. This is incredible. I wish I would have thought about this in the moment. Or you can like, elaborate on it without wasting three hours of your guest's time.

Laura Haley: Yeah, 

Marie Walker: exactly. And just like, start. It's not going to be that great when it first starts either way. There's some podcasts that like, they blow up in like a season, which is like, I, I'm sure, I'm sure they have a team of people doing it and they have marketing behind them. But in general, like you're probably your first season's gonna be a little rough and that's okay.

Marie Walker: Like, I hate when people go back to my first episode. I'm like, why? There's a hundred more. Why did you do that? 

Laura Haley: No, I'm like, dear God, please don't do this. don't go back. what makes you think that podcasting, or ways that [00:30:00] podcasting can help creators make, like, such a big connection with their audience?

Marie Walker: you don't have to show your face. You can just talk.

Marie Walker: And yeah, people just feel like you're a real person, especially https: otter. ai if you're a travel creator, like you can just take it to a whole whole extra level besides posting your picture about Mexico, which I, I can, I don't get to know much about you.

Marie Walker: Um, but I get to hear like, Oh my God, you got like diarrhea, Mexico. I want to hear that story. You know, like you just, you get to like really spill the guts and I feel like podcasting is extremely vulnerable. it's also the wild west. You can talk about sex, drugs, murder. there's no restrictions.

Marie Walker: and I feel like if you're not getting in on it now, like, you're missing on, like, the gold mine. I really do think that. 

Laura Haley: How important do you think it is to have a host or try?

Laura Haley: I, my requirement for guests coming on my podcast is like, you have to be funny. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. You have to be. And so like, what would you, what are like tips for hosts? If someone is like, I [00:31:00] feel like maybe I'm an awkward person or I'm just so scared to do this. I think one, like you said, talking about something that you won't shut up about is going to be super helpful.

Laura Haley: But like, what other tips would you give to hosts who are like, Alright, I know you have the knowledge within your head, but here, here are some ways you can get it out of you better. 

Marie Walker: That's the thing y'all is like, when people listen to podcasts, they're not listening to the subject. They're listening to the host. Like, I don't care about murder, but I listen to my favorite murder because I'm obsessed with Karen and Georgia, the host.

Marie Walker: And if you ask anyone, they're, they're going to talk about the host before the subject matter. So like, and again, you need to have your personality shine and that's It's gonna be rough at first because like I don't get on camera on video camera because I feel like I can't be myself it would be hard to show my personality so with podcasting just you can press record like a million times you can like record an episode five times over you have a glass of wine like just be you because people can tell if I'm like really uh I don't know shy and I don't know you should listen to my episode versus like hey y'all what's up like already which host do you want to hang out with and [00:32:00] people are there to listen to you so just like Also give yourself grace your first season.

Marie Walker: You're going to be a little awkward. I'm still getting used to talking in solo episodes. It's a bit weird. You just have to like warm up. 

you will only get better at hosting your podcast. The more that you love what you're talking about, because it's really hard to get excited about content and specific topics. If you're like, Really don't want to talk about it. Like if this was a podcast about math or some shit. I wouldn't be sounding like this.

Laura Haley: okay. If someone wants to start a podcast in the next quarter or that that's disgusting in the next few months. 

Marie Walker: I'm like, I'm like, what's that? I'm really bad at math. We can't do math questions. 

Laura Haley: Yeah, I'm so sorry. Um, if someone wants to move forward in taking steps to create a killer podcast, what would you recommend somebody do right now when they're done listening to this? There's 

Marie Walker: um, I think it's Buzzsprout or Anchor. Okay, when I say those two words, those are the [00:33:00] distributors.

Marie Walker: Those are like companies that push your podcast to Apple or Spotify. Those companies have like how to start a podcast on podcasts. Like you can listen to like how to start a podcast podcast. For like months, if you want to, that was really, really helpful. I think Anchor has one. So I would just kind of start there. reach out to other podcasters. You could know if you know anyone, be like, Hey, what mic are you using? Like, you could try it by yourself or like try to find a producer and be like, Hey, can you launch me? because everyone has jobs. They have other things going on in their life.

Marie Walker: And like having to do the research on YouTube and having to research, like, I told you it took me a year. I had the idea for a year and then I finally figured it out a year later. I had the idea for this podcast for a year and then I finally did it. Yeah, it's like, it's weird now because I'm like, Oh yeah, you just do this X, Y, and Z.

Marie Walker: Also, I'll put the checklist in the bottom. It's not like the greatest checklist ever, but it has Some stuff in it that could really help you. and then, yeah, listen to podcasts about how to start a 

Laura Haley: podcast. I referenced your checklist so much when I was first starting. I was like, okay, really?

Laura Haley: Okay. Yeah. I was like, okay, here's what we [00:34:00] have because it's just so helpful. It's like one less decision to make, especially because like you are constantly running into so many marketing tips. And marketing doodads and all of this crap that it's like I am just choosing to trust this one person And this is what they're telling you to do and i'm just gonna freaking do it and it was amazing So I recommend you go check out the checklist in the show notes.

Laura Haley: Anything else you want to add about podcasting traveling being a digital nomad that Or like even like podcasting for businesses, I guess. I just think it's like, it's so incredible. It's so easy. It's so easy. Oh my god. 

Laura Haley: I feel like it's too good to be true.

Laura Haley: Yeah, I do. Because it's so fun too and it's like, go listen to my episode. Yeah, 

Marie Walker: Also, I just think it's also such a, a record. Like I'll listen back on episodes like years ago and I'm like, Whoa, like I was in that place in my life and my guest was in that place in their life and, just on the back end.

Marie Walker: Like it's a good like diary to have of your own [00:35:00] voice and like when you die, like people get to listen to your voice. I think about that a lot. Oh 

Laura Haley: my God. we do talk about murder on this podcast. do you have any like podcasting horror stories? 

Marie Walker: I've heard there's like people who just don't hit record, which I, you always make sure you hit record because you know, you should, you have a great conversation. Then you're like, Hey, sorry. Um, oh, here is one thing I will give y'all. I will die on this hill.

Marie Walker: When you get to the step where you're like, where do I record zoom squad cast? I'm going to do a bunch of like, Names that you won't care about like how will I actually record this when I have a guest on my podcast do not Fly into Riverside's marketing buck Riverside. Fuck you They have ruined so many of my clients podcasts I have my own selves like had to be like that's not an interview.

Marie Walker: It's scrapped Like the guest, Mike wouldn't pick up or it would jump or just quit and you know what the customer service said? They said, well, the guest needs to do X, Y, Z one, two, three. And I was like, no, no, no. That's [00:36:00] not on the responsibility of my guests to know how to work technology. That's you as a company.

Marie Walker: I could go with the fuck off. Don't use Riverside. Zoom is simple. It's not the most beautiful, but it is the most reliable than their squad cast and their stream yard and a bunch of other ones totally fine. Don't you dare think about using Riverside. I want to end them as a company. I hate them. Petition below 

Laura Haley: do you have anything else about podcasting and why people should freaking do it or creators? 

Marie Walker: Yeah. Creators. Yeah. I just feel like if you want to create depth, have fun, have a potential to make a shit ton of money.

Marie Walker: Again, if you have a high ticket service just like make a, like so many friends, like so many friends and expand your network, like expand it. I think it's really, really silly not to have one period like silly. 

Laura Haley: Why not? Yeah, because it's so easy. Do you ever have people who come to you and they're like, I want to start a podcast, but I just don't Maybe they're like, not super [00:37:00] confident in They're like, oh, it would be a good idea, but like, I don't even Maybe I don't know what I would talk about, or like, I'm really nervous.

Laura Haley: What do you say to them? maybe not everybody can do this. 

Marie Walker: Maybe not. Maybe I'm an extrovert. So like, maybe I'm pushing this too hard. But like, in the end, like, you can just talk to yourself in the microphone. you do need to be passionate about it and you can always, always, always have a short series.

Marie Walker: You don't need to do this forever. Like, my podcast is forever because I'm trying to cover every country. It's gonna take my whole life. But let's say you're like, I just want to cover the four seasons of Insecure and what I think about it. you could just do short series and do things on things you love.

Marie Walker: And if you're like, again, if you're nervous, like have a glass of wine and you can always just record and never publish it. it doesn't have to go anywhere. Just try it. See if it's for you. And like, not every medium is for everyone, but I find it very hard to believe that this medium isn't for everyone.

Marie Walker: Unless you're incredibly boring. I don't know what to say. 

Laura Haley: Oh my god, I, yes, as an ambivert, this is perfect for me because I get to have time by myself, but I also get to like do the [00:38:00] best part of like the networking and everything. And then like after I do guest episodes, I'm like, okay, I need to do 

Marie Walker: this.

Marie Walker: Yeah, no, guest episodes I think are a lot of energy, unless you're with friends. It's like, I think having an episode with your friends. A podcast with your friend is so beautiful. And the only thing is, uh, my suggestion is if you have a podcast with your friend, make sure they're just as into it with you.

Marie Walker: And when you'll monetize, how much money do you split? Like there's a little, little bit of that happening. That's why with mine, I have a lot of friends on all the time, but they don't own any part of my podcast. Cause I know they don't care as much as I do. So it's very fun. And it's like having a little talk show.

Marie Walker: You don't have to go on like, Oh, Conan, what's the same kind of Conan O'Brien. Yes. I don't watch talk shows, but like, you don't have to like go on Conan O'Brien to feel fun and cool. No, this 

Laura Haley: is, this is the best thing I've ever done for my ego.

Marie Walker: Like everyone gets to be famous. Everyone gets to have their red carpet Conan O'Brien moment. 

Marie Walker: So yeah, just try it out. See if it's for you and you doesn't have to go anywhere [00:39:00] if you don't want it to but you can make money from it.

Laura Haley: You can always use the clips. Like if you recorded something and you didn't publish it right away. You could always use the clips, as like voiceovers on social media. bang, boom. Also, it's just like a great way to knock out so many, so ma I'm doing so many things right now.

Laura Haley: Right now, I am networking. I get to hang out with Austin Marie. I get to do something productive in my business that is fun. I am also gathering clips for future, uh, Newsletter content, social media content, and however else I want to use it. All in one 60 minute session, which like So true. there are very few things that you can do in your business all at one time, and like, podcasting is one of them.

Laura Haley: It's so fun. Okay, Marie, I need you to debrief us the two podcasts you personally 

Marie Walker: host. Okay. Yes. Yes. Yes. So if you are a beginner entrepreneur.

Marie Walker: or you're like, I hate my job. And I just want to like travel the world [00:40:00] and just have my own clients. I started a podcast called entrepreneur. Honestly, Laura's already been on there. Her episode is actually doing the best, which does hurt my feelings. It's my podcast.

Marie Walker: It's legit. I was like, damn, it's popping off. Like your episodes doing well. Anyways, essentially it's about being honest as entrepreneurs. So it's like the nitty gritty. Like, 10, 15 minute long episodes, sometimes I'm just like, this fucking, this shit's hard. Like it's not always coming from a place of like, I know what I'm talking about.

Marie Walker: It's very much about like, Hey, is anyone struggling in this? Like, how do you find clients? How do you set contracts? Like how do you set boundaries? Like it's stuff like that. so that's more of for like my mental health to have that podcast, . Listen to it, don't listen to it. It's for me. then this is my baby.

Marie Walker: My podcast is called Culture Cult Show. Just a little background, I grew up in Alabama, and I grew up very, very ignorant, and it was very embarrassing, very embarrassing to be that ignorant, and meet people from different countries, and they knew everything about Alabama for some reason, but I never knew about their country, so I was like, okay, like, let's make a [00:41:00] podcast for the people who are ignorant, or who can't travel, or who want to travel, but they can afford to travel, but they don't want to be ignorant, so I'm trying to learn about every country in the world, and I have my comedian friends come on, and I tell them about the country, and then I end on a crazy story, or example, in Croatia, there's a guy named Frano Selak, who has almost died in the weirdest fucking ways. And he's almost died, like, I think it was, like, nine times. And one was, like, a train derailing into the freezing ocean. he was the only, survivor. One was a plane. the plane just, blew up in half.

Marie Walker: And he fell all the way down and landed on a hay bale. Again, one of the only survivors. His car blew up one time. Survived. Yeah, I think it's Frano Selak. He's from Croatia. So it's just really weird story. So I start the episode letting you know about the country. so you get to learn about the world, but the end I tell you a really fucking weird story.

Marie Walker: are you sure this man is not a cat? No, his name is Fran O'Sullock and y'all, spoiler alert, he did die. What did it? I thought it was something stupid, like the common cold. [00:42:00] Actually, he did not want to tell, it was like in his will that his, his death is not to be known.

Marie Walker: So that's a whole nother mystery. because he was like, everyone knew him as the guy he kept dying. And I think when he did die, he was like, stop asking me about my death. Oh, and he won the lottery. I forgot to tell y'all he won the lottery. real, real guy. So I try to find stories people have never heard of, like that's a big thing about it.

Marie Walker: And so yeah, anyways, culture cult show. It's a good time. We do cuss, obviously. And if you want to follow me on Instagram, there's nothing but memes. you like

Laura Haley: fantastic, 

Marie Walker: So if you like a good meme, go to @culturecultshow

Laura Haley: Amazing. Thank you, Marie. That was so much fun. 

 Honestly, there's nothing better than having a fun little microphone talking to people that you really enjoy about topics that you love even more. And that's what podcasting gets to help you achieve. If you want to learn more about how the heck. I press a button on my computer and speaking to a microphone. 

And then this comes into [00:43:00] your ears.

Marie's information will be in the show notes. I wish you the happiest of creating this week and I will see you soon. 

Marie Walker: Wait, should we go over like our favorite podcasts? 

Laura Haley: Okay. Yeah.

Laura Haley: okay, Maria, I have to know.

Laura Haley: As a producer, what are your favorite podcasts? 

Marie Walker: Okay. Categories. Host my favorite host, Karen and Georgia for my favorite murder. I also met Karen. And I made her cry. That was fun. I met my favorite podcaster. again, travel experiences, like fucking incredible storytelling, armchair explorer or finds site with the S Al Jazeera has a really, really good history podcast about dictators.

Marie Walker: But like you get in the head of the dictators and it's like, you're like, damn, am I like on the side of Gaddafi? Maybe like, they're like, they get you in the head. Like it's crazy. So, okay. My favorite. Murder. Al Jazeera's podcast hindsight, armchair explorer for good storytelling. Then we're going to get into, the self care section.

Marie Walker: My favorite aunties is a podcast that I found [00:44:00] and I don't, I'm not their demographic. It is for older black women who go to church. You can't see me, but that's not me. And I don't go to church, but y'all 

Laura Haley: are like, 

Marie Walker: they just bring me happiness. Yeah. Yeah. happiness, joy, like joyful people, funny as fuck. Like, so that's my favorite aunties.

Marie Walker: And then I'm going to end on, the one that changed my life. is Heinz Zeit with the Z Heinz. He has five to seven minute life changing episodes. And he's just, I don't know any other podcaster like him. I don't know who anyone who else is talking like him, anyone else who inspires he's like a speaker. He's very, very, very, special. He also is on YouTube. He's like known as like the tea guy, like guy who drinks tea. So that's mine. What are 

Laura Haley: yours? Incredible. 

Laura Haley: So, I feel like I jump around a lot in podcasts, but I'm going to list to you some of them that I've been eating up lately.

Laura Haley: Okay. Normal Gossip is one of the only podcasts I've listened to every single episode of ever. They literally, oh my god, I, I don't [00:45:00] even have words to describe how much joy this podcast brings. And it's Wednesday and they just came out with a new episode and I just remembered. That is, oh my god, that's so exciting. Okay, I recently came across Psychology of Your Twenties, because I'm a little scared to unpack that, but I feel like that's a little important. 

Marie Walker: Have you listened to it? 

Laura Haley: I started listening to one about why are we so indecisive. seems really good. I did a walking meditation yesterday, which was really nice.

Laura Haley: And it was like a, kind of like a manifestation thing. And it was from a podcast called pass around the smile. And the actress was in H2O, Cleo Massey, which I didn't even realize, which is so funny. Is that the mermaid thing? 

Marie Walker: Yes. Okay. I never watched it, but I think I know what you're talking about. 

Laura Haley: and then, okay.

Laura Haley: Cubicle to CEO is one of my all time favorite podcasts ever. It's a business one. Freaking love it. and then I have one more that I have been dabbling in. Oh, I listened to the mindset mentor with Rob Dyle. I listened to one of his podcasts on a walk and I was like [00:46:00] crying. It was so good.

Marie Walker: Um, ologies is incredible. 

Laura Haley: So, they bring on an ologist, so they bring on like a meteorologist or a geologist and they get into whatever their niche expert matter is in and they break it down for you, which is like, really cool. I've learned a lot about trees doing that. Yes! I love that. This one, I think you'll really like.

Laura Haley: It's called I've Had It. I only have listened to one episode so far. it was recommended to me, and it's these two older women, and they're like, you know what, I've just absolutely had it with people saying, this is my happy place. Like, that was the last episode I listened to. I think you would love it.

Laura Haley: They're like, I, they're like, what have you had it with today? And they're like, I've absolutely fucking had it with people. So funny. And it's, yeah, I was like cackling. It's so good. And they're like, They're like a little Southern. It's so fun. It's