BONUS: Starting a Podcast! Mike Hanson from Pod People Productions

Episode Summary

Mike Hanson, founder of Pod People Productions, discusses his transition from radio to podcasting and the growth of the podcasting industry. He shares his experience working with various podcasts and the importance of finding an audience for each show. The conversation also touches on the success of BBC 6 Music and the challenges of marketing and promoting podcasts.

Mike discusses his career in radio and podcasting, highlighting the importance of audience size and engagement. He emphasises the need for clear objectives and reasonable expectations when starting a podcast. Mike also shares his experience as a producer, explaining the various roles and responsibilities involved. He mentions the significance of theme music in podcasts and the long-term impact of podcast advertising. Overall, Mike’s insights provide valuable advice for fledgling podcasters.

Pod People Productions: podpeopleproductions.co.uk

Key Takeaways

  • Podcasting has become increasingly popular and offers a platform for niche interests and passions.
  • Finding an audience for a podcast is crucial, and there is room for every topic and genre.
  • The transition from radio to podcasting allows for more creative control and the ability to reach a global audience.
  • Marketing and promoting podcasts can be challenging, but there are opportunities to engage with listeners through various platforms and strategies. Podcasting offers creative control and potential financial reward, but it requires hard work and clear objectives.
  • Finding your niche and targeting a specific audience is key to podcast success.
  • The role of a producer in radio and podcasting can vary from technical support to script writing and research.
  • Podcasts have a long-term impact and can reach targeted audiences.
  • Sponsoring a podcast can be a great long-term investment for companies.
  • Theme music adds to the overall experience of a podcast.
  • Podcast advertising has a long-tail effect, with engagement continuing over time

Quotable Quotes

“Thelonious Punk Production, which is an awesome name by the way.”

“Did you ever think that podcasting would be as popular as now?”

“There really is an audience for anyone.”

“I’m being able to write and record my own show is the fun part”

“My writing style probably suits jingles more than short songs”

“There’s a lot of behind-the-scenes stuff that people don’t see”

Episode Chapters

  • 00:00 – 02:47 Introduction and Background
  • 02:28 – 03:16 Thelonious Punk Production and Pod People Productions
  • 03:17 – 08:10 The Transition from Radio to Podcasting
  • 08:11 – 17:26 Pod People Productions and The Popularity of Podcasting
  • 17:26 – 22:38 Finding an Audience for Every Podcast
  • 22:39 – 28:59 The Growth of TalkSport and BBC 6 Music
  • 29:00 – 36:11 Challenges of Marketing and Promoting Podcasts
  • 36:12 – 53:41 The Role of a Producer
  • 53:42 – 58:29 Setting Objectives and Expectations
  • 58:30 – 01:02:49 The Long-Term Impact of Podcasting
  • 01:02:50 – 01:08:54 – Reflection and Closing