Two and a half days. Twenty-five pages of notes. More knowledge than I can possibly share here. The Podcast Movement conference was honestly the best conference I have ever been to. Not simply because of the attention to detail and how smoothly everything went, but because of the incredible sessions and the connections with other podcasters and speakers. I can say now that Aisha Tyler, who is laugh-out-loud funny, also possesses the ability to make me cry.
Listen to Create If Writing – Episode 012
Why so incredible? Podcasting is not new and yet it still has an aura of freshness. A palpable sense of excitement buzzed through the Omni in Fort Worth. Coming straight from a blogging conference, the difference in atmosphere was staggering. Everyone I talked to had an excitement about their podcast, whether they are on their 50th episodes or just gearing up to launch.
I met Taylor Bradford from Pink Heels Pink Truck and the Boss Girl Creative podcast. She and I had been friends online but never actually me, so it was great to have another person I could hang around with and share notes and observations.
Best Sessions
Practical Application: Meron Bareket led a session on sound that totally gave me the tools I needed to up my game. I’ve got an editor for some of my interview episodes, but the difference in this week and the weeks before is stunning. Plus? His post-production method took ten minutes.
Inspiration: I feel like this was a ten-way tie. Hearing Sarah Koenig from Serial was incredible. It was like EXPERIENCING an episode of Serial. I got to meet John Lee Dumas before his keynote and was so impressed with how kind and generous and real he was. I’m a huge fan of Pat Flynn, so getting to hear him talk (and beat box) put a giant smile on my face. He had some really neat stories (that I mention in this episode) and shared his vulnerabilities and fears with us.
What impressed me most about the speakers across the board was how incredibly willing they were to connect. They took time to talk to EVERYONE. They did not put on airs. Katie Kimitsos, who led a session on community, talked with me and Taylor at the end of the conference about some of the things she is working on and her goals.
I really loved getting to meet Cliff Ravenscraft, aka The Podcast Answerman. He had a meet up I attended before things officially started and I got to actually talk in person about my podcast. When I had a few questions after the conference, he dived into the comment thread to answer. THAT is the kind of connection I felt as a theme of the conference and was very much what Cliff talked about in his session. He had so many great things to say, many of which impacted this episode.
Can I tell you about this episode? It’s a little weird.
There’s no music, first of all. Just me. While I LOVE the music that my friend Josh of Unbroken Light put together for me when I called in a favor when I started the podcast, I want to shift a few things and I think shifting the music is a must. When listening to a session on email newsletters, Maritza Parra challenged us to think about niche and to be even MORE niche than we already are. What could be more niche than a podcast for writers and creatives dealing with the passion and practice behind making good art?
PLENTY.
The more I thought about it, the more I saw this podcast as a place for the worn out. The burned out. The tapped out. The down and out. I feel like this podcast provides inspiration and tools for writers and other creatives who find themselves in that boat. The vision isn’t wholly different than the one I came in with, but it is more specific and I think better helps me think about my goals.
Which brings me to my biggest two goals after Podcast Movement:
1. Sound. (Thanks, Meron!!!)
2. Connection.
I want to connect better with my guests. To have amazing interviews, not just GOOD interviews. I want to hear more personal things and get right into the real heart of who my guests are and why they do what they do. I also want to connect more with YOU.
With connection in mind, I set up a voicemail for the Create If Writing podcast! You can call 929-31ifpod and leave a voicemail for me any time. Weekly I’ll be asking questions in the episode and in the show notes, but you can also just call and give me feedback or say hi. I plugged this in the Facebook group this week and got several calls– clips of which you’ll hear in this episode! (If you want to call and just leave a message that you definitely don’t want aired, just say that and I will respect those wishes! Otherwise: it’s fair game.)
Thanks to this week’s callers!
Cheval from What’s the Word? podcast
Misty from Worth of Our Calling
Anita from Blessed But Stressed
Liz from So I Married a Youth Pastor
Jenna from The Gleeful Gourmand
This week I want to hear from you about my new tagline and focus. I want to hear who YOU are and why you are listening. I want to know what you hope to gain and how you are growing.
Overall, I want this to be an accessible podcast. I want it to make an impact. I hope it does, and you can definitely help me do that by letting me know what you love, why you’re listening, and what you want to hear.
I’m not writing up traditional show notes, but I hope this episode is inspiring for you and next week I’ll have an interview with the insanely gifted Marc Martel. You can get a sneak peak of him in this video on YouTube. (SERIOUSLY.)
Thanks to every one of you listening. I mean it. I’m so thankful for you, though I may not know your name or face. Let’s change that, shall we? Join my Facebook group, leave me a voicemail, shoot me an email (kirstenoliphant at gmail), or subscribe to my weekly email. Let me know what’s inspiring you this week.
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