By chance I came across a podcasters event, I think it may have been a Facebook ad. The 4-day, (July 23-26 2018) summit was being done by an organization called the Podcast Movement. I must admit, I did not know what to expect. I had never heard of this event before but I thought I would give it a try, All I can say is, “WOW”! But before I tell you all the amazing details, let me give you some of the histories on what this event is, who started it, and why.
As per the Podcast Movement website: “Podcast Movement began in 2014 when four podcasters and entrepreneurs had an idea. With a Kickstarter campaign and a positive attitude, they set out to create a vibrant event “for podcasters, by podcasters.” The two behind this brilliant event are Dan Franks and Jared Easly. Dan was an accountant. On their website, it mentioned he was a professional wrestler who traveled in spandex. I am not certain if this was meant to be a joke or if it’s true, but one thing for sure he is a heck of a nice guy and answers his emails personally. Jared is a podcaster and the host of the top-rated and ranked podcast called “Starve the Doubts”.
After reading that I was hooked. I knew somehow, someway I had to attend. I live in New York City which is not that far from Philadelphia. And heck I always wanted to see where they filmed Rocky. So I found affordable accommodations and took a Greyhound bus, (that was a first too), and arranged to spend 5 days in downtown Philadelphia. And this is what happened…
It’s early morning in July and I walk into Marriott Philadelphia Downtown. For the next 4 days, this will be my home. I could feel the excitement. I picked up my badge and was ready to roll up my sleeves and get busy in the world of podcasting. I had been to other cons but they were fan-based.This was the first con I had ever been to whose mission was strictly focused on the industry of podcasting. The Podcast Movement stretched across 2 floors of Marriott Philadelphia Downtown. That was quite a bit of territory to cover in a few days. Whoever Dan & Jared were these two managed to get amazing sponsors, Beasley Media Group. Fiverr, Nielsen, Coleman Insights, and Self Publishing School. And with the help of sponsors, Dan & Jared created this huge event with over 2000 attendees, a plethora of breakout rooms, 260 scheduled speakers, 63 vendor booths, 2 amazing Keynote speakers, and let’s not forget the parties! I couldn’t wait to get started. But it’s the first day July 23rd and today we party!
Day 1 – Monday, July 23rd
My main reason for attending this convention was to see if advertisers were interested in spending their dollars with podcasters. As you know Imagineering Media Inc. focuses on video but we do produce podcasts; and I personally wanted to see firsthand how ad agencies felt about the world of podcasting. Monetization is still an important factor in running a podcast. Next, I wanted to explore any new technologies, hosting services, and equipment. And of course, I had to show fangirl appreciation to my favorite keynote speakers Pat Flynn and Terry Gross. Though I went in with the mindset to explore these target topics I was quickly drawn to panels that spoke on content creation and storytelling, industry standards, finding sponsors, and marketing.
Every day was packed with a whirlwind of information and I knew I would never be able to attend all 127 panels. So armed with my Podcast Movement mobile app and guidebook, I had to bite the bullet and target the ones that meant the most to me. Here is a recap of what I sunk my teeth into…
Day 2 – Tuesday, July 24th
After a day/night of networking and having fun, it was time to get busy. I had some choices to make. Today I wanted to attend 19 panels. But they ran simultaneously and I came alone. I didn’t have a friend to piggy-back with. I chose:
| How to Create the Perfect Mobile Studio & Travel the World with your Podcast Speaker: Chris Luecke Company: Pubcast Worldwide The core content of this session predominantly focused on technical details and equipment, Chris mixed in personal experience and stories. He also offered a free giveaway. | Mistakes No Podcaster Should Make: Journalism Basics That Every Podcaster Should Know and Love Speaker: Lee Uehara (former Associated Press reporter-turned-podcaster) Attendees learned which rookie journalism mistakes not to make and simple tips that can step up their credibility in the podcasting field. |
| Self Publishing for Podcasters – Amplify Your Content Efforts By Writing & Publishing A Book In The Next 90 Days Speaker: Chandler Bolt Company: Self Publishing School This session was interactive. It focused on how to turn the content you’re already creating into a high-quality book. And the best part was it would help you further amplify & monetize your content marketing efforts. | What Advertisers Want – Get Your Podcast Sponsor Ready! Speaker: Tim Street Industry veteran Tim Street spoke on what sponsors are looking for in a podcast and how to make podcaster’s show more attractive. He targeted on key features advertisers are looking for in sponsoring podcasts. Attendees walked away with actionable steps they could implement to draw brands their way. |
I was exhausted and it was only 2:15. Off to the Grand Ballroom to hear my favorite podcast speaker Pat Flynn from Smart Passive Income. Pat Flynn was fun and honest and he even brought his son on stage. I fell in love with him even more. And then Tom Webster from Edison Research presented on Podcasting’s Next Frontier: 100 Million Listeners. At 5:15 iHeart Radio hosted the iHeart Radio Red Carpet Party, followed by the Academy of Podcasters Hall of Fall Ceremony.
Day 3 – Wednesday, July 25th
My body ached and my feet were screaming at me but none the less I was just as excited about Day 3. So it was off to the races!
| Legal Issues for Podcasters and Content Creators Speakers: Jamie B. Lieberman & Gordon P. Firemark Attorneys/podcasters Jamie & Gordon addressed commonly asked questions by podcasters and content creators on how to protect themselves, their content, and their guests. | Make a Living Editing Podcasts: Lessons Learned and Future Opportunities – Panel Speakers: Steph Colbourn and Aaron Dowd Aaron & Steph shared lessons learned from their past years making a living as podcasters, producers, and editors. They discussed the mistakes they made, what’s worked well, and which opportunities they see coming down the line for others who want to work in the podcasting industry as a producer/editor. |
| Power Your Story: High School, Autism, Diverse Learning & Podcast Mentorship Speaker: Andrea Klunder Andrea created Podcast Tech: Power Your Story, a podcast mentoring program. The partnership was done with Chicago Public High School focusing on students with diverse learning challenges and a major after-school education programming partner. The podcast explores themes of society, culture, education, and life in general through interviews, personal stories, and educational pieces produced by the students themselves. | I Charge My Podcast Guests and You Can Too! Speaker: Joe Pardo Joe walked attendees through the thought process that allowed him to grow the confidence to get paid when others used his podcast platform. |
| DIY Sponsorships: Pitching Sponsors, Setting Prices and Making Money for Indie Podcasts – Panel Speakers: Amanda McLoughlin, Eric Silver & Julia Schifini This panel taught the art of sponsor outreach and how to write a great pitch, set prices for your show, find potential sponsors, and incorporate ads into your episodes—the right way, Giving hope to podcasters with less than 30K downloads. | Inside Jaws: How Movies, TV, and Radio Conspire to Make a Hit Podcast Speaker: Mark Ramsey Company: Mark Ramsey Media LLC Audience researcher and blogger, Mark Ramsey began podcasting with his breakthrough podcast, “Inside Psycho” and in this session, he introduced his latest release, “Inside Jaws” from Wondery. Mark discussed his journey and why he saw podcasting as the wave of the future for broadcasters. We also got a peek into his lasted podcast production, POPS! – The Louis Armstrong Story Podcast narrated by Reno Wilson. |
| Using Live Broadcasting to 4x your Reach Speaker: Jenny Melrose This session taught about how to beat algorithms using social media to create live broadcasts. This was more for building your brand and super fans. | And day 3 was done! Definitely no partying that night. |
Day 4 – Thursday, July 26th
We have come to the final day and I must admit I felt sad. I met so many wonderful people and gained so much insight that I really didn’t want it to end. But at 4:30 pm it would be over. I already checked out of my hotel and was toting my luggage around, (not fun). I was ready to tackle the last day of one of the best conventions I ever attended.
| How to Create a Premium Podcast & Deliver Patrons-Only Content Using a WordPress Membership Site Speaker: Ravi Jayagopal This session focused mostly on “Monetization”. It taught how to create and sell access to a private podcast, members-only audio, and other creative ways to monetize your podcast other than just worrying about sponsors. But it did have a few elements of “Content Creation”, “Marketing” and just a bit of “Technical”. | Proven Social Media Strategies for Podcasters – Act II Speaker: Todd Cochrane Podcast Hall-of-Famer, Todd Cochrane, pulled back the curtain and showed an actionable formula on which to build your brand and your podcast with the 9 strategies that have made him an authority in his content space, enabled him to produce a show that has been sponsored for 14 years and allowed him to create an expanding content team. |
| Do Better Ads (And Make More Money) Speaker: Lex Friedman Company: Midroll Lex Friedman, the Chief Business Development Officer at Midroll, explained how to make your ads lucrative. He discussed strategies on ad types, format, and delivery — and how you can make more money by doing better ads. | How to Build a Profitable Podcast without Selling Ads Speaker: Natasha Che Company: Soundwise Natasha Che Ph.D. is the founder of Soundwise, an audio publishing startup that helps experts and entrepreneurs convert their podcast listeners into customers. Clients get subscribers, build a listener community, and make money with audio courses and programs. This session taught practical strategies to turn strangers into subscribers (even if you’re starting from zero audiences), subscribers into engaged fans, and fans into customers who are happy to pay for your content. The attendees left with a practical roadmap to audience relationship building and monetization, and action steps they can start implementing immediately to get results. A very interesting concept! |
I ran to the Grand Ballroom for the last time, grabbed a front-row seat, and enjoyed the final Keynote speaker NPR’s Terry Gross. I laughed, cheered, and cried. And with that, it was all over. My heart was broken as I watched the production crew start to dismantle the stage. I thanked Dan for an amazing experience. But the Podcast Movement experience did not have to end there. Attendees were offered a chance to purchase the recordings of most of the sessions forever on the Teachable platform. It was well worth the price.
My overall opinion of the Podcast Movement 2018 was WOW! If you can afford the price tag, I urge you to invest in this con. Dan and Jared over-deliver between keynotes, panels, and breakaway room speakers. All the attendees, vendors, and speakers were like a huge extended podcast family. But be prepared to hustle. Do your research on speaker/panel topics and organize your list of what you want to attend. And if you cannot attend; buy the recordings. It won’t be as fun as attending LIVE, but it will give you value and expand your podcast production knowledge. Podcast Movement 2018 was all-around a win-win event!
