Wanna know something wild? Podcasting (a term first introduced by The Guardian way back in 2004!) is just about 20 years old now – and it doesn’t seem to be slowing down anytime soon. In fact, according to Statista, the number of global podcast listeners is on track to hit 504.9 million this year, and we couldn’t be prouder to contribute to the airwaves!
Indeed, we recently published the final episode of our very first Ten 20s podcast season! It’s been an exciting journey, and we couldn’t have done it without your support. What a thrill and a privilege to zoom out of the day-to-day minutiae of it all, connect with fellow creatives and marketing professionals once a week, and gain new perspectives each time.
To mark this milestone, we’ve compiled some podcast-related insights from a recent article in Costco Connection and broken down some highlights from our ten episodes (found on our YouTube channel).
The Rise of Podcasting
Podcasting has become a powerful medium for storytelling, education, and brand building. Some insights from the Costco Connection article:
- Growth and Popularity: Podcasting continues to grow, with millions of new listeners tuning in every year. It’s an accessible medium that allows people to consume content on the go, whether commuting, exercising, or relaxing at home.
- Engagement and Loyalty: Podcasts have a unique ability to build a loyal audience. Listeners often develop a connection with hosts, leading to higher engagement rates compared to other forms of media.
- Diverse Content: The diversity of content available in podcasts is staggering. From true crime and history to marketing and technology, there’s something for everyone. This variety allows brands to reach niche audiences effectively.
- Educational Value: Podcasts are excellent learning tools. They offer in-depth discussions, expert interviews, and valuable insights on various topics, making them a go-to source for knowledge and ideas.
- Monetization Opportunities: As the podcasting landscape evolves, so do the monetization opportunities. From sponsorships and ads to premium content and listener donations, podcasters have multiple ways to generate revenue.
Highlights from Our First Season
The premise of Ten 20s is simple: If you can glean just one useful nugget of insight in 20 minutes, imagine how much you can learn over the course of an entire relationship – about yourself, about your audience, about branding, about life.
Plus, people’s attention spans start to diminish after like 20 minutes. Let’s get ‘em while they’re fresh! Here’s a breakdown of our first ten episodes:
Episode 1: The Creative Process
Hosts Bev and Mark introduce the podcast series, sharing their vision and what listeners can expect from future episodes. They discuss the creative process, the importance of staying updated with marketing trends and the value of connection and creating from an authentic space.
Episode 2: Empathy in Sales ft. Hailey Ben-Izhak
Guest: Hailey Ben-Izhak, Sales Expert
Hailey Ben-Izhak discusses the crucial role of empathy in sales. She shares techniques for building rapport, actively listening, and addressing clients’ needs to foster long-term client loyalty and trust.
Episode 3: Music in Marketing ft. Micah Rakoff-Bellman
Guest: Micah Rakoff-Bellman, Copywriter & Musician
Micah Rakoff-Bellman delves into the role of music in marketing, explaining how it can evoke emotions and enhance brand identity. He shares tips for selecting the right music for campaigns and provides case studies of successful music-driven marketing strategies.
Episode 4: Structured E-Learning & Marketing Collide! ft. Roxanne Desforges
Guest: Roxanne Desforges, E-Learning and Marketing Expert
Roxanne Desforges explores the intersection of e-learning and marketing, discussing how businesses can use e-learning platforms to educate their audience and build brand loyalty. She provides strategies for creating compelling e-learning content and integrating it with marketing programs.
Episode 5: Demystifying Data & Market Research ft. David MacDonald
Guest: David MacDonald, Market Research Specialist
David MacDonald demystifies data and market research, explaining how businesses can gather and analyze data to understand market trends and consumer behaviour. He shares practical tips for conducting effective market research and using data to make informed decisions.
Episode 6: A Tale of Two Mark Gorens
Guest: Cleveland Mark Goren
Two marketing professionals named Mark Goren share their unique story of meeting by chance. They discuss their similar yet distinct career paths and the impact of their connection on their professional journeys, but also on their lives. This episode highlights the importance of connection and the power of curiosity in an increasingly digital world.
Episode 7: Communication & How to Evolve ft. Eric Warner
Guest: Eric Warner, Communications Expert & Founder of music label We Are Busy Bodies
Mark and Bev chat with Eric Warner of We Are Busy Bodies and The Cylinder Project. They explore the evolution of communication, and how maintaining a sense of curiosity and openness is crucial to evolving — not only as a brand, but as a human.
Episode 8: An Advertising Retrospective ft. Jake Volt
Guest: Jake Volt, Advertising Veteran
Jake Volt takes us through the evolution of advertising, sharing his experiences and insights from decades in the industry. He discusses how advertising strategies have adapted to technological advancements and shifting consumer behaviour and reflects on memorable campaigns and lessons learned.
Episode 9: Using Testing to Drive Positioning ft. Daniel Kaplan
Guest: Daniel Kaplan, Design Lead & Marketing Specialist
Daniel Kaplan discusses the importance of testing in developing effective marketing positioning. He explains how businesses can use various testing methods to refine their positioning and messaging, sharing practical examples of data-driven decision-making in the start-up world.
Episode 10: (Our Tenth 20!) Stay Curious
In their first season finale, Bev and Mark reflect on their first podcast season as a whole, emphasizing the theme of curiosity. They revisit key insights from previous episodes, discuss the importance of maintaining a curious mindset, and look at similarities that have woven themselves throughout all episodes by happenstance.
Thank You for Listening! Or watching! Or both!
We are incredibly grateful to our listeners for their support throughout our first season and to our delightful, knowledgeable guests! We hope you found the episodes informative and valuable. If you haven’t already, check out our YouTube channel to catch up on any episodes you may have missed.
As we look forward to the next season, please share feedback and suggestions! What topics would you like us to cover? Which guests should we invite? Do *YOU* want to be a guest?
Thanks again for being a part of our podcast journey! Season 2 is coming your way this fall.