How Podcasting Empowers Women to Share Their Authentic Voices and Experiences

On International Podcast Day, I had the pleasure of connecting with my friend and fellow podcaster, Elaine Williams, to celebrate the incredible impact of podcasting. As we reflected on our shared passion, we explored the unique power this medium holds to create meaningful connections, share personal stories, and leave a lasting legacy.

The Personal Connection of Podcasting

Elaine beautifully articulated how podcasts have become an integral part of her daily life, offering inspiration, education, and entertainment during routine tasks. We discussed the intimate nature of podcast listening, likening it to road trips and pillow talk - those moments of deep connection and vulnerability.

From Audio to Video: Evolving with the Medium

While podcasting began as an audio-only format, we touched on the growing importance of short-form video content for discoverability. However, we agreed that the heart of podcasting remains in its ability to foster genuine connections, allowing listeners to multitask while absorbing valuable content.

Empowering Voices and Sharing Stories

One of the most powerful aspects of podcasting is its ability to give a platform to diverse voices. We shared personal experiences of how podcasting has allowed us to open up about deeply personal topics, from health struggles to life-changing moments. This vulnerability not only serves as a form of self-expression but also resonates with listeners who may be going through similar experiences.

Building a Supportive Podcasting Community

Our conversation highlighted the incredible sense of community within the podcasting world. From attending events like PodFest to connecting with guests and fellow podcasters, we've found a supportive network that feels like family. If you are looking for a supportive community to learn and grow in the world of podcasting, come join us in the Podcast Your Story Community Membership.

Your Invitation to Join the Podcasting World

Whether you're considering starting a podcast, becoming a guest, or simply exploring new shows to listen to, we hope our conversation inspires you to take action. Remember, your unique perspective and story matter - someone out there needs to hear what you have to say.

Join us in celebrating the power of podcasting and the connections it creates. Who knows? Your voice might be th

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Listen to The Story of My Pet Podcast- Website - Instagram - YouTube

Chapters

• 0:05 Celebrating International Podcast Day
• 2:33 Why Audio Feels So Personal
• 3:19 Community, Meetups, And Real-Life Bonds
• 4:08 Discoverability Through Short Video
• 5:15 Depth Over Small Talk
• 5:31 Sharing Hard Stories And Healing
• 6:33 Women, Voice, And Owning The Mic
• 9:07 Pitch Fest: Stories With a Thread
• 11:09 Your Story As A Lifeline
• 12:58 Podcasts As Safe Harbor
• 13:49 Start Imperfect, Learn By Doing
• 14:13 Captivate the Mic: Elaine’s Show
• 16:04 Consistency, Pauses, And Purpose
• 17:54 Keep Going: Someone Is Listening
• 18:06 Share Your Story, Now

Transcript

SPEAKER_00: 0:05

I'm with my friend Elaine Williams on International Podcast Day. So, for those of you that don't know, September 30th is International Podcast Day, and it is really just a day to celebrate the community of podcasting, the impact that podcasting has on all of us, and how this medium of podcasting has grown exponentially over the last few years. So I thought nothing better than getting on Zoom and live on YouTube with a fellow podcaster to talk all things podcasting. Thank you for being here with me, Elaine.

SPEAKER_01: 0:44

Thank you for having me, Julie. You know, I'm a big fan, and I'm so grateful because I love podcasts. I'm a lifelong learner, and I also love music. Sometimes I'm like, Elaine, you need to listen to some music. You need to lighten up and dance for a minute, honey. But I, to me, podcasts are such a joy because, you know, let's face it, I'm 57. So much of life, there's repetitive stuff you gotta do. Laundry, your car, gas, errands, right? And sometimes it's actually dangerous to be speaking on the phone when you're, you know. And so I love listening to podcasts. I feel uplifted, inspired. I'm always trying to learn about history just so I can understand white people, where we are. And, you know, I have several businesses and I'm caregiving. And so I don't have as much time to read as I would like. And so I just, you know, ever since podcasts came around, I was like, oh, this is kind of cool. If I feel like I need a lift, I'll listen to one. If I feel like I'm in the mood, I'll noodle on some history stuff. You know, there's just so many great things. And then the podcast community is really what like really steal the dill for me. I went to Podfest and I thought these people are so cool and down to earth and real. And there were people who were dying, and they were like, I just want to give and share my story until I go.

SPEAKER_00: 2:21

And I was like, Yeah, that is the power of podcasting, right? And even though we're doing video right now, you know, really podcasting started as that audio only. And there is a really personal connection when someone chooses to play you on their car stereo or put your voice in their ears and in headphones. And even though video is blowing up too, it's still that connection. Like you're connecting with the host and a guest, whatever the situation may be. And you really get to know people on this very personal level through podcasting that I don't even think I expected when I first started. And now so many of my guests I call friends, even though we've only ever met virtually. And it's such a crazy way to connect with people all over the world, but also connect with your people. I mean, I feel like I've done that with my pet podcast, and it's gonna have its own YouTube channel later today, which I'm very excited about. But also in podcasting, like you mentioned, the community. I mean, that's how you and I met was at Podfest 2024, and now you can't get rid of me. And we got to go to Disney World twice. Yes. That's our bonus part, but it's so funny because when I we went to Podfest again this year in January, I realized really what it is, it's a family reunion. It's all of these people that I have connected with through podcasting, whether it's in communities I'm a part of, like Podfest or other memberships, or it's I've been a guest on their show, or they've been a guest on my show, or we've gone to the same networking event. And we live all over the place, sometimes all over the world, but nothing beats meeting people in person. There's that power of connection when you get to hang out together in person.

SPEAKER_01: 4:05

Yes, I think of it as belly to belly. And another thing, like I got to go to Fest, and then I also got to go to podcast movement and heard some brilliant stuff and ran into people. And one of the things they were talking about that the best way to still become discoverable is short form video. And I always do this because some people are gonna go to LinkedIn, some people Facebook. So short form video is still like the best way for people to discover you. And a lot of times, once people discover you, they switch back to audio so that they can listen to you while they're doing their things. And it makes me think of those road trips or pillow talk. Like they say, when does a couple really talk? Pillow talk. Then it's in the night, you know? And then when have you gone on a road trip with somebody? There's such a bubble of intimacy and an opportunity to go deep and share. And you know, I love going deep. I'm a comedian, but I'm also very deep, and small talk freaks me out, right?

SPEAKER_00: 5:09

I hate that kind of stuff too.

SPEAKER_01: 5:10

What makes your heart sing? What are you yearning for? What did you overcome? Like, I I've I've been that person since I was a little kid. I'd be like, what's your dream? Why are you doing it? And they would be like, okay, get her away from me. One conversation can change your life.

SPEAKER_00: 5:27

Absolutely.

SPEAKER_01: 5:28

And isn't that why we're here?

unknown: 5:31

Yep.

SPEAKER_00: 5:31

And you know, it's so funny you were talking about that because I've said it recently in a couple guest interviews, or even my own podcast, where I'm like, you would have told me five years ago I have a podcast, let alone that on these podcasts I've shared some of the most deep personal stories of myself. You know, my pet podcast, I talked about losing my first foster kitten and how he passed away in my hands and how hard that was. And it was healing for me to share the story and kind of let go. And on my own podcast, I've shared some of my really big struggles with my health and things I've gone through through my life of loss, losing pieces of myself to my health journey. And I never probably would have ever done that if I hadn't got into podcasting. There's such a power in stepping in front of the mic and it being your platform, and you get to choose what you talk about and how you share it and how you create it and all of that. You get to choose what guests you have on your show and what you talk about with them. And there's so much power in that. And I think, especially as women, so many of us are owning that power because we've never had it in other places to be able to speak our mind or share our truth or tell that story that we never thought we would, but somebody out there needs to hear it.

SPEAKER_01: 6:45

Oh, I love it. Yes, yes, it's so great. And so, you know, whether I would say if you're already listening to podcasts, yay! And it's great to explore some new ones. And if there is a yearning, I'm a huge fan. Call Julie because she's gonna help you launch and she's very affordable. Don't die with that song in your heart. Right. One of the top five regrets of people on their deathbed is that they did not follow their heart, they did not live the life that they knew they were meant to. They lived it to please other people. And, you know, as a recovering people pleaser, I have a lot of compassion. There's no judgment, but you know, that's one of my missions is to help heal the world with love and laughter, one joke, one story, one video at a time. And just to help people reclaim that self-expression that we all have.

SPEAKER_00: 7:42

When we were little, we were like, and what the recently shared a photo. I was going through old photos for my mom's birthday, and I found one of me in one of my dance outfits, and I've got my, you know, I've got the picture of you. I had a signature move, you know, it was a hip thing, and I just like I posted it and said, like, at what point do we give that little girl part of ourselves up? No, I'm still that girl, and I hid it for a long time. My old career, that's not how you showed up. You had business attire and all of that, but now I can have all this stuff behind me and and show up as myself because that's what makes me happy, but also because someone else out there needs to hear it and needs to be reminded. And it's so funny you talked about the deathbed thing because a lot of what comes up for me in podcasting is legacy. Like for so many of us, our podcast isn't just about business or you know, making money or having clients, it's about leaving a legacy, it's about helping other people leave legacies, right? It's about sharing our story, putting ourselves out there in a way that we really can't do in other ways. With podcasts, once someone finds it, they know to go back there every day or every week or every month and listen. And there's so much power in that. And I think so many more people need to own that power and really step into it. And that's why we had Pitch Fest just a little while ago. I decided since it was International Podcast Day, I would host a live pitch fest. That was amazing.

SPEAKER_01: 9:12

Julie was great.

SPEAKER_00: 9:14

We had 10 women show up live and pitch themselves as guests, and there was such a variety in what people talk about and their stories. I think we also saw this string of similarity and everything people were saying, like the stories they're sharing, how they help people get out of their heads, over get over overwhelming, or step into more confidence and all these things that everybody kind of shared in different perspectives. It was really interesting to kind of see that line kind of weave through everybody as they spoke about what they do and what they talk about as a podcast guest. What do you think, Elaine?

SPEAKER_01: 9:52

Yeah. I was very inspired, and it took copious notes, and I was like, oh, I want her and her and her on my podcast, and I want to be on their podcast. One of the things as a coach, I'm a speaker coach, a speaker, short form video expert, as well as a podcast and comedian. And so many times I help women tap back into their power, and so many times one of the blocks is oh, well, everybody knows that. Or um, well, Elaine, you have a good story, and I do. I have some great stories, and people need to hear your story because nobody does it like you. And just I'm a middle-aged white lady, so you know, not everybody's gonna be able to relate to me, right? And so if you have that yearning, and then you have the ego or identity going, oh no, no, that's dangerous, don't be vulnerable. You know, I encourage people like you never know your story could be somebody else's lifeline, and you just never know how sharing something can be the exact thing somebody needed to hear. And you know, I'll just share. Like, I was traveling in Portugal with my partner at the time, and we had had a big kerfuffle, and I was feeling I hadn't slept, I was very emotional, I was feeling very like, and I, you know, I'm in recovery, and luckily I was like, okay, I can't get, you know, we're driving in Portugal, the door opened, but I was like, I can listen to a podcast, and like I want to cross, and like it really helped me calm down and get grounded and decide to stay and continue the trip, you know. And like there's a podcast that they play about recovery and that's in like all the prisons, and even the people who are in solitary confinement. And I'm not condoning any of you know crime, but so many who are in prison, you know, they're black and brown, they didn't have money, and or a lot of times they do stuff when they're under the influence, and then unfortunately, for whatever reason, they're in solitary confinement, which I think is inhumane, but I'm not gonna take that battle on. But like to be able to be that life, what do you call it? The life ring, whatever you call those things, life raft, like life raft, like you just never know. Like that's so powerful, and those people are saving lives, and it's human to connect, and if you'll see me connected, and you know, and so I just I'm clearly passionate, and at some point I'll probably have five podcasts if I know me, but right now I just have the one.

SPEAKER_00: 12:48

But you just never know, and your our job is right who needs to hear from you, who needs to hear some little thing you're gonna say that's gonna resonate. And I know as a woman, there's so many podcasts I listen to for a laugh or for inspiration for a happy story, but also like hearing what they're going through with menopause or hearing what they're going through with mental health. You know, those are the ones where I hear someone else say their struggle and how they're getting through. It's like, okay, I'm not alone, I'm not crazy. The world is literally insane right now, and it can be overwhelming to even go on social media. I think podcasts are that life raft or that place where you can go and you feel safe because you get to know the host, you get to know the people talking to you, you get to know the people through their stories. And so, if nothing else, this is your signal to whoever's seeing this to keep doing it if you're already doing it, to put yourself out there as a guest to do it more, to create the podcast you've been thinking about, because it's never gonna be perfect and ready. You have to start. We both learn by doing. We put ourselves out there and realize this is good, this isn't. I'm gonna change that. That's the power of podcasting. You can change tomorrow, your topic, your cover, your title. It's all about getting started and figuring it out where you need to be in the world, right? And so, where Elaine needs to be in the world is helping people with being a speaker, being more confident on camera. So, Elaine, tell everybody about your podcast.

SPEAKER_01: 14:17

Oh, well, thank you, Julie. So, my podcast is Captivate the Mai. I did another one a few years ago during COVID called Still Human that's still out there. Great life coach hacking tip. So I wanted to make one about the power of speaking, whether you're on camera or speaking in front of live people or even podcast guesting. And I wanted it to be fun and entertaining and also giving tips. I have had some amazing people to interview on my podcast. And then I also give little tips every once in a while. It's just gonna stay on its own. But I want people to walk away listening and like, oh, that was really great. Or you know what? I'm gonna go write that down right now. The power of the pause. I forgot. And so it's called Captivate the Mic. Please subscribe, rate, and review because that's how it gets pushed out to other things. I've had some amazing speakers on there, like Peter Samuelson, who is a 27-time Hollywood producer, who now just says philanthropy. He has seven charities. And when I was listening to his book in preparation, I kept crying because he's one of the most inspiring human beings I've ever had the privilege of knowing. I need to get you to come be on my podcast, Julia. And we'll do that. It's not about being perfect. My father passed away a few months ago. So, my, you know, my I have not been totally consistent. You know, if you've started a podcast and you want to get back to it, like it's okay. Just get back and it's, you know, like it's not nothing is perfect. It Julie and I are both queens of like imperfect action because you know, you can sit and try to steer a car if it's in park, or you can get going, and then you might have to do a U-turn or a left turn, but it's gonna be way easier to steer if you're actually like moving.

SPEAKER_00: 16:10

Like, why is it moving? Oh, I guess I should take the break off. I think, and so many of us, especially women, I think we get in our head, we talk ourselves out of things, nobody cares, nobody needs to hear it. And even in podcasting, like I put stuff out and it's is anyone listening? Is this resonating? You like you just all don't always know, but you have to keep doing it because there's a reason you're doing it, there's a reason Elaine is doing her podcast and she's connecting with these amazing people because she's a vessel to kind of share that for people. And you know, my podcast, I started it a year and a half ago, put out five episodes, and paused it for over a year because I wasn't clear on what my business direction was and what I was doing and what I wanted to share. And that's okay. That's what you get to do, you get to make those decisions. And the story of my pet, which I've had for three and a half years, gets paused all the time because it's my passion project, but it's not directly a part of my business. People still listen, like it's charting on eight different countries right now, and I haven't put a new episode out in two months. But that's because I I've done it and I've kept doing it, and people who enjoy it are coming back, and new people are discovering it. So you just never know. No, I don't have tens of thousands of downloads, but I know people are listening every day, and that makes it worth it. If you've been waiting to get started, whatever it is, speaking, guesting, podcasting, this is your sign from Elaine and our.

SPEAKER_01: 17:54

Join.

SPEAKER_00: 17:55

And because really, what I found my purpose is is in is supporting other women like Elaine and myself to just do it and to learn as you go and to grow and to share your story because somebody needs to hear it. So I think that's the best message to have on International Podcast Day is share your story. Somebody needs to hear it now. Being here with me, I really appreciate your support, but also just your energy. You always bring me up when I'm down. And so hopefully somebody else is getting uplifted by us right now.

SPEAKER_01: 18:27

Okay, thank you so much. Bye, everybody.