A charming, original fairytale and folk song podcast for the whole family.
"...to enjoy the process of creating something meaningful for themselves. Your listeners will appreciate your authenticity."
Today April Eight, the creator of April Eight Songs and Stories shares her story of Kids & Family podcast.
► Tell us about you and your podcast
My whole life has been about story and song. My father was quite the storyteller - I used to sit on his lap after dinner and he would spin a little tale just for me. My mother loved to play the classic American folk songs on the piano and we'd all sing along. In school, I was involved in choir and theater. I was in an original rock band in my twenties - we toured through Europe and across the United States. That's where I honed my performance skills.
When we settled down and had our daughters, I began making up stories and songs for them. There's so much gentle magic to tap into within the natural world around us and I can just hear it. I swear the stories tell themselves to me and I just write them down. April Eight Songs & Stories is the way I share the fairytale story and song I create with a wider audience. It's fun to have fun with friends all over the world. My listeners are everyone from young children to grandparents - I hear from so many different sorts of people. Everyone loves a gentle yet exciting fairytale and a lovely song!
► Why & how did you start this podcast?
I podcast because I believe that my best quality is my voice. I think there's something in there that people respond to and that I love to share. And I mean my physical voice, but also the point of view that I hold. I believe deeply that there is value and meaning in the natural world around us. That it is full of mystery and magic and that if we listen, we'll hear it.
My initial goal and motivation was that I just knew I had to do it. I started my podcast in 2016 - still pretty early in the children's podcasting scene. I had a few friends who were podcasters at the time, and they absolutely discouraged me from making a podcast for kids. They didn't think I'd have any listeners. I knew I could do it and I did. I've been in the top 5-10% of podcast download numbers for years.
► How'd you find the time and funding to do this podcast?
I have honestly been an intermittent podcaster. For the first two years, I was on it, posting every week or two very regularly. I knew I had to show up, and the stories flowed right out of me. But then I took a First Grade class at a Waldorf School and that became so much to do. I've been teaching in primary school full-time for the last six years, including in-person through COVID-19, which was unbelievably difficult.
I am still putting out stories, but they are fewer and further apart. My last series had many months between stories. I know I have listeners waiting, but I want the stories to be meaningful, and that means I have to have time and space to create something that feels authentic to me. Even though my last story series took me a few years to get through all eight episodes, I am very satisfied with the way that story fell together and I am happy with the ending. And my listeners seem happy with them - they've been listening to a lot!
I must spend about $60 a month or more on my podcast and all that goes with it. I don't really make it back. It does seem crazy to work so hard and then "pay-to-play" as they say.
I do everything that is April Eight Songs & Stories by myself - writing, narrating, editing, all the production, and tech. I write all the songs, play all the instruments, and record them. I make the artwork and I do all the social media and copywriting. I built my website and every update. I do everything for my Stay Up Late newsletter as well.
I have a Master's in Design (with a thesis on Digital Storytelling) from the University of Cincinnati, so I know tech. My band spent a lot of time in recording studios - we were at Prince's Paisley Park and John Mellencamp's Belmont Mall among others. I understand the basics of audio from that.
Each of my episodes is a huge creative and time commitment. Still, I can't seem to stop creating them because believe me, that practical part of me thinks I'm crazy! But the artist will not be denied. I love being April Eight.
► What do you gain from podcasting?
I'm ramping up my podcast again right now because I quit teaching! I'm so excited to have the time and energy to pour into my work again. I have about three thousand downloads a month these days, which is the least I've had in years, but not surprising given how little I've put up episodes. I'm sure my numbers will go up again.
I would love to have sponsorship if the right company connected with me. I have such a wonderful audience of young listeners, and I know their parents are listening too because they tell me so. I write positive words into every story specifically for adults who are listening with their children because I know they need nurturing and affirmation too.
Of course, there is a lot of competition in the industry now, but I think I've got something going on that is different from the other story shows I've heard. We've each got our niche and I love that. How lucky all these young listeners are to have so many choices? Because of the nature of my rural childhood and my Waldorf teacher training, I know I bring a richness of meaning, a love of the natural world, a generous vocabulary, the breadth of folklore, a deep appreciation for all humanity, and a quiet gentleness that are my signature.
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► How does your podcasting process look like?
I've been using Libsyn since the beginning of my podcasting days. I had a good friend who was the Digital Media Director for Michigan Public Radio, Mark Brush, who recommended it to me. I use a Blue Yeti mic with a fluffy sleeve over it. I record in a tiny room in my house that I use as an office. You'd laugh if you saw it on recording days - I have pillows and blankets stuffed all around my computer and mic, and behind me. It looks like a giant bird's nest. We live in an old house, so I try to record when my family isn't home because every floorboard squeaks!
My little dog Roxie used to come in mid-recording sessions with her tiny paws tap, tap, tapping. And of course, she'd bark her wee head off. Honestly, if you can't beat 'em, join 'em. I just made it part of the show. My listeners think she is hilarious. Sadly, Roxie passed away last year. I have a new dog named Sokka. He's already made himself known in the most recent episodes. It's fun to have a k-9 podcasting buddy.
It generally takes me a few weeks to write a story. Then I will edit, edit, edit. Next, I'll set up my office and begin recording. Sometimes it goes quickly, but usually, it takes me a few days to get the whole thing recorded to my liking. Then I edit the audio carefully and fix anything that needs fixing. If I have a song or music to add to it, I'll record that on a fancier microphone and layer in my guitar, mandolin, or a little fiddle.
I try to record as much of the audio and music in one take as I can. I want my stories to feel like I'm standing before you - a bard with a tale. I want it to feel real. Because of this, I never add any sort of electronic audio effects. My family has a little collection of real and toy instruments so I'll use one of those to make the sound of a magic wand or the entrance of a fairy.
► How do you market your show?
I get a lot of listeners from Apple and Audible, then Spotify. I had a big following on YouTube but accidentally deleted my account there, long story. I'm working on getting that all back up and running. As I said, it is the April show starring April, so I can only do so many things at one time.
I started a substack last year, Stay Up Late with April Eight. That's been fun to create and I'm just starting to explore new things to share there.
My IG account sees very little action, no matter what I post there. That's, of course, frustrating because I post reels I believe my audience would enjoy there.
I'm digging deeper into marketing at this time. I adore my dear audience and I'd like to make myself more available/findable to folks who connect with my work.
Honestly, when I perform my songs and stories live I get a wonderful new influx of audience to my socials. One of my strategies is booking more performances to grow my readership/listenership.
► What advice would you share with aspiring (new) podcasters?
I often meet new podcasters with lots of questions. I usually tell them to enjoy the process of creating something meaningful for themselves. Your listeners will appreciate your authenticity. If you don't want to learn new skills, be prepared to pay others to do them because a podcast is both creative and technical. Be ready to learn and grow. Sound quality matters.
I like ShePodcasts. Early on, I paid for a session with Elsie and Jess. They gave me so much great advice, but I was too busy teaching to use most of it. A lot of it is still very relevant, and I'm going to use it now. It's tricky with a storytelling show. There aren't that many out there and we're all unique. Most podcasting advice is for interview shows.
► Where can we learn more about you & your podcasts?
My substack newsletter, Stay Up Late with April Eight, has been my main outreach focus for the past year. There I share bonus content for everyone. I also offer exclusive stories and songs for my supporting readers. For example, I created a sweetly illustrated two-page storybook that readers can download as a PDF and print. Their little ones get to color in all of the pictures with crayons or markers and fold it all into a tiny book! The story tells the tale of how the fan-favorite character, the Witch found her wonderful cat, Jinxy.
My podcasted stories often have characters with backstories and bonus content - it is too much to go into the main podcasted episodes, so they often find their way into my newsletter as well. Sometimes there's a puppet to print and color, other times we'll have a video watercolor lesson to paint them together. I am a Waldorf teacher, after all.
I can't help but be a little philosophical in my newsletter, so I often share what I have learned about children and families from my training and many years of teaching. I love hearing from my readers and my goal is to create more community with them every time I press send.
AprilEight.com is the best place to find my performance and booking offerings, my calendar of events, send me a message, and sign up for online events I'll be doing in the coming months.
You can also find me on Instagram at instagram.com/aprileightsongandstories - I am looking for a new strategy for that space. Follow me and watch it happen.
Folks can always buy me a coffee at buymeacoffee.com/Aprileight
I can be reached from website at https://aprileight.com/contact
I'm on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aprilcombsmann/
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