A community of innovators, activists, and government leaders in the world of sustainability
"Don’t get frustrated! ... I’ve seen too many people give up after just 10 episodes."
Today Preston Poag Jr., the creator of The Green Hour shares his story of Non-Profit podcast.
► Tell us about you and your podcast
My name is Preston Poag Jr., and my passion for sustainability began in college while attending a small school in Eastern Kentucky. Located in the heart of an old coal mining town, the area faced significant environmental challenges—there was no recycling infrastructure, illegal dumping was widespread, and sustainability education was virtually nonexistent.
To address this gap, I created The Green Hour Podcast as a platform to shed light on sustainability issues and help people look "behind the curtain." We feature guests from the public, private, and non-profit sectors, discussing a wide range of topics. Additionally, we curate sponsored podcast series to help corporations, philanthropic organizations, and nonprofits amplify their message and give a "voice" to their ESG reports.
Today, our podcast reaches listeners across 48 U.S. states and six continents (Antarctica is the exception). While we have a strong audience in the Northeastern U.S., Europe, and South America, our listeners come from diverse backgrounds, with many working directly in the sustainability field.
► Why & how did you start this podcast?
I started The Green Hour Podcast to address the significant education gap in sustainability. Too often, people rely on conventional outlets—like news channels and social media—for information, which can lead to confusion or misinformation. My goal was to create a platform that cuts through the noise and provides clarity on sustainability topics.
From the start, my mission has been to educate and inspire the next generation of sustainability leaders. Sustainability, to me, is a deeply selfless field—we're working to leave the planet better than we found it. That’s why spreading education and sharing innovative ideas with the next generation is so important. Podcasting felt like the ideal medium for this mission because it’s accessible worldwide and allows for deep, meaningful conversations.
Since launching at the end of 2022, The Green Hour Podcast has published over 70 episodes, including three sponsored series, each helping to amplify important sustainability stories and solutions.
► How'd you find the time and funding to do this podcast?
The Green Hour Podcast began as a passion project but has grown into something much greater. By day, I lead a recycling program across North America for a Fortune 500 company, but nights and weekends are dedicated to producing the highest-quality podcast possible.
We aim to release one episode per week, though our schedule can vary when working on sponsored series. In the early days, I personally funded the podcast, investing in equipment and travel to connect with leaders at conferences. Over time, we’ve established income streams through sponsored podcast series, which help sustain and expand the platform.
On average, I spend about 10 hours per episode on editing and post-production. This includes audio editing (normalization, removing filler words, etc.), video editing (b-roll footage, intros, audio sync, and framing), and launching the content across various platforms.
► What do you gain from podcasting?
Producing The Green Hour Podcast has been an incredibly rewarding experience for me personally. It’s given me the opportunity to connect with leaders from around the world and build meaningful relationships. Curating conversations on a wide range of topics has allowed me to learn at an exceptionally high level and at an accelerated pace. The knowledge and connections I’ve gained have been invaluable. For instance, some former guests have invited me to prestigious events like NFL Honors and Climate Week NYC, stemming from the relationships built through the podcast.
While we’ve worked with various organizations to curate content, we haven’t yet taken on an official sponsor. However, we expect to partner with a sponsor in the near future as we continue to grow and expand our impact.
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► How does your podcasting process look like?
In the early days of The Green Hour Podcast, I was actively "cold calling" potential guests through email and LinkedIn, reaching out to those I believed would bring valuable insights to the platform. Over time, that dynamic has shifted, and now many of my guests reach out directly, expressing interest in joining the podcast.
To ensure we produce high-quality content, we rely on a range of tools and platforms. We record virtual interviews on RiversideFM, and I use Auphonic and GarageBand for audio editing. For video editing, I work with Adobe Premiere Pro and CapCut. Preparing for each episode involves a deep dive into the guest’s background, their organization, and the topic we’ll be discussing. This research helps ensure the conversations are insightful and engaging for our audience.
► How do you market your show?
We use a variety of organic marketing tactics to promote The Green Hour Podcast. For each episode, we create short teaser reels to share on social media, giving our audience a preview of the episode and building anticipation for its release. These reels are published across LinkedIn and Instagram, with LinkedIn being our primary platform.
LinkedIn has been especially effective for us because it’s a professional network where we can directly reach and engage with people in the sustainability industry. This targeted approach allows us to connect with our core audience and grow our community in a meaningful way.
YouTube is also becoming an increasingly important platform for The Green Hour Podcast. It allows us to connect with a broader audience beyond our core sustainability network, reaching individuals who may discover us through search or related content. The platform’s visual nature also enables us to showcase high-quality video production, making the podcast more engaging and accessible to a global audience.
► What advice would you share with aspiring (new) podcasters?
The advice I’d give to aspiring podcasters is simple: Don’t get frustrated! In the beginning, it’s easy to feel discouraged by low attention and engagement rates, but growth takes time and consistency. I’ve seen too many people give up after just 10 episodes. Podcasting is a grind, and building a platform requires patience and perseverance.
We’re still on our journey—we haven’t hit 100 episodes yet—but the key is staying the course and producing content as frequently and consistently as possible. Over time, your audience will grow, and the hard work will pay off.
► Where can we learn more about you & your podcasts?
If you’re interested in exploring The Green Hour Podcast, you can check it out on the following platforms:
Website:
https://thegreenhourpodcast.com/
Spotify:
Apple Podcasts:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@greenhourpod
Email me directly: preston@radix-media.com
We’d love for you to listen, subscribe, and join us in exploring sustainability!
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