Live better. Start where you are, but start NOW.
Live better. Start where you are, but start NOW.
"You're never ready. get just good enough and START."
Today Ella Lucas-Averett, the creator of On Air With Ella | Wellness & Motivation shares her story of Health & Fitness podcast.
► Tell us about you and your podcast
In addition to hosting the ON AIR WITH ELLA show since 2015, I am Managing Partner of a strategic communications consulting firm that I co-founded in 2003. I'm a professional speaker, competitive age-group triathlete, and coffee addict.
ON AIR WITH ELLA is predominantly for women who want to feel better, look better, live better and have some fun along the way. (I'm a little cheeky, but never preachy!)
I love to interview experts in wellness, mindset, confidence, longevity, relationships, communication, fitness, health and nutrition, and personal growth. I'm kind of obsessed with the art of building habits that serve us, and ditching the ones that don't.
I love to help women get UNSTUCK and tap into the life that they want, and that is totally within reach for them!
► Why & how did you start this podcast?
I started this show in 2015, when podcasting was still relatively unknown to many. I fell in love with the intimacy of the medium - learning from people in my ear and feeling like I was sitting in on conversation with them. That's the experience that I seek to create with every show now as a host.
This began as a passion project for me while I was running my consulting firm and engaging in other entrepreneurial ventures, and it was a real outlet for me to talk about things that I cared about but could not entertain in my 'day job.' I had NO IDEA what I was doing, but I knew two things:
I would find people who did and pay them to teach me when needed
I wanted my brand to look already established and professional
I would learn as I went, because if I waited until I was ready, it would NEVER happen
I love the podcasting community and now try to help others who are just starting out much in the same way others helped me (and still do!).
Listen411.com: Lightning-fast, Cost-effective Podcast Transcription and Summarization - Crafted with Passion by Listen Notes.
► How'd you find the time and funding to do this podcast?
We don't talk enough about how intensive it is to maintain a great show. Starting a podcast is pretty easy, and almost free - the barriers to entry are LOW. But, sustaining a great show is a totally different thing.
I produce weekly shows and I prefer to edit them myself. An experienced editor, but one who cares about a more polished finished product, can expect to spend 2x-3x the length of the show putting it together. Or, maybe that's just me ;-)
If your audience takes off, you find that you need to invest in everything from website enhancements to email services to video production... the list goes on. But, the always great thing about this world is that you are in charge - you can scale up or down according to your own needs and goals!
► What do you gain from podcasting?
I have sponsors coming to me at this stage, but I am selective - I won't run generic ads, and will only promote products/services that I use and love. My take is unconventional - and I am definitely leaving money on the table! - but because this medium IS so personal and my community feels close to me, I view anything I promote as a personal testimonial. I'm careful with those because I am careful with my audience.
► How does your podcasting process look like?
After 8 seasons, I am in the middle of a total overhaul and it's A LOT!! I kept everything REALLY simple for so long: host in Libsyn, edit in Audacity, record in Zoom ...simple, simple.
I'm now looking at so many upgrades - I moved to Captivate to host (better interface, more features), I'm moving to Riverside to record (Zoom wasn't created for podcasting - why did I stay so long?), I've upgraded to paid email service and I KNOW I need video and YouTube support... I am currently breathing into a paper bag and taking one step at a time.
► How do you market your show?
There is an enormous need for marketing support for independent podcasters, and I REALLY hope someone comes along and addresses this at a cost this market segment can afford. I'd buy it!
We need "amplified word of mouth" to help independent podcasters reach new ears - it's a crowded, noisy market out there, and the big networks clearly have the advantage.
HOWEVER, I strongly believe that there's real growth in 1) putting out quality content, and 2) nurturing your community. Focus on that with utter authenticity and growth will happen.
► What advice would you share with aspiring (new) podcasters?
Things I've learned along the way...
1) You're never ready. get just good enough and START. Then, ask for feedback from people whose opinions are relevant and then ITERATE (refine, improve, and ask again :-))
2) Reach out with questions - the podcast community is so passionate about podcasting, you can find help EVERYWHERE. For example, I am sharing tons and learning far more than I even knew to ask in the THREADS app - there's an incredibly strong podcast group in there. I don't use it like any other social media - find me there :-)
3) Want killer guests on your show? ASK THEM. You never know who will say yes, and the rejections cost you NOTHING if you don't let them...just keep rolling. Want to know how to ask?
Suggestion:
Ask boldly and tell them why you specifically want them, how you relate to their content, and provide something in answer to "what's in it for them" - that does NOT need to be an equal return, but why will they enjoy this/how will it benefit them in any way?
When I first started out - it was 8 years ago, and I was brand new - I asked Jenna Elfman (actor) via Twitter DM and the only "what's in it for her" at that point was that it would be "fun, super easy and she can do it in her bunny slippers." She said yes. Sometimes, it's just a matter of asking.
► Where can we learn more about you & your podcasts?
https://www.onairella.com/
www.instagram.com/onairwithella
https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucas-averett/
Listen411.com: Lightning-fast, Cost-effective Podcast Transcription and Summarization - Crafted with Passion by Listen Notes.
Lightning-fast: Transcribe a 1-hour audio file in 1 minute.
Pay-as-you-go: USD $0.06 per minute + $1 per file. No subscription required.