Tuesday evening. It's 07:00, 09/08/2026. I've got a great guest joining me. We're gonna cover six live podcasting stories about live podcasting, and we're gonna record it live tonight from the main stage here at the Poduty Podcast Theater in Downtown Torrentum. I've got Wendy Brant from Podfest joining me.
Jeff Revilla:Wendy, you know what time it is?
Wendy Brant:It's time to get your Podfest tickets.
Jeff Revilla:Oh, the only live news podcast about podcasting from the stage. It's Poduty in the news with our special guest, Wendy Brant. Welcome to the show.
Wendy Brant:Thank you so much for having me. This is fabulous.
Jeff Revilla:Well, thank you. Thank you. I'm so excited to have you here. We finally just got to connect back in June for the first time. We met in person at a Pittsburgh Pod Tour and it's something I've been following because it's such a great way to reach out and brand the event.
Jeff Revilla:We talk so much about community and PodTour is like the icing on the cake for building the community around Podfest. And tell us a little bit about how did that idea come about? How did you start touring all around the world doing mini conferences all year long?
Wendy Brant:Sure. Well, yeah. Actually, started when the founder, Chris Kremitsos, this is about three years ago and we were both during off season, so to speak. So our conference is usually... Lately, it's been in January.
Wendy Brant:So just in an off month, we were both traveling in different places, and we thought... He said, well, I'm gonna just hold a a meet and greet for podcasters. And we said, you know, that's a really great idea. And and I both kinda go to different places during the summer during... In the country.
Wendy Brant:And so we thought, you know what? Why don't we just... Every time we go somewhere, we'll just see if anybody wants to get together and talk about podcasting. So that's really how it started, which is just kind of insane thinking about our conferences boom... Been going on for thirteen years and, you know, just to be able to start to travel around and and bring people together.
Wendy Brant:And that was about three years ago, maybe four years ago. I think the first one was actually four years ago. And then three years ago, we turned them into the Pod Tours. And so now we schedule them and go all around, and it's just an amazing way for podcasters to come together in their communities. A lot of times, they don't even know that each other are there.
Wendy Brant:And so it's it's just our way of saying, hey. You guys are all here. Let's help each other. And, and then we'll hope to see you in January in Orlando for Podcast. But it's really just about, again, bringing folks together and letting people know that they have community there with them.
Jeff Revilla:Yeah. And it's not just stateside too. These have gone global. You've had some, I think, America and The Philippines, I believe. Is that...
Jeff Revilla:Where have you had all of them?
Wendy Brant:Actually, all over the world. Stockholm, I think, is coming up, or we just did Stockholm. So we have a a a Podcast person, team member, that also happens to travel a lot in the world. And so wherever he goes in the world, Australia, he was in Melbourne. That was the recent one.
Wendy Brant:Melbourne, I think Stockholm's coming up. Singapore, I've been to Colombia, all over. If you go to our website, podfestexpo.com, and you look at the pod tour page, it will show you all the different locations that we've been. But, yes, all over the world. And, again, all all creators.
Wendy Brant:These... We're bringing creators together in all these spaces and places. And so we're all doing the same things. We just speak different languages. Pretty cool.
Jeff Revilla:And if you knew how many times Podfest has come up on this show where we we talk about building community. And in the podcast arena, there is no better place to connect with podcasters than Podcast. It's like the Super Bowl of podcasting every January that people are getting together, they're making these lifelong connections, they're collaborating, they're recording shows together. So much happens at Podcast. What are...
Jeff Revilla:What what have been some of your best takeaways over the thirteen years?
Wendy Brant:Gosh. I have seen so many amazing things and talked to so many amazing piece... People. The thing I love about Podcast though is the camaraderie with with everybody that's there, the attendees. But I I think the thing about podcasting is that sometimes, you know, we're behind the mics, and we're behind the screen.
Wendy Brant:Maybe even, you know, YouTube is still relatively new for a lot of folks. And so you may not know that the person that you're sitting next to is somebody that's really a big deal. And at Podcast, you could be sitting next to, like, one of the OGs of the entire industry and not really even know it. And everybody's there to help everybody else. And so the thing I love most about it is just what you said, that camaraderie.
Wendy Brant:You you... There's so many people to meet and just to find folks that speak your language, that know what you're talking about, that understand what you're going through, and can help you or have thoughts and ideas. And, of course, the education is just off the charts amazing. So, you know, I I don't... We love the community aspect of it, but it's...
Wendy Brant:People come to learn. It's it's a lot. There's a lot that you can do. And it's an investment... I always say to folks, it's investment in your podcast.
Wendy Brant:It's an investment in your vision. It's an investment in your mission. Not so much even in you, but in all those things. It's an investment for your for your community to come and learn and and be able to grow and help grow your show. So, anyways, that's what we do.
Jeff Revilla:And an example I give is how forward thinking Podcast is, you know, and just how cutting edge some of the sessions are. Back in 2020, I I proposed a session on this very idea that we're sitting in. It didn't exist in 2020. I said, hey. I have this idea for a podcast theater.
Jeff Revilla:I think it's kinda... It's gonna be like a big thing or, you know, I think it has potential. And I was selected to speak at Podcast Origins. I think it was it was virtual because of COVID during that time. But, I mean, that session, I think it did pretty well.
Jeff Revilla:But the fact that it was accepted when it really wasn't a mainstream podcast idea is a testament to what Podfest is looking for for the future of podcasting and really getting in sessions that are on the cutting edge, sessions that are gonna blow your mind with, oh, wait. I can also do that in podcasting? And it's just talk for what... How many speakers are on average? It's gotta be over a 100 speakers per per year that you're...
Jeff Revilla:Yeah.
Wendy Brant:We had probably, I wanna say, a 170 or so.
Jeff Revilla:Yeah.
Wendy Brant:It'll be a little bit smaller this year in the sense of, I think, time wise, I think it would be maybe a whole 150.
Jeff Revilla:Oh, boy.
Wendy Brant:But we do panels also. Yeah. So but, yeah, it's a... It's an amazing event. You're right.
Wendy Brant:The the sessions are cutting edge. The speaker committee is always looking, they're always looking for things that are new and different, and we... And looking for people who are doing things in a different way. And so, Jeff, to your point, you know, when you brought this this session up and and said, wanna talk about this. Had not not even if it had been done, it was something that wasn't mainstream, but it was interesting to hear thoughts and ideas about it.
Wendy Brant:And so that's where we've gotten some of the most amazing sessions are folks that aren't the mainstream. They're not the big dogs, and so they've learned how to do things differently, or they've had their thinking out of the box, and they've just done something. They tried it their way instead of a different way and and they wanna share. And so that's what's great, about Podcast is that there's just... Yeah.
Wendy Brant:You have so many opportunities to see so many different things and to talk about so many different things. And we do try and bring a lot of stuff in that's... That is cutting edge. We do a lot of stuff with authors because writing books and podcasting are very, very similar. We talk a lot about what you can do, obviously, now with, content, and we're trying to be very intentional.
Wendy Brant:We're... I think that's that's a... That may even be, like, the theme for for the event, maybe intentionality. Because it's intentionality about who we're bringing in because you guys, what you need, and what you wanna hear. It's your intentionality when you're attending events.
Wendy Brant:What do you need? What do you need for your event, for your podcast? And our intentionality of making sure that we're putting together something that that brings all those pieces parts together. So the intentionality behind it is is really is really big. That's...
Wendy Brant:I think that's really kind of the key.
Jeff Revilla:Yeah. So everybody, go to Google after the show and Google Podcast Expo. Get there in January 2027. I'll be speaking again. I'm excited that we'll be announcing the session soon.
Jeff Revilla:All this... The the schedule will be coming out soon. Yes. Is there still early bird tickets? Are there...
Wendy Brant:Are... The tickets are... The price goes up every month. So there are tickets that are on sale now that are still cheaper than they will be next month. But I have a special deal for your folks.
Wendy Brant:Should I talk about it now or should I wait?
Jeff Revilla:Let's go. Let's sit late.
Wendy Brant:Alright. So if you use the code Wendy 20, I made it really, really easy. Wendy 20, you'll get 20% off of any creator pass, editor pass, or VIP pass. So, yeah, that's the cheapest that you can get right now for sure. And, because normally, we only do 10% off, but, I'm giving you guys 20.
Wendy Brant:Don't say anything. I know. I know. I know. But, yeah, the schedule will be coming out soon.
Wendy Brant:We have actually, selected the majority of, of the speakers. We have a few that will still be coming in and some amazing, sessions on AI, a very big topic this year, obviously, and how to use it, to your benefit without getting caught up in it. I think there's a lot of people that are, worried about the ethics of AI and how they're gonna do that. So we have a lot of sessions on that, how to use it to your... To help you do the things that you do every day, but without taking it away from you, you know, those kinds of things.
Wendy Brant:So there'll be a lot on that. There'll be a lot of... We always talk about branding, things like this, talking about different ways to bring your communities in, brainstorming about different things you can do. Live podcasting is... Know, Jeff, you're the...
Wendy Brant:One of the first ones ever talked to me about that, as you said, you know, six years ago. And I see it in quite a few places. And, of course, every time I see it, think of you. And I'm so excited for folks to be trying this and and and having success with it. And I think it's a great idea, and I just love it.
Wendy Brant:And that's just thinking outside the box. What else can we do with this medium? How else do we bring people together that can't be with us at this moment but still enjoy? And so it's really cool. So it's it's a neat thing that you're doing and and that...
Wendy Brant:These are the types of things that we talk about at Podcast, like you said.
Jeff Revilla:Yeah. Get there. Podcast expo. Google it. Get the tickets.
Jeff Revilla:Use the discount. And Wendy is almost perfectly setting up our very first story. Are you ready to get into the stories?
Wendy Brant:I am.
Jeff Revilla:Because we're talking community, we're talking bringing people together. And the Legacy Lounge out in Steuville, Ohio turned their show's mission into a real world community event. Their inaugural community cookout in Bellevue Park brought together more than 300 people for food, music, raffles, swimming, and activities for kids. The podcast partnered with the city of Steubenville, churches, nonprofits, volunteers, and sponsors to create an event centered on connecting residents and giving local families access to community resources. And this is exactly what Wendy is talking about.
Jeff Revilla:What can be bigger than your podcast? What can be bigger than involving the community and supporting the community and giving back? Now this show and the Legacy Lounge, they're part of this community. They're woven into it. When people start to think about podcasting in Steubenville, guess who they're gonna think about?
Jeff Revilla:I think they're gonna go to the Legacy Lounge.
Wendy Brant:Right. Absolutely. This is such a clever idea too. And I I didn't hear until you just read it. So sounds like they also got a lot of the other community folks involved.
Wendy Brant:They... The town involved. Is that what you said? That they got the city involved?
Jeff Revilla:Yeah. They partnered with the city of Steubenville and and a bunch of nonprofits and local organizations.
Wendy Brant:That is so smart. And so, again, to me, it's about thinking outside of the box. You know, where can where can we find people that are also wanting to do some of the same things we're doing? We're trying to build community. So what can we do around that?
Wendy Brant:I think this was just such a brilliant idea. And, of course, around food, you can't you can't beat you that. So that was an extra brilliant move on their part.
Jeff Revilla:That's it. I'm there for the food and the bouncy house.
Wendy Brant:There you go. There you go.
Jeff Revilla:And and if... Think about local... On a local level too. How many podcasters can do something where 300 people are gonna interact with them and their shows? So whether or not they recorded an episode here, they were wearing their jerseys.
Jeff Revilla:They had Legacy Lounge jerseys. The volunteers had Legacy Lounge jerseys. They're giving out food. They're interacting. They're they're telling people who they are and what they stand for.
Jeff Revilla:And their mission is to help the community. And that's what they were doing. That's the mission of their podcast. And they're living it and they're doing it and they're interacting with 300 people in in one time.
Wendy Brant:Right. And I think... Exactly right. Even if they didn't record anything, it's not about that because that's that's the that's the mission to bring the folks there. The the mission is is getting the people together and supporting the community.
Wendy Brant:So what an amazing way to do that. And as you said, yeah, they may not even have known. There probably were people that showed up that didn't even know what podcasting was or is. And these folks not only got to introduce themselves, but also talk about this amazing thing in this amazing space and their amazing city that's helping bringing all of them together. And now they also get to talk about this podcast.
Wendy Brant:And then what else happens? Oh, you have a business, and we would love to highlight your business here on the Steubenville Legacy Lounge Community Podcast, whatever, you know. And and so that's how you're growing. And again, you're... Now you're supporting community that you didn't even know was out there either and they didn't know you existed.
Wendy Brant:I I just love this.
Jeff Revilla:Yeah. If the right people were in that audience and maybe there's business owners, all of a sudden, there's sponsorship opportunities. Or there's a potential, maybe it's a bar or a restaurant, maybe there's an opportunity to do a live show. So now, these 300 people might lead to other things. So it's so important to get out there, build that community, interact with your community in real life.
Jeff Revilla:I I always say, don't just rely on your algorithm and your social media feed. Shake hands. Make eye contact. Meet people in real life. Those connections are exponentially better than you'll make on social media.
Wendy Brant:Absolutely. We call it retail politicking. My husband calls it retail politicking when you go out, and it's just to meet the one person. You know, we're all in the politician kinda mode. But if you really think about it, that is that is what it's about.
Wendy Brant:That is where the connections will come in. I mean, I love you guys listening to me and talking to me, but, you know, when we're face to face and that energy and exchange and you're like, you know, you're together, that's that's magic also.
Jeff Revilla:And speaking of magic, more than one on one, how about 26,000 people to go see live podcasting? And this one really turned some heads this week in the podcast world. GoHanger brought much of its podcast network together for the first The Rest is Fest, a three day live podcast festival at London's Southbank Centre from September fourth through the sixth. The festival featured 22 shows and sold 26,000 tickets ranging from live editions of established podcasts to one time collaborations and entirely new formats. Goal Hanger says roughly 85% of attendees came specifically for one particular show, so keep that in mind, demonstrating how individual podcasts can build passionate communities while collectively supporting a much larger live event.
Wendy Brant:Wow. This is so cool. Actually, this is something that I have been brainstorming about with some other folks as well, doing an event like this. And I am so excited to see that Goal Hanger was able to pull... To do this and pull this off.
Wendy Brant:That blows me away. 26,000 tickets. That's that's insane, y'all. That's an arena for a hockey game. Right?
Wendy Brant:Think about it. I'm a sports girl. So everything... It all relates to some kind of sports, college or pro. It's all...
Wendy Brant:You know? So that's a sports arena. That's like a... Know, that's Emily Arena. I'm a live in Tampa.
Wendy Brant:That's where we play hockey. So that is just absolutely amazing. And I am... I love... Again, it's thinking outside of the box.
Wendy Brant:They brought in active live shows. They brought in specialty series to do things, special shows to... It sounds like to bring... They... Sounds like they brought folks in even for special collaborations.
Wendy Brant:I just think that's absolutely amazing. And I'm hoping that we'll be able to do something similar here in The US because, golly, that that is such an opportunity, again, to introduce this medium to so many people.
Jeff Revilla:Yeah. One of the things I took from this is 85% of the attendees came for one show. So if you're thinking, well, will people come to see my show? Yes. People are going to see live podcasts of the podcast they love to listen to.
Jeff Revilla:So if you have some friends, some family members in your local community, they're going to come see you. People are doing this as a form of entertainment and the fact that out of 26,000 people, 85%, probably 22, 23,000 of them were there for one particular show, the show that they wanted to see, like that was the must see show, and then they absorbed the other ones over the other days. But one show drew them in and that's those types of connections that you're building through your digital medium, through your m p three files. You're making all these connections in the virtual world, but those people listening to you, they know you better than you think they do. They've connected with you.
Jeff Revilla:Your words resonate with them and they will come out to see you. And this is one of those stats that really prove people really connect with podcasters, and they wanna go see a particular podcast.
Wendy Brant:Yeah. And get to meet them and get to know them. I think we're more... I think podcasters are more... We feel, because we are, more accessible than, like, you know, celebrities.
Wendy Brant:And so I think that that... Because we're in people's ears, we do feel more... It feels more personal. So, like, people recognize or will come up or other podcasters, and they don't, they'll just come up and say, oh my gosh. I recognize you or know you.
Wendy Brant:I recognize your voice. And it's almost, it's more of a friendly, like, haven't seen you in a while or how things are going versus a celebrity where they're like, oh, they're... A celebrity seems unapproachable, whereas a a podcast person, they're part of your family already. And so I believe... Again, agree with you on this stat, but the thing that I love hearing...
Wendy Brant:So if 85% came to see one particular podcast, how many of those do you think stayed for a second show or a third or a fourth or the weekend because we're already here? I'm gonna guess a lot of them did. And so that is such an awesome way also, you know, so much opportunity to to... People don't listen to just one multiple shows. So what a great way to canvas and get a whole bunch of shows in front of people.
Jeff Revilla:Yeah. And and what's wrong with sitting down for maybe half an hour, getting a new perspective, getting some new ideas, absorbing a new show, watching it with your friend. Maybe it's a show that your friend is very passionate about and you go to attend to be the supportive friend, you might find a whole new genre that you love. I've just learned about audio dramas. I'm 50 years old, I've been podcasting fifteen years and I just found out that there's audio dramas.
Jeff Revilla:Like, where have I been? And it's something that I'm fascinated with now. I I met a gentleman who does them instead of doing pilots for Hollywood Studios, he does pilots now as podcasts and ships the podcast off to try to get the episode or the movie sold. And I am like, I am fascinated by this whole new world I just found and it's because I opened my mind, I'm trying new things and that's exactly what festivals like this. And if Wendy puts that one together that she's been dreaming about, you know, same type of concept.
Jeff Revilla:Try a different show. Try something new. You'll be surprised what you love and and maybe who you connect with.
Wendy Brant:Yeah. Absolutely. Find the missions, you know, people... Our podcasts podcasts are are mostly mostly about something that's, you know, something that's important for somebody or some some kind of something they wanna share or learn or grow. There's just so much out there, and I I would love to see podcasts being used almost like YouTube.
Wendy Brant:You know? I need to find some information on this, so I think I'll listen to a podcast about it as well. You know? Sure. You can read the stuff on Google, but why not listen to something and get that information in another way?
Wendy Brant:I love to do that. I love to find stuff that I'm trying to work on or solve or something new. Or Lately, that's how my searching has been going. It's not... It's been quite a bit of entertainment.
Wendy Brant:It's been like, oh, I wanna listen to a business podcast on whatever. I was listening to another podcast a couple weeks ago about SEO also about how I want to... I need to redo some of my stuff, and I wanna... You know, our algorithms in the world is changing. So I'm gonna rewrite some titles and rewrite some descriptions and things like that.
Wendy Brant:So, you know, you find your podcast like you do your YouTube searches now.
Jeff Revilla:Yeah. There's audio dramas. There's fictional. There's business podcasts. And another big popular one, murder.
Jeff Revilla:Right? People love crime shows. And this is... This show, Crimes of the Century, is nationally known, and it's bringing its podcast to Butler County, Ohio Ohio, really representing on today's show. They're bringing back a murder case that that's gonna be live on September 12.
Jeff Revilla:Journalists Amber Hunt and Amanda Rossman will record a two hour episode before an audience while examining a late nineteenth century murder, murder trial and its connections to local history. The Butler County Historical Society is helping present the event with tickets ranging from 25 to $70 with a VIP experience that adds meet and greets, photos, autographs, theme snacks, and a signed book.
Wendy Brant:I love this. How clever of them. And, again, using the community and getting the community involved, the historical society. But, again, thinking outside the box, oh my gosh. How clever is this?
Wendy Brant:So they're taking an old case, and they're gonna re... Rehash it and open it and talk about it in front of everybody. I think that's that's brilliant.
Jeff Revilla:And I think you mentioned authors earlier. This is part of a a book launch too. They're doing a book signing. They're doing a live show. They're promoting the book.
Jeff Revilla:The VIP experience probably, you know, packages in the book as a as a price. Then you get to meet the authors. You get a photograph, they'll sign the book for you. What a great experience to bring a project that you've been working on, bringing it to life for the community. And they can come out and enjoy a night, see you tell stories, learn more about the book and even get a get a photograph.
Jeff Revilla:How how much better is that?
Wendy Brant:Yeah. Well, I think the thing about the, you know, the crime podcast that... And and I will be a 100% transparent here. I actually don't listen. I should open my my mind and my ears, and maybe when I'm looking for my next entertainment thing to listen to...
Wendy Brant:Like, I need to be addicted to something else. Okay. I pay. Alright. Maybe I have to go to the short episode ones, but...
Wendy Brant:Because people do love them. But what I love about this is, again, thinking I'm a out of the box kinda girl. So if you... I don't know these folks and if this is a replicable thing, but what about going... They could take this and go to many other cities and towns, not only all over Ohio, but, like, if that's kinda their jam, why don't they have their, audience members write in and say, hey.
Wendy Brant:Here's an unsolved case in, you know, Tampa, Florida. Come down to Tampa, and we'll talk about it or whatever. And, like, now they can start to get their audience involved and helping us decide where we're going to go next and things like... Think about like that. And then what's going to happen with their next group?
Wendy Brant:People are going to show up because they've helped plan and talk about and they're excited about picking the next case or whatever it is.
Jeff Revilla:I love it. And and we've had food in the first story and this one has themed snacks. I'm I'm curious to know what the themed snacks are gonna be.
Wendy Brant:They're a little... It on what the murder was. Maybe they're a little like, axe cookies or something or... I'm I'm suspecting nineteen hundreds. I don't know why I went Lizzie Borden, but that's where I went.
Wendy Brant:Nineteen hundreds, maybe that's all they had were axes and, like, muskets. I'm assuming. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.
Wendy Brant:I'm assuming. But... Yeah. I I love... Or...
Wendy Brant:Yeah. I love the I love the themed snacks as well.
Jeff Revilla:Well, every time I pick a a Kathleen Hannah story, it's always because it reminds... My daughter still plays a little Latigra to get pumped up before like a volleyball match or cheerleading. So I always love to have a Kathleen Hanna story here. And the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame brought Paramore's Hailey Williams together with Kathleen Hanna for a live edition of the Music Makes Us Podcast. The sold out conversation explored musical influences, creativity, live performances, changing artist's artistic direction and the relationships artists developed with fans.
Jeff Revilla:Now the full conversation has been released as a video, given the original live event a second life as long form digital content. The recording itself repeatedly acknowledges the energy of being together in a room, including Hannah opening by thanking the audience for selling out the show.
Wendy Brant:This is so neat. I think that there are so many shows like this that are happening. I had the the opportunity... Oops, the opportunity to be in New York City, and there's a a studio up there that's doing similar. And it's really, really neat to be able to bring these artists in and bring these folks in and allow...
Wendy Brant:Again, it's allow... It's people having access, and it's allowing the artist to share something that they love in a different way. So they're not having to be on stage. She's not having to sing. She gets to sit down and talk to people.
Wendy Brant:And guess what? People who do something, they have other likes, and they have other things that they love as well. I get to meet, I've had the opportunity to meet a lot of actors and actresses, and and we're always talking about it. Said, well, what do you love to do besides acting? Because that's just your job.
Wendy Brant:That's what you do. And and and, you know, what are the... Some of the other things? And so it's fun to hear about those things. And in this particular, story that you talked about, I think it's so interesting that they were able just to sell out just a conversation.
Wendy Brant:That it... It's it's just a conversation. But the power of hearing people's stories, what their history is, what they've done, how they've made it, whatever that is, is so big. And it's so encouraging, empowering.
Jeff Revilla:Yeah. This is the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, bringing two artists to the stage that just talk about music and their early influences in punk rock and indie rock and really producing their own content. And you're seeing a lot of this. And I always think back to... This is a funny story.
Jeff Revilla:My dad had a recording studio when I was a kid and his initials were Doctor, David Revilla, Audio. But for some reason, in some database, it got abbreviated to Doctor Audio. We would get Rolling Stone and Spin Magazine and Cosmopolitan mailed to our house for our waiting room for Doctor Audio. So we would get all these. And when you got those magazines twenty years ago, the Rolling Stones and the Spins, you were reading conversations like what was happening on this stage.
Jeff Revilla:Here we are in this new world, this new media, this new environment where those articles aren't so much... They're not in print anymore but they exist in the real world now. And to be able to sit in the audience and see that interview happen instead of just reading the words on the page, being there in the moment, hearing the reactions, the laughter, you don't get that from from a Rolling Stone magazine. But here at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, they're bringing those types of stories that we loved as kids. They're bringing them to life as entertainment.
Wendy Brant:And the other thing too you talked about, and I love how you mentioned that. So not only do those people that got to sit there in front of them and and experience that live and in person, but we also get to watch it now. You know? And that's... That is also amazing.
Wendy Brant:And I love... You mentioned something about how the releasing of the video has given that that show or that interview a second life because now it's out in long form. And I think that people are really, that's a great example of the fact that long form can be video and people will still listen because I'm sure that people are taking that show in not only as video but as audio as well. I mean, they're just gonna listen, but I... It's such an amazing opportunity to be able to do that, and we're all as content creators looking for different ways and thinking about, well, what do we have?
Wendy Brant:What is our... What is the content that's out there? Should we do something else with it? Break it up. Do...
Wendy Brant:Are there other stories? Are there other ways that we can help reach people by changing up what we already have? And I think that's really a neat opportunity.
Jeff Revilla:Yeah. Cleverly repurposing. Don't just repurpose for the sake of doing it, but here's a special event that was a limited one time only. I know you have fans who couldn't be in Cleveland that wanted to be there. Well, that's special content.
Jeff Revilla:That's bonus content for the rest of the fans around the world. So think strategically, how can I reuse this asset that I created? I have a video, I have an audio from this live performance. There's got to be some other things we can do with it. And in this one, they waited till their next season came out and then they dropped this ahead of the season to promote the new season, which was, I think, a great strategy to get people talking about was it Music Makes Us Podcast.
Wendy Brant:Right. Right. Yeah. That's... Yeah.
Wendy Brant:Very, very, very clever. Love that.
Jeff Revilla:I thought this next story was really, really clever and and this was KUNC's In The No Co brought public radio storytelling onto the stage at the historic Park Theater in Estee Park, Colorado for a live interview with restaurateur and former sponsored climber, Melissa Strong. More than a 100 people attended as host Erin O'Toole spent about forty minutes guiding Strong through her journey from climbing and entrepreneurship to a catastrophic 2017 electrical accident recovery and her decision to sell off the restaurants. The event demonstrates how local news organizations can use the podcast format and a live audience to tell a deeply local story in a much more personal way.
Wendy Brant:Yeah. And I think, you know, I I wanted to comment on that earlier on with our first couple ones. So this this story is the first story where... So there... They had more than a 100 folks.
Wendy Brant:A 100 people is a lot of people. And I wanna tell everybody out there, if you're thinking of doing this and you are like, oh, well, we're we're not gonna get 300 people, you may not, and it's okay. I wanted to point that out too that, you know, if you get... Even if 25 people show up to something that you're trying and doing, I think that's amazing. So I just wanted to point out that the 22,000 people in London, the 300 in in the other place, you know, now we're down to a a 100, and that's probably what a a normal live event for first timers might try.
Wendy Brant:I also love this because if you looked at that picture that you put up on on... From the from the article, it's very minimal. There's not a lot going on there. Yeah. So they're...
Wendy Brant:They've got a table, some folding chairs, and their microphones. And so I wanted to point that out too, that you don't have to have this amazing, crazy set and all these things at this gorgeous theater like Jeff does. You don't have to do all that. It can be just... Again, because the important thing is the conversation.
Wendy Brant:So it's not how... What the chairs look like and what the... How many plants do you have on the stage. So don't be afraid to do it minimalistically. Don't be afraid of the numbers, and and and I...
Wendy Brant:You know, we always say start ugly. Just try it and do it. So I think these are excellent examples of just trying it and doing it and and doing something that's different.
Jeff Revilla:Absolutely. I I tell podcasters don't invest more than you're comfortable with losing. It's like gambling. Right? You don't...
Jeff Revilla:You gotta... You have to really go into this at a certain rate. And I tell most people, there are ways to do this for zero out of pocket cost. There are there are coffee shops on... At 03:00 on a Tuesday that are completely empty that would love to have some foot traffic.
Jeff Revilla:There are restaurants with banquet rooms that don't have graduation parties or wedding receptions on a Tuesday evening at at 8PM, they'd be happy to have some foot traffic. So think outside the box. You can put podcasts on almost anywhere and you can find spaces. Don't go into a hotel and try to book a ballroom. That's gonna set you back like $5.
Jeff Revilla:But partner with local businesses and a simple setup like... This is a beautiful setup. I love it. It's just... It's it's almost what I have here.
Jeff Revilla:It's two chairs and a table. Yeah. That's that's all you need to be simple. And in the back, I love the color of the background with that light blue. It's like they're sitting just outside against the sky and they're just having a natural conversation, two friends.
Jeff Revilla:And those are the types of things that we try to stress. Like, you don't have to reinvent the wheel. There's ways to do this on a very shoestring budget. And in my theater, I hold 40 seats. I have a capacity of 40 people in this theater.
Jeff Revilla:And I will tell you, most people's first shows are in the 15 to 25 range. And that's... They are... I can't tell you how excited that that evening is for that podcaster. That 15 to 25 people showed up and they had a conversation.
Jeff Revilla:They had a meet and greet afterward. They got to meet their fans. That is a huge win for a small independent podcaster that it really changes what's possible. It really opens up your mind of what can I do with this? Like, how powerful is podcasting that it expands beyond, you know, my m p three file, beyond the the the social clips that I'm posting?
Jeff Revilla:You know, there's something bigger here that's... We're talking about community and bringing people together. It's way bigger than just your m p three file, and and these first five stories are are demonstrating that.
Wendy Brant:Yeah. And I think, you know, so true. That's... And I'm glad you talked about the fact that, you know, it's it's only, you know, 15 to 25 people is is exciting and good. And and when you were talking about that, Jeff, I was thinking about, wouldn't it be cool if, maybe even in Trenton, Pennsylvania, if there were such a thing where there were some live podcasting or...
Wendy Brant:I forget if I said it right. But but that, you know, where you're showcasing maybe, you know, every year, five new podcasts come on and do the new podcast show there, and you get to highlight... And they get to come and bring in their people. And then, you know, people come in and and everybody gets an opportunity to do five at a time. And and so there would be an audience for everybody because new folks may not have a ton of people.
Wendy Brant:But would that be fun if everybody, about 20 or 10 people, they would fill up your space? Whoops. They would fill up your space. But, like... So, again, thinking outside of the box, what are some other things?
Wendy Brant:I... I'm gonna start talking about this when we go on pod tours. It's like, why don't you guys get together and do a showcase? They could do it, you know, find a podcast studio that needs... That wouldn't mind some foot traffic, that wouldn't mind people coming in.
Wendy Brant:They can give some tours. They don't have to... Maybe they wouldn't charge for it and do three or four, you know, live shows with new podcasts or something. I don't know. I think it's a it's a cool idea.
Wendy Brant:I'm gonna start talking about it to people.
Jeff Revilla:Yeah. And I tell... Libraries a lot of times have media centers or auditoriums, and and they're maybe $75 to rent. It doesn't take a lot. There's...
Wendy Brant:If that.
Jeff Revilla:Yeah. They they may just be excited if you bring in 50 people.
Wendy Brant:Mhmm.
Jeff Revilla:Maybe they'll get a couple new members and it's this kind of thinking outside the box. And if you're going to PodTour, which I highly recommend if it's coming to your town, and meet... And you meet five other podcasters, what a great way to connect with them to put on a showcase. The, hey. Hey, small town that I live in.
Jeff Revilla:Here's here's the podcasts that are being produced right here in your backyard. You know, these are independent podcasters doing something that major media companies do, and it's happening in your town. It's happening down the street frame. May even be in your backyard if the neighbor across the way is is recording a podcast. This is happening all over the place.
Wendy Brant:Mhmm. And I think that's the other thing about... Too about podcasting is that I am... So many people podcast that you don't even know that are podcasting. Like you just said, it could be your neighbor.
Wendy Brant:You don't even know it. And and you won't because we don't really talk about it. It's not something that most folks talk about unless their podcast happens to be really big because it's just not... They're doing their regular thing. It's just part of their lives, but they may not be advertising it.
Wendy Brant:So, yeah, checking in with and asking all those things. And by the way, we are pod tours. We should look into doing something like this for a pod tour when we come up to Pennsylvania next year. I think we're planting seeds.
Jeff Revilla:I know a great space where I would... They would love to host you.
Wendy Brant:I think we should look into doing something like that. So, yeah, I love it.
Jeff Revilla:And I... It sounds like... Like, Wendy and I sound really big on DIY, on independent podcasters doing it themselves, producing their own content. And I thought this last story was the best way to showcase DIY. And and this is really the power of podcasting.
Jeff Revilla:This story is just incredible. The more I read into it, the more I learned about this podcast. It's a localized podcast typically covering San Francisco. But listen to what they've accomplished in thirteen years. It's pretty incredible.
Jeff Revilla:This is San Francisco's Bitch Talk is approaching 1,000 episodes after thirteen years of independent podcast. Hosts Aaron Lim and Angela Tabora have built the show around Bay Area culture, film, activism and an Asian American perspective while resisting the advice to make the podcast more mainstream. They largely self fund the show through an annual fundraiser and occasional sponsorships while expanding into film festivals, live q and a's, and community events. Their longevity provides an interesting counterpoint to the idea that podcast success must mean massive audiences, corporate ownership, or constant growth.
Wendy Brant:I think for... I... I'm so proud of them, and I I have met many people who have had trouble sticking to their guns, for lack of a better term. And I feel like these ladies, they wanted to do what they wanted to do, and that's what they did. And I love that.
Wendy Brant:I have a a session that I do sometimes when I go and speak, and it's called Confessions of a Rebel Podcaster because I also didn't follow a lot of the rules and directions. And, you know, sometimes you pay for that and sometimes you don't. And, sometimes it works out great. And I think for them, it's amazing. Thirteen years.
Wendy Brant:So they're... That's, first of all, to have been podcasting for thirteen years. Our conference is thirteen years old. Thirteen years ago, people still didn't really know what podcasting was. The medium's really only been around, I think, seventeen or eighteen years, like legit, like, maybe twenty since the the actual technology has been around.
Wendy Brant:There's some amazing, documentaries on that if you ever wanna check out the the the true, beginning of podcasting with the iPod and all that good stuff. But but that's... Thirteen years is a really long time, and a thousand episodes is wonderful. It sounds like they they did what they wanted to do. They did it when they could.
Wendy Brant:They did it what they... How they wanted to do it and got their sponsors, people that believed them and trusted them. And they were able to hold true to what they wanted because they didn't do anything that had to have dollars or sponsors or they had to do x y z series or episodes. And and there is power in that. And I think true to your point a little bit earlier, Jeff, that you don't have to have a lot of money to start this.
Wendy Brant:I started it literally this mic. This is my original... And it's the one that just sits in the studio here. I usually have a fancy cover on it, but this was a $99 Audio Technica mic. I loved it so much.
Wendy Brant:I bought the new version for... I think it was on sale for $79, so I paid less for... On Black Friday. It has the USB C in the back, but I literally bought less than a $100 mic and my iPhone. And that's what we did, and I started the recording in my closet like everybody does.
Wendy Brant:And, oh, and this mic stand that I paid that I paid, like, $19 for on Amazon. So, I mean, literally for under a $100, and that's what we started. So you don't have to have a lot. And I just love that these ladies have held true to what they wanna do and their vision, and it sounds like they have. And I wanna talk to them.
Wendy Brant:I think that's awesome.
Jeff Revilla:You don't have to have a global audience. You don't have to have millions and millions of monthly downloads. This is a localized podcast specializing in San Francisco culture. It's highly local to Central California and they've been self funded. The community has done fundraisers for them and shown up to support them year after year and it's a smaller local conference.
Jeff Revilla:So don't think when you hear these stories of these global podcasters getting these giant sponsorships, you can do this in your hometown. You can build something special that is just for your community that the community will show up for and and support you. And and they've done one of the best jobs I've seen in in building a local based podcast.
Wendy Brant:Absolutely. I think a lot of the... Again, the theme that I talked about earlier, intentionality. Their intentionality, that's what they wanted. It was their intention.
Wendy Brant:They... San Francisco, that's what they know. That's what they love. Obviously, that's what they wanted to tell the stories about, and they've been able to do it for thirteen years. But think about all of these stories that we've talked about.
Wendy Brant:You know, even in, recording, we were talking about earlier in recording and and, being able to release things in in long form and intentionality behind all those things. Like, the more intentional we are, the I feel like it. The more intentional we are in knowing what we're... Why we're doing the thing that we're doing, so the podcast, the episode, whatever it is, the easier it is to kind of align with the folks that need it and then the folks that will sponsor to bring bring whatever you need from... You know, to you from that.
Wendy Brant:Does that make sense?
Jeff Revilla:Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. So we're talking DIY and Yeah. You can build this from scratch.
Jeff Revilla:Your passion can pave the way forward. And you don't have to go out and seek sponsorships right away. You can build a product that you love, that you're happy with, that is passionate and true to yourself and that'll find an audience. And that's what they've done over thirteen years and they've really been embraced by the Bay Area and they now have something that they can... I don't know if they fully live off it, but for a while, they're gonna make some good money but they're gonna love what they do they're gonna love supporting that community.
Jeff Revilla:And it's just... This is DIY to the core, and that's what caught my attention. And and they've done it better than anybody I've seen.
Wendy Brant:I would suspect that they probably... This is not their real job, probably. I mean, not their... I mean, there's probably not their full time job. It's a real job, but it's probably not their full time job.
Wendy Brant:And, because... And and that's probably part of their intentionality behind it. It probably wasn't ever meant to be, and that's also probably why they didn't take on big sponsors. It wasn't supposed... They they kept it with whatever they wanted to to keep it at.
Wendy Brant:And so... Is my guess. But they're, I just I just... I think that the DIY piece of it, and we talk about it all the time, especially at Podcast, we bring... There's a lot of independent podcasters that that come to Podcast.
Wendy Brant:So we talk a lot about, what we can share and help each other when we're learning how to do this. But the bottom line is it really does not take much. It... Technologically, it doesn't take a lot. And if you wanna learn very minimal, these days, you don't even need to learn a lot about editing to be able to do a podcast and d...
Wendy Brant:DIY it yourself. They're really... It's it's it's not challenging. And if you have a mission and a message, then I encourage you to pick up a microphone and see what you can do.
Jeff Revilla:Absolutely. That's the best way to end this show. And I did warn you, it goes by so fast. We covered six stories about live podcasts, doing this all around the world. And, I'm so glad you were able to join us today.
Jeff Revilla:Given the perspective, the thirteen years of Podfest, the pod tours, building those communities, I couldn't think of anybody better to cover these six stories, and I'm so honored that you're able to join us here tonight.
Wendy Brant:Well, I thank you so much for having me, and I'm so glad that we also were able to reconnect during a Pod Tour. Wasn't that fortuitous? And I just... I... Please check and see if if you guys are listening.
Wendy Brant:Our our podcast... Excuse me. Our Podfest schedule is on our Podfest website. We're headed to Texas this month. I'll be out in Los Angeles at the end of the month, And I...
Wendy Brant:Oh, Portland was just... I think it was a zoo... Yep. Portland, just had. So I was gonna say we have Portland, but, just coming up.
Wendy Brant:So we have things coming up all the time. There'll be one in Clearwater, Florida coming up and in Orlando as well. So they're... We're doing them all over the country. One in Atlanta coming up as well.
Wendy Brant:Yeah. So there's all... They're all over the place. So join us if you can. We would love to meet you.
Wendy Brant:If you've never been to a Podfest, it's an amazing way to come and meet some of us and meet other folks that... We usually get people that are actually attendees that come to our Pod Tours as well. And so meet other people that are already in your community that are that are already doing this. But, again, I think it's, again, it's that intentionality piece, you know, that, Jeff, that if you if you have a mission, you have a message, and you have a way that you wanna share it in podcasting podcasting or content creation is the way that you're wanting to do that, there's so many avenues out there, and there's so many ways and places to get your message across. And podcasting is is just a great way, and there's so many ways to get support.
Wendy Brant:You're really not alone, but you do have to look for it. So find your community, find your folks, and build your mission.
Jeff Revilla:And if you want to jump start that mission and jump start finding that community, I will say you need to be in Orlando this January, go to Podfest, Search Podcast Expo. I don't... Is there anything else you wanna add to that? Because we covered pretty much everything.
Wendy Brant:Yeah. Let's see. Wendy 20. Don't forget Wendy 20 is the code. And I will shamelessly plug, generally, Orlando in January is a really great place to be.
Wendy Brant:So it's fabulously usually, temperature wise, and stay an extra day. We have... There's some theme parks or something there. There's some kind of other stuff to do, like, later other times. But but it's an amazing time to come to our to our area.
Wendy Brant:And although last year, it was... I think we had a cold front come through, and it got all the way down to 65 degrees. And everybody said to me, it's so cold. And I said, well, how cold is it where you live? And they said, oh, yeah.
Wendy Brant:You're right. Never mind. It's like 10.
Jeff Revilla:Yeah. As somebody who lives in Pittsburgh, boo hoo. Yeah. It was so cold. It was 65 degree.
Jeff Revilla:I'm wearing shorts and a t shirt if it's 65 in Florida, for sure. And I'm coming in a day early and I'm staying a day late. Yay. Just have taken all the things in and around Orlando. So Orlando, January Podcast Expo, Wendy, do you remember what time it was?
Wendy Brant:It's time to buy your Podcast Expo tickets. Yay.