This series is all about Libsyn podcasters. Its sole purpose is to introduce these awesome podcasts to the world as well as share their podcasting insight to empower the community!
Q & A with Zaakirah from See Life Different
When did you start podcasting?
After two years of procrastinating, my first podcast episodes were released in March 2019. I wanted to release it during Women’s History Month.
Why did you start podcasting?
To tell my story as a multi passionate, multi faceted, marginalized cancer survivor, to be the voice for other women, and to inspire them to step outside of their comfort zone and tell their own stories.
What’s the name of your show and what is it about?
Formerly the Living Legacy Podcast, the See Life Different Podcast is a weekly solo and interview based podcast that features creative women of purpose as they share stories of entrepreneurship and how they overcome mental health and adversity.
What’s your podcasting set-up?
My podcast setup is continuously changing. What I appreciate about podcasting is how portable it can be.
I have a background in videography so I’ve used the original Zoom H1 Handy microphone (now out of stock).
When that stand broke off, I started using standard in-ear headphones – the really good ones that not only play good music but have a good high def microphone to go along with it.
I will also occasionally use my Logitech H390 Headset.
Most recently if it is a solo episode or I am simply recording the sponsored message, I will use a Lavalier mic.
I’ve been a decade long Mac user so I use Garageband to edit when I am not outsourcing.
I’ll use Streamyard when it is a guest episode or if it was a guest who did not want to use video, I would use Zoom to extract the audio or integrate it with Otter.ai to transcribe and to gather the top ten keyword tags to use on YouTube.
I do my best to cancel out noise ahead of time by using a partition or closing a door and recording during quiet time. I’ll prep myself and the guest ahead of time to do my best to reduce the number of fillers that will have to be edited out.
Headliner App has been used to create promotional clips for use on social media. Canva is used for the individual episode thumbnail graphics.
How have you promoted your podcast?
I promote on all of my social media networks (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn), my email list, and the show notes on my blog.
Occasionally I will remember to post on the promotional threads in Facebook Groups other than my own. Sometimes the promotions speak for themselves with the good SEO based titles and depending on the guests if they were willing to share or add it to their website, email list and even when they are being Googled, my episode with them is being heard.
Being a guest on other podcasts helps to organically promote as well.
What do you know now that you wish you knew when you started?
I wish I would have known just how pertinent a podcast is for the longevity of your brand.
It would have made it much easier with the renaming of my podcast which now coincides with the name of my book and the ability to hone down on the niche to monetize sooner.
A podcast is a form of content, just like blogging, just like a book, and just like social media content. The podcast is a business, so treat it like one.
Zaakirah is a self described “multi passionate serial entrepreneur” and in 2019 she gifted us with See Life Different (formerly Living Legacy Podcast) where she talks to real women living, working and running businesses. An inspirational podcast for ANYONE who needs a shot in the arm of life, listen on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.
Thinking about starting a podcast can sometimes be more daunting than actually doing the work and starting one. Zakirah Muhammad is a entrepreneur, cancer survivor and author and it took a major life event to actually get started knowing that a podcast helps spread her inspirational message to a much larger audience.
If you are thinking about it, don’t wait, we can help you get started with our Start Your Podcast blog series. If you are ready, we have the best podcast hosting plans around!
