Creative Architects

Women of Color Podcasters

Are creator businesses scalable? How to leverage your community for growth. - with Danielle Corbett

Angela Hollowell — Wed, 15 Nov 2023 07:00:00 +0000

One of the hardest things about leading a creative community is sustaining it. What happens when the needs and wants of the community change?

In this episode, I speak with Danielle Desir Corbett, Founder of Women of Color Podcasters and creator of the Grants for Podcasters newsletter. Danielle and I talk about why she transitioned the WOC Podcasters group from a free group to a paid membership, the challenges of growing the community, and why she ultimately decided to end the community. Don't worry – that's not where the story ends. Her baby boy gave her the push she needed to start writing her newsletter, Grants for Creators, which is hosted on Substack. The common thread in both ventures is to start new ventures while you're scared and to allow your community to show up for you in even greater ways than you can imagine. I really enjoyed this last interview of the season, and I think you will too.

Discussion Points:

Migrating the WOC community to a paid service
A retreat that didn’t happen
The newsletter and its origin story
Looking forward, challenges, highs and lows

Resources:

Danielle Desir Corbett on Twitter/X

Bonus Episode: The Life Shift Podcast with Matt Gilhooly

Angela Hollowell — Wed, 01 Nov 2023 10:10:00 +0000

Host Matt Gilhooly has candid conversations with people about the pivotal moments that changed their lives forever.

We all have our stories, but through these conversations, we discover communities. We learn that there are commonalities through the ups and downs that we all face. But most importantly, we learn that we are not alone.

The Life Shift podcast highlights life-altering moments and humanizes the struggles and triumphs through them all.

Tune into one his most popular episodes, his conversation with Newton Cheng: https://www.thelifeshiftpodcast.com/unmasking-vulnerability-from-achieving-goals-to-embracing-emotional-depth-newton-cheng/

Check out more episodes at: https://www.thelifeshiftpodcast.com/

Who's Jersey Is It Anyway? Creative Brand Deals Explained

Angela Hollowell — Wed, 25 Oct 2023 10:00:00 +0000

In this episode, I’ll be breaking down two of the biggest creator brand deals that were recently announced – the Feastables and Charlotte Hornets collaboration and Spotify and Barcelona FC collaboration, and what they mean for the future of the creator economy. I’ll also be talking about the changes coming to Google Podcasts, Spotify’s newest AI voice translation feature in beta, and what’s new with Beehiiv, a newsletter platform built for growth.

Discussion Points:

Climate Week visit to NYC- what’s the future for physical media?
Feastables and the Charlotte Hornets jersey rights
Creating exclusively for the Spotify platform
Putting podcasters on the same level with sports
What will merch look like in the future?
How will podcasts influence in the future?
Potential Youtube podcast changes
Email newsletters, Beehiiv and Swapstack
ConvertKit/SparkLoop
Spotify’s AI translation tool

Resources:

Fuel Your Creativity: Harness the Power of Your Creative Community

Angela Hollowell — Wed, 18 Oct 2023 10:00:00 +0000

In this episode of Creative Architects, host Angela Hollowell discusses the difference between free and paid communities as well as the different types of creator business relationships you can have and ways you can find and grow your network.

Discussion Points:

Seeing your contemporaries as collaborators, not competition
Past guests with free and paid communities
Differences between free and paid community benefits
Earnings – is it worth it?
Types of creator relationships
Sponsors and brand partners
Growing by posting on social media
Events and conferences
How can you contribute?
Join the Castos Connect community

Resources:

Bonus Episode: The Chop Shop with DJ React and Eddie James

Angela Hollowell — Wed, 11 Oct 2023 14:05:01 +0000

Welcome to The Chop Shop: A Music Production Podcast. Join Music Producers DJ React and Eddie James every week as they sit down and chop it up with some of the most prolific musicians, producers, and audio engineers in the business. React is a veteran DJ and producer who has worked on projects with the likes of D12’s Denaun Porter, DJed on Eminem’s Shade45 channel on SiriusXM, & was the Official DJ for the New York Jets. Eddie James is a staple in the HipHop community, who has produced music for Multi Platinum Rapper Jadakiss, Joe Budden, Big Daddy Kane, Queen Latifah & Many More.

Please enjoy this clip of The Chop Shop with 5 time grammy award winning Focus… (pronounced Focus 3 dots), the son of Bernard Edwards Sr, the bassist from the group Chic. It was Dr. Dre who recognized his talent and skills, which is why in 2001 he signed him as a staff producer for Aftermath. Dr. Dre, Beyoncé, Eminem, Kendrick Lamar, Anderson Paak, The Game, Snoop Dogg, Christina Aguilera, Jennifer Lopez, 50 Cent, Busta Rhymes, Pink, and N’SYNC are among the many artists that Focus 3 dots has produced music for.

Listen to this episode and more at www.officialchopshoppod.com & stream now wherever you

listen to podcasts. Powered by React Media.

Uncover Powerful Insights with Audience Research on Sparktoro - with Rand Fishkin

Angela Hollowell — Wed, 04 Oct 2023 10:00:00 +0000

In this episode of Creative Architects, host Angela Hollowell welcomes Rand Fishkin to the podcast. Rand is the CEO of SparkToro, and author of Lost & Founder. You’ll hear a discussion on audience research, audience trends, and industry overlaps. Rand discusses data-driven results for creators and agencies, the decline of Twitter for niche communities, the different ways you can use audience research, and what's on the horizon for Sparktoro v2.

Discussion Points:

Who are your listeners - Sparktoro
TikTok vs other platforms, its follower-ship
How to view your audience data
Interesting cross-over marketing - Legos and D&D
Differences between ‘sources of influence’
Twitter listened to its users and responded
Use the words your customers use to describe your product
Start with surveys of your email list
What’s on the horizon for SparkToro?

Resources:

Rand Fishkin LinkedIn

SparkToro

Email us at Castos

Growing Creator Wizard with email marketing and a creative team with Justin Moore

Angela Hollowell — Wed, 20 Sep 2023 10:00:00 +0000

In this episode of Creative Architects, host Angela Hollowell talks with Justin Moore, founder of Creator Wizard, who discusses his transition from YouTube sensation to influencer marketing guru. Justin shares insights on the importance of diversifying income sources, the shift from YouTube to email marketing, overcoming imposter syndrome, and building a team for his platform. His journey offers valuable advice on the creator economy, influencer marketing, and digital entrepreneurship, providing inspiration for creators at any stage of their career.

Creator Wizard is not Justin’s first foray into influencer marketing - he began as an online creator posting videos on YouTube and made $25,000 in one month from YouTube/Google AdSense. During the pandemic, he pivoted to building Creator Wizard, where he teaches creators how to secure brand deals the right way. Brands don't have it all figured out, but you can increase your chances of creating healthy brand partnerships with his advice. Check it out now.

Discussion Points:

Justin's journey from YouTube star to creator economy pioneer
The transformative impact of a single month's AdSense earnings
Decision to diversify income streams and enter influencer marketing
Pivoting from YouTube to email marketing for growth
Imposter syndrome and building a team
Diversifying income in the creator economy
Justin's moment of realization after a re-engagement campaign result
Building trust with followers for successful influencer marketing
Evolution of Creator Wizard and assembling a freelance team
Learning from past failures to avoid ongoing business costs
Hiring and promoting from within the community
Focusing on 'zone of genius' tasks to drive business growth

Resources:

Creator Wizard

Justin Moore LinkedIn

AI Tools for Podcasters, Descript Buys Squadcast, and Patreon Exclusives on Spotify

Angela Hollowell — Thu, 14 Sep 2023 10:00:00 +0000

In this episode of Creative Architects, host Angela Hollowell updates us on some of the exciting developments in the podcasting industry, including AI and its usefulness for podcasters, some mergers and acquisitions news, and helpful advice on raising your rates annually and balancing the work of running your business as a creative entrepreneur.

Discussion Points:

AI is a hot topic in podcasting these days
AI Companies that provide podcast support
How Angela utilizes AI - let us know how you are using AI
Descript and Squadcast - a winning combination
Riverside’s AI element
Answering listener questions
Spotify/Patreon - an exciting announcement
Castos - the all-in-one solution

Resources:

Email us at Castos

AI Writing, Podcasting, and Tech. A Trio for Future Marketers? - with Deirdre Tshien

Angela Hollowell — Wed, 06 Sep 2023 06:01:00 +0000

In this episode of Creative Architects, host Angela Hollowell talks with Deidre Tshien, co-founder and CEO of Capsho. Capsho is an AI-powered content marketing tool for entrepreneurs who podcast, vlog, or livestream.

Integrating AI with creative practices has become more and more commonplace. With the integration of AI into the podcast marketing workflow, how do we make the creator the center of their stories? Angela and Deirdre discuss how marketing extends beyond podcasters to YouTubers as well in the age of video podcasting, how to avoid the podfade phenomenon, and how making 6-figures from her coaching business in 1 year really opened her eyes to the benefits of marketing your podcast well. The conversation ends with Deirdre’s biggest tip for creators wanting to start their own tech company or SaaS platform.

Discussion Points:

Deirdre and her journey to Capsho
Many podcasters stop after seven episodes
Positive stories from users
Built by marketers, Capsho is not cheap because it's extremely valuable
Investing in your future self
Advice for past Deirdre ‘if she knew then’….
AI and creativity - the pushback
The ongoing iterations of Capsho

Resources:

Deirdre Tshien LinkedIn

Capsho

Revolutionizing Sponsorship Deals: The Future of Efficient Partnerships - with Jennifer Phan

Angela Hollowell — Wed, 30 Aug 2023 23:55:00 +0000

In this episode of Creative Architects, host Angela Hollowell talks with Jennifer Phan, founder of Passionfroot, about the world of the creator economy. Passionfroot is a platform that simplifies the process of forming brand partnerships and sponsorships for creators, providing them with a diversified revenue stream.

The conversation covers how the company got started, and how Jennifer's experience in venture capital gave her the expertise to raise capital for her own SaaS company. Angela and Jennifer discuss creators growing their income with a frictionless solution to securing brand deals and sponsorships for their newsletters, podcasts, and YouTube channels. Jennifer shares the 3 lessons she's learned in increasing the likelihood of landing a brand deal, and also discusses strategies for content distribution across multiple platforms.

Discussion Points:

Passionfroot's mission to support creators
The process and benefits of brand partnerships, sponsorships
Knowing and defining your audience
Crafting custom packages for sponsors
Exploring content distribution channels
Breaking down content to increase its reach
Consistency and experimentation in content creation
Future growth of Passionfroot

Resources:

Passionfroot

Jennifer Phan Twitter

Passionfroot Twitter

Scrappy Podcasting Newsletter

Scrappy Podcast Marketing Done Right | Grow Your Show or Newsletter Today - with Jeremy Enns

Angela Hollowell — Wed, 16 Aug 2023 10:00:00 +0000

In this episode of Creative Architects, host Angela Hollowell chats with Podcast Marketing Strategist & Educator Jeremy Enns, founder of Podcast Marketing Academy. The Academy features online courses (both cohort-based and self-paced) for podcasters looking to level up the marketing for their show. The podcasting industry severely lacks ‘organic discovery’ when looking to develop a marketing plan that is tailor-made for your show. Luckily, Jeremy has experience running a podcast production agency, and through in-depth surveys with his clients, he's been able to uncover multiple paths to podcast marketing success and is teaching those strategies to other podcasters.

Discussion Points:

Starting a newsletter during the pandemic
Jeremy’s path to his podcast production company
Online business - an easier way to get clients
Finding a way to podcast marketing - with experience
Working with podcast clients began in 2015-16
Engagement - self-paced vs. cohort-based?
The changes podcasters experience after taking Academy courses
Cohort classes are becoming much easier after 3 years of practice

Resources:

Jeremy Enns LinkedIn

Jeremy Enns Website

Creative Wayfinding Newsletter

Podcast Marketing Academy

Women of Color Podcasters

Creating networking opportunities to empower BIPOC podcasters - with Tangia Estrada

Angela Hollowell — Thu, 10 Aug 2023 12:00:00 +0000

In this episode of Creative Architects, host Angela Hollowell chats with Tangia Al-awaji Estrada- one of the co-founders of BIPOC Podcast Creators - a community that supports and empowers podcasters of color. Angela and Tangia discuss the challenges of managing a global community (language and cultural barriers, starting with the very Western term BIPOC), and the importance of messaging, partnerships, and finding a niche audience. Tangia shares her journey of creating a supportive space that enables podcasters from various backgrounds to connect, learn, and grow their craft.

Discussion Points:

Building an inclusive BIPOC podcast community
Filling the void with Facebook group for BIPOC Podcast Creators
Challenges of curating a Facebook community for podcasters
Inclusive community building through networking and access
Welcoming creators from around the world, beyond the US
Overcoming language barriers and cultural differences in the community
Partnerships and messaging for a global audience
Navigating pushback from those who feel excluded
Offering newsletter subscriptions and event access to all
Combining strengths in marketing, branding, and production
Growing the community organically and naturally
Success through inclusivity, support, and partnerships

Resources:

Tangia Estrada LinkedIn

BIPOC Podcast Creators

Afropods

Join The Lab at Creator Science

Learn How to Build a Profitable Community and Bet on Yourself - with Jay Clouse

Angela Hollowell — Thu, 10 Aug 2023 09:30:00 +0000

In this episode of Creative Architects, host Angela Hollowell chats with Jay Clouse, founder of Creator Science and an experienced entrepreneur, writer, and podcaster.

Angela and Jay discuss the challenges of building a subscription-based community, scaling that community and capping it at the right size, some of the learnings Jay has gained from his experiences with rebranding, and he offers some advice to listeners about making the hard decisions, hiring, and how to avoid mistakes when building your business.

Discussion Points:

Group coaching online, joining the SPI team, going out on his own
The spectrum from creator to educator
Paid products and The Lab
Education + Community
Structuring a subscription-based community model
Looking back at Creative Companion, Zoom, Slack
Building on experience and history in a new iteration
Rebranding and procrastination
Making hard choices when tasks are not getting done
Tips and advice for expanding your team- spend time looking for the A player

Resources:

Creator Science

Jay Clouse LinkedIn

Black Podcasters Association

The Intersection of Hip Hop, Podcasting, and Community Building - with Corey Gumbs

Angela Hollowell — Thu, 10 Aug 2023 09:00:00 +0000

Welcome to the first episode of the Creative Architects podcast from Castos. Host Angela Hollowell chats with Corey Gumbs, Founder of the Black Podcasters Association, about the importance of community and support for Black podcasters.

Angela and Corey discuss how starting this community group challenged him to learn and grow as a podcaster, how podcasting has been influenced by the intersection and influence of the hip-hop industry, and Corey’s philosophies on podcasting, the innovation of Black creators, and being an advocating body (similar to organizations in film and music) for podcasters. You’ll hear about the challenges faced by Black creators in the industry and the need for genuine interest and investment from companies when collaborating with the Black creative community.

Discussion Points:

Why a group solely for black podcasters?
The learning curve in founding the group
Challenges for black podcasters
Black podcasters benefit from a supportive, diverse community
Importance of genuine investment from companies for collaboration
Gaps in media training for podcasters
Investing in quality audio and video equipment is crucial
Understanding the nuances of the Black creator community
Collaborating with Black content creators while respecting culture
Trends in the podcasting industry and creator economy
Adapting and pivoting in content creation for success
Companies should approach Black creators with genuine interest
Media training and quality production as keys to success
Navigating cultural differences and representation in podcasting

Resources:

Corey Gumbs LinkedIn