Mic & Talk

Mic & Talk is the newest initiative of Podcast Inc’s blog. It’s basically a series of blogs of interviews and talks with podcasters and some inspiring public figures. These talks tackle different topics but they all come together to be a great blog for Podcast Inc and a platform for the Fans and listeners of our Mic & Talk guests.

Good day to our blog readers! Wherever you’re, whatever you’re you doing at the moment, we hope you’re safe and sound! Excited for some interesting and fun talks? Then you’re at the right place, Welcome to Mic & Talk! 

Find all interviews from latest up to oldest down.

In Mic & Talk, we give the mic to some of our favorite podcasters and figures so they can talk and tell us more about their experience, life, and achievements that for sure, shall inspire all of us! Welcoming our guest over from The United States, Tamara Fraser!

Mic and Talk - Tamara Fraser

Interview by: Sarra Messilli, Transcribed and Reviewed by: Somaya AbuKhalil. Podcast Inc.12th of September, 2020.

Who is Tamara Fraser?

An outstanding Digital Marketer with tons of experience in the Business field varying from Public relations, Business development to drawing the strategies and creating Social and digital campaigns. Tamara is also a storyteller and a podcaster hosting her show ALL THAT WONDER to help people share their unique stories. Her show basically aims for embarking on a journey towards self-discovery; events that have shaped our lives to who we are today and who we inspire to be tomorrow.

Tamara Fraser, U.S.A

Tamara: I used my marketing skills to spread my podcast on many platforms like Pinterest and it helped her to reach out for many people to listen to my podcast.

• What do you think about the growth of Digital Marketing with the ongoing pandemic?

Tamara: Definitely, this pandemic affected digital marketing, and it is growing and growing especially due to this time of COVID-19 and people are staying home and I am one of those people. I use my credit card for online transactions to get my groceries and buy so many things online. That’s what so many people do as well instead of going out.

• People are still afraid of getting scammed when it comes to using online websites for any payment process, What do you think of this?

Tamara: I put my credit card everywhere and you know one thing you should do to feel secure is to look at the security of every website you use your credit card information with. I have a friend who is always afraid to use her credit card in the online process but i don’t feel that afraid and i do purchase what i want online.

• Do you think that Digital Marketing is the future and none will be using any on-ground advertisement? 

Tamara: No, I think it is kind of the same growth. Everywhere we go you can notice that there are a lot of boards and signs though that some places had made their advertisements digitalized but still, you can see all kinds of advertisements. And yes, there’s still on-ground advertising despite the fact that digital marketing is the future, the on-ground advertising will be updated as well. 

• Coming to your podcasting career, how did it all start? 

Tamara: I started when i lost my job at the media so i started to think of having my podcast as i have so many friends in Austraillia, USA and Dubai, as i live there now. And since i love talking to people and connecting with them, this was a motive for me to start and to be honest, when i first started, I thought to myself: What am i doing? But then i continued this as i really love and appreciate what i do and i have great passion towards it. 

• How do you encourage people to listen to your podcast?

Tamara: I use social media platforms like instagram and before every episode, i tell my listeners about this. I also started doing everything on my own and i can now have all tools needed to market for my podcast because at the beginning, it was hard!

• “ We learn while we work”. So what did you learn from your podcast?

Tamara: I definitely learned alot! I started doing the audio editing and used to spend 8 hours and more but now i minimized this to shorter time to finish editing. And also, the audio sound, the recording, i had to learn everything. While i am recording the episodes, i do learn so many things! 

• How do you prepare for every episode? 

Tamara: I kind of look for topics that people think that they suffer from alone thinking that: Oh, i am alone in that! So then, i find the idea and start talking about it and ask my friends to be my guests. I also read in Quora to find what people are actually interested in. For me, recording is easy because i love talking so this helps me create my episodes of the podcast.

• How complicated creating podcasts and maintaining them as well?

Tamara: The most complicated part is that this is a one women podcast. I do everything on my own, i do editing, the content, everything else except for the part of the guests. When you’re working for a company and in need of a day off, you can get it and then you go. But when you’re running your own show, this cannot happen. People usually skip day 1 or day 2 to take a rest and think of the next move but for me, i practice to have better results everyday! Whenever i also listen to other people’s podcasts, i be like: Oh this is amazing! I then compare it to their old podcasts to find out that their progress is great and this motivates me to keep going. 

• Do you think podcasts started growing because of the Pandemic’s Bardem or the Creative minds of people nowadays?

Tamara: I think that podcasts were growing before the pandemic . It is just due to people staying at home and this helped accelerate the growth of podcasts because of the creative minds.  Before, people were talking about their own interests but nowadays, hosts speak about others’ interests. 

• What obstacles do you face when it comes to your podcast?

Tamara: It’s about seeing the people who listen to my podcast becayse i want to know more about them and to know more about my target and doing everything on my own as well.

• Finally, what piece of advice you’d like to tell to everyone who wants to start or grow their podcast? 

Tamara: Don’t expect to be perfect and just start! ST Record on the day you feel like recording and don’t wait until everything is perfect because that’s how most famous podcasters started. Start now and don’t compare yourself to other’s levels in podcasts and then forget to level up yours, no don’t do that and just go for it!

That’s it for our talk today, we’ve been given back the Mic to give it to our next guest to talk, Stay Safe, amazing and excited for our next one!

In Mic & Talk, we give the mic to some of our favorite podcasters and figures so they can talk and tell us more about their experience, life, and achievements that for sure, shall inspire all of us! Welcoming our guest over from Ireland, Lucy Norris!


Mic and Talk - Lucy Norris

Interview & Transcription by: Nada AlMoussa, Reviewed by: Somaya AbuKhalil. Podcast Inc. 1st of September, 2020.

Who Is Lucy Norris?

Lucy Carol Norris, an Irish young lady who shines as a multimedia journalist and host of What It's Like podcast. Lucy created her podcast to share tons of great stories with experience and fun to the listeners and with her down to earth and humble personality, alongside her wonderfully various guests, Lucy attracted her audience to What It's like podcast. Feel free to check out the show's website: https://www.whatitslikepodcast.com And you can enjoy listening to her podcast on: https://anchor.fm/whatitslikewithluce

Lucy Norris, Ireland

• So, Lucy, Apart from the podcast, who’s Lucy, how do you feel like you can define her?

Lucy: I am a multimedia journalist, so I am a freelancer at the moment, I am 23 years old, I am from Dublin,Ireland. Outside of the podcast, I work a lot in media, I’m doing lots of copywriting, but essentially, in life, I like to tell stories, and that’s how all of my work ties together and filters through into my everyday life. I love to travel, too! So this whole virus has been a bit of a nightmare, I haven’t travelled in a long time since March I think, which has been really sad because that’s where I get a lot of my inspiration for things from, seeing new places and faces, I love that!  

• What inspired you to start this journey with the podcast?

Lucy: So I graduated from college and I was working with an airline doing their digital content as in travel writing, and I always loved telling stories that’s why I got into journalism in the first place. And in this new job, I was commuting two hours to get to work everyday and two hours home, and I got really sick of listening to the same playlist all the time, it just got boring. So, I started listening to podcasts, that’s kind of where I discovered them, I knew they were around, but I wasn’t interested in listening to them, and the minute I started listening, I related to a lot of the content, I was listening to alot of entrepreneurial stories or success stories, and I realized being a journalist, I did have the skills to produce something like that, and I thought it would be such a great way to share other people’s stories ,also to create a bit of a portfolio for myself as a journalist and a host. It wasn’t really a long thought process, I discovered this medium that I can add my own flavor to it, and I pretty much started right away!

• You’re such a bright human with a contagious smile, what’s your motivation to keep up?

Lucy: Oh thank you much first of all, I don’t really know, I just think it’s easier to be upbeat and excited about things rather than being negative, and I try to see the best in every situation, and it’s not always easy, especially in 2020! It’s been bit of a year, but I love podcasting, I love that I found something I can really connect with, and being in your early 20s, it’s pretty difficult, there’s confusion, and a lot of decisions to be made, you’re trying to find your feet in the world and where you fit, and especially working in something like media, there’s so many avenues to go down, it’s a really cut throat industry ,you have a lot of setbacks and  people saying no. And For me, it was such a nice feeling to connect instantly with this medium and I feel like I found my feet for the first time in a while, so I guess yeah it made me happy that I’m doing something I love everyday, so what not to smile about I guess?

• Why the ordinary people?

Lucy: While I was listening to all these conversations about people who have made it in life, I was becoming very interested in figuring out why, I think they call the 2%, that 2% of people that grab life and make something huge out of it, not necessarily in the traditional definition of successful and all that, and I’m very much of the belief that at the end of the day, when you strip everything away,we’re just ordinary people living our lives day to day, it’s just some of us seem to take it on better than others, and I was kinda thinking why is that? And that’s why I speak to the people I speak with on my podcast, what was about that made them different from others. And yes, that’s kind of the essence of it.

• As I was listening to the podcast, I’ve noticed a wide spectrum of guests: Founders, Djs,entrepreneurs… On what basis do you choose these guests?

Lucy: I have a variety of reasons actually to choose people to come on, a lot of the time it’s purely just because I’ve come across someone I find their life really interesting and I wanna know more about it, it doesn't necessarily always have to do with their job, it’s almost if I had an interesting backstory or came across something that’s new and innovative that someone is doing and try to find the person behind it. I wanted it to be broad because I have a really broad interest, it’s more difficult to be niche. I get bored of things really quickly, I’m into one thing one week, then another one next week, and i think the podcast emulates my diversity of interests.

• Do you feel like this broadness of interests keeps you from focusing on one thing and perfecting it? 

Lucy: Honestly, I think I’m never stuck on one topic and I don’t really know how to do that, whether it’s writing about something new or filming a new topic each month, some people might ask question like why didn’t you go into one niche area, that  would be much easier to grow a community, but I also want my content to be relatable to everyone. I want anyone that finds the podcast to find an episode they can relate to as opposed to just boxing it into one area.

• How do you feel after walking out of every episode?

Lucy: I always feel very inspired, I know that’s a cliche, but they have crazy stories, and they motivate me to do more with my life as well. They’re mostly upbeat as well, up for a great chat, and it’s like talking to a new friend, finding out things about new people. You have great conversations with great people, and they leave me motivated, especially people my age, like if they have done this, I can do this as well. And I hope everyone that listens feels that too.

• Is there anything you feel you could’ve done differently with the podcast that could’ve led to different outcomes?

Lucy: Honestly, I am pretty happy with how I went about it from the beginning, I feel like because I had that skill set, in terms of journalistic work, I knew a lot about what I was getting into. Perhaps I wanted to go with video, but I don’t really want to use zoom interviews as reference, whenever I plan to begin with that, I want to film live interviews, I’ve been waiting for a situation where I can do that. I want to maintain that authentic chat. 

• How do you feel this pandemic impacted you and the show in a way?

Lucy: I feel like in a strange way, it had a positive impact on the show, it’s a bit of a weird thing to weigh on because obviously it’s a huge disaster and it’s been a challenging time in the world. However, in terms of guests, it was easier because everyone is at home, all of these people who are usually super busy and wouldn’t have time for me, are home and up for a chat. And it also made me reach out more internationally because we’re on zoom anyways. 

Also I think podcast numbers went up at the beginning of quarantine, but definitely went down in these last months because people haven't been commuting and podcasts are such a commuter friendly medium, but when life kicked back slightly, they have been meeting up with friends and going back to restaurants. It’s been a roller coaster with the whole thing, but I guess we just have to ride with it.

• What was the major lesson you learned throughout this experience?

Lucy: I think I learned a lot of things but one of the main things is that time is one of the biggest currencies that we have, when you suddenly have this big pause and you just have all this time, it makes you realize how much we take time for granted in the real world. When are we going to get another opportunity like that? You have no outside distractions, use your time productively and smartly. Because I'm a bit of a procrastinator, and at college I feel like I did nothing but chill with my friends, but this time I was like I have this time, I want to use it efficiently. In a way it made everyone go back to basics, and like think, what’s important to me with everything taken away.

• Do you have any tip for rising youngsters wanting to start their own podcast?

Lucy: My number one tip is to just go for it,create your own opportunity, block anything out, just start because you could put like a million reasons why you shouldn’t, and of course you’ll think “So many people are doing it, so why bother?” Yes so many people are doing it and doing what I am doing, but no one is me and no one is you, whatever you decide to do will be different from the other one, unless you decide to flat out copy someone, which is plagiarism obviously, don’t do that. If you go to the genre, even if it is so saturated, you’re going on as you, you have your own vision and ideas that are unique, so don’t let any of that stop you from entering the space, just start, stay on your own lane and go with your guts on everything you produce, and have FUN. it’s fun, it’s a cool thing to build your own platform from scratch, just go for it.

That’s it for our talk today, we’ve been given back the Mic to give it to our next guest to talk, Stay Safe, amazing and excited for our next one!

In Mic & Talk, we give the mic to some of our favorite podcasters and figures so they can talk and tell us more about their experience, life, and achievements that for sure, shall inspire all of us! Welcoming our guest over from The United States of America, Lee Uehara!

Mic and Talk - Lee Uehara:

Interviews & Transcription by: Somayaa AbuKhalil, Podcast Inc. 19th of August, 2020.

Who is Lee Uehara?

She is the co-founder of AAP (the Asian American Podcasters Association, a nonprofit devoted to encouraging and supporting AAPIs to strengthen their voices through podcasting. Lee is also the co-founder of Podthon.com, a virtual conference for podcasters highlighting speakers of color, now in its third year. Additionally, she is the host and producer of the House of Lee NYC podcast (HouseOfLeeNYC.com). Her other shows include PractiMama Parenting (PractiMama.com), EFT Tapping Like a Mother (TappingLikeAMother.com) and the Asian American Podcasters Association Podcast (aapodcasters.org/podcast). They are not-to-be-missed shows if you want to listen to some interesting content with so many laughs and tips especially during quarantine! You can find her at @houseofleenyc across all media channels or just email her: lee@houseofleenyc.com.

Lee Uehara, NYC

• Kicking off your podcasting career, How did it come to you to start it?

Lee: Sure, so it happened quite by accident actually! I had, like most people, the idea of looking into podcasting years ago but I never got around to it. And then one day, I was with a friend and we talked about starting a podcast and she was supposed to come over to my house and we were supposed to record our first episode. But, she never showed up! She canceled at the last minute and I thought to myself, “You know what? I have all the equipment all ready to go. Then why don't I just start?” and that's what I did. I didn't have a plan, I didn't even have a show name, I wasn't really sure what I was going to talk about - but I knew that the moment was there and I should take the opportunity to do so.

• What was your first podcast and how did it help you create more podcasts?

Lee: Sure. My main show is the House of Lee NYC, and it gave me the inspiration to also create shows for content and information that I am really interested in and passionate about. Then I started PractiMama Parenting which is because I created a CD of music for parents, teachers, and caregivers to help with toddlers and tantrums - I wrote a bunch of songs. And I thought what better way to share this than with a podcast - and talking about parenting tips. I used to be a teacher, and I use a lot of the things I did in my teaching career as a mother and I thought it would be great. And, because I am an EFT Practitioner as well, I thought it would be fun to have an EFT Tapping show which is now co-hosted with my friend Collette and she is also into EFT Tapping.

• How does your experience as a teacher and mother influence your podcasts?

Lee: It is funny because I used to be a reporter, and I love learning information - asking questions, finding things, and then turning around and sharing this information. I really think I am a teacher at the core, and so the idea that I can teach in the form of sharing information on a podcast is really exciting and fun to me.

• From Lee, the mother to the world in PractiMama.com’s podcast, Do you think that this podcast is only presented to parents or that anyone should be able to be exposed to the world of parenting? 

Lee: You don't have to be a parent to listen to my show. All you have to do is to work with children and maybe you're an uncle, aunt or grandmother. Someone who is looking for extra practical tips, then it is a show for them.

• How do you get inspired to present your podcasts? Or the content itself.

Lee: The inspiration comes from wanting to share information, wanting to let people that anything is possible within that subject area. So what I mean by that, like for PractiMama, it used to be called PumpMama. That’s because when I started, my child was allergic to dairy and I wanted to breastfeed my child but because he was premature, I had to pump exclusively. And then, I only thought, “ I am going to pump milk for a little while,” but then it turned out it that my child had an allergy to dairy milk. So I pumped for more than two years. I thought it is a very difficult thing to do. And, I thought if I could do it, maybe I can help other women who are frustrated and want to quit but still want to keep going. If I can help people understand that it is possible and that they're not alone, then I will be doing something good. And I set out to be the inspiration they could follow to know it’s possible.

• Tapping like a mother, Where you and Collette talk about home experience and situations, How is that different from your other podcasts?

Lee: So EFT, Tapping Like a Mother is all about the modality, EFT Tapping. So EFT Tapping is like acupuncture but without the needles. Anyone can do it on themselves, and it can be quite beneficial for people. It's not for everyone because some people will try it and be like, “Ugh, I don't like it.” EFT Tapping Like a Mother is geared towards mothers. I mean everyone can listen, It's a lot of fun!

• Tell me more about your experience at the Podcast Movement, what a great one! 

Lee: Yes! Podcast Movement, Podfest Expo, and She Podcasts Live, Podthon. I have been a speaker at all of them, and it is really fun, to again, share information with other people. About Podthon.com, it’s the first virtual conference for podcasters and it highlights podcasters of colors as speakers. We do it every year, and we really love it because we have people from Egypt, Malaysia, Germany - and many places from all around the world.

• Is it easy for someone to start a podcast?

Lee: I think so. In terms of coming up with the idea of a show, it is easy. And figuring what your episodes will be, you can still work on it even if you don't have the best equipment.

• How does it feel to work on more than one podcast? And how do you prepare for each one of them?

Lee: That is a great question because I am not the example here - I am behind on all of them! If I may, can I share with people that once you start a podcast, it leads you to opportunities you might have never dreamt of! Years ago, when I started my podcast at the kitchen table and my friend didn’t show up, I never knew that I would create the Asian American Podcasters Association, I didn’t know that I would co-produce Podthon.com and have it be so much fun and helpful to people - or even be here speaking to you! So, for podcasting, the biggest regret we podcasters have is that we didn't start when we first had the idea. And, I would implore anyone who's watching or listening to just do it! It doesn’t have to be perfect, just get it started! The adventure you'll have will be amazing.

• How do you manage your time especially in quarantine? And what are some of the things that you started doing during this quarantine? 

Lee: I don't sleep, and I don't do the dishes! You cannot do it all, there has to be something you have to give up. So let the dishes pile up. And, I've always cut my husband’s and son's hair. But I have a friend who is a hairstylist who I did a video with for cutting my own hair - and I’m still editing it!

• Tell us more about how you see the podcast industry around the world.

Lee: My vision is to keep helping people and see where that leads me. For the world, I think that the trend of podcasting is here to stay because more people are on it and more celebrities will even do it! The trend is that more shows will be produced and the curve will be down, up and down again because maintaining a show is not easy and it is time-consuming. The growth is happening because people are at home looking for something to do -  and microphones are all now sold out! Isn’t that interesting?

• What are some of your favorite podcasts and when do you often listen to them?

Lee: So, my favorite podcast changes over time, but I am a kind of non-fiction information person. So I like to listen to shows that give me information. She Podcasts is an amazing show. It gives industry news. And the hosts, Elsie Escobar and Jessica Kupferman, are very well-known and respected for their knowledge. And then, there's a podcast called A Mind for Money by Simone LeBeaux Craig. She helps people break their money blocks. It's important because money is needed to exist, and when you are connected with your money in a positive way, that helps you be more successful. I also like Varmints, a family-friendly show where they talk about one animal every episode. Like, you learn all about that animal - and fun facts as well! I also like Faster Than Normal by Peter Shankman because he gives some productivity tips and I like them. I can go on and on…

• A life motto or quote that inspires Lee Uehara the most. 

Lee: Other than "Done is better than perfect," I would have to say "Go with the flow of who you are and where you’re at." Don't fight who you are. Don’t try to do things that you think will fix who you are. And accept who you are and where you are at in every situation. Not only will you be kinder and gentler to yourself, you'll flow more. For example, when my son was at the crawling phase, he'd crawl over to the cat's food bowl and I thought what will I do? I wasn't going to move the cat's dish because I live in small NYC apartment, and I also might forget where I put it so I figured out I can put a small bowl of goldfish crackers next to it, so when he crawls towards the cat's dish, he'll have crackers instead. So just figure out where the problem is in the flow, the system or the process, and think about how you can work with it rather than being stressed about it. It's not like fighting the problem, it is working with it.

• What would be your advice to someone who wants to take a step towards creating their podcast but afraid or hesitant to do so?

Lee: If you're a type of person who likes courses or classes or workshops, sign up for one. Meet people who are on the same road you're on and work together. If you want to get started but afraid, then pick up your cell phone and record a pretend episode and see how it works from there. I would say to get started is to take one actual small step, whether is it buying a domain name; setting up a social media account; calling someone and saying, “Hey, do you want to be a guest?”; or planning the ideas of a couple of episodes and coming up with a show title. Also, looking up on Apple Podcasts to see if your show name is available, maybe someone already has that show. Just do something. One action per day or per week, that will motivate you to continue!

That’s it for our talk today, we’ve been given back the Mic to give it to our next guest to talk, Stay Safe, amazing and excited for our next one!

In Mic & Talk, we give the mic to some of our favorite podcasters and figures so they can talk and tell us more about their experience, life, and achievements that for sure, shall inspire all of us! Welcoming our guest over from Egypt, Mina Labib!

Mic and Talk - Mina Labib:

Interviews & Transcription by: Somayaa AbuKhalil, Podcast Inc. 5th of August, 2020.

Who’s Mina Labib?

Mina Labib is a fresh graduate of the school of architecture who is greatly passionate about what he does in life. His love for artistic works, football, traveling, and discovering the world added extra vibes to his dynamic personality. And with everyone locked down at their homes in boredom, Mina decided to start his podcast, The Minawyat Podcast. It’s the dose of dopamine in quarantine where Mina brings us news, reviews, and whatever we choose! Mina prepares his podcasts in an episode every week where he edits, designs and records by himself to give us our weekly dose of dopamine! Check The Minawyat podcast on https://anchor.fm/mina-labib

The Minawyat Podcast by Mina Labib, Egypt

• First, tell us more about your podcast, The Minawyat podcast. How did it all come up to you to kick off your start with podcasting?

Mina: Basically, I’ve always loved podcasts, for me, they’re always easy to consume. I listen to podcasts on my commute three hours a day. It’s a good thing to listen to them while driving, the idea of listening to people talking. When we finally started having too much time in our hands during the quarantine, I wanted to find something I can create and at the same time to connect with my friends. So I decided to start a podcast! Because also so many people were pretty depressed in the early days of quarantine and not being able to cope with the new reality so I wanted to interview different people and see what were they doing, how they were dealing with the current situation. And to inspire other people with that. 

• At the beginning of every step, comes an obstacle. In the podcast industries, The obstacle comes when People usually worry about who will listen to my podcast or what will I talk about, How did you think about all this? 

Mina: When I decided to start a podcast and took it seriously, I spent at least three weeks researching on how to start your podcast, what to expect and one of the things I found which were quite unusual is a video on youTube where someone said that for the first month, don’t check your status, at all. I took that to heart. So in the beginning, it was only me sharing my podcasts with friends but then after one month, I started expanding, and at every stage, I set new expectations for the whole thing. I am steadily growing. 

• And After that month, What did you find?

Mina: I found great encouragement from people around me and that is when I decided that maybe I am doing something worth it here so I shall expand it. I started on twitter because it is a  smaller community then after the fourth episode, I created my Instagram page.

• Featuring your friends in your podcasts, tell me more! And why wouldn’t you have your own episodes by yourself?

Mina: I wanted to feature my friends because it is something made by us, for us. And I wanted to encourage people to keep doing what made them happy during this lockdown and to inspire other people as well. Coming to my episodes, I did think of it and there’s one episode where it is just me and I think I wanted to make it biweekly, so one week, an episode of my own and another week with a friend. But after a while, I realized that episodes with guests were much more engaging and People liked them more. I enjoyed this experience as well. 

• How do you prepare for every episode?

Mina: The process had sort of evolved. But from last month, it started to be more stable. I have a very detailed schedule. It all starts with me contacting the guest on Thursday and ends with the episode being posted on Tuesday. I also have my list of guests in which I have my guests booked a month in advance so I am always safe with having them. I also post a teaser on Sunday. 

• what are the differences between each episode?

Mina: I like to talk to the guests to see the whole topic from their angels, what stories they would like to tell. Because there are two kinds of guests I have, One that is sharing life experiences and one that is giving advice on a certain matter. It is different when it comes to the episode format. One that is narrative and one that is more of Q&A or a conversation and this all changes how I prepare my script for the episodes. The Script is bullet points with timestamps so I can have control over the discussion and time of every point. After I record on weekends, I start editing right away. 

• Your podcast is an English podcast created in an Arabic speaking country. Tell me more about what people think. 

Mina: This is an amazing question because I struggle with that. It is completely different because I have been approached by a certain podcast platform. They had the same comment, Your podcast is in English and we cannot host it. People wouldn’t be comfortable with it. But I tried for two episodes to go mostly or completely Arabic and it didn’t feel right to me. I am bilingual by nature so I cannot change that. 

• What keeps you going? 

Mina: Now, my podcast has a very good momentum like the number of listening that is in instant growth and I had found some good gusts recently. And a part of it, I enjoy it to use a platform I have now to talk about important topics and interesting stories, especially with my upcoming guests. It is fresh and New.

• Away from podcasting, What are other things you like doing during the quarantine? 

Mina: I think, just like anyone at the beginning of the qurarntine, I abused my Netflix account.  I know it is ridiculous but I actually have nothing to watch now! I have been in Al Ein El Sokhna, an Egyptian town on the Mediterranian, so I have been blessed to be able to swim, ride my bike, or do some exercise. 

• What do you think about the podcasting industry in the Middle East?

Mina: For me, it is almost surprising that the podcast format hadn’t been utilized in Egypt or the Middle East despite the fact that we’re very talkative by nature. I am excited now by seeing YouTubers and content creators who are switching their platforms into podcasting.

 • And Your fave podcasts and radio hosts?

Mina: I follow around 10 podcasters and even more. I have been influenced by a western podcasts, their content, and format. One of my favorites is called Cultural Mocktail, a bilingual podcast that I enjoy. And the one that really influenced me, Cultural Binge. It is amazing how they switch topics in a fun and interesting way. One episode they talk about the Black lives matter movement and one episode is all about a new dating show! 

• What are some advice or tips you’d give to someone who wants to start their podcast but hesitant to do so?

Mina: from my side, I think there are a lot of podcasts out there but you have to find something that interests you. You don’t have to reinvent the wheel but you shall do something that can be identified and unique. Also, some preplanning and management will help. Finally, don’t be afraid to learn on the job because that’s how content creation and innovation happen.                                          

That’s it for our talk today, we’ve been given back the Mic to give it to our next guest to talk, Stay Safe, amazing and excited for our next one!

Mic & Talk - Emma Castle:

Interviews & Transcription by: Somayaa AbuKhalil, Podcast Inc. 26th of July,2020.

In Mic & Talk, we give the mic to some of our favorite podcasters and figures so they can talk and tell us more about their experience, life, and achievements that for sure, shall inspire all of us! Welcoming our guest over from Australia, the one and only, Emma Castle!

Who is Emma Castle?

A Journalist, content creator, and podcaster who kicked off her career through ABC Newcastle Radio in Australia. That was only the beginning and then so many steps towards success started from there! Emma Castle then started pursuing her career in Journalism, Management, and Publications through joining a bunch of companies like Wordtorm, Launch group, Map & Page and so many other names on the list. In addition to this, she’s gained great experience through working in the PR industry, production, content creation, and finally Podcasting! Her show “ That Shit Show “ is a - must listen to -  podcast as it introduces a new perspective of the traumatic side of every story. Her show episodes have more than 1K downloads and differently so much attention Link to her show: https://thatshitshowpodcast.com/

Emma Castle, Australia

• First of all, I would like to start by giving you the mic so you can tell us more about yourself as a podcaster, How did it all start, how did you get inspired to start your own podcast? 

Emma: To be honest, It was something I had in mind for a long time, I bought the mic, I have listened to how to make podcasts and one of my best friends placed a podcast and I had it in mind because I love podcasts, I love listening to them! But it wasn’t until I met this amazing woman, Pip Rae, who inspired me to start! I was actually at work as MC, I was the MC at this function and after the panel discussion had finished, she came out to me and we talked about her work of running a podcast station! That’s when I told her that I wanted to start a podcast but I didn’t know where to start or what to do and I told her about my passion for making a podcast about Post-traumatic talks and how people overcome trauma. She loved it! And took me by hand and gave me tutorials on how to record and she released it to her platform and that’s how it all started! 

• About Your show “ That Shit show “, what a name! It basically tackles “ TRAUMAS “. Away from me being a huge fan of it and the idea itself, but Why did you choose to talk about such a topic? Especially with the stories in your podcast episodes, very dramatic in a good way. 

Emma: Well, because I had some postal traumas in my life. My husband and I already lost several babies as in prenatal loss which is very common but it was really sad for us. In addition, I had some other things going on and it was so terrible at some point. It was hard but I guess when you’re in trauma, you feel like none understands you or think if someone else been through this, what did they do! So I thought, well, I can do that for other people and see the experience of each about their traumas, there’s always learning from other experiences. And I am also studying counseling, and I love it so the podcast isn’t like a counseling session but it certainly presents treatments. It is fascinating to know how people found their way through these things! 

• What are some of the obstacles you had to overcome during the preparation for your podcast? 

Emma: Technical Abilities! I also thought of how to build audience and what’s the best way to do this all, and listening to your own voice! “ Laughs Emma “ 

• Great, since we’ve been in lock down for a long while now, do you think podcast shows started to increase because now that people are too bored or too creative? 

Emma: I think there has lock down creativity with some innovation and there’s something in there where they listen to it and they start saying, oh maybe I can do this. I just see podcasting is growing actually through this. 

• They say It is easy to be a podcaster, I only need a mic and some listeners. Do you agree or disagree? And Why?

Emma: If you’re going to it as Oh i am going to be very famous or I am going to make tons of money, i think this can make it more difficult unless you’re a celebrity or something, but it is actually very easy to start a podcast. Of course with people who can help you with that, with free information and free platforms. You just have to be interested in the topic you’ll talk about. If you’re doing it because some important people will listen to it, this could be challenging, but if it is for you and your own ideas, definitely go for it! 

• Since you’re also a blogger who likes to write about many topics including Tourism, Tell us more about your blogs. 

Emma: I Started my blogs when I was working in Public relations and I was really frustrated because PR is all about listening but not expressing yourself so I wanted to have my own voice and put it into my own words not only clients, you know! It started as a traveling blog and it went from there. After 10 years of writing blogs, I know now what works and what doesn’t. 

• And Can you tell us more about your favorite podcasts or radio shows?

Emma: There’s a podcast I like, Where do we go from here? This is a podcast about relationship counseling and I also like ABC radio and podcasts of conversations where I can listen to many hosts, I find it with fabulous content!

• What do you think are the most talked about topics today and your opinion if people should create podcasts about them in the future?

Emma: Obviously COVID and working from home, adaption to life during the pandemic and innovative ideas we had during this lockdown! 

• What is Emma Castle’s routine of work or else during the quarantine?

Emma: I have worked from home in the past 3 years so I don’t feel that much change for myself but I spend my day working, walking my dog, listening to podcasts, and meditation all in addition to recording and working on my podcast. 

• Our last question is, What tips or advice do you like to give to those who think of starting a podcast, blog, etc? And if you want to give some general motivational words to push everyone! 

Emma: I would say: Just start it! But find someone who can help you like podcast producers or editors and it isn’t really expensive, you can always find someone who can help greatly but do get started! Have some structure, have a plan and be very clear on your podcast like why you’re making this podcast. If it’s a personal passion, there’s a much higher chance that you want to do this even if you will have three listeners!

That’s it for our talk today, we’ve been given back the Mic to give it to our next guest to talk, Stay Safe, amazing and excited for our next one!