Kim has been a longstanding Blubrry podcaster as well as now a recent blog writer of ours as well. Her podcast, Toastmasters 101 has helped countless people become better speakers and her work has made her a better podcaster overall.
Tell us about yourself!
I’m a podcaster from northeast Ohio. Toastmasters 101 is my second or third podcast. I retired the first in 2017, recording the first 12 episodes of Toastmasters 101 in 2016, let it sit for a while, then started it up again. However you want to count that is fine by me.
What inspired you to do your own podcast?
I always wanted to be on the radio. I’ve been fascinated by the medium since I was a child. When I heard about podcasting in the middle 2000’s (on the radio), I knew I wanted to try it. However, I had four children still at home, so that dream was postponed until 2014.
If you need passion to have a podcast, then I’m the poster child. I’m passionate about Toastmasters. There are few things in my life that have had a greater impact (OK, religious beliefs, marriage, kids, so it’s in the top 10) and changing my future. I’m not alone in this. Almost every Toastmaster I know has a similar story. That’s why I podcast about Toastmasters and train people to talk about their passions.
How do you prepare for a podcast?
I prepare my podcast by doing some research about the topics that Toastmasters are thinking about. We have an annual cycle of events, so I mention those. Primarily I talk about our education program Pathways, and suggest ways that the projects in the education programs can be done to maximize the power of the speech or leadership project. In 2020, when we switched on all online meetings, I focused for a few weeks on that transition.
What advice do you have for anyone just starting out?
My advice to anyone who wants to start out in podcasting: take time to think about your topic.
Most of the time, people have something they’re desperate to say to the world and podcasting provides a megaphone for that message. They want to change something — their world, their skills, their opportunities — and podcasting is that ladder that moves them up. After you refine your message, then think about the logistical problems of how to do it and where to put it (the right answer to that is always Blubrry). By harnessing the power of your passions, you’ll get through the dry spells.
Connect with Kim…
