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Photo courtesy of William White
From the outside, podcasting can seem like a solitary sport, especially if it's a one-person operation like mine.
I plan, host and produce my show, Write Now, from my home office, where I spend long hours surrounded by towels, my ears encased in headphones, speaking into a homemade tube of audio foam. I'm usually wearing sweatpants and so full of coffee that my eyes are bloodshot.
So from the outside, I get that podcasting looks about as communal as it does glamorous (i.e., not at all).
But from the inside, podcasting is an incredibly community-driven medium. I have learned everything I know about podcasting from the podcasting community, from Facebook groups, intense personal mastermind groups and one-on-one podcast mentors.
If you're new to podcasting and eager to join the community, here are seven places you'll want to look.
She Podcasts
She Podcasts is a Facebook group for female podcasters looking for a supportive, encouraging and safe environment in which to ask questions, brainstorm ideas and provide advice. At nearly 5,000 members strong, it's run by podcasting experts Elsie Escobar and Jess Kupferman, and if you lean toward the female end of the gender spectrum, it's a great place to discuss your new mic or celebrate your show's latest win.
Podcasters Support Group
Confession: I initially joined the Podcasters Support Group because I'm a Helen Zaltzman fangirl. But this group of just over 1,000 mostly UK-based podcasters has become my go-to destination for the technical side of podcast resources and news. The only downside is when the group gets together in person for a meetup because then I have to pretend to be "busy that night" and not too poor to afford the plane tickets.
Hot Pod Pro
Nick Quah is the Walter Cronkite of podcasting. His free Hot Pod newsletter is unfailingly chock-full of the podcast industry's biggest stories and most interesting minutiae. But community-wise, I'm also a fan of his Hot Pod Members Only Forum which, unlike the other communities on this list, comes with a $3, $5, or $7 per month price tag. To me, the advice given here is tried, true and expert-level: worth it.
#PodernFamily
Facebook isn't the only social media platform with a great podcasting community. If you're on Twitter, be sure to connect with other podcasters by using the #PodernFamily hashtag. Community members tweet out each other's latest episodes, share advice and provide support and snark in equal measure. Welcome home.
Google+
There are a lot of podcasting communities out on Google+, if you use Google+. (Which I don't, despite Google's insistence otherwise.) Groups such as the Podcasters community tend to be much more tech-heavy and expert-driven, so the learning curve for many conversations there is a bit steeper. It's also not a place to celebrate wins or seek reassurance that you're not the world's worst podcaster. But if you're looking to connect with radio and podcasting veterans, be sure to check it out.
Podcast Growth Mastermind
Are you an entrepreneur, author, marketer or coach looking to specifically grow and monetize your podcast? Check out podcasting advocate Yann Ilunga's Podcast Growth Mastermind group on Facebook. It's a relatively new group with just under 400 members, so you should be able to establish yourself as a key member as it continues to blossom.
Podcast Brunch Club
This one's for the podcast listeners who have been searching for "a book club, but for podcasts." Podcast Brunch Club is your answer, complete with local chapters that meet in-person to discuss that month's theme.
ADDENDUM: Audio Drama Production Podcast
I didn't initially include the Audio Drama Production Facebook group because I wasn't initially an audio drama creator. But as I fumbled and flailed my way through creating my very first audio drama, Girl In Space, the information I gleaned and the people I met within this group became invaluable. So if you're interested in fictional podcasts (which are exploding, by the way), join this group and be amazed.
What About You?
Don't fancy any of the groups I've mentioned? You can always start your own group or mastermind, or seek a podcast mentor to teach you his or her ways.
Also, if I'm forgetting any pillars of the podcasting community, let us know about them in the comments!
