On a dreary morning, heading to your first class of the day, you decided to do something different. Instead of going to your favourite artist and listening to them tell their story with lyrics and vocals laid over a beat, you clicked on the podcast app instead. The first two sentences really spoke to you. It made you feel like the career path you chose was – exactly where you were meant to be. “In marketing – you can’t afford to stand still. Being current isn’t a suggestion – it’s a lifestyle to achieve success as you continue to evolve and grow.” It was a powerful statement – one you agree with to your core. But it sounds stressful, doesn’t it? Especially when you don’t know where to start. When it comes to being informed and learning about trending topics, have you ever considered listening to podcasts?
As you watch people get on and, off the train, you close your eyes and once again press play to hear what the host has to say. Tina starts talking about where marketing is going in the next year and how everyone will have to change how they speak to their audience. She mentions something about the first feed having a song from the Grateful Dead. [1] That’s it – one song. Is that how podcasts began? Now, anyone and everyone can have a podcast, and it can be about anything. You were trying not to think about it, but you have a presentation in your first class. You hate presentations. There’s something about getting up in front of everyone, all eyes on you waiting for something interesting – and when you open your mouth, they don’t seem impressed. They’re just sitting there – straight faced – with no reaction.
As you scroll through the episodes available you notice a podcast that explores personal motivation and coaching. You press play and listen to Scott Smith on the Daily Boost as he takes you through his experiences and shares how you can be more mindful about yourself and how you feel. He covers topics like things you should do for success every day, how to find opportunities and how to be a good leader. You were so immersed in the episode that you missed your stop. You got off the train at the next stop and started climbing the stairs to walk to the other platform.
When the train finally arrived to go back in the direction you just came from, you started listening to an episode of the Big Presentations podcast that addressed presentation anxiety. It felt good to hear someone describe the emotions you felt while you were sitting in your seat watching the clock on your phone tick closer to your turn. They understood the anxiety that comes with standing in front of your peers, but more importantly, they had suggestions that you could use to alleviate those feelings. It felt reassuring to know that someone out there knew how you felt and wanted to help you take control back.
When you got off the train, the nerves were still there, but the voice in your ear was helping you move forward. Those feelings of anxiety would take time to learn how to manage, but this voice, this voice embodying empathy, was making sense. It was like having someone supporting you, that only you could hear. As you pulled the door handle and walked into your school, you realized that podcasts give you access to the opinions of people who may or may not be subject matter experts, but that doesn’t mean their words can’t help. Podcasts are like having access to advice at your fingertips. Sure, you can’t speak directly to them, but are you listening? Isn’t hearing their insights the next best thing?
Looking for a new podcast? Try CMA Connect: the voice of marketing in Canada. Hear the CMA’s President and CEO, Alison Simpson, discuss the rapidly changing world of marketing with industry leaders.
[1] “The Story of the First Podcast Feed” Podnews, 19 January 2021, https://podnews.net/article/first-podcast-feed-history
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