The Heroine podcast is the place to tune in if you want inspiration from creative and amazing women from all over the world. Sailors to CEOs, artists to authors – there are women from all areas of work and all walks of life. This week we talked to her founder and presenter Majo Molfino about how she got into podcasting.
You work, among other things, as a coach who focuses on the creative leadership of women. Why did you decide to start a podcast that is in some way related to the issues you face in your job as a coach? Why did you choose this medium?
I chose this medium because it focused on the voice rather than the looks and I was a little fed up with the Instagram craze. The voice just felt minimalistic and refreshing. Since podcasting is based on storytelling, it triggers quite a bit of emotion, which is a nice thing. I want the audience to feel deeply touched by and reflected in the stories of female leaders. I really liked the idea of being in someone’s ear and making them feel like listening to intimate conversations. I was also frustrated with the lack of podcasts hosted by women in the top 100.
Since your show debuted with an interview with Roz Savage, the first woman to travel three oceans alone, on the Heroine podcast, you’ve hosted award-winning artists, NY Times bestsellers, CEOs, etc. as you prepare before you go interview these guests? What’s your schedule
Usually an assistant needs to collect some basic information about the guest, such as: B. Biographical data and a sense of chronology or major works, projects or articles that he has written. I will review them and have a grasp of a focus (or group of topics) for the interview. I think about what the listeners would like to know. I’ll write down all of the questions and then go through them. I always have the same basic opening question (“How were you as a little girl?”) And closing question (“What did you reclaim for yourself?”), Which helps create anchors and a sense of bow.
When you submitted your podcast for this #YEPS project, you wrote to us that you had enlisted the help of a freelance radio editor. How important was his help?
The freelance editor is actually a you, and your help is crucial. She will cut the interview down from around 60-80 minutes to 40 minutes. She’s good at deciding what to stay and what to go, and she’s pretty good at smoothing out transitions with music. Since she is also a trained journalist, she was able to help me think about my interviews, what is most interesting about them, which in turn helps me create the best intro.
Pick one of your episodes: either the ones you feel most personally attached to to, or the one who took the longest to create or who has a special memory for you. And tell us why!
My favorite episode is the one with my personal heroine, Latin American writer and storyteller Isabel Allende. I have read her novels all her life and to me she was the epitome of a true writer and my own potential, the kind of woman I could become if I let go of inhibitions completely. I was so nervous to interview her, but everything went well. She is such a strong woman who has lost her daughter and also fights for girls and women worldwide, while at the same time being a prolific novelist who communicates deeply with her imagination. What a legend.
Listen to Isabel Allende: Truth & Story on Spreaker.
Tell us one thing that you learned after starting your podcast that you wished for before you started. It could be useful advice for new would-be podcasters reading this!
Don’t do it alone. I asked my audience for support for Patreon. I have an assistant to help me with the planning (which I pay with my coaching client work). I also have an editor as mentioned earlier. And then I ask someone to help me with social media! Lots of contractors, lots of help. When I started, I also did weekly episodes and there were no seasons so it just went on forever and that wasn’t very sustainable. So I decided to do bi-weekly episodes and have seasons instead. Don’t burn out. Have fun with it and be realistic!
How did you start finding and growing an engaged audience?
I introduced guests with audiences who advertised on their own channels. I also get featured on Apple Podcasts on a regular basis, which is wonderful. I fondly remember the time when Spreaker introduced me too, that was a nice boost too. And word of mouth, of course.
What’s the most interesting feedback you’ve received from your audience?
I asked my listeners to take a survey and was amazed when they said most of them listen to the podcast while commuting. I knew there were commuters, but there were actually more than the majority, which was surprising. I’ve been thinking about the importance of making the episodes a little shorter. When I read my reviews, it always brings a smile to my face that these stories help women feel less alone and that they don’t have to figure everything out to lead.
Do you have an interesting story behind your podcast? Do you think it could be something other podcasters would love to hear? If so, we want to know! Click here to become part of #YEPS.
