This is an archived page from 2019. Find out more
Meet Adela. She’s the founder of The Podcast Brunch Club, which is like book club, but for podcasts. Adela tells PBJ she’s a naturally curious person interested in meeting new people and learning new things, and Podcast Brunch Club really gets at the heart of both of those. So naturally, we were curious to ask her more about the club. So, we did.
PBJ: What is The Podcast Brunch Club? Adela: It’s a global community of avid podcast listeners. There are now about 60 local chapters spread across 12 countries on 5 continents! Every month one of our members curates a thematic podcast listening list that is sent out to our global community. People listen on their own time and then meet up in person with their local chapter to discuss. It’s a great way to meet new people, learn new things, and talk about things that you may not have otherwise talked about.
PBJ: How, when, and why did you start The Podcast Brunch Club? **Adela: **I started Podcast Brunch Club back in 2015. I was recovering from back surgery and I was spending my time off listening to so many podcasts that I found myself starting nearly every conversation with “so….I heard on a podcast…” Most of my friends would roll their eyes when I started that way until one friend responded with “I heard that episode!” The conversation turned into an excited exchange of podcast recommendations and I quickly realized that there was a need for a podcast club in the same way that there was a need for a book club. So, I gathered some friends, sent out a list of a few episodes we could all listen to, and we got together for brunch. That’s how it started.
PBJ: You also do your own podcast, of course, what is that about? **Adela: **Of course I had to start a podcast! It’s very meta because it’s a podcast about podcasts. It’s very much linked to the PBC model. So, every month we have two types of episodes. One is a roundup episode on which my co-host and I discuss the month’s theme and listening list, and then we always diverge from the PBC playlist to talk about what podcasts we’re listening to and loving lately. The other type of episode is an interview/conversation with a creator featured on the listening list for the month. We’ll talk to the podcaster about their podcast generally, the specific episode that PBC featured, and we’ll get their podcast recommendations, too. It’s a way to dive deeper into the month’s podcast listening list and hear the creator’s perspective on the theme.
PBJ: How did you get into podcasting and what helped you learn to be a good podcaster along the way? **Adela: **I tripped and fell into podcasting! I never went into the podcast space intending to be a creator myself. Rather, I thought I’d just enjoy and consume all of the amazing content others were creating. But, with PBC getting bigger than I could have ever imagined, I needed an outlet for digging deeper into the community aspect of PBC. And, my community are all podcast listeners, so it just made sense for me to start a podcast.
I think being a good podcaster is all about being a good communicator. My day job is in communications and I’ve worked in the field for 15 years, so I have had a lot of practice. Being a good communicator involves putting yourself in your audience’s shoes and trying to imagine what they will be thinking and feeling as they listen to your podcast. Another key skill of a good communicator is the ability to REALLY listen – whether it’s to your co-host or your guest or your audience.
PBJ: How do you stay on top of your game now? **Adela: **For me, the community is what makes PBC amazing and I always make sure that whatever I do for PBC is something that will strengthen the community. I love to feature the perspective of our community on the podcast, so I will often ask people to send in their own audio for inclusion on the podcast.
I also think it’s so important to stay true to your vision and not get distracted by all the noise. I ignore the listicles that tell me the top 10 things I need to do to become a top podcaster, and I just do what feels right for me and for the PBC community.
Finally, I am on a “failure IS an option” kick. I’m 100% okay with trying things and messing them up. Messing up is one of the best ways to learn. I don’t think anyone ever found success by being perfect every step of the way. It’s about trying and experimenting and failing forward.
PBJ: What recommendations do you have for our readers considering a podcast launch? **Adela: **I guess this goes back to my “failure IS an option” kick. Try it out and expect to mess up. It’s part of the deal. I also love the motto “perfect is the enemy of good.” Don’t try to have everything perfect when you launch. Just do the best you can and know that there will be room for improvement. Modify and pivot as necessary.
Reach out to Adela at adela@podcastbrunchclub.com.