As an entrepreneur or business leader, it can feel overwhelming to decide where to invest your time and networking energy. Trust me, I’ve been there. Just six months before the world was thrown into chaos by a global pandemic, I launched The Bunker Insurance & Risk Management with zero clients and a desperate desire to be everything to everyone. I attended countless networking events, trying to figure out who my ideal client was—without any real direction. Spoiler alert: it was exhausting and often fruitless. (In time, I eventually found the right communities to dedicate my efforts and build the right relationships.)

But everything changed at an industry conference in Phoenix in 2022, which just so happened to be my debut as a public speaker. One insightful presenter posed a simple question: "How many of you have a local podcast?" A mere eleven hands went up in a room of 300. He went on to explain why the biggest gift we could give our business was a podcast. That moment transformed my approach to networking and community-building, while also laying the foundation for more public speaking opportunities.

Feeling the familiar waves of self-doubt wash over me—“Who am I to start a podcast?” or “People are going to think that I think I’m an influencer!” or “I don’t know how to work a camera and lights.”—I decided the leap was worth taking and pushed through the fear. After investing in the right equipment and booking my first guest, I finally hit "record". 

I was so nervous to record these early episodes, and even more nervous to release them. I could write an entire article about all the mistakes I’ve made along the way- corrupt memory cards, bad lighting, or that one time the camera stopped recording 23 minutes into a 50 minute episode. Sure, I faced technical blunders and nerves that made my hands shake, but the rewards of podcasting have been profound for my business, my founder brand, and my professional development.

Curious about how podcasting can change your business? Here are the incredible benefits I’ve gotten along the way.

I Bought Back My Time

Seems counterintuitive as getting started requires A LOT of up front time for planning and learning. But I was doing so much random, unintentional, draining networking, that my calendar was running my life. I realized after a few episodes,  that this one hour session of podcasting was allowing me to form the REAL connections with South Florida business leaders that I just couldn’t make at an event.

I Built a Stronger Network

Inviting CEOs, business owners, and other community leaders onto The Bunker Talk has allowed me to establish meaningful connections with some of the most influential people in my market across so many various industries- people I might not have relationships with otherwise. These relationships have not only enriched my professional network but also provided invaluable insights and opportunities for collaborations. It has also made me a more valuable resource to my network and allowed me to facilitate some pretty powerful introductions between my guests, clients, and colleagues.

It Catapulted My Professional Brand

Hosting a podcast has established me as a credible and authoritative voice dedicated to promoting growth and learning within the entrepreneurial community. This heightened visibility has led to exciting opportunities, including speaking engagements and panel seats, allowing me to strengthen my brand and influence within the community.

Two Birds, One Stone

Not only am I networking more intentionally, but I'm also creating content while doing it. Each episode generates about 45-60 mins of long form content that is then repurposed into 4-5 smaller clips that I distribute across all social media platforms. I tag my guests so I can expand my reach within their social media networks. And I’ve only scratched the surface. I hope one day to turn these powerful conversations and key takeaways into a valuable newsletter that can continue to keep my network engaged and serve as a powerful communication vehicle for my business.

Now, with 25 episodes of The Bunker Talk under my belt, I’ve come to appreciate the incredible conversations I’ve had with guests I wouldn’t typically connect with one-on-one. I’ve also realized I’ve built so much more than a podcast. Each episode leaves me feeling re-energized and inspired by the genuine, candid discussions we share. I find myself applying valuable insights from these exchanges to both my personal life and my business. 

Not only am I networking, learning, and creating content more efficiently, I’m actually having fun while doing it!

You can catch The Bunker Talk episodes here and if you or anyone in your community has a good story to share, I’d love to have you on! Shoot me an email at ciara@bunkeryourrisk.com . 

The Easier Way to Get Started

When I started, I was a lone wolf and figuring things out on my own episode by episode. (Thank goodness for Google and YouTube!) Now I know about resources that are available that can make it much so much easier for you than it was for me.  

VoiceBox Podcast & Creator’s Studio is owned by our fellow Daily Drip Thought Leader, Melia Arnett-Archie. They can remove all the technical overwhelm of podcasting for you so you just have to show up with your topics, guests, and smile! Their services accommodate in-studio sessions or virtual recording sessions so you can record conveniently. Not only do they handle all the recording, but they also handle the editing and post production, streaming, and even give you the best episode moments in powerful clips you can upload and pre-schedule to post on your favorite social media platform. 

With a resource like this, taking advantage of the benefits of podcasting has never been easier. So work smarter, not harder. Stop wasting your time and start your podcast!