Todd Cochrane is the Founder and CEO of Blubrry Podcasting, a company that helps over 150,000 podcasters with hosting, distribution, audience statistics, monetization, and more. Todd has been producing his twice-weekly show, Geek News Central, since 2004 and is the co-host of the New Media Show. In 2015, he was inducted into the inaugural class of the Podcast Hall of Fame. He has been credited with the first podcast ad deal, GoDaddy. Todd is the author of Podcasting: The Do-It-Yourself Guide, which helps readers learn how to find, download, and listen to podcasts as well as learn how to create and publish their own. Before starting Blubrry, Todd served as an Advanced Airborne Avionics Systems specialist for 24 years in the United States Navy. He eventually retired with the rank of Senior Chief Petty Officer. Having spent the majority of his adult life in Hawaii, he now resides in Michigan with his family. Todd joins me today to discuss the history and future of podcasting. We discuss what motivated Todd to join the military and how technology has evolved over the last two decades. Todd shares his early fascination with technology and communications and what inspired him to purchase a mic in 2004 and launch his podcast. Todd shares his mistakes as a new podcaster and the challenges podcasters faced in those infancy days. We discuss how podcasting revolutionized mainstream media and why Todd is a major advocate for podcasters to build their brand on their own websites and platforms instead of being beholden to someone else. Todd shares how he partnered with GoDaddy for one of the industry’s first sponsorship deals and the lessons he’s learned along the way. We also discuss the evolution and growth of Blubrry and RawVoice, how Blubrry embraced working remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic, and how Blubrry is leading the pack in making podcasts easily accessible to everyone. “In those early days of podcasting, the challenge wasn’t building an audience. The challenge was keeping the ‘switch’ turned on.” - Todd Cochrane This week on Moving Conversations: ● What motivated Todd to join the U.S. Navy● How technology has evolved since the early 1980s● Todd’s youthful fascination with technology and communications● What inspired Todd to start podcasting● The tech challenges that podcasting pioneers faced● How podcasting revolutionized mainstream media● Why Todd is a big proponent of podcasters building their brand on their own platforms● Reminiscing on Todd’s earliest podcast episodes ● Launching Blubrry’s parent company, RawVoice● How the ad partnership with GoDaddy transpired● The growth and evolution of Blubrry● Embracing remote employment● How to determine if Programmatic or Dynamic Ads are appropriate for your show● Blubrry’s initiatives to make podcasts easily accessible for vision and hearing impaired audiences Resources Mentioned: ● Zoom● Slack● Rev● Podcast: No Agenda● Podcast: Podnews Daily● Podcast: Podcasting 2.0 Connect with Todd Cochrane: ● Blubrry Podcasting● Podcast: Geek News Central● Podcast: New Media Show● Book: Podcasting: The Do-It-Yourself Guide● Blubrry Podcasting on LinkedIn● Blubrry Podcasting on Instagram● Blubrry Podcasting on Facebook● Blubrry Podcasting on Twitter● Todd Cochrane on LinkedIn● Todd Cochrane on Twitter I’ve created a Quiz to help you discover the #1 roadblock holding you back. In just 60 seconds, you’ll crack the code behind a show that grows your business without paid ads, sponsors, or thousands of listeners. Ready to start a podcast that makes fame and audience size irrelevant? TAKE THE PROFITABLE PODCAST QUIZ >>> Whenever You’re Ready, Here Are Five Ways I Can Help Your Business Grow Using Your Podcast 1. Get your FREE ‘Ultimate Profitable Pod Checklist.’2. Read ‘Narrow Podcasting.’3. Implement the ‘Profitable-Pod Method’ Online Course4. Enjoy seamless Podcast Production powered by Podcast Network Solutions5. Work with me 1:1
