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The Power of a Podcast (And Why We Started One)

Share the goods.

Maddie smiles while interviewing a podcast guest on Happy Hour Hustle.

We originally posted this blog on February 21, 2018. Things have changed since then (shocker), so we updated it on August 26, 2025.

 

Everyone has a podcast nowadays. While we like to think ours, Happy Hour Hustle, is one of the best (especially with a glass of wine), we get why there’s so much competition. Podcasts work if you can break through the noise. 

4.61 million podcasts are available worldwide. Listeners spend around 7 hours a week listening to just podcasts. That’s a whole workday that you can get their attention for. 

The Podcast Formula

You need a purpose. Don’t start a podcast just to say you did. We started Happy Hour Hustle as a way to shine a light on causes, industries, and share knowledge from our favorite people. If you’re not passionate about your podcast or don’t have something new to say about a topic, people can tell.

Make an outline, you’ll thank us. Don’t just try to record without a game plan. It will go wrong. Believe us, we ramble, and no one wants to edit a two-hour-long clip of you never getting to the point.

Be yourself. It’s easy to play up your personality or want to go over the top, but it will come across as fake. People like you because of who you are. Take a deep breath (and maybe get a drink).

Get decent equipment. We’ve all suffered through terrible Zoom audio. Buy a real microphone. Your listeners’ ears will thank you, and you’ll sound like you know what you’re doing.

It’s Not Just Audio Anymore

Think about how you discovered your favorite podcast. Probably saw a clip on social media first, right? That’s because 61% of the top podcasts are using video now.

Record everything. Use your phone if you have to. That’s instant content for your socials. Make sure to add captions. Not everyone listens with sound on, and accessibility matters.

The data on platforms supports the video argument. YouTube is still the #1 platform for listening to and finding podcasts. Spotify now supports video, too. Full podcast episodes are pulling serious numbers on these platforms. 1 in 3 weekly podcast consumers say they like watching podcasts more than listening to them, and podcast newcomers say they start by watching and listening on YouTube. 

Different People Communicate…Differently

One of the best assets we offer as a communications partner is helping our clients reach their target audiences through the best channels. Digital, print, earned media, paid placement…we evaluate it all. While timely blogs, robust social strategies, and well-maintained websites are key, podcast listeners are an interesting bunch. 100 million Americans listen to podcasts weekly, and they listen to around 8 episodes weekly. 

So, don’t be average. Make the most of this interesting platform and subscribe to LOTS of podcasts…may we suggest starting with ours?

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We’re officially two days out…

Uncomfortable Conversations | The Pause is happening this Thursday, Sept 24, and we’re getting real about perimenopause with a panel of industry experts who have the answers (see our speaker spotlights for more details).

Come for the expert insight. Stay because you get to hang with us.

Registration closes soon. Grab your spot at the link in bio.

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Open post by 8thirtyfour with ID 18067707920767584
We’re officially two days out… Uncomfortable Conversations | The Pause is happening this Thursday, Sept 24, and we’re getting real about perimenopause with a panel of industry experts who have the answers (see our speaker spotlights for more details). Come for the expert insight. Stay because you get to hang with us. Registration closes soon. Grab your spot at the link in bio.

Introducing our third speaker for Uncomfortable Conversations | The Pause, happening this Thursday.

Meet @bitnermd, co-founder of @true.womenshealth, a concierge practice in West Michigan, focused on helping women thrive through midlife while reducing chronic conditions such as obesity, cardiovascular disease, depression, and diabetes.

Dr. Bitner is a board-certified OB/GYN specializing in midlife, menopause, and sexual health. She’s the author of I Want to Age Like That! and has published peer-reviewed research on menopause care. She was named Menopause Practitioner of the Year by The Menopause Society in 2015. Dr. Bitner is committed to translating evidence into practical, scalable solutions that improve women’s health, confidence, and participation at work and in life. We’re beyond excited to have her join our panel discussion this Thursday.

Register now to hear from Dr. Bitner and our industry experts at The Pause on September 24th.

Secure your spot at the link in bio.

3 0
Open post by 8thirtyfour with ID 18013559684753405
Introducing our third speaker for Uncomfortable Conversations | The Pause, happening this Thursday. Meet @bitnermd, co-founder of @true.womenshealth, a concierge practice in West Michigan, focused on helping women thrive through midlife while reducing chronic conditions such as obesity, cardiovascular disease, depression, and diabetes. Dr. Bitner is a board-certified OB/GYN specializing in midlife, menopause, and sexual health. She’s the author of I Want to Age Like That! and has published peer-reviewed research on menopause care. She was named Menopause Practitioner of the Year by The Menopause Society in 2015. Dr. Bitner is committed to translating evidence into practical, scalable solutions that improve women’s health, confidence, and participation at work and in life. We’re beyond excited to have her join our panel discussion this Thursday. Register now to hear from Dr. Bitner and our industry experts at The Pause on September 24th. Secure your spot at the link in bio.

Every WOSB deserves support, access, guidance, and a network, because when they have it, they’re unstoppable.

Just because you be small, does not mean you are not mighty. The Women’s Owners Network will accept its first cohort this November. Applications are due October 1.

Thank you to @lakemichigan_cu for partnering with us to provide this program. Their support means we can offer this at a significantly lower cost to business owners.

Go apply at the link in bio.

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Open post by 8thirtyfour with ID 18247359124310352
Every WOSB deserves support, access, guidance, and a network, because when they have it, they’re unstoppable. Just because you be small, does not mean you are not mighty. The Women’s Owners Network will accept its first cohort this November. Applications are due October 1. Thank you to @lakemichigan_cu for partnering with us to provide this program. Their support means we can offer this at a significantly lower cost to business owners. Go apply at the link in bio.

Introducing our second speaker for Uncomfortable Conversations | The Pause, happening this Thursday.

Meet Cheryl Bergman, Executive Director of the @miwomenscomm.

Cheryl is a statewide policy leader driving economic opportunity and better health outcomes for women across Michigan. Appointed by Governor Gretchen Whitmer in 2019, she brings together employers, healthcare experts, advocates, and policymakers to tackle the issues that actually move the needle - economic security, affordable childcare, and midlife women`s health.

Before this role, Cheryl helped elect Michigan`s first woman U.S. Senator and first woman Governor, and served as Senior Advisor on Governor Whitmer`s 2018 campaign.

She`s exactly the voice this conversation needs.

Join Cheryl and our powerhouse lineup of industry experts at The Pause on September 24th.

Link in bio to register - spaces are going fast.

4 0
Open post by 8thirtyfour with ID 17876488173630026
Introducing our second speaker for Uncomfortable Conversations | The Pause, happening this Thursday. Meet Cheryl Bergman, Executive Director of the @miwomenscomm. Cheryl is a statewide policy leader driving economic opportunity and better health outcomes for women across Michigan. Appointed by Governor Gretchen Whitmer in 2019, she brings together employers, healthcare experts, advocates, and policymakers to tackle the issues that actually move the needle - economic security, affordable childcare, and midlife women's health. Before this role, Cheryl helped elect Michigan's first woman U.S. Senator and first woman Governor, and served as Senior Advisor on Governor Whitmer's 2018 campaign. She's exactly the voice this conversation needs. Join Cheryl and our powerhouse lineup of industry experts at The Pause on September 24th. Link in bio to register - spaces are going fast.

We love this trend, so we thought we’d jump on it and ask the team some “hard-hitting questions” to end the week.

We’re a team made up of Gen X, Millennials, and Gen Z. Find out who knows the most about the classics. Any guesses?

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Open post by 8thirtyfour with ID 17917175178450239
We love this trend, so we thought we’d jump on it and ask the team some “hard-hitting questions” to end the week. We’re a team made up of Gen X, Millennials, and Gen Z. Find out who knows the most about the classics. Any guesses?

We`ve received so many questions from new grads about breaking into a competitive market as a young professional. It starts with one thing according to @bodespeaks: being the salesperson of YOU. Emulate the leaders in your industry and show up where they show up.

It`s not who you know, it`s who knows you
Use the playbook of people you admire
Show up consistently and be seen
A handwritten note beats 100 LinkedIn messages, always.

See more Bode wisdom at her YouTube channel linked in our bio.

12 1
Open post by 8thirtyfour with ID 18092872106558307
We've received so many questions from new grads about breaking into a competitive market as a young professional. It starts with one thing according to @bodespeaks: being the salesperson of YOU. Emulate the leaders in your industry and show up where they show up. It's not who you know, it's who knows you Use the playbook of people you admire Show up consistently and be seen A handwritten note beats 100 LinkedIn messages, always. See more Bode wisdom at her YouTube channel linked in our bio.
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