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Starting Your Own Podcast with Kyle C. Rheiner

Starting Your Own Podcast with Kyle C. Rheiner

Podcast published: August 14, 2020

As businesses in Chester County and greater Philadelphia continue to pivot to online marketing and sales, many owners and leaders are exploring starting a podcast. We spoke with Kyle Rheiner to talk about how he started his own podcast, Beer Mighty Things, which is focused on the craft beverage industry.

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Notes

What drove you to start your own podcast?

  • Kyle has worked in the insurance industry since college and has developed a niche in the craft beverage sector.
  • Kyle launched a podcast for a number of reasons:
    • While attending brewers’ guild meetings in PA in January 2020, Kyle realized that the presentations were sharing really great content – but none of the talks were being recorded.
    • As COVID-19 lockdowns began, Kyle had a webcam and microphone for Zoom meetings, and he realized that he had the tools he needed to start a podcast.
    • On April 7, he launched the show.
    • As of mid July (when we recorded this show), Kyle had 44 episodes and 2300 downloads.
  • Kyle turned to his business industry for guests

How did you get the podcast off the ground?

  • Start with “Why?” – Why are we even starting a podcast?
  • Kyle is a firm believer in “niching” – do one thing and do it well
  • Podcasting goals:
    • Be a better speaker
    • Become a better listener
    • Get better at asking questions, i.e., to be a better interview
  • Kyle had to learn the basics of podcasting:
    • Where are podcast episodes hosted?
    • What sort of equipment is needed?
    • How should an episode be structured?
    • How should a show open?
    • How should a show close?
  • Kyle researched average commute-to-work times, and made sure that his show would be either that time or twice as long as that (to cover the commute home.)
  • Kyle made sure that he recorded a number of episodes before launching the podcast to make running it smoother.

Has there been a payoff with clients since starting a podcast?

  • Kyle has grown a personal and professional network in new areas of the country.
  • The podcast has given him a non-sales reason to reach out to different craft beverage makers.
  • Through the podcast, Kyle has developed a better understanding of his clients needs, and those of the industry that he serves.
  • Becoming a better listener who asks better questions has helped both in the office and at home.

How do you promote the show?

  • A podcast library does not expire, so if listeners catch episodes well after those shows are published, the content is still valuable.
  • Kyle has relied on his show’s guests to promote and share each episodes.
  • He promotes the show on Instagram.
  • The show’s audience has grown to about 50 downloads per episode.
  • It’s important to make sure that episodes are properly feeding into the different podcast listening apps: iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, and more.

What other goals have you achieved through the podcast?

  • Kyle is garnering positive feedback about his podcasting style, which reflects Kyle’s goals for starting the show.

What challenges have you faced with podcast?

  • It’s tough to find the time to make the show on a regular basis as he doesn’t work on it during business hours, and does not want to take away from family time.
  • Editing shows in Garage Band (for Apple) is laborious for Kyle.
  • Kyle is considering outsourcing the editing of his shows.

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