Everyone has a podcast. So, where is the whitespace and what does it really take to break through?
Sammi sits down with Nayeema Raza, host of Smart Girl Dumb Questions and former The New York Times journalist, for a conversation on the modern media landscape, the podcast boom, and what they tell people who are thinking about starting a podcast. Sammi and Nayeema break down what it really takes to launch a podcast—and share exactly how much they’re making from theirs.
Sammi and Nayeema also get into the bigger shift happening across media: why podcasting is becoming the new “TV” and why creators today need to think more like founders than talent. Plus, they unpack the rise of controversial content ecosystems like the “manosphere,” what it teaches about audience-building (even if you hate it), and where the line between journalism and creators is headed.
Follow Sammi Cohen on Instagram
Subscribe to the Social Currency newsletter Follow Nayeema and listen to Smart Girl Dumb Questions
Here’s What Sammi Covers with Nayeema:
00:00 Have We “Made It” In Podcasting?
03:45 Social Vs. Podcast Growth
06:52 Why Everyone Has A Podcast
07:09 The Intimacy And Power Of Podcasting
08:00 The Rise Of The Manosphere
12:41 What Controversial Creators Get Right
17:12 “Is It A Scam?” Rapid-Fire
21:20 The Real Work Behind Podcasting
26:09 Is Podcasting Saturated?
28:38 Why Most Podcasts Fail
31:53 Is Podcasting Overhyped?
33:00 How Much Money Podcasts Actually Make
35:00 Building A Studio And Betting On Yourself
36:08 The Hidden ROI Of Podcasting
41:00 Journalism Vs. Creators
47:00 The Scariest Part Of Starting A Podcast
54:00 How To Break Through
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
