Thinking of launching a Podcast? Here’s what we learned

In this issue, we delve into the motivations behind launching the Nova Podcast. Discover the key insights that drove us to embark on this journey and learn from the valuable lessons we've uncovered along the way. We share our biggest learnings and what we wish we knew before we hit play.

Hey, we are Ramón Rodrigá?ez and Andrea Marino, Co-Founders at Nova, the Global Top Talent Network.

Welcome to Talent First, our newsletter where those who believe that talent is the most important resource in the economy get together.

Every week we cover a new topic related to attracting, hiring, developing and retaining talent, as well as the learnings from our journey building Nova.

Summary

• Why did we launch our podcast? The reasons behind why we decided to venture into the world of podcasting—and how it aligns perfectly with Nova’s mission to empower top talent.
• Branding your podcast Why branding your podcast can make or break its connection with your audience and how we navigated this critical decision.
• Should you outsource production? Production quality can make all the difference. Find out if outsourcing is the best option for you by learning the factors that influenced our choice.
• Maximizing reach: the importance of finding guests (and a great host) Guests are the lifeblood of any podcast. Hear how we leveraged our network and why the host’s role is just as pivotal in maximizing impact.
• Best practices (that have worked for us) We’re sharing some of the simple yet powerful practices that have helped us grow our audience and stay consistent.

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Thinking of launching a Podcast? Here’s what we learned

Podcasting has emerged as one of the most powerful content-creation strategies for brands and individuals. Whether you're looking to build thought leadership, engage your audience on a deeper level, or explore a new creative outlet, starting a podcast can be a game-changer.

At Nova, the Global Top Talent Network, we recently launched our podcast, and the experience has been both exciting and eye-opening. Given our mission to connect, grow, and empower top talent, the podcast provides a unique opportunity to amplify voices within our network, share meaningful insights, and extend our brand’s impact.

In this article, we’ll share the key lessons we’ve learned while launching the Nova Podcast—from branding decisions to finding guests, outsourcing production, and maximizing content value.

1. Why did we launch our Podcast?

Let’s be clear: trends work for a reason. “Now everyone has a podcast” you may hear. However, this format truly helps us to showcase in a close and extended way the challenges and life learnings some of our members (and successful professionals) have gone through.

At Nova, our mission is clear: to empower our members by nurturing their personal and professional growth. We believe the most valuable resource for development is access to others’ knowledge, experiences, and stories. This philosophy naturally led us to think beyond traditional formats. How could we make learning from top talent more accessible, engaging, and inspiring?

That’s when the podcast came in. It wasn’t a radical departure but rather an evolution, building on our belief that talent thrives when nurtured in the right environment.

The podcast gave us a fresh way to amplify what Nova does best: connecting exceptional individuals and unlocking collective potential.

Starting a podcast is about creating an authentic connection with your audience. Unlike written content, podcasts offer an intimate and conversational format that helps build trust and engagement. For us, launching a podcast made perfect sense because it aligns with our mission:

• Showcasing top talent: Our members are some of the most accomplished professionals in their fields. The podcast allows them to share their journeys, insights, and advice with a wider audience, and other soon-to-be Novas.
• Building stronger connections: Long-form content fosters deeper engagement compared to social media posts or short videos.
• Extending our reach: Podcasts can reach people on the go—whether they're commuting, exercising, or working.

Why Podcasts work so well (nothing new here, but just in case):

1. Growing popularity: According to Edison Research, over 100 million Americans listen to podcasts monthly, and the number continues to grow. This surge demonstrates that audio content is an increasingly preferred format for learning and entertainment.
2. Longevity: Podcasts have a longer shelf life compared to other content formats. Episodes can continue attracting listeners for months or even years after release.
3. Flexibility: Listeners can engage with podcast content passively, allowing them to multitask while absorbing valuable insights.

2. Branding your Podcast: Align with your brand or go separate?

One of the earliest and most crucial decisions we made was whether to align the podcast with the Nova brand or create a separate identity.

Back in early 2024, we thought a new branding would make more sense. We developed the concept, led by Miguel Angel Piedra (our former Brand guru), thinking about that moment in which something clicks and your career accelerates.

We even had the visual identity (attached below), and some guests in the pipeline. The idea was to talk about that specific moment, and ideally, how Nova made it happen (if that was the case).

However, we finally chose to name it the Nova Podcast, and here’s why:

• Brand consistency: Keeping the same name reinforces our mission and builds on our existing reputation as a trusted global talent network.
• Professional social network synergy: Since Nova already connects top talent across industries, aligning the podcast ensures that our audience can immediately relate to the content.
• Increased discoverability: Leveraging the Nova name makes it easier for our community to find and trust the podcast from the start. Although we later named the series “Stories behind top talent”.
• Social proof: Guests and listeners recognize the Nova brand, which helps establish credibility and encourages organic sharing across social platforms.

For us, it is very satisfying when someone gets to know you through the podcast. Although you don’t see results immediately, it is key to keep consistency and add value to your audience. Then eventually you’ll start to notice its impact.

When to consider separate branding

If your podcast aims to reach a completely different audience or explore themes unrelated to your core business, a unique name might make more sense. However, for us, sticking with the Nova name has helped maintain a cohesive brand identity.

3. Outsourcing production vs. Doing it yourself

One of the biggest lessons we learned early on is that high-quality podcasting isn’t cheap. Between equipment, editing, and promotion, the costs can add up quickly. Instead of taking a DIY approach, we opted to outsource production, and it’s been one of the best decisions we’ve made.

We decided to outsource podcast production primarily to maximize time efficiency. Handling everything in-house would have required significant effort and resources, diverting our attention from our core mission—connecting top talent. By outsourcing, we can focus on what truly matters: creating valuable content and building meaningful relationships with our guests.

Another key factor in our decision was ensuring professional quality. Experienced production teams bring a level of expertise that guarantees top-tier audio, seamless editing, and an overall polished listening experience. High production standards are essential to maintaining credibility and engagement, as listeners are far more likely to stay tuned to a well-produced podcast.

Finally, outsourcing has proven to be a cost-effective and scalable solution for us. While the upfront investment may seem high, it ultimately saves us from long-term expenses associated with purchasing equipment, software, and the inevitable trial-and-error learning curve that comes with in-house production. Moreover, working with a dedicated production team allows us to maintain a consistent release schedule without encountering bottlenecks, ensuring that we can scale our efforts and meet the growing demand for our content.

4. Maximizing Podcast impact: Leveraging guests, content formats, and the host

One of the most effective ways to expand the impact of a podcast is by leveraging guests, optimizing content formats, and positioning the host strategically. At Nova, our approach focuses on amplifying reach through a combination of smart guest selection, content repurposing, and creating meaningful connections that extend beyond the episode itself.

Our guest strategy plays a crucial role in driving organic growth and credibility. We began by leveraging our existing network, featuring Nova members with inspiring stories and valuable insights. This helped us establish a strong foundation of content that resonates with our audience. Over time, we’ve benefited from the snowball effect—each guest we invite recommends another. Featuring well-known industry figures not only adds credibility but also attracts a broader listener base eager to hear from recognized thought leaders.

To maximize exposure, we ensure that our guests actively contribute to promoting their episodes by encouraging social sharing. We provide them with ready-made content, making it easy for them to share across LinkedIn, Instagram, and other platforms. This collaborative effort significantly boosts our reach as each guest introduces Nova to their network.

Beyond guest promotion, we focus on content repurposing to ensure each episode fuels multiple marketing channels. Every podcast episode can be transcribed and transformed into a variety of content formats. Short social media clips with impactful moments are shared across LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube, driving engagement and attracting new listeners. Additionally, email newsletters featuring the most valuable takeaways help keep our subscribers engaged, while SEO-optimized transcripts and show notes enhance our discoverability through search engines.

A crucial component of our podcast's authenticity and authority is our host, Ramón Rodrigá?ez, Nova's CEO. As a leader in the global top talent space, Ramón brings invaluable insights and a unique perspective to every episode. His deep understanding of career development, talent acquisition, and leadership allows him to guide meaningful conversations that resonate with our audience. His presence not only reinforces the credibility of the content but also strengthens the connection between Nova and our listeners.

Looking ahead, we are excited to expand the podcast to Italy, where our other co-founder, Andrea Marino, will take on the hosting role. Andrea’s deep market knowledge and leadership in the Italian professional landscape will bring a localized yet globally relevant perspective to the podcast. Just like Ramón, Andrea will serve as an authentic voice of Nova, fostering strong relationships with local talent and extending our impact in new regions.

5. Best practices for a successful Podcast

Launching the Nova Podcast has been an incredible experience, helping us strengthen our community, showcase our talent network, and establish thought leadership. While it requires effort, the impact is well worth it.

If you’re thinking about starting a podcast, our advice is simple: start small, stay consistent, and maximize every piece of content.

Through our journey, we’ve identified some best practices that have helped us stay consistent and grow our audience:

1. Define your niche early on. Clarity on your audience and purpose is crucial for long-term success.
2. Maintain a consistent schedule. Whether weekly or biweekly, regular releases build trust.
3. Invest in promotion. Don't just publish—actively promote across social media and email.
4. Encourage engagement. Ask listeners for feedback and topic suggestions to stay relevant.
5. Be authentic. Genuine conversations resonate more than overly scripted content.

Got questions about starting your podcast? We’d love to hear from you!

We almost forgot to add the links to our podcast… It’s only available in Spanish for now but we are expanding it soon to Italy. Plus, with the help of AI, we will soon be translating episodes to other languages. Check it out on YouTube or Spotify!

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Andrea & Ramón

Co-founders at Nova