This series is all about libsyn’s podcasters. Its sole purpose is to introduce these awesome podcasts to the world as well as share their podcasting insight to empower the community!
Q & A with Latrice from Unicorns Talk Podcast
When did you start podcasting?
I recorded the first episode of Unicorns Talk Podcast in August 2017 and have delved deeper into the world of podcasting ever since.
Why did you start podcasting?
I had a radio show on a local New Orleans station for a brief period in 2015. I kind of fell into that opportunity, but it hooked me on the art of recording and storytelling.
In early 2017, a friend of mine sent me Amanda Seales’ podcast “Small Doses” and suggested that I could do something like that myself.
I started researching what a podcast was and how to make it happen and I just pieced it together. I bought a Logitech headset with the stick microphone and recorded my first season sitting on the sofa with my PC laptop.
I fell in love with podcasting very quickly and knew it would be a major part of my life.
What’s the name of your show and what is it about?
My first ever podcast was “Unicorns Talk Podcast” (latricesampsonrichards.com/podcast). It’s a weekly girl chat about Black women, our healing, and manifestation. Though it is no longer in production, it will forever be my baby.
As a producer with Vanguard Podcast Network, I have had the opportunity to work on several original and client projects. My current project, “Stories All Around Us” (https://www.vanguardpn.com/storiesallaroundus), is a Vanguard Original that is for and about people of the African Diaspora whose lives and stories matter regardless of age, politics, sexual and/or gender identities, religion, nationality, etc.
We believe that if you’ve lived long enough to form a sentence you have a story to tell AND it matters. We don’t subscribe to single stories or monolithic narratives and while it’s true that we have relatable stories, they are not and can never be the same. This project will be released shortly after the new year (Feb 2022).
I’m also looking forward to beginning production soon on “Therapist Friend”. To me, the best part of being a therapist is having therapist friends.
We get together and talk about the same topics everyone else does, but we always look at it from a therapist’s perspective.
I want to bring our community into those conversations and hopefully give them another way to think about life and culture.
What’s your podcasting set-up?
In terms of hardware, I currently use a Rode PodMic which is connected to a Focusrite Scarlett Solo interface, and my MacBook Pro to record.
For headphones, I love the Audio-Technica ATH-M20x Closed-back Monitoring Headphones.
I also have two ATR2100 USB/XLR mics and I splurged on a Zoom H5 recorder/interface that I used before winning my current equipment at Podcast Movement this year (on my actual birthday, #winning).
I’ve tried multiple editing software, but keep coming back to the one I learned on (which happens to be FREE), Audacity.
I appreciate the simplicity of the user experience and, since I now work with actual editors who know what they’re doing (LOL), I don’t really need anything much more powerful than that, although it is more than capable of meeting higher-level needs as well.
For hosting, I’m a Libsyn girl through and through! Libsyn’s customer service has been outstanding, and the platform is super easy to navigate.
Plus, the fact that they are considered to be one of the OGs in the podcasting space makes it easier for me to focus on my creativity because I can trust that Libsyn will handle the distribution and back-end show management.
How have you promoted your podcast?
I am horrible about promoting my work.
I typically use social media, specifically Instagram and Facebook, to get the word out about my projects.
Libsyn also has the option to automatically share my content across various platforms like LinkedIn and YouTube, which makes it super easy to create a footprint in those spaces without much additional effort on my part.
Being a member of the Afros & Audio Community Network (https://www.afrosandaudio.com/community-network) has provided me with a great deal of exposure to my target audience as well. The support and love from my people have kept my download numbers for Unicorns Talk Podcast rising despite no longer being in production.
I am looking forward to etching out a more strategic outreach plan for my new and upcoming projects.
What do you know now that you wish you knew when you started?
When I got started in podcasting, it was quite difficult to piece together all of the knowledge I needed to be successful. There was a lot of trial and error.
Over time, I was introduced to Afros & Audio and their annual podcast festival. Long story short, Afros & Audio completely changed the game for me. Not only was I able to find in-depth tutorials and courses to improve my podcasting skills, but also a community of Black podcasters and audio professionals that are just as dedicated to collaboration and excellence as I am.
I wish that I had known about the Afros & Audio Podcast Festival from episode one, but I am thankful that they came when they did.
I’ve been able to share the knowledge I gained at the beginning of my journey as well as what I’ve learned along the way to help aspiring and up-and-coming podcasters overcome the systemic hurdles of access to knowledge and opportunities for collaboration.
And, I must say, being connected to the level of talent in the Afros & Audio Community has happily forced me to step up my creativity as well!
In this witty and insightful podcast Latrice Sampson Richards talks about healing and manifesting as a Black woman. To hear incredible insight and amazing guests listen to Unicorns Talk Podcast on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
And make sure you stay connected with Latrice as she has some great stuff coming up for Vanguard Podcast Network! Connect with her via Instagram or Facebook
Latrice Sampson Richards wanted to talk about what affected her as a Black woman and realized after an experience in radio that podcasts was the way to do it. She started with Libsyn did her research and made it happen. You can put your voice out there and make a difference too.
Don’t know where to start? No problem, we can help with our Start Your Podcast blog series. If you are ready, we have the best podcast hosting plans around!
