In today’s episode, Hector Santiesteban shares his journey from Facebook Live to podcasting, the creation of his podcast production company Amplafy Media, and his experience as a host of three different shows. He talks about developing a podcast’s unique perspective, the restorative nature of the medium, and the importance of building a supportive podcasting community.
Hector shares his story of transitioning from doing hundreds of live videos on Facebook to eventually starting a podcast. He initially thought podcasting was too complicated and technical, but as the tools became more accessible, he realised the potential for long-term client relationships in podcast production.
After setting up their first podcast, Amplafy Media was approached by the hosts of a show called Potty Talk Live, a podcast that teaches plumbers how to run a plumbing business. As more podcasts approached them for similar services, Hector realised the potential for long-term client relationships in the podcasting industry. Amplafy Media began to focus on podcast production, helping clients with audio, video, show notes, graphics, and publishing. This allowed their clients to concentrate on recording great conversations while Hector and his team handled the technical aspects of production and distribution.
Amplafy Media’s target market is entrepreneurial podcasters who have a business and use their podcast as a part of it. When working with clients to launch a new podcast, Hector and his team focus on identifying the show’s unique perspective and target audience. They consider the host’s role (expert, journalist, or friend/companion) and how to structure the show in a way that resonates with listeners.
Hector hosts three shows: Podcasting Success Secrets, a business show called How to Scale a Business, and a men’s mental health show called Modern Masculinity. He shares the story behind each show and how they serve different purposes, from reaching Amplafy Media’s target market to exploring personal challenges and questions.
17.35 mins
For Modern Masculinity, Hector recorded 30 episodes before publishing anything to ensure consistency and build a backlog. He discusses the emotional intensity of the conversations and how he approaches each interview by channeling the listener’s perspective and following the natural flow of the discussion.
“Modern Masculinity has been the show that’s resonated the most with people because it was born of a real need as opposed to a Should.”
Hector and Pilar reflect on the unique depth and intimacy of podcasting, and how it allows for the expression of personal experiences and ideas in a way that other mediums may not. They discuss the therapeutic and restorative nature of podcasting, both for the host and the listener.
Hector’s approach to interviewing guests on Podcasting Success Secrets, includes using story structures like the Hero’s Journey to guide the conversation and provide a coherent arc for the listener.
Hector and and Matt Gilhooly (past guest on this show) have started a community called Podcast AMA to connect podcasters and provide support in a field that can sometimes feel lonely and thankless. The community hosts bi-weekly Google Hangouts where podcasters can ask questions, share experiences, and build relationships.
Looking ahead, Hector is excited about the unique opportunities for monetizing podcasts, such as pairing them with e-commerce and AI-generated content. He discusses the potential of value-for-value systems, where listeners directly support the creators they listen to, and the importance of starting a podcast now to take advantage of these emerging opportunities.
You can connect with Hector on LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/hector-podcast and Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hector_podcast/