When I moved to Los Angeles in 1994, I ended up spending about $8000 pursuing my new-found acting dream. I had a nagging sense that much of my money was wasted, that I was getting taken in by scams, but looking back, I think I was willing to part with the money to enable my fantasies. When you’re a rube, there are always people willing to take advantage.
A friend says about this WSJ story: “The money is in selling people the dream of being podcast stars.”
Annette Perel knows that anyone with a laptop and a microphone can produce their own podcast at home. The Manhattan doula tried a few years ago, recording a pop-culture show with her niece. It lasted four episodes.
So last year, in launching a more ambitious effort—an interview podcast featuring people of color working in the birthing world—she decided to get help.
Most weeks, she goes to Gotham Podcast Studio in Manhattan to record her hourlong the Clearbirth Podcast with a guest. The studio charges her about $400 for each episode to handle the production, recording, editing and digital distribution—no drop in the bucket. Ms. Perel, who works full time running her doula business, says she’d rather invest the money than spend time producing a podcast.
And though it’s been slow to take off, getting 40 downloads an episode, the show has produced several new clients, not to mention new connections with guests. “I’m talking with the people I want to meet,” Ms. Perel says.
