{"id":19420,"date":"2021-03-11T18:40:38","date_gmt":"2021-03-12T02:40:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/foundersnetwork.com\/?p=19420"},"modified":"2023-02-24T09:15:32","modified_gmt":"2023-02-24T17:15:32","slug":"how-andy-bowers-transformed-the-podcasting-world","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/foundersnetwork.com\/how-andy-bowers-transformed-the-podcasting-world\/","title":{"rendered":"How Andy Bowers Transformed the Podcasting World"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Andy Bowers<\/a> is an audio journalist and podcast pioneer. He founded Slate Podcasts in 2005 and, in 2015, co-founded the podcast services company Megaphone<\/a>, which sold to Spotify<\/a> in 2020. He also founded the children\u2019s audio service Pinna<\/a>. Previously, he was a correspondent for NPR, and held posts including White House correspondent, London Bureau Chief, and Moscow Bureau Chief.<\/span><\/h3>\n<\/blockquote>\n

In 2005, Andy Bowers recorded Slate\u2019s first podcasts in his bedroom closet. \u00a0 Initially Andy recorded himself sharing the news, politics, and current affairs in the United States.\u00a0 Yet, after an editorial meeting with a group of coworkers, Bowers had an idea that would change podcast history.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The editorial meetings at Slate were hilarious. Slate\u2019s writers would meet regularly, for 30-60 minutes, to brainstorm new content ideas, discuss what\u2019s on the plate for the next few weeks, argue over politics and policy, and praise coworkers.\u00a0 Bowers loved how honest, raw, and funny his colleagues were during these meetings.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Bowers wanted to share the spirit of these meetings with a broader audience.\u00a0 That\u2019s when he created Slate\u2019s first talk show, the Political Gabfest.\u00a0 He casted three journalists with three different microphones who shared their concerns about politics and current affairs, made jokes, and authentically connected with one another, just like friends do at cocktail hour.\u00a0 Slate\u2019s Political Gabfest became a huge hit and is still running after sixteen years.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

When Bowers started at Slate magazine in 2003, no podcast existed at the company.\u00a0 Fast forward to 2021, Slate now has over 28 podcasts. In fact, they are widely recognized as a leader in the podcasting space, receiving compliments by well-known celebrities including Stephen Colbert and Ira Glass.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Since 2005, Bowers has created or helped create dozens of podcasts. In fact, the NY Times Magazine editor refers to Bowers as \u201cThe Godfather of Podcasting\u201d.\u00a0 Podcasts he has launched include Revisionist History with Malcolm Gladwell<\/a>, the scripted dramas Passenger List<\/a>, The Message and Life After<\/a>, Empire on Blood<\/a>, Happier with Gretchen Rubin<\/a>, The Walk<\/a>, the Slate Gabfests<\/a>, The Gist<\/a>, Trumpcast<\/a>, Family Ghosts<\/a>, By the Book<\/a>, and many others.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

He\u2019s managed podcasting partnerships with companies and authors including The Wall Street Journal, Slate, Vanity Fair, Netflix, HBO, Amazon Prime, Starbucks, The New York Times, Vulture, Vox, Inc., New York Magazine, Rolling Stone, MTV, BuzzFeed, Politico, The Huffington Post, Real Simple, Sports Illustrated, Bon App\u00e9tit, Susan Cain, and Chris Guillebeau.<\/span><\/p>\n

Regardless of what the topic is, Andy Bowers believes that great content is the primary reason that people will listen to a podcast.\u00a0 In an interview with Founders Network<\/a>, Bowers stated \u201cContent is the most important thing.\u00a0 Without good things to listen to, what\u2019s the point of a hosting service?\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n\u201cContent is the most important thing. Without good things to listen to, what\u2019s the point of a hosting service?\u201d - @andybowers <\/a><\/span>Share on X<\/a><\/span>\n

Create something because there\u2019s a need for it<\/b><\/h3>\n

Bowers strongly believes that the best things are created when there is a strong need for them to exist. In 2015, Bowers and his team at the Slate Group, co-founded Panoply, a podcast content and ad sales company, which later pivoted to become Megaphone<\/a>, a hosting, ad-tech and content management service.\u00a0 Prior to Megaphone, podcasters had limited ways to measure listeners, track ad results, and understand their audiences\u2019 response to each show.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

When launching a new show, Bowers believes that the audience is your \u201cco-producer\u201d. \u00a0 Bowers says \u201cDon\u2019t worry about your show being perfect in the beginning. Just start and let the audience guide you toward what they want to hear.\u201d With Megaphone, podcasters could now utilize metrics, track downloads, manage their content, and understand their impact.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Thanks to its deep roots in podcast content and the needs of publishers, Megaphone quickly became the world\u2019s leading podcast hosting service for enterprise publishers.In 2020, Spotify acquired Megaphone<\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Founded \u201cPinna\u201d an on-demand audio service for kids 3-12<\/b><\/h3>\n

In 2017, Bowers founded the pioneering subscription audio service for kids 3-12, Pinna (<\/span>https:\/\/pinna.fm\/<\/span><\/a>).\u00a0 He\u2019s been creating audio stories for children since 2005.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\u201cIt\u2019s better to create a bunch of shows for 50,000 listeners than one show for millions of listeners.\u201d - @andybowers <\/a><\/span>Share on X<\/a><\/span>\n

Focus on niche audiences<\/b><\/h3>\n

Bowers strongly believes that \u201cIt\u2019s better to create a bunch of shows for 50,000 listeners than one show for millions of listeners.\u201d By solving problems for a smaller audience, you can make the content relevant to them, and then move onto another audience.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Cofounded Pitaya Entertainment, a LatinX on-demand audio network<\/b><\/h3>\n

Bowers doesn\u2019t let language barriers get in the way of his dreams to give more people access to great content. Recently, he joined forces with four industry powerhouses to launch a new on-demand audio network called \u201cPitaya Entertainment<\/a>\u201d, serving the LatinX community.\u00a0 His team aims to amplify and grow LatinX voices around the United States, a population that is underserved.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Bowers doesn\u2019t speak Spanish, but he still plays a huge role in the company.\u00a0 He\u2019s an advisor on podcasting business strategy, handles all of the parts of podcasting that are not language specific, and lets his Spanish-speaking teammates manage the content.<\/span><\/p>\n

Save the date: March 17, 2021<\/b>
\n<\/b>Andy Bowers is speaking at Founders Network<\/b><\/h3>\n

Creating companies and launching podcasts are big accomplishments, but to Bowers it\u2019s second nature.\u00a0 When launching something new, he believes that you should just start instead of worrying about making it perfect.\u00a0\u00a0<\/h3>\n
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\nTo learn more about personal frameworks and techniques,\u00a0see if you qualify for membership<\/a>\u00a0and check out the\u00a0<\/b>webinar<\/a><\/b> from March 17.<\/b>
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Bowers will give a talk for Founders Network<\/a> on March 17, 2021.\u00a0 In this talk, he\u2019ll dive into personal frameworks and techniques he\u2019s applied throughout his career when starting something new.\u00a0 These include:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n