Virtual Summit Focuses On Educating Podcasters Of Color

WAUWATOSA, WI— Podcast Town founder, Elzie Flenard started the podcast community to help podcasters find their “voice” among the noise. He also told Patch he wanted to learn about business through actual business.

Flenard said he heard from businesses about a lack of understanding of how to launch a podcast.

"One day the lightbulb goes off. I figured I know how to start a show so I started helping others develop their podcasts and produce. It developed into a full agency," Flenard said.

Flenard, who has produced hundreds of podcasts since founding the Enterprise NOW! audio marketing agency in 2016.

Through podcasting, he has helped and continues to help partners turn that voice into a powerful marketing tool.

"It doesn’t have to be loud – it just has to be real. And, his desire is that the underappreciated potential of community will remain the primary focus," the Podcast Town website said.

On Nov. 17-Nov. 19, Flenard is holding a "Podcast Town Virtual Summit," which focuses on educating minority podcasters and breaking down barriers and driving success.

The summit will feature nine speakers of color, who have developed niches and successfully built audiences for their podcasts.

"I'm a giver and like to give back in terms of knowledge and growth," Flenard told Patch.

Flenard, a podcaster of color, will lend his expertise and knowledge to guide participants during the event. The goal is for attendees to grow as podcasters by learning what works – and doesn’t – through others’ experiences.

Podcasting is a very intimate medium, which can make it difficult to connect with someone who is not aligned culturally and educationally with your content,” said Flenard.

Flenard told Patch people of color in the podcast community have a unique challenge.

"Inherently most listeners are well off white men. There is a cultural divide," he said.

The vast majority of podcasters, and their listeners, are educated white males with incomes of at least $75,000. The platforms to expose and amplify podcasters of color are tremendously limited, he said.

The speakers at summit have overcome this obstacle, and succeeded, by making their podcasts accessible to target audiences.

The summit will not only connect minority podcasters with other podcasters who look like them, but provide concrete, workable steps to improve their craft, understand the importance of messaging and a target audience, and ultimately monetize their podcast, Flenard added.

“We’ve barely scratched the surface on podcasting’s potential,” Flenard said. “My mission is to ensure that voices of color are amplified with everyone else’s. The summit will do so by helping minority podcasters grow as presenters, grow their audience, and grow their podcasts’ ROI.”

Podcast Town Virtual Summit will be held Nov. 17-19 from 5 to 8 p.m. each day. Tickets for complete access begin at just $7. Ticket information is available at www. podcasttown.net.