Build a podcast production network with Amy Westervelt
Season 8, Episode 7
Every so often, I end up in conversations with freelancers that bemoan the state of media that exists in print and audio. We complain about bad contracts, payment schedules that basically make it such that the media company takes out an interest-free loan from us while we sometimes spend months — if not years — producing a project. We complain about how publishers want a certain type of story, and there’s little room for other, more quirky ones. And ultimately those conversations end up at, “you ever think of starting a new publication or production network?”
I, for one, have not considered it. But others have — and I wanted to bring one of those folks on the podcast for this season: THE YEAR OF EXPANSIVE THINKING
My guest this episode is Amy Westervelt, an award-winning investigative journalist working in print and audio who covers accountability and the climate crisis. She’s been working as a freelancer for over 20 years, and has written for NPR, Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, and more. In 2017, she founded a podcast production company, Critical Frequency, which is home to MULTIPLE award-winning podcasts such as Drilled and Damages. The network also helps other creators produce high-caliber serialized, narrative podcasts, such as Unfinished: Short Creek, and season two of This Land, which was nominated for a Peabody Award in 2022.
Full disclosure: I’ve been working with Amy since 2020 fact-checking her shows, so I’ve gotten a glimpse into how she works, and I know that she’s super thoughtful about money. After all, that’s what her investigations are about: Who’s funding who — and why. Of course, money plays such a huge part in sustaining a business, especially work as expensive and valuable as podcasts.
In this episode, we talk about
Amy’s career path and how early, formative experiences shaped her desire to start her own podcast production network
The importance of paying attention to your own interests
How Amy diversified funding for Critical Frequency
The challenges of managing a team in the changing economic times
Also, there’s a lot of laughter in this episode. You have been warned.
Listen to this episode wherever you podcast!
EVENTS & MISC:
October 15, 12-1pm PST: HOW TO BEST WORK WITH A FREELANCE TEAM
Interested in building out your freelance business and hiring some help? Join TWC for a one-hour webinar to learn best practices for managing and working with your team. We’ll be joined by Anita Kenney, who has spent decades helping others work better, and consultant Emma Carew Grovum. Get your tickets today!
Did you know TWC just launched a brand new course? Check out our latest addition to the TWC Academy on Teachable: THE FRESH PAINT COURSE. The course is an asynchronous adaptation of the popular Fresh Paint Clinic, which teaches freelancers to build a business website that will attract the clients you want. Check it out at https://the-writers-co-op-academy.teachable.com/p/the-fresh-paint-course. 15% off until August 31 with the code: NEWPAINT