Question: Think about the target audience for each of your products. Now, consider yourself at the age of that target group, and/or in the context of your other shared identities. What drew/draws you in to peoples’ work? Think about aspects of writing, imagery, sound, design, etc. How might you shape/modify your own work, with this in mind?
When considering my target audience for my first podcast, I’d say they’re people who are interested in being mentors. The audience for my second podcast would be those who might run a mentorship or an afterschool program and are looking for ways to improve them.
If I were someone interested in being a good mentor (which I am), I’d be a young adult with a diverse background. In this context, what draws me to peoples’ work is a connection. A connection that I can relate back to in my own person life, whether for something positive or negative that I’ve experienced. I’ve always been a fan of authentic storytellers because they create a sense of inspiration for me, so I’d imagine that’s a quality that a mentor should have themself. On the other hand, if I were some kind of director for a mentorship or afterschool program, I’d be drawn more towards the facts and data supporting good program methods. I’d want to hear or see what works and what doesn’t, the advantages of prioritizing this rather than that, and the outcomes related to the actions I take.
With both my podcasts, I’m obviously losing the aspect of what my audience physically sees, so it puts more stress on the usage of sound and the effect it can have in the listeners mind. With my first podcast, I did my best to paint an inviting picture and create an inspiring mood for my audience by using specific words, implementing transitions, and utilizing modest background noises. For my second podcast I think it’d be wise to follow the same process, except I’d like to make it a bit more interactive. I might consider adding some questions in my script as to make it seem like I want my listeners to answer. This would hopefully keep them more attuned with what’s being said so they really take something away from listening to the podcast.