Connect Inspire Create
Welcome to Connect Inspire Create: The Mindset & Business Coaching Podcast. I'm Carol Clegg, your host and Progress and Accountability coach for women business owners.
Listen to conversations that delve into taking action, business and life coaching,
creativity, and different ways to foster a positive mindset. Whether you're a woman
solopreneur navigating midlife, seeking to overcome procrastination, or
striving for balance in your business, you'll find an episode or two on this show that will be insightful and motivating. That's the plan!
Let's embark on a journey to connect, inspire, and create a
space where our connections inspire us —welcome to Connect Inspire Create!
Connect Inspire Create
182 Podcasting with Soul – A Conversation with Demetria Zinga
In today's digital landscape, podcasting has emerged as a powerful medium for coaches and entrepreneurs looking to build real, authentic connections. It's not just about sharing expertise—it's about creating meaningful relationships with your audience and potential clients in a way that words on a screen often can’t.
In this episode, I'm joined by Demetria Zinga, founder of Soul Podcasting Collective—a boutique agency helping purpose-driven women entrepreneurs launch and grow podcasts with strategy and soul. Demetria shares how podcasting offers a unique opportunity to find and express your authentic voice, blending heart-led storytelling with business-building impact.
Before diving into tech and tools, Demetria emphasizes the importance of the planning phase—getting clear on your message, audience, and purpose. This foundational work sets the stage for a show that not only resonates with listeners but also aligns with your mission.
What You'll Learn in This Episode:
- Why podcasting is an authentic and impactful tool for entrepreneurs
- How to clarify your message and align your podcast with your purpose
- Tips for navigating the early planning stages of podcasting
- What to do when you feel stuck, overwhelmed, or burned out
- The soul behind strategy—and why both matter
Listen to our conversation and get inspired to take your next steps in podcasting.
Connect with Demetria Zinga:
- Visit her website: soulpodcasting.com
- Tune into Soul Podcasting: Listen to the show
- Explore her tools & resources: Podcasting Resources
Hello from your host, Carol Clegg – your mindset and accountability coach for women coaches, entrepreneurs and small teams!
As a coach or heart led entrepreneur, you know all the right tools and strategies to support your clients—but when it comes to applying them to yourself, it’s easy to get stuck. You might find it hard to prioritize self-care, stay motivated, or maintain a positive mindset, especially when juggling the demands of your business. That’s where I come in.
I love helping women reconnect with their own practices. Together, we’ll explore what’s getting in the way, reignite your motivation, and put the right tools in place to support your well-being.
If you're ready to start prioritizing your own mindset and motivation, take my complimentary “Insights into You” (aka Saboteur discovery assessment” and follow up with a free coaching session to explore your results. Take your assessment here, or visit carolclegg.com for more details.
BOOK your ✅ 30-minute complimentary exploration call HERE
Let’s connect on LinkedIn and Instagram, or join my LinkedIn Group Flourish: A Community for Women Business Owners
...So I usually go by a little four-step process so plan, produce, launch and grow. But the planning part is where all the magic happens and it is the groundwork that has to be laid before you do anything else, before you produce, before you figure out your tools, before you launch, and then think about monetization, All that's last welcome back to another episode of connect, inspire, create and season six.
Speaker 2:I can hardly believe that I'm at season six already, so on this show, I love to explore ways for midlife women entrepreneurs to just find fresh ways to take action. Feel inspired when they listen to what my guests have to share prioritize self-care because that is always something that should be on our schedule and lead with their own hearts, authentically and with the words and actions that matter to them. So thank you for listening to the show today and welcome to my guest, dimitri Zinner.
Speaker 1:Hi, dimitri, thanks for joining me, hi, carol, thank you so much for having me here today. I'm excited.
Speaker 2:I'm looking forward to this topic of podcasting. Obviously, we both love podcasting, but I'm hoping that others are going to be encouraged and inspired to put this on their radar as we dig in. So to my audience, I'd love to just tell you a little bit about my guest today.
Speaker 2:Dimitri Zinger is a former homeschool mom, turned full-time solopreneur and the founder of Soul Podcasting Collective, a boutique agency helping purpose-driven entrepreneurs launch and grow impactful podcasts. So you're in the right place if this has been on your bucket list and you've been thinking maybe, maybe this is what I want. So Dimitri has over 20 years of experience in digital marketing and podcasting and she helps blend strategy and soul to support creatives, coaches and entrepreneurs in finding their voice and building brand authority. So she is passionate about helping you push past mental blocks, simplifying the tech and finally launching projects that have been on your heart. So, with her top-ranked shows and coaching work, Dimitri has empowered others to podcast with purpose, clarity and confidence. So welcome, welcome, Lovely to have you. Thank you. Why not start right at the beginning? Let's tell me what first drew you to podcasting.
Speaker 1:Wow. So 20 years ago I was drawn to podcasting because I found a podcast and her name was is Kelly Makazi. She hosted Wham Talk Radio. Work at Home. Moms Talk Radio is the very first podcast that I got into and discovered just by accident, because I well, I would say by accident probably purposefully right, everything happens for a reason. I was a stay at home mom of a 15 month old daughter and trying to find work from home, and so when I found Kelly's podcast, which was originally a just an online radio show, turned podcast, I was inspired that, hey, maybe this is something I can do, right, and so I just.
Speaker 1:At the time I was also a web designer. I had started a couple of different businesses that I was trying to do. I had worked some MLM. I had also started soaps and body butters creation business. I had a lot of little entrepreneurial things happening, ideas that were sparking.
Speaker 1:But I had also begun an online like a website that was sort of a ministry to women to kind of help us talk about scripture and Bible and that kind of thing religious and Bible and that kind of thing religious, but also to encourage each other in our daily walk with how we're going to relate our spirituality to our practical life. So this became what I called an online magazine. It was just a website, but I wanted to make it more in-depth and make it more something that we could connect with each other, and so in doing so, I knew that using my voice was going to have to be part of that, but it was tricky in 2004. Like, how do you make, how do you turn this message into something that is more vocal than it is text? And so finding Kelly was my inspiration and that's where I got started and I followed her path. I said whatever Kelly's doing, I want to try it too.
Speaker 2:Lovely, yeah. And so while you were doing that, all you said, you know, you said was there a moment when you went hang on a minute, I'm gonna. I want to help others. This is on my heart. This is where I want to take this. When did you know that that was where you needed to go?
Speaker 1:Well, when I first received a request that someone wanted to to learn how to podcast, when I started my, my very first show was called the Christian Ladies Connects, or Christian Ladies Talk Radio, and so I had a lot of people listening in who were just curious like how, how did you turn this into a podcast?
Speaker 1:How does that work? I want to start one too. And that's where I started helping them, and from there it turned into a like a teleseminar series where I reached out to people from all over the Southeast and we were able to create this bootcamp we call the internet radio podcast bootcamp, and that's where I helped solopreneurs and entrepreneurs to start their own shows, and we launched quite a few that year, in 2016, or, I'm sorry, 2006. And that's, yeah, that's where it all began. Way back then, life took a journey of its own and I started homeschooling a few years later, and then we moved cross country and I kind of of you know I waxed and waned with consulting and podcasting, and then, back in 2023 somewhere around then is when I relaunched everything and we're back in business. So fantastic.
Speaker 2:So we talk about and it's yeah, within your name and everything else about podcasting with soul. Um, you know, and I have to share, I mean to me, just meeting my guests and having these conversations lights me up. I, absolutely I love hearing other people's stories. You know, besides that, listeners, I know this is for you, but selfishly, it's for me too. When I think of podcasting with soul, I put my heart and soul into it and I thoroughly enjoy it. What does it mean for you when you talk about podcasting with soul? I put my heart and soul into it and I thoroughly enjoy it. What does it mean for you when you talk about podcasting with soul?
Speaker 1:For me, it's exactly what you just said putting your heart and soul into it, putting everything into it and just bringing your passions to the forefront so that we are transparent and we're vulnerable and we allow our audience to make that deep, heartfelt and soulful connection with us. Even if they never meet us in person, they're going to meet us on that podcast and they're going to feel that connection. And a lot of times we don't realize how much we're helping people just by sharing our story, how meaningful and how impactful what we have to share can help other people through their life journey. And that is, to me, what soulful podcasting is. It's like not holding back and just releasing what we've been given to the world and allowing that to be part of someone's journey, maybe even their healing process.
Speaker 2:Right, right, never knowing how and that brings me also to the part of your authentic voice. How really is be you? Be who you are, don't be something else. Because you know, even if we think, underneath this all, we're giving people an opportunity to meet us, and we are business owners, and so we are wanting them to decide. Perhaps this is who they want to journey with. We are wanting them to decide, perhaps this is who they want to journey with. So, yes, we have a story that could be healing and could be inspiring, but, at the same time, it's an opportunity to get to know. Ah, is Dimitri the one that I want to work with? Let me listen to her authentic voice and see if it resonates with me. So I don't know what you have to share with people about. Be authentic.
Speaker 1:Yes, no, I think that is the. That is exactly what we need to be, because if we're anything else and if we try to be the way someone else shows up, we're not going to attract the right people into our space. And we want to make the connection with the right audience who, eventually, if they love what we're doing and if we're entrepreneurs as we're podcasting and we're doing this along our entrepreneurial journey as well we're being authentic and that we're telling our story. We're telling our truth and we're not holding back on that and you know, you don't try to be like someone else, because their story is their story and they need to connect with the people that they connect with. But we don't want someone else's clients, we want our clients.
Speaker 2:We want the right people, right, right, right, yeah. And Dimitri, just talking to coaches, because that certainly is, you know, that's my field and that's who I work with are the coaches. What would you say to inspire coaches to think about podcasting, if they haven't, and how important it is to their business?
Speaker 1:Right. I mean coaching is it's such a heart to heart, soul to soul type of business. It's one on one and it's something that you do to help your client reach that next milestone. Whatever it is you do with your coaching and there's different types of coaching but you're always wanting to help your client get to their next step in their transformation. And I think that podcasting is perfect for the coach whether life coaching, business coaching it's perfect because this way your potential client or your client can take your voice, your message, along with them wherever they go, and that's always a free resource to them. So, even though, yes, they are investing in that time with you, maybe they just want a little, you know, a little pep talk or something throughout the middle of the weekend they can go to episode 55 and listen to that to give them a pick me up for the week.
Speaker 1:And I just think it's so important to keep that line of communication open with your customers and clients. And, as a coach, podcasting is perfect. Your client can take that with them on the way to grocery shopping. I've had people tell me like I listen to you while I'm shopping at the store or while I'm outside doing yard work or cooking dinner or something, so it's just perfect, I think.
Speaker 2:Yeah, that's. The beauty of it all is that you can multitask. You know you're listening to something in the background and I know when you mentioned being a web designer, I mean that's one thing I have is my podcast upload to my website, and I would encourage coaches, if you know if you are being a guest on somebody's show or hosting your own shows, make sure that your podcast is easy to find.
Speaker 1:Oh, for sure.
Speaker 2:Yes.
Speaker 1:Get it on all the platforms for one and whatever you're hosting with. So if you're with I don't know Libsyn or Podbean whatever you're hosting with, they always have options to upload your episodes to all the different you know shows or the different hosting out there. So there's Apple Podcasts or Spotify, but there's Pocket Cast, there's a bunch of others, and it will be automatically uploaded to those places as well. So you want to make sure that you're everywhere that people download podcasts, and that's the first thing, and then make sure it's also on your website so it's easily found on your own website.
Speaker 2:Yeah, so that'll tie into this next question where I wanted to ask you sort of what are some essential steps that you would recommend before someone actually launches a podcast? What are, you know, maybe three or three or five, whatever you have, what are your essential steps that they need to consider?
Speaker 1:Yes, so I usually go by a little four step process. So plan, produce, launch and grow. But the planning part is where all the magic happens and it is the groundwork that has to be laid before you do anything else, before you produce, before you figure out your tools, before you launch and then think about monetization. All that's last. So planning is number one, and I think it's important to start with your passion, first of all. What is it that you want to do? Why do you want to talk about this topic and what makes you passionate about it? And start there.
Speaker 1:And then, once you know your why, then it's about formats, like how do you wish to show up? Because this is a commitment. So are we showing up every week? Are we showing up once a month? And whatever you choose is totally fine. If you choose once a month, that's okay. You know, it's just what's good for your schedule. But really be realistic about what you can do and stick with that.
Speaker 1:And then also your formats. Do you want to run interviews? Do you want to do solo podcasts and just show up the way that you're most comfortable. You might not even like video, that's okay. Just show up on a microphone and just upload audio. And so I think just thinking through the mechanics, but also through your passion of why you're showing up and who your audience is, who you're reaching and why you wish to help them, is going to help you lay that groundwork and from there you can start formulating topics for the month or for the quarter, for this next six months, and get some topics on your radar so that you're not scrambling last minute to figure out what you're not scrambling last minute to figure out what you're going to do from week to week. But I think those are some essential steps, just planning.
Speaker 2:Perfect, Perfect. Now. I know many new podcasters will feel overwhelmed with the whole techie side of things. Is that where you come in and help people?
Speaker 1:Yes, so we do a lot of coaching with, of course, the planning process as well. But when it comes to the techie part, I understand how that can be kind of a roadblock, a barrier to entry, and we, our agency, wishes to relieve you of that barrier. So if you have questions about what technology to use and how to integrate the best thing that works for you, right, so we're here to help answer those questions. But we also take the tech load off by doing the producing. So we produce audio and video for you, we'll do your edits and that way you don't have to worry about that aspect of it.
Speaker 2:Yeah, so holding their hands and taking them down that road? Oh yeah, so important yeah, when holding their hands and taking them down that road? So important yeah, when you have um. So now I have a different question. Let's look at some of those who um avoiding burnout for some of our podcasting like myself, who've been podcasting for a while and sometimes you just you do, you get to the stage and you go. Oh, I just feel a little bit burnt out, yeah. Any tips on how to rekindle motivation or change things up without losing momentum?
Speaker 1:Right. Well, with the not losing momentum part might be, I'll just say that sometimes we might have to lose momentum for a moment just in order to take a break. Sometimes we just need a break just so that we can step back and re-evaluate what we're doing and come back with fresh ideas and a renewed sense of hey, I can move forward now that I know what I'm doing. But I think taking that break is essential if we need it, and I also think some people enjoy seasons. So having a seasonal approach where you do a few episodes and then take a break, that's already factored into that production process helps a lot, and so that way we're always having that break integrated into what we're doing.
Speaker 1:But I just think, for sure, take breaks, and I also feel like it's important to know where you're going, know that if you're kind of stuck on what's next, then maybe that is the time to take that break and figure out where you're going. Because if you don't know where you're going, then it's just, it becomes a hamster wheel and I can't stress that enough that we can get stuck in the middle of all the busy work of producing that we forget our mission. We just just, we're just editing audios and videos and like, oh here's, this is next, and this is next, and another interview and another. But sometimes we just have to take a break.
Speaker 2:Yeah, no, I'm with you on that one and I actually just I recorded a very short explanation of why I was taking a break and just gave myself permission and I actually took four months off and went. You know, I want to be back here, but I want to be giving the best of myself and I want, and so I did. I needed a fresh approach, a fresh take, and I needed just that space to fathom out what that was. I didn't have the instant answer.
Speaker 1:And what I love is that our audience is there when we come back.
Speaker 2:they're waiting, so yeah, I'm often amused when I look and I go, wow, you know the downloads and just like us, I mean I know that I go back and listen to podcast episodes and I you know it's the title. To me is the the game changer that when I listen to somebody else's show it's like, oh, that's just what I need right now. So I'm sure you could talk to that, how important it is to name the episode.
Speaker 1:Yeah, it's what you just said, carol. Like you saw the title and it drew you in and I think that's so important because people are looking for I mean, we're busy, we're busy people, right. And so when we're looking for something to listen to, it has to, it has to pop out, it has to stand out from the other titles and just we're going to scroll through so we're looking at okay, what, what does what does Demetria have today? And scroll, scroll, scroll, I don't know, and then onto the next podcast. So that's how quick of a time period that we have to grab attention. So those titles are so important and you know we look at keywords and all that kind of thing as well. Seo is important, but really it's about that human connection. What are the pain points of our audience? What are they really? What kind of answers do they need? And let's scream that in the title so that when they see it they say, absolutely, I need this today, I need to listen to this right now. Right.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and what do you think about length of shows? You know, because I've gone from longer and, depending on the, I've had three or four people together on a show and then you need a little more time. Yeah, but with us coming back to being this busy, busy and we have so much time to digest and everything else, what have you found your optimum recording time for your recording times? So what I found is solo podcasts, typically a little bit shorter.
Speaker 1:I would say about 20 minutes, 30 minutes at the most, and some people really, really enjoy the 15, 10, 15 minute short snippets. But for interviews, a bit longer, because people are invested, they want to hear what is happening in that conversation. And I can't remember the exact stat, I have it somewhere, but there's a statistic that shows that people are listeners, are very willing to listen all the way through to the end. If the topic resonates with them, they'll take it with them on the go and listen to the entire show. So there's really no hard fast rule. I would say that for interviews especially, no worries, because people are willing to listen to the whole conversation. They don't want to miss out on what's being said. So, yeah, I would say like even up to an hour. I know there are people who have surpassed the hour and gone into the two hour mark and three hour mark and are listening.
Speaker 2:So yeah.
Speaker 1:I think really it's up to the host and how comfortable you are with the longer episodes and so forth, but anywhere from 15 minutes to an hour seems to be average.
Speaker 2:The average, yeah, so that's a lot of wonderful about it. Dimitri, where can listeners learn more about your work and how to connect with you?
Speaker 1:Yeah, so thank you for asking. I love sharing all of these resources about podcasting at soulpodcastingcom. You can also find me on Instagram at soulpodcasting and DM me there. I love interaction and engaging, so if you DM me there, I'm likely going to respond within a couple hours or the same day, but yes, you can find everything. I'm likely going to respond within a couple hours or the same day, but, yes, you can find everything, all the resources. I have lots of downloads, free workbooks, and I also have my podcast there, soulpodcastingcom.
Speaker 2:Right, I was going to ask you about your show, so your show is called soulpodcastingcom.
Speaker 2:Yes, it's at soulpodcastingcom slash podcast, but you'll find it when you yeah, you'll find it on the website and I will, listeners, make sure to have all these links in the show notes so that you can find Dimitri really easily and quickly which is important and then be able to check out her resources to help you. And if you've been sitting on the fence and thinking, oh, should I, shouldn't I, I think I hope that this episode is going to inspire you and if you've been sitting on the fence and thinking, oh, should I, shouldn't I, I think I hope that this episode is going to inspire you to step in and contact Dimitri and just see what that looks like.
Speaker 2:Take that first step, because without taking the first step, you never know what could be ahead of you. So, dimitri, what would be the biggest takeaway that you would hope that listeners would take away from this episode?
Speaker 1:Yeah, just start where you are, start with the passion and go at your own pace. There's so many, so many other things that I could say that would probably take another 30 minutes, but that is the. The summary of it all for me is just get started and if it's something you really are thinking that might be something you want to do in your business, especially as a coach, I highly recommend that you think about it and then get help in starting. Get someone to talk with you about it, talk through the process with you, and it just makes things so much easier and then go ahead and launch that podcast.
Speaker 2:Fantastic, wonderful. Well, I just want to say a sincere thank you for being my guest today, and I think this is an important one. It's just fresh and inspiring, and I just hope that others will listen and reconsider some of their marketing and how things can be different and how enjoyable podcasting is. So there's a definite element of joy having conversations and learning about what other people do. So thanks to everybody for listening to our conversation today, and I invite you to share this episode with others, and I also encourage you to embrace your own way of connecting, inspiring and creating hence the name of my show. So let your choices bring a sense of ease and flow into your world. And once again, dimitri, thank you for being my guest and until the next episode, take care.
Speaker 2:I am your host, carol Clegg, and I help women coaches, women in business and small teams build mental fitness, find clarity and stay accountable so that you can lead your business and life with more ease, focus and joy.
Speaker 2:Using app-based positive intelligence tools, which you'll hear me refer to as PQ, to strengthen your mental fitness, I coach clients towards lasting change through stress management, self-empathy and aligned goal setting. My accountability framework keeps you focused on what truly matters without the overwhelm. So, ready to take you from scattered to supported, with clarity, confidence and a spark of joy, I host group coaching and one-on-one sessions, along with accountability check-ins every two weeks, every week whatever might work for you. So if you're ready to create more flow and ease in your coaching, business and life, I invite you to start the conversation. In addition, you will find a complimentary Insights Into you quiz, also known as the Saboteur Discovery Assessment, to uncover what could be holding you back. So, if you want to step fully into your potential, take the quiz and then let's jump on a call to discuss your results. You'll find the link for the assessment on my website, carolcleggcom. So until the next time, take care.
