What goes into making a successful podcast?

A version of this story first appeared in the Raise the Bar newsletter. To get it in your inbox, sign up for free by clicking here.

By Emily Kelchen | for Raise the Bar

Thinking about launching a podcast but not sure where to start?
We’ve got answers. Each week, Raise the Bar features a podcast or two that we think is worth a listen. This week, we are going behind the scenes and talking to an attorney who makes one of those podcasts. Richard Gearhart is the founder of Gearhart Law in Summit, NJ, but people across the country know him as the host of the nationally syndicated radio program and podcast “Passage to Profit Show.” Gearhart was gracious enough to give Raise the Bar readers a peek behind the podcasting curtain. 

What inspired you to launch a podcast?   
I presented at an event, and afterwards, a representative from iHeartRadio approached my wife, Elizabeth Gearhart (a patent agent and entrepreneur), for the two of us to do a radio show. We agreed and have been on the air for seven years now. Our show is heard in 38 markets across the country, and a podcast version is made available after the broadcast. 

What was the biggest challenge in getting your show off the ground? 
Fortunately, iHeart provided a turnkey technical solution, so the biggest challenge at first was finding quality guests since our program has three guests per show.

How has the show evolved since you started?  
As an intellectual property law firm, Gearhart Law works closely with startups, so we wanted to provide legal and business advice that could help them. But we felt that discussing legal topics themselves would be limiting, so we expanded the program to include our clients and others in the business community. Later, we added roundtable discussions between the guests and spotlight features to keep the show moving at a good pace. We’ve also worked to make the content search engine friendly. 
 
What’s your workflow for producing an episode, from idea to release?  
We create a calendar of taping dates, and we have a program coordinator who works with our clients and PR agents to fill the guest spots. The program coordinator prepares show copy with background on each guest. Elizabeth and I do research for the roundtable discussions and features, then rehearse the show before taping. The show is taped, then edited by our producer for broadcast and podcasting. Our program coordinator posts the podcast on the different podcast platforms and engages with social media.
 
What’s your advice for lawyers considering launching their own podcast?
It takes time and money to do a good job, so anyone who is launching a podcast should be prepared to invest both.

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Raise the Bar is curated and written by Emily Kelchen and edited by Bianca Prieto.