Beyond Networking audio tutorial transcript ▫︎ Jasmine Hammond, Ashton Carter

[00:00:00] Jasmine: Hi everyone. My name is Jasmine Hammond and I am newly the vice president of Community at pod people 

[00:00:06] Pod people is a production company and a staffing agency. So what we do is we work with some large clients. Like Spotify, and we help them create podcasts.

[00:00:15] On the other side, we also help audio creators find work. And then there's our wonderful community. And so our community is there to support in the leveling up of audio creators and to getting the gigs and jobs that they want in the future and connecting with each other. basically my role at pod people is that

[00:00:32] I create resources, educational networking, anything to get our community of nearly 2,500 audio creators involved with each other. And with podcasting with pod people. 

[00:00:43] Ashton: And I'm Aston Carter. I have been the director of recruiting going outreach and creative.

[00:00:48] All over the world of all different backgrounds to bring into the community, whether it be editors, writers, producers, you name it. And then as we move forward, I'll be moving over to the production side of pop people. We're now be guiding [00:01:00] the process with our clients externally and. 

[00:01:03] Jasmine: So on the community side, we are. Very much into the space of education forward, accessibility forward. And so we're creating accessible educational opportunities through events, through networking opportunities and through things like mentorship programs, academies, things like that, to make sure that we are leveling up audio creators.

[00:01:21] Our community is completely free, which is fantastic. And so we are here for people to join in, to learn with us, and hopefully we can help people get into the positions that they dream themselves. 

[00:01:31] Ashton: Yeah. And Jasmine now did I always just liked to come in on the side that I actually came into pop people as a community member.

[00:01:36] And I joined in because someone knew I was looking for work and they said, Ashton, if you're looking for work and clients check out pop people. And so I did, and once I was on. I was approached for different opportunities we have an onboarding process with every community member to learn what they love, what they're great at, what they don't like as much 

[00:01:53] and so we're able to actually place people with clients that maybe they wouldn't necessarily have access to because the [00:02:00] clients tend to not publicize, the. On their end, they just come to us and say, Hey, we know you have a community of 2,500, who is a producer that's based in this city and interested in these topics.

[00:02:10] And then we take it from there connecting the two. 

[00:02:12] Laura: What was the path that led each of you to the work that you're doing right now with pod people? 

[00:02:17] Jasmine: I love this question specifically, because Ashton, I've actually been friends for many years and we met in our past lives as theater people. was a theater educator first and actor. 

[00:02:26] Ashton: similar to Jasmine, I went to college for theater. And I went on to work in theaters in Minnesota and Pennsylvania, which is where I met Jasmine and Philly.

[00:02:34] Jasmine: I met Ashton doing a regional children's tour, 

[00:02:37] We were doing a really fun show called Nick nutrition and his wonder dog fiber.

[00:02:41] And. Ashton was Nick nutrition and I was a wonder dog.

[00:02:43] Ashton: which is so funny because that's where networking begins. It's just like me and Jasmine met each other back in 2014. 

[00:02:50] jasmine is a great actor, just so you all know. Oh my 

[00:02:53] Jasmine: goodness. . 

[00:02:54] Thank you we've been connected in that capacity since, but we've gone different ways in different [00:03:00] paths.

[00:03:00] Ashton: I ended up moving to Atlanta. 

[00:03:01] Jasmine: I continued in theater education where I became a resident teaching artist at a large theater, then an assistant director at a theater.

[00:03:09] And this is where my community building started is where I was working with schools. Families, and that process really quickly moved me over to the Kimmel center, which is a large Broadway regional touring house, where I was doing educational programs training artists to do jazz, digital music musical theater, all types of programs and still doing the community building where I was working with Partners and families, 

[00:03:30] Ashton: and while in Atlanta, a friend of mine was very interested in creating a podcast and he literally had two condenser mics. We didn't understand what a doll was at the time, but he had a laptop.

[00:03:41] And with my theater background. A lot of sound design, I've done a lot of direction and collaborating. and I was the only one with any familiarity around audacity.

[00:03:50] So I began editing. Falling in love with that as I kept going. And it turned into a passion project of ours. It actually was for hosts. And that took me on to move to Los [00:04:00] Angeles, do another show with another friend then I created my own business during the pandemic. And that's on that friend came to me and said, Hey, I know you're looking for more clients.

[00:04:08] Have you heard about pop people? 

[00:04:10] Jasmine: And Ashton came back in and he was like, Hey, what's up? We had this thing happening at pod people. You've been community building, you know, you've been doing some cool things. think you would be great here with pod people.

[00:04:20] Ashton: And the rest is history 

[00:04:22] Laura: I love what you just said about how networking began really with that friendship between the two of you 

[00:04:27] you've seen networking happen in a lot of different ways, both in the work you're doing now and in that path that got you here.

[00:04:35] in your experience, what do all great networkers have in common? 

[00:04:40] Jasmine: I love this question. want to think about it through two lenses. When I'm thinking about people connecting with. Clients or people they want to work for Research is so important. When you walk into the room, know who you're talking to know what you're talking about, be ready to ask in depth questions to people about what they're doing.

[00:04:59] On the [00:05:00] other side, when it's networking, as in, you're just meeting people for the first time like a mingling event. Communication is so important to really listening to what people say, responding authentically to that. I think sometimes we tend to put up a front when we're meeting people for the first time. If we're in a space with people who share the work that we do. But we have to remember that we're sharing work and we're not always competition. And when you listen and communicate, you're actually becoming on their side versus just competitive force in a space. 

[00:05:26] Ashton: I truly believe great networkers enjoy connecting to people in a sincere and transparent way. I think you do yourself a disservice when you try to pretend to be someone that you're not. Connecting, actually being yourself, . Just being sincere when you speak to that person.

[00:05:42] Laura: What do you wish that every podcast or understood about the industry?

[00:05:46] Jasmine: We all need to remember that podcasting is still a relatively new medium. I think a lot of people move through the space as if it's been here forever and ever, and ever an audio. Yes. Audio is like beginning of time things, but when we [00:06:00] are. Trying to get people involved with new projects can be daunting sometimes thinking that you don't have enough experience podcasting is still new. A lot of people don't have as much experience as some of these larger clients desire. But what you can do if you don't have a bunch of podcast work, think about creating your own. Ashton did that, consider, if you have any friends that are working on one, what could you do to help them? Just so you can start to get some credits, start thinking about things in that capacity.

[00:06:24] It's all new and we're figuring it out all together. And as long as we remember that as we're moving forward, I think there's a place for you in this industry. 

[00:06:31] Ashton: Just start. I think that's the hardest thing for so many people. they fear, again, They're just so afraid to start.

[00:06:36] And that is the hardest part.

[00:06:37] Jasmine mentioned, I just put together a small portfolio and even though this is just an hobby podcast. We're making great stuff and it can be used in an interview. It can be used to for something. I also wanted to add in recently poppy, but we got to go to podcast movement evolutions that happened in Los Angeles and two things that really stuck out where everybody kept mentioning the importance of [00:07:00] authenticity. Being unafraid to make your own story, your own podcast. Don't try to be like someone else don't think, oh, you know, Joe Rogan, we have a survey that we take for pop people and Joe broken is one of people's most overrated podcasts.

[00:07:16] Right. And I think it's because it's been done a million times. the other quote I heard at podcast movement and I stand for this one is my buddy and I are funny is not a podcast. It was the best quote I've ever heard, because how many shows do you have just a person in their friend, just talking that's a conversation look, it's a beautiful conversation.

[00:07:35] You and your friend have so much to say, but what is going to be that extra level to make it authentic? What makes it original? 

[00:07:42] Laura: What's the biggest mistake that you see when it comes to networking? 

[00:07:46] Jasmine: I suppose mine would be boundary setting. I think that sometimes we get involved with meeting people and wanting to be involved with things that we are yes.

[00:07:55] People. you know, when you meet someone new and you want to work with them so bad, And we have to [00:08:00] make sure that we are taking care of ourselves as we are meeting people, getting involved with people. And making sure that we are doing work that aligns with who we are and not committing our full selves to things that We don't want to do. 

[00:08:11] Ashton: And just to keep going on what Jasmine is saying. First of all, Jasmine, that boundary lesson is so important. I think people. Make a big mistake when they let their ego or fear get in the way. I just think there is no room for ego.

[00:08:25] When I first started my audio business, it was a startup. I created an Instagram page. I had a small portfolio, Google drive and. started telling people about it and because I was so used to working in a restaurant I struggled to say what I did.

[00:08:41] And so finally, Ashton, when people ask you, what do you, do you tell them that you are an audio editor and a sound designer? A good friend and the theater world once said that ego as an acronym is edging. Out. And I'm not religious, not even on a religious tip, but when you let your ego come in the way between the networking.

[00:08:59] And you're like, I [00:09:00] don't want to come off this way, or I don't want them to think less than me. You are cutting yourself off from opportunities. you have to present yourself in your true fashion and don't let that ego come in. So the post can really see that you're there. That you'll be a great worker.

[00:09:13] So don't let the ego get in the way. And the other one, I want to come in with. Beer. I think so many networkers scared, fear lives in the future. You can only be afraid of what hasn't happened.

[00:09:23] you've never heard the acronym. There's a great one for that one, as well as that fear stands for false evidence appearing real. So if you're out there building out all this person, won't want to talk to me because I'm this, or what if they think. That is all in the future.

[00:09:36] So you just never know what could happen. So why not go for it? 

[00:09:40] Jasmine: I was thinking of fear as well. some of my favorite people that I've met since I've been in this podcasting sphere are the people who reached out to me randomly saying, Hey, I don't know if you'll respond to my email, but, or, I don't know if there's a place for me here, but I am interested and people who go out of their way to connect with you.

[00:09:57] We'll stand out in your heart. you got to drop your [00:10:00] guard down and just go for it sometimes. 

[00:10:02] Laura: How does pad people help hide casters in podcast professionals?

[00:10:06] Jasmine: Ashton was talking about the onboarding process, where we capture all the information for people to get them into gigs and things. we also capture information for what people want to learn about. And so when we are doing all of our educational events, we do at least two a month.

[00:10:18] At this point, we are. Contemplating, you know, what is it that our community actually wants? And every single event we do, half of it is just fun and enjoyable. And then the other half is educational. And so we are always thinking about what we need and the industry, but also what do people crave?

[00:10:34] And so we're crafting material around you. So as you join our community, it really is a discussion, a dialogue of what we can do for you, which has really helped. 

[00:10:43] Ashton: I think one of the best parts of pop people is that it is free to join. And I think the biggest thing we ask of the people that join our community is that you just love podcasting.

[00:10:51] You have an interest in community even if you're not ready to do. I put up for that big jar, you love podcasting and you want to grow. We have so [00:11:00] many resources and tools where we can connect you to other communities. we're not even stingy with the resources we want to share as much as possible because 

[00:11:08] so many people. We meet say, you know, I've been siloed because of this career and they seek a community that even converse with each other. So we provide that as well. on our matchmaking side and also full service we hire from within our community.

[00:11:22] So the only people that we reach out to are people that are already in a database that may not always have the opportunity to know about the Spotify gig or this people magazine. But because we're actually producing the work or staffing for the work, we're able to really give people opportunities.

[00:11:38] Recently at podcast moment, we had a happy hour, we'd like to just treat our community. I met up with a community member. I. Help get staff on the job last year and also the client, and to see both of them talking about how the woman who been hired the community member is now full staff.

[00:11:53] And they're thinking about future projects and how much they're excited to know each other. I was moved to [00:12:00] tears because that is exactly. I, and the rest of par people want to do is bringing opportunities to people and helping them level up cause there's so much room there's so much room and we want to keep creating the equitable space.

[00:12:11] Jasmine: If you're interested in joining our community, you can join us@podpeople.com backslash join. We have a really fun survey that you can go through and we ask you if you are a Jedi master and all these it's super fun. It gets us all the information we need to know about you so that we can make sure we're having a really wonderful relationship.

[00:12:28] If you join our community. 

[00:12:30] remember that anyone in this business, can be your friend, if you really want them to be and feel free to reach out to myself, if you have any interest in networking. My email is jasmine@potpeople.com and I'm always happy to communicate with people who are interested in community service.

[00:12:46] Ashton: I am Ashton a S H T O N at people.com. 

[00:12:49] I'm so stoked to work for a company that is all about creating an equitable space and giving people opportunities because I was shocked.

[00:12:58] At the beginning. It [00:13:00] takes a village if you're a newbie, don't be afraid to take part in that village. Don't be afraid to join the community, put yourself out there.

[00:13:07] And if you're someone who's hiring. There is so much talent out there. And some people are just learning from YouTube university, but they are better than people who've gone to school. So give people a chance opportunities and just remember it takes a village. So let's all help one another.