Hobbyist podcaster turned professional, Ray converted his love of producing podcasts into a full-time career. Ray produces podcasts for the American Society for Microbiology, overseeing daily production of the ASM network of podcasts. Ray also hosts his own shows, The Podcasters’ Studio and Podcasters’ Roundtable, podcasts dedicated to helping other people start, improve and profit from their own show. Ray has been in podcasting since 2006 and has been invited to speak at conferences such as New Media Expo, Podcast Movement, Government Video Expo, and various Podcamps. He’s also the founder of the Sacramento Podcasters Meetup group. Ray enjoys introducing new people to the podcasting community either as consumers or producers in an ongoing effort to grow this new medium. To that end, Ray is also a founding member of International Podcast Day. Ray’s YouTube channel currently has over 52 thousand subscribers and over 6 million views. He loves producing both high-quality, digital video and audio and sharing what he learns along the way.
We’re thrilled to have Ray onboard as a speaker at WordCamp Sacramento 2018 asked a few questions to help you get to know more about him. Check out our mini interview with Ray below:
What is the topic of your WordCamp talk?
Why do you think this is important?
When choosing a website platform for your podcast, there are many options you can go with. However, WordPress provides the most control over what you put on your website as well as allows you complete creative control over what your podcast’s home on the web looks like.
In podcasting, owning and controlling your message is one of the core tenets of a medium that almost anyone can participate in. It’s truly a democratized platform and therefore podcasting mirrors WordPress in its availability and relative ease. Both allow for creative, independent conduits to the world and thus the two make a great fit. WordPress gives you the ability to have complete autonomy in the message, the look and the access that a podcaster needs and wants.
This session will show podcasters or soon to be podcasters, why making a home for their podcast on WordPress is the right decision from day one.
What’s your WordPress origin story?
I started with WordPress in 2009 when I needed more control over what I could do with my podcast’s website. Of course I heard all about it from the best podcasters of that day and so I gave it a shot even though I was intimidated by my own “install” of WordPress (aka WordPress.org). WordPress gave me the ability to design my site in the special way that a podcast needs to serve its consumers as well as the ability to include ads, special branding, email CTA, you name it, WordPress allowed me to serve my audience better than any other platform.
How has WordPress impacted your world?
WordPress not only brought me into a new community (WordPress Meetups and WordCamps) but it also allowed me to grow multiple podcasts into shows that are listened by more people than I would of reached without it. Not only are my podcasts more discoverable but they provide me with the ability to talk to my audience and gather a community of great friends around the world that I wouldn’t of had before I began podcasting.
You can connect with Ray further at:
@podcasthelper | Instagram | Facebook
Get Your Ticket ASAP!
WordCamp Sacramento 2018 sold out in 2015, 2016, and 2017, and we do expect it to sell out again. Be sure to get your WordCamp Tickets asap to secure you spot at this awesome event! Tickets are only $40 (thanks to our generous sponsors) and include:
- Two full days of Beginner Tracks, walking new users through how to use WordPress.
- Two mixed tracks of sessions on Saturday.
- Two mixed tracks of sessions on Sunday.
- A Happiness Bar — our version of a help desk, open throughout the event so you can get help with your site and get your questions answered.
- An opportunity to network with and meet sponsors, speakers, and other WordPress community members, including business owners, designers, developers, agency owners, bloggers, copywriters, freelancers, site owners, and more.
- Refreshing drinks throughout the entire event.
- A WordCamp Sacramento 2018 t-shirt.
- A catered lunch on Saturday.
- A networking reception Saturday immediately following the event.
- Snacks on Sunday.