A Conversation with Goodniks Podcast Producer Amanda Roscoe Mayo
Goodniks is a podcast series exploring the journey and meaning of doing good in the world — for people who do good or are just thinking about it. In over 10 episodes, Goodniks tackles questions about how and why people do good, what inspires them, what threatens to derail them, and what doing good means to their lives.
We’re excited to share this conversation between EarBuds founder, Arielle Nissenblatt, and producer of the podcast Goodniks, Amanda Roscoe Mayo.
About Amanda:
She got her start in radio at NPR station Marfa Public Radio in West Texas. There, she caught the interviewing bug and rode that wave into podcasting. From 2012 to 2014, she was a contributing music, art, and film writer for KQED Arts – the online publication for San Francisco NPR station KQED – as well as Consequence of Sound and other media outlets. From 2014 through 2020 she managed an award-winning weekly artist interview podcast as a dual Production and Features Director at Chicago Independent Radio Project (CHIRP) in Chicago.
Currently, she is the Founder and Director of How to Podcast, a podcast consulting and coaching business designed to help guide underrepresented voices through the process of launching a successful podcast or audio project.
Here’s our conversation…
How did you get your start in podcast production?
I learned very basic cutting skills in my first radio job at Marfa Public Radio in Texas where I would trim up our live morning show so it could be re-broadcast in the evening. I really cut my teeth on podcast production at CHIRP Radio in Chicago where I ended up managing that weekly music interview podcast and a team of producers for a handful of years before starting my own production company.
Podcasting: How To Start a Podcast and Create a Profitable Podcasting Business by Amanda Roscoe Mayo. Courtesy of howtopodcastcorp.com.
You Wrote Podcasting a few years back. What inspired you to write this book and how has podcasting changed since it was first published?
My publisher found me and convinced me that the world needed my insight. I guess she was right since it’s been a best seller for over 3 years! I’m really passionate about removing the barriers to podcasting and audio editing in general, so it was extremely important to me to write a book that anyone could understand and use to implement launching a podcast at an affordable price point.
How did you get involved with Goodniks?
This project is one of the many amazing opportunities that has come my way because of my book. Jeff Leitner, the creator, found me through the book and reached out about this really interesting conceptual audio project he wanted to create. As with most great projects, it started as something completely different and morphed into something even better than we initially imagined.
How does Goodniks differ from the shows you typically produce? What unique challenges does it present?
Goodniks differs from other shows I produce in that we are trying to introduce something into the cultural lexicon that we don’t think is there presently. We spent an enormous amount of time and care conceptualizing, developing, and now producing a show that I feel is original, insightful, and moving. It’s a completely different take on an interview style podcast format.
What does it mean to you to do good over the course of a season, year, or a lifetime?
We are talking to people who I think do “extreme” forms of good in the world. Folks who are trying to heal generational trauma, stop genocide, solve inequity, save dying babies, etc. At times it was hard to listen to these incredible stories and not feel like I’m not doing enough, but what I’ve come to learn as we continue to create episodes is that every small thing we do has a ripple effect. If I stay true to my mission and values to help underrepresented voices launch podcasts, then I have to believe I’m making an impact somewhere, even if it’s on an individual level. The real take away is, there is ALWAYS more good to do – but what can we do today, right now that makes the world a little bit better than if we did nothing at all?
Photo by RODNAE Productions on Pexels.
Tell us about one of the Goodniks' stories that has really impacted you.
I see myself reflected most in Jessy’s story because we share a complicated medical history. We ended up on very different paths but I recognize her fight and passion in myself. When you experience things like that, the approach to time is much different than regular people. Hearing her story each week has been an inspiring reminder to celebrate the wins rather than allowing myself to get bogged down by the losses.
What's next for you in the world of podcast production? Any dream projects?
My dream project is to do this 10 more times with this amazing team. I love the idea of scouring the country to hear the diverse stories of how people do good in their own communities. Next up is a re-imagining of a podcast on its second season called, I Swear on My Mother’s Grave – a beautiful, emotional, vulnerable podcast about living with grief. I’m also taking podcast accessibility to the next level in my business and am currently in production on a very affordable digital course on how to start a podcast, which is launching in early fall.
Where can we find you on the internet / on social media?
You can find me on my website or on Instagram @how_to_podcast_corp. My newsletter is also a great way to stay up on what’s going on with How To Podcast — I don’t spam people, I promise!
Thank you to Amanda and Goodniks for creating this podcast! Listen here.
