Learn Podcast Insights From the Pros
Ever Be, A Podcast That Skillfully Serves as a Revenue Driver
Mari Wagner’s faith and lifestyle podcast, Ever Be, has built a large following covering wide-ranging topics like How to Make an Interfaith Marriage Work and What Every Woman Should Know in Her 20s. The podcast serves as part of a well-executed multipronged marketing approach for her brand, West Coast Catholic. The brand is built around a robust social media presence, a well-written blog, and an e-commerce website that sells religious-themed apparel, jewelry and home décor. Wagner is a great example of an entrepreneur putting together a strong holistic approach to reaching a large audience.
Why did you decide to start a podcast?
I’ve done all my work on Instagram and it has changed so much over the years that I felt like there wasn’t quite a space to dive deep into the topics I wanted to share with my community. A podcast has given me the space to delve into important topics at length and serve my community in a deeper and more meaningful way.
What’s the biggest hurdle you face regularly in creating your podcast?
Coming up with solo episode topics and editing in the midst of my busy work life are the biggest hurdles. Editing especially takes forever!
What’s the biggest reward you get from your podcast?
Getting feedback and testimonies from my listeners saying the episodes helped them or inspired them in different ways. It makes everything I do worth it to hear I was able to help someone!
Are there any other insights about your podcasting career you’d like to share?
As a content creator it has been helpful to record ads for the affiliate programs I am a part of. I have definitely seen an increase in sales from doing that.
What is your favorite podcast/YouTube/Newsletter to listen to (besides yours)?
I love the SHE podcast and the Goal Digger podcast. Jenna Kutcher’s podcasting course is how I learned about Wavve!
What do you wish you knew more about?
How best to market my podcast to increase my audience.
What was the “hinge moment” (one person, one moment, or event that made the difference) in your life?
I started an Instagram blog six years ago while I was in college sharing about my faith life as a college student and then started my e-commerce business, West Coast Catholic, from that. It was all on a whim because I felt like the Lord called me to it. I wasn’t planning on starting a business but here we are six years later and it’s full-time work for my husband and me. It was the best decision ever!
