Jun 1, 2018
In this debut episode of Season 2, I speak with She Podcasts co-host, Elsie Escobar. Elsie shares her journey of finding her authentic voice, including her struggle to communicate as a young person and the ways in which uncovering her blind spots has informed and improved her communication with others interpersonally and as a podcast host. Tune in for insight into making podcasting not only an inclusive platform for diverse voices, but also in considering how we can make podcasts more accessible to listeners.
Links Mentioned in Your Episode:
Show
Highlights:
01:00-Fearless Self-Love Retreat Details
04:27- Easeful Living Practice
11:08 - Interview with Elsie Escobar begins!
14:30 - The Elsie before podcasting & her key question: “What’s Your throughline?”
16:55 - Elsie talks of finding refuge in giving voice to other characters
19:24 - Podcasting as platform for letting her voice come through
23:05 -Teachers in our life that call us to own up to our bad habits and blind spots
30:45 - Voice, Acting and Yoga influence on podcasting
38:55 - Offering “Elsie’s Yoga Class” as one of Elsie’s biggest learning experiences as a teacher
41;35 -Process to unlocking your authentic voice; singing and acting as a pathway to keep going through the feelings
52:16 - Inclusion in podcasting, who speaks & who listens; mistakes Andrea made that led to separation instead of coming together
Your Favorite Quotes
“Being other people, I was really good at that, but giving voice to myself….I was not able to do that, because I didn’t know how to be myself and speak up.” -Elsie Escobar
“My biggest foundation is always thinking that I am not here for myself, I am here to represent a lot more. With that responsibility I feel powerful. There is no way I am going to let all of these people down, because I am representing.” - Elsie Escobar
“We have so many blind spots that we don’t see. Sometimes parents, sometimes culture, sometimes privilege...is sheltering us. We don’t see the totality of who we are sometimes.” - Elsie Escobar
“When I feel and sound the most at ease there is a lower quality, there’s a less rushed quality [to my voice].” - Andrea Catherine
“How do I cultivate a platform where all voices are welcome and included without disregarding my own privileg?” - Andrea Catherine
“You’ve got to be intentional about the clarity of your message in reaching it out. You’ve got to look at your own stuff and ask, ‘Are all of these conversations the same?... Would I benefit from opening up to other types of people, to other places, to other experiences?’”- Elsie Escobar
“First, always listen.” - Elsie Escobar
Meet Elsie:
I am a ten year plus veteran in
the industry and inductee to the Academy of Podcasters Hall of
Fame. I know the heart and soul of podcasters and podcasting beyond
Apple Podcasts and public media. It is with this primary point of
view of the average podcast listener (via thousands of hours of
podcast listening) and independent podcast producer that I bring a
unique perspective to the podcasting industry.
My
passion within the industry is podcasting’s rapidly-changing
environment, impact, access, community building, and
advocacy.
I
welcome the opportunity to elevate existing conversations around
podcast consumption and initiate ways to reach new listeners above
focusing on metrics, advertising and monetization into social
change and using podcasting as a tool for personal growth and
transformation.