Elsie Escobar started out as a passionate listener of podcasts. She has gone on to be involved in a variety of different kinds of podcasts, including She Podcasts that is for women in podcasting. She is also the producer and co-host of The Feed: The Official Libsyn Podcast.

Can you give us a brief history of your experiences in podcasting? When did you get started? What have you done in podcasting from then to now?

Oh brief experiences…;) 

I started podcasting in July 2006 after developing a pretty massive addiction to listening to podcasts and podcasts as a whole, which has in no way subsided by the way 😀 

My first podcast was Elsie’s Yoga Class, which was basically me, recording my yoga classes and putting them out as a podcast. I thought that was the easiest way for me to start a podcast, since I was already doing it (teaching), and I felt I didn’t have the time to develop something else. 

From then, I started a couple of other podcasts that pretty quickly podfaded, because you know, it’s easy to start, but not so easy to sustain it!

I waited many years before attempting to launch something again, because I wanted to be 100% behind what I put out and I’m happy to say that I’m still at it with my new endeavors!

I produce and co-host The Feed: The Official Libsyn Podcast, which is all about keeping people podcasting, with podcasting news, information, and commentary, plus providing tons of community support for podcasters. 

I also produce and co-host She Podcasts which is a podcast about podcasting for women by women. It’s my love at this moment. The community for that podcast is off the hook! We currently have over 500 members to the She Podcasts Facebook group. All women. All podcasters and wanna be podcasters. 

Every day I am so blown away by their brilliance: podcasters that have been at it since 2005 to newbies that are considering diving into the abyss.

What was it that inspired you to become a podcaster?

I simply adore the medium. Once I discovered it when I got my iPod 5th Generation in December 2005 I was obsessed. 

I am obsessed. I am first and foremost a podcast listener, then I am a podcaster groupie and finally I am a podcasting advocate. 

Podcasting has 100% changed my life. Now I have the privilege of working in podcasting all day every day. It’s crazy pants!

I’ve noticed that your podcast website includes online yoga classes. Could you explain how you take yoga, which as a visual aspect to it, and translate that into an audio podcast? How does that work?

People always ask me how that works, it’s so funny how it seems as if yoga wouldn’t work in an audio format. 

When you practice yoga, part of the depth of the practice is to step into yourself and most especially to become more adept at listening to your body.

The listening part of going to yoga is a skill that is often overlooked. People are more triggered by the visual. We make so many decisions based on what we see, instead of a deep listening. 

My classes force you to listen. To choose to truly step inside of you and to trust that you are doing it “right.” I’m also a skilled teacher so I break the steps down very specifically and offer classes that range from beginners to advanced. 

I wouldn’t advice to start a yoga practice with me, simply because it does help to get the initial vocabulary in your body and your brain, but that said I have had students start with me, never having done yoga before and ending up being quite skilled once they went to their first class.  

What words of wisdom would you share with women who are thinking of starting their own podcast?

The women’s voice is powerful. I am most passionate about having women step into the medium not only to have their voices heard but also to become more comfortable as a woman speaking out. 

This article on Slate about men interrupting women in the tech industry is one reason I adore the medium of podcasting so much and this quote by Coco Chanel “The most courageous act is still to think for yourself. Aloud.”

Podcasting give women the ability to lead with their voices, which if aligned reflect the clarity of their heart – and a woman’s heart is a massive catalyst for change.