Podcast 360 Episode 14
Podcast 360 Episode 14: Steph Colbourn (editaudio) and Imriel Morgan (Content Is Queen)
Host: Steph Colbourn
Steph Colburn: Hi, I'm Steph Colburn, the CEO and founder of editaudio, which is a full suite podcast production company entirely operated by women, trans and non-binary people. We operate out of the US, UK and Canada and we make branded content for people like Google News, Harper's Bazaar and StackOverflow alongside some of our editaudio originals, two of which just one signal words. You might also recognize me from last week's episode when I was interviewed by EarBuds Podcast Collective founder, Arielle Nissenblatt.
Imriel Morgan: Hi, I'm Imriel Morgan I'm the founder and CEO of Content is Queen, which is a production company and community uniting diverse audio creators, advertisers and commissioners to foster collaboration opportunities and enable sustainable content monetization like never before. We’re based out of London. I'm the creator of the International Women's Podcast Festival, The Micro-Grants Program with support from Audible UK, and I'm also the co-lead for the equality in audio patch the UK and Europe.
Steph Colburn: Imriel, thank you so much for coming to Podcast 360 as my guest. It's so nice to see you. It's so nice to have you here. So for all of our wonderful Podcast 360 listeners out there, welcome to the season one finale. I know the team behind this show is super eager to bring you more, so thank you for listening and staying tuned, especially to these episodes that I'm on. To get down to business, every episode of Podcast 360 starts the exact same way with a round of two truths and a lie. So Imriel, you're going to provide us with three facts about yourself and I’ll guess which one is the lie. At the end of this conversation, you'll tell me the correct answer. Are you ready for your three facts?
Imriel Morgan: Fact number one, I fell over quite embarrassingly at my very first live show at the first Women's Podcast Festival that I ran in 2010.
Steph Colburn: Awkward.
Imriel Morgan: Very. Second, I interviewed the Keke Palmer whilst incredibly tipsy after a carnival. And number three is I once scolded Marc Jacobs for not wearing headphones during a recording.
Steph Colburn: Oh my God. Okay, hold on. All of these are so good. I believe all of them. But I'm going to say that, number one is the lie that you fell over. Because I know you're like a boss. You would scold someone for not wearing headphones, which, like, also everyone be better put on some headphones. Okay. And also, like, I could see you like going to Carnival … Keke Palmer … Like you're both like vibing. Yeah, I like that. I want to believe that one's true because I want to hear that. So I'm going to say the first one's a lie because it's also the one that I don't want to be true.
Imriel Morgan: We’ll see.
Steph Colburn: All right. So now we have taken care of our strict business, the two truths and a lie segment, and we're going to learn even more about you as I ask you three questions related to our industry of podcasting. You have 60 seconds to answer each question, and after that, we'll pick one of the subjects we covered and we'll revisit it in greater detail so you can elaborate on your thoughts or anything that we missed and want to go over. Are you ready?
Imriel Morgan: I think so. Let's do it.
Steph Colburn: Let's do it.
Imriel Morgan: Here we go.
How did Content is Queen set up the Micro-Grants Program and what's been the most rewarding part of doing it?
Imriel Morgan: It got started because I was building affordable studios or trying to build affordable studios, and I was working quite closely with the team at Audible at the time and they knew what I was trying to build and they said, hey, would you need some support or like financial assistance with that? And I said, Yes, please. And they said, can you draw up a proposal? So I put together a proposal. And within that proposal, which was to get our studios up and running, I insisted, or at least I asked very nicely if they would also support a micro-grant program predominantly supporting creatives from underrepresented groups but emerging creators. And they said yes. So we put like a line item in our sponsorship budget explicitly for cash grants to go to creatives. And that is how that program got started and funded and it's been funded. This is now our third year doing it with Audible.
Steph Colburn: Amazing, Most rewarding part of it?
Imriel Morgan: Just seeing that ideas come to life like people just genuinely feel so grateful for someone believing in their idea. And that's great
Steph Colburn: Seeing that Daddy Amazon isn't always bad.
Imriel Morgan: Yes. Yes indeed.
I was wondering if you could talk a little bit about how you got involved with the EAP and what kind of goals you're excited for as we move it forward.
Imriel Morgan: Oh, in 60 seconds, Steph. Okay, no pressure.
Steph Colburn: We love it. You can do it.
Imriel Morgan: I knew about it from 2020 when it first launched because I was quite close with Rene and Christina. Rene Richardson, who founded the EAP at Broccoli Productions and Christina Moore, who runs Don't Skip Productions, and so I knew about it. I wanted to be more involved with it from the moment it launched and then I had been also speaking to Laura Blake about like, what's going on with it. And we spoke to Rene and she was like, you guys can kickstart this again — I'd like to see something happen, but I don't have the bandwidth to do that. And so that's how it got kind of kick started again. What I'm most excited about going forward is implementing the accountability measures, like really having quite good, measurable ways of holding companies to account for what they say, good or bad.
Steph Colburn: I love that too. And I am excited that right now we have it seems like a more distributed group that's all holding people accountable. You know, you guys, you made a very intentional move to get people in different continents to sort of like be the heads of that. And I think that was a really brilliant decision and also allows us to be better at making decisions for the industry because, I mean, even I think that first conversation we had, it was like very obvious that UK companies and U.S. companies operate very differently and say different things. So we need to treat each place differently.
I know that Content is Queen does a lot of great things. I want to know what is one thing that you're most excited for for next year or this year coming? What project are you working on that you're excited about?
Imriel Morgan: Honestly, I have so many projects, but I'm most excited about the 2024 International Women's Podcast Festival. We didn't get to do it this year because the industry didn't like cough up the funding that it normally has done in the past. However, we're already off to a very, very positive start with the conversations we're having and the kind of offers that we've received so far. So I'm very, very excited. We've also secured a headliner who I will not be announcing as an exclusive today. But honestly, it's groundbreaking, earth shatteringly good and this person does not do a lot of speaking. They do not do a lot of interviews. It's a significant milestone passing in podcasting. It's a significant anniversary for this person in podcasting, and we secured them on the day of a very big milestone for the industry and for women in the industry. So I am like supremely excited that we've already kind of locked that in.
Steph Colburn: Oh my God, we love a teaser.
Imriel Morgan: Yes, everyone come to the International Women's Podcast Festival.
Steph Colburn: Do it also. Congratulations. That's awesome. I'll be there.
Now we have the opportunity to pick one and go back to something if you want to dig a bit deeper. So is there anything that you want to talk more about?
Imriel Morgan: We're both on the E.A P., the Equality In Audio Pact so that feels like a thing that we both have in common and could definitely elaborate on.
Steph Colburn: I mean, I think it's cool to get people involved in the Equality In Audio Pact. Right now, we're in this phase where I think we're like organizing and we're making sure that everyone across the globe that's part of the E.A.P. is like on the same page. We're like really digging into the pledges that we're asking people to make. And I guess there isn't a defined, you know, we're not asking people to sign right now.
So what do you think is a way that people can be working on their own time while we're working kind of in the background to be making sure that the industry is more equitable?
Imriel Morgan: Oh, that's a big question Steph, isn't it? I suppose in the meantime, it's really just looking at or reminding companies, reminding themselves of the pledges. I mean, we've got around 450 plus companies already committed. Technically you can sign it now, but we're not, as you say, we're organizing.
Steph Colburn: I mean, I would say I think think it's important, like the EAP is here to sort of corral these larger organizations to become more equitable. Yes. But like if you're an individual and you're listening to this and you work for one of those companies or you are independent, what do you think is something that you can be doing in your own corner?
Imriel Morgan: I think certainly like I said, I'll go back to definitely looking at the pledges and seeing what feels reasonable to start with that there are five pledges if you're not ready to quote unquote sign yet, it is certainly worth looking at them and thinking, Hey, I can probably commit to the no events rule, right? Like no events that aren’t representative of the city or location that they're taking place in. Reporting is a bigger commitment and a harder commitment for a lot of people and a lot of organizations so don't like get bogged down with like the specifics of what's there, but start to think about actually, I could probably commit to 1 or 2 of these at this moment in time. And I think certainly I come from the school of thought with the Equality in Audio Pact, that impact is more important than just being like a court and fast rule follower. Like, yes, I can be very radical in my beliefs and activism and want absolute perfectionism because that's the level I demand of myself. However, the reality is we're not perfect people. I'm not a perfect person. I got called out the other day for something not being as accessible as it could be, and you just have to kind of take that feedback on the chin and be like, I'm only one person and this is what I can realistically do. But I take this point and I will try to build that into infrastructure later. I think it's being open to feedback or criticism when it's just or when it's worth reflecting on. And I also think it's a case of, you know, do what you can and be honest about what you what you can do, what your limitations are. And you can do that on an individual level. Or if you have some power or limited power within your organization or company, take those on board as well. We're not perfect people. Even the people in EAP are imperfect people who, like we are all learning. And our guiding principle at Content is Queen is engaged in the process, not an outcome, and your participation is essential. So we were all on it together, like good and bad. Like we just have to be open to receiving the criticism and equally the praise too. If, if and when we do something, well.
Steph Colburn: Give us our flowers. Yeah. Quick little plug. If someone because you said that the micro-grants program is is on right now. If someone wants to know more about that, where can they go to find out info.
Imriel Morgan: They can go to contentisqueen.org/news is probably the fastest way because it's within the news section and it's quite high up in the news section. So content is going to open such news and the application form for use terms and conditions are all there is open to the whole world. I guess the caveat for international applicants is that you should have a valid PayPal account that is linked to the email that you're registering your application with. Just because all banks in the UK are really strict. So PayPal is the only way we can pay for anything internationally right now.
Two truths and a lie
Steph Colburn: So my final guess, I'm going to stick with my original answer. Which was that you fell on stage. Maybe I'm putting the stage and I'm setting the scene for myself. But that you fell on stage at your first festival.
Imriel Morgan: That is correct. Therefore, you are right. I did.
Steph Colburn: It's a lie.
Imriel Morgan: I did not fall onstage.
Steph Colburn: Oh, my God. That means that you sat down with Keke Palmer buzzed.
Imriel Morgan: It was so bad.
Steph Colburn: I have so many follow up questions I need to know about the headphones that were worn if they like ruined the style moment. I need to know how she works when she's buzzed.
Imriel Morgan: Basically, the interview was booked for the day before when I was like, fully prepared and had everything set up. The environment was set, and then they were like, She can't do today. She'll have to do tomorrow. And I was like, But I'm going to Carnival. So I got the email while at Carnival. Like, can you do 4 p.m. And I was like, Oh, I don't know. For anyone who knows about UK Carnival, it's impossible to escape. It's like really difficult to get out and like find a tube station or to even know where you are like half the time. And I was like, okay, I'm going to like, find the nearest tube. And then I, like, cycled on like, this electric bike for the first time I get home so I could do this interview. And then she was like, Oh, can we have cameras on? And I was like, I am not. I was not prepared.
Steph Colburn: You're like, I'm in a full look.
Imriel Morgan: Like my hair was doing the most. I was already tipsy AF, like the audio sounds trash. Oh, it's such a shame because I love I genuinely love her so much.
Steph Colburn: I want to listen to the podcast, like where you're just like trying to get to Keke Palmer.
Imriel Morgan: Just like the journey to.
Steph Colburn: Yeah, the journey through Carnival. You've been a wonderful guest, as always. I love talking to you and knowing more about you. Thank you for being on the finale of Season One of Podcast 360. On behalf of the Podcast 360 Team, thank you to all of our awesome listeners and keep an eye out for what's next. Imriel can you let us know where listeners can find you socially? Any social handles, websites, Email What do you like?
Imriel Morgan: I am always on at Content is Queen HQ’s Instagram. Don't follow me personally, I don't say anything. I'm also pretty regularly active on LinkedIn at Imriel Morgan There's very few Imriels in this world so it's not a hard name to find. And yeah, certainly I'm on Twitter. I'm slightly more active as a personal person. So Imi Morgan on Twitter if or X now if that is your personal place to be amazing.
Thank you for joining us on this episode of Podcast 360.
Shaping the podcast industry!
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