The multi-talented Christina Harris, also known as BeautyChickee by her over 1.5M followers across all platforms, is reinventing the term “internet personality” as we know it.
Christina recently launched her highly anticipated and rebranded Bitchee Podcast, now titled, Gin & Toxic, charting on Spotify in the Top Comedy Podcasts in the USA.
The show is centered around the messy adventures and lessons of two absolutely un-hinged best friends, Christina Harris & Lily Stewart.
On their podcast, Christina and Lily aim to bring their audience an honest look at their lives as they try to navigate their twenties in New York City.
The digital creator turned entrepreneur also just founded her own full-service, influencer marketing agency, West 27th Talent. The agency is home to names like Ashley Besson, Marla Fay, Kay Cook, and many more.
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With everyone and their mother trying to become “podcast famous,” it can be difficult to stand out amongst the crowd.
We’ve connected with Christina for her expert tips on creating a podcast that will not only survive but thrive in this competitive media environment.
The kind of equipment you use can significantly impact how your show sounds, so I recommend investing early on in quality equipment for recording your show. Having a great-sounding show starts with a quality microphone. There are so many great podcasting microphones on the market right now, at all price points, so you are bound to find something to fit your liking and budget.
My recommendation: Shure SM7B
What is something you know a lot about or love to talk about? And the real question: Can you talk about it for the long haul? Figuring out what you are best at talking about and capitalizing on that will help you create a perfectly tailored show.
One thing I’ve learned from personal experience- starting a solo podcast is HARD. Talking to what feels like yourself for an hour straight can be draining, so having a co-host to help facilitate conversations and bounce ideas off is extremely helpful.
This might sound corny and cliche, but you need to be passionate about what you do. Keeping up with a podcast can be pretty tedious, as you spend a good chunk of your day talking into a microphone. Remember why you started podcasting in the first place, whether for yourself or to share what you know with a greater audience. Finding new innovative ways to keep your show fresh & introduce new topics can help keep your passion alive while podcasting long-term.
Listeners love to feel like they are involved; therefore, it's crucial to do so! Having an interactive segment of your show, such as answering questions from your audience or sharing stories that they send in, will give your listeners something to look forward to and a way to make them feel part of the show. They can tune in each week to see if you answer their question or read their story.
If there’s one thing I’ve learned in my years of being in the social media field, it’s that consistency is KEY for multiple reasons. Algorithms LOVE consistency, which is why apps like Instagram and TikTok constantly push out creators who post consistently; the same goes for podcasting. It’s more likely for your show to be recommended to new listeners when posting new episodes consistently, so keep it consistent. Additionally, listeners love a show they can rely on, so having a consistent uploading schedule makes sure your listeners know precisely when they can come back each week to listen. This results in your listeners having loyalty to your show.
Everyone listens to podcasts in different ways, so make sure you make it easy for them to do so. Using platforms such as Anchor will help you distribute your podcast to multiple streaming platforms all at once.
Social media will be your secret weapon to growth. Creating eye-catching images & posting small audio clips of your show will pique viewers' curiosity & want to make them tune in. Headliner is a perfect service for this- you can put small audio clips from your shows on top of images, create audiograms & more. GoDaddy Studio is another great app to create fun Instagram story templates & posts for your social media feed.
Slurring your words & getting a dry throat happens, especially when you’ve been talking for a long time. Pausing in between topics for a water break assures you stay hydrated & keep a clear throat while recording for long periods.
Photography by: Courtesy Gin & Toxic, Will Francis
