We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Kristen Bahls a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Kristen, appreciate you joining us today. Alright, let’s jump into one of the most exciting parts of starting a new venture – how did you get your first client who was not a friend or family?
I found my first guest on Instagram. I had read and loved her books. She posted something about needing help and I created a few Instagram posts for her, and she agreed to be a guest. Once I got once guest, it was easier to approach authors and Bookstagrammers. Now, authors and publicists reach out to me to book themselves on the show. Additionally, through word of mouth recommendations, I’ve found groups of authors who support each other and pass my name on. It’s so fun to be able to help authors get the word out about their books and learn more about their writing process.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
After leaving the classroom and stepping away from my teaching-focused podcast, I found myself searching for a new direction. As a lifelong book lover, I decided to lean into my passion for reading and create a podcast centered around books. It was a leap of faith—especially in a world where it feels like everyone has a podcast—but I’m so grateful for the book community and their incredible support on this journey.
Where I Left Off – A Bookish Podcast, is a space for fellow readers to explore stories across a variety of genres, including romance (both open and closed door), mystery/thriller, young adult, and the occasional fantasy. My episodes feature author interviews, bookish discussions with reading enthusiasts, deep dives into standout titles, and an exciting book club launching soon!
Tune in to hear conversations with both self-published and traditionally published authors about their books, the writing and publishing process, and what goes into bringing their stories to life. We also have fun fan-casting their characters, chatting about their works in progress, and diving into the creative mechanics behind their novels. If you love books, storytelling, and behind-the-scenes insights, this podcast is for you!
What’s worked well for you in terms of a source for new clients?
Instagram has become a cornerstone for building connections with fellow readers and authors, creating a vibrant space for cheering on books and fostering relationships within the book community. These interactions have not only helped me expand my guest roster but have also deepened my appreciation for authors—the kindest and most supportive group I’ve encountered online. Through these connections, I’ve formed incredible friendships and built a network where authors generously share my name with their peers. Many have even returned to the podcast to discuss their latest releases.
Any resources you can share with us that might be helpful to other creatives?
With podcasting, it seems like there is so much information out there and too many options to choose the right technology for you. Podcasts are an ongoing, expense with monthly subscriptions to keep everything running. It’s been a lot of trial and error to find what works for me. The book Podcast Launchpad, Your Step-By-Step Guide to Launching Your Podcast was really helpful. The author really compares and explains what systems need to be in place on the backend of your show to keep it running smoothly. I use Buzzsprout for my host – which allows me to load my show once and go live on all the podcast directories (Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, iHeart, etc.), and see all my analytics in one place. I can generate transcriptions, create soundbites, and even manage ads and sponsorships through the platform, which saves so much time. I use the Shure SM7B microphone, which was an investment for me, but produces high quality sound. To record interviews I recently switched to Zoom, but have also used Riverside. Lastly, for editing – I use Adobe Audition, but Audacity is a great, free editing tool that I used in college.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1927895/episodes
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whereileftoffpod/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristen-bahls-m-ed-975b4b233/
- Other: My show is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, iHeartRadio, Podcast Index, Overscast, Podcast Addict, Castro, Castbox, Podchaser, Pocket Casts, Deezer, Listen Notes, Player FM, Goodpods, and TrueFans.