Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Shawna Rodrigues. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Shawna, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today What’s the backstory behind how you came up with the idea for your business?
Before I even started my podcast, The Grit Show, I joined a group of individuals who were interested in podcasting. I took a bit of a leadership role and shared a lot as I was launching and getting my podcast off the ground. Once I launched, it surprised me that most of the folks I started the journey with never got theirs off the ground. I chalked it up as all of us trying to do so much and related my success to how long I’d been considering mine in the background. I then went to a large podcast conference and learned that women host only 27% of podcasts. That’s when I connected that most of the people in that group, a lot of those podcasts that never came to fruition, were also women. It struck a chord with me. Imbalances have never set well with me, but this had an added layer. It felt as though voices were being silenced. As though there were creativity, conversations, topics, and stories that were being held back. It made me want to do something.
Paying more attention to the things that were slowing me down was the first step. Noting what things were tedious and draining enough that they would eventually grind me to a halt and burn me out. I revisited conversations and noted why the other women I started with hadn’t started their podcasts. I researched what was done previously to increase the footprint of women in podcasting. In 2019, there seemed to be a brief movement in podcasting to get more women involved, but it was minor efforts, like one woman getting to host a show or larger movements that only focused on training for things like editing or other pieces of tech. In 2019, PodNews reported that 40% of new podcasts were being started by women… and yet here we are- less than 30% of podcasts hosted by women 3 years later. Folks didn’t realize that it wasn’t just the overwhelm of the tech; it was the time-consuming nature of the tech. It was the fact that tech takes full focus and that women have a lot of things already demanding their attention. We can learn how to do it, but we don’t have that kind of time, let alone every single week.
So, I set about creating systems and affordable resources to handle the tech and the stress. I wanted to eliminate the relentless, time-consuming pieces which make it hard to sustain a podcast and take away the joy. I also wanted it to be more than a podcast editing service. That wasn’t enough. So I founded Authentic Connections Network. We take care of the tech and stress, but we also provide mentoring, support, and a community. It’s a place where the shows build each other up, where listeners can also find a home. A place where rising tides lift all boats and the collective power we build supports us all to be successful and focus more on the craft of podcasting and connecting. It’s where we amplify voices and have the audacious goal of 37 by 27; to raise the number of women hosing podcasts to 37% by 2027.
Shawna, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
I am a Storyteller. I was an international best-selling author before I became a podcaster, and my friends will tell you they have listened to my stories for long before anyone ever paid for them. My journey into podcasting was inevitable, even if it took me a while to find my way. I’ve always been more of a talker than a writer, even if I have enjoyed my writing. It was only a few more steps to go from podcasting to understanding what I wanted to offer hoping to make this field a place for women to flourish.
Before I transitioned to writing, consulting, and found podcasting; I had an award-winning career in the public sector. My award from the Department of Health and Human Services for “Interoperability” was received by a team I lead that came together and made exciting things happen for children and families across multiple agencies at the federal level. I’m passionate about bringing people together and making things happen. I’m also a changemaker at heart- that’s where the award from Boston University for “Outstanding Contributions to the Field of Social Work” comes into play. I’ve led agencies at multiple levels and successfully enacted positive change, always around things I care deeply about. It is exciting to have founded my company on something as important as amplifying women’s voices, while also getting this unique experience of getting to walk alongside creatives, entrepreneurs, and passionate individuals as they launch their podcasts. It is an honor to be part of their process and so amazing to know that their ability to stand tall in this space and focus on what they love is possible because of the support offered by the Authentic Connections Network and my team.
What’s been the best source of new clients for you?
You have so many sources telling you all the ways to build your brand these days. It really can be overwhelming. There are so many directions and so many voices. It can be overwhelming. I think I got caught up in that a bit. The thing is, my business is genuinely filling a need, so the thing I needed to do was to keep talking about it and being genuine. To pause and remember where all of my initial clients and interest came from. It was all word of mouth. It was word of mouth from someone who heard me talking about my idea too—not yet from clients who could speak about how helpful the service was I was just starting. So instead of focusing on finding clients, I needed to focus on telling the mission. I needed to focus on sharing what Authentic Connections were about. I needed to keep telling the story and trust that the right clients would find their way to us. That truly is the best source. So I continue to tell the story, the truth about how much we care about amplifying voices. We are here to make sure things are streamlined, easy, sustainable, and best serve our clients. That is how people learn about us.
Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?
Have you ever wondered if your life was meant for more or if there was distinct path you should’ve taken in life? If so, this brief story is meant for you. I cherish the career I had before launching my business, but it is shocking how much I was playing it safe and not living up to what I was capable. In my mind, the steps I was taking were already more outlandish than anyone before me in my family. I had a Master’s degree and went across the country not once, but twice for degrees. No one else in my immediate family had finished more than an Associate Degree, and both of those family members got those after I started college. So, wasn’t it enough that I had done that much and gone that far? Yet, at times I would wonder if I had started out differently than I had, what all might I have done? How far might I have reached? Twice in my career, my world got rocked because of circumstances beyond my control. The first time I found deep lessons about the importance I had placed in my career, and the fact there were things at the end of my life I would treasure more. It didn’ts stop me from doing everything in my power to prove the incident was a minor setback and to make sure I returned to everything I learned indicated a stable career path. I talk in more depth about the first time my career went sideways in episode 37 of The Grit Show—https://podcast.thegritshow.com; sometimes you have to take some hits to find your way. The second time, I was doing the same thing for a while before I finally realized how absurd it was. Before I finally realized I was meant for greater goals and bigger aspirations. Before I realized I needed to let go of that safety net, no matter how hard and scary it was, because that safety net was only holding me back.
In retrospect, it is humbling how much the Universe, had to shake me and point me in the right direction before I finally followed the path to create the business I now have. Leading bigger change and having a greater impact is what I was meant to do. This is where I am supposed to be and many more lives are being affected because of it; from my podcast to my network, to every listener of my network. So listen to that little voice telling you to try for something more and to let go of the safety net. There are great things out there to be accomplished, and it takes great courage to do it.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/37by27
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/37by27
- Facebook: https://fb.com/37by27
- Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/company/37by27
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/shawnaBOSPDX
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@37by27
- Other: https://authenticconnections.captivate.fm https://podcast.thegritshow.com/ www.shawnarodrigues.com https://instagram.com/shawnapodcasts https://facebook.com/shawnarodrigues