Sarah Davidson was inspired to start Seize the Yay after making a big career change. Images: Supplied.
“People aren’t going to listen to something just because you’ve got funny things to say, or because you want to get your voice onto a podcast,” explains podcasting expert Rachel Corbett. “You need to give people a compelling reason to engage with your show.”
Meet three successful podcasters who have done just that, launching motivational career-based shows that consistently rank on iTunes, Spotify and Stitcher charts. It’s an impressive feat, given there are over 700,000 podcasts available to Australian listeners, and ambitious podcasters can learn a lot from their stories.
Sarah Davidson – Seize the Yay
Before launching popular podcast Seize the Yay, Sarah Davidson was a mergers and acquisitions lawyer at a large international law firm. While she enjoyed her job, the busy corporate lifestyle took its toll on her health, and she soon left to pursue a different passion – Matcha Maiden, the organic green tea startup and café she established with her partner Nic.
Wanting to help others stuck in the busy cycle, Davidson decided to launch Seize the Yay, a podcast that explores how successful people such as Miranda Kerr and Gary Vaynerchuk find joy through work, rest or play.
“The podcast is there to motivate people to go after what really makes them happy,” she says. “Because we’re not here to just work and die. It’s not all about success and financial metrics and kicking goals.”
Though Davidson had no experience with audio production when she started, the show quickly attracted a devout following. Since launching, Seize the Yay has been downloaded almost two million times. Davidson was also approached to convert the series into a book, which will be published by Murdoch Books in September this year.
"Seize the Yay has had much more of an impact than I ever expected it to,” Davidson says. “My biggest encouragement to anyone thinking of starting a podcast is that it’s way easier than you think it will be. All you need to do is focus on creating great content.”
Listen to… this live episode with Gemma Watts, the beauty writer and founder of Glow Journal.