How Monica Lewinsky Used Podcasting to Reclaim Her Power

A great podcast doesn’t just transform the lives of its audience. It also has a profound impact on its host. This week’s guest has found a new calling – not to mention a new following – through her powerful podcasting work.

On the latest episode of The Media Roundtable, Dan Granger (CEO & Founder, Oxford Road) welcomes Monica Lewinsky (anti-bullying social activist; Host, Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky) to talk about conversational cocoons, mission-based marketing, and her show’s reclaiming journey. Let’s dive in.

“When you hear the catch in someone’s voice, when you hear authenticity, or inauthenticity, I think that’s what is really magical about podcasts.” – Monica Lewinsky (anti-bullying social activist, host of Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky)

Finding Purpose – Every great podcast needs a reason to exist, and needs a deeply connected host who can convey the show’s mission statement. So, what’s Monica’s elevator pitch for her show? As she puts it: ”Reclaiming is a conversational show about finding the things that we’ve lost in a moment, or over a decade, and how we got them back.“ Marketers, ask potential partners why they make their show, and listen for the passion in their words.

Cocoons and Conversation – Podcasts are one of the few spaces in media where vulnerable, long-form conversations can still happen. It’s why Monica wanted to not only reclaim her story through podcasts, but to also “create this cocoon to have a conversation” with her guests. Brands want there to be trust between the audience and host, but trust starts between host and guest. Monica’s experiences under media scrutiny make her uniquely suited to build that “cocoon,” and invite others to join her there.

Missions and Marketing – The best brand-creator partnerships come from shared beliefs, not just a transactional relationship. Monica goes out of her way to work with anti-bullying orgs because that’s the mission she cares about, even if they tend to pay less than others. Brands: When you’re looking for creators who will go the extra mile with you, consider ones that truly care about the same goals.

For more insights on how Monica has reclaimed stories through the power of podcasting, check out the full episode of The Media Roundtable below.