Listen "Building a Podcast Brand from Scratch"
Episode Synopsis
Send us a textEver wondered what happens when a teacher trades the classroom for a microphone? My journey from educator to podcaster wasn't planned—I simply wanted more family time while keeping one foot in education. What began as casual conversations with teacher friends evolved into School Talk, a podcast dedicated to international education in the UAE.The transformation wasn't seamless. Despite a decade of teaching experience, I discovered unfamiliar challenges. My confident classroom presence mysteriously vanished during those first recorded conversations, resulting in stiff, overly-scripted episodes. Technical hurdles like audio editing and quality control had me scrambling for solutions, especially after one memorable interview where a malfunctioning microphone nearly derailed an entire episode.Social media proved to be my Mount Everest. The revelation that growth required consistent daily posting across platforms was overwhelming. Learning to navigate Instagram (where I found my listeners) and LinkedIn (where I connected with guests) demanded an entirely new skill set. The emotional resilience needed was equally surprising—continuing to publish when seemingly nobody was listening, handling negative comments, and weathering the unpredictable rhythm of guest availability tested my resolve in ways classroom management never did.Finding my niche in UAE international education provided focus, and monetization came sooner than expected. I developed tiered sponsorship packages to accommodate businesses of all sizes, though this brought its own learning curve of invoicing, payment terms, and occasionally dealing with no-show sponsors. Today, with thousands of followers and regular sponsorships, I'm proof that transferable skills can open unexpected doors. The communication, planning, and storytelling abilities I honed as a teacher simply found a new expression.Thinking of starting your own creative project? Ask yourself what's really holding you back. Even without financial motivation, the growth and connections you'll make are invaluable. What skills from your current role might translate to something entirely new?
More episodes of the podcast School Talk: UAE
Why Dubai Is Opening More Schools Than Ever
14/10/2025
MVA - Redefining Online Education
09/09/2025
Edways: The Future of School Admissions
26/08/2025
The Truth About Occupational Therapy
05/08/2025