Before podcasting became my career, it was something I experimented with in college. In this episode, I’m sitting down with one of the professors who helped shape that journey and who now teaches podcasting at UNLV.

Podcasting has changed a lot over the past decade, and now universities are starting to teach it.

In this episode of Podcast Café, I’m sitting down with Dave Nourse, a professor at the UNLV School of Journalism and Media Studies, who teaches a college course focused on podcasting.

Dave actually taught one of the audio classes I took when I was studying journalism at UNLV, so this conversation feels like a true full-circle moment. We talk about how podcasting evolved from an experimental medium into something universities now consider an essential part of media education.

What does a podcasting class actually look like? What do students learn about podcast strategy, storytelling, and production? And how is the industry changing as video, AI, and new platforms reshape the way people create and consume podcasts?

We also explore how younger audiences think about podcasts differently and what creators need to understand as the medium continues to evolve.

In this episode:

• How podcasting became part of university journalism programs
• What students actually learn in a podcasting class
• Why storytelling and audience strategy matter in podcasting
• The difference between audio-first and video-first podcast audiences
• How AI and new technology are influencing podcast production
• What success really looks like for a podcast
• Why many podcasts stop after only a few episodes

LinkedIn: Dave Nourse: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dave-nourse-unlv/

UNLV Journalism & Media Studies: https://www.unlv.edu/jms

Connect with me, Hayleigh Hayhurst:

Apply to work with us: https://hello.dubsado.com/public/form/view/6521a4cc8fdeed003a859a44

Steal my Podcast Launch Checklist for free: ⁠https://www.espressopodcastproduction.com/checklist

Website: ⁠https://www.espressopodcastproduction.com/

⁠Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/espressopodcastproduction/⁠

YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@EspressoPodcastProduction⁠

My favorite podcast tool, Descript: https://www.descript.com/?lmref=KkInCQ

Produced by Espresso Podcast Production: ⁠https://www.espressopodcastproduction.com

Most podcasts rely on ads, sponsorships, or selling something on the backend.

But what if the podcast itself was the product?

In this episode of Podcast Café, I sit down with Ellen Yin, host of the Cubicle to CEO podcast, to talk about a monetization strategy most podcasters haven’t seriously considered yet: a premium podcast subscription.

After nearly 7 years of publishing free content and over 400 episodes, Ellen made a bold shift—moving her full case study interviews behind a paid subscription model, while still sharing preview episodes publicly.

It’s an experiment that’s changing how she thinks about podcasting, media, and sustainability.

We talk about what it actually takes to make a premium podcast work, the mindset behind charging for podcast content, and the types of creators this model might be best suited for.

If you’ve ever wondered:

• Can a podcast become its own business model?
• What happens when you stop relying on ads to fund your show?
• And who should (or shouldn’t) consider a paid podcast?

This conversation will open your eyes to what’s possible.

In this episode, we explore:

• Why Ellen decided to experiment with a premium podcast subscription
• The realities of producing a podcast for 6+ years
• What has to be in place before charging for podcast content
• The difference between a podcast marketing tool vs a podcast product
• How Ellen structures free preview episodes vs paid content
• What most podcasters misunderstand about monetization
• The surprising role community plays in paid podcast models
• When starting a podcast might not be the right move at all

About Ellen Yin

Ellen Yin is the founder of Cubicle to CEO, a media company built around her top-ranked business podcast for entrepreneurs.

Her show features case study interviews with founders, where she asks the business questions you can’t Google—focusing on strategies implemented in the last 3–18 months that led to measurable growth.

After years of producing free content, Ellen is now testing a premium podcast model designed to make the show sustainable long-term.

Connect with Ellen

Podcast: Cubicle to CEO

Instagram: @cubicletoceo

Premium subscription: cubicletoceo.co/podcast

Connect with me, Hayleigh Hayhurst:

Apply to work with us: https://hello.dubsado.com/public/form/view/6521a4cc8fdeed003a859a44

Steal my Podcast Launch Checklist for free: ⁠https://www.espressopodcastproduction.com/checklist

Website: ⁠https://www.espressopodcastproduction.com/

⁠Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/espressopodcastproduction/⁠

YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@EspressoPodcastProduction⁠

My favorite podcast tool, Descript: https://www.descript.com/?lmref=KkInCQ

Produced by Espresso Podcast Production: ⁠https://www.espressopodcastproduction.com

How do you share your story in a way that actually helps people instead of just trauma dumping?

In this episode of Podcast Café, I’m sitting down with Joe Smarro, a TEDx speaker, author, former police officer, Marine combat veteran, and podcast host — to talk about storytelling, mental health, public speaking, and how podcasting can become a powerful platform for connection and impact.

Joe shares how childhood trauma, military service, and years of therapy eventually led him to speaking on stages across the country, hosting a podcast, and helping leaders understand resilience, healing, and emotional intelligence.

If you are a podcaster, speaker, entrepreneur, or someone thinking about starting a podcast, this conversation is full of insights on how to tell meaningful stories that truly connect with an audience.

In this episode, we talk about:

• Joe’s journey from trauma to becoming a TEDx speaker, author, and podcast host
• How therapy helped him process his story before sharing it publicly
• The difference between powerful storytelling and trauma dumping
• How podcasting helps build relationships and grow your network
• Why vulnerability can give other people permission to speak up
• Joe’s advice for anyone who wants to start a podcast or become a public speaker
• Why podcasting doesn’t have to be expensive or complicated
• The surprising lesson podcasting taught him about curiosity and lifelong learning

Joe Smarro is a Marine combat veteran, former San Antonio police officer, TEDx speaker, author, and CEO of SolutionPoint+. During his 11 years with the San Antonio Police Department, he helped build the department’s nationally recognized Mental Health Unit.

Joe is also featured in the Emmy-award winning documentary Ernie & Joe: Crisis Cops and is the author of the Amazon bestselling book Unarmed: De-escalation Techniques to Cultivate Courage, Compassion, and Connection. Today, he travels the country speaking and training organizations on mental health, resilience, and leadership.

His mission is to help reduce suicide among first responders and create healthier, more resilient communities. When he’s not speaking or writing, you’ll most likely find him on a golf course.

Website: www.joesmarro.com | www.solutionpointplus.comMy Emmy-Award winning Documentary: https://youtu.be/0FH2iBAN4mc?si=lmsIHMLBJp95k2UAMy TEDx Talk: https://youtu.be/zjqKzNJef28?si=QQ-cJMhnIOb3JAnk

Listen to Truly Mental: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/truly-mental/id1476295263

NPR's story on Ketamine: https://www.npr.org/2025/10/03/nx-s1-5561085/why-ketamine-got-popular

Connect with me, Hayleigh Hayhurst:

Apply to work with us: https://hello.dubsado.com/public/form/view/6521a4cc8fdeed003a859a44

Steal my Podcast Launch Checklist for free: ⁠https://www.espressopodcastproduction.com/checklist

Website: ⁠https://www.espressopodcastproduction.com/

⁠Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/espressopodcastproduction/⁠

YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@EspressoPodcastProduction⁠

My favorite podcast tool, Descript: https://www.descript.com/?lmref=KkInCQ

Produced by Espresso Podcast Production: ⁠https://www.espressopodcastproduction.com