August 14, 2021
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Meet the Successful Founder: Podcast Expert Anna Parker-Naples

22 January 2021|Latest Posts, Marketing, PR, Promotion, Meet the Successful Founder

Many entrepreneurs are considering starting a podcast today – but often just don’t know where to start. We caught up with one of the top experts in the field, Anna Parker-Naples, as part of our popular Meet the Successful Founder series to discover more – and learn about how she’s not only made an impact in this male dominated field, but has written a best-selling book on the subject too.

Anna Parker-Naples, 42, from Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire, has over 15 years of audio and production experience and is now one of the UK’s leading podcast launch experts, a number 1 International Podcast Host and award-winning entrepreneur who is passionate about helping others amplify their message – and bring their podcast to their people.

We have seen that there is a real increasing thirst for audio content over the past couple of years. The audiobook and podcast industry is set to continue to surge and soar in popularity as is the new audio only social media platform Clubhouse…

At the start of 2020, Deloitte predicted that the global market would grow by 25 per cent in 2020 to US$3.5 billion (£2.6 billion). Podcasting is a medium that is growing at an unprecedented level with audience figures that were anticipated to double in size over an 18 month period. This was accelerated by the recent pandemic.

However, audio and podcasting continues to be a male dominated field and Anna continues to challenge this. She is proud to be the first British woman to write a book on Podcasting. According to statistics, of 480 top podcast hosts analyzed by Quartz in 2019, only one in three were women. Anna continues to buck the trend, not only is she a number 1 International Podcast Host herself, she is also the UK’s leading podcast launch expert and has since helped other women launch over 100 successful podcasts since January this year (2020), from within her Podcast membership. Anna has helped others amplify their message and position themselves to be featured alongside the likes of; Tony Robbins, Joe Wicks, Jay Shetty, Fearne Cotton, Marie Forleo, Amy Porterfield, Tim Ferris, Gary Vaynerchuck.

Anna has experienced many personal challenges including; being bullied in her teens, suffering imposter syndrome and also becoming wheelchair bound with Symphysis Pubis Dysfunction (SPD) during her third pregnancy. Following rejection from the Drama School RADA at 18, Anna decided it was best to not pursue her dream career of being an actress, she kept her face away from the cameras and bright lights and instead used her voice to pave out a successful career becoming an award-winning voice actor. When Anna became wheelchair bound during her third pregnancy, depression hit as she was unable to work and travel to do recording, however, Anna learnt everything about the world of audio and become an audio expert – she even built a recording studio at home and went on to become an award-winning voice actress and audio producer working with brands such as; Coca Cola, CBeebies, FC Barcelona, CITV, Aardman Animation, Virgin and BBC.

Thanks to her personal development journey embracing Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) practices, she defied the doctors to walk again, and also started to realise and release her own potential. Since her transformations she has walked the LA red carpet and has spoken alongside stars such as Ruby Wax and Paul McKenna and won awards alongside Adele, Holly Willoughby and Rio Ferdinand.

Within her inspirational book, Anna said; “Anyone who is anyone in the online business space right now is moving towards launching a podcast. It is fast becoming the best way to educate, inspire and connect with potential and current clients as listeners go about their daily lives. A podcast takes effort and with this book, I want to help people ensure that their show works well for them and their business or organization right from the word go. I want to empower others to ensure their show that doesn’t get lost in the noisy online space.”

Anna shares the highs and lows – including her own initial failed podcast launch in 2017, which wasn’t a major success. Following this launch, Anna went back and learnt more about podcast launching by consuming every training she could, and then released her number one podcast in October 2019 and it’s continue to fly at the top of the charts.

Anna continues; “Knowledge is key in launching a successful, profitable podcast. Chapters include detailed advice on how to plan, prepare, record, edit and launch your podcast. The aim is for the reader to be confident, in control and informed about the recording and editing process. Podcasting isn’t just plugging in a microphone and putting out any old voice recording. Rather, it is an important mechanism for leaders – aspiring, emerging and established – to get their message heard by the right ears.”

Anna now blends her audio experience and entrepreneurial experience and she is on a mission to help purpose-led, ambitious entrepreneurs, experts, creatives and coaches amplify their message, to be seen and heard by the people who need their help. As the author of international bestseller ‘Get Visible’ and now ‘Podcast with Impact’, she is doing exactly that.

Anna works with aspiring podcasters to launch chart topping, top ranking podcasts. Through her podcast production agency and The Podcast Membership which has been home to over 100 successful podcast launches since January 2020. Alongside the launch of this book Anna is offering a free Podcast with Impact Launch Bundle available – www.annaparkernaples.co.uk/podcast-with-impact-launch