Selling Merch to Fund a Reporting Trip 👕
Plus, industry news, soooo many jobs & more
Hi Besties!
I found myself rage-buying pro-choice shirts after Roe v. Wade was overturned and was disappointed by the options available, so I made some shirts of my own! I’m selling them as a fundraiser for my Private Parts Unknown Abortion in Post-Roe America reporting trip. I’m selling them through Bonfire — I’ll report back on my takeaways from this experience in a future edition.
I believe that wearing shirts like these helps destigmatize abortion for people who might need one during this contentious time. I recently celebrated the 4th of July in Arnolds Park, Iowa. My boyfriend and I did a quick 15-minute spin through the outdoor concert area before heading someplace less crowded — and in that 15 minutes, three separate young women came up to me and complimented me on my shirt in a very sweet way. It made me so happy to project solidarity in a state where access is threatened. I was also happy to be wearing sunglasses because it made me cry.
💸 Buy a pro-abortion shirt AND help support a reporting trip to cover post-Roe America, all with one purchase! Use code BESTIE for 10% off.
🎧 Here’s a playlist of our previous abortion-related episodes, including the "Men Have Abortions Too" series.
📸 If you get a shirt, I want to see it! Post a pic on Twitter or Instagram and tag me. I will RT like it’s my job and might even do a round-up in an upcoming issue.
Be a Responsible Journalist with Trauma Informed Reporting - Alice Wilder offers this excellent manifesto and guide to trauma-informed reporting on the Transom blog. See also: The Dart Center’s trauma and journalism handbook and Josh Baker’s Transom Manifesto.
14 Important Lessons About Making Successful Branded Podcasts - Dan Misener is leaving Pacific Content, along with Jonas Woost, but offered a parting gift: the biggest learnings from their time making podcasts for brands. Excited to see what Dan does next!
How to Setup a Google Alert for Your Podcast & Why You Should - This was a much-needed reminder from The Podcast Host blog to set up a Google Alert for my podcasts (and this newsletter!), plus why it’s necessary.
A Case Study of How to Achieve Podcasting Riches in the Niches - This Q&A with Bryan Orr of the HVAC School podcast on the Amplifi Media blog is indie podcaster #goals. Bryan shares specific numbers, including the inspiring ad revenue he brings in from his niche audience.
Producer, Narrative (full-time) at Kast Media | Los Angeles, CA + Remote
Producer, The Journal (full-time) at Gimlet Media | North America Remote, Working EST Hours
Supervising Editor, The Journal (full-time) at Gimlet Media | North America Remote, Working EST Hours
Senior Story Editor, Commissioned Originals (full-time) at Wondery | West Hollywood, CA
Podcast Intern (part-time) at Proximity Media | Remote
News Editor (part-time) at KALW | SF Bay, CA
Senior Producer, The Daily (full-time) at The New York Times | New York, NY
Managing Editor (part-time) at BirdNote | Remote
Digital Marketing Associate (full-time) at Last Energy | Washington, DC
I've got another prolific indie lit queen on The Bleeders. Elle Nash is the author of Animals Eat Each Other, Nudes, Gag Reflex, and the upcoming novel Deliver Me. This episode is a fascinating peek into Elle's creative process as we talk through her body of work, the North star of writing to your taste, developing her voice alongside her editing chops, and how she landed the coolest agent ever.
I've collabed with body paint artist Paul Roustan five times now. It's always a blast, and his philosophy and artistic trajectory are really interesting, so I had him on Private Parts Unknown to chat about how he got started, the importance of separating sex from nudity, what his wife and kids think about his work, how he used his body paint art as a launch pad to becoming an NTF creator, and what it's like to have groupies in the metaverse!
This week’s Play It Forward comes from podcast producer Yochai Maital. First, he recommends All Inclusive with Jay Ruderman, starting with the conversation between host Jay Ruderman and guest Sophie Riegel, Author of Don’t Tell Me to Relax!
“The podcast tells stories of people who have gone through hardship and — instead of giving up — harness their experience to better others and the world. It makes me feel better about the world without being a cheesy 'feel good' podcast. This episode specifically is about teen mental health. Teens often get talked down to, and in this one, the host is talking directly to a teen activist, and as a parent to kids who are also dealing with their own issues, I found it incredibly illuminating.”
He also shout-outs Israel Story, a podcast he co-founded with his childhood friends. He suggests starting with Episode 63: Tell Saki – Part I:
“This is a crazy story about a group of soldiers stuck behind enemy lines. It was a real emotional journey for me to talk to all of them about their traumatic experiences. What I found most inspiring was how after many years of bottling up their experiences and trauma, these 'manly men' opened up: first to each other and then to the world. There’s more on that in ep two of this mini-series, but it doesn't make sense without part one.”
You can follow the show @israelstory on Twitter and @israel.story on Instagram. Thanks for sharing, Yochai!
➡️ Here’s the link to submit for future editions.
So… ROLL CALL! 🗣
Has merch been a successful form of fundraising for your podcast? What’s your favorite dropshipping merch supplier?
Follow me @courtneykocak on Twitter and Instagram. For more, check out my website courtneykocak.com.