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Engage Members through Podcasting

  

Podcasts give pools a platform to inform and inspire members, turning experiences into stories, expertise into lessons and connections into community. With clear strategy and authentic voices, each episode strengthens engagement and brings your pool’s mission to life. 

Make Strategy Your Starting Point 

Before pressing record, define what success looks like. Think beyond simply having a podcast” and focus on how the platform supports your pools strategic goals, audience needs and member-focused values. 

As with any project, take the time to confirm your pool has the capacity, staffing and resources to sustain a consistent podcast. Creating and maintaining a series requires planning, coordination and dedicated time from your team. Many pools find they need to pause podcast production when other workloads peak, so assessing capacity upfront helps you set a realistic pace and deliver reliable information to members over time. 

Ask:

  • Who is our target audience? Identify who you want to reach in your member community. You might design a series for elected officials learning their role or frontline public entity professionals applying loss-control strategies Defining the audience helps tailor tone, pacing and content — from high-level information to practical conversations. 
  • What do we want members to do or think after listening? Each episode should inspire action or reflection. You may want members to download a resource, register for training, explore support services, or apply a new idea locally. Encouraging listeners to think differently about risk mitigation, governance or community engagement can strengthen long-term understanding and trust in your pool. 

  • How can we reinforce our values or strategic priorities through recurring themes? Podcasting is a powerful way to show your mission in motion. A theme helps your members see how your pool delivers value — whether by advancing safety, sustaining affordable coverage or supporting public services. For example, if your pool prioritizes stability, highlight long-term members through interviews. If innovation is a key message at your pool, feature unique member partnerships and shared problem-solving. If you’re working to bolster a safety culture, showcase training successes or impactful prevention strategies. 

  • What metrics will define success? Establishing goals — such as listener counts, episode completion rates or member feedback — helps you evaluate engagement and determine whether podcasting is the best channel for your pool’s time and effort. Clear metrics provide insight into what resonates and guide decisions about future episodes or alternative ways to engage members. 

Pools that align podcast episodes with member priorities — like risk management programs, governance practices or workplace safety improvements — create content with lasting value. When listeners see how each episode connects to the broader mission, your podcast becomes an extension of your pool’s education and engagement strategy. 

Shape Your Content for Maximum Impact 

Podcasting works best when it feels conversational and focused. The key is planning structure while keeping a natural tone. 

To build strong engagement: 

  • Lead with stories. Open each episode with a real-world scenario or challenge your members will recognize, then share the lessons learned and outcomes achieved. 

  • Balance voices. Mix leadership perspectives with member experiences and external expertise to represent your pool’s entire community. 

  • Keep it succinct. Listeners often prefer 20–30-minute episodes  long enough for substance, yet concise enough for busy schedules. 

  • Repurpose content. Extend your podcast’s value by turning episodes into brief articles, highlight reels, quote graphics or social media clips that reinforce key messages and reach members who prefer different formats. 

Drive Engagement Beyond Episodes 

Podcasts build connections when they invite participation. 

  • Encourage listeners to share feedback, submit questions or suggest future topics. 

  • Create quick polls or discussion prompts linked to episode themes. 

  • Promote episodes through your pool’s newsletter, website and social media. 

  • Ask guests and member organizations to share episodes within their own networks to expand visibility and reach. 

Through podcasting, pools can communicate insights, lessons and perspectives directly to the members they serve. Clear goals, structured storytelling and ongoing engagement help each episode deepen connections and support a stronger, more informed membership.

Tune into these member pools’ podcasts:

  • JPIA Five (Association of California Water Agencies Joint Powers Insurance Authority) 

If your pool has a podcast or is considering launching one, contact us to share your experiences or ideas.

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