Latest / The Comeback Career Podcast with Fexingo: Returning After a Gap, Stay-at-Home Re-Entry / How a Career Gap Can Help You Start a Podcast
Transcript
- Lucas: So, episode fifty. That feels like a milestone. And I wanted to use it to talk about something I think a lot of people in a career gap consider but don't actually do: start a podcast. Luna: Yeah, it's one of those ideas that sounds huge. Like, 'I need a studio, I need a co-host, I need to be an expert.' But people do it. And I've seen it actually work. Lucas: Exactly. I want to talk about a specific case. A woman named Priya — she was a marketing manager at a mid-size CPG company, took a two-year gap after her second child. She didn't just stay home. She launched a podcast called 'Packaging Unpacked' — about sustainable packaging in consumer goods. Luna: Okay, that's incredibly niche. And I bet that's exactly why it worked. Lucas: Right. She knew that space cold. She'd been in packaging decisions for years. So her podcast wasn't 'me interviewing random people' — it was 'me talking to the people shaping the future of packaging at Unilever, Loop, and startups.' She did 40 episodes over two years. Luna: And when she went back to look for a job, she didn't lead with 'I took two years off.' She led with 'I host a podcast where I interview CPG leaders.' That reframes the entire conversation. Lucas: Absolutely. She told me she used the podcast as her primary talking point in interviews. Instead of explaining the gap, she talked about how she researched guests, prepped questions, edited episodes, and built an audience of about 2,000 downloads a month. Those are project management and communication skills, on display. Luna: And it's proof of subject-matter passion. Employers love that she didn't just consume content — she created it. Lucas: So let's get practical. If someone is in a career gap right now and thinks 'maybe I could start a podcast,' what's the lowest-friction way to actually do it? Priya used a USB microphone — the Audio-Technica ATR2100 — and free editing software called Audacity. Her total upfront cost was about sixty dollars. Luna: And she didn't need perfect audio. She recorded in her closet sometimes. The content mattered more than the production value. Lucas: Exactly. She focused on one narrow topic — sustainable packaging. That's key. Don't start 'The Marketing Podcast.' Start 'The Sustainable Packaging Podcast for CPG Professionals.' The more specific, the easier it is to book guests and attract listeners who actually care. Luna: And what about time? I think that's the biggest hurdle for parents or caregivers. How much time per week did it take her? Lucas: She said about five to seven hours a week. That includes researching guests — she'd find them on LinkedIn, send a short pitch — recording a 30-minute interview, editing it down to 20 to 25 minutes, writing show notes, and publishing. She banged out the editing during naptime. Luna: Five to seven hours is totally manageable if you're not working full-time. And she built a network from it. She interviewed people she never would have had access to otherwise. Lucas: That's the hidden value. She built relationships with senior leaders at major companies. When she applied for a director of content strategy role at a sustainability consultancy, one of her former podcast guests was on the hiring committee. She got the job. Luna: That's the dream scenario. But even without that, just having the podcast on your resume shows initiative, discipline, and communication skills. Lucas: Right. And you don't need a huge audience. Priya's show had a couple thousand downloads a month — that's tiny by podcast standards. But in a niche, that's actually a decent reach. She could say 'I built an engaged audience of sustainability professionals.' That's a concrete metric. Luna: So if someone's listening and thinking about this, what's the first step? They shouldn't just buy a microphone and figure it out. Lucas: First step: define your niche. Write down one sentence: 'My podcast is for who want to learn about.' If you can't make that sentence specific, you're not ready. Priya's was: 'My podcast is for CPG professionals who want to learn about sustainable packaging innovation.' That's it. Luna: Then maybe list five potential guests you already know or can reach on LinkedIn. If you can't think of five, your niche might be too narrow. Lucas: Exactly. Then record a trailer — just you talking for two minutes about what the show will be about. Publish that on a free platform like Anchor. Then start reaching out to guests. Most people say yes. They're flattered to be asked. Luna: And you don't need to be an expert. You just need to be curious and prepared. That's actually a better stance for an interviewer. Lucas: Totally. Priya told me her best episodes were when she asked 'dumb' questions — like 'Why is plastic still so hard to replace?' because the expert would then explain it clearly. That's what the audience wants. Luna: So by the time she went back to work, she had forty episodes of recorded evidence that she could hold a conversation with senior leaders, synthesize information, and produce a polished product. That's a better portfolio than any resume bullet point. Lucas: And I think that's the broader lesson here. A career gap doesn't have to be a blank space. You can fill it with something that actually builds your professional identity. A podcast is one tool. It's not for everyone. But if you like talking to people and you have a specific interest, it's worth considering. Luna: Yeah, I love this angle because it's not just about keeping busy — it's about creating assets that make your reentry story stronger. You're not explaining a gap; you're showcasing a project. Lucas: And you know, for anyone who's gotten value out of episodes like this — thinking through career moves, finding new angles — we keep this show ad-free and independent. A couple of dollars a month is genuinely what keeps these going. If you've gotten something out of them, you can support us at buy me a coffee dot com slash fexingo. Luna: Yeah, it really does make a difference. Every bit helps us keep the conversation going without sponsors or commercials. Lucas: So back to podcasting as a gap strategy. One thing I want to emphasize: you don't have to commit to doing it forever. Priya stopped her show after she got the new job. She recorded a final episode saying 'I'm moving on, thanks for listening.' That's totally fine. It's not a lifelong commitment. Luna: Right. And that actually signals to employers that you can start and finish a project. You launched something, ran it for two years, and then wrapped it up gracefully. That's project management. Lucas: Exactly. So if you're in a gap right now, ask yourself: is there a topic you could talk about for twenty minutes with someone smarter than you? Could you find five people to interview? If the answer is yes, you might have a podcast in you. Luna: And you don't need to be perfect. Just start. Record an episode, see how it feels. You can always delete it later. Lucas: That's the spirit. And hey — if you do start one, let us know. We might even have you on to talk about it. For now, I'm Lucas. Luna: And I'm Luna. Thanks for being with us for fifty episodes. Lucas: Here's to fifty more. And to turning gaps into launchpads. Talk to you next time.