“A podcast like aloe vera. . .” reads the first line of Kendra Hanna’s pitch for the Mystery Sponsor Podcast Project, which asked Tongalers to develop an 8 to 10 episode series focused on health and wellness for then “Mystery Sponsor” lululemon. Never before had we asked our community to produce a podcast, and never before have we had the opportunity to spotlight a podcast producer on our blog!
Kendra’s pitch revolved around the unique insight that listening to a podcast can, in itself, be an act of self-care. For lululemon, this insight seemed like a perfect extension of their Sweatlife ethos: Sweat, Grow, and Connect – and so the Sweatlife podcast was born!
Mel Velez, the host of the Sweatlife podcast, talks with inspirational leaders from the MAKERS community about their personal journeys and how they incorporate wellness into their busy lives. These conversations offer up fresh perspectives on the meaning of wellness. Sweatlife guests have included indigenous jewelry maker Jess Sanchez, transgender activist Corey Rae, 9/11 first responder Regina Wilson, The Black List founder Franklin Leonard, and more!
Corey Rae (left) and Mel Velez (right)
So what has it been like to produce all of these eye-opening conversations? Kendra’s journalism background has lent itself to capturing these conversations in an authentic way. In the midst of the busy post-production schedule, we had a chance to ask Kendra a few questions about her experience producing the Sweatlife podcast and what she’s learned along the way.
You can listen and subscribe to the Sweatlife podcast on all the major podcast channels, including Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, Stitcher, Spotify and iHeartRadio. New episodes are released every Monday.
Maddie: What drew you to the world of podcasting? Do you consider yourself more of a producer or journalist?
Kendra Hanna: I used to listen to podcasts like This American Life and Radio Lab on my family computer when I was in middle school. I think the reason I really loved those shows is that they both try to explain something about the world using effective storytelling that draws you in. Audio storytelling as a medium interests me because it’s so personal. It can feel like the person speaking is in your head.
Whether I’m acting as a journalist or a producer depends on what I’m making! Journalism has a big set of best practices that I don’t use when I’m working on a piece that’s personal storytelling or fiction.
Regina Wilson (left) and Mel Velez (right)
Maddie: Just before producing Sweatlife, you came out to LA for a one-week podcast training workshop with the Tongal and lululemon teams. Though you were already very well-versed in the world of podcasting, did you pick up anything new or interesting during this experience?
Kendra: In the workshop, we got to focus on interviewing, which was wonderful. Interviewing is one of those skills that I always want a refresher on. It’s difficult to do well. Mel Velez, our podcast host, had a knack for it because she’s such a curious and engaged person. It was lovely getting to watch her work. Mel also interviewed me as part of the learning process, and I had never given an interview! It gave me more empathy for all the people who’ve been willing to talk to me before.
Maddie: The Sweatlife podcast is all about exploring different perspectives on wellness, equality, and leadership. Host Mel Velez has intimate conversations with guests about their unique journeys overcoming personal adversity to find (and care for) their true selves. What goes into the making of each of these conversations?
Kendra: A lot of preparation! We all had the opportunity to do research and talk through each of the episodes ahead of time, so each interview had a set structure. I tried to think through what listeners would really want to hear, and what our guests really wanted to say. The conversations needed to be personal but our guests also needed to feel comfortable. Early on, we let our guests know that this would be a great space to tell a story that they maybe hadn’t gotten to talk about elsewhere. That allowed us to get into interesting terrain, while still letting our guests guide the way.
Franklin Leonard (left) and Mel Velez (right)
Maddie: After you were greenlit, we were delighted to learn that your dad, Kevin Hanna, is also a prolific Tongaler and content creator. How has his journey as an independent creator help informed yours and vice versa?
Kendra: Hey, Dad! It’s funny, up until recently I always thought of the work that I do and what my dad does as being really different, but working independently has made me notice all the similarities. We end up talking about editing software a lot.
He’s really good at pursuing multiple opportunities at once. Right now, I’m trying to adopt some of his organizational tools. He does this thing where he will cover a wall in sticky notes that detail every cool thing he could try. It seems like it works well, but if I went in with some red yarn I could make him look like a total conspiracy theorist.
Maddie: We're really drawn to this idea of listening to a podcast as part of a person's self-care routine. When you pitched your approach to making this podcast, you mentioned, "It's important that the episodes feel restorative." What were some of the considerations in making sure you achieved this goal?
Kendra: I think a lot about how to make podcasts that help you feel better. Ever since TV dethroned radio, audio has had this interesting competitive edge, which is that it’s portable. You can listen to podcasts, radio, and audio books as you go about your life. Podcasts have the ability to affect your mood throughout your day.
So I want the interviews to feel intimate and safe because a listener will pick up on that. I’m also thinking about things like pacing and flow because anything that feels out of place can bring a listener out of the episode. I’m also trying to highlight moments where Mel really connects with our guest, with the hopes that anyone listening will be able to share in that moment. The show tries to bring in these moments of connection to our listeners wherever they are.
Maddie: Lastly, what are some of your favorite podcasts at this moment?
Kendra: I’m deeply obsessed with the show 99% Invisible, which is about design and architecture. They did a miniseries about clothes called “Articles of Interest.” It was created by producer Avery Truffleman, and it is so, so good. I also love Still Processing, Heavy Weight, and Here Be Monsters. Check them out if you haven’t!
Have any additional questions for Kendra? Leave 'em in the comments!
