On Starting a Podcast: An Interview with Kristina Gonzalez Sander
While spending the majority of our time indoors, we’ve all seemed to pick up new hobbies—baking, gardening, rollerskating, and maybe even finally starting that podcast you’ve always thought about. But we’re no strangers when it comes to recognizing the anxious feelings and mental roadblocks that can come when taking on a new project or embarking on a new creative journey.
Speaking with someone who has recent experience with this, we chatted with our friend and community partner, Kristina Gonzalez Sander. As the founder of in bold company, an online journal exploring the raw stories of womxn of color, Kristina recently launched the first season of in bold company’s podcast where she talked with womxn of color in her community about their experiences.
In conversation with bbatx committee member A'nysha Aileen, Kristina discussed the motives behind the creation of in bold company, the barriers she faced when starting her podcast, and how she learned to just do it.
MEET KRISTINA GONZALEZ SANDER
Kristina Gonzalez Sander is the Founder of in bold company, a digital platform and community for womxn of color sparking curiosity, growth, and real connection. By day she's the Director of Sales and Ops at Party at the Moontower Event Rentals. In addition, Kristina is the Co-Founder of missfits productions and an Austin PBS Ambassador.
We’d love to know more about in bold company. :) What is it, and where can people learn more about it?
‘in bold company’ is a community and digital platform created specifically for WoC (womxn of color). We help our audience grow, expand, and shift their perspectives through diverse storytelling, digital content, and experiences. Visit our website for all of our podcast episodes and to sign up for WoC Weekly, a weekly roundup of work and words by other WoC. You can also connect with us (@inboldcompany) on Instagram and Facebook. (:
When did you know that you wanted to start a podcast?
I can’t remember exactly why I knew podcasting was the right medium, but I knew instantly that it was the right choice. I’ve always had conversations with other WoC about the intersections of our identities without even knowing it and definitely before I knew of the term intersectionality. It just felt right, especially since I went to school for journalism and creative writing. I felt like it came full circle.
WhAT inspired you to start ‘in bold company’?
I always wanted to have more of a community and space where I could explore my identity. I’m a first-generation Filipina; both of my parents immigrated to the U.S. and I grew up in a predominantly white neighborhood. I always felt like something was missing a little bit growing up and even into college then after. I feel like I was always going through a low-key identity crisis, but it was hard for me to describe without having the language or anyone else who understood. I sat on this idea for a long time feeling like I wasn’t enough of a WoC… until finally, I said, fuck it. Can I swear? Lol.
As far as what catapulted me to really start? I have to give a big thank you to Nina and Regine from Collective Blue. When we teamed up to produce missfits fest, a one-day festival celebrating self-identifying Asian-American womxn in entrepreneurship and the arts, they really helped me see it was possible and that I was enough to start a community for WoC. The main barrier to starting was my mind.
I was worried about what other people would think. Honestly, you just have do it and get over it. If you sit there and self-sabotage, you’re never gonna do it. I sat on the idea for over a year.
How has your community supported you through the process of creating something new?
The community has been amazing, truly. I couldn’t ask for more supportive people. Everyone’s been really engaged and my hype womxn, haha. I’ve had a lot of people reach out to me and say how ‘in bold company’ has sparked their own self-discovery journeys. It’s really incredible and I’m like… shit, when is someone gonna get mad at me LOL. I hope no one does, but that’s the people-pleaser in me. I want everyone to find belonging and inspiration.
The number of listeners I got were what made me feel most supported. I didn’t think we would have that many listeners. We’ve had over 3,000 downloads. The people that message us and say that they like what I’m doing also make me feel supported.
Photo at Miranda Bennett Studio by Ailin Hyde.
Kristina on her honeymoon in South Africa, wearing Tribe and Sol.
Can you tell us about some unexpected challenges you’ve faced as a podcast producer?
OH SO MANY, to be totally honest. Well first, I launched during COVID, at a time when everyone was like “terrible time to start a podcast!” And I was like welp, fuck it, I have to do it anyway. I knew I was competing against a LOT of content and people’s brains. COVID seriously has put us all through the wringer. There is not one person who I feel like hasn’t been impacted by the pandemic in some type of way—burnout, financial stress, job stress, etc.
Then with the start of the current civil rights movement, I wanted to flow with what my community needed at the time. I didn’t feel like it was right to continue promoting my podcast. Right at the start of the movement, there were other voices that needed to be heard and amplified. In addition, I wanted to learn from many of the Black folx who were speaking and advocating for Black lives. I’m always learning and I wanted to be intentional by really listening, absorbing, and processing information.
I’m never going to say I know it all, because I don’t. I put the pod on pause so I could take a step back. Moving forward into season two of the podcast, I will continue highlighting those folx in our community who are doing amazing work and who I know our community can learn from, too.
What advice do you have for others interested in starting a podcast?
Omg, I got this advice and I didn’t do it, lol. Record as many episodes as you can before you launch, truly easier. I didn’t do it. But hey, now I know why! Mistakes are good. I advise talking to someone with experience. Myrriah Gossett is a great podcast consultant.
I also took a podcast course, to be honest with you. I like learning, I like homework, and it was way easier for me to learn that way. You don’t have to, there’s a lot of free content out there, but my mind needs structure! Definitely listen to a lot of podcasts to see what you like in them. Some of my favorites are Food Heaven, Woke Beauty, Let it Out, 1619, and Code Switch.
Lastly, just do it! You don’t have to spend a lot of money. There’s lots of free information out there to help you.
What are your goals for the podcast?
Looking ahead to season two, I’d like to dig a little bit deeper with the stories that I tell and explore. I would also like to interview more diverse people outside of my immediate network. It’s really easy to interview friends, but I want to challenge myself to interview new people, with unique experiences.
My ultimate goal is to get funding for the podcast. I could interview so many more people, and expand the podcast more.
LOOKING FOR MORE?
Keep up with what we’re up to at bbatx—from virtual events to membership—here. You can also learn more about in bold company and listen to Kristina’s podcast here.