What happens when a podcast network is built around storytelling as the organizing principle—not just as a buzzword or content strategy? That’s the lens this conversation explores: how prioritizing story and narrative coherence over ad inventory or content volume shapes not only production, but the listener’s entire experience. Joining to discuss, Jeremy Westphal explains why approaching everything—from show selection to advertising to surveys—with a story-first mindset creates a distinct identity and audience relationship.

Jeremy Westphal draws on hands-on experience from building audio projects at major brands like Comedy Central and Nickelodeon to now running a 30+ show network, GZM, focused on original scripted fiction for kids, families, and young adults. With more than a decade of operational roles across production, ad sales, and partnerships, he brings unique perspective on how a podcast network can balance original storytelling with business realities.

Listen For:

09:29 Creating Podcasts

13:41 Understanding Media Business Models

18:09 Challenges of original content creation

25:49 Understanding the audience demographics

29:33 Improving audience experience

32:57 Reaching your podcast audience

38:14 Importance of network and scale

48:52 Independent scripted productions success

50:24 The evolution of podcast production

01:00:00 Licensing books for podcasts

01:07:41 Building an Authentic Audience

01:11:37 Producing and sustaining a podcast

CONNECT WITH GUEST: JEREMY WESTPHAL, DIRECTOR OF PARTNERSHIPS AT GZM SHOWS

Website | LinkedIn

Podcast rec: Sherlock & Co. | Earth Rangers

Book rec: Dragonships series by Scott Reintgen

CONNECT WITH GREG WASSERMAN, HEAD OF RELATIONSHIPS FOR RSS.COM

Website | LinkedIn

Systems, Sponsors, and Partners:

Hosted with RSS.com Podcast Hosting

Produced by Stories & Strategies

Content Repurposed with Castmagic

Podcast Project Management with Northflow