Keifer Sutherland, super fans and the power of podcasts

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Back at it after the team was at RadioDays North America and I’m definitely still percolating on a lot of what we took in.

In a nutshell, the entire audio industry is in a state of transition and flux. And it’s exciting.

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Back to RadioDays learnings… in one of the sessions, a panelist was asked ‘who needs a podcast?’

I can’t remember her answer. I think she said her grandmother…

But if I were to answer that question, I’d say Keifer Sutherland.

Why?

1. He’s cool AF.
2. He’s my birthday buddy. He’s a ‘66 and I’m an ‘82, but it still means we’re basically the same *flips hair*
3. He’s 100% got stories. I mean, pretty sure he hung around with the Brat Pack and didn’t he date Julia Roberts? Did I just start a rumour??
4. He appears to be a super genuine human. (Case in point: He was in Halifax the day of the wildfires to promote his new whiskey. He cancelled his event and instead used his trip to fundraise for wildfire relief).
5. He’s proudly Canadian and the grandson of the founder of socialized health care, heyo! Tommy Douglas!

I could go on and on.

Point being, I’d listen to a Keifer show.

But why would I listen to a Keifer show?

Because part of me feels like I already know Keifer.

Keifer and I are in a relationship. He just doesn’t know it.

But, hold up before you get too weirded out - it’s not some weird stalker-y relationship.

In fact, I’m willing to bet Reader that you are in a bunch of relationships like this too.

Probably, maybe with Taylor Swift, or Shania Twain or Elton John…

Or your favourite podcast hosts.

We are all in Parasocial relationships.

Parasocial relationships—simply put, are one-sided relationships in which one person feels emotionally invested in a relationship, even though the person being admired has no idea the other person exists.

It’s the social phenomenon that causes fans to follow celebrities for long periods of time, investing in the unfolding of their stories, sometimes over decades.

I mean, I’ve been a Keifer fan since Flatliners.

I’m a Keifer lifer. (Say that 10x fast).

It’s also the social effect that causes people to say things like:

“Oh my gosh—I know you don’t know me, but I feel like we’re best friends!”

That used to happen to me all the time when I was on the radio and television. And it would sorta give me the heebee jeebees, but then I realized that this type of connection … that’s one-way, but not exactly one-way, is unbelievably powerful and long lasting.

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​➡️Parasocial relationships are why half the world’s population would go to war for Beyonce or Dolly Parton, even though we’ve never spoken to them in person. ​
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➡️Parasocial relationships are why we sometimes feel deeply hurt or offended when a public figure we admire does something we perceive as out of character or immoral.

➡️AND—parasocial relationships are perhaps the most powerful benefit of launching a podcast.

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When you’re speaking directly into someone’s ear—no matter where you are in the world, no matter what they’re doing while they listen—you’re forging an intimate, personal bond with them.
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You may have recorded the episode months earlier. You may have never heard of this person in your entire life.

But it doesn’t matter. They’re having an emotional response to your voice, your message, and your energy while they listen to your podcast…

…and unlike most other forms of marketing, a listener doesn’t need to spend months in your orbit before they’ll trust you.

In fact—with the right content and the right energetic match—a listener can become an avid fan in a matter of minutes.

So Reader - who are you in a relationship with?? Who do you think needs a podcast??

And if you want to start cultivating those para-social bonds, let’s chat about how to launch your show. ​
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Erin Trafford

Co-Founder, CEO | Story Studio Network

​Website | Instagram | Linkedin | Threads​

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Want to work together? Cool. Here are a few ways we can do that….

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>>> Try our on-demand workshops​

We add to this library of free on-demand workshops and trainings regularly. Sign-up for 60-min webinars on topics such as Unlocking your Podcast Potential, Promotions & Growth, and The Art of Podcasting to Get More Clients.

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>>> Let us be your Newsroom in a Box
For larger brands and organizations looking to drive a narrative, by integrating a branded podcast production into a larger earned media and marketing plan. Story Studio Network works with a select group of companies on branded, narrative style podcasts and/or editorial-media type productions. If you have a big idea or question about how a podcast can work for your organization, please contact our team here and we can set up a call. ​

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