We have an amazing group of women experts in a wide range of industries and spaces in The State of Women Podcast Network. Each week we’ll introduce you to one of our members, what she’s all about, and the mission behind her podcast.
Grab a spoon, get ready for a gabfest, and dig into a behind-the-scenes look at podcasting. Chatting Over Chowder, as its writeup says, is “where two minority women who own a podcast management business talk to other women in the podcasting industry about what podcasts they are listening to—while eating chowder (or soup).”
Sharing food, even virtually, is almost universally considered well-suited to fostering conversation and connection. It’s been a winning formula for Bethany Hawkins; one of the hosts, a member of The State of Women Podcast Network, and CEO and founder of Crackers In Soup, a podcast management company focused on growing podcasts of women of color and allies.
The podcast grew organically from her business as well as a desire to share the potential of podcasting with women who might be considering making the leap.
“I wanted a way to showcase women in the podcasting industry and what they do in a relaxing atmosphere. The best conversation happens while breaking bread—or over soup,” Hawkins said.
She stressed the connections the show creates between pros and beginners in the industry: allowing listeners to “hear that other women—throughout many stages of their lives—have done it and have had great success,”
Hawkins and her co-host Sharoline Galva send guests soup ahead of each conversation so they can “share” a meal while chatting, “like a conversation among friends while the listener gets the benefit of the gems that are dropped.”
She has been in the podcasting industry since leaving a corporate job in 2019, after leaving a corporate job of 18 years.
“I wanted to do something that fed my soul,” Hawkins said. “Podcasting and helping women create their podcast is that nourishment.”
Her warmth, joy, and passion for the finer points of podcasting seem contagious as guests are drawn into conversations; and that’s part of the point. The biggest challenge as she began her own podcast, Hawkins said, was also the area for the most inspiration, connection, and mutual support.
“The main challenge is confidence,” she said. “There is a lot of deep-rooted negative mind chatter that can come up with podcasting. Things like ‘What if I don’t have anything to say?’ and ‘I hate the way my voice sounds’ can quickly derail your podcasting efforts. Doing it scared and having a team behind you to not only plan out the talking points but to encourage you and be your hype women is essential to continuing in your podcasting dream.”
As Hawkins and Galva begin talking to each podcaster and introduce them to the audience; the hosts’ chatty warmth, enthusiasm, and insightful questions draw in guests and listeners alike.
“My favorite part of podcasting is the collaborations,” she said. “I love meeting smart, fun, articulate, hysterical, gorgeous souls and listening as they teach me something new. I love hearing their stories. I love their excitement. I love working with and for them.”
Hawkins’ podcast has been a perfect marriage of her talents and passions: behind-the-scenes looks at podcasting, engaging a wide variety of guests to learn from their perspectives, and creating professional connections and collaborations that are also personal and welcoming.
Her advice for aspiring podcasters—work backward from the podcast you want to have up three months from now, be unfailingly consistent, have fun—is valuable, but the unique flavor (pun entirely intended) offered by Chatting Over Chowder is that genuine friendliness.
“I get to connect and collaborate with women I love that are amazing examples of what our listeners can be or do,” Hawkins said. “And I get to send them soup.”
She says she most values the connections she creates.
“Every cell radiates in my body when I meet one of ‘my peoples’ who I know will be an ally for a lifetime.”
Find the Chatting Over Chowder community online, on Instagram, on Twitter, and on LinkedIn. Check out Chatting Over Chowder today, and explore The State of Women Podcast Network to discover other podcasts by leading women in their fields.
