Today we’d like to introduce you to Nicole Nam.
Nicole, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I started Vibing in Valentino as a safe space for me to provide knowledge and valuable content. It was at a time where I was struggling to find steady “real” employment (I’m a freelance writer and personal trainer). I couldn’t even get internships, which was something that puzzled me as I have a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree and work experience.
As someone who hated to wait on other people for a response or depending on approval from others, I felt like it was time to create something that was my own. I was already an avid podcast listener, so I thought “why not create a podcast?”. I contacted a podcast producer for this website I was a writer for and we set everything up in a matter of weeks. Now I produce and edit each episode on my own.
Has it been a smooth road?
With any new business, especially when it’s a digital/media business, people are always going to doubt you. Some people still don’t understand what a podcast is, and they don’t understand how I would ever make money or grow it. You’ll also find that getting guests to come on your podcast is a struggle when you’re newer. People don’t know about your show yet and there’s not a lot of proof that your show is going to stay around when you only have 4 episodes up. As the show progresses and grows, it gets easier to get people to come on your show. You just gotta take each obstacle as fuel to add to your fire.
Tell us more about your work.
Vibing in Valentino is a lifestyle podcast geared towards the late teens to late thirties female and male (although mostly females) demographic. We cover topics from astrology to fitness to feng shui and dating. Basically, everything under the sun. All of my guests are females, I aim to bring on inspiring women and I always want each episode to inspire, educate or entertain. If I can do all three then I consider myself in a great place. The vibe is like hanging out with your girlfriends- we cuss, we laugh, and honestly, sometimes we are drinking during recording.
There are a lot of similar podcasts out there, but what sets me apart is I really come clean about myself here. Many of my listeners followed me from my Instagram, where everything could look really perfect and it’s all pretty and happy. I am not a lifestyle Instagrammer, where I write long, personal captions. People don’t know my personality from my Instagram, so my podcast is where I can really have a conversation, share my struggles, and highlight what fascinates and inspires me.
How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
I think podcasts are the next big thing, which is why I approach Vibing in Valentino like a business. It is a platform that is completely consumable anywhere. You can consume content on a podcast when you’re cleaning, driving, working out, etc. With Instagram or blogs or a YouTube channel, you actually have to sit down and focus and watch and read. A podcast is the only platform where you can consume content and also get on with your day at the same time. The big boom in podcasts is only just starting.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.vibinginvalentino.com
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: @ilovenicolenam
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