Podfest 2023 9th Annual RENAISSANCE ORLANDO AT SEAWORLD

PODFEST EXPO23: “So you want to save the world and make a difference…”

By Jack Pagano

Orlando, Fl- The Podcast world is exploding with billions of dollars at stake. In 2020, 2 billion US dollars plus of advertising spent in Podcasting.  A “money pit” world where anyone with an idea- from the farmer in America’s breadbasket to two young female Gen Z’ers in Park Slope, Brooklyn can reach out and grab the internet for what they hope will be that wonderful “magic carpet ride” to glory, notoriety and financial stability.

After all, PODFEST EXPO23 was situated down the street from “Micky” and the happiest place on earth, Disneyworld to across the street at SeaWorld where great whales of the pacific jump high into the Orlando blue sky and entertain young and old.  The cross roads of entertainment and revenue success with Micky, whales and podcasters in the middle.

PODFEST EXPO23 invades Orlando, Florida at Sea World’s Renaissance Hotel.  More than 1,500 participated in seeking out ways to make Podcasting a success. Jan 27, 2023 (photo by Jack Pagano)

That was the plan, mission for the more than 1,500 podcasters who came to Orlando for the annual PODFEST EXPO23.  Be happy and perhaps land a “whale” of a podcast.  According to Chief Creative Officer of PODFEST EXPO23 Chris Krimitsos and the moving force behind the four-day EXPO, this is the 9^th annual event and it’s growing by leaps and bounds. The Syosset born New Yorker and now Tampa resident says, “Podcasters are making big money.  Advertisers know eyeballs and clickers are migrating away from traditional media and landing in the podcast universe especially when it comes to livestreaming…”

Krimitsos and his team of VIP, executive, podcasters traveled from the far reaches of America mapping out an intensive four-day workshop program where the novice who knows nothing about podcasting or the podcast community to the professional making tens of thousands of dollars daily, monthly merged.

VIP Podcasters talk with Chief Creative Officer Chris Krimitsos (on the right) about strategy and creative ways to monetize Podcasting. Jan 27, 2023 (photo by Jack Pagano)

A mini NAB-National Association of Broadcasters rite of passage that occurs in Las Vegas every April.  More than 100,000 attend the Vegas convention and although the podcast community didn’t have those numbers in Orlando, Krimitsos believes NAB numbers will happen soon.  “Everyone can be a podcaster” and that makes the community excited about the future.  He has seen the “cottage industry” grow from a just a handful a decade ago to hundreds of thousands of podcasters seeking the big money, the billions. Can they catch that big wave, that big whale?

Krimitsos says, “Right now 50 percent of global downloads are in the United States which means much of the 2-billion-dollar podcast ad revenue is happening right here in our backyard.  And there’s a push to seek out the podcast spirit and ingenuity in MENA-middle east and the far reaches of Asia, South America.”  Krimitsos can only imagine once that overseas market is tapped. Remember the 1990’s with the boom of the internet. He is taking a page out of that strategy.

Keeping the attention of savvy entrepreneurs was the goal.  Podcasters walked the floors of the expo, an exhibit hall, strategy classes in how to “do-it”, to technology exhibits that were geared to make every podcast-audio and video successful.  You want a podcast just audio, various exhibit booths will serve that up. A podcast with live production, streaming video that can be disseminated to YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok that was served up too.  The road to get the message out is limitless and how the process occurs can be the difference between startup failure or startup up success. There are no forks in this road.

AI technology hitting podcasting in a big way with CHATGPT.  RedHat owner Larry Roberts is showcasing what CHATGPT can do for the Podcaster. Jan 28, 2023 (photo by Jack Pagano)

PODFEST EXPO23 Senior Strategist/Leader Anthony Kocovic at a morning seminar. (photo by Jack Pagano Jan 27, 2023)

Trying to grab that podcast “magic carpet” road march is William Hung.  You might remember him from America’s Idol in 2004.  The Hong Kong motivational speaker gained worldwide fame with singing Ricky Martin’s hit song, “She Bangs.”  That song alone landed him with 8 million internet hits in just one week.  He was on top of the entertain world.   Now 19 years later, Hung says at the Orlando event, he is hoping a new adventure into podcasting will get him back on top.  “I want to help people find freedom with their voice.”  Hung mentions the podcast will happen later in 2023 with a pending title, “Chasing Dreams…”

The infamous American Idol William Hung at PODFEST EXPO23. He’s touting his book and future Podcast.       Jan 28, 2023 (photo by Jack Pagano)

Hung is not alone in podcasters chasing dreams.  Dawn Wolfe from Sarasota, Florida is chasing dogs, cats and animals.  She wants to get them into movies and television. Her podcast, “Pawsitively Famous Podcast with Dawn Wolfe” seeks out pet owners who believe their pets are destined for Hollywood and a chance to reach for the stars.  “I’m a big believer if you want to learn something you go hang out with people who are doing it and doing it well…” PawsitivelyFamous.com

To get Hung and Wolfe motivated with current technology is Cinamaker President and COO Gary Baker.  Cinamaker is now into live production which is becoming a big hit with podcasters. Baker says it’s important to understand the many pieces that goes into podcasting from workflow, sound business practices to selecting the best quality video production software. He smiles with a big grin when talking about podcasting and his unique “rapid live-editing” technology.  “The future is bright and as the quality increases so goes the world of video podcasting, livestreaming and live production…” www.cinamaker.net

Cinamaker President Gary Baker (on the left) and founder Benjamin Nowak showcase Cinamaker’s “Livestreaming” technology at PODFEST EXPO23. Jan 28, 2023 (photo by Jack Pagano)

The consensus from PODFEST EXPO23 is the world of podcasting is accelerating at a remarkable speed.  Krimitsos is also extremely optimistic about next year’s event- a 10^th anniversary event.  He hopes attendance participation with surpass this year’s event, “crush it” and maybe a new podcast star just might emerge.  Could it be you or your next-door neighbor?

Veteran broadcast journalist Jack Pagano is a retired Army field grade officer with many decades of Information Operations “in the fight” experience and currently working remotely in the USA as COO/Strategist for one of Afghanistan’s biggest Radio/TV networks.  His next mission is getting out Afghan journalists he trained, mentored who are stuck, stranded under the sharia driven Taliban.   Jackp1957@yahoo.com