About the Host – Dianne Squires
Dianne Squires is a marketing communications consultant and the Barbadian host of Backstage with Bajan Brands. “Bajan” is the local, regional and diaspora alternative name for Barbadian.
About the Show
Backstage with Bajan Brands is all about insights from the brand builders working behind the scenes to make their Barbadian brands impactful.
New episodes are available every month.
Listen: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify
Why did you decide to get started in podcasting?
I love the idea of producing content that I don’t see anywhere else but that would be valuable to niche audiences. So, when I started to write about my favorite Barbadian brands I decided to also interview the brand builders behind them for those articles, and then I thought, “Well people should hear this too not just read it”. I’d thought about podcasting before and this was an opportunity to get started. I also like that podcasting is an easy and accessible medium. It’s really easy to get started as I discovered when I started using the Anchor app.
Why did you choose this name?
The podcast is all about insights from the brand builders working behind the scenes to make their Barbadian brands impactful. I come from a background in dance and the arts so I guess the “Backstage” analogy came to me readily.
Why did you choose this topic & format?
I’ve been working in marketing for the last decade and I’ve realized that in the Caribbean, we tend to study North American, European or global brands but not to concentrate too heavily on our own case studies. I thought that was missing and podcasting allowed me a long-format type of content to explore that give an audience of marketers and brand professionals/entrepreneurs more insight and more value.
What has been the reception since you’ve launched the show?
It’s been really encouraging. I knew that I wanted to start with targeting those people in my Linkedin community who also work in the marketing communications industry. It has grown from there. I published my first episode on March 14, 2019 and have done 13 in all so far with 4.2K plays to date.
Now that you’ve launched your show What are you hoping to accomplish?
I’d like to keep finding and telling the stories of Bajan Brands and expand that to include stories of Caribbean brands someday. I’d also like to include video in the mix.
Who is your dream guest for the podcast?
Right now, it is Kailash Pardasani of Promotech Inc., who’s also a co-owner of the Barbados Tridents cricket team and an investor in the peer-to-peer lending company Carilend.
Who are the members of the team that aren’t on the show?
It’s usually just me but I’ve recently had my son, Asher Squires, do some editing for a few episodes. I hope to keep him.
Podcast Experience
What’s one tip you learned before you started podcasting that was really helpful?
I can’t say that I learned anything specific about podcasting before I started it but I’d say generally, the thing that has been really helpful is to be in touch with people in my audience to understand if they are still finding the content valuable and hear what they have to say.
What’s one thing you knew before starting your podcast? Or one resource you wish you had before launching
I wish I knew it would be so much fun! I love it! I should have started sooner! Sometimes I do wish I had the fancy mics and things like that but those will come.
What’s one thing you’ve learned about yourself or your audience since you started?
What I’ve learned about some people in my audience is that there are many of them who’re interested in creating content as well but just haven’t started.
Describe your experience podcasting in the Caribbean. What resources are available or not available? What could enhance the podcasting experience?
I started the podcast knowing that the medium isn’t necessarily a popular one here…yet. I knew that there were some people who’d never listened to a podcast before so I had to accept that the audience would not be huge – I made sure to send the podcast to my family members in case they’d be the only ones to listen (lol). I now know at least 3 other Bajan podcasters, so feeling a part of a community is good. I’d love to see that community become bigger.
Who or what has inspired you the most to start a podcast?
Once I listened to the recording of an interview I did with Ann-Marie King, a Barbadian brand and design strategist, for my favorite Barbadian brands blog I knew she and others like her had to be heard. Our professionals and entrepreneurs have the intellect, the passion, and the grit to build brands. Other Barbadians coming into the field of marketing or looking to build their own brands should hear from people close to home who are already doing it.
What’s the first podcast you ever listened to?
I can’t remember the first one but I do remember the first one I really liked – “Redefining Wealth” with Patrice Washington
Other than your show what are some of your favorite podcasts?
I like the “Do it Fuh Grantley” podcast by Fortress Fund here in Barbados, where they talk about money and finances from different angles. I like Janice Sutherland’s “This Woman Can” looking at women in leadership. From further afield I like the Impact theory podcasts and Patrice Washington’s “Redefining Wealth”
What do you enjoy most about podcasting?
I love the autonomy – from choice of content to style of delivery to editing.
What do enjoy least about podcasting?
Sometimes weird technical difficulties with the app or just with my laptop or phone can make the editing process a bit annoying but thinking about it overall there isn’t anything that I don’t enjoy.
What advice would you give to other aspiring podcasters in the region or generally?
I’d say think about what you really feel compelled to talk about and why. Then investigate whether there are others like you who’d want to talk about or listen to that too. If you get even two positive responses get started. If you’re thinking about quickly monetizing content however, it’s not the medium unless you have a huge audience from the get go.
Fun Questions
What is the 1 thing from your Caribbean/Bajan culture that you cannot do without?
Music…of course – soca, kaiso, reggae, dancehall, zouk…
Share a fun fact about you.
I trained in dance and choreography but “bussin’ a wine” on the left side is still a challenge
Conclusion
Where do you see yourself in the next 6 months to a year?
I’m a consultant and I have specific goals for growing my business and my skillset this year that involve working more in the wider Caribbean – and that applies to podcasting too.
Where can the listeners find you?
The podcast is on my website www.diannensquires.com.
