PWH 11. How To THINK Like a Communications Designer & Take Your Podcast Branding Seriously

If you’re creating a podcast, every choice you make—your voice, branding, consistency—communicates something. So what are you really saying to your audience?

In this episode, I break down what it means to think like a Strategic Communications Designer, why your podcast deserves intentionality, and how small shifts in mindset and branding can help you build authority.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• What a Strategic Communications Designer is and how that mindset applies to podcasting.
• Why everything you do communicates something, even when you’re silent.
• How your environment reflects your commitment—and how to set up your podcast for success.
• The power of dressing (and speaking) for the podcast you want, not the one you have.
• Personal updates: Quitting my job, landing a new role, and stepping into the next level of my career.

Resources & Mentions:

• Follow @willdayart on Instagram—my new workplace!
• Book recommendation: The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
• Connect with me on Instagram: @WhySheWhistles
• Ready to take your podcast seriously? Listen to past episodes for motivation & strategy!

CONTACT & MORE RESOURCES

Project Start Your Podcast Workbook

Let’s Connect!
Tag me on your latest podcast episode on Instagram or LinkedIn – I’d love to cheer you on!

Podcast Inspo:

Financial Feminist by Tori Dunlap

All In with Allie

Always Supporting:

Planned Parenthood

© 2025 Whistler Media LLC. All rights reserved. No content may be reused without written consent.

Transcript

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Maybe you're not getting tons of views yet, but eventually you could, and you want to make sure that if someone scrolls way, way, way back to your first beginning episodes, that those episodes aren't so far away from the person that you want to become so right now, speak for the podcast that you want, not for the podcast that you have, and show up for that damn podcast, because you never know who's gonna listen. Welcome to podcast with her, where we publish value driven podcast episodes every week together, and we have fun and learn so much while we do it. If you're new here, hello, welcome. I'm Lexi, and my mission is to teach entrepreneurs how to create an impactful podcast and establish authority in their professional fields. That's what podcast with her is here to help you. Do, speak confidently, publish consistently, and create value with your voice. So here is your accountability check. Where are you on this podcast journey? If you're right in the beginning, that's great. The first three episodes are here to help you get started already making episodes perfect. The rest is to keep you motivated to keep going. Let's get into the episode. As you can see by the title of the episode, today, we are going to think like a communications designer and take your podcast seriously, but before we go any deeper, let's actually define what a strategic communications designer is. This is what I'm going to school for. I'm going to see you getting my master's in strategic communications design, and my first assignment in brand design was to pick two different words that are were complete opposites, and I chose truth and lies. And we were supposed to find a font that fit each of these two different words and also create an icon that fit these two different words, so a symbol that represented truth and lies, and this is the core of strategic communication. Is when I started playing around with fonts, there were lots of fonts that did not feel like they communicated truthfulness, like somewhere really thin, and the hand scripted ones are okay, but what I chose was a nice, bold, impactful font. It was very geometric. It looked like it could support a house. It felt like solid. The one that I chose for lies was really like jagged and wiggly, and it kind of felt like creepy and secretive. Then for the symbols that I chose for each one, I took a picture of my boyfriend and I shaking hands and just up close on our hands, and then I line art drew around those hands, so that was the symbol of truth. Was like a handshake. And then lies. I took a picture of him crossing his fingers behind his back, and that was my symbol for lies. And when you put it all together, it's like you're looking at this, and you're like, Oh yeah, that totally makes sense. If I reversed the two, if I put truth with fingers crossed behind your back and this like secretive, jagged looking font, it wouldn't have communicated the same. It would feel so off and the same for lies, if I had it in this bold, solid font with the handshake. It feels like, ooh, like, creepy, like, that's off like a handshake to represent lies. What is this? So that assignment got me thinking about the rest of I'm I'm in semester two right now, and from that point forward, we've had a font choice on every single project. We've had colors that represent each brand, and they've all been so different. And that's what strategic communication design is, is figuring out the psychology behind what you're actually communicating to the audience that is seeing this brand and wants to connect with this brand. So now, when you're looking at different brands, you can recognize what feeling they're trying to communicate just by the simple fonts and colors and logos and photos that they choose to represent their. Marketing and the rest. So at its core, strategic communication design is about intentionally shaping messages to create a desired impact. It was. It's not just about what you say. It's about how, when and where you say it that will make the biggest difference how these things are communicated. A strategic communication designer is someone who crafts messages with purpose, whether it's branding, marketing or podcasting, every word and visual should serve a bigger strategy. They understand the audience, knowing who you're speaking to and what they need is just as important as the message itself. So if you haven't figured out who your user persona is for your podcast, I suggest building out three different ones that would that you can imagine who is has the earbuds in and they're listening to your voice. They are the ones who see your podcast episode and they click on it because they're interested in what your impact is. It's not everyone. If you're trying to talk to everyone, you're trying to talk to no one. So just pick one to three people. We call them user personas in brand design, think about who it is, what their problems are, what their pain points are, and what you can help them with, and that will help you connect to your audience so much better. And then a strategic communication designer creates a seamless experience from social media posts to podcasts, intros, every single touch point should feel cohesive and intentional. That's the strategy behind it. So think of it this way, a good communicator talks a strategic communications designer influences. Now, what does that mean for your podcast? It means that every decision you make, from your episode titles to your cover art to the way you show up on the mic, should be designed with intention. If you want to grow, engage and build authority. You can't just wing it. You need to think like a communication designer. The best part is that you don't need a fancy title or a master's degree to start doing this. You just need to start taking your podcast seriously. I actually had a few experiences this week that are more personal, but also include communications design. So I'm going to share how I actually bring these into my life in a very real way. I was at two different networking events this week, and I was sitting by a woman at each of these events, and at the first event, we were sitting next to each other asking questions, you know, like connecting on socials. She's so sweet. She has this beautiful French accent, and I immediately recognized it when she walked in the door of the second event. But I was kind of sitting with my head down. I was sketching out logos for a brand that I'm designing right now. And she sat across the table from me, and everybody obviously said hi to each other, but as we were sitting across the table, I was listening to her stories, and like, a half hour goes by, and she leans over and she's like, What are you working on? And I started talking about it, and she lit up, like her face lit up, and she's like, Oh, I didn't recognize you. You had your hair up at the event, and today you don't. And I really didn't recognize you by how you look, but I recognized your voice now, and that was such a cool moment where I realized how signature our voices are. I mean, there are celebrities who you don't have to see them, you just recognize your voice. There are family members who you don't have to see them, but their voice is either soothing to you or it might bring up another emotion. So think about the voice that you have and what emotions you're communicating with. It how people feel when you're talking, and especially if you're on the podcast, and you have the chance to record yourself and listen back to hear if you're confident, if you know what you're talking about, if you're sharing value and if you're connecting well with other people. It was just such a cool moment to be like, Yeah, your voice. Your voice is so important. Another big. Life change that I had. I just put in my two weeks notice at the dark horse. This is the bar that I back in 2020 when I moved here from Minnesota to Colorado, I had no idea what I was going to do. I didn't have a job lined up. I never saw the apartment that I signed up to live in. I've never met my roommate that we were randomly assigned to each other. So one day, the first week that I moved there, I walked across the street to this bar slash restaurant that was called the Dark Horse, and I walked in for a gin and tonic. And this was 2020, in August, so things were kind of weird still. And I walked in and the bartender there, I was asking her a few questions, and she said she'd been there for six years. And that, to me, is just a really good sign in in the restaurant industry, especially for this person who I'm still connected to today, to say that she'd been there for years and years, was a good sign that they're not just turning and burning their employees, that people are sticking around for a reason. So I grabbed an application, and I filled it out, and the manager on duty was from Minnesota, and he said, Oh, you're a hard work Midwest girl. I'm from Minnesota too. You're You're awesome, you're gonna fit right in here. You're hired. And I left with a job, and four plus years later, we've been through a lot of trauma bonding. The restaurant industry is chaos, but it has been one of the best jobs I've ever had, and the people in the community are so good, and I know that I'll still be a part of this community, just in a different capacity. So I wasn't quitting on bad terms, and I am leaving on a high note, and I really wanted to communicate that to my bosses. As I walked in and I told my boss that I was putting in my two week notice, I just kept reminding him that this was a good thing, that I was leaving on good terms, and I was leaving because school and my career are really shaping up to be successful, and I need to step into what I'm doing with my master's degree and fully go into podcasting and media and marketing and communication design, and I can't quite do that if I have even a couple days still at the restaurant, it feels like I'm living my like Hannah Montana double life. So to be able to communicate that I was really grateful. But the time is now to graduate from Dark Horse University. Was definitely a high note of this week, and I didn't cry. I might when my last day happens, but I feel just very grateful for the journey and I landed a Strategic Communication Design role with a really well known artist here in Boulder. His Instagram is at will day art, and I'll link it down in the show notes, but you can follow along, because I'm managing the socials and the marketing. He has over 90,000 when I started, it was 92.4 1000 people following him on Instagram. And I'm getting used to speaking to an audience of over 90,000 people. The last reel that I posted got 260,000 views, and my voice is in that reel. And it's taking a little bit to get used to this level, because I would love to grow my own audience eventually get to that high level of a number. He's been doing this for 17 years. I don't know when he started his Instagram, but that's like, really baller numbers for an artist. So it's it's pretty cool to be sharing stories and have a lot of engagement, and sharing question boxes and having a lot of people reply and it's it's fun, and putting intention into every word and every post has been so fun because I know a lot of people are actually seeing it. So that's another. Huge update in my week, and I love it so far. So he's part of a project called doing good on purpose, and it's launching this spring. So we've been doing some artist interviews and asking them, What does it mean to do good and like, what is art's impact here in Boulder? And I've been pulled on to a couple interviews just to help with mic setup and asking questions and getting the person really comfortable answering these questions with a camera and a microphone in the room can be a lot of pressure when you're used to just doing your art by yourself. So I got pulled on to an interview with him, and we had a great day, a great session of putting this project together. And I got to walk around the room and just ask him questions about his process. And said, Thank you. Left for the day, and then I went on handshake, which is a kind of a like LinkedIn for the college community. And I noticed that he had posted that he was looking for some help. And I texted him and said, Hey, I saw you're looking for someone like me. I had a really great day with you. I think we work well together, and just keep an eye out for my application. I'm gonna send it as soon as possible, and I got the job immediately, like he told me that he was interviewing someone else, but went with me because we connected, and I'm convinced that it's because I, from the start, communicated at a very high level. I let him know my application was coming and that I had a really good experience working with him. And I also, in my cover letter, I had scoured his website and some more of his media. He has a TEDx talk, and I watched it, and I just put those personal details in there that a TEDx talk is a huge goal of mine that would be so cool, and that I would love to just learn from him and help with his bigger mission, so putting those personal touches on and communicating at a really high but authentic level, I believe, is why I got that job. That's my advice for you, if you're looking to connect with other people, just be authentic, but say more than you think, because people's attention spans are so spread, and you might think that you're like annoying someone by communicating so well or more often than you feel comfortable doing. But in my experience, the times that I regret are definitely the times where I was like, I'm gonna send a text message, and then I didn't, and then they're like, Where were you? Like, I was waiting to hear from you what's going on. And then there's a miscommunication. If there's a lapse in communication, more often than not, it does harm more than good. So never feel like you're annoying someone by communicating at a high level, sending the extra text, giving them a phone call, sending the extra email reminder, whatever it is, get yourself out there, because people are not thinking about you all the time, and you need to put your foot in the door more often than not, to really be on their radar, because so many things are happening, especially if you're working with entrepreneurs, they have a million missions, and you need to be the one who presents yourself Over and over and over. So he has told me that I'm the most professional person he's worked with so far. That, to me, is a compliment I'm taken to the bank that is amazing. So those were some personal updates. Let's talk about three ways to think like a communication designer and elevate your podcast number one, everything communicates, even when you're silent. My first communication study, another personal story, was watching my grandma and her friends. I noticed who she was more likely to invite over who she really clicked with, because some of her friends were really, like frantic, more anxious, and some of them were really grounded, and the ones who were grounded and confident, and a couple of them were entrepreneurs themselves. They had gift shops, or they had one of. Them. Had a honey business, and this was so cool to see 10 gallon buckets full of honey, and she would trade my grandma honey for bread, and just they had this really interwoven relationship. She had a really confident group of friends who totally lifted each other up. They never had drama, from what I saw, and I always aspired to that level of friendship, and I think I'm getting it now, and it's definitely because we're able to communicate and just we're really supportive of each other, and that's so fun to have. But when you're silent, that's not the most fun friend to have. Obviously, we all have our things going on, but you know, it feels like you're not thinking about that person. And I always want my friends to think that and know that they are top of mind and that I really care for them, and that I'm here to help and here to be supportive. So I have friends who both ways, we are very supportive of each other and check in often and tell each other that we're here for them. So how this relates to your podcast. Your podcast is already communicating something. You are already communicating something. Is it intentional or accidental? Think about these things. Do you release episodes consistently or randomly? Do people actually know when to expect you, or is it completely random? The second one is your branding polished or thrown together that's communicating something? And then third, are you speaking with confidence or holding back? And okay, and if you don't release an episode, your audience is like, okay, unsubscribe, goodbye. I'm realizing that this person is communicating that they're starting and stopping things, and it's not consistent. So I'm not going to consistently show it show up. So think about that. The second point of communication to think about is that your environment reflects your commitment, your external world mirrors your internal world. And I didn't know it at the time, but when I was really young, I used to rearrange my room at 3am I would measure all my furniture, and I would take the tape measure, and I measured out the architecture of my room and the dimensions, and I would see if certain pieces would fit in one corner and the next. And I would actually laid out on paper, and I made different spaces that were like, here's my drawing space. Here's where I put my outfit to get it ready for the morning. Here's where I put my backpack. And I just realized, without really realizing it, that when I took ownership of my space. It helped me feel more in control, and I was more proud to keep my room clean, and when I cooked my room clean, I felt a lot less chaotic in my internal world. But when my room exploded with clothes and everything was a mess, and I couldn't find that shirt that I was looking for or my left shoe. I felt internally chaotic, and I felt like a mess. And from that young age, realizing that I've really kept that going into my teens and 20s. Now, I read the book the life changing Magic of Tidying Up, and just started organizing like really intentionally. And last year, I organized my closet by ROY G BIV like the colors of the rainbow are how my shirts are laid out, also, half my closet is black, organized from long sleeves to short sleeves. And when I look into my closet, I'm not overwhelmed. Things are organized. Things are intentional. And that's speaking back to me. The setup of your marketing materials are the same thing for your business. If you have a podcast, do you have a space that you use to record, or are you just squeezing it in on the couch, on the living room? Are you recording from bed, like some people intentionally do that to set. At the standard for their show. But what are you communicating? I'm sitting at my desk right now. I have my candle lit. I have my iPad out here with my notes, and I have, I have garage band up on my MacBook. I have my boom stand and a nice microphone. And to me like this is the routine of how I set up every single time. It's not difficult. I know what to expect. I feel put together when I start recording an episode, and I know exactly what the setup looks like, so that I can just get into recording and really be present in the episode. If I didn't have this routine, I probably wouldn't show up as well every single week. So do you have a space or are you just winging it? Is your mic set up helping you sound like a pro or not? And in the beginning, we definitely talked about just getting started, and I am a huge advocate for you can get started with anything, if it has to be your phone recording you with voice notes or whatever pair of headphones you have go for it. But once you have the means start to upgrade so that you can feel like you have a reason to intentionally show up. Having a microphone in front of you makes you feel like a pro. Have you ever been on Instagram and someone is speaking on a reel and they have the podcast microphone in front of them. It might not even be that their voice is actually coming from the microphone that you're hearing on the video, but just having that microphone in front of them makes them seem like more of an authority figure. That's the same in your mind when you have the podcast microphone in front of you, you're you have the space to speak. You have the space to be the authority figure on this topic that you're speaking about. So upgrade your mic setup when you can. And then are you treating your podcast like a business or a hobby. Your episodes are like a product if you're not continuously refining your product and refining this thing that your customers are showing up to, if you're just completely winging it, going off on tangents during your shows. Who do you think is going to show up? Not someone who really cares about your art, not someone who's going to buy from you. If you're treating this like an entrepreneur treats their work, then you're putting the intention into it, and your podcast is going to come out consistently. It's going to sound polished and professional, and your voice is going to communicate your authority on the subject. So show up as necessary. And last but not least on this subject is to dress and speak for the podcast that you want, not the podcast that you have. Have you ever worn a blazer? Because that is a freaking game changer. I purchased my first blazer from a company called American tall because I am a five nine girlie, and I have long arms, and nothing quite fit right. Like if I go to Marshalls, I probably won't find a blazer that fits me right. So I ordered one. It's pretty quality. Unfortunately, it doesn't have pockets. Definitely, was designed by man who thought women don't need pockets. But regardless, I slip that blazer over whatever outfit I have, and I am instantly 10 times the person that I was before. It's It's so weird, and it makes me feel like a business owner, like I could show up into whatever meeting and crush it So moral of the story. You know this, how you present yourself changes how you show up. An old friend of mine told me the story of her boyfriend. He's a musician, Grammy Award winning musician, and he records most of his stuff at his house when he's not with the rest of the band and working from your home. Can you can really you can get into a routine of just rolling out of bed and starting work in your pajamas, but he marks the start of his work day by putting on his shoes so. And he has his pair of shoes on in his house at his recording desk, and that makes him show up as a different person. He's at work. He puts his shoes on, he's at work. I even though this podcast is not video recorded yet, I still dress up a little bit. I make it intentional. I put on something that I feel good in. I might even put a little bit of lipstick on, because how you present yourself changes how you show up. And if you want to be an authority, then speak with confidence, even before you feel like one. Give yourself the space to speak, even before you feel like you could take it to the big stage. You want big name guests. Then carry yourself like a host who's worth their time. You want to grow show up consistently, not just when you feel like it. When I started dressing for the job that I want and not the job that I had, I started showing up differently. I applied to Go to Master's school, and now I'm working alongside businesses that I mean, it's just so cool. One of my professors designed all of the branding for Strava. And I'm not just in the bar anymore. I'm not just putting on my jeans and a T shirt to go work at my restaurant job. I'm around brand designers and entrepreneurs who are doing amazing things, and agency owners of big marketing agencies, and part of it is being authentic. You do have to be authentic and find that balance of being over the top versus being a polished version of yourself. But when you show up as a professional, what does that mean for you? What does professional even mean for me? It typically doesn't mean showing up in a hoodie and leggings anymore. If I do, it's a Friday, and maybe I pair it with a blazer. So just think about how you want to show up and how your podcast is showing up to the public. Maybe you're not getting tons of views yet, but eventually you could, and you want to make sure that if someone scrolls way, way, way back to your first beginning episodes, that those episodes aren't so far away from the person that you want to become. So right now, speak for the podcast that you want, not for the podcast that you have, and show up for that damn podcast, because you never know who's gonna listen. Let's talk about marketing a little bit. I did not do a lick of marketing for the podcast this week. It's been more of a let's get settled into a new job, and let's exit the old job. So this week, the plan is to make some medium posts look really good, to have this podcast be a link that people can click on, and to actually schedule posts. I have not scheduled anything. I've been posting everything manually so far. So I need to make as many things as I can that could be marketing materials, and schedule those out to go on medium and LinkedIn show up for those user personas who I think this podcast is made for to get in touch with them. I also want to say I have been reading the midnight library. We talked about the book of regrets last week, and she goes more into that with every chapter she is like rebuttling her regrets. It's so cool. This book, I highly recommend. But she's going through the book of regrets, and as she goes through each life, she has less and less regrets, because she realizes that her intuition at the time was spot on, and she did the best that she could with the information that she had, and life is good. So that's how I'm feeling right now. I'm feeling like I'm here in the right spot, in the right moment, doing the best that I can with what I have currently. And that's the vibe we're showing up to grow and. And with that, I will definitely see you next week for the next episode. Until then, go and value your voice. Cheers. You.