Buzzcast Podcast – Episode Summary

Episode Title: Podcast Meetups 101: How To Host, Grow And Fund Local Events With Badr Milligan
Date: February 13, 2026
Host: The Buzzsprout Team (primarily "A" - Alvin, "B", and "C")
Guest: Badr Milligan (Host of The Short Box Podcast, Co-founder of Jax Podcasters United)

Episode Overview

This episode is dedicated to exploring the nuts and bolts of creating and growing local podcast meetups. The team speaks with Badr Milligan, a long-running podcaster and leader in the Jacksonville, FL podcasting community, to uncover actionable strategies for building in-person podcasting events. The conversation travels from the early days of scrappy meetups all the way to hosting full-fledged educational events and charity fundraisers. Listeners will leave with a real-world toolkit for gathering podcasters, whether in a big city or small town, and an appreciation for the value of in-person community.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. From Online to IRL: Rethinking Podcast Promotion

• Oversaturation Online: The hosts mull over the burnout that comes with endlessly promoting podcasts on social media. Real-world tactics are needed to cut through the digital noise.
  • Quote: "Maybe as podcasters, we almost do too much focusing on an online presence versus, you know, IRL, like, in real life and engaging with people outside of social media." – Alvin [02:00]
• Creative Offline Promotion: Printing flyers, leaving posters at comic shops, or partnering with local businesses often leads to more engaged listeners with less competition for attention.
  • Memorable tactic: Leaving flyers at comic shops and tracking actual listener growth from physical presence. [03:07]

2. Building Jax Podcasters United: Origins & Evolution

• Unpretentious Beginnings: Badr and his co-founder Blythe started by simply gathering local podcasters, not chasing perfection or monetization.
  • Quote: “We did not put the cart before the horse... It was just a very pure mindset of like, hey, let's do these meetups, because people really enjoy them.” – Badr [17:53]
• Community First: Maintaining free events fueled by passion, not dollars, encouraged growth and cultivated trust.
  • Quote: “We weren't selling anything. It was like, hey, we’re just here to meet up, talk, express our frustrations, our joys of podcasting... I think that went a long way.” – Badr [18:39]
• Scaling with Purpose: All growth was gradual and fueled by attendee enthusiasm; their directory and website came much later, after real demand was established. [15:14, 16:00]

3. Venue Partnerships & Building Relationships

• Local Focus: Lean into existing personal networks—local bars, libraries, studios—and approach as a mutually beneficial partnership.
  • “All of our venues, we really try to keep them at a local place... to emphasize, like, hey, this is a group for Jax by Jax in every single way." – Badr [21:28]
• Venue First: Secure the venue before the date, and try for midweek events (Wednesday/Thursday) when venues are slow and willing to host without a fee. [32:21]
• Bartering and Value Exchange: Sponsorships often are service trades (e.g., studio time, printing, prizes), which can be more valuable than cash. [40:16]

4. Marketing: Getting the Word Out

• Start Local, Grow with Tools: Use Facebook Events, Eventbrite, local news, radio, and library community boards to invite others.
  • "We found a lot of success on Facebook… built the Jax Podcasters United Facebook group page, Eventbrite…" – Badr [25:11]
• Tap Community Calendars: Don’t overlook free community calendars on local TV, radio, or newspapers. Local news loves highlighting grassroots creative groups. [29:22]
• Capture and Share: Even at small events, document with photos/reels for future promotion—hire a photographer if you can. [38:04]

5. Day-of Logistics: What Actually Happens?

• Planning is Key: Take the day off work if possible. Bring name tags, signs, QR codes, feedback surveys, and thank volunteers and venue staff repeatedly.
  • “The JPU might as well be sponsored by Sterilite because the amount of tubs and bins I have...” – Badr [36:48]
• Community Buy-In: Volunteers will emerge naturally once events pick up momentum. Accept help, delegate tasks, and build ownership within the group. [36:35]
• Small Touches Matter: Focus on creating a welcoming environment: signage, music, stickers, food (usually pizza or sandwiches), and ways to connect newcomers. [34:44]

6. Elevating Beyond Meetups: Workshops, Camps & Charity Events

• Keep it Fresh: Avoid repetition—start with networking, but add workshops, panel talks, and even charity functions as you grow. This keeps engagement up and avoids burnout.
  • “We never wanted it to be, like, give someone a reason to skip, because it’ll be just like last time.” – Badr [41:33]
• Half-Day & Educational Events: Partnering with sponsors and local contributors (Buzzsprout, Guitar Center, etc.) made larger, more ambitious events like “Podcast Camp” and “Potathon” possible, still keeping them free to attend. [47:48]
• Charity Angle: A portion of event proceeds go to local charities, fueling goodwill and community pride.
  • “Since we did our third year event last year in 2025... we've raised almost $2,000 for charity.” – Badr [50:00]

7. Lessons & Motivations for Other Communities

• Start Small, Iterate: You don’t need to be an event planner—just reach out, post on social, and start with a handful of people.
  • “You can start small, and I do recommend that. Start small for the first couple… it can be as simple as, ‘I found this venue that’s willing to host us.’” – Badr [54:59]
• Genuine Passion Wins: The spirit of service (not sales) for the local community is the foundation for long-term growth.
• Lean Into Your City: Any city—big or small—can become a “podcast hotspot” if someone puts the energy in. (“Why not Boise?” and “Why not Jax?” are recurring refrains). [49:31, 56:00]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Perfectionism:
  “Perfect is the enemy of good. I always love referencing that. If you’re waiting for it to be perfect, you will never hit publish.” – Alvin [08:53]

• On Community Building:
  “Our mantra as of lately has been, why not Jax? Like, why can’t Jax be like this new hub for podcasts?” – Badr [10:38]

• On Keeping Events Free and Authentic:
  “All of our events—I don’t think we’ve ever charged for an event… we always kept it free.” – Badr [17:53]

• On Event Growth:
  “I bought like, I swear it was like 30 boxes of pizza... 50, 60 people showed up and it was like truly a—oh my God, it was like a lightning in a bottle moment.” – Badr [12:35]

• On Documentation:
  “At a certain point, after a couple of meetups, you’re going to want to show what a meetup feels like. You want to be able to showcase and share photos or… hire a videographer... all I want is a one minute reel.” – Badr [38:04]

• On Should You Start a Meetup?:
  "Why not Boise? Like that phrase, you build it, they will come, really encapsulates what the JPU has been for us." – Badr [49:31]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:00–04:45 - Rethinking podcast marketing and going IRL; guerrilla tactics for audience growth
• 09:24–15:05 - The birth and evolution of Jax Podcasters United; finding your feet with grassroots events
• 20:14–23:40 - Partnering with venues and bartering; maintaining that "for the community, by the community" vibe
• 25:11–29:41 - Detailed marketing tips: Facebook, Eventbrite, local media, library community boards
• 32:21–34:31 - Choosing venues/dates and why midweek events work; respecting attendees’ time
• 34:31–39:07 - Day-of event logistics; signage, volunteer management, and ace event execution
• 41:14–45:53 - Evolving into workshops and camps; inviting new speakers and educational value
• 47:46–52:41 - Launching larger, charity-driven events; keeping things intimate and valuable for attendees
• 54:59–56:02 - Advice for starting meetups in any community (“Why not your city?”)
• 59:24–61:42 - Personal passion for community, pride of place, and wrapping up

Takeaways for Listeners

• Start with what you have: Don’t overthink. Get the space, get the people, the rest follows.
• Stay true to your intent: Authentic, non-salesy community is more attractive and sustainable.
• Choose reach over scale: Focus on serving your immediate community. Physical presence stands out.
• Iterate and improve: Start small, grow as you go, and let your community help shape the journey.
• Success in podcasting—like meetups—comes from consistency, not viral hits.

For more info, visit:

• Jax Podcasters United
• The Short Box Podcast

Final Mantra:
"Why not your city?" – Badr Milligan

Buzzcast listeners are invited to suggest future topics and contribute their own stories via the 'fan mail' link in the episode notes.