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CVs, Audio Authenticity and Value-for-Value Hosting

October 27, 2025 · 40 min

Show notes

Are you struggling to break into the media industry or advance your career? David Spencer, who created The Media Mentor brand twenty years ago, shares why he launched The Media Mentor podcast as a powerful audio tool to help people navigate the "mystifying world of recruitment".


Episode Highlights You Won't Want to Miss:


  • The Power of Audio: Discover why David, a long-time lover of audio who always dreamt of working in radio, believes podcasting is a "beautiful powerful way to communicate". 
  • The Video Frustration: Hear David's strong feelings on the general trend that "everything has to be video," arguing that a podcast is inherently not video and that the industry risks losing the magic of audio storytelling by becoming too fixated on video.
  • Structuring Success: Learn how David structures his show to provide maximum value, balancing direct advice (theory on CVs and cover letters) with client case studies (brilliant stories and great learning experiences), and expert industry interviews (including a crucial episode on AI and recruitment).
  • The Business of Podcasting: David explains how his podcast functions as a form of "soft power," helping to build the brand of The Media Mentor and showing the value of being a human character behind the brand. 


Plus, Sam and Claire Dive into Exciting TrueFans Updates:


  • Fairer Podcast Hosting is Coming: Sam shares exciting news about the progression of the new TrueFans hosting service, with the waitlist expected to open at the end of the month.
  • Value-for-Value Pricing Explained: Learn about TrueFans' innovative hosting plan based on listen time rather than fixed fees or downloads. Sam reveals how the pricing works: you are charged a maximum amount (e.g., $15/£15), but if you use less listen time, you are charged less. Any unused allocation rolls over into the next month.
  • Boosting Discovery: Claire praises the TrueFans' homepage, which highlights the latest episodes rather than shows promoted by huge PR budgets.


Hear more about why Sam believes independent podcasters are the "bread and butter" and "lifeline" of the industry, and stick around after the main interview for more from David and Claire on authenticity in audio and the difficulty of not spreading yourself too thinly across social media.

Don't forget: You can support this show by streaming SATs from your TrueFans wallet or leaving a super comment! 


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