How Podcraft Media Lab’s Greg Soros Is Shaping Podcasting’s Next Generation
When Greg Soros founded Podcraft Media Lab in Austin, his goal was to build a premium podcast production company. But over time, another element of his work has attracted equal attention: his ongoing commitment to mentoring new voices in independent audio.
Soros, who trained at Berklee College of Music before spending years at prominent podcasting studios, has developed a mentorship program designed to address a gap he sees clearly in the industry. Access to high-quality production resources and industry relationships has historically been concentrated among creators who already have backing. His program attempts to change that equation.
Mentorship as Part of the Business
At Podcraft Media Lab, mentorship is treated as a core function rather than an afterthought. Soros regularly dedicates a portion of his professional schedule to working with emerging creators, an investment he views as both ethically important and practically sound. Several mentees have gone on to launch shows with six-figure download counts in their first year, and others have landed distribution agreements with major podcast networks.
The success of the program has drawn notice from across the industry, with some larger networks beginning to develop similar initiatives. Greg Soros, however, traces the value of the work less to its scale and more to its design. Participants receive training in sound design, narrative construction, audience growth, and monetization, as well as introductions to potential partners through Soros’s professional network.
More Than Creative Coaching
“Most mentorship programs focus on creative development, which is important but incomplete,” Soros has noted. “We also teach the business fundamentals how to pitch to advertisers, negotiate distribution agreements, and build sustainable revenue models. That’s what transforms a hobby into a career.”
Maria Rodriguez, a former mentee and now the host of the award-winning investigative podcast “Border Stories,” described what made Soros’s program different. “What Greg understands is that mentorship isn’t charity it’s strategic ecosystem building,” she said. For Greg Soros, podcaster and producer, cultivating the next generation of audio creators has become one of the defining features of his professional identity. See related link for additional information.
More about Greg Soros on https://about.me/greg-soros-podcast