You don’t have to listen to one of Cliff Ravenscraft’s podcasts for very long to realize why they’re so popular. Ravenscraft is passionate, genuine, and engaging, not to mention that he’s got the voice of a professional broadcaster. But what really sets him apart the most from other podcasters is that he’s trying do it as a full-time career.
In 2005, Cliff Ravenscraft launched his first podcast about the TV drama Lost with his wife Stephanie. He eventually started the generally Speaking Production Network and created over 20 different audio programs devoted to topics like Facebook, primetime television, and the Church. He was working for the family business as an insurance agent by day and podcasting to thousands of devoted listeners at night. Only he was miserable with his dual life. Ravenscraft says, “I had no desire or drive to sell insurance anymore. I got to the point where I had to do something.”
In January of 2008, Ravenscraft left his job as an insurance agent in hopes of turning his love of new media into a successful career. But this was more than a career move; it was a calling to use his self-produced programs to start a dialogue with his 35,000 listeners about his Christian faith. Ravenscraft says, “There is no question whatsoever that this is my calling. Sometimes I question if I’ll make it, but there is no question that I am in the place where God wants me to be in my life.”
It’s been more than he expected at times, too. He admits, “I was a little naive to think that I might possibly all of a sudden enjoy what I’m doing and just be carefree.” Pursuing podcasting as a career is certainly risky business, especially when you have a family of five to feed. And on a spiritual level, this venture has been a test of faith.
“If it was just me pursuing my passion and saying I want to do something that I enjoy and love, if that was the only thing that motivated this I would be back in insurance right now. I know that this is a calling on my life. I want to be entertaining, educating, encouraging and inspiring people all around the world,” says Ravenscraft.
And while the majority of his shows do not have paid sponsors, he’s found other ways to make podcasting profitable. He launched a subscription service where “plus members” of his community of listeners can get hours of additional content each week for $10 a month. His goal is to eventually reach 1,000 paid subscribers. And he’s on his way. More than 80 fans signed up in the first couple of weeks and now over 130 subscribers have joined. He also sells audio equipment and spends much of his time sharing his new media expertise by doing consulting and production work for podcasters in need.
Furthermore, Ravenscraft produces the podcast for the church he attends, Watermark Community Church in Florence, KY. And it shouldn’t be surprising that he has no doubt that churches should make their pastor’s sermons available online as a podcast. Ravenscraft insists, “If you’re not doing it, you’re missing out on an opportunity in the harvest field. We reach more than the people sitting in the pews.”
In addition to his daily business activities, Ravenscraft also sees himself as a pastor to his listeners. He says, “I’m not an officially ordained pastor, but I feel like I am in a pasturing, ministering relationship with a community of people and that includes responding to a number of emails. I also want to be an example and an encouragement to people.”
Ravenscraft explains that many listeners who are non-believers are not just listening to his podcast that analyzes television’s Lost but also to his programs about his faith, such as The Almost Daily Devotional and generally Speaking about the Church. And several podcast listeners credit Ravenscraft’s audio programs for inspiring them to attend church or to begin a prayer life. Ravenscraft sounds a bit overwhelmed as he says, “I receive emails and phone calls on a regular basis where people explain that they are turning their lives over to Christ. We’re reaching people that are out there that are earnestly seeking who God is.”
Still, he describes the process of paying the bills each month as “high anxiety” followed by “manna from heaven.” He says, “God says, ‘I’ll provide.’ I shouldn’t have anxiety, but I still do. But, when I’m in doubt, I get affirmation from my wife, from my pastor, from the listening community, and even from my mom and dad—and I left their family business.”
And despite any financial uncertainty, Ravenscraft is confident that he’s finally doing what he was created to do: to podcast. Ravenscraft explains, “For the first time, I understand a couple words in the New Testament, where Jesus went up to Peter and Andrew and they were fishing. He said, ‘Come, follow me.’ They didn’t ask about health benefits or a salary or weekends off; none of those questions were asked. They dropped their nets and followed Him. I remain humble, but I feel that I have really dropped my net and have simply followed Jesus.”