How Colossus built one of the largest investing-focused podcast networks
Jul 31, 2024
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Patrick O’Shaughnessy, the visionary behind the podcast Invest Like the Best and co-founder of Colossus, shares his journey from finance to media. He reveals how his podcast blossomed into a thriving network, producing diverse investing shows. The discussion highlights innovative monetization strategies, the significance of audience engagement, and exclusive networking events for investment professionals. O’Shaughnessy also emphasizes quality over quantity in content creation, aiming to build a self-sustaining ecosystem for listeners and sponsors.
Colossus Media emerged from the success of 'Invest Like the Best,' highlighting the potential of podcasts to evolve into comprehensive media networks.
The transition of seasoned finance professionals to media roles demonstrates the valuable fusion of analytical expertise with creative content production strategies.
Deep dives
The Rise of Colossus Media
Colossus Media was born out of the success of the podcast 'Invest Like the Best,' launched in 2016 by Patrick O'Shaughnessy. Initially, Patrick aimed to enhance his understanding of investing through interviews, never anticipating the show's potential as a media venture. By 2020, encouraged by the COVID-19 pandemic and feedback from industry veterans, he transitioned to building a podcast network. This shift marked the expansion into a media company that now includes multiple shows focusing on various finance-related topics.
Matt Russell's Journey to Colossus
Matt Russell, who joined Colossus after years in traditional finance, initially harbored no intentions of entering the media realm. His experience in writing detailed research reports equipped him with insights valuable to Colossus's approach in producing content aimed at institutional investors. This unique perspective allowed him to adapt successfully from a grueling finance career to the more creative and engaging environment in media. His transition highlights the merging of finance and media, demonstrating that varied backgrounds can contribute to innovative content creation.
The Unique Appeal of 'Invest Like the Best'
'Invest Like the Best' distinguished itself through Patrick O'Shaughnessy's distinct interviewing style, attracting high-caliber guests from the investment world. The authenticity and depth of conversations led to stronger connections with guests, elevating the show's reputation compared to traditional finance interviews. Patrick's natural curiosity and background facilitated compelling dialogues, making listeners return for insightful discussions with notable figures such as hedge fund managers. This success laid the groundwork for Colossus and proved the demand for high-quality finance-focused content.
Vision for the Future and Engagement Strategies
Colossus envisions creating a self-sustaining ecosystem encompassing listeners, hosts, and sponsors, extending beyond just podcasting. Current engagement strategies include curated events, premium experiences, and streamlined access to their podcast offerings, effectively bringing together an audience passionate about finance. Future plans consider expanding media formats while maintaining a focus on the power of podcasts as a core element of their brand identity. This intentional approach towards growth emphasizes quality over quantity, ensuring content remains relevant and engaging.
When Patrick O’Shaughnessy launched his podcast Invest Like the Best in 2016, he had no intention of building it into a media company. He just wanted to use it to interview the world’s best investing minds so that he could deepen his own understanding of the industry. But the show proved to be a huge hit, attracting some of the biggest names in finance. By 2020, he and a few co-founders launched Colossus, an investing-focused podcast network that now produces more than a half dozen shows across various finance niches.
In an interview, Colossus CEO Matt Reustle walked me through the vision behind the network, how it develops and promotes new shows, and why the company hasn’t yet launched video versions of its podcasts.
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