LAUGH FACTORY
How Two Former CBS Execs Created A Popular Podcast
By Adam Morgan
Who knew that gossipy, mid-day phone conversations between two professional besties could generate listeners? Such is the situation with former CBS communication pros Beth Feldman and Jeremy Murphy. The two, who worked together for five years in the network’s storied Black Rock headquarters, always enjoyed talking regularly by phone and sharing their opinions and perspectives about, well, anything.
Out of this came the question: you think others want to listen? With Beth’s stand-up quality, tell-it-like-it-is humor and Jeremy’s caustic-style wit, they started to broadcast their conversations with a weekly podcast called The Giggle. Since launching they’ve steadily grown their audience to include friends and colleagues, members of the media, and random listeners who like to hear a funny talk between friends. New York Lifestyles sat down with the two to figure out why The Giggle has so many giggling.
How did this all start?
Beth: When we worked together at CBS, where the required weekly staff meeting with our boss was called “The Gaggle.” After each meeting, we’d go back to my office for “The Giggle” where we’d joke about what happened in the meeting and complain about our jobs. Eventually, we both struck out on our own, but wanted to recapture some of that banter we had during those days and so The Giggle was reborn as a podcast.
Jeremy: We had both left our jobs but always stayed in touch, and we’d have these laugh-out-loud conversations about everything from media, entertainment, and former colleagues we hated. Beth is beyond ahead of the curve when it comes to building and growing new platforms, and suggested we share our talks with others. Out of that came The Giggle.
How would you describe it?
Beth: It’s a conversation driven podcast that tackles the latest headlines of the week, entertainment news, travel stories, and what’s happening in our lives that has either ticked us off or made us laugh. We get our ideas from what we’re watching, reading and experiencing in our own lives. Our work experiences change from one day to the next: One minute we’re covering a photo shoot, the next we’re at a gala. That’s really fun. The good news is, we have each other to commiserate with and to offer advice or a diversion when work gets a bit frustrating.
Jeremy: What’s great about The Giggle is that the conversation can go anywhere. We always have a broad sketch of what we want to talk about and are guided by an unscripted conversation. For example, we had renowned astrologer Virginia Bell on the podcast, and while we talked horoscopes and signs, we spent time talking about her youth in Italy and this La Dolce Vita lifestyle she led as a young woman coming of age in Rome. It was fascinating. We could have talked for hours.
Who have been your favorite guests?
Beth: Gossip columnists Rob Shuter and Ben Widdicombe, publicist extraordinaire Judy Twersky, and former New York Times marketing columnist Stuart Elliott. Whenever we get to speak to super smart guests with a sarcastic sense of humor, the hour flies by and we find ourselves laughing out loud most of the time.
Jeremy: When we want to get serious and talk politics and media, we have Luis Miranda of Ambassador Public Affairs. He was my roommate in college and worked in the White House, and he has keen insights and observations about what’s going on in the world.
What’s next?
Beth: I’d like to start booking celebrity guests and newsmakers. It would be fun to speak to some of the people we giggle about all the time. We promise not to be mean though—we are the nicest hosts.
Jeremy: For The Giggle, I’d like to get it in studio and do something with SiriusXM. We have been taping from different locations, which is fun as well. We did an episode at The Carlyle and talked with their Communications Director Jennifer Cooke, who gave us behind-the-scenes nuggets from the Always at the Carlyle documentary. That was awesome.
For more information on The Giggle, visit blogtalkradio.com/thegiggle.
