Contributed by K. Owen LaFave, Pinellas County Market President, The Bank of Tampa
“It’s not a nerdy podcast.” Those were the words that tumbled from my mouth while explaining The Bank of Tampa’s “Money Market” podcast to our employees. They shared that they didn’t want another boring financial podcast—especially not one about banking. While I could have chosen better words, sometimes when speaking off the cuff, we don’t articulate perfectly. The same can happen on a podcast (more on that later). Although the “Money Market” podcast highlights local businesses, expert business advice, leaders, nonprofits and interesting topics in Tampa Bay, I can confidently say it’s not “nerdy.”
With more than 4 million podcasts worldwide, we launched “Money Market” because there were compelling stories and lessons from incredible people in Tampa Bay that deserved a wider audience. The podcast’s name is a play on words: a money market is a banking product, but Tampa Bay is also one of the hottest growing “money” markets in the United States. As a banker, I’m fortunate to have engaging conversations with a variety of business owners and leaders in our community. I figured, if I found these conversations fascinating, others would too. Who wouldn’t want to learn while being entertained?
Lessons From Two Seasons The Importance of Quality
When brainstorming the podcast with Wes Lowry, chief executive officer of Lowry Creative, I envisioned a simple setup: two microphones, one camera, hit record, talk for 30 minutes, hit stop and tag on an intro and outro. No editing, just a conversation. Wes suggested a trial run, and on recording day, I walked into a room with three HD cameras, professional lighting, two microphones and an audio mixer. Initially frustrated at the upgrade, I’ve realized the immense value of high-quality audio and visuals. Poor sound can ruin even the best content, and our polished production allows us to release episodes on platforms like Apple, Spotify and YouTube.
Editing has also been a game-changer. Guests occasionally slip up—whether it’s a cough, a misstatement or using a word they’d prefer not to use. Editing allows us to clean up these moments, ensuring a smooth final product and giving our guests the confidence to speak freely. Each guest reviews a rough cut before release, guaranteeing they’re comfortable with the final version.
Managing Time
As someone leading one of the bank’s counties, overseeing two other divisions at the bank, serving as the incoming chair of the St. Pete Chamber of Commerce and balancing roles as a husband, father and hockey coach, time is precious. While I intellectually understood that a podcast would require time, I underestimated just how much time. There’s guest coordination, show preparation and the recordings themselves. To manage this, we batch-record episodes: four full days over three to four months, recording back-to-back. It’s exhilarating but exhausting, including changing my outfits between recordings to avoid looking like I only have one suit and tie. This process has deepened my appreciation for people like Lex Friedman, who wears the same outfit for every podcast.
Self-Reflection
Listening to my own voice wasn’t fun. Like most people, I cringed at first, but reviewing the rough cuts has helped me identify and reduce filler words like “um,” “so” and “you know.” While I’ll never eliminate them entirely, I’ve learned to be charitable with myself. The episodes may not be perfect, but they’re genuine and insightful.
Relationships Are Key
Our bank’s mission statement is “we build relationships,” and the podcast has reinforced how vital that is. Many guests have attributed their success to strong relationships, which align with what our bankers do, daily, with our clients and in the community. The podcast has allowed us to feature nearly 60 guests, including former Mayor Bob Buckhorn, radio host Mike Calta, hockey Hall of Famer Phil Esposito and influential Tampa Bay leaders like Oscar Horton, Greg Celestan, Bemetra Simmons, Jessica Muroff, Craig Richard, Chris Steinocher and others, including a handful of our expert bankers.
Beyond the episodes, the podcast has strengthened our connections with guests. It’s a professional, yet personal, experience where we offer our guests exposure and a platform to share their stories. This approach has not only deepened our existing relationships but also built new ones.
Growing the Audience
While our subscriber base is still growing, “Money Market” has already made an impact. The episodes have been played more than 5,000 times and viewed on Facebook more than 90,000 times. These numbers are a testament to the value of providing a space for authentic conversations about business, leadership and community.
Final Thoughts
Launching “Money Market” has been a journey of learning and growth. It’s about more than just creating a podcast; it’s about amplifying the voices of remarkable people in Tampa Bay, sharing their lessons and building connections. Whether it’s the importance of quality production, the power of relationships or learning to accept imperfection, every episode is an opportunity to grow—and if that’s nerdy, I’ll take it.
As the Pinellas County Market President at The Bank of Tampa, Owen LaFave leads a team of experienced bankers who provide customized solutions for owner-managed businesses and commercial real estate clients in the Tampa Bay area. With over 20 years of banking experience, Owen has the skills and knowledge to navigate the challenges and opportunities of the post-pandemic economy.
Find the The Bank of Tampa’s “Money Market” podcast here.