The First Ladies Podcast: Social Media and Promotional Management

Overview

To coincide with the start of Women’s History Month, The First Ladies podcast launched on March 4 as a companion to the forthcoming Cambridge Companion to U.S. First Ladies (2025). The podcast, hosted by journalism professor Dr. Teri Finneman, explores the evolving role of the U.S. first lady through interviews with scholars and public historians. The series examines first ladies not individually, but thematically—through their influence on war, diplomacy, gender roles, and more.

As the podcast’s Social Media and Promotions Manager, I was brought on to lead all aspects of digital promotion and branding across a six-month timeline. I created the visual identity, designed and scheduled all social media posts, edited episode transcripts, produced video content for TikTok and Instagram, and wrote the official press release for the launch.

My Process

With no prior online presence, I began by assessing the podcast's tone, subjects, and intended audience. I collaborated closely with the hosts to better understand their academic objectives, content strategy, and target platforms. The goal was to create a visually unified, historically relevant brand identity that was equally entertaining and accessible to modern audiences.

Visual Branding & Asset Creation
Using Canva, I designed a full suite of visual assets including:

  • The official podcast logo and brand color palette

  • Audiogram and quote templates for Instagram and TikTok

  • Static and animated episode announcement graphics

  • Custom visuals to promote Women’s History Month and thematic episodes

Content Development & Scheduling
Each podcast episode included a rich conversation that required thoughtful curation for digital storytelling. I:

  • Edited full transcripts in Microsoft Word to extract key quotes and themes

  • Developed weekly content calendars with pre-approved captions and hashtags

  • Created original promotional posts for new episodes, behind-the-scenes content, and historical trivia tied to each first lady discussed

My Process

Video Content Creation
To target younger audiences on TikTok and Instagram Reels, I used iMovie to edit podcast audio into short video snippets and combine them with animated text, historical pictures, and brand visuals. These clips assisted in breaking down difficult academic topics into digestible, shareable ways.

Press and Launch Strategy
To increase traffic to the premiere, I created an official press release announcing the podcast's launch, which was sent through university channels and online platforms. This contributed to early engagement from teachers, students, and media professionals interested in political history and women's studies.

View the official press release below!

The First Ladies Podcast

The First Ladies Podcast

My work for The First Ladies Podcast helped to develop a professional and identifiable presence across social media channels, positioning the show for awareness throughout Women's History Month and beyond.

This project illustrates my ability to lead cross-functional promotional activities that incorporate research, writing, design, and video editing to bring instructional content to life in an engaging, accessible manner.

View social media accounts below!