From Meetup to Summit: Healthcare Amplified has PodFest to thank for its roots.

Introduction:

Podfest has come a long way since its humble beginnings as a meetup of 13 curious individuals. Today, it stands as a testament to the power of community and how it can bring creatives from around the world together. Chris Krimitsos, the generous founder of Podfest, known for his exceptional ability to bring people together, has transformed this annual event into a globally recognized exposition while maintaining the heart of a close-knit community.

At Podfest 2023, Zack Demopoulos and John Largent, repeat attendees of Podfest, were presented with the opportunity to host a healthcare meetup. They shared about the gathering in the Podfest event app and were pleasantly surprised when over 50 people entered the room. After witnessing the meaningful conversation and connection, it was unanimously decided that this was the beginning of an annual event for healthcare creators. Sabrina Runbeck, a first-time Podfest attendee, joined Zack and John to establish Healthcare Amplified as a collaborative community for healthcare professionals and creatives.

Inspired by the story of Podfest, the small but mighty meetup has grown into the Healthcare Amplified Summit, a value-packed day long event with speakers, panels, and networking opportunities, where health and wellness professionals can go to learn, be inspired, connect, and plant the seeds for their own big ideas to bloom.

"It is surreal that just seven years ago I attended Podfest as a very innocent but ignorant content creator not knowing a thing about podcasts, much less how to find a vehicle to express content to a listener, viewer, or reader.  Now I am taking a page out of Chris Krimitsos' great book of creating a community and connecting people from the healthcare industry to amplify their voices.  No need to recreate the wheel here.  Just take the success Podfest has had and apply it to the great content creators in the healthcare space."

• Zack Demopoulos, founder of Raising ‘Rents and co-founder of Healthcare Amplified

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"At Podfest 2023 - a hive of creativity and innovation for podcast enthusiasts - something remarkable happened, thanks to Zack Demopolous, a visionary friend with a flair for spontaneous connections. Amidst the whirl of general sessions, Zack, recognizing the potential in the room, sent out a message through the event's dedicated app. His idea was simple yet groundbreaking: to gather podcasters from the healthcare sector for an impromptu meeting. This wasn't just any invitation; it was a call to unite voices from various corners of healthcare, a sector underrepresented with stories waiting to be told and experiences eager to be shared.

The response to Zack's call was nothing short of extraordinary. Over 50 individuals from diverse healthcare backgrounds heeded the summons, converging in a spontaneous assembly of minds and passions. This eclectic group wasn't just a random gathering of professionals; it included physicians, physician assistants, dentists, veterinarians, wellness coaches, and senior care advisors, each bringing their unique perspective to the table. It was at this serendipitous meeting that the seeds of the Healthcare Amplified Summit were sown - a summit destined to become a beacon for healthcare storytelling in the podcasting world. This moment marked the genesis of a new era in healthcare communication, where the power of voice would bring together professionals from across the spectrum, amplifying their impact and reaching ears across the globe."

• John Largent, founder of Senior Care Movement and co-founder of Healthcare Amplified

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“Healthcare Amplified has been a game-changer for me. After years of podcasting and packaging my content, I decided to grab a VIP ticket and immerse myself at PodFest in January 2023 for the first time. During the event, I engaged with seasoned media professionals who expanded my horizons and allowed me to refine my own business model. 

I noticed the buzz around healthcare gatherings and found myself at Zack and John’s meetup. What stood out was the support and camaraderie among the 50+ incredible hosts in the healthcare space. John and Zach approached me with the idea of creating a summit for content creators in the healthcare space, and I was all in. 

This is how great missions evolve from mere ideas into reality—by leveraging different skill sets that complement each other seamlessly. It's the same ethos we want to bring to the Healthcare Amplified community—a space where a diverse range of expertise comes together to build on one another's strengths and create lasting impact. The journey continues, and I couldn't be more excited to be a part of it."

Sabrina Runbeck, MPH, MHS, PA-C, founder of Runbeck Media Group, co-founder of PulsePoint Path, and co-founder of Healthcare Amplified

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“I walked into my first-ever Podfest Expo in January 2022 and, as a newbie podcaster, felt both overwhelmed and exhilarated knowing there was so much to learn and this was the beginning of a new adventure that would push me out of my comfort zone and propel me into the next chapter of my life and business. As a health coach, I was excited to join the meetup for podcasters in healthcare to make valuable connections, and it didn’t disappoint.

On my last day at Podfest, I knew I would be back—and here I am. Now on the committee for Healthcare Amplified, hosting a panel of incredible speakers at our first summit, and a true believer in the power of podcasting and community.

Podfest is the land of opportunity and Healthcare Amplified is a niche-focused extension of that.”

• Darnah Mercieca, founder and host of Empowered Explant

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“Last year, 2022, was my first year to attend Podfest.  A good friend, Zack Demopoulous,  whom I had just met the previous month at a caregiver conference, invited me to come and gave me a free ticket.  Honestly, I wasn't sure about attending because I didn't have a podcast. 

I was just getting started in radio and TV. I ended up going and had an amazing time!  I met tons of fabulous podcasters particularly at the healthcare podcast meetup.  There were so many of us there that it was discussed about doing something more formal for the next Podfest. 

So many fantastic podcasts are being done around the world in the healthcare space and to have a group come together that could not only connect this group but amplify their voices in a united way to improve healthcare worldwide was and is a fantastic idea.  When I was asked to be a part of the committee to put this together for Healthcare Amplified, I absolutely did not hesitate. Being in the healthcare industry for over 15 years, this platform/format is desperately needed. I'm thrilled and honored to be a part of something that started with a group of diligent healthcare professionals coming together last year, recognizing a need and working together to help change the world.”

• Traci Lamb, founder of Caregiving Worldwide Network

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“As a Website and Marketing consultant with KIME Global and Medical Learning Institute (MLI), I was fortunate to work with The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS). Helping to create and work on their Subscriber Lounger, I understood the importance of the community that LLS has built organically.

LLS extended an invitation to KIME Global to join them at Podfest Expo 2022, where I met Zach and have been involved in Healthcare Amplified ever since. Working with the committee to create the first-ever section of Podfest dedicated specifically to healthcare professionals and those in the healthcare field. I'm excited to see how this will turn out and all the connections that will be made at Healthcare Amplified and Podfest Expo!”

• Alice Odhiambo

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