Previous Cosmo ME cover girl, Noor Stars, has a staggering portfolio. Businesswoman, gamer, presenter, singer, #1 Youtuber in the Middle East…this star truly lives up to her name.
With the huge success of her latest big venture, the Stars Podcast, Noor Stars is cementing her status as the region’s it-girl. The podcast, which launched last year, has just dropped its second season. And with a casual 20 million views on season one, it’s pretty safe to say that we’re in for a good line up of episodes.
Cosmo ME caught up with the woman behind the mic to ask just how she does it. We chat podcasting secrets, advice and dream guests.
Cosmo ME: What inspired you to start podcasting, and how did you get started?
Noor: It was a step I knew I was going to take. I am someone who loves talking to people; there is always a side of people that comes out when talking to me, and they feel comfortable. Many of my friends asked why I hadn’t started a podcast, so I thought about it, and we trialled it in Season 1.
Thankfully, Season 1 was a success with over 20 million views. People loved it. What inspired me and gave me my inspiration was people. I love people, I love talking to them, and I love hearing them. That is what pushed me to do it.
Cosmo ME: What are some of the steps someone should take when starting a podcast? What advice would you give the followers who want to do the same thing as you?
Noor: Thoroughly researching every guest that will be sitting in front of them. They have to know everything about the person because in my opinion, if you are conducting an interview or podcast with someone you don’t know anything about, I see it as disrespectful to the person sitting in front of you.
So for me, with any guest in front of me, I conduct my own deep research about them, along with my production team. The most important thing is to conduct proper research and genuinely enjoy talking to people and listening to their stories. Additionally, I think having a team is necessary because a podcast isn’t content that is created solely. To produce professional content, you need a proper team.
Cosmo ME: When you launched Season 1, were you surprised by the positive feedback?
Noor: When we launched the podcast, I was fairly confident due to the love my supporters showed me. However, I was quite conscious that my podcast’s target audience extends beyond just my supporters. I gave it my all and expected the best. Thankfully, people loved and watched it, which motivates me to continue.
Cosmo ME: Could you share your process for developing engaging content, and how do you keep your audience interested?
Noor: To start, I pick guests that I believe will be comfortable talking with. Then, I ask them questions in different ways to keep the conversation interesting. Even if the episode is long, I make sure it stays exciting with good questions.
Cosmo ME: What strategies do you use to ensure that your podcast is monetized?
Noor: When I began, I wasn’t thinking about making money. It was more of a personal investment for me. I put a lot of effort into the podcast to make it look and sound professional, which also benefits my audience. While there might be financial rewards in the future, right now I’m putting more into the podcast than I’m getting out of it.
Cosmo ME: Looking back on your journey, what do you wish you would have known when you first started podcasting?
Noor: I believe there’s an art to conducting interviews, and it’s something I didn’t realize until I started doing it. I also learned the importance of having a schedule as I went along.
Cosmo ME: If you could have a dream guest on your podcast, who would it be?
Noor: There are so many people I’d love to interview! Top of my list is Drake. I’m also interested in interviewing business figures, like the one with Huda Beauty, which was one of my favourites. I don’t want my podcast to only feature celebrities or influencers; I also want to include business people. Another dream guest of mine is Ahlam, the singer.
The first episode of season 2 of the Stars Podcast is out now.
ICYMI, Instagram and Cosmopolitan Middle East present: Creators of Tomorrow 2024. Read here.