Rubi Skilton, Limb Difference Advocate, Disrupts Podcast Industry

Rubi Skilton understands perseverance more than most in her lifetime A powerhouse podcast producer, audio expert, limb difference advocate, speaker, and entrepreneur, Rubi was born with a physical difference that could have resulted in an entirely different reality. Instead of succumbing to a victim mentality, however, Skilton used her difference as fuel to not only rise triumphantly but also disrupt the industry and impact others. With a keen interest in both music and engineering, Rubi graduated with a degree in audio engineering and music management in 2015. She soon realized however, she could use her powerful story to disrupt the podcast industry, further serve her community, and amplify voices that may create immense impact on audiences.

Disrupt Magazine’s Olivia Liveng sits down with Skilton to discuss how she has not only disrupted the podcast industry but inspired thousands while doing it.

OL: Tell me about your business and how you initially got into it.

RS: Podcast & Co. is a luxury, full-service podcast production, and management company. Honestly, it all started when I searched for fun yet an uncomfortable way to step out of my comfort zone and refind my voice. It took about 10 months to launch my podcast, Flaunt Your Flaws finally, and about 6 months after that, I launched “flaunt your podcast” with the help of my business coach at the time. That was the first version of Podcast & Co.

OL: You’ve genuinely disrupted the podcast industry with your bold ability to advocate for disabilities in an industry that always is perpetuating the idea of “loving yourself.” Tell us about that.

RS: Yeah, I was born with a physical difference, and although I had a great childhood in middle school, I started to self-bully and started believing the limiting stories I created for myself. This led to over 10 years of being ashamed of my difference, hiding behind sweaters, ignoring my story, and self-sabotaging everything I did to not have to show up. I lacked confidence, and I lost myself in these limiting stories. Hence, when I started this journey of finding myself again, I made it my mission to help and support as many humans as I can to remember who the fuck they are and the true power that comes with finding their self-love.

OL:  Where do you see your business in one year? Five years? 10 years?

RS: For Podcast & Co. I see myself building my team. Having editors, copywriters, graphic designers, musicians. I see us having “original” podcasts powered by Podcast & Co. and almost becoming a podcast network in five years. In 10 years, I see Podcast & Co. having its own building with multiple in-house studios, different podcast genre departments, and being a whole company.

OL: You love podcasts because of the power of words. Tell us about your most monumental moment in the industry so far.

RS:  I think two that stand out is definitely when multiple clients have said how they feel like I care about their mission as much as they do because I do. As well as when I’ve had parents of children with physical differences DM me about how much my podcast has helped them navigate supporting their child. I live for this, serving and supporting humans become a better version of themselves.