Southwest podcast connects employees with CEO

New technology allows employees to hear directly from CEO Gary Kelly each week

As a former disc jockey, Southwest Airlines’ Steve Heaser is a natural podcaster. So the first time he heard about this relatively new communication vehicle, he got excited.

“I first heard about it at a Ragan seminar in Las Vegas, in one of Shel Holtz’s sessions,” Heaser says. “I was a DJ in college for 11 years, and also worked in a recording studio. So I had a basic knowledge of audio editing and production … but what really excited me was that you could do a podcast using free software, like Audacity and iTunes.”

The first podcast Heaser did had nothing to do with Southwest Airlines or its business, however. He actually cut his podcasting teeth doing a show about his hobby: competitive chili cooking.

“I immediately registered the domain Chilipodcast.com, and I’ve now done about 20 episodes already,” he says. “It’s pure fun, so if anyone is interested in some highbrow educational material, don’t bother listening!”