DB Media

The months of May and June see some cool guests appearing on Podcaster Stories. In this bonus episode, I share who you can expect to hear from in the next few weeks.

Contact me: [email protected]

My equipment:

• Rode Podmic
• Focusrite Scarlett Solo 3rd Gen
• TRITON AUDIO Fethead In-Line Microphone Preamp
• Denon DJ HP-1100 Over Ear Headphones
• RockJam MS050 Adjustable Mic Suspension Boom
• Dragonpad Pop Filter

Recommended resources:

• Captivate.fm
• Aweber email marketing
• SquadCast remote interviewing

In this episode, I share why I'm sunsetting the Life Through a Dram podcast, and introduce the show that's taking over from it, Podcaster Stories.

I want to thank you for being here for this show's life, and hope to see you over at the new one. Slainte var.

• Check out Podcaster Stories

In this special episode of Podcaster Stories, I sit down with my wife, Jaclyn, to talk about my recent diagnosis with depression, how that’s changed me, what I’m doing to cope with it, and more.

Topics on the menu include:

• The symptoms I was experiencing in the lead-up to the diagnosis
• What made me seek help, as opposed to continuing to deal with it alone
• How my life has changed since that first diagnosis
• Are the therapy sessions and medications I’m on a quick fix?
• What advice I’d give for anyone suffering the same symptoms

Settle back for an open and honest conversation between my wife and I as we talk about something that still isn’t discussed as much as it should be.

Connect with Jaclyn:

• Mental Health and Me
• Mental Health and Me on Pinterest
• Mental Health and Me on Instagram
• Mental Health and Me podcast
• Mental Health and Me on Facebook (private group)

Contact me: [email protected]

My equipment:

• Rode Podmic
• Focusrite Scarlett Solo 3rd Gen
• TRITON AUDIO Fethead In-Line Microphone Preamp
• Denon DJ HP-1100 Over Ear Headphones
• RockJam MS050 Adjustable Mic Suspension Boom
• Dragonpad Pop Filter

Recommended resources:

• Captivate.fm
• Aweber email marketing
• SquadCast remote interviewing

We listen to our favourite podcasts, but don't always get to know the people behind the voices of the shows we listen to. Podcaster Stories looks to change that.

I'm Danny Brown, and I’ve met many people who’ve shared their stories of overcoming adversity, like abuse, cancer, and more. Their stories inspired me to start Podcaster Stories.

Each episode will have a conversation with podcasters across the world, and share their story – what motivates them, why they started their show, how they grew their show, and more. 

We’ll also get to hear their personal stories, and how that’s shaped them to be the person they are today.

Released weekly every Thursday, episodes are between 30-40 minutes long, and can be found on all popular podcasting apps, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, and more. 

You can also subscribe to the show’s newsletter, and get each week’s episode delivered directly to your email inbox, as well as exclusive content and behind the scenes snippets from the show.

Billed as "a must listen for podcast lovers", and highly rated for its excellent research and conversational style, Podcaster Stories is the show for you if you're looking to know more about the people behind the voice.

Contact me: [email protected]

My equipment:

• Rode Podmic
• Focusrite Scarlett Solo 3rd Gen
• TRITON AUDIO Fethead In-Line Microphone Preamp
• Denon DJ HP-1100 Over Ear Headphones
• RockJam MS050 Adjustable Mic Suspension Boom
• Dragonpad Pop Filter

Recommended resources:

• Captivate.fm
• Aweber email marketing
• SquadCast remote interviewing

One of the impacts with the new normal due to the coronavirus is having our kids home from school past the normal March Break period.

Not only does this offer a unique situation for parents to deal with, but also teachers, as they come to the realization that they may not get to finish the school year with their kids.

After all, given they spend 7 hours a day, 5 days a week with our kids, it's only natural to have teachers look to their students as part of their family. Given the sadness many teachers are feeling at the moment, I thought it'd be nice to show our appreciation

Topics on today's show include

• Why teachers are such an important part of our lives
• How they can shape our most important decisions with what may seem a small action at the time
• Why a lot of the person we are today stems from our teachers
• Why it's important for us to share our gratitude

Settle back for a chat about the role teachers play in shaping the adults we become, and how you can offer your own thanks.

Support Life Through a Dram

• Leave a review
• Listen on your favourite app
• Support with a donation - it helps keep the whisky topped up! :)

Contact me: [email protected]

My equipment

• Rode PodMic
• Focusrite Solo Scarlett 3rd Gen Audio Interface
• RockJam MS050 Adjustable Mic Suspension Boom
• Dragonpad Pop Filter

Mentioned on today's show

• Ardbeg 10 year old
• Ontario teachers strike
• My letter to Mr. Houston

Being a good person is not a given - you can say all the stuff in the world about how good you are, and how you'll look out for those around you.

But if your actions don't back up your words, you'll never be anything other than the person that said so much and delivered little.

This is especially true with the current global coronavirus pandemic, and how people are selfishly reacting to that.

We don't have to be that person. We shouldn't be that person. Whether we are or not, though, comes down to one simple question: Do you want to be a better person, truly?

Topics on today's show include

• How our decisions when we're younger impact our future lives
• Why we need discipline in our lives
• How I could have been a very different - as in worse - person than I am today
• Why we need to come together as a community in these trying times

Settle back for a chat about actions being more effective than words, and why the world needs us all to be better people.

Support Life Through a Dram

• Leave a review
• Listen on your favourite app
• Support with a donation - it helps keep the whisky topped up! :)

Contact me: [email protected]

My equipment

• Samson Q2U Dynamic Mic
• Focusrite Solo Scarlett 3rd Gen Audio Interface
• RockJam MS050 Adjustable Mic Suspension Boom
• Dragonpad Pop Filter

Mentioned on today's show

• Glenrothes 12 year old
• Corona virus panic buying
• Army Cadets

As parents, we want what's best for our kids, no matter what that may relate to - school, fun, love, etc. We sign them up for new adventures, hoping they'll find enjoyment there.

But are we really signing them up for stuff that they want to do, or stuff that we want them to do, with the belief that we, the parents, aren't being selfish?

These questions came to me as a moment of realization a couple of years ago, when my son decided he no longer wanted to do martial arts, something I'd done as a younger man and was now pleased to see my son take an interest in.

Topics on today's show include

• Why we need to remember kids are still just kids
• Why we need to step back and ask the reasons we want them to do something
• Why disappointment isn't the best approach
• Why we need to let kids choose what makes them happy, as opposed to what we feel will

Settle back for a chat about lessons from kids, and adults realizing that selfishness and encouragement tread a very fine line sometimes.

Support Life Through a Dram

• Leave a review
• Listen on your favourite app
• Support with a donation - it helps keep the whisky topped up! :)

Contact me: [email protected]

My equipment

• Samson Q2U Dynamic Mic
• RockJam MS050 Adjustable Mic Suspension Boom
• Dragonpad Pop Filter

Mentioned on today's show

• Suntory Hakushu 12 year old

One of the things that doesn't get spoken about often enough is the loneliness that can be felt when downsizing and starting over.

This doesn’t necessarily need to be the kind of loneliness that you’re completely off-grid, or you have no friends, or you’ve left family and all you know behind.

No, it’s more about the loneliness of simple things that you may have taken for granted, or maybe didn’t put as much thinking into before making the move.

In episode two of A Downsized Life, I talk about:

• [01:29] Missing simple social gatherings when downsizing
• [02:12] Missing the convenience of things to do within walking distance of your home
• [04:37] The incredible darkness that northern Ontario offers
• [06:14] Why loneliness can be a good thing

Listen in as Danny shares his thoughts on these challenges, and what comes next in our journey to downsize our lives.

Note: these contain affiliate links, so I may get a small percentage of any product you buy/use when using my link.

My equipment:

• Shure SM7B dynamic mic
• Rodecaster Pro II audio production studio
• Sony MDR-7506 Studio Monitor Headphones
• Elgato Wave Mic Arm Low Profile

Recommended resources:

• Captivate.fm
• Substack
• Boomcaster remote interviewing

• Instagram
• Twitter

Do all kids simply have imaginary conversations, or are there spirits of kids that died early that roam the earth looking for friends to keep them company?

Do all kids find a storytelling gift early, and it’s only when they go to school and are taught that it’s “bad” to use your imagination that they lose the will to converse with someone that isn’t there?

These questions came to me again recently following a conversation with my daughter, and a memory of something that happened when she was 4 years old.

Topics on the menu include

• Having your 4 year old daughter freak you out
• Movies that scare you
• There's a lot of kids have weird experiences
• I believe in UFO's
• Christmas movies and the message they share

Settle back for a chat about invisible friends, imaginations being allowed to grow, and why we need to rediscover the child in us.

Support Life Through a Dram

• Leave a review
• Listen on your favourite app
• Support with a donation - it helps keep the whisky topped up! :)

Contact me: [email protected]

My equipment

• Samson Q2U Dynamic Mic
• RockJam MS050 Adjustable Mic Suspension Boom
• Dragonpad Pop Filter

Mentioned on today's show

• The Conjuring movie
• Can cats see ghosts?
• The meaning of Mushu
• The Polar Express
• Why we need to listen more to kids
• Lagavulin 16 year old

Being an entrepreneur can be hard. Coping with mental health issues while growing and running your own business can add immense stress, both to you personally and those around you.

This is something that green industry professional Josh Currivan knows only too well. The last time we chatted, we spoke about his younger life, his upbringing, his mental health issues, and how that had led him to where he is today.

In this episode, we catch up one year later to talk about mental health and entrepreneurship, and how the two are intertwined.

Topics on the menu include

• What it means to be an entrepreneur while coping with mental health
• How it can impact your personal, family, and professional life
• How having ADHD impacts your business
• Why the predominantly male-dominated green industry still needs to talk more about mental health
• Why it's important to take moments of stillness for yourself

Settle back for a chat about the pressures of wanting to succeed, why you need to take the emotion out of business decisions to, and why the "go after everything" mindset is hurting you.

Connect with Josh:

• Josh Currivan on Instagram
• The WeScape podcast

Support Life Through a Dram

• Leave a review
• Listen on your favourite app
• Support with a donation - it helps keep the whisky topped up! :)

Contact me: [email protected]

My equipment

• Samson Q2U Dynamic Mic
• RockJam MS050 Adjustable Mic Suspension Boom
• Dragonpad Pop Filter

Mentioned on today's show

• Mental Health, Juve Systems, and MeToo, with Josh Currivan
• My wife and I, and our journey with mental health
• Lawn Care Legends Facebook group
• Bowmore 12 year old single malt whisky