Podcaster Stories

This week, I sit down with Tony Doe, host of The Tony Doe Podcast, where he chats with radio broadcasters who answer questions fans are curious about.

This audio series is about people from different backgrounds who share their radio stories, and how they feel about the medium's present and future.

Art Reflecting Life

Tony's background is in radio, and his show reflects that, with his guests coming from the medium and sharing why they chose radio, and what they're using it for to share their messages or art.

This is also true for Tony, who has used the pandemic to share his knowledge with younger people, and help them get their break in radio and the audio medium.

Does Podcasting Need More Regulation?

Because of his background in radio, Tony is well-versed in what can and can't be said on public radio. This changes drastically when it comes to podcasting, and he shares some great insights on what he feels are the biggest differences, and how we can bridge them.

It's a great platform for preparing people for radio; but it's also a great platform for discussing the things you can't talk about on radio.2022 - The Year of the Indie Podcaster?

Tony firmly believes that 2022 is the year that the indie podcaster can shine. While mega-million dollars continue to shape who's who in the industry, this leaves a gap for the indie podcaster to be truly contextual for their listener, and deliver a more custom listening experience.

The Responsibility of Trust

We spoke about the recent controversy around Joe Rogan, and what that might mean for both podcasters and platforms when it comes to what can be said on a podcast. Tony's a believer that the audience needs to make an informed choice - but the podcaster also has a big part to play.

Just because I have a podcast doesn't mean I have to fool you or deceive you. I owe you, the listener, the responsibility of trust.

Connect with Tony:

• The Tony Doe Podcast
• Tony on Twitter

Contact me: [email protected]

My equipment:

• Electro-Voice RE320
• Motu M2 Audio Interface
• Denon DJ HP-1100 Over Ear Headphones
• Podcast Pro Boom Arm by Accu-Lite and O.C. White

Recommended resources:

• Captivate.fm
• Aweber email marketing
• Accusonus audio plugins
• Boomcaster remote interviewing
• My Podcast Reviews
• Reel.so audiogram creator

Season 4 of Podcaster Stories is sponsored by Accusonus. Make okay audio sound great with their built-in plugins to repair bad audio, for podcasters and creators alike! Visit podcasterstories.com/audio and use the coupon PodcasterStories10 at checkout to get a sweet 10% off the ERA Bundle Standard yearly subscription!

This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:

Podtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrp

This week, I sit down with Becca Atkinson, host of The Unashamed Alcoholic, where she talks with sober people using their platforms to speak openly about their journey with addiction.

This includes sports stars, media celebrities, and more, and who inspired Becca to openly talk about her own journey as a recovering alcoholic.

The Freeing Power of Openness

Becca shares how she didn't do anything by halves when it came to opening up about her journey as an alcoholic. Indeed, it was on a national radio station that she first got the courage to speak up, and she never looked back from there.

I wanted him to know he wasn't alone and he still had a fan in me.

When Bobby Ryan of NHL hockey team Ottawa Senators shared his own story of addiction, Becca wrote a letter to her local newspaper stating her unequivocal support for the player, and thanking him for his bravery in talking out This, in turn, enabled her own bravery.

The Expectation of Drinking

Despite more people opening up and talking about their own journeys with alcohol and addiction, it's still a very taboo subject for many. Becca feels this can come down to how we've normalized drinking - we're simply expected to start drinking at legal age - but we haven't yet normalized talking about addiction.

I was never told being sober is an optionThe Conversations with Family

When Becca was going through her journey, it led to conversations with her family about what she had been going through, and the lengths she'd gone at times to hide that journey. It was interesting to hear how the different parts of the journey she was on led to very different conversations with her family, especially her two young children.

The Growth Process of Recovery

Recently, Becca posted a tweet about receiving an email from her ex-husband, and how she read the first line and deleted it, knowing she didn't need that negativity in her life anymore. As she says, this is a part of the recovery process, and a good indicator of how far she's come.

You just automatically start to do things that are better for you

Connect with Becca:

• The Unashamed Alcoholic
• Becca on Twitter

Contact me: [email protected]

My equipment:

• Electro-Voice RE320
• Motu M2 Audio Interface
• Denon DJ HP-1100 Over Ear Headphones
• Podcast Pro Boom Arm by Accu-Lite and O.C. White

Recommended resources:

• Captivate.fm
• Aweber email marketing
• Accusonus audio plugins
• Boomcaster remote interviewing
• My Podcast Reviews
• Reel.so audiogram creator

Season 4 of Podcaster Stories is sponsored by Accusonus. Make okay audio sound great with their built-in plugins to repair bad audio, for podcasters and creators alike! Visit podcasterstories.com/audio and use the coupon PodcasterStories10 at checkout to get a sweet 10% off the ERA Bundle Standard yearly subscription!

This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:

Podtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrp

This week, I sit down with Kevin Steinberg, host of the Frankly Kev podcast, where he talks to everyday heroes who have experienced one or more of life's many challenges.

No experts giving you a checklist of how to perfectly do things. Or spokespeople and gurus to sell you products with pitch-perfect phrases. No celebrities to gawk at or fawn over. Just real people telling you real life stories.

You Know What? They're People Too

When Kevin first started his show, he used to do a quick intro about his guest and then get straight to the "meat" of the topic they were talking about. But then he had an epiphany - you wouldn't talk like this away from podcasting, so why do it now? This led to a much different, and more valued, approach to his show.

Putting Yourself in Someone Else's Shoes

Kevin's background is in acting, and he feels this is a key part of him being able to make guests feel comfortable when it comes to talking about very difficult topics. He tries to put himself in their shoes, to see what feels right and what shouldn't be asked, and that helps him really empathize with his guests.

If this is a teachable moment, please tell me and we'll move on.My Sovereign Shield Has Been Humour

Despite the topics on the show being dark, Kevin shares how he and his guests often laugh while recording, because sometimes that's the best defence - and offence - against the horrors that life can throw at us.

People Who Need People

Kevin takes his inspiration in life from other people. Whether that's people whose views he agrees with, or those who differ greatly - just taking the time to talk, listen, and learn. Because at the end of the day, we're all we've got.

The Heroes Behind the Scenes

While Kevin's podcast is about everyday heroes and what they've overcome, his goal for the second season and beyond is an interesting take on the people behind the heroes.

Connect with Kevin:

• Frankly Kev Podcast
• Frankly Kev About page (check it out, it's awesome!)

Contact me: [email protected]

My equipment:

• Electro-Voice RE320
• Motu M2 Audio Interface
• Denon DJ HP-1100 Over Ear Headphones
• Podcast Pro Boom Arm by Accu-Lite and O.C. White

Recommended resources:

• Captivate.fm
• Aweber email marketing
• Accusonus audio plugins
• Boomcaster remote interviewing
• My Podcast Reviews
• Reel.so audiogram creator

Season 4 of Podcaster Stories is sponsored by Accusonus. Make okay audio sound great with their built-in plugins to repair bad audio, for podcasters and creators alike! Visit podcasterstories.com/audio and use the coupon PodcasterStories10 at checkout to get a sweet 10% off the ERA Bundle Standard yearly subscription!

This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:

Podtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrp

This week, I sit down with Suzanne Falter, host of the Self-Care for Extremely Busy Women podcast, a show about the importance of self-care and building healthy self-care habits for women everywhere.

She's also the author of several books and continues the legacy of her daughter Teal, who passed in 2012 ,through helping other women be who they were meant to be.

On Slowing Down and Going Within

Suzanne shares the importance of taking care of ourselves. She had never done that her whole life, and it was only when she lost her daughter that she made the time to truly focus on her and her wellness.

A Certain Level of Denial

As we enter the third year of the global pandemic that is Covid, Suzanne makes an important point about the toll it's taken on us as human beings, beyond the obvious physical loss of life.

We need to keep the ability to daydream to get insights to our recovery.The Lights Are Shining

Suzanne's show has a multitude of guests on a variety of topics, and she shares the example of one who talked about the rise in verbal abuse, and how we may not treat that the same as we do with physical abuse. 

This then results in tragic circumstances as we see the fallout of silence and inaction. She hopes social justice movements like #MeToo will drive more conversations and awareness.

On the Need to Remove Cultural Conditioning

With Suzanne's podcast and books geared towards empowering women to live the life they want and deserve, she talks about how cultural conditioning is stopping women from meeting that goal. Often they feel guilty for wanting more, and this line of thinking has been instilled almost from birth.

We like to do more than the job requires.Being the Person Her Daughter Wanted Her to Be

As her daughter Teal lay in her hospital bed, Suzanne realized she knew she was going to die, and this realization made her determined to be the kind of person her daughter would have wanted her to be. 

Connect with Suzanne:

• Suzanne's website
• The Self-Care for Extremely Busy Women Podcast
• The Self-Care Group for Extremely Busy Women

Contact me: [email protected]

My equipment:

• Electro-Voice RE320
• Motu M2 Audio Interface
• Denon DJ HP-1100 Over Ear Headphones
• Podcast Pro Boom Arm by Accu-Lite and O.C. White

Recommended resources:

• Captivate.fm
• Aweber email marketing
• Accusonus audio plugins
• Boomcaster remote interviewing
• My Podcast Reviews
• Reel.so audiogram creator

Season 4 of Podcaster Stories is sponsored by Accusonus. Make okay audio sound great with their built-in plugins to repair bad audio, for podcasters and creators alike! Visit podcasterstories.com/audio and use the coupon PodcasterStories10 at checkout to get a sweet 10% off the ERA Bundle Standard yearly subscription!

This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:

Podtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrp

This week, I sit down with Andrew Davie, co-host of the Happy Hour with Heather and Guest podcast, a show that highlights local artists to perform and promote their music, live events, and more.

Andrew is also a survivor of a life-changing event that happened on his 40th birthday, and he shares that story and more on today's episode.

The Opposing Views That Got Him Into Podcasting

While the podcast that he co-hosts with Heather is his current passion project, Andrew had another podcast that ran for several years, over 500+ episodes. He shares how listening to a podcast where one co-host had to convince the other host why a certain band was good helped him on his podcast journey.

The Expectation in Life of How Something is Going to Be

Andrew used the example of how heavy metal music fans are supposed to look a certain way and how he looks anything but that. And that's something that we need to look at in life, how our expectations are shaped by stereotypical learnings, and how that holds us back.

How a Series of Unfortunate Circumstances Saved His Life

Andrew was due to fly out to visit his family, but his life was about to take a huge turn. Thankfully, as Andrew shares, there was a series of unfortunate - but, as it turned out, fortunate - circumstances that led him to where he is today.

"It's the little things that get you through the difficult days."

Connect with Andrew:

• Andrew's website
• Happy Hour with Heather and Guest

Contact me: [email protected]

My equipment:

• Electro-Voice RE320
• Motu M2 Audio Interface
• Denon DJ HP-1100 Over Ear Headphones
• Podcast Pro Boom Arm by Accu-Lite and O.C. White

Recommended resources:

• Captivate.fm
• Aweber email marketing
• Accusonus audio plugins
• Boomcaster remote interviewing
• My Podcast Reviews
• Reel.so audiogram creator

Season 4 of Podcaster Stories is sponsored by Accusonus. Make okay audio sound great with their built-in plugins to repair bad audio, for podcasters and creators alike! Visit podcasterstories.com/audio and use the coupon PodcasterStories10 at checkout to get a sweet 10% off the ERA Bundle Standard yearly subscription!

This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:

Podtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrp

This week, I sit down with Nick Nalbach, host of the Nine-Five Podcast, a show that features entrepreneurs sharing what got them to where they’re at to help you get inspired to launch your own entrepreneurial journey.

From new entrepreneurs to entrepreneurial veterans, Nick dives into what made them choose this path, and how they’ve managed to find success in their given niche.

I don't really know what to do with my hands

Nick's original idea was for a video show, but he felt uncomfortable being "on display", and wasn't really sure how to present himself that the audio-only option of a podcast was far more attractive.

Content that Has an Impact

Nick makes a really good point on how we can often talk ourselves out of creating something, because we feel we'll never be as good as someone who's already doing it. But all content can make an impact, and that's the thing we should be looking at.

I can be present

Nick shares how he spent years blogging, and he could never have imagined having the guest he has on his podcast write guest posts for the blog. However, having a podcast has given him a presence that guests seem to be more inclined to appear on, and that's helped him grow personally and professionally.

Why You Should Fire Yourself From Your Business

One of the things that can be hard to manage is when to outsource your needs. Finances can play a part, as can being reluctant to let go of your "baby". But as Nick shares with an example from one of his guest's, hiring can make you much more efficient and thereby earn more revenue.

Success is Different for Everybody

Nick talks about why he was always turned off by the 9-5 job, and much of it is down to the lack of control. You're always adhering to someone else's clock and schedule, and you usually have little say in how your own work life revolves around that. Not that you can't feel successful in a 9-5 job, as everyone's goals are different.

Connect with Nick:

• Nine-Five to Freedom
• Nine-Five Podcast
• Nick on Twitter

Contact me: [email protected]

My equipment:

• Electro-Voice RE320
• Motu M2 Audio Interface
• Denon DJ HP-1100 Over Ear Headphones
• Podcast Pro Boom Arm by Accu-Lite and O.C. White

Recommended resources:

• Captivate.fm
• Aweber email marketing
• Boomcaster remote interviewing
• My Podcast Reviews
• Reel.so audiogram creator

Season 4 of Podcaster Stories is sponsored by Accusonus. Make okay audio sound great with their built-in plugins to repair bad audio, for podcasters and creators alike! Visit podcasterstories.com/audio and use the coupon PodcasterStories10 at checkout to get a sweet 10% off the ERA Bundle Standard yearly subscription!

This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:

Podtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrp

This week, I sit down with Tommy Serafinski, host of Tommy's Outdoors, a show that looks at the relationship between humans and wildlife, and how that affects biodiversity, conservation, rewilding, and more.

Each episode, Tommy interviews guests across all spectrums of the space, often with different viewpoints from each other. It's an approach that Tommy says is super valuable when it comes to learning.

I learn something in every episode.

One of the things that Tommy is adamant in providing is a space for everyone to talk, even when he might vehemently disagree with his guest's point of view. For Tommy, this ensures an honest and open discussion where he, his guest, and listeners may come away with a different viewpoint..

Commonalities Bring Us Together

Approaching a difficult topic with a tunnel vision point of view that only your take is the right one is not the way to go. Tommy likens it to trying to attack a heavily fortified army installation, where the only thing that's going to happen is conflict.

It's important to focus on things we have in common.

Instead, by focusing on commonalities, we can start to build bridges and shared understanding.

The Depletion That Impacts Us All

Tommy talks about the differences between his native Poland and his adopted home Ireland. One of the biggest things he's noticed is how little natural habitat is left in Ireland, and that the industrialization of the West has removed the learnings and growth we can take from human and wildlife interaction.

Industrialization is killing the opportunity for human and wildlife interaction.Why We Need a Conversation Platform

Tying in to his goal of offering a platform for everyone to share their beliefs, Tommy's goal for the show is to make it known as a conversation platform.

Social media is not the medium for discussion.

While social media sees ideas shot down in vitriolic attacks, Tommy feels podcasts and open-minded hosts are the way forward for actual conversation and learning.

Connect with Tommy:

• Tommy's Outdoors
• Tommy's Outdoors Podcast

Contact me: [email protected]

My equipment:

• Electro-Voice RE320
• Motu M2 Audio Interface
• Denon DJ HP-1100 Over Ear Headphones
• Podcast Pro Boom Arm by Accu-Lite and O.C. White

Recommended resources:

• Captivate.fm
• Aweber email marketing
• Boomcaster remote interviewing
• My Podcast Reviews

Season 4 of Podcaster Stories is sponsored by Accusonus. Make okay audio sound great with their built-in plugins to repair bad audio, for podcasters and creators alike! Visit podcasterstories.com/audio and use the coupon PodcasterStories10 at checkout to get a sweet 10% off the ERA Bundle Standard yearly subscription!

This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:

Podtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrp

Hopefully 2021 may be the year we finally started to see light at the end of a very long tunnel, and 2022 brings happier times all round. With that in mind, I just wanted to share my end of year wishes and updates.

For regular listeners of the show, you'll have noticed it's been a bit quiet here since Season 4 launched.

Instead of the usual weekly series, only the first two episodes were published, and then silence. I sincerely apologize for this, it was definitely not the intent. Here's what happened.

As you'll know, the show features podcasters opening up about their personal stories. These are stories that may not have been heard before in public, and can be very raw and emotional, and I sincerely thank all of my guests so far for being so open with their stories. This can lead to emotions in me coming to the fore, when the struggles of a guest are ones I've been through myself, or loved ones around me have.

Some of you may know this about me from an earlier episode where I spoke with my wife, but I was diagnosed with depression and anxiety around 4 years ago. For the majority of the time, it's something that I can manage, but now and again the shadows block out the light.

This has been particularly true with Covid, and its impact on all our lives. Everything has changed, and sometimes it's hard to see where all this might end. Especially when you have two young kids that you're doing everything you can to protect them, in a world where not everyone wants to be part of that protective community.

Anyhoo... as a result of the increased emotions from the stories shared by my guests, and sheer fight or flight exhaustion in trying to keep my family safe, I decided to take a mental health break where I could focus on the lighter side of life.

Summer at the beach, getting out on the lake, experiencing the beautiful natural surroundings of where we live, etc. And it was exactly what I needed to refresh both my creative and personal energy.

So, Podcaster Stories will return very early in the New Year. I have some amazing guests lined up, and each one has an incredibly inspiring story to share. 

In the meantime, to keep the podcasting juices flowing, I've just launched a new show called Memories of 3DO, which looks at the history of a gaming console classic that was ultimately doomed to fail. This is a fun little project for me, and may lead to others in a series.

The show is snackable content, with each episode less than 5 minutes long. If classic video games are your thing, you can find out more at 3dopodcast.com

Thanks so much for being part of the Podcaster Stories community, and thanks for your messages and emails asking if everything was okay, I sincerely appreciate them. 

Until the next time, stay safe and take care.

Contact me: [email protected]

My equipment:

• Electro-Voice RE320
• Motu M2 Audio Interface
• Denon DJ HP-1100 Over Ear Headphones
• Podcast Pro Boom Arm by Accu-Lite and O.C. White

Recommended resources:

• Captivate.fm
• Aweber email marketing
• RiversideFM remote interviewing
• My Podcast Reviews

This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:

Podtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrp

After suffering from severe stress while going through her doctorate, Dr. Alice fell into a downward spiral of alcohol abuse. This continued until she realized her problem, and she has been sober for three years since.

It's this experience that led Dr. Alice to starting the Beyond the Pink Cloud podcast, where she talks to people that have overcome their own battles with substance abuse, as well as inspired others by living their best lives.

Topics up for discussion this week include:

• how the podcast grew from her own recovery from alcohol abuse
• how the Covid-19 pandemic is leading to higher stress and addiction temptation
• how we're adding to our stress levels while working from home
• how the show's direction has evolved from recovery-focused to multiple fields of expertise across various topics
• why she's inspired by people living their dreams
• some of the hurdles that are hard to overcome when dealing with abuse
• how the drinking culture of different countries affects addiction levels
• the fear of sharing her story in the first few episodes
• how she became a semi-professional fire dancer

Settle back for an open and honest discussion about addiction, recovery, and what that means to the people afflicted, and those surrounding them.

Connect with Dr. Alice:

• The Kerby Method
• Beyond the Pink Cloud podcast
• Dr. Alice on Facebook

Contact me: [email protected]

My equipment:

• Electro-Voice RE320
• Motu M2 Audio Interface
• Denon DJ HP-1100 Over Ear Headphones
• Podcast Pro Boom Arm by Accu-Lite and O.C. White

Recommended resources:

• Captivate.fm
• Aweber email marketing
• RiversideFM remote interviewing
• My Podcast Reviews

Season 4 of Podcaster Stories is sponsored by Accusonus. Make okay audio sound great with their built-in plugins to repair bad audio, for podcasters and creators alike! Visit podcasterstories.com/audio and use the coupon PodcasterStories10 at checkout to get a sweet 10% off the ERA Bundle Standard yearly subscription!

This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:

Podtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrp