Retrospective, in-depth interviews with people from the entertainment and business industries.

My name is McAuley Tucker and I'm from Ontario, Canada. I've been running The McAuley Tucker Show since I was 15 years old (I'm now 20). The show is a long-form interview podcast where I track down and speak with people from the entertainment industry (Hollywood actors, directors, musicians, social media figures, and cultural icons). Some of my favourite guests have been retired actors who have stepped away from the spotlight; it's genuinely exciting to find them and bring them back into a conversation after all these years.My listeners tend to skew toward younger audiences, but the show genuinely attracts men and women of all ages. There's no co-host as it's just me, the guest, and a good conversation.
 

I started the show in 2020 during COVID while I was in online high school. Part of a class assignment was to record a podcast episode, and at the time I was deeply involved in the online community around MrBeast, which connected me with editors and community moderators who became my first guests.

Before podcasting, I had always dreamed of working in film as I wanted to be a director. When that path didn't work out, I looked for another way into the industry. I figured that if I was a podcaster, essentially press, interesting people might actually agree to talk with me. So I challenged myself to interview industry leaders from Hollywood as a way in. That initial goal gradually shifted into a genuine fascination with people and their stories.

I released my very first episode within weeks of starting. Back then I was releasing one per month. Things have slowed since life got busier, but the ambition has only grown.
 

When I started at 15, I was doing school from home, which meant I was always at my desk. I'd finish my schoolwork and immediately pivot to researching guests or writing questions. The flexibility was a huge advantage early on.

Episodes can now take anywhere from a month to over a year to release, mostly because I pursue very high-profile guests who often say "not now", sometimes repeatedly, before eventually saying yes. Persistence is a big part of the process.

In terms of cost, I've kept it extremely lean. Over the years I've only paid for a few microphones, a Zoom subscription, and an IMDb Pro subscription. I have never paid for advertising. I've funded everything myself and have not made any revenue from the show to date. No sponsorships yet, though I'd genuinely welcome one.
 

I haven't taken any sponsorships yet and have made zero revenue from the show. That said, what I've gained in other ways has been invaluable. Podcasting has deepened my understanding of the film and entertainment industry through real conversations with the people who built it. It has strengthened relationships, opened doors to working opportunities outside the podcast, and pushed me to grow as a communicator and researcher.

A milestone I'm particularly proud of: after five years of persistence, I was accepted onto my first press junket list this year. That alone made the whole journey worth it. I also was able to interview the world's most famous celebrity photographer before he passed, marking his last interview EVER!
 

My process always starts with finding the right guest, usually someone connected to a film or project I grew up loving. Retired or under-the-radar figures are a personal favourite because there's so much untapped ground to cover.

Once I have a potential guest, I confirm their interest before doing any deep research. No point spending two days on someone who's going to say no. Once they're in, I spend one to two days researching: Google searches, YouTube interviews, looking specifically for topics that haven't been covered elsewhere or moments in their life that deserve more attention. I compile questions and sometimes share them with the guest ahead of time. Usually structure them in such a way where it tells a story.

Interviews are conducted over Zoom. I then edit in iMovie and release the audio to Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, and other platforms, with the video going to YouTube.
 

My strategy has been to get the show listed and findable in as many places as possible: Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, YouTube, IMDb, and my own website where every episode is catalogued. I also have an Instagram account where I announce each new episode when it goes live.

I haven't paid for any advertising to date, so most discovery has been organic like through platforms, search, and word of mouth. Instagram has been my primary social channel for announcements, though I've also posted clips to YouTube in the past when time allowed.
 

Persistence is everything. When you start out you're unlikely to land a dream guest immediately, and that's completely normal. It took me five years to get on my first press junket list. Keep going anyway.

A few specific things I've learned: always wait for a clear yes or a clear no. Silence is not always a no so don't always take it as a no, because emails get lost in spam folders all the time. Sometimes your third follow-up email is the one that gets a response. Also, confirm a guest's interest before investing hours in research. And don't let the lack of revenue or sponsorship discourage you early on. The non-financial returns from podcasting are real and they compound over time.
 

Where you can learn more:
🎙 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4nA3w9KULq8DMgfOjpPxyi
🎙 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-mcauley-tucker-show/id1518402588
📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@McAuleyTucker
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themcauleytuckershow/
🌐 Website & all episodes: https://mcauleytucker.com/home/podcast/
💛 Support via PayPal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/mcauleytucker