Off Colored Discussions Podcast

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Tuntutan

►Tell us about you and your podcast

My name is Joseph (Joe B.) and I host Off Colored Discussions Podcast (OCDiscussions) with my friend and co-host Billy (Billy C.). Off Colored Discussions is an open format conversation with a variety of friends and guests, while tasting on a new craft beer each week. Majority have come from local breweries, but our palates have definitely travelled.

Guests have ranged from a local politician, whose platform was for legal recreational marijuana, to a standup comedian fundraiser who also happens to be an award winning adult toy saleswoman. From veterans, to brewery owners. Hip hop artists, to podcasts hosts. We want to talk with everyone. Our listeners are people who want to laugh, and listen to 2 friends having a conversation with people. And perhaps they'll even learn something. 

►Why & how did you start this podcast? 

I've heard of podcasts, but never knew anything about them. I was subscribed to Joe Rogan Experience on YouTube for 3 years before I even listened. When we moved back up from PA, we lived in western NH (Greenville). I began going to a crossfit gym in Merrimack. On those drives, I began to listen to JRE on YouTube. Then looked for a podcast app so I could download. As I listened to guests that he had on I began to download more and more, and to explore the many podcasts that are out there; all while thinking, ”this is something I can do”.

Sitting at Billy's daughter's birthday party, the subject of podcasts came up. He and I both expressed interest in doing one. Once my wife and I bought our house, I slowly began piecing a studio together. July of '17 we began recording. The first week in August, we launched our website, iTunes, and everything. We’ve grown and progressed into an audio and video version of the podcast. 

My motivation for doing this is to build a business. Between the podcast, renting the studio, and hosting fundraisers, I am hoping to build something that will give me freedom from the normal day to day job, and open avenues to give me opportunities to grow. Also a way for my friends and I to be a part of something. 

►How'd you find the time and funding to do this podcast?

We release weekly episodes of the audio version. We recently began splitting it up and releasing Tuesday and Thusday as a way to draw in some that like shorter podcasts. 

We recently began live streaming our recordings as a way to hopefully pull in another audience. We plan to do more live stream game plays but those are limited to fall and winter. 

Being a conversation, there isn't too much for productions. We record and live stream Wednesday night. I do our post production on Friday night and prep for release on Tuesday and Thursday. I dedicate time to advertising, any promotions, and lining up guests. If I have to do some of this at my day to day job, they're understanding. Sometimes 😉. 

We spend about $50 a month right now in hosting and advertising. We have a couple sponsors to help offset these costs. 

►What do you gain from podcasting?        

We have two dedicated sponsors and the specialty beer store cuts us a deal on the beer that is featured on the show.  I reached out to our first sponsor, Smoke Proper, because he was new, and I believed in the product. Right now it's more about covering costs rather than profit. 

Podcasting has helped leaps and bounds with me as far as approaching people and talking with them. Just having an actual conversation. It has also driven me to learn new things so I have something to talk about and not just the same recycled stuff. 

►How does your podcasting process look like? 

I built an in-home studio with a 2 camera setup. We use Audactiy for our audio and just an OBS and video capture for our live stream. 
We found guests by going after people we wanted to talk with. Friends. And now we have people approaching us. We recently had a young author, whose publicist appraiched us for the appearance. We used Skype for that, and plan to use it for many more ideas. 

►How do you market your show?

We're on iTunes, Spotify, Google Play, Stitcher, YouTube. We used Facebook in the beginning but have recently started using Instagram and Twitter more. Our Instagram is full of beer photos from a lot of the ones that we have tried. 

►What advice would you share with aspiring (new) podcasters?

Breathe. There are times when you won't get a download or a play for a day or more. Just remember to breathe and work on putting out the best show you can. 

Blubrry has a nice resource pod. Podcast Ninja. Gary Vee. So many resources. 

►Where can we learn more about you & your podcasts?

• OffColoredDiscussions.blubrry.net
• Twitter.com/OCDiscussions
• Instagram.com/OCDiscussions
• Facebook.com/OCDiscussions
• OCDiscussions@gmail.com