► Tell us about you and your podcast
My name is Matt F Basler and my podcast is called Matt F Basler's Podcast. It is a name my mother came up with.
I am currently trying to decide between co-hosts but I'm sure I am very close to a decision. The podcast is about people talking and talking to each other and saying the thing you do and things about it. Usually I talk to people who do music or comedy or a different thing.
► Why & how did you start this podcast?
I started listening to podcasts and realized it would be a good way to force people to talk to me for an hour. So far, I have found this to be very true. If I were to admit to a secondary goal, it would be to get rich from forcing people to talk to me.
I started this podcast back when it was easy to get people to listen to your podcast because not that many existed. But then I didn't upload regularly. Now I do upload regularly and it's very hard to get people to listen to your podcast because you legally have to have one.
► How'd you find the time and funding to do this podcast?
I release an episode every week. The podcast is recorded at beautiful Suburban Pro Studios in St. Louis, Missouri or in my home. I almost never edit my podcast because I am prefer to release a real and true experience and also because I don't know how to use the software in that way.
I do promote the podcast with facebook ads, but the last one was just me in a robe and I don't know how well that is working.
► What do you gain from podcasting?
I haven't made any money from podcasting. I also have never taken a sponsor. But also, I have never asked anybody to be a sponsor. I mean look, I'm feeling pretty good if we break trip dig (triple digits) on an episode. Do people pay to put ads on something like that? Should I have been monetizing this for years? Could I have already become very rich?
The way you are asking some of these questions makes me think I am doing a lot of things wrong. This is troubling.
Podcasting has benefited my friendships in that now it looks like I have some.
► How does your podcasting process look like?
When I record at Suburban Pro Studios, it's a magical professional situation and I don't even know the names of all the things. I know we record to protools.
At the house, Suburban Pro let's me borrow a Zoom H6 if I swear not to break it or get it too sticky.
I find most of my guests through facebook. Either looking at what indie bands are touring through the area, or hitting up locals. I guess I kind of just catfish them by pretending I'm a very popular and good podcast.
To prepare, I look at their facebook page and then... well then eventually I just talk about what billboards are bothering me.
All of the interviews have been in person, but I'd like to try call in someday. I do call my mother during the podcast often.
► How do you market your show?
I market through social media. Facebook brings in the most listeners. iTunes is by far the biggest podcast platform my listeners use.
► What advice would you share with aspiring (new) podcasters?
Just do whatever you want and get better at it and don't worry about it and who cares and if one episode is bad maybe the next one won't be no big deal. Also, just kind of ripoff a show you like. You'll find your own voice soon enough.