Tinfoil Tales

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► Tell us about you and your podcast

I started off as a vocalist for a metal band, and after years of doing that, during the lockdown era of 2020, I started listening to a couple of podcasts because I had the idea about starting one, which is when I came up with the name Tinfoil Tales.

I wanted to talk about weird topics that most people would think are either crazy or conspiracy theories. People like that are usually labeled a “tinfoil hat wearer” so that’s how I came up with the name.

It wouldn’t be until 2022 when I finally started actually recording and trying to get this show off the ground. The format changed from me sharing my opinions to interviewing others who have had weird experiences. Topics range from anything paranormal related to conspiracy theories, hidden history and lost knowledge to encounters with cryptid creatures like Bigfoot or dogman. There are also discussions with people who have had encounters with alien creatures and some who believe they have been abducted by extraterrestrial beings. There are all sorts of different guests who have come on to discuss their experiences.

I personally try to remain open on the subjects, but I keep a healthy dose of skepticism. I have had my own personal experiences that have led me to want to start this sort of podcast but I have always tried to look for rational reasonings or explanations, but I’ve come to realize that isn’t possible.

Tinfoil Tales has become a platform for others to share and talk about their experiences and not have to worry about being ridiculed or mocked. It’s for anyone who has been afraid of coming forward with their encounters because of the stigma that comes from being told that people who see these sorts of things are crazy.

The listeners of the show are a dedicated group spread out among the many listening apps and YouTube. Without the support from the community, and with some of them reaching out to share their experiences, it would be really hard to keep the show alive.
 

► Why & how did you start this podcast? 

I’m not an avid podcast listener. To be honest, I only listened to a couple of podcasts originally just to get an idea of formats. There’s only a few I still listen to, but I don’t want to be biased or influenced by someone else’s work.

Obviously there are other shows like mine, so I tend to just focus on what I’m doing and try to not pay attention to what others are doing.

My overall goal for the podcast was to give a judgment free platform for people to share and talk about topics that remain taboo in today’s cultures. I believe there’s a lot of strange things that happen to people, a lot of which are unexplainable, and most people aren’t willing to talk about it. A vast majority of experiencers are afraid of the backlash that comes from being open about their experiences, so that is a main reason as to why I wanted to start Tinfoil Tales. I’m not here to prove or disprove anyone, and they are free to discuss whatever it is they are comfortable with sharing.

I started the podcast in August of 2022. I recorded a couple of test episodes with a friend, but I didn’t release anything until after I interviewed a couple of others as I wanted to have a backlog of episodes to keep up with a weekly release schedule.

I use Zoom to interview guests remotely, so it makes it easier for everyone to be able to share their experiences with me rather than trying to have a studio and bring guests in. That’s not practical, and this just makes more sense to me to keep it remote.
 

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

I release a new episode every Tuesday. I try to keep each episode to around an hour but some are longer

I don’t spend a lot of time editing the episodes. I have pre-made intros and lead ins, and an outro, so it’s usually just uploading the audio and adjusting levels. Sometimes I try to make the guest sound a little cleaner but overall, it’s pretty much just adjusted levels.

I try to schedule a couple of interviews a week. I do night recordings, at 9:00 PM EST as it’s easier for me. I work a full time job, and have an active family, so it’s hard to manage the time but I have a very supportive wife who helps make sure that I am able to record my interviews and find the time to work on the episodes.

I spend around $75 a month roughly to be able to do this podcast. Hosting fees, Zoom, and some editing software costs are a monthly service. I don’t really spend any money towards marketing or advertising. Everything on my podcast is a grassroots approach. I want organic growth.
 

► What do you gain from podcasting?        

I never started the podcast for any sort of financial gain. I was hesitant to start monetizing my show because I do not like the idea of people profiting off the stories of others, but after discussing it with a few other podcasters, I was more open to the idea of breaking even. It costs money to run the show, so if I’m able to break even cost wise, I feel better about it.

I am open for sponsorships but I have not had any nor have I been actively engaged with trying to find someone. I have a decent sized listener base, but I would need to really believe in a product or service before I would endorse it.

My downloads have been around 7000 downloads a month. They peaked at around 9000 in November.

I’ve learned a lot more about the topics we discuss on the show. I’ve met a few people who I will still talk to outside of being a guest, as well as the engagement with listeners.
 

► How does your podcasting process look like? 

I use a Shure SM7b with a MOTU M2 interface, with a Cloudlifter. I use Reaper as a DAW to edit the audio.

All the interviews are recorded with Zoom.
 

► How do you market your show?

I use social media for marketing. As I stated before, I tend to just do a grassroots approach and the listener base is grown organically by others sharing episodes. I feel that’s the best approach for what I’m doing.
 

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

Don’t expect overnight success. Make sure you have your goals set and keep it realistic. Also make sure to have an idea of what you want the show to be able to be and to create the best content as possible.
 

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

You can find the podcast at the website http://www.tinfoiltales.com and it is available on all streaming platforms like Apple Podcast, Spotify, YouTube etc.

If anyone is interested in being a guest, they can contact me through the website or send an email to tinfoiltalespodcast@gmail.com and we will get you scheduled for a future episode.