► Tell us about you and your podcast
I’m an Australian husband, father, cyclist, blogger and podcaster with over 25 years’ experience in radio. Since the end of 2013 I’ve been working full time to release children from poverty. It’s part of my own efforts to kick at the darkness.
Some of the conversations on Bleeding Daylight reflect my ‘day job’ and the work of reducing poverty, but most are simply real life stories of people overcoming life’s obstacles or their efforts to make the world a better place.
In Bruce Cockburn's song ‘Lovers in a Dangerous Time’ a couple of lines have always captured me.
“Nothing worth having comes without some kind of fight
Got to kick at the darkness 'til it bleeds daylight”
To me, those words speak of the efforts we all make to ensure the light continues to break through the ever-encroaching darkness. Sometimes we need to kick harder than at others.
Bleeding Daylight is a place for conversations with people who are shining light into darkened corners. It's a place where you’ll hear from people around the world who make this planet a better place.
Some do that through their work, activism, overcoming obstacles, some through the songs they sing, and others by living their lives in a way that invites others to join them on their journey.
While all the interviews touch on their Christian faith, the stories they tell are an inspiration for all. Most of the audience would be Christian but I always aim to ensure that all people can identify with the guests and their inspirational stories.
► Why & how did you start this podcast?
I decided to create Bleeding Daylight as a way to use the media skills I built over many years and to give a voice to ordinary people with extraordinary stories.
One of the questions I’m asked most often is if I miss working in radio. While I still love the medium, the main thing I miss is the opportunity to help uncover interesting stories through on-air interviews or conversations.
Over many years I’ve interviewed hundreds of musicians, authors, politicians, comedians, actors, sporting identities and others. I’m always captivated by the stories behind the people. I love discovering what drives a person and how they’re kicking the darkness they encounter to allow the daylight to bleed into their everyday lives.
Podcasting is a way to 'scratch my radio itch' while no longer actually working in radio.
Like many people, I started my podcast during the early days of the pandemic, but there had been a strong desire to start podcasting well before then. I had already started putting together the gear I needed to record and produce the show, I just needed a disruption like the pandemic to plunge in.
I spent time making sure that I was creating a format that I could sustain and that could have longevity. Once I was certain that everything was in place I released my trailer and very shortly after began releasing weekly episodes.
► How'd you find the time and funding to do this podcast?
I aim to release my podcast weekly and most of the time that's what happens.
I have missed releasing episodes twice when work and life in general has been a little busy. While that's not optimal, I need to remind myself that I'm the one who puts the show together on my own and so I do need to make sure that it doesn't overtake everything. It's incredibly important but there are other important things in life.
I take a longer break of 4 or 5 weeks over December/January. That helps me reset and start again refreshed and ready for a new year.
Podcasting can be expensive, especially when you're funding it yourself, so I'm careful to be paying for elements that I see as essential, such as quality hosting and equipment, and look for cheaper or free alternatives for other services I need.
Monetising my podcast may help me recoup some of the money I spend but I haven't gone down that road yet. For now, I'm fully focused on creating a great show that people look forward to hearing each week.
Being in Australia and interviewing guests from around the world means that I'm often up early or staying up late to make the times work for interviews. The editing, producing and promoting of the podcast fits around the rest of my life whenever I can find blocks of time. I'm always incredibly happy when I have a guest who doesn't need a lot of editing but whoever I'm speaking to, I want to present them to my audience in the best light possible. Sometimes that means spending longer in edit than I'd really like.
► What do you gain from podcasting?
Podcasting isn't a money-making exercise for me, in fact, it can sometimes be an expensive hobby.
The benefits for me are in the fact that I get to share some really important stories with my listeners. After the thousands of radio interviews I've done over many years and the dozens of podcast episodes I've released, I still get that sense of excitement each Sunday evening knowing that I'll be introducing a new guest to my listeners on Monday morning.
► How does your podcasting process look like?
My setup is pretty basic. A Blue Yeti microphone plugged into a MacBook, put on the headphones and I'm ready to record. Most of my interviews are remote and so I use Zencastr to give me excellent sound on both ends of the conversation.
I also have a Zoom H5 portable recorder with a couple of Shure SM58 microphones for in-person interviews.
My recording space is often in my walk-in wardrobe. It's not a luxurious studio but it works really well for sound deadening.
Once I have the audio, it's into edit. I try to remove anything that could distract the listener and take away from hearing the guest's story. I remove most ums and ahs, and try to reduce overused phrases a guest may use such as 'you know'.
When the edit is complete, I upload the conversation to Auhonic to process so that the guest and I both sound as good as possible and the levels are where they should be.
Then it's all about adding in the opener and closer and exporting to the finished mp3. I use MP3tag to add tags and a cover image and then I upload to Podbean and set the scheduled release time.
I put a basic description and some guest contact details into the show notes.
► How do you market your show?
When I began I made sure that Bleeding Daylight was submitted to as many directories as I could find. I know that if people search for Bleeding Daylight on the vast majority of listening apps, they'll find me.
Throughout the week I publish quotes from my guest as images and short clips on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. I'll occasionally boost a post to attract new, potential listeners.
I always supply the social media images and clips to my guest and request that they share them as well. I find this to be a huge boost as I know that I'm reaching people who already have an interest in my guest. Occasionally a guest won't end up helping to promote their episode but the overwhelming majority not only sharing but giving an endorsement for the podcast.
Of course, another great way to gain new listeners is by being a guest on other podcasts. This helps to introduce you to a new audience who are already podcast listeners.
► What advice would you share with aspiring (new) podcasters?
Before starting, you need to know that podcasting done well will take more money and time and be more complicated than you could imagine. The good news is that it's still very achievable and it's worth it.
There are many podcast groups on Facebook where other podcasters are more than happy to help answer all the questions you may have. Find yourself a good community and the journey will be so much easier.