► Tell us about you and your podcast
My name is Stephen and I produce a podcast called "We Need To Talk" with my best friend Nathan. We choose to do the show different than most people as we are exagerated, or some would say more true, versions of ourselves. Because of the hyperbolization of our characteristics, we use mononyms to make our characters stand out more from us as individuals.
The two hosts of the show are Meader (Stephen) and his best friend and co-host Pepin (Nathan). They talk about anything and everything, nothing is off limits. The two have known each other since they were in 7th grade, they graduated from the same highschool, and were college roommates. Pepin loves guitar, logic, and learning. Meader loves himself, videogames, and trying to make Pepin laugh.
► Why & how did you start this podcast?
We have always found our conversations to be an interesting mix of humor and intelligence, and this is really the basis of our show. We have searched for media that is both smart and comedic, but could never find it; so we created it ourselves and branded it SmartComedy. Our pilot episode was recorded mid-2016 over the phone while Meader was very sick and 100 miles away (literally). I was not convinced we should post it but Pepin insisted and we've released a new episode every Monday since.
► How'd you find the time and funding to do this podcast?
Our show's content is evergreen, meaning it won't be dated within a week's time. It is for this reason that we can record 2-4 episodes at a time, and then just edit them every week. It's helpful to have shows "in-the-can" as you never know what life will bring. This is how we work around the time. Pepin and Meader both take turns editing and uploading episodes to accomodate and compliment each other's schedules. Funding is all paid by Meader out of pocket.
► What do you gain from podcasting?
Meader is vain enough that he does it just to hear himself talk, and knowing other people are listening and interacting with their content makes them both feel warm and fuzzy. I'm sure Pepin would agree that this is the type of thing that makes him jump for joy without leaving his feet. Don't tell him I said that. I think more than anything we are both very much creative types and the podcast helps to fulfill that need to create.
Nathan always makes me laugh and think in different ways than I normally do. I always leave our interactions feeling smarter and dumber at the same time. Most importantly I leave happy to have gotten to spend time with my best friend creating something together.
► How does your podcasting process look like?
Sometimes our discussions will be topical, like we talked about Stephen King when his new IT movie was coming out, and every year we pick a random holiday and do a "Holiday Special" around that holiday. Last year was Halloween and we did an hour and a half long episode about ghost stories. Most times we will just bring up a topic idea we think we have enough material to talk about or think the other will find interesting, and then turn on the mics and just start talking and see where the episode takes us.
We record with Neewer NW-700's with popfilters and shock mounts, except Pepin who has a very fancy and expensive condenser microphone. We have set up some minor soundproofing that was on sale on Amazon in 2017, and a TASCAM Audio Interface. Most times one of us travels to the other (1.5 hr car ride one way), but sometimes it work better to record remotely, in which case we use either skype or facebook messanger to communicate, and each record our own audio.
For editing we use Studio One 3. We take turns editing as it takes 1-2 active hours to edit each episode. Then we upload to LibSyn and they take care of the rest.
► How do you market your show?
Facebook boosts, cross promotions with other networks/podcasts/businesses, posting in subreddits that are relevant to the topic we discuss on that episode, and using our own social media.
► What advice would you share with aspiring (new) podcasters?
Make content you would want to listen to. I am genuinely excited every Monday to hear our episode fully edited because I find it funny and interesting (especially if Nathan edits it, as then I don't usually remember what was said). If you create quality content for yourself to enjoy, you will grow an audience of listeners who enjoy the same content. Be diligent and don't let your passions die down. Make your podcast either about or with someone you love (or ideally both!).