Hi. This is Timothy Kim O'Brien, and this is Kyle Bondo. And you're listening to Pod Rec, the show that helps you survive your podcast. And in today's episode, we talked to an old friend of ours from way back in map guide number 4. That's right. Terry Walters. and she's just surpassed her 13th episode. Let's find out how she did it. Hi, and welcome to this week's episode of Pod Rec, where we have a very special guest. Now, this lady is an events industry veteran with over 30 years experience
creating live events. Now, you're talking to, like, not just the virtual stuff, but the stuff where you have the scaffolding and the cameras and the thousands of miles of wire with power,
and the whole production. And if it doesn't go off without a hitch, she gets the blame. Because she is a technical producer and events consultant in the show caller for live events, and you can't imagine how difficult that is. It's like it's like now you're hurting 20 her head of cat. You're really happy to be involved with all the aspects of it. but not just the the Diva hosts, but also the Rodees with the Attitudes. She does it all. Now she's the CEO of Moonfish Productions.
And of course, something else that you'll find out later in this interview, the cofounder and co host of the beer 10 consultant, and we'll tell you what that means shortly. But she's also some done something very cool lately as she started her first podcast. and this podcast is called Yvette Yac. And, really, she's just talking to people who live, eat, and breed live events. And she does that so well that she's reached episode 13.
And this is why we've asked her to come on the show to kind of talk about her experience. with getting to this monumental point in her podcasting journey. Now I like you to welcome Terry Walters. How are you doing, Terry? I'm doing great. Thanks for having me on a gentleman. This is an awesome awesome, you know, honor. really appreciate you taking the time to to be with us. And
a a lot of this has to do with we, Tim and I, have known you from way back. Way back. In the map con or map con day at the little hotel in Swingsboro, 4, map con 4, where where we're in the 1 room, where everyone's packed in there with Joe Pardo's, special 1 classroom type event. And just out of the blue,
we discovered the 30 minute challenge where we had to all get together in little teams and create our podcast on the fly. And you just have it to be sitting next to us. and it was like, hey, you, hey us, and suddenly we're best friends. And that is that is really kind of like where it all began, but that was 2 years ago. for 2 years, you kind of didn't really know what do you wanted to do. So cut so now that you're podcasting,
this is really kind of the the the core thing of what what you're doing now, now that you're podcasting and you're you're finally on the other side of the of the fence. you know, you went from the starting a podcast to having a podcast. Kinda describe what was that 2 years you like? What what really kind of led you to is to start podcasting, but more importantly, why to why did it take 2 years to get to where you are now? Well, Kyle, it It actually was a little bit more than 2 years
even before I met you. See, I'm kinda on the 5 year plan. Okay. Before I met both you and Tim, I had contemplated doing a podcast for probably another 2 years prior. So and what the reason I know this is I was going through my computer because I kinda needed to update some stuff, and I found my notes. from my original thought about podcasting. And it was, like, 2016. So, yeah, math isn't my forte. That's about 4 or 5 years. And I had I had actually recorded an intro.
So I was watching that, and I went out and like a lot of people went out and bought the blue yeti. Yeah. I know. Sorry. I have 1. Anybody want 1? So so I do have 1 of those in the closet over there, but I have since evolved, and I have taken some great advice from from some great people. and have evolved my equipment. Now, why did it take that long?
I I don't quite know. See, as a producer, actually, I kinda know. I am extremely focused on details and wanting to be able to put things together in my head completely before I put them together in real life. And that's like a curse and a and and not a curse at the same time. So it's kind of, you know, you're afraid to to execute. You're, you know, you you you don't wanna execute until you're, like, a 100% sure. But in podcasting, you can't do that because
You have to learn as you go. And I've learned a lot as I as I stepped off and and took the big leap. So that's kinda why for me personally, I I just tend to overanalyze everything, and that isn't necessarily the best approach. That makes a lot of sense. That makes a lot of sense to to overanalyze. I mean, I I completely relate to that. And I know that people that listen to us relate to that too. of of the hat making everything
to be in 1 place. Mhmm. The the and I'm gonna I'm gonna stomp on on Tim here for a minute. Just just a as a follow-up. This was not your 1st podcast, idea. No. This was I'm I'm extremely though, I wanna say it's podcast idea number 2, but it might not be number 2, it might be 45 or something like that with Well,
actually, it was you know, I look back again. I'm I'm taking my walk down memory lane. Right? My first podcast was about my it was an industry podcast, and that that's what my my like you had mentioned. My podcast is an industry podcast. It's based on the stuff that I do. I interview people that I work with. And I can tell you about why I actually decided eventually way to do that a little bit later, but
I started that right in the beginning. So that 1 that I recorded 5 years ago was about this. And then I went off the rails and started to think about, you know, what do I really wanna do? And again, so then it was like rabbit hole after rabbit hole. you know, that I met you guys, and I was talking about, you know, the whole beer tent kind of thing, you know, that evolution. But then COVID kinda happened, and that is the thing that actually triggered me and pushed me forward.
There were a lot of little dopey things that really stood in my way. The biggest was believe they're not building a website. I just couldn't wrap my head around WordPress and all of that kind of stuff. That was my biggest hiccup. That was the biggest excuse that I could make for myself. Once I said, you know what? I'm just gonna create a website simply and put my podcast on that. And and I decided that I felt like I needed to do this podcast for my industry, and to keep my head in the game,
then then it all worked. It just all came together, and it felt great. So it actually was the first podcast that I came up with, then I went all over the place, and then I refocused again. And now I'm thinking about doing another 1. So it's weird. Oh, you got the bug now? I do. Yeah. I have it. I have to, you know Well, you heard her here first. She's gonna start to do a podcast. Oh, Perhaps it'll be a beer tent consultant podcast. I don't know. Nope.
Not yet. Almost. Yeah. Keep teasing that out for a while. Well, people could because a lot of people a lot of listeners who just joined us are be thinking, like, what is this beer tank consultant thing? we will tell you, but probably we'll hold on to it. Right, Tim? We'll hold on to it for a little while. Well, we're I think all 3 of us are are a little bit testy about it because we lost by the narrowest of margins at supergeopartos events.
and we were talking a little bit about that beforehand. We had a talking horse. We had a talking horse. We should have won that. We had eerie with all the industry. -- Experian. A British talking horse, a British talking horse. -- talking horse. We are comedy gold there, folks. Comedy Gold, it will happen to all of the Pod Rec Salvage team members you guys will hear it first. But I wanna jump into something a little bit with Terry here is is that I've got a theater background.
So I know a little bit about event planning and all that. I've been assistant director, and I've been a a show caller manager kind of a person myself. And, you know, I I I hopped into podcasting. and really enjoyed it. I found it before COVID, I found it's a way to teach other people because that's my my degrees in the theater education. And with you doing event planning, I know COVID has really
really hit your end to history and all that. How do you feel being able to maybe not do the way we used to do event planning we we didn't use to do theater. But now in today's environment, how does your podcast fill that hole for you? It's a it's a great question, Tim, and it's 1 of the reasons I actually wanted to do the podcast. My background is in theater too, interestingly.
And and for me, the the type of stuff that I do is very similar to to theater. I I actually call it corporate rock and roll. Alright? Like, I do the audio, the video, the you know, you walk into a ballroom, and it's empty, and 3 days later, it's full of gearing guys. and we're executing a show. All the lighting and all that kind of stuff. That's the kind of stuff that we do rather than the food and beverage just to be clear as to what my background is. And I think the podcast,
you know, it's it's a natural step. And then as far as COVID is concerned, you know, our industry was crushed and it's not just the the theatrical people and the wroteies, but everybody. I was talking to to some people the other day. about the number of people that me, when I travel, that I touch, when I leave my house to go to an event. And it's more than just Like I said, it's not just the hotels, but it's you know, I I get in my car. I go up the parkway.
I'm paying a toll. I get I park up with the, you know, parking lot. I get on the train. I buy my my coffee. So now the coffee guy is not making any money. The train people aren't making any money. I go to the airport, the guy that, you know, I give my bags to is not making any money. I fly the the flight attendants are not doing it, you know, part I'm not participating with them. The pilots and I haven't even gotten off the ground yet. You know? So this has been a huge huge
smack to a lot of people. And I know it it's across the world. I mean, this is like something we've never seen. But I I can only react for myself. You know, I can only react as myself. And I I just think that, you know, our industry is we're evolving to get back to your your question. I called my first virtual show a couple weeks ago.
It's like it's like calling a television show, though. There's a difference. You know? Like, when you're in the theater, like, you think about theater, and how can you do that virtually? you kinda can't. You know? It's like weddings. How do you do a virtual wedding? And that's kind of the stuff we're all talking about. But events you know, they're becoming kinda hybrid. They're kinda becoming,
you know, pretty much virtual. I mean, it's but for me, I'm sitting here and, you know, what you can't see is I've got monitors, and I've got, you know, all sorts of stuff all around me. The the industry has evolved such that when I'm in a when you're in a theater or when you're in a theater, you've got a headset on. Right? And you're talking to all your crew around, well, now there's an app.
So when I'm calling to show, I've got my headsets on, but I've also got my phone headset in my other ear. So I've got, like, 2 headsets on. and I'm, you know, talking here and I'm looking over here. I've got my iPad set up with my, you know, my multi view. so I can see who's in the queue, who's in the green room, and all that kind of stuff. So there's a huge evolution that's happening in a very, very short time. And I don't know yet if it's exciting or scarier than hell. I mean Oh, yeah. So
I'm holding on. I'm holding on to the horse, you know. I've always said I've been you know, I'm a bull rider. I jump on the bull, and I ride it. And then when the bell you know, is done, I I you know, I'm off. You know, it's kind of, like, still continuing to be that way. That's true. That's true. So for for your podcast, 1 thing that I noticed, and I I I listened to all about I'm subscribed to a 120 podcasts. And when you came out with your podcast, I made sure
to be 1 of the earlier doctors of it and and listen. I appreciate that. Appreciate that. Absolutely. Abdul, I mean, it's not biotech consultants, but, you know what? It's it's it's it's a close second for me. But we are gonna beat that horse to death. Oh, we are. That that horse that -- Oh, yes. -- British dead horse. He's not dead quite yet. We love him. We love him. He's our next guest, Kyle. Get a book. Anyhow. but I noticed your sound quality
for your show. And that's when you've been in podcasting as long as I have been, which is you've seriously for about 3 years on seriously since 2006. Mhmm. That's 1 of the things you notice is somebody show quality. And I noticed from yours, I gotta say I was jealous. Your sound quality for your first few episodes that I listened to was excellent.
was excellent for the equipment that you have. Mhmm. Now I also listened to Chris Moran and, you know, I listened to all his, you know, all his extra stuff that he adds onto his stuff, and he's an audio engineer, and that's what he does. But, you know, coming out of the gate is your first podcast. Sound quality is really good. Can you talk a little bit about your setup and the education that you had to get the sound quality that you had when you first came out?
Well, that goes back to our original conversation where, you know, analysis, paralysis, Tim. I read a lot, and I talk to, you know, people. And in my job, I talk to audio people all the time. I also have done VOGs for live events. So audio is not a foreign animal to me, recording it and creating stories, and and interviewing people with my own content is a brand new animal. Mhmm. But so And then that's a challenge in itself that we maybe we could talk about, but and the struggle there.
But But as far as my setup, I again, I I've kinda gone all over the place. I started out with, like I said, the the blue the blue yada. And I know I've since learned that that's a a condenser mic that it picks up every room, every sound in the room and in the house. Mhmm. So I've I've moved away from that, and a lot of people were into the ATR 21100, which is what I'm using now. And I've since gotten a boom arm. I I originally had a floor boom and I still kinda dig that.
But this is this is working okay because this came with another microphone that I bought and sent back. So I'm a gear head which I don't know that that's a good thing either. I think what you need is and here's the other thing. I mean, I've got a focus right. You know, I bought this other SM 7 b microphone, which I think we had a conversation before we kinda went on the air. I I didn't like the way it made my voice sound. Everybody says, a lot of people say that that microphone
makes their voice sound really great, and I just didn't like the way my voice sounded on it. Same here. Yeah. Over me either. I'm too boomy. Yeah. So it just sounded muffled. This is an easy microphone, and this is what I would suggest to people who are gonna start. This this ATR 21100. And then there's another 1. I think there's a Samsung out now that's a 2q2. Was that what it is? Yep. Okay. So
the cool thing about this is that you can, you know, plug it into your computer, you know, with a USB, which is, like, really easy for somebody who's first starting out. And this is what I'm actually referring my clients to get. So when we're interviewing people, I don't know if you've noticed a lot of people being interviewed on TV and stuff and how really bad their audio is. How irritating that is? Maybe that's just me, but
Well, they're they're on TV. They're not on podcast, and they're not beer tent consultants. It's true. It's true. It's true. They're trying to be, like, know, the every man kind of thing where Well, I don't. You know? Back at the phone. Yeah. I I think that everybody now I mean, we've had 4 months of what we've had here, and there's a lot of people who they're being getting their big shot on CNN
and Fox News and CNN see and, you know, everybody sounds like they're inside of a tin can. You know? Go out and get a microphone of some sort. That's what I'm saying to people. So even in my, you know, professional life versus my podcast life. I'm recommending my clients get a microphone. And a USB 1 is great. Mhmm. I use a MacBook Pro -- Mhmm. -- and I use squad cast when I do interviews.
Although I have lately gotten away from it, I have a zoom h 6 that I have rigged up to actually connect my iPhone to. Nice. And the reason yeah. The reason I did that is the audio issues. So when people are on squad cast and they or any, I think, web based platform, they don't have if they don't have a microphone, it sounds bad for me. I I don't I don't like putting out a product that has bad audio.
So I find that it's actually much better to have them talk on their phone and I record it on the h 6.
Is it the h 6? Yeah. I guess that's what it is. I thought there was an n in there or something, but maybe there's not. But so this image h 4. The h 4 is called the h 4 n. Oh, that's it. Okay. So the h sixes just doesn't have an n at the back end. Well, that's the 1 I have. The h 6. but I connect it, and it's it's much clearer than me recording it on squadcast or or any other, you know, Zoom definitely.
So so that's kind of what I have going on for the I hope that's not too long of an answer. Jeez. I went all over the place. Actually, it's pretty interesting you say that that you're worried about your clients sounding good as well.
And you're you're concerned about your own audio because you're talking to industry people Mhmm. And audio for a and I'm assuming the audience is interest free people as well. Mhmm. That's Hopefully, did you yeah. Did you feel that you kinda had to have a a a higher bar coming into podcasting because you didn't wanna sound like an amateur who's trying to be to almost sell your company and sell your skills through your podcast as a possible marketing arm
that if you had really, really bad sound, people would be like, oh, jeez. Why would I ever wanna hire a Moonfish? This lady, she sounds like she's talking to her bathroom. I mean, that's did you did you worry about that? And that's why You really kinda had to up your game in that in that arena? I I think that that's always something that's in the back of my mind, especially as it relates to production stuff. but I have a high bar anyway.
And, again, you know, it's like to to go back. You know you know, I like to cook too. You know what I mean? It's like, I plan I'm that way. I don't know if it's a sickness or not. You know? It's you know, I organize everything beforehand,
and, you know, you time when you cook, you know, you there's certain things that happen at certain times and certain things need to have a certain technique and, you know, it's the same thing with this. I I look at the project and this is a project and I say, okay, what's the best way that I can achieve this you know, reasonably, you know, without paying somebody to do it. You know? So
that that's kinda that's kinda how that all evolves. But but, yes, I mean, I have a very high bar as far as production related values. And I think that's 1 of the reasons I've been in business for myself for 20 years. I've been doing this for 30 years. So And you think that added an extra level of stress to get started? Did that add to the paralysis that you'd had to be a certain bar, and that's why you're like, I can't I need I need to know this or be this level before I actually start.
I don't think that actually manifested for me. I I think I knew because I'll get him a gear person. I researched researching gear is really easy for me, and I could do it for days. So I knew that I needed to have a certain level, and I practiced that The stuff that you can't practice is well, I guess, you do. I that that's it's wrong. I'm I'm going down the wrong path with that. But, I mean, what's harder is actually crafting the message.
Mhmm. The gear is just a tool for the story and for the message and for the delivery. and you need to be at a certain level, especially in podcasting. Audio is the thing. You know? It's it's with video, there's a lot more I wanna don't wanna say distraction, but there's a lot more stimulus, and audio can can be a little less even though that still makes me crazy when you have bad audio for video.
But but but I I don't really think that, you know, I I didn't think that I was gonna fail technically. I thought that I was gonna fail as a storyteller. And again, it's it's my podcast is an interview, but still, you wanna be able to draw the story out of people. in the right way. And that's where I think I need to develop a little bit more. Interesting.
So when you're talking with these people or with these industry leaders, and people in the events world, how much research are we going into at we we've we've talked with Kyle And and his research method is exhaustive. Shall we say? Very exhaustive. kind of tired even thinking about it. And borders on the obsessive. I'm looking at his
audio his video feed right there, and I can already see his his show notes and everything like that. But for you, how deep do you really want to go in with your with your guests? you know, for for your show, running it for a half hour, 45 minutes to an hour, how deep are you going into that? So are you asking me as far as what I research ahead of time or, like, how deep do I go into their lives when I'm interviewing them? Well, how deep do you go into their lives? I mean, because we all have our
we all have what we do. Mhmm. And then we have the other stuff around that. Mhmm. You know, like myself, I'm a management analyst, but I'm a theater guy and I'm a podcast guy and -- Mhmm. -- how I got into here. How deep are you going into somebody's life to pull out those nuggets? Yeah. That's probably something I need to explore a little bit more. When I research people, I use things like LinkedIn and their Facebook pages. I I'll research that way online.
I don't really do any kind of pre interview call because I feel like I need to have kind of an organic thing going. I've done it a couple of times and we've talked about stuff that we're gonna talk about and it's not fresh. Mhmm. So there's a line I find that I need to walk I wanna I'll talk to people because, first of all, quite frankly, I wanna make sure that they can articulate a sentence.
you know, I don't wanna inter interview somebody that I'm gonna be stumbling all over the place and trying to figure out how I'm gonna get from a point a to point b. and I've been lucky in that way. I've had some really good guests. But as far as what they do kinda on the side, or or anything outside of the realm of the industry,
I don't really go too far into it. We we talk a little bit A lot of times I warm people up and, you know, I know they have a dog and we'll talk about dogs for a while and things like that. Mhmm. But for the most part, I kinda stay pretty narrow on the subject COVID has given us a lot to talk about. You know, that's a real good warm up question. And I asked them, you know,
In the beginning, I was asking them, you know, how they were being impacted and where they thought the industry was gonna go. But now I've I've kinda gotten away from that. I think that, you know, the world is starting to open up a little bit and people are getting, you know, people are getting tired of hearing about it a little bit. as it relates to us. And so that's that's that's kinda where I am with that. And and maybe I do need to
talk to people a little bit more about their personal life. Maybe that's an angle I should explore a little bit more. Well, especially when you come on beer tent consultants, we're gonna have to talk a lot about people's personal preferences and personal lives and all that kind of good stuff. Alright. Well well, the beer tent guys, the beer tank consultants, that that'll definitely be something that we'll need to talk about. The the next podcast, and I'm you know, I can't talk about it because, you know, it's still in
in construction. Mhmm. But when I get to episode 13, we'll come back and we can talk about that podcast. Hopefully, she can make it make it that far. Oh, boy. Yeah. Yeah. Nice. So speaking about 13 episode number 13, how does that feel for you because
we've talked about it on Pod Rec here, and a lot of people think at episode 7, I'm gonna quit, and then if they get to episode 13, a lot of people just like, I'm done with the work. I'm just not gonna I'm gonna podfy it out and not touch it again, not tell anybody again, but they leave it on Apple iTunes and Apple Podcasts and Google Podcasts and all that kind of stuff. Yeah. With you hitting, episode number 13.
How does that feel for you? I mean, is is that something that you're, you know, telling the telling the neighbors, telling the family, telling everybody that is outside of the industry that you're doing? People in my immediate circle, I talk about podcasting and they're like, you know, a lot of them a lot of them are not you know, they they kinda don't get it, and I kinda have to explain kind of what we're doing.
For me, 13 is a good number. I mean, 13 is actually my lucky number, which is kind of bizarre, but you know how that goes. bizarre. So I find it extremely exhilarating that I've gotten that far because it means to me that, you know, I've gone, like, 3 months. and actually delivered consistently every week. Now, I used to do a blog every week too. Now, that has disappeared. I'm not as I'm not as consistent with the blog.
there's certain times when I wake up in the morning and I have something to say and I, you know, I put it into a piece of writing and I'll I'll put it out there. but it has not been consistent. And I I need to get back to doing the blog, I think, because I think it helps the website and the content itself. But, yeah, so 13 is important to me. I will tell you when I actually am working on
we know, Moonfish Business, it's a lot harder to do it. But I do do a lot of prerecording, something you need to be careful about, especially if you've got timely information. But and I still got I've got 2 in the can right now, ready to go. My episode 13 is already recorded. I haven't edited it yet, but I will be doing that tomorrow as perfect. And I have episode 14 ready to go. And now that I'm starting to think about taking the show kind of in a different possible direction.
I don't wanna record another 1 until I kinda know the direction I wanna go with that. Gotcha. Gotcha. Absolutely. That means per sense. Kyle, I think you got a question on it over there. I see you raising your hand. Go right ahead. Well, I do know that that event yac, which is the podcast we're talking about here. episode 5. I would highly recommend episode 5. I hear the guy on that is a perv. Super insightful. Talking about virtual events,
And as it do as it does to racing, but I highly recommend episode 5 event yeah. I can't find that. Go to event jack. dotcom/podcast. Scroll on down episode 5. That's where you need to start. But it all Thank Thank you, Kyle, for being a guest on the event yac. It was it was super fun.
It was. Well, we talked for we talked for a good time too. We did, and it was awesome. And I learned a lot from Only it's your 2nd longest episode. So I'm I'm really kind of I'm, like, pleased that that's kind of a reality. Now
looking at your the the 12 episodes you have now, 13, of course, coming out. Mhmm. I I I noticed a few things. The first thing is when you first started, it looks like you kinda started with an initial episode to kinda get the rolling. Mhmm. And then you dropped 2 episodes on the same day. Mhmm.
And then somewhere in the middle there was you were doing it, like, every week, and, like, skipped a week. And then you're doing it every week, and then you skipped a week. Kinda talk about, like, life getting in the way of podcasting? Or is was it just, you know, normal quarantine weirdness or kinda talk about what happened with your workflow as you started getting the ball rolling And what challenges have been while while doing that? Yeah. I try to be consistent. I drop on Thursdays.
I've actually learned I use lipsin, so I've learned how to put it in and actually trigger it the next day. So I'll put it in. I'll I'll load everything on Wednesday night, and I'll, you know, time it so that it executes at 7 o'clock in the morning on Thursday. And I've been pretty consistent. There was 1 week where I didn't, and I think there was a lot of stuff going on in the world, and I felt the need to take a pause.
I didn't wanna drop on that in that week because I think there was a lot of other stuff that people were looking at. And that 1 person, I think the person that I was that was that week was Patricia Simatakos. And I wanted people to to tune in and hear her. Yes. I remember he'd been on her show. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. So I I was on her show. She was on my show. So I paused that week. I think like a lot of people did, and I continued on. But I have been pretty consistent otherwise.
I have I have executed on a Thursday drop schedule since I started except for that 1 week. Very cool. Yeah. It's hard though. It's really hard. So now that you're approaching the the episode 13, has it gotten harder?
Is is the motivation still there? Or you're you're in the kind of, like, what call the messy middle of that part of the the podcasting experience where -- Mhmm. -- suddenly realize that this is this is not just talking in the microphone. There is work. there is research and collection and understanding and scripts and planning and posts are right and subscriptions are right and extract quicker. So so talk to tell me a little bit about kind of your your feelings on
the work that just happened, the new job you just started is a podcast. It is a big job. And it's there's a lot of facets that I think people who go into it need to know in order to be successful. First off, you are the CEO of everything. So you are the audio engineer, you are the producer, you are the writer, you have to write you know, if you're gonna tease and I and I haven't teased stuff ahead of time because it's a time consuming thing, I will tell you. but I create all of the descriptions.
I've done all the work on the websites. I post everything. and that's a lot of work. The the and editing, I'll go through. I don't do a lot of significant editing. On the back end, it's pretty organic. I'll take out a couple of things, if there's a couple of things, but but pretty much I go from head to tail. I may take out a, you know, very very small amount of stuff that I take out of my podcast. I put on an opening, and I put on an ending. And I do, like,
an opening for each podcast. I'll talk about the thing that's we're gonna be talking about, and I give them that way, I don't need to spend a lot of time having them introduce themselves and all that kind of stuff. I do that upfront, get it out of the way, and then we jump right in, and we start talking about stuff. But the the back end of it is as much work or more than the interview itself. I mean, like I say, I've got, like, I I had, like, 4 interviews
ready to go. They're they're in, and I've dropped them into audacity. I've checked them, and they're ready to go. I need to edit them and put the front in the, you know, head in the tails on it. But, you know, then you've got to write, you know, the the the the description for iTunes and all of that kind of stuff, you have to there's a whole lot of other back end stuff that you need to do. Then you need to you know, go on to social media and hawking.
You know? It's you you know, nobody's gonna listen to you if you, you know, you've got a great pod and you don't talk about it and you don't put it on social media, you know, nobody's gonna listen to it. So it it's significant. It's a significant time investment, but I look at it as a challenge, and I'm happy that I'm doing it. I can't guarantee how long I'm gonna do it. But, you know, but Into your life now, or do you expect that when when the quarantine on the craziness
subsides, let's say that day happens -- Mhmm. -- will will podcast things be a distraction rather than something or is it something that you'll just will try to build into your schedule? I think that That's a good question, Kyle. It's I think that I like podcasting, and I think I have evolved I think I'm evolving as an interviewer a little bit. I still have a long ways to go, I think, with that. But I think this podcast
and I think it's you you say it's podcasting is not the thing. It's the thing that gets you to the thing. Right? So But then you're quoting me. That's awesome. Yeah. Yeah. So this is 1 thing for me, and maybe, you know, I Yeah. I don't know that this is the thing for me. I think I think there may be some other topics out there that I want to explore. Sure. and also, I mean, I've been doing this stuff for 30 years. I think, you know, there's a certain amount of work or I'm like, okay.
What else can I talk about here? You know? I mean, there's a lot to talk about, but, I mean, there's other things that I wanna talk about. Mhmm. So I think me cutting my teeth on something like this on a in a topic that is really comfortable for me in a time where I knew people had time to actually get involved and wanted to talk, I think that was very helpful. Mhmm. Very cool. Very cool. So, Kyle, wow. Waiving at me. That's good. Okay.
Fox grew in. I'm I'm trying to I I think I I think, Terry, you have influenced Kyle to become a show caller. I think you've influenced him. Standby. Standby. Ready? Standby 1. Go with 2. Go with 2. Excellent. Excellent. With with the show topic and you had mentioned this a little bit earlier, you know, that
you see a lot of things that you can talk about with that. How are you picking your topic How are you picking your people for that? Because, you know, with with with event planning, you've seen it go from pre COVID
where you can go and to do a show. And now everybody is doing everything virtual. I just got done with 12 virtual webinars that I had to learn how to do really quick. And luckily, I knew how to, you know, call a show and I was actually training the trainer that was training me on how to call the show. How are you grabbing your topics now versus let's say you were to do this pre COVID. How are you able to pick your topics now? The topics really revolve around the people themselves.
So I pick my people on purpose. Alright. So I've talked to people who plan weddings because, you know, that's a wedding is a live event. You know? I don't do weddings personally as a as a show caller. Maybe I should get into that. That's what they need is a couple more people calling the show at a at a wedding. The cool. Yes. Yes. Exactly. Sure. The bride. Yes. So so but I I've also talked to 1 of the the 1 of the shows I haven't dropped is a show designer. So his life has evolved. I saw his
his information on LinkedIn. And I've LinkedIn with a lot of people lately. That's another thing that has happened to me. I've been very, very prolific on LinkedIn. Mhmm. And I've LinkedIn with a lot of people. A lot of people have LinkedIn with me. So I can research kinda what their background is. And and they it's a lot of it is really intriguing and a lot of it, you know, I've you know, I haven't really used a show designer.
I've I've had set designers before, but this guy just kinda intrigued me. So I I wanted to interview him. I mean, he's done a lot of rock and roll stuff. And but all that stuff came to a screeching halt as well. But he had a lot of really good history to talk about. But the stories really revolve around what these people do. And yeah. So that's kind of like I said, there's another gentleman that I talked to
He was doing some stuff on LinkedIn and on on Facebook. The 2 of us, we got on we we did a pre call, and he he was very, very focused on doing a job, which I thought was really good. And he was 1 of the gentleman who went out and bought a microphone. I said to him, you should have a microphone for the podcast. He went right out and did it, and I I loved that. I thought he's gotten some really good feedback from the show, and he and I are gonna talk about the possibility of working together on a project.
So that's something that's involved. and he he works in New York and he does a lot of events. So, yeah, it's a the the really, the topic the topics revolve around the people for me. I look at a person and I go, oh, this guy looks like, you know, he's doing this, this, and this, or this woman looks like she's doing this, this, and this. So I interviewed another show caller, and she actually put poetry. This is a good 1 for you, Tim, actually. Yeah. It was Michelle Newborn.
she wrote some poems about the whole COVID and, you know, situation for for show people. So she read her poetry on the show. She posted the first 1 on LinkedIn, and then she wrote 3 subsequent ones. and posted them on the show. So it's kinda like the world premiere. So here I am like an art premier as well. I see. So yeah. So That was kinda cool. Mhmm. And
but she's a show caller. Actually, she's a content manager. She's not a show caller. Sorry. She was a content manager. a lot of people don't even know what a content manager is. Now for me, a content manager is a huge piece of a show, so I wanted to profile that piece. And she she did that very well. So that's kinda how my stories evolve. And, you know, the the thing I'll tell you the 1 thing
that that is bothering me a little bit. I'm doing a lot of work, but I don't see and and people are gonna tell I know what people are gonna say about this. I don't see the numbers. increasing. Mhmm. And and I don't know if that happens or if that's content related or it's because I'm not pushing it hard enough on social media, I'm not quite sure why that is. I I wanna see an increase in downloads. and I'm not seeing that.
Mhmm. Doing everybody else. Yeah. That that is a that is a tough nut to crack. And a big thing to do with that is what is defining, you know, defining your why, which we talk about a lot. But defining what does success look like for you For some people, it's getting that, you know, 30 people in a room. That's their success. They're like, I'm happy with that. if this is a income stream for you, then, obviously, more than 30 people.
I or if you have 30 people, a 100% have to be on Patreon and sitting and I'm shooting you a hundred bucks a week. Mhmm. And so, really, success is what you define for yourself. And to tell you the truth, I don't know what that success looks like for my shows, for for Pod Rec or for my other show. I don't know what that success looks like. I am just happy doing it. for right now because I do have a day job.
But with that day job, I know I can define that success a lot easier because I'm getting paid for that versus the podcast world, which we are getting paid for. Aren't we we we have recently got some coffee from from our good friend, Cliff. Great. I think we make we make something around the neighborhood of, like, $12 a month. Something like that. Yeah. Something like that, which is awesome. But and, again, though, Terry,
bro. So it does suddenly it's a it's a slow climb, but, you know, it can happen. It's But then, Terry, I I understand your your concern is that you're putting in the work, you're putting in the good content, and and at the end of the day, you would like to see the download numbers go up, you would like to see people, you know, spread the word. So definitely, you know, for those that are listening today to our show,
you need to get on over to Terry Show. And folks you heard in here first, she's coming out with another show later on. And, of course, she's coming out with beer tent consultants. But, you know, I'm not gonna, you know, I'm not gonna beat that dead horse anymore. Well, Terry, it would be too well. I this might be a little awkward, but would you mind sharing what's kind of your average binge after 12 episodes of your your downloads and listenership? No. It's it's not, you know, it's not
a problem at all. I mean, I've had the highest 11 was kind of a fluke, so I I won't count that. But the the 1 that's the highest was like a 106. and then it averages around, I would say, 60. So I don't know if that's good, bad, and different So so hearing Rob Libs Rob Walsh from Livson at podfest earlier this year mean, in fact, it was, like, the last conference before the the COVID hits. About between a 120, a 150 is 50%
median of of podcasting -- Mhmm. -- that if you're between you're right there in the 100 and a 120 area, you're better than 50% of all the other podcasts and Apple Podcasts. And then, of course, then it gets crazy. It goes, like, 150 to, like, 500 to 12 to 2000 to 6000 to 30 1000. But those numbers are not bad for 12 episodes. In fact, those net numbers for 12 episodes are phenomenal. You think it is. No 1 knows you exist.
2 months ago. No 1 knew anything about your podcast 2 months ago. Right. And in 60 days, you now have 60 people have downloaded some of your episodes. And a 100 or so people downloaded a 1 particular episode. So not only do you have your guests hopefully pitching your stuff in their own social circles -- Mhmm. -- but you're doing your own. And that seems to have the formula is slowly working.
Like, you're not doing too bad. Well, I I appreciate that, Kyle. And And, actually, as you as you talk about that, it's like, that this is another little challenge that I have is, you know, I'll push the episodes And I will see a difference in the people who push the episodes, the the guests who push the episodes, and the guests who don't. and believe it or not, there are guests who don't. And it you know, it I don't know why.
I actually encourage people to do that. I know, you know, the protocol is you're not really supposed to, you know, contract. There's no contract, but you would think that it would kinda make sense that the other person would, you know, wanna get out there too. You know, it's an opportunity for them to, you know, tell their story. And I think it's, you know, I think it's a great opportunity.
You know, I think that a lot of the podcasts I think the interviews that I've done have all been successful. I feel that everybody's been presented you know, positively. But I don't quite understand how I can encourage people more to do that. I guess you can. Yeah. That's that's that's been a tough thing. I think even several of the people that do big time interview -- Mhmm. -- shows
this is a common theme -- Mhmm. -- you'll have people who people wanna come on to your show for 2 wait a couple different reasons. 1 is, you know, they're just, you know, kinda happy to be there and talk about the subject. Mhmm. The people are hawking something. Mhmm. And, usually, the people hawking something are the people who are the least the least people share that they were there unless it actually benefits, you know, them for their book or their course or or whatever -- Yeah. -- talking.
But, yeah, it's 1 of those things where I think I've seen, like, premade templates to give to guests. Mhmm. They can just cut and paste to put things on or general reminders through email or things like that or I I do that. I mean, I I follow-up, like, when I drop the day before I say, hey, your your interview is gonna drop tomorrow. I'm gonna send you the links, and, you know, it would be great if you could
put it onto your social media. And here's all of my, you know, handle for my social media, please tag me. I'll I'll retweet them. I'll re, you know, share them and all that kind of stuff, and I'll do the same thing for you. you know, whatever you can do, I appreciate. You know, I try to soft sell it, but make it so that it's kind of expected, but not, you know,
not It sounds like it's it it has, at least in some part, has worked -- Yeah. -- of that range of downloads with with a pretty new show. You should be really proud of that. You're really proud because those are kinda numbers that some people don't see until, like, episodes 40 or 50. Is there right? They really there are. Those some people never see those numbers ever.
They have shows that just never reach that kind of demographic or or their target audience. And there's might be there might be tons of reasons why. Mhmm. Some of the Mars is because, you know, that no one's interested in that topic. or they're or they've they've misjudged the market and they just gotten to many people away from that topic. Mhmm. So, you know, heavy metal yarn weaving is not exactly something that a lot of people get into. I might be interested in that. I always
I always play death metal when I'm, you know, not Yeah. When you're knitting, Yeah. When I'm needing babies blankets, you you can see right back here. I yeah. All the babies blankets that I have going on, that's all to death right there. I thought that that was yeah. I thought that that was a hobby that I needed to know more about, and now I do. Crustitch. This is the same theme as the beer tent consultants music.
It is. And I think it it maybe maybe it's time to him. Maybe it's time to I think it is. We've we've gotta tease this out for for quite some time. It's time to tell -- Okay. -- we have not to tease this out when you're beat this horse. Yes. We have got around children. It's time for a a tale from map con 4. Tim, go ahead and and and weave the yarn as it would of yarn. Just keep the pond going.
So back in map cod4, I remember it as if it was 2 years ago. As a matter of fact, it was 2 years ago. So Super Joe, which we had on last episode here, he sets it up every year that you know, 4 people get together now. Kyle and I had already planned this out ahead of time. We already knew that we were gonna get together, be on the same team. but he hands out a list of words and you have 30 minutes to build a podcast from soups to nuts.
from show art to music to intro to outro to the actual the actual show itself. And we all 3 of us, plus Jonathan, our our English horse that we beat to death, We went ahead and we got together. And I thought it was a honestly, I thought it was 1 of our best best collaborations together. And I I use that term lightly because collaboration is what we talk about in theater a lot. Me and Terry can back me up on this. We're always talking about collaboration.
And so, Terry, wanna jump in a little bit on this aspect of this event that happens a lot. Now, you saw 2 wild and crazy guys. And then -- I saw you on it. -- then who, you know, was -- I was sucked right in. With the with the podcast world the way it is, There's, you know, there's a lot of guys like being Kyle up out there. That's that's scary. We're all you know, he's sitting in his basement. I'm sitting in my basement, but
You were sitting in your basement, and wait a minute here. I don't quite know where this is going. It's kinda scaring me. I'd focus directly with the it Jonathan Strong is his name. Yes. He was a and he's a he's a fellow podcaster too. Yes. He does a with a spotlight podcasting out of New York. So Yes. That's what we got. For full for full disclosure, Jonathan Strong, who I believe is is he Scott he's Scottish
He's either English or Scottish. Now now now he's gonna probably give me a full Scottish. I'm going I think he's Scottish. I believe he's Scottish, and but he's severe. He was a very quiet guy. Mhmm. We have this quiet guy, and we have Terry, and then we have Tim and I who had basically been free based in coffee all day long. Mhmm. And now you have the scenario for what happens next. Go ahead, Tim. And and and, you know, 1 of the things was, you know, beer tent consultants.
I jumped out from that. Now with that short amount of time for that experience, Kyle and I have talked about it in the past, How was that for you? You know, I I think we've talked about it a little bit here, a little bit there, but how was that for you to be jammed together with, you know, 3 guys that you don't know. And, boom, you have a podcast in 30 minutes, and which we only lost by a few vor votes which I want recounted. I I totally agree with you, Tim. We were robbed.
I I think as a creative brainstorming session that it's brilliant, especially as it relates to podcasting. you know, it's kind of like improv. It's an improv thing. And you just kinda go with it. It's like doing live TV. You know? All of us kinda got thrown together there was a time limit. Here's these, like, 10 words, and these 10 words need to be mentioned in this podcast. and they're like obscure words. I can't even remember what they were. Somehow, but somehow, our characters evolved and
We also had art, and we also had we were pushing it. I think we I remember we were pushing it on social media amongst ourselves. Okay. So we were all you know, pushing all of that. And but I thought it was exciting. And then then we actually everybody kinda went in back. Nobody because of podcasts, obviously, you don't have video. You don't you're not doing an improv on a stage. You have to just have audio. So we had microphones.
We went back behind everybody, I guess. We were kind of behind everybody. And we performed the podcast. And it just kinda flowed. I mean, we all kinda knew what our role was, And I don't actually recall I I I don't recall exactly. I I do remember the horse for some strange reason we had the horse. But he was so funny because it was just you know, he he would just drop these nuggets, and it was, like, historical. I was cracking up.
But I think that that's the type of stuff. See, that's the kind of stuff I love, and it's the kind of stuff that I miss. I always say that creativity doesn't happen in a vacuum. you have to bounce off of people. And that's 1 of the things, you know, as a producer You have to be a team cultivator. And I think a lot of times podcasters are alone. you know, you're alone in your show and you, you know, you get in this zone, that can be good, that can be bad. For for me,
I I like to execute alone maybe, but I need to I need to have people to bounce stuff off of. I need to have people I can talk to and, you know, say, what do you think of this? What do you think of that? You know? It's very helpful. That's why I think things like MapCon. It was my first podcast
conference. It's actually my only podcast conference. I've been conferences my whole lifetime. This was my first podcast conference, but I thought it was great. I made I met you guys. It was it was awesome. You know, we've continued to stay in touch with you guys. have helped me in my journey here. And I think, you know, it's I think it's fortuitous that we got together, and I think it's symbolic
that we're talking about this now, and I appreciate all your help. I think there's a lot of people who just need some support and some guidance and some you know, just somebody to talk to to to lead them through when you guys have have been there for me. So I appreciate that. That is that's awesome and well said, Terry. Remember, what what happens in the tent? Stays in the tent? I believe that's why.
hopefully, the 1 and only time we're back. In fact, maybe Tim, I think I have a copy of of that podcast. in my archives. I'll have to dig it out. We'll have to put that out as a bonus episode. Just so
so if We we we gotta clear it with Terry and Jonathan 1st. Yeah. We'll get the with earlier first. All the riders find on it, and they have the permission -- My -- -- release. -- my people will call your people. Yeah. Yeah. We'll do lunch. think I need to helpfully edit it too. I imagine I think there's some controversial topics in it. I'm not too sure if it's I mean, it's not what cost us the the Yeah. I've already talked to Joe about that. Now it's all coming back to me. Yes.
See, the sound people are thinking, wait a minute. 1 guy was the horse. What existed? What? Uh-huh. Let's just say alcohol was involved. In the conversation, we weren't drunk. Yeah. Conversation has been with about people who were. So -- It's true. -- it was was definitely I mean, I think it because I believe we we came up with the the theme song ourselves. Other people had, like, can music. They had a lot of whatever.
Yeah. And we sang the theme song on the microphone behind the behind the We did. Good. like, beatbox, you know. Yeah. It was it was awesome for creative and -- Yep. -- all improv, all off the top of our heads for 5 minutes. And you're right. That is the the the creative part of this. And especially when you're doing interviews, a lot of times, it's it's like you have a structured question to ask. but sometimes it's the
the question you asked that strikes a thought that goes, oh, let's go down that rabbit hole, or you suddenly hear some stuff that you never you never really would have thought about or didn't be inspired by some of the things. And you said some of those things already today, I think. that that a a listener of Pod Rec who's out there hearing you do this, who actually have gone from I think I wanna do a podcast to actually deciding what to do,
creating a podcast, doing all the work that comes to do it, And now you're 12 episodes in. What would you tell the Terry who's out there, who is where you were let's say, 3 or 4 months ago, not knowing how to pull the trigger or what's the what's the kind of thing that that you think that really got you to say besides besides the industry stuff, it's gonna take the emotional part of the of the why you decided to do it
and finally just say, I that's it. This is gonna be the pie cat. This is what I'm gonna do, and I'm off. What would you say to that person? I would say don't let the little stuff trip you up and hold you up. I don't know that a lot of people do do that. I I maybe they do. I I hear that a lot of people have a lot of reasons why they don't execute on something. And I think it's a much bigger story than just podcasting. I think
people need to continue to evolve. And if this is something you wanna do and if you have of you wanna find a voice and you want to tell a story, then you should do it. This is a way to do it, and this is a very intimate medium. You can tell a story, and you can get a following.
And you can, you know, you can grow you can grow yourself too. But I think it's the small things that you just don't let that trip you up, you know, the web the website, the this, that, you know, I I think that's kind of what I would say to people, and find people who can support you. I think talk to people. and then and pick their brain. You know? That's awesome advice.
Thank you, Terry. So much for the the knowledge that you gave us. And and thank you for definitely putting up with Kyle and I again for another evening. Terry, Can you just run through your website real quick in your podcast so that way we can all jump on the bandwagon and listen to that podcast. Absolutely, Tim. And thanks for having me. The podcast is called event Yac. and you can catch us at event yak.com.
And and if you're interested in checking out my production company, also it's a Moonfish production.com. Sounds spelled just like it sounds moonfishproduction.com. Perfect. Perfect. Thank you, Terry, folks. moanfish, now with a p h, FISH. Okay? So we definitely wanna thank you for that. Again, thank you for and putting up with Colin and I in in our professional behavior here, and we look forward
to seeing you on your new podcast that when it comes out, And hopefully, we can, you know, really end a little bit and get you on the beer tank consultants. So thank you very much. Absolutely. Thanks a lot, Terry. Thanks a lot, gentlemen. We wanna thank you for listening in to Pod Rec today. We had a wonderful time talking with their good friend, Terry Walters, about her journey through podcasting. You know, just a few years ago, she had 0 episodes.
Now she's past 13. And, you know, if you have an idea for an episode, you definitely need to go ahead and give us a holler Our website is podwreck.com. You can shoot us an email. podwreck@gmail.com. Heck. You can even see our Patreon on our website and be part of the Salvage team for Pod Rec. So until next time, we're here to help you survive your podcast. Let us do that for you. Thank you so much for listening.
Okay. You wanted me to do the Yeah. Yeah. We're gonna thank her for being on the show and all that stuff. We'll do all that stuff later. Okay then. Alright. Alright. I sorry. to hurry. Everybody wants to be a director. I know. Where or professionals? All good. I'm enjoying it. Do you see what I'm working with here, Terry? I mean -- I know Tim. -- I need your help. I need your help so bad. I don't know how I do it. I just I don't know either. Alright. Woo hoo. Oleo. Yeah. Alright. Sweden.
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