Podcast Junkies - Storytelling Interviews & Conversations with Podcasters Podcasting Passionately

Stephan Spencer is a three-time author, runs two podcast shows — Optimized Geek and Marketing Speak — and is a frequent conference speaker on the topic of SEO. Stephan attends between 40-50 conferences a year and has gone through an amazing life transformation with the help of Tony Robbins. On this week's episode, Stephan shares the amazing story of how he met his fiance at a Tony Robbins event, his spiritual awakening in India, and the fascinating things he's learned about himself while taking Kabbalah classes. 04:00 - Stephan compares Podcast Movement to other conferences he has attended. 05:00 - Stephan spends $4,000 a month on his three podcast shows. 06:05 - Stephan probably goes to about 40-50 conferences a year. 07:45 - Stephan's whole life was rebooted because he went to a Tony Robbins event. 10:25 - What kind of guests does Stephan look for on his podcast, Optimized Geek? 11:50 - How does Stephan know he's just recorded a fantastic interview? 12:55 - How does Stephan measure who is listening to his podcast and taking action on the advice that's given? 15:45 - Has Stephan ever been starstruck by a guest? 20:10 - Stephan talks about taking Kabbalah classes. 23:00 - How Stephan had a spiritual awakening when he was in India a few years ago. 25:30 - What kind of insights about yourself can you get from a brain scan? 27:00 - We are wired to be spiritual beings. 28:55 - Why did Stephan start the Optimized Geek podcast? 31:40 - Were Stephan's family members surprised by his transformation? 32:35 - Stephan signed up for Tony Robbins' platinum partnership for three years. 33:05 - What happened to Stephan when he was hanging out with Tony Robbins? 37:15 - Where does Stephan's giving nature come from? 42:35 - Stephan dives a little deeper into his spiritual awakening in India. 44:35 - Stephan says, God is not a belief — it's an experience. 46:30 - Stephan shares how he met his soon-to-be wife. 52:05 - Why Stephan is a spiritual junkie. 55:15 - What's next for Stephan? 58:00 - What's the most misunderstood thing about Stephan? 01:00:30 - What has Stephan changed his mind about recently? FULL SHOW NOTES: http://www.podcastjunkies.com/stephan-spencer-interview/★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Desmond Adams is a student of life and the host of Mental Mastery Mondays, a podcast that explores and discusses everything from business, relationships, and mindset. Desmond and I kind of go all over the place on this week's Podcast Junkies. Desmond shares fun stories about his father, the old days of him being a magician, and whether there's spiritual significance to geometric shapes. 02:45 - How does Desmond know Jeff Brown? 06:00 - Desmond had a lot of stage fright when he was growing up. 07:00 - Desmond used to be a magician! 08:30 - Who were some of Desmond's favorite magicians? 11:50 - These days, if you want to learn magic, you go on YouTube. 15:10 - Desmond talks about bullying. 17:00 - How did Desmond get into podcasting? Was it Jeff's fault? 18:30 - What podcasts did Desmond get into when he was first discovering the space? 19:50 - Desmond didn't really like podcasts at first because it wasn't very polished the way it was in radio. 23:00 - What did Desmond learn from Randy Lane? 27:20 - You want to have friendly conflict and tension with your co-host. 32:05 - Are there any spiritual meanings behind mathematical sequences and nature's geometrical patterns? 39:30 - Too many people are afraid to ask questions! 41:00 - Birth = Spiritual water slide. 41:15 - You don't have to have all the answers, just an open mind. 41:45 - Desmond's mission is to make his life more abundant with great purpose. How long did it take him to discover this mission? 47:20 - What kind of lessons did Desmond learn while he was in the Navy? 55:15 - Desmond discusses his podcast, Mental Mastery Mondays. 58:15 - Desmond first started out by doing a daily show and he quickly burned out from that. 01:02:45 - Thanks for listening to '47 Billion Stories From an Old Man at the End of the Bar'. http://www.podcastjunkies.com/desmond-adams-interview/★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Hernan Lopez is the Founder & CEO at Wondery, an audio on-demand media network, curating podcasts that tell compelling and fascinating stories. It is Hernan's goal to create a new golden age for audio drama and he discusses how the podcast medium is perfect for this. Hernan has worked in traditional media for the last 19 years and was the former President & CEO of Fox International Channels. Hernan has a lot of wisdom to share on this episode, so listen in for more! 03:50 - Hernan has spent 19 years working in traditional media. 06:10 - It is expected in the podcasting industry that consumers will listen to a podcast from the beginning to the end. 07:00 - Why did Hernan get kicked out of highschool? 10:25 - How has the education Hernan received helped him later in life? 11:55 - Was it hard to transition from Argentina to the U.S.? 14:25 - The most important thing you should learn at home or in school is how to listen. 15:25 - When did podcasting pop up on Hernan's radar? 20:55 - Hernan wants to start a new golden age for audio drama. 23:20 - Who are Hernan's competitors? 24:20 - Audio dramas are expensive to make. 29:15 - What's the criteria to get on Wondery's network? 33:20 - How does Hernan find talent? 34:10 - What does Hernan look for in his team? 36:05 - How important is the team element to Hernan? 39:55 - Does Hernan come from a big family? 40:55 - How behind the curve are Spanish podcasts? 42:40 - A lot of people underestimate just how difficult it is to be behind the microphone or camera. 43:10 - What has Hernan changed his mind about recently? 43:30 - What's the most misunderstood thing about Hernan? 48:20 - What kind of legacy would Hernan like to leave behind? Full Show Notes: http://podcastjunkies.com/hernan-lopez-interview★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Mignon Fogarty is the founder of Grammar Girl and the Quick and Dirty Tips Podcast Network, and teaches media entrepreneurship at the University of Nevada, Reno. On this episode, Mignon and I discuss some of the consequences of social media, The Elements of Style, and whether there's a right or wrong way to speaking the English language. Full Show Notes: http://podcastjunkies.com/mignon-fogarty-interview★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

What better way to celebrate episode 100 than to bring back Podcast Junkies guest #1, the inimitable Chase Reeves! http://www.podcastjunkies.com/100★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Ryan Gray is a former flight surgeon in the United States Air Force and the founder of Medical School HQ. He is the host of The Premed Years Podcast, where he answers questions and interviews other medical professionals/students for his show. Ryan says his main inspiration for starting a podcast came from Pat Flynn. Due to the nature of the job, Ryan also talks about the reason why doctors need to have hobbies outside of the medical industry. There were so many topics covered on this podcast episode as per usual, so be sure to listen in for more! 03:25 - Blab is giving up on us as podcasters. 06:20 - Is Ryan an early adopter of technology? Yes! 07:20 - What does Ryan think about Facebook Live? 09:35 - Ryan considers himself an introvert. 10:25 - Ryan was inspired to podcast by Pat Flynn. 12:50 - Ryan has always been a creator. He loves to create. 13:25 - Not only is Ryan a physician, but he is also a self-taught computer programmer. 15:10 - Do medical student even have 'spare time' for hobbies? 20:10 - What was the first thing Ryan built? 25:00 - Physicians are taught to put others before themselves. 28:00 - A lot of mental energy goes into supporting other people and it is emotionally draining. 29:45 - The air force paid for Ryan's medical school. 31:55 - How did Ryan break down the format for his medical podcast? 34:25 - How has Ryan's interview style matured? 39:45 - Ryan tries to convince everybody he knows into doing a podcast. 42:10 - Medical students believe they have to be competitive in order to become certified. 44:55 - People who go to medical school because their parents wanted them to, are usually sacrificing their happiness. 46:05 - Does Ryan have any listener success stories? 49:15 - What kind of reactions did Ryan's family have about him leaving the medical field? 50:25 - Does Ryan think about the kind of legacy he'd like to leave behind? 53:00 - What's the most misunderstood thing about Ryan? 54:35 - What has Ryan changed his mind about recently? 57:10 - People have a very limited view of vegans. They just eat...grass, right? 01:00:20 - Fun fact, you can actually have a decent Facebook feed if you just block certain people. FULL SHOW NOTES: http://www.podcastjunkies.com/ryan-gray-interview/★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Corey Fineran is the founder of IvyEnvy.com and the lead host for The Ivy Envy Podcast. He has been a Cubs fan since 1985 and he and his co-hosts discuss the Cubs from a fan perspective on his show. Corey and I talk about a variety of different things on today's podcast, but what I found most interesting are the creative ways Corey and his co-hosts are monetizing the podcasts through meet ups and the use of Patreon. It's definitely worth a listen! Aside from that, we talk about Facebook, fan engagement, and even honey bees! 03:35 - Corey had no idea what he was doing when he first launched his podcast. 06:50 - Corey didn't think about format in the beginning. 10:35 - Corey recommends you host meet-ups even if you know no one will show up, because it gets you comfortable with being out of the studio. 15:15 - What has Corey learned about audio since creating the podcast? 16:25 - It can only get so good when you rely on the internet to record your podcast. 16:55 - Content is more important than audio quality, to a degree. 18:00 - An audience that has been built organically has much more staying power. 18:45 - Corey didn't pay attention to the numbers, because he really enjoyed engaging with the audience, not matter how small it was. 19:15 - It changes your perspective when you look at your download numbers and compare it to speaking to that many people in a room. 27:20 - Does Corey remember a time when he had a connection with a listener that took him aback? 27:50 - Respond to your audience and really take the time to nurture that connection. 28:20 - You have to build your listenership one fan at a time. 31:15 - A majority of Corey's listeners are on Facebook, but he still engages quite a bit with them on Twitter. 33:20 - Corey created a Facebook group for his Patreon supporters. 41:25 - For his sports podcast, Corey does make it clear to everyone that he and his co-hosts are sports fans, not experts. 48:35 - Corey talks about his other podcast, Podcasters' Group Therapy. 53:10 - What is the most misunderstood thing about Corey? 56:20 - When was the last time Corey laughed out loud? 57:35 - What has Corey changed his mind about recently? FULL SHOW NOTES: http://www.podcastjunkies.com/corey-fineran-interview/★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Erik Fisher is the host of Beyond the To Do List, a show that covers all aspects of productivity, getting good work done, and living a good life. Erik sits down with me on today's show to talk about a little bit of everything, really. We dive into topics that have nothing to do with podcasting, but on top of that, we also learn about Erik's process, how he selects his guests, some of his favorite podcasts, and much more! 04:15 - I wanted Erik on my show long before I personally met him. 04:25 - We're both excited for Podcast Movement. 07:35 - What does Erik think of Marc Maron? 09:40 - What podcasts has Erik listened to that made him rethink how he produces his show? 11:45 - Erik has never missed an episode of Back to Work. 13:15 - Long time listeners have already developed a connection with the host. 14:40 - I really wish iTunes had more insight as to who is subscribed to our podcasts. 15:40 - Has Erik changed someone's life due to his productivity podcast? 16:25 - Why did Erik start his podcast? 19:45 - Has Erik finally made it beyond the to-do list? 21:40 - As Erik started his podcast, who was he following/listening to? 23:15 - Did you know Erik is an introvert? But by being a podcaster, he gets to put on the iron man suit. 23:40 - When Erik was a young kid, he used to pretend to be an interviewer. 25:40 - Are Erik's childhood friends surprised by Erik's career path? 26:30 - Which guests who have appeared on Erik's show have made him nervous? 27:40 - Erik talks about winging it for a particular episode despite prepping heavily for it. 30:00 - Erik had someone come on his show for the third time and he didn't prepare for it at all, on purpose! 31:55 - The podcast is Erik's baby. Erik talks on how he handles people who pitch Erik and how he chooses his guests. 34:25 - By not being picky with your guests, long-time listeners can get turned off by the bad quality. 40:55 - Erik talks about Facebook's algorithm. 43:50 - What does Erik think about newsjacking? 47:15 - Erik does the podcast because he loves it, even when it's hard. 49:15 - What kind of platforms/mediums will exist in the next couple years? Will I be doing videos in the future? 50:30 - Who are some of Erik's comedy heroes? 52:45 - What's left for Erik? 54:25 - Erik is excited to go to conferences like Podcast Movement, because he gets to see his podcast friends! 55:55 - How important is family to Erik? 57:25 - What has Erik changed his mind about recently? 58:50 - The last episode of Game of Thrones was rated 10/10 on IMDB. What? 01:00:25 - What is the most misunderstood thing about Erik? FULL SHOW NOTES: http://www.podcastjunkies.com/erik-fisher-interview/★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

I had the opportunity to interview the Gamertag Radio team at the CBS Radio’s Studio. I sit down with Danny Peña, Peter Toledo, and Parris Lilly to get behind-the-scenes details on Gamertag Radio. We learn about how the guys met each other, how much fun they have doing what they do, and the strong band-of-brothers bond they have for each other. 00:55 - I’m heading to CBS Radio to interview the guys over at Gamer Tag Radio, Danny Peña included. 04:15 - How important is communication for the guys? 06:30 - They’re always in each other’s lives and it’s never forced. 07:05 - The guys talk to each other 24/7 and it’s a unique aspect that they haven’t found with friends who they’ve known for even longer. 08:10 - Parris was a shy person, but by getting to know Peter and Danny, they have helped him get out of his comfort zone. 10:00 - Parris talks about his interview with Aisha Tyler. 16:00 - Danny still feels like he’s a little kid doing these interviews. He’s still having fun. 18:15 - Peter is a father. Has he thought about the conversation he’ll have with his kids on what’s possible for the future? 20:15 - You will fail! Peter had to push this lesson on his daughter as she didn’t want to try new things. 21:35 - When the guys first started Gamertag Radio, they had no experience what so ever. 24:10 - Peter talks about how he met Danny. 29:15 - Do the guys ever feel like the techanology is just moving too fast? 33:15 - Which childhood friend would be surprised that the guys ended up in this line of work? 38:05 - Parris talks on how he personally met Danny. 43:40 - Parris believes the one thing the guys and him have in common is work ethnic. 47:40 - Where did Peter get his work ethnic? 50:30 - What is one thing people don’t know about the guys? Full Show Notes: http://podcastjunkies.com/gamertag-radio-interview★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Rob Lawrence is a podcaster, audio producer, and a certified coach who helps creative entrepreneurs and business leaders embrace the power of sound. He is the host of the Inspirational Creatives Podcast and is dedicated to bringing fresh conversations to your ears. Rob has been a podcast host for the last two years and we discuss the ever-changing creative process that challenges us to create better and more inspiring shows. We break down Rob's interview style as well as his podcast format on today's show. 04:15 - How important is the podcasting community for Rob? 06:50 - When Rob meets someone for the first time from within the podcast community, he feels like he really knows them because he's heard them before. 07:35 - How important is family for Rob? 08:15 - When you surround yourself with positive people, they tend to pull and push you forward. 08:25 - You are the average of the five people you spend your time with. 09:00 - When you surround yourself with successful people, your mindset starts to change as well. 09:55 - This also applies to your salary. Take the average salary of your five closest friends and that's your current salary. 10:45 - Rob always thought he was a creative human being. 11:20 - Who inspired Rob when he was growing up? 13:00 - We could probably do this without the support of our loved ones, but it would be a lot harder to do. 15:15 - It's all about relationships at the end of the day. 15:25 - Rob had been listening to podcasts for years before he started podcasting. 17:15 - It's incredibly important to find your own voice and be different. 17:35 - How does Rob challenge himself to put out great content? 20:50 - Rob mentioned how important it was to listen back to previous episodes and I couldn't agree more. 25:10 - Rob discusses his interview style and how he presents the questions to his guests. 28:50 - Rob tries to find out what are some of his guests' biggest highlights and brings them to light on the show. 30:35 - What was Rob's biggest takeaways from Michael Port's interview? 32:45 - How much prepping goes into Rob's podcast? 33:50 - To get good with your podcast, you just have to practice. There's no other way around it. 36:10 - Challenge yourself to be better and better. Go out of your way to look for opportunities that will challenge you. 41:25 - I get excited when I see that podcasting is becoming more and more common. 46:25 - How did Rob come up with the format for his show? 50:45 - What does it mean to be creative? How do you apply this in an academic setting? 51:35 - Rob talks on how you can change your perspective. 53:25 - What has Rob changed his mind about recently? 58:00 - Think about your podcast in seasons. 59:45 - What's the one misunderstood thing about Rob? 01:00:35 - When was the last time Rob had a good laugh? Full Show Notes: http://podcastjunkies.com/rob-lawrence-interview★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★