Podcast Junkies - Storytelling Interviews & Conversations with Podcasters Podcasting Passionately

AJ Mihrzad is the author of the best selling book, The Mind Body Solution and interviews other online coaches for his podcast. As a self-proclaimed former fat kid and incredibly shy introvert, AJ talks on how he transformed his life and worked towards a life he really wanted. There’s some great personal tidbits about friendships, growing your business, and more in here that I really resonated with. Hope you enjoy the interview with AJ! Show Highlights 05:00 – What does AJ mean by him being a ‘situational’ extrovert? 05:10 – AJ has always had issues with his self confidence and even feared people. 06:35 – Because of AJ’s shyness, he missed a lot of opportunities, especially with girls. 07:10 – Who was AJ’s role model to help overcome this? 08:10 – Toast masters also helped him. 08:55 – AJ is the oldest out of his siblings and he’s the only introvert. 10:45 – AJ prefers not to go to family events, but he goes anyway and fake it till he makes it. 12:55 – What made AJ shift gears a little bit in his career? 14:20 – Why did AJ get into fitness coaching? 16:15 – Despite making lots of mistakes, somewhere along the line something clicked for AJ. 20:30 – Teaching is one of those jobs that is under appreciated and under paid, but so important. 20:35 – Everyone can name a teach who made an impact on their lives. 21:25 – AJ talks about a teacher who inspired him. 24:10 – Why did AJ start a podcast? 26:35 – AJ talks about how the podcast has opened doors for him. 29:10 – I completely agree with AJ. I have made unbelievable connections through my podcast as well. 32:10 – What’s great about podcasting is that there are no rules. 33:35 – AJ was a very private person, but he started opening up because his role models were very authentic 36:45 – Video allows you to be raw, real, and authentic. Twitter and Instagram don’t do this very well. 42:05 – Has AJ grown out of certain relationships now that he’s ‘grown up’ a little? 44:15 – People need to be aware of their personal growth and they also need to align themselves with the rig 49:30 – What is the one most misunderstood thing about AJ? 51:40 – AJ spoke about being a former fat kid, what made him want to change? 53:44 – If AJ can do it, anyone can do it! 55:10 – What has AJ changed his mind about recently? 57:40 – Text the word ‘Amazing’ to 33444 to get a copy of AJ’s book.   FULL SHOW NOTES: http://www.podcastjunkies.com/84      ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

See the full show notes here: http://aboutmeditation.com/podcast/meditation-affirmations/★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Michael Shaw is the host of The Conversation, a podcast about the contemporary arts. He talks with various artists, collectors, dealers, curators and more on the show. Michael has been running his show since 2011 and he talks about some of the upcoming challenges he is likely to face with growing his podcast. Michael also shares on how he has developed such a loyal following over the years; to the point where people donate to his show. Show Highlights 07:00 – Michael talks about sound gear. 09:05 – When did Michael launch his show? 12:05 – Does Michael have a lot of technical experience? 16:00 – Michael prefers a great conversationalist vs. someone who has done well in their career. 20:35 – Does Michael go out of his way to get the people he admires on the show? 22:35 – It’s better to respect the guest more than their career choices to create an amazing show. 25:00 – I talk about the two shows that left me kind of star struck. 27:05 – Michael knows people are tired of Marc Maron, but the man inspired him to create a podcast. 28:45 – It’s all about finding the right balance between being really personal vs. being constructive. 29:10 – How did Michael learn to be a great interviewer? 30:40 – Was Michael curious growing up? He says not really. 31:20 – It’s about process as well as curiosity. Having a good process can really make things happen. 31:40 – Michael believes great shows happen when he and the guest are both in the moment together. 37:15 – Most people don’t have the ability to engage in a conversation. We just stare at our phones instead. 43:00 – Michael talks about artists and different styles. 46:35 – What kind of challenges has Michael faced as an artist? 50:35 – Michael has some pretty loyal and dedicated fans. 51:00 – It’s hard to go out of your way to donate to a podcast. 54:35 – I talk about the relationships I have developed with my listeners. 57:00 – Podcast content is undervalued and successful art is overvalued. 59:10 – Michael talks about his mentors. 01:02:35 – What’s Michael’s fondest memory of New York city? 01:03:30 – What has Michael changed his mind about recently? 01:08:25 – It’s an interesting balance between being burned out vs. needing that social contact and stimulation 01:09:15 – Michael depends on his guests for referrals. 01:11:35 – At a certain point, Michael felt like he was just a tool.   FULL SHOW NOTES: http://www.podcastjunkies.com/82      ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Ibarionex is a photographer, writer, educator and the host of The Candid Frame photography podcast. He has been podcasting for the past 10 years and talks on how he just recently got introduced to more podcasters and the podcast community. With 10 years of experience in the podcasting world and more than 20 years in photography, Ibarionex has a ton of great information to share. Show Highlights 06:00 – Ibarionex has been podcasting for 10 years. 06:25 – Ibarionex didn’t know other podcasters for the longest time. 07:25 – Reach out to others early and build the relationships. Ibarionex was a bit late in doing that. 08:10 – Ibarionex was afraid to make mistakes and to let others know he didn’t know what he was doing. 09:15 – Despite being able to Google for info, it can take a long time to figure things out. 10:45 – What does Ibarionex ‘do’ for a living? He actually hates the question because he does so many 17:25 – People who multitask regularly become less efficient. 17:55 – It’s incredibly hard to focus on just one thing at a time. 20:25 – What was Hollywood like in the late 70’s? 25:20 – Ibarionex doesn’t mentor kids because he believes he’s still a kid trying to learn so much. 27:00 – Ibarionex was so focused on what he didn’t know that he never realized he knew more than others. 28:30 – What photographers does Ibarionex admire? 30:50 – Ibarionex talks on how he got started in photography. 32:00 – How did Ibarionex know when he took a great picture? 36:25 – Ibarionex talks camera equipment and shooting with a wilder lens. 39:35 – There’s always something to photograph, but sometimes you don’t have the eye to see it. 42:20 – How has photography improved Ibarionex’s life? 45:15 – Ibarionex talks about the podcasting community. 45:40 – Why did Ibarionex start his podcast? 50:00 – Ibarionex was already used to interviewing photographers before he started his show. 51:20 – The first question is critical, especially when interviewing experts who have been interviewed count 53:20 – Really listen to your guest, because the follow up question is really key. 55:25 – Ibarionex used to stutter. 56:25 – Ibarionex tries to produce an unedited, raw, and authentic show. 58:05 – Has Ibarionex ever gotten starstruck? 01:00:20 – Not only does Ibarionex get to talk to amazing people, but they see him as a peer too. 01:04:35 – Ibarionex wants to interview people who will surprise him. 01:10:00 – It’s hard to get guests to be genuine, especially over Skype. 01:12:30 – Can Ibarionex bring out the same amount of intimacy when he talks to someone in person? 01:17:00 – Ibarionex wants to interview people from his first grade class. 01:20:15 – What is the most misunderstood thing about Ibarionex?   FULL SHOW NOTES: http://www.podcastjunkies.com/81      ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Kari Gormley is the host of The Running Lifestyle Show. Her show provides encouragement and inspiration to runners who aspire to be ultra-marathoners. Kari talks to me about her time in Sweden and the culture shock she experienced while she was there. She also talks on some of the valuable lessons she learned when she traveled the world for six months. Find out about Kari’s story and more in today’s episode. Show Highlights 06:45 – It was hard for Kari to start her podcast. 07:30 – What Kari learned through starting a podcast is that it’s okay to be vulnerable. 08:15 – What were some of the other things that took Kari a while to learn? 09:20 – Why did Kari take the internship opportunity and move to Sweden? 10:25 – Kari shares her culture shock experience when she was in Sweden. 16:45 – Kari shares her culture shock experience when she was in Sweden. 19:15 – In early 2002, Kari traveled around the world for six months. 26:20 – What were some of the key lessons Kari learned after those six months? 30:40 – Kari has ran 6 marathons so far. 32:40 – The Running Lifestyle podcast has opened so many doors for Kari. 35:00 – Kari loves connecting and meeting with people who listen to the show. 38:25 – Kari loves connecting and meeting with people who listen to the show. 39:50 – Kari never ended up meeting those people whom she thought were her ideal avatar. 42:50 – How does Kari plan to take her podcast to another level? 45:10 – How does Kari plan to take her podcast to another level? 47:50 – You can meet some of the best people at a conference. 52:00 – Overtime, you can get a good feel for what your hourly rate is and determine whether it’s worth paying 54:00 – What would Kari’s parents say about her life journal? 57:15 – Don’t compare yourself to other podcasters/people. It’s the worst and it won’t help you. 59:40 – Kari talks about Dean Karnazes. 01:02:25 – Kari talks about the top 3 things that really matter in our lives. 01:04:15 – Most of the time when we don’t do something, it’s due to fear. 01:05:20 – What has Kari changed her mind about recently? 01:06:55 – Kari loves essential oils! 01:08:00 – I tell Kari about my meditation routine.   FULL SHOW NOTES: http://www.podcastjunkies.com/80      ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Evo Terra is currently traveling with his wife, of over 20 years, all around the world. He’s sitting in Bangkok as he talks to me and you can obviously hear the exotic wild life behind him during the interview. Evo is an OG because according to Podcast Alley, he was the 40th podcaster. So just like my previous guest Danny Pena, Evo has been podcasting for a long, long time. He shares his stories on how he got into this medium, the various podcasts he has started, and why he ‘prunes’ his friends. Show Highlights 05:00 – Evo is in Bangkok, Thailand right now. 09:10 – According to Podcast Alley, Evo was the 40th podcaster. 11:10 – Why did podcasting interest him? 15:30 – There’s no way to keep a medium pure. 17:00 – How are these random people considering themselves ‘gurus’? 18:10 – How many podcasts has Evo started? It’s either 7 or 1,000! 19:30 – Why did Evo start Podiobooks? 28:10 – Remember, Evo is doing all of this while he’s in Bangkok! 29:45 – The Slack podcast is awesome!! 31:00 – Has Evo always been like this? 34:00 – You’re on sacred ground when you try to compare Batman/Superman or even Star Wars/Star Trek. 37:40 – Does Evo still ‘prune’ his friends? 42:15 – Why did Evo and his wife Sheila decided to travel the world? 44:30 – People say Evo is lucky, he’s not. He just tries to help other people. 50:50 – Where was Evo’s mindset when he decided to leave the US? 58:50 – Evo talks about his current travel podcast. 01:05:55 – I really resonate with Evo and Sheila’s honesty on the podcast. 01:09:00 – Evo has some wisdom on how to keep a marriage together. 01:13:20 – What is the most misunderstood thing about Evo? 01:15:10 – What has Evo changed his mind about recently? 01:19:50 – Google Evo’s name to find out more!   FULL SHOW NOTES: http://www.podcastjunkies.com/79      ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Danny Peña has been podcasting for last 10+ years and has a ton of experience to bring to the table. He is the founder and host of GamerTagRadio and has received international media attention from Forbes, Gamespot, IGN, Wall Street Journal, and more. He also won the Microsoft MVP award both in ’05 and ’09 and hosted the first gaming show for Discovery Channel Latin America. Show Highlights 04:50 – Danny talks about his podcasting mistakes. 06:00 – How did Danny get into editing? 09:15 – Danny used his ‘street knowledge’ to promote his podcast instead of using social media. 11:20 – Danny talks on how rappers/hip hop artists promoted their work pre-internet days. 14:50 – Twitter bombing is so tacky. 16:05 – What was it like being on the Podcast Movement stage? 17:30 – Danny and I talk about our love for DJing back in the day. 19:10 – You could literally spend half a day looking at vinyls. 22:35 – Danny moved to Miami in 92 and it was completely destroyed from hurricane Andrew. 24:00 – Danny talks about the E3 (Electronic Entertainment Expo) conference in L.A. 27:15 – Your podcast being in New and Noteworthy is cool, but what are you gonna do after that? 30:55 – Don’t depend on interviewing other successful podcasters. 34:55 – Danny talks about his parents. 37:30 – Believe it or not, Danny used to be incredibly shy in Kindergarten. 43:15 – Let people hear your voice and your message. We don’t always get a spotlight. 46:10 – You can’t fake being consistently passionate time and time again. 49:05 – Danny talks about how he met Bill Gates. 52:45 – Get out of your house and attend events. 01:01:00 – Danny talks about his podcasting highlights in 2015. 01:03:10 – How did Danny build his podcasting crew? 01:12:00 – Companies often ask Danny to cover an event, but he also wants his team to be represented. 01:14:50 – Hang around people who have the same can-do attitude you have. 01:15:50 – Danny talks about the responses he has received from his fans. 01:19:30 – Danny explains when he cried on the Podcast Movement stage. 01:22:40 – Danny shares a story about an event EA invited him to. 01:28:55 – When Danny tells stories, he’s just painting a picture for the listener. 01:35:05 – Be sure to visit GamerTagRadio.com see what Danny Peña does.   FULL SHOW NOTES: http://www.podcastjunkies.com/78    ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Brittany and Amanda are the co-hosts of Once Upon a Podcast, a podcast about the TV show Once Upon a Time. Each week the co-hosts offer constructive thoughts and insights about the show, and more! Brittany and Amanda discuss some of their favorite TV shows and early childhood recollections with me. They also talk about how writers who reveal too much ‘behind-the-scenes’ information can spoil a bit of the TV magic. Show Highlights 04:50 – What kind of podcasting skills have Britt and Amanda learned? 06:30 – How did Amanda get into podcasting? 07:50 – When did Britt discover podcasts? 11:05 – Podcasts are the perfect medium for education. 14:55 – Why did Britt and Amanda choose Once Upon a Time as a topic for their show? 21:20 – Are there other Once Upon a Time podcasts? 26:45 – Best TV show ever? Borgen! It’s the Danish version of West Wing/House of Cards. 27:55 – Britt talks about her earliest memory of a TV show. 29:35 – First movie Amanda ever saw? Little Mermaid. First movie she loved? Sound of Music and Mary Poppins. 31:25 – When writers interact with their fans, it can sometimes spoil the magic of the show. 33:20 – Brittany talks about putting self-imposed restrictions on herself. 44:10 – Remember that your words impact people. 52:15 – The places where both Amanda and Britney work are supportive of their podcast. 56:30 – A happy employee always comes back to work. 56:55 – If you’re a boss, listen to these wise words of wisdom. 01:00:00 – What’s the most misunderstood thing about Brittany? 01:01:15 – What did Amanda change her mind about recently? 01:01:40 – What’s one thing the ladies appreciate about their co-host? 01:07:35 – The 100th episode is coming up soon. Tweet the co-hosts your ideas!   FULL SHOW NOTES: http://www.podcastjunkies.com/77    ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Ron Dawson is a film maker and the host of the Radio Film School podcast. Ron’s show is a radio documentary series on the subjects of film making, movies, and cinema. He adds a lot of fun TV and movie references into his show, which just adds to the richness of his podcast. I recently met Ron on Blab and when I heard his podcast for the first time, I had to binge listen to all of his shows. Show Highlights 00:06:50 – Ron and I met on Blab. 00:07:45 – I binge listened to Ron’s show. It’s sooo good. 00:09:10 – Ron watched a lot of TV on the weekends, growing up as a kid. 00:14:35 – Ron explains what his podcast is about. 00:16:10 – What inspired Ron to start a podcast? 00:22:40 – Ron puts a lot of movie/TV audio bites in his show and he is always filled with references. 00:24:45 – We talk about EP 09 – The Salieri Syndrome. 00:27:10 – I get a little OCD over episode titles. 00:31:30 – Ron….a hip-hop producer? 00:33:15 – Did you know I was in an all-boys Catholic high school? 00:36:55 – What I really enjoy about Ron’s podcast is that he opens up and gets personal in certain episodes. 00:45:00 – If you’re doing an interview-style podcast, your personality is what has to stand out. 00:47:55 – What has Ron learned from his guests? 00:49:40 – Believe it or not, you can learn from an older generation. 00:52:00 – Look outside of your genre for inspiration. 00:55:00 – Ron and I enjoy watching the trailers more than the actual movies. 00:56:45 – Where is Ron currently in his personal hero’s journey? 01:01:40 – You gotta have the valley in order to have the peaks. 01:02:20 – How have mentors helped Ron along his journey? 01:05:40 – What has Ron changed his mind about recently? 01:10:15 – Ron and I talk about the fine balance between explaining and not explaining a mystery. 01:14:40 – Ron had a whole segment focused on women in film making. 01:19:45 – What’s the most misunderstood thing about Ron?   FULL SHOW NOTES: http://www.podcastjunkies.com/76    ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Erik (aka Mr. Blahg) and Grace are the co-hosts of Under the Comic Covers, where they discuss and review independent comic books. We find out about their podcast origin stories and why they love independent comic books so much. Erik recalls that he initially hated the comic book medium because he is a literature snob, but was eventually converted when he picked up the graphic novel Watchman by Alan Moore. Show Highlights 00:04:15 – How did Erik get the name Mr. Blahg? 00:08:15 – Grace talks about The Walking Dead cast 00:09:10 – How did Erik meet Grace? 00:12:35 – Why does Grace like The Walking Dead? 00:14:15 – How did Under the Comic Covers start? 00:18:00 – Erik and Grace work so well as co-hosts. 00:25:55 – Why did Grace cry on the podcast? 00:27:25 – Despite being a literature snob, Erik explains why he likes comics. 00:31:35 – How did Grace get into comics? 00:34:00 – People are often disappointed when they hear Erik and Grace run an independent comic book podcast. 00:37:30 – Erik doesn’t feel comfortable interviewing other guests. 00:41:25 – You can create a podcast about anything. 00:42:10 – Erik and Grace talk about their listeners. 00:48:20 – What cool things has happened to Grace because of the podcast? 00:51:40 – What are Erik and Grace excited about? 00:53:55 – Erik talks about the music on their podcast show. 00:56:05 – Erik talks about the podcast’s album cover art work. 01:00:30 – You need a woman’s perspective. 01:02:50 – Erik hates listening to podcasts with just two guys’ bro-ing out. 01:07:05 – Find Erik and Grace on Facebook.   FULL SHOW NOTES: http://www.podcastjunkies.com/75    ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★