It was late in 2015. I had been observing how podcasts were multiplying in number. I asked myself a question – I’m a former radio guy, could I get into podcasting?
I must admit my radio broadcasting experience was helpful, but even with that, I had a lot to learn. So, after Christmas, 2015, through the end of January, 2016, I studied the technical aspect of producing podcasts and tried to research what other podcasters experienced in the start-up phase. The Internet is a tremendous source for research and I learned a great deal.
That research told me what equipment to buy and how to get started.
I have had a few people in and around Fishers ask me for advice on starting a podcast. Yes, you must learn the technical aspects, but there is one centerpiece to the start of podcasting – you must have something to say and a concept of how you want to say it.
I started in February of 2016 with two types of podcasts. The first was a daily tax podcast. The second was a roughly weekly conversation with people in and around Fishers, talking about what they do.
The tax podcast lasted about 6 weeks, but at some point, you must make a decision when virtually no one is listening. I had a loyal but very small audience for that podcast series, but needed to end it quickly.
However, the local interviews and discussion have continued and people are listening. There are very few venues allowing local people to sit down and talk about what they are doing locally for about 30 minutes.
The interviews with political candidates are particularly popular with listeners. My podcasts with candidates fro Hamilton Southeastern School Board drew a large audience. Every single candidate agreed to record a podcast in that case.
Now, with the local city Republican primary election campaign underway, every candidate in a contested race agreed to sit down with me and record a podcast. The only episode yet to be recorded is with incumbent Mayor Scott Fadness, and the delay in the recording session was at the request of his campaign.
I also have a series of podcasts that consist of arts reviews, including films, stage productions, music and television. I haven’t had the time to record one of my Arts&Fishers podcasts for a few weeks, with the local election campaign in full swing, but watch for that series to gear-up again soon.
Then, for about 13 months, Adam Aasen & I produced a weekly podcast, Hamilton County Goes To The Movies. It featured one or more film reviews and a local guest each week. That podcast went into hiatus last September when Adam was preparing to become a father and also was planning a campaign for Carmel City Council. Adam’s beautiful daughter Madeline was born in December and he is now in the thick of his election campaign. Once the election is over, Adam and I will decide the future of the film podcast.
I checked my analytics, and since launching my various podcast series in February of 2016, there have been more than 37,000 instances when someone has listened to most or all of one of the podcasts I produce. For a small local series of podcasts, that’s a very big number.
Allow me to thank all those taking the time to listen to my podcasts. I appreciate each and every one of you.
You can find my podcasts on a number of platforms. Here is a list of the most common places to find my “Podcasts by Larry Lannan” in addition to LarryInFishers.com –