Here we are. Hey, everyone, welcome to hosted. This is the show where we get to flip the script a little bit and talk to hosts who are typically on the other side of the microphone, asking the questions navigating the conversation. And today I have JD Lopez with me. And he has been podcasting for a very long time. He thinks he's, he thinks he's late to the game, but I think he was early to the game. So we'll probably talk about that a little bit kind of sits amongst the, I guess the rush mores of the the podcasting world. So welcome, JD.
Hello, thank you so much. It's very flattering. It's nice, you know, I think it is like, you just got to kind of stay in the game. You know, I think it's the guy who used to host a late night show. After Johnny Carson. He talks about just staying in line. Exactly. Yeah. Jay Leno has this whole thing about just staying in line, you know, with for comedy, or whatever you're doing as long as and if someone else gets out of line, then you move up, you can move up a set, you know, you're step closer. So I think, you know, just staying in the game, you know, for as long as I have, you know, then then people start to respect you when you get the numbers. You know, I've done, you know, over 100 podcasts, then people are really, you know, you're reaching a certain national and I think, yeah, you're definitely at the Yeah, I think I think I can safely say it's the longest running calm Denver comedy podcast, you know, why categories? And podcasting?
There are and I think I think that is that is a safe assumption. I mean, we're talking 2013 2014 You have 255 episodes under your belt now. And how did you even get started? Like what even brought you to the place where you're like, you know what, I'm just gonna start. Get a microphone. I'm gonna start inviting guests in because it was you started in a studio, right? Was it in your basement?
Yeah, my basement. Yeah, me a very, Marc Maron ask, you know, he had the garage. I had my basement. You know, I started doing stand up comedy around the same time, you know, but I was I was more of a fan of podcasts. You know, I mean, I was just big fan. I listened to a bunch. He always listen to Adam Carolla Nerdist Maron, you know, a lot of Rogan. He's a little more divisive these days. But back then, you know, he was just a comic doing talking into a microphone. So yeah, it was just a big fan really enjoyed it. And I had my student loans that year for college and I was like, I'm gonna buy improv classes, or I'm gonna buy some microphones and recording equipment.
Did you do both? Or did you just go one direction?
Oh, one direction. Great band. No, I yeah, I bought all the recording equipment first. And then I took a couple improv classes later at the bovine no longer around, sadly. Based improv school,
yeah. When did that when did that shutter was that? Like,
they they're still around? They're doing corporate stuff. Now. They only do like corporate classes and shows that they teach corporately.
That's like a hot thing. Isn't that that's so interesting, right? Everyone just can be funny.
Um, well, improv, I think they geared towards more being in the moment than quote unquote, being funny. Yeah, humor can come from being in the moment that's, you know, when you take the improv class when you read.
Clearly, I need to take the name right now.
Yeah, yeah, sign up for the ball and not not sponsored by the bovine, which I would love. I would have been great. But choosing comedy is the name of the book. Yeah. All right. Well, I have to check that humor comes from. And I do like to, I think I take a lot of that into my hosting. How my approach to hosting is being in the moment trying to just listen to the guests and follow my interest there.
So what do you are bringing guests on your show where they people in your network? Are people getting introduced to you? And how did that all work out?
Now sorted out? Me just doing going out to open mics thing trying to get the bigger name comics in town, you know, that I like and they're like, Oh, who's this dangerous to do in a podcast? I mean, that was a something they called me didn't guess. And, you know, they're like, oh, yeah, I'll do your little podcast, you know, and they would and it's it's hard to be like, hey, hey, guy, I just met a woman. I come to my basement and record with me I know we just met but I think it's gonna be great.
Did you have people turn you down?
Oh, yeah, y'all Yeah, plenty of people see like now No, thank you. It's rarer than you think. Because with comics, I mean, they're all about self marketing. You know, they want to talk they want to hear themselves talk very narcissistic bunch.
turns out actually most people are.
Yeah, no, you do get a lot more people willing to do with anything. But also it is surprising the people that say no, you know?
Have you been able to kind of circle back around, like once you established yourself and, you know, people determined that you weren't just trying to like, get them into your basement and who knows what you're gonna do?
I hold a grudge and I'm motivated by spy, which long member of the brain trust knows? Yeah, that's my main motivation. So once you say no to me, You're out. You're dead to me, baby.
noted, noted, and everyone who's listening should be paying attention to this JD has got a list. Cool. So, you know, just when you are bringing guests on your show, it sounds like you just you just go, you just have a conversation? Do you prep yourself? Like what kind of? What do you do and before you bring somebody into the basement,
if there's somebody who has some material I can watch, like, YouTube, you know, minute, five minutes said, I'll do that. If they've been on other podcasts. It's not hard for me to look them up. And listen, because I said, I really enjoy listening. Maybe most of the time. I have my headphones in while I'm doing the dishes or whatever working, you know, just listening to podcasts. And I don't know if you've gotten to this point with podcasts by listen everything on two times the speed. So I mean, I'm getting it in. I'm getting it in. And yeah, that's that's the bulk of what I'll do. But I came from the I started off listening to Nerdist back in the day, and he just rolls right into it. So I was like, that's what I'm gonna do. You know, I hit record right away, and we're going, you know,
yeah, we really messed up our recording here. We had a great conversation and nobody got to hear it. Life changing, you know, lesson learned for me. I'm gonna make sure that I have record running soon as I get on the call. And, you know, yeah, I mean, it's, it's, it's interesting. You talk about two times the speed because I sometimes I forget, like, I've gotten used to listening to things that way. And I'll be in my car and somebody will get in my car, and it alarms them.
To hear like the chipmunk. Yeah.
Yeah. Yeah. They're like, what I can't go back to I know, same.
It's like everyone's stuck in molasses. If I'm listening to something on a regular Steve, I can do it.
marshmallows in their mouth. What is happening? Cool. So thanks for the question. Yeah, I think you did. I think you did. You were basically talking about preparing for an interview. And you just kind of, you know, you prepare a little bit, but really, you're just having a conversation. Have you ever had to? You know, it's not everyone is real comfortable. I mean, it sounds like you're mostly interviewing musicians, artists, comedians, folks here in Denver creative types. But not everyone is comfortable with a microphone in front of their face. So have you mastered the art of getting people to just get comfy and settle in? Or have you had some awkward interviews?
Oh, yeah, I definitely have a handful of things I haven't put out. You know, I think people are really surprised to hear that. But it's like, no, I don't think it's, you know, good or worth it. Or, you know, so maybe that guess was going through something like I had a comic on who, you know, didn't want to talk about their sobriety. But it just been sober for like a week. And the conversation was very all over the place very sporadic. And then it wasn't till the end, that they're like, oh, yeah, I haven't been drinking. And I was like, oh, okay, this totally makes sense. Now, you know, like, the, the conversation didn't really have a through line, we were all over the place. It was uncomfortable. And I just didn't put it out. Because, you know, it's like, this just wasn't, wasn't presenting the guests in the best light, you know, so I want to have a good product I want I try really hard to make the guests comfortable. I think starting off, like, Hey, we're just having a conversation, a free flowing thing. Recording starting recording right off the bat, not having a super official start is something I do to try and make the guests trick them into being comfortable in a way. Yeah. But yeah, people do get really weird when you put a mic in their face. They don't like it. And yeah, they clam up. And it's hard. Each one's a little different. You know, each one you got to try and figure out a new way to get them to open up and usually that mean something that you know, as well as you podcast more, it might not be till 45 minutes in an hour and a half into the podcast. You're like, I can't I can't listen to this for three hours or whatever. But it's like, well, we didn't get to some of the best stuff until the 45 minute mark, but we had to have that whole conversation leading up for them to feel and to have the context for to get into what we did at the end. And, you know, I'm a big component or not component. wrong word. I can't Yeah, proponent Thank you. You know, the podcast goes as long as it's gonna go, you know, has its own life and it's, you know, just having a conversation as its own, you know, kind of improv II thing right there. It's on are really?
Yeah, I was gonna ask you about that because that was something talking about getting people comfortable. That seems to be a common thread amongst a lot of the hosts that I talked to is breaking people down, and it does take some time, you know, usually like,
down I know, sorry, even that word
was aggressive.
If that's your style,
I'm expecting this one to get broken down at about 45 No, but you really gonna get I can get people comfortable. Like, let them I don't know, it's just like you have to unless you know someone and you're friends with them. And you've, you've had a lot of conversations, and you can kind of jump right into it. But a lot of times in podcasting, you're meeting these people for the very first time. There's just this dance that you have in the beginning until you both feel comfortable, and then you start to get to the good stuff.
Yeah, I mean, it's its own a live thing. You know, the guest has to be giving, I have to be giving, we both have to be, you know, receptive, wanting to play. I was actually just talking, I had a podcast I was doing before this. And I was like, he was asking me about this podcast. And I was like, I don't know, if she's willing to play, then I think it'll be fun. If not, then you know, we'll see how it
goes. We may not publish it.
You know, that's always a possibility. I did have a comic on. I was just asking people like at the beginning, Oh, is there anything you don't want to talk about? Just I thought that was a way to like, break the ice. You know, and she clammed up? At that point, then she was like, Oh, my God, what do you mean? What do you what were you going to ask? What do you want to ask? And like, that ruin the whole conversation? That's one of the ones I never didn't put out. Because she was so nervous the whole time that I was trying to do a gotcha thing. Yeah. And that I stopped doing that after after that experience. I was like, just not worth it. Because if I've had comments be like, I don't want to talk about that then have to cut around it. Which is unfortunate. Because I mean, like, that's the real stuff. That's the stuff you want to talk about. I mean, you know, I get we all have want to maintain certain levels of privacy, but also layer that's the juice. That's the stuff I want to get to the real shit.
Yeah. And that's what makes podcasting. Cool. Right. Like, it's like the one medium that I feel like people get real, they get vulnerable. You know, it's it's like the, that's why I enjoy listening to them. Because I get to hear the real stuff. It's not like, Yeah, I've seen this person a million times, but I've never seen the real side of them or hear the real side of them.
Yeah, yeah. They're in your ears. Yeah,
they're in your ears. Very intimate. Yeah. And you've spun off now. So you have you have the podcast left hand right brain, which you've had for quite some time, but you've got other things going on. And how did you? How did those break off? I know that one. Like, let's get drunk and talk about your marriage. Is that right? wedding? Wedding. Alright, marriage. That's good. You're talking about your wedding? Yeah, that's your that's your wife's podcast, right? Wife? And yes.
I met my wife through doing the podcast. Really? Yes. Yeah. Yeah, yeah, we were doing this was called appetites at the time. And it was, you know, just people following their passions. We went to the Betsy stage, which was a theatre company, and my wife was in the play. And we had one mutual friend, the CO so that was a mutual friend. And that's how we we met really?
Was it a way to just to start a conversation where you like, hey, like a pickup line?
I think there's a certain level of like, okay, I'm in charge here. You know, like, I got the mic, and I got all the equipment, and I'm working it and I'm like, no, no, get a little close to the mic. Okay. It can be quiet while she talks because I gotta get the level or over here, you know, there's, there's like this idea of like, you know, I've just, there's a level of competency that I think, you know, maybe made me a little more attractive than if I would have just been up. Not had been doing that, which I do think, you know, gave me a step up, you know, and then we're having the mutual friend through the, through the podcast that that was also nice. Yeah, a friend of a friend is always a good one.
Yeah. It's always good to have somebody put in a good word for you, for sure. Especially when you're inviting people in your basement.
Yeah. That one was on location. We went to the theater. Oh, good.
Good. Good. Yeah. So tell me about the other podcast you've got going on?
Yeah, I think I've met a lot of cool people doing the podcast that's always a plus when you meet a kindred spirit, someone who loves podcasting, or just talking as much as you do. But a couple buddies of mine who also do comedy Andreas besser and Patrick Scott, we start doing those chupacabra. arrows, which is just kind of I always say it's just a silly goose time with me. Podcast pals, you know, so that's best one just one just wanted to have some fun with some great guests, or is it just really? Yeah, it's usually just the three of us. Right now. It's kind of just like a rotating, you know, my podcast pals at this time, because they both have kids, you know, it's hard. It's hard when you have a co host, you know,
timing, that synergy of calendars.
Yeah, you know, and I just, you know, it is like a relationship and why I keep saying like, they, one of them kind of ghosted us and the other one, you know, it's the pod is in transition, right? Because I was about to have another kid. So he's like, I can't get there as frequently. So now I'm just kind of popping around, you know, seeing if anyone fits, you know, having a good time. You know, I joke around seems to return to the pod Mac last time, I'm just getting different friends on have a fun time. That's a lot shorter one, I want to keep it short and sweet. But that one out just to have fun. You know, not really, as tied to this idea of like creativity, like an exploration of creativity, which left hand right brain is, you know, and then let's get drunk and talk about your way my wife, just having fun planning our wedding with our friend Jen. And they were like, This is a podcast. Let's try it. And so we started recording that and we've been putting them out ever since. And now I have other comics. You know, I've established enough of a name for myself as like, you know, someone who loves podcasting that another comic reached out Katie Bowman, and we're doing Help Me I'm Scared, which is a horror film review podcast now. Yeah. So I'm excited to get that stuff going, you know,
did that spiral from an interview with Katie? topic that you were talking about with her?
No, not necessarily. But I mean, I've had her on multiple times to the podcast and someone I enjoy talking to, as well. And she was saying she wanted to start a podcast and you know, I threw my hat in the ring was like, Hey, we can produce it, you know, and she likes horror movies. The kind of the whole gimmick is I'm a producer, but I'm kind of the Jamie. You know, for Joe Rogan. You know, he has Yeah, Jamie Hewlett who will chime in every now and then. And I kind of do that role part. And she's like the kind of a gimmicky like JT hates podcast, or scary movies. I am a big scaredy cat. She's like, I'm trying to win them over kind of a thing. And so we have fun with it.
Does she have guests on? Yes, she'll
have a comedians, whoever, whoever was talking about horror movie, really, because she's, she loves talking about horror movies. And it's apparently hard to find people who
it's like a super small group, we actually have somebody that I work with. It's like in love with horror movies. So we need to connect to the two of them. Because actually, they would have a really good conversation and but you can dig in pretty deep. Like, I'll listen to some conversations. And it's shocking to me like how you can how many layers you can peel back and horror movies. Like most of the time, I'm just like, hands covered face. Like, is it over? Exactly over yet? But yeah, it's impressive. That's really cool. So when, like, helped me I'm scared, how many times a month a week, like what is that? Published? Twice a month, okay, twice.
The grinds, podcasts are a grind that you do not think about until you're doing it. I mean, you gotta constantly book guests, you're out there marketing, you know, every, every conversation, you're like, Hey, should I be saving this for the podcast? Is this content? You know, there's always a, you know, it's a grind.
Have you figured out some good, good processes along the way to make it less of a grind? Because you've, you know, this is you, you're dedicated. I mean, you're in it, you're doing this, and you've been doing it for a while. So you'll love it. But it's a lot of work.
Yeah, I mean, I edited it all myself, you know, I do all that work, which is mostly mostly the control freak and me. I want to do all that stuff. But I think I could maybe do better with that, because I have taken long hiatuses for a while you know, it, you know, I shouldn't be in the three hundreds, really, I was consistently putting them out weekly, you know, but you know, you gotta take that time for your mental health, you got to recharge you know, things like that. But I've always enjoyed having a good conversation. So that's always what I come back to, you know, and then the editing and putting it out. And then, you know, posting it on social media stuff. That's all the work, you know, part that goes into it. But no, no, I don't have any tips on how to how to keep it from being less of anyone else does, you know, I've listened to all the past podcasts. So, you know, hopefully, you know, I can get a good tip from another guest, you know, maybe outsource it. So,
I mean, that's what a lot of people do, but it's really hard, especially if you are you like to have control over the whole process. Yeah, that that is a really tricky thing to let go of. Absolutely. I mean, so when you're taking a hiatus Do you miss it?
Oh, yeah, yeah, there's a there's a definite lack of just fun conversation. So you know, I No, it's here UK. Yeah, there's just something I get from, you know, having a good podcast having a fun game we're doing you know, you find different things in different times that motivate you to, you know, just different tools used to have facilitate good conversations. I mean, when I first started, I would do like, marry fuck kills at the end, I would do like random questions. And right now I'm doing a thing at the end of the podcast where I, we do like a pitch for a movie, which is fun, you know? Yeah, we're all just working on everything. We, you know, I use stuff that we talked about the beginning of the podcast to kind of, you know, that feeds into the movie pitch, you know, so that's all, you know, you find what motivates you, you know, and it's constantly changing. I go through different eras. You know, yeah. Oh, this is when JD was really into that, or this is when JD first was, you know, as I was taking a directing class, and now a question I asked, everybody is desired imitate life, as does life imitate art? You know, I go, Yeah, that was when I took that directing class.
He taught her life journey based on the question. Yeah,
yeah, really? Is what what here JT grow? When I first started therapy, you could really hear me talking about oh, therapy. So great. And I love I mean, that's something I still talk about a lot. But yeah, yeah, hear me grow. That's the whole pot here. You drown with him. Right? Brian? Yeah.
Well, and it's interesting to JT because you are, I mean, you're a comedian, you have a lot of creative ventures and outlets, but this must feel something for you that those other things do not. And is it in the conversation? Is that the piece? Like what have you determined what it is that makes you continue to do it even when it's a grind?
Um, I think it's really the the real stuff you can get in with too, with a, with a real honest conversation that you can't with stand up, you know, like, I've tried to have certain I do think I'm a better podcaster than I am a comedian. And I've recently come to the conclusion that like, I do think I'm more of a podcaster, who does comedy on the side, versus the other way around. And, you know, with comedy, all these comedy podcasts, you listen to this, they're like, this has got to be everything. And I'll be all if you're not giving it all up to the comedy gods, then get out of here, you know, like, you're not going to make it. So a lot of my, my stuff recently has been like, can I be okay with, you know, just, you know, being an open mic or in the scene? And is that going to be enough. And the thing with comedy, comedy is like, everything is sacrificed to the joke, everything just has to be building to a punch line. Whereas with or with the podcasting, it can be a nuanced conversation that has ebbs and flows, and, you know, some depressing stuff, some surprisingly funny stuff, some surprisingly, you know, real stuff that that's like, that's the juice right there. That's the stuff that gets me going. And I love that, you know, I don't want to give that up. I think that is, that is really a space where I can shine, and I have fun doing it. So yeah, that's been my journey this past couple of years.
Yeah, and I think it's interesting, especially how you're approaching it. And like, when you're listening to comedy podcasts, or like, you're all in or nothing, you know, but really, you've kind of carved it out for yourself. Like, it's kind of fulfilling that, like you're getting the ups and downs, you know, and the conversation where it's like, there's moments that like pull at your heartstrings. There's moments that are like making you roll on the floor laughing and you're able to interject your comedy in it too. So I kind of feel like it's all encompassing for you.
My perspective is something that has been hard for me to get to recently, but it's been, it's nice to take a step back and I feel better about it. Cuz I mean, anyone following their passion and with podcasting, you know, you can fall in this rut of listening to people who are hyper successful and have made it and they're so detached from, you know, the process of making it, you know, listening to Seinfeld talk about his process, and he's so far gone. From, you know, what it was like to make it, you know, it's like, okay, he can talk about, you have to make this your job or whatever. But also, I have to pay bills that about, you know, so it's like, you have to separate a little bit from that, and really define what success is for yourself and things like that. And it's a journey. It's just like a good podcast.
It's a journey. It is a journey. And if you ever figure it, it's like as soon as I think that I have it figured out. Something else just like, punches me in the face. And I'm like, Oh, there you are. Yeah, actually, no idea what the fuck I'm doing.
Yeah. Life,
life. That's life. Yeah. So when you are and this is something that I think is really interesting with podcasting, and I talked to a lot of hosts and our clients about it. But I've been on quite a few podcast, and I've found out so much about myself. I mean, talk about therapy, you can get in deep, and then you're like, oh my gosh, I've never. You just expose something about me that I didn't even realize until now. Have you had yourself moments like that during shows? And then have you seen that moment on some of the guests that are like, oof, you got me thinking about something that?
Yeah, if I could send a guest into an existential crisis at the end, I've really done my job. I feel like Yeah, yeah, if if Dax Shepard hadn't come out with armchair expert, I almost would have probably started a podcast by with that name as well. Because, like, I went to therapy for about seven years, with my own personal therapy started right around the time I started the podcast. And I took a lot from my own therapy, and how like, she would just let me talk and ramble on but like, I mean, I've experienced guests in like, well, I've never said that out loud. That sounds so fucked up. But I mean, I didn't think that, you know, I can't believe this thing I just held as like a truth internally for so long. And then saying it out loud is like, wow, that sounds so messed up. Like, why would I be living like that? Yeah, that kind of real moment is, is a gift. And it's a great that I could facilitate that kind of conversation, that they're willing to go those to those places. And, I mean, a lot of it's just like stepping back and letting them talk, you know, something I get from my podcasts that just be quiet. And let them either dig their own grave or figure something out for themselves. Not that I do a lot of gotcha stuff or anything like that. I don't do anything like that. But you know, sometimes you're just for my therapy, I'll try and point out like things through lines that I see throughout the conversation or things that I've seen throughout, you know, you know, what their lives or whatever they talk about their childhood and what they're doing now, I'm like, Wow, sounds like you're really motivated by spite, or whatever, you know, your fear of death is really motivating you because everything you've written is about dying. But yeah, so I think a big part was getting as a big part of is just me being quiet, lit, active listening, but also just like, letting them talk. And then I'll cut out you know, since I have final edit and stuff, like I'm not afraid to just let the guest sit in silence for a little while. And people do have this need to fill silences. So, you know, they get into some stuff that maybe they wouldn't be as inclined to do if you weren't if you were just talking non stop. So and then I just cut out the silences, you know, so that's, that's something I enjoyed.
Like, that was really awkward. But now we don't even have to know that that ever existed.
Yeah, I never acknowledge the awkwardness, I just like, because I know, I'm already editing it in my mind. So I know how I had to pick it up, you know, or just be like, Okay, I'm gonna cut that part out. So if I say something here, I can cut that at it, or you, whatever. I think people would be surprised at how much editing I do do, actually, versus just putting it out. You know, raw,
how much editing do you do?
A lot. I mean, I, it takes me, I usually say to work because I'll record the episode. You know, depending on how many I've got booked that week or whatever, I'll go back and re listen to it. Usually a little bit sped up, but you know, any silences and I found quicker ways through, you know, editing software to expedite the process, you know, like there's, you know, filters you can put on that'll cut out silences automatically, things like that. But sometimes I don't think it's a smooth transition, because I always prided myself on being able to hide my edits as well, you know, so, sometimes that doesn't work because it's like a hard cut, you know, so I'll go back and, you know, just listen to the whole you know, hour 45 and I'll cut it down to you know, an hour 20 You know, but I mean, I keep a lot of stuff in there, but it's just like the silences maybe they had to go the bathroom or whatever, you know, things like that. But I do
the bathroom piece that's
yeah, that's important. They are surprised that there's a recorder in the bathroom but you know, everything's content that makes it sound way creepier. I don't do that everybody just saying. See you let me talk.
I know this is what happens is what happens yeah. Is you know it's interesting though. JD like the bathroom thing because I, when I first started this podcast, sorry to stick on the subject, but I had just pushed record and as you know, from when you first entered my little virtual room, I'm not recording, but I just had pushed record and my guests was like, I have to go to the bathroom. And I was like, Okay, go for it. Like, we're headphones and like, I was like, Oh, God, you know, I was I could hear all the way to the door and then thankfully did not hear anything else. But I was. I was sweating for a moment. I was like, Oh, please.
It was like radio play. You can hear the footsteps going to the bathroom, the door cleansing
door closed. It's like nothing. And I was like, Oh my gosh, thank goodness.
Right? Yeah. Yeah, people don't realize how much the mics pick up. I mean, I've had people, you know, tapping their feet playing with things in their hands or something that like, oh, you can hear that. And I'm like, yes. It's been annoying me the last half hour. It's like you have headphones, and how can you not hear it? They're like, Oh, I just didn't think about it. It's like, okay, stop touching the mic.
And you're, you're prepping them like, you're like, Don't pat, though. Tap the table. Don't shake your leg. But we're like, we're creatures of habit. So whatever. Yeah, you do it?
Yeah, we do have to allow for certain things, you know, not everything's perfect. I definitely went through a phase where I was like, Stop touching them, I get a little closer up on it didn't know it a little, you know, blah, blah, blah. It's like, okay, it's gonna be what's going to be you know, and there's some room for grace, not everything's gonna be perfect. You know, and I think people have gotten a lot more used to the imperfections than, you know, everything sounding perfect these days. Anyway, so,
yeah. Do you think that? I mean, do you think that? Because I kind of feel like podcasting has gone through this evolution of in the beginning? We, as consumers of the content, I don't know, if we were necessarily as picky. But do you feel like we've gotten more particular with what we want to hear? Like, in terms of good audio quality? You probably have always been picky. But I've noticed that I have been, what makes you say that, your attention to detail and your care for the audio. But I do feel like it was, you know, I think you mentioned this in an article in the westward like 2016. And talking about how it is, this is a medium that's open to everyone. And not everyone has an an audio engineering background. So you know, that that can vary greatly. And I don't think I was quite tuned in, in the beginning to good audio. And now I can't even listen to a podcast that I feel like is less than standards.
Yeah. Yeah, I think when you get into it, you know, like, you and I are right now, you know, I'm sure you listen to do you edit the pods as well.
I have actually two people on my team that edit because they just they enjoy. That's yeah.
Yeah, I just think when you're listening to things all the time, you become more picky, because you can hear things. But yeah, I think to the average listener, they don't they don't notice these things at all. It's just because I'm so in it all the time. And, you know, got a professional, you know, s kitset, you know, things like that, you know, I'm gonna pick up on more of these things than the average listener is. Yeah, so that's also another thing, just trying to like, let go. Certain amount of control in that way. I think it only helped me, instead of just getting mad at a guest for, you know, playing with their seltzer water and burping into the microphone. It's like, that's just them. NTLM do them. Even though I'm gonna be here. Yeah. People love ASMR stuff. So it's part of the audience will find it as long
as it's like a soft Belch and not a harsh one. It'll be pleasing to the ears. And just just a little mic tap here in there. Now, people,
I totally get it. Yeah.
So for people that are interested in starting a podcast, because I think it kind of feels to me. And I've said this many times, but the world of blogging, like, I just felt like there was a time that everyone I knew how to blog. And it's starting to get to this place where everyone I know has a podcast. But you know, it is it's a lot of work. And people can absolutely do it. But it takes time. And to do it right. You need to go into it with your intentions, I guess need to be pretty clear when you're going into it. So do you have some advice to folks that are thinking about starting a podcast or maybe they've had podcasts for a couple years and they just need to turn it up a notch?
Um, I think you know, pretty quick whether you like having the conversations are trying to you know, get things out of people. That sounds wrong, but you know, just there is sometimes it's a struggle to get someone to talk, you know, things like that. So I think he find out pretty quick Whether you enjoy doing that or not, not that I enjoy trying to get people to talk, but I enjoy having a good conversation. And I think, you know, it's just like, I think it's like a lot of stuff, the cream will rise to the top. And the people who don't want to do it will fall off, you know, and you just got to keep doing you. And, you know, a lot of people are like, oh, what can I bring to it now? Like, why could I do it? And it's the same thing with comedy. I feel like, you know, it's like, because it's your perspective, and like, only you're going to be, bring what you, you know, your unique perspective to this thing. And so it doesn't mean don't do it. I mean, it's just, whether it's worth doing to you or not, you'll, you'll figure it out. And you'll keep doing it. If you like it, and you'll follow me and you'll not if you don't, you know, just you just got to try it. You just got to do it, you know, doing things is how you how anything gets started, you know, the journey of 1000 steps, or whatever starts with the first one on one not and yeah, just try it and see if you Lincoln and you know, I think you'll figure it out pretty quick. If you don't? Yeah, I think he was trying to make money off of it. It's not, you know, you're gonna find out pretty quick. It's not, maybe not the best route that way.
Unless you are Dax Shepard. And you already have a name and a brand built for yourself. It's near impossible to monetize.
And even he has, he's like, has good conversations. I mean, he's like a good guy to have. Yeah, he talks. I like listening to his podcasts. And things that move to Spotify, though I fall off so hard, because that's not my podcast listener of choice.
What are you Apple podcast? Yeah.
I'm an Apple guy. You know, there's like a couple local shows that like never got on Apple podcasts in general. And I'm just like, dude, yeah, get on there. And I just never opened the app. And at this point, I'm like, I'm not going to do if you're not gonna put on Apple then I'm not gonna listen to these local ones. I'm, I'm like, you know, with Rogan, I fell off when he went to Spotify, just because I never open it up as much. And I go in waves in that anyway. But, you know, any of the specialty ones a luminary. I just downloaded that that app recently. But I don't go to it as much. I'm like, Man, I just wasted 20 bucks, or, you know, however much the yearly subscription is because I just never open
it's hard to change habits you can if you're used to using a platform, I'm with you. I've tried i i I listened to spy use Spotify, to listen to music. But for whatever reason, I cannot listen to podcasts on Spotify. I'm still I'm yeah,
we've got patterns learn to Yeah, yeah. Interesting. I got YouTube music. And that's, that's great. So my wife just flushed the toilet. So that's it. You guys are
here. I didn't hear it. I didn't hear it. Okay. And the audio engineers will get that wiped right out. Okay.
Delete that.
flush away.
I love when people are guests are like, can you take that out? Or just or when they assume you can do magic with the audio?
Does that happen? A lot? Oh, yeah.
They're like, God will take that out, like so will the in the help, or the drunk wedding podcast, you know, they're drinking. So they're saying stuff that might not they might not necessarily want to be recorded. And they're, you know, the guests will say something and be like, Oh, no, I don't want it my job to know, or the name of my company or whatever be out there. And then they're like, oh, Jamie can just take that out. I'm like, Wait, now, can we back up a little bit? And you just answered the question without saying your, the name of your company. Because like, you know, it's yeah, that's always a funny
joke. That's the filter that you need. That's where it needs to hit in your editing. Just take that out. And then done. It's gone. That is the magic. Algorithm
miracles. It is what it is.
The way they have guests on their show.
Yeah, yeah. Well, let's get drunk talking about your wedding. Turned into them having guests on where they discuss them, throw a couple drinks back and talk about their weddings.
And is this happening in your basement as well, or people?
It's our it's our office slash podcast studio. Le Derby studios. Yeah, my wife is actually going she's gonna do a tech bootcamp right now for tech stuff. So she's in there doing work. So I'm in the kitchen. So you
know, you got me on the podcast?
More for office now. But yeah, well, what was the original question?
I was asking about guests. So So could anyone come on the show like or is it people that you know, or people like, hey, I want to I mean,
you usually start off with your network. Yeah, you start with your network or who you know, and then hopefully, you know, through word of mouth, which is mostly how I've gotten any guest saw through word of mouth. Hopefully you get more and more guests that way bigger and better, I guess, as you go on, hopefully, but yeah, a lot of it's just our friends, you know, talking about their wedding, and that one's sweet because you know, you see the couple and I love doing it in person, you know nothing against Zoomer. Anything but when the pandemic hit, I stopped doing left hand right brain for a little while because we couldn't do in person and I'm so a big proponent of like, being with the person in the moment. You know, that's, that's I think I had a hard time transitioning. And so it's nice to get the guests in and you know, to see this couple talk about like, oh, yeah, I don't remember when you proposed or how you did it, like, Oh, no way, this way, you know, and then you just see them like, not fall in love again. But at the end there were way more lovey dovey than they were at the beginning. You know, they're touching each other's leg or maybe have their arms around each other at the end. It's just nice. It's a nice you know, that that's on my barometer for like a good podcast with that what is like how into the each other the guests are at the end, you know, like, that's a good love story, or like that was that marriage is gonna last that time. Yeah, yeah, that one's a nice one. That one's like a nice, surprisingly sweet podcast usually. Yeah. It's also have some divorcees on. Whoever lon, are you married? Do you want to come on? Again, we're always looking for Yes,
I am. I would love to. I feel like it's kind of like marriage therapy, honestly. And it's been 20 years. I could use a refresher.
Interesting. Yeah, that'd be fine. Yeah. In person you into doing in person
in person.
Okay. Are you here?
I'm here in Denver.
Okay, cool. Cool. Yeah. Are we gonna have to give specifics out on the podcast?
No, I'm game. I'm ready. All right. Yeah.
Throw that out to the ladies and see if we can get some books. Sounds good. Yeah. Would your husband me and do it? That's always the hard thing. Totally be into it. But he's fast. It's hard to harder sell.
He's tricky to wrangle. Like he's, he can like he's Yeah, it'll be fun. It'll be fun.
Yeah, yeah. A lot of comics. Their spouses don't want to be on so that's a hard one right there. Yeah, it's
hard. Yeah. Yeah, no, we would definitely do it at you know, it's interesting by my co founder at KitKat. So our I don't even know if I told you this. But our company we book folks on podcasts, right? Yeah, that's what we do facilitate conversations. But my business partner he and his wife had always talked about doing and not necessarily a podcast, but more like a, like a video of like four people as they're aging. Like their like their love story. Like going back to where they met and talking about their entire life and almost having this like this, this living document this video of like, their love should be so cool.
I think that's sweet. And but people get so self conscious about that stuff. It's so hard to get people to just to talk about their lives. Oh, I'm not interesting. I'm not interesting. It's like, Well, okay, that I guess we have nothing. Like, no, I think you're interesting. And like, let's just talk about it, whatever. You know, but yeah, that's hard. That's a hard one.
People say that all the time. They're like, I don't have a story. Everyone has a story. Yeah, everyone. Like you just have to, as we talked about in the beginning of this podcast, like you just have to find it. And sometimes it takes a little bit longer and like leading people down the path and then and then they start to open up. And I think that's the beauty of podcast too, is that at the end of the conversation, people are like, holy shit. I have. I do have a story. I have. So that's pretty cool.
Yeah, and it's always good. I know. It's been a good partner. I'm like, I want to I want to be friends with this guy. Like I think we're close. We're close now weeks, you know we trauma bonded.
Have you built friendships from the podcast?
Oh, yeah. Yeah. Paul Karolyi I met through a podcast he's another big podcaster here in Denver did some house a pod and he produces city casts Denver now by my head did he listen to a podcast I did and was like, Hey, I'm doing a thing on what you talked about. So you want to come on and we just really bonded over you know how we love podcasts and stuff and we with John of all trades as well. We tried to start a thing called the Denver podcast network you know, just got podcasts we liked on and you know, again, that one didn't really go anywhere. Didn't nothing really happened with it. But you know, I met some cool people don't Yeah, few got some guests for podcasts. Which is not what it's all about, but it means it's a big part.
A huge part. It's a huge part. We're actually in the house a pod. Oh, it's really Yeah, it's our offices. We're here
with cat most that rug now. Yeah, yeah.
It's all coming back
to your partner. You mean cat?
Well, cat who runs a house a pod? We are just sharing the space with cat gotcha. Gotcha. Yeah, yeah. So we were actually talking about doing like a podcast, a Denver podcast dinner at some point where we like invite people to the house of pod all the Denver podcasters and just have dinner and conversation.
That'd be an interesting bunch. ADH.
It Really interesting bunch will be fun. Super cool. Well, we're gonna wrap the show, but I have before we do I have something that I do at the end of the show that I would like to have you do. Would you play? Would you rather? Gotcha. Sounds good. Yes. I'm getting ready to do it. All right. Okay. All right. They're pretty easy. It's not going to make you uncomfortable. At least it shouldn't. I don't know. I feel like this one's pretty easy, but I'm really interested to hear what you have to say. Who would you rather take to a party? Dave Chappelle or George Clooney?
I mean, Clooney would be I mean, he's gonna He's gonna be the center of attention. Tequila. Sure. Do you think he brings them? I think he would. I guess it depends on whether you're a tequila or a weed guy. Can Chappelle definitely have a bunch of weed? Although he's very divisive right now. So I don't know. It could be a little more of an uncomfortable situation, depending on what kind of party it is. That's true. I haven't I wouldn't say I've like, I've been in the same building as Chappelle after like a comedy show he liked did an after party at the Tilted Kilt downtown. Yeah. And a bunch of people went after after his show at comedy works. And you know, he's just got a big posse. He's got a big crew around and no one no one was like, a lot of local comics. You know, I was just like, a couple years in so I was like, Oh, we're gonna go hang out with Chappelle, you know, and it wasn't like in the same. Yeah, we're in the same building when we weren't hanging out. It was still all the new geeky comics hanging out by themselves. And then Chappelle was over there. If I give you know, Holden court and you know with his posse so which that's what I assume being at a party with Chappelle would be like so I Clooney, although I don't know if he'd be any might be the same situation, actually, but Clooney less divisive. So I'd go with Clooney at this.
All right. Okay. All right. Yeah, I wasn't sure how you go with that. But who would you rather as we're rolling up on this do your taxes Willie Nelson or Mike Tyson?
I don't think they're both of them aren't known for their number. You know, they're a numbers game. That's why I like Willie Nelson. He's just seems like it'd be easier to get along with. I've heard Tyson on a on podcast before. And it's just his his energy. I don't think I could handle
it be really mad about those receipts. Yeah,
go out of receipts. Although I'm like the basic at h&r block, I mean, the basic package. I'm not trying to do anything fancy with my taxes. So you know, I think Lily could probably knock it out with a tax. What's the tax? TurboTax? TurboTax. Pretty quick. And you probably have a I probably have a better conversation with Willie.
Far more enjoyable for sure. Yeah. Yeah. All right. Here's a podcast question for you. Who would you rather cut your hair? Tim Ferriss or Mac? Malcolm Gladwell.
I don't know Malcolm Gladwell that Well, I mean, I've heard he's he does like the mindfulness stuff.
He's the revisionist history. He's done all the he's written all the books, cuz he's actually very interesting. I actually think he would like them. You should, you should check them out. Yeah, off to check it out. But he did take these kinds of complex topics and breaks them down and gives you a bunch of different perspectives to look at. Malcolm Gladwell. Right. Thanks, Tim Ferriss. Yeah, sorry, I was gonna tell you some book names, but I'll send you those.
Yeah, I've read The Four Hour Body. I listened to a couple episodes of his podcast again. And that's a guy that's like, you know, he's like, Oh, the optimal amount of hair on your face, you know, for productivity. I'd be like, come on. I just want what looks good on me. I gave you a picture of Kurt Russell. I want you to cut my hair like that. I have a longer hair. So right now just for the listeners. When I did go in last time, I did give them a picture of a young Kurt Russell and I say Hey, you look like this. They nailed it. He was like, yeah, the problem is you don't have Kurt Russell's face. That's the problem. So you know, I am working on doing the best with what I got. And I don't think Tim Ferriss would necessarily the his attitude towards things is I couldn't listen to him talk about the optimal amount of you know why the temperature is the way it is in the room for burning fat or something like that. So I guess I go with the other guy.
Okay, Malcolm, I think it's a good choice. I mean, I hear Malcolm has like kind of a wild kids like freeform hair, you know, like interesting. shaved bald, he
just can't waste time doing my hair in the morning to be doing business. Personality I can't I can't mesh with
it's hard. It's intense. I mean, he's got four hours a week to work. So, you know, it's like you got to indulge me
with like a little bit of, you know, some fanciful stuff.
You would enjoy your time with Malcolm for sure.
Yeah, just talking about cookies. We like imagine I've been doing the single blog brackets. I'm like cookie brackets have been like thing, which are? Oh, yeah, like I like a March Madness type style style type thing. Hey, cookies.
I'm an oatmeal raisin. I know that that's not like a crowd pleaser. I know. I'm sorry. That's No,
no, I would go. I've been this place called high res had this oatmeal butterscotch cookie. And it was amazing. Oh, that sounds good. You just gotta get rid of the raisins. But I do love a good omen.
So you're not a raisin guy. You're not a big raisin guy. Butterscotch does it for you, you could kick out.
And I like the texture that the oatmeal brings. Yeah, that's nice. We're getting Oreo versus Thin Mint. Which one would you go with? Oh,
Oreo. I just I think because I like to I like the process of eating an Oreo. Like I'm a twist or offer. You know, twist off one side and then I eat the inside and then I eat the other side. And so it's like a three step process. Yeah, you really then men's like one bite. Just pop it in there. Just pop it right in. Yeah, well, fun,
fun. Eventful. No process to it then. I like I like the way your heads out.
Yeah. What about you? Then Maria?
Lately, I've been going finman You know, Oreo, Girl Scouts. Classic nostalgic cookie. You know, you gotta well as I was going with the grasshopper from Oh, from the Keebler elf Yeah, version, because it's a little more fudgy. Less. Less minty,
and probably less expensive.
Yeah, and I don't like the Girl Scouts. You know, they take it away half the year. Most of that's just scarcity. You know, I'm like, don't force me to, you know, once a year
don't wanna buy 30 boxes. Yeah, yeah. Yeah. Give me a couple.
Yeah, like the the Keebler offs there all year round. You know, it's there for me. Whenever I need it. I'm like the
girls making cookies in those trees. Yeah. Amazing.
Do you think it's bougie to go to a bakery to get cookies?
I do. Wow.
Okay. I've been getting this a lot. There's a there's a bakery by my by my house that I go to. And apparently I'm bougie for this. I thought it was like homegrown supporting local. I mean, that's where you get the best cookies. I mean, come on.
Bakery. Is it maybe I just haven't tried.
Do you remember what the bakeries call? I'm gonna ask my wife. She's right here with a bakery. We get these from? Oh, it's Italian. Like Italian, Italian or something?
All right. Well, maybe that's my problem. I need to check that out. And then I will not think you're so bougie I guess. I don't know. I guess I haven't really been to a bakery in a really long time. But I definitely like remember the cupcake craze. And I was just like the new cupcakes is that that's what's happening right?
Yeah, Italia winola. My wife.
Okay, in Arvada.
Lakewood are bad. II. Click right on the border. All right. Possibly. Wheat rich. Okay, we're getting into the weeds here.
I'm gonna check this find it. I'll find. I'll find it.
I'm sorry. I could get I could talk way more about cookies. I'm sorry. You're excited about it. It's probably all the sugar. Cookies are great. Cookies are great cookie face. They're cupcakes.
They are the new cupcake. So I guess like, you know, when you're like, is it bougie? Like I definitely thought the cupcake shops like I was like, Wow. $10 for a single cupcake. That's yeah, it's a little much. Much you know, but I get it like, you know, you're running a bakery and you want best red to pay and people to pay and you want Yeah. So? Yeah. Cool. Cookies. All right.
These were time.
Awesome. JD Well, that's it for episode with hosted Sorry, that was abrupt, but like cookies, and we're out
to close. Yeah.
So we'll get this podcast dinner. Well, yeah, that'd be great. No one in Denver. So we'll meet in person. And thanks, everyone for tuning in to hosted. JD thanks for sharing your perspective with everyone who's listening and we'll do this again.
