Five things we've learned from 365 days of podcasting
By Steven Holloway
One year ago today, Seamus and I published our first podcast. It was with a friend, Aaron Scott, and was clumsy, comfortable and fun - but also strikingly vulnerable. In that episode, Aaron – a footballer I have played with for over 20 years - shared details of his lowest moments across an impressive career, moments we were both unaware of. He broadcast details and stories he had never told anyone outside of family. It was refreshing. It set the tone – and we caught the bug.
Setting aside a few hours each week to talk to successful, engaging people, share their life highs and learn from the life lows, soon became our favourite time of the week.
Paul Nixon was next, one of my childhood footballing mentors - and we talked about the pain of losing his wife and raising four kids alone. We talked to Che Bunce, my former team-mate and coach about the time we ‘fell-out’ at Waikato FC, and we visited Gordon Glen Watson, my former boss, and talked mental health and contextualized our messy former work environment.
At times, it was like combining a therapy hour with a standup comedy hour. It was invigorating.
The episodes flowed easily as we exhausted our contact base from the football world, but Seamus and I quickly realised we wanted to think broader.
Chris Rattue was our first ‘non-football’ guest, one of NZ’s leading sports journalists and a colleague I have worked closely alongside for over five years. We’d never spoken about his troubled past with alcohol and drugs, but with a microphone on the table, it gave us freedom. We spent 20 minutes talking about some of the lowest moments of his life – and the lessons he learned, and I can guarantee anyone that listens to that episode, and has experienced substance abuse issues, or knows someone who has, will derive great benefit from it. Ratts’ truth laid the path to our next chapter.
We talked to Anton Devich about getting hit for six sixes in an over, Dwayne Sweeney about the time his coach died before his club rugby team claimed their highest honor, Shaun Goldsbury about winning an online poker tournament for $380,000, Dave Williams about running 10 marathons in 9 days then climbing one of the highest mountains in the world and Mike Lane about beating cancer. It was never really about the sport. It was about the person. Success, failure, vulnerability and learning.
We’re proud of what we’ve achieved in our first year at Between Two Beers; 34 episodes and over 70 hours of interviews. The audience keeps growing – with nearly 20,000 downloads across podcast apps and a similar number of views on Youtube. We have some exciting developments coming up in the next few months and are excited about attracting the best guests we can access as our profile grows.
Here are five things we’ve learned from a year as podcast hosts:
1) Ask good questions
The difference between a good episode and a great episode is the quality of the questions. And the questions are informed by the amount of research and planning put in. Seamus’ favourite episode was with Olympic rower Emma Twigg, and on the day we were set to record, we had four pages of notes, but lacked a killer opening question – to set the tone. Hours before we talked to Emma, a source pulled through with the incredible detail that for the first 26 years of her life, she was unaware shampoo was supposed to be used before conditioner. Gold. That question provided easy laughs to start - with someone we didn’t know well, and we were away.
2) Record in-person if possible
The covid lockdown forced us to consider recording some episodes over internet video – and while they have worked well – they just aren’t the same as being in the room with a guest. The subtle body language cues, flow of the dialogue, witty one-liners and energy can so easily get lost on a dodgy Glenview internet signal. Video calls give us access to some great guests we simply wouldn’t get otherwise, but if at all possible, we prefer to travel to chat in person.
3) Keep the feedback coming
Between Two Beers is our passion project with no expectation of financial gain. We do it because we enjoy it – but we really buzz off the feedback. If you enjoyed an episode, reach out and tell us why. We need that dopamine hit! But it also helps us understand what direction the future should take.
4) Sponsors matter
We’re so thankful to the sponsors and Patreons that have helped keep us afloat across the first year. We like to think we’re developing a small community with Between Two Beers – and your support really puts air in our tyres. Special shoutout to CRAFT – who came to the party and sponsored a batch of episodes and provided some delicious beers that I like to butcher the names of.
5) Video is the future
Hopefully, year two of Between Two Beers will see us recording every episode with video. It’s a reoccurring request from fans and something we’re keen to do. We just need to save up for a camera first, so keep spreading the word and help our baby grow!
