012 - Will Becton - Jett Road Studios

012 - Will Becton - Jett Road Studios

Will Becton of Jett Road Studios [https://www.jettroadstudios.com] --- SUMMARY Will Becton spent 12 years at Team Coco, where he served as videographer, editor, and eventually the engineer who built and ran the studio for Conan O'Brien Needs a Friend from its 2018 launch through 2022. In this conversation with Sebastian, Will traces his path from shooting Clueless Gamer segments to engineering one of the most downloaded comedy podcasts in history — and then walking away from a steady job to launch Jett Road Studios, the independent production company and network he runs with his wife and executive producer, Amber Becton, out of Studio City. It's a candid look at the craft and business of podcasting: the technical learning curve of going from video to audio, why three voices like Conan, Sona, and Matt Gourley "sit well in the mix," what it felt like when SiriusXM acquired the operation, and why he eventually took the leap to build his own thing. Will also digs into the realities indie podcasters face today — discoverability in a four-and-a-half-million-podcast marketplace, the pilot-as-development-slate model behind Jett Road Studios Presents, the YouTube tension, and his belief that podcasting, done with good intentions, may be the medium with the best shot at actually changing minds. --- IN THIS EPISODE (01:12) The origins of Conan O'Brien Needs a Friend — the in-house approval process at Team Coco where Conan owned the show, early experiments like Serious Jibber Jabber and writer-led test recordings, and how Adam Sachs (from Earwolf/Midroll) helped make the case as the TV show wound down. (05:21) Shooting Clueless Gamer and the Super Bowl segment with Marshawn Lynch and Rob Gronkowski — the kind of "constant state of readiness" backstage work that made Conan comfortable working with Will. (06:41) How Sona was set as co-host from the start, and how Matt Gourley went from veteran producer to on-mic third co-host almost immediately. (09:59) Building the first studio — cobbling together gear from the defunct Super Deluxe and the old basic cable band dressing room, and learning the Earwolf workflow from lead engineer Brett Morris. (10:51) The audio signature of three distinct voices — why Conan is the most challenging to mix for dynamic range, and the debate over compressing on the way in versus recording clean. (13:12) Memorable early sessions — Will Ferrell recording before the studio was finished, Marc Maron questioning the borrowed mics, Jeff Goldblum, Timothy Olyphant, and Ben Stiller being the first to ask to come on. (16:30) Whether Conan became more vulnerable and human on the podcast — the looseness versus the time pressure of TV tapings, the bananas Mila Kunis episode, and the David Sedaris session Will calls his favorite of the 2018–2022 run. (21:13) Will's surprise jump from video to audio engineering — the humbling compression learning curve and the lesson that there's "no default compression for the human voice." (24:18) How improv shaped his editing — his UCB years (2000–2004 in New York), the "yes, and" ethos, the Chicago influence on Conan's writing staff, and a love of editing "structured improv." (29:00) Leaving Team Coco after 12 years — the "Irish goodbye" during COVID, engineering three shows at once out of the sunroom, the move to Largo, and the Larchmont studio build-out. (32:21) Mixed feelings about the SiriusXM acquisition — the engineer role becoming narrower and "less playful," and losing the "lunatics running the asylum" vibe. (37:17) The 2 a.m. moment at June Lake when Amber told him they were starting their own studio, and building a home studio that mirrors his professional workflow. (41:19) The origin of the name "Jett Road" — his childhood street in Atlanta, the open-door "collection of misfits" environment, and the house later being sold to Andre 3000. (43:13) The Jett Road Studios Presents model — a podcast where every episode is a pilot for a different show, functioning as an "outward-facing development slate" or "sushi menu" of activatable concepts. Includes Mixed Generation, Three Day Champion, and the award-winning pilots. (56:20) What he looks for in a host or concept — chemistry, avoiding the "too many cooks" overcooking he saw at Team Coco, and getting the "pure distillation" of what the host has in mind. (59:43) The business of getting picked up — why "nobody's developing shows right now, they're acquiring shows," the 50,000-downloads-a-month threshold, and how making 12 pilots expanded his network. (01:02:04) The Bad Elizabeth success story — a Guardian write-up and Apple carousel placements, and the sense-memory of the download difference being on versus off the carousel. (01:04:10) What success looks like for Jet Road over five years — staying lean versus staffing up as a full network, a season two of Presents, and exploring TV/IP avenues (with Hulu in the conversation). (01:08:11) Podcast marketing for indies — the slow burn, getting on the Apple carousel, and being "all the places you can be," including Podnews. (01:09:18) The YouTube tension — why he sees video as the "next frontier" and a non-negotiable discovery platform, even as it multiplies editing workload, plus his measured take on AI tools. (01:16:14) Cross-promotion, feed swaps, and email — why he needs to "templatize" promotion, and his thinking on Substack versus Patreon as monetizable audience-retention tools. (01:22:58) Podcasting and public discourse — the Conan O'Brien Needs a Fan episodes (including the blind rock climber that inspired Conan's travel show), the echo-chamber problem, and why podcasting has the best shot at changing minds. (01:26:46) Will's three podcast recommendations and where to find him online. --- RESOURCES & LINKS Will Becton & Jett Road Studios * Website [https://www.jettroadstudios.com] * YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@JettRoadStudios] * Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/jettroadstudios] * Substack [https://jettroadstudios.substack.com] Shows mentioned * Conan O'Brien Needs a Friend [https://pod.link/conan] https://pod.link/conan(Team Coco / Earwolf) - Best episodes of Conan O'Brien Needs a Friend [https://findthatpod.com/best-episodes-of-conan-obrien-needs-a-friend/] * Jett Road Studios Presents [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/jett-road-studios-presents/id1776366616] — the pilot-per-episode development slate * Bad Elizabeth [https://pod.link/1832614771], Mixed Generation, Three Day Champion [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/three-day-champion/id1832383571] https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/three-day-champion/id1832383571— Jett Road pilots/shows * Serious Jibber Jabber [https://teamcoco.com/serious] with Conan O'Brien * Clueless Gamer [https://teamcoco.com/cluelessgamer] https://teamcoco.com/cluelessgamer(Team Coco) * Never Not Funny [https://pod.link/142348028] (Jimmy Pardo) * Superego [https://pod.link/129558037] and I Was There Too [https://pod.link/1657009592] (Matt Gourley) * Comedy Bang Bang [https://pod.link/316045799] / Bang Bang World (Scott Aukerman) * May I Elaborate? [https://pod.link/1562371862] (JB Smoove & Miles Gross, Team Coco) Will's three podcast recommendations * Wrong Turns [https://pod.link/1498855031] with Jameela Jamil [https://pod.link/1498855031] * Past Due [https://pod.link/1207507389] with Ana Marie Cox & Open Mike Eagle [https://pod.link/1207507389] * Origin Stories [https://pod.link/1833077585] with Matt Shaer [https://pod.link/1833077585] (Campside Media) People & industry figures referenced * Amber Becton (executive producer, Jett Road Studios) * Adam Sachs (former head of Team Coco / Earwolf-Midroll) * Brett Morris (lead engineer, Earwolf) * Matt Gourley, Sona Movsesian (co-hosts, Conan O'Brien Needs a Friend) * Ariellle Nissenblatt (EarBuds), James Cridland (Podnews), Tom Webster (Sounds Profitable), and the Signal Awards * UCB founders and alumni: Amy Poehler, Ian Roberts, Matt Besser, Matt Walsh; Conan writers Brian Stack and Brian McCann --- TALK THAT POD Want to be on this podcast? Fill out this form. [https://talkthatpod.net/be-on-the-show/] Watch or listen to Talk That Pod on YouTube. [https://www.youtube.com/@talkthatpodshow] --- FIND THAT POD Discover the best podcasts in the world. [https://findthatpod.com/] - A podcast discovery newsletter bringing you 5 great podcasts to discover every week. Subscribe today. [https://findthatpod.com/]

011 - Abigail Vacca - Global Treasures

Abigail Vacca of Global Treasures [https://globaltreasures.podbean.com] --- SUMMARY Sebastian sits down with Abigail Vacca, creator and host of Global Treasures — a podcast exploring the history, legends, and culture behind UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Abigail shares how a childhood bucket list rediscovered during pandemic stress-cleaning led her to fill a surprising gap in the podcasting world. She opens up about her meticulous research process, how the show has reshaped her worldview (including her eating habits), and what it really means to be a responsible storyteller when covering places as fragile as they are fascinating. The conversation also touches on content strategy, the video-vs-audio podcasting debate, parasocial relationships with listeners, and what Abigail wishes someone would invent to make her one-woman operation a little easier. --- IN THIS EPISODE 00:08 — Introduction: Sebastian introduces Abigail Vacca and the Global Treasures podcast 00:40 — Origin story: how a childhood bucket list found during pandemic cleaning sparked the show 03:22 — Season structure: how Abigail selects sites by following UNESCO's chronological designation years 04:36 — Research process: 4–6 hours per episode on average, and why Rome nearly became a two-parter 05:48 — Personal growth: how the podcast made Abigail more humble, open-minded, and adventurous at the dinner table 08:33 — Serving all listeners: balancing "armchair travelers" with active trip planners, and handling dangerous or off-limits sites like Garamba National Park 10:31 — Audience insights: shorter episodes win, and listeners want the why behind a destination, not just where to eat 11:37 — Underrated sites: why Independence Hall in Philadelphia deserves more credit than it gets 12:41 — Best mythology: the Yeti, Kathmandu Valley, and why Abigail loves that Nepal leans into the legend (including Yeti Airlines) 14:12 — Content strategy: running a podcast, blog, and mailing list as a one-woman show 15:41 — Standing out: what separates Global Treasures from the crowded travel podcast space 17:05 — Surprise hit: the unexpectedly popular episode on Ouro Preto, Brazil's gold rush capital 17:59 — Marketing tactics: TikTok, Facebook, local news outreach, and pitching to cultural centers 19:22 — Word of mouth: the women's book club that accidentally discovered the show and became devoted listeners 21:20 — Dream tool: the software Abigail wishes existed to automate video editing and SEO 22:15 — Ethical responsibility: conservation, over-tourism, and why Abigail sounds like a "broken record" about leaving no trace 23:55 — Podcasting's unique role: why long-form audio demands more active engagement than short-form scrolling 25:14 — Parasocial bonds: the intimacy between podcast host and listener, and where Abigail has had to draw boundaries 26:39 — The future of podcasting: saturation, the Golden Globes, and the video vs. audio tug-of-war 29:09 — The video dilemma: why Abigail hasn't made the leap yet (triple-editing her audio in Audacity, Auphonic, and Descript is already a lot) 29:48 — Podcast recommendations: Abigail's three picks 30:37 — Where to find Global Treasures --- RESOURCES & LINKS GUEST * Global Treasures Blog & Website — globaltreasurestravel.com [https://globaltreasurestravel.com/] SITES & PLACES MENTIONED * UNESCO World Heritage Sites [https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/] — Full list of all 1,248+ designated sites * Stonehenge [https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/373] — Wiltshire, England * Historic Centre of Rome [https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/91] — Italy * Independence Hall [https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/58] — Philadelphia, USA * Kathmandu Valley [https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/121] — Nepal (and home of Yeti lore) * Ouro Preto [https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/18] — Brazil's gold rush historic center * Garamba National Park [https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/136] — Democratic Republic of Congo * Abu Mena — Egypt * The Vatican [https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/286] — Vatican City PODCASTS RECOMMENDED BY ABIGAIL * Crime Junkie [https://crimejunkiepodcast.com/] - Discover the best episodes of Crime Junkie [https://findthatpod.com/best-episodes-of-crime-junkie/], and other podcasts like Crime Junkie. [https://findthatpod.com/podcasts-like-crime-junkie/] * If Books Could Kill [https://www.ifbookspod.com/] — hosted by Michael Hobbes & Peter Shamshiri. Discover the best episodes of If Books Could Kill. [https://findthatpod.com/best-episodes-if-books-could-kill/] * Stuff You Should Know [https://www.iheart.com/podcast/105-stuff-you-should-know-26940277/] — hosted by Josh Clark & Chuck Bryant. Discover the best episodes of Stuff You Should Know [https://findthatpod.com/best-episodes-of-stuff-you-should-know/], and other podcasts like Stuff You Should Know. [https://findthatpod.com/podcasts-like-stuff-you-should-know/] TOOLS MENTIONED * Audacity [https://www.audacityteam.org/] — Free, open-source audio editor * Auphonic [https://auphonic.com/] — Automated audio post-production * Descript [https://www.descript.com/] — Audio/video editing via transcript --- TALK THAT POD Want to be on this podcast? Fill out this form. [https://talkthatpod.net/be-on-the-show/] Watch or listen to Talk That Pod on YouTube. [https://www.youtube.com/@talkthatpodshow] --- FIND THAT POD Discover the best podcasts in the world. [https://findthatpod.com/] - A podcast discovery newsletter bringing you 5 great podcasts to discover every week. Subscribe today. [https://findthatpod.com/]

010 - James Cridland - Podnews

James Cridland of Podnews [https://podnews.net/] --- SUMMARY James Cridland, founder of Podnews — the podcast industry's go-to daily newsletter and podcast with over 33,000 subscribers — joins Sebastian for a wide-ranging conversation about nearly a decade of covering the podcasting world. James pulls back the curtain on how he's built a sustainable, editorially independent media business, why he deliberately keeps Podnews at its current size, and the ethical tightrope of reporting on companies that also advertise with you (including one memorable story of a sponsor trying to buy his silence). The conversation moves into the current state of the industry: the rise of YouTube as a podcast platform, the video-versus-audio debate, and a frank takedown of AI-generated podcast factories like Inception Point AI. James and Sebastian also dig into podcasting's role in politics, the right-wing dominance of podcast charts, and why the democratization of audio remains one of the most exciting things happening in media today. --- IN THIS EPISODE [00:00] Introduction Sebastian introduces James Cridland and the Podnews newsletter. [00:31] The Origin Story of Podnews James recounts how Podnews was born from a single question in a bar after a radio conference: "Where do you find your news about podcasting?" With no comprehensive source available, he launched the newsletter within a month and has published it every weekday for nearly nine years without a single day off. [02:00] Building a Global, Differentiated Newsletter James explains his workflow-first philosophy — bullet points, a fixed publish time, and a one-to-two hour production window — and how writing for a global audience (not just US/NPR-focused podcasting) became a key differentiator. [04:13] A Career in Audio: Virgin Radio, the BBC, and Beyond How decades working in radio — including legal training as a presenter — shaped James's editorial instincts. He argues that running and understanding businesses makes for better journalism than a purely academic journalism background. [06:38] Editorial Judgment: What Makes the Cut James's primary editorial filter is simple: does he find it interesting? He notes, with amusement, that the stories he finds most compelling are almost never the ones that get the most clicks. [08:53] Awards, the Podcast Hall of Fame, and the Isolation of Podcasting James reflects on industry recognition and touches on a broader truth: podcasting is a lonely craft, which makes every review, rating, or piece of listener feedback feel disproportionately meaningful. [12:07] Newsletter Growth, Saturation, and Succession With ~34,000 subscribers and flat growth over 18 months, James questions whether chasing scale is even the right goal — and shares his real concern: growing just enough to one day hire and train a successor. [15:51] Editorial Independence and the Tightrope of Sponsor Relationships A deeply honest conversation about how Podnews maintains journalistic integrity with advertisers. James describes a confrontation at an industry event where a company tried to buy positive coverage — and he responded by publishing his most aggressive piece about them directly on top of their newly purchased ad spot. [21:07] YouTube: Dominant Platform or Overhyped? James pushes back on the narrative that YouTube has "won" podcasting, questioning whether usage data reflects actual podcast consumption. He warns that a YouTube-dominated world would hollow out the open podcast ecosystem — hosting companies, ad networks, and independent infrastructure would all become irrelevant. [24:37] The Video Podcast Debate Is video a must-have or a nice-to-have? James argues that the pressure to go on camera is deterring newcomers and, worse, degrading the audio product — citing an example of a popular UK podcast that opened with "as you can see..." while many listeners were, of course, only listening. [29:16] AI-Generated Podcasts and Inception Point AI A pointed critique of companies mass-producing AI podcasts — 261 new shows per day in Inception Point AI's case — that flood directories with unverified, undisclosed AI content, including fake medical advice. James shares a jaw-dropping example of an AI-generated episode that broke into English mid-show to say it was confused by its own prompts. [35:05] Where AI Can Add Legitimate Value in Podcasting James draws a line: AI for show notes, transcripts, and clip selection is genuinely useful. AI replacing human voices and creativity, without disclosure, is not. He revisits the Luddites — misunderstood as anti-technology when they were really pro-quality. [36:43] Podcast Discoverability The platforms are getting better, but there's still room to grow. James champions the open "Podroll" standard — where podcasters recommend other shows — as more valuable than any algorithm, and advocates for real-world advertising over podcast-to-podcast cross-promotion. [40:34] How to Launch a Podcast with No Audience James's strategy: be where your niche audience already is. Don't spam your show — become a valued community member first. And reframe success: "self-sustaining creativity" (covering your car payment, taking your partner to dinner) is a legitimate and worthy goal. [43:57] Podcasting and Political Influence Did podcasts make Trump president? James is skeptical, arguing that people's political priors are rarely shifted by a single podcast appearance. He explores why right-wing content thrives on audio (outrage is easier to package than nuance) and what Australia's ranked-choice voting system reveals about healthier political discourse. [50:16] Podcast Regulation: How Much Is Coming? James argues podcasts are already regulated — libel law, advertising standards, copyright — and that the real tension is between two different definitions of freedom: the American "freedom to do anything" versus the European "freedom from harm." [52:48] How Will Future Media Historians View Podcasting? Podcasting reversed the soundbite era, letting people speak at length and be heard as full human beings. James sees the democratization of media — anyone on the same platform as Joe Rogan — as podcasting's most enduring contribution. [56:04] Three Podcast Recommendations James's picks: Death in Ice Valley (BBC/NRK co-production), The Bugle (long-running satirical news podcast), and This Week in Tech (nearly 20 years of video and audio podcasting done right). [58:42] Where to Find James Podnews newsletter, his personal site, and Mastodon. --- RESOURCES & LINKS James Cridland * Podnews newsletter: podnews.net [https://podnews.net/] * Personal website: james.crid.land [https://james.crid.land/] * Mastodon/Fediverse: @james@bne.social Mentioned Publications & Newsletters * Podcast Business Journal [https://podcastbusinessjournal.com/] — James's weekly newsletter focused on the business of podcasting Platforms & Tools Discussed * Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/] * Spotify [https://spotify.com/] * YouTube [https://youtube.com/] * Pocket Casts [https://pocketcasts.com/] — mentioned for its "Podroll" recommendation feature * Riverside.fm [https://riverside.fm/] — used to record this episode * Buzzsprout [https://buzzsprout.com/] — mentioned as a hosting platform * Captivate [https://captivate.fm/] — mentioned podcast hosting platform * Libsyn [https://libsyn.com/] — mentioned podcast hosting platform Topics & Companies Referenced * Inception Point AI [https://inceptionpoint.ai/] — AI podcast generation company discussed * iHeart / Spreaker [https://spreaker.com/] — mentioned as an ad enabler for AI-generated content * Edison Research Infinite Dial [https://www.edisonresearch.com/infinite-dial/] — cited for YouTube podcast listening data * Air America [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_America_(radio_network)] — mentioned as an example of a failed left-wing radio network Podcasts Recommended by James * Death in Ice Valley [https://pod.link/1357695290] — BBC/NRK true crime co-production * The Bugle [https://pod.link/TheBugle] — long-running satirical news podcast * This Week in Tech [https://pod.link/73329404] (TWiT) — nearly 20 years of tech podcasting in audio and video * Buzz Out Loud (CNET) — James's first podcast; no longer active * The Rest Is Politics [https://pod.link/1611374685] — popular UK politics podcast, mentioned in the video-vs-audio discussion --- TALK THAT POD Want to be on this podcast? Fill out this form. [https://talkthatpod.net/be-on-the-show/] Watch or listen to Talk That Pod on YouTube. [https://www.youtube.com/@talkthatpodshow] --- FIND THAT POD Discover the best podcasts in the world. [https://findthatpod.com/] - A podcast discovery newsletter bringing you 5 great podcasts to discover every week. Subscribe today. [https://findthatpod.com/]

009 - Spencer Ford - History for the Reckoning

Spencer Ford of History for the Reckoning [https://www.historyforthereckoning.com] --- SUMMARY Sebastian sits down with Spencer Ford, creator of History for the Reckoning — a podcast unearthing overlooked and painful chapters of American history through interviews with survivors, historians, scholars, and artists. Spencer traces the show's unlikely origins to a children's book series he co-wrote with his wife called The Little Known Heroes, which led him to the story of Frank Emi and, eventually, a five-year deep dive into the Japanese American incarceration during World War II. Spencer explains the deliberate choice behind every major decision: launching on February 19th (the anniversary of Executive Order 9066), using the term "concentration camps," and opening season one with a personal account from George Takei. At the heart of the conversation is Spencer's belief that the most powerful antidote to historical ignorance isn't a textbook — it's friendship. If listeners come away feeling a genuine connection to the Japanese American community, they'll be far more likely to ensure that "never again" actually means something. The two also dig into the podcast's structure (main interviews plus shorter "addenda" episodes), the surprisingly polarized reception on YouTube vs. TikTok, the role of a publicist and nonprofit grant funding in getting the show off the ground, and what future seasons — including a planned look at chattel slavery in the northern states — might cover. --- IN THIS EPISODE 00:04 — Sebastian introduces Spencer Ford and History for the Reckoning 00:34 — How a children's book series called The Little Known Heroes sparked Spencer's obsession with Japanese American incarceration — and the story of resistor Frank Emi 02:33 — Visiting the incarceration sites: from Topaz, Utah as a student to the Heart Mountain pilgrimage in Wyoming — and why going with someone personally connected changes everything 05:16 — Why Spencer chose the word "reckoning" — understanding plus change, not just remembrance — and what it would mean for America to truly reckon with this history 07:39 — Launching on February 19th, the anniversary of Executive Order 9066, and why almost no Americans know what happened that day 08:55 — Opening season one with George Takei: the thinking behind leading with personal testimony rather than academic analysis 10:40 — The "addenda" episodes — shorter bonus installments that fill historical gaps and add first-person oral histories (including the story of Japanese Latin Americans hauled to U.S. concentration camps) 12:58 — The morally complicated story of the Japanese American Citizens League and community complicity — and the rare but real cases where American neighbors did speak up 16:03 — A dozen seasons of uncomfortable American history: the through-line of majority indifference to minority suffering, and what stories are coming next 17:41 — Growing a brand-new show: beta listeners, hiring a publicist, and partnering with the Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) to secure nonprofit grant funding 20:21 — Marketing difficult history — why human curiosity lowers the barrier, and the striking algorithm divide between YouTube (combative comments) and TikTok (affirming comments) 23:09 — The Substack newsletter as a "stickier" community-building tool and indicator of listener commitment 24:14 — Standing out in a crowded history podcast field — and why retention numbers beat raw download counts as an early signal 26:01 — Can podcasting's intimate, voice-driven format rebuild human empathy across racial and political divides? 28:41 — The urgency of recording first-hand testimony before the last survivors of WWII incarceration are gone — and a shout-out to oral history archives already doing that work 31:18 — Book bans, curriculum battles, and a polarized political climate: does it make the show more necessary, or harder to reach audiences? 32:18 — Why Spencer deliberately uses the term "concentration camps" — and why he wants the discomfort that word provokes 35:36 — The conversation turns: Spencer asks Sebastian about his own connection to Polish history and the Nazi camps — a candid, personal exchange 37:08 — A preview of season two: chattel slavery in the northern states and the shocking persistence of slavery in Maryland right up to the Emancipation Proclamation 38:44 — Spencer's three podcast recommendations 40:25 — Where to find History for the Reckoning online --- RESOURCES & LINKS HISTORY FOR THE RECKONING * Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/historyforthereckoning/] * TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@hftr_podcast] * YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YuSuO8Alrps&list=PLcN4HGBliO_LS15SZQMNcSrL72Va1_-oO] BOOKS MENTIONED * The Little Known Heroes [https://thelittleknownheroes.com] — children's book series by Spencer Ford & his wife PEOPLE & SCHOLARS MENTIONED * Frank Emi [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_S._Emi] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_S._Emi— Japanese American resistor and central figure in Spencer's research * George Takei [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Takei] — actor and activist; season one opening guest * Susan Kamei [https://www.susanhkamei.com] — scholar; interviewed on the history of Japanese Americans leading up to Pearl Harbor * Emily Inouye Huey [https://emilyhuey.com] — author; discussed family stories of the incarceration period * Chizu Amorion — survivor; incarcerated at Poston, Arizona * Claudia Katayama-Nagi — activist and filmmaker; discussed the Department of Justice camps and Japanese Latin American incarceration * Arielle Nissenblatt [https://www.ariellenissenblatt.com] — publicist a podcast marketing expert credited with much of the show's early growth ORGANIZATIONS MENTIONED * Japanese American Citizens League [https://jacl.org] * Densho [https://densho.org] — oral history archive * National Japanese American Historical Society [https://www.njahs.org] INCARCERATION SITES REFERENCED * Topaz War Relocation Center — Topaz, Utah * Heart Mountain — Cody, Wyoming (hosts an annual pilgrimage) * Poston — Poston, Arizona PODCASTS SPENCER RECOMMENDS * Burn Order [https://pod.link/1854194292] https://pod.link/1854194292— MSNBC production on Japanese American incarceration * Campu [https://pod.link/1531935868] — by Densho (densho.org); life inside the concentration camps * Look toward the Mountain [https://pod.link/1552466399] — focused on Heart Mountain, Wyoming * You're Wrong About [https://pod.link/1380008439] https://pod.link/1380008439— hosted by Sarah Marshall; revisionist history and culture, check out the best episodes of You're Wrong About. [https://findthatpod.com/best-episodes-of-youre-wrong-about/] * Omnibus Project [https://pod.link/1318335827] https://pod.link/1318335827— hosted by John Roderick; wide-ranging deep dives into culture and history --- TALK THAT POD Want to be on this podcast? Fill out this form. [https://talkthatpod.net/be-on-the-show/] Watch or listen to Talk That Pod on YouTube. [https://www.youtube.com/@talkthatpodshow] --- FIND THAT POD Discover the best podcasts in the world. [https://findthatpod.com/] - A podcast discovery newsletter bringing you 5 great podcasts to discover every week. Subscribe today. [https://findthatpod.com/]

008 - Jerry Landry - Presidencies of the United States

Jerry Landry of Presidencies of the United States [https://www.presidenciespodcast.com] SUMMARY In this episode, Sebastian sits down with Jerry Landry, the creator and host of the Presidencies of the United States podcast — a long-running show that has explored American presidential history from George Washington to the present day through more than 300 episodes. Jerry shares the origin story of the podcast, tracing it back to a personal reading project, an April 2016 election that left people hungry for historical context, and a first show dedicated entirely to William Henry Harrison. Over the course of the conversation, Jerry and Sebastian dig into the philosophy behind the show — why the presidency is never just about one person, how cabinet members and first ladies can reshape everything we think we know about a president, and why a figure as vilified as Aaron Burr deserves a more nuanced second look. They also cover the practical realities of building and sustaining a history podcast over nearly a decade: navigating social media, making smart use of AI tools, guesting on other shows, building a fiercely loyal audience, and staying credible in an era of deep public distrust. Jerry closes with a passionate argument for lifelong learning, stepping outside the podcast echo chamber, and three history podcast recommendations for listeners looking to expand their queue. --- IN THIS EPISODE [00:00] — Welcome & introductions. Sebastian introduces Jerry Landry and the Presidencies of the United States podcast. [00:49] — Origin story. How the 2016 election and a personal presidential biography reading project inspired Jerry to launch the show. Why he started with William Henry Harrison, and what drove him to go back to the very beginning with George Washington. [04:06] — Research framework. The core questions Jerry uses to structure each presidential series — how each president approached the office, major events of their tenure, and lasting historical significance — and why the framework needs to stay flexible across very different eras. [07:14] — Beyond the president. Why Jerry dedicates episodes to first ladies, cabinet members ("A Seat at the Table"), and vice presidents, and how the VP series started as an April Fools' joke that took on a life of its own. [10:00] — Hidden historical gems. The case of Benjamin Stoddart — the first Secretary of the Navy under John Adams — as an example of a supporting figure who completely reframes our understanding of a presidency when viewed from his own perspective. [12:50] — Making history feel like a story. Jerry's philosophy as a "bridge" between academic scholarship and general audiences, the role of delivery and voice, and how his partner's advice — "it's not what you say, it's how you say it" — has shaped his approach to writing and recording. [16:04] — How the presidency has evolved. Reflections on nearly a decade of research and how the relationship between the federal government and everyday American life has fundamentally changed from the early Republic to the modern era. [18:40] — AI tools in research and production. How Jerry uses AI as a litmus test for historical accuracy, why he still relies on himself for the actual research, and the specific ways platforms like Riverside have made production tasks like episode summaries and title brainstorming easier. [22:30] — Growing the podcast: lessons from eight years. The first question Jerry tells every aspiring podcaster to ask themselves, why passion and sustainability matter more than growth tactics at the start, and what it felt like the first time a stranger recognized him at a history conference. [25:26] — Social media strategy. Which platforms have worked best for Presidencies, why different platforms attract different types of listeners, and why Jerry cautions new podcasters against trying to do everything at once. [29:25] — Podcast guesting and community. Jerry's 25–30 guest appearances on other shows, why the history podcasting community is unusually collaborative and supportive, and how word-of-mouth remains the single most powerful discovery tool. [31:27] — Casual listeners vs. hardcore fans. The data behind Presidencies' audience makeup, what a recent "top 15 US history podcasts" feature said about Jerry's "fiercely loyal" listeners, and how different series formats serve different listener types. [34:10] — Can podcasting be a career for historians? An honest look at monetization realities, why Jerry still has a day job, and why he believes historians should consider podcasting as part of a broader career that includes speaking engagements, book deals, and nonprofit partnerships. [36:50] — Dream tools. If Jerry could wave a magic wand: faster, smarter audio editing tools that keep things sounding organic. Where AI-assisted editing is already helping — and where it still falls short. [39:05] — Credibility in an era of distrust. How Jerry uses 300+ cited sources per presidential series, the difference between primary and secondary sources, and how he signals uncertainty to listeners rather than projecting false confidence. [43:08] — Rethinking Aaron Burr. Why the standard "villain of the early Republic" narrative falls apart under scrutiny, and Jerry's broader argument for approaching all historical figures as complex, whole human beings rather than statues or demons. [46:56] — Podcasts, echo chambers, and civic discourse. The role podcasting played in the last election cycle, whether the relative lack of algorithmic curation in podcasting is a feature or a bug, and why Jerry thinks cross-genre discovery — and collaboration between podcasters — is essential to breaking out of information bubbles. [56:36] — Three podcast recommendations. Jerry's picks for standout shows in the history podcasting community. [59:38] — Where to find Jerry. All the places to connect with Presidencies of the United States online. --- RESOURCES & LINKS GUEST * Presidencies of the United States Podcast - presidenciespodcast.com [https://presidenciespodcast.com/] * Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/presidencies] * Bluesky [https://bsky.app/profile/presidencies.bsky.social] * Twitter / X [https://x.com/presidencies89] * Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/presidenciespodcast/] * Threads [https://www.threads.com/@presidenciespodcast] PODCASTS MENTIONED / RECOMMENDED BY JERRY * Civics & Coffee [https://pod.link/1527172324] — hosted by Alicia; American history in the time it takes to drink a cup of coffee * The Turning Tides Podcast [https://pod.link/1653316649] — hosted by Joe; deep dives into special historical topics (Jerry has appeared as a guest) * Kingdom: Swedish Rulers [https://pod.link/1783392742] — hosted by Chris; deep-dive Scandinavian history, including the new Kingdom series on Swedish monarchs TOOLS & PLATFORMS MENTIONED * Riverside [https://riverside.com] — recording and remote interview platform; used by Jerry for recording and AI-assisted clip generation and episode summaries HISTORICAL FIGURES & TOPICS REFERENCED * William Henry Harrison [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Henry_Harrison] (9th President — the shortest presidential term in U.S. history) * Benjamin Stoddart [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benjamin_Stoddert] — first Secretary of the Navy under John Adams * Aaron Burr [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aaron_Burr] — Vice President and historical "villain" whose story Jerry argues is far more complicated than the standard narrative suggests * Thomas Jefferson's [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Jefferson] presidency and family, including his daughters' roles --- TALK THAT POD Want to be on this podcast? 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