Pods Like Us

Marv is joined by filmmaker, archive film researcher and founder of Stag Film Productions Mike Davis to discuss his new Green Film 'Dead, White And Blue'. In his filmmaking Mike reuses stock and archive footage that he pieces together, removes all of the sound from, and then creates a narrative around.As well as his work as a filmmaker in his own right, they also discuss his work as an archive and stock footage advisor for films such as American Made, The Lighthouse, Midsommar, Marvel's Eternals, and many more films. The discussion is filled with so much, that any creative person or film buff with find some fascinating insights from.

In this episode Marv talks about what's happened with his podcasting journey between Sunday the 7th of June and Saturday the 13th of June.There are also clips from future episodes with Helen Quigley and Hannah Puddefoot of Harry's Home, RSS.COM founder Alberto Betella, and podcast producer, mentor and presenter Matthew Bliss.1 Intro2 Journal 1 - Finishing off editing, creating music, scammed out of an account on X, and a small win.3 Journal 2 -Talk about his conversation with Jonathan about a lack of awareness of aphasia, with his film and podcast On The Tip Of My Tongue4 Clip of Hannah Puddefoot talking about trying to write a realistic family with Alzheimer's5 Journal 3 - Dave Campbell's Substack post ‘If Your Podcast Was A Car, Would It Be A Manual Transmission Or A Self Driving Tesla.’6 Journal 4 - Talk about his conversation with RSS.COM founder Alberto Betella7 Clip of Alberto Betella talking about AI in podcasting8 Journal 5 - Talk about his conversation with Rod Gordon about This Must Be Talking Heads9 Journal 6 - Talk about his conversation with podcast producer, mentor, and presenter Matthew Bliss.10 Clip of Marv and Matthew Bliss discussing a new audience that could be catered for using video in podcasts11 Journal 7 - Bits not mentioned yet - recording the music show Toppermost of the Poppermost, moving Pods Like Us distribution to RSS, and a noisy phone call with Sam Sethi of TrueFans.

Join Marv as he interviews Hem Brewster, the creative force behind Blighthouse Studios, home to acclaimed podcasts like The Lucky Die, The Sprouting, Counterbalance, and Four Top Threes. Discover the secrets of audio drama production, actual play podcasting, and the evolving world of indie podcasting. Hem shares actionable advice for creators, insights on show notes, and the importance of community in podcasting. Key Topics & Time Stamps ● 00:00 – Introduction ○ Meet Hem Brewster and Blighthouse Studios ○ Overview of the studio’s shows ● 01:18 – The Blighthouse Studios Podcast Lineup ○ The Lucky Die: Apocalyptic actual play audio drama ○ The Sprouting: Horror roleplay in a plant-based apocalypse ○ Counterbalance: Fantasy audio drama with a custom language ○ Four Top Threes: International chat show ● 06:15 – What is an Actual Play Podcast? ○ Dungeons & Dragons and Call of Cthulhu as storytelling engines ○ Improvised audio drama vs. scripted drama ● 10:56 – The Creative Team & International Collaboration ○ Cast and crew from the UK, Iceland, Germany, and the US ○ The importance of diverse perspectives ● 14:15 – Podcasting Origins ○ Hem’s journey from mechanical design engineering to podcasting ○ Discovering “We’re Alive” and the power of audio storytelling ● 24:00 – Building a Podcasting Empire ○ Starting The Lucky Die and growing a network ○ Lessons learned from failed and successful projects ● 31:00 – Podcast Production & Team Roles ○ The evolution of team responsibilities ○ Social media, marketing, and the realities of indie podcasting ● 38:00 – Podcast Promotion & Community ○ Free and effective ways to promote your show ○ The value of helping other podcasters ● 44:00 – Audio Drama vs. Talk Show Podcasting ○ Differences in structure, audience, and production ○ The impact of BBC and German audio drama traditions ● 54:00 – Show Art, Music, and Branding ○ Why your podcast logo matters ○ Tips for commissioning and using artwork ● 1:00:00 – The Importance of Show Notes ○ What to include for SEO and accessibility ○ Content warnings, cast/crew credits, and linking strategies ● 1:10:00 – Podcasting Advice for Beginners ○ Logistics, scheduling, and the value of a backlog ○ Honest conversations and setting realistic goals ● 1:18:00 – Standout Moments & Community Impact ○ Success stories and the power of fan engagement ○ The joy of cross-promotion and collaboration ● 1:22:00 – How to Connect with Blighthouse Studios ○ Where to find the shows and contact Hem Featured Podcasts from B Lighthouse Studios ● The Lucky Die – Fantasy apocalypse actual play ● The Sprouting – Eldritch horror in a post-apocalyptic world ● Counterbalance – Fantasy audio drama with original language and music ● Four Top Threes – International chat and ranking show Resources & Links ● Blighthouse Studios: Website ● Contact Hem: contact@blighthouse.studio For more podcasting resources, visit themarvzone.org or contact Hem at contact@blighthouse.studio

Episode Description - Join host Martin "Marv" Bel as he sits down with podcaster John from "What's Up with John and Rena" for an in-depth conversation about the evolution of podcasting, mental health awareness, and the art of authentic audio storytelling. From interviewing people on Skid Row to creating successful podcast partnerships, John shares his journey through the podcasting landscape and offers invaluable advice for aspiring podcasters. Key Timestamps & Topics - [00:00:00] - Introduction & Show Origins ● Welcome to Pods Like Us with Martin "Marv" Quibell ● Introduction to John and the "What's Up with John and Reena" show ● The confusing history and evolution of the podcast [00:01:00] - Mental Health Journey & Podcast Genesis ● John's misdiagnosis story: from bipolar to depression and ADHD ● Living next to Skid Row in Los Angeles (2014) ● The birth of "Bipolar Style" podcast ● Cautionary tale about podcast naming and mental health stigma [00:02:00] - RSS Feeds & Podcast Evolution ● Understanding RSS feeds as the backbone of podcasting ● Treating first podcast as "practice feed" ● Evolution from "Signal Jams" to "Deviant Lounge" to "What's Up" ● The importance of adaptability in podcasting [00:03:00] - Partnership with Reena ● Meeting co-host Rena through Twitter/X ● Rena's background: Jerry Springer Show producer ● Creating a "super group" approach to podcasting ● The concept of podcasting as a "lounge for podcasters" [00:04:00] - Content Strategy & Social Media ● Using X/Twitter for podcast guest discovery ● Topic selection process for episodes ● Recent discussions: cell phone bans in schools and concerts ● Organic conversation development [00:05:00] - Editing Philosophy & Audience Retention ● Unique editing approach: cutting conversations mid-topic ● Background editing while gaming technique ● Achieving 110% completion rates vs. industry 70% ● The "shave and a haircut" psychological hook [00:07:00] - "Daily Emotions" Era ● Transition from "Bipolar Style" to "Daily Emotions" ● The challenge of trauma dumping in mental health podcasts ● Learning when to pivot podcast focus ● The consuming nature of mental health content creation [00:08:00] - Podcasting Influences & Inspirations ● Dean Delray's "Let There Be Talk" as major influence ● The power of reaching high-profile rock and metal guests ● Mark Marin's WTF show impact ● Transitioning from music industry to podcasting [00:09:00] - Early Broadcasting Background ● High school radio station with actual transmitter ● Public access cable TV experience in San Francisco ● "Wayne's World" style local TV show ● The "simulation" approach to content creation [00:12:00] - RSS & Download Philosophy ● RSS and downloadability as core podcast elements ● Avoiding "streaming subscription hell" ● 20 years of RSS technology celebration ● Focus on audio vs. video debates [00:13:00] - Rena's Background & Skills ● Jerry Springer Show production experience ● Natural interviewing and listening abilities ● The maven quality: connecting people and opportunities ● Play-by-play vs. color commentary dynamic [00:15:00] - Interview Dynamics Analysis ● Rena's therapeutic listening approach ● John's self-awareness about talking too much ● The balance between liberal and conservative perspectives ● Finding common ground through shared topics [00:17:00] - Jerry Springer Connection ● Jerry Springer's appearance on "Better Call Daddy" ● Recognition of Rena's producer skills ● The importance of information gathering in production [00:19:00] - Podcast Industry Observations ● Musicians vs. music industry people comparison ● Podcasters vs. podcast industry professionals ● The commodification of creative passion ● Live Nation experience and craft services anecdotes [00:20:00] - Branding & Visual Identity ● The cri

In this episode of Pods Like Us, host Martin 'Marv' Quibell is joined by Martin Franklin from Australia to discuss the resurgence of cassette culture. Martin Franklin shares his journey from the indie music scene of the late '80s, including running a small cassette label and engaging in international tape exchanges, to reconnecting with old collaborators for a reissue project in 2023. The episode dives into DIY music production, the importance of networking and fanzines, and the evolution of podcasting. Explore the unique stories and the lasting impact of cassette culture on independent music.