In May, I took over for Joe Shelerud as host of craft beer podcast, MicroBrewr. I had already been working nearly a year on a business plan to start a brewery. A podcast seemed like too much to add on, and it seemed unrelated to my main objective: start a progressive craft brewery in Monterey. It’s not a stretch from what I already had going on. Here’s why I’m doing it.
podcast [päd´kast´]
n. a recorded program of talk, music, etc. made available over the internet as a file that can be downloaded to a computer or portable device
v. to make (a program) available as podcast
origin. from iPod, trademark for portable digital electronic device + (broad)cast
Joe Shelerud interviewed me on episode 5 of his podcast, MicroBrewr. He had intended to follow me through the process of starting my own brewery, as a way to educate his audience. Then, in episode 12, he announced that it would be the last one.
I didn’t want the podcast to end. So I called up Joe and asked him whether he would let me continue where he left off. Joe said yes, and I took it on.
I didn’t want the podcast to end
MicroBrewr podcast is such a great resource, that I didn’t want it to end. I was excited about MicroBrewr podcast from the first episode. It was timely for me as I was planning to open a brewery of my own. The best way to learn is from people who have already done it.
Others enjoy the podcast, too. It has about 2,400 downloads per month. Last year, 413 microbreweries and brewpubs opened in the US. That’s a lot of people who could use this information.
Plus it’s just neat to get “behind the scenes” with people who work in the industry. It’s fun to hear how it all works. I’m not unlike many of today’s consumers who like to know more about where products come from, who makes them, where our money goes.
I’m learning from other brewers
I keep telling myself that the main reason I’m doing this podcast is so that I can learn from other brewers and brewery owners.
The craft beer industry is pretty neat, and I think pretty unique, that there isn’t much a sense of competition. There are so many stories of breweries helping each other with knowledge, materials, and even staff. Not to get too sentimental here, but it’s more like a model society that I fancy envisioning. The world will be a better place when, rather than competing, people are helping.
I’ll take advice from where I can get it. I’ll also share what I’ve learned.
Podcasts are awesome!
I started listening regularly to podcasts last year. I had just left my career of 7 years, I was planning to start a business, and I needed some inspiration and motivation to stay on course. I found Entrepreneur on Fire and got hooked.
Entrepreneur On Fire interviews a different entrepreneur every single day. The podcasts are about 30 minutes in length, so it doesn’t take too much time to listen to one episode. It’s enough to get me excited, learn something new, and move on with my day to work on my goals.
Since then, I’ve found other great podcasts about entrepreneuring, leadership, productivity and even love. There is a podcast for anyone’s interest. And podcasts are gaining in popularity. 2013 was called the year of the podcast, and 2014 is even bigger for podcasts! Then again, 2005 was also called the year of the podcast.
Podcasts are better than radio because you can play it when you want. Subscribe on your computer and listen from work or home. Subscribe on your smartphone and listen anywhere at all! Pause the show, and it’ll be there waiting when you’re ready to listen again. Most podcasts are free and the advertisements aren’t as annoying as on the radio.
It suits me well
Podcasting is actually kind of logical progression for me.
I used to do audio journals. Inspired by NPR, I carried a digital audio recorder with me on vacations or at special events. Speaking into the microphone, I described what was happening, interviewed friends about the experiences, and captured ambient sounds to preserve the memories.
I’ve already seen how recording and editing those audio journals has helped me in editing the podcasts. I try not to edit too much, because I want the listener experience to be as authentic as possible. To keep it interesting, though, I do take out long pauses, redundant information, and whatnot. It’s a careful skill. Perhaps the useless enterprise of audio journals prepared me for this.
Earlier this year, I posted a question to my friends and family on Facebook. I asked them, “What is the single thing I do best?” At the time, I though it peculiar and useless that the resounding response was, “conversation.”
Really. The thing I do best is holding a conversation. Who knew.
Anyway, I’ll put that to use on MicroBrewr. Hopefully it pays off by provoking interesting, insightful discussion from our guests.
Listen to the podcast
So that’s why I’m hosting a podcast about breweries. It’s a weekly podcast, interviewing brewers and brewery owners to go deep inside the industry and inside the heads of people who work there. We talk about everything related to craft beer with a focus for people planning to open their own microbrewery or wanting to improve their existing brewery. Each podcast is about 30 minutes in length and there are show notes and other content at microbrewr.com.
Listen along with us! Subscribe in iTunes or Stitcher. Also, I would really appreciate you giving your honest feedback by leaving a rating and review in iTunes. Thanks.
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Related posts:
Why I want to start a brewery in Monterey—Part 2 of 3: This is where I am
What I hope to accomplish by starting a brewery in Monterey—Part 1 of 2: I want to help, inspire and create
Craft beer giving back; how a craft brewery could be helpful
Craft beer inspires; how a craft brewery could be inspirational
