1 year of Breakfast Chats
I only realised the other day that it’s been one year since I first launched my podcast, Breakfast Chats on a bit of a whim and some dedicated googling. For years, I’d wanted to work on a podcast show or to start my own, but I never knew what the focus of it would be. Eventually I asked myself why I wanted to start a podcast in the first place and the answer was this: I wanted to talk to interesting people about the work they were doing and what they were still trying to figure out. I saw all of these amazing people who looked like they just knew what they were doing and had it all together and I was curious about them. What were they grappling with, what challenges did they face, how and why did they do their type of work? This became the kaupapa of Breakfast Chats. After one year of Breakfast Chats and a fairly sporadic schedule of five (almost six!) episodes, I thought I’d look back on what it was like to launch my first ever podcast.
I had no idea what i was doing
I don’t know whether it’s helpful or interesting to say this, but I feel like I need to iterate that I had no idea what I was doing when I started my podcast. I think I feel compelled to mention it because I was one of those people who saw people achieve or start something, like a business, and have no idea how they went from A to B. I assumed that they had knowledge, connections or some other thing that I was missing or couldn’t attain that allowed them to start their project. There are definitely people who fall into this category (cough the Kardashians) but lots of founders don’t. They do research and learn as they go, which is what I did. If you’re interested in reading about how I started Breakfast Chats, I have a blog post here and here.
people often say yes
For every guest who I’ve invited onto the podcast, I’ve had serious doubts that they would say ‘Yes.’ I always made an effort to pitch the podcast well - what it was about, what I was interested in talking to them about - but it was still surprising. Every single person I’ve asked to be on the podcast (bar one) has said yes, which I couldn’t be more thankful for. It’s helped that I’ve had a previous connection to some of them, but what I’ve found is that the podcast has been a great excuse to chat to people who I might not have been able to talk to otherwise. To all my guests, thanks for saying yes!
how to work efficiently
Now, this is a lesson I’ve learnt in hindsight. Like any new process, I did not produce Breakfast Chats in the most efficient manner possible. In fact, it was often a drag and led to major delays. Each episode was made completely independently from all the others, meaning I’d schedule, record, edit and publish each episode one after the other. Since then, I’ve recognised the benefits of batching - recording chats in the same month, editing them at the same time, allowing me to schedule things ahead of time. I think I would have saved myself a lot of time and heartache.
is podcasting really for me?
The project of making a podcast was really to see if it was something I’d even enjoy doing. Would I be good at it, would I like the process, was it something I could see long-term? I’m still figuring this part out. While it’s been amazing to chat to these really cool, interesting people across the six episodes and I’ve been really proud of some of the convos we’ve had, it’s not a process I’ve entirely enjoyed. Editing can be a pain and I’m not an adept sound technician by any stretch of the imagination. Interesting questions can be hard to come by and there’s a lot of stress and pressure in editing down a two hour conversation to less than 50mins. There have been growing pains and rough patches. Delayed schedules and anxiety. The general aches of ‘doing a thing’ for the first time. After the sixth episode is released (this Friday), I’m putting the show on hiatus. Maybe I’ll come back to it. Maybe I need one more go to see if podcasting is really for me. Time will tell.
Those were just some reflections I’ve had on one year of Breakfast Chats. It’s been a really valuable and interesting experience and I’m glad to have tried it. I feel like I’ve learnt a lot and grown as a creative. Thank you if you’ve ever listened to an episode of my podcast or if you’ve shown it support. Thank you, thank you truly.
Listen to the last episode
The last episode of Breakfast Chats is coming out this Friday at 11am. In episode six, I chat to New Zealand film, television and theatre stalwart, Simon Bennett. Currently the Executive Producer for kids TV show, Power Rangers, Simon has been a part of the media and theatre landscape for over 30 years and has directed or produced shows like Shortland Street, Sione’s Wedding 2, The Almighty Johnsons, and the Shortland Street musical. Besides this impressive list of credentials and experience, he also had a unique upbringing in his parent’s touring mime troupe, so of course I had to interview him. To listen, follow Breakfast Chats on your favourite listening platform, like Spotify, Apple podcasts, Google podcasts, iHeartRadio or Stitcher.
