Sometimes you get a wild hair - maybe it's a new idea, maybe it's revisiting an old idea.
In my case, I got caught up (binge) watching one of my favorite old shows and it got me thinking:
"Why didn't I keep going on Trying Idiot?"
The answer to that question is the same as all the blog posts previous answer: I didn't have the time.
I didn't have the focus. I didn't have the energy. I didn't have the drive. I didn't have the urgency.
I'm not sure what changed, but I'm glad it did. I'm glad I'm back.
I'm glad I'm back because I have a lot of things I want to learn, and I want to share those things with you.
I'm rewriting the pitch and outline for this podcast; whether or not I'm the host or even the long-term owner.
In a few months time, I could be back to another "shut it down,folks" (less than ideal) post.
OR, I could be announcing the kickoff of the show.
Either way, I'm going to learn something, and that's the real heart of this adventure.
Face facts Chad, one more project you made little to no progress
on. Hell, in 2018 you sold off all the podcasting equipment.
Shut it down, folks. There's nothing to see here.
I've been toying with the idea of starting an interview podcast for some time (probably a couple years at least), but 'toying' and 'doing' are two completely different actions - hell some would consider only one an 'action' and the other 'dicking around.'
I can't really argue the point of 'dicking around' as I entirely agree; far too much of my time is taken up with the 'idea' phase and far too little in the 'getting shit done' portion of life.
I sincerely hope that all changes with this endeavour.
For some time now, I've considered myself a bit of an idiot - not in the negative
sense, but more in the 'I think I know some things, but I'm not really sure.'
Going around 'not being sure' can be dangerous, or at least make one look like the
idiot they truly are.
Over the next couple of months I'm going to timebox some evenings to finally
flesh out the episode list and question lists I want to use during my interviews.
Once I'm satisfied with the questions (basically the points I'm trying to learn), and
have secured the interviews, I will kick things off.
Well, in short, I'm trying to learn a new way of living, or at the very least reinforce my current opinions, in regards to many aspects of life.
I want to conduct interviews with smart folks, or at least seasoned folks, in various
areas of expertise. A simple example: When I moved to southern California in 2016 the
drought was all the rage. Everywhere I went I heard about the drought, saw and read
PSA's about conservation, and overheard locals lament their troubles with water.
All that information around me, however, I didn't feel the effect or responsibility that
one should feel when faced with a topic like drought.
If I went into my shower and turned on the tap, the water would run for as long as I could pay for it - how is there a drought on if that's the case? I just didn't see the drought first hand. I don't deny it exists, I don't deny it was a waste that one time I left my shower on for an hour (forgot the damn thing!), but I need more - I need to sit down with someone that knows how the drought directly affects each of us.
From that simple idea, I started to think "What else don't I know? What else don't I
necessarily agree with but am not strong enough in my opinion to truly hold up in a debate?"
Well, turns out there's a ton of things I "kinda" know a little about, but really
should spend better time learning more before forming a hard opinion.
I'll be spending a great deal of time talking with "people in the know," people like
climate scientists, the far left and far right (politically), non-profit groups and even
hate groups.
I want to learn, to have my horizons broadened, my opinions changed or reinforced, all with
sound data and information backing my reasons. No talking points, no bullshit, pure information.
With each episode, I want to focus on a hard topic (like conservation, environmental science, political upheaval, women's rights, non-binary society) and hope that there will be an ongoing debate afterwards. I invite feedback, commentary or disagreement. I truly feel that listening to all sides allows us to learn.
There's a lot I have planned for the future - a lot of dicking-around time has already been spent - but let's get this thing off the ground before I start talking pie-in-the-sky ideas like a presidential run!
Thanks for reading into this, if you have any suggestions for episodes I'd really appreciate it if you reach out to me using the contact form below. Your ideas will help flesh out what I hope will become a long-running and enjoyable podcast.
I'm still putting together episode content, slowly getting recordings in order before I release the first season of Trying Idiot.
Note: This form doesn't work at all right now, sorry about that.